She sees the light ahead of them before any of her crew, a gathering near the ceiling of the Neath and then an arc downwards into the black waters of the zee. She throws her arm before her eyes, and is still left blinking spots out of her gaze.
"What was that?" a crewmember calls out in alarm.
"I don't know," she replies, "but we're checking it out."
There's murmurs, but her crew do as commanded.
"I've never met him. I learned that the Judgements had learned of me, and usually in this sort of situation the sentence is death. It wasn't the idea of my own death that bothered me, but my sister's."
“That’s very noble. Most of your kind would only care about preserving themselves.”
Until now, that thought wasn’t an insult.
“...why?”
That doesn’t make sense. As a judgment, she has the highest place in the city. Why change things when you’ve got the best of life has to offer?
"Caring only about ourselves is wrong. The Judgements rule as gods, many consuming the souls of those below them. It needs to stop. What's the purpose of power if not to help those without?"
“The purpose of your power is to empower those below. To be the power that we can all rely on. You make things make sense!”
...does she even believe that anymore?
"Maybe we could set up multiple worlds, if someone prefers a singular leader. But everyone should have as best a life as they can and want."
“A kind thought, for a kinder time. There are people that would greatly benefit from a less kind system.”
"Those who appreciate what segregation can offer the greedy."
She's not accusing Lillian, who seems to want the best. It's a lovely, if naive thought. The downtrodden rarely accelaterate above their station-
Then, Kim laughs. Was this not the system she defended with her life? "Not that you should listen to me. You're the first thing to make me question it."
"It's why we need an equal system, though, so the greedy can't take from others."
"Say you had the chance to do that. Where would you start? How would you keep it equal?"
"I don't know yet. I first met a human two weeks ago. But the Judgements not eating souls would be a place to start."
That, more than anything, weighs heavily on Kim's heart. Until today, until just an hour (hours? She has no way of knowing) ago, she hadn't questioned the way things were. It had to be right, because if it wasn't then Kim had no steady grounding. And if it was, she would have to turn her gun on Lillian.
And she did not want to do that.
She runs a hand over her braided back hair, sighing. "They must've been special, this human you fell from on high for."
"More fell on... I couldn't figure out how to move when I fell, and she dove into the zee to get me out of the water."
Just then - the kid from earlier comes barging in. "I found the supplies! - Oh, huh, it healed? - Well, this alcohol should be good for getting up the stained stuff. Why's your blood all weird?"
"She had one-too-many spoonfuls of honey. But thank you anyway. We should g-"
Kim frowns, and looks around. "Where's your shouldercat gone?" She asks Lillian.
"Senna? He's talking to Hiro. They hissed at me when I tried to eavesdrop, though, they're sharing secrets."
"Well, that doesn't that just fill me with confidence," Kim says drily.
She pauses though, and manages a lip-twitch of a smile at the girl. "Thanks for taking us in. You're a good kid."
"Heh. You guys are pretty neat. You're gonna hafta trade some, though, we could use someone tall to put up paintings."
"I think I can do that. We will have to keep moving soon. People might start turning up on your front door, and they will be less inclined to help put up paintings."
"Hm. I might be able to point ya somewhere else, or Senna knows a buncha little places."
"I'll certainly ask him. Or maybe he's coming with us?" She asks, not really expecting an answer, but turns a small smile at Lillian.
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