[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.

[unofficial_ambassador]

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

[Video | Private, Encrypted]

[kazeninaru]

Shit.

[That curse is in Japanese, yup.]

Do what you can do. Thank you.

[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.

[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.

[kazeninaru]

[Haruka frowns, but comments:]

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

[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]

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

We can hope.

Did you recognize the person who followed you?

[Video | Private, Encrypted]

[kazeninaru]

I only spoke with him a little, but it was enough for him to know me.

[She huffs, pushing her hair out of her eyes.]

What could he have to do with all of this? And how could he hide being gone for two weeks, as we were?

[Unless he didn't, but she doesn't know how he'd manage that, unless he knows a lot more than she does about the whole mess.]

[kazeninaru]

The person who followed me?

[She snorts.]

No. He was just one of the peacekeepers. Probably following me on Roland's orders, some signal he made to them, or just because I showed interest in someone who is important to them. They are very strict and orderly here, so someone like me does stick out some.

[mentornomore]

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

[unofficial_ambassador]

That makes sense, I suppose. I'll see if I can find out anything more here.

Video

[infourbooks]

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

[Video | Private, Encrypted]

[nodavinci]

He probably has people to cover for him. Aides, secretaries, possibly a bodyguard or two if he's positioned high enough on the food chain.

[There's a brief pause.]

Of course, there's another possibility: he's Roland, but he's from before Salvation. There are people from thousands of realities on that ship; why not this one?

[Video | Private, Encrypted]

[kazeninaru]

How would that work? We were all pulled to the ship, regardless of where we were. How would when we were have anything to do with it? Besides, nobody on this planet lives that long unless they're from the ship.

[kazeninaru]

Arigato. Uh, thank you. Let me know. Try to reply privately if you can. If he is really one of us, he can see things we say on here, too.

[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?

[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.]

[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 | Private, Encrypted]

[nodavinci]

Not from before Salvation crashed - from before he was taken. Or a version of Roland who was never taken. It's not likely, but we have to consider the possibility. You know, while we find out what we can about who he is, and why he'd be lying.

[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.