Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-5999656-20190205035159/@comment-25389303-20190725140139

Diaboli was slow to respond to Sorrel's question. Only after hearing Trago's heavy footfalls upon the ship's deck did he pilot the dark vessel full-throttle, and as they cut through the crashing waves his attention was focused solely on the treacherous waters ahead of them. Every now and then, a large fin or other pitch-black appendage would rise from the depths, threatening to drag them down to a watery grave at the slightest lapse in concentration.

Finally, as the roiling waters began to calm, and the monstrous screams faded into the howling winds, Diaboli allowed himself to relax. Leaning back in his chair, he wiped his forehead with the ragged remains of his shirt sleeve, grimacing as it came away stained dark with blood. Luckily, most of it wasn't his.

"As much I'd love to hear your suggestions regarding the destination of this little cruise, I'm afraid we're not out of the woods yet." As the distance between them and the facility widened, Diaboli felt as if a heavy blanket had been lifted from his psyche. His dulled mind returned to its usual sharpness with such abruptness it almost brought a smile to his face, and with it, a semblance of patience.

"The shoreline will undoubtably be patrolled by more police. Hunters, too, most likely. I can't take us to the coast without risking a firefight." He squinted into the darkness, imagining a dozen police boats circling their lonely ship as Grimm lurked beneath the water's surface. "I'll take us further down the coast, and find somewhere quiet to start unloading people."

The cracking sound of splintering wood made Diaboli glance over his shoulder. Trago had ascended to the bridge while the mob boss had been speaking, and was now silently appraising the Syndicate members with a look that might have been suspicious, had the machine been capable of emotion. Part of the A.I. consciousness was already analysing its retained information regarding the organisation, and recalled its prior encounter with their agents in vivid detail. A conclusion on their threat level would be made soon enough.

"Commander. The ship is secure. However, there are several unknown elements on board. They pose a significant security risk," Trago rumbled, standing rigidly behind the Syndicate duo at a non-threatening but watchful distance. "The unidentified adult male has proven hostile in a prior encounter."

"Police?"

"The probability is high, commander."

"Unfortunate," Diaboli replied in a quiet voice. Drumming his fingers on the console in front of him, Diaboli considered him options. Glancing at Maris momentarily, he reminded himself that most of the others were probably exhausted from the night's ordeals. Thankfully, having avoided any duels to the death, he still felt remarkably strong. Trago, too, seemed to be functioning well. In the event of a fight breaking out, his concerns would be for the structural integrity of the boat, if anything.

"We can't land until I know there'll be nothing waiting for us," Diaboli decided, keeping his steady gaze ahead of him as he spoke. "Go round up the others, and make them dispose of any electronics they have on them. Scrolls, radios...anything that could give away our position. I've had enough surprises for one night."

"Understood, commander," the support unit replied, already formulating a list of targets in his artificial mind. As he moved to descend the steps and relay the demand, he turned back. "And those that resist?"

Without even turning around, Diaboli responded, his voice cold and uncompromising.

"Either their tech goes in the ocean, or they do."