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

[azumods]

[Oh, that...

She does not like that. The smile's gone and her posture is tense, hands clenched at her sides. She doesn't look away, but it looks like she's trying very hard to work something out in her head and it takes her longer than usual to respond.]

...Master Cyrus would have told me if he was going to punish them.

[That's what she settles on, but she doesn't sound quite as sure of that.]

[discutio]

...If I might, would he have told you as much if punishment wasn't his intent? Perhaps he required them for another reason.

[azumods]

Maybe, but I don't see why he wouldn't say anything about it to me.

[discutio]

[Ignis frowned, adjusting his glasses and thinking for a moment. Why then would Cyrus call those two without bothering to tell Mars?]

If he didn't tell you, then is it possible...that he summoned them for a reason you'd not have been able to have much input about? After all, looking at it from a perspective of things Saturn and Jupiter have done that you haven't until today, there is only one thing I'm aware of.

Could it be that Cyrus wants to know about us specifically?

[azumods]

...I guess that's possible... But it still doesn't explain what happened to them.

[discutio]

Could they not still be wherever Cyrus is located himself?

[azumods]

They've been gone for awhile now. He would've told me if they were going to be out of contact with me.

[discutio]

...hm. I'm beginning to understand why you're so insistent upon the point, that doesn't make any sense. And you've not seen either of them since they spoke with us? Did they say or do anything strange before then?

[semistableman]

[Ohh, he does not like that at all. If something has happened to Saturn, it's their fault.]

Maybe he assumed you would understand his reasoning.

[azumods]

Well, of course, I understand Master Cyrus better than anyone, but that doesn't mean he'd do something like that!

[semistableman]

Maybe punishment wasn't his intent.

[At least not initially.]

[azumods]

Then what happened to them?

[semistableman]

Questioning. The way I see it, they both ran into us, and there's no possible way he isn't aware of us.

[azumods]

That's possible, but it doesn't explain why I haven't heard anything from them.

[semistableman]

The... organization I used to be with, it ran its missions on a need-to-know basis.

Maybe he thought it would distract you from your current task.

[greydients]

[...a-ha. Now this is getting interesting.]

He may not have punishment in mind. I don't know him personally, but I can think of a few reasons a leader might summon their closest associates.

[...

Alright, breathe. All this verbal tip-toeing is tricky, but she's getting there.]

...I'm not trying to speak ill of your master, Commander Mars. I'm just...trying to introduce some alternate scenarios for why Saturn and Jupiter have disappeared. Believe me, I'd like to know the answer as much as you.

[azumods]

Yeah, but even if he did summon them and they disappeared after that, he'd tell me. There's no way he'd leave me in the dark like this.

[greydients]

[...]

Is he in the habit of telling you everything he does?

[azumods]

Well... He tells me what I need to know to do my job.

[greydients]

Then maybe your job doesn't require that information just yet.

[...actually, speaking of which-]

What is your mission at present? Has he given you one?

[azumods]

That's none of your business.

[greydients]

[Well, it was worth a shot. But...]

I'm assuming he hasn't instructed you to ask us about Saturn and Jupiter, then.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Maybe he doesn't think you need to know, then?

[Sena flinches when he says that - it came out much harsher than he intended. So he backs up, waving his hands.]

I-I don't mean that in a bad way! My team captain back home, he does the same thing. Keeps a lotta things secret, or does things without telling us why...we have to figure out the reasons ourselves. That's just his way of doing things...and I think, um, in a way it made us stronger, too...

[azumods]

I guess that's possible...

[She sounds like she doesn't like it, but at least she's admitting that much.]

But it doesn't explain why they haven't been in contact with me since talking to you guys.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

It might be part of those orders? Like, he doesn't want to compromise their mission or something?

[He sweats nervously when he says that.] You wouldn't believe how much that kinda thing happens...

[The expression on his face says it all. You...probably don't want to ask about that.]