(no subject)

[timesbureaucrat]

On the top floors of this resort, in the conference rooms and penthouse suites, even now the politicians and diplomats are discussing whether or not they'd like to go gallivanting around our universes, and we aren't allowed even a cursory peep at what they're talking about, much less a formal seat at the table.

[Small grenade of political discontent lobbed, Narvin switches topic.]

Also, I want to make it known preemptively that yes, I am a technician and computer specialist, but no, I will not fix your personal computer, communicator, speeder, spawner, or whatever else you brought with you. I'm a researcher, not a common mechanic. [Actually, he might fix your computer, if he likes you. But Narvin doesn't like many people as a general rule. He also might offer to repair it if he thinks that you might have interesting files on your files that he might hack, but that's another matter.]

Comments

[timesbureaucrat]

I simply believe that the needs of the community as a whole are more important than the needs of an individual.

[Narvin tenses. Damn. In the uncomfortable talk of civil war, he let himself slip.]

You know how war is. Suddenly shoemakers end up officers, that sort of thing.

[vengeance_driven]

Yes, they do.

[He doesn't think that's the case here, between the interest in politics, talk of his president, and mention of sacrifice.]

Sometimes children do, too. [He never really hides that part of his history with the war. He was pretty young when he started to fight, barely more than a boy. And after seeing his friends die around him?] So I am skeptical now.

[timesbureaucrat]

[Niko's comment brings to Narvin's mind the bodies of students mangled and twisted in the wake of a bomb. His voice was low.]

We tried to keep the children safe and out of harm's way.

["Tried" being the key word there.]

[vengeance_driven]

That is what most leaders say.

I have no doubt at least half of them mean it.

[But if it is in their country or on their world he guesses? they're always involved.]

[timesbureaucrat]

Romana meant it.

[First name terms with the President.]