Fourth.

[azumods]

ENCOUNTER. Perhaps it's a good thing that the people of Floaroma Town seem to be exhibiting curiosity, because that's how you end up getting the tip. It isn't much, in the end - a question of where you're going from one of the ladies in the flower shop, followed by a brief look exchanged between them and a soft shrug. There's a mention of the Valley Windworks just across the way, a short walk from here, and something inside that will shave a week's time off of the journey south. Something that should put you right in the heart of Jubilife City, should you be able to gain access to it. It's likely clear that whatever would be blocking your access to such a thing likely isn't going to be pleasant; it doesn't take them long to tell you that Team Galactic has owned the Windworks for a while now, but at the same time it's only ever staffed with low-tier employees on the chain of command - the Commanders themselves haven't cared about it since they took over, and the grunts... Well, for one reason or another, they haven't been changing with the rest of the world. It likely seems obvious, when put that way - the people of the town haven't lied to you in the entire time you've been here (they aren't many things, but at the very least they are honest), and if they're correct about this, that's a week's less travel that will need to be done. Over a distance this large, every day counts; as such, you might as well check out the Windworks for whatever it will bring you. As it turns out, the townspeople were right about several things - the Valley Windworks is only a short walk away, surrounded by tall electricity-generating windmills that are turning away at a good clip in the windstreams traveling through the valley; upon entering it, it seems fair to say that it really is generally only staffed by grunts. In light of the changes the world has undergone, their appearance may be a bit jarring, a reminder of what the entire place used to look like - they're completely dead-eyed and listless, lacking any sort of individual initiative, and while they look up as you enter and their eyes track you as you move, they don't seem inclined to do much about you as a whole. Unfortunately, the ladies in the flower shop seem to have been mistaken about something - it seems that one of the Commanders, at least, seems to care very much about this place, given that she's waiting for you in the lobby. As with the others before her, she looks distinctive from the others in both her style of dress and the fact that she's still emotionally intact; she's small in stature, the heels on her boots doing nothing to help that fact, and she's incredibly slight in comparison to Jupiter. She also seems displeased about being here; the smile she offers in greeting is sharp, and it's not a pleasant look. More along the lines of baring teeth. "It's pretty rude of you guys to barge in here like you own the place. Not like I was expecting much from you people, anyway. I'm Commander Mars, and it's about time we met."

Comments

[discutio]

You're missing the point, whether out of anger or just sheer stubbornness. And you're not answering the question, on top of that.

If you presume we had power enough to take them out one way or another, tell me what you think is stopping us now.

And if you can come up with no substantial answer, then perhaps the explanation is that we are regrettably outmatched and could in fact do no such thing.

[azumods]

Fine, I'll play along. Let's say you all really are totally incapable of taking out Jupiter or Saturn. Then what happened to them? They aren't going to turn on Master Cyrus. They aren't going to run away and hide. So what are you saying happened?

[discutio]

Any number of things, truly. One possibility is that they're hiding from your master for fear of what might happen to them should it be discovered they failed.

Another is that they've run afoul of any of this world's minor deities, of which I have swiftly learned there are more than initially thought and none of which presumably have any love for Team Galactic.

Yet another is that it's Cynthia who confronted them after we spoke, in which case you're interrogating entirely the wrong people.

[azumods]

They wouldn't hide from Master Cyrus! They're loyal, they believe in Master Cyrus' goals as much as I do!

[discutio]

Perhaps they are, yes. But I wonder how your master treats failure from those who serve him so loyally.

[azumods]

Those that fail Master Cyrus deserve whatever punishment he deems appropriate anyway, we all know that.

[discutio]

...That's an unfortunate way of thinking.

[azumods]

What makes you say that?

[discutio]

I just find it...lamentable that even a perceived failure is automatically deserving of punishment. Perhaps relatable, but no less unfortunate for it.

[azumods]

If Master Cyrus sees it as a failure then it is a failure. That's all there is to it.

[enjoymyatelier]

Look, how omniscient is Cyrus at the moment? Do his pet gods keep tabs on you all?

[azumods]

What makes you think I'm going to tell you something like that?

[enjoymyatelier]

Because it’s not going to matter regardless if he just decides to smite the free will out of us...?

[azumods]

I'm not telling you anything, but nice try.

[enjoymyatelier]

...

So he wouldn’t immediately know if any of you happened to have a minor crisis of faith, then?

[azumods]

That's a weirdly specific question.

[enjoymyatelier]

I just want to know how much of an issue thoughtcrime is here. I know you’ve already ousted someone who didn’t toe the party line.

[azumods]

As far as I'm concerned, anyone who doesn't back Master Cyrus and his goals shouldn't be here.

[enjoymyatelier]

Right, but how did you find out about his transgressions? Did he slip up, or was it something else?

[azumods]

...What are you talking about?

[enjoymyatelier]

Wasn’t there a fourth commander at some point? That’s the one.

[azumods]

Oh yeah, him. It's not any of your business what happened with him.