With only one real lead to follow as to what was goin on regarding Iacturos and, in turn, why Celm was interfering with my adventures, I reluctantly decided to try and contact Melissa. Hopefully, she wouldn't clam up about the topic.

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"Hello, you are speaking to the High Sovereign of the Emyprean Illuminate, how may I help you."

"Is that how you greet everyone?"

"No, I just wanted to see how you would react. Less amusing than I expected."

"Sorry for ruining your expectations."

"Why? What reason do you have to be sorry?"

"None. I merely apologized out of reflex."

AN: Yes, I really do apologize out of reflex at times, or to be sarcastic. I also apologize far more than necessary for some things.

"Oh, I see. So, why did you call me?"

"Do you know someone by the name of Iacturos?"

"...How do you know that name?"

"He just apologized to me for stealing a planet that I had just taken. Said planet had Progenitor ruins on it. I'd like an explanation."

"Okay, just...could you meet with me?"

"Where?"

"My hub universe. I'll open up a portal for you to arrive there."

"Okay, but I would like to know why I am going there."

"I can't be sure that someone isn't listening in on us. I'm omnipotent, not omniscient, and Celm forbids me from my powers to prevent people from overhearing certain conversations - wants me to learn discretion. Not sure how this helps me learn that, but still."

"...Fine, I'm coming over. But I do want a full explanation...at least, within what your superior's deem acceptable."

"Fair enough."

"Also, can Rory and the rest of the kids come along? I think he'd like to spend some time with Cassidy."

"Of course. She really likes them."

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Once I had got all of my kids rounded up, we marched through the portal that had spontaneously appeared in my tower and arrived in Melissa's abode. Cassidy practically squeed when she saw us and swiftly invited them to play a game (dodgeball, if I was observing things right), leaving me and Melissa alone to discuss my question. Surprisngly, Melissa insisted in serving me a couple of fruits, because I was her guest.

I stared at them for a moment, unsure if I would regret eating them, before deciding to take a bite out of one of them.

"...Wow, these are good."

Yeah, they were really, really tasty. And juicy.

"Thank you. Why did you hesitate to eat one? I' not going to poison you - I lose my best source of entertainment."

"I know, I was just worried I wouldn't like the taste."

"Oh. I suppose I can understand that."

"Well, with that out of the way, could you explain why, exactly, Iacturos interfered with my operations?"

"Okay, but how do you know that I know him?"

"I found a video on my Commander of him helping you after some of your, for lack of better term, coworkers attacked you."

"And what did they attack me over?" she asked, apparently doubting my honesty.

"Well, they seemed angry that Celm chose you to head the Commander project."

The minute I said that, she seemed to freeze up, and her face lost a tiny bit of its color. Given that she was already pale, it made her look rather sickly.

"Oh. I see. I didn't know that he recorded it."

"Can you explain why, exactly, your 'friend' nullified one of my greatest triumphs?"

"We're not really friends, and, well, Celm ordered him to do so."

"Why?"

"...Look, you found Progenitor ruins on that planet, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did."

"Well, that's why Iac took it from you - Celm wants those ruins."

Okay, now we are getting somewhere.

"Why is that?"

"Can you answer two questions for me first?"

"Yes, but this counts as one of them."

"I thought so. As for the other question, is this the first time you've discovered a planet with Progenitor ruins on it in your travels?"

"...No, actually. I found another one in the Civilization universe."

"And I presume Celm took that one from you, too?"

"Yes, he did."

"I thought so. Anyway, you ever wonder why those ruins showed up there?"

"Not really."

Just saying that and knowing it was true actually made me worried. I mean, finding Progenitor artifacts in other universes was kind of a big deal.

"Well, you could blame that on my superior. He would prefer that you not investigate that mystery."

"I'm not sure that you could tell me why that is, so I have a different question: why are there Progenitor ruins in this universe and the Civilization one."

"I don't really know. Celm has an idea, though."

"He does?"

"Yeah. See, the schematics for the multiversal gate I gave you? Celm said he found it onboard the commander when he first found it. Going off that, he thinks that maybe ROBs like me weren't the first people to send commanders across the multiverse."

"So you're saying the Progenitors might have had their own multiversal adventures?"

"Maybe that, maybe they were multiversal conquerors, maybe they just wanted to see the beauty in all creation. I don't really know which is true, but whatever the reason, they seemed to be willing to spread at least their technology across reality. At least, that's what I've heard."

"So why does your superior want those ruins?"

"Eh, he's interested in them. He's an archeologist of sorts - he likes collecting the ruins of ancient civilizations and studying them. With these guys, though, he practically seems to worship them. Wants to get all of their tech safe and sound so that people don't 'tarnish the legacy of the Progenitors'. Seems to include commanders in that category too, if what I've heard him say about others like you is any indication."

"Wouldn't the fault lie in those who put people in commanders in the first place? And if he has those feeling, then he's being rather hypocritical, considering what you are using me for."

"Eh, he thinks it is a necessary evil - the ruins are easier to find if an active progenitor machine is present - progenitor tech apparently seeks out more of its kind. He might not like me putting you in there, but he seems to think that maybe, putting an individual with a good heart in a Commander might make some of the worst hellholes in existence better places."

"Thanks for the compliment."

"You're welcome."

I merely grinned at that...Then I noticed that, while listening to my ROB, I'd run out of fruit. Melissa realized this a second later, and called for a servant to pick it up.

A few minutes later, a young woman arrived and collected my plate. As she left, though, a ball suddenly flew into her. The plate went into the air while the woman tumbled to the ground. Before either object could hit the ground, though, both were caught by...something. It was paled skinned, scale, wearing armor and...no way.

"Is that a...locust?" I asked Melissa, not taking my eyes off of the being I presumed was a locust drone helped the female servant back to her feet.

"Swarm, actually. And its a scion, not a locust."

"Scion...oh, right, new enemies from Gears of War 4. How'd you get such a bloodthirsty race to be - "

"A lot of work," responded my ROB, a hint of menace in her voice.

I threw my hands up into the air, apologetically.

"Sorry. Just a little surprised."

"I understand. Just, please, don't insult those who follow me, okay?"

"Okay."

"Good. Now, if you must excuse me, I have to go. I've reopened the portal you came in through, use it to leave."

"Okay. Well, goodbye then."

"Farewell."

With that, Melissa got up and left.

As she did, I noticed something very odd.

No, she didn't have anything weird on her clothes. The oddity was actually in her shadow.

See, her body was, aside form its paleness, completely indistinguishable from a normal human.

But her shadow?

It looked like one from a monster.

...Was that what she really looked like?

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AN: Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!