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[As she did before, Ikaruga is very careful when she goes to visit Hope. Even with the Null somehow managing to be even worse at public relations than the gods and turning people against them, some might still go along with this plan. She's also concerned about the possibility that the Null actually did deliver the weapon.]

Hope. The Null made contact again. I also have a theory concerning how they are getting their information.

[He appears, of course.]

They were never going to be silent forever, unfortunately. I have seen what they want this time. What is your theory?

The Null can change forms and you've spoken of their adaptability. What if a small Null turned itself into a phone for information gathering purposes?

[She's kicking herself for not thinking of this sooner, but right now, thinking of possibilities like this is better than dwelling on something out of her control. Her plans of going to another world have fallen through because the one she'd planned on going with has just been sent home by the Door. If she goes to her home, she will die. So now she's thinking of other plans.]

Certainly, we've had recent proof that they can not only send messages over the network, but also that they can view what others share. Unless he sent them a private message, that man Matt Murdock was not mouthing off to them on their post.

If they have access to the network at all, I think they would be able to see other posts, rather than only their own.

[He is quiet for a moment, thinking it over.]

I suppose it could be possible. I have never seen them take that shape, and it would have to be a very limited Null, and they would have needed to find a way to replace the original phone - since I make one for each of you. But I will admit I do not know everything they can do.

Perhaps they replaced the device of someone the Door sent away. I suggest that you and Sorrow spend some time reviewing the population's phones. See if there is an active phone for someone who is no longer here.

[It's an idea, in any case. One she feels is more likely than a mole in the town population. Most of the people here are decidedly not good at subtlety and there's only a few with any real talent with technology. She moves on to her next point. Hope might know what they want, but he hasn't seen the original post.]

Previously, the Null said they would bring a weapon that could kill you. This time they said they have transported it here. I was attempting to persuade them to transport a cleaning device here just to see if they really could bring things here...but no luck.

[It's that change in wording that stands out as important to her. That indicates that they're ramping up their plans.]

A friend who got herself put on the Null's hit list asked me to kill her so that the Null will reveal the location of the weapon to me.

If they've already brought it here, then they have a way of bringing things into the city that we don't know about. But no one has actually seen this weapon yet?

[He would like to believe that the Null are lying.]

I don't want any of you to die.

No. The Null are only willing to reveal it to the people who kill at least one person on their list.

[Hence the problem.]

They did clarify that only one was required, though. They are prepared for the possibility of deception, and by putting ourselves at risk, they believe it is a test of our loyalty and willingness to be cooperative.

[She frowns. This is bad, and she needs to make Hope understand the underlying part of just why it's so bad.]

If they are able to transport things here, Hope...that means they are able to track our location and are likely preparing for an attack. I'm not familiar enough with them to guess at how soon that might be, but I think you should be very careful about who you reveal yourself to going forward.

I am already trying to be careful. However, I can't simply stay hidden away - especially since the Null have wanted me dead since the beginning. If I hid because of that, I would not be able to do anything. I am trying to take care, however.

[It's not an easy situation - there's no easy solution.]

We try to stay prepared in case of another attack. We try to collect power for that possibility, despite your general objections to it.

I suggested having a magical construct of yourself crafted before. This would be a good time to make use of it. I can tell you who replied publicly to the Null and sounded interested in their offer, but it is entirely possible someone sent them messages privately.

[She can respect Hope wanting to be brave and his determination to carry on as he always has, but the fact remains that he must be protected and that he is not a warrior.]

My objection is not to you collecting power. You need to eat just as we do. I object to some of the methods used to collect the power.

[But, on that point, she can concede that the gods have a more pressing need to strengthen themselves.]

The dreams were a good balance of giving all of you power without harming us. Enough people were furious at the Null putting children on their list of people to kill that I imagine Rage benefitted.

That is something to consider, in any case. And while I believe we already know who expressed interest, I would like your observations as well.

[The more the better.]

Yes, Rage was strengthened. The dreams helped us as well. We will need more, but it's a start.

[Considering the gods have said that they can't see the Null's posts, she's doubting Hope knows everyone who expressed interest. Private messages are possible, after all, and she can't see those. So all that can be ruled out for sure are the people on the list, and anyone else who may have contacted Hope to play the part of double agent as she did. But there's also the possibility that some may really go through with it.]

Of the people who replied where everyone not on the list can see...I would say that Hux is the most likely to take them up on their offer. He once bragged about creating a weapon that destroyed five planets. A weapon that could kill a god would be of great interest to him, and I doubt he would hesitate to take a life to get it.

[In fact, she'd be shocked if he did hesitate.]

Unless they have been in contact with you about all of this as I have, I would suggest being wary of anyone not on the Null's hit list. Send out a magical construct to speak with them.

[She has a handwritten note on a piece of paper that she passes over.]

This is the most up to date list. Also, when I asked if two weeks was an acceptable time frame to decide whether I wanted an alliance or neutrality, the Null confirmed two weeks was acceptable. So you have that much time to prepare, at least.

Thank you.

[He takes the list.]

Right now, I am wary of anyone who hasn't proven that they can be trusted. That list is a very short one. However, I can't let my caution keep me from doing what needs to be done for all of you and for my companions.

[A sigh.]

I will do my best to remain safe and prepare for whatever may come. I appreciate your help very much.

I understand. In fact, not completely hiding away is perhaps the best way that you can inspire hope in the population under the circumstances. If you show courage, they may respond in kind.

[She can appreciate courage. She's not one to back down from an interesting challenge easily, and Hope is protective of the community, despite his lack of public relations skills.]

Just do bear my advice in mind with the magic construct. It's the best way to keep you safe while still allowing you the chance to interact with people and have a visible presence.

I hope that is true. We need all the allies we can get.

[Or at least, so Hope believes. Not all the others agree.]

I'll keep your advice in mind.

[That's all she can ask. At least Hope trusts her judgement to some degree.]

I am not sure if this would be your domain or perhaps that of Tranquility or Confusion, but is there some way to restore someone's memories of this place back in their world? An object, perhaps, that could be brought through the Door?

[She pauses.]

Not that I am requesting that immediately. You have more pressing matters. I just want to know if such a thing would be possible, since people do seem to remember being here before if they return, so it seems that the memories are repressed rather than completely gone.

I'm not sure. I know that you are aware we have no control over the Door - we really know very little about it. It may be possible to create something that could do that, but it would take time and experimentation.

[Which is to say, it's not really something he can focus on right now, with everything else going on.]

I will think about it, though.

Thank you. The person whose world I wanted to go to...the Door sent him back early.

[She offers that simple explanation as to why she asked for such a thing. She wants to go there, find him, and be remembered.

Then it's right back to business.]

Do you know of a way to destroy the Null weapons?

I am sorry to hear that. He may come here again, one day.

[The Door tends to do as it pleases, after all.]

I believe they can be destroyed with sufficient force, like nearly anything.

[No matter how much she misses him, he's likely happier where he is. But she does wish he could be here to fight by her side in battle like they'd talked about. There was something thrilling about destroying things that even gods feared. And on that note...]

My magic may be able to manage it.

[It's then that she realizes that she's never actually told Hope what she can do, specifically. She's been open about having plenty of battle experience, and it shows even in the way she talks about strategy, but this is more relevant.]

I can cut nearly anything. Magical armor, energy attacks, dimensional barriers...I have managed to cut all of those things without difficulty.

[She pauses for a moment.]

I assume the Null have ensured their own weapons cannot harm them?

If that's the case, I have no doubt you will be able to cut them as well.

[Hope looks a bit blank at the question.]

Some of their weapons have no effect on a creature like them. Others might. As I have said, I'm not a fighter.

Perhaps when I am no longer playing double agent, I can teach you some techniques that you could use to defend yourself. Purely non-lethal, if you would prefer.

[She's already taken enough of a liking to Hope to offer tips on strategy. She might as well make him one of her combat students, too.]

You already have extensive enough knowledge of the body to restore people. It would just be a matter of helping you apply that knowledge toward defensive combat.

I believe that combat for the two of us would be very different. However, I would be interested in watching you.

[Since, after all, the gods are actually clouds of energy.]

You can take solid forms when you choose to, yes? I recall Sorrow sparing a few minutes at the ball to dance with Rosie.

[Solid enough to make that happen, at least.]

Or if you prefer to watch, you would be welcome to join me when I go hunting the cave monsters for dinner. I would be interested in trying to figure out how to adapt combat to an energy being like yourself, though. It would be an interesting challenge for me as a teacher.

I am sure Rage would be interested in that, as well. I am not suited to combat, though I will watch what you do - it may be useful to know. However, I will never be a warrior.

One need not be a warrior to learn basic self-defense and improve their reaction time. Sometimes simply knowing how to react rather than freezing up from shock can make all the difference in the world.

[She doesn't trust Rage as much as she trusts Hope, but she supposes it would be a good way to make a somewhat positive impression on a warrior goddess.]

I was not a warrior when I got into my first fight. I was nothing more than a little girl who wanted to protect herself and her mother.

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