So a cell is both the organic unit, but also a term for a self-contained unit of an org that contains at most one or two people who are able to contact the other subdivisions. That way it minimizes risk if the members are caught. A sufficiently motivated state can make anyone talk, that’s what the black sites are for. Therefore, don’t give people the knowledge to cause damage by talking.
It only goes wrong if the leader is caught, but they only know a few points of contact who can limit the spread by taking action once a person who knows them is caught.
The joke is no longer funny because I explained it, sad face.
Absolutely understandable. I could have telegraphed I was joking around a lot better. If it’s any consolation I did think the whole cell metaphor (analogy? simile?) was great. Originally I was trying to come up with a stupid Dragon Ball reference but couldn’t make it work, so I fell back on a classic, albeit cringy Reddit meme.