oo5 » audio

[gevurah]

[ PRIVATE to LILY ]

Hey, I got you the scarf while I was away.


[ PRIVATE to ELLIE & DICK ]

[ The messages are sent to their tablets separately: ]

Got you something.


[ Her voice, while somewhat tired, is leveled as she speaks. ]

For the time being, the clinic should be stocked with some personal hygienic products anyone might have been wondering about. There's shampoos, soaps, sanitary napkins, and pads and tampons for the ladies. There's also patches for smokers. Anything else you're looking for, like medicine or bandages, you'll have to check with someone at the clinic.

Anyway, I asked the AI the decrypt a couple of drives belonging to the UE. There were various analytical notes specializing in robotics, specifically robotic spacecraft — rovers. For those unfamiliar: a rover is a vehicle used in space explorations. Depending on the design, they can either be partially or completely operated on their own, or they can transport crews.

There's a couple of bad ideas that come to mind knowing this information: one being they may have plans to come up here eventually and if they aren't fully aware how many of us are here, they'll find out.

Research also indicated "interdimensional colonization". We've been well aware for a while they're able to access portals into other worlds.

The drives also contained some notes on Project Chimera and talks of previous genetic projects the UE's researched. I'll forward anyone who wants a copy of these notes to look over.

[ For those who ask and receive: here. ]

Has anyone begun to compile the information we have together to make it more streamlined? I imagine the AI can likely do it if you ask.

Comments

[pixieboots]

[ Looking at the floor is easier, so that's where his eyes go next.

Of course she expected it. ]

...Well, now I just feel dumb.

[gevurah]

[ She lets the mask drop back into the bag, looking down at Dick with soft eyes. ]

I wouldn't be doing my job properly if you'd figured it out quickly.

[ In any case, it's not as if she caught onto Dick immediately either. ]

[pixieboots]

Yeah, but- [ A million little details are falling into place; a thousand questions that feel like they've been needling him forever, all at once. ]

...I mean, I guess I wondered a couple of times. But it was a secret for a reason, you know? [ Everyone's secrets deserve protection. ]

[gevurah]

I'm not in the habit of sharing secrets that aren't mine.

[ Unless Dick was a criminal, but he's not. ]

[pixieboots]

...You're not mad?

[ He asks it after a moment, quiet and a little sad. ]

[gevurah]

[ Mad isn't quite the word to describe how she feels about it all. It's all been a confusing mess for her. ]

No.

[ She shakes her head. ]

But Dick, I have to ask you: what do you plan to do up here?

[pixieboots]

About... you mean about that? [ He's not sure what she does mean, whether she's wishing already that she hadn't told him the truth or telling him in a roundabout way that he should put the suit away for good. ]

No. I mean, you... you're trusting me with something big. I'm not gonna tell anyone.

[gevurah]

No.

[ Another shake of her head. ]

What do you plan to do as Robin up here?

[ Because their situation is dire and while normally she didn't have to worry about the other Bats back home, it's different with Dick here. ]

[pixieboots]

Oh. Right... [ Like it's something he'd misplaced without meaning to. ]

Nothing, I guess. [ His shoulders shrug up, and then he lets him drop. ]

I'm kinda retired for now.

[gevurah]

[ She isn't expecting to hear that word fall from Dick's mouth. A Robin's mouth. ]

Retired?

[pixieboots]

Well, not- there's not way it's gonna last forever. Especially not if something big happens.

[ Like say a zombie invasion sometime in the next couple of weeks.

But hearing her say the word is harder than saying it himself, somehow. ]

I just have to figure out what I'm supposed to do now. I mean after what happened, I just-

[ He's been lonely and angry and lost and crushed underneath what feels like an insurmountable wall of sadness. But the words get stuck halfway, and he doesn't know how he'd even begin spelling it out for her. ]

...And how would I ever keep it a secret up here anyway? No matter what I still have to protect Batman. He's counting on me.

[gevurah]

[ She can and does respect that. While she probably wouldn't like to or want to take orders from the Batman, he's still an important figure to her; it's his symbol that reminds her she has a way to continue fighting for what she believes in. His privacy deserves to be protected. ]

Have you told anyone?

[pixieboots]

...No. They- [ It's one lie he can't bring himself to tell anymore. ] ...Well, a couple people figured it out. That's why I couldn't stay in housing.

[ There had been no one to trust, nothing else to do but leave.

And for a long moment he's silent, because... because Kate's smart, and she'll know what that means. That he'd lied to her too. Not just about Robin, but about everything. ]

...Every time we talked I told myself I'd- that next time I'd just say something.

[ But he hadn't. He hadn't so they could still talk, which is probably all it comes down to now. ]

I didn't want to lie...

[gevurah]

I know.

[ She speaks, soft and genuine. ]

This isn't an easy life.

[pixieboots]

I guess not. [ It doesn't mean he's forgiven, he knows that. But it means she understands. Like only someone with a secret to keep can.

And he cracks a grin finally, which is easier somehow even while his eyes are starting to sting. ]

But if it was then who wouldn't try pulling it off?

[gevurah]

I don't do this for kicks.

[ She has her reasons, so many of them. Many she can't put into the proper words. ]

Maybe retirement's for the best.

[pixieboots]

No! [ He takes a step back and almost trips into the wall. ] You can't-

[ She can't stop him. He wants to scream that more than anything, that he's been through this already with Batman, been put on the shelf and sent away too many times to think about letting this be it. The real, forever last time.

But Kate means well. Just like they all mean well. He hugs the box of chocolate to his chest again and heaves out a small sigh. ]

...I mean, I- I tried that already. I had to hang up the cape for months, a while back. [ Months he'd spent with Shrike's gang, watching boys his age learning to fight, learning to steal, learning to kill.

And all of it had still been better than living with Bruce was, without Robin there to watch his back. ]

Not because I wanted to. Batman made me.

[gevurah]

[ She looks on with confusion bright in her eyes. Dick is the one who just said he's retired, therefore he's put down the cape and scaly panties for good. As far as she knows, no one's forced him to make a decision in the first place.

Yet, she feels it may be best to enforce the idea of a civilian life in Exsilium. Whatever this world can afford him anyway. ]

Dick, you're not cut out for this.

[ The fact he's already begun to sway, despite his choice, rings the warning bells. ]

[pixieboots]

You can't say that!

[ Finally his tone just snaps, turning sharp and angry. ] Come on, it's been- it's been months since you saw me in action. What do you think I do all day here? Even when I don't have the suit?

[gevurah]

[ His anger doesn't surprise her; she continues on, as if stating facts rather than opinions. ]

You struggle.

[ Even now, he hasn't found a way to ground himself. He's only a boy, but there's a lack of self-discipline she doubts he's ready for. ]