Changes

[duetsavvy]

[1]
Wow, what was that? I didn't know it could do that! Why didn't anyone tell me?

[Brye is looking over the smoking battered hulls of the Huckebein and Grungust duo. The duo returned from SSR headquarters, even though the seal SSR housed is no longer there - it's in the units now. Somehow.]

I'm terrified, but also excited! Can a human person have so much adrenaline in her system and still live? Is something terrible going to happen now?


[2]
So, that was the "Loni", huh...

[A fair bit later Bryanne is still alive, but instead she's more thoughtful and pondering loudly.]

I knew he was a jerk but now it looks like he's not all right in the head too. But the scary thing is, I think he got one thing right. In very, very general terms.

This world needs to change. Look what happened with SSR and the Cambio thingy. Look what happens to people all the time. This isn't right, this needs to change.

I just don't think Loni's the one who should do it.

Comments

[duetsavvy]

Oh? You don't think that's too much, do you?

[brought_it_back]

...No, but...but...


...It's dangerous. Very, very dangerous.

Do you know about my past, and Edward? He was in charge of the Pedantic Blue project.

[duetsavvy]

I've read some stuff that was available in UG. Logs, and non-secret documents...

It's nothing fun, is it. And that's an understatement.

[brought_it_back]

...All of that...it came from Edward's desire to make sure parents didn't have to see their children die in war. It's a noble goal.

But, he was unable to see the suffering his plan would cause to us. He could only think of us as pieces in a machine, something engineered. And because of that blindness, the suffering and evil followed.

...Do you understand what I mean, Bryanne?

[duetsavvy]

He was so focused on the large picture that he forgot about the details. Which in this case means people and how he made them suffer.

It's like not seeing the forest behind the trees, only in reverse.

[brought_it_back]

Not just that-he didn't even know he was making that mistake, while he made it.

All people have flaws like that, Bryanne. You do, and I do as well. We have things we don't know, don't think about, and problems we don't see.

That alone isn't going to cause a tragedy. For Edward, he was only able to do such evil because his ignorance was coupled with his official power, and the lack of oversight.

With those seals, or this hypothetical magic wand...There is limitless power, and no oversight.

[duetsavvy]

What kind of oversight would be good here? Don't you think just being very careful and mindful with your wishes would be enough?

Or will anyone with power become blind and ignorant?

[brought_it_back]

I...don't know.

If you were just doing something small-helping just one person, stopping just one villain-that should be fine. But...where you draw the line between that, and toying with the lives of others...I really don't know.

...With all I've seen of people, though...I'd rather no one use it for good, than someone use it for evil.

[duetsavvy]

Hey. Let me ask you one thing, okay?

If you had a choice - no unforeseen circumstances, genie twists or strings attached... if you had a choice to relive your life but, well, normal. Not being part of Edward's sick plans. Would you take it?

1/2

[brought_it_back]

That would...give me a moment.

2/2

[brought_it_back]

[Eva stares at the floor, thinking. Slowly, she starts to shake her head.]

...No...No, I wouldn't. Even if there aren't any strings attached. I wouldn't take that chance.

[duetsavvy]

Why not? I mean, if it's a personal thing and you don't want to say then it's alright, but now I'm curious.

[brought_it_back]

This may sound strange, but...All of the things that have happened to me...the good and the bad, they're part of who I am. If I erased those, I wouldn't be the same person anymore. The person who lives that peaceful life might wear my face and share my name, but she wouldn't be me.

I've had a lot of bad things happen to me...but I like how my life has turned out. I don't want to throw it away.

[duetsavvy]

Ah. So it's that kind of thing.

Well, I can't really blame you or anyone for thinking like that, can I? But thanks Eva. For being open with me, I mean.