melodiesoflife | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I agree...there's something off about all of this. I don't think she's lying to us about what might happen if we try to destroy the Calamity recklessly but." Cloud frowned as he chewed over the different thoughts in his mind.

"Sacrificing ourselves like that just to stop Garland doesn't feel like the answer. And if it doesn't work then we would only make things worse." He shifted on his feet as his thoughts settled. "And if Kalki was an avatar of the Calamity and didn't know what she represented then it may have been affecting her while making her think everything was her idea."

He looked back up again, looking at Ace, "The version of her we met in the past was like a different person entirely." Time changed people, but even so...

Although Ace found it slightly easier to agree with Cloud's opinion, he wasn't optimistic enough to see much relevance to his last sentiment. "Our meeting was also far too brief to know for certain." With so much on their plate as it already was, it seemed pointless to divert their attention toward the life of one individual, but his friend's observation sparked another idea in Ace's head.

"But what you've just said about the Calamity's influence - it does make me wonder..." Letting out a thoughtful hum, he let his gaze fall to the ground. "I think it is safe to assume that, at this point, through its link to the Avatars, Narayana is feeding on the one element it's incapable of obtaining via regular means, and that is their humanity."

A notion not at all unfamiliar. "In my world, it was said to be one of the consequences which befell the l'Cie." His eyes returned to Cloud before any questions could be raised. "The warriors that entered into a pact with their Crystal to carry out their respective Will. In exchange for being granted powers unimaginable for a normal human to possess, one was asked to abandon just that what made them human in the first place."

"Focusing our anger at Kalki is fruitless - we didn't know that woman, and probably never will. What we consider cruelty on her part might as well be the result of her inability to tell right from wrong. She was following a set path, while being competent about it, as well."

"Yeah, that's true, but it's just a feeling I guess." He listened as Ace explained his own side of the the idea and Cloud's mouth slowly fell open as he listened. This was what he was trying to parse out in his own thoughts. Ace's own experiences were helping him put words to what the other blonde Hero had been wondering.

"That could be. It also explains why Garland told me that he wouldn't be the same person if we met here. Somehow he knew about us in the past and..." He waved his hand, trying to unwind himself from the circular talk. Time travel was a terrible thing.

"Then that means that we can't hold back. Even if it may be possible to free them from the Calamity but we can't expect them to come at us with anything less than what the Calamity deems necessary." But clearly they could still find ways to help them, even if indirectly and at cost like Kalki was trying to do. "What she was doing may have been beyond what Narayana or whatever it is was able to anticipate? It's like the only way she could think to change the game was to set the board on fire."

There was something admirable about stopping to consider the well-being of who were ultimately their adversaries, not to mention hopelessly optimistic. "Watching so many generations fail, she must have lost any hope that the solution could be anything different."

Following a longer pause, he returned to a question that the mention of the Guardian had sparked in his mind. As much as Cloud might have hoped to distance himself from the subject, it seemed like too important of a clue to be pushed aside.

"... When you spoke with Garland, what else did he tell you?"

Cloud thought back to that brief encounter, and as he did the memory came back with all the emotion of the moment. Chuckling, he rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I had tried to approach him sneakily but he saw right through my lies. He didn't even seem surprised about who I was or that I was from the future. If anything he seemed annoyed at me for doing it."

Cloud looked at the floor as he thought about that day. He could have approached him directly. Or at least tried to push the point further instead of letting him walk away....not that there was much he could have done to stop him, he was sure.

"So it was just that, really; that he wouldn't be the same person in our time. I think he was trying to tell me that I shouldn't try to give him any sympathy. Or not to expect any from him. He was resigned to it."

Hidden Truth [Log]

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