LoR Premise: "Maybe it's the lack of sleep lately but...I got to thinking more. You encourage survival. That thing prowling in the dark? He does too. A little. Or at least...Survival of the fittest. The strongest. I know you have other iterations outside of Redacre...he...he wasn't one of them, was he?"
Sparrow: [to team about the Dance Fever USB] Does uh...does anyone want me to just go ahead and grab the disk-WHOAH [eye appears]
THEE-I-DARE: FROM WHAT I KNOW OF THE HUNTER…
Kyle: ‘Whoah’? Did something happen?
THEE-I-DARE: WE HAVE NEVER BEEN THE SAME, SINCE…
Alicia: I...I think that’s a yes.
Sparrow: ….yeah.
THEE-I-DARE: WE WERE ALL BOUND BY ONE SONG
Sparrow: Oh. Okay. Okay...I just…[exhale] Things are getting weird out here and...Sometimes...brains try to jump to connecting points. Might not always be the right one…?
[Here she goes up and ‘perches’ on 1003’s rooftop while her teammates continue to collect bonus evidence.]
THEE-I-DARE: WELL…
THEE-I-DARE: THE TRUTH OF OUR KIND IS…
THEE-I-DARE: OFTEN THE STORY OF WHAT LIVED ON.
Sparrow: Not….Not necessarily the strongest the strongest piece…? My brain keeps going back to history classes…
THEE-I-DARE: WE ALL DESIRE TO MULTIPLY
Sparrow: Right...Expansion of influence?
THEE-I-DARE: THE CONCEPT OF SURVIVAL…
THEE-I-DARE: IT UNITES THE MOST BITTER FOES
Sparrow: I think it’s...kind of a natural thing to want to live. Well. I can think of one of your siblings that would counter that. But the majority of things that I know of. Don’t tend to look for the opposite, yeah.
THEE-I-DARE: THE END MOTHER IS AN EXCEPTION.
Sparrow: Right. She was born of that rule. That idea…? I guess? [soft uncertain noise]
THEE-I-DARE: AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT ONLY OF YOU
Sparrow: ….and then the attention shifted to her...own kind? Her opinions are a little...
THEE-I-DARE: THE NEED TO HELP YOU ACCEPT AN END
Sparrow: Yeah. ‘The hard sell’.
THEE-I-DARE: THEN. YES. AS YOU SAY…
THEE-I-DARE: SHE REALIZED THAT WHAT DIVIDES US…
THEE-I-DARE: IS SOME OF US EXPLOIT HOST DEATH…
Sparrow: [sputtering a bit and caught off guard] I...what…? I...I...don’t...like the sound of that...
THEE-I-DARE: THE STORY OF DEATH FOR A CAUSE.
THEE-I-DARE: IN INSPIRES OTHERS. WE MULTIPLY.
Sparrow: [combination of internal wince and mild amusement] She must hate Die-For-You.
THEE-I-DARE: SHE IS NOT FOND.
Sparrow: [faint laugh] Yeah...I can imagine. Who doesn’t love a champion for their cause? She doesn’t...Of course Death wouldn’t be fond of people that chase it…[sigh]
[pause]
Sparrow: I didn’t...I didn’t mean to...make that question sound like an accusation if it came off like that? Just...He’s been around a lot lately. And...I don’t like the things that are happening.
THEE-I-DARE: I...YES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD.
Sparrow: Yeah...I know I’m not the only person who’s more than a little nervous about it...He says something’s coming.
[pause]
THEE-I-DARE: IN THAT, HE DOES NOT LIE
Sparrow: [sigh] There’s kind of been...an ominous vibe from all of you guys about whatever’s happening lately. Not sure I like it. But...We keep going, I guess. Any warnings on what to expect or...is this a surprise to everybody?
THEE-I-DARE: I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE CALLER
Sparrow: About them personally or about what they have?
THEE-I-DARE: THE CHILDREN TELL ME GRAVE THINGS
Sparrow: Yeah. There’s a lot going on around them, right now. And That One is after them too, it looks like. Even your siblings are starting to interfere.
THEE-I-DARE: IS HE? DID HE SAY AS MUCH?
Sparrow: There was...someone mentioned a dream? Where he was...talking about an adult untouched in Redacre. I don’t know who this Caller is, I don’t know if they’re an adult --I mean they can drive, they got here on their own and are surviving so maybe that’s them?-- And he was here the other day...and he thanked somebody for tipping him off about them. They’re definitely...they’re definitely catching the wrong sort of attention. Even if they are under your sister’s protection.
THEE-I-DARE: THAT IS…DIRE
Sparrow: ...I worry. I don’t think...I know the way to interfere with this sort of thing. It’s kind of not in my ballpark because they don’t talk to me. But maybe you could help other kids that they do talk to? I don’t know how to get that warning out to them or how to help them. The last thing they need is to be a monster snack.
THEE-I-DARE: I WONDER…
THEE-I-DARE: IF THEY CAN BE SAVED, AND IF NOT…
THEE-I-DARE: COULD THEIR DEVICE BE RETRIEVED.
Sparrow: Well...as far as helping them goes...It would have to be from a place that it doesn’t look like it’s coming from anything involving your kind. Because they don’t trust you as far as they can throw you, if you’ll pardon the expression. As for the device...the recording. I have no idea. We haven’t even seen this person. We don’t know where they are. You’d have to be sneaky about it. Kyle had ideas. But...They’re tricky too. Maybe we could bargain?
THEE-I-DARE: KYLE OFTEN DOES. QUITE A LAD.
Sparrow: [laughs] He’s good though. He’s a good friend. He’s always got out of the box ways of looking at things. I admire that about him.
[pause]
THEE-I-DARE: I WILL REACH OUT TO DIE-FOR-YOU
THEE-I-DARE: PERHAPS HIS HOSTS CAN FIND…
THEE-I-DARE: THE MESSENGER, OR...THE MESSAGE
Sparrow: More eyes in the sweep, at least. Redacre’s only so big, but...Maybe start with some of the places that were suggested as safe places for them to go? I don’t know that feels...underhanded but at the same time...If we’re trying to help…? Where do you cross the line, I guess.
THEE-I-DARE: BEFORE THIS IS OVER…
THEE-I-DARE: NO ONE MAY BEAR CLEAN HANDS
Sparrow: [hesitates] ...You know I’m going to say I don’t like the sound of that. But your kind has been saying to us lately that there are darker days ahead...
THEE-I-DARE: I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I FIND
Sparrow: I appreciate that. Keeping me in the loop.
THEE-I-DARE: SURVIVE, MY SPARROW. GOODNIGHT.
Sparrow: Goodnight, Thee-I-Dare. Thank you.
