melodiesoflife | Hidden Truth [Log]

Hidden Truth [Log]

What: A log for everyone to gain the information in the Hidden Truth video tape.
Where: The Observatory.

There had been a flurry of letters sent out from Jack and Chiaki, first to Zelda to ask to borrow the Observatory, and then to every Hero of Light, alerting them that they had uncovered some intelligence received in the Heran Empire before the Capital had fallen to Crystal, and that everyone needed to see it immediately.

Jack, Chiaki, and a few others brought in a screen connected to a machine that some would recognize as a VCR. "With our peace mission to the Imperial Capital over Christmas, we returned with a recording made on 20th-century Earth technology, the kind that doesn't have an analogue on Crystallis. It took us time to build a machine to be able to play it. This information comes from Kalki, recorded what appears to be years ago. We obtained it from the Imperial Spy, Jenni. As of right now, we still have no reason to believe that Kalki is alive. But this comes from her, and I apologize to everyone who might be upset by seeing her again."

With that, Jack plays the recording. He stands by the screen and repeats the words for everyone to hear, for those who cannot understand English. Since Kalki's first words are to explain why she is recording it this way, it makes sense why he has to do this. He keeps his own emotions in check throughout, until the explanation of the Bard song that everyone gets to hear. That seems to upset Jack.

Once the recording is over, Jack pauses. "We will need some help from any other English speakers to create a written transcript of the recording so that anyone can access this information at any time. The tape and player will remain here for any Heroes to review. We ask that you please be careful with the machine."

Finally, Jack sits down to let the room descend into the inevitable chaos.

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He thought she was shaken up by the video? Rukia blinked at him a moment, then frowned as she directed her gaze forward. "That's not it," she said, dismissing his apology as there was certainly nothing he needed to be sorry about. "It's just a lot of information to take in at once. I'm trying to sort it out."

There was more, of course, but she wasn't sure how to put it, no matter how much she mulled over the things she should say. "What she spoke of, about merging with the Calamity to become a god. You are aware that was the role I played in the Sage's vision?" Rukia turned her head to look at him seriously. "I don't think we killed Garland, but there are a lot of events that took place I cannot fully remember. Either way, I nearly accomplished this goal."

She wanted to tell the entire story, but decided to pause there and gauge his reaction before continuing any further, if at all.

Maybe not precisely the video, but by something that was brought up by it. He listens carefully, because if he got it wrong, then what is the problem? He is very clearly surprised by Rukia's admission, but his face softens back to one of compassion. "Ah- no, I believe I was already-" dead. "I wasn't around by the time that part of the vision."

"You almost did it?" The tone is actually impressed. "But you know?" Jack's brow furrows. "You know that you aren't to blame for anything that happened in that vision?" But everyone has been holding on to it in their own ways.

Rukia stared at Jack. Of all the reactions she could have anticipated, him being impressed was not one of them. "Of...of course I know that," she replied quickly, trying to pretend the red flush in her cheeks didn't exist. "My feelings on the matter aren't what's relevant." She waved her hand quickly to dismiss the matter, since this wasn't a plea for pity or sympathy. "The point is that until now, I couldn't help wondering if perhaps I was wrong for not following through. Yuri convinced me to abandon the attempt. And yet, if that was the only option available to us, I thought it might be worthwhile to follow up and find out how it could be done. Just in case."

She folded her arms with a hard sigh, frustrated. "After seeing the video, I'm convinced the idea is a poor one indeed. It's not a matter of sacrifice. I was fully prepared to give my life if that's what was necessary to keep our worlds safe, and I still am. But I have no intention of playing the fool either. If this is the sort of thing Garland would fight to the death to prevent, then I have severe misgivings about the benefits it purportedly offers."

Her head dipped forward slightly as she closed her eyes, her brow furrowed. "I confess that I...do...feel some guilt for having considered it as an option outside of the vision, even after all that took place." And that was what really ate at her, especially after Yuri fought so hard to convince her to put her faith and hopes in finding another way.

Well, she almost became a god! That's...nuts, but kind of impressive, given the scope of impossibility of the problem! But, Jack puts it all back under wraps quickly. He takes a deep breath and gives a very understanding nod as Rukia explains herself. She doesn't want sympathy, but she's getting it anyway, too bad.

"Considering your options isn't a bad thing. We still-" Jack shakes his head. "We still didn't know what we were trying to achieve with the things we were doing in that vision. I still don't know why some people were pursuing the crystalized heroes?" Jack shrugs. "But of course you were thinking of it, we were all trying to reason it through."

"Now we know. And if you think about it again, if things get worse, and you consider 'but what if someone took control? Was Kalki right, could we fix it all this way?' That isn't bad, either. You can consider it, and come to the informed conclusion that it isn't what you want to do."

"You haven't done anything wrong."

Ramza crossed his arms and furrowed his brows as he mulled over Kalki's message.

"I did not believe Kalki had all the answers in life, and I do not think her death has changed that. We cannot stop searching for another solution, no matter what she claims."

"Everyone here keeps saying, 'We cannot...'. We 'could not' reach out to the Empire and rescue the Herans. But we did, nonetheless. If the Calamity has eyes and ears and voices, then it is not beyond hope to communicate with it."

It was a naive hope, but Ramza had seen so much bloodshed caused by failure to communicate and unwillingness to try. The Calamity was trying to understand them. Was that not the point of the avatars? Should the Heroes not afford their foe the same courtesy?

"But they already tried that."

Kaji is already greatly upset, incredibly out of the man's usual moods. He's pouring some desperation into his words, as if trying to talk anyone else out of trying the plan. "Ib, and- and Kalki, before! 2000 years ago. They tried to talk to the Calamity. That's the decision that they made that put them all in that garden with the crystal in the place between worlds. Once they got there, they couldn't leave."

It's only after he's spoken that Kaji seems to realize what a raving lunatic he sounds like. "The dreams! The dreams we had of everyone else's memories! I can't be the only one who saw that place?"

"So, what? That makes you special?" Came a rather rough and irritated voice near said corner. He'd been leaning against the wall, listening and watching. A little blob of black and grey in the back, not pleased in the slightest by the bits and pieces he could make out. "No one here 'signed up' for anything and no one said it was going to be fun. Hate to break it to you, but the end of the world never is."

Unless you're on the other side, but that went without saying.

"It isn't as strange as one might think," she admitted freely. "History is proven to transform heroes into legends, legends to gods. It was the norm in my star if man or beastman believed hard enough. One of our comrades had summoned a dream's shade of Shiva within her, but this... becoming one with the very entity that seeks to destroy all life..."

To say it sickened her was beyond an understatement. Not only because of the plans offered, not even out of a sense of betrayal. The cost was too much; even her grandfather wouldn't have...

She shook the thought from her mind. "If only the rest of the footage could have been salvaged. I cannot deny being curious to what else she had to say."

Ramza shook his head, frustrated that this man was ignoring the point. "Yes, they tried before, because it is the right thing to do. I think it worth the risk. Before, they failed because of...like this video...a language barrier. They could not understand one another. Maybe, with the avatars, we can now."

He balled up his fist. "The Calamity has given itself ears with which to listen. I think we must be brave enough to speak. It is a better plan than dooming us all with the death song."

"You say that because you didn't see them." Kaji shakes his head. "Doomed to repeat their own actions for 2000 years. There is a version of Ib, one of Kalki, and they are stuck there, in this place that I don't know if we can even get back to. A garden, presided over by a little girl, and between it all, the largest Crystal I've ever seen, broken. That's the place you're trying to get to."

"You think it wants to listen. So how could you do that without just- dooming yourself to be stuck there until the next group of Heroes comes along?"

Edited (.) 2016-03-16 01:02 (UTC)

"That's some fucked up shit," Santa agreed. "I ain't killing myself to knock out some dude." He shivered. He'd dealt with Kalki a little, as much as any of the Mysidian Heroes had, and she was stone cold. She probably thought they would do it.

"It this is the job description for a Hero, I'm out."

Tear kept silent throughout the entire presentation, her face expressionless until the notes appeared on the screen and she found herself quietly mouthing the first notes on the screen, not quite humming them but more than just breathy whispers. It was a habit she had fostered since she was a little girl, to give life to silent music when it was presented to her.

Which of course meant she stopped at once when it was explained precisely what it was, eyes widening slightly in horror as she went as far as covering her mouth with a barely trembling hand to keep her error from bearing any fruition. But nevertheless the knowledge was no cemented, because unfortunately forgetting things was difficult for her.

Breathing out softly, she closed her eyes and turned her focus to the new knowledge they had received. So much of it, too much echoed the future the melodist had sworn she would prevent from happening.

"... Whatever the Avatars may represent or how little we all know of what the Calamity may really want, the possibility of controlling it has emerged before."

Avatars. Controlling the Calamity. Becoming God.

Meteor listened to the explanation, arms folded. His posture was tense, as he was reviewing what they had learned from this "video" they had obtained. It made sense on some level; become God, and protect your people. Wasn't that what Louisoix did, taking the power of a million prayers upon himself to defeat Bahamut?

And yet, the way the Avatars were mentioned worried him. Of him, and his masters. The Ascians were not behind this, but a stronger entity, who deemed them as ants.

"The moon envies the star, and the star fades. Split into ten and three, prosperity and calamity are intermixed as one..."

Urianger would have an idea of what to say here, but the cryptic words was leaving Meteor to his own thoughts.

When Ramza spoke, it was quiet. "I saw it. The shades in the garden..." Ramza didn't think they were trapped spirits so much as echoes of Heroes past. But it was clear Kaji thought they were more than that.

"I think they would dislike you belittling what they did. They risked their lives to try to save the world. They deserve our respect for their bravery."

"We can try to talk to the Avatars. It may be different this time. Shakyamuni wanted to talk to us before. She spoke, and sent us home safely from the rift. It could happen a second time."

"And the Eidolons. Whatever Kalki was trying to tell us about them. We don't even know who or what they are, really. But I asked for the Summoner job, so I can find out."

Tazendra sometimes gave the impression that she was a 'dumb brawler'. Anyone who thought that today would have to revise their opinion as she listened to the translation, furiously scribbling notes.

"Bah, I wish we had more information on what causes the reset of this world to happen. This Garland and the remnants of the Ancients presumably." It wasn't a natural cycle, because it seemed like the Heroes of Light had to be fed into it to maintain it. And, yet,it seemed to be the alternative to allowing the Calamity to consume what worlds it pleased. "We have some of the notebooks from the lab decoded, but it is very little to go on."

"If we could reach the Rift, could we not fight the Calamity on grounds where we could destroy it?" Tazendra had no problem with dying in glorious battle, but the fact she was apparently the link to her home world meant she couldn't think of her own desires here. Duty was always above pleasure, or one's own reputation. "If it consumes living worlds as easily as we draw breath, and for such a vital purpose, then we cannot exist together."

Nanami had been feeling a bit of the old panic return. She wasn't going to die here, like another her had. And, sure, maybe she'd be reincarnated and have a nice, normal life, but she wanted a nice life now. And Nanami didn't trust most of the heroes to not mess godhood up.

"Someone should go look at the Lunar Gate, too," she said. "In addition to the Temple and the Eidolons and all that. Because it was important in the vision the Sage gave us, so maybe someone left things there we can use. I was going to have Hari send a letter out, but then Jack came with a video."

"Also, Kalki used the same name as that cult over on the Ruin continent, so maybe they aren't just violent thugs?" Not that she's sure a Hero could get something from them. Without being sneaky.

Edited 2016-03-16 02:51 (UTC)

"It has been tried once before on a different world." Vincent said quietly in response to Jack's assertion about Kalki's suggestion for godhood.

Cloud was a little lost while the video played. He could understand some of what Kalki was saying but the accent and some word use was throwing him off. He wound up instead peering over Twilight's shoulder as she took her notes, trying to keep up with everything that was going on.

"What was that she was saying? About Shadows? And...conquering the ourselves?" He wasn't so sure about all of her plan, what he was able to follow....but that part stuck with him.

Lydia had taken to frantically scribbling, and while the notes weren't the most organized--yet--she was attempting to be as complete as possible for now. Organization, making them look nice, that could come later. Some of her spellings might be off, but that was a minor thing she felt.

"She might not have thought we'd listen." Not that Lydia was fond of Kalki still, but...she couldn't find it in her to hate the other woman as much. Not anymore.

Twilight looked over at the confused Cloud and tried to put the words plainly. "It sounds like she wants us to deal with the negative portions of ourselves... but, I think it might only have to do with those who want to merge with the Calamity." she said.

"But, at the same time, it might help us in the long run. I'm not sure, though..."

Cloud was lagging a bit behind Yuffie in terms of Job power. In fact if he heard her list he might be shocked at how far along she was. Still, he was moving along at a good pace as well and would likely have ten jobs Mastered or close to it before the year was through.

Wandering through the crowd of murmuring Heroes he popped out of the mingle a few feet away from her. "Oh....Yuffie." He looked at her and then gestured back at the tape. "What do you think about all of this?" He didn't want to say it directly but Yuffie had suffered at Kalki's hands and he felt like she deserved to have a say in all of this.

Cloud frowned as he listened to her explanation. It was pretty easy to tell what was going through his mind. "I don't know about this becoming a God or becoming part of the Calamity but..."

He looked down at his hand, flexing his fingers. This wasn't any sort of easy shortcut to being a hero. This perhaps wasn't even something he had to do to save the world. But facing himself was something that rang in his mind.

"She said it was the things we reject about ourselves right? It might be good for some of us to do that." Of course...there's the question of what happens to those who would fail.

Cloud moved through the crowd as the video ended. Everyone was discussing the plan brought forward and he didn't expect there to be a simple answer any time soon. Kalki was still a sore spot with many of them. Even with the glimpse they had of her in Aqures Tosf and how she had helped the other Heroes there was still the question of whether she could be trusted.

And merging with the Calamity? Trying to become its will? That didn't really sound like the best plan on paper.

Cloud only caught the tail end of what Rukia said, but it caught his ear and he looked in her direction. "Onion Knight?" He was only about halfway to it himself but he had many jobs that were halfway along themselves. Including Bard. But he didn't feel like that was the best way to go either.

Before he could ask her to repeat herself he noticed the look in her eyes. He knew it pretty well at this point. Something was said in the video that hit too close to home. "Rukia...are you okay?"

"It might be good, yes, but..." Twilight began, before pondering it over. "I don't know. I'm still wary about it. Even if we're not going for Godhood, it's a risky proposition. And besides, how do we even do so?"

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Page 3 of 10

Hidden Truth [Log]

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Ramza | Open

Re: Ramza | Open

Re: Ruby Rose | Open

Re: Captain Jack Harkness - Open

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Tear Grants | ota.

The Adventurer (Meteor) | OTA | Warning: Heavensward Spoilers

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Re: Captain Jack Harkness - Open

Tazendra | OTA

Nanami | OTA

Re: Captain Jack Harkness - Open

Re: Notes with Twilight Sparkle - Open

Re: Volunteering to make a transcript [Open]

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Re: Yuffie | OPEN

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Re: After the Translation

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