Eyes
Flood: There's something amiss, operative. Something doesn't smell right--or maybe, it smells like opportunity. Where I'm going with this is that our boss's nose has a job for you.
Operator: I sure hope for Flood's sake that wasn't a stab at the Gallic nose. Okay, that's where you're meeting the Merv. Everything looks peachy.
Lupine Lieutenant: I have something to ask her...
Lupine Lieutenant: I don't smell anything unusual...
Blood Noble: As long as we do not run out of...donors.
Blood Noble: Oho! This will be good.
Ookami: Hrr... Questions--a waste of time. We have everything we need...
Ookami: Rrr... None of your business...
Malphas: The Machine response thus far has been less than overwhelming. This raises certain...questions.
Malphas: It may be that they are waiting for something.
The Merovingian: Mayk! Bon; now that you are here, we can begin. You see, I've decided to consult the fortune-teller. Surprised? Ah, mais pourquoi pas? They say she will listen to those who come to her seeking wisdom...and there is something I wish to know--something about the Machines. She knows the answer; I know she does. Yes, we have had our...disagreements, but I think she will answer me. You will go search her out in Mara, mm?
Operator: I don't know about this...
The Merovingian: No, no--not a bit of barbarism, mon ami. We merely wish to chat.
Flood: You'll have grasped that we aren't exactly on the Oracle's standard guest list. That makes this somewhat difficult... Ah, well, we'll just ask the Blackwoods. They'll know...and they do so love to spill their guts.
Operator: I'm reading programs in there; they fit the Blackwood profile. Now, these guys generally aren't that tough, but they're kind of fond of Momma Oracle, so you may have to lean on them a little bit.
Blackwood Killer: Get the hell outta here, froggy!
Operator: "Froggy"? Now that was just uncalled-for.
Blackwood Killer: Blow it out your jack!
Blackwood Elwop: Eh... Jus' a sec... Uh-huh... The Oracle? Well! Why dintcha say so? Oh, sure! You jus' go right out there, hang a left, a couple blocks, and bam! You're there. Can't miss 'er.
Operator: Uh...huh. Well... I guess we might as well check.
Blackwood Elwop: What? No, nothin' ... I think I jus' got an earache, ya know...
Flood: What did I tell you, operative? I know how these scum think. Now, hurry along. The Merovingian is on his way, and will be arriving shortly.
Operator: I've got a strong solitary signal in there.
Operator: Seraph? Then where is she?
Seraph: Know that she knows you. ... She will see your master.
Operator: Oh...kay. This whole "looking into your soul" thing is kind of creepy. Uh... Whoops, I've got Flood pinging me. I think you'd better get out to the street.
Seraph: Look, and you will find.
Flood: I just got a dozen calls from stoolies in Mara telling me exactly where the Oracle can be found. Why can't you get results like that, Mayk? What have you been doing, anyway? No, no; don't tell me. Just get there and try not to look too slope-browed, or you'll answer for it!
Operator: Okay. Our people are in there, the Oracle's in there... Basically, everyone but you is already in there. So try to look like you were just in the bathroom r something.
The Merovingian: Merci. And now that we have attended to the proprieties, I will come to the reason I am here, which you, of course, know; but again, social forms are so important, hm? I want to know why the Machines have not obliterated their enemies--have not even tried. Where is the power--the overwhelming might? What has happened to it, mm? You cannot pretend to be ignorant of this.
The Oracle: Power isn't everything. There's more to them than you give them credit for. It isn't just keeping this place running--which is hard enough, let me tell you. But you've got eyes outside, now. Take a look around. You just might find something.
Twin: She's not so bad for an old bag, I suppose.
Twin: Hm... A little...homey.
The Oracle: Well, honey, it's about time you showed that mug of yours around here. Oh, that... Tell you what: I'll forget all about it, if you promise not to be a stranger. Deal?
The Merovingian: Hmm...
Flood: Clap-trap I could just as easily have got from the back of any tabloid. "look around": how insightful! Oh, to think of the time we've wasted on that woman... Don't expect anything to come of this, Mayk. All so-called seers spout such vague blither-blather, knowing that someone somewhere will match one of the countless possible interpretations to events after the fact, thereby proving their infallibility! Mark my words...
((And that's all folks))
