driftfleet | network video from red fish bridge;

Who: Zoe Hange
Broadcast: Video
Action: for Red Fish crewmates
When: Tuesday... October 7... midday...?

[Someone is experimenting with shipwide broadcast. The screen shows Hange sitting with her hands folded in front of her, grinning amiably at the camera.]

Hmm. Is this thing working? I think so... [She pauses for a couple seconds and then laughs.] Well, I guess I'll find out! Hello, everyone, this is Captain Hange of the SS Red Fish speaking. [She winks.] I just got the paperwork turned in. Sorry to surprise you, Nunnally and Skull, but I decided I'd be up for it and thought it was better to get it done!

Now, I'm addressing everyone today to mention the tiny thing that's been embedded in our skulls! I'm guessing everyone has noticed that they have something in the back of their head that's difficult to even touch. It feels maybe bottle-cap sized! I hope that's familiar-sounding to all of you? I'm a little reluctant to actually open up someone's head but I wonder if anyone has tried that yet! Have you removed someone else's implant? Have you removed your own? If so, amazing! How did you do that? Nunnally let me experiment with hers a little, noninvasively of course, and reported discomfort that seemed unnaturally strong even when another person was just touching it! Thanks for your contributions, brave girl.

Also, as I told some of you, I didn't know anything about space before arriving here, but suddenly upon arriving I do! Also, we have a little room on this ship where I know how to use everything! That's unusual, given my home doesn't have anything close to this level of technology. I'm still exploring that equipment, but I wonder what others have noticed! I certainly don't understand everything on the ship, but I'm guessing if I mysteriously understand this one room, others will understand some other parts! What do you know now that you didn't know before? If you feel up to it, please let me know!

[holy talking, batman. She takes a moment to breathe, grinning at the screen still in an I know I know many words fashion.]

Great to meet you all, by the way! Let's get along and work productively together!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I see how that could be perturbing... [And she's not dwelling on it for long, but she's sincere. Hange's mind and faculties are very important to her. They're her greatest weapon. The thought of someplace tampering with them - really tampering with them, like that...]

Was there any word as to some higher purpose for it all?

We were made to believe that whoever progressed through the ranks to the top-most title first would be granted the power to make any wish or desire they had come true.

[ Cecil's expression darkens a little, all signs of cheerfulness completely gone from her features. ]

The more we did our objectives, the faster we'd progress. If we took part in the master-servant system and completed objectives with our partners, we'd rank up even more quickly.

I don't believe that power we were promised actually existed.

[Very interesting. Of course, it begs the question...]

If it didn't exist, then what do you propose to be the motivation for making you go through all that?

I wasn't there long enough to develop a hypothesis. While I was, I gave in to the illusion of being there of my own accord and I played my part. It's been said by some people there that Court is about knowing your part, but often the objectives were acts that were directly in contradiction with our personalities and ideals.

My best guesses would be entertainment, not much unlike this world, or to power something. The objectives are the key. That's all I know.

Did you have implants like these while you were there? Or were you conditioned in some other way?

These things are invasive and far beyond my understanding of what technology can do, I have to admit. But I don't recognize anything like the "objective" you're describing, at least right now... but a lot of information has been opened up to us.

In the long run, I suppose we could easily have been conditioned in the way you're describing.

Mm, no, I would feel the objective rewards happening if we still were programmed for them and you'd be able to tell as well. The impulses are not easy to ignore and they're very distinct— like an addict suffering from a lack of his favored drug... but, you're right, there's no way to tell right now if we were tampered with in other ways in addition to these... brain-chips. I wish I could give you more answers, but likewise, if there were implants in Court, I never saw them. Everything was done behind closed doors and we were usually rendered unconscious when we were altered in any way.

Much like we were unconscious when we were operated on here.

Not the kind of actions a heroic type generally takes, eh?

Not at all. It seems awfully suspicious of an entity or group that was promising us the power to make miracles come true.

"Miracles"? If that was their promise, I can see why many people would've been inclined to play along.

[To a certain degree, Hange would have taken the chance too.]

[ She nods, closing her eyes. ]

Needless to say, I'm glad to not be there anymore-- even if I do miss many of the people I met there still.

Maybe you'll see some of them here.

[ At that, she brightens noticeably. ]

I have actually already seen a few.

How lucky! I'm not sure seeing some of mine is a thing I should hope for... but still... [man if Eren arrived and could give her the lowdown she'd be so glad

but in the end it's better that he's at home and helping defend humanity. Humans need him, after all! She sighs thinking about it, anyway.]

[ The other woman's shifting expression leaves Cecil feeling mildly concerned. The way she trails off is telling and Cecil falls silent briefly, trying to decide how to approach this. With how boldly confident and doggedly zealous the older soldier has been all this time, it's easy to forget that Hange is all by herself here and still possessing a human heart. ]

...Hange, how are you doing?

Not badly.

[She doesn't sound downcast, exactly. Just, for a brief moment, a little tired.]

It's for the best that none of my comrades are here, I think. We were in the middle of something that needs to be finished. It would be for the best if I wasn't here, but given that everyone's stuck for the time being... I might as well make the most of it.

[ Cecil recognizes that tired look; it's the familiar weariness of a soldier during long, seemingly unending wartime. It doesn't matter if they're losing or winning— everyone looks like that at some point. ]

...If you ever want someone to just listen to you without passing judgement, you're always welcome to come to me.

[She looks up for a brief moment, surprised - then she chuckles a little.]

Well, I'll keep it in mind. Much obliged.

Of course. Anytime.

[ And there's nothing but sincerity in her tone when she says that. Her features are soft too, trying to be encouraging without also being insistent. ]

Not on these things, though.

Well, that goes without saying.

As I said, I'll keep it in mind.

network video from red fish bridge;

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