the_explorer | (no subject)

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Murtaugh is 60, and he can finally see it all.

He's spent so much time running, he's spent so much time trying, and he's failed at every venture. Failed with his followers, failed with the subnet, just failed. He didn't understand it at the time, but seeing the conjoining of all Layers at the Knit, he understands. He can see the destruction that hath been wrought.

He'd always been sorry for his followers, of course. Aware they were sacrificing themselves for him. He'd been convinced it was all for a greater good - but was it really? All seven layers meet together at the Knot, and you can see what has happened to Everything.

Murtaugh falls to his knees at the sight of it all. He can't help but think.. if only he'd succeeded in catching Elizabeth once, just once. Maybe she would have stopped him long before this. But she ran from him, to lure him... to this? She knew. She knew.

Now he did, too.

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Murtaugh spent so much time running, and Elizabeth spent so much time leading. She'd meant for them to come here, she'd meant for him to See. But what she hadn't planned for was the men and their guns.

She'd warned Layer 5 he was coming for them. She also told them it probably wasn't about revenge, but they didn't believe her. They thought to protect themselves, to wipe out a scourge of humanity. Murtaugh doesn't seem to even see those around him, but Elizabeth can, and she doesn't want him to die so soon.

She knows they won't shoot her - or rather, she's willing to risk it. And so she walks over to Murtaugh and sits next to him. He'll surely need to talk, anyway.

Elizabeth is 59, and she may be about to die.

Edited 2014-12-17 05:57 (UTC)

How long has it been since they were in the same room together? Other than that brief moment back in her ship, it's been over 30 years. Even then, it didn't count, as all he'd caught was a glimpse of her before she escaped in her capsule.

Murtaugh doesn't react to her presence yet, something that might imply that he can't see her. But he can, he's always been aware of her, even now. It's just that he's too distracted by the destruction.

Elizabeth lets him sit in silence for a couple minutes before reaching to take his hand in hers. The pistols are still pointed but the bullets haven't been fired. She's doing her best to ignore them.

Edited 2014-12-18 03:28 (UTC)

Murtaugh snaps out of it a little and looks down at their hands before looking at her face. His eyes are wet and his voice shaky when he finally speaks. "I didn't mean to, you know."

"I know," Liz responds. She doesn't feel sorry for him, though it's sad to see him in tears. Murtaugh brought this down upon everyone and himself. He may not have meant to, but if he'd payed a little more attention, things could have been better.

"But you did."

Or rather, if he'd lost his focus. Paid less attention to the whole picture, and had examined the intricate details. That is how he could have seen what was coming. The real question is, what will he do now that he has been shown?

"I won't do it anymore."

And again, she says, "I know."

"...can you call off the watchdogs?"

He can see them. Anyone would see the guns surrounding them in a circle. Anyone would see the hate and fear in the eyes of those wielding them. And anyone, just anyone, would balk in the face of these things.

"I don't know that I can." She shakes her head a little. "I am just as much in their field of sight as you are."

Except the suggestion of possibly shooting her disturbs the group, who murmur along themselves and lower their guns. "We're sorry, Miss Elizabeth," one of them says, and she rewards them with a comforting smile.

"Still as admired as ever, I see," Murtaugh says, relaxing a little now that the guns are down. "Some things never change."

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