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.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Trip still really doesn't know what to think of all this. It's not exactly something you expect to hear - that you're going to marry the person you've definitely got feelings for and have a daughter with her, one way or another, and that that child is going to be put in mortal danger by situations well beyond your control - but there it is, and he's been trying to just wrap his mind around the whole thing.

It's hard to really figure out what he wants to say to Rhade when he sees the announcement, because he's beyond grateful, but he feels weird, that he doesn't know anything about what happened beyond what he's told him, and that this wasn't a responsibility he'd stepped up and taken.

But there's one thing he knows he has to say, so he keeps it simple.]

Thanks.

Edited 2013-06-19 01:46 (UTC)

You'll see me again one day. I'm going to go make sure my deal happened before I return home.

[It's an awkward situation, but given that he'll always care for T'Pol a little bit and the friendship she gave him, he can't regret the time he spent here.]

I think I can understand security.

...thanks. I'll see you in Barge Time.

Take care of your inmate. She's an admirable woman. I hope she leaves with the same confidence, if not more.

Do what I can.

[Rhade knows he will.]

Well, here's hoping I remember.

I'll not be insulted if you do not recall me jabbering like a fool.

Are you going to see your family?

First I'm going to see a friend's family and make sure they're alright.

Then I'm going home to mine. I'll probably eventually tell my daughter about you, when she's old enough to understand.

[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)

[For a long time, Alex really doesn't know what to say to this. On the one hand, he knew this would happen someday, but he knows Ben will be torn up to see Rhade leave.]

[He's earnest, intent, a little awkward when the feed comes on.]

Sir, we don't know each other well, and I know that. I regret that. But I'm glad you've got what you need, and -

I wanted to say thank you. For being there for Ben, and for helping him. He deserved someone like you on his side. He deserved that a long time ago.

Yes, I will.

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

Yes, he did.

I'm glad he still has someone like you here, too.

[Because he does know Ben will be torn up by him leaving, but now he has friends. And he needs friends more than he needs a caretaker, or a supervisor. He's ready for that life.]

Yeah, me too. He'll do well as a warden, I think.

[His tone heavily implies that he's thought about this before, because he has.]

[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.]

If a selfish bastard like me can, anyone can.

[And he'll stick by that he's a selfish bastard until his dying day.]

[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.

[Which just makes Alex laugh.]

Well, it wouldn't hurt for him to be a little bit selfish, right?

Are you gonna be safe?

I will be. I am concerned about him, though.

Perhaps he'll know what a really good place is one day. But I'm glad for now that this is it.

[After a moment of hesitation:] If he doesn't find somewhere that fits him better, in the end, I'd offer for him to come with me. It's not a perfect place, where I'm from, but it's getting better.

Wherever he's happy, and wherever he will have a family. [Those are very high priorities, in Rhade's mind.]

I know that he'll do his very best. Just reassure him every once in a while that he's doing well.

That's just about at the top of my priority list, trust me. And I know he will.

[It's odd. He and Rhade were always at odds, and yet he's sad to think that they're going their separate ways and may never see each other again. Much like he'd felt when he'd witnessed Braxiatel falling through the portal to drift into another universe where they thought they could never retrieve him.

But he can't say any of that, or admit to Rhade that he'll miss him.]

Give my regards to Braxiatel.

I will.

Is there anything specific you would like me to tell him?

[Dylan doesn't call him on the network first, just walks the few doors down and knocks at Rhade's door.]

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