caughtinanetwork

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[Video]

[Dirk is in front of what some might recognize as one of the Defense Force's tech division rooms when he turns on the SFC.]

Right. So a few of us have gotten together to make a database. We figured, since disappearances are so random, there's no point in relying on word of mouth to get information about this place around. We've got the basic facts, sure, but things like the hacked information, that's worth keeping around in its original form.

For those who haven't gotten the point yet, there's a database on the SFC now. Tech, Aizen, Denzel, Gale and I are maintaining it, but since we obviously haven't been here from the beginning, we can't be the only ones to list the info. If you have something relevant, send it in.

[At this point, he turns away from the camera, seemingly focusing his attention on another project.]

Unrelated- RL, if you think you are getting your wriggling day present a second before midnight, you are sadly mistaken. You are also similarly wrong if you think that I will accept booze as a present.

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[Karkat tosses a hand in the air. He'd do both, but one's holding the SFC.]

Hell if I know. I give up on understanding the particulars. I thought she'd have to be the empress from ours who survived somehow because Cheating Tyrian I'm-Special-You're-Not powers, because there shouldn't be another troll universe created along with yours because they're separate.

But then, Terezi and Rose tell me there were other trolls anyway before a separate scratch that led to us, as in me and my team and our ancestors, except it's flipped like you and earth flavor A, so...

I still don't know. I'm just going to sincerely hope we never find out. Scientists, can you see this? Can you read this? Can you hear my most pathetic prayer unto wherever the heck you're hiding? Keep the empress gone. She was here once and you didn't keep her; obviously something didn't work out. Keep that thought in mind!

Seems like the only option until someone who has a better explanation shows up.

That's just as likely to tempt them, you realize. I'll be blaming you if she shows up.

Don't even joke about that!

[And now he's frowning, quite earnestly.]

It was bad enough to deal with the Grand Highblood when he showed up, and that happened more than once. I had no clue how to handle it at all when the Empress showed, still have no clue what I'd do if she did again, and don't even want to think what would occur if she stuck around longer than she did then. And don't blame me, you ass!

I'm simply saying, if the scientists are in fact paying attention to this conversation, they're just as likely to take your words as an invitation to bring her back as they are to take your word on it. They've proved that they don't exactly care if we're happy.

Shut up, would you? I've been here longer than you have, almost two years, so I think I know full well how little they care how happy we are. That doesn't mean I can't hope against something profoundly undesirable! Don't tell me you're not hoping the same thing, Dirk.

If I wanted a shot at killing her, I'd have gotten it before this. She slaughtered my bro, and he was at the top of his game. I'm not stupid enough to think I have a snowball's chance in hell.

[Well, that's depressing. Karkat's attitude is shoved back by a wince of honest-to-god sympathy.]

I'm not going to pretend I have much fondness for Dave, let alone a post-scratch version I've never met, but... I know what it's like to learn an ancestor was killed before his time. Shit sucks rotting bulge.

At least we're both agreed on not taking her on directly.

Since she did show up once- how did you deal with her? Or did she disappear again before she had a chance to wreak too much havoc?

We were already in hiding from the Grand Highblood at the time, so the plan went from "deal with him once we sort shit out" to "we're fucked in the ass with a chainsaw". She disappeared not long after, so we never did get to forming a plan of action. She didn't get to do much, either.

At least there's that. In the time since, have there been any plans made in case she does actually show her face here again? And before you complain, no, I'm not wishing disaster, I'm being prepared.

... No, there haven't. What we did with the Grand Highblood wouldn't work on her, and it's hard to say what would when she is what she is. She hasn't been Empress just for a few centuries; she's been around for longer than I even know. She is a wickedly talented conqueror who's taken over countless planets. She's squashed rebellions, kept us all stuck in line with these rules of society, and has never been budged from her throne. Heiresses are supposed to go and challenge her at a certain age, a battle to the death, and obviously she's never lost. I don't even know how we'd start planning.

Taking her head-on in a fight is insane and suicidal, for sure. But she doesn't always charge off into battle, she has minions to do it for her. She won't hunt down everyone unless she has to do it herself. Which may or may not work in our favor. Plus there are God Tiers here. Their powers are probably better matched to going up against someone like her.

You think I don't know that? She had a whole empire behind her, and if she charged off to do it herself all the time, she'd be dead by now. Also, the only god tiers around right now are ones who've never dealt with her in any capacity. Vriska and Aradia could be useful with their powers, but they're not around. And even if people on your team did hit that level, I don't even know your titles.

Edited 2012-12-24 06:10 (UTC)

They've dealt with the game, though, and that's done at least something to prepare them. Besides, we can give them info. None of us from my session have managed God Tier. We've got a Rogue of Void, Maid of Life, Page of Hope, Prince of Heart. Apparently Roxy's void aspects can manifest passively but that's beyond our control, and the only thing that did was block our session from observation.

Void and Life powers could be useful, but passive manifestation isn't that useful for this. If they had control... But that's not as easy here without the game giving any guide. And that's if you were destined to uncover them in the first place, because I hardly know what abilities I was supposed to get.

Which one are you, though? Prince or Page?

Prince of heart. I get a ridiculous pair of pants and some kickass golves, and apparently the ability to destroy souls if I ever get my God Threads.

[Okay yeah, Karkat's just going to laugh now, the horrible unattractive snorting kind.]

That is perfect. You in those poofy pants, prancing around everywhere. No wonder you'll destroy souls: the sight of that alone has to be enough to make them perish.

[He shrugs.]

Could be worse.

... What? That's it? I mock you and that's all I get?

Sorry, bro. You'll have to do better at mocking me next time.

Dude, you mock me all the time! I deserve more than this now that I have something to actually fight back with. And you can't tell me those pants aren't the dumbest god tier outfit there is.

[He has never seen bards or pages.]

I think I can, actually.

[Thank god for Gamzee.]

You can? How? What abomination exists out there that surpasses that?

You'll just have to wait and see.

What the mind-churning heck does that mean?

[Fill him in, bro. He's lost.]

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