(no subject)

[truth_is_cold]

[Private to Dylan | Audio]*

[Sent as soon as he returns, though he's not sure when Dylan will get it or what the range of the communicators is.]

I've returned. The Southern City didn't have many resources. The construction of the dome damaged its economy. I suspect most of the fishermen left are generational. The people there were notably friendlier to outsiders than the ones here, but of course their homes are at less risk from air raids from the domes.

[And sent a bit later.]

If you hear reports of fog, stay way until it's cleared. Or purchase the first gas mask you can manage.



[Private to Sma | Audio]

I want to speak with you. In person. [Where the conversation can't be recorded.]



*OOC: Slightly backdated to fog times.

Comments

[truth_is_cold]

I'll consider myself fortunate. [He seems to have gotten away scott free on this one. He will credit the finely tuned genes with that, and yes, would take advantage of it in a heartbeat.] Though in your case it could have been considerably worse. [He saw some of the worse.] I may purchase one of the gas masks just for appearances sake.

[He still thinks the locals may have purposefully avoided bringing it up. He waits until they're a little further away (out of his own hearing range) before he speaks again.]

Have you learned anything?

[diziet_sma]

My system seems to filter out the psychotropics. I'll take allergies as a trade-off. Got a gas mask anyway, though—for appearances, as you say.

I've learned a few things. I help Edmund with inventory most days, so I hear the gossip, that sort of thing. And then I found this place—you'll see in a bit.

[She made some idle small-talk as they made their way to the ruined building. It had been a house, she thought—a fairly nice one once, if the remains of the plasterwork was anything to go by—but at some point one of the upper walls had been bombed out, leaving the top story open to the elements, and no one had moved in or tried to fix it up. The missing wall let the wind and rain in, but it also afforded a good view of the domed city. She led him into the house, up the stairs, and to the open floor. She took a deep breath, standing as close to the open wall as she dared; the air felt clearer up here, and her eyes itched less.]

I've been watching the dome, mostly. You see where the bay meets the dome? Between the currents and the armed guards, no one gets close.

[Private]

[hunt4commonwealth]

[Dylan thinks about the question. It would be almost two years ago (or three-hundred and one), and he's not exactly the same person now that he was then. He's become more suspicious, more ruthless, and more likely to take desperate chances because there's often simply no other choice.]

Yes. I trusted you. [Then.] I didn't always agree with you, but I trusted you. And unearthing Andromeda's old data isn't a morally difficult choice. [Not like whether to assassinate or not to assassinate. Or whether to deploy nova bombs or not to deploy.]

[truth_is_cold]

[He appreciates the architecture as he goes through. Many of these buildings, he notes, were well constructed before the bombing began- even now, what's left stand up well to the elements.

When she takes him up to see the domed city, though, he's reminded of Than sculpture, or Hegemony hives. The appreciation for their architecture is there, even if not their aggression.]

They're very capable, aren't they? [With no small amount of respect.] Though, that was one of the reasons I wanted to speak with you.

[He looked for a place to sit, where he could look out on the view and look somewhat relaxed.] Did you hear about the meeting between the military people?

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

[That's at least something. Of course, he becomes hung up on that last part. Does Dylan think that he didn't have morals at all? He may have not been an idealist like him, but he did have his own concepts of right and wrong.

And he still internalizes that.]

The question still remains, what if we can't leave?

[There's a lot in that question. So he ignores it himself. He suspects no matter what he tells Dylan, because he has ways of tampering with the Andromeda's computer and sabotaging her, the Commonwealth would hold him accountable for exposing that. It might even end up an ever louder rallying cry to the Nietzschean revolution, no matter what his influence is.] If I go back I'll give you your life back and request a transfer. [Or go AWOL if the pressure were to rise.]

[Private]

[hunt4commonwealth]

Being trapped here forever isn't an option. If I don't get back the Magog will invade and billions of people will die.

[Time travel alone is bad enough. Time travel and multiple universes is more than he can handle. He wishes again that Trance were here.]

If we find a way out of here maybe you can... [No, he can't bring Gaheris with him. Gaheris has to go back to his own universe and try to warn them about the Magog.]

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

You don't know how to answer it, either. [And there's another possibility that he knows is very real, but he hasn't actually spoken aloud. He's actually a little afraid to, afraid of how it would change things and change him, and reminds him no matter how uncomfortable his destiny is it's his destiny and makes him who he is. Why he has to get back to it.]

Other than we have no other options... If you want, I could leave the city and come find you. [Constantly arguing or not, he doesn't like being alone.]

[Private]

[hunt4commonwealth]

No, I don't have answers. [As a Captain, it's not something he could admit to just anyone, but Gaheris is...was...is...his first officer and friend. It's his job to be the person he goes to to talk out his train of thoughts.]

That's a good idea. There's no sign of trouble at the moment, but together is more secure than alone and better safe than sorry. [And Dylan doesn't really like being alone either.]

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

Are you still along the route of the river? [At least they're still good at making excuses.]

[Private]

[hunt4commonwealth]

Yeah. I moved uphill from the bank, just in case the fog decides to roll up the riverbed, but I'm still within sight of the river.

[Spam]

[truth_is_cold]

[He doesn't respond again. Instead he leaves and heads up the bank before the fog can roll in, following the course of the river. All the while, he's mulling over the thought that he doesn't want to voice. He supposes they'll have to discuss it at some point- he can't have been the only one who has thought it.

It takes him about an hour and a half to near Dylan's position because he's in a bit of a rush to get there. And he doesn't immediately see him.]

[Spam]

[hunt4commonwealth]

[Dylan sees Gaheris near the river before Gaheris sees him. He's glad for it (and a bit dismayed that he's glad for it), but there's still a piece of him in the back of his mind that wonders if he's going to end up shot in the back if he's not careful. He steps out from the trees and waves his arm to catch his attention.]

[diziet_sma]

[Sma sits down on a bare patch of floor, legs folded.]

I did. I wanted to go, but I was having a bad day. [Unusual for her; her shoulder had been bothering her more than usual and it was making her cranky, so she ended up sulking alone.] I'm not entirely sure what came out of it, to be honest. If anything. I can't imagine anybody believes any force that we could muster now would do much good, though obviously we've got to defend ourselves if they come calling again.

[truth_is_cold]

There was a lot of plans. Not a lot of information. And I highly suspect at least one of them is already in contact with the Authorities... [He nods toward the distance.]

I don't feel much safer, not knowing.

[Spam]

[truth_is_cold]

[If he knew he'd be somewhere between proud and disappointed. But now he just eagerly made his way over to Dylan, wearing his civilian clothes but saluting him and walking with a military air anyway.]

Captain.

[It was as if he was clinging to a last shard of civilization himself.]

Should we start back or wait here a while?

[diziet_sma]

[A frown. She had hoped that wouldn't have been the case, but she's regrettably unsurprised.]

You think so? Any idea who it might be?

[She thinks for a minute. She's been playing the quiet, unassuming diplomatic attaché, but maybe it's time to drop a few hints. The fact that it's just the two of them here helps.]

The Culture hasn't had a military in the sense of, say, Commander Shepard's sort, in a while. But we're not without ways of getting things done.

[truth_is_cold]

The small squirrely one. Narvin. He has the air of a rabbit who could be easily pressured. [Rabbit is used with the same tone that any other animal swear might be used.] Affected by the fog, a great deal of what he said didn't line up with what he claimed previously.

[He shifted, turning more toward her and putting his back against the wall.] I hope so. I want to get get one of the soldiers when they inevitably make another move. Last time, none were left alive before they retreated.

[diziet_sma]

[She nods in agreement.] I've known a Narvin or two, if I read him right. Definitely worth keeping an eye on.

A prisoner would be useful. Personally? I want to get into the dome. I don't know how, but there's got to be a way to do it, and do it subtly. No blazing guns needed.

[truth_is_cold]

Information would be helpful, which is why I would like the prisoner. I doubt their soldiers are important enough to use as collateral, but information they would have.

Not to mention access to an unharmed uniform.

[He glances down at her hands.] The mentioned that most of the people from the domes shared similar characteristics. [IE. Things that didn't resemble particularities on them. If she wanted in, she might need to find a way to disguise it or find someone more human.]

[diziet_sma]

[She steeples her fingers, a wry look on her face.]

I probably wouldn't get far, you're right. But given a uniform and someone of the right build ... you're right; there are possibilities.

[A pause, and then:] In the past, I've had access to ... extremely effective methods of disguise. But none of that is available to me here. I hate to admit how lost I am without my usual resources, but it's something I've been working to accept. It's not easy, though.

[It's part of why she's been keeping to herself, in fact. The invitation is open for Rhade to ask further; she's not volunteering, but her manner and tone suggest that she is, for once, feeling chatty. As if she's wanted to talk about this frankly with someone for weeks—indeed, she has.]

[truth_is_cold]

I suppose I would be less offended by the lack of resources if I weren't being kept at a disadvantage because someone was feeling insecure. [Wise on their part, perhaps. Stunting, but wise. Inconvenient on his.] We were made to adapt. Not... whatever this might be called. Merely subsists, I suppose.

[He could, if pressed, remove his boneblades. The idea was nightmarish, though, and nothing that called for anywhere near that necessity has come about.

He is curious, though.] What were your resources?

[diziet_sma]

[She's quiet for a moment.]

This ... isn't something I'm interested in having get around, as you might imagine.

I'm not just a diplomat. You might say I'm in espionage. I'm not in the field so much anymore these days; I'm more of a controller now. Back in my agent days, though—our tech is pretty sophisticated. A few surgical adaptations—a generic ear and cheekbone job, an adjustment in the number of finger joints—and I could blend in anywhere. I used to do that all the time.

[truth_is_cold]

[That was interesting. He'd approached her because she healed quickly, and when they first met she'd expressed interest in getting at those in the dome. This is enlightening, but... with their limited resources, between the two of them, only marginally helpful.]

I used to be a part of Argosy Special Operations. Gene grafts, surgical alteration, nothing was out of the question. It seems obvious to say it would be simpler if we had resources... But right now we only have access to running water under special conditions.

[He thumps his head back against the wall, his eyes rolling up.]

[diziet_sma]

[Sma laughs a little, ruefully.]

I wonder how many more secret spec-ops types we have here? Still, even if all we've got is our brains, it's got to be worth something. Especially if the nuts-and-bolts types can get the ship cleaned up. And if we can catch us a soldier.

[truth_is_cold]

...Besides the rabbit? [He's sure that Narvin has a background in it- or he wouldn't have immediately taken to lying.]

Possibly the psychics. At least one of them. And I know my Captain is, though he's extremely idealistic. He'll want to negotiate. I would rather have the intelligence before we do anything.

[He's not adverse to bloodshed. But sadly, this for him is fast becoming a distraction from leaving- he's increasingly unsure that he should do so.]