it is a funeral.

[ltcommandroid]

[Well. That was certainly something.

Emotions are clearly high, so for once, Data steps out of his helper role and takes on the brunt of organizing the after-trial gathering. He's seen enough of them by now to know what's what. He's also seen more than enough in this particular trial to decide that the bar, while possibly being the most logical location, may be distressing to some! So instead, we're gonna do something different. Data will deliver invitations, that sort of look like a computer printed them, to each of the rooms:]


Please come to the ice cream parlor if you would like company at this time.

- Data

[Everybody likes ice cream!

There are no decorations, but there are some snack selections from the buffet and the cafe, depending on what you want, and a tray or two of mixed drinks courtesy of Jimmy Buffett. Data and Parker are both here. If you're sad, you may pet Parker (probably). If you're too depressed to make your own fancy sundae, Data will do it for you (definitely).]

Comments

[jibunwo]

We've seen our Captain's far from being of any sound mind, so I don't know if we'll find any rhyme or reason to the facilities themselves.

[onlyyoucan]

The ship probably wasn't his to start with, given the changes.

[jibunwo]

True enough. Either way, it's more than a little chaotically designed.

[onlyyoucan]

With the renovations?

[jibunwo]

Quite. I can't determine what this ship was supposed to look like, only the interior design of a raving madman.

[onlyyoucan]

We can tell some changes, like the elevator. But I've never really been on a ship like this.

...We did learn some things today. I just don't know what to make of them.

[jibunwo]

Neither do I--we need time to regroup and regain our focus.

[onlyyoucan]

We know they need the Kraken to kill the culprits. That the Captain, Jack, can't kill them himself under his own rules. I just don't know why.

[jibunwo]

Part of me wonders if he just hates getting his hands dirty, but that seems too easy an explanation.

[onlyyoucan]

If it were just that, he'd have killed Alice then; he wouldn't have been stopped.

[jibunwo]

There has to be something to it, unless...

[Zero trailed off, then paused.]

...The Kraken may or may not be under Jones' direct control, but he clearly has the means to summon it. Do you think sacrifices made to it--for lack of a more delicate phrasing--ensure Jones is given their souls after their deaths?

[onlyyoucan]

That could be. It'd start to explain why he needs him around.

[jibunwo]

It would indeed. Now that we know Jack's blackmail over Jones seems nearly absolute, we can largely discard the idea of the latter's participation being conditional; I would, however, wonder if such a condition was set regardless. Jones claims our souls as those who died at sea, and Jack gets the cooperation without whatever resistance Jones is even capable of putting forth. Do you think that seems sound?

[onlyyoucan]

It makes sense. Though The Captain, Jack, he doesn't seem the type to let people have anything he can't then take away if things go wrong. What does that say?

[jibunwo]

To me, it suggests that he may hold power over Jones that he hasn't exercised and that Jones himself may not have considered. His profile claims he likes control, and I'm willing to assume he likes having his pieces exactly where he wants them on the board at all times.

[onlyyoucan]

Probably. Letting him know he's helpless, but still believe there might be hope? That doesn't say anything good for our situation, but we still can do things. We can still look for a way to get out of this. Find one, with a miracle.

[jibunwo]

We haven't lost all hope yet. Even if only a handful of us survive to the end, a handful will be enough if we can gain Jack's advantage over Davy Jones and overthrow him.

[onlyyoucan]

Just keep that in mind, right? I can do that. ...I should thank you, too. It's always been easy to talk to you about these things. Even if I have trouble talking to anyone.

[jibunwo]

You don't have anything to thank me for, Sara. I have to admit, it's been the same for me.

[onlyyoucan]

...

[She almost smiles at that before looking back down at the table.]

You told me about yourself. You're the one who deserves to know why I was hiding. So... you can ask, if you want.

[jibunwo]

I don't need to know, unless of course you wish to tell me. That secret is yours to keep or share as you choose, not for anyone to ask about.

[onlyyoucan]

You're right. But... I'd rather someone know the whole thing than be exposed at any time because Jack thought it would be funny.

[Even if it's hard to say anything.]

[jibunwo]

...I'm listening.

[onlyyoucan]

...

[Okay, deep breath. There's no way to explain this, really -- being interrogated is one thing, this is another. But.]

My family's been in this war for generations. When our parents died, my older brother, Ralph, raised me while he was still in military school, and even after he graduated. I don't know what I would have done without him. He shipped off ten years ago -- youngest Reasoner to pilot a Gloire, 18 and already a squad leader, for a rescue mission. I promised I'd follow him one day, and I dedicated everything to that. Everyone compared me to him. I was proud. He'd gone over 100 light years away. I knew I had to be as good as him for the hope of seeing him again.

[She pulls out her device. Leaves it on last week's motive image, stares at it.]

Deague had no reason to attack the Glabella Institute. All there was there was a school and an old army lab, and we were... not quite in the Neutral Zone, but still safely behind the front lines. But they came anyway. Tumor swarms somehow got past the shields and started attacking anything they saw. They hit the student dorms -- I only lived because I'd snuck out with a friend that night. We made it to our Strains to fight them off -- me, him, and our other friends who were already in the hangar. But when we were doing well against the Tumors, a Strain showed up. Deague doesn't have Strains. But it was a modified one I'd never seen before, and it --

[She shudders and balls her fists on the table.]

It was before I even knew it. He cut the others down -- he would have gotten me if Cedie hadn't pushed me out of the way, and even then, it totalled the Strain. I got my Mimic out and followed the Reasoner to the old lab. It wasn't hard to find. Not with the trail he was leaving. But...

[jibunwo]

[Zero listened in silence; there were parts that eluded him, and parts he understood a little too well. Regardless of that, it was important to her that she speak it to someone--so he said nothing and simply gave a slight nod to acknowledge she still had his attention.]