"If you'd rather I can keep it."

"I don't object to its presence, I can put it on the roof, but it might then project helicopter noises at you."

"I might make someone else monitor it for me if it's making unpleasant noises, but it wouldn't be a problem."

She nods.

He leaves.

The transmitter makes helicopter noises.

"It didn't occur to me that it wouldn't be obvious from how old she was that she would remember the occupation," says Savo.

"I can't distinguish your ages visually, is that something you can do?"

"Yes?"

"What does one look for?"

"Wrinkles - sun exposure fades less evenly - darker eyes - "

Nod. "If we'd been aware of the way conquest is conducted here we would have done more to not leave people in fear for their lives."

"I think the occupation was unusually bad."

"What happened, or should I read my history books?"

"Um, the Oahk Empire conquered most of our territory and killed a lot of people and eventually there was a coup and the new government was stretched thin and turned us loose."

"And they lined everybody up and killed every third?"

"Not all the castes. Blues yes. She would've been - two?"

"I wish we'd gotten here sooner."

"I... guess?"

Sigh. "Is the Oahk Empire still around empiring?"

"It's a lot smaller, it's called the Free State of Oahk now. After the coup they basically gave all the halfway credible secession interests what they wanted."

Nod. "Okay. Well. Don't get yourself killed. We'll be back once the war's over and everyone has more breathing room."

Nod. "I'll tell Avalor first if I feel like I need to run up into the mountains with my family."

Twitch. "Thanks."

"- is something wrong?"

"Lots of things are wrong."