Sovereigns game

Everyone starts somewhere. Sometimes the most important thing is simply to get away.

Heap of randoms

Begin

RAHAH

Okay. Let's do this.

JERINDAL

You got all the charges?

RAHAH

(she nods)

Mhmm. Got the yaks?

JERINDAL

Yeah.

Conclusion of talks

Rahah steps up to the podium. Nissa moves as though to stop her, but then just stands behind her looking a bit worried.

RAHAH

Council of the Magi.

The councillers stop talking and turn toward the podium.

COUNCILLOR HOREN AKAI

Soveriegn of the Citheldryn, we understand your people have returned home. What is going on here?

RAHAH

They have. I regret to inform you that the decision has been made. The Hadris Citheldryn is as of now withdrawing from negotiations with the Order of Magi of the Galaxy of Edo.

COUNCILLOR MALKRIST

But why? The situation was resolved. You cannot hold us responsible for the actions of terrorists!

RAHAH

It is not for what happened, but for what the situation represents. We are guardians of secrets, and if you cannot even guard what you have, how can we expect you to fare with greater knowledge and technology? We cannot risk formal relations at this stage.

COUNCILLOR MALKRIST

That's ridiculous. With better tech, our security could only be made more effective.

RAHAH

Perhaps, but technology is the smallest part of security. It is the people who make a thing secure, the people who guard it.

COUNCILLOR ADRECE ANOR

Cannot people be compromised with tech?

RAHAH

Indeed they can, but it is also people who determine what the countertech would need to be, and when to deploy it. People who understand what to do, where to be, how to proceed. Your people are good, and they fight with honour and integrity, but I fear they are not that good. We simply cannot take the risk.

There's some murmurring amongst the councillors.

NISSA

(quietly)

Is there nothing they could do?

RAHAH

(she nods slightly)

Should you recover the box, however, and take steps to ensure that no such incident may happen again, it is possible that the Hadris Citheldryn would be open to resuming talks. No single mistake should end you, not when you still have feet to stand on and a voice to be heard.

COUNCILLOR ADRECE ANOR

We cannot do that.

RAHAH

Why not?

COUNCILLOR HOREN AKAI

Because it is the Alliance who have it now.

COUNCILLOR ADRECE ANOR

Any overt attempt to take it back risks war.

RAHAH

And have you no official channels you can go through, no solid proof that it was yours to begin with?

COUNCILLOR HOREN AKAI

None.

COUNCILLOR ADRECE ANOR

The box is a secret. You guard secrets, do you not? Would you care for another?

Chatter

NISSA

I've seen you fight. You're like nothing else.

KELLECH

Those moves were amazing.

RAHAH

(shaking her head)

Those moves were incompetence, were me falling over every other time because what I'm used to doing just doesn't work in real life!

KELECH

They seemed to work fine.

Pick up job

COMNEN

I understand you have a job for me.

NISSA

(looking him over disappointedly)

Perhaps. If you're up for it.

COMNEN

Oh, I'm up for it, girl. You kids may not know me, but I've pulled jobs even the hardest crews would balk at. The Garrison Crash? That was me. The missing Saren shipments? The eidolon storm.

The two girls exchange blank looks.

COMNEN

Seriously?

RAHAH

Er, we don't really get out much.

COMNEN

And what exactly did you want me to do?

NISSA

Oh, it's simple enough. Pick up and transport.

COMNEN

And the problem?

RAHAH

The pickup is from the Atlas Tower of the Magi compound.

Comnen stares at them blankly.

COMNEN

(finally)

What.

NISSA

We'll get the item to you. We simply need a pickup after.

COMNEN

Wasn't there a... situation there not a few days ago? Some sort of robbery then too? Did that have anything to do with you?

NISSA

Why? Does this worry you?

COMNEN

Security will be tight.

RAHAH

Sure, but they like us.

NISSA

No they don't.

RAHAH

(giving Nissa an annoyed look)

Well, they like you.

NISSA

(uncertainly)

Er...

Infected hand

DAZROTH

Don't touch him directly. The contagion may spread.

RAHAH

Right. But if it's magical in origin, could not magicking it do the same?

DAZROTH

Do you not use safeguards?

RAHAH

(a bit surprised, but quickly covering)

They may only work against known vectors.

SANTANA

That's a good point, really. We still don't know how the plague was spreading.

The others start discussing this.

RAHAH

(quietly)

Comnen, were you shielded?

COMNEN

Yeah. I thought you said this would protect me? That stuff went right through it!

RAHAH

What happened? Was there a flash or anything?

COMNEN

It went all dark. Just all over. And then my hand...

RAHAH

Hrnng...

Rahah takes his affected hand at a distance, holding it up by magic, and inspecting it, indirectly, with more of the same.

The discussion around the rest of the cubicle dies down a bit as folks watch.

COMNEN

Well?

RAHAH

I... have no idea.

DAZROTH

Not related to the plague?

RAHAH

It's unlike anything I've ever seen.

Comnen manages to avoid snarking at this, but only barely.

RAHAH

It's like...

But though she clearly recognises something, she doesn't finish the thought, instead hastilly dropping Comnen's hand and leaning away.

End thing

FERN

How our stories come around! To meet you, now, after so much has happened.

RAHAH

Should I know you, emissary?

FERN

No, I suppose not. Your story is only just beginning to unfold. But you will, guardian. You will.

RAHAH

I feel like I know yours...

FERN

Tell it, then. Use the book, perhaps, for it will dream it true...