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Post by Cipher 24 on Jul 8, 2016 22:06:52 GMT
Earth. It had been so long since Cipher had been here. It's clear blue skies, it's crystal oceans. The multitude of islands that dotted the watery landscape, one of which held Site A of the BBA. He had returned to the base not that long ago, landing the ship, much to the surprise of the BBA staff there. They clearly hadn't expected him to turn up on Earth unannounced. He had left Porsalynne and Charlene to get resettled, after being gone for so long, while Cipher had gone to take in the sights. And now, here he was, floating high above the islands, breathing in deeply and letting the sun warm his pale skin. There was one thing that the android was apprehensive about though. He had left out of the blue with no warning, so he was naturally nervous about how the others would react when they learnt he had returned. He also didn't have a lot of information to go on regarding what had happened here while he was gone. The Saiyans clearly hadn't invaded yet, so that was a plus. Maybe he should have had a small briefing to catch himself up before coming out here. Well, if nobody turned up, he could always return and ask.
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Vi-Poi
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Post by Vi-Poi on Jul 8, 2016 23:13:21 GMT
(Thread PL: 9,577,714)
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you left, or returned," Vi-Poi began, slipping down from a cloud. "You were a wanderer, when the Banner found you." His dark armor glinted violet in the sun.
"I felt your signature before you arrived. You're stronger now. Nearing a peak? Dr. Slouch can look into more upgrades..." The small android's blue eyes lit upon his erstwhile ally. "If you're still intending to fight for the Banner. I've heard that you were kneeling to Reikiko and running her errands, before she met her demise. Is this true?" A frown crossed Vi-Poi's face. Reikiko and Vi-Poi hadn't ended on the best of terms, and Cipher knew that. He'd been on the Moon. She'd tried to kill Liang. And he'd followed her. It was no secret that her intentions did not align with Earth's. Reikiko's ambitions had been on a much larger galactic scale.
"The Saiyans have ended their self-destructive bid for Earth. For now. I've made peace with the queen, and I believe it is genuine. I've stopped Bing's rampage, and restored his mind. But there will always be new threats. This whole planet is one giant chi dynamo, bursting with spiritual energy. One day, someone will rise up with chi that can destroy me. And anyone else who tries to stop them."
Vi-Poi flashed from sight, using a burst of his top speed before reappearing in front of Cipher. "The next time there is such a person, claiming godhood and divinity, will you agree with them? You readily believed in Reikiko's quest for perfection. Or at least served it. What would her perfection have meant for Earth and its people? This planet doesn't need any more gods. It already had one. It needs a commitment. You and Liang represent the Banner's best. You are the vanguard of the revolution. Will you continue to fight for us? I cannot protect the planet by myself."
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Post by Cipher 24 on Jul 9, 2016 16:34:34 GMT
Of all the people Cipher expected to encounter, Vi-poi was not one of them. Granted, he knew he'd see him eventually, just not this soon. And judging from his appearance, something had changed. He gave a small chuckle when he mentioned when they found him. "I remember that. You found me in an alleyway in Satan City." Back when he had no home, no friends, no family.
Then he mentioned him working with Reikiko. Had he been spying on him? "That is correct," he replied, "Reikiko's ideals would have benefited not only Earth, but the galaxy as a whole." Though it eventually never came to be, the idea of the Chimera Federation still held merit. A galactic empire that would bring peace to the galaxy.
Though Vipoi's next words would surprise Cipher. While he was gone, Vipoi had made peace with Zucceta? And what was this about Bing? Before he could say anything though, Vipoi suddenly appeared in front of him, virtually demanding to know where Cipher's loyalties lied. Cipher gave a small, irritated sigh. "Ok, first of all, personal space please," He gave the android in front of him a gentle prod to push him back a little, nothing hostile or anything. In fact, it was almost comical with the difference in power between them. "First of all, neither myself nor Reikiko had any delusions about Reikiko's 'divinity' as you put it. However, I did feel at the time that helping her achieve her objectives would have benefited the Earth, especially with the impending threat of the Saiyans." his eyes narrowed slightly, "Considering a certain other defender seemed more concerned with gaining a title simply for bragging rights at the time."
"As for where my loyalties lie, you know full well what I stand for. Life. I wish to protect life. Not just that of the people of this world, but of all worlds." He paused for a moment before speaking, a small smile spreading across his face. "So yes, I will continue to fight for the Banner, on behalf of the life on this planet. Because despite everything, despite the fact you drive me nuts sometimes, you are, and always will be my friend."
He then tilted his head to the side. "Now then, what is this you mentioned about Bing and you playing nice with Zucceta? Last I checked, Bing was dead and she seemed geared up for war. I'm afraid I neglected to get myself briefed when I returned."
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Zucceta
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Post by Zucceta on Jul 9, 2016 17:49:03 GMT
"I'm looking for the Premier," a harsh feminine voice rang out in the front hall of King's Castle. The horse lady by the desk uttered an abrupt, fearfully snort, slapping at a red "intruder" button hidden besides her seat.
"Don't bother with that. All of the guards are, erm, 'napping'. They should be up shortly. Where's Vi-Poi?" Zucceta asks, a small smile on her lips. She had a proposition for Earth's leader, and an interesting one at that.
"H-he's busy. S-something about an ex-BBA member he felt returning."
The queen hrrms. "Do you know where he was heading?"
"Clearly, you have a fairly one-sided vision of Reikiko," a deep female voice muses on the wind.
The queen dips from the cloud level, her hair in the golden form of her Super Saiyan level, although her power level was visibly suppressed to ambient planetary levels. She'd assumed the form because she was uncertain of Cipher, although they'd met a few times before. If he was an ex-pawn of the bug goddess, however, she had reason to be cautious. "The kettle might be calling the pot black, but Reikiko's vision of peace wasn't a vision of freedom. She was like me, but less honest. If you believe that her posturing wasn't about becoming powerful, you're drinking the kool-aid."
The queen locks eyes with the Blue Premier after abruptly interrupting Cipher's return promises. "I have a proposition for you, Virtual Poi, although perhaps you'd like to speak privately?"
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Vi-Poi
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Post by Vi-Poi on Jul 9, 2016 18:17:38 GMT
Vi-Poi glanced down at the pressing hand, slowly floating back some as he listened to the cyborg's words. He was more upset by his denial of Reikiko’s intentions than anything else. Vi-Poi and her had been close to fighting it out on the lunar surface, and Cipher had followed her after seeing that. Could he trust someone who could never admit error? Even the queen showed humility.
Just as he thought of her, she appeared. Vi-Poi greeted Zucceta with a wary nod. He was still unused to seeing the her outside of a broiling inferno.
Reikiko’s ideals? The small android peaked his battle systems to maximum and shot forward, his fingers attempting to grasp Cipher 24 by the throat. “These were Reikiko’s ideals,” Vi-Poi began, turning his Thief Gear on and pulling at Cipher’s energy. “This is what Reikiko wanted to do to Liang on the Moon, and what she was willing to do to anyone else for her ambition.” The android’s eyes began to glow blue-hot as Cipher’s tremendous energy began to soak his Poinium circuits. “Tell me, Cipher, does it feel beneficial?” Transmitting the energy back, he pushed the cyborg away, the ghost of Poi stirring inside his heart as he felt a righteous sort of anger. “Liang was your friend! She was ready to kill him to get what she wanted. Would have, if I hadn’t arrived. And yet you served her, instead of helping the Banner. I think you owe Liang an apology.”
Vi-Poi put his arms akimbo. “Bing didn’t die on Kanassa. He was biomechanically revived and reconstructed as a cyborg by the SSE, and bolted to serve the queen. The process twisted his personality, made him inner-conflicted. His rage killed many, including Reikiko. Zucceta brought him to Earth to find the Dragon Balls. Bing and I fought above King’s Castle, and I was able to break through to him. When the Dragon is summoned again, Bing wants to put things right. And I will help him.”
He examined his friend closely, wondering if he should still be upset with Cipher. “Next time you want to serve someone else, resign your credentials.”
Turning his head to Zucceta, he nodded. “You can speak in front of Cipher. I believe you two may have met before,” The android added.
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Post by Cipher 24 on Jul 9, 2016 19:21:16 GMT
Cipher's eyes narrowed as Zucceta suddenly appeared. She was still here on Earth? Just how long ago did Vipoi 'make peace' with her? However, before he could say anything, Vipoi suddenly began pulling on his energy, trying to drain him, all the while denouncing Reikiko as some sort of monster. Cipher was shocked by the sudden act of cruelty displayed by the android, even when he released his energy. Cipher's eyes narrowed into slits. "I remember the incident on the moon Vipoi. I also remember the utter shame and guilt Reikiko felt for her actions afterwards. You think she wanted to absorb people Vipoi? She feels like she HAS to. It may also interest you to know we were looking for a way to help her ascend WITHOUT having to absorb anyone. That was why I was off world! Hell, I even offered for her to absorb me so nobody else would have to suffer, and she refused! Does that sound like a monster to you?" Cipher took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He could feel his own anger at Vipoi rising as he spoke. The blue android had done more than enough to earn Cipher's ire. "I can understand that my decision to assist Reikiko was an unpopular one, and I apoligize for leaving so abruptly without explaining myself. But you of all people should know I do what I do for the sake of this planet and its people. Just as you do, even if your own decisions are treated with scorn."
He then turned his sharp gaze onto Zucceta. "As for you. You claim that Reikiko is just like you. Yet I've never seen her kill our friends to turn them into robotic slaves, which she in turn uses to kill more of our friends." His eyes narrowed. "We've all done questionable things in our lives. But the difference between use and you, is that we show remorse for when we do wrong. Unlike you."
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Zucceta
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Post by Zucceta on Jul 9, 2016 23:17:42 GMT
Zucceta stares with a type of churlish amusement at the Rei-loving android after hearing him defend his previous master. A smirk smugly tugs at the corner of her mouth, pulling into it a half-smile. "Do you need to check in with an eye doctor? You seem to be squinting a lot."
She turns her head back to Virtual Poi, studying him with a genuine interest while still addressing Cipher. "But the truth is, I do feel remorse for my actions. My Dragon Balls, which I'd gathered for personal reasons, will instead be donated to undoing the damage that Bing did during his tenure under my control. However, you yourself admitted that Reikiko was going to consume your friend and colleague, a comparable act - if not worse - than the act of resurrecting and weaponising someone whom was a sworn enemy; and the fact that she claimed she had to absorb someone whom she presumably worked with made her as dangerous as I ever was, in a sense."
She returns her contemplation to Cipher. "But I'm sure, deep down, you already knew that."
Still staring at the pale android, she addresses the Premier. "Virtual Poi. How busy is your schedule for the next few months?"
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Vi-Poi
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Post by Vi-Poi on Jul 10, 2016 4:01:46 GMT
The android nodded his head. “Is this about four months later?” He asked Zucceta. “Or something else?... I have no plans besides governing, and I have protocols in place incase I ever need to busy myself elsewhere. With the Blue Banner Public Security Act, the world runs itself.”
His eyes shifted back to Cipher. He felt some pity for his friend. The cyborg was clearly frustrated with Vi-Poi, for reasons the android couldn’t fathom. It must be something inscrutable in Cipher’s human side, something Poi in his boyhood and the machine in its cold logic couldn’t understand. The man was an artist of some sort in his past life. Artists were always the dramatic kind.
“It is good that you’re back on Earth.” Vi-Poi said to Cipher, his tone gentling some. Whatever their current gulf, Cipher had been there in West Capitol when it mattered. “Have you seen your wife and child yet? You might want to.”
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2016 4:50:35 GMT
Thread PL: 9,200,994
He had been keeping an eye on the sky from the Cathedral for months now. Usually, it was nothing important, but if there was an invasion fleet coming, or something similar, he wanted to know. Seeing Cipher's ship returning had been a pleasant surprise. As he headed towards the location he had seen it head, however, he felt a familiar Ki. Oh dear.
The moment went from panicked to awkward very quickly, however, as he approached and saw that Zuccetta was not alone. Vipoi was there as well, apparently discussing something. He still wasn't sure if the Android had figured out that he had been used or not. Still, the queen and the BBA administrator were not fighting, which meant that most likely, the fight he had felt recently had indeed ended in some sort of stalemate or agreement. Good. Significantly better than he had hoped for, honestly.
He still hadn't forgiven Zuccetta for her actions, but given what she had said after he backed down during their fight, he was willing to at least give her a chance to prove herself to be telling the truth. Walker considered suppressing his Ki, then dismissed the idea as silly. Both of the people there already knew what he was capable of. He made sure to keep his aura to a passive level, however. No sense in making anyone uneasy or worried that he was prepared for a fight.
"Greetings, Cipher." He bowed to his friend, before turning to the others. "Queen Zuccetta, Vipoi. I take it some accord has been found, hence the peaceful status of you both at present? Simply inform me when the Dragonballs are required for the summoning, as I believe I currently have the only one you would not have accounted for. I would very much like to see the mighty Shenron for myself." He wished he could act surprised, but there didn't seem to be much point.
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Post by Cipher 24 on Jul 10, 2016 13:29:15 GMT
Zucceta's statement comparing Reikiko to herself was almost laughable. As in, it took all Cipher had not to burst out laughing. "I would hardly call threatening to devour a person in a moment of emotional distress, comparable to the calculated decision of weaponizing and brainwashing someone into being your assassin. But then again, I would hardly compare you and Reikiko anyway. After all, how many worlds have you destroyed and invaded in such a short time?" Cipher shrugged, "I make no delusions over how dangerous Reikiko can be. But I would consider her much less dangerous compared to the two of you. Heck, this one here," he gestured to Vipoi, "Got careless with some data, and the result was a destroyed planet, a flattened city, and countless billions dead. Still, despite all of these things, you two have demonstrated that you are capable of, and are willing, to do good. Which is the most important thing." He gave a small sigh and then gave Vipoi a smile. "It's good to be back sir. And yes, I have seen them. They were with me this entire time."
Thankfully, Walker would arrive. A friendly face indeed as he bowed to Cipher (which the android respectfully returned), before turning his attention to Vipoi, informing him about the dragonballs. "Is there any way I can assist?" Cipher asked, "I wish to make up for my absence here." his expression then turned somber, "How is Bing doing? Vipoi filled me in on the situation." Needless to say, Cipher was concerned about his friend.
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Zucceta
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Post by Zucceta on Jul 12, 2016 16:58:58 GMT
Zucceta smiles at Vi. "Something else, I hope."
When the tree-like entity approached, the queen simply offered him a nod of the head, a hidden relief that he didn't intend to wildly scream her name once again in an attempt to engage her in combat and end her life. She had felt his ki approaching, and wondered if he meant to cause her trouble. A part of her had regretted sparing him, if only because she didn't know how he might act in the future. His voice, both then and now, contained a certain air of righteousness, not unlike the pale cyborg reprimanding his superior for something that was clearly outside of his control.
The queen crossed her arms. She might have been, might still be, a monster, but this type of pettiness made her more queasy than any of the horrors she had seen, or inflicted on others.
Her gaze settles on Virtual Poi. "You realise you don't have to put up with this shit, right?" She says, in reference to Cipher's outright pomposity. Resettling her eyes to Cipher, she muses: "I brainwashed no-one, and if I were you, I'd check your mathematics in regards to your boss. 'Countless billions?' I figured you ought to know that Namek has always had a small population. I'd know, considering the presence of my empire on its planet. That 'flattened city', which I found out shortly after its destruction was North City? Well, its a fairly large place, so maybe a few million citizens lived in it. To my knowledge, he--as well as a few others--restored both Namek and the damage and lives lost in North City. I can't say if Reikiko came to change her ways or not, considering she died needlessly, and I am... mostly, sorry for her death. However, she has always consciously made her choices. Blaming Virtual Poi for his red ghost's actions is unfair. Your words against me are justified, but not those."
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Vi-Poi
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Post by Vi-Poi on Jul 14, 2016 6:25:45 GMT
Vi-Poi watched Walker approach warily, only relaxing when the giant tree bowed to Cipher.
He turned his head to Zucceta. “Two planetary rulers, and it’s the unelected soldier he bows to,” The android mentions wryly, curling his fist on his hip. “You would do well to pass the stone onto me,” Vi-Poi explained to the former Caretaker. “Shenron has no sentiment, and I can send you video capture of what he looks like besides. If yours is the last Ball, we can summon the Dragon straight away.”
He wondered if the tree would always be so polite. Ever since he’d tried to destroy Vegeta, there was an element to distrust. Bing's unease wasn't something to take lightly.
“I could be offended,” He agreed. “But it’d be a futile exercise.” Still, he was annoyed by Cipher’s continued flippancy. “Realigner Red’s tenebrous attachment to my systems had been so much more than carelessness. Every precaution had been taken, and yet disaster was born. It is a popular misconception that one can prepare for anything, given prescience and power. In reality, there is a force in the Universe that overcome all planning, all purpose. An unstoppable chaos that destroys all utility, all order. It is an important lesson to learn, and that is what the legacy of Realigner Red should be.”
He dipped his chin, blinking at the jungle canopy far below. The ghost of Poi shuddered away from his circuits at mention of Realigner Red. It still terrified him, sometimes. At the moment of its destruction and his death, Vi-Poi had felt the true nature of the virus. Below all of its mad hysterics, below its frivolous mannerisms, had been a maw of utter emptiness. Just as it did in its first universe, when it had shattered his internal systems in its inexorable war through the trenches of his circuits, it saw all external existence as its enemy. It was a cold and malicious, brilliant insanity that would have made oblivion in every place it could find.
“Of course, humans possess a high drive to engage in comparative suffering against offenders whom they’ve suffered injustice from, real or imaginary. But I’m sure it’s not lost to Cipher that he freely bows to Walker who, with his own mind and his own hierarchy of thought, would have truly killed billions out of a misplaced sense of preemption.”
Vi-Poi lifted his head, gesturing to Walker. “There is a peace now. A real one. We all have to atone for our transgressions. And none of us ought to think ourselves the arbiter of right and wrong.”
Hovering close to Cipher, the small android spoke, “You’re here now, and you’re the Banner. But if that’s going to change,” His large blue eyes shifted to Walker, a querying eyebrow raised. “Then it’s best to sort out the details while we’re together.”
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2016 2:26:38 GMT
The tree bowed in return to Cipher. He was rather regretting showing up now, honestly. There seemed to be some sort of argument going on, and it was not fun being around when people were debating ideals. He felt a little guilty, at first, that Vipoi had not been acknowledged, but after hearing his comment, that guilt had vanished. "Heh. I apologize, but I think I will hold on to the ball for now. Whenever the summoning occurs, it will be brought, this I swear. However, I would rather not have most of these artifacts in the same place leading up to the critical moment."
He paused for a moment, then looked at Zuccetta and Vi-Poi again. "This... wish. What will it be about, exactly? That is to say... it will fix Bing. Yes?" The pleeding in his tone was far more vulnerable than perhaps anyone there had ever heard. It vanished as soon as it had appeared, however.
As Vi-Poi gestured at Walker, the tree's eyes narrowed. "No. I refuse to stand by and take that any longer." He crossed his arms, staring daggers at Vi-Poi. "I have heard too many people dismiss me because of that. When I returned from my sleep, I discovered the Realigner Red incident had taken place. Did I judge you for that? NO." He swept one arm across the air angrily. "Hell, I even came to ask if there was anything more I could do to help! I trusted that it was a mistake, that you regretted it, and you were working with Earth's best interests in mind."
He was shaking slightly, as if having trouble keeping himself even somewhat composed. "I had one of the few people I know in this world die, after telling me to stay behind. In my grief, I went to Vegeta, and I stood over that planet with energy gathering. Even then, I delayed. I warned the inhabitants, I stalled myself, trying to wrestle with it, until someone came who could FORCE me to stop!" A mental image of Maeve, Kaula and Toma appearing over Vegeta flashed in his mind, and he winced.
"I regretted my actions so much, I sacrificed myself to the one person I thought might be able to stop this, and they died because I misjudged them, making it worthless. In the afterlife, I stood before King Yenma and told him that I wanted to waive my chance to go to Heaven, a place where I thought I would see my friend, because I did not think I deserved it. I managed to leave when I discovered he was alive, and that so many others had fallen, but I fully expected to never see him again!"
The tree stared at the android he had called a friend for most of his short life. A line of burning sap seemed to be tracing down his cheek. It might almost be called tears, if not for the fact that this substance was also what he had instead of blood. "I have spent my life grasping at straws, attempting to save those dear to me, to protect this world, and each time I have failed. Others have died in my place, or accomplished the goal, and I was fine with that. I didn't want glory, Vipoi. I just wanted peace, for my friends and family to live. Now, at the end, I'm to be forever defined by an impulse I have spent fully half my life attempting to atone for?"
His head tilted back, and he stared up at the sky. "... I thought we were friends, Vipoi. I didn't hold you to your mistakes. Why must you shackle me to one I was saved from making."
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Post by Cipher 24 on Jul 18, 2016 12:43:33 GMT
Today was just full of surprises wasn't it? Not only had Cipher returned to Earth to find not only was there now Saiyan invasion and that Vipoi and Zucceta had made peace, but now Zucceta was defending Vipoi. The robot who had foiled her invasion of this planet and, if the files Cipher read were accurate, had cost her her arm in the first place. A look of genuine surprise washed over Cipher's face before he quickly hid it. It seemed the growing argument between Vipoi and Walker was getting a bit heated as well, with Walker being angered by the reminder of his own sins. "You misunderstand Zucceta," Cipher spoke up, "I do not blame Vipoi for his actions as Realigner Red. I'm fully aware he was to in his right mind. In fact, as many could testify, I was one of the very few people speaking up to try and save him, rather than simply reduce him to scrap. But, if every precaution was taken to prevent the incident in the first place, then my words were uncalled for, and I apologize."
Cipher then looked out at the three present. "My point however, is this. All of us are exceedingly dangerous at our level of power, and are capable of many great and terrible feats, whether we accomplish those feats," he glanced at Zucceta, "Merely intended them," then to Walker, "Or we're purely unintentional," and finally Vipoi, "However, does that potential make us inherently evil? No, it does not. All of us had the best intentions at heart, and are more than willing to make up for any mistakes we have made." He looked over the three present. "So I say we stop beating ourselves over the head with our pasts and work towards the future. We finally have peace, we're close to restoring Bing. I'd say this a rather happy time, wouldn't you agree?"
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Zucceta
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Post by Zucceta on Jul 24, 2016 18:48:01 GMT
Two coal-black eyes slowly assess Walker as his words reach bemused ears as a fist audibly tightens, knuckles popping. "You tried to do what exactly?" The queen of all saiyans speaks in a low hiss.
Zucceta's refocuses on Cipher, controlling her breathing. "A convenient and noble sentiment," she muses, "but it is unlikely that those who wish to rage against me will allow me to change. Even to those I have not directly hurt I am a convenient scapegoat, to hone themselves and their desires with a visible target."
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