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The Games We Play

Choice

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Previous thread's at page ninety-eight; time for a new one.Whelp.I was fucked. I was pretty sure of that when I saw her sign and just about certain of it when I Observed her. The difference between us was tremendous, whether based on levels, stats, or whatever else. In fact, going by pure physical abilities, she was by far the strongest person I’d ever been capable of Observing. This wasn’t like fight Grimm or even like fighting the Nevermore; this was an intelligent, presumably trained individual with skill and versatility to back up her tremendous power.Even so, I stayed calm. I’m not gonna lie—I owed that fact entirely to the Gamer’s Mind—but Istay calm, analyzing the situation as I searched for a way out, a way through this. I recalled what I already knew and reminded myself that I didn’t need to win this battle, I just needed to buy a little time.Even if standing in front of a level fifty-nine opponent made it suddenly seemed like aof time.I considered my options quickly but before I even knew what I was doing, I’d stood up and walked fully into sight, standing before the young-looking girl beneath the moon and stars. A moment later, my brain caught up with my body and I almost nodded to myself—my cover had obviously been ineffective anyway and if the point was to buy time, this was probably my best bet. I’d have preferred to run, but even beyond the issue of defending the White Whale and the people being loaded into it, when it came to people significantly more powerful than me, my prospects for escape tended to be uncertain at the best of times. No, this was smarter; I was…well, doubtful I’d be lucky enough to make it through on this alone, but it could do nothing but help.“Penny Polendina,” I said clearly, thankful as always for how broken Observe was while I scanned her profile. “The first synthetic person capable generating of Aura; Dr. Polendina’s daughter and masterpiece. I didn’t expect to meet you so soon—but nonetheless, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”Most people would have probably been off put by someone reciting hidden or private details of their life, but Penny just waved.“That’s me!” She said brightly. “I’m afraid I don’t know your name though.”“I tend to avoid introductions, I’m afraid,” I replied demurely. “You see, surrounded as I am by so many amazing individuals, I feel rather embarrassed doing so—who could possibly recognize my humble self?”“I’m sure that’s not true,” Penny said kindly. “I’ve heard a great deal about you! You must be a very skilled criminal to have taken the AS-WW. People all over Remnant know about you!”“It’s kind of you to say so,” I thanked her in the same tone. “Nonetheless, this is a good opportunity. Before the situation degenerates needlessly, may I speak with you, Penny?”Penny tilted her head to the side and blinked at me with bright green eyes.“You seem very polite, but I’m not supposed to talk to strangers,” She said, shaking her head. “And also, it’s very important that I apprehend you and return what you’ve stolen.”“Strangers?” I asked. “But didn’t you just say you knew a lot about me?”She blinked and nodded.“So I did,” She agreed. “But I don’t even know your name. And part of what I do know about you is that you are a criminal. Which, considering it, I believe even trumps being strangers—though I am uncertain.”“That seems a fair assumption, Penny,” I conceded politely, eyes narrowed considering as I began to find my stride. “Yet I would argue that circumstance forced my hand. In return for a moment of your time, I would explain. As for my name, however, I’m afraid that may still be an issue—for you see, I am wearing a mask, an item meant to conceal one’s identity; a task I would be subverting if I then simply revealed it to you. I could remove the mask, but you see, it is much akin to military uniform and it would be tasteless—perhaps even insulting—to remove it in the line of duty. I can assure you that despite my fame, you would not recognize the face beneath, nor even my name, so I’d ask that you allow it to remain in my possession.”“Okay,” Penny nodded, watching me. “You wish to confess then? I believe that’s allowed, though I will still have to take you into custody afterwards.”I gestured at her noncommittally before continuing.“Are you aware of where we are?”“Becheur, a mining facility owned by the Schnee Dust Company in Southern Atlas, Seventh Ring,” She answered promptly. “Or do you mean in terms latitude and longitude?”“That won’t be necessary. However, perhaps I should rephrase my question. Do you know what this town’sis?”“It’s a mining facility owned by the Schnee Dust Company,” Penny answered, blinking owlishly at me. “Presumably, it is a facility meant to mine Dust for the Schnee Dust Company.”Couldn’t argue with that.“But are you aware of the process through which this occurs?” I asked.“I assume it is mined by miners, hence the name. Perhaps with the aid of mining equipment, also hence the name,” She said and if she was being sarcastic, she hid it tremendously well.“That’s entirely accurate,” I allowed. “But paints a false image. For you see, this is a company town, if you are familiar with the term. Everything in it is owned by the Schnee Dust Company, including, for all intents and purposes, the people. You may not be aware of it, but this mine is run almost entirely on Faunus labor and they are paid solely in company scrip—a form of currency that only holds value to the company that possesses it. They spend this scrip to buy their essentials from the Schnee Dust Company, but its value is entirely controlled by their employers for it has value nowhere else. They determine what can be purchased, when it’s available, and how much it cost, determining not only how much their employees are paid but the worth of what they receive. Due to the state of Faunus on Mantle, they can get away with a great deal in this regard and it is effectively a legalized form of slavery.”“What?” Penny asked quietly. “But that’s…”“Horrible,” I finished for her. “And the reason why I am here. The situation, you see, forced this result. I’m sure you would agree that I had to act, but my options were limited. I needed to transport a large number of people a vast distance, you see, and I had no means of acquiring an appropriate vessel except through the ignoble means of theft. Nonetheless, I had no choice but to act; you, if anyone, must understand why.”I was getting wordy, I realized, and it strangely brought back memories of school; trying desperately to hit the word limit on an assignment at the last minute by bloating things, meandering on the topic. Sadly, it also brought back another memory—of presentation day, when I’d found myself nearing the end of my speech with way too much time left. I could feel Levant working in the back of my mind, raising figures into the White Whale one by one—butit seemed to be taking forever. We’d practiced this and I knew she was keeping an amazing pace given her task, but…“What?” Penny asked, looking surprised. “What do you mean?”“At the risk of sounding cliché, I think you and I are rather similar,” I said, refocusing in an instant. I honestly wasn’t sure where I was going with any of this, yet; I was just doing my best to make the leap from thought to thought, to keep talking without sounding foolish or mad. As I came to an idea I thought had potential, I seized it and pressed onwards. “In the eyes of others, we are naught but an animal and a machine. Not, just tools to be used. Look around us.”I gestured encompassing—at the town, at the machine’s broken on the field, at the world.“Could there be a more fitting place for us to meet? A town where Faunus are enslaved and forced to work for human masters. A field of broken machines, sent to be destroyed by those same masters. It was my hand which ended them and I did so thoughtlessly, for which I must apologize, but it was they who sent them against me. And what does that mean for you, Penny? They don’t even deserve to be compared to something as amazing as you, of course, please don’t take the comparison as an insult—you are so much more than a machine, while these are simply programed to act in defined ways. They aren’t alive and I felt no guilt in destroying them thusly, but…Faunus are alive and yet still used. Perhaps even treatedthan simple machines. What can we expect, then, of those who might follow you, Penny? Of your brothers and sisters, of your children and kin? Will they be treated like us? Will they be forced to act as their master’s desire, programmed to do so instead of being given life, choice? Will they ever get a chance to live like you, Penny, or will you be left alone?”Penny seemed to shrink into herself at my words, a figure of tremendous, unbelievable power looking abruptly frightened, hesitant, confused—and I tried not to let that bother me, but I failed.And yet, as with Weiss, I stood firm.“You…you’re wrong,” She said. “I’m…I’m not a real girl. I’m not alive.”“If that’s what you believe, thenare wrong or else you’ve been lied to,” I answered after a moment, looking her over. “I can see it so clearly. Emotions on your face, in your eyes. Innocence and uncertainty in every line of your body. I can see the light of Aura burning within you, Penny—the light of your. Only living things have an Aura, Penny, and that meansalive. It’s plain to see that you are a real girl and anyone who disagrees is.”“I…” She tried, taking a step back, a step forward.“We aren’t enemies, Penny,” I said soothingly. “Or we don’t have to be. Let’s not fight. I haven’t killed anyone; the humans are still huddled quietly in their houses, waiting for this to be over. Just let me take the Faunus from this place and I’ll leave, just like that. There’s no need for senseless violence.”“…I can’t,” She said after a moment. “I…I’m…”“Would they punish you, Penny?” I asked. “If you let slaves go free? What does that imply, then? For us…and you. For whom living and letting live is a crime. If that’s how things truly are, perhaps you should question the world you know…and the people you think you do. Penny, you aren’t anyone’s property. You aren’t owned or owed to. You are a living, thinking being—a miracle of life and innovation both. And if they would punish you for that, try to control you, and thenare wrong.”She was silent for a moment, blinking at me rapidly, lips forming silent words, but I kept going after only a moment’s pause. I wondered a bit about my words, at how swiftly they could turn from a lie to buy time to something else, something I could put passion into—or was that part of the lie? Either way, I continued.“Penny…you don’t need to be afraid of anything. You’re strong…and if you wished, I could take you away from this place. I could take you wherever you wanted to go—anywhere. If you wanted to escape and be free, I would do everything in my power to make it possible and protect you. You can come with me, if you want. Or you can stay and go home. Whatever you want, it’s. But let’s not fight for. I don’t want to be your enemy. I’d rather be your friend.”I saw emotions on her face and more in her status screen—uncertainty, wonder, hesitation, fear, curiosity, worry, sadness—and realized how innocent this enormously powerful girl must have been. About life, about the world, about everything. Really, she was very much a child, hypocritical of me as it might have been to call her such.And maybe that was where I’d made my mistake. Or perhaps, it had simply been inevitable. She was a child—uncertain and innocent and curious and afraid and everything else that could mean—and faced with all of that, she did what any child would do.“No, this is…I can’t. This is wrong,” She shook her head. “wrong. There must be a mistake. You shouldn’t have to…they shouldn’t need to…something must be at work here. My father, he would know what to do…”She turned to her parents.I saw my only real hope dwindle before my eyes.“You love him,” I said, abruptly tired.“He’s my father,” She said simply, extending a hand. “He and General Ironwood built me and…he’s my father.”I nodded, understanding what she struggled to put into words. It didn’t make this any easier.“He told me to bring you in. There’s an emergency—the White Whale, Ziz, it’s…it’s important,” She said. “But we still don’t have to fight. I can take you to him, let you explain. I’ll vouch for you. I still want to be your friend. But I have to…”“You have your duty,” I finished for her. “I understand. And I still want to be your friend, too. But I can’t go with you. I have my duty, as well. There are people relying on me, counting on me, and I won’t let them down; I’m sure you get that. Are you sure you can’t let me go? If it’s about Ziz, I can tell you where it is.”“I…” She looked down. “Don’t understand what’s happening. II don’t understand what’s happening. But I trust my father. He’s not a bad person. Whatever’s happening…Ihim and I know he’ll understand. So…I have my duty to the people of Atlas and of Remnant. Even if I want to be your friend, to believe you, I can’t make any mistakes. I have to protect everyone. Please, come speak to my father, tell him what you told me and…”I was silent for a long moment, more in an attempt to delay the inevitable than anything else. I couldn’t go with her. Even if I had some way of know that her father could do what she wanted to believe, even if Ihe had that much power and was a good person and would listen to me, I had too many lies that could be uncovered. And too many enemies. The Schnee, at the very least, would…“I can’t,” I said at last. “I’ll miss my flight. We have to do this, then?”Penny looked down at the ground and nodded shallowly, looking miserable. I inhaled deeply.“A pity,” I said and meant it. “Such a pity.”For me, I couldn’t help but think.