*set met_jason true
*set tobyrelationship "Protective"
"I need you to stay," I inform him. Upon hearing this, Toby gets a determined look on his face, like a man on a mission. I suppose he must be one of those 'hero' types who can't help but be helpful when they perceive someone in danger.

"Don't worry, I can help!" He says reassuringly. There's always at least one person like this in any city you're in, the kind of person who will jump at the slightest opportunity to stick their neck out for someone else. Though not as common as the people like me, who will gladly take advantage of that, which is probably the reason their lifespans tend to be shorter.

The attacker sighs in obvious irritation, "Son of a...look, kid,
*if (female =true)
	I get you want to save the girl and all. She may not exactly be a looker, but it's still every guy's dream, I understand.
*if (male =true)
	I get you want to be a good guy and all. It's admirable, really.
But I really need you to just go; I don't need things getting more complicated than they have to be."

While he's been talking, I notice him slowly walking forward into range. Toby doesn't seem to notice, choosing instead to stand defiantly rather than take a defensive stance or move to a safer position. So, the moment he tries to voice a retaliation, he's utterly surprised when his opponent's fist hits him straight across the face, leaving him falling on the ground. To his credit, he doesn't assume that Toby's down after the first punch and takes the time to kick him a few more times in the ribs, probably breaking a few there, before he bothers to refocus on me. We're both somewhat surprised when the kid stands up again and attacks him, bloody mouth and all. The fight goes to the ground in seconds.

Toby's really putting everything he has into it, though his opponent is obviously larger and more experienced. He's going to lose if the fight plays out to its logical conclusion, but I can't fault him for effort.
*choice
	#Now I can use this opportunity to escape
		Distractions are only as useful as you make them. On the ground and preoccupied, my attacker is in no position to object when I make my way around them and go through the door. I hear him shouting at me, but his attention is swiftly brought back to Toby.

		Closing the door behind me, I can still hear the sounds of combat behind the door. Though that won't last for very long, so it would be a bad idea to stick around. I'll probably have to deal with this guy again at some other time, but by then I'll be more prepared.

		Those comforting thoughts in mind, I go back the way I came towards the lunch room.
		*page_break Next
		*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1
	#I should intervene before Toby gets seriously hurt
		*set interrogatebully true
		*set toby_hens +10
		*set hurt true
		He got into this mess because of me, so it's only right that I get him out of it.

		I immediately begin evaluating my options. Right now, he's hunched over Toby assaulting with his fists while Toby does everything in his power to protect his head. I could use the nearby beaker and bash that over the back of his head, but that carried with it a moderate chance of immediate fatality. Not an option. Sharp weapons were also a risk with a civilian nearby; a single missed slice could have me facing charges of manslaughter.

		In the end, I decided the simplest answer was probably the best one. I rushed forward and pushed him into a table. Not particularly fancy, but given his hunched over position and his lack of strength in my direction, it doesn't require much more than a hard shove to knock him to the ground.

		After that, things got rather murky. We quickly descended into simply throwing blows at each other, any pretence of grace or humanity abandoned in favor of trying to do as much damage to the other as possible before blacking out. I took quite a few hits in that moment, something I would definitely feel later, but him being on the ground greatly restricted how much force he could direct toward me, and how much he could protect his head. A few seconds later, and I could already tell he was reaching the end of his rope; there were a few things he could do to improve his chances, and while I was on the lookout for any signs something about him gave me the impression he was instinctively holding back. I had an academic knowledge of this inhibition of his, it was a restraint that came simply from living in civilization. Something about growing up in civilized society always instilled someone with the social responsibility to never put in everything they had into something, always determined to preserve some sense of dignity and humanity in themselves, it restricted how much effort they could put into any task, especially violence. I, however, did not grow up in civilized society.

		With my advantageous position and superior levels of ferocity, it was not long before he simply gave up. Dropping his body as low as it would go onto the ground. I pushed myself up, using a table to support myself while I caught my breath.

		"Are you okay? That...looks like it really hurts!" I hear Toby ask behind me. I'm not sure which of us he's talking to. Probably both.
		*page_break Next
		*set jessy_name "Jessy Stewart"
		"Are we done?" I ask the crumpled pile of human refuse on the floor

		He looked up at me. He knew he was beaten and it showed on his face. I wouldn't call it fear, more that he was resigned to the place of the losing side. "Yea...I'm done."

		"Why did you attack me in the first place?"

		*if (third_incident =true)
			*set jessy_name "Jessy Stewart"
			*set jessyrelationship "Hostile"
			"Because you broke my girlfriend's arm. I had to do something about that, was expected of me."

			*if (breakvi =true)
				That takes me by surprised, "Vi is romantically involved with someone?"

				"Who's Vi? I'm talking about Jessy."

				"Jessy...you must mean the girl from my third hour."

			*if (breakvi !=true)
				"Hmm...you must mean the girl from my third hour."

			"Yea, Jessy. My girlfriend, or so I think. It's hard to tell these days." So, this was romantically motivated revenge. I've dealt with a few people seeking revenge, they're always the most difficult to deal with, "If I'd known this was all I had to show for my effort, I would have just let it go. Jesus, where'd you learn to hit like that?"

			Revenge is as plausible a motivation as any other, and the one that would bring me the most comfort; it means I don't have to worry about anyone else coming after me. At least no one associated with him.

			"Thank you for your cooperation. I trust I can count on your discretion."

			"Like I'm going to go chatting about getting my ass handed to me..."

		*if ((male =true) and (annoyjessy =true))
			*set jessyrelationship "Scorned"
			"Because my idiot girlfriend told me you insulted her. I thought...geez, if I knew this was how things would turn out, I'd have told her to piss off."

			"Your mate. Who is she?"

			"Jessy. She said you were some kind of asshole to her."

			*if (jessy_name ="Jessy Stewart")
				Jessy...he must mean the girl from my third hour who threw paper at me then kept bugging me about her outfit. If I'd known she would send a hitman after me, I might have been a bit more decisive in how I dealt with her. "Who else has she sent after me?"

			*if (jessy_name !="Jessy Stewart")
				"I'm unfamiliar with that name, who is she?"

				"She's like...really hot, and...look, I don't know, man, she's just my girl..."

				"You are being very unhelpful."

				"Hey, it's not like I have her description committed to memory. I'm trying to help...look, Jessy's just another snake, one of those big time social girls. Ask anyone around, they could point you toward her."

				There aren't a whole lot of females with large social circles of above average appearance that I have managed to turn into enemies today; using process of elimination, the most likely candidate is the girl from third hour who curtly rejected my advice on her choice of attire. "So, her name is Jessy...who else has she sent after me?"

			"Who the hell knows, man, it feels like she's fooling around with everyone lately."

			"So, you're just a lackey then..." It appears I'll be able to get more information from the source

			"Yea, sure, whatever...look, can I just go now?"

			"There's nothing else I need from you. I trust you'll be discreet."

			"Like I'm going to go chatting about getting my ass handed to me..."

		*if ((male =true) and (annoyjessy =false))
			*set jessyrelationship "Attracted?"
			"I just heard you were messing around with my girl, that's all it is. And look, you can have her, I was only looking after my reputation. This shit just ain't worth it..."

			"What 'girl' are you talking about?"

			"You know...Jessy...I heard someone say she was making eyes at you in third hour."

			*if (jessy_name ="Jessy Stewart")
				Well, there's only one person he could really be talking about. It appears that by communicating with me, Jessy Stewart put a target on me; whether this was intentional or not would require a talk with her, though I would be very surprised if this was all just a coincidence.

			*if (jessy_name !="Jessy Stewart")
				Third hour...he must be talking about the girl who threw the piece of paper at me asking about her choice of gear. It appears that by communicating with me, this 'Jessy' put a target on me even without me responding. Whether this was intentional or not would require a talk with her, though I would be very surprised if this was all just a coincidence.

			"Who else will I have to worry about?"

			"Who the hell knows, man, it feels like she's been fooling around with everyone lately." It appears that if I want to learn any useful information, I'll have to go directly to the source

			"There's nothing else I need from you, I trust you'll be discreet."

			"Like I'm going to go chatting about getting my ass handed to me..."
		*page_break Next
		"Uhm, you guys?" I hear Toby awkwardly force his way back into focus, "Should we call a nurse? You two both look like you're really hurt."

		"I'll live. So will he." I tell him, and the victim in question appears to agree with me. He takes the effort to force himself to his feet as if to emphasize the point.

		"I guess if you're both okay with this," Toby sounds uncertain himself, but doesn't appear willing to question either of us, "But, where did you learn to fight like that in the first place?"
		*fake_choice
			#An international terrorist
				*set stealth -1
				*set toby_hens -5
				"I was taken in by an international terrorist organization when I was very young. They taught me most of what I know, and I picked up the other parts on the job."

				"I really wish you wouldn't make fun of me."

				"That wasn't my intention."

				*if (terrorist =true)
					"I mean, you were saying this in first hour and it was pretty creepy then too. I don't mind if you just don't want to talk about it."

				*if (york =true)
					"You said earlier you were from New York, how could you be a terrorist? Actually, nevermind. It's your business, I won't pry if you really don't want me to."

				*if ((travel =true) or (no =true))
					"I'm alright if you just don't want to talk about it, it's your business. I won't pry if you really don't want me to."

			#Grew up in a rough neighborhood
				*set toby_hens +5
				"Rough neighborhood. Learned quick."

				*if (york =true)
					"I didn't know New York was that bad..."

				*if (york =false)
					"Well, sorry to hear that..."

			#Luck
				"I suppose I am simply lucky."

				"I guess so..." Toby seemed relatively easy to convince, though I notice the snicker from my victim

		"It's irrelevant," I say, and turn my attention to the one who started all this, "I trust that we won't meet again."

		He sighs as if I'm being redundant, which I probably am. "Yeah, don't worry about me. I know when I'm beat."

		I nod, satisfied with the results, and turn to leave. Lunch is calling.

		"Wait," I hear Toby call from behind me, "You're just going to leave?"

		"Is there more to talk about?" I ask

		"Well, leaving all of a sudden just seems rather abrupt. Shouldn't I at least go with you?"
		*choice
			#No
				*set toby_hens -5
				"No." I say, and leave the room before he can slow me any further. I have no more business here with either of them.

				I hear Toby call out through the door as I'm leaving, but the call of food from the lunchroom is louder.
				*page_break Next
				*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1
			#Fine
				*set firearms -1
				"...I won't stop you."

				"Great!" Toby said enthusiastically, "Just, uhm, let me clean all this up...jeez, fighting really leaves a mess, doesn't it?"
				*page_break Next
				*goto_scene 1-9tobylunch-1