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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There is a specific point at the tape that Kaji gets visibly upset. The normally cool information broker startles, and starts fidgeting for a cigarette. He looks first at Zelda, and then, unconsciously, at Ib. He looks at her for a very long moment, before his eyes start searching back and forth to locate the exits.

As soon as the tape is done, he is far too deliberate about standing up and walking right over to one of the desk drawers in their makeshift administrative area, where Zelda (and now Kaji, too) get some of the mountain of paperwork about the Heroes done. He quickly opens a drawer and pulls out a small metal tin. Zelda knows what's inside, and it's very clear that he's about to take it and head for the damn door if she doesn't stop him.

It almost seemed to confirm her worst fears, and Lydia felt a shiver--it was so like what she'd felt in the vision of the bad future... A quick little head-shake, as no--no, she would NOT give in. Summoning her courage, because there was at least one thing she could do to be useful for now.

Her hand shot up, waiting to be acknowledged. "I can do a transcript. I'm familiar with VCRs as they're current to my time on Earth, and I've grown up a native speaker." Albeit an American-English speaker, but there had been nothing in the video Lydia didn't understand.

Further, she kind of got it. About the cycles--she'd herself mentioned it in the bad future, as it related to Nirvana and Buddhism. These all sounded like names from one of the other religions they'd studied in class briefly, but she got it enough.

Edited 2016-03-15 17:36 (UTC)

Kidd was not thrilled with this at all. The early wonder of her first exposure to video technology quickly gave way to the building dread of the situation they were finding themselves in. She was at once satisfied and frustrated that her mistrust in the Sage's motivations was well placed. And then there was the matter that this was proof that, even if Kalki still lived, she didn't expect to survive what she did following the affair at Aqures Tosf. And as for the Calamity and this song that Kalki had taught them there was no simple way for her to wrap up her thoughts on the matter. It would be something that would need time for them all to consider.

As Jack does, she stands by and helps to translate the recording to the others, a bit shocked to be facing this language barrier head on. She tries not to think overmuch as she does so.

Edited 2016-03-15 17:33 (UTC)

Once some discussion has started, Jack is happy to answer any other questions about where the tape came from, and what else he can. But he does have one opinion he has to share. "Becoming God. Damn it, Kalki, and here I thought you were after something real."

He takes a deep breath, and shakes his head. "I don't know if anybody gives a damn about my opinion, but I am trusting that nobody is going to use that fucking nuclear option that Kalki presented. Kill Garland, but kill us all?"

"Coward or Killer?" Jack speaks wistfully, as if he's quoting something. "Coward. I was always much better off as a coward."

"We find another way than that." Pouring as much disgust as he can onto that last word.

Edited (.) 2016-03-15 17:33 (UTC)

Upon receiving the message, Sheena had hightailed it to the meeting, curious about what was going on. As she sat and watched the video, she was reminded of the hologram communicators at the human ranches, but this had been recorded? And wasn't live? Like a moving painting...

But even as she watched Kalki's expression and listened to Jack translate, there was one thing that had caught Sheena's attention. By the time the video ended and Jack sat down, her confusion had deepened into complete puzzlement.

"If there's nothing like this...tape...on Crystallis, then how did Kalki get it? Did she make it? How did she learn it? Is there a connection to this Earth we don't know about?"

Were the "Ancients" from that world? And is that connection part of the problem they now faced?

Ales was one of the Heroes who didn't understand the recording the first time, but with each subsequent repetition, he expression grew more distant as his thoughts turned inward. Narayana. The thing that will destroy this planet no matter what the Heroes do unless they take drastic action. There were so many things could to do. Find the Avatars. Fight the core of the Calamity. Prevent it from even entering this world again.

Kalki's suggestion to become God strikes a chord in him. "Corrupted with power? Really? All the gods I know are too lazy to care about the world they're supposed to protect."

A silly notion, and one that should be disregarded in favor of the other methods.

"So, what are we supposed to do with these Avatars? Treat them nicely? How do we even know who they're supposed to be?"

With the video playing, Twilight was busy scribbling notes. This was something that was both amazing and incredibly worrying. She would have to go over this more on her own time. The first thing that Twilight noticed was the mentioning of the "Interdimensional Rift". There was a project that hadn't been touched about a portal to there. Could that be a portal INSIDE the Calamity?

The next thing that Twilight noted was the continual mentioning of becoming a God. Gods... Gods were bad things, if being messed with Discord is of any note. She knew that Princesses Celestia and Luna are looked up to as such by a few, but many of them just see them as rulers. Had to be another way that playing God.

Next was talking about Palitutu. Of course she would be a master of the Job System, so much so she would be able to shut theirs down easily. She's starting to see that now - she most likely got to everypony first with the intent on using them and being unable to be stopped because they wouldn't have access to their abilities. But, wouldn't that be counterintuitive if they struck without powers? They wouldn't of lost skills they learned on their own, wouldn't they?

Then, there was tthe talk of Garland. There was something sealed in a cave back in the Continent of Ruin. "Master the O--" It had to be the Onion Knight job. No pony ever used the blasted job because everyone was afraid of what could happen. Now, they knew - there was something locked in there that could stop Garland. They would have to stop Palitutu before they did that, though.

She made darn sure that she forgot that blasted tune, even if she didn't have Bard.

With the video ended, the princess began trotting around, hoping to compare notes here.

Edited 2016-03-15 18:28 (UTC)

Yuffie was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest while her thoughts remained safely inside her head. She almost had 10 jobs maxed out and she wondered if she might be able to perform one of the roles out of Kalki's long 'to do' list. She hated Kalki but that didn't mean that the video should be disregarded.

It had a surprising amount of useful information in it.

She'll talk to anyone who wants to but she's still thinking everything over. It's sort of hard to form an opinion with so many conflicting emotions and the longer she stands there the more her opinions shift and change.

Terra arrived at the meeting but with only a mild interest. Tempest sat on her lap taking some notes while Terra listened to those around her. There was one part that made her uncomfortable, perhaps because she didn't know what to think.

"Garland fears the power of Eidolons."

She wished she knew why. She never picked up the summoner class feeling to close to those she would use. Her own custom job was similar to the Eidolons which made her wonder what the Eidolon's place was in this world. It must be different from her own but then, she didn't really know.

The idea made her uncomfortable and more than anything she wanted to leave. Only Tempest kept her in place, writing something on the piece of paper clamped within her little paws.

Edited 2016-03-15 19:28 (UTC)

If one was to look around, one might notice Ruby huddled away in a corner, the hood of her red cloak over her head, holding on to Zwei. She'd probably have her raptor Monty in a chokehold if she brought him along, too. Obviously, all of this talk had set off her nerves badly.

"I didn't sign up for this. I... I don't want to be special or do special things!" she mumbled, holding onto Zwei like a security blanket. "I still don't want bee's knees. I want my normal knees back. I don't want to be a god or try to stop the Calamity like this! I...!"

Ruby shudders as she huddles up tighter. "I wanna go home now. This isn't fun anymore."

Rukia's feelings were...mixed. Conflicted. Standing near the back, she didn't particularly stand out much to begin with on account of her height.

This had been the plan she'd seen herself try to carry out in the Sage's vision. She didn't remember killing Garland, however. Had someone else done it? They must have, for he hadn't appeared to stop her, nor had Palitutu. Instead, her own friends, the people she'd trusted...

Her fingers tightened on her sleeve a little, and her jaw clenched. The sage had warned them of this, hadn't he? It couldn't be a coincidence that they would find this video at about the same time as he'd called them back to visit. It was just before unveiling the new research project about the interdimensional rift. As far as she knew, no one wanted to even touch the project now, having seen what would happen if they did. Was he to be trusted? Rukia didn't know, but after seeing this video, she was more inclined to believe the sage than Kalki.

She listened half-heartedly to a few people weighing in, but ultimately, she felt she didn't really have a right to speak her own opinion. She'd thought it was worth investigating as a possible last resort, but now? She wasn't so sure. If it meant killing the Guardian, she was against it completely.

Exhaling softly, Rukia pushed away from the wall and started toward the exit. Then she stopped. That Temple Levy and Ruby had found with her... That might be worth trying. It was the only option that didn't leave her with a sinking feeling in any case.

"We found the Temple she's speaking about, in Mysidia. It seemed to indicate four Heroes of Light were to appear with the Onion Knight job mastered. I think we should try for that." Rukia still had a long way to go to achieve mastery, having only finished two out of the required ten jobs. So maybe it was time to go shake down some friendly monsters.

The melody continued to echo in Ace's mind for a long time yet as he was sitting in silence. He knew it would soon have etched into his memory like all the other songs had, a feeling of dread creeping upon him at the thought of even opening his mouth, if such was the power in his grasp.

"... Kalki always spoke of human sacrifice with an unsettling fondness, and now she's trying to push it onto us as the only solution we have. I would like to believe that much of what has been said is true, since it would supply us with valuable information, however," the cadet crossed his arms over his chest, frowning, as he mulled over his thoughts, "even if her plan wasn't as fatally flawed as it currently is, this is a dangerous incentive to consider."

At the very least, Kalki was anything but secretive about manipulating them into fulfilling goals of her own. That part was clear, through her visions she had meant to temper their souls, tempting them with promises of what none of them would have previously thought was even possible. None of them was ready for that kind of power, and it should have stayed that way, if at the cost of forsaking the Avatar's idealistic visions of the future.

After all, there were lessons he couldn't afford to forget.

"Becoming a God, aiming to transform into what we have been fighting against, this entire time-," he shook his head, "this isn't the way to break the endless cycle, but instead contribute to the process. There are other paths we can choose for ourselves."

Edited 2016-03-15 20:56 (UTC)

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?

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.

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)

Tsubomi listened to everything that was being said. What was being said by Kalki was a little too much, but at the same time, her own convictions won't waver. Not like this.

"I... I can't..." Tsubomi began before she shook her head in anger. "Keep that video off, please! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!"

Tsubomi's on her feet, a determined and defiant look on her face. "We can't just assume that Kalki's plan is the only way to fix this. We know it's not - we're over here fighting over if it's a good idea to become... gods! We don't have the right to do that! None of us and especially Kalki! We need other plans, talk to other people... e-even if it means confronting Palitutu again!"

It takes awhile for Tsubomi to realize she blew up like she did before she shrank back. "S...Sorry..."

[ He's rather quiet when it comes to figuring out what it says. Of course, he definitely needs everything translated - he's Japanese, after all, and even his English is pretty shoddy, at best. Basically, it's pretty bad.

Hinata can't help but glance away, biting on his lower lip as if to make it bleed, but not quite. ]

None of us... are going to attempt and become 'gods', right?

[ It's possible that someone might want to take the offer, but Hinata? The idea of a human crafted god is sickening, really. It makes his stomach turn and flip over, uneasy. ]

To be fair, Erika was not stupid.

And yet, after all of this, including Tsubomi's outburst, she folded her arms. "Like an ant huh? Well tell that ant that we've punched out a BLACK HOLE BEFORE!"

Okay not punched out, but she and 15 other girls did manage to kill a evil black hole.

Once the video has stopped play, Sonic does probably the most sensible thing anyone has done: went over to the player, popped out the tape and headed for the nearest trash can.

"Are you guys really going to sit here and write all of this down and consider this some sort of gospel?" Sonic questioned. "C'mon - the woman's off her rocker and I can see a few faces here considering godhood to be a good option!"

He stopped before he got to the trash can.

"First of all, what's so fun about letting everything live? Everything has a purpose and it can't stay around forever. Enjoy it while it lasts. Second of all, even if you accept 'godhood', you just bring pain and suffering because everyone else will want it."

A beat.

"Also, first person who tries to attack me, I'm set to counter. I'm impulsive, not stupid."

Jade was among those who needed the recording translated. He listened in silence, watching Kalki's face closely as he did. He didn't speak up immediately once the tape was done playing.

"At least this confirms what we knew about the creation of the Avatars and the Black Crystals. I suppose that's something." The motivations of their adversaries, too, were good to have laid out in the open. Fewer mysteries to speculate about.

"For someone so concerned we'd become corrupted by the Calamity, she seemed rather confident that her ideal world was the best for everyone."

[Miracle of miracles, Graham Specter his here and manages to keep his mouth shut through the whole showing. Once it's over, though, he fills the immediate silence afterwards with manic laughter.]

The last bastion of the desperate! Appealing to godhood! A lot of things are possible in his improbable world, but do you really think something like that can actually happen? Can simple and pitiful creatures like us rise up to the level of a god and save all of creation a million times over?!

[Sparks watches this whole thing with one mighty frown on his face, one that gets mightier as it goes on. A few muttered comments about the ancient technology gets snuck in there at some point, too, but he keeps anything loud until it's all over.]

So. Uh. Remind me why I trust anything that lady says, again?

Minfilia was watching the video carefully while Tataru was taking down notes. The things Kalki was saying, explaining about the Calamity but something about it felt so wrong to her. Maybe it was the constant primal fights but for she cannot see someone trying to become a god and not have it blow up in their faces.

But it seems that most of the group have spoken up about their feelings about the matter. Question now was since this plan was not going to be something anyone would do (hopefully), what would their next steps be? For now, she stayed quiet and just watched.

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Kaji and the "Black Crystal"

Volunteering to make a transcript [Open]

Open - Helping with Transcription and Translation as well

Captain Jack Harkness - Open

no subject

no subject

Notes with Twilight Sparkle - Open

Yuffie | OPEN

Terra | Open

Ruby Rose | Open

After the Translation

Ace | Open

Ramza | Open