[Radio]

[highprofilerichkid]

((In response to all this nonsense.))


Yes. Milyn's alive. We faked her death so nobody would get it into their head to try again. Maybe it wasn't the best thing to do, but we didn't have much time to make a decision. I'm sorry we lied to all of you.

And before anyone asks, no, we're not handing her over to anyone for any of her proven or unproven crimes. Keeliai has the right to decide if she's guilty or not and what her punishment should be, but it'll be when there's a real representative government and a real judicial system in place, and when we've figured out what the hell is going on. Not before then. Because right now, the city is basically being run by the guy who probably tried to have her assassinated. I'm not handing her over to anything less than a fair trial. That's not up for negotiation. If you've got a problem with that, you can bring it to me.

[He may not have liked this plan, but he went along with it, and it's his responsibility to own it.]

Also, if anyone's thinking of going after her again...

[There's an odd emphasis on "anyone" - Tony knows the Foreigners probably aren't the only ones listening in.]

Don't bother.

[Cold, hard, final. The message is clear: Milyn is protected.]



[[Private, to Valdis]]

I'm sorry. [His voice is softer now. He sounds genuinely troubled.] I wanted to tell you. I didn't want you to think it was your fault for getting her killed.

I was outside when they were healing her, and everybody had already come up with the plan by the time I went back in - we all promised we wouldn't tell anyone who wasn't there. I... I don't know. I wish I'd handled it better. We should have told you.

Comments

audio;

[amonster]

I've really walked into a messy situation, haven't I? Have you any idea how hard it is to keep track of these going-ons without having lies thrown into the mix?

Even more surprising, I'm legitimately curious as to why you've gotten yourself so involved in the first place. You're a foreigner to this world, this city, correct?

[Amon actually let out a small chuckle.]

And you couldn't stand aside and let injustice from the government sit idly by...

I think I may actually have some respect for you, kid.

[highprofilerichkid]

[That's a voice Tony doesn't recognize. Someone new? He's not sure what to make of that introduction, so his response is wary.]

A lot of us have been here for a long time. Some of us have been here for years. We're a part of this city too, even if not everyone's happy about it. And it's not a 'government' - it's one guy with way too many guns, goons, and grudges.

[Dear mysterious stranger, let's please not start promoting the idea that one organized crime bully counts as a government and saving someone from being assassinated by him counts as trying to topple it.]

[amonster]

[Oh don't worry, Tony, Amon is on your side.]

I'm learning to cope with that fact.

Also, he rules the city - perhaps it's not a 'government' in a proper sense, but it is a form of political power. And I have a lot of experience with ugly politics. If you're looking for someone who knows how to organize takedowns against crime syndicates, look no further.

[highprofilerichkid]

[...Yeah, that's kind of what he's worried about.]

Okay, pal, slow down. We're not taking down anything yet. I don't like Yunxu either, but— [Ugh, this is frustrating. Tony wants nothing more than to kick Yunxu to the curb and be done with all his schemes and strong-arm tactics. But he knows it's no longer politically acceptable for the Foreigners to just do whatever they think is best.] This city belongs to the kedan. Once this gets out, they're the ones who have to decide what to do about it.

[amonster]

You're separating us and the kedan.

I'm not proposing we try to rule the kedan or their decisions, I would never, but it's already far too late for us to stay out of their politics, their business. As you've said, we are just as much a part of this city as they are at this point.

I'm proposing unity. Not a form of "we-know-what's-best", but rather organizing to show we are members of the community and we want to help this city just as much as those who are native to it. Their decisions will affect us just as much as ours would affect them.

[highprofilerichkid]

Well... yeah. We're still different. [Tony's still wary, but what the guy just said makes a lot of sense.] That sounds like the right way to do things, though. What kind of organizing are you thinking?