futurology | text | un: Sasaki

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text | un: Sasaki

[Haise has talked with several teammates about the lack of cohesion, and how difficult it is for all of them to coordinate. It was something he'd meant to discuss, or perhaps encourage others better suited, to bring up when they had some down-time. In the wake of a rather heated debate he chose to sat out on, he thinks maybe conversations about how they unify can't wait]

It seems that some of us may be feeling a little hot under the collar after recent events. Since I am an advocate for mercy, and am only alive because as much was extended to me when others may have argued against it, I don't want to touch on moral disagreements. Our stances will naturally differ, because our organization doesn't give us any unifying principles to abide by.

As a member of the CCG, I had very set guidelines to follow. Those weren't all things I agreed with, or felt right about. But they did maintain order, and did keep people safe. They made us an effective team, and more than once it's come up with colleagues here that we might benefit from that.

This was something I'd hoped might come up on Oska, when people had time to relax, but considering the circumstances...

Would any of you be interested in opening that discussion? That is, talking about our backgrounds, where we're coming from, and what we believe. If we start there, surely we can find a way to work together. If we're constantly at odds with one another, that isn't good for anyone. When I first joined, that division was certainly in place, but those I disagreed with still took the time to speak with me, and we did have common ground. I'd like to suggest that, as a team, we try to find that...for all our sakes.

Edit: Although I spoke of my own background in the example I provided, by no means am I suggesting that everyone do the same. Most importantly, we need to establish where we stand on issues we're often confronted with in our line of work. These things would inevitably show in our actions, so speaking on personal matters is not necessary for discussion.
What each of us believes and what course we're inclined to take is what I mean to inquire about.

[ooc: Naturally, thread-hop/jack as desired]

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We're supposed to say where we come from, right? I can do that.

[There's a lot he's debating sharing, but the biggest part is that he's part alien. But if he told his team back home, he can do that here. He's certain of it.]

I never knew a whole lot about myself. I lost my dad at an early age, and the only thing I had from my family was a weapon. This weapon turned out to be a big deal. When I was ready, I entered a school to become a fighter pilot, and I was the best of the best. But I failed out. I ended up lost for a while. And then I started sensing this weird energy, which led me, and a bunch of other guys, to a giant blue robot lion.

That led us down a path to where we are today. We're all paladins. I pilot the red lion, and if you've met Lance, Shiro, or Pidge, they pilot the blue, black, and green lions. We're fighting a war back home against an evil empire led by a man named Emperor Zarkon. Most of his race, the Galra, are involved in their control of the universe. They've taken over planets in countless galaxies. So many people need help. And we're meant to liberate them.

There are two things, though.

First, it turns out that I'm part Galra. I don't know how much. But it was hard for me to take. How could I be a part of this species that hurt so many people? I saw that there were good people, though. They wanted to fight back. They'd even die for it.

Second, I've been a member of Team Audentes for even longer than I've been a paladin now. Our team back home is a lot smaller, but we've been gaining allies along the way. Not everyone has the same idea of how to do things. The Galra on our side are afraid of taking risks, because it could destroy their infrastructure. Others are willing to give up that if it means finally stopping Zarkon. Either way, we are fighting a war. A war is exactly what you think it is.

Either way, I've decided to protect my universe and the multiverse. If I'm here, then that's what I'm meant to do. A friend told me that it's likely that I was meant to walk this path. I didn't believe her at the time, or maybe I didn't want to believe in myself.

I'm not sure which way is the right way to think. But I'm going to fight. This is my purpose now.

I know we're strangers at this point, but

To be able to help people and protect their lives even knowing your past, it's admirable. A friend of mine had a similar experience and they're still recovering from it. This probably puts me in the 'idealist' camp judging from the rest of the team's attitude, but it still matters to me. Deciding your own path despite what you are.

[ Keith is also being very open about this, which makes him easier to reply to. ]

Wanting to fight to help people doesn't make someone an idealist. It just means that they're willing to act no matter what.

I'm honestly tired of seeing people make it one way or another. That's not how it works.

Anyway, we're way more "idealistic" as a team than anyone realizes. I stand by that.

[Lloyd had pointed that out, as well. Keith stands by it. It's just that the harsher people tend to be louder.

Which ... Keith has also had his moments of being louder.]

I see. I apologize, I'm still new to Audentes and I'm not very sure on how our team is like.

Do most people fall towards the cynical side, from your experience?

No. Actually, when I asked Lloyd for a way to save the quorral from being deemers, he said it wasn't surprising that someone from our team would want to try.

Apparently, it's typical for us to do that.

So it's the cynics who speak out the most, right?

I was told that our mission from ALASTAIR is also about saving worlds.

It is.

But everyone has a different idea of how to accomplish that.

I see.

In your experience, has it been easy for everyone to agree? It doesn't seem so to me.

We're better off when we don't talk too much about what we have to do.

[Too many cooks in the kitchen sort of deal.

Not that Keith would know that metaphor.]

Is there really no 'higher organization' for us to talk to?

If there were, I'd be surprised at this point.

I see.

Thank you. I still have a lot to think about.

You aren't defined by the actions of your people, though it seems as though you've realized that already.

[But perhaps of more interest:]

You hold a very positive opinion of your place here, and it seems of ALASTAIR by proxy.

Trust me, I know. You met me the first time when I was looking like one of them. I don't THINK that's possible. But it doesn't really matter to me now. I've met good Galra. And if I'm anything like a Galra, it's guys like that.

[He's made peace with it. And he's even worked on his issues with Allura. Hunk had noticed more happiness within Keith, and he hadn't been wrong. Having some answers and certainty about his identity helps. More than that, it's knowing what he's meant to be doing.]

A lot of people think it's strange. I remember what you've said about your place here. Do you not think we're doing good? [He doesn't reiterate what she said about not mattering enough to go home. But he remembers it just the same.]

[It's strange mostly in comparison to others she's met, people who've been around far longer and still hold distrust for ALASTAIR. (She supposes she can see why they think as they do, even if it's not a sentiment she shares.)]

It would depend on your definition of 'good' I assume. [Not that she's really here to get into technicalities, and she breezes past that comment quick enough.] I think we're doing what needs to be done, and as far as I can tell our actions seem to have done more good than bad.

But I'm also a soldier. My viewpoint will always be different from many others.

[Sometimes people have to get their hands dirty. Sometimes deaths are a necessary consequence.]

I wouldn't call myself a soldier. Maybe if I had stayed in school I'd be considered one, but things are different as a paladin. And as a part of the team. I've had the freedom to figure out what it is that I want to do.

Can you really say that you're still a soldier while you're here? Haven't things changed for you, too?

Of course. I'm not the same person I was over a year ago.

[Even so—]

The tasks I've set for myself haven't changed. My job is to protect those who can't protect themselves, and to fight for a future that's better than what we have now.

[A terribly vague answer, she knows, bu it's different with every world they travel to.]

Perhaps that's not be what you consider to be a soldier but that is what I am here to do.

It just doesn't sound like it's any different from what I do.

[The vagueness is there, but Keith definitely understands the flexibility of the missions, especially when combined with his paladin experience.

After all, he went into a giant space worm's digestive track before. And that was to help them protect the universe!]

So I guess my question is: how is your viewpoint different? Is it because this is all duty for you?

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