First, I just wanted to mention I
loved this chapter, and I'm glad you seem to be recovered. ❤️
It could have been Arasaka themselves, attempting to glad-hand me, or it could have been Militech or any other Corporation. It could even have been exactly what my interrogator claimed, a private attack that sought to steal something from me and then sell it to the highest bidder.
My personal opinion was that the timing of Arasaka's rescue was mighty convenient. I had only been unconscious for about an hour before waking up and having that woman attempt to coerce me. Either they already had me under surveillance themselves for their own kidnapping and noticed the attack, or they arranged it themselves to rescue me right before I was tortured and possibly murdered. Their alacrity in responding could be explained no other way.
Presumably, Arasaka already had the analysis showing the sleep inducer to be a significant force multiplier, and could safely assume other megacorps did too, or had intelligence confirming it outright. I think it would have made sense for them to position assets specifically to
prevent an abduction attempt:
- they needed Dr. Hasumi to remain free (or in their hands) until the license agreement was signed and the technology was transferred;
- a successful rescue would be a great opportunity to hire her on, as they did;
- realistically, there was no way Militech wouldn't escalate their attempts to secure exclusive access to that tech (at least momentarily) and a failed abduction would ensure Dr. Hasumi be unwilling to deal with them;
- staging the abduction themselves is somewhat wasteful, when they must have known
someone would make the attempt;
- if they did it anyway, there would be a risk Dr. Hasumi would find out eventually, which might at the very least make her more willing to work against corporate interests, or even attempt to find another employer.
In my opinion, that would have been the smarter play for Arasaka. At the same time, it's not a play Militech could have gone for, because Arasaka was already about to secure access to the tech, and Dr. Hasumi supposedly had nationalist leanings.
Not to mention, the rescue needed a lot less hardware and manpower than the kidnapping... and I find it unlikely Militech's AV fleet would be under loose security, when they are at war and might expect sabotage attempts (commissioned by the "Free States" or anyone wishing to delay or prevent the "reunification")
Still, I think it makes sense Taylor would suspect them more than an objective analyst would:
- she was just betrayed and kidnapped, it seems highly unlikely to me she isn't emotionally compromised ;
- she was actively trying to get "hired" by a megacorp as a researcher.
Still, I had the feeling that if I dragged Gloria away from her entire life again for her own safety, she might not welcome me back around again.
Entirely valid, and I'm kind of surprised Taylor didn't apologise.
For what it's worth, I came up a while back with what I need in a proper apology... which a friend informed me happens to line up with a concept in Judaism called
teshuva:
- acknowledging what wrong was done, and how significant it was for the victim
that last part is important, those situation are often caused by people not understanding how they are affecting others
- immediately stop doing it, and commit to not do it again
for things one did unknowingly, I believe a perfectly reasonable plan could be going over the situation with one's therapist to figure out whether there were maladaptive behaviors at play and correct them
- think about the future consequences of the wrong
- seek to correct it / "make things right"
obviously sometimes that's just not possible, but then offering a more symbolic sort of reparation is fine?
On the other hand, she might just not, as I see a change in how she relates to others:
- I don't recall an earlier time she outright said she believes herself superior to others, which is a sharp departure from how she was before turning herself into a networked entity.
Some of it can be explained by her self-loathing being alleviated, and her growing progressively socialized into that world's culture and mindset. I still don't think this is the full explanation, given her earlier concerns about cyberpsychosis and such.
Plus, her mindset now reminds me more of the British ninja's (William something?) or at least what little we read of it.
- She didn't give Gloria any agency in that, much unlike the initial move to LA, and only discussed it very shortly with Kiwi before dropping a ton of money into getting it done.
I find it especially strinking, given that I believe Taylor is rather fiercely protective of her own agency and independence.
- Now, she has a cute bishounen PA that she acknowledged (in internal monologue) she's treating kind of like a pet.
TBH I'm really looking forward to upcoming character development, whether she notices what's going on, and whether she tries to correct course :3
