[backdated to yesterday like a boss]

[tobereckoned.livejournal.com]

[For once, the feed that comes through Knock-Out's communicator is video and not text. She's outside sitting at the park, though both her arms are thrown over the back of the bench she's on; the communicator seems to be floating in front of her. She looks conflicted for a moment, but then she decides to speak.]

We're not actually bad guys, you know. I know what you guys all think, that we're some kind of group of boogeymen after your brains and blood. But that's not what this is about. These protests are getting out of hand--

[She rubs her temple. Behind her a car is speeding as someone is trying to cross the street; she raises her hand and the car stops abruptly, letting the person walk in front of it.]

We're here to help you. It doesn't have be like last time, shouldn't be, we have a completely different team working on the science of it all now. This isn't new, signing yourself up to fight for a cause you believe in. You all do understand that, right? I've made sacrifices too, this isn't supposed to be easy and it's not about good guys and bad guys like some idiotic movie… how can you guys live in New York and still think sides like this fit into neat little boxes?

My point is: you don't have to trust us. Or even like us. But burning the city down isn't the way to show your side is the right one.

[And lo, this broadcast does not end up with someone dying! Instead it just harmlessly disconnects.]

ooc | So, let's just pretend this post up went up yesterday...yep. Anyway, the NPC part of this plot is winding down. No more twists, this is the penultimate wrap-up post for this part of the plot.

Comments

[tobereckoned.livejournal.com]

So what do you want me to do about it? I don't think Fugue would like people talking about her behind her back.

[nottheanswers]

I'm not worried about that.

But while it could be a singular case, is that a chance you'd want to take without finding out more?

[tobereckoned.livejournal.com]

I'm not worried. But I have respect for my teammates' privacy.

Her powers and mine are nothing alike.

[nottheanswers]

So it could just be her not reacting well to the graft, it could be incompatibilities in the template, or it could be her powers highlighting an issue in the process itself.

Do you really want to take your chances on that one?

[tobereckoned.livejournal.com]

I've already taken my chances, haven't I?

[nottheanswers]

Sure, but you know what they say about catching it early...

[tobereckoned.livejournal.com]

You almost sound concerned.

[nottheanswers]

Let's just say I'm a big fan of early detection. If this turns out bad, no one should have to go through that, especially without knowing.

And if it's part of the process, anyone who might undertake it in the future might like to know that.

[tobereckoned.livejournal.com]

I'm fine. Fugue's problems have nothing to do with me.

[nottheanswers]

And you're sure they won't in the future? Even one out of nine doesn't sound like good odds.

[tobereckoned.livejournal.com]

Nothing's certain. No point in worrying about yet another variable when there's no evidence to support it.

[nottheanswers]

That's certainly an effective way to run quality control.

[tobereckoned.livejournal.com]

What do you want me to say? Not like I can get rid of them anyway.

[nottheanswers]

But you don't even find the question worth asking.

[tobereckoned.livejournal.com]

Not yet I don't.

[nottheanswers]

If it turns up anything, you wouldn't be the only one affected. Your teammates, any of the new volunteers, it wouldn't go well for them, either.

[tobereckoned.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can do that kind of math.

[nottheanswers]

You can, yeah. But will you?

[tobereckoned.livejournal.com]

You're assuming things you can't prove. You don't just throw a bunch of numbers onto a page and call it an equation.

[nottheanswers]

And you're jumping to conclusions again. You do that pretty often, don't you?

I don't have any hard and verifiable data, no, hard to get that when your sources are psychic. What I have is a warning, an ill omen, I'm just hoping you might take the time to heed it.