Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #49: Power, Power, Power (10/5/00)
Duart, a nut-brown, surprisingly squat and barrel-chested renSime with a shaved head, comes strolling onto the construction site.
Duart is followed by several other rather bedraggled renSimes, one of whom carries a notepad.
Duart surveys the scene with dark darting eyes and flickering laterals that don't miss anything.
Sayward Mullins had enough on her plate without now having a change in the leadership of SWAT to deal with. She wonders what this new Sime will be like. She remembers that her first meeting with Starlin was rather a bad one.
Sayward smiles at the memory and wonders what will become of him now. She had become rather fond of the little fellow.
Sayward puts the finishing touches on her list of ingredients for her famous construction site flap jacks. Maple syrup is suddenly very hard to come by. Sayward thinks this is strange and decides to ask Marty Birch if he can procure some for her. She does have promises to keep and Arat does seem to be wasting away.
Duart whispers to the renSime with the notebook, who writes down some information.
Sayward runs a comb through her brown hair and puts it into a ponytail. This should be an interesting meeting.
Duart advances to the door of the Sayward's tent.
Duart smiles and holds out his hand out-Territory fashion. He tries to smile but you can see he is gritting his teeth, just a little.
Duart: [thick in-T accent] Miz Sayward. I am pleased to make your acquaintance.
Hurl zlins Sayward, rather rudely, and jots down more notes on his pad.
Sayward takes in the new SWAT boss. She smiles and thinks calm thoughts as Cris has taught her. Then she takes the extended hand.
Sayward: Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Duart.
Duart suppresses a shudder and takes the Gen hand and firmly shakes it.
Duart: I am the new delegate for SWAT. I see you've already heard about the election.
Sayward: Yes, please have a seat.
Duart settles himself in an available chair as if he owned the place. His retinue fans out besides the tent.
Sayward notes the rather arrogant manner of the Sime. She has met this type before.
Duart: You are boss of the work crews. I think you will find things will change under my leadership. To benefit us both.
Sayward: So, Mr. Duart, I am sure you must be having quite a time settling in. I am happy to know that you plan to be helpful.
Duart: Tell me what you require, Tuib Sayward.
Sayward: I have some concerns regarding the work crews' safety. There have been dramatic drops in the number of injuries and I would like to see that continue.
Duart: Safety. Of course.
Duart: I understand it was the wish of the Demolitions crews to keep people away from the blasting areas. It will be done.
Duart thinks the fool Gens are welcome to blow themselves up if they wish.
Sayward: Yes, that has helped tremendously. I have only good things to say about your workers. Now tell me, is there anything that you require from my office?
Duart: What we require is what we have always required-- jobs for our people.
Duart: What can we do that will encourage you to put more people on the payroll?
Sayward: With the selyn shortage easing more of your people will be recruited. That has always been the problem and now we can proceed with something closer to the original schedule.
Duart smiles. He knows he timed this take-over very well.
Sayward: I will be sending my requests to you as soon as the jobs open up.
Duart: You tell me what kind of workers you require. We will get you exactly what you request.
Sayward: Right now we need people who can work through the worst of the cold as winter will be overtaking us soon.
Duart: Given enough selyn, cold is no problem for any Sime.
Duart: We will weed out the sick and the weak. Only good strong workers for you, Tuib Sayward.
Sayward: Thank you. We need tunnels dug and that should get them out of the weather for the most part.
Duart is pleased that the Tecton is still offering those relocation incentives. Starlin hesitated to get rid of undesirables who were union members, but Duart has no such scruples.
Sayward: My big concern is the number of highly skilled workers that will have to come on by spring. Will you be handling those as well?
Duart: Yes. We have many with mining and building experience. We will recruit more, as many as you require.
Duart: Just tell me what you want and when.
Sayward can see the calculation going on in Duart's eyes. Simes never think to guard their faces.
Sayward: Then I have no further concerns for now. Have you met Cris Boyse yet?
Duart thinks that the government insistence that they let everyone who qualifies join the union has some advantages that he will soon make use of.
Duart: I have seen her, but we have not been introduced.
Sayward: She will be communicating with you as well. My Simelan is still not up to as much as I would like it to be. I am very glad that you speak such good english.
Duart: It will be a pleasure to make her acquaintance.
Sayward: You will find her an excellent person to work with.
Sayward rummages through her files and hands Duart a sheet of paper.
Sayward: This is the list of what we require right now.
Sayward reminds herself to thank Cris for translating her list into Simelan.
Duart gestures to Hurl to intercept the sheet.
Hurl takes the sheet and scans down it and whispers in Duart's ear.
Sayward: We will be asking for more people soon, but that is it for right now.
Duart: Your wish is my command, Miz Sayward. It's a pleasure doing business with you.
Sayward rises from her chair.
Sayward: The pleasure is mutual.
Duart leaves the tent and strides onwards through the construction site, gleefully surveying his new domain. He didn't zlin any dislike or distrust; the Gen boss lady seems to access the change of leadership easily.
Sayward wiggles her toes in her new, nice, warm waterproof boots and smiles to herself. She has to get back out to the site and is glad this was (for once) a short meeting.
Duart has worked for weeks to find the allies and build the coalitions necessary to topple that self-righteous fool Starlin out of the delegate's seat.
Duart has found that bored and unemployed workers watching their savings flushing down-river are not to difficult to urge to do something, anything.
Duart thinks that any kind of seasoned in-fighter would know you have to stick to the people who are loyal to you and cut the knees out from under the ones who are against you. Only a wet-behind-the-ears young idiot who actually believed in his own slogans would try to treat everyone as equals.
Duart thinks that botching the sabotage investigation was the final straw that made Starlin lose the membership's confidence. Instead of fighting for the union, he let the Tecton and the out-T bosses pull his strings.
Duart grins fiercely as he remembers zlinning the meetinghall ambient darken and the consensus turn thumbs down to Starlin and approve Duart's carefully crafted coalition.
Duart decides his next order of business is to introduce himself to Controller Arat, whose good will is another linchpin in consolidating his control.
Duart heads in the direction of the Tecton buildings and the Controller's office.
Duart has heard the Controller doesn't like unannounced visitors, but surely he is important enough to merit an audience.
Arat's head is resting on a large pile of papers on his desk, while Jeniard massages his shoulders as only a Sime can.
Jeniard is, in fact, massaging Arat's shoulders as only Jeniard can. Arat wouldn't let anybody else do it.
Jeniard: You're so tense! ~prim disapproval~
Jeniard: You shouldn't let those people irritate you. They're only trying to do their jobs.
Jeniard says this for about the millionth time in the last 20 years.
Duart approaches the building commonly known as the Sime Shack.
Jeniard: And besides, it could be worse. She did get an appointment this time. That's progress isn't it?
Duart finds the building surprisingly well insulated (for a construction site) but still zlins a trace of life within.
Arat zlins someone coming purposefully towards his office and tenses up further, pushing Jeniard's hands away.
Duart signals at the door.
Jeniard sighs and throws up his hands.
Jeniard: All right.
Jeniard goes to the door and opens it.
Jeniard thinks Duart looks familiar, but that is about all he can say.
Jeniard: Hello, may I help you?
Duart bows politely.
Duart: Respect, Hajene Jeniard.
Jeniard looks at all the other people clustered behind Duart.
Jeniard can zlin that they are all renSimes, and all terribly proud of being in Duart's cluster.
Duart: The SWAT election was called last night. I am the new delegate.
Duart: I thought it best to confer with the Controller as soon as possible.
Duart can zlin perhaps he has not timed this visit all that well.
Duart: But if you would prefer that I return at another time, I am at your service.
Hurl frantically scrabbles around for Duart's appointment calendar, in case it should be required right away.
Jeniard does the sensible thing: he glances at Arat to determine what Arat wants.
Arat gestures to Jeniard to let Duart in.
Jeniard: Come in.
Duart sees that he is being ushered into the Presence, and gestures to his attendants to wait outside.
Duart steps into the office.
Duart quickly scans his surroundings and zlins as much of the mood as he can.
Arat's office is as clean as can be expected on a construction site, and is stuffed floor to ceiling with racks of papers along the walls. There is a large strong trestle-style "desk" also covered with papers, a small stand with tea-making supplies, and three tallish crates which are this weeks' incarnation of the rotating seating scheme.
Arat's chair is an impressive, thronelike edifice that looks as if it would be home in a Mayor's office.
Arat, typically enough, looks harassed and wary but zlins calm and formal.
Duart: Respect, Controller Arat. I am Worker Duart, the newly elected SWAT delegate.
Duart: ~~aggressive and greedy and very pleased with himself~~
Arat zlins Duart and manages to avoid recoiling too visibly.
Arat nods to Duart.
Arat: News of your election has preceded you.
Arat: How may I be of assistance?
Arat hopes Duart is just showing up to do the obligatory post-election hobnobbing and schmoozing, and not coming to make demands already.
Duart: Rather, how may I be of assistance to you, Controller Arat?
Duart: My predecessor was removed by a vote of no confidence.
Duart: I understand you were not satisfied with his cooperation, either.
Duart is well plugged into whatever grapevines exist.
Arat is well aware that Starlin's apparent cooperation degraded precisely in step with his loss of support among the SWAT membership.
Arat: I see.
Arat frowns for a moment.
Arat: Of course, upholding the letter and spirit of SWAT's agreement with the City of Capitol is of some importance.
Arat: But I would hope that you would spend some time attempting to contain the violence and lawlessness which has broken out in the past weeks.
Arat would probably have phrased this more delicately if Duart's nager had hinted even remotely that such a tactic would work.
Arat probably could have been less blunt if he hadn't spent the entire morning being screamed at by a would-be reformer of the clerical division.
Duart: I am a great believer in discipline.
Duart: You will soon see the results of my new program.
Arat nods cautiously.
Jeniard, seeing that Arat has made no move to invite Duart to sit, skips bringing him any tea, and instead goes to stand behind Arat in support.
Duart: That affair with the Gens who fell to their death -- regrettable!
Duart thinks actually it was very well timed and useful.
Duart: I understand they've found who was responsible.
Arat: Yes. The person is no longer in the area.
Duart: And so the members of my organization were subject to unjustified suspicion and harassment.
Duart: Also regrettable.
Arat is visibly unimpressed by Duart's statement, since they both know perfectly well how much SWAT members did to heighten the negative feelings and general violence in the area.
Duart: I must ensure that my people do not become a target for such accusations again.
Arat: The Gens have a phrase that would seem apropos to the situation.
Arat: They say, "Keep your nose clean."
Jeniard thinks also that "He who shits upon the road will find flies on his return" might be a helpful one for Duart personally, but this isn't really the time to relate that to him.
Duart nods warily. He knows better than to toy with a Farris.
Duart: And so we shall. I think the current situation requires increased regulation, and I shall provide it.
Arat: I will be interested in the effects of your efforts.
Duart: The treaty with Capitol requires that we accept all qualified applicants as members.
Arat nods.
Arat knows that this is one area SWAT has not done well in to date.
Duart: However, the situation here requires that we be able to control our members, and ensure their proper behavior, their loyalty.
Duart: In the past, we have been a pretty loosely organized group.
Duart: But I believe that the standards of qualification must be extended to include obedience to the authority of the union leadership.
Duart thinks and that won't only apply to new members, but also existing ones.
Arat zlins Duart's unabashed greed and wonders if he should worry about Wise Snake affiliating with the man. Greed is an easily exploited weakness. He wouldn't want Snake to control a group like a unified, disciplined SWAT.
Arat frowns, finding the thought disturbing.
Duart: These steps will be necessary to achieve the results you've requested.
Duart: I regret it has taken so long, but in me you see a man who is prepared to do what has to be done.
Arat only nods. He will reserve judgment until he sees what actually results.
Jeniard thinks Duart seems like a arrogant poser who schemed his way to the top but will lose the reins very quickly to another... possibly within two or three weeks.
Jeniard isn't a good judge of character, of course. I mean, he lives with Arat.
Duart cannot help but be aware of Arat's lack of enthusiasm.
Duart: Your support is of course essential. The concessions you negotiated for SWAT are vital to motivation and morale.
Arat: I can assure you that the Tecton will uphold the terms of the agreement that pertain.
Arat: And of course, I remain SWAT's liaison in that matter and in its agreement with the government.
Arat can be counted upon to be totally honorable in that area.
Duart nods thoughtfully. He has heard Arat is a by-the-book man, which means he can be used.
Duart: I am counting on you, Controller Arat. And I hope you will feel free to call on me if there is any service I can render.
Arat zlins the changes in Duart's nager and his initial dislike of the man is confirmed.
Arat initially dislikes everybody, but some of them thaw him out a little the more they talk. Duart seems to be having the opposite effect.
Arat: Thank you.
Duart: Is my information correct, that the selyn crisis is almost over?
Duart: And soon there will be reserves enough to permit augmentation?
Arat: Yes. The full delivery schedule is nearly completely implemented.
Duart smiles.
Arat: If you require copies of any of the documents on the matter prepared for general distribution, you may arrange for them through Jeniard, my assistant.
Arat means the ones that Starlin probably did not pass on to his ouster.
Duart: That is welcome news. The members will be pleased.
Arat: It is good for all. [agrees]
Arat's schedule will only work long term if huge numbers of additional people are evacuated before snowfall renders travel impossible, though.
Duart: I will send my Secretary Hurl to gather the records.
Arat has a number of people working on improved incentive plans to combat the new attractiveness of staying here, now that the selyn shortage isn't as severe.
Duart wants those figures as quickly as possible. If he is not permitted to run off non-members, then he will allow everyone to join the union, require them to swear an oath of loyalty and obedience, and then order them to vacate the region. The ones who remain to get jobs will be hand-picked for loyalty.
Arat: Very well.
Duart: Controller Arat, I look forward to a mutually rewarding partnership.
Duart bows.
Arat nods in answer. He doesn't trust Duart any farther than he could throw him without augmenting, and Arat is a much better judge of character than Jeniard is.
Duart: Good afternoon, Controller. And to you, Hajene Jeniard.
Jeniard waves goodbye to Duart.
Duart leaves the office.
Jeniard: Look at you! ~~prim disapproval again~~
Jeniard: Hard as rocks.
Jeniard: You shouldn't let these people irritate you.
Jeniard starts massaging again.
see note 1
Jeniard picks up his wooden crate and moves it a few feet farther down.
Jeniard is in the heavily guarded medical supplies storage, replenishing the stock for Arat's office.
Jeniard, Nick, Beni and Arat treat a surprising number of drop-in patients there.
Jeniard picks up a small bottle of a popular Gen painkiller and adds it to his basket.
Elte is not a patient but he has a knack for dropping in to the most unexpected places.
Jeniard marks the item off on his list.
Elte, ever curious, followed Jeniard to the storage shack and used the high priority pass provided by Mr. Birch to get past the guards.
Elte watches Jeniard collect piles of drugs and wonders if all of that is really necessary to treat Farris allergies.
Jeniard's next selection lands in the basket with a loud clink as he is startled by Elte's appearance.
Jeniard: What are you doing here!
Elte: Oh, just wanted to run a few ideas past you, Hajene Jeniard.
Elte is sorry he startled the channel so, though he's not quite sure why he got the reaction he did.
Elte: Is all of that for Hajene Arat?
Jeniard looks confused for a moment, then looks down into the box.
Jeniard: Oh... no! This is for general use. I'm just stocking the cabinet.
Jeniard: Arat's medicines aren't stored here. They're Farris-specific.
Jeniard thinks, and far too important to be kept anywhere this insecure.
Elte: And that's what I wanted some more information on: keeping a Farris healthy.
Elte: I understand that you often serve as the Controller's personal physician.
Jeniard: I am his Assistant Controller, and I am also his friend.
Jeniard: I do know quite a bit about how to keep a Farris healthy.
Jeniard has made a hobby of that since partway through his First Year.
Elte: He explained to me about his difficulties with allergies during public meetings.
Jeniard picks up a sign-out tablet hanging from one of the shelves and makes a note of what he'd just taken.
Elte: We were brainstorming some ideas for securing the meeting rooms.
Jeniard nods approvingly.
Elte: Or providing shielding garments... but I understand he's also allergic to dyes and fabrics?
Jeniard: Yes, he is. However, I can provide a list of safe fabrics.
Jeniard thinks it's another story as to how long it will take to get them to the Dam site.
Elte: Yes, that would be a help. Is it usual, for an Assistant Controller to share the Controller's living suite?
Elte: I couldn't help but notice, when I dropped by Arat's cabin the other day....
Jeniard looks somewhat more innocent than he did before.
Jeniard: Arat and I have been friends since First Year school.
Jeniard: I can assure you that it is not the usual thing between Controller and Assistant.
Elte thinks that most Gen generals would object to being quartered with their captains, although probably not as much as sharing a tent with a private.
Elte: So you are friends. But being a channel, you are also a kind of physician. Is that why he keeps you so close at hand?
Jeniard: That's part of it. [admits]
Jeniard: Arat feels more comfortable knowing there is someone nearby to help him. Someone he can trust.
Jeniard has answered questions like this many times in his life, and has smooth answers for most of them.
Elte: Farrises are that fragile, then? He fears he could collapse at any moment?
Jeniard: Well, there's always the chance. But it's more psychological than physical.
Jeniard: Some people just require the reassurance that a trusted friend is near, and Arat is one of them. I suppose you are not, given your wide travels.
Jeniard offers Elte a change of subject in the hope he will bite.
Elte: Why does a powerful Tecton official require so much reassurance?
Jeniard sighs internally.
Elte again understands Mr. Birch's concern; this type of insecurity is not considered acceptable in adult Gens.
Jeniard: Why does a racehorse require a companion animal in the stable?
Jeniard: Arat is specialized, he is one of the highest-order channels in the world.
Jeniard: He is provided with what he requires, whatever it is, so that the world may benefit from his abilities.
Jeniard has no illusions that the Tecton has allowed him to remain with Arat for any other reason than pure practical desire for good performance out of Arat.
Jeniard's voice may be just a titch bitter as a result.
Elte is fascinated by this explanation.
Jeniard: Of course, he's completely wasted here. His being here at all is ridiculous.
Elte: And why is that?
Jeniard: This site doesn't require a Farris to run it. He could be managing an entire District somewhere, and doing it well, and with a hundredth the risk to his person.
Jeniard's attitude, expression and body language make it clear he is personally indignant at this misuse of his friend.
Elte: He told me he was in the right place at the right time, and therefore compelled to take on the challenge.
Jeniard: Well, he would say that.
Elte: But you think the prize here isn't worth the risk?
Jeniard: No.
Jeniard: I don't.
Jeniard: But mine is only one opinion.
Jeniard: I'm entitled to it, but it doesn't necessarily mean much.
Elte: It's his life at stake. Why would he value himself more cheaply than you do?
Elte loves the drama of these fundamental choices that reveal so much about character.
Jeniard's eyes narrow at this almost-insult to Arat, but he considers the question seriously.
Jeniard: He will always rise to a challenge.
Jeniard: No matter how hateful, or how dangerous, or even how destructive.
Jeniard: If it is something he cannot afford to ignore, he will throw himself into it with everything he has.
Jeniard leaves out the bit about Arat ignoring quite a few challenges thrown down by would-be manipulators.
Elte: So he's a man who must win at all costs?
Jeniard: Not at all costs necessarily.
Jeniard: He lives by the morals and laws of the Tecton.
Jeniard: And he upholds many of its beliefs.
Jeniard: But he is willing, and you might say compelled, to sacrifice his own well-being for his responsibilities.
Jeniard: It is not an uncommon trait in Farrises.
Jeniard thinks, and an admirable one, although bloody inconvenient at times.
Elte: And you believe this assignment puts his life at risk?
Jeniard: Of course it does. Any ten year old could tell you that.
Jeniard: Any ten year old who attends school in Sime Territory, anyway.
Jeniard: If you knew how many close calls we've had since coming here, you wouldn't have to ask that.
Elte: But you attended school in Gen Territory.
Elte: When the New Washington government requested Arat as Controller here, do you think they understood the risk?
Elte has been trying to trace just where that request originated, and his investigation is leading in some curious directions.
Jeniard: No, I don't think they were thinking along those lines at all.
Jeniard: They just knew he was respected by the labor leaders, the government and the Tecton simultaneously.
Jeniard: I'm sure if it'd been someone else in the news that week, they'd have picked someone else.
Jeniard has talked to reporters many many times in his life, but still sometimes inadvertently supplies amazingly quotable quotes like that one.
Elte notes that Jeniard doesn't mention the strings pulled by some very influential people outside the government bureaucracy.
Jeniard doesn't know about Arat's connection with the Quadrilateral Society - not that he'd have mentioned it even if he did.
Elte: But when the gauntlet's thrown down, Arat has to take it up? He doesn't count the cost?
Jeniard: He does count the cost. Then he decides whether he bears personal responsibility for what the asker asks.
Jeniard: All too often, he decides he does.
Jeniard: The sorts of things a person asks someone like Arat to do usually involve the wellbeing of others. Sometimes many others.
Elte recognizes hero worship when he sees it.
Elte: And you follow along behind and try to pick up the pieces.
Jeniard looks somewhat embarrassed at the accuracy of the guess.
Jeniard: Well, I like to think I do him some good.
Elte: It's difficult for people from our culture to really understand your in-Territory relationships. You people are so... interdependent.
Elte: The way Arat leans on Nick, for instance.
Jeniard: Yes, a channel depends on his or her Donor for much assistance throughout the month, as well as life itself at the end of the month.
Jeniard: And as no one is allowed more than two months in a row with the same assignment, a very interconnected set of relationships develops.
Jeniard: Although of course, for most it is a working relationship, and personal only on a secondary basis.
Elte: I understand why Birch was bothered seeing them interact; it's a fundamental social and perhaps larity-based difference. I've been trying to read up and understand it better.
Jeniard looks curious at that.
Jeniard had done quite a bit of reading on the concept of the channel-Donor bond as a young adult, when he was trying to figure out what sort of bond he and Arat shared.
Elte: But it seems to me that Arat leans on you in much the same way, and you're not a Donor. How can that be?
Jeniard: He is my friend. [simply]
Jeniard: I've been loyal to him for almost two decades. That means a lot to him.
Jeniard of course has an entirely different perspective on their relationship, but he learned long ago to accept that Arat's emotions were different than his.
Elte frowns. Friendship is a fine word, but not quite... adequate... to cover what Elte has observed about their relationship.
Jeniard is glad they are in a secluded place for this conversation. The last thing he'd want is for guards and construction workers to start forming their own conclusions.
Elte: When I visit the office, I find both of you touching him, stroking his arms... why is that? Are you both his "friends?" Or is that some kind of therapy?
Elte thinks that among Gens loyalty and friendship rarely involve that much physical contact.
Jeniard: It was therapeutic. [assures him]
Jeniard thinks, although Arat certainly seemed to be enjoying himself.
Jeniard hopes he doesn't have to explain the plate of grapes.
Elte, in typical Gen fashion, doesn't find anything unusual about eating, even grapes.
Elte: And doesn't a channel differentiate between being treated by a Sime or a Gen?
Jeniard: Well, certain functions must be performed by a Gen.
Jeniard: Of course, training makes a good deal of difference in any situation, whoever the person is.
Elte wonders if transfer is one of the functions that must be performed by a Gen. His sources have left him confused on that point, as some insist that channels require Gen Donors, while others are equally insistent that channel's transfer is as good as any other kind.
Elte scratches his head (through the thick, curly hair).
Jeniard: In the case of a muscle massage, [adds] either does nicely.
Jeniard: Most Tecton personnel who do medical work have some knowledge of massage and basic nageric techniques for relaxation.
Elte smiles.
Elte: I prefer women, myself.
Jeniard chuckles uneasily. He doesn't think that Elte has figured it out, but the joke hit awfully near home.
Jeniard covers up quickly, though.
Jeniard: So have you been getting all the tours you want?
Jeniard: Seeing channels and Donors working and so forth?
Elte: Oh, yes, everyone has been very kind.
Elte: There's a lot to learn though.
Elte: I've got to see the truth for myself, before I can convey it to the world.
Jeniard: Sure.
Jeniard thinks just as long as certain truths the world really doesn't need to know stay hidden.
Elte: The real truth-- I don't mess around with anything superficial.
Elte: I want to get to the center of it all.
Elte: Let it out.
Jeniard manages to suppress a grimace... barely.
Jeniard can only imagine what would happen if the truth about his and Arat's relationship were printed in a major OT newspaper, and frankly he hopes he will never find out.
Notes:
1) Some time passes between these two scenes. [return]
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