The skies grew dark over Castrum Centri. It was not just because Mor Dhona was often covered in gloom, nor was it due to Ultima Weapon being transported back for some final touches a few days ago. The whole mood had fallen.

Recently, new orders had come in from the emperor. And one Livia sas Junius was not happy with them. The Emperor had gone senile in his old age - or worse, mad. Both would lead to nothing but pain for her - and for Lord Gaius - if they were to follow these false orders.

And, thus, she decided she would let out her frustration on the very one the Emperor had sent such an important message about. The doors slid open to the prisoners quarters - each of them separated - and she gestured to the guards.

“Bring the Elezen.” A moment too many passed, and Livia repeated herself. “Now.”

Scrambling, Urianger was dragged out of his cell. His mouth gagged, his arms and legs bound. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t fight back. Her weapons trained on him, Urianger tried not to show any fear.

He was tossed into an interrogation room, roughly. The Garlean-style steel hurt more then Urianger could admit. Livia made sure the door was sealed, before ripping off his gag.

“Urianger Augurelt. Bane of the VIIth, and now bane of the XIVth.” Livia began, as always. Pushing a steel heel into his chest, so he did not dare try and stand. Pressing down, so his breathe was a deep whine. “Emperor Solus recently sent a missive.”

Urianger stared upwards - his goggles had been stripped, alongside all his clothes. Replaced by prisoner garb. His tail had been tied around his waist, held there by steel rope. He tried not to show pain.

He failed. Livia ground into his chest. Urianger let out a tiny gasp for air. “Do you know what it said? What Lord Gaius’ Emperor said?” Livia said, her voice growing crueller. “He wanted you to be released. Only you. And to be pardoned.”

Livia continued to grind into Uriangers’ chest, before stopping. Looking to his body again. “Stand up.”

A moment passed. Urianger did not move. Even now, he rebelled. Livia forced him up with one hand, barely noticing - or caring - that his breath was now sharp. That she likely cracked a rib. Violently, she turned him around.

With one move, her sharpened gunbaghnakhs both cut and let out an explosion. Urianger let out a scream, now unable to hold back his voice. His tail fell from his hips like some form of furred hula-hoop. His eyes widened, and Livias’ narrowed behind her helmet, smirking. “Little kitten. Half-breed. I will not let you free - the Emperor has gone senile from the stress of this invasion.”

That had to be it, Livia was certain. Lord Gaius wouldn’t follow somebody who showed this kind of feeling to a captive. Livia pushed Urianger against the wall, violently. His stump of a tail dribbled blood, and Urianger continued to try and gulp back his fear.

The door behind them slid open. Livia turned on her heels, about to protest, when she saw him there. Gaius. Lord Gaius had come to her… his movements tense, blood on his armour. Livia gave a salute, and Gaius did not move. She could feel it.

Lord Gaius was not in a good mood. He had not been in once ever since he had returned from the test of Ultima Weapon. Something bad had happened. “Livia. Stand down.”

She followed his command. Urianger fell to the ground. Gaius looked over the both of them. “Come.

…leave him here.”

Urianger was left alone - not even any guards on him, his restraints removed. He realised, a little delayed, what this meant. He could flee, he could get help. Just like any fair folk could. He hoped they would forgive him for fleeing. His dear Scions.

Within a moment, Urianger was gone. Slipped into the realm he was born in.

“You know,” Nero tol Scaeva said, as he leaned against Ultima Weapon, “it’s strange.” He was speaking to the machine itself, even as it was turned off. “I swear we’ve met before. Perhaps in a dream?” His voice was gentler then usual, eyes gleaming as he looked back at Ultima Weapon. His lips were curled into a grin. “You’re nice and full of Eikon, though. I hope you don’t mind me poking around your belly!”

Ultima Weapon was not alive. And yet, Nero felt as if the beast was. As he stroked their flesh, he could feel something long gone. Honestly, it was creepy. Behind him, he felt the other he’d called in to aid. He was no expert in analyzing aether. Casually, Nero smiled backwards. “Aulus! What took you so long!” he asked, his lips not moving.

Aulus nan Asina bit his lip, but spoke without moving them as well. “You know what took so long. Travel across this savage land is not as easy as you’d think, Nero.”

The two of them shared this bond, this ability to speak without speaking. Aulus gave a little blip. “What is Lord Gaius looking for, exactly?”

Darn. Down to business. Aulus was far too boring, Nero though, but they did have work to do. He looked up at Ultima Weapon. “Lord Gaius suspects one of the Eikons my dear Ultima Weapon devoured was one of his children. I want you to check for aether signatures similar to his.”

“Biological, or adopted?” Aulus asked, as he began to assemble what he needed.

Nero shrugged. “According to rumours? Biological. According to him? None of my business, and he’ll silence me if I ask again.” As he spoke, he watched Aulus. A screen appeared in front of him, a hologram. Nero could do that as well, but he much rathered physical work.

There was a long pause. Aulus was scanning. Nero began to absentmindedly calculate how to improve his dear Ultima Weapon, until he heard the other in his head again. “Analysis complete.

I have multiple interesting things to report,” Aulus began, lookin at Nero. “But I have to ask - how many Eikon did Ultima Weapon absorb?”

“Three. Well, one of them might not have been an Eikon. It was a beast belonging to the strange woman I talked to you about.”

The one who had abnormal aether. “Sending you the readings now. One of the aetherial signatures matches the ones you sent about the girl.”

Nero closed his eyes, and could see the data scrolling past him. An overflowing amount of the stilling Umbral energy. And yet, it also reminded him of light. Perhaps it was because of how bright the side effects were. This wasn’t what he asked for, but a smirk grew over his lips. “This is perfect. It could be used to stop enemies in our way - think of what dear Ultima can do with this!”

Trying to stop his distraction, Nero then shook his head. “Aulus. Does the signature match Gaius at all? Any of them.”

“Affermative,” Aulus replied, continuing to stare up at the machine. Unblinking. Uncaring. “The fire-aspected one is connected to Lord Gaius.

What are you thinking, Nero?”

Nero sighed. “He wants to extract them. Save them. But… that’s not what I’m thinking about.

I’ve seen signatures similar to the mystery one. Well, not really similar, but the exact opposite. Those opposites? Voidsent.” While Voidsent were overflowing with movement in their signatures, this creature was barely moving internally. Nero, of course, did not know that those who weren’t him or Aulus didn’t see this kind of thing. He didn’t care. “Do you know what this means?”

Aulus looked over. “I don’t care, Scaeva—”

“It means that the Ultima Weapon could also take care of any Voidsent issues. And if it can take down Voidsent, it could also get rid of those pesky Elementals! I know you’ve been having issues with them!”

It was true. Aulus had only been close to the Wall once or twice, when he was called to test out new improvements to soldiers. And each time, he heard whispers of how violent the Twelveswood was, how it was dangerous. He’d not seen anything, but he had seen memorials for stolen soldiers as well.

If this could solve that issue… “I did not only come here for you, Scaeva,” Aulus then said, looking him up and down. Nero frowned.

“Aw, that’s mean. We’ve learned so much working together!”

Aulus shrugged off Nero growing louder in his head. “Years ago, I had a patient stolen from me. She is here.” As he spoke, Aulus sent information to Nero. Yulia. The Emperors’ missing granddaughter. She was declared a public enemy, but could be tamed. And if she was tamed, it would please the Emperor.

And if Aulus did it? Well, perhaps the Emperor would promote him even more, give him more resources. His crimes would be forgiven. Or he would be able to commit more crimes. Either-or.

Casually, Nero beeped. “Ah, yes! They’re to be shipped off to the capital soon! Oh, except for one of them.” Nero broadcast data back, baseline information on the Scions. Including Urianger. That his signature was odd, as well. “Perhaps once you’re done with Yulia, you can experiment on the others! Especially the small one. Still don’t know what’d make a Garlean elope with a Lalafell.”

“I don’t care about that.” Aulus was firm as he closed his eyes. Reading the information, over and over. These Scions were fascinating. “Now… as for extracting a soul from Ultima Weapon…

It’s not possible at this time.” At this time, he made sure to clarify, as he analyzed the information. “You said Ultima Weapon was made to use their power, correct? If that’s the case, then the best idea would be to allow Ultima Weapon to exhaust their power. Then, we would need to extract whatever remained.” A tsk, a beep. “I believe the Oversoul project would be able to reconstruct the Eikon in question.”

Nero shuddered, though he did not know why, at the mention of that project. “So you’ve been aiding with it?”

Aulus shook his head. “I wish. I’m stuck doing menial work, far below my intellect.” Even now, he complained, and Nero couldn’t block it out. Thankfully, the doors slid open, and Gaius finally arrived to interrupt this awkwardness. Livia followed him, ever-so-slightly slumped.

“Nero tol Scaeva. Report.”

Nero stood, stretching. “The mechanism the Ascian brought has been installed in the heart of Ultima. Performance has gone up by several percentages, and the Eikon remain contained.”

Gaius’ steps grew heavier as he approached. As he silently demanded answers for the one question he was actually curious about. Nero shuddered. “As for the extraction, as you can see, I have summoned my ally, to examine such.” Even Gaius was aware of the strange bond these two shared, even if Aulus was not one of his. Otherwise, he would have forbidden the other man from coming when he was so close to conquering Eorzea. “He has finished analyzing the aether within.

Fordola pyr Lupis lives, Lord Gaius.

But she cannot be safely extracted.”

Gaius was silent. Before looking straight at Nero. Even though Gaius wore his helmet, and Nero did not, Nero could feel Gaius’ hatred burn though his body, his disapproval. Oh, how it hurt. Nero ever-so-slightly bowed his head. “There is a way, however. It all depends on how those so-called Grand Companies reply.”

“Oh?” Gaius half-asked, half-growled.

“If Ultima Weapon uses enough energy, we’ll be able to extract whatever remains of your bastard daughter, and—”

“Enough.”

Gaius approached ever-so-closer to Nero, Nero feeling his very body grow cold with fear. “She is no bastard.” His growl grew. “She may have been raised by an Ala Mhigan family, but she is pureblooded Garlean.”

“How?” Nero asked, beeping a little. “She doesn’t have the eye.”

Gaius got closer, his voice lowering. Livia and Aulus both couldn’t hear what was going on - Livia was angered by such, of course. “Listen here, Scaeva,” Gaius began, growing even closer. “She is of my blood. Her mother was my former wife.” Who had perished due to injuries from the Ala Mhigan resistance. “She was born strong, but lacking certain… features. She could not be raised as a Baelsar. It would have been too dangerous. Thus, she was given to an Ala Mhigan family. One loyal to us.

She will never know such. Understood, Scaeva?”

Nero was not even sending information to Aulus. Gaius scared him - and Gaius also impressed him. Now wasn’t the time to admit that if their aether was still around, the Eikon within the Ultima Weapon might be able to hear this. Instead, Nero weakly nodded. Fear bubbled though his body. Gaius turned around, leaving Nero to slump.

“Then we will listen for their reply.”