Norsel: Making Change
Robin Hopper
((North Oparis Branch Settlement, Uwe II))
Norsel stepped out of the sleek vehicle moments after it came to a halt in front of the towering trunks, between which spanned the ornate and opulent facade of his ‘little empire’. That’s what the media was fond of calling it. In reality, though, he saw his operations not as a means of gaining control over the people, but of giving the people control over their destinies.
“Civilization” “The Rules” “Government” – so often sought to assuage themselves of blame for what was broken rather than take responsibility. He’d seen it, over and over, for years, from his high vantage point, and gritted his teeth in frustration. Finally, when it was clear that things would never change, he’d decided to get involved himself and to use his unique position, and his resources, to achieve the results he desired.
Norsel pulled out his personal datacore, examining the screen. WE HAVE HIM, it read.
He was about to smile when, much to his chagrin, a haranguing voice broke through his methodical pleasure.
Elarrapal: Norsel!
Norsel: ::Irritated:: You again? Please, I have no time for your antiquarian religious procrastinations that circle the world’s problems and ultimately go nowhere…
He shoved the datacore back in his pocket while he attempted to walk past her, into his own private chambers beyond, but she intercepted him – stepping closer than he liked, the acrid smell of the charred branch tied to her arm an assault on his senses.
Elarrapal had always been more of a ‘talker’ than a ‘doer’, no matter how much he’d tried to push her into more concrete actions, but if she had hit some sort of breaking point, he didn’t want her taking it out on him. Not when they were so close to achieving their objective.
Elarrapal: Would you like to make a shouting match out of this, then? Loud enough to be heard through wood and bark alike?
His dark eyes shifted from the so-called ‘prophet’ to her two accompanying minions, then back to her.
Norsel: That’s just it, Elarrapal, shouting accomplishes nothing. Words without actions are fruitless.
Elarrapal: Should I have left a limb on your doorstep instead? Neither of us have forgotten such traditions, though I wonder if you still dream of the weight of them.
Norsel took a step back as the zealot moved even closer, running her claws over the charred branch she had strapped to her arm, the sooty dust rising off it irritating his eyes and lungs. What was it with these religious freaks and their adherence to weird traditions? Sure, it made them easy to manipulate (how easy it was, after all, to fake a lightning scar on a sacred tree and claim it was “a sign” that some ancient prophecy was coming true?) but it was also incredibly tedious.
There was much more to be said, in his experience, for stoking the fires of action with a bit of hyperbolic rhetoric, a little incriminating finger-pointing, and – when necessary – some financial incentive. But, since he wanted the religious whackos out of the governing meetings and out on the streets, wreaking havoc, he did his best to appeal to their sensibilities as well.
Norsel: My dreams are not of the old ways, but of progress run-amok. If you’d seen what I’d seen in my dreams, Elarrapal, you’d see that now is the time for direct action. ::A smile:: I’m pleased to see that someone has decided to act accordingly… I’d almost hoped to see you claim responsibility for the bombing.
Elarrapal: Response
He couldn’t tell from her response whether she was feigning ignorance of the matter or knew more than she was letting on… That was one thing about the twisty-turny way the ‘prophet’ spoke. She was hard to read.
Norsel: The Prime Minister has already called an emergency meeting of the Arborate Council – evidently the message was received loud and clear: we will not stand idly by while the government twiddles their thumbs over this scientific project. If they will not take drastic actions, then we will.
Elarrapal: Response
Norsel: ::Smirk:: I couldn’t have had anything to do with the bombing – or the Project Lead’s kidnapping. You recall, I was there, at Imeris, when the event took place.
The texture on his brow furrowed more deeply.
Norsel: By the way, who were those unfamiliar friends of yours – the newcomers? More of your bracken?
Elarrapal: Response
TBC