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((The Mon/Wen/Fri Double -- page 2 of 2))
'I feel like you're not appreciating the nuance of this situation,' said Garovel. 'The Rainlords are very emotional and vulnerable, right now. I could very easily imagine them trying to use this--to use US--against our will in order to pursue their revenge against Parson Miles. Does that possibility not concern you at all?'

'...You think they would, what? Take you hostage? To use as bait or something for this Parson guy?'

'More or less, yeah. Does that sound so ridiculous to you?'

'A little. I mean, the Rainlords are all about honor 'n everything.'

'Yeah. And we also witnessed some of them taking children hostage. Don't tell me you've forgotten that whole shitstorm, already.'

'I think you're worrying too much, Garovel. If you tell them, they'll understand.'

'That's very trusting of you, Hector.'

'No, it isn't. They already feel hugely indebted to us. To an annoying degree, even. They wouldn't do anything like you're suggesting.'

'I wish I could share your certainty.'

Hector exhaled heavily and had to sit up another time to look at his reaper directly. 'Alright, well. This isn't getting us anywhere. Give me the details. How do you know this Parson guy?'

'I briefly worked under his command.'

'...How briefly?'

'About ten years or so.'

'That is NOT brief, Garovel.'

'Eh. In reaper terms, it is.'

'How long ago was this?'

'Oh, uh... sixty years, maybe? Tough to recall exactly.'

'And what was the, uh... nature of your work?'

'Espionage.'

Hector's gaze hardened. 'For real?'

'I hated it,' said Garovel, 'but it was important work. We prevented a lot of deaths.'

'Where were you, er, operating?'

'Mostly in the eastern half of Eloa, but there were a few occasions when we traveled all over the world.'

'Why did you hate it?'

'Lots of reasons, really, but the main one was probably the lack of transparency. Working in intelligence for one of the most powerful organizations on the planet, you might think you'd know a thing or two about the state of the world, the goings-on of nations. But we never really did. We knew what we were told and had to take a lot on faith.'