Illuminati - A Game of Fear » Places

         Zeno frowned slightly, wiping his face where someone struck him. The masked man was smarter than he appeared to be. He at least recognized that he wasn't supporting the government, just looking out for his own. He even felt a modicum of respect for the man as he disassociated him from the rally and prevented him from being brutalized. True, he recognized Zeno's selfishness, but even with that, he'd have to give him props for recognizing his own self-interest. He frowned, however, as he was pushed towards the podium. Reluctantly, he stood up there.

The woman was looking at him like he alone could save her and, judging from the Masked Man's behavior, she was right. He had to think carefully. Zeno never liked having someone else's life on the line. He preferred to look after himself and only himself. Still, it was possible he could get the girl off the hook. He straightened himself and spoke.

"It is true that maybe the defendant doesn't deserve to live, sir. I am not disputing her crimes. You probably know more about her than myself," he told the man honestly, causing the woman to gasp and glare at him.

"What are you doing?! Are you trying to get me killed?!!"

Zeno ignored her and continued, "However, I propose that she is merely a product of her environment. She was taught the values she currently holds by the very people you are fighting against. She is a victim of mere chance, as are we all, born in the midst of the corruption of the upper class, so I propose that you leave her life to chance."

He took out a deck of cards and began shuffling them with ease, even amidst the confusion of the crowd. He then spoke lowly so the woman couldn't hear, finishing the shuffle and putting up a hand as though in a nervous tic in order to obscure cameras or any lip-readers, "If you're a revolutionary leader, then you know gambling isn't my only profession. If you win, you may do what you will with the woman and I will give you information, any piece of information I have at my disposal or can get my hands on, but..."

Then he spoke loudly so the crowd could hear, "If I win, you let her go or exchange her for prisoners or whatever else you can do with her, just don't kill her. I also get some of the dirt you have on the government."

He said this last part quietly, not wanting to give himself away. This was risky, but if it worked, he could do his good deed and get some new information out of it.