xp_logs | The Gates: Risks and Rewards

Nathan recieves the cameras he ordered and Medusa seizes the opportunity to make a suggestion.

It was tiny, Nathan thought in amusement, carefully removing the first of the camcorders from the box. Not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes, which was the whole idea. "They look fragile, don't they?" he asked Medusa. "My electronics supplier claims that you can drop them without doing any damage, though..."

Extending a strand of hair, she picked up another one from the box and brought it closer to her face for inspection. "Technology is truly amazing," she said. "Though I would not want to be the one to test that theory."

"I wanted them to be small," Nathan said briskly, reaching back into the box and coming up with a package of the very tiny tapes. "They're more discreet that way. Sometimes soldiers in tense situations have odd reactions to... attention, let's say." He did not say that he'd seen reporters shot and killed, out in the field. Or that, upon one occasion with Mistra, he'd had to do that himself. "Plus these are tiny enough," he said, gesturing at the tapes, "that we can all be carrying at least one blank. I'll have to drill Angelo and Rahne on switching them out quickly in case they're approached."

"Just you and two others seems like a very small contingent, should you face problems," she said casually. "It does not provide you much opportunity to split up unless someone was left alone."

"I'm bringing Juliette, too," Nathan said absently, unwrapping the tapes. "Turns out she speaks Czech..." He paused, staring down at the tapes and then looking up at Medusa, raising an eyebrow. "And that's not what you mean, is it? Are you serious?"

"I have been told that I am always serious," she replied. She set the camera down gently on the table, focusing her attention on Nathan.

Nathan sighed. "They were initially expecting five of us," he said. Bobby, unfortunately, still wasn't cleared to go traveling after his difficulties in the Danger Room. "It would be easy enough to add you to the list instead of Bobby. But the risk, Medusa..."

"I am used to risk," she said confidently. "I am well able to handle myself." Her face fell a little as she thought more about it. "Though I suppose I would be a risk to you as well. A high profile individual traveling with Elpis would probably create more of a stir than you hope to cause." Her hair hung down in its version of sadness.

Nathan raised a hand. "Before we start talking about logistics," he said, "why do you want to come?"

"Because something needs to be done," she said simply as she perched on the edge of a desk. "And I can help."

"I hope you know me well enough by now to know that this is not meant condescendingly in any way," Nathan went on steadily, "but I doubt very much that you'll have experienced anything quite like the atmosphere inside Smichov before. I may not know exactly what we'll find, but I can make some educated guesses."

"As can I," she said gravely. "Trying to deny that I have lead a mostly sheltered life would be foolish. However, I have also been exposed to things that others may not realize are part of that life." She laced her fingers together and let a small sigh slip out. "And as I have been told time and again, I am here to learn. This would be an opportunity to learn like no other."

Nathan gazed at her for a long, long moment before he spoke again. "You do precisely what I tell you to do," he said crisply, "when I tell you to do it." He smiled faintly. "One of us has spent a substantial part of his life in one war zone or the other, and if things start going boom, we may need to react quickly."

Medusa nodded, a little surprised by his admission. She had never liked taking orders, but it would be worth it, to be able to finally do something and stop sitting around waiting for something to happen. Nathan had earned her admiration and so she would give him her respect. "I will have to let my parents know where I am going. They...well, they may wish to speak with you."

"I imagine they will, yes." He picked up the camcorder, leaning back in his chair. "I'm a bit concerned about the idea of you traveling on an Attilan passport and under your own name, you're right. I think perhaps we'd better arrange for some new papers for you." Nathan's lips twitched briefly; Joel would probably kill him for this. "Fortunately I have the contacts to get you a new passport that should stand up."

One of her eyebrows arched up as she gave him a questioning look. "How interesting. I suppose with all the delicate situations you have been involved in handling, I should not be surprised that you have such...helpful contacts." Her hair began to sway slightly, the only sign of her excitement. "I would suggest you neglect mentioning that to my parents."

"Consider this a one-time offer - I'm supposed to be turning over a new leaf," Nathan said, his lips twitching again as he turned his attention back to the camcorder. Pressing a button or two turned on the power, and Nathan folded out the tiny screen, focusing the camera on Medusa. "So you'll have to learn how to use these, too."

"How difficult can it be?" she asked, her hair retrieving the camera she had set down earlier. She smiled as she began to push the buttons.

"In calm and controlled conditions, probably not at all," Nathan murmured. It didn't need saying that they might find themselves trying to record events that were anything but.