genessia | 04 II Video

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04 II Video

[ The video starts very simply. Thrawn is sitting at his modest kitchen table, with the orchid mentioned last time he posted in a shady place beside him. There is sunlight dappled by many plants coming through the window. ]

After observing this network for some time I have come to the conclusion that it has little worth, save as a means of public address. If that becomes necessary, then signals are overridden in any case.

I have seen a great deal of chatter and static, but very little answering of questions. Questions about the rather bizarre moment of waking not where you expected to be. Questions such as the card and old fashioned comm. No concern is expressed about that, though it happens often enough to be concerning,

[ He shakes his head with a sigh. ]

The system of governance is passing strange, too. There are Guardians, who are elected...but then what? It is impossible to have impartial leaders. Even if that leader knows nothing more than what they are told, they would still make new allies and enemies.

It all combines into a very odd mixture. Some of which I rather doubt if anyone would want to explain, but most is just too banal to be worth my time. I have surmised there is no way 'home'. So therefore I only ask for some means out.

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[Mira's not sure if she's best suited to answer these questions either, but she thought she should at least try.]

I doubt there are too many here who know the answers to all the questions you would wish to ask. I think part of being here is patience, and learning through observation, and enjoying what moments you do have until something else can be done.

[Of course she has the luxury of saying that because she wasn't kidnapped during the middle of a war, where her absence could mean life and death for thousands.]

I can however illuminate one mystery for you most likely, and that is the state of governance here. Most of us here are humans, and certainly no one here is entirely perfect, so how can a perfect form of governance be established? Guardians do not seem to be entirely permanent roles from what I can tell, so if a leader becomes too impartial, I think there's likely a means for a re-election or replacement. So long as a Guardian continues to do their job properly and maintain a place where peace, justice, and happiness can be found for the great majority of the citizens, then there likely isn't a problem.

[ The lack of his presence on the battlefield would be a benefit to the rebels, but not much of a hindrance to the Empire. Then again, it wasn't like the Empire seemed to care that much for any of its manpower. ]

You will forgive me if I do not find the metric of another being's ideas on happiness terribly comforting.

[ Most especially when Attelon's Guardian hates him in particular. Happiness is hard to come by in this equation. ]

What I wouldn't give for some sort of transport ship out of here...

I think the main problem with finding answers here is that nobody knows these answers. At least, nobody who is showing their face.

Interesting that so much emphasis is placed on survival.

[ Beat. ]

It would be worth further investigation if two or more could work toward the common goal together.

People always want to survive. Most of them, anyway.

What would this common end goal of yours be?

True. And therefore they are often distracted with it.

To say that implies it is my goal alone. Odd since you said a moment ago you wished to find a transport, but ah well.

There are many here who want to get out. You may have had something more ambitious in mind.

All word is that there are no ships here. And barriers to prevent them from leaving, even if they were made.

However, there are gateways to other places... If these are real and not merely illusions of the worlds left behind.

What makes you say these gateways are illusory?

[ Thrawn has already heard of them, but he wants to see what Bane has to say on them. ]

If they were real then why wouldn't people just leave through them and never return? What's the point of staying here if it's possible to go back to a person's respective world?

I find that I am only limited to what I know. Even after being here for a set period, I still know very little that odds are likely most if not all people would want to know. It could be because I wasn't around when something happens, or because the answers are not so easy to get.

[A pause.]

Depends on what you mean by impartial leaders? I know in Fayren we actually have a royal family so would that count?

I was not aware that Fayren was a monarchy?

It is. They don't seem to come out much, so most people who don't live in Fayren would probably not know about them.

There is a Guardian for Fayren, yet Fayren is a monarchy. Interesting. One would wonder how that arrangement came about, and how it is mutually beneficial.

[ This calls for a reevaluation of the system of government. Thrawn has a definite sense of foreboding though. ]

What is your name, please?

Well the family would want the city to be protected, that is where the Guardian is of use to make sure that the city is protected as best as possible.

As for my name, it's Yukiko Amagi.

[ Which actually implies aroyal family without real power to Thrawn. He doesn't say that, though. ]

Thank you, Yukiko Amagi.

You're welcome, though... I probably didn't state everything I should have though.

Really?

In what way?

Well for once if I ever wanted to pass laws and such it would go through them first. If they don't agree on something I get sent a letter telling me why they said no. They at least have some say in what one can and can't do really.

Though this isn't really something I am planning on doing unless 100% necessary.

[ Impossible to have impartial leaders. Oh yes. He sees it and is unimpressed.

There's a rather glib almost-smile on Cassian's lips when he responds. ]

I'm not going to claim that completely impartial leadership is possible, but in a democracy, leaders are held accountable via elections and free speech. I hope you will find this satisfactory.

[ There's going to be an imprint left on the table from the amount of headdesking you inspire single handed, Cassian. You get a dry tone right back. ]

Yes, I am aware of how a democratic system works. The problem then arises from the chaotic mess that free speech inspires. The leader is then accountable for that mess.

Only an Imperial would consider free speech a chaotic mess. I would rather call such cacophony healthy. It prevents one voice from overpowering all others. If I have to take responsibility for such a mess, I will gladly do so.

[ Head meet desk. Outwardly Thrawn has the same calmly collected demeanor he always has. ]

Then if we are speaking of systems of government, we must also speak of that same chaos sweeping the galaxy when the Republic fell. Ask General Grievous how many voices fared. How entire planets became little better than ship's graveyards. A generation raised knowing nothing beyond war. That is the legacy of 'many voices', Captain Andor. If you can find peace within yourself knowing that you have added to that, then you are either remarkably good at denial or entirely soulless.

[ His face darkens, jaw tightly clenched. ]

I was just a child when the Republic fell, but I was one of the children who knew nothing but war. Don't tell me I don't know anything about sacrifices, Grand Admiral. And yet I prefer many voices, no matter how high the price we have to pay for them. If that makes me soulless in the eyes of one of the Emperor's hounds... I can live with that.

[ Actually he said nothing about sacrifices, but that's not the interesting part. The interesting part, to Thrawn at least, was that Cassian was not only accepting of the terrible legacy left to the galaxy by the Clone Wars, he was embracing it. There is an irony here but it is doubtful any would ever see it. ]

That burning hatred is eating you alive, Captain. Very soon you will be gone and only the hatred will remain.

[That hits far too close to home. How often has he wondered what is left of him? Genessia has been better, but the darkness is still there, he has just pushed it to the back of his mind. But he will be damned if he shiws weakness to an eenemy. Cassian schools his fave into an icy mask, placid a bit beyond him right now.]

You say that as if you think I'm not aware of it. I don't think it's hate that drives me but it doesn't matter. Whatever you call it, I have long since accepted I will give it my all. That is what you do when you believe.

[ The mild disdain returns after his moment of surprise. This type of hatred he's seen before. ]

Spoken like a true zealot.

Tell me, Captain, how many people have you personally killed?

[ In their first meeting, Cassian's reflex was to shoot Thrawn. He has shown nothing but contempt, but always for Thrawn's rank. Always for the Empire. And the Imperial army is made up of a human population. So it it follows that a Captain in the Rebel army, would have killed his share. The irony here is that it's likely that of the two of them it's probably Thrawn that has more scruples. ]

[ Truth is, if this place didn't have the pesky habit of bringing people back from death, Cassian would have shot Thrawn on sight. There are people too dangerous to live, and like or not, it is up to him to make that call. It's all part of the sacrifices. ]

Many. [ He's a little surprised by how steady his voice is - he hasn't often been confronted here with his deeds, is no longer truly braced for it. ] I have killed a great number of people, in combat and outside. How many have you gotten killed with your orders, all from the bridge of your ship?

[ It is not often that Thrawn shows emotion. In fact he never shows emotion. But the slaughter on Batonn is too recent, and the wounds too fresh. So when there is a flicker of pain in normally inscrutable rubey red eyes it shows no matter how quickly it disappears. ]

Indirect combat is not what I asked about. If you are asking about warships and space battles I can not calculate the casualty count.

However casualty counts are not what interests me. What interests me is where you knew yourself to be soulless. For killing destroys the soul, and if you admit as much already...well.

[ His brows raise slightly, a flare of petty pleasure thrumming through him at the small victory. Not about indirect combat, is it now? ]

You think it gives you moral superiority that you don't have to look into their eyes as they die? You think that gives you the right to lecture me? [ Cassian shakes his head sharply. ] But unlike you, I'm realistic. That's the difference between us. I know that my kills are crimes and that they would not go unpunished in a better world.

[ A single flicker is all that you are going to get, Cassian. For Thrawn the true pain was mostly in the unexpected assault of memory more than anything Cassian said anyway. Talk of moral superiority and lecturing reminded Thrawn who he was talking to. ]

To kill is to be a killer. To be a killer is to be a murderer.

In this 'better world' of yours do you imagine you would be executed or merely imprisoned? I suppose it would matter how many kills you have.

[ And here comes the retaliatory hit. He doesn't flinch, but his eyes grow a little harder yet. ]

Maybe. Or you could argue that to have killed once is enough to condemn you. But that is not for me to decide, and I don't waste time on it. You could say I'm too busy being a murderer.

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