Hey Jerkface!

To: ambrosecameron@lsu.edu [or whatever]
From: semitchell@gmail.com
Subject: So, lets talk then.
Attachment: NYT.5.26.2006.pdf

Hi, Ambrose.

I'm really tempted to preface this with something obnoixiously glib, but instead, i'm going to cut to the chase. I've been looking in to you and your associates, and the more I find (enough, but see attachment for an example), the less I like (and you might imagine that to be a challenge, all things considered).

So, nevertheless I'm taking this opportunity to track you down. Maybe it was the circumstances, but you seem to be a relatively reasonable person, and I want to know what makes a seemingly reasonable person join up with a group which as far as I can tell is completely the opposite.

I know that there is more to what's going on, in the grand sense, than anyone has told us, and probably there some lies and misdirection thrown in to try and keep us in our place, whatever that may be. I'm not really ready to listen to your (that's the plural your) version of what really *is* going on, but I want to know what has you (personal you) so convinced that what we're supposed to think is wrong.

I think its a fair request, and I hope to hear back from you.

-Simon

Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind. - Rudyard Kipling

To: semitchell@gmail.com
From: ajcameron@lsu.edu
Subject: Re: So, lets talk then.

Simon, its...good to hear from you. I hesitate for a lot of reasons, the least of which the obvious assumption that any sort of goodwill from me will either seem insincere or will simply be disbelieved. Still, I'm going to try to be as open as possible, though I am, as ever, stumbling through a dimly lit piece of a much larger labyrinth.

First of all, and I know this comes both too late and will serve only to cloud future dealings, but I feel it must be stated for the record: I had no idea Danica had taken it upon herself to end your friend's life. I didn't know her, and I'm sorry, for so many things, but had I any knowledge and a chance to stop her, Danica would be the one gone. Nothing I can say can make it better, but I had nothing to do with it. Danica had been in town weeks before I arrived. I can only assume her cracked mind assumed your friend represented some sort of threat. I don't know how our...benefactors can countenance such methods, but I have little say in the matter. Everyone deserves a chance at redemption, even her. God help us.

On a similar subject, yes, I knew about the thing in New York. While I wasn't associated with the N at the time, I understand my association with them might seem like tacit acceptance of their methods. There are any number of things I could say about no one agreeing with all the actions of their government/religion/organization, but they would simply be excuses. The truth is, early on, I had to make peace with the fact that war means sacrifices. I don't like it, I have managed to avoid it, and will continue to do so in the future, but Maggie (I assume you know who she is) assures me that the man they were after in New York was responsible for much of the collateral damage and he was a target worth the destruction. I wouldn't take most people's word on that, but her I trust. I'm sorry if you disagree, but know that I lose plenty of sleep on it still.

As to how a reasonable person (and I am less and less sure that's an accurate description of me) joins up with such a group, well, I found them. I got the visit from my "father", who asked me to undertake some very questionable actions for seemingly no reason other than assuaging hurt pride. He needed an instrument, and I was the one to hand. I left, I ran, I hid for years. Unfortunately, I couldn't hide from what was going on. I got involved with the edges of the war, doing my best to shield my adopted home from the fallout. It didn't work. I failed, and people around me paid the price. Then I got a visitor. One you and your friends claim you don't believe, even with all that's happened. I got a chance to make a real difference, and I have. I've gathered more knowledge, done more good, than I would've thought possible. Weighed against some of the horrors I've seen, I'll take it. Whether or not it outweighs even one act like Danica's, I can't say. But I have to believe I'm making a difference.

Look, all this may sound like utter bullshit, and that's fine. I'm willing to keep an open mind, and hopefully an open dialogue. To that end, I'll be in town for a very short time in a few days, and your friend Nils wanted to meet. By all means, accompany him, particularly if it will make either of you feel safer. I'd relish the chance to talk more, and I have an...issue you might want to look into.

To: ajcameron@lsu.edu
From: semitchell@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Re: So, lets talk then.

Thanks for answering - I appreciate it. Sorry I didn't get a chance to you when you were in town. I don't know what all Nils told you, but though I'm still not sure it was the best idea, I'd have like to go with him. Things happen, whatever. We looked into the spiders, and though I'm still not sure about all the fallout, it is at least short term resolved.

I'm glad you're at least willing to talk - that was really what I was hoping for, here. I do have more questions - about who this guy in New York was, for instance, what your grou thinks the point of this conflict is, what the good you've been doing is, exactly... and some other stuff along these lines. All I know is that there have been a number of lines drawn, and I don't know where they all are yet.

My friends brought up a good point though - about security and such. I'm pretty on top of thigs on my end, but I don't know what things are like for you. To that end.... I wrote an encryption key. You can download it at [Site], but only once. I'd suggest keeping it on a flashdrive or something similar. Once you have it, let me know, and we can talk more. Once its in your hands, it will be up to you to keep it secure on your end.

Hope to hear from you again soon.

-Simon

Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind. - Rudyard Kipling