Sir Scott Plandin, director of the Vepranton Observatory and its final director as well—Gawain was no stranger to the name. He had heard Diana mention this ancient Gondorian in passing, and he knew that it was Sir Scott who, at the final moment, had ordered Diana, then an observatory guard, to abandon her post and flee north. In the fragmented memories of that Ironclad Soldier, Sir Scott Plandin's image should have been one of the few things etched most deeply.
She could not possibly have mistaken him at a time like this.
Gawain's heart stirred, and he instinctively took two steps closer to the phantom—partly to make out its appearance, and partly to move nearer to protect Diana. After all, this phantom had existed here for who knew how many years, and there was no telling what state its mind was in. When Camil had first been discovered, he had also gone through a chaotic phase of indiscriminate attacks.
Just as Gawain drew closer, new changes appeared within that hazy glow. The tall, indistinct figure at its center seemed to awaken from stillness, and a somewhat cold, mechanical voice came from within: "Gate opening detected... Preset contact detected... Senior guard Diana... Entering designated procedure. Beginning playback of record data."
As the words fell, the hazy light contracted again, and the figure at its center became clearer than before. Sir Scott Plandin's apparition stood there, but his line of sight did not settle on anyone. He stared straight ahead, his gaze passing beyond Diana as though he were looking at a target that no longer existed here. "Diana, it has been a long time... I do not know how much time has passed outside by the time you see this record, but if you can see it, then you truly returned