...that... should be enough. Whew.
After I'd (finally) realized that I was standing at a crime scene after calling the local police, I'd nonchalantly walked back to my original arrival point. Yes, I was in a hurry to escape, but people always look for the guy in a hurry... and I really did need to use the same spot again. It makes throwing off pursuit far easier.
Anyway, I got off that planet all right, and went through my usual obfuscation routine. Twice, just to be sure, with a few extra loopbacks worked in there before I reappeared in the lab.!NotalonebackrightGETREAD-... oh.
As soon as I'd noticed a presence behind me, I started to turn, bringing Mal up into a guard position... only to see Cinque leaning up against a wall, smiling approvingly.
"Good reactions, Imma. I'm impressed." She beckoned me closer, and begin to walk to the door. "Walk with me. We need to talk."I hate it when people say that.
"You didn't kill them. Why?"
I looked over at Cinque. Is she genuinely curious? Interrogating me? Best be paranoid about it. "Because they were more useful alive, as a way to attract-"
Cinque held up one hand. "Please. Spare me your justifications. If you had wanted the TSAB to begin investigating the Syndicate for us, a building full of corpses would've sufficed." She whirled around, stepping into my path, and poked me in the chest with a finger. "You chose not to kill those people. You went to considerable effort to ensure that every one of them survived. Why?"
Could still be interrogating, but curiosity more likely. Honest answer not likely to cause problems.I sighed, letting a bit of weariness into my voice. "Because killing them wouldn't have been worth it."
Cinque blinked. "Not worth it?" ...it's not THAT absurd. Really, it isn't. "But it was clearly the optimum outcome. There'd be no chance of any of them coming back to attack us, and no chance of the TSAB discovering our existence early." She looked down, a bit of emotion coloring her words. "...and it would've been safer for you, as well..."
That's either an act, or it's kinda sweet of her. Wrong either way, but still."First," I said, holding up a finger, "I wasn't in any danger. There were no mages in the area- I checked. Second, yes, I could've done as you asked. There would've been no TSAB attention, no left-over Syndicate employees, and no risk of being revealed... at the cost of eighty-five non-combatant lives. Would it have been worth it?"
Cinque opened her mouth. Then stopped. Then closed it again. After a few seconds spent deep in thought, she spoke again- this time less sure of herself. "...I don't know."
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
After I'd (finally) realized that I was standing at a crime scene after calling the local police, I'd nonchalantly walked back to my original arrival point. Yes, I was in a hurry to escape, but people always look for the guy in a hurry... and I really did need to use the same spot again. It makes throwing off pursuit far easier.
Anyway, I got off that planet all right, and went through my usual obfuscation routine. Twice, just to be sure, with a few extra loopbacks worked in there before I reappeared in the lab.!NotalonebackrightGETREAD-... oh.
As soon as I'd noticed a presence behind me, I started to turn, bringing Mal up into a guard position... only to see Cinque leaning up against a wall, smiling approvingly.
"Good reactions, Imma. I'm impressed." She beckoned me closer, and begin to walk to the door. "Walk with me. We need to talk."I hate it when people say that.
"You didn't kill them. Why?"
I looked over at Cinque. Is she genuinely curious? Interrogating me? Best be paranoid about it. "Because they were more useful alive, as a way to attract-"
Cinque held up one hand. "Please. Spare me your justifications. If you had wanted the TSAB to begin investigating the Syndicate for us, a building full of corpses would've sufficed." She whirled around, stepping into my path, and poked me in the chest with a finger. "You chose not to kill those people. You went to considerable effort to ensure that every one of them survived. Why?"
Could still be interrogating, but curiosity more likely. Honest answer not likely to cause problems.I sighed, letting a bit of weariness into my voice. "Because killing them wouldn't have been worth it."
Cinque blinked. "Not worth it?" ...it's not THAT absurd. Really, it isn't. "But it was clearly the optimum outcome. There'd be no chance of any of them coming back to attack us, and no chance of the TSAB discovering our existence early." She looked down, a bit of emotion coloring her words. "...and it would've been safer for you, as well..."
That's either an act, or it's kinda sweet of her. Wrong either way, but still."First," I said, holding up a finger, "I wasn't in any danger. There were no mages in the area- I checked. Second, yes, I could've done as you asked. There would've been no TSAB attention, no left-over Syndicate employees, and no risk of being revealed... at the cost of eighty-five non-combatant lives. Would it have been worth it?"
Cinque opened her mouth. Then stopped. Then closed it again. After a few seconds spent deep in thought, she spoke again- this time less sure of herself. "...I don't know."
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.