[backdated to day 44: mental link]

[adamance]

[Withholding information had not been Lexa's goal, but she had wanted to thoroughly research what she could before she brought it to the rest of the Nest. For that reason, Lexa has been busy, but has been careful not to reveal what she has in hand until she's ready. Even as she prepares to speak to the Nest, she's not completely prepared, and there's a sense of agitation over this.

By now, she already knows the results of them following Ven, but they haven't yet received the information they require. Why they didn't take the opportunity is bothersome in and of itself, but there is little that she can change about that. It's about moving forward, and it's not as if she has the fullest degree of faith in the Nest. Nothing changes that.]

( Today, I'd like to speak to you all about the results of our meeting with Mind Life. The conversations we had prior to this meeting with the hacker group that privately contacted us may have been accurate on this front. ) [She deliberates revealing what she told them about their goals, but decides against it: Mind Life's desperation to remain stagnant and inactive is worrisome, to say the least.] ( They have their hearts in the right place, but not their minds. I'd say it's ironic given the name of their organization, but not surprising. They prefer passive communication over action. Their idealism may be worthwhile, but they have little help to offer because they refuse to make a show of any aggression.

As a result, our only boon from them is a list of people who they deem trustworthy. Or untrustworthy. Unsurprisingly, Saffit is on the list of unsavory individuals. She doubts that even the untrustworthy men could be behind the bombings, but we may come to see her perspective as one of denial given her unwillingness to act.

I've done the beginning search into many of the other individuals named, but I cannot be as thorough as any of our technical people. Trust that I will not be handing over this list lightly, and that the contents of it will not be available to everyone in the Nest. I would rather prevent any reactionary behavior as a result of what Sheena Frey chose to write down. ) [If anything, she refuses to share everything on the list with the Nest. She may give names, or an idea of whether or not someone is on the list, but she doesn't want any of the Hosts to set out on a crusade.

Especially when she can barely trust Sheena's judgment.]

Comments

[adamance]

( Yes, why else would I have reason here? Those who are privy to the situation know well enough why I'm keeping information away from others. )

[greentech]

( Maybe you should fill in those of us who aren't aware of the why and the who. Or you could leave us in the dark, because that's always worked out great for everyone! )

[adamance]

( An example: though she is currently comatose, Ilde killed a man without hesitation on our previous mission. The results of her actions led to one of our own dying. Here, she has expressed a desire to speed up this mission, to be done with it. She has no investment in our success or failure. What adaptations she's made seem nothing more than temporary. She seems unreliable, and when encouraged with kindness, she reacts because it is the last thing she wants. No, she wants someone to agree with her, to tell her precisely what it is she wants to hear.

With this information, her actions could be devastating, as she has proved herself untrustworthy. )

[Lexa feels no great concern in sharing this, because Ilde's actions were known by many, and she had shared her own issues with her in private. There is no saying whether Ilde is asleep for good. She may be. That would certainly help matters.]

[greentech]

( She what? Why'd she kill him? )

[ Not that Katie hasn't, you know, killed people, but Lexa makes it sound like it was just for the sake of doing it or for convenience. ]

( I may not like it here, but I at least think we should try to do our job right. )

[adamance]

( He threatened her. At the time, her actions seemed reasonable, but the end result still required her to have to learn to understand that certain actions bring about certain consequences.

And she is a fairly antagonistic presence. )

[Not that she isn't, but she also isn't going around and killing people.]

[greentech]

( She didn't seem that bad when I talked to her. )

[adamance]

( She had no reason to, I'm assuming. )

[greentech]

( I guess. I'll keep an eye out. )

[snaphiss]

( Would you accept that answer from me? )

[adamance]

( I believe you and I have too many personal biases toward one another for me to answer that fairly. You assume you know me, and I assume that I know you. It leads to us butting heads.

Is that a well-reasoned enough answer for you? )

[snaphiss]

( No, just terribly convenient. )

( You say I don't know you, so my point is void. You don't know me either, or anyone else in the nest. If you treat someone as untrustworthy, they'll live up to your expectations. )

[adamance]

( Here is a less convenient answer then: I began in the Nest trusting no one. Now there are those I do trust.

You have done nothing to change my mind. )

[She assumes it's the same in reverse, but doesn't say it. In fact, she's curious to see if Mara will prove petty enough to point it out unnecessarily.]

[snaphiss]

( I don't particularly care about your mind or its whimsies. But we're on this mission together. Your weakness is my liability. And you're dragging us all down with this pointless conflict to feed your ego. )

[adamance]

( You assume I made this announcement expecting conflict. That is where you, and many others, are wrong. )

[snaphiss]

( You didn't expect it? You didn't expect people to be upset that you were announcing keeping something from them? You're even worse than I thought. )

[adamance]

[Imagine the mental version of a sigh here.]

( I'm keeping information from a choice few individuals. I had not expected that people would assume that would mean everyone, but people are keen to be on the receiving end of my judgment. ) [Yes, that is a purposeful return to her retort from earlier.

(Though she had zero intention of giving Mara Jade shit.)]

[snaphiss]

[And the mental equivalent of an eyeroll.]

( I'm not going to give you lessons on public speaking; you're clearly a hopeless case. But if you want people to all get politely in line and meekly ask for permission, you're going to have to do better than start with how you won't be sharing it with everyone. )

[adamance]

( You assume that is what I intended here. And since you will not take any explanation to the contrary, we're done here. )

[There's no point in arguing with a person who clearly has no intention of changing their mind.]

[snaphiss]

( Yes, let's end this before you wear my last nerve. Enjoy your unexpected Nest full of angry squabbling. )

[adamance]

[This is a place where "you started it!!!!" would be apt.]