truth_is_cold

[Public | Audio]

[Rhade's voice, steady and flat.] I have my deal, and my mission is over. If you have any parting wishes, I would like to hear them now. I am sincerely hoping that returning won't be necessary.

[Private to Riddick | Audio]

The invitation stands when you're ready. I'll leave you with the access code to the planet. You'll have to forgive the defenses, we have more thieves to worry about in the galaxy these days. Giant civilization shattering wars tend to do that.

[Private to Ben | Audio]

You make me very proud. Take care of your people.

[Private to Friends | Audio]

Thank you. I would never have returned in the first place if I didn't know that people like you would be there. If you have something special that you would like to be kept safe, I'd like something to take back to the Collection with me. [He wants keepsakes, and keepsakes that'll be preserved for a very long time.]

I do want to see you again. Come find me when you have the chance. The Barge has been helpful in giving me that chance.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It takes Ben a very long time to come back to this. He isn't sure what to say.

When he does, it's video. Ben is sitting cross legged on his bed, as he often does, and he's picking at his boot laces, eyes downcast and shoulders straight, which he doesn't.]

You'll get to see your daughter now.

Edited 2013-06-19 05:43 (UTC)

Yes, I will.

You should come by my room. I have something to give you.

[Ben is quiet another moment, then nods, just once, just slightly.]

Okay. I'll come now.

[He cuts the feed without really waiting for a response; it takes him several minutes to make the approach to Rhade's door after, though. It's strange, to revisit a time when there were equal forces pushing him towards someone, something - curiosity - and holding him back from the same - fear.

This isn't either, but there's push and pull all the same, and Ben eventually makes it on silent, cautious feet to the doorway.]

[When Ben arrives, Rhade has all the books from the bookshelf boxed up. The door slides open, and he holds out the key to the kitchens for Ben.]

To the new graduate.

Now, I'm going to need help taking some of these to your room. [He gestures to the boxes.] You can decide to keep them for your world or donate them to the library later.

[Ben blinks at his warden's extended hand, even though he's already reflexively reached out to accept whatever is being offered to him. He knows what the key is, though he doesn't know what to do with it. He's competent at preparing meals for the Barge population by this point, but he still wouldn't call himself gifted.

The intent and practicality both are clear. Ben pockets the key with a small, uncertain smile and moves to inspect the boxes.]

Aren't they yours?

I have most of these books committed to memory. You deserve the chance to enjoy whichever ones you want. Everyone does. [He smiles, but it's almost a sad smile. As much as he wants to leave, he's very much going to miss this young man.]

Thank you.

[Ben is looking down into the boxes, temporarily distracted by curiosity even though he's seen them on the shelves and knows exactly what each is called, but when he looks up and sees the smile he stops. After a moment, he says it again but this time the scope is broader, deeper.

He'd be dead or worse, without Rhade.]

Thank you. For everything. I gave up, and I kept trying to give up, but you didn't.

I almost gave up on me.

But I never gave up on you. Not even for a moment.

[He stoops and pics one up.] Shall we start hauling this to your room?

I know.

[There's more Ben could say, probably; he could apologize for the difficulties he caused, for how long he kept the Nietzschean away from his family. He wants Rhade to understand what it meant to him, when Ben realized he could trust him. That he was on Ben's side. That he was Ben's friend.

But Rhade's read the file. He knows, as well as he can, better than anything Ben could say that he hasn't already. So instead he picks up the box by his own feet, grins briefly, quietly, when it's easier than he'd been prepared for, and straightens up.]

I can race you, now.

You'll win, too. I may have not given up on you, but I know where a genetic advantage lies. [He's strong, not fast.

He thinks for a minute, and picks up two of the boxes.] Alright. Let's see who can get the last box up there.

[He would let Ben win either way, but he could use one last good romp in the stairwell and spare a kind thought for Rinzler.]

Of course I will. [Playful is something new on Ben; Bucky taught him a little but he hadn't been able to understand, not really. Alex has augmented those foundations. He's always had a solid estimation of his own abilities, and confidence in them insofar as he understands them.

In short, he waits, and when Rhade gives the go ahead, he doesn't waste any time darting for the door; the box makes him slower than he would be on his own, but it's nothing he can't handle overall. And for the time it takes them to haul all of the boxes between the rooms, he doesn't have to think.

That doesn't mean he hasn't, already. It doesn't mean that when he puts down the last box panting and pleased, he doesn't know exactly what he wants to say. He's already decided.]

Wardens can leave, right? I want to visit.

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