I am the villain in all of this.I am aware.We areallaware.
And once you finish collecting these stories, you will pack up and go home, and we will sit in the aftermath.
The telling is a re-inscription of the pain.Can you hear it in his voice?
I understand that I am the root, the seed from which the rest of this has germinated.I know well what I have done.
Have you considered what you are doing as well?
I am finished with this until I see him again.
I know what comes next whether I listen to it or not.
PART THREE: CRASH LANDING
Judicial Interview Notes, Day 3
Audio only; transcript follows
Parties involved
Subject, SS [alias, human]
Interviewer, Justiciar Tra Fell [TF in transcription]
TF: We will conclude your testimony today, [SS].You have been thorough.We appreciate your attention-to-detail throughout.
SS: I'm glad it's benefiting someone.I felt like I'd been in a pit fight when I woke up this morning.
TF: You are experiencing physical duress.[Note: Justiciar Tra Fell makes a physical gesture to indicate a concerned question] Our physicians were most thorough in their attentions after you concluded yesterday's interview.If they missed pain –
SS:No, no.It's fine.It's just… I don't know.Talking about all of this… I didn't know it could actually make my body hurt.Like heartbreak can be so awful that you feel it in your flesh and bones.I think I liked feeling nothing better.
[A protracted period of silence follows]
SS: I think the worst part is just knowing it didn't have to be this way.If he'd just – If – I don't know why he didn't –
[A protracted period of silence follows]
TF: Would you prefer we wait until a later date to conclude the interview?You are distressed.
SS: I want to finish.I want to get this done with, so then I can sit down with [REDACTED] and figure out what the fuck comes next.Just do it already.Let's get this over with.
TF: We understand that we have your consent to continue with the judicial interview process.However, our profession comes withdeeper moral obligations.In order to adequately fulfill these, we must ask again: are you quite certain you wish to proceed?
SS: Yeah.I'm certain.Maybe – you have the footagefrom the media panel, right?Can we skip that at least?
TF: We will include a transcript instead, yes.
SS: Great.Thanks.
[INJECTION ADMINISTERED; DAY THREE TESTIMONY FOLLOWS]
Inclusion #56, Starpath Broadcast, Transcript
Interview, Sashen Solar and Araxis of Creche Thiel
Date: 3.191.8.28
