Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #211: Battle of the Righteous (5/21/00)
Homer is sitting in his by-now accustomed table in the corner of the Congressional Cask.
Homer had sworn to quit reading all the newspapers from the Southwest since, despite Controller Aloe's advice that he educate himself about the issues, the main result of reading them has been to make him more nervous.
Homer however has a full stack of papers by his side today.
Homer also has a glass of porstan in hand. He is staring at a parchment document sitting in the middle of the table.
Homer looks at the document again: "Summons to appear to give Testimony before the Tecton Board of Inquiry in the Matter of Aberrant Transfer Practices in Arizz Adjunct."
Homer becomes aware of a soothing Gen field brightening the ambient.
Ora: Hello again.
Homer looks up to find the alluring Donor Ora ambrov Baly sitting across the table from him.
Homer blinks.
Homer: Hello!
Homer: When did you get here?
Ora: Just now. More troubling news?
Ora looks at the parchment Homer is holding.
Homer wonders how long he sat in a brown study while the lovely Gen waited for him to notice her presence.
Homer: Yes. I am afraid so.
Homer: I have been called to give testimony before the Tecton Board of Inquiry.
Homer sighs.
Ora enfolds Homer in her nager and sends him a warm comfort.
Ora: This troubles you?
Homer feels all his knotted muscles start to loosen in the warmth of her reassuring nager.
Homer: Yes. I worry, if I say the wrong thing, my family and friends may suffer for it.
Homer: It's bad enough to have made the mistakes I made.
Homer: It's bad enough to endure the consequences.
Ora: Your people are also enduring the consequences?
Homer: Hajene Felps and his closed-minded cronies would like to destroy our way of life.
Homer: So far his bunch are a minority.
Homer: But if they can convince the board to zlin things their way, the changes would affect everyone.
Homer: And he thinks he can use me as proof that he is right.
Homer: I can't let him do that.
Ora: If you testify, is there anyway to avoid giving them what they want to destroy your people?
Homer: That is what I am trying to figure out.
Ora sends another wave of comfort through her field.
Ora: What is the main point of contention between the Tecton and your people?
Homer thinks; he used to be able to give a simple answer to a simple question, but he has been reading too much political commentary in the papers.
Homer: The Tecton is upset because our custom is to allow renSimes and Gens direct transfer.
Homer: The Tecton permits this within a Household under a Sectuib's supervision, but not among the general population.
Homer: So the question becomes, does the Corn Society have the status of a Householding, and does our Matriarch have the authority of a Sectuib?
Homer: If she does, then our transfer practices are her business, not theirs.
Ora: Didn't the Tecton already agree to grant that status?
Homer: Yes, those were the terms of the original treaty.
Ora: Does the Tecton have any legal reason to break the treaty?
Homer laughs bitterly.
Homer: The whole concept of a "legal reason" is alien to our culture.
Homer: But no, I do not think there is a legal reason in Tecton terms, as I understand them.
Homer: People like Hajene Felps say we do uncivilized things that no true Householding would permit and want to change the terms.
Ora: But not to the Tecton. They must abide by their own laws.
Homer: You may be right. It is a hard idea to understand, following some abstract rule or code instead of one's own mind and heart.
Ora: If there has been no law broken by your people according to the limits set by the treaty the Tecton must let it stand.
Ora: Your people have the protection of law even if it is an alien concept to them.
Homer: That is what Controller Aloe said.
Homer: I have been trying to understand this better.
Homer: Certainly Felps does not care about the law-- or he only cares about his own law, not ours.
Ora: The Tecton binds itself with rules of law. He can not step beyond the reach of the Tecton's rules.
Homer: But the laws conflict.
Homer: He was once my Controller.
Homer: He assigned me a Donor who was forbidden to me because she was my kin.
Homer: It was a legal assignment by Tecton law, but a transgression against our traditions.
Ora: Then he was negligent in his duty to you as a Controller. It speaks poorly of his ability as a channel.
Ora: This may go badly for him as he should have acquainted himself with the terms of the treaty.
Homer: He was indeed disciplined for negligence and removed from the post. And now he hates us for his humiliation.
Homer: He maintains that he ran his Sime Center entirely by-the-book and he had full authority to make legal assignments for his employees.
Ora: Was the hearing called at his instigation?
Homer: He is just the most vocal among a group of many who want the people of Arriz to conform to the ways of Nivet.
Homer: It does not sit well with any of the Controllers, that our Territory is run by Gens.
Ora: Then the cloak your people must wear is the treaty that the Tecton negotiated. And if needs be smother the Tecton with it.
Homer: You may be right.
Ora smiles and lets it spill into her nager.
Homer: Controller Aloe said I should say I was just an individual who lost control and acted with poor judgment.
Homer: That I should say my actions had nothing to do with my background, culture or people.
Ora: Is it only you on trial? Or are they seeking to undermine the treaty with this hearing?
Homer: They are seeking to undermine the treaty. I am only a witness.
Ora: Then your actions are not at issue, the treaty is.
Homer: If my errors were personal, they could not be used to prove that the ways of my culture are dangerous and wrong.
Ora feels the tension in Homer increasing. She sends a wave of comfort and support.
Homer: And yet, you are right, the treaty should protect our ways, even if they differ from those of the Tecton.
Homer leans on Ora's support thankfully.
Homer: And the Matriarch's authority must be upheld or we will be destroyed.
Ora: You must make yourself familiar with the protections written into the treaty.
Homer: I have been trying to study it.
Ora: If you can prove that your actions are sanctioned by the treaty by extension they are sanctioned by the Tecton.
Ora ~~approval~~
Homer is challenged by printed materials at the best of times, and the legal documents have been rough.
Homer: From what I can make out, it is a grey area.
Ora: Have you consulted a legal professional?
Homer: I have been corresponding with Controller Pierce, my old mentor.
Homer: He is an expert on the treaty terms, as he was one of the original negotiators.
Ora: That may not be enough. While he may be versed in the terms the legal mind works differently from ours. You may require another viewpoint.
Homer: I believe there will be a legal briefing when I reach Flag.
Homer: But I would surely like all the information I can get.
Homer: Do you know anyone who would be knowledgeable in this area in Capitol?
Ora: I have a cousin who has dealt with treaty law on a few occasions. Her name is Zeora Tem. I believe she could help you become comfortable with the contents of the treaty.
Homer: That is an excellent suggestion. I would welcome the opportunity to consult with her.
Ora: And I would be happy to introduce you.
Ora feels as if she may be helping.
Homer feels better now that he is not struggling alone with his problem.