shiro pcs

[tensecondsahead]

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week 1 post-execution

[tensecondsahead]

[The kid didn't go down without a fight. Laine can't fault him for that, would have done the same and more in his situation.]

I can't decide if we should have searched him more carefully for weapons, or given him a gun instead. [He says, quietly to the man who just so happens to be walking next to him.]

[lionson]

[Welp. Time to walk with Laine for a bit.]

I think at that point it was all moot, and any better weapon would have just gotten Jeanne killed too.

[tensecondsahead]

Probably. [Rationally, he knows that.]

There's got to be something we can do.

[lionson]

We can stop the murders. That'll help.

[tensecondsahead]

That's the problem. We have to identify who might want to commit murder, and stop them before we all get knocked out on that night.

[lionson]

Or we make it so nobody can move around that night. If nobody can move around, nobody can murder.

[tensecondsahead]

This place gave me my badge, not my handcuffs.

I don't think you'll be able to get everyone to agree to being locked up by one of us, should we ask the Leaders?

[lionson]

It gave you your badge? Like, from home?

[He'll get to the rest later, but that first part. It's interesting.]

[tensecondsahead]

Yeah, sure. [He fishes the badge out of a pocket, and holds it up. Shiro can look but he can't hold it.]

[lionson]

[He won't try to touch, he's just looking at it.]

Why'd you get that? Did your Leader give you a reward or something?

[tensecondsahead]

No, they didn't. It was sitting on my bed in my room the first day I was here. My roomates had an item from home too. Didn't you get one?

[lionson]

Oh, that! Yeah, I had one.

[He gestures to the red and blue pin on a chain around his neck. Hydok I know you're canon familiar, I'm not digging out a picture for you.]

I just wear it all the time so I thought it counted as part of my clothes.

[tensecondsahead]

Well, the badge is technically part of my uniform. But if memories are important, it's something that has a lot of strong emotions that go along with it.

is this actually a confessional

[tensecondsahead]

[He glances around to see if there's anyone watching.

There isn't, and he continues.]

ēlCivilization is huge. Tens of thousands of galaxies, hundreds of millions of planets. It's all managed by a single supercomputer, called-- [a frown.] well, what it's called isn't important. What is important is that like any computer, parts wear out and need to be replaced.

information-sharing totally counts

[lionson]

So they replace supercomputer parts with children? I think I'm missing a step here, unless the child-death is from child labor in manufacturing computer parts.

[tensecondsahead]

Yeah, the entire system is made up of a series of connected nervous systems. The girl I mentioned a couple days ago is special, she's supposed to be the replacement for the main control board.

[lionson]

And that's why you're trying to change things? Because she's going to be sacrificed to become part of the computer?

[tensecondsahead]

[He nods, agreeing.]

Because the easy future all of us have is a result of the horrible future awaiting her, and others like her.

[lionson]

[...]

Well. She's lucky, to have someone like you looking out for her.

[tensecondsahead]

[He shakes his head.]

I've tried, but it still hasn't been easy for her, and I haven't been able to save her yet. That future is still ahead of her, unless I figure out how to save her.

[lionson]

Well, step one is getting out of here alive, yeah?

[tensecondsahead]

It is. And unfortunately, I'm flying totally blind here.

What about you? Is there something you need to do back home?

[lionson]

I need to get back to my sons, they're only 15 and need their father there for them.

[tensecondsahead]

[doing... some quick math... converting earth ages to ēlCiv standard years...

that checks out]

That's a hell of an age. I'd already left home by then, but nobody could ever tell me what to do when I was a kid.

[lionson]

Exactly. They're old enough to get into trouble, but still young enough that they need their old man to back them up sometimes.