He was the man tasked to deal with this and already he was getting a headache from the confusing reports. The preliminary ones he'd been sent while she was in transit had already made him suspicious. A strange woman that appeared from nowhere, was covered in blood and armed to the teeth, yet no one could trace any crime that had been committed recently with her weapon of choice. No honor duel in secrecy that had been dragged to light or someone's theft on a blacksmith gone wrong. She was simply ther looking worse for wear.
Worse than he expected once he had her in his office. Not that he can blame her judging from how many people she had been shuffled through. The paper trail told all and he sometimes he wishes he hadn't climbed to this spot in the ladder. Then he wouldn't be seen as appropriate to deal with this. Just high enough for this responsibility to be foisted off on, but not in a place where anyone would get in trouble for dumping it in his lap. Which is why he's drumming his fingers on the edge of his desk as he reviews the flimsy of information briefly before turning his full attention to her. Protocol hadn't been followed properly given the strange circumstances and it was now his task to see that everything was handled.
"I've heard their side of the story," he remarks, watching her carefully. "No one seems to have gotten yours."
The dried blood is itchy, for one thing, and she wants to scratch at it, but stiffness and dignity kept her in place. Her jaw set as she watched him. The tick of irritation she willed down - that this was all wasting time. She couldn't stay here. There was a battle and - "What story could I say?"
It's the first words she's spoken in hours. Her voice is cracked with dust, low, willing down the left-over exhaustion from the adrenaline of a few hours ago. She wets her lips, and tries again, trying to clear her voice to speak more clearly. "I have no more idea of what has occurred than it seems you have."
Well, she's speaking to him. That's an improvement over earlier efforts. He waits until she finishes speaking before bringing up his wristcomm to request water to be brought to them. Whether she'll accept it or not, he can at least offer. He's learned through previous interviews with persons of interests that this worked better than brute force.
"You could start with the blood. We have been monitoring reports since you came into our custody trying to find a suspect that matches your description." With no such luck. If she had harmed or killed anyone, they were well hidden.
Who was he speaking to - ? She watches the gesture, tensing in case it's - something else. A draw of a weapon, willing her breath to stay calm. Not terrified, no, but on edge, ready. Always ready. But when nothing follows it, her fingers loosen in their grip.
"It wouldn't be hard if you were. It was a battle." Frowning deeper, that doesn't make sense at all. Unless this was the game, pretend it was less than it was. It would be for the United India Company. Dress up cries for justice, safety, independence, as mere small mutinies. Act like it was all something to be swept under the rug. "My men against the Company guards. I could not tell you how many died, surely word would have reached you by now - ?"
"A battle?" he asks, brow raised. There's a healthy dose of skepticism in his voice. "Currently the Barrayaran Empire is at peace." Regardless of what the infighting with the Counts sounded like at times. Emperor Vorbarra had a talent for keeping the many factions at peace. Had the woman been intoxicated in some way before being found? She had seemed lucid by all accounts, if confused and irritated by what was happening to her.
"Start from the beginning. Where were you before we found you?" Her answer may tell him enough to piece this together.
Which, now who didn't make any sense? Or, well, neither of them apparently were to each other. "Who are the Barrayarans? I have never heard of such an Empire." She's clearly trying to think of it. There were her own people, the Marathis, the Muhgals, then those she had found herself in the company of since then. German, French, Dutch, English, Russian, Ottoman. But no - no Barrayaran Empire.
He's about to answer when someone walks in carrying a pitcher of water and two glasses. The young officer sets everything down on Duv's desk and ducks out as quickly as he had come in. Duv's thankful he didn't stick around to gawk. If there isn't a gaggle of troops waiting to hear the unclassified version of this, he would be surprised.
"Portugal, that's on Earth isn't it?" The country sounded familiar from his stationing there. There had been too much history for him to learn among his other duties. "You've met several Barrayarans on your journey to my office. Water?" he offers, pouring some in both of their glasses.
There always is, in her experience. No one gossiped half so much as soldiers did. Habit of wanting something else to talk about other than this battle or that dead friend. She stays stiff as he walks past her. Swallowing on the urge to jump up and - do something. She doesn't know yet. Anything, anything but this sitting here and being asked questions.
"Portugal is in Europe, next to Spain." Her mouth parts, hanging on a question, what he said didn't make any sense. "What do you mean on Earth?" She nods distracted to the water. Knows she needs it, but she'd wait for him to drink first before she so much as touched the glass.
It's a paranoia he can understand. One that's served him well over the years. With a practiced ease, he takes a healthy drink from his glass before setting it aside. If anyone had dared mess with it, they would have to deal with the political ramifications of poisoning an officer in the military and a Komarran. If only he could be alive to see such an act.
"I was stationed in London for some time, but I didn't have the chance to leave," he remarks. That the name 'Earth' would confuse her is... strange. He frowns as he watches her. "That would be the planet Portugal is on, much like how we are in Vorbarr Sultana on the planet Barrayar."
No, no he's mad - or - something of the like. Something long elaborate fantasy, she doesn't know, it doesn't matter. She stands, sharp quick onto her feet, all else ignored.
"Take me back to my men, immediately. I can't waste more time here with your fantasies. However, you have done it, undo it." It's barked - ordered, in full expectation that it is to be followed.
He knows that tone. One used to commanding soldiers and having them listen. It's the same one he uses, particularly when dealing with those of noble birth that try to skirt the rules.
Duv watches her stand. If she were to try to leave, she wouldn't get far. Imperial Security wouldn't risk letting her back onto the streets until this was sorted and they knew she wasn't a risk. Whatever battle she thought she was fighting, it wasn't here, that much he's gathered.
"I assure you, I don't deal in fantasies," he returns, frowning. No, he was a man who appreciated the facts. It made his life far easier. "If your men are anywhere near here, we haven't seen them. You were found alone." In case she's forgotten.
"I am aware. If I were not, I would not be here dealing with you."
Standing now and she's - the door is there. She wants to go for it, or the nearest window. That would serve her just fine. Her jaw sets, clicking her teeth together. Shifting her weight on her feet in a way that's clearly ready to make a run for it. "Why should I believe you?"
He's starting to wonder if he's going to need to bolt from his seat to stop her if she tries to make a go for it. A stunner is holstered at his side and if he needs to use nonlethal force, he will.
"What reason would I have to deceive you? I gain no benefit from your confusion or confinement." He doesn't have much to offer in the way trust except, "We allowed you to keep your weapons. If we truly wanted to see you harmed, we would have disarmed you first."
But given her unknown origin and no source of crime she may have been involved in, the Imperium would love to avoid a potential diplomatic snafu.
It's certainly logical, at least as far as he's spelling it out. Her fingers twitch in agitation. Weighing him and his word and that yes - she is still armed. Aside from manhandling in her confusion, she hadn't been touched. Granted, the gun might have something to do with it, but still. Enough men changed that, she couldn't kill them all. ( only most, says the blackwater at her throat. )
Her acceptance comes, when she sits again. Still just a little on edge, still ready to bolt. "Who are you? What is this place?"
He nods in thanks for her taking a seat. It's not a lot of trust, but it's a small amount. Hopefully enough for him to get some answers out of her.
"Captain Duv Galeni. You are currently within the headquarters of Imperial Security." Because that is no secret and she deserves to know that much. "And you are?"
"Captain." Her head nods slow, in greeting, not taking her eyes off of him. Her lips pressing together in a hesitation on the truth. It would take trust.
But no, she had never hidden herself, just made it hard to believe she still lived. But from what he said - they were on another planet. ( still hovering on that world as a lie, perhaps but - ) "I am Jhansi ki Rani." A pause, a correction, and he would not know that if what he said is true. "The Queen of Jhansi."
All right. He has a name and a title though he would need to fact check whether this was reality or fiction. If she is speaking the truth, they really could have a diplomatic problem on their hands though he doesn't know of any royalty in Europe that hold any power.
She nods again. Slow, careful. Still watching him, still refusing to look away like she might find something in his face that will reveal something to her about him. "In the north, part of Bundelkhand."
Names that likely mean nothing, since he said he had only ever seen England. London. Soon, she'd be at that place and see it for herself. "What do you plan to do with me?"
"As of now, we're unsure," he admits. He has a datapad in front of him and he's entering in that location to see if their data on Earth extends that far. As much of a stretch as it is, he's still surprised when nothing is pulled up. That makes her story difficult to check.
"You'll have to excuse us if there's no protocol for royalty showing up on our doorstep. Usually we have enough notice to organize a ball." Not that he ever attended them, but he kept up on diplomatic events happening on Barrayar.
What's he doing? She eyes it in more and more interest. He has a half dozen little gestures that she doesn't understand that draw her gaze away before he speaks again, watching the light - how was it doing that? Flicks up in interest that she quickly smothers back. Now isn't the time.
Immediately at the suggestion, her nose wrinkles. "I have never attended one." Pulls, a little, he's attempting levity, and she can try to keep things even at least - "So perhaps it is for the best I am sure, I do not have anything to wear." She clearly is distasteful of the thought of having much to do with them. Staunch in her ways.
"Besides, if you aren't aware of it, my enemies shortly will make you so if this gets out that I have been captured even by mistake. I am a hunted woman. Wanted for treason against the British Empire."
"I doubt you're missing much beyond backdoor politics." Said by a man with little patience for such. For one, it made it rather difficult to document history when Barrayar had oral traditions and favored using social events to political advantage. But that's not why either of them are here though he thinks that if she were to remove the blood, she would be dressed well enough to attend any function she cared for.
And while she continues to speak, he continues to search, this time entering in her final words as a term and-- "The British Empire no longer exists." Because that brought up results. Several and all of which had long since shown that Empire's fall.
She blinks, rapidly, mouth opened to say something, anything at all. Rapidly trying to catch up with it, like he'd told her the sky had fallen and it just might have. She had closed her eyes a moment and the sun was slipping where it should have always been a fixed mark.
"- What?"
No, that couldn't be right, he's mad, or she is or - "I am glad to hear it but that is not - how? When?" Whether she is mad or not, it's a great deal, all at once. Trying to fathom it. Her eyes shut briefly, shaking her head to try and assure herself.
Was that truly surprising? Given the dates he's seeing, it happened long ago and the British Empire hadn't survived to spaceflight. There was no chance they were holed up on another planet unless someone had adopted the moniker.
"You can read for yourself," he offers and turns the datapad to face her on the historical entry for the Empire in question.
The sky might have fallen down - or he's grown an extra head for the way she looks at him. He might have said Shiva destroyed them too, while he was at it, it seems as mythic.
He turns the thing he was - typing? She thinks? Since a typewriter only the once, and so recently too. This is nothing like that, it is full of light. A wonder enough for it as her hair fell forward over her face in her inspection. Not reading, not yet, more just looking at what he was holding. She couldn't find a cause for it. Any electricity as she knows it comes from huge generators, done to show an impressive trick, but nothing so mundanely used. Blinking at its brightness she leans forward and then frowns at it a little more. Her spoken English was fine but - written took her longer. Mouthing through the words, the dates, slowly but carefully. At least the numbers were the same, can make those out quickly.
The 1940s? She looks up at him. "But that's years from now."
She's staring at the tablet as if he's handed her something alien. Those had become standard issue even here on Barrayar at least where they could be afforded. The planets colonized that would find this level of tech unusual is an obscure enough list that Duv would have to look it up. Even then the colonizers would have come from a more advanced planet.
He frowns as he watches her, patiently waiting to see where her reading takes her. Something about her expression has him concerned that she isn't going to find what she's searching for.
"That happened over a thousand years ago," he replies carefully and watches her intently for her reaction. What she's implying would be impossible and he wonders if this is an elaborate ruse by one of Barrayar's enemies. Cetaganda? They would have the time for something this pointless and strange to send a message.
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Worse than he expected once he had her in his office. Not that he can blame her judging from how many people she had been shuffled through. The paper trail told all and he sometimes he wishes he hadn't climbed to this spot in the ladder. Then he wouldn't be seen as appropriate to deal with this. Just high enough for this responsibility to be foisted off on, but not in a place where anyone would get in trouble for dumping it in his lap. Which is why he's drumming his fingers on the edge of his desk as he reviews the flimsy of information briefly before turning his full attention to her. Protocol hadn't been followed properly given the strange circumstances and it was now his task to see that everything was handled.
"I've heard their side of the story," he remarks, watching her carefully. "No one seems to have gotten yours."
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It's the first words she's spoken in hours. Her voice is cracked with dust, low, willing down the left-over exhaustion from the adrenaline of a few hours ago. She wets her lips, and tries again, trying to clear her voice to speak more clearly. "I have no more idea of what has occurred than it seems you have."
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"You could start with the blood. We have been monitoring reports since you came into our custody trying to find a suspect that matches your description." With no such luck. If she had harmed or killed anyone, they were well hidden.
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"It wouldn't be hard if you were. It was a battle." Frowning deeper, that doesn't make sense at all. Unless this was the game, pretend it was less than it was. It would be for the United India Company. Dress up cries for justice, safety, independence, as mere small mutinies. Act like it was all something to be swept under the rug. "My men against the Company guards. I could not tell you how many died, surely word would have reached you by now - ?"
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"Start from the beginning. Where were you before we found you?" Her answer may tell him enough to piece this together.
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Which, now who didn't make any sense? Or, well, neither of them apparently were to each other. "Who are the Barrayarans? I have never heard of such an Empire." She's clearly trying to think of it. There were her own people, the Marathis, the Muhgals, then those she had found herself in the company of since then. German, French, Dutch, English, Russian, Ottoman. But no - no Barrayaran Empire.
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"Portugal, that's on Earth isn't it?" The country sounded familiar from his stationing there. There had been too much history for him to learn among his other duties. "You've met several Barrayarans on your journey to my office. Water?" he offers, pouring some in both of their glasses.
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"Portugal is in Europe, next to Spain." Her mouth parts, hanging on a question, what he said didn't make any sense. "What do you mean on Earth?" She nods distracted to the water. Knows she needs it, but she'd wait for him to drink first before she so much as touched the glass.
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"I was stationed in London for some time, but I didn't have the chance to leave," he remarks. That the name 'Earth' would confuse her is... strange. He frowns as he watches her. "That would be the planet Portugal is on, much like how we are in Vorbarr Sultana on the planet Barrayar."
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No, no he's mad - or - something of the like. Something long elaborate fantasy, she doesn't know, it doesn't matter. She stands, sharp quick onto her feet, all else ignored.
"Take me back to my men, immediately. I can't waste more time here with your fantasies. However, you have done it, undo it." It's barked - ordered, in full expectation that it is to be followed.
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Duv watches her stand. If she were to try to leave, she wouldn't get far. Imperial Security wouldn't risk letting her back onto the streets until this was sorted and they knew she wasn't a risk. Whatever battle she thought she was fighting, it wasn't here, that much he's gathered.
"I assure you, I don't deal in fantasies," he returns, frowning. No, he was a man who appreciated the facts. It made his life far easier. "If your men are anywhere near here, we haven't seen them. You were found alone." In case she's forgotten.
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Standing now and she's - the door is there. She wants to go for it, or the nearest window. That would serve her just fine. Her jaw sets, clicking her teeth together. Shifting her weight on her feet in a way that's clearly ready to make a run for it. "Why should I believe you?"
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"What reason would I have to deceive you? I gain no benefit from your confusion or confinement." He doesn't have much to offer in the way trust except, "We allowed you to keep your weapons. If we truly wanted to see you harmed, we would have disarmed you first."
But given her unknown origin and no source of crime she may have been involved in, the Imperium would love to avoid a potential diplomatic snafu.
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Her acceptance comes, when she sits again. Still just a little on edge, still ready to bolt. "Who are you? What is this place?"
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"Captain Duv Galeni. You are currently within the headquarters of Imperial Security." Because that is no secret and she deserves to know that much. "And you are?"
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But no, she had never hidden herself, just made it hard to believe she still lived. But from what he said - they were on another planet. ( still hovering on that world as a lie, perhaps but - ) "I am Jhansi ki Rani." A pause, a correction, and he would not know that if what he said is true. "The Queen of Jhansi."
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"Of Jhansi? I take it that it's in India?"
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Names that likely mean nothing, since he said he had only ever seen England. London. Soon, she'd be at that place and see it for herself. "What do you plan to do with me?"
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"You'll have to excuse us if there's no protocol for royalty showing up on our doorstep. Usually we have enough notice to organize a ball." Not that he ever attended them, but he kept up on diplomatic events happening on Barrayar.
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Immediately at the suggestion, her nose wrinkles. "I have never attended one." Pulls, a little, he's attempting levity, and she can try to keep things even at least - "So perhaps it is for the best I am sure, I do not have anything to wear." She clearly is distasteful of the thought of having much to do with them. Staunch in her ways.
"Besides, if you aren't aware of it, my enemies shortly will make you so if this gets out that I have been captured even by mistake. I am a hunted woman. Wanted for treason against the British Empire."
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And while she continues to speak, he continues to search, this time entering in her final words as a term and-- "The British Empire no longer exists." Because that brought up results. Several and all of which had long since shown that Empire's fall.
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"- What?"
No, that couldn't be right, he's mad, or she is or - "I am glad to hear it but that is not - how? When?" Whether she is mad or not, it's a great deal, all at once. Trying to fathom it. Her eyes shut briefly, shaking her head to try and assure herself.
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"You can read for yourself," he offers and turns the datapad to face her on the historical entry for the Empire in question.
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He turns the thing he was - typing? She thinks? Since a typewriter only the once, and so recently too. This is nothing like that, it is full of light. A wonder enough for it as her hair fell forward over her face in her inspection. Not reading, not yet, more just looking at what he was holding. She couldn't find a cause for it. Any electricity as she knows it comes from huge generators, done to show an impressive trick, but nothing so mundanely used. Blinking at its brightness she leans forward and then frowns at it a little more. Her spoken English was fine but - written took her longer. Mouthing through the words, the dates, slowly but carefully. At least the numbers were the same, can make those out quickly.
The 1940s? She looks up at him. "But that's years from now."
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He frowns as he watches her, patiently waiting to see where her reading takes her. Something about her expression has him concerned that she isn't going to find what she's searching for.
"That happened over a thousand years ago," he replies carefully and watches her intently for her reaction. What she's implying would be impossible and he wonders if this is an elaborate ruse by one of Barrayar's enemies. Cetaganda? They would have the time for something this pointless and strange to send a message.
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