[Mary takes a long breath, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers. When she's done she looks to Kurma, making eye contact as she bows her head.]

You're right. My apologies. You're not the ones who have put us through this strain. It just seems that we are ever at the disadvantage, that the truth is held one step out of reach, and that when we try to chase certain angles we have had the misfortune to more often do ourselves harm than good.

[She straightens up and gestures at the assembled group.]

But you've all worked with us, even when our foes have found ways to manipulate us for our own ends. We owe you much. It's merely frustrating when it's implied we're not holding up our end. We haven't been sitting on our laurels.

[She gives Cid a look, but then another nod and a smile. He's done well by her by deed if not by word. Her outburst is on her. She looks back to the table and thinks.]

I've tried to gather what information I could, but my contacts have found no clue or trace of her. Those of us who were drawn to this world while the others were taking the long road from the past were the last to see her, and it seems all you saw was her sending you off while she clashed with Palitutu, correct?

[But Palitutu isn't in a condition to speak at the moment.]

I wonder if any of our Jobs would allow us to contact her sleeping mind?