Twenty-three [video]

[trueltning_fury]

It's time I spoke up openly.

The escalation to wild accusations and violence has been too fast. While I don't necessarily share the altruism of the young woman who messaged earlier, I do agree that dividing this community is going to be fatal for all of us. It occurred to me that despite being exposed as a Skrull, Deconnick's message a few weeks ago had a grain of truth in it. That being, we Imports are in danger of being eliminated. By whom, or what, or why, does not make a difference in the long run, the simple fact is, we stand as the last, best force available to counteract any large-scale threat. Invasions, manufactured super-powers, what have you. The civilian population of this world cannot handle it, that's why they brought us here. We are the last thing standing in the way of Vulcanus, or Skrulls, or any other similar threat. If they remove us, or cause us to remove each other, they have this world free for the taking.

I'm no Silverberg, but I have some training in battlefield tactics. I offer these to you now.

First, we must prepare non-lethal means of incapacitating our foes. You are a community of people with powers, can none of you use them with a sense of restraint? I have no qualms about killing those who come against me with deadly force, but I also know the value of using my power to incapacitate rather than kill. For one, it will ease the consciences of those who end up attacking innocent people. For two, it gives us the chance to capture and interrogate legitimate foes.

Second, do not rely on the porter-machine's tendency to resurrect. Those who knew of the demon Illidan who lived in the park...when he was killed, he did not return. I hear rumor that he is not the only one. Rash actions still have consequences.

Third, use your damn common sense to figure out who may or may not be vulnerable. As I understood it, when I was told about these Skrulls, they need to abduct their victims before replacing them. Anyone who has been out of contact with friends, coworkers, allies, or family for lengthy periods of time is more likely to be suspect than those you've had around you regularly. I say suspect; accusations are pointless. Simply keep a closer eye on anyone you may suspect. Keeping your guard up and your suspicions to yourself is wiser than simply blindly trusting all, or trusting no one and pointing fingers. Those with a power that may allow them to identify the spies in our midst should start using them right about now, unless they are as unreliable as the lobster.

I don't even know if there are more of them out there, or if they have already replaced some of us. Assuming that this has happened is as foolish as assuming it hasn't. I advise caution. If they're out there, and they have a purpose in mind, it will reveal itself in time. Use your heads and stay on your guard, but do not divide our forces any more than they're already divided. Each man or woman sitting alone on an island is an easy target, not a bastion of defense. To think otherwise is naive.

...I have half a mind to leave you lot to yourselves and head out to the wilderness to enjoy the solitude of my own thoughts. But if I abandon this place, that's one less warrior on the front line. So, I will stay.

[police informant filter]

Jack, I don't know what use I can be to you at the moment. I may have raised suspicions about myself by losing my temper with Ghost. I can deny being a Skrull all I want, but I have no way to prove it other than my word. But if anyone comes after me, they risk unleashing True Lightning again. If I die, it will be loose in this world with no rune orbs to contain it. I feel it only wise to warn you of this.

Comments

[onblackwings]

Well, neither is mine.

[trueltning_fury]

A metaphor, then.

[onblackwings]

Not really. There are a few people in the City that aren't to be touched, and I get annoyed when they are.

[trueltning_fury]

Figures.

I don't care what keeps people here. Though it's possible you would have been safer elsewhere. It's easier to stay above suspicion that way.

[onblackwings]

They can suspect all they want. I'm not particularly worried for my own saftey. [ ...as long as zatanna stays out of it :c ]

[trueltning_fury]

So much the better. Those who can't defend themselves are in more danger than those of us who can.

[onblackwings]

And how do you suppose you'll fare?

[trueltning_fury]

Well enough.

[onblackwings]

I do hope so.

Taking the offensive like this is rather a clever plan, though. So maybe you won't need to defend yourself at all.

[trueltning_fury]

A good general knows when to go on the offensive. That said, I could have also just painted a large target on my back.

[onblackwings]

My money is on the latter. It's certainly what I would do, trying to preemptively prove myself innocent.

[trueltning_fury]

I'm less interested in proving myself and more interested in preventing the wholesale slaughter of our kind. I don't care what people think of me so long as they stop and think for a moment about what they're doing.

[onblackwings]

No, of course there's no use in it. Any argument to the contrary could easily be turned around as "that's what a pretender would say". The more effective the argument, the stronger the suspicion.

[trueltning_fury]

Exactly. Proof is in actions, not words. It requires speculating on the enemy's goals and determining which actions support or defy those goals.

Maybe I'm expecting too much out of some, hoping they're smart enough to do that.

[onblackwings]

[ oh you're no fun to try and implicate as a skrull B( she'll have to find someone else. ]

I have no doubt that you are. Some people here are just hungry for blood however they can get it.

[trueltning_fury]

[that didn't stop Ghost]

I've noticed.

[onblackwings]

And here I keep hearing about things like humanity. Humans don't tend to be very good at it, do they? I think they named it after the wrong species.

[trueltning_fury]

Bloodthirst is not exclusive to any one race.

[onblackwings]

No, but some are better at it than others.