"Do you remember what I told you would happen once my identity became public?"
"Yes, Exalted One."
"It will be soon now. Keep watch. And remember that she will be frightened and confused. Bring her to me immediately."
Uno nodded. "I will." He'd made a copy of the worn, creased photo he'd been shown; keeping the original had been obviously out of the question. He looked at it again after the meeting was over. The woman was in her 30s at his best guess, pretty, smiling gently, hair pulled back in a ponytail. He didn't think it was going too far to say that the expression in her eyes was love, pure and uncomplicated.
He took the picture. It's him she was looking at that way. What changed it so she didn't come here with him? That was a mystery, but not the biggest one. He had, in the course of the first discussion about this, asked what her name was. "I don't know what it is this time" had been the only answer. He still didn't know what to make of that. But he could wait and watch and be ready, no matter how many mysteries were wrapped up in this.
It took three days for her to turn up. Uno could have missed the woman in the usual bustle of the Order's offices, but she stood out because she wasn't moving with purpose the way everyone else was. She seemed more to be wondering if she'd found the right place or not, or possibly how she'd gotten there to begin with.
Be polite. Be cheerful. Be gentle. The Exalted One made it clear how important she is to him. Don't get this wrong. "Miss? Are you looking for someone in particular?"
He was waiting for a spectacular startle-jump, but she didn't seem startled so much as still caught in a fog of confusion that might well have been around for some time now. "I...don't know. I think so." She gave him a look that for a few moments was searching, aware, lit with intelligence. Then the fog fell again. "It's not you."
"No. But I can take you to the right person."
She nodded as if she hadn't entirely understood him, but was trying to be polite. She followed him to the elevators, though.
"Did you have a good trip here?" He could have kicked himself for how inane that sounded right now, but he didn't know what else to ask.
She considered the question as if he'd asked her the meaning of life. "I don't remember."
It was somehow both the answer he expected and completely from left field. "Not how you got here?"
"I...walked a lot, I think."
It was a relief when the elevator doors opened. What was he supposed to do with that answer, anyway? One thing was certain: This had to be the right woman.
He knocked on the office door, watching the woman to see her reaction to his voice. He thought there was something when they were told to come in, but he couldn't be sure. If there had been, it was gone in a moment. He opened the door, gesturing for her to go through.
For a second, she looked like she might run into the Exalted One's arms like a movie character. That was gone as quickly as the other moments of clarity had been, but it left something behind, like light dawning. "What's your name?"
"Brodie Lee."
She considered that solemnly. "This time."
"Yes, this time."
"I know you." She shook her head immediately, as if realizing she'd made a mistake. "I knew you."
"Yes. Tell me your name."
"Jessa."
Uno thought his leader somehow looked as if he'd been struck. It was gone as quickly as it had risen, but the sense of enormous, silent pain somehow hung around him even after.
"What about your last name?"
She tried; it was written on her face. "I don't know."
"It's all right. You'll remember. You can go, Uno. You've done very well."
"Thank you, Exalted One." He bowed and left, more full of questions than he'd been when he'd arrived.
I'm not sure where I'm going with this, beyond the fact that I know who Jessa is, even if she doesn't. :) The idea got hold of me after the reveal and wouldn't let go, so here it is.