<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Conversation with Penn</strong></span><br/><br/>This happens after the end of Summary 5 (above) on the same day, in Penn's dorm room (which is a single).<br/><br/>"Penn…you know more about what goes on here than anyone. Is it possible to install passive cameras that will not be detected?<br/><br/>"No."<br/><br/>"They really are that good…"<br/><br/>"In nearly three years I have been unable to penetrate the security systems at this school. With the funds you’ve provided and the equipment they bought I have achieved clandestine access to everything that is not physically isolated from the rest of the world, and some things that are."<br/><br/>"Jesus…"<br/><br/>“The security systems on this campus were set up by someone inhumanly competent. Someone like us.” That’s the first time William can recall that she’s admitted to not being human. “As such I refuse to guarantee that anything you or I do on this campus will not be physically observed. I can cover against electronic eavesdropping, and it’s simple to prevent displays and keyboards from being watched, but I cannot say that the cameras would not catch you installing more cameras.”<br/><br/>"Alright, cards on the table…well. Card. Have you run into the term 'angel' among the staff, and if so…who…and singular or plural?"<br/><br/>"Angels. This<em>is</em>a religious school, you know." She seems to be trying not to laugh.<br/><br/>"Fair enough. Simple question really…and in exchange I will answer any one of yours I can. What would you say if I told you that the angels in question clearly care about us, likely for their own survival as well as ours, but on observation aren't doing shit for humanity in general?"<br/><br/>“I would say that’s consistent with observations,” she says after a long pause. “Fuck.”<br/><br/>"I lied. Second question. Wanna help me do something about that? Here are the rules. No one but us can know. Literally. Something inherent in the powers of Maple and Maddy mean that if they find out too much we're all fucked. I don't know why. But…I also think we really need them to quietly help us without knowing. Ever read Ender's Game? I think we need to Ender's game the other seven to help us."<br/><br/>Penn frowns. "I like Maple. I credit what you say, but there's a limit to how much I'll manipulate her."<br/><br/>"I do too. She's hot. But I was told not to show something to 'the artists'…if just looking at it is a risk…<br/><br/>"Look, let me put it this way. The angel I talked to said that the bugs can end us at any time. As in this is some kind of stalling action. The angels are buying time for us to do or become…God knows what. But in doing so they are doing fuck-all for humanity. That's awful. I am not wanting you to lie to Maple…but if I can get their help…we can potentially save millions of lives. They know things I don't, can do things I can't. But if they poke the wrong ant hill, we're fucked."<br/><br/>"You've talked to an angel."<br/><br/>"Oh um…yeah. I did. I am afraid if I tell you his name we are also fucked, but the world is alive. I met him while trying to talk to the world. And I am also, by the way, really hoping what you do doesn't count as 'art' in the same sense as Maddy because this is also dangerous. I suspect it has to do with their ability to literally see reality. An observer effect."<br/><br/>William is going to change channels with her a bit on this. "Penn. I apologize. I could not have done half of what I have done safely without your help and should have trusted at least you more earlier. We need to trust each other more. If sometime you need someone to talk to, the least I can do is listen. I will never reveal anything you don't want revealed. You know, at the least, I am good at keeping secrets."<br/><br/>“This is true. If I told you what I know, however, it would jeopardize our working relationship.” She looks conflicted. “I think. I don’t know. I hate this.” She starts picking at her arm, then stops when she notices she’s doing it.<br/><br/>"I understand. Let me be clear about what I can't tell you. I can't tell you everything that happened with the angel. Anything else is fair game. I have killed people. I have done terrible things to survive and will do more terrible terrible things to help save this world, because that's what I serve. If, somehow, I can translate the music I hear, you would understand; it loves us in its own…stupid lovely way. I will not judge you for anything you would say. Secrets at a tactical level are terrible. I doubt it would indeed jeopardize our working relationship. Take a chance. But take your time if you must. Ask me any question, and short of what I have told you I cannot tell you, I will answer."<br/><br/>“I—” Long pause. “I don’t know what question to ask first. I know what I want to tell. But…” She trails off. After a moment William notices tears in her eyes, though she gives no sign that she notices them.<br/><br/>Autistics rarely like to be touched. But with his voice, using the power word of projected intent, he will verbally "hug" her. "You need to tell someone. I trust you. You are cared for more than you know. Please."<br/><br/>“I’m a monster. I’m a bug. A—renegade, I guess.” She waits patiently for William to say something in response.<br/><br/>"I understand your caution. Ask yourself this my friend…our crazy super angel patrons…they know what you are. They have to. If they accept you, I do too without question. And I hear the song of the world. It doesn't freak out around you, so you are renegade enough for me. But…and I must ask this…why do you think or know you are?"<br/><br/>“I found out when I was 9.” Her voice is far away and somewhat childish, like she’s reliving being nine years old as she speaks. “There were vampires attacking our house, and I turned into a Bug and made them go away. Papa was angry. He hit me. I promised him I wouldn’t ever do it again…my body isn’t human, it changes if I’m not careful. I have to watch my diet. If I eat too much my body wakes up. The doctor said I shouldn’t go under 112 pounds so I stay between that and 117 and I’m OK. Unless I get burned or something. But if I don’t get fat my body will act normal and I won’t turn back into a Bug.” The words spill out like a river, faster and faster.<br/><br/>He interrupts her. "Let me tell you everything I know about the Bugs." He does. It's a lot.<br/><br/>"You might be a bug…or maybe you can just change shape. Maybe the bugs aren't bugs at all. Maybe the angels and the bugs are the same and all have powers we can't understand. We know nothing, but I feel more in common with you and the other seven and the angel than I do the bugs and humanity. I understand why the angels dont care about humanity. Maple said they were like…faded, almost not there compared to us. I don't care. This is my home, they are my people, but whether or not you ARE (and I dont think that is a given)…I think that your heart is pure. You are my ally. You don't need to lie to the others. I will think of a way to do that without asking you to lie any more. Let me go on lying for both of us. And also, I think you can trust the Reverend or the Doctor with this. I have been told by the angels you can trust him. You have now convinced me I need to join AdSpir now, rather than later.<br/><br/>"In the meantime, will you help me save our rather stupid human friends?"<br/><br/>She shuts up when William interrupts her, but she’s gasping and crying quietly. She has to blow her nose a couple of times. Her makeup doesn’t run. After a while she says, “You think I’m not a monster.”<br/><br/>"No. I don't know what I am or what you are but I KNOW, literally to the core of my being, that you are not a monster." And autistic or not he will actually hug her at that point.<br/><br/>She doesn’t hug back, but doesn’t actually push him away either. She just sort of passively lets him hug her.