Log:Moral Quandary with a Conqueror

2021/01/19 	 Grimm Radical

1

As some people disperse with talk on if the games will continue tomorrow in a different form, there's some disappointment in the air on the side of the spectators. Gabrielle looks to Radical and sighs with relief. "Did that really happen? We're off the hook?" she asks quietly.

Radical nods slowly. "Sure looks like it. I'm relieved. And confused. And surprised. I had figured that Krul would refuse, since I got the feeling that he was...rigid on certain things, like the Godflora are."

"Maybe that was his downfall? Had to save face and go along with it? But..." Gabrielle chews on her lip and looks dissatisfied. "We just helped a probably good guy get executed."

Grimm looks over to Artemis as she speaks with Krul. "What's the Godflora's deal, anyway? Did you see how Krul totally zeroed in on that person?"

Radical nods. "Yeah, I'm not happy about the would-be assassin being killed. But...he was also an assassin. And I suspect they knew what they were in for. They couldn't have expected to get out of here alive." He looks over toward Artemis, "She knew him from previously. It came up during the meeting at Starguard."

"A sloppy one that tried it in public. It could be a desperate citizen from one of the worlds Krul conquered," Gabrielle frowns. "It's like we were party to stopping an assassin killing Hitler," she adds with a scowl. Her gaze follows Radical. "I must've been a bit distracted or forgot. I was still fuming about my identity being stolen."

Radical nods, "I was wondering about that. If I saw the assassin...would I have tried to stop them? I'm not sure. I bet many of the heroes here would have, though. Had they been sharp-eyed enough.

Grimm takes a breath and looks guilty. She glances about, then steps closer to Radical. She looks down at her feet and whispers, "I saw them. I saw it coming. And...I wasn't going to stop them."

Radical pats Grimm's shoulder. "I really am not sure what I would have done. Like you said...it's like an assassination of Hitler. Do you stop it? I remember hearing a similar question in a Superhero Ethics class. 'If you travel through time, do you go back to try to kill Hitler?'"

Some of her guilt eases at that pat. Still, she can't help but wonder what Jack would think of her. Grimm's eyes drift back up to meet this, and she manages a half-hearted smile. "Well, you'd be the best to answer that practically," she whispers. "And since he still existed, I'm guessing you decided no."

Radical shrugs, "The working theory is that if you take a person out of history like that...the timeline works to repair itself. Someone else rises to take their place."

Grimm frowns at that. "That's kind of disappointing. Makes it feel like everything that ever was, is, or will be is fixed."

Radical shakes his head. "Not exactly. There's another situation, though. Sometimes...you HAVE to go back to do what you intended, because it already happened."

Radical Shrugs, "My grandmother remembered being saved by me. But she didn't know my new identity when she saw me back in the 1990s. I had a record of my arrival and saving her. So, I had to make that happen."

Grimm takes a breath and nods. "Still feels like a trap of some sort. I'd prefer to pretend free will is still a thing. Also, you already proved the future can change."

Radical nods. "Smaller changes are more likely to take. The timeline doesn't change as much, so it doesn't push back as hard to fix itself."

Grimm thinks on that. "That's...well. A bit mind blowing. Huh..." she starts to think over events with that perspective. It's still hard to get her mind around.

Radical chuckles. "Well, that's one theory of time travel. I'm not going to claim it is absolutely correct."

Grimm smiles a little. "It just means...nothing, nevermind." She looks about the hall. "This place looks set for a party. If we're supposed to stay here until tomorrow, you think they'll set us up with rooms? I didn't really pack or make plans to stay the night," she speaks wryly to cover for her nerves.

Radical tilts his head, "It means...what?"

Grimm is a bit embarrassed as he circles back to that. "Just means how all the crazy stuff that's happened was fixed and always meant to be. More or less."

Radical chuckles. "Only the crazy BIG stuff. Small stuff? Maybe not."

Grimm raises a brow at him. "Well...maybe some of the bigger stuff can still be. Maybe not continent spanning stuff. But you saw my future. You saw I was fated to die. And you changed my fate," she smiles gently. "I guess...individual futures can still be altered."

Radical nods. "They can. We've proven it." He looks around at those gathered. "Are you likely to be participating in the arena? I'm thinking that I shouldn't."

Grimm chuckles. "I guess the timeline doesn't consider that a big enough wound to repair. Thankfully." Or maybe that's why things keep trying to kill her. She looks as well. "I came to fight to keep our home safe. I'd probably get pretty hurt. But that Darkside seems up to something. If you were going to fight, I'll have your back." She jerks a thumb over to Victory. "I'm surprised the boy scout was the one to call the fight back on. Doesn't seem like his usual deal."

Radical thinks about it. "I suspect he didn't mention it for just funsies. There's another reason."

Grimm rubs her chin and studies Victory discretely. "Huh. Like...what? We won already. They didn't go for new prizes or terms. And I never took him for the battlelusting sort. That's what those crazy Godflora do or something."

Radical nods, "He's using it for one of those things. Either he's using it for training to see how he stacks up against threats out here, or...he wants to make a show of strength to make it clear that Earth isn't a backwater than can be rolled over."

Grimm sucks in her breath at the thought. "Hmm...really? I hope that doesn't backfire if it's the second. He does seem to train a lot. Still think we shouldn't get involved?"

Radical nods. "You and I are keys to knowing where the gem is. We also dont' have tremendous defenses in a fight. I'm inclined to just spectate as a result."

Grimm thinks on that and nods. "Yeah, good point. May as well get ourselves good seats tomorrow. And figure out accommodations for tonight. Maybe I can find an equivalent hotel room with soundproofing."

Radical nods. "I think...there's another shoe to fall. This was too simple. So...keep on your toes."

Grimm becomes a little concerned. "Hmm...if this was one of those movies Jack likes, there'll probably be...hmmm...another murder. And a frame job. And a dame." She chuckles at the last one.

Radical chuckles. "Dame? Noir fan, huh?"

Grimm grins and says with a bit of a lovestruck tone, "Yeah, he's an old fashioned type. Noir movies, pulp novels. He's a good man."

Radical smiles, which is barely visible under his mask..but it does hit his eyes. "You sound happy. It must be working out well. I'm glad to hear it."

"I...am," Gabrielle smiles, realizing it to be true. "He's been a bit of an anchor and provided some normalcy and balance." Nevermind that part she accidentally shared through their mindlink once. Though now that she knows Jack's secret, she's not sure if that will change. "He watches out for me when he can. Makes me coffee in the mornings. Sometimes breakfast, too." She laughs lightly. "I feel a bit bad. Like, what does he get out of it, ya know? I can barely bake cookies. And he's older and more established in his career, so I can hardly even contribute in buying meals most days."

Radical laughs. "What does he get out of it? Dating a younger woman, for one thing. But even taking that into account, you're a good person. I'm sure he sees that too."

Grimm laughs a bit, but she'll own that. She shrugs her shoulders. "What can I say? I have a thing for older men. I guess I have a type." She smiles at his vote of confidence in her. "Yeah, I think he does. We've worked together for a long time, and seen some crazy stuff. Did I mention how he punched a frickin' demon on a case recently? Like laid it out without hesitating," she says in admiration.