/Time: Chapter 5, during Ouroboros's Imprisonment in Agnus Castle/
/Colony 30, Ribbi Flats, Fornis Region/
Joran — now more commonly known as Consul J or Moebius J — couldn't help but feel like he had gotten the burnt end of a candle. Could've gotten Colony 9, but that guy C somehow got that one; could've gotten Colony 4 to mock those Dirt-ranked fools, but D got them. Even 11 wouldn't have been so bad, because at least I could have mocked those battle-hungry idiots in the sight of their own Castle and their precious 'Queen'...but this...
"-and as you can see, I'm not entirely sure why Q wanted to use this Levnis when it wasn't complete. We hadn't even finished programming the 'Friendship Protocol' that I came up with after talking with Ouroboros, and I also wanted to wait until I'd had a chance to tinker with those Agnian auto-Levs for additional ideas, because I wanted to make Dorrick the best he could possibly be-"
...this is just the worst. J resisted the urge to smack Colony 30's Commander upside the head. "Your reaction is rather...unusual."
Valdi, caught in the midst of a longwinded spiel about Levnises, paused with a blink. "Huh? You really think so, Mister J?"
"That's Consul J, to you," griped Joran, resisting the urge to throttle him. At least the rest of Colony 30 seemed to recognize the meaning behind his presence; Nopon went out of their way to avoid him, whilst the Kevesi soldiers seemed unsure as to how tightly they needed to hold onto their Blades. That's right, you peons. Cower before me. Not so eager to mess with a worm like me now. The only one who didn't seem to treat him with the respect he deserved was the Commander, who was very short for a sixth-termer. "And I meant what I said: given what happened with Consul Q, I would have figured you would treat any other Consul with fear and trembling."
Valdi hummed thoughtfully. "I guess that's a good point...and Q did make a mess of things. But if he ever came around and apologized, I'd be fine with that. And you haven't attacked us or anything, so I don't see why we have to be enemies." Pausing, 30's Commander gazed up at their broken Flame Clock. "Er, you don't mind that the Flame Clock is broken, do you? I know that's a big deal to some folks."
"...how did a scrub like you become Commander?" asked Joran with disbelief. (How did such a clod stumble into a position of actual authority?)
(Why were you never so lucky?)
"Well, we focus a lot on Levnises, and I like Levnises, so it just ended up that way, I guess? I know Lanz said it's not really befitting behavior for a Commander, so I am working on it...but when I've got so many reliable people like Yuzet to lean on, it's hard not to fall into old habits."
The mention of Lanz's name caused Joran to twitch beneath his distinctive helmet. And that brings me to why I'm here. "I think we should cut to the chase. Do you have a place where we can speak in private?"
"Sure!" cheerfully said Valdi.
Joran quietly waddled behind Valdi as the sixth-termer led him towards the barracks: a cluster of prefabricated tents, bunched up in a corner of the Colony. Valdi picked one that was coincidentally empty, far away from the bustle of mechanics nervously tinkering away. "So, how can I help, Mister J?"
"...Consul J."
"Ah, sorry. Consul J."
"Essentially...the Castle has been keeping a distant eye on you Colonies whose Flame Clocks were destroyed by Ouroboros, to see if you could be brought back into the fold." What a load of garbage. It'd be better to just wipe the whole slate clean. Everyone alive will forget about 'em before long, once all memory of Colony 30 fades. "Given how Ouroboros was finally captured by Agnus not too long ago...our nations are eager to put this mess behind us. So if you know what's good for you...I'd advise not interfering with their execution during the upcoming Eclipse." Though I'd REALLY like to see you try.
Valdi blinked. "Ouroboros got captured? Where?"
"At Agnus Castle. You could say they flew too high for their own good..."
"But Agnus Castle is lower than the highest landmarks in Aionios...like the Great Sword, or Captocorn Peak..." Validi scratched at the back of his head with his free hand, a complicated frown briefly crossing his face. "That sounds awful...but I'm sure they'll be fine! They'll probably break out, no problem...I wonder if they'd be willing to stop by with more parts for Dorrick..."
"...I beg your pardon?"
"Ah, sorry; you don't need to beg!"
Joran resisted the urge to sputter with disbelief. "Not the point, look: Ouroboros got captured. Noah, Lanz, Eunie, Riku, and their Agnian counterparts: do you not care?"
"Of course I care!" protested Valdi. "But they're really tough guys. They'll be okay."
...how unexpectedly detached of him. Or is he just that naive? "A strange conviction, Commander Valdi..." Joran waddled past him; as he did so, he focused his power, unleashing a brief miasma of purple that swarmed over Valdi and dispersed in an instant; the sixth-termer didn't have time to process it. "...I wonder if you'll still share that conviction once the Eclipse passes?" He clenched his right hand, wherein that miasma coalesced with Valdi's mental essence.
Valdi turned around, looking somewhat bewildered. "I mean, why wouldn't I?"
"...you're such a bore," murmured Joran.
"I'm sorry about that, Mister J."
Joran immediately warped away.
"Wait, sorry, I mean Console J!"
xx
Joran emerged atop the great bluff overlooking the Fornis Region; how little did Colony 30 know that he was still there, half-tempted to crush them all. "But first...let's see what secrets the little Commander's hiding." Smiling grimly, Moebius J let the miasma in his right hand seep out into the ground; a portion of the ground slowly began to rise, clumping together into mud with definition. Before long, it took on the tones and colors of Valdi himself. "Valdi...what are you most afraid of?"
"I'm afraid of letting my friends down. But I'm working on it!" cheerfully said the mudpuppet. "Do you have any Levnises I can work on?"
Joran blinked. "How do you feel about...Ouroboros? What about them makes you..irritated, or angry?"
"Nothing that I can think of. They're all pretty great!" The mudpuppet confusedly looked around. "How come there aren't any Levnises around? They didn't go off to fight, did they? We're not supposed to fight anymore."
...is this bloke for real? "Ouroboros is going to get executed in less than a month. How does that make you feel?"
"...sad, I guess? But those guys are awesome! My friends aren't going to die." The mudpuppet looked at him with a smile. "I think I'm going to head back to the Colony now, and get to work-"
SHUNK.
A tiny little knife sunk into the mudpuppet's forehead, cutting off his speech; his color gave way to a muddy brown, and his entire being collapsed into the dirt he had been forged from.
With a bitter scowl, Joran picked his knife up. "Utterly without guile," he murmured, feeling rather irritated. "How can someone like that exist in this world...?" It should have been an impossibility. I wasn't so lucky. I've never been lucky.
(You're the unluckiest worm in the world.)
Joran felt a sudden urge to burn the entirety of Colony 30 to the ground, to show them just how lowly they truly were...but no. That wouldn't do at all. You're not some hothead. You've got power, now...you're in control, J. Smiling grimly, he look eastward, towards the immense and gargantuan Ocean Vortex. When Ouroboros meets their end...I'll come back to deliver the news straight to this 'Valdi'. I want to see how he looks when his hope dies...that'll show him.
(How dare someone so muddled possess conviction you could never hope to bear?)
Chuckling to himself, Moebius J warped away.
xxxx
Needless to say...it would be Joran that would get surprised by the results of the Homecoming, not Valdi.
But Valdi's part was not yet over.
xxxx
A few days later, Valdi received an unexpected message on his Iris. "...oh, Brolearis!"
Bolearis chuckled. "You still haven't gotten it right, eh?"
"...did I get it wrong?"
"...you know, 'Brolearis' sounds just fine. I've got a favor to ask of you."
"Is it about the new levnite shipment we were negotiating? I think Yuzet had already arranged the details with your man, Solon..."
Bolearis shook his head. "Nah, nothing like that. I was asked to set up a conversation between you and Colony 9's Commander, if that's fine with you."
"I don't see why not." A chance to make more friends? What a good day!
"Thing is, it's about Ouroboros and their upcoming execution...I heard from the Nopon traders passing through that a Consul visited?"
"You mean Mister J? He kind of left in a hurry; not sure why. I wonder if I upset him...?" He sure hoped not; Yuzet was always taking about how first impressions were important. "But I'm sure Ouroboros will be fine."
"...heh. You've got some fiery sparks, kid. Wish there were more like you." Brushing at his chin, Bolearis nonetheless added, "Still, no harm in stacking the deck in our favor. Commander Zeon hasn't let slip the full details, but he's apparently got a plan cooked up with help from Gamma and Iota, of all places..."
"Iota?" Didn't we fight them not too long ago? How many terms has it been? "It'll be nice to see them again! I'm glad Antixandria isn't holding any grudges."
Bolearis stared. "...pretty sure Iota's Commander is named 'Alexandria', kiddo."
"Is she? I'll make sure to remember that...so what's this plan? Does it involve Levnises?"
"How'd you guess?"
Instead of acting smug for guessing right, Valdi simply whooped with joy. "Awesome! Share me all the details!"
xxxx
Author's Note: Next time we do a 'Longest Month' snippet, we'll round up the rest of the liberated Colonies on the Agnian side: Tau, Lambda, Iota, and Gamma.
After that...will be the actual plan in action.
/but seriously, Valdi is a precious cinnamon roll