audio; un: Sabriel.Abhorsen

[bindsthedead]

Newton's not gone. Those... things- the Precursors- might be in control, but he's still in there.

[There's an almost frenetic energy beneath Sabriel's controlled tones.]

I think there's a way to get them out, and erase their memories of the orbs in the process- perhaps even smash their minds to bits, if everything goes well. But I don't think I can do it alone. If you have any means of reaching into people's minds, I'd like to speak with you and come up with a plan to combine our skills into something that can save Newt and deal with the Precursors.

[They'll figure it out- Sabriel knows Belgaer will work, they just need to make sure the first attempt is strong enough to succeed- otherwise, the precursors will try to destroy Newt's mind, and then flee with knowledge of the orbs, and the Ximilia.

So they'll just have to get it right the first time.]

Between then and the Highest One... how many groups are out, there, trying to destroy worlds? How many are we going to encounter during our time here?

Comments

[bindsthedead]

We were lucky with the Highest One- he was out of communication with his kin, if he had any, and in all the cases we've seen so far- even if the world had space travel, everyone thought each orb was a unique entity, rather than a piece of a greater whole.

I've asked Viveca the same question, and she's given me the same assurances- and I do think the station is safe, save for infiltration through- or by- one of the crew. But that doesn't rule out other forces realizing there are multiple orbs, and seeking them out.

[callada]

And anyone who seeks them will eventually do their best to wind up here, where multiple are stored.

I wonder. Several times now we've chosen to tell the people involved the truth about what's happening, and the honesty so far has paid off. But people will talk. Word spreads. Maybe we shouldn't be so eager to advertise how much we know about these things. In the long run we might be setting ourselves up for real trouble.

[bindsthedead]

Well, I hope Viveca and Degar look closely at whoever they're recruiting.

Many worlds we've visited don't have the means for people to travel to other worlds- Remi might have had the means, but he also understood that the orbs were dangerous- I don't think he'd have told anyone. We didn't tell anyone on the last mission, or on Braccia, which also had space travel. They don't have such means on Giva, and I don't think Entr'i and Angrial would talk anyway. The situation on Gyeonje was much the same, and as for Badrock... how much did we tell Welford Branson? But I don't think he'd tell anyone either.

But... All of those people, they weren't bad. Outside of Cheruvia and the Highest One, none of the people we've had to get the orb from were bad people- and Cheruvia at least cared about someone outside herself.

[callada]

We don't know those people. We only saw a tiny fraction of their lives, and don't know how desperate they may be. I agree that none of them are likely to turn and come after us, even if they had the means, but it's something we should be cautious about.

In general, I think we would benefit from being more prepared for long-term problems that could arise from other orb-hunters. You and I think about these things. I'm not sure everyone does, and they should.

[bindsthedead]

Even if no one else is seeking them out now, that might change. And anyone who can seek them out effectively would have exceptionally powerful magic or technology, even aside from any power they got from the orbs.

The other thing I worry about is what if we have to deal with a truly evil person like the Highest One- or just someone desperate enough to sacrifice other people to the orb.

[callada]

Mm. We have numbers, skills, and a variety of magic on our side, but that doesn't mean we won't take losses if that happens. And anyone serious enough will have a team like we do, they won't be going at it alone. A team, or an army. People to throw at the problem in a way we're unwilling to do.

Maybe what we need is the equivalent of an emergency flare. A fast, immediate way to signal Viveca that just means we need to be retrieved immediately, or else there might not be anyone to retrieve. But I don't have any idea how to arrange something like that here.

[bindsthedead]

We're doing this because of our regrets. They'd have to have a means of their own to recruit people, and convince them to cooperate.

Or a way to outright control them, but- we should probably ask Viveca about that. I know she has some access to our communicators when we're on a mission, because she said that she couldn't tell me more about the Highest One because none of us learned anything about him- beyond what he said on Giva, at least.

[callada]

We should ask. If she can tell when one of us has the orb, she can probably tell if one of us dies. Something cuts out on her end, maybe.

We'd have to make sure any kind of emergency signal is vouched for by several people, though. No good having someone cry wolf and get the whole team retrieved when we didn't need it.

[bindsthedead]

Right. If she has full access, she can make the choice herself- decide that failure is imminent, and get us out. Otherwise... we'll need a signal.

[callada]

I haven't spoken to Viveca in a while. It's probably time I checked in with her. I'll ask about what the options are from her end.