mental link | day: 006

[shri]

[ Her options are at this point, are brood up how much she wants to kill Damon and Elena, or get on with work. She didn't do so well at brooding, though her mind is still so new, so sharp and edged and not kept inside of herself. But in this case, a fire trying to find new kindling to keep itself going. Her own impatience and frustration are evident. But when isn't she anyway - ]

( I was informed when I arrived that we need to be ... ascertaining particular pieces of information.

Have we begun such? If not, should we not begin planning to reconnoitre? )

[ She has already plans, but even so, if it's already been done - well, she's happy to be told if it means she doesn't have to go chasing her own tail. ]

( And does anyone know how to use these - light books - that has the time to show me? It keeps flashing at me and I cannot make it stop. I think it wants something. )

[ The data pad, she means the data pad, she's grouchy at it for not! giving her! the things! she wants! Being a grandma in space is a trial. ]

Comments

[shri]

( My people burn their dead, so that the soul might leave it's body. We do not keep our dead in such form. )

[ And here she is, regardless, says the flicker of her mind, come so close to dying, over and over again. ]

( Understood. After you have done that, what are your plans? )

[adamance]

( My people are the same. That's why it's unusual that they use them in such a way. ) [If they are alien to these people, they ought to avoid that fate.]

( I believe it depends on confirmation of how many of us intend to go on this journey, or how many are expected. I've assumed that it's only the strongest among us, but I may be wrong.

If I'm not, then I'd like to spend that time determining whether any of the factions have newcomers like ourselves. We can use that as an opening.

If I am, then we may be able to determine whether the Enemy is joining them. The journey or pilgrimage may provide that revelation, even if it seems too simple. ) [Would they be so careless? Lexa has her doubts, but it would be unwise to overlook it.]

[shri]

[ That set of fire, it crackles away, as she thinks, taking the kindling she is given and taking it into herself. ]

( Would you benefit with extended contact before hand? )

[adamance]

( It's difficult to say. We are strangers to these people regardless. Our questions may not have time to gestate before we need to find the answers to them. )

[Contact would help, but how much can they risk? Very little.]

[shri]

[ Tap, tap, tap goes her mind, that stretching crackle of thoughts that expand, take form. ]

( Then we do it very particularly. Are you comfortable with spectacle? )

[adamance]

[Ah. Lexa loves spectacle, but it's typically attuned to what her people prefer. Just the same, she's learned that the Nest hasn't always liked her bold way of doing things.

Just the same, she's intrigued by the notion, and it shows in the link.]

( What do you have in mind? )

[shri]

[ Another drum of thought, straight as marching lines. A plan half put together. ]

( An event, perhaps... a show. )

[ At least to hire something or someone. Allow them to talk and play with those around them. ]

[adamance]

( It would have to be a custom of our people. Something introduced to draw attention. )

["Introduced" is the same as "fabricated," as far as Lexa's concerned.]

[shri]

( Perhaps we should give it some thought? Come up with ... something good. )

[ Huffs a laugh. ]

( This all used to be a great easier. )

[adamance]

( So long as we can secure our safety throughout it. Past proposals like this have failed because we saw no value to it. It will have to be wisely done. )

[Lexa had been first among stopping them. There has to be a why, and here they have the why.]

( Everything is easier when the surrounding factors are known ones. Adapt or die, isn't that how it goes? )

[shri]

( Oh - yes I suppose. I meant rather that organising anything is easier when I have resources of my own to call upon. )

[ Throw an elephant at the population, it got everyone rather distracted. Oh - how she misses Gangadhar - he knew how to put on such a show. But the flicker of memories is something she ever keeps back. ]

( But just so. We will come up with someone - so many seem to have thoughts themselves that merely require direction. )

[adamance]

( It may simply be a matter of ceremony, a matter of creating ... an ascension of sorts. Someone who has turned over a new leaf. Perhaps we can use something like that, and stick with simplicity and moderation at the same time. In that, we may be able to find the newcomers among other factions, as it will draw forth conversation on how they initiate their newcomers. )

[It's complicated, but hopefully not impossible.]

[shri]

) There is an idea to that - even if it was simply a welcoming. How often do new members arrive of our number? )

[ Tap, tap, tap go her thoughts. ]

[adamance]

( Unfortunately, there's no pattern to it. We'll have to make it something that cannot be relied upon. Hence: a ceremony of celebrating someone's growth. No one can know if a servant has succeeded or not. )

[They are revealing an unknown culture, after all.]

[shri]

( Perhaps then we should devise it to be something we can do whilst we are traveling on this pilgrimage. )

[ Set it as standard so they can all act as uniform about it as possible. ]

[adamance]

( An evening ritual of sorts, before we rest. It might even culminate in something that may give us leave to exclude ourselves from what lies ahead. )

[That is, if it runs counter to their "beliefs."]

[shri]

( You have a clever mind. )

[ Which is to say, she approves immensely. that warm brush of her own thoughts, flickering with pleasure - brief and crackling for the time being. A hearth-fire settled in deep. ]

[adamance]

( Thank you. ) [This is said just because it's required. Lexa knows she has a great mind. Egos and stuff.]

( I merely want what's best for our group. I'm not convinced that this mission is that. )

[shri]

( You've had no say in your placing? )

[ She's been told that there is no central leadership - it surprises her to find that anyone should be here without their full agreement. ]

[adamance]

( No. More to the point, we have no way of knowing much about the other Hosts out there, or any other stations. How they come across the information on the Enemy's whereabouts is also unclear.

We are sent and meant to react. We have a choice in how we react, and what paths we take, but the beginning of that journey is never a choice of our own. )

[But would they have rejected this opportunity? Lexa knows that if she had more control over matters, she wouldn't. She just would have approached it through a rather different method.]

[shri]

( Is that not all of life?

But I take your meaning. We are told simply to accept where we are sent. )

[ Is it hypocrisy to object to such when she frequently had ordered men to die? For not even half of the truth. Perhaps. But she never put anything in their heads, did she? ]

( With that in mind - I would - ask - for your help in our current state. If nothing more than the benefit of survival. )

[adamance]

( I'll offer it. Do you mean with the task ahead or in general? )

[It feels like a more personal request, but she would rather not assume on the matter.]

[shri]

( Both, I suspect. Seems there is a long road ahead of us now. )

[ and she does always, if she can help it, ask first. ]

[adamance]

( Very well. I'll have far more to say on the mission ahead soon enough. )

[Lexa always does. She has unwavering confidence in herself, whether it's founded or not. She has no choice but to have it.]

( I am Lexa. )

[shri]

( Lakshmi Bai, the Queen of Jhansi. )

[ Not said to impress, but simply what she is, really. ]