[ network ]

[beholding_archivist]

[ Static is what begins this broadcast. A little crackle at first, but quickly increasing and peaking for a moment before receding again. Once it has mostly died down a deep, labored intake of breath can be heard before the image taken of the camera flickers to life.

Jon looks into said camera with a mix of dread and fatigue, fresh blood smeared through a face that hasn't been a shower in a while, yet has been to plenty of unpleasant places very recently. His hair is messy. Cut short and out of his face for practicality, but nowhere as neatly trimmed as it has been after their visit to Coruscant. Much more notable are his eyes, however. Where before their dull, muddy green hasn't been drawing much attention, they are now a brighter, much more piercing and maybe a little unnatural greyish green.

After a moment of quietly contemplating his screen, Jon's face settles into a frown. His voice carries a slight tremor when he starts speaking, causing the static to return for half a moment before it levels back down along with the tremor in Jon's voice. ]

H̶ow.̧.̡. ̀

... how long was I gone? And--

What happened to the network?

[ He tried scrolling back, but all he can see is the same message, over and over and over again. ]

Comments

Re: [Video]

[ezra_of_lothal]

[None of this is telling him if he can help and how, Jon. He just sighs.]

Then, I'm glad you're back.

[Video]

[beholding_archivist]

[ Sorry, Ezra. He hasn't gotten any more outgoing, unfortunately. But he can do cryptic. ]

Hm. Yes, I... I suppose I am- Back.

... I'm sorry.

[ezra_of_lothal]

...What have you got to be sorry for?

You said you tried to change it back. So it wouldn't be as bad for everyone, right? So there could be good again.

[beholding_archivist]

I... Wouldn't know if it even worked. Nothing was fixed. All we did was release them onto other worlds...

The Fears, Ezra... They might be on Coruscant now and-- And it's my fault!

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Ezra thinks that through, carefully. There's just so much he doesn't understand how Jon's world and how Jon views it.]

The Fears...manifested somehow? Through their Avatars?

[But Jon was an Avatar, too. He knew that much.]

[beholding_archivist]

No, I... I summoned them. Called them. I read the words and- I couldn't stop! I opened the door to let them in and-

Everything went bad.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He sucks in a breath, slowly.]

Did you know you were summoning them? Did you mean to?

[beholding_archivist]

Once I started reading the text, yes.

[ It’s true and he won’t deny that part. ]

But I couldn’t stop reading. I- Tried. Resisting the pull of the words, but... To no avail.

It felt terrible.

[ezra_of_lothal]

It was a trap?

[beholding_archivist]

More than that. But in the end... I have been used.

Which doesn't make it any less my fault.

[ezra_of_lothal]

I...don't know enough to say much.

I know what it's like to be manipulated by people who know more about powerful things than you do. It gets all...complicated. In your head.

[He's also thinking about Master Kenobi who knows blames himself for playing into Palpatine's manipulations. And then there's the clone troopers, brought into existence to be a trap. They couldn't help what they were made to do.]

[beholding_archivist]

True enough. Even when you believe you know everything... That's not necessarily the case.

[ He sighs. ]

I- Am sorry that you had to experience being manipulated yourself. It's... Not ideal.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He gives Jon another small smile.]

I got through it. Because I had help, and what the people who care about me taught me.

I guess I should let you get some rest? [And let Jon find whoever changed the messages, since he seems to think that he knows.]

But if you do want some company to just sit with you or someone to talk to, just let me know and I'll come, ok?

[beholding_archivist]

Thank you, Ezra. I-- Should be mobile shortly.
Then I need to find Tony.

...make sure he's okay.

But I would like to talk to you again once- I feel more coherent.

[ And less freshly stabbed. ]

...it feels like I have been gone months...