15 [written and voiced]

[frost_jewel]

This information is especially important for those of you who have been called to join in their war:

In previous drafts we have been provided with portable "scanning" devices that allow the Third Party adversaries to be incapacitated and removed from the fight without killing them. They were fairly simple to use, but have a limited number of "scans" per use: twenty, according to the draft organizer. The last time I used one, we were able to regain those "scans" by taking the machines back to our base area. Something similar may well be available here.

...It's an alternative to killing. [When she reads this through aloud, here is where she drops the polite announcement tone and opts for something more serious.] For times when that is even a chance of possible. I know it seems silly to ask for mercy in a war...

[There isn't really anything else to say. She just stops writing, and stops reading.

Anyone looking for her in person can find her in her usual clinicky haunts. She'll go home earlier than usual Sunday night, though. Best to be rested.]

Comments

[voice]

[perplexme]

...it's okay. [...it's a good, fair point, he has to admit it.] It depends on what would happen after the other choice was put into effect.

[Voice]

[accepted]

Don't say it's silly, having the choice there is better than knowing killing is the only thing to do. [Not that he's going on the draft himself but he felt like chipping in anyway.]

Just don't get yourself hurt trying to use those scanners on the Third Party guys.

[Voice]

[frost_jewel]

Don't get yourself hurt in the village, Caius. ...And thank you.

[Voice]

[frost_jewel]

[You will need to forgive the minute of silence that follows this introduction.

Mercury. Water and wisdom? ...Was she also from-]

My name is Mia. I am a Mercury Adept. [That always feels awkward, even when it seems the other person is going to know what that is.] Pleased to meet you as well.

voice;

[frost_jewel]

No one is useless. Please do not feel that way.

[voice]

[frost_jewel]

[Not to her. Living gives you, ultimately, a chance - at anything, but the chance is there. Dying takes any hope at all away.]

It is better than...nothing.

[Voice]

[accepted]

Yeah yeah, I'll be fine. I think staying here in the village will be way safer than going off into space. However that works. [His knowledge of space and what's up there is very limited.]

[Voice]

[everyonesconfidant]

So they only work in close combat... I see. I don't think I'll have many opportunities to try it, since I'm not really a close combat fighter.

By the way, who are these Third Party guys, anyway? I'm not really that clear on who they are, what they're trying to do, or why they're our enemy.

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

[She still only remembers her past life hazily, but the title 'Mercury Adept' is suggestive, of course.]

A Mercury... Adept? Could it be you're also from planet Mercury?

[frost_jewel]

I know. [Sigh. Sometimes it's the people in your homes causing the danger.]

There is a difference between protection and unnecessary risk.

[Voice]

[frost_jewel]

[You know what?]

If you want the open truth...I am not entirely sure myself. When I am drafted, I try to spend as much time as I can tending to those from this village who are injured in the fighting. ["These Third Party guys" outmatch her easily and she has no illusions about that.]

It would be best to take your questions to someone who has been facing them for a longer time, or more directly, I think.

[Voice]

[frost_jewel]

I have been trying not to think about how that will work. [There are things to read about it, and she has; not many are comforting.]

[Voice]

[frost_jewel]

Oh, no, my world's name is Weyard. Mercury is another name for the water element there.

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

[As she'd introduced herself, her powers are also from Water.]

I see. It's different where I'm from, though Mercury is associated with water and called the water planet.

[Voice]

[everyonesconfidant]

Ah, okay... well, thanks for telling me about the scanners. I'll try and use them if I can.

]Voice]

[frost_jewel]

The other three elements are Mars, Venus, and Jupiter - fire, earth, and wind.

[And lightning. She's not pressing Ivan on that issue though.]

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

Where I'm from, Venus was aligned with the Metal element, and Jupiter with Earth and Lightning.

[Though Jupiter had often mentioned the wind through the trees speaking to her. Maybe it's not so far removed.

They're getting sidetracked quickly, but she doesn't mind that; it's interesting to her.]

[Voice]

[accepted]

Oh, does that mean you know a little about it? Tell me, I want to be able to understand what everyone is getting into up there. [Though he probably won't get it at least he'll know something about space.]

[eyesofstrength]

Not to mention that a weapon in the hands of the untrained can be as dangerous as our enemy can be.

[Voice]

[lostinmyway]

[At the very least, the Legacy is harsher than Grune describes it. :|]

I know it will. After all, now we can save lots of people.

[Voice]

[frost_jewel]

...I hope so. I hope it isn't some other kind of trap. For them.

[ voice ]

[happyends]

Are you sure that's okay? I mean, even if it's not about fighting, I don't really have any special talents.. [ her tone is definitely worried. ]

[ voice ]

[frost_jewel]

Oh, I don't think I believe that.

We can work together to find something you can do to help. [Something safe. Something that won't get a child hurt.]

[Voice]

[frost_jewel]

I know only what I have been able to read. When we're back, I would be happy to tell you what it was like. For now it just sounds unsettling.

[Voice]

[frost_jewel]

How unusual. Ah, to me, anyway. Do you have Sol and Luna?