@rey.solo

[forcevisions]

i made a mistake


-------

ETA
Riverstone is interested in cooperating with the Displaced to learn more about the people who brought us here. They figured out who I was when I put in the paperwork to change my name back. Apparently, I'm still on the UN's most wanted list, but someone prevented the UN from acting to bring me into custody. 

I don't know who, and neither does Riverstone — in fact, they asked me about it.

But they know that I'm one of the Displaced, which actually explains a few things. I've been working for Riverstone for months. After I went to Everest, I was gone a bit longer than the rest of us, well beyond El's coverage. They gave me back my job anyway. I don't think this was news to them. If you ask me, that's a sign they're not out to get us, but I realize not everyone will agree there.

Now they want to talk to all of us, or as many of us as are interested. Riverstone is offering to pay travel expenses in New Beijing for one week for anyone who wants to undergo observation and testing of their power, and who's willing to answer some questions. I know that sounds scary. I know scary. The UNA had me in custody for some time, running "tests." But Riverstone claims that what they're offering is different, that we'll preview everything first.

Before you decide, I should mention ... they think they might know something about who's been dropping us off. In return for our cooperation, they're willing to exchange that information. 

I'm not telling anyone what to do, and no one else should try to do that either. But if follow (this) link, you can register your information with the Riverstone employees in charge of this, and they'll reach out to you to arrange the trip.

Comments

[forcevisions]

Would you be able to live with yourself if you didn't at least take the chance?

@clarke.griffin

[strove]

Rey, you believed that your friends were locked away somewhere even before you saw them here.

We have no reason to believe that anyone we know was taken from us physically. All signs point to the opposite, actually.

[forcevisions]

So we should only expose ourselves when you and Stephen decide to do it?

[strove]

No, that's controlling the narrative. We're already exposed, if you haven't noticed.

What you're suggesting is that we trust Riverstone with information about how our powers work when they're tied in with the world's government, the same one that hurt you. I haven't been there, but I know New Beijing is basically run by them. Do you think that's a coincidence?

[forcevisions]

Do you think I'm stupid?

[strove]

No, I think you're caught up in a hope you've had since we first got here, and you finally see a finish line for it.

[forcevisions]

And I think you're caught up in the same cynicism that YOU'VE had since we first got here. You always assume the worst of everything.

[strove]

I was wrong about Morningstar, okay? But other things? Things like this? I probably should've been more cynical.

[forcevisions]

It's interesting that you have an easy time accepting you were wrong in the past, but it's impossible for you to consider the possibility that you might be wrong now.

[ rey feels like she, at least, has considered both options seriously. ]

[strove]

It's because I'm not wrong.

[What else did Rey expect?]

[forcevisions]

[ ok no she's done with this one; she Cannot. this is worse than poe. ]

[jettisons]

[Rey could not have taken a better shot at the heart of his survivor's guilt if she'd tried. He suddenly finds himself grappling with a wave of anger and grief and shame.]

And what if 'taking the chance' gets our friends locked up as lab rats?

[forcevisions]

You think I don't know that risk? I've lived it.

But anyone who goes in is going of their own will.

[jettisons]

You have no idea what you're signing up for. You're telling people they'll be taking harmless tests that they'll have to give permission for, but how can you know that? You don't know that they'll be honest about what they're doing.

[forcevisions]

I know that it's not going to be like what I saw inside the UNA's laboratories because those kinds of people don't care about informed consent. They didn't when they grabbed me.

[jettisons]

Rey, listen to me. I'd do anything to keep my sister safe. If they had proof she was being held somewhere and they could save her, that would be one thing. We have no idea what this is.

[forcevisions]

And we won't know, unless we try.

[jettisons]

I know how you feel. Trust me, I do. This isn't the way. We need to focus on the people in front of us who we know could be put in danger by this.

[forcevisions]

You're imagining a danger because you're assuming the worst.

But these people are trying to work with us. What if turning them away and making them our enemies is the danger?

[jettisons]

If saying "no" to experiments is enough to put us in danger, I don't want to know what the hell they'd do if we said yes.

[forcevisions]

That's not what I mean.
Everyone here with a complaint is treating Riverstone like they're already our enemies. It doesn't have to be that way, but if we assume it already is, then we'll behave in a way that makes it inevitable.

[jettisons]

We don't know their motives, and I don't want anything to happen to you.

[forcevisions]

I won't ask you to come with me. I know this scares you. But you can't ask me to turn down a chance at finding our friends. I don't care if it puts me in danger.

[jettisons]

I'm not scared for me.

[forcevisions]

Then come with me, and help me do this smart.