Like a Snow globe in Motion, Shaken (Gear, Sess)

[MKR]

December 26th, 2880
St. Edgar Hospital, Anchorage. Area 10
20:14 PM

Footsteps moving through a well maintained facility, outside the winter landscape showered the countryside in snow and twice now has the city been graced by an unexpected arrival. A mere two hours ago arrived the first of the airships that formed the retinue of Princess Louise li Britannia, carrying with it those that needed medical attention not least among which the Princess herself while the other ships would arrive some hours later for now the city's hospital saw its funds put to good use. Even amidst the snowstorm that had sprung upon the environ so harshly.

"I must say that was immensely reckless of you Aunt Louise." A man spoke, the second surprise as just an hour ago had the heir to the empire himself arrived. "What madness possessed you to fight an experienced fighter in a superior machine like that?"

Louise twiddled her thumbs, or would have had one arm not been placed in a support brace. Fortunately the damage was minor but it was a precaution for her to follow lest she make things much worse for herself and she was to not move it at all, not until the doctors said otherwise.
"I may have gotten a bit carried away in the moment.." She couldn't exactly say she got in the Baron's range first to save Dahlia lest her cousin worry overly much.

"Just don't do it again, please. Had it not been for this storm Aunt Eleanor would be arriving in the morning if not bursting down that door as we spoke and who knows how distressed she would have gotten had you suffered a more grievous injury, let alone died." Lemuel shook his head, pausing in the hallway. "Regardless, you should return to your room and rest up. If you need anything do not hesitate to ask one of the guards. They'll care for you as if you were me."

He placed his hand on Louise's shoulder with a smile.
"I'll be staying the night in Viceroy Finnigan's manor, but before I go there I would like to talk to that friend of yours, Dahlia."

It was in fact his casual tone that made Louise worried.
"Your Highness-" She blurted out only for him to defensively put up his hands. "Captain Dorsely showed me the audio from the battle, this so called Baron blamed her yet as I understand it the first to get targeted by the Red Shoulders was Doctor Clint. These things do not line up." Lemuel lowered his hands, giving Louise an empathetic smile as he continued.
"While I cannot attest to understand Orphan, people... I know how they operate. That woman named you blameless and yet insisted that poor girl was somehow cancerous to Orphan."

"I'd been meaning to ask you about that..." Louise responded, lowering her head slightly "As she attacked me... She said you were to blame, the Baron that is."

Lemuel paused.
"That, I heard as well. What do you think of that?"

"I... Hope she's wrong, I don't know how this could be your fault but if it were you would tell me right?"

Lemuel nodded following by a glance down the hallway to either side of them, they were alone currently.
"Of course, and I understand the Baron's line of logic. The fact that Orphan became Area 12 was only possible because of me, if she wishes to push the blame onto Britannia as a whole I make an easy target." He reaffirmed her in the same way he always did, calmly. Even if her question was bordering on the impertinent he addressed it all the same.
"Another reason I could see is that she was trying to get under your skin, this Corvo person after all did speak positively of you but rejected Britannia. Its not improbable she wishes to isolate you from those you care about."

Seeing his aunt lower her head in shame and regret the crown prince began an embrace. Paparazzo would have loved this scene that was for certain. For her part Louise could see the logic, for her grand claim of wanting the princess to carve her own path the Baron had been quick to assert her own will and bringing a new loneliness upon Orphan, she wondered if she had never left for Christmas, would this still have happened or would Orphan have remained balanced.
"I know its hard but try to forget what she said," Lemuel continued "You mustn't let her doubts taint you, here and in Area 12 there are still people who depend on you. Even if Orphan has been lost the rest of the people will look to their leader, their viceroy in these uncertain times. It will not be pleasant, in fact it will hurt. But now more than ever before these people who looked to Britannia for answers will do so again."

He embraced her tighter "Just know that I will help you any way I can."
Lemuel felt the tears fall upon his shoulders, the cloth of his garments becoming wet as they stood there for a minute. Only then did he let go, Louise using her good hand to wipe away the tears.
"We'll talk some more tomorrow okay? Rest up for now."

---

With that he was now alone, finding himself later at the door to the so called Yang Berdarah. Though things had gone awry, everything was an opportunity. Beyond Orphan there now also was the reappearance of those dreaded creatures that bordered on a nighttime tale, the Mu. They who ramped up every issue he saw with the present up to eleven and yet had fixed the biggest curse of civilized existence through a most basic of means. They and the blue blooded boy would be an issue for tomorrow however. For now there was that murderous red rose.

Pushing open the door there was a nurse in the room with him, taking care of her, the tamed terrorist. Currently the green creature that had taken a liking to her had been placed in the care of another, unknown species were quite the health hazard after all and as such not ideal for a hospital.
"Your highness." the nurse spoke, though from her position the one in the bed would not be able to see without getting up herself.

"May I have a moment with her?"
The voice that followed however, was one she could swear she had heard a multitude of times.

"Of course."
The concussion from hitting the ocean had passed, it was for observation and the hypothermia that she was still here. To ensure she would make it through the night without issues.

The nurse left the room, and the blonde man advanced. Seating himself besides the bed, from his garb it was obvious to tell already that this man was high in status but his face made both the lineage and the name apparent, for in the scant few weeks since their inclusion in Britannia the young man besides her had made many a public appearance, each one had been on earnest display for the willing to see in Orphan. Lemuel el Britannia, the heir to the throne.

And yet here he was, in the flesh besides her bed.
"Dahlia Lycoris, I am Lemuel el Britannia and allow me first to thank you," he spoke up "I doubt that without you to teach her my dear aunt Louise would not have been here today, perhaps captured or worse. More than any Twelve you are an example for your peers among the Honorary Britannians. Still, it was truly disgraceful of that so called 'baron' to rob you of your ability to fight back."

Those words said mere weeks ago, not remembered but still there. He very much intended to prey upon them, upon the state she had been left in.
This girl who had dedicated her entire being to Orphan, now so violently severed from it and sent reeling. Orphan, where those with nowhere else to turn to went to feel something.
Orphan, who had orphaned her.

"How are you feeling?" a loaded question fired with that tone of genuine concern, opening the floor to a response.

 

[Nemesis]

As Lemuel entered, perhaps he might have been struck by the differences since the last time he'd seen the young woman, who rose slowly from her bed to meet him. Her eyes met his, and they were... soft, somehow. Gone was the double-barreled stare, the ramrod-straight spine, the sense of fearlessness even in the face of potential death. Her skin was pale, her face thin, the very picture of feminine vulnerability as she glanced over his shoulder momentarily... and then averted her gaze.

"Dahlia...?" She said, quietly.

"My name... is Rose. Rose Elwren."

Her fingers played gently on her lap. Did she recognize him? It was as if the Reclaimer had been hefted from her haughty position, and been broken violently over the knee of fate. She wanted Magnolia back now, more than anything else in the world. Her thoughts clung to that one tiny thread, the single ray of light in the darkness, even as others saw the man before her and tried to cry out in instinctive fear.

"I'm not worthy of your praise... Lord Lemuel." She said softly, the last words being almost dragged out, as if forced by the Geass placed upon her.

"I'm not worth... anything. At all. To anyone."

Rose blinked slowly, staring down at the sheets as her hands slowly curled into fists. Tears began to form at the edge of her vision as her shoulder shook, bitterly. To be alive. That was the worst of it. Had she only let the waves drag her down into a final, peaceful slumber, that would have been the end. But now?

Feelings. Sensations she had long thought lost were bubbling back to the surface. All the things she hated about herself. All the things she had buried deep, sealing them up, throwing herself into her life as a Reclaimer... had returned in force. She had never felt so... weak.

"Why... didn't she let me die...?"

 

[MKR]

Lemuel looked at the woman that averted her gaze, this was not quite what he had expected this absolute inversion of what the Knight of Four had seen. Gone was the pride, gone was the supremacy. Gone was her God. All that was left was a young girl and her woes. Presumably the same thing that had arrived at the doorstep of Orphan all those years ago.
"Because to her you are worth a lot." He answered simply "As teacher, as subject but mainly and most importantly as a friend. I saw the joy in her eyes when she spoke of you. The kind of glee I hadn't seen since we were both children. So at the very least you are worth her happiness and if you claim that is not anything I would prefer you look at me when you lie so blatantly."

It would appear that Dahlia, or Rose now, had hedged her self worth on that of others. Joined it to Orphan presumably most of all, with all that gone there was little left. The walls she had built to protect herself, the tower she was in to stand above others both now razed to the ground. Only the memories of foundations remained. But with bricks and a foundation. One could build. "That, more than the training, gave aunt Louise the strength to fight. If that is not worthy of my praise I would like to know what is."

The young heir to the throne looked at the woman, stuck in her bed.
"And to me, you have already through that saved her life. To Britannia even, you one of her daughters have saved the life of one of its viceroys. That is a feat a great many can only dream of. If you yourself cannot see the worth you hold, then look from where I stand. Where Louise stands and it is plain to see."

The emperor to be paused, giving Rose a moment to absorb those words and then, it was time to strike while the iron was still hot.
"Of course, if you still believe you are not worth anything I could take that title of Honorary Britannian you earned and find another for it." It was said in a jest, but with just the notion of it being genuine enough to trigger the embedded message.
By pulling her in this direction he would know exactly the foundation of the castle made out of the fallen bricks.

 

[Nemesis]

Rose remained inert for most of the future Emperor's would-be inspiring words. Part of her really was beaten that badly. Wanted nothing more than to will her heart to stop beating, to such a degree that his words were nothing but the buzzing of a pompous fly in her ears. But at his last words, it was like a switch was flicked in the back of her mind - and she was grabbed and pulled, kicking and screaming, back into the light.

"No!"

She shouted suddenly, her body jerking upright as if she were electrocuted.

Pain. Searing pain, coursed through her head. Beads of cold sweat dripped down her forehead, as her fever flared, the agony clear on her face as one hand came up to her face, trying in vain to reduce the pressure building behind her eyes, the intense tinnitus ringing in her ears. She could taste blood in her mouth, cloying like iron, so powerful it made her want to vomit.

"Britannia...!" She gasped fitfully;

"I am...! A Britannian... citizen...!"

That's right, she thought as new neural pathways burned themselves into her mind. Maybe it was better this way. Those on Orphan didn't truly understand. Didn't see the light, the glory that was Britannia. She didn't need them! She didn't need Orphan! She didn't need anything but the nation! The Emperor! The brilliant truth of progress, power, and dominion!

But they would. Oh yes, they would. Orphan would learn. She would show it, and all of them how wrong they were to reject the warm, welcoming embrace of the superior nation! How their short-lived triumph would spell their downfall! And she would be there, right at the forefront, to put the sword through its heart!

ALL HAIL BRITANNIA!

There was moisture at the corner of her eyes. Tears, dripping down her face. Was it sorrow? What did she have to be sad about? No, her rewired subconcious assured her, it was happiness. She was spared because she and she alone was the true believer. Had always been.

A realization occured. She had, somehow, gotten to her feet despite so weak she could barely move. The heat of the fever made her feel, despite the frozen windows, that she was on fire. But still, her knee bent, and she looked up at Lemuel. There was a horrible mix of pain in those eyes, but also, perhaps, the very thing he had been desirous of:

Loyalty.

"Yes... my Lord..." Said Rose, weakly. Blood dripped out of her mouth, splattering the ground before him in little red pools.

 

[MKR]

Lemuel watched the violent reaction in silence, not that the sight brought him pleasure but neither did it issue forth discomfort. He was not like Z.Z. who would pull every string only to torture those under duress. This, he reasoned, was for her own good. Flowers were beautiful because they were so temporary but to watch one wilt away under the weight of her own sins. Such was not a sight he wished to see, such was not a fate any should bear.

As he sat in the simple chair and she kneeled before him he nodded, to her and himself. On that ground, where walls once stood a castle would be built.
"I am full glad to hear it." He simply responded, looking at the blood beneath her red in color and on full display. The bloody one, first for the terror inflicted and now actually bleeding. In the days to come people like her would be required, if those who's blood ran blue were now active especially so.

"Let none tell you otherwise, for when I take the throne I will rejoice to have subjects such as yourself." Loyalty, especially from one who's built their entire life on depending on others, was powerful. If she had seen where she would end up a month ago 'Dahlia' would have elected to not get captured at all he reasoned. But here they were, knight and liege. In turn his tone shifted from the more casual, caring voice before to that of a regent.

"Now Rose, rise." He lowered his hand for her to take, as he would help her stand and guide her to her bed. "Focus on your recovery, you will have need of your strength in the days to come. However I would ask of you something."
He built the anticipation in her for a moment, letting the self proclaimed citizen recover before continuing.
"My dear aunt Louise, for all her blessings is unfortunately not ready for some tasks, because of this and to keep her innocence secure and her love on the right path. Come morning I would request you see which of the Twelves that escaped alongside you are fit to fight and whether some harbor doubts. What we must be in the face of this aggression is firm, and as such I hope I can rely on you to act as a bedrock for her. Report these findings to my royal guard and things will be arranged."

As patient zero, she would be a prime radar to locate those shaking. As the most infamous of the Reclaimer's warriors she would be able to find those that could fight inside the remaining Gran Chers.
And as a loyal Britannian she would heed requests by her Prince unshaken by those doubts. Louise however, if she heard doubts would adjust her own views as she already had, bless her heart. But now, now was not the time to find that middle ground.

 

[Nemesis]

"Allow me... to handle them myself. They... trust me..."

Rose's response to his request was immediate, even as she weakly allowed the young royal to help her to her bed. Her brow was creased with the effort of concentration. Of planning. Orphan had no greater champion than Dahlia Lycoris... but conversely, it had no greater enemy than Rose Elwren. Nobody who knew it inside and out, its strengths and weaknesses, better than it knew them itself.

"The Gran Chers... must be destroyed." She continued, coldly.

"Orphan... will turn them against us, in time. Except... her highness' one. I know... how to kill them. Like... damselflies-"

Pon-pon-pon.

Her words were cut short, as there was a sudden, unexpected knock at the door. A timorous voice, tinged with a Japanese accent spoke as it slid open, and a young woman in the uniform of the Britannian navy stepped through the door - and instantly flushed at the sight before her.

"Oh! L-Lord Lemuel!"

In her hands, clutched protectively to her chest, was a small, silken pouch with a ribbon tied around its neck, the entire little package composed with great care. Despite her surprise, it seemed it was almost more the young ex-Reclaimer who bothered her. The withering glare issuing forth from her eyes made Yasuko immediately look back at Lemuel, trying to look as professional as possible as she asked, meekly:

"Am I... interrupting something?"

 

[MKR]

It was always good to have dependable subordinates on the job. That was a given, still it was a pity that project would conclude without results but the losses were acceptable, it would be breaking the news to Louise that would be the hardest part now. But that was much easier to deal with than leaving Orphan easy tools to use against them. He was intent on listening to her continue her explanation until the sudden interruption.

Had Louise not gone to bed after all, such was the first thought. If she had been listening at the door and heard the blunt statement by Rose then that was going to ruin her day even further, perhaps even the week. The second thought was that perhaps the nurse had returned since Rose had stumbled out of bed like such, they however wouldn't knock.

No, the reality was much more bizarre than either of those options.
A girl, obviously an Eleven before she opened her mouth in a navy uniform. His eyes scanned her uniform, 7th contingent petty officer. Nameplate on her left upper chest, Yasuko Fukase. Belonging to the same contingent that had moved to aid Louise, an understandable arrival had any of them joined the remaining Caerleon class ships back but no, they were with the heavily damaged third ensuring repairs went smoothly. Suspicion was clear in his eyes as she stuttered. This wouldn't be the first assassination attempt by an Eleven he'd come face to face with.

He stood up from the chair, spinning it to rest his hand on it as he spoke.
"It would appear that you are." He bluntly answered "More so I am surprised at the swiftness of arrival, have the engineers on the 7th contingent reverse engineered the vital net for use with ships while we travelled?" Though said with a lax smile the notion was there, the only way this was possible was if such an absurd thing had happened. The 7th was to return to their exercises after finishing repairs after all.

"Might I ask your business here Petty Officer Fukase?"

 

[Nemesis]

"Um, yes, that is..." Mumbled Fukase, timidly.

What could she say, she thought? Even if she told the truth, he'd never believe her. It felt too much like a dream. Not even she was certain it was real. But how could there be any other possible explanation for what had taken place?

---

Two Hours Prior...

"...Pretty."

Yasuko turned the crystal over in her hands, its dull blue light illuminating her otherwise dingy bunk. It was loud, cold and deeply unpleasant even under the best of circumstances... but today, she hardly noticed as she coveted her prize. She'd heard of things like Materia, other strange artifacts gathered from the fantastical lands beyond the gates. Maybe this was one of them? It was just like one of her favorite stories... where the main character received a magic item, one that singled them out as the chosen one.

But real life wasn't like that... right?

"What are you...?" She asked aloud, into the night...

And to her shock, the night answered back.

"A charm."

Training took over. She rolled out of the bunk in one swift motion, pistol drawn, as footsteps approached the doorway. A woman emerged - they couldn't have been too far off in age, with long dark hair, and white cloth robe, with strange tattoos on her face. and neck. She carried a staff in her hands, one adorned with a hideous, lumpen face at its golden head as she paused.

"Who are you?"

"Why, I'm the Goddess of Love." Said Elen, giving an exaggerated bow.

"I bring together those whose fates are destined to be intertwined."

Yasuko, against her better judgment... paused, keeping the gun trained on the Mulian's forehead. Elen merely smiled, and continued:

"I feel it in your heart. A terrible loneliness. You dream of companionship, of a great man to whisk you away from this... drudgery."

Elen drew a small circle in the air with the end of the staff. A few notes played, as though strummed on a harp... and a face began to form, as if from cloud vapor, forming a haze that became a picture. A dashing looking Britannian noble. One she knew all too well.

"Could it be... him?"

"L-Lord Lemuel?!"

Her face turned bright red... and the pistol clattered from her hands to the ground. Yasuko clasped a hand over her mouth, worried her shout might have been heard - that the impossible vision before her might fade, as the Mulian suppressed a laugh.

"He's my... you can't possibly mean..."

"I do."

Elen nodded sagely. The hook was now in. All she needed to do was reel in the line.

"All you need... is to present him with the charm within the next day. Fate shall do the rest."

"B-but he's... oh. Lady Louise's ships, they already went ahead..."

Her shoulders sunk. She'd missed her chance. Her one, and only chance at true love. If only she'd known. Unseen, Elen rolled her eyes, and cleared her throat, getting back into character. A slight oversight on her part, to be certain... but in her defense, predicting the location of a needle in a haystack was an inexact science, even for the Mu.

"Ahem. A trivial matter. Simply close your eyes, and imagine his presence."

"Um... okay. Oh, wait! I'm not ready! Shouldn't I get dres-"

BAMF!

A flash of light... and the Petty Officer was gone, only the scent of burnt ozone on the air, as Elen finally exhaled, shaking her head. A few decades worth of acting classes finally paying off.

"The things we do for love."

---

Better to just... make something up. But, she couldn't forget! Yasuko's fingers fidgeted with the bag, and loosened the tie as she held it out to Lemuel.

"...P-Please, accept this."​

Meanwhile in her palms, the crystal glimmered invitingly under the light, such that even Rose craned her neck to see it, eyes widening with surprise. A thing of peerless beauty... the kind that deserved to be placed on a royal scepter, or atop an Emperor's Crown. Keeping her head bowed, Yasuko continued hurriedly:

"I-I wished to accompany Lady Louise more closely, but w-when I heard that you, your Lordship, would also be visiting... I rushed over as soon as I could, perhaps... a little rashly, but..."

Her outstretched hands shook nervously. What was she thinking? she thought - Speaking directly to one of the Royal Family like this! And so impertinently! Even so... Even so, there was now no other choice but to keep going, and hope and pray.

"Please allow m-me to serve under you. I wish... to get stronger, for Britannia."

A lump formed in Yasuko's throat, and she dared not raise her eyes to meet Lemuel's own. It wasn't until a snicker came from the bed that she glanced up, seeing the ex-Reclaimer, propped up on a pillow, giving her a sardonic, pitying smirk.

"...Is it normal for Elevens to grovel like this?" She asked, coyly, causing the Petty Officer to flush crimson. If her legs hadn't turned to jelly already, she would have bolted right then and there...

 

[MKR]

This alleviated about none of his concerns, to say nothing of the weird massive snowflake being presented to him an item he gave a glance. Perhaps it was fortunate the girl was looking down for the frown on Lemuel's brow increased as he observed the item. For one he had expected perhaps a grenade or other explosive so this was just strange, but he was frankly just insulted by the insinuation a place among his guard could be bought with a mere unique shiny object.

Were he a lesser man then perhaps, but this... This was the kind of revulsion he felt towards the nobility that did nothing but embellish their own coffers and surround themselves with yes-men. Thus being exactly why he would never see eye to eye with Erebonia and the League both, for the former contained those to the letter and the latter had kings and barons under the guise of CEOs and middle managers. He composed himself before answering.
"I'm sorry but, strength is not bought." He informed her, "It is cultivated, the product of muscle or mind."

Protection, that was bought. Disingenuous loyalty went to the source of the biggest paycheck, and beauty was but a paycheck away. Yet if CHORUS had their way so was Strength.
"But if you want to wear the white and gold of my guard and feel yourself up to the task I can permit you to take that test. But I cannot in good conscience accept that for it." Lemuel placed the chair besides him, letting go of it. If this was an assassination attempt the item seemed to be a lure to get him to close in, but then why knock. A surveillance device perhaps, that seemed more realistic. Now that he had dismissed accepting it for the time being he could steer the conversation as he desired.

"Your optimism and dedication however, are not to be mocked." A quick glance went back, certainly a targeted statement at Rose. It was certainly in his best interest to play towards the Eleven's expressed interest currently if only because the effective begging and bartering was so unusual there had to be another angle and someone antagonized was not quick to spill their secrets and in this case the most bizarre thing here was the item presented so directly.
"I am curious however, if you do not mind me asking where did you get that?" He gestured at the snowflake.

 

[Nemesis]

Yasuko's face was... surprisingly level, as her Lord handed down his verdict. Like a bowling ball thrown in a silk bag, thrown directly into her chest. Of course not. Of course not! All she could do was give a sheepish, forced smile, as her hands closed about the necklace. The test? She'd barely made her way into the very bottom of the Navy, and been stuck there for years. Her only hope of freedom, of something better... disintegrated before her eyes, in one fell swoop.

"I... I'm sorry." She mumbled, stepping backwards and giving a bow as she did.

"Yes it's n-not... no, it's nothing. Please, um... excuse..."

The door closed hurriedly... and the sound of her feet thudding rapidly against the floor, retreating into the distance met the two of their ears. Rose, for her part, elected this time to keep her tongue in check... but her eyes, at least, affixed Lemuel with a half-lidded stare of weariness.

Men, she thought, even Princes were all the same.

---

Tears stung her cheeks, the bitter cold slashing at her face as Yasuko burst out of the hospital, chest heaving. She couldn't even breathe in those sterile halls for a moment longer, the distinct sense she was going to die of shame. The howling blizzard outside roared around her, somehow... comforting in its bleakness.

She was just an 11. That's all she ever would be. Just a plain, below-average girl who'd live without ever having managed to truly live. She didn't even have the energy to shout or scream at the unfairness of it all, at her own stupidity... but, as she began to feel the feeling starting to leave her fingers, she turned back towards the hospital-

Only to bump into a man exiting the building, in full military gear, stumbling back into the snow.

"Ow. Sor... ry?"

The Britannian guard looked down at her, reading her name tag. He raised his radio, reporting to his peers:

"We've found the deserter. It's just an Eleven."

Deserter? Me?

This thought occurred only briefly, as there was a crackle of electricity, and something being drawn and activated, sending static shocks down her neck. The stun baton came crashing down through the air towards her head, and she only barely had time to cry out

"Ah, no! Wait-!"

THUD!

...Everything went black.

 

[MKR]

As she rushed out Lemuel crossed his arms, shaking his head. What in the world had that been, he took his personal device out of his pocket as he moved the seat back to its place.
"Its me." he spoke into the device after pressing a mere two buttons "There's an eleven in the halls from the 7th, find out whats going on with her, whether that uniform is stolen and how she came here." He barely waited for the reply as he sat down, closing it and turning his attention back to Rose only to finally fully register the glance she gave him. People went on about the power of love, how it crossed all bounds. But to this degree was ridiculous and impossible, he simply couldn't accept that as a reality.

And he had no interest in hearing her judgement on his assessments when someone was an assassin or not so instead his gaze firmly turned to her "Now then, I hereby give you the authority to investigate whether there will be any deserters, should any of them desire to leave both Area 12 and Britannia in her hour of need, please remind them this will revoke both their citizenship and brand them traitors and should they still aim to flee turn them in." His tone was direct now, that was going to be that aspect handled.

"Now the Gran Chers, you said something about how to kill them, I should note the ones that remain with us have been trained like knights of Britannia. Would whatever Orphan has to turn them against us still work or what sets Louise's apart?" They had been kept relatively tame in that aspect but it was easy enough to completely overturn the antibodies they had. Of course if that was not enough then it was simply a wasted investment.

He paused, the question he didn't want to ask but still had to was now due.
"Lastly, Louise herself I ask this as both your regent to be and as her nephew. Based on how much she changed in the short time she was at Orphan, is that something to be concerned about given what you mentioned about the Gran Chers?"

 

[Nemesis]

"Microwave guns.",Explained Rose. "Dr. Clint drew one up in case of emergency. They're lethal to Antibodies... we only ever made a prototype, though."

She shrugged her shoulders. All she knew was that there were certain "other" weapons Clint had mentioned were found within Orphan's depths. Ones that he'd sealed away, that never deserved to see the light of day for their destructive power. Not even the Britannians, in his mind, deserved to bring them to bear against the world. But that woman, Dr. Crane...

Was cut from a different cloth altogether.

"Antibodies are inseperable from the organism they inhabit. Whatever training you've given them is nothing compared to the potential control Orphan can exert over them at any moment. As for your Aunt, her ladyship..."

At the mention of Louise... Rose lowered her gaze, looking at her hands folded on the sheets. Even if it was unpleasant... the truth deserved to be said. So long as she lived, now... there was the potential she could become a threat.

"Watch her closely." She said, quietly.

"Orphan won't let her go easily."

 

[MKR]

Microwave guns, he'd heard of them before even if he didn't know them too well, regardless that was quite literally what he had people for. Putting them in contact with Rose to get the details right and using the Gran Chers here and in storage as targets for their tests would function well enough, their one last service to Britannia. It was like putting down the pet dogs because you knew they would go wild one day and bite their master, a preventative measure.

Still, she was unaware of the depth to which the training went. With two words from his lips he could have those Gran Chers commit themselves to oblivion. No need to tell her about that however, it was better to simply listen for now as the topic shifted to Louise. His eyes moved up as Rose finished her statement. This was what he was worried about, she wasn't a lost cause but still.

"That is what I feared." He responded, his eyes on the ceiling light. "Considering she has not been rejected by it. I'll inform some I can trust about this matter, if you can get me a list of the signs she has fallen under its sway. I am capable of getting her a cure, but I would only wish to do so in case of emergency given its risk." He looked downwards once more, shifting back from Nephew to royal in a heartbeat.

"She will likely turn to you in this hour of need and in the days to come. And so I must impose on you a deceptively difficult task, be the anchor she needs as both my dear Aunt Louise's subject and friend. Do not let her stray into Orphan's grasp and if she does." He exhaled, "Inform me. This is the burden I must place upon you as inheritor to this nation, the weight might be heavy but I am placing a lot of faith in you as you understand the machinations of Orphan and its new favored herald much better than I do."

He rose from his seat, gazing at the woman in the bed once more.
"Perhaps it is more of a request, but officially you may consider these tasks and those I mentioned earlier as orders given." He awaited her reaction one final time, earlier she extended her services to the execution of such a task it felt a little more sour to ask the same order to be done against one of his family but this was no time to differentiate between the two, especially when Louise could do a lot more damage were she to fall from grace. This cruelty, one in which he took no joy, founded on friendship and comradery may be what the fate of that earthquake causing parasite hinged on.

---

December 27th, 2880
St. Edgar Hospital, Anchorage. Area 10
09:02 PM

The blizzard wasn't letting up, Louise noticed. The hospital was now equal part storm shelter for the wounded and care center, things were however returning to normalcy beyond that as she had heard that Dahlia, or well. Rose now, was free to leave her bed and because of that Magnolia had been reunited with her at long last even if the hospital personnel wasn't too pleased still. Still, she moved through the halls looking for where the recovering Reclaimer would be new guards by her side as she did so.

Meanwhile, a young man moved through the halls. Shadowed by two soldiers clad in white and gold. Arriving at a door, the boy with blue blood. He looked at the vial presented to him by the doctors, they didn't know what to do with it and blue blood had been a generation long warning leading directly to the throne of the Emperor. If not for other obligations his Grandfather himself may have met with this man yet here he was, the next best thing.

The legends of the Mulians, predating the end of the world and having survived it. The first political meeting in over three years to give him nerves and so he opened the door, speaking up. "I hope I am not interrupting, do you have a moment?" He asked the man.

 

[Hitura Rael]

After leaving the ship's medical bay, Raldon settled in to a new room in an actual hospital. It was different from what he knew, fascinating even. And there was snow everywhere. It was a shame he couldn't go out to play in it. He was sure he'd never seen snow before. How could he trust his memories now? Hell, he questioned reality itself now. Rather than go outside to play like a child, he settled in to relax and submit himself to the watchful care of the doctors and nurses. That electrical field was no joke, and who better to monitor his temperature exposure than the doctors? He was happy just watching the snow fall outside, though it seemed violent. He had always imagined it as... soft and playful.

Raldon had not made many requests of the staff. A simple book and something to eat. Thankfully, they were not conservative with the food. He knew he was far too tall and muscular enough to require more food than the average person. It was odd, not eating fish or wild game with some seaweed and fruit. He had no idea how much he had actually missed proper food until he had received his meal. He took his time eating, not caring for the temperature once the steam stopped rolling off of it. He read as he ate, careful to keep the book from getting dirty. And it was this that the young Prince walked in upon; a far too tall teenage boy, plopped on the floor with his legs crossed, reading, occasionally taking a bite to eat. He wore the borrowed clothes, too small for his frame.

Raldon looked up at the man with big curious eyes, then carefully set the book aside without marking his place. He flashed a bright, joyful smile. "I can read later, how can I help you?"

 

[Nemesis]

"As you wish, my Lord."

Rose absorbed the Britannian's words like a sponge. He was the future of the nation, after all. All that she should dedicate herself to. How could that impudent Eleven think herself so important as to take his time without valuing it? She began to settle in, preparing to rest - for tomorrow would be a long day of hunting and terminating traitors. Traitors she had once, in her folly, thought of as friends.

No. She didn't need such things. All she needed... was the embrace of Britannia. She paused as she lifted the sheets, however, calling out to Lemuel:

"One last thing..."

Rose pulled the covers about her waist. Harrowed as she look, his attempt at inbuing her with vigor and patriotic fervor seemed to have worked... even if the eyes that looked at him were steely, and cold.

"I want..." She said, quietly:

"...My pet back..."

 

[MKR]

Lemuel eyed the man, he had seen the medical report with the self proclaimed inability to feel pain. There was more than one particularity about him that was certain, it was an almost childlike sight were the man not a tower perhaps that deception could have remained but no. Even sitting the height was clear, fortunately for Lemuel that complex was not his.

"I was hoping you could answer some questions."

The two men remained by the door as Lemuel moved further inwards, taking a seat from a nearby table as he spoke.
"It is not frequently we get visitors from Oceania, so I wished to broaden my cultural horizons some."

A pause, intentionally so
"Ah but where are my manners, allow me to introduce myself Lemuel el Britannia." A check to see how aware the Mulians were of the events outside, or at least this one. How in touch they kept with the nations and their leaders.
Gaging his reaction to see what he found of those words would be the answer to that question left unstated.

"But yes, if you do not mind I was hoping to see what you could tell me about where you're from."
It was time to see how that question would be answered if at all. A pretense of innocent curiosity, considering the sight described and seen in recordings he was not intent on keeping the boy, not unless suddenly Z.Z. had discovered a way to permanently dispose of Mulians before they started doing any funny business.

 

[Hitura Rael]

Raldon cant his head to the side ever so slightly. What questions could he possibly want to ask? Of course the whole fight with the blimp came to mind. Being near the giant crab too. Maybe some in depth questions about RahXephon? His eyebrows lifted when Lemuel expressed an interest in his culture, then fell again. His eyes cast down at his plate of food, away from the man. What culture did he even have? What among it was fabricated and altered?

Raldon forced a smile and raised his head back up to extend a hand toward Lemuel. What he had been through did not excuse being rude, and these people were kind enough to host him instead of trying to give him a boot into the snow. "It is nice to meet you, Lemuel. My name's Raldon." Raldon's forced smile was evident, but the genuineness of the rest of his manner remained. An innocent boy, fighting through sadness to be polite. He had no reaction to the family name or the princely state of his visitor.

"Where I'm from... Uh... I don't know where that is exactly on a map. We came from Fiji, but it was..." He winced, thinking back to the night, the attacks of the odd creatures, people disintegrating and... How did he get out of Fiji? "It was a bad night when I left so I have no idea where I woke up but it was all white sand and palm trees and stuff." Ah, maybe he wanted to know why he was in ragged clothes and dirty? "It had a lot of good resources so we just stayed there for a bit and lived off the land." He gave a small shrug, "Fiji was pretty quiet though, friendly, lots of interesting things in the wilderness."

Raldon scratched his cheek, a nervous frown crept across his face. Guilt weighed heavily in his chest, a stone he could not stomach. It was best to be honest, especially with his hosts. If they thought he was crazy then, well, he could just leave. Rah could keep him warm enough until they found a suitable place to settle. He could last a while without food. Fresh water couldn't be too hard to find right? "I don't... know much about the culture. I don't know what's real or not anymore. My mom and friends messed with my head a lot..."

 

[MKR]

Lemuel listened, Fiji, so they hadn't moved at all that was already valuable. There were several curiosities about this man, or perhaps boy was the better label, there was a distinct earnestness in the tone. Like that of a child admitting their hand was in the cookie jar but it was the last statement that was most interesting. The context for it was missing but the message was clear and now he could guess why he had left. Now the question remained of whether the Mu would pursue any who dared leave, or if the boy and his giant were more than just anyone.

"That's terrible to hear." Lemuel responded "While I wont pry at the exact details but you have my sympathies. To change the topic something hopefully more lighthearted, would you mind telling me about the giant for lack of a better word angel you appeared with?"
With that admission Lemuel knew that whatever information he could garner about the Mu would be next to worthless, slightly more trustworthy an account than random guesses based on scant memories and records from when they were last active.

After all someone who you know to be an unreliable narrator may give a partially true account, but then the question arises which part is false and would they even know about that being false. No it was better to focus on the confirmed, the things the boy would have little or no doubts about. Like the machine he arrived in.
"I cannot say I've ever seen it, the closest comparison would be my Father's recollections of seeing the last Getter in his youth. Though that is more due to the size rather than the structure I must admit."

A fun anecdote to keep the boy talking and the exchange going this time hopefully without too many hiccups about what he wanted information about.

 

[Hitura Rael]

Raldon nodded to Lemuel, greatful to not have to try to put what he had discovered in words. He knew he didn't have the intelligence to put that anywhere coherent. He barely had the ability to comprehend it. But he understood that feeling of being betrayed by the people he trusted most quite well. It was a stinging reminder not to extend his trust that far to these people.

"I don't know much about RahXephon. My first attempts to learn to control him was..." He winced, remembering many many very ungraceful landings in the water, "Embarassing..." The words carried all the weight of one admitting to slipping on a banana peel, going down the stairs like a slinky, somehow rolling out the door, down the hill, and landing in a cess pit. "I know he hatched from an egg and can move on his own. And he likes to sing. We went to visit Bobbie- Orphan... every day to sing and talk to them. Rah sang I mean.. I talked. I sound like a strangled bird when I sing." He shrugged, "We take care of each other."

He tilted his head, curiousity written across his features. "What's a 'Getter'?"

 

[MKR]

Ah yes the ominous singing produced by the other Mulian machine, that seemed to be a common theme between them and something to take note of in the future. Still, hatched from an egg? It sounded like this RahXephon was like the Gran Chers, more of a sapient entity than a machine. It posed an interesting question at the very least regarding the extent on which it was independent but regardless there was a question to answer.

"From how I understand it, big red and always changing. Oh and displaying a lot of green lights." He added onto the end as he recalled the description. Neglecting to add the most definitive descriptor his father had added at the time, that being that it was made out of the crushed dreams of corporate goons and took any hope for humanity with it into the grave. That seemed more opinion than fact.
"I'm afraid the last of those however, was seen when I was just a baby."
Of course, bar one recent incident that he had been told of.

"But an egg you say? Not that I don't believe you but thats the first I've ever heard of something like that. Are all machines in Fiji hatched like that?"
It posed an interesting question, if even the beings like that monstrous blimp were organic by nature that may just give them solutions should they try anything.