After the group has left the room where four of the group had to deal with their doubles. Ca’armine addresses Alexis. Alexis is clearly emotionally wrapped up with both watching himself die and losing the possibility of having two Alexis’ to plumb the secrets of the universe.
“Boss, in that room, remember that we had a plan.” Alexis nods, and Ca’armine continues. “And I would be such a disloyal team member if I didn’t keep reminding you that you had a plan and we needed to follow the plan and I’m going to keep doing that. Changing the plan in the middle is not—”
“We changed the plan in the middle, in the bead room, because there was an opportunity there. And Red followed through on that opportunity.” Red agrees with Alexis as he says this.
“There is no universe in which both of those Alexis’ could have survived.”
Alexis and Ethelred enthusiastically agree, with Ethelred adding, “but they might have been able to fold them back into one.”
“They did by walking through the door.”
Alexis and Red both disagree, and Alexis adds, with just enough self-awareness to take the edge off, “But five minutes could have gained so much for the world.”
“From studying that trap?!” Rask stares at him.
“Yes,” Alexis and Ethelred exclaim together, with Ethelred adding, “It was a working much like the other workings we’ve discovered.”
“Sleep on this, but think about how dangerous that could end up being.”
Alexis looks at Red, then back at Rask. “We’ve thought about it.”
After a second Alexis turns back to Ca’armine “A plan is where you start, Carm. But when something changes on the ground, that’s a conversation you bring to me. Not a reason to hold the line by yourself.”
Ca’armine shakes his head. “Alexis, you were compromised in that room. You and the rest of the team. Only I could see what was really going on. When Rask carried the black blade, and we became aware that Zithrak was using it to infect his mind, we did not count on Rask’s clear head anymore, did we?”
“Changing the plan in the middle of the encounter, is absolutely your call when you are thinking clearly. The plan is the better guide, however, when that’s not happening.” He pushes a smile, and claps Alexis on the shoulder. “You should be thanking me for following the plan, instead of making up something new on the spot!”
Alexis accepts the shoulder clap with a nod.
“I wasn’t compromised, Carm. I was standing at that door the whole time, watching, making calls.” He keeps his voice level. “Being emotionally affected by something isn’t the same as being compromised. If it were, none of us would be fit to lead after half the things we’ve seen.”
He lets that settle.
“The comparison to the black blade doesn’t hold. Rask chose to carry the black blade. Chose to try to capture Zrithrak in the evil sword. Those were his calls and they had consequences. I put myself at the door specifically to stay in control of the situation. Those aren’t the same thing.”
He glances back toward the room they came from.
“And Red spent several minutes in that room doing exactly what I wanted to do, in a riskier position than I was in. You didn’t pull him out.” He looks back at Ca’armine, still easy, no heat. “I’m glad you held the line. I want you holding the line. But next time something changes on the ground, check in with me first. That’s all I’m asking.”
Ca’armine shrugs. “I will do my best to check with you Alexis.”