*set stealth -1
*set met_jason true
There were times when evading and tactics were necessary for defeating larger opponents, but judging by the small amount of information I was able to gather in the few seconds we had seen each other, this was not one of those times.

*set interrogatebully true
Using a backpack as a diversion tactic isn't one of my best plans, but given the lack of any alternatives, it would have to do. Holding onto that thought, I keep my ears trained on the sound of his footsteps. I have a brief window of opportunity between the moment he turns the corner and when he ascertains my location.

When I hear him less than half a footstep away from turning the corner, I throw what I hesitate to call my improvised weapon at the location he is going to be the moment he comes into view, primarily at the torso. When he goes around the corner, he ends up walking right into it, his forward momentum combined with the projectile's force hitting him squarely in the chest causes him to lose his breath for a moment.

I have maybe half a second before he reacts. In most circumstances this wouldn't be enough time, but I was moving the moment I threw my projectile so by the time it makes impact, I'm already in close range, and half a second is enough time for me to throw a punch aimed toward his throat. My attack landing nicely against his adam's apple leaves him completely incapable of breathing, which makes him unable to defend himself when I slip around him, grabbing him from behind, and pulling him to the ground with my thumbs placed right above his eyes.

"If you have any affection for your sense of sight, I suggest you refrain from moving."
*page_break Next
"What...are you going to do..." He coughs out, and I'm left to ponder that question myself.

"That depends on how you answer my questions. Why are you following me?"

He grimaces, "I...I was going to fight you..."

"Why?"

*if (third_incident =true)
	*set jessy_name "Jessy Stewart"
	*set jessyrelationship "False"
	"Because you broke my girlfriend's arm!"

	*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."

	"Yes! Jessy! My girlfriend!" 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 you were going to try and push my eyes out, I would have just let it go...what the hell is wrong with you?!"

	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," often times, the threat of torture is more effective than the act itself. Once again I find that belief proven true, "I trust I can count on your discretion."

	"Fine, fine...so where do we stand?"

	I answer him by firmly slamming the back of his head against the ground, forcing him to unconsciousness. It's amazing how many problems can be solved with the proper application of force to a person's cranium. There is still the problem of Jessy, but at least I can have reasonable certainty that this particular individual will not trouble me gain.

	I keep an eye on him as I pick myself off the ground. He'll likely be found and taken to a nurse, and at that point he's someone else's problem and I'm free to go on my way to the lunchroom unhindered.
	*page_break Next
	*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1
*if ((male =true) and (annoyjessy =true))
	*set jessyrelationship "Scorned"
	"Because...my stupid girlfriend told me you insulted her! I thought...geez, if I knew you'd try and push my eyes out, I'd have told her to piss off..."

	"Your mate. Who is she?"

	"Jessy, alright? 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..." I say while slightly twitching my thumbs

		"Hey, there's no need for that! 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 say, content that I've gotten all the information I can retrieve from him. Often the threat of torture is more effective than the actual action, "I trust you'll be discreet."

	"Fine, fine...so where do we stand?"

	I answer him by firmly slamming the back of his head against the ground, forcing him to unconsciousness. It's amazing how many problems can be solved with the proper application of force to a person's cranium. There is still the problem of Jessy, but at least I can have reasonable certainty that this particular individual will not trouble me gain.

	I keep an eye on him as I pick myself off the ground. He'll likely be found and taken to a nurse, and at that point he's someone else's problem and I'm free to go on my way to the lunchroom unhindered.
	*page_break Next
	*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1
*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 if you're really going to blind me over it! Jesus, 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 say, stepping away from the matter, smoothing out my appearance for one more presentable now that the current threat has been dealt with. Often the threat of torture is more effective than the actual action, "I trust you'll be discreet."

	"Fine, fine...so where do we stand?"

	I answer him by firmly slamming the back of his head against the ground, forcing him to unconsciousness. It's amazing how many problems can be solved with the proper application of force to a person's cranium. There is still the problem of Jessy, but at least I can have reasonable certainty that this particular individual will not trouble me gain.

	I keep an eye on him as I pick myself off the ground. He'll likely be found and taken to a nurse, and at that point he's someone else's problem. He will definitely feel the effects of this confrontation for a long time, but he'll be alive; and more importantly, he'll be more hesitant to attack me again. Luckily my attacker chose his moment carefully so that there were no students or cameras in view of us, so there aren't any witnesses to turn this into a long, drawn out lecture from the principal. And if this was all about reputation, like my attacker said, then he's likely not going to report being defeated by
	*if (female =true)
		a female
	*if (male =true)
		a freshmen
	two feet shorter and approximately forty pounds lighter than him. The principal could probably deduce who was responsible if he did a proper investigation, but if the victim doesn't cooperate then he wouldn't be able to really charge me for anything. Beside, he doesn't seem like the type of authority figure who deals with anything outside his visual range.
	*page_break Next
	*goto_scene 1-9lunch-1