Welcome to Gaia! ::

"... and may even be the driving force behind the inflation, I bet..."

Katane's rambling slowly petered out as she remembered that she was not alone. Was that the sound of pencil on paper? She blushed furiously.

"Or, the Aekea Project could just be a commision to build really lousy furniture. He he."

Katane dusted the file cabinets carefully, though her efforts just seemed to make little clouds of dirt that settled down again inconveniently. She never had been a very good housekeeper. At least things were in good order. She hadn't been in her office much since....

"The Societas Romu"

The small label stuck there on the cabinet was accusing her in it's own little way. The well oiled drawer made little sound as it was opened. She took same papers out and laid them on her small desk. Ink can't be erased. Histroy can only be added to.

They had asked her to leave. Nicely, but firmly. It's seems they had already found a new scholar to replace her. "Never mind what I've lost. There are some things besides regret I have earned from this experience." After updating the papers, she placed them neatly back in the drawer, locking it with a small key from her bag.

She opened the door. A sharp focus of will and all the dust flew out of the room into the hallway and out a window.

"I am stronger now."

She smiled, but she was not happy.

A small scroll is found on Katane's chair. Written in a careful hand is a small note, and wrapped within are a handful of small chocolates (espresso!):

Madame Historian,
Thank you for keeping the Mission intact in my absence. Forces beyond my control prevented me from properly selecting a replacement to tend things, and I've been worried since my departure that it would simply be abandoned. I've got the place reopened now, and it's cleaned and neatened up; hopefully the kitchen will be functional tomorrow and we can start feeding the cold and hungry in the 'box once again. The Mods willing, we'll be able to reach out with the Word again and resume saving the poor downtrodden masses. Bless you and yours, and may your stewpot always have plenty of carrots.

With love,
~Ellie, Church cabbit

Ellie bursts in the door, panting from the run and visibly excited. She stammers and babbles for a full ten minutes before her faithful zeal gets reigned in. I found it, Historian. I found it. I'd had several ask me about the Rite of Baptism and its origins within the Church. I found it! It's Right Here!

Unable to contain her excitement any longer, she does four laps around the walls of the office and then zooms back out the door. Someone should probably warn her that sonic booms in narrow corridors are a BadThing; the sound wave is deafening and shakes the floor.