008 ↔ video & text; mutiny day 2, 1545hrs

[5055034455]

[Saul would've come to the network sooner, but his earpiece picked something up not long after the network came back online.

So, he waited.

And waited.

And now, he thinks, is as good a time as any for this broadcast.

He's seated in DITR's office; the interior looks much the same as any other bedroom on the base, but in lieu of the beds, there's a medium-sized desk. This is where he's perched in his usual pose with elbows on his knees, hands folded, leaning forward just slightly and addressing the camera — which someone else is holding — with an expression so grim it somehow almost seems amused.]

This is not how you get what you want.

[A pause. He appears thoughtful for a moment, then waves a dismissive hand at nothing and smooths down his tie.]

I mean, sure, it must've sounded great in theory. And I'd bet any amount of money that you all thought you had your bases nice and covered, buuut —

[Tch.]

Looks like maybe not, if the network being back online is any indication. Hi, by the way. Are you having fun yet? Because that whole lack of gravity thing — man, that was a blast. I'm just wondering, you know, if this is gonna work in your favor the way you'd all hoped. Messing with the systems is all well and good and yeah, okay, we get your point: you're mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore. Fine.

But I think — and this is just my lawyerly opinion — you're gonna have a hell of a time dealing with the fallout from this. And I promise you, Charlie, there will be fallout. Civilized fallout, of course, assuming no one gets hurt. I'll keep my promise if you keep yours.

[He grins, then winks.]

Anyway, I dunno about everyone else, but I'm waiting with bated breath for your next move. And if you need anything from us —

[A quick sweep of his arm to indicate the entirety of the room and, with it, the entirety of DITR's staff. Whatever anger he's been keeping at bay finally seeps through, Saul's eyes narrowing for the split second it takes him to say:]

Good fucking luck.

[And off goes the video feed.]

*

[PRIVATE to all members of the Department EXCEPT Jesse, Mike, and Stephanie:]

If you haven't come to the office in room 206 yet, please report to Roslyn Small or another member of the police force for further instructions. They're set up in the cafeteria.

Comments

sigh;

[5055034455]

Tempest?

[Said as though he can't actually believe whose voice he's hearing.]

crying forever;

[hyanaimne]

[wow, does she wince. Good thing this is voice]

You sound surprised.

[5055034455]

Yeah, I am. Disappointed, too.

[hyanaimne]

[how the hell do you even respond to that]

You've my apologies. [for something that should come out sarcastic, it comes out earnest instead. Fuck. She takes a deep breath]

Please do not make this out to be worse than it is.

[5055034455]

And you can have them back.

[Whoops.]

Do me a favor and tell your people that, would you?

[hyanaimne]

[ouch. Anyone in the transporter room will watch her physically flinch, because how the fuck. Her tone hardens a little, though, pushing aside every low blow THANKS SAUL to talk business, so to speak]

Should you not be trying to work with us instead? Is that not what your group is meant for?

[5055034455]

My group is meant for working with the Initiative and the Transports.

[The low blows are just gonna keep coming, Tempest. You should hang up.]

"Traitors" don't really factor into that.

[hyanaimne]

[she won't, because she's a glutton for punishment. And she wants Saul to understand, and even if it's at her own expense]

We are not traitors! We are all still on the same bloody side!

[5055034455]

Bullshit. If we were all on the same side, you — or Charlie or Chloe or whoever — wouldn't have divided everyone like this.

[hyanaimne]

If there are those who agree with us, good. Maybe some change will come out of this damned mess, and the Transports will finally have more say in what we do when we are the ones risking our lives.

[she takes a deep breath] They stuck us on a base full of creatures that could have wiped us all out, Saul - and that is not their first offense since I arrived in this cursed world. Does that not anger you at all?

[5055034455]

They didn't know. What the hell is with this mindset? "They did this. This is their fault." They're in as much shit as we are!

[And now he's yelling. Good job.]

They're in just as much danger! And hey, you know what? If they die, that's nothing short of genocide. A whole city's worth of people gone.

[hyanaimne]

A whole city's worth of people is already gone, Saul! [and now she's yelling, too] And I do not give a damn if they can be brought back - it still happened!

[5055034455]

So we're gonna blame the people who died instead of the ones who dropped the bomb. Okay.

[hyanaimne]

No. That is not what I am saying at all! The bloody United Earth is to blame! Those people who died are innocent. Don't you dare twist my words to mean otherwise.

[her voice cracks from emotion, and she goes quiet while she tries to reign that in. She takes a deep, calming breath]

What I am trying to say, regardless if they knew or not, is despite being brought here against our own wishes, we have very little say in any of it, when we should be working with them, as equals, to end this damn war so no more cities are wiped out and no more lives are lost.

[her voice quiets] If you want to speak of genocide, however, take care with how you bring it up. Because I can give you first hand experience as to what a true genocide really looks like.

[5055034455]

[But that's what he does, Tempest! He's a lawyer!

The genocide comment shuts him up for a moment, though. As does the fact that he's suddenly worried he might make her cry, or something. Jesus.]

No one tried talking to them. The twelve of them have been up here with us this whole time, and no one sat down with them to talk about anything. What does that tell you?

[hyanaimne]

It tells me that no one thinks anything would come of it. Or else a sit down with them would have happened.

[she lets out a heavy sigh. This is exhausting, and she wants to cry. But she won't]

Were it anyone else making this post, I would not have bothered saying anything. But you are a friend, and a reasonable man. Do you at least understand what we are trying to do?

[5055034455]

They didn't even try!

[Saul sighs, too, but his is inaudible.]

And no — don't. I'm not your friend. You and your new friends have stranded people in other worlds, did you know that? People were out on missions. And oh, right — what about the food supply? If we start running low, are you all gonna be the ones to go out and get food for the rest of us so we don't starve? I have no idea what the fuck you're trying to do aside from piss people off and make a point in the worst way possible, Tempest. If you were my friend, you should've come to me with this. No one contacted me. No one did anything until now, until this, and look at what a mess you've helped cause.

[hyanaimne]

[that . . . sure shuts her up for a long few minutes. When she does actually manage to speak again, it's in that quiet tone from earlier]

I am just following a cause I believe in, Saul - nothing more. If the food stores run low, contact me and I will see to it that no one starves.

[5055034455]

[Gently, as if he's too tired to keep going this way:] Tempest. I'm gonna send you a message, okay? I want to trust you again. Here's your chance.

[A few seconds later, still obviously private:]

Give me their names. If you get me that list, I'll make sure whatever punishment is decided upon later isn't as severe for you.

[hyanaimne]

[she stares at that message for a long, long time. Living the way she has, her first instinct is to send him what he wants. Save herself, let the others suffer. She didn't even have to tell Saul she was involved at all.

But . . . these aren't just people she's working with. These are also friends, ones she trusted and has worked with on missions before. People who are risking their lives for something that will hopefully lead to the change they want.

She types out her response, slowly, and stares at it before she hits 'send']

I want you to trust me, too. But I cannot do that. I will accept whatever punishment is given.

I'm sorry.

[5055034455]

[Well, alright.]

Then we're done here.

Let me know if you change your mind.

[hyanaimne]

I won't.

Keep me updated on the food stores if it starts running low.

[5055034455]

Why should I? That'd imply that I trust you to do the right thing.

[hyanaimne]

Because you will do the right thing in this case. And I will keep my word.

[5055034455]

We'll see.