Sovereigns game
A fragment of the Garden of Remembering
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.
Proposal accepted
An avatar appears. Rahah pokes it, and it bows slightly.
AVATAR
Sovereign. On behalf of the Arbitration Committee of the Hadris Citheldryn, I am pleased to inform you that your proposal to initial formal diplomatic relations with the Magi of Edo has been accepted.
RAHAH
Cool. In full?
AVATAR
Yes. Because of your position and locale, the Committee will meet with you in person. Please, select a timeslot. Exact scheduling information will be found in your calendar.
The avatar poofs in a shower of sparkles.
Rahah gives it an annoyed look.
RAHAH
Yes, thank you, because using avatars for interactive recordings makes so much sense.
TOANNA
It's for security. Prevents impersonations.
RAHAH
Yeah, because so many people here are going to want to impersonate each other.
TOANNA
Most of the folks in the Order aren't in Cifreya, you know.
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.
RAHAH
So get it... unofficially?
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.
RAHAH
(frazzled)
I just don't know what I'm doing.
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...
Rahah gives her a worried look.
RAHAH
Okay, look. The initial thing wasn't us, wasn't even related to us. This is just another thing. Show up, pick us up. If we don't show up in an hour...
(she turns to Nissa)
It is an hour, right?
NISSA
Huh?
RAHAH
The parking permits. They're an hour, right?
NISSA
Oh, yeah.
(to Comnen; catching on)
You'll have a permit and stuff. Just show up, park, and we'll come out to you. If we don't come out before it expires, just leave.
RAHAH
Perfectly legal.
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...
