(no subject)

[command_dot_com]

-be-beep-

"Nuh, whzzt?"

-be-beep-

"...whzzat. ...not the office." Dot sat up in bed reaching for her PDA next to the bed, and peering at the screen after she enlarged it. Then blinked a couple of times at who was calling.

-be-beep-

"...Private commlink," She stifled a yawn, to get herself awake to respond in a calm if groggy voice to the video link. "Open. Enzo, what happened?"

Comments

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob mumbles something that sounds vaguely like "Log off I'm trying to sleep."

[command_dot_com]

"Bob, it's Enzo on the private encoded line." Dot murmurs back at him, but still not bothering to turn on the lights to the room. "Enzo, what is going on? You're using the encoded line."

[a1enzo]

"Yeah. Um." He hesitates, then speaks very fast. "So, you know how we were going to tell what we know about Users sometime soon?"

[mendanddefend_archive]

Enzo's tone is enough to rouse Bob into something resembling wakefulness. "Yeah..." He props himself up on one elbow.

[command_dot_com]

"......yesssss..." She doesn't like where this is going, but do, go on.

[a1enzo]

"Wellllll, Caret and Tone and Val figured it out, at least that I was going somewhere time stops through the tunnels and that that's where I see Dani, so I went ahead and told them the rest, and they promised to keep it quiet 'til we're ready but I don't know who else figured it out too, so... we might want to go ahead with it soon."

[mendanddefend_archive]

...!!!

[command_dot_com]

"You what??"

Oh look, she's completely awake now. Bad news, is that Dot is pretty dang pissed.

[a1enzo]

"We were going to tell anyway!" Enzo cries, then remembers that he doesn't want to be caught down here and lowers his voice. "And they knew something weird was going on. Now they know why they need to keep quiet. They will, I trust them, but if there's anyone else..."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Enzo, I don't think you realize how big this is..."

[a1enzo]

"I do so! That's why we need to release it on our own terms before rumours start!"

[command_dot_com]

"NO WE DON'T." Dot growls quietly. "Enzo, do you know how HARD it is to convince millions of people the same story? Or did you happen to forget what happened with you and Alvey? The rumors from that? I planted the hidden system story for a reason."

[a1enzo]

"When are we going to tell, then?" Enzo demands. "We already agreed we need to someday."

[command_dot_com]

"Arrrrggggh."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"I'm pretty sure your roommates were not that high on the list of people we were gonna tell, Enzo."

[a1enzo]

"My bandmates," Enzo corrects. He knows it's not a helpful thing to say, but he's left off feeling anxious and is in something of a snit now.

[command_dot_com]

"Your bandmates." Dot's tone just went very, very cold. "Enzo, tell me you did not confess all of this to your bandmates, somewhere public, where people could overhear you."

[a1enzo]

"No, because I'm not that BASIC!" he snaps. "We were in an empty classroom, with an empty hall outside, after dinner, and I played my guitar while talking."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"And they believed you?"

[a1enzo]

"Actually, yeah. I mean, Caret believes anything's possible, and... well, I think Tone and Val just really liked the idea."

It's oddly helpful that his closest friends are mildly insane.

[command_dot_com]

"I don't doubt those two world...however...I was hoping that it would be Turbo calling to get the real explanation." Dot sighes, there's little point to trying to sleep now, after this. "That way he could have figured out how to explain it first to the Guardian Council, and then let things go from there."

[a1enzo]

"Well... we can ^start with him anyway, can't we?"

Enzo is not looking forward to that at all, but it does make the most sense. Plus, the Prime Guardian would likely be even more pissed off if they didn't take it to him first.

[command_dot_com]

"Urgh, chances are good he already knows. Enzo," Dot sighes putting fingers to her head again. There wasn't enough Java to deal with this right now. "Enzo, how many political courses are you taking?"

[a1enzo]

"None right now," Enzo replies, warily and wearily. "Sis, can you please wait on punishing me 'til Turbo's finished?"

He has no doubt that he's in for it no matter what.

[command_dot_com]

"Your punishment is going to wait until I see what Turbo does to you, Enzo." Dot answers in an extremely patient voice. "Tomorrow, I want you to ask Tone what courses she'd recommend for learning about Political Diplomacy, as a preventative measure."

[a1enzo]

"...oh. Sure."

Though he is still inclined to glower and sulk over 'preventative measure'.

[command_dot_com]

"Though if you wanted to have that punishment right now I suppose I could start early on the lecture on why you're getting those courses next semester."

...She could be teasing, or just joking.

[a1enzo]

"No thanks," says Enzo dryly, giving her a mild stink-eye (only about a Level 2). "I'm already keeping you awake."

[command_dot_com]

Like she's going to be able to go back to sleep after this little piece of news.

"And you could get in trouble for being out of your room without a pass. Anything else to report?"

[a1enzo]

Well, I finally saw Dani today for the first time since the upgrade...

"No, not really."

[command_dot_com]

"Alright...your punishment WILL be coming though, count on it."

[a1enzo]

"Swell."

[command_dot_com]

With that, Dot closes the encoded commlink, but doesn't re-size the PDA to put it back on the sidetable. With sigh, she's going to get up out of the bed, stretch and stand.

"This is just prime..."

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob watches from his spot on the bed. "So. Now what?"

[command_dot_com]

"...well. I'm not going to be getting any sleep tonight," Dot replies, putting her icon back on and tapping to some civilized clothes. "For obvious reasons."

"Right now, I think I'd better go abuse the time-stop at Milliways to start remaking the plan."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Want me to come with?"

[command_dot_com]

"Mhm, someone has to stay and watch Mairi. I don't want to bring her in there if I can help it." There's a pause again as something just lights up in the memory files. And then she facepalms. "SPAM. Megabyte, I'm going to have to explain MEGABYTE to Turbo. Ugh."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"You don't have to do it by yourself," Bob points out.

[command_dot_com]

"I don't want you to have to tell Turbo this..." Dot replies, sitting back on the bed again. "I'll leave a copy of my plan for you to go over, see if there's anything you'd want to add to it."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"I was the one who found Milliways first. If anyone should be breaking the news, it should be me."

[command_dot_com]

"...I know." Dot sighes, again. "Honestly, I really think that Turbo will try something sneaky with the talk."

"I really think he's going to try calling me at the office to demand an explanation."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"And do you really want to have that conversation over a VidWindow?"

[command_dot_com]

"...YES."

[mendanddefend_archive]

...well. That settles that.