a bumpy start! {glyphcomm + action}

[seeingyou]

You wake up to the sound of alarms and a distinct sensation of quaking, and you're quite obviously not where you're supposed to be. This room is strangely shaped, nothing you recognize, and you definitely don't remember how you got here. The room is bathed in soft red light, which might look pretty, except it's blinking in a way that you can probably guess signals danger.

There's a symbol on the back of your hand that you don't remember acquiring, either, but that's probably less important at the moment than the sound of the alarms shrieking and the prerecorded voice speaking over the intercom. It's one of those bland, agender voices, entirely too calm in tone for the message it's relaying:

WARNING
WARNING
IMPACT THREAT DETECTED
EVASIVE ACTION REQUIRED

There’s a loud crash and another violent shaking, as that impact threat collides with the ship’s hull. The warning message continues to repeat on a loop amidst the blaring of the alarm. All passengers should be conscious now, with the noise at such a high volume. Opening your cabin door reveals a nondescript hallway, with five cabin doors on each side for a total of ten on each floor; the doors to the empty cabins are unlocked and inside the cabins hold the same plain, basic furnishings as your own. Halfway into the hallway, there is a lift on one side and a set of stairs on the other.

Comments

[albatrossomen]

"Of course. An intriguing thought experiment nonetheless."

Murmur only offered a vague, mysterious smile that clearly spoke of his immense doubt to that claim. They both knew 'anyone' would not. It took a particular kind of altruistic spirit to be willing to abandon everything from their home to assist these strange beings in gaining their freedom.

He nodded thoughtfully, again folding his arms. It was something. Psychic attacks were well within Murmur's wheelhouse, since they could learn it might be possible to help desensitize them to using their abilities as such. For emergencies only, he would hope. Unfortunate they had no shields from the sound of things, perhaps that was also something they could work on. Ah, realization dawned on him. Of course it would be that. A quiet, mirthless huff of a laugh escaped him. "Ever the greatest hurdle. When one is instructed from the beginning they do not have free-will and cannot self-actualize, to teach them such is untrue is a daunting task." Overwhelming, if they were too afraid to try. Murmur knew that much well. Angels were... exceedingly guilty of keeping themselves from growth.

[tdls]

Tim's mouth purses unhappily as he nods in agreement to Murmur's statement.

"The Zerentians are well known for their scientific advancements, but it looks like it all came at the cost of basic empathy. I can't imagine creating an entire species of living, sentient creatures and treating them with anything less than love and kindness and respect."

Humans don't have the best record with this either, and Tim knows that. Racism, war, genocide - all black marks on human history.

[albatrossomen]

Murmur really wanted to ask if Tim had ever read the Bible, then quickly decided against that. For now he was content to keep his more blasphemous ramblings to himself. Now was hardly the time.

"One need not look far to witness the cruelty many are willing to place upon their own. Pets, children, neighbors. It isn't much of a stretch." Instead he offered that. Sadly their actions really weren't that surprising, not in the grand scheme of things. "It is a wonder they managed to build their creations with such capacity for empathy, given their own significant lack."

But, here they were, and good for the Navigators in the long run. It made them capable and willing to escape for one.

[tdls]

Tim has seen more than his fair share of human cruelty - Gotham is notorious for crime, after all, and who else has a better birds-eye view of it than Batman's partner, Robin? But familiarity with it doesn't make it any more alien to Tim's brain.

"Actually, they didn't intend to build it into the Navigators. From what I understand, their sense of empathy developed on its own, unexpectedly." Tim shrugs. "As they say, 'Nature finds a way.'"

Why yes, he did just quote Jurassic Park.

[albatrossomen]

That's fair enough, and fortunate in a way. It shouldn't be something that's easy to understand, the cruelty should be more anomaly than standard practice. If only history could demonstrate the same.

"Fascinating, what I am certain they likely view as a design flaw has become a great boon to the Navigators themselves. Being capable of grasping the autonomy of others paves the way to grasping their own."

It's a roundabout method, but it is definitely a door that can be utilized. Just a matter of deprograming learned helplessness.

As for the Jurassic Park reference he did offer a huffed laugh. "Careful, that phrase invites trouble." He teased.

[tdls]

Tim laughs quietly and rubs a hand over the back of his neck. "In my experience, trouble doesn't need an invitation. But yeah, that's what Suzaku and I are working on, teaching the Navigators that they have autonomy and the Zerentians have no right to take it away from them."

[albatrossomen]

"All the more reason not to encourage it," He says, faintly amused. "It will be a daunting task, I am certain. However, I would be willing to lend some insight for my duration here. I have some familiarity with such things."

Not that he's about to go volunteering exactly why but hey, Navi will figure it out anyway.

[tdls]

Tim looks a little taken aback by the offer, but it's a welcome one all the same. "Thank you - we can surely use all the help we can get."

[albatrossomen]

Murmur nods. "The least I can do while we are stuck here. For now I think it time I check in with Navi, and see how I might assist at this current juncture. Thank you for taking the time to apprise us of the situation."

Even if some were a little less amenable to the information.