Resistance met. (open)

[stern]

It was only a matter of time, at least from the view that Stern saw, that when to direct opposites exist, they must react with one another. What happened when that time came was never truly certain, as was all things that come to pass. It could only require one thing for any prediction to go wrong. the only thing your could be certain of was that opposites would meet, clearly because they are attracted to each other.

The old phrase was often used to describe the odd couple, though Stern had never been one to experiment with honest relationships. He could see merit in the phrase though, as he seemed to get along well with Zeniro despite their different personalities. That relationship was based on respect though, something that doesn't always mirror true sentiment. There was proof to the opposite as well though, as Stern and Leon didn't get along at all.

In the school though, the philosophy he crafted as his stance was unlikely to have a more physical antagonism that Leon's and Stern's. When one philosophy called the other evil, and made a point of being weak, it was tempting for the larger to simply attempt to beat it into a submission rather than attempt to coerce it. Lot less thinking, a good deal less effort, and generally far less time consuming. Still it was never guaranteed that you'd get the reaction you wanted, you could only stack the odds in your favor.

Stern as a small group of followers, even compared to his usually small number, marched toward the main office. They intended to mirror an event of old, when a list of grievances was hammer on to a church door. They intended to use postal tape, but hopefully it would make the same statement, and maybe the same attention such a move would follow.

Some of the historically minded would remember what followed those events, but all good analogies must come to an end. No two events were ever the same after all.

Stern reached for the door, the list in hand, pointing out all the violations of the civil liberties that had been denied to students, Varron and Hircine alike. Many student's watched as he did so, as Stern had made sure his plan was made gossip before the started. This seemed to cause trouble though, as angry student burst past the crowd. The football team, a ironically average bunch in regards to everything except physical prowess, treatment from the school, and pride. They happened to be wearing pads as well...served Stern right for this on a day they practiced.

The followers behind Stern quickly fell, as they would be hard pressed to fight back even if they were ordered to do so. Stern himself managed to stop the first tackler by pushing back, having a greater physic despite the players padding. It did manage to sting greatly though, but Stern didn't get much time to think as a second player sprung over the first and tackled Stern higher. He fell back, hit his head on the corner of a locker, and his world quickly turned black.

--------------------------------


Stern awoke later in the infirmary, though he could only see out of one eye. Getting his sense together, he quickly assessed the coming from the pain from the eye the players had not realized he had been knock unconscious after the tackle immediately, and had proceeded to beat him physically. One black eye was apparently as far as they got before they realized Stern was out and moved on. He clearly felt bruises elsewhere, mainly on his stomach ad left shoulder.

He was lucky though, as most his subordinates with him had taken it worse. It was the worst possible make up he could have asked for in the situation. Despite himself, there was not a single credible fighter among the bunch. None of them were used to this kind of beating, they were the kind who usually backed down from the threat before it was even called.

"You look better of than the rest of them, I hope you at least won't mind that we're out of pain medicine."

Stern turned to look at the school nurse, who's idle banter was like a cannon ext to his ear with the incredible headache he was feeling. He was rather surprised that he was able to make out what she was saying at all.

"Check my file, there's some prescription medicine there I've got documentation to take."

The nurse went about her business, only to return with his file. She opened it and took out the bag containing the pill bottle, and upon reading the label proved she was at least trained enough to recognized the prescription for the strength it was. Stern didn't wait for he to get over the shock and grabbed the bottle, and swallowed one of the pills without waiting for a drink. The nurse was further stumped that a child so you was able to take such heavy pain relievers at school, but able to swallow them so casually and without pain of the side-effects.

Stern didn't want to deal with the noise of her questions and quickly lay back down, staring at the ceiling. Between the quickly numbing headache, and the eventual drowsiness and slight high he knew was coming, he felt rather vulnerable at the moment. It was one of the few feeling he felt enough times to know he didn't like having.

He stared up at the blank ceiling, counting the tiles different ways and doing math with the number to distract himself from the pain until the medication kicked in. He hadn't been in a medical facility in quite a few years, but the memory still stuck with him enough to hate being in his new surroundings.

[kenshin]

"Every goddamn time...i always end up here..."

The voice of a very Enraged italian could be heard. but it wasen't obnoxious, It was simply annoyed. Raphael was jumped by a group of Varronites sadly. Oddly, he knew it was bound to happen. The thing was, it was all about loyalty for these kids. Oh so Raph wished for the school to be at peace! Ah, but a fighters life is always filled with hardships. So a few minutes later he was sent to the Infirmary for a sprained wrist. Oh just because he got jumped didn't mean he didn't fight back. He wanted the nurse to bring him an ice pack.

So he sat in the room and waited plainly. It took him a while to notice that Stern was in here. What happened to him that sent him here?. Feeling curious, He walked to Stern carefully and let out his inquisition.

"what happened to you?"

[stern]

Stern heard a voice louder than the others, most other people inn the infirmary not having the strength to actually whine openly. Stern rolled over to try and escape it, as even noise that loud was horrible in his head, even with the medication starting to take effect.

He then noticed the same voice, not as loud be just as audible as it seemed to get closer, inquire into his state of being. He quickly rolled his head over to see who it was. He didn't recognize the person at all, so he turned his head back around as he answered, blunt with the belief that there was little he could gain from conversation in his current state.

"The system happened...."

[kenshin]

"so my Inquisition was correct..."

He said bluntly. It was a little knwon fact that supporters and members of the "system" were on the hunt for any form os resistence. It was no wonder the Infirmary had a sudden increase in patients. But this was very odd of Stern. From what he knew back in Varron, Stern was perhaps one of the strongest and most well known fighter back there. But here lay Stern the leader, Layed out on a table with a black eye. Is this school really more Fierce then Varron was? Or was everything that he heard about Stern a lie? He decided to Inquiry Further. He leaned by the supply table and played with some cotton swabs.

"Football Team or Tiao?"

[travis]

(OOC: you guys don't mind me jumping in on this one do you ?)

He just lay there.The limp body looking as if it were merely sleeping . Only the bruises and the blood gave the indication that this person was not enjoying the a nice dream but was rather out cold, his head resting against the floor at an unnatural angle.

Even he had to say as detention went, (and he'd been given a whole lot of those) this had to be the on of the most original. Most of the teachers prided themselves on inventing the most degrading and quickly tedious, bordering on the pointless tasks to go in partnership with their physical abuse. Schlepping bodies of beaten up students to the infirmary was one of the most imaginative ones. He'd already done a whole load of other students but this was the last of the largest group of incapacitated he'd found. Apparently this one was part of some sort of students rights group. He's already brought the rest of the bunch to the infirmary.

Travis founding himself think about the boys cause as he walked the boys body slung over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. He respected the cause. "This guy didn't care about Varronite , Hircinian or any of that crap. He just wanted to make it better for everyone regardless of what group a person was in. And this what he got for it." He turned glancing at the bloodied face of the lad. He sighed shaking his head."You can't beat this system , only break it."

He pushed open the infirmary. The sight of most of the people he'd ended up carrying in greeted him.

"This is the last of 'em,"

"Oh thanks Travis just place him on the that empty bed in the corner." She waved her arms gesticulating to where the empty bed was supposed to be.

"Um which corner? All the beds in the corners are taken,"

The nurse finally turned to face him slightly annoyed . That was soon replaced with alarm. Her eyes flitting around the room for an empty bed, were taken up.

"Stick him on that one," she pointed to the free bed. "Oh and hes bleeding on your shoulder."

"Urgh great." He walked over to the bed and put the student down onto it gently.

He noticed at least one of the guys he'd brought in was awake otherwise that boy play with the cotton swabs was mental and talking to himself, which he seriously doubted .

"Hey your awake. How you feeling ?"

[stern]

"Football teams.....not that it matters."

Stern turned around in the bed and sat up. The medication had began to seriously effect him, and he felt his lack of composure. He was glad no one who held a grudge was particularly near him, as in his weakened state of mind he lost his greatest weapon.

"I was hoping for a Pillar when I leaked my plans, but the football team's a good second place."

Stern began to straighten himself out, at least bringing his grooming back to it's usual sate, though his mannerisms and demeanor did not follow. As he combed his hair back with one hand, he quickly leaned against it. His hand was directly pressing into his swollen brow, and he didn't even seem to notice. He was clearly not in the right mind to notice it.

"All in all, I would say everything went according to plan."

[taru]

Taru rolled in his wheel chair looking at Stern with a strange look.

"You got beat up too? Lovely. Tiao snapped my wrist, gave me this black eye. Odin broke my jaw. Officer Carlos broke my knee. Kinda screwed. But I'm damn angry at Tiao. If there's a pillar we take out first, it's Tiao. He's the most ruthless out of all of them. In my opinion atleast. I haven't dealt with any other pillars. So that's a good thing. So what's your plan of action Stern. We need any more injuries from these pillars or you're going to do something about it?"

Taru looked at Stern waiting for his answer trying to scratch the back of his head with his free arm.

[kenshin]

He continued to play with some swabs when he listened to Stern continue on. "You continue to impress me more and More Stern." He said, merely complimenting Sterns action. "Originally from what i encounterd, Kvist had a plan to take out the entire football team, but ended up failing in the process, Since Kurtz controls the football team." He said, still leaning there.


He looked to the one who wanted Tiao takin out of the picture. He merely sighed and turn his face toward him. "Kid...let me tell you alittle bit of my Philosophy. A Strong warrior by hisself can take out an army. A Strong Warrior with an Army can take out a nation. Clearly Kurtz and the football team are the army, and Tiaos the Warrior. The lessen the odds against us all, we would need to neutralize and disable Kurtz. If that is incapable, then the football team should be the target..." He stated.

[taru]

"Keep this in mind Raphael. You're girlfriend was sent to Juvie. I'm Taru. I saved her from a broken knee. So...I don't think you were aware of that. But you are now. And you're right a whole nation. Kurtz needs to be taken out as well. Him being the main authority, but if we just ganged up at Tiao who walks around alone. We can easily finish this. And maybe help you're girlfriend Jo."

(ooc:Your the raphael she's with right?)

"So...Yeah. I picked her up from the air port, she was living my house till we bought her a new motorcycle, the pollice destroyed it and towed and took her to Juvie while I was sent to the hospital....So Keep that in mind Raphael. "

Taru rolled to Stern and sat there looking at him.

"I'm truly interested in your plan Stern.:

[Tiao Lei Shen]

"No wonder you aren't a thinker of the group."

Tiao Lei Shen, pillar of Hircine High walked through the Nurse's Office, letting the door swing shut behind him. Though he spoke to Taru, he never made eye contact with the broken student. He kept his eyes on the ringleader himself, Stern Mason. He paced past the other students who were talking, shooting a sideways glance to Raphael, holding his gaze upon the student for a short moment before turning back to face Stern.

The pillar had not been happy when he heard the football team had commenced a beating upon Stern's hippy protestors. Did he give a damn about Stern? Not in the least. However, the sudden anger and violence from the students had not gone well with the tactics Tiao had intended on dealing with Stern.

He pushed past Travis and Raphael, making his way to Stern's bedside. Placing his foot upon the back of Taru's wheelchair, Tiao pushed forward, rolling Taru towards the cabinets on the other side of the room. It wouldn't do any real damage, but it did get the pissant away from him and the only person he came here to see.

"Okay, let's talk."

[kenshin]

He felt the strenghtend hand of Tiao push Raph aside and bumped his head into the wall. He thought to himself What the fuck Shen!?. But then he turned his head and saw the doorway to the medical records room. ~ooooohhhhhhHe thought, amazed alittle. Shen definately is a man who has a plan. Raph looked up and it certainly was the record room. Raphael simply walked in and ran to the back rather quickly.


After looking around for anyone, he begun digging and looking
for Tiao and Darrens Medical Records.

[taru]

Taru looked at Tiao who just kicked him asside with hate and wanted to kill him. He really really did. Taru then saw Raphael sneak off to the medical records. Taru noticed Tiao and rolled his wheel chair in the opposite direction of him and exited the room. Ass hole. He rolled around as if he was going to a different area but he wasn't really. He took out his crutches and quietly hopped over to where Raphael was and stood next to him resting on his crutches not visible since he was hiding behind a file cabinat next to Raphael.

"Here's Tiao's if you're looking for it.. Hate that bastard."

Taru held it out for Raphael with his freearm trying to balance so he won't fall. Taru looked at Raphael and exited the room then hobbled to the wheel chair he sat on and rolled outside near the wall to listen to the conversation. He had nothing else to do. His chair was his confinement but he still had his same habits. Taru waited for Tiao or Mason to speak.

[Kit Lee]

Kit awoke, realizing his dream, was no dream but real. He touched the side of his cheek, feeling the soreness from the blow the brute had dealt to him. Kit had been walking in the hall, minding his business when a boy decided it would be fun to randomly punch Kit straight in the face. Kit was holding his books and did not react fast enough to avoid the punch. He must have ended up unconscious as he banged the back of his head against the door of an opened locker. He still recalled the hysterical laughter of the boy and his friends as Kit's vision turned black. The sudden impact in the head and the metal locker door certainly was a deadly force that Kit would definately avoid in the future. Kit glanced around, noting all the students in the facility were either sleeping, unconscious, or pretending to be injured to sleep and cut class.

Kit got out and was about to leave when he noticed that Stern Mason was among the students lying in the room. In fact, most of the room seemed to be those worker ants that Stern Mason had full control over. Kit decided to go back to his bed and also, pretend to be still knocked out as he wanted to find out the cause. Stern soon awoke and requested for what appeared to be high strength pain relievers. Soon an Italian voice was heard, demanding for an ice pack then conversing with a Stern who was now awakened. A boy named Travis had entered, tossing yet another wounded student into a bed. The picture was then filled with Taru, another Stern supporter. Kit had seen this boy the previous day in a fight with Tiao. Kit soon learned that Stern was assaulted by the football team, while the Italian and Taru babbled about the football team, Tiao, and what they thought should be done. The facility was getting damn crowded as Tiao had entered. Not caring for the conditions of his fellow classmates, he shoved the Italian aside and pushed Taru towards the cabinets. The Italian then thought it was a good idea to intrude to where the medical files were and Taru soon followed in. As Taru came out, the nurse shouted for the Italian boy, saying she had the ice. Kit wondered if any of them noticed he had been peeping one eye at them all this time, only closing it when someone came near. It was unlikely however, as nobody reacted to him.

[stern]

Stern looked side to side, taking in everything given, though with a distant stare not usually seen in his eyes. He was a little out of it, that was certain, but giving the pain medicine he was on he should have been high as a kite. He had built up a good resistance to the stuff in his day, not that any medical records would show it, the board of education made sure of that.

"Wow. I'm Mr. Popular now aren't I....I'm starting to feel better."

He finally responded to Travis's inquiry, his slowed mind taking in everything eaily enough but his usually tedious mental process taking longer with his reduced focus. He didn't bother much with the rest of the conversation, as he would have simply of filed most of it under his heavy "I already know" files in his room. Still, they were talking agrresively, and Stern needed to keep that tension bottled up.

"Bah, we don't need to fight any of them, by the end of the day people won't be asking "Why did they get beat up?", they'll all figure out thier own answer they like anyway. What they'll be asking is "What was on that list that the football team didn't want people to know?". Lets leave the direct method to our classmates and win the smart way."

Stern was being incredibly loose with his information, though he still had the mental fortitude to keep the big secrets locked in his head tightly. It didn't matter much if they knew he had planned to be intercepted from the start, most of those truly curious of his plans knew his strategy actually favored Pillar reprisal.

It was about this time that a Pillar walked in. He quickly pushed through those in his way, Stern even smiling and chuckling at Taru's predicament. He looked at Tiao in a very relxed way, keeping his attention hopefully from the others that were sneaking into the medical records room. The nurse was too busy to notice, but both wouldn't stand a chance to Tiao in his current state...though Stern would probably do better than usual since the painkillers would have eliminated one of his vulnerabilities.

"I guess your Tiao, thanks for disabling Taru, I'm sure he'll be thankful he is sitting when the protests become longer."

Stern simply smiled sheepishly at Tiao, clearly not showing him the fear and respect he was used to. He could attack Stern if he wanted to, and he would not resist him at all, but he knew Tiao was probably smart enough to beat up a student who was out of it from painkillers the school administered to him.

[Tiao Lei Shen]

(OOC: Sorry for the wait, I thought someone else was coming into the thread, but I guess I was wrong.)

Tiao was pleased to see Raphael take the bait, but was dissatisfied with the others that decide to follow the italian. However, all those not part of the plan would be dealt with later if they got in the way. Tiao kept the others in his peripheal up until the point Stern spoke up, refocusing all his attention upon the real situation at hand.

"Really, it was my pleasure." Tiao replied with a small smirk, annoyance towards Taru in his face. "Maybe next time when you want passive protestors, you won't recruit ones that attempt blindside attacks upon the hiearchy. Kind of counters your peace movement doesn't it?"

Tiao lowered himself, taking a seat on the cot across from Stern. It was an intended way of attempting to display himself as being on the same level as the hippy, in order to assist the drugged up student into cooperating.

"What is it that you actually want, Mason?"

[stern]

"Who said I recruited Taru...he hasn't taken any orders from me yet.....he just tags along."

Sterns thoughts jumped around in his head, having much more difficulty controlling it. He honestly didn't care what Taru did....the boy had no power over his fellow protesters, so if he was stupid he was stupid solo. It seemed to agitate the system though, so Stern would show Taru some mercy for disobeying him....this time at least.

"What do I want? I think I've made that perfectly clear by now. Peace on earth and all that."

Stern' mouthed stretched open and he yawned, placing his hand in front of his mouth out of conditioning rather than manners. He hadn't really answered Tiao, as Stern knew he was asking what Stern really wanted.

"Though what I'm really surprised about is that your haven't figured out that answer for yourself. I heard Darren is pretty smart, though that could just be appearances.....but you still have one of the better monitoring systems in the school....wait a second. The Principal has told you about my past hasn't he?"

Stern looked generally inquisitive. He apparently had made at least one false assumption. He seemed surprised more that the assumption itself was wrong rather than he was though.

"Wow, that could be good news. I didn't know there was such distrust in paradise."

[Tiao Lei Shen]

"You really think I buy that crap? If you're as smart as you pretend to be, then I'm sure you know I'm not simply the muscle the general populace believes me to be."

Tiao paused, letting his mind refresh itself with what else Stern had said. Now that he replied to his first statement, he had to re-run through everything else in order to not miss anything. Tiao smiled after a moment, bringing his eye contact back to the student in front of him. "The principal and I may bat on the same team, but we're not buddies. I'm loyal to Darren, which you would of known, had you done your research."

Tiao brought his right hand up, straightening his cap before getting back to the point. "I've seen what your file says. Its pretty vague, as mystery seems to surround you in almost every form. I don't know what happend to your class that day, but I got my assumptions. Tell me Stern..." Tiao paused, leaning forward and lowering his voice so only Stern could hear him. "Did you take a trip to Neverland that day?" Tiao kept his face completely serious, as this wasn't a joke but a reference. Tiao counted on the smarts of Stern to sort through that, even in his drugged state.

"But this liberal crap? File or not, I know that isn't you." Tiao stated plainly, shaking his head as he leaned back once more. "Now, I'm giving you a chance to tell me what you really want. Whether you decide to come clean, or play along with your Gandhi act is up to you. Either way this is a good chance for you, one that could pass up if you take too long deciding."

[kenshin]

(you can wail on me later... )


Soon as Taru gave him Tiaos file, he had immediatly began to go through it Rather carefully. "Pefect status on Gym records..." he said silently. Class Schedule: Creative Writing ,Art ,AP World History, PE, AP Physics, Trigonometry He read Tiaos schedule and was surprisingly shocked. A Brute like him actually does work? hahaha, guess i should expect the unexpected. he thought half heartedly. He then found what he was looking for. The Medical record. joints often become sore and stiff making joint locks and holds more painful than most. And hence he found the Dirt that if Stern had taken, then Tiao would be handicapped. He'll have to come back later for the Captains file later, The Nurses were getting suspicious. Taking the "Joint" file and stuffing it deeply into his jeans pocket, he started heading back toward the infirmary rom.

So Raphy came back out casual, Faking his Excuse of getting ice. HE took it from the nurse and continued to head out. He would then take a De-tour to the main office and ask to use the shredder. After getting a nod of approval from one of the Aids, He walked to the shredder, and began to simply place the paper bottom first and shred Tiaos Handicap to pieces.

"Dun Dun Dun!" He mumbled to himself lightly, snickering alittle.

[stern]

"Oh your right, I didn't do my homework. So I guess that personally jab I made to Darren in the beginning along with my liberal crap didn't get you angry enough to become hostile, telling me which files you read....and more importantly, the ones you didn't."

Stern briskly sat up, popped his neck, and opened the pill bottle again. He aimed it toward Tiao, offering it to him.

"Tic-tac?"

Really, what were the chances someone would be able to convince a doctor to give him a prescription pain killer for events that were yet to happen. More likely for a repeating problem, at which case the influx would have been gotten used to by now. It was hardly like the blow to the head was worse than Stern had gotten in all the fights in his past. Tiao was not stupid, be he certainly wasn't the most observant in the group.

Pillars at every school were so predictable....fear was their best weapon....but Stern was already a man who had mastered fear, leashed anger, and destroyed doubt. Threats and personal jabs were only a way to help him win....which Tiao had done. they just couldn't resist an easy target could they?

"So you only got the censored file huh....not surprising, anyone able to walk into that trap can't be trusted with it....you expect me to cooperate when I just made you give me what I wanted without even realizing it again? Please, you couldn't even stop me if you wanted."

Tiao had lost ground quickly, though he probably didn't realize how much of an effect he was having at the moment by his appearance. He offered Stern a deal publicly, and he turned it down. He made jabs about his past, another mystery for the gossip mill to carry his name around school. Every second Tiao had been there had been playing into his hands...Stern however, had enough of the banter for one day..for starters, he still had the headache. He walked around Tiao, willing to let him stand in his failure. He may not have failed as much as the crowd perceived, but after Stern's little performance to a crowd that already favored him, Tiao wasn't going to fix the street talk about it anytime soon.

"By the way, I didn't...and what happened to me has little effect on what my aims are. If your boss had trusted any of you, that would have been obvious by now....or those he did trust weren't letting you in on the whole story."

[Tiao Lei Shen]

Tiao narrowed his eyes on Stern, refusing to give him any verbal answer. He was no longer sure what was going on, beginning to second guess even his own ability to stay out of the manipulating web of Mason's. Tiao had originally thought he would be able to get some insight into Stern's real goals while in his drugged state, but it seemed that was just a farce. Whether Stern was bluffing or not, he couldn't tell, and wouldn't be able to unless he took what was within the bottle. Tiao never digested foreign objects before, and he wouldn't start now.

"No, actually I never expected you to cooperate. You see, several key figures of the student body including a good number of our school's press saw me walk in here and sit down to talk to you. I extended my goodwill to your pansy movement, and you turned it down."

Tiao stood up in contrast to Stern, lettin that piece soak in before he continued. "The point of you non-violent resistance is to provoke a response, and congratulations, I came here giving you one. You refused to talk about demands, making the whole student rights movement come to a crashing halt.

"Don't get me wrong, I knew from the start this wasn't your aim and whether you have a back up plan for your simple cover front doesn't matter to me. I've upped our humanitarian image. I still don't know you're up to Mason..." Tiao trailed off, heading towards the door and opening it, just before turning his head over his shoulder as a smirk curved up his lips.

"But it looks like you'll be doing that soon. Looking forward to it." Tiao finshed opening the door, walking out before shouting one final phrase out in the open without waiting for a response from the larger student.

"Oh, and you should probably lie back down...!"