the future is already here - just not evenly distributed

[candor1]

WHO: in order of appearance: Cassian Andor, Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, Jyn Erso, K-2SO, Veronica Sawyer, Revan, Anakin Skywalker
WHERE: HOPE, De Chima #3, Revan's shop, somewhere between
WHEN: various (whenever's best for you?)
WHAT: All the stuff—work developments and CR developments and thematic schtick and usual R1 "why can't the universe be simpler" stuff…? Making a megalog instead of many indie ones to avoid commspam.
WARNINGS: (both in thread #2) the further adventures of Smutly O'Smuttington; then (ironically, but not unrelatedly) unintentional sex-shaming

0. Prelude…

Cassian has tabulated all the data he's so far received of their own galaxy's history. From every representative currently here, willing to talk to him, or not but having already contributed intel over open channels. He's written it up in such a way that will minimize ability to identify his sources. Patterns can be assessed, of course, but there's no delineation drawn between the primary source/anecdotal and what's recounted from later. (Only in Cassian's mind and Kaytoo's circuits to try and track… objectivity. If there can ever be such a thing in politics and history.

My work is not necessarily to identify objective truths. My work is to identify what enough people believe to be true. What we believe drives our choices and perceptions, which in turn form much of the reality around us. I need to understand these things so I can work with them toward what I hope might be higher truths.
…Again… in the absence of Draven, who knew who Cassian would actually try to emulate… but it was because understanding war as intimately as he did meant knowing how extreme the costs of avoiding it had to become in order to be less than the costs of embarking on it. But as long as that balance made one choice clear over the other, he would emulate Mon Mothma. And try everything else first.

Perhaps amassing this history is an act with that goal. Geared to those who seemed inclined toward war not in reaction to reality but in their own imagined reality, and/or for its own sake.

They'd tried to throw the futility of the Rebellion in Cassian's face.

The history might show the futility of all power-mongering.

So have an outline of their history. The Old Republic. The Separatist movement. The Clone Wars and how they ended. The rise of Empire. The rumblings of resistance. The onset of Galactic Civil War. The Rebellion's first major victory. …But how several decades later, either the Empire still exists or a new iteration arises. He knows the least about the last… and wants to find out…

It's obviously a work in progress. He would normally never submit anything other than a fully detailed and finished report to his superiors. …But this is not to (official, committed, allied) superiors. It's… something. Voluntary and…

It's an opening.

But Cassian hesitates. A player recognizes a player. And he knows he's particularly vulnerable to Count Dooku. …Unless he's particularly forewarned…?

He waits.

1. Heropa Organization for imPort Education [Kotetsu]

2. De Chima #003: housemates' morning after fallout [Jyn, Kay, Veronica]

3. De Chima #003: fallout-fallout [Kay, Veronica]

4. Maurtia Falls: droidcraft workshop [Revan]

5. Heropa or De Chima, a darkened street [Anakin]

6. …Conclusion [set up for June logging]

It decides him. Cassian sends two messages: one to General Grievous, and one to Count Dooku.

ready to present preliminary report

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4. Maurtia Falls: droidcraft workshop [w. Revan]

[candor1]

Cassian had been meaning to see Revan's workshop ever since their conversation. Many reasons… ranging from the coldblooded (get in on the ground level of anything that could potentially go ominous) to the practical (might be able borrow some tools for giving Kay some overdue maintenance) to the frivolous (despite it not having been his intention in reformatting Kay, the endeavor did leave Cassian more intrigued by droids than he'd given thought to, before).

Another reason presented itself as Cassian found himself finally there. Being brain-burningly upset with Kay and gut-wrenchingly worried about Jyn, both on personal levels and the ongoing theoretical conflict, more intense all the time, perhaps jump-restarted by blasted "Constellation" and with every new imPort that made it feel like their old life was following them, but never gone… the balance between the preciousness of actual life, and living it, versus the risk of ignoring the things that could hijack it or take it away entirely… how much to sacrifice this new chance at life (which could be self-defeating), to getting involved in the politicking of those who threatened, consciously or not, to unnecessarily bring back the war (which could be self-fulfilling)… and believe it or not it's even more tangled and jumbled in his mind…

Cassian had grown up believing the Jedi to be his enemy. He'd gone on from there to let them fall into the category of probably exaggerated myth. Here, he's gotten to know, a bit, the profoundly amiable and trust-inspiring Luke Skywalker. He has a good feeling about Revan. Maybe it's just profoundly desiring not to have to try and do everything alone. But… Cassian finds himself craving the perspective of this Jedi.

[exsithstential]

Tinkering had always been a way for Revan to pass the time, clear his mind of any nagging negative thought processes. And to date there were plenty.

Dooku and his guaranteed machinations, state of affairs in this world, his own impending death in his universe should he port out...

Something like fretting over getting a small business up and running, or troubleshooting why one of his newest droids likes to expel it's coolant fluid all over everything like an animal marking it's territory, was a welcome distraction. Albeit a messy one. ...Maybe he shouldn't let them watch TV while they're still in their 'natal' phase.

A chime on a nearby console perks him up, and he looks at the juxtaposed view screens just above it where his security system.

Ah, a familiar face. Revan muses, about Cassian's visit casually while he waves a hand at the door. The slighest force push on a release causes the front door of his office to slide open into the cool air of his shop.

Really, he was pleased to see him, someone from his own world. Someone with answers. But there was just the slightest ambivalence when it came to just what those answers might entail.

"Well hello there." Revan leans over his counter like a true shop keep and nods. "Wondered when you'd make your way down here."

[candor1]

It was still a bit disconcerting, but nice, being greeted. By someone who knew who he really was, at that.

"Thanks for inviting me," said Cassian, eyes roaming the shop. He wasn't able to identify all that much, but it was a bit exciting when he actually could. "My droidcraft education was… not formal." A preemptively apologetic look in Revan's direction. To contrast his first introduction, he's going for laying all cards on the table straightaway. "Or my knowledge of Jedi."

[exsithstential]

"I must say it was a disappointment to learn I wouldn't be able to fully talk shop with you." Revan chides, though with enough joviality to show he's only teasing. "Though I can... respect your discretion. It's been my experience that not everyone who comes here from our universe... is respectable company.

Coffee or tea?"

[candor1]

"Thank you," said Cassian. For understanding and not letting it color everything that might come next. "I'm still navigating what methods may apply to the new context."

He'd learned to play that game very well. Now there was a new game and he was back to square one. Especially in trying to decide whether or not the approach was even to 'play'.

Coffee was caf, essentially; they tasted remarkably alike (possibly with fewer synthetics and less cross-contamination with ship maintenance oils). And he'd made and tasted teas brewed from more things than he'd care to remember, for various purposes on various planets.

"I haven't tried any of the local tea varieties," said Cassian. "What sorts of things are they made of?"

[exsithstential]

"Hmm, a loaded question. Generally different leaves, or roots combined with a plant called 'Camellia sinensis'. The different combinations create new flavors. So it depends what you're in the mood for, flavorwise." Look, he really is starting to like tea, ok?

[candor1]

Cassian smiled. "Sorry, it wasn't meant to be. Though I've had a few that explain why it could." Even mechanic-brewed spirits, not just redolent of but almost certainly containing engine grease, never had the kick of what the Zanazi priest-prophets drank and inhaled the steam of on Eiloroseint. "I don't know enough to know what I'm in the mood for yet. Can I start with your own favorite?"

[exsithstential]

"Hmmm, usually depends on my mood. How about... mint? I personally like it chilled in this weather. But it's up to you." He moves to grab a teapot of hot water he has on constant standby on a back counter, moves it to the front, and begins collecting the ingredients.

"It's always nice to meet people from my universe. Even if we're era's apart. Or should I say, especially." He turns, pouring the water and smiling at his guest.

[candor1]

"Chilled sounds good." Cassian stood nearby in case there was something he should do to help.

The smile Revan turned to him, Cassian had to meet with something a little more… conflicted. "It's… yeah. …Guess I've found those closest to my time… their reports are kinda heartening. I can see the outcome of my actions. The further away they get, the more humbling it is."

He tilted his head a bit, in simultaneous question and apology. "Know I'm lucky, getting some closer ones at all…"

[exsithstential]

"It must be nice." He says, sincerely. "Most of the people from my era have a very... polarized opinion of me. So perhaps it's for the best, in my case."

He prepares the tea in record time, bringing over a chilled kettle and glasses to the counter near where Cassian is hovering.

"I've heard a bit about your era. It seems the Republic persisted past my own lifetime for a while, then fell foul of this 'Empire'."

[candor1]

Cassian stepped back to make room, falling in line shoulder to shoulder with Revan.

"I'd like to hear more about that," he said, "if you're willing. The only thing that saves me from opinion of others is anonymity.

"The Republic maintained peace for a thousand years before those more interested in their own power than the service of others wilfully twisted it from within. I've never understood… how they could be a minority, yet make the majority utterly helpless to stop them. We couldn't let our own efforts turn not to their advantage."

There's pain that, echoingly, cavernously deep, in his words and Force presence. Though walled up over it… is mostly just sounding tired.

"Maybe it's entropy. Maybe it takes such collective effort to hold something up… its own weight does most of the work when someone decides to start tearing it down."

[exsithstential]

"It's a long story." he pours a pair glasses and raises one to Cassian. "And I admit to being a biased in it's telling."

As it's his office, he slides into one of the chairs in the front sitting area, and takes a sip.

"And it would appear the galaxy persisted long enough to render me obsolete. Even if there is some echo to what the Republic has had to endure in both eras."

[candor1]

Cassian takes the cup; remains where he is a bit longer, leaning against a desk surface, gently swirling the cup's contents.

"No thread of reality is ever obsolete. It's part of the fabric like every other. Being forgotten doesn't erase that you were,".. My time isn't more important than yours just because it came after. It would be different ifyou'd done different things or been absent from your own whether or not we can know how."

Spoken by someone who was never supposed to be seen or known. But whose actions hopefully had woven a thread, that pulled on others, that affected the tapestry. Even if it was never seen distinctly at all.

Cassian belatedly crossed to sit in one of the chairs opposite Revan. "I'd still like to hear."