[Video | Monday afternoon, Week 43]

[kazeninaru]

[There's a mildly disgruntled and somewhat determined-looking senshi on the screen today. Haruka's just come from a very interesting meeting, and she is determined to make sure everyone knows about it.]

Yo. People from the end of the world time, with the shrinking everything and... everything. I met Roland today. I know it was him, even if he denied it. He called me "miss" and he didn't want to talk to me. He called himself "David Birne" and says he works for the council here in Bellona. And then someone followed me, after I spoke to him.

[She shifts a little, looking aside with a scowl, then admits:]

I sometimes get flashes of things, feelings, when I am around someone dangerous, or when there's something I need to know to help someone. Most times it is only a feeling, but visions sometimes, too. And I had one, of that place in the future, when I shook his hand. It left my whole arm numb.

[She makes a flexing motion with the hand in question, still feeling some pins and needles in it as sensation slowly comes back. Looking back at the camera again, she settles back into a determined expression.]

There is something wrong here. Whether he is involved in bringing this future about or he is just hiding something about it, I think we should find out. You-tachi back at the city, see if you can learn anything about him? I will try here, before we leave, once I track down Zevran.

Comments

[Video | Private, Encrypted]

[nodavinci]

If you're right, he has one of these. Give me fifteen minutes before you start sharing anything you don't want him to know.

[Video | Private, Encrypted]

[kazeninaru]

Shit.

[That curse is in Japanese, yup.]

Do what you can do. Thank you.

[Video | Private, Encrypted]

[nodavinci]

[Eventually, he returns.]

There. You're auto-transmitting on an encrypted channel. I'll burn it once you're back in the city.

Touch base with Alenko when you get a chance. He was working on alternative communication options before we were dropped down the rabbit hole, so he should be able to revive that project.

[Video | Private, Encrypted]

[kazeninaru]

Good. And I will. It may be too late, if he has seen this much, but it may help some.

Did you speak with him much, Stark-san? In the future time?

[Video | Private, Encrypted]

[nodavinci]

Not really. He never came down to the engine room.

[unofficial_ambassador]

Be careful. If he's that dangerous, he might be the one who hypnotized Elissa and Chime.

[Response on a private channel]

[kazeninaru]

Heh. I am not too very worried about that.

[She, after all, threw off the mind control of Galaxia. She'll be fine.]

But I will be careful. Though he was killed by someone, too, so I do not know that it was him.

Re: [Response on a private channel]

[unofficial_ambassador]

Not just you. If one of them gets . . . reactivated, we could have problems.

[kazeninaru]

[Haruka frowns, but comments:]

That sorceress left them with magic protection. With luck it still holds, even if she is not here.

[unofficial_ambassador]

[The combination of luck and magic does not leave her very confident]

We can hope.

Did you recognize the person who followed you?

[mentornomore]

I'm... not sure you'd want my help on this. But is there anything you would like me to do?

[Reply encrypted]

[kazeninaru]

Oi, I trust you more than some people, ryuu-san.

[There's a little tiny bit of amusement in her voice when she tosses the nickname at him. More seriously, though, she continues:]

Keep an eye on your behavior. And Elissa-san's. Make sure nothing seems out of the ordinary or, eh, more aggressive than usual? And think if you spoke with Roland much or at all while you were there. What do you remember about him?

[mentornomore]

[Nicknames aren't something he's used to, but he doesn't think asking for clarification would help much.]

I can keep watch, but I don't remember talking to him. Before things went wrong I was mostly flying out to explore and try to hunt.

[kazeninaru]

[Actually, if he asked, she could at least translate for him. She doesn't now, since he didn't ask. Maybe someday.]

I don't think he did anything in particular to you, then. But just in case. Mostly I want to know more about him, myself, as I did not speak with him much, either.

[mentornomore]

I don't think I have anything to add. I'll try and ask Elissa, though.

Video

[infourbooks]

If that was the future... he shouldn't really know who any of us are, right?

[Video]

[kazeninaru]

I don't think he actually existed in that future, Neville. I think he was dragged there, the same way we were, which means he would be from this time as well.

[If it's anything else, or the timelines are even more messed up than she thinks they are, then... she'll just growl and let someone else figure that shit out.]

Re: [Video]

[infourbooks]

He'd be the only one not from the ship then... unless he is too?

[Video]

[kazeninaru]

He would have to be. No one else was taken except people from that ship. Not even things were taken not of that ship.

[Yes, she's heard about Todd and his pets. It's hard not to.]

Re: [Video]

[infourbooks]

But not someone any of us knew before. Or has someone else seen him before all the time went crazy?

[Video]

[damn_it_jim]

[Bones' famously steady hands shook for a good long moment after processing Haruka's message, and it's taken him another one to get control of himself anouth to reply. He's still a hell of a lot paler than he'd ever admit to as he turns up on the video feed, his eyes wide and staring intently across the digital divide.]

Whatever or whoever got to me, it wanted him dead. Watch yourself, Tenoh, if he was a target then you might be one now.

I'd be irritated if you died. Try and avoid it.

[Video]

[kazeninaru]

[Aw, Bones, do you care? You care, don't you? Haruka isn't sure whether to be amused or touched at the warning, but she does smile a bit at him. Even if it's a kind of bemused smirk.]

It will take a lot to keep me down, Doctor. I have already died twice since I came here. But I will be careful.

[Video]

[damn_it_jim]

Resurrection machines are no excuse to be reckless, young lady.

[Bones is letting a touch of humour into his pronouncement, amplified by the beetling of his eyebrows at her, but there's seriousness still lingering beneath.]

I recognized Roland as one of the people who'd died of the plague, back in the old timeline. I have no idea if that helps or if it just muddies the waters even more.

[Video]

[kazeninaru]

[She sits up straighter, at that. This! This is potentially useful! Whoever he is, he's done better for himself, this time around.]

You knew him? Did he not come back, then, the way I have and others have? What do you remember about him, from the other timeline?

[Video]

[damn_it_jim]

I knew him as much as I knew any of the poor bastards coughing and dying. Recognized a face, had an inkling of a name, no time for much more than that.

[Some memory of that particular dark and frustrating time shades Bones' expression.]

I didn't see him until we fell ahead in time, so I had no reason to assume he was anything other than another local, dying like the other thousands I couldn't cure in time.