Ursa's Interview

Mok looked over the file one more time, still surprised he'd found such an interesting find. So young, yet so brutal. It was almost poetic. He glanced up at the clock. Not long before they'd bring her in. Oh, he hoped she'd accept. If there was one thing he hated, it was wasted potential, and she had so much!

Ursa walked in, head bowed and docile as a child. But every twist of her chains made the guards flinch. She was right on time and wondering if this was yet another psycho analyst to find out why she'd killed her grandfather, run away, broken and entered 40 some times, and what not. To find out why she wasn't sorry at all. Ursa sat down without prompting and stared at Mok with dismal, angry eyes. She waited for him to speak as she twisted the chain in her hands, eyes never wavering from his face. If he tried anything, she was going to make him sorry.

"Welcome, dear, welcome." Mok greeted her, grinning wolfishly, ignoring the fact she'd sat down without his leave. "Now, I'm sure you wondering why you're here. Well, you are here because you have broken Vian's laws. You have a chance, however, to escape punishment by participating in a competition. Should you win, you will have a clean slate and be given a handsome monetary award. Do you accept?" Mok folded his hands before him, waiting for her answer. How he hoped she'd choose the right one. People usually did.

Ursa blinked slowly at him, cocking her head as he stated an offer. She was silent for a long while, debating whether or not it'd be worth trying to break his neck. She didn't like him, he sort of reminded her of her grandfather, who was a nasty piece of work. "Vian should be thanking me for wiping grandfather off the face of the earth" She stated dully. "He was a miserable, horrible person" The girl closed her eyes for a moment. "If I say no, do I die?" Just like those terrible black and white silent films her grandfather liked so much. If the answer was yes, she'd die, she'd choose the game. She didn't want to meet her grandfather again for a while.

"Oh I'm sure he was horrible to you." Mok said, giving her a sympathetic look. "If there is violent resistance on your end...yes, you would die." He answered truthfully. Why lie about it? No doubt she would see through it. Her records indicated a keen understanding of those around her. She would be an excellent player. "But if you accept and lose, I suppose it would just be a prison term, since you're so young."

"You have no idea. He was terrible to everyone around us, too. Nastiest clown you'd have ever met" She told him, still without inflection in her voice. Ursa nodded approvingly as he told her the truth. No doubt he'd read her files and knew she wasn't as empty headed as she was acting. "27 years, not including a stay at a mental rehabilitation facility" She informed him. Ursa sighed. "Everything would be wiped off my records? Absolutely everything? Even the murder charge?" She had to make sure, it sounded to good to be true

"A very long sentence, but worth every minute, I'd imagine." Mok said. "Yes, we are quite serious about the clean slate. More incentive for people to join, you see? Everyone wants a new beginning but some are...more eager than others. Makes for better footage." Mok explained solemnly. "We make sure everything is gone. We like to be very thorough. The reward can be used however you like." Then Mok added with a chuckle, "Except for more crimes, of course."

"I don't think so" She muttered. It had all been necessary. She gave him a quick, hard glare for the insinuation she should be in a mental ward. Ursa nodded slowly. "Everything would be wiped, and I'd get money...I could buy myself a house, get a puppy..." She smiled faintly. "Never have to be a clown. And even if I lose I'm not dead" Ursa was quiet for a while again and nodded. "Okay. I think I'd like to play your game"

"Splendid!" Mok said, almost doing a little dance in his seat. "Now, this is going to last about a year, and everything you do will be recorded from the time you wake up until about nine at night, usually. Can't miss any juicy footage, you know." Mok grinned, then continued, "I don't suppose there's anyone you'd want to use your two phone calls on?"

Ursa spared him a small smile. "It's fine. I was always being watched it seemed. Before. I think I can handle a few cameras in my face" Ursa looked down and thought again. "...There was one person, but I don't know if she'd take my calls, she was a nice woman who let me stay with her when grandfather got too bad" Ursa shrugged. "Do you have people we can call if we have nobody? I would like to talk to someone friendly on the outside"

"Well, I'm sure we could find someone if this woman is unable to take your call." Mok said, already thinking of who to get. He wanted Ursa in peak condition. If having someone play big sister to her meant that, he'd do it. "Now, may I ask what this woman's name is?"

Ursa nodded. "Thank you very much" She was grateful for that, a sympathetic ear would be nice for once, or some words of encouragement. "Her name is Sarah Hawkins, but like I said, she might not want to talk to me"

"Well, we'll try anyways, hm?" Mok said, making a note on the fresh notepad on his desk. He'd get someone to check in with this Hawkins woman, see what her deal was. With any luck, she'd be receptive to the contact. "Any other questions, dear?"

"Okay, thanks for that. I don't have anyone else besides her anymore" Sarah had been like a mom, but had been against violence. Ursa tapped the table for a moment. "Can we do anything to win, barring killing? like, sabotage and what not?" The more she thought about it, the more she really wanted to win, get the house, the puppy, the peace of never having to do anything for anyone again. Never talk to people who thought she was totally crazy. If she could do anything, she would. "And can I have my lock picks back? I promise I won't try to escape with them"

Mok chuckled, already liking the way she thought. "Sabotage is allowed and encouraged." he said, "And you can have the lockpicks back. In pristine condition. There'd be no escaping with them, though. We planned for things like that. Oh, and you can wound your opponents. Just be sure our medics have time to get there before they bleed out, alright?"

Ursa nodded. "Good. I want to win this" She really wanted that puppy, the house. She could already see it. and maybe if Sarah forgave her, she'd be there too. Ursa liked the idea more and more. "I hope they're as good as when they were taken from me" Ursa said quietly. "I would not be happy if even one was bent. I can't sneak into rooms and mess about while people are sleeping if they aren't working right, can I?"

Ursa nodded at the warning about wounding people. "I know about sixteen sleeping poisons and several places to incapacitate and temporarily stun, but not kill" She told him proudly. "I tried everything on grandfather before I had to kill him"

Mok nodded along, smiling. "Yes, we can't have you working with sub-par tools, can we? It's just simply not done." His eyes lit up at her repertoire, already thinking about the twists the show could take. "Marvelous! The others certainly are in for a surprise!"

Ursa nodded seriously. It simply wasn't done, working with faulty equipment. She smirked for a moment, then it was gone. "Good. If I'm lucky they won't see me coming" she looked around, once again listless. "I think that's all I wanted to know, thank you. Do I get sent back to my cell now?"

Mok nodded. "Thelonious will escort you." He said, leaning back in his chair. "Good luck, dear. I look forward to seeing you in action."

Ursa nodded and stood up as the guard came in. "I have a feeling it'll be a game to remember"