2. [Private text / Public audio]

[greatseal]

[Minako is starting to get restless. The tournament only heightened this feeling, and so, today, after a conversation with Minato, she turns to the network to message the members of SEES she knows are present.]

[Filtered text to Minato Arisato, Mitsuru Kirijo, Shinjiro Aragaki, Akihiko Sanada, Miki Sanada, Minami Arisato, and Aigis]

Hello, everyone - this is Minako. I've been talking with Minato recently, and we wanted to bring this to everyone to see what you think.

SEES was formed to solve the problem with Shadows. Even though we managed to do that back home, it's obvious they're still trouble here. I know not all of us know each other well, or remember the same things, but we still all accomplished the same goal. That makes us teammates.

We may not know where we're headed again this time, but there are Shadows to fight, and there's the mountain in Gemini that looks a little too much like Tartarus. What I'm proposing is that we re-form SEES and explore it. If our purpose here is to protect the city, that looks like the best place to start finding answers.

Obviously, I wasn't the leader for everyone here, or even most of you. But, I'd be really happy if we could fight together, again or for the first time.

[oh, right...] Also, there's another person here from Gekkoukan - Saori Hasegawa. Regardless of whether everyone wants to form SEES again or not, I'd like to help her learn to use her Persona and it would be great if someone wants to come train with us.

[/End filter]

[Afterward, she takes to the video for something a little more public and light-hearted.]

So I read on the news feed that there's going to be some kind of masquerade ball at the end of the month. Since it's Halloween-themed, that must mean costumes. Anyone else thinking of going and dressing up? I can't decide what would look the best!

Comments

[greatseal]

It's a holiday that some people celebrate!

[greyerrant]

I don't understand holidays.

[greatseal]

[two on one post, who would have thought...]

They're a time to relax and have fun. Did you visit the festival they had the other week?

[greyerrant]

Yes. It reminded me of festivals on worlds I helped bring to compliance.

[greatseal]

...To compliance?

[Does she... want to know? But she is asking anyway.] Compliance with what?

[greyerrant]

The Imperium, and the secular enlightenment accompanying the imperial truth.

[greatseal]

...And what does that mean, exactly?

[greyerrant]

It means I conquer and illuminate human worlds to the wider galaxy. It ranges from war to simply showing up on a planet and telling them we have a galaxy-spanning empire. The reaction ranges from murderous attacks on us to parties.

[greatseal]

You take over other planets?

[that really doesn't sound pleasant no matter how you spin it.]

[greyerrant]

We re-unite the lost branches of humanity after the Age of Strife. Sometimes that includes a violent compliance, yes, but better brief battles to bring them back into a safe society than to leave them huddled and terrified at the edge of destruction in a galaxy filled with danger.

[greatseal]

Well, it's good that you want to keep them safe, but I don't think starting a war is really the best way to do that. [Although, when you get down to it, Earth's history is filled with similar sentiments. Invasions to protect other interests, whether those are real or imagined...]

[greyerrant]

I will explain it as it was explained to me: "You find a child drowning in a deep pool. As you swim in to save him, he lashes out at you while you bring him to shore. Do you let him go on his way to drown? Or do you overcome his struggles and bring him to a safe shore?"

We chose the latter, and while there is some pain in the compliance wars, we would prefer to see humanity survive after brief battles than endure the continued ignorance and alien predations that so sadly reduced humanity during the age of strife.

[greatseal]

I suppose so... [A lot about it still feels wrong to her. But, there's little point in arguing with him. They're from different ways of life.]

[greyerrant]

[ He's from a life he hopes she'll never have to experience, though in the end, her own fate is worse than his. Or... perhaps similar. She is a seal against a very dangerous thing, and he will live the rest of his life fighting the primordial annihilator. Neither of them will ever get a chance to live for themselves. ]

You should be glad you live when you do. Terra was peaceful then.

[greatseal]

...Mm, I suppose so. It's a good place.... But I still believe it can get better.

[After all, his world doesn't have to be the future of hers. If there's anything this place has proven it's that there's infinite possibilities in the universe. She'll continue believing that people can progress to the point where they won't need wars, or calling for Nyx.]