Quoted By:
“If I have the choice, I will.” A simple and easy declaration to make. Separated from logic, you had no reason to refuse to protect your investment, your comrades more than once, that once so small Republic that had grown into so much, because of a legend that you could only reluctantly admit, under its growth and exaggeration, was your own. A heroic epoch <span class="mu-i">demanded</span> you return in its hour of need…yet reality was not so poetic, was it? You still tried to justify it. “With more men, more power, I’ll actually be able to help <span class="mu-i">more</span>.”
Signy smiled at you- it was a nice, bright one, but you saw in her eyes that she knew your hesitancy. “That’s what you’d like to say, and I appreciate it. But..?”
“I probably won’t have that choice, I suppose,” you admitted, “I have more to fight for, more to protect. But I have my pride. I don’t want to choose. I want to fight for all of it.”
“I won’t ask that you fight for anything over your friends, your family, your Strossvald,” Signy said, “It’s not so simple for you to decide against those, as it is for me, now. Even if I understand…the <span class="mu-i">greed</span>.” Her tone turned melancholy. “I’d rather the future not require those kinds of questions, especially today. I want you to be happy, Richter. I always have.” She paused. “Maybe something less…heavy is better right now. Something on your mind rather than mine.”
There was admittedly more to ask. “You have an impressive entourage,” you looked to the Republican Guards, “They aren’t all there is, right? Somebody as important as you might need more subtle protection.”
“Mm.” Signy nodded, “That’s been set up. By….<span class="mu-i">Loch’s</span> people, before he and they all went. They aren’t numerous. But they’re well meaning. Xenakis would rather they not grow powerful, though. Says that their work and desire for it makes them untrustworthy over brute strength. So I defend myself with both.”
“Only defensive?” You weren’t about to spew it, but Strossvald’s Intelligence Office had expanded its <span class="mu-i">offensive</span> capabilities as of late. Perhaps that was a necessity.
Signy shook her head. “No. As I said…there are trust issues in the long term. I can’t simply do whatever I want when it comes to defying my closest advisors. I have to at least be the binding between these brilliant men.”
Maybe it was better, though perhaps not the wisest course of action. You could hardly say. The Intelligence Office had certainly done its part in exploiting you and causing you grief. Fewer organizations like them were not so terrible a curse. “Speaking of Loch,” you said, “Have you seen him? What’s he been up to?”
