THIRTY-SIX : All hail the leaders of the revolution

[wristsniper]

[She's taken stock of new dronings. She's counted her losses. She's almost ready to post the tournament bracket. She's met with Prussia and Fritz, and now... Now there's only one thing left to do. She shuffles away the folder marked "Westport", and begins to make the call.]

[Filtered from drones

Comments

[deaths_heritor]

[Susan does not knock or ring the doorbell to ask permission to enter Olivier's house. Somehow, she'll be inside it anyway, awaiting the Major General to notice her presence in the study.]

[strike_you_out]

[Comes along, but only because he has something to ask Susan after they've left.

Until then, he's silent.]

[deaths_heritor]

[When they're out the door, she turns to the boy.]

I assume you had a reason for following me? I won't press the issue this time, but skulking around is a bad habit for little boys.

[strike_you_out]

[Not just "little boys". But he doesn't comment on it; the quiet look he gives her will make the remark for him.]

What is it you plan to test?

[deaths_heritor]

[Susan is perfectly aware of the hypocrisy of her statement. She has never followed the rules so much as she has enforced them, however.]

. . . Several things, actually, involving several places. Little boys have good imaginations. Take a guess.

[strike_you_out]

A government building...?

[Very interested, though he doesn't expect to be told much of anything.]

[deaths_heritor]

Excellent thinking. The City Hall, the Police Station, and the Dairy have no means of access whatsoever and are impervious to attacks. The Post Office has a rear entrance that can't be used either.

[strike_you_out]

But entry by other means-- [you know which] --will result in droning or punishment.

[deaths_heritor]

Not if they don't catch the trespasser.

. . . I have another 'ability' of sorts -- You may as well think of it as invisibility. Whether I'm caught or not, we'll have learned something important.

[strike_you_out]

...

[A measured silence. This is probably a bad idea and he's sure she knows it.]

Do you need assistance?

[deaths_heritor]

[Of course she does. But it's as important to find out what they're strong against as it is to find out what they're weak against. And as far as she knows, no one else has her particular gifts. If that means droning for a week, oh, well. She'd survive.]

No. You will stay at home and go to school like a good child and perhaps my drone will give you extra dessert if you do the work she assigns.

I don't even have the 'invisibility' yet. I'll simply test to see if I can get through those walls at all for now. If not -- no harm done.

[strike_you_out]

Yes, Miss Susan.

[Not. Drones creep him out. He'll be out of there so fast if he's too outnumbered.]

...Do you trust the Major General?

[deaths_heritor]

Do I trust her? . . .

[Susan ponders this for a few seconds.]

I trust in her. Her ability to lead, anyway. I'll have to get back to you on the main question, though.

[strike_you_out]

[A nod. No more words for the rest of the way "home", unless he's spoken to. He'll be busy ruminating.]

[deaths_heritor]

[Susan doesn't speak either. She has some things to consider . . . ]