[ D'Artagnan's just quiet for a moment, taking that in. Then his shoulder lifts in a shrug. The truth is, he'd rather know his friends were in a safer place than him, whether it's true or not.
It would be easier to believe it, he thinks. ]
I trust them. Porthos and Aramis, they're good men. Good Musketeers.
If they're alive, I'll see them again. We'll find each other, that's what we do.
[ He has faith in them, even if he often struggles to believe in the CDC. ]
Judging by you and Athos... Yeah, they're good men and they'll survive.
[He likes the two Musketeers he knows. Maybe the others will get transferred back here. If your friends have already signed their lives away to the CDC, you might as well get to see them. He takes a sip of his wine before continuing.]
Sometimes I wish there was a way to talk to people on other ships. It doesn't make sense that there isn't. CDC tech outstrips what we've got on a whole lot of levels, and I could easily communicate with people back home on Palaven or on another ship from the Normandy.
[Which means he thinks the whole no-contact thing is bullshit.]
[That's a different angle on it, and it actually makes sense.]
If he'd had allies among the recruits... Without communication, rebellion can't spread as easily. And we know they get new recruits all the time.
[More anti-CDC people every, what? How often might they pull people in? He's only got the Neheda to go by, so at least every few months. And for how many ships?]
Gotta be a lot of ships in their fleet. A lot of recruiting constantly going on.
[A whole field of people who could possibly be interested in eventually destroying the CDC from the top down.]
[ He's done the same maths. With a turnover as high as what the CDC seems to boast, it's clear to him that they must always have a surplus of recruits. It goes some way to explaining why they're all so secretive all the time, at least in d'Artagnan's mind. ]
They don't know who they can trust. The only way to stay on top of that is to control who says what to who. I'd bet that's why we can't talk to other ships. Not because they don't have the power.
[There's a lot that he can say, and none of it he should say. They have to be careful. Even if the Neheda's crew is made up of more rebellious types, they won't allow anything to happen until they're ready to make their move. The fate of the Almina had made that clear.]
Enemies inside, enemies outside. They must be exhausted.
[Exhausted people made mistakes.]
And those that don't know who to trust are to be pitied, though often they bring it on themselves.
[If the theory holds... there have to be cracks in the leadership, wedges that can be worked on. He just needs a chance to meet with the leaders, and he doesn't think Bilchis is one of them.]
[ Something in d'Artagnan's face relaxes at that. He nods, agreeing with the sentiment. Trust is important to him. It's bound up in his ideas of what it means to be loyal, to be honourable. ]
I trust those who deserve it.
[ And who prove that they do. That doesn't count the CDC, obviously. They'd tricked him from the very start, and there is no honour in what they do.
Though, he has begun to think that there may be honour in some individuals. At least, in one. ]
Armada has never lied to us. Or tricked us. But he has orders, the same as us. He told me he could send a message for me, to another ship. He never promised it would get through.
[Garrus doesn't trust most of the CDC officers. But Armada he has some faith in, and it's not just because there's no gain in misleading your squad because it'll backfire.]
Take it you didn't follow up by asking?
[The omission's clear enough, really. There's also something to be thankful for about a clear omission instead of the loops Neheda can make out of her words.]
Either way, whether you did or didn't, I've got some faith in him.
[He knows he wants to have faith in someone here, and that's influencing this in part too, but he doesn't think this is a poor choice.]
Got more in you and a couple of others. But I like what I've seen from him.
We will. There are already a few here. But I'd really like more of them to stay here.
[How many from his crew had come and gone? Liara, Javik, Mordin, Thane, Tali once though she's back, and the many others who had never joined the crew but he'd seen.]
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It would be easier to believe it, he thinks. ]
I trust them. Porthos and Aramis, they're good men. Good Musketeers.
If they're alive, I'll see them again. We'll find each other, that's what we do.
[ He has faith in them, even if he often struggles to believe in the CDC. ]
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[He likes the two Musketeers he knows. Maybe the others will get transferred back here. If your friends have already signed their lives away to the CDC, you might as well get to see them. He takes a sip of his wine before continuing.]
Sometimes I wish there was a way to talk to people on other ships. It doesn't make sense that there isn't. CDC tech outstrips what we've got on a whole lot of levels, and I could easily communicate with people back home on Palaven or on another ship from the Normandy.
[Which means he thinks the whole no-contact thing is bullshit.]
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I don't think it's that we can't talk to other ships, I think we don't have permission. Maybe there's a reason for that.
[ He looks up, studying Garrus for a moment. ]
You told me before there was a Captain who wanted our help, and he came here. Do you remember?
Maybe that sort of thing is why we have to stay separate. Who knows.
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[That's a different angle on it, and it actually makes sense.]
If he'd had allies among the recruits... Without communication, rebellion can't spread as easily. And we know they get new recruits all the time.
[More anti-CDC people every, what? How often might they pull people in? He's only got the Neheda to go by, so at least every few months. And for how many ships?]
Gotta be a lot of ships in their fleet. A lot of recruiting constantly going on.
[A whole field of people who could possibly be interested in eventually destroying the CDC from the top down.]
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[ He's done the same maths. With a turnover as high as what the CDC seems to boast, it's clear to him that they must always have a surplus of recruits. It goes some way to explaining why they're all so secretive all the time, at least in d'Artagnan's mind. ]
They don't know who they can trust. The only way to stay on top of that is to control who says what to who. I'd bet that's why we can't talk to other ships. Not because they don't have the power.
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Enemies inside, enemies outside. They must be exhausted.
[Exhausted people made mistakes.]
And those that don't know who to trust are to be pitied, though often they bring it on themselves.
[If the theory holds... there have to be cracks in the leadership, wedges that can be worked on. He just needs a chance to meet with the leaders, and he doesn't think Bilchis is one of them.]
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I trust those who deserve it.
[ And who prove that they do. That doesn't count the CDC, obviously. They'd tricked him from the very start, and there is no honour in what they do.
Though, he has begun to think that there may be honour in some individuals. At least, in one. ]
Armada has never lied to us. Or tricked us. But he has orders, the same as us. He told me he could send a message for me, to another ship. He never promised it would get through.
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[Garrus doesn't trust most of the CDC officers. But Armada he has some faith in, and it's not just because there's no gain in misleading your squad because it'll backfire.]
Take it you didn't follow up by asking?
[The omission's clear enough, really. There's also something to be thankful for about a clear omission instead of the loops Neheda can make out of her words.]
Either way, whether you did or didn't, I've got some faith in him.
[He knows he wants to have faith in someone here, and that's influencing this in part too, but he doesn't think this is a poor choice.]
Got more in you and a couple of others. But I like what I've seen from him.
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[ Because what good would it do, when he can't help Clary? When he can't get to her. Sending a message at all was more than he'd hoped for. ]
We can find people to trust, Garrus. Even here.
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[He sighs.]
We will. There are already a few here. But I'd really like more of them to stay here.
[How many from his crew had come and gone? Liara, Javik, Mordin, Thane, Tali once though she's back, and the many others who had never joined the crew but he'd seen.]
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I know.
[ He agrees, even if it's selfish. ]
I'm sorry about your friends.
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Sorry about yours, too.
[The hand goes down and he lifts his glass instead.]
To friends, the ones we've lost, and the ones we've still got.
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To friends.
[ A glance at Garrus, then. ] Thanks for this.
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I'll wake you up at five any day.
[Then he's chuckling and shaking his head.]
Thank you back, d'Artagnan. Your name's still complicated to say, but I'm glad to know you. Should I let you get some more sleep again now?
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Alina will probably wonder where I am. I should get back.
[ He stands, brushing himself off. His significantly lighter bottle dangles from his fingertips, and he puts his other hand on Garrus' shoulder. ]
I'm glad I know you, too. I'll see you later, Garrus, all right?
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[His mandibles are now as wide as they can go as he stands as well and gives d'Artagnan a nod.]
Later, d'Artagnan.