Mikaen was on his feet in an instant. “The Revs?”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4czBoAIM1T
“The person piloting the Breath of Fire wasn’t Galden.” One said, “He was human. A little poking around, and I found his insignia pin. The Revs were behind the attack.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMVDAiABa0
“The Revs are on Vinta?” It was Jyle who spoke, having finally found his voice, “How? When?”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUL5jq97F2
“I don’t know,” One said, “But I think it’s safe to say they’re the ones who’ve been masquerading as monks.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKexmD84q9
“No wonder they were so interested in the Breath of Fire,” Mikaen said, “A combat dreadnaught would give them a major edge on Earth and Vinta.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHWUlwcV8n
Jyle took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “This … this changes everything.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKhIQB90IP
“I am not understanding,” said Shae, no doubt confused by the reactions of the Earthlings, “What are these Revs being, and also what is the extent of the impaction due to their involvement?”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HzhfVUn0l
“Revs view humans as the only pure race. They’ve killed millions of non-humans and magi back on earth. Mikaen and Jyle will back me up on that.” One nodded at them both.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY2sSnZ5j7
Mikaen asked One, “Do you know why they’re here?”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgSJYIl8J3
“Not yet, but a friend of mine’s working on scanning what’s left of the pilot’s gray matter.” One made a face. “It’s fried as the rest of him, but we might manage to get a little useful information.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMKx30sYnt
“In the meantime,” said Jyle, addressing the council, “I move that we take Daughter Myssohn’s suggestion and send a small team to infiltrate Ronisgald in a non-aggressive manner, for the purpose of discovering the nature of the connection between the Ronisgald Government and the Restored Earth Alliance. All in favor?”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTslmkJlq2
Most of the room signaled agreement, even if it was a bit reluctant in some cases.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSilCh4XpN
Iniagus let out a sigh before finally relenting. “Oh, very well. We will go with the majority.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nzMUDMnB9
“Then we are all agreed.” Jyle said, “Given the urgency of this matter, the rest of the Council will be postponed until we have the appropriate information necessary to make proper judgment.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV3ihpD0L3
As everyone got up to leave, Teria caught Jyle mouthing the words ‘stay here’ to Mikaen.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eVmAyDFv3
She bumped her sister’s arm, whispering, “Ten to one he asks Mikaen to head the team and tries to make us stay here.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxr3jlG5Ii
When the other delegates had left, Jyle sighed. “Tirinia, would you mind stepping out for a few minutes?”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzdiRvIuvu
Mikaen said, “Let her stay. I’m just gonna tell her about it later anyway.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzJuVj2zZy
Jyle frowned. “Fine. Teria?”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs54vopbu8
“Don’t waste your breath.” She said, picking at one of her claws.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKHI3ydL3J
Sighing, Jyle said, “I suppose you have a right to be here, seeing as the four of you snuck into the Galden camp in the dead of night and managed to sneak off with the prisoners.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCiZ6di9Nh
“Four of us?” said One, “I didn’t sneak into the camp until later.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqKNufcTrG
“I know.” Jyle said, “Mikaen, Teria, Tirinia … and Jeronem.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VqJEthRfl
Mikaen smirked at the empty chair beside his. “Nice try.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvXTu47NdU
Jeronem popped back into existence, pouting. “That’s not fair! If you can be here, then so can I!”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VkPIP5UIw
“Fine. Everyone can stay. It’s probably better that you all hear this anyway. I’m going to be assembling a team to investigate what’s been going on at Ronisgald. Mikaen, I realize this is asking a lot, but I’d like you to head the team.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKs2t6wLYM
“I’m going too.” Tirinia said immediately.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zh5tMaAAo
“I go where Tirinia goes.” said Teria. copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGjQv2FBXo
Jeronem waved his hand. “Don’t forget about me!”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7z9ABDH8pG
“No, no, No, NO!” Jyle frowned at them. “I can’t send out a bunch of Council delegates on what is clearly going to be a dangerous mission!”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwgcCJYMjz
“Oh really?” Teria put a hand on her hip. “You didn’t seem to mind when your daughter was concerned.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPfuFLwlmu
“I asked you to make sure she didn’t get into trouble, not to actually go rescue her if she did.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡJu3S5EvMMV
Mikaen held up a hand. “Hang on a moment. If we hadn’t gone to save your daughter and the other captives, they would have died before your troops got there.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGrJT3sSQM
“I’m not questioning any of your abilities.” said Jyle, holding a hand to his head, “Far from it. I am grateful for what you did, but Ronisgald isn’t a little camp in the forest; it’s one of the biggest countries on Vinta, filled with the latest security technology. The entire country is built inside hundreds of subterranean enclosures, the smallest of which is easily the same size as Muonsol, not to mention Angela.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0CGuhs1CO
“Who’s Angela?” Mikaen asked.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmjyfodKb0
“Angela’s the central intelligence construct that runs Ronisgald. She’s pretty advanced too; caught me hacking into her systems a few months ago.” Teria paused a moment and rubbed her neck. “Just thinking about it makes my datajack sting.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEG7nAbQs1
“This isn’t just about getting inside the city and sneaking around.” continued Jyle, “We need to know how deeply the Revs have infiltrated the government of Ronisgald. I hope to the Creator this hasn't gone as far as the Triumvates.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡDT2fAww2x9
Teria snorted. “Seeing as the Revs had a contingent of the Galden Security Force with them, I'm guessing they're pretty well in.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3vaBKzOvK
“That doesn’t necessarily mean the government knew they were Revs.” One told her. “They were in disguise, after all.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡObpvjN5vDy
Teria rolled her eyes at him. “Riiiight. Seriously, don’t you think someone in the chain of command would be a bit curious about a bunch of priests and monks wanting to excavate a giant robot?”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhryw2535D
Jyle cut in before One could respond. “So I’m sure we can all agree that we should send a team of trained professionals. As such, I want Mikaen to lead the group.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXGI8itH7Z
After a moment of silence, Mikaen said, “I don’t have a problem with leading a group, but wouldn’t I do better with a group whose abilities I’m already familiar with? I mean, Ronisgald isn’t just Galden, is it?”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVbRrvFx0i
“Well, no.” Jyle admitted, “It’s a melting pot culture; pretty much a little of everyone there, though it is mostly Galden.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xAx66zb9F
“Then what’s the problem? We can gear up and be on our way by the end of the day.” Mikaen looked to the others, who nodded in agreement.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmCw5KOzsV
“That’s not the point. Tirinia and Teria are Daughters of Longshore, and Jeronem’s the son of the vuestan Elder.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡzURKMigrQh
“Oh, so you’re saying I’m more expendable?” Mikaen said, crossing his arms.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVOktUr36B
“Of course not!” Jyle said, “But you are more experienced. If the Revs are really up to something, who would be more qualified to go than you?”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWXls35gCy
It was a good point, and Mikaen knew it. Sighing, he said, “Fine. You win, Jyle. I’ll head your little team.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbt3WfmdHc
Teria and Jeronem looked at Mikaen, both clearly disappointed. Tirinia didn’t respond at all, which struck Teria as vaguely suspicious.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡus8iMBdeEj
Jyle gave Mikaen a long, hard look. “Well, I’m glad you’re willing to listen to reason for a change. I’ll have the rest of the team ready tomorrow morning.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡPngMIIQOZs
Looking at Tirinia, Jyle said, “Don’t worry, Tirinia. I’m sending him in with my best; he’ll get home all right.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbEQeA6BNN
Tirinia nodded silently, a strangely calm look on her face.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhfWA2xNhc
With a final nod to One, Jyle left the chamber.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76AnTi6J75
“What in Nocturnes is this crap?” Teria said, once Jyle was gone, “We can’t go because we’re Daughters? What kind of bullshit is that?”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuhPlwqr7e
“Yeah! What gives?” Jeronem's voice squeaked in the head of everyone present.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVwuR7xpUO
Mikaen didn’t reply. About that time, Teria realized that he and Tirinia were counting silently on their fingers.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2UcqNvwwC
Once they reached the count of ten, Mikaen clapped his hands together. “Okay, he should be out of hearing range. Here’s the plan: we’ll meet up in the stables at midnight, hijack a few mounts, and head out before morning.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI7TyspZTx
Teria's mouth hung open for a few moments before she let out a laugh. “Cute. Real cute.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8sKDjRaIM
“Ooh! Come with us, One! That would be awesome!” Jeronem looked eagerly at the Dreamer.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkOUwfI1Lf
One opened his mouth to reply when the chamber doors slammed open, revealing two men. Thinking it would be Jyle, Teria was surprised to recognize the perpetually slouching Narrator Number Two (mostly from that tasteless hat with the feather). The angry man with the spectacles was unfamiliar … and a little frightening.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnXLhweHv7
“One!” The bespectacled man barked, “Back to the Elsewhere, now!”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJgGuTZm4I
“What’s wrong?” One asked, sounding genuinely startled.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ842XYzcGAY
“Not here. Get back to the-”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡVemT0DqekV
“What in Nocturnes is your problem?” Teria interrupted, quickly stepping between the two, “You just barge in and-”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzFCf9vfvA
“Stay out of this, norm. It doesn’t concern you.” said Teach, not even looking at her as he spoke.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEE0BCzOja
“Hey!” Now it was One who sounded angry, “Don’t talk to her like that! Y’know what? Teria’s right. What the hell is your issue, Teach?”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfp89pMzD7
“We can discuss my ‘issue’ back at the Elsewhere.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZGaCWk8cQ
“Fine, I’ll head back when I’m done here.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaumb6ZLUj
“NOW!”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHzkPIKCio
A tense silence fell between One and Teach. Even Two shrank back from the two Dreamers. Teria wasn’t sure what to think. She had witnessed first-hand what a Dreamer could do, and didn’t want to think what would happen if two of them started fighting.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNoqY0ni8z
“Come on, One.” Two said, glancing worriedly between One and Teach, “All right, both of you just cool it already. We’ll get this cleared up back home.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QJDdVJdGD
One glared at Teach for a moment longer before nodding. “Fine.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCk6XaOHM6
An angry look on his face, One walked briskly across the room, making a point to brush past Teach. Two followed shortly after, leaving Teach.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wUuXSukbD
“I apologize to all of you for this interruption,” Teach said in a much calmer manner, bowing slightly, “Please, bear it no further thought.”copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjuDWHzGVf
Without another word, Teach strode across the room, presumably following after One and Two.copyright protection126ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsREyOOmwB
As the chamber doors closed, Teria looked at her sister and Mikaen and asked the question on everyone’s mind. “What in Nocturnes was that all about?”130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjLIXIqwol
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