meadowlark | (no subject)

You're not seriously thinking that I'm going to hand you back to the human traffickers who had you all drugged and restrained in a bus. You're in a safehouse. We don't have safehouses just so we can trick people into thinking they're safe before handing them over to the UNA.

I wasn't before.

[ but that was quite a leap, to handing them over. ]

You work with the people running the safehouse?

Then why were you asking? This is a safehouse. We keep people who need protecting safe.

Yes. Another obvious answer.

Not obvious to me. I don't know you. And you're in my head, just like whatever the UNA implanted there. You could have been working for them.

Jesus OK. Let's start this again.

I'm not in your head. I'm communicating with you and the others there using the neural implants. Everyone has them here. I'm using mine to do this.

I work for Morningstar. You're in a Morningstar safehouse. We don't work with the UNA. The UN have been trying to wipe us out for years, that's why the safehouse has to be kept hidden and secure. We use it to protect people who need protecting from the UN or anyone else.

I really, really doubt the UNA had anything to do with you and your friends. None of this is their style. Way more likely it was some independent, with a hell of a lot of money and resources and, God, some seriously insane tech.

[ Finally. Some clear answers. She doesn't mind that El sounds so exasperated, because at least she's getting information in return now instead of more questions. ]

If you don't think it's UNA and you don't know who they are, then why did Morningstar attack the transport?

[ A rebel group in the zone AND an immediate shootout makes her doubt the crash was an accident, anyway. ]

We thought it was a weapons transport.

What made you think that?

Intel. And before you ask me more, I don't know. I wasn't on that job, I don't have access to any more information than where, when and who.

Who was on that job? I'd like to hear about it.

[ she realizes, then, that she still hasn't given El the answers he wanted. ]

The people who were holding us were wearing clothes like those we came in, but dark gray. They injected us with some yellow fluid. There were guards too. In black armor.

That's all I remember.

From what you've all been telling me, they're all dead in the street where they found you. Except Casper, who's almost dead too.

Did you see any more details? Any logos or names?

No.

Those drugs made it hard to think.

Yes, that seems to be a common issue.

If you do manage to remember anything more, let me know.

Are you going to help us find the people who did this to us?

I can't make any promises. I'm not the boss. But I think so.

Good.

The last thing I remember before they had me, I was in the midst of a jump to hyperspeed. In space. Their drugs must have messed with our memories. And our hair ... It's been a while.

Considering where and when some of your friends are from, I don't think you being in space makes any difference. Hyperspeed sounds useful though. We don't have that.

Really?

[ But this looks like a Core World. It seems anachronistic, to her. ]

Really what?

You don't have hyperdrive technology here?

It just seems like you should.

[ Note to Rey: just because it looks like a metropolis at first shake doesn't mean it's Coruscant. Look harder. ]

No. Sounds like you'll need to be careful what you assume about what we have.

I'll keep that in mind.