hadriel | fifteen ✤ voice

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fifteen ✤ voice

I am sure you have seen the ships, as have we. It is time for a decision. Thanks to your efforts and knowledge, we have options - they are few, but I think any of them could succeed. But each has unknowns and possible dangers. Please take all of these into consideration before you make your decision.

First, we could use the Door to send the Null away to another facet of this wide multiverse. This would keep us safe, and allow us to stay here, in our home, in order to rebuild and restore our people. However, while we have more control of the Door, we only have so much. We can't choose where to send the Null, so they could end up anywhere, including in a universe that one of you is from. Also, while we would try our very best, it would be difficult to ensure that each and every Null scattered across the worlds is caught in this. It is possible we may miss some.

Second, we could use the Door to transport ourselves to another universe. Like the first option, we cannot be sure where we would end up. We would be safe from the Null, but possibly find other dangers. In addition, only those of us gods currently in the city would survive - there would be no option to resurrect our fallen comrades or hosts. With the hosts you have restored to me and our own essences, we could rebuild, but it would take a very long time.

One additional note for the first two options: after carrying out either one, we would need to shut the Door down permanently. To leave it working would be to invite the Null to find a way through it to us. We would send you all home first, of course, but you would never be able to return here or leave the worlds that you return to.

Finally, we could use your skills to infect the Null with a sort of virus. I will admit that my unfamiliarity with technology makes the details of this difficult to understand, but the essence of it is that a group of you would return to the communications relay found on the previous world and use it to broadcast a program that would alter the Null themselves. There are two options here, as well: use it to shut the Null down and therefore kill them, or use it to alter them and imbue them with emotions so they would no longer need or wish to destroy us.

These last two options are the most dangerous for you, and I would ask for volunteers to carry this out if it is chosen. It would allow us to stay here and rebuild our species, and it would potentially allow the Null to survive, though of course that may also be a danger someday. It would also allow us to maintain the Door, which would give you the option to come and go as you pleased. However, the ethics of destroying or permanently altering another species must be considered. Do we have the right to do this against their will? Do we have the right to commit genocide?

Please take your time to consider these options. I believe we can hold out long enough for an educated decision, rather than one made foolishly and in haste. And thank you, all of you, for everything that you have done. None of these options would have been possible if not for your hard work and ingenuity. You have accomplished incredible things and given us a chance when we had none.

Poll #22106

This poll is closed.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 31

View Respondents

What shall we do?

View Answers

Use the Door to remove the Null
2 (6.5%)

Use the Door to move ourselves
2 (6.5%)

Upload a program to alter the Null
9 (29.0%)

Upload a program to destroy the Null
18 (58.1%)

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[it is a big deal. it's a huge deal. she knows she had to do it, but it still bothers her]

It was . . . during one of the things the aliens did. They brought over someone who was hurting a friend. I didn't think he'd stop, so I--so I killed him.

Jesus. If that's the only way you could stop him, it must have been really bad.

[He's curious, but he's also sure that this can't be easy for her to talk about. He's not going to press her for details, but damn.]

Is this friend of yours doing okay now?

It was. Really bad. [a pause] I did something that's . . . forbidden by my world's customs to kill him. I wouldn't have even known it was possible if mother hadn't stressed the importance of not doing it.

[it is hard to talk about, but she's afraid that this will fester inside her if she doesn't talk about it]

He's [a weak chuckle] seen better days.

Oooh, I don't know if I wanna know. Do I wanna know?

[He figured the whole killing thing itself was forbidden enough, is there something even more forbidden than that? He's kind of curious, but also MMMMMM that sounds like some BAD SHIT.]

[another weak chuckle]

...maybe? It's. Pretty gruesome.

[He can't picture her doing anything "pretty gruesome", she's like the least gruesome person he knows.]

If you want to talk about it, I'll listen. If not, I can roll with that too.

No, I want to talk about it. But let me just say first that I'd never do it again, not unless someone else was in mortal danger.

You don't have to convince me of that, I like to think I know you pretty well. Go ahead.

[Let's hear this gruesome tale of gruesomeness.]

Okay, um. You can't tell anyone. Promise you won't tell anyone.

I won't say a word, I promise.

Okay. Okay, good.

I, um. Slipped my arm into his chest and. Partially solidified to grab a hold of his heart and tear it out.

It hurt him. It hurt me. [a pause] It hurt him worse.

Yeeeeah, I'd definitely say it hurt him worse.

[He's silent for a moment, not because he's being all judgmental or anything but because he's trying to work out the science behind literally ripping a man's heart out of his chest. How did you get it through the ribs and muscle Tinya HOLY SHIT OKAY you just don't GET more hardcore than that.]

Wow though, that's... that's intense.

It. [a hysterical laugh] It really did. And I'd do it again. If the circumstances were the same.

[she partially phased it through those. he felt every moment of the pain of his heart being ripped away. and he deserved it]

It--it was. I'm having a hard time. Dealing with it all.

[He'd have a hard time dealing with something like that, too, and she really doesn't sound great right now. Peter can't help but be worried about her.]

...We still have a little time before this all kicks off. You wanna meet up somewhere? We could hit the Speakeasy or something, just hang for a bit?

[it's probably a good thing that he's worried, she just defied the rules of her home planet, not just the United Planets]

Y-yeah. Meeting at the Speakasy sounds like a good idea. Hanging sounds nice.

[They're about to deal with some Pretty Deadly Shit, making sure they're both in a good mental space before shit hits the fan is Peter's biggest priority right now. And boy buddy it sure does sound like Tinya could use some help getting there.]

We'll do that, then. I'll meet you there, okay?

[she hasn't even been able to talk to Will about it yet. she's afraid that it will tarnish his image of her as this pristine angel of a young woman.

and she needs to talk to Pratt about it]

All--all right. I'll see you soon?

[Mmm yeah probably best not to tell Peter about that guy, he'll think he's a total creep.]

Yep. Already on my way, see you there.

[which is why she never tells anybody about him.

she enters the Speakeasy, wearing one of her usual white sundresses and outwardly, all looks well, but her eyes are haunted.

he'll find her at the bar, already having a gin & tonic]

Hey, Peter. Thanks for doing this. Have a seat?

[Peter does indeed have a seat, giving Tinya a friendly pat on the shoulder as he does so. Then he just orders orange juice like a goddamn boyscout.]

Hey, don't mention it. I may not be great for advice, but the least I can do is be here.

[she leans slightly into the pat]

Thank you for that. [a pause]K/small> It's. Weird. I mean, he may not have even been real, it was during one of the aliens' things, but. It feels real.

[He takes a sip from his juice while he listens, nodding thoughtfully while he thinks it over.]

I know the Door hasn't really been bringing any new people in lately. It's totally possible that the gods- the aliens just like, made a fake dude to screw with your friend. Like an illusion of some sort, a solid one? With the kind of powers they have, something like that isn't outside of the realm of possibility at all.

[he stops himself before he starts rambling about nerd shit,] Um, I. Don't know if that guy not being real would help at all right now.

[and she fiddles with her cocktail straw and looks down like it's the most fascinating thing in the world]

That's--that's definitely possible. But. It felt real. I felt his heart in my hand. When I pulled my arm out of him, I was covered with blood. So it felt real enough.

[she never minds when he starts rambling about nerd shit. he's probably the best friend she's ever had] It. I don't know if it does or not.

[Peter fiddles with his own straw, but keeps glancing between his drink and Tinya nervously. He has no idea what to say, no idea how to approach this whole thing. God he hopes he doesn't say something stupid.]

Can-- can I ask like, why you did it? How did it get to that point?

[she's still looking down, now drawing swirling, spiraling patterns in the condensation left behind by her glass on the bartop]

It. He was--he was torturing my friend. Had him duct taped to a chair and then he--he kicked over the chair and started kicking my friend in the ribs. And he wouldn't stop.

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