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hadriel_logs2018-04-16 10:35 pm
01101110) wrote in hadriel_logs2018-04-16 10:35 pm
Entry tags:
Operation Save Name
Who: Name and the Name Rescue Squad
What: The city has been altered and Name's hiding place is gone. It reaches out for help.
Where: Near the demolished library
When: 4-16-18
Warnings: N/A
[It doesn't look like much when Nate finds it. The Null known as Name is unassuming and small, as it's easier to hide that way. The entire creature is barely more than it's core, the size of a small cat and protected by an outer layer of machinery that had formed around it to prevent from any further damage.
Because there is damage. Nearly the entire chassis has been removed, leaving only this small creature left, capable to some extent of dragging itself to the nearest corner to hide in, but not much more. It's small, sightless, and weaponless. In essence, Name is defenseless where it sits, resting in the shadows of a nearby building.
It had more hiding places before the city was repaired. The rubble was- useful, even if it was heavy and difficult to bear at times, when it had fallen on Name. It kept the robot out of sight of those who would kill it. Hidden, safe, alive- for the time being. Without the cover, it was only a matter of time until it was found, and so Name needed to make sure that the right people found it.
It hopes, with a fervor completely alien to it, that it had made the right decision.]
What: The city has been altered and Name's hiding place is gone. It reaches out for help.
Where: Near the demolished library
When: 4-16-18
Warnings: N/A
[It doesn't look like much when Nate finds it. The Null known as Name is unassuming and small, as it's easier to hide that way. The entire creature is barely more than it's core, the size of a small cat and protected by an outer layer of machinery that had formed around it to prevent from any further damage.
Because there is damage. Nearly the entire chassis has been removed, leaving only this small creature left, capable to some extent of dragging itself to the nearest corner to hide in, but not much more. It's small, sightless, and weaponless. In essence, Name is defenseless where it sits, resting in the shadows of a nearby building.
It had more hiding places before the city was repaired. The rubble was- useful, even if it was heavy and difficult to bear at times, when it had fallen on Name. It kept the robot out of sight of those who would kill it. Hidden, safe, alive- for the time being. Without the cover, it was only a matter of time until it was found, and so Name needed to make sure that the right people found it.
It hopes, with a fervor completely alien to it, that it had made the right decision.]
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[He'd been cautious about planning and discussing the Name stuff on the network because it was better to be safe than sorry, but he also doesn't think that the gods are paying that close of attention. Casual messages should be fine.
Lance takes a moment after that to glance around, considering everyone briefly, before continuing.]
It is important that everyone keeps to their skills, and doesn't agree to anything that they aren't confident in. So, as Michael and Alphys have already done, if anyone here is concerned about their ability to do anything being discussed they should say so; it isn't something to ashamed of, and it'll give us better chances at succeeding in all of this.
[And, as for moving Name around--]
It may just be simplest for people to take the Null home with them when they have it. Some of us know where others live, but I don't think too many do and if there isn't a set rotation then that should still limit who knows where the Null is at any one time. Each person who is involved could simply choose the next person at random when their turn is over.
[Lance glances briefly toward Nate, giving him a significant look, but doesn't continue for now. They'll talk later.]
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Right, code words, I like that idea. And since I work for the clinic, you could text and say you need some first aid or something. If we don't talk regularly, just say someone told you to contact me. That's actually happened without ulterior motives, so it wouldn't seem weird.
[He thinks for a second.]
Here's a question though. What do we actually do if someone outside this circle finds out? And we don't know if we can trust them?
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Inexperience will get you killed.
Nate catches the look from Lance and does nothing to indicate its receipt, worrying his lip with his teeth for a moment. Michael brings up a fair question.]
That's going to have to be one of those "cross that bridge when we get to it" things.
[Nate knows it isn't a fact that people like to hear, especially when they're the type to mitigate risk.]
Information getting out to the gods is probably going to happen no matter what. And not to be an alarmist, but in my experience, the messenger is most likely to be someone in this room. [He shrugs, apologetic.] We'll take it one day at a time.
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I am sure I can find another location and make it secure, perhaps as I suggested earlier, in one of the unused spires.
But if somebody outside this circle finds out, we will simply have to contact that person and ask them to keep the secret. What other choice do we have? I do not think I am not up for murder or kidnapping. [ Wry humor. ]
[ And now his tone turns earnest. ] And as for the problem of the gods finding out, I think it is better if we assume we can trust each other. If we begin to eye one another with suspicion, we'll use up vital energy that we need to pull off this venture. [ No disrespect intended to Nate, whose experiences may have taught him that suspicion is a necessity. ] But I agree, we must take it one day at a time.
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Nate is right; this is an eventuality more than a possibility. It isn't necessarily even a matter of trust, because it's very easy to accidentally let something like this slip, and information naturally gets around here due to the small population. But it would depend on who finds out, how, and what they intend to do with the information for what we can and should do in response, so unfortunately that is something that we'll have to deal with when it happens.
[Although he doesn't think it'll be as simple as just asking them to keep it a secret; if someone finds out that isn't a part of this group, and that gets back to the people involved, then it's probably because said individual has already told people. But as much as he likes to plan ahead himself, and is one of those Nate is referring to about the type to mitigate risk, this is one of those things that has too many variables.
Meanwhile, in regards to moving Name, Lance turns his attention toward Curufin.]
If your home is very busy, and you also have guard duty obligation, it may be best not to add the issue of carrying Name around. What if there's an emergency or something that you need to assist with for the guard or the firefighting?
[He couldn't exactly show up with Name in tow, and taking the time to hide it somewhere would probably be suspicious.]
Leaving Name somewhere specific should be a last resort, especially since people like to explore here. So it's probably best if people involved in the rotation of carrying it around are those who have few obligations, and therefore can set their own schedules more easily and with less chance of someone noticing their activities. And that goes for everyone.
[Not just Curufin specifically.]
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... He's still going to leave "trusting each other" to the rest of them, though. Name asked him to make sure the people coming to help it were safe. That's not a job he thinks is over.]
Alright, so, next question. [He shifts a little, crossing his arms.] What do we do if the gods do find out? Whether it's one of us telling them or not, it's a possibility they might suspect that some of us are helping it. They suspected some of us were helping the Null before.
[And they weren't wrong, even if none of the citizens of the town were responsible for the actual data leak.]
They can mess with our emotions, make us think and feel things we wouldn't otherwise. For all we know, they can just force us to tell the truth. And we do know they can turn us against each other.
[Two of the other people in this room know that, uh, intimately well, perhaps. Michael might be specifically avoiding looking at either Law or Lance.]
We might be able to outsmart them, but we can't fight them. So how do we keep this from being a disaster the second they hear about it?
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[He already has an idea, but the sensitive nature of it and the possibility of someone in the group taking it elsewhere - to a god, for example - has him swallowing the notion of sharing with the rest of the class. It might be a concept best volunteered to one of the organizers of this endeavor, just to run it through the mill for processing before proposing it more publicly.]
Provided we keep things as quiet as possible, I don't think we run much risk of it at the moment. Try to...minimize your contact with the gods. Shouldn't be too difficult, it's not like they're huge fans of casual conversations with us.
[There is a beat, and he chews on the brief silence for a moment.]
When- [Not if.] -they find out, we can have some kind of point team for extraction of the Null. Small group, and no one but the group and the organizers know the identities of the members. As for member selection-
[Nate gestures in a general sort of way.]
We should leave it to the people who put together this meeting, and their discretion. The rest of us better hope whoever shares doesn't provide the gods with a list of names, 'cause when it comes down to the wire, if this is too much for anyone in here? You should probably get out now.
[Historically, divine entities have never taken anything perceived as betrayal well, and Nate is fairly certain the precedent applies here.]
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He's quiet while Nate responds, chewing on his lip a moment and arms crossed, before he realizes what he's doing and refocuses on the topic and Nate's last comments.]
A secondary team is a good idea, but the members of that team should be known only to a few people. That gives us a better chance of them actually being able to hide Name if necessary, and also means the gods only have a few targets for finding out the information they want.
[In a worst-case scenario. And it could be very worst-case, which should be heavily implied in his next words.]
Nate's right in that if anyone is unsure about dealing with the potential consequences, this is the time to back out. There's no shame in it, and if you don't want to state in front of everyone--or if you decide later--you can speak with me privately. But no one should be involved who isn't willing and prepared to deal with the consequences.
[Which could be very serious, from beings that already do very harmful things to them all just for energy, without malice or any imperative need.]
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But that's not what she talks about.]
Depending on, uhm... w-who finds us. They can be talked to. Uhm, reasoned with. They'll hear us out.
[Which sounds ridiculous right now, but she hastens to add the next bit.]
Uh, Sorrow talked to me. Months ago, when they were d-doing the last investigation. He worked with me so I could keep doing my research. And, and Tranquility's said he really wants peace. I don't... I think they'd hear us out. If we had a good argument. Not that we should, uh, j-just go to them or anything, but, it might be something to think of...
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And as for my schedule, it's true that I'm busy, but that makes for a good distraction. Nobody, including the gods, would be surprised to see me hustling around the city with a backpack or a handcart, since they see that all the time. [ He grins.] And if I have to answer a Guard or Brigade call, I'll just shove Name into Nick's locker. [ He's joking, but he doesn't think it would be all that difficult to quickly pass the droid on to another Save Name Squad member. ]
But I'll defer to your judgement on that, Dr. Sweets. If you have a real objection, I'm not going to argue further.
[ When Nate brings up the idea of a Name-extraction team and Dr. Sweets mentions the idea of keeping the names of this team quiet, Curufin gives Sweets a highly meaningful, sidelong glance. He's close enough and subtle enough to pull this off without others noticing. The message is, Okay, if you don't want a Guardsman or a Brigade man toting the android about as a regular thing, then suppose I volunteer for emergency duty? It's not a telepathic message, Sweets not being a telepath, but the psychiatrist is intuitive and highly versed in reading looks and body language, and Curufin imagines he'll understand. ]
[ And about that other little problem. . . ] The gods won't get anything out of me, if they ask. Nor will they if they apply pressure. You don't know my family's history, but we don't squeak when squeezed.
But I hope you're right, Dr. Alphys, when you suggest the gods might hear us out on this issue. I think that presenting our ideas to them would be a last resort, to be used only if we got caught. But this discussion has been full of concern for the negative aspects of the situation, and that's appropriate, but I'm not sorry to hear somebody speaking for hope.
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I'm not planning to back out. I'm not really worried about what they'd do to me personally. [He's, uh, never really had a great sense of self preservation.]
But if Alphys is right, then maybe, if one of the gods does find out, it might be worth getting a second one involved. Like if Fear finds us first, maybe we should go to Tranquility. If we could get one on our side, it could be the difference between getting wiped out and having room to make our case. And I'd rather the more sympathetic ones heard it from us than each other.
[He shrugs.] Just something to consider. I'd obviously much rather not get caught, but it's always a possibility. And in that case, I'd love to have at least one god arguing against our immediate demise. They seem to prefer making decisions unanimously. If we could win over two that'd be even better. We'd just, uh, probably have to be quick about it.
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Does anyone remember which of them leaned toward cooperation and negotiation? I don't mean over Delight's fate, though their reactions to that were telling. Before that, when they were trying to ferret out the traitor. Any of them that expressed interest in anything other than complete annihilation of the Null...that would be who to go to, if shit hits the fan.
[he's still willing to think in terms of if, because he doesn't like to admit that plans going awry happens. It's hard for Law to operate without a certain plan, too, but like Michael, he doesn't have a better idea yet either. But he shrugs and adds:]
I'm in, to whatever end comes. My only interest in Name is what information we can get from it, but there's a chance it could turn into some kind of trump card against both sides. I'm prepared to do whatever it takes, so the squeamish can back out safely.
[no one here had a heart stolen but Michael is painfully aware of what he can do. When he says 'whatever it takes,' he means it]
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If we have to add another god to the list, I'd say try Rage. When that awkward matter of what to do with Delight was being debated, she actually had the sanest perspective on the problem. I know she's RAGE, but she displayed an impressive amount of compassion. I don't know if she'd feel the same way about us, but if we're down to few options, I think she'd be worth a try.
And I'm with Law on the reasons for seeking to get some real information from Name. We might learn something that would help us fight the Null, or might provide us with leverage in our dealings or negotiations with the gods. Or both.
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Nate can feel his insides twist, because that's a whole lot of wishful thinking for a handful of deities who have been playing Hatfields to the Null's proverbial McCoys for the last few millennia. He's starting to wonder if he's the only one in the room who has spent time tied to a chair to have answers beaten out of him, because the optimism bordering on denial is getting genuinely worrisome.]
I don't know if you guys have suffered a sudden collective loss in memory, but the gods aren't exactly known for playing nice. Get what useful information we can from Name, sure. Protect it, shield it from harm if it comes to that.
[He nods toward Law in particular, because it's reasonable to want to know more, have something they can use. The secondary acknowledgement there is that the gods made a lot of threats during that last breach in intelligence - some of them are more reactive than others, but precedent has dictated that the ones who are louder and more violent tend to get their way no matter how many friendly polls they extend under the guise of making it seem like this is a democracy. It's an oligarchy.]
This isn't a fight in the schoolyard, this is a centuries-old grudge, and I can't- [Nate takes a deep breath, more shocked than anyone to have to be the conversation's downer.] -believe I have to be the negative voice in the room about this, but we can't bank on a check we don't have.
[As very squishy, very breakable residents, neither can they be the most effective mediators between the parties for a potential truce. The Null razed the landscape of the cave and for the majority of the time, the rest of them were left to deal with the problem on their own, as best they could. Nate has been in too many war zones to want to tempt fate on this one.]
I had a civil conversation with Hope the other day, but that doesn't mean he'll step in front of a bus for me and I wouldn't blame him if he didn't.
[Particularly if that bus was the other gods.]
Think about who you'd approach in the worst case scenario, Hell, draft an argument if you want. I'm just saying don't put every egg in that basket.
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[ Softly ] We were speaking of a last-ditch scenario: the case in which Fear discovers what we are up to and nabs us all. We wouldn't have anything to lose by appealing to other gods.
Everybody here knows we are in a profoundly risky situation. I think that every idea offered is meant to be a possibility, not a sole alternative.
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He gives Curufin a look in acknowledgement that he understood the volunteering, but that issue is on hold for the moment while they deal with the current topic. His attention shifts from person to person as they talk, tense and just listening, sorting out underlying assumptions and experiences and how they might be affecting everyone's outlooks. Finally, he decides upon the most important thing to address, speaking up before anyone else can jump in.]
I think there's a miscommunication here, in terms of potential outcomes and consequences, regardless of our experiences with individual gods.
[His tone is more distant than it has been, both because he's being very careful to explain and because it's easier at this point to keep some mental distance while he talks.]
I have no doubt that some individual gods, like Hope, genuinely don't want anything terrible happening to us. They're not all malicious, or enjoy causing us any harm, or are even indifferent toward us.
[But that said--]
However, I'm not sure everyone fully understands that this can be the case and still mean nothing. The gods have one main priority, and that is to protect themselves from the Null; we can't forget that this is their driving motivation, and it's a matter of survival for them. Survival can allow someone to justify almost anything, and the gods seem to do so already; they don't hesitate to cause us harm for their own gain through events, and they don't care that we're in danger for their war because we're providing them some use. They're not going to side with us on this issue if we get caught.
[So don't rely on this, even as a last-ditch scenario. He wants everyone to truly realize that this would be a miracle solution, not a potential option, and that the reality is the gods will probably do anything and everything to make sure they find and destroy Name, no matter what damage it causes the people involved.]
It's also worth noting that the god people liked best, Delight, turned out to be a traitor. Hope doesn't stop the other gods from inflicting whatever they want on us. Sorrow knew how to open the Door and send us home, but wouldn't because he wanted to use us. They're not, as a group, our friends or our allies, even if some of them as individuals might by sympathetic.
[He doesn't like being this harsh, especially about other people--he prefers to think the best whenever possible--but that's reality. Relying on the wrong people, especially those who have proven they're willing to use you to their own benefit or at least look away when others are causing harm, is a fast way to end up dead or worse.]
So what we need to focus on is how to keep the gods from finding out in the first place and, if they do, how to convince them none of us know anything useful.
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It's good for everyone - Nate in particular - that Lance then decides to speak up when he does, because listen, asshole was .2 seconds away from pouring out of him and all over the conversation. His mouth shuts with an audible click and he swallows the frustration: if not for his own sake, then for Lance's, who looks stressed enough without the addition of a brawl that would most certainly break half the equipment in the room.
Their voice of reason brings up the unlikelihood of the deus ex machina and Nate is unfathomably grateful, sinking back against the wall to listen, to loosen his fists as he folds his arms over his chest again. Reasonable and rational points, articulated much more effectively than if he had tried it himself.
Politely waiting for the break he only interjects again when Lance pauses, civility forced back into his voice. He knows he's never played well in teams and is making a concerted effort to do so.]
...think most of that's already been summed up. Minimize god contact, pose questions as texts when people need to meet, organizers assign an emergency team. Just by moving it around as often as possible we should avoid the large majority knowing the location at any given time, so no one's really lying if the gods ask them questions.
[A beat.]
Did I miss anything?
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[ Quietly ] I just said that some of the gods wouldn't want to kill us. I didn't say they wouldn't kill us. If there is any hope at all in that scenario, it's not in their trustworthiness. It's in our ability to manipulate them into disagreeing with each other, so that they can't reach a consensus.
[ Quietly ] But I actually agree with you, Dr. Sweets. We need to keep them from finding out. And if they do find out, we'll need to be resolute in the face of whatever pressure they bring to bear. And if they don't catch us all, then the ones who do get caught have to shield the ones who don't. I'm quite wiling to be a shield or a decoy.
[ To Nate: ] No, you didn't miss anything. That about sums it up.
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Lance-ya is right. Since he and Michael-ya are the ones the Null came to trust first, they're the only ones I'll trust to have a say in who knows what.
A better idea than placing any trust in the gods whatsoever is to find resources to allow them to trust us. Has anyone located the god-killer weapons since the battle? I don't know if any of them have been secured, least of all the one Malkus had. He got away from me, I don't know if anyone took his weapon. If we can collect them and return them to Hope, it would secure trust that we have no wish to see them dead again.
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Not only does Lance stop what was potentially a soon-to-be fistfight (for now), but he also makes enough of an argument that Michael doesn't need to step in. To that part, anyway. Law's suggestion perks his ears right up.
The god-killers. He'd sort of forgotten about those.]
... Should we hand in all of them, though?
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I, uhm... I ended up w-with one. I gave it to Fear, uh. Months ago.
[Which was supposed to be exactly what that was- a gesture of goodwill. Along with letting her keep all her Null parts.]
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He's even more grateful when Law brings up another important point, and one they really should discuss. He looks to Alphys first.]
Where did that one come from, Doc?
[Because he doubts she went and murdered anyone on that list.]
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Uh, uhm-- Curufin gave it to me, uh, actually! I got a lot of Null parts and weapons, d-during the invasion. Nick, you brought me some of the b-broken disruptors, even.
[She looks towards Curufin encouragingly, to back her up.]
I think you said you g-got it from someone named Yukari...?
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With any luck, they'll continue to focus on Yukari himself, or just the godkiller. But if Yukari had one, then that confirms the reasons Michael let the monster have him in the first place. Yukari did get someone. Curufin being taken off the list was proof enough at the time, but this is definitive.
He shifts in place a little, fidgeting with the zipper on his jacket. Time to try and change the subject.]
Well, if that one's gone, then I guess we have to figure out how many are left. If any are left. Though honestly, we maybe have a lot to focus on already, and looking for god-killers might be even more suspicious.
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