(no subject)

[silver_lucifer]

It had taken months, but the conversion of the inner workshop was finally finished; the massive Terran computer had several light-panels of flickering glyphs while it processed what he'd managed to download to it. Iglenne seemed to have given up on trying to keep track of what it was doing, just staring at it now, while Edric was staying where he could see the door; it'd probably take the man some time to get used to it enough for his nerves to settle again.

It would take it a while to finish, and it was far less of a novelty for Kuja.

"By the by - about that eye Manderville was keeping on us..."

Edric's attention got distracted from keeping watch, already looking like he was anticipating a headache.

"How difficult does it look to establish contact?"

The ex-spy sighed heavily. "Most channels, with the company you've been keeping I wouldn't get my hopes up; having Rauha talk to her uncle is probably your best bet." He paused. "I thought you were avoiding Manderville?"

"There isn't much point to pretending to be in that faction's pocket anymore." He shrugged; Iglenne finally managed to pull her attention away from the machine, joining Edric's questioning look. "Teledeji was the sort of ambitious that grows sloppy when they think things are going their way; Lolorito is far more cautious, and I'd rather not gamble on being able to get as much past him while still in a weaker position. Besides, you said yourself - he juggled the Mirage Trust's assets before signing them over; if he thought I would be a reliable asset, he would've renegotiated the contract to be under the East Aldenard Company instead."

Edric nodded, frowning. "That will still mean going up against him."

"We all knew it was coming sooner or later.", was Kuja's dry reply.

The door opened unexpectedly; Edric went for knives and Iglenne for her scepter, reflexes that both got abandoned fast. Hahakiru was trying to stay composed, but was very tense... easily explained by trailing the Flame General, the Sultana, and Captain Jenlyn in full armor behind him.

"Announcing her Eternal Grace, the Sultana Nanamo ul Namo, Seventeenth in the line of Ul, illustrious vessel of Nald'thal."

Edric and Iglenne were both in varying stages of deer-in-headlights, glancing sideways nervously to Kuja and pointedly avoiding looking at the Terran computer behind them - which definitely had some of the attention of their unexpected guests.

Kuja took a beat, deciding it wasn't worth trying to think too hard on immediately, and swept into a very formal bow, dropping to one knee. "Your Grace - my apologies for the lack of proper reception, I was not expecting this visit."

"That was the point", Raubahn grumbled half-audibly.

"No apologies are necessary; with the hurried transition of the Mirage Trust assets, I have been unable to provide a great deal of advance planning, but believed it prudent to gain a personal view of what has been signed into my name."

He stayed still on one knee; she wasn't saying anything about dismissing it, and the quiet show of dominance wasn't lost on him - she was coming in with metaphorical teeth bared.

"That isn't Allagan.", Raubahn observed, attention more focused on the computer.

"No, it isn't.", he admitted. "It's Terran - a recreation of something from my homeland."

Nanamo did not comment on it for the moment, instead aiming for what Kuja suspected was the reason for the surprise visit. "You were named as one of the individuals Teledeji had recruited to decipher Allagan relics; due to the potential dangers such things present, we wished to inquire as to what you had worked on."

He took a slow breath. "Mostly minor drones and partial terminals; I believe he was considering how far I could be trusted. He wanted a reader for tomestones, but I was never given access to whatever such he owned." He knew there was investigation into Cartenau, but he wasn't sure how to approach that when it hadn't come from Teledeji. "Some of the security drones would have to have come from a particularly involved facility; they were designed to interface with a larger network, and were too lightly armed to not be meant to coordinate with heavier weaponry."

"How much did you know of his sources?" Raubahn was far less careful with his wording - and far more openly suspicious - than Nanamo.

He went silent, still on one knee. "....What I was told and could confirm, or what I suspected and had been able to glean on my own?"

"We should prefer to hear your own judgment."

"...Someone in the Adventurer's Guild has kept a tight grip on trade through Revenant's Toll; it's possible the Crystal Braves may have acquired some of those relics, but they would not have been able to lay hands on as much as he had without drawing attention. There are few places they could've been acquired. My suspicion is that he was pilfering from the less-guarded outskirts of Cartenau." He paused. "Judging by the disturbance of the aetheric landscape around it, whatever facility was buried there is no minor thing, and I'd wager something dangerous was housed there."

The room stayed silent for a long few moments.

"You may rise."

He returned to his feet; the Flame General was leading the other two down the short staircase to the workroom floor, while Hahakiru looked like he would've dearly loved to just slump over the railing if he didn't need to mind decorum. Jenlyn stayed by the bottom of the stairs, giving the computer a tiredly appraising look; after their few previous interactions, Kuja suspected he'd hit 'not surprised by anything'. Raubahn was trying to mind staying close by Nanamo, but was studying the computer carefully.

"I am told you were secretly rendering aid to the Sultansworn against the machinations of the other Monetarists during my absence." Nanamo was, for the moment at least, ignoring the computer.

"What I could manage. I imagine you've been informed of the conversations related to such?" He tilted his head towards Jenlyn.

"Not enough to preclude playing both sides." The Flame General almost moved to fold his arms, and ended up shifting his weight awkwardly with his good arm. "What in the Seven Hells is this?" He nodded to the computer.

"A device for storing and processing information, rather similar to some of the Allagan terminals and nodes." At least Allag meant there'd be some frame of reference for such things. "I had to borrow some elements of their construction to recreate it, for lack of the materials that would have gone into one in my homeland."

All three of them had their attention settled solidly on him. "Where the Devil are you from?"

Ordinarily, he would expect most Eorzeans to not believe him if he did tell the truth. On the other hand...he looked over at the computer.

"I was truthful when I said that my homeland destroyed itself, and that they had never encountered Garlemald; the world 'Terra' has been dead for some time." He reached a hand out to the nearest light screen, a few short gestures to use what processing power the computer had available to call up the globe of Terra. "Most of the few others that survived the final destruction have resettled on a sister world; I came here via other interference."

There was a long silence where he was fairly sure the existence of the computer in the room was the best proof of anything, really.

Nanamo was watching the globe of red light cautiously. "What occurred to render this other world 'dead'?"

He folded his arms. "Something not unlike what Allag was bent upon. The Terrans sought to trap and harness their Eidolons and gods, then learned to bend the lifestream of the planet itself to their will; eventually the planet's energy system suffered a fatal collapse. They set a system to store their souls while another device tried to parasitize their sister world, but the people of that world succeeded in fending it off; what remained of Terra finally succumbed to its own decay."

Which was a ridiculous oversimplification, but this wasn't really the time to go into that much detail. His crest feathers ticked slightly. "The Antecedent of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn saw a glimpse of it with her gift, and questioned me quite thoroughly not long after my arrival, were she available to contact."

"And what connection did you have to that entire affair." Raubahn had fixed him with a humorless glare.

"Caught as unawares as anyone else. Do you think Teledeji trusted me that far?" He shrugged, and motioned to his people in the room with one hand. "I came here alone as a foreigner, and I've kept any close connections nearby; I am still an unknown quantity to most, and one they lacked any good leverage on to ensure control."

Raubahn looked sideways to Jenlyn, who nodded with a faint shrug.

Nanamo seemed to accept it as well - or at least, opt for studying him, gauging. "How much are you capable of re-creating from your homeworld?"

He frowned, straightening. "...A great deal, but I should hope the reasons I would rather not are obvious. I have no issue with emulating Garlond's example and helping advance what is here in a sane manner, but Terra's legacy is as much of a potential box of horrors as Allag's."

"Would you have any objections to reporting to me directly from this point forward?"

"No, your grace." He sighed. "I have already anticipated that my days of convincing the Monetarists I could potentially be in their pocket are over; throwing in behind you openly is likely a far more tenable position than contending with Lolorito on my own."

"Very good. I shall have to arrange to become better acquainted." She nodded to the Flame General. "I believe we have imposed long enough; we thank you for your courtesy." She curtsied, and Kuja bowed in return.

"You honor us with your presence."

They filed out, Raubahn following behind Nanamo; the room was silent for a good few minutes after the door closed, Hahakiru finally draping over the railing bonelessly. "...Well, that could have gone worse."