John sighed and shook his head. "That isn't true, though. I needed to get home. But, quick had long been accepted as not happening. J-day had been months earlier. You and I had already discussed the three to five year timeline and I told you then I wasn't interested in handing over my world's mistakes for another to duplicate. That's not what I resented him for, either. I resented him for seemingly dismissing me for things I wasn't saying. I wasn't pushing the idea. I didn't know if I should. That was the whole point in talking to him in the first place. I've had to play a lot of catch-up just to contribute what little I have. I didn't know if we should be looking at that information or not. And he was pretty damned excited when I first mentioned it. I was the one to first bring up the risks because that was why I was there to ask if we should look at it in the first place. After his initial excitement wore off, he seemed to be under the impression I was saying this was what I wanted us to do and he decided then and there we wouldn't do it because it was more dangerous than I understood. I was used to being dismissed because of my age by then. So, I let it drop because I didn't know if I was right or not."
Running a hand through his hair, he shrugged. "It wasn't about your decision. Until just now, I didn't know you had made a decision or that he'd talked to Hetty. I didn't even realize he'd talked to anyone about my ideas for working together until he called the first meeting. And that's part of why I question if he really understands. The only time we ever talked about it he changed his mind so quickly."
He smiled briefly at the joking, but regained his seriousness at the order. Though he nodded, he bit his lip. "I will and I get the need to say it. But, I hope you'll forgive me if I'd rather hope I never have to follow that particular order."
Nodding again, he breathed a little easier with the rest of the conversation. "I know, Sir. And I know it may not be possible. But, well, I guess I'm trying to think a few moves ahead. If it's at all possible to get people settled elsewhere first, I think it's the best option for not duplicating this world's mistakes. My world is pretty fucked up. Just look at my life if you need proof. If we can keep that from happening to another world, I have to consider the option at least.
"And, yeah, I can do that. I've actually been thinking -- yes, more -- that maybe it's time to start collecting the laptops and destroying them. We've already told them to put everything on thumb drives in their packs. If we're getting ready to go, they don't need them at all. They can still get email on their phones. If Nell wipes the drives, I can disassemble them for parts and we can be sure we dispose of anything we can't or won't take with us now, while we have the chance...and take less chance of scattering technology from different worlds all over others. It started very small in my world. Technology no bigger than a hand." Okay, an actual cybernetic hand. But, Vance would get what John wasn't saying.