Anastasia's power level: 44,658

Dr. Tailor's Power Level: 6,698

---

When Tundra stood with obvious annoyance the soldier couldn't help but shrink back in fear of his life, but then he sagged with visible relief when Tundra issued his command and brushed past the lowly foot soldier. The soldier turned and snapped another crisp salute, professionalism returned, "Yes my lord!"

The soldier left in the opposite direction at a fast march to gather the requested forces. He would make sure to gather the best warriors that Tundra had stationed here in the Bamboo forest. Nothing less would do in such an important mission. This unit would be going out underneath the lord directly after all.

The soldier stepped into the elite barracks and barked out, "Sirs! Lord Tundra is going on a mission, and has demanded a unit to accompany him! You are to get ready as quickly as possible, and meet with him outside!"

There were various cries of acknowledgment and the forces moved rapidly in preparation. It didn't take them long, as the PTO was always organized to be able to react to an enemy attack at a moment's notice. They were fully prepared and outside before Tundra in less than five minutes.

---

Dr. Tailor seemingly stood in the middle of a bamboo clearing with Acker standing just behind her. Truth was that it was a holographic display hidden under the grass. Dr. Tailor hadn't gotten as far as she had with out being cautious. The Planetary Trade Organization was not to be underestimated. It was one of the most powerful forces in the galaxy, and that is exactly why she wanted to speak with them. The fact that the leader of the entire faction, who her sources referred to as Lord Tundra, was on earth was a surprising boon.

Another precaution Tailor took was to place in strategic locations around the area a contingent of android warriors. She was sure that Tundra wouldn't be coming alone. All her information pointed to Tundra being smart, cunning, resourceful, and cautious. The PTO's presence on the earth had largely gone undetected because of such care. Dr. Tailor could respect that.

Dr. Tailor shifted the camera's view along the sky line while the androids kept themselves hidden and their eyes open in the forest. She wanted to be prepared for when Tundra arrived. A lot was riding on this meeting... if project Mask was successful, and she could secure an alliance with the PTO... then the commanders of the Red Ribbon Army would have to capitulate and give her want she so rightfully deserved.

Leadership.

A smile played out on the holographic lips of Dr. Tailor.

She'd finally be able to dictate things as she wanted. Seizing power and control of the Red Ribbon Army meant that she could guide the research and development along her vision. To expand their weapons beyond android and robotic specialization. The Mask program was just the beginning of her plans. A glorious beginning. One that would be propelled forward if she could broker a deal with Tundra. The Planetary Trade Organization had technology and weapons that surpassed the earth's. If she could have access to some of it. If she could get the Red Ribbon Scientists to study the PTO's  technology it would advance their knowledge by leaps and bounds. No other force on earth would be able to compare.

She just had to make sure that what she brought to the table was worth Tundra's time. She had an inkling of Tundra's goals. Planetary conquest. Dr. Tailor didn't care about who 'owned' the earth so long as she ruled it. Her ultimate goal was the progression of her craft and the knowledge gained from it. If she had to answer to another force greater than her well... she was used to that. And when she got what she wanted out of Tundra and the Planetary Trade Organization, she'd figure out her next steps then.

As for now, one thing at a time.

Her focus need to be on her meeting with Tundra and brokering a deal.

---

Word Count: 672
Total Word Count: 1,227

Power Level: ?

---

Dr. Tailor looked up and down the person who arrived. A changeling, huh? Not a surprise, considering the Planetary Trade Organization was originally created by an ancient changeling. It made sense that it's current leader would be one. Or at least the leader stationed here on earth. She doubted the leader of the entirety of the PTO would come down to earth himself. Then again, the earth was a big threat to the PTO so maybe it did warrant that kind of special attention...

"Thank you for meeting me, my name is Dr. Tailor," she nodded her head in greeting, not bowing to the changeling. She didn't want to place him in a place of authority above her.

Seeing that he had brought a contingent of warriors with him, Dr. Tailor raised a hand and made a summoning gesture. From the tree line stepped forward three of her androids. The top of her forces: Zulu, Yankee, and X-ray. She kept the rest of the androids hidden. She wanted to show the other leader her protection as a show of good faith, not tip her entire hand. The element of surprise that her androids had with their artificial energy was her biggest advantage.

"Would you happen to be Lord Tundra?" Tailor asked, displaying a little bit of the knowledge that she had managed to extract from her... resources. Once again wanting to show the changeling some of what she had with out tipping her hand. It was important to leave him guess how much she actually knew, and how much was conjecture.

"I'm here on behalf of the Red Ribbon Army. We're a..." she paused trying to think of the best way to phrase what the Red Ribbon Army really was, "Well, the Red Ribbon Corporation is known for creating the best robotics and android technology on earth. We rival the Capsule Corporation in scientific innovation. But we are so much more than that. The Red Ribbon ARMY is the true power behind the corporation."

Another gesture, and the android Zulu stepped forward. He lifted up his shirt to show the complex cybernetics that composed his torso, his expression flat and serious, but not blank. He obviously still had a mind and personality, but was obedient to the doctor. Zulu then lowered his shirt and moved next to the hologram of the Doctor, since her hologram was unable to leave the projection disk hidden in the grass. The hologram of Dr. Tailor did a little spin of her hand, telling Zulu to turn around. He obliged, turning a full 360 degrees to display his form and physique to everyone. Then he summoned a energy ball in his hand displaying the ability to control it before smothering it.

"Zulu here is one of my best soldiers," Dr. Tailor said, "Your scouters can't read him, in spite of the fact he just showed the ability to use energy. Your scouters SHOULD have picked that up, but they didn't."

She wasn't asking. She was boldly TELLING them. It was obvious that Dr. Tailor wasn't just proud, she was down right arrogant.

"I'm telling you all of this so you know just some of what we at the Red Ribbon Army could offer you," Dr. Tailor held her hand out to the changeling, "We would like to partner with the Planetary Trade Organization. An alliance of convenience. We will assist the Planetary Trade Organization in it's invasion and subsequent conquest of the Earth in exchange for sovereignty over the planet."

Tailor let the moment hang in the air. A pause for effect, if you will. She couldn't help having a little... drama.

"What do you think?"

---

Word Count: 614
Total Word Count: 1,841

Power Level: ?

---

Tailor wasn't sure if she was relieved or even more concerned when the changeling, Tundra, revealed himself to the be leader of the entire PTO. On one hand, her sources had been correct and she had managed to bluff that she knew more than she did. On the other hand, this was a very VERY dangerous person, and she was going to have to be infinitely more careful now. It was one thing to risk alienating the leader of a sub-group in charge of invading earth. It's entirely another to alienate the entirety of the PTO.

Careful Tailor...

Her anxiety ramped up a few notches at Tundra's nonchalance and dismissive attitude towards her proposition. She hid that anxiety, of course, keeping her confident persona on display. Was he bluffing as well, like she was? She didn't know, and it was too dangerous to call his bluff. If it wasn't a bluff then things could go very very bad, very very quickly.

"On the contrary, Lord Tundra. This is me showing you respect. If I were to scrape and bow, that would be disingenuous," Dr. Tailor clasped her hands together dramatically, "Oh, Lord Tundra! Please let us join you! You and the mighty planetary trade organization! Please spare us! We'll give you anything you want!"

She dropped the act an instant later.

"That's not what you want," the doctor said and waggled a finger, "I also don't think you wouldn't be interested in working with a weakling such as that. No, we are approaching you as partners, not sycophants and pathetic worms."

There. Was that too much? He wasn't a prideful saiyan, known to take offense at any little slight against their power. She hadn't insulted him or the might of the PTO. However, if she came from too aggressive a place, he might resist regardless. Doctor Tailor needed to tread a vary careful thin line. She needed to make the RRA an appealing ally while also making sure they weren't a threat.

Doctor Tailor was walking along a knife's edge, and she was exhilarated.

Tailor was increasingly glad that she had chosen to project herself holographically instead of arriving in person. She didn't feel confident that Zulu, Yankee, and X-ray would be enough to protect her should Tundra and his officers attack. Especially now that she knew that Tundra was the leader of the entire organization and not just the invading force. Once again it paid to be careful. She had debated on using her strongest androids, but eventually decided it was a worthy risk. If she wanted to impress Tundra, she needed to show him her capabilities. If he ended up destroying all three of her best androids well... she could rebuild. It'd just be a huge pain.



Tailor wasn't able to pick up on how strong Tundra and his warriors were. She didn't have an power reading technology installed into Zulu and the others. But for all she knew, Tundra could destroy the entire planet if he wished. There have been recorded events of changelings being able to do exactly that. Look at the first planet Namek...

"You ARE right though. We don't have the means to take control, otherwise we would have done so already. That is why we want to broker an alliance," she said, "Isn't that what an alliance is all about? Coming together to share strength towards a similar goal?"

Let's give him the power there. She thought to herself. He was right. She didn't want to argue with him on every step of the way. He was right that they needed him. No use in trying to deny that. But what mattered is convincing him that he needed them as well. Or at the very least that it was worth his time to work with them. Which will it be, Tundra?

---

Word Count: 638
Total Word Count: 2,479

Power Level: ?

---

Something changed in Tundra. Dr. Tailor didn't need scouter readings to be able to tell that he was suddenly putting out more power. It was obvious in the way his soldiers acted and the way his aura shone bright. This was a threatening display of power. Shit, things were going pear shaped real quick. This is what she wanted to avoid, but it seemed that it didn't matter how carefully she had tried to dance on that knife's edge. Tundra was going to cut her to ribbons regardless.

Metaphorically speaking, considering she wasn't actually there...

Dr. Tailor had to try and reclaim control. She needed to turn this around. Yes, Tundra was right, but the red ribbon army had so much more to offer. SHE had so much more to offer. She was worth so much more than just another lackey beneath this space lizard's heel. Tailor opened her mouth to argue, but then a voice cut into her radio feed, playing right into her ear.

"Enough, Dr. Tailor," It was the voice of Mr. Norwood. One of her superiors in the Red Ribbon Army, "Accept his proposal before you anger him any further."

"But sir-" 

"That's an order, Dr. Tailor," the voice of Mrs. Wesley cut in, "We're taking his offer. The PTO's technology will launch us to the top echelons of earth's political climate."

"With Tundra's backing none would oppose us. Let him focus on the rest of the galaxy. We just need his support here," This time it was Mr. Easter adding to the discussion which only left-

"Do it," Mrs. Suther said with icy finality. While all four of the leads were her superior, Mrs. Suther was Dr. Tailor's DIRECT superior

Dr. Tailor bit her lip hard enough to draw blood if she could even bleed. Her pride rankled underneath the onslaught from both Tundra and her superiors. What cowards. They were going to capitulate just like that? One brief show of power, and some boastful claims of galactic conquest? If he were truly so far above them, why did he have such a crap security system in his communication lines? What was he doing here on this 'obstacle' if he truly didn't care.

Even more than bowing beneath the combined orders of Mr. Norwood, Mrs. Suther, and Tundra, she was furious at Tundra's disrespect of her work. Her prized warrior Zulu? An action figure? He had no idea what he, and by extension her, were capable of. His disregard for her personal work was the worst insult of all. He could disregard the Red Ribbon Army. That wasn't her. But her work? That was another thing entirely.

Dr. Tailor's mind flashed to the Mask Program, briefly. Prove that she was worth his time? He needed more from her? She would give him more. More than he could handle. She would crush him with her brilliance. She would make them all acknowledge- no! - bow before her genius! 

But she needed to bide her time and wait for the right moment.

If she defied her orders now, she would lose the backing of the RRA. She still needed their funding and resources. They would just ruin her and her work, and bend over backwards to kiss Tundra's ass and thank him for shitting on them. No. She needed to play this obsequious game for a little longer. As much as she hated it.

Dr. Tailor took one deep breath to calm herself down, and then redirected her attention to Tundra. She tapped her temple and said, "It looks like my superiors accept your terms, Lord Tundra."

With a mental direction, Zulu kneeled before Tundra, even though Tailor's holographic form did not, "The Red Ribbon Army is at your command. How would you like them to serve?"

---

Word Count: 629
Total Word Count: 3,108

Power Level: ?

---

Suddenly Tundra was rattling off a list of orders and demands like a machine gun. Dr. Tailor blinked in surprise, but quickly schooled her expression back into a neutral one. Good thing this conversation was being recorded through not only her positronic brain, but also through the holographic channels as well. His list was extensive, and rapid fire. Looks like the changeling intended on having them hit the ground running. Very well, if he wanted to throw them in the deep end to see if they sink or swim then Dr. Tailor would show him just how fast they could paddle.

"Very well, Lord Tundra," Dr. Tailor said, "I have hacked into your Scouter communications, but otherwise I will need access to your network to provide the information you need. Once connected I'll be able to upload all the data that we have on the Capsule Corporation, our operations, as well as general information on the Earth."

It was interesting that he was asking for surveillance and information on the earth it's self. Does he not really have any generalized data? Or was this a test to cross reference the information that we give him? Tailor thought to herself. No matter. The leaders were going to give him everything he asked for any way. Maggots. But that didn't mean SHE had to give him the information she personally had.

Dr. Tailor debated about telling him about the Mask Program. She hadn't even shared the results of it with the rest of the Red Ribbon Army yet... But considering their sudden spineless capitulation, she was more tempted to keep this particular ace up her sleeve. The Mask Program might be her only way to turn the tables on the others if she wanted to take over... No, she'd hold on to the Mask Program for now. It was still in the testing phase, after all.

Tailor snapped back to the conversation at hand, her brain repeating what Tundra had been saying while her thoughts were elsewhere. A space station and an army. Ambitious. Like he said he was. But once again she wondered, if the PTO was sooooo far above them and had such AMAZING technology, why would he want an army and a space station built by such inferior forces? He should have an entire fleet, an entire armada, of war ships and stations under his command. She'd need to find a way to gather more information on just how powerful this PTO genuinely was. Maybe all of this was a fucking bluff.

It was too early to tell.

"These are all possible, Lord Tundra," Dr. Tailor said, "The RRA will start right away on the space station designs for your approval. I believe there may already be plans in the works that could be repurposed for your wishes. As for the android army, that shouldn't be a problem. They have such resources in place already, though they may not be up to your standards. Some of the androids will be brought to you to determine their worthiness and if more modifications need to be made with the technology that you will be providing."

Dr. Tailor turned and gestured to Zulu again. Yankee and X-ray also stepped forwards from their hidden locations amongst the bamboo. The moved to flank Zulu obediently. All three of them crossed their arms, presenting themselves for the perusal of Tundra and his forces.

"These three are some of my best work, should you like to test them at your leisure to see their worthiness for your upcoming army," Dr. Tailor hoped that he would take up the offer. She wanted to see just how well her own personal work would fair against the power of the PTO leader, and/or his forces. It would give her a baseline to work from. And even if he destroyed them and claimed them inferior, she had other plans and contingencies. She was already working on alternative projects from simple androids and robotics after all. It would just serve as an example to the rest of the fools in the RRA that robotics was rapidly becoming obsolete, like she had so often told them.

"All these will be difficult tasks, Lord Tundra. But not impossible. It will be done as you command, and done well," Dr. Tailor promised with obvious confidence. The fact that the leaders didn't chime in her ear to argue was proof that they were comfortable with the demands and tasks set before them. If anything, these were some of the same projects that they were already working on. Now they would just have additional resources to work on them.

"What timelines are you expecting for these to be completed?"

---

Word Count: 784

Total Word Count:3,892

Power Level:?

---

Dr. Tailor's jaw almost dropped at Tundra's pronouncement. A month? A month for all of that? Unbelievable. A month for the space station alone would have been pushing it. But a month for everything? What had the Red Ribbon Army gotten it's self in to? Sure, this is probably a test, but there had to be a limit to his expectations. This was just unreasonable. Dr. Tailor kept her thoughts to herself, however. This was out of her hands. Her leaders were the ones responsible for this arrangement. She just had to make sure she kept herself out of the way of any possible backlash from everything.

She'd need to be very cautious...

When Tundra's men took away her top three soldiers, Dr. Tailor lamented revealing them. She should have offered up less than her best. But it was a worthwhile sacrifice. She needed to put her best foot forward on impressing Tundra if this was going to work out. She just didn't like putting more and more of her eggs in the basket of the Mask Program. If something happened to the Mask Program, which she was confident won't, but IF something happened, she would be down any legitimate defensive warriors.

When Tundra asked about how she had manage to discover and infiltrate the PTO's communication line, she couldn't help but give him a confident grin. Her earlier arrogance returning, but this time in a much more controlled manner, "Oh, that? We had managed to capture one of your scouts. It was only a matter of taking his scouter and reversing the signature to locate and listen in to all the command lines, not just his. It was also a simple matter of breaking him to learn what we needed to know."

Acker had done most of the breaking while Dr. Tailor had been doing most of the hacking. Acker truly was an excellent assistant. Good help was so hard to find, and Acker was the best help she could have asked for. She may not be as physically powerful as many of the forces that they faced. But she had other skills that were, in Tailor's opinion, much more valuable than the ability to punch other people really hard and blast them with lasers.

Dr. Tailor cleared her throat, coughing into a closed first for a moment as she reined herself back in and adopted an appropriately servile attitude, "Will that be all Lord Tundra?"

She almost hesitated to ask, but knew that she would have to. How many more insane demands could the changeling add one? She didn't want to encourage him to add more, but knew it would be better to do so. If only to keep the disgusting act of being his humble servant, eager to please on behalf of the RRA. 

---

Word Count: 467
Total Word Count: 4,359