Move 2.7 Recap

The Cantata and Sasha

While trading songs with the Cantata, Sasha has learned that it can understand some human speech, though it finds the details confusing; she infers that it can hear conversations anywhere on the ship. She offers, "The grid can convert human speech to text. I can give you access to the text of our public conversations, if you want? And also, I can set things up so the grid will read anything you wish to communicate aloud. But you should say something, if you are paying attention to a particular conversation. Or I can create a visual alert, if you prefer. The grid observes every vocalization and gesture, so I don't think this is very logical, but people do not like having their conversations monitored without warning."

Surprised, the Cantata asks, "You can't hear everything all the time? Is this normal among your people?" Sasha explains the limitations of human hearing, adding, "Of course, I can ask the grid for help, just as it helps me speak to you." She asks, "Are you able to recognize and remember the details of multiple sound-streams simultaneously? Most humans also struggle to follow more than one conversation at once, even when we can physically hear them." The Cantata promises to try to remember, with the caveat, "But it will be very difficult. Your ways are so different from the ways of moths." It finds Sasha's questions about multiple conversations particularly confusing: "Isn't that what harmony is? That's how we hold several conversations at once, if we like. That's not what you do, when all of you talk? Is it because you can only sing one note at a time?" Sasha observes that a bigger factor in the distance limitations of human communication may be "that much of our communication is nonverbal. Based on visual cues, usually, such as facial expressions or the colors someone has chosen to wear." She reflects on the irony inherent in her being the specific human to explain the nuances of nonverbal communication.

Following up on her earlier question, Sasha asks, "You haven't told me yet, do you want transcripts of our conversations?" The Cantata says carefully, "I would be grateful for transcripts of conversations I am permitted to hear," adding, "Do you have very many colors? They are very hard to discern." Sasha promises to set up grid transcripts, along with a visual alert to display when the Cantata is listening. She describes the range of human color perception, adding, "Birds and reptiles often have better color perception, too. I suspect Fluffy and her babies see many more colors than we do."

The Cantata thanks Sasha, adding wistfully, "Can we songshare some more? I like songsharing with you, and it is so much easier than thinking about colors." Sasha agrees: "Would you like a weird song, or a happy song? Or should we practice your song some more? I am still working out my part." The Cantata suggests practice followed by "one of your weird songs": "I am very curious as to what your people consider 'weird.'" After another runthrough of the Cantata's song, Sasha offers a motet in four voices inspired by bee dances: "This is by no means the strangest song I know, but I think you might like it. Let me play it once through from the grid, and then you can choose which parts you want?" Delighted by the grid's rendition, the Cantata says, "I would like the lowest and highest parts! The middle ones are easier for you to manage, perhaps?" Sasha agrees, "I can manage with the grid, yes. Can we practice first with just the lowest and the second-highest voices, and then add the others in?"

Ione, Remi, Seyli, and the mothlings, with accompaniment from the Cantata and the pseudo-dragons

Seyli has printed a small drum. They bring it to the common room and begin playing. The mothlings cluster around, curious; the Cantata hums encouragingly. Remi watches, taking notes; "That got a reaction," he smiles. Seyli says, "I couldn't carry a tune if my life depended on it, so I can't sing to them like everyone else seems to be doing." They offer the drum to a reaching tentacle.

Ione appears, carrying a brightly colored fiddle. She says, "I can. But I prefer to use this and I'm much better at it. May I join in?" Seyli invites her to sit, adding, "I just wanted to see how the little things would react to drums." Ione says, "And this isn't a percussion instrument but they might be able to manage plucking. Or, uh, I suppose you could slap the strings and get interesting sounds ..." Fluffy and the nestlings chirp approvingly; Fluffy adds a tea-kettle sound, which elicits a giggle from Ione. Seyli says, "They're cute, I must have slept through their hatching. We can piss everyone off on the moth by getting them all going at the same time." The mothlings attempt to pluck Ione's fiddle; Fluffy imitates the resulting pizzicato. Seyli laughs, demonstrating the drum again: "It can be Drum and Violin for Moth and Pseudo Dragon to the key of Chaos." Remi watches, amused and affectionate.

Remi, Reshad, and the mothlings, joined by Sasha

Reshad volunteers to help Remi with sensory testing for the mothlings. Remi expresses his appreciation; Reshad tells him she is (genuinely) happy to assist. The mothlings cooperate with the tests, taking occasional breaks for tentacle tag; they demonstrate skill with arithmetic and sensing objects, even through barriers, but cannot distinguish visual patterns such as jeng-zai cards.

Overhearing Remi's summary, Sasha interrupts, "Have you tried just asking the Cantata? They told me they can hear the colors of stars, but struggle to resolve colors from less intense energy sources. Hells, I have no objection to the scientific method. But this seems really roundabout?" She notices Reshad and nods uncomfortably. Cheerfully, Reshad says, "That's useful to know. Does Cantata hear everything the grid hears?" Sasha responds, "Are you asking about what sounds they are physically able to resolve, or what kinds of grid access they have been given, or how much of the high language they understand, or what stimuli they pay attention to? Because those are different questions, and the amount of detail I can give you is going to vary." Remi asks, "Does that mean it can overhear, say, the conversations with the 'guest'? And also, does the Cantata ever talk to other moths, and how would we know, if so?"

Reshad notes that though all of Sasha's questions are interesting, some might be best addressed to the Cantata directly. She observes that "its sound resolution" is likely to be good, if it's comparable to the mothlings' senses, but that her priority is "likely to be language comprehension and grid permissions," though her own permissions "may interfere with that." She listens to Remi's questions with interest, adding, "If unharnessing moths is an option, it'd be a real benefit if someone like them could explain what's happening. Or speak with them ourselves..." She stills for a moment, pondering insurrection, then asks Sasha how to speak to the Cantata, eyes wide.

Sasha tells Remi, "The Cantata sings to the mothlings, and that's also speech for them. I don't know if they sing to other moths. I had assumed the others were too lost in harness dreams to notice, but maybe it's more complex. Alaric might have more data." She thinks of Reshad's wide-eyed look as unfairly beautiful, and feels a little jealous of her possible conversations with the Cantata, but she answers the communication question honestly: "Alaric devised a way to communicate with them, after he broke the harness. Originally it was mostly math and diagrams, but the Cantata has been learning rapidly. They understand a lot of the written high language now, and some of the spoken form as well, though they told me all our consonants are confusing. As long as you're on board, you can send a message to them through the grid the same way you'd contact anyone else." Reshad exclaims, "They can read! Remi was just telling me about the results he'd had with the mothlings; I wonder if it's simply a matter of age, or exposure to the material." She smiles at Remi, then thanks Sasha, adding, "I'd certainly like to get to know them. It's something of a proverb, isn't it? Always know your pilot. I have so much to learn about them. The whole group's partnership with them is fascinating. I never imagined."

Remi observes, "They have proven friendly so far. But we can't guarantee their amicability; and given what I've learned about their future, I couldn't blame them for choosing--otherwise." Reshad says, "Nor I. I've wondered why Cantata still permits us to come aboard." Looking between Remi and Sasha, she continues, "You refused to leave them - I assume you're fighting to keep them unharnessed." Flushing, Remi says, "That was the original source of a misunderstanding between myself and this crew, yes." Shrugging, Sasha says, "We worked it out. The mothlings are children, and are in our care. The Cantata--we are in their debt."

Reshad apologizes to Remi "for the awkward question." She hopes he recognizes Sasha's acceptance of him, while worrying that Sasha still views her as a threat. She agrees with Sasha on the team's debt: "Their tolerance underpins everything we've done. Are they from your time?" Sasha answers, "There was no mothdrive in my time, nor was there any analogous procedure within the heptarchate. Remi knows more about first contact with the moths than I do. But the way that they are bound--I wish I could swear to you that I was not aware of any such technology, but I cannot."

Remi says, "The first contact, if you can call it that, was mostly focused on exploitation. Which is why the mothlings' parents were slaughtered and their eggs stolen, in the hopes of 'harnessing' their astonishing ability to travel through spacetime. And never mind that the moths had opinions of their own. At least the Cantata can guide us as to how it wishes the babies to be reared, in the absence of other contacts with moth society--or societies." Reshad murmurs, "That's good. Or as good as it can be." Pondering moth culture, she adds, "They're the first of their kind raised among humans, aren't they? Are there other free moths?" She asks Sasha, "Harness technology predated the discovery of moths?"

Sasha explains that "with any sufficiently powerful device," such as a train, "there is a risk that a situation will arise where any motion results in the loss of human life." She elaborates, "On Naxarat, where I was born, the jurists had decreed that this responsibility was too great to be borne by a machine. So they bound humans, people whose debt to society was too great to be discharged any other way, into the bodies of the trains. The wires in their minds were finer than silk thread. They slept, until they were called upon to make a choice. I do not know if the technology transferred directly. But Naxarat was--Yehan would call it, liberated--around the time that the harness was invented. I doubt, somehow, the timing is coincidence."

Pale with fury, Remi says, "I wouldn't be surprised if the heptarchate knew of this--technology, and targeted its acquisition accordingly. Is it possible, Sasha?" Shrugging, Sasha tells him, "It's not so far, from Naxarat to Isterov. You could make guesses about what might happen, even in my day. But the technique wasn't secret, either. Even if you didn't care about the details of our legal system, if you spent half an hour trying to understand why our generals bragged about smart weapons, you would have known."

Unhappy, Remi says, "Another reason not to trust the military." Sasha adds, "Or the judges, or the Houses, or any of your factions. Everything is interlaced." She wishes she knew a way to comfort him, but offers a strategy instead: "There is an attack that will work against the mothdrive. It depends on other technology, but I think by the year 800 it is effective, if the moths will work with us. Earlier, we would need cooperation from other elements of the rebellion, as well. And there are questions we should answer about the rifts, before we set this up." Guilty, Remi says, "Yes, I've been busy with the mothlings, but rift research is also something I should be working on..." Smiling at Remi, Reshad says, "You've got your hands full. Six mothlings and your research." She approves the idea of an attack on the mothdrive, adding, "I need to learn to talk with Cantata. Especially if they know more about moth culture... But if collaboration is the way to free them, that's for the best."

An unrestrained prisoner: Jedao, Reshad, and Seyli, joined by Ione

Reshad places her hand on Seyli's arm and murmurs, "A moment." Seyli's eyes sweep the room. Once they have both established there is nothing unexpected in the room besides an unrestrained Jedao, Reshad says, "I am sorry for the wait. But we came in to release you. I see no reason to get all the way back into that. Your leg's all right now?" Carefully holding out the restraints, Jedao answers, "My leg's fine. What now?" Smiling, Reshad takes the restraints, telling Jedao, "We're in motion. And I'd like to begin our work soon, but before that, your room is configurable to a certain extent." She asks the grid to display the options. Shrugging, Jedao says, "As long as there's a shower and commode I'm fine. What work do you have in mind?" Reshad explains that the first task is to get Jedao settled in: "You'll have very basic access to begin with--but we do have a government to topple. Your help would be deeply appreciated." Jedao asks courteously for food and drink, adding, "I assume your government-toppling can wait at least that long." Rubbing his right, gloved wrist, he continues, "I will be of the most help if you are able to give me accurate information regarding your capabilities. It will be impossible for me to advise you honestly, otherwise."

On the team channel, Sasha says, "Ione can deliver food, if you judge it appropriate." Seyli nods at Reshad, approving. Reshad tells Jedao that a meal will arrive shortly, and asks Sasha, subvocalizing, for "anything palatable". Sasha pages Ione via the grid and asks her to deliver a meal: "Let's stick with finger food for now. We have bananas, tangerines, and rice balls, and the walnut-plum ration bars aren't bad. I'll print a paper cup for water." Ione arrives quickly, carrying the food on a tray. She has pinned up her hair and slung a stethoscope around her neck. Looking pointedly at the tray and stethoscope, Jedao smiles and thanks her, saying, "I can listen while I eat, if you want to tell me more about this rebellion of yours."

Placing themself between Jedao and Ione, Seyli says, "Give me the tray back." Jedao does so, saying ironically, "Very good." Seyli tells him, "That's low hanging fruit, condescending praise." Jedao asks, "Would you have trusted anything other? You're not the first Kel to regard a mere fox with skepticism." Seyli says, voice sharp and a little high, "I wouldn't trust a word out of your mouth and it has nothing to do with the fact you're a fox. Skepticism is left for normal foxes, not war criminals." Eyes narrowing, Jedao says, "Yes, Corporal, about that. Why don't you tell me what it is I've done, in your timeline, that dishonored the uniform. Since it's so important to you."

Speaking to the supervisor: Ione, Jedao, Reshad, and Seyli, with comm traffic from Sasha

On the team channel, Sasha says, "Seyli. Stop." They clamp their mouth shut and shift into an alert posture. Interested, Jedao says, "That wasn't a reaction to me, however obnoxious you find me. That was your handler intervening, wasn't it?" More loudly, he continues, "Perhaps it would be more fruitful if we spoke to each other directly, whoever you are. Whatever you want of me, you already have me at a disadvantage. Talk over a comm channel if you have to; I want to hear what your plans are." Nodding at Reshad, Seyli snaps, "She's as much as in charge as anyone else here." Looking at Reshad, Jedao says, "I wouldn't presume to understand your rank hierarchy, but I would rather not have to take your people apart to figure out who's in charge, and what the plan is. We could save a great deal of time if someone besides the corporal here gave me a straight answer." On a private channel, Sasha tells Reshad, "I shall follow your lead." Reshad tells her, "Acknowledged and appreciated." Meanwhile, Ione watches quietly and with evident compassion, her empathy active.

Reshad asks Jedao whether he would like to eat first, or during the conversation. Since he indicates he can eat and listen simultaneously, she signals Sasha and continues, "The leader of this segment of the group is Sasha. As far as assets... She can give you a better assessment than I can; I'm very new to this group. But I can tell you that I find the plan to be credible. The Hexarchate will not succeed without its transport, and my associates have found a method of compromising it. As of yet I'm only aware of proof of concept - not full weaponization. But that, I think, is a matter of time. There are...complicating factors, of course."

Sasha is concerned that Reshad is describing the moths as a means to an end. Activating a voice connection, she introduces herself to Jedao, continuing, "According to the high calendar I was born in the year 201. Our role within this organization is science and intelligence. Our mission has both a scientific and an intelligence-gathering component. We're not conventional military, and this conversation will make a lot more sense if you stop trying to act like a general."

Jedao apologizes to Reshad for eating while talking. Meanwhile, he talks to Sasha, addressing both her and Reshad as equals: "I'm afraid one of the pathologies of conventional military service is that, well--as they say, if you hand someone a gun, everything looks like a target. I understand that you don't owe me answers, or honesty, but I have nothing to lose by asking--Certainly if you can break the stardrive, you will break the heptarchate. But are you prepared for the human consequences that come with disrupting trade and travel?" He further explains that his "sole area of expertise" is "conventional military operations" and he does not know how to "raise an army," nor how to act as a scientist or spy, concluding, "I won't pretend that we trust each other, but what is it that you want me to offer you? Or was it on the strength of my connection to a certain Nirai that you picked me?"

Privately, Sasha tells Reshad, "Hell and stars, I see the shape of this." Reshad answers, "Then it's yours. And I'll put an envoi on it." Sasha tells Jedao, "The heptarchate kills people to maintain the mothdrive, and invents new categories of enemies and heretics so it can go on killing people to maintain the mothdrive, so if you're asking if I understand that my choices have a price, the answer is 'yes'. I started out tracing another agent altogether, though I won't pretend I don't wonder if she's linked to your Nirai." Reshad murmurs, "And that's the simple version."

Sasha points out that Jedao hasn't asked when the destination is, though "I couldn't tell you if I wanted to, because that's the experiment we're running." She explains that the rebellion uses "time is sticky" as a training slogan, meaning that it's difficult to cause major changes, such as erasing oneself from existence: "If you hang around the rifts long enough, you'll meet people from streams that are very different--where the heptarchate is a pentarchate, or never ruled at all--but that's not where the rifts we have mapped ever lead, and those aren't the times we want to influence. The question is, how sticky is time? When we came from, you are a famous traitor. If we're lucky, when we return that won't be true, and we can jump back to a couple hundred years after I was born and prevent the mothdrive from taking hold. If we're not lucky, time is stuck. We'll jump to a time where you are still a traitor, where you took the trade to make yourself undying. We won't be able to act until we get past the sticky bits, to a future even Reshad hasn't seen. And if that's true--if that's the stream that we are stuck in--I need you as an agent against a particular enemy. Not your Nirai, but the undying version of yourself."

Reshad is surprised by Sasha's conclusion, but tries to project calm: "This has been, for me, an exercise in harm reduction. I don't want to see everyone shattered to individual star systems - I want to see a future where we don't eat our own. Including you." Jedao tells Sasha, "Then we are aligned in cause, at least. You're not the only one who dislikes the remembrances. But consider that any immortal version of me would also be that much more experienced, and that much more ruthless. Perhaps, if you have scientists among your number, you can figure out how to kill an immortal. That alone would be worth an alliance." Shrugging at Reshad, he adds, "If you want a better future, you're going to have to show me you know how to build one. Killing people and destroying power structures--those are easy. Reform--that's another kettle of foxes entirely." In a different tone, he says to Ione, "You're no Kel either. Why do you wear gloves?" Alone in her office, Sasha says, "You fucking asshole, she's a medic."

Reshad says, "In my time, the Andan do a lot of consensus formation; we can borrow from them to bring people to work together. It's going to require a lot, and it's something we should not leave to one or two words now. But I dearly hope we do not have to bear the whole burden. But if we had the Liozh intact, if a whole faction hadn't been decreed heretical? Things can go differently than they did. We find the pivot points and try to direct time into a better path. Maybe you can point us to some more." Jedao says, "I haven't always agreed with the Liozh our leaders, but I don't like the thought of them gone."

Taking risks: Ione, Jedao, Reshad, and Seyli, with comm traffic from Sasha

Jedao asks Ione, "Are you a Nirai medic, or a Vidona medic, or something else entirely?" As he lunges toward her, apparently planning to tear off her gloves, Ione notices a spike of self-destructive intent. Seyli traps him in a wrist lock, then strikes him on the side of the neck. Jedao staggers, seems to consider moving closer to Seyli, then tries to back up, choking out "My apologies--" Ione presses herself against a wall, out of the way.

Emphasizing her old-fashioned accent, Sasha says, "I find the existence of a universe beyond the heptarchate remarkably controversial. Seyli, please let Jedao apologize to our medic properly." Meanwhile, Seyli twists Jedao's arm behind his back. He complies, telling Ione, "That was uncalled for. I thought for a moment--it doesn't matter what I thought." Ione tells him, "Yes, it does. The answer is that they're for my protection, and if seeing my bare hand will help with the hostility in here I can take one off, but I'd love to know what caused the impulse to steal it." Jedao says, "Something about the way you hold your hands reminded me of Vidona I've known. But you said your protection, not others'. It's not deathtouch, then?" Sasha interjects, "Let us be very clear. You thought that she might have deathtouch, and you wanted to take her gloves off?" Jedao says, flatly, "I must not have been thinking, clearly."

notes

Seyli trying to make friends with Ione & the mothlings

Sasha is jealous of the moth but trying to play fair

Remi's concern about his introduction - Sasha isn't worried

Remi's distrust of the military

never did find out whether this Jedao likes ration bars

Seyli thinks Ione's lack of fear of Jedao is more reasonable; "They view Reshad and Sasha to be the de facto leaders" - Sasha's going to have to deal with that

Sasha starts out keeping her promise to Reshad