Closed to Sakura

[governorkang]

It was possible to get to Kang's quarters from the store room, but he preferred to use a separate entrance on the other side of the building for guests, rare as they were. The door was unlocked for Sakura, and he sat at a simple wooden table in what served as his common room, waiting. The only other furniture was a bookshelf, nearly full, with a few simple wooden figurines and framed photos decorating it; the windows had plain grey curtains over them, drawn shut. The doors to both bedrooms were open, one showing a human-sized bed and the other a much larger one.

Comments

[encourage]

Sakura came quietly, two raps with the back of her fist against the doorframe before she tested the handle, letting herself in. Torn between the politeness she was raised with, and the knowledge it doesn't matter right now.

Politeness had won out.

She stepped inside, face switching from a neutral expression to a polite smile at Kang as she saw him, settling back into temporary neutrality afterward. She was here to hear from him, and curiosity and wariness were as present as her firm resolve to do in this stage that was their lives.

"Kang."

[governorkang]

Kang smiled back, sincerely, and motioned towards one of the chairs at the table. "Sakura. Do you want something to drink?"

[encourage]

She sat down, shoulders relaxing a fraction. She barely noticed how tense they were these days. "Water, if you have any." Her lips curled up into something more honest as she looked to him. "Room temperature would be great."

[governorkang]

"Good, because I lack a refrigerator," Kang grinned, fetching an unopened bottle of water and tossing it to her. "You came alone?"

[encourage]

She caught it, snorting. "As far as I know. I haven't stepped into a delouser, so it's always possible I carried someone else in with me. But I don't sense anything like that." Twisting the cap off, she took a long drink of water.

She hadn't realized her own dehydration before now.

[governorkang]

He nodded, and sat back down, getting to business. "What I'm going to tell you is to be kept secret from all others. I wouldn't have asked you to come here if I didn't think you to be trustworthy."

[encourage]

Sakura held up her hand, setting the water bottle down on the table. "One note," she said, "For quick clarification. When you say a secret from all others, do you most specifically mean all other crew members?"

She looked serious, waiting for his response.

[governorkang]

"Yes. For the safety of my resources."

[encourage]

"I can keep identities secret. Connections and reasons why I do or don't know things secret. I can't say in good faith that I'll be complacent with keeping all information itself secret, pending it doesn't jeopardize our collective safety or the safety of one person."

She watched him while she spoke, trying to get a feel to what length the secrecy went. "Information collecting is dangerous. So's information sharing, but we do need more sharing among those of us who consider ourselves crew. For better or worse."

[governorkang]

"Information is a much more powerful weapon than many realize. I've recruited a group of people to act as spies when needed on particular missions, or when someone on this ship is acting suspiciously. We've had a few incidents that could have been avoided if we'd been more proactive," Kang said, entirely serious now. "Most recently, I've had them keep an eye on our Daligig guests. Captain Kennedy is aware of this group's existence; I told him myself. However, he doesn't know who is in it to allow for plausible deniability. The entire purpose of it is for the safety of this crew."

[encourage]

Her hands folded over each other on the table's surface. Sakura sat up straight now, still watching Kang.

"I take it you've been having everyone be more proactive, with this watch, and whatever else." Between the mention of times it would have helped, and keeping an eye on their ongoing shipguests.

"With that understanding, then yes." Her shoulders relaxed a fraction. Just enough to be notable. She was far more tense these days than before.

[governorkang]

Kang smiled and nodded once, leaning back in his chair comfortably, "Any important information I receive will, of course, be shared with you."

[encourage]

"Likewise. If you might have guessed as much earlier."

She smiled, the statement a simple and direct one on her part: most her motivations were fairly apparent. She picked up the water bottle, taking a sip.

[governorkang]

"Unfortunately, I don't have much to give right now. The Daligig have been spending most of their time in restricted zones, and their bodyguards won't let anyone near. Not even taking alternate forms to sneak by helps; they have motion sensors." Kang frowned slightly. "The times they aren't in restricted zones, they keep their language vague when speaking with each other, and they're clearly keeping information from even the Kessek."

[encourage]

"Motion sensors aren't all powerful. We have teleporters, don't we?" Sakura watched Kang, holding the water bottle. "Or ways to disrupt any sort of sensor, if we really needed to. I don't believe in infallible technology anymore than infallible intelligence."

She had no reason to. Absolutely everything had a failing point, or a blind spot. Especially when employed with arrogance.

"If the blocks the ship itself imposes is a problem." She fell quiet. "Are we any closer to gaining more direct control over Sta'c's directives?"

[governorkang]

"If I recall correctly, the few teleporters we have need to know what their destination looks like, and there is the added problem of Stacy affecting what they can and can't access. I don't believe in infallible technology either, but we just don't have anything that can get around her's yet. Neuropathy hasn't reported much progress; they're due for another update," Kang sighed.