SWITCHBOARD

[transmittable]

If you'd like to ask the Transmitter something over the phone, go right ahead! The Transmitter will answer the phone as soon as she's available. Leaving messages is impossible, given how old these phones are, but you should be able to reach her at almost all hours.

Comments are screened for privacy; all Patients are offered confidentiality, didn't you know?

Comments

[journalname]

Exactly. That is something we were lacking before. But I have always known humanity is capable of it - they are not inherently any better or worse than monsterkind. They were just afraid, back then.

[transmittable]

You would forgive them, for what they did to you?

[journalname]

I do not think it would do us any good to sit underground being resentful. We must keep moving forward.

[..........]

Besides, all the humans involved in the war are long dead. Those who live on the Surface now had nothing to do with it. To blame them for being human would be no better than when we were blamed for being monsters.

[transmittable]

An enlightened way of thinking. ...Maybe we should've given YOU that title.

[journalname]

[wait like three memory regains and check back]

Ha! Well, I am sure Miss Kashima deserves it. How did you choose all of these titles?

[transmittable]

We studied what we could about you, and we conferred until we found a suitable descriptor.

[journalname]

That sounds difficult. I am not sure I could pick one word for the people I know very easily...though I suppose you had not really met us yet.

[transmittable]

We hadn't. It was also a collective process. So many minds thinking about one person, it made it easier.

[journalname]

That makes sense! I admit, I still think it would have been easier to just use our names, but I suppose you have your process.

[And, well, it's really not that big a deal.]

You did say that it was good to "finally" meet me. This must have taken a long time to prepare?

[transmittable]

Yes. "This" in the general sense of things. While we weren't sure exactly who we would welcome here, we waited for a...very long time, to get to this point.

[journalname]

Was there a reason you chose the people you did? Or was it your choice?

[transmittable]

We received you. It wasn't our choice.

[journalname]

Oh, I see.

[That seems strange, but okay.]

Did you expect so many?

[transmittable]

Oh, yes. The number was predetermined.

[journalname]

Gosh, but not who? That is very strange, if you do not mind my saying so. Do you know how these other people made their selections?

[there's a few people with similar backgrounds, but no obvious patterns that he can tell...]

[transmittable]

Honestly? I've got no flippin' clue. Spent some time trying to figure it out but, out powers combined, we couldn't figure out a thing.

[journalname]

There do not seem to be a great many commonalities. Some, certainly, and maybe more we haven't discovered yet. But nothing obvious that should lead to...this.

...will we be returned home, whenever this ends?

[transmittable]

...we would prefer it that you stay here, but... There's an outcome where you return home, when this is all done. That's...all we can say.

[journalname]

Can you say what the other outcomes are?

[transmittable]

We can't.

[journalname]

Very well. [He doesn't sound like he was expecting much else.] I'm sorry to say that I cannot stay, if there is a possibility of returning. I have my family, and my people.

[transmittable]

We know. We know, if given the choice, you'll all wish to return.

[journalname]

Why do you want us to stay?

[transmittable]

Because...it's something we've been working towards for a long time...

[ The static picks up. ]

Beyond that, we can't say anything more.

[journalname]

Ah. I had thought your goal was this...exercise, not what happened after.

[It's not really a question; she is clearly not going to answer.]

What will you do, when it is over?