[Locked Against Malnosso]

[malnosso]

Well, first of all, I expect you're all a bit cross with me given the past two weeks. No doubt there's more than just a few of you who wished you had got a piece of me while you had the chance, aha! I shan't apologize for it. I suspect it won't make much of a difference and I'm afraid it was quite necessary.

But I shall give you an explanation of sorts! To put it quite simply, I've moved in! There's been a bit of trouble with the organization, I'm afraid. I'm afraid with the war effort going so poorly, the renegades have been becoming more daring and the security forces continue to do whatever they please. I'm afraid you have all felt the brunt of that in the recent battles you've been called into. I'm reluctant to say that it will happen again and I won't be involved at all. I won't be able to speak on your behalf.

As for myself, I've become a bit unpopular. So before someone attempts to take my place, I've decided I might lie low a bit. And as everyone knows, there's nowhere in this world quite as peaceful and secure as Luceti! I did use some deception getting in using the latest experiment, but I'm afraid it was the only way I could ever safely arrive in the village without risk to my life. An old man like myself wouldn't have lasted long against you all. Oh! I do hope none of you mess about with those nasty beasts about. They weren't after any of you, they were just looking for me.

You may also have noticed I brought an assistant with me. I have some contacts in the organization who will gladly supply those various conveniences you enjoy so much. She'll be assisting in these transfers, so please, don't be shocked if you hear her lovely young voice answering you. Molly's a bit shy, but she means well. Aha, I'm afraid she's even a little taken to all of you. She's not very happy with how I do things at all.

Nevertheless, take heart! I don't plan to be here forever. I will return to head the company again in due time. It may start to look a bit grim, like your early days, but it's always darkest before the dawn. Or is it the other way around?

[Filtered to John]

Oh, Great One, I do hope you'll forgive me for that bit of fun with the festival. But you do deserve it! I only wish you would have come out to enjoy it!

But I'm afraid I must ask something of you. I've scrambled the journal system's signal to prevent real time monitoring by the Organization, but I suspect it won't be long before they catch on. I thought, perhaps, you might be able to come up with something a bit more permanent?

Comments

[malnosso]

I must confess, I'm unaware of any time having been wasted with any 'stupid' experiments. They were all quite thorough! Well, perhaps except that one time, but those people were disciplined quite thoroughly. Memes. Of all things.

[endgames]

[What dread arises from that word.]

You admit yourself this last one was done clumsily, and that there's been mistakes made on others. Even if they all had an underlying purpose [And actually, he can think of one for just about every experiment he's been here for, not that that's comforting], they're an elaborate set-up for a cheap payoff. There's better ways to use your resources.

[malnosso]

Hm. And what might that alternative be?

[endgames]

Ask me again when you have your executive chair back. You have bigger things on your plate to worry about for now, right?

[Not that he cares, but if Bil is ever going to seriously hear him out on some of this stuff, he'd prefer it be when he's more than passingly interested and willing to give him better excuses than decimal issues.]

[malnosso]

I shall do just that, if you're still about.

[endgames]

With any luck, I won't be. [But his luck sucks.]

In the meantime, how about a less troublesome question. You said those Shift Hunters were trying to sniff you out before. Why didn't we see more of them in the village then?

[He did hear of a few, but mostly on the edges of the village. Considering Bil passed right through the plaza and went straight on to the battle dome...]

[malnosso]

They were well trained, I suspect. Their masters knew I wouldn't be quite so foolish as to stick around in the village, even if I had convinced your 'city watch' to protect me. No, I set up a few harmless continuous Shifts about the forest instead. The village quite simply had nothing of interest to them.

[endgames]

[It'd have to be more than a few, he thinks, considering all of the places they were spotted at. That makes sense though - that many would be enough to throw them off a trail. Well, them and-]

Not even some of the people in it?

[malnosso]

I suppose if you had recently undergone the effects of a kidnapping, it would draw attention. But only briefly. Only someone who can actually perform Shifting merit interest. They would have already been trained to ignore the Shift already effecting everyone.

[endgames]

[That was partly why he asked, actually. It seemed odd to him, that he caught their attention. In retrospect, they probably would have let him be if he'd sat still long enough.]

Interesting. [And he can't help but note a passing comment to Robert.] And you're the only one in the enclosure who can do that, right?

[Him and John. Or can Molly do that too?]

[malnosso]

Heavens no! The Great One could manage it without even thinking about it all that hard. What I'm able to do pales in comparison to the things he can do.