synopsychic | (no subject)

[There's something a bit rough and tired to Malik's mental voice, even as he speaks with crisp efficiency.]

The Defenders and Miners are wrong, and you do not have all you should. I do not know what everyone has been told but hopefully this information will not be too late to help.

The Automata do not seek to destroy the grid or infect the rest of the network. They are trying to stop the Cryptos from escaping and have been trying to do so since the beginning.

Nothing anyone has told you of them is likely true.

[He pauses before continuing again.]

What you need to know is this.

There is a covert team of automata who are trying to preserve the grid. They are under the directive of a... I am not sure that pair is the right word? The Users they are following the directive of are some sort of creature and two who were once one.

[He doesn't know anything of Trumps or tarot, being from the middle ages is difficult sometimes when having to deal in symbology.]

I will not argue over the fact that they are dangerous. The desperate acting against overwhelming numbers tend to be.

I can answer what I know of, and offer what conclusions I have come to.

One of which is that the Cryptos are far more of a danger than I think anyone realizes.

...I will also need a sword once I return to the grid if any have one to lend.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Ignoring the Trumps and what they want would be folly. I agree that we should do whatever we believe would be best for the grid and the network - but the Trumps are why we're here, and the major force behind everything that's happened on this grid.

If we ignore them, we can't predict what they and theirs will do, and we'll fail. Understanding them and what they want may well be the key to figuring out what's really going on here, and ultimately what's best for the grid.

What I do know for certain is that they are highly intelligent, skilled creators that for the most part seem amiable when they are in the presence of others. They have been searching for not only their creations, their structures, but apparently something more specific as well. And now it seems to be this IX? The SAGE? Whoever he truly is. They have, or had rather, an individualistic society that kept them mostly aloof from one another, allowing them to keep secrets more easily than other programs within factions. Anything else I can only say for certain individual programs I am familiar with, or would have to make a guess on the larger whole.

[There is also the possibility that his conversation with KALI will reveal something semi-useful but it hasn't gotten ...anywhere, really, yet.]

Truly. If no one knows for certain what they plan on doing once they escape the Grid, then no informed decision can be made at this time. I do not wish to condemn them any more than any other here. I can only hope one of them will be receptive enough to talk once confronted... as it is quickly becoming apparent might need be done.

You did not clarify very well anything at all.

[It's as much an accusation as it sounds. He sighs, exasperated with the whole situation, but it is done aloud and far away from anyone that may be listening on the network. He takes a short moment to compose himself before continuing.]

On that we can agree, then. I would rather have more information before acting, or not acting, as the case may be.

[He thought he was fairly clear, but he just gives a mental sigh. Malik's too tired to argue over it at the moment.]

It would seem we know what to do then. I should stay some distance from the Partition but I would enjoy company on an attempt to get in contact with the Cryptos.

We need information, and after the bomb is taken care of it will be needed quickly.

It is, as they say, my purpose.

If you find out more, I would like to know.

What do you need it for?

The sword?

I expect to be involved in a fight at some point, I do not think I will find a warm reception from the Defenders.

[ She's quiet a long time- thinking it over, before-- ]

You must swear me an oath to return it.

Of course I will return it, a Lady should not be without protection any longer than she chooses.

I do not oath to any gods, but you have my word on my bloodline.

That will do.

I shall allow you to use my father's blade. It is a little large, but I believe it will be better than nothing.

I shall care for it as if it belonged to my own.

[Which means he will more than likely find a way to make sure it is cleaned and tended to before returning it.]

I shall owe you a favor for your aid.

It would not be the first time I was less dead than believed.

Though I agree, even if it could be entertaining to cause chaos like that.

Why don't you tell us who all is on that team, mon ami?

Just so we know who to help out.

[ Tone of voice is less accurate for her than body language, and she's not sure how much she can trust body language and facial expression here. But still, that's... recognition that she sees. And that's strange and unsettling. ]

...No?

What is a... Trump?

[ ...what? She's new, and she's been preoccupied, don't judge her. ]

I'll let you... know. If I learn... anything.

If I had them, I might consider it.

[You are not his friend, guy.]

I do not even know how many of us there were, only the goal and who our Users were.

I also have no guarantee any of you will not simply kill them or turn them in to the Defenders.

You don't know me yet, homme, so I let that once go by. But Travelers, we don't work that way.

I do not know any of you, and forgive me but the last stranger speaking French I met was trying to enslave humanity and nearly killed me so my trust for you is somewhat thin.

How do you work, beyond meddling in things better left to turn themselves.

And the last man I knew trying to enslave humanity stole my girlfriend. What does that have to do with anything?

We all in this together. We all try to get out together. We don't kill each other. We don't give or take orders. We don't hide things that could help us understand the Trumps better. Everything past that, we work together like someone's trying to herd cats.

You need to court more intelligent women.

It seems like someone should be compiling information so we all know the secret handshakes.

[Armin looks a little sheepish.]

I just made it worse, didn't I? This... might be easier to explain in person. [In that it's a lot easier to judge someone's reaction when he can see them, or when something he's saying makes them upset and he needs to reassure them or calm them down.] Would you like to meet somewhere?

Oh, okay...

[Quinn tucks Moebius away to think about later. It's obvious that whatever happened, it affected Armin badly and she doesn't want to push about the past when the present has so many problems already.]

Do you think so? I d-don't remember much about computers... It just seemed k-kind of weird to me.

We do what we can, right?

Oh, you didn't get the introductory handbook either? It's what we call the people who control things here. 'Here' being... well, Jaunts, Liminal Space, where we're trapped away from home. Not even sure they're 'people' but each time we've seen one, they've looked like people to some degree. Seems like they're related to Tarot with the Major Arcana at least. Every now and then they slip into a Jaunt and interact with us.

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