Allen was worried that Legion didn't have a file on Crato. "Okay, do you have anything on the technology I could use to see if Crato was telling the truth about what the Black Comet will do?"
"Probably." Allen laughed a little. "Look up your files on me and Jen sometime. Anyway what else? Do you know about them? Is there anything that relates to the Black Comet, or the darkness threatening their world? And do you have anything on Crato?"
"Hold that thought." Allen said to Raxtion. Then, to Legion he thought. "Well, I was wondering about Crato. What do you know about him? Or about the Black Comet? And I wanted to see if you could get me a copy of the book Crato was talking about." Then he spoke to Raxtion again. "Alicia told you I was from another planet didn't she? I was sent here to save your world, I wanted to talk to the guy who sent me here, but apparently I don't need to be alone for that. He added to Legion, "You could've told me about the telepathic communication before I left."
"Sorry, I know it's a weird request. I just..." Allen paused, considering the best way to say this. Eventually he just decided on the truth. "I wanted to speak to the guy who sent me here. But I don't think he's the kind of guy who'll show himself to just anyone. If you could just step out for a minute I'd really appreciate it. I'll come get you when I'm done talking to him."
Allen looked around at the spaceship in awe, he didn't know where he should star looking, or, now that he thought about it, what he was looking for. "Do you think you could start by showing me the gun? I'd like to study it, see if I can tell whether or not Crato was telling the truth." He looked around him at the advanced technology. "Then again I don't understand this technology, so I might not be able to do that." Allen thought for a minute. "Is there somewhere on this ship I can be alone for a minute?"
"We can talk on the way," said Allen as he stood up. "I want to know more about the technique is he learned and taught you. About manifesting the darkness in your heart and using it. I don't want to learn the techniques myself, I just want to know about them. And I'd like to see the book Crato mentioned."
Allen turned to Raxtion. "Not yet, but I'm sure you can answer most of my remaining questions." He turned back to Crato. "Just one more for you and then you can go do whatever it is to do what you need to do: how does a beggar discover the way to defeat the darkness?"
"Okay." Allen hadn't considered that Crato might have work to do. "Well I guess I'll just skip to the big question then. I've heard you came around at the same time as the monsters. I was wondering if there was some reason for this, or if its just a coincidence." Allen did his best to hide his suspicions as he asked this.
"A little, thank you." Allen was nearly out of questions to ask. "Would you mind some more personal questions? I don't mean to intrude but I would like to know a bit about the guy who's in charge of saving the world I'm on, make sure the planet's in good hands, I guess."
"I don't think that will work," Allen said thinking of his fight with the creatures. "Like I said earlier I fought those things, when I shined light on them all they did was cringe a little and then they went right back to attacking like nothing happened, they were completely unharmed. That said have you done any small-scale testing to make sure this will work like you work? I can't imagine it would end well if the comet went up and fired its laser, only to end up hitting some big city instead of working like you planned. Or maybe it does work like you planned but with unforeseen side effects, like maybe the heat from the refracted laser ignites the planets atmospheric gases and kills everyone. That's kind of an extreme example I understand, but I'm just trying to make a point."
Allen shook hands with Crato. "You recognized me?" This detail surprised him. "First now that we have more time to talk, how exactly does the black comet work? How big will the beam it fires off be? Is there one place you can hit that will subdue all of the 'manifestations' of the darkness? How would that work?"
Allen was shocked at this last statement. "That's not why I act cold. It's easier to choose morality over people if you aren't close with anyone." He shared this detail only because he suspected she already knew it. "Oh, and if you're willing to try it before I go; I might be able to clear the darkness that's clouding you long enough to check out Crato." He turned to Raxtion. "If that thing's going up tonight we don't have a lot of time. We should get going."
"He was your last hope. Now you have me. I'm not sure what difference I can make, but I was sent here for a reason, so I must be good for something. As for what else you can do," Allen stopped and thought a moment, "let's start by investigating. First off has anyone even tried to find the source of the monsters? Or did everyone just skip to trying to wipe them out? We should check out Crato too. The fact that Alicia can't read him like everyone else worries me. So I think we should do some good old fashioned snooping to find out what's up with him. I'd also like a look at the Black Comet. Raxtion, you said you were piloting it right? So do you think you can give me the grand tour? And I want to know everything that's already known about these monsters. How much time do we have before the Comet's scheduled for use?"
"He's either an idiot or a liar, either way he can't be trusted. I've had studied light magic enough to know that a concentrated beam of natural light could easily harm people, even kill them. And if she-" Allen gestured at Alicia- "doesn't trust him, doesn't that mean something? I mean, she can see right through people right?"
Allen noticed the crowd beginning to react to what he was saying and had an idea. He spoke clearer now, and louder, making sure he could be heard by as many as possible, and not just by the scientist. "AND WHAT IF YOU DO HAVE TO USE IT AGAIN? WHAT IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE SOURCE BEFORE THE DARKNESS MANIFESTS AGAIN? AND WHAT IF TO 'REDUCE' THE DARKNESS YOU HAVE TO FIRE IT INTO A POPULATED AREA? MAYBE THE BEST WAY TO GIVE YOURSELVES TIME TO FIND THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS TO TARGET A MAJOR CITY? ARE YOU WILLING TO SACRIFICE PEOPLE'S LIVES FOR A TEMPORARY SOLUTION? AND HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE IDEA THAT MAYBE YOU DON'T TAKE THE CREATURES DOWN AS LONG AS YOU EXPECTED? I'VE FOUGHT THESE MONSTERS, AS SOON AS YOU TAKE ONE DOWN, THREE MORE APPEAR TO REPLACE IT. WHAT IF THAT HAPPENS WITH THE BLACK COMET? WHAT IF YOU JUST REDUCE THE DARKNESS ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY COME BACK STRONGER? WHAT IF YOU JUST MAKE THINGS WORSE?" He spoke with conviction now. "THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY."
"THAT'S YOUR PLAN?" Allen was beginning to understand why Legion sent him here. "JUST HIT THE DARKNESS OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH SUNLIGHT EVERY TIME IT STARTS TO GROW STRONG AGAIN? HAS IT OCCURRED TO YOU THAT YOU'LL BE FIRING THESE BEAMS AT THE PLANET AS WELL? HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE DAMAGE YOU'LL DO TO THE WORLD IN THE PROCESS? OR THAT YOU WON'T REALLY FIX ANYTHING? THAT YOU'LL BE TREATING THE SYMPTOMS INSTEAD OF THE DISEASE?"
Allen thought for a moment. Legion had told him that this planet needed his help, but if they had things under control then why was he here? He needed to think about this. He turned to Raxtion, almost asking him a question, instead though he decided to speak with the scientist, Crato. When the other man mentioned Legion he began to turn towards him, but Allen would likely have less time to speak with the scientist, so this new man could wait. He moved closer to where the men were speaking to the crowd from and shouted so that Crato could here him. "AND HOW DOES THE COMET WORK, EXACTLY? HOW IS THIS THING SUPPOSED TO DESTROY ALL THE DARKNESS IN THIS WORLD?"
Allen was uncomfortable at the idea that she knew he was faking his cold attitude. He had spent years learning his detached facade and this was the second person in two days who could see right through it. Nevertheless these people clearly had a role to play in saving this planet. "Well, this is probably going to sound crazy, but I'm here to save your world. I'm supposed to find the source of the darkness that's threatening this planet and eliminate it."
"Allen." Allen was unsure how she had defeated the creatures, but he was grateful that she had. True to his nature though he didn't show it, instead trying to appear as calm and emotionally detached as he could. He took her hand and shook it. "Allen Tor. And you?"
"Voices?" Allen looked up and then quickly down again as one of the creatures jumped at him. "Nope, I'm still plenty sane. Unfortunately for these guys." Allen did a wide sweep with his blade and took out several of them, changing his strategy to a mix of offense and defense. There were enough of them now that he could fight back and still have plenty to study. "And don't worry; I don't see this as hopeless, I'm just studying my opponents. Watch this." He made several small blades of light and spun them around him, eliminating at least a dozen of the monsters. "Heck, I could beat them blindfolded."
