Interlude 2

R-1: Welcome, viewers, to Elfen Channel New E-News Channel!

R-2: That was terrible!

R-1: I'm excited about our debut on Elfen Channel. You can't blame me for being a little nervous and maybe babbling a bit.

R-2: The Prince Consort might; then we'll be back to Fair Channel.

R-1: If they're still around.

R-2: Fair Channel is well on its way to a total collapse after the Els Tragedy.

R-1: To be fair, FC might have weathered the storm better if Hephaestus hadn't killed a good part of their upper management.

R-2: More on that later. After all, the Fair Folk are well aware it took a Royal Edict to prohibit Hephaestus from killing anyone else involved in the so-called Els Scandal.

R-1: An edict which many say was too long delayed.

R-2: It goes without saying that WE mean no criticism to the Queen! I heard she was inconsolably grieving after the death of her daughter's namesake.

R-1: But that's not why we're here.

R-2: Tonight an Elfen Channel Exclusive--An Interview With The Moon, Aglaea.

R-1: I was supposed to announce it!

R-2: You thought up the title. It's only fair I get to say it.

Aglaea: Will you be asking me questions soon, or can I go back to the Control Center? I will return when you're ready to ask questions.

R-1: No, no. Of course, we're going to ask you questions, dear. Where are my notes?

R-2: So disorganized! Aglaea, we should begin with the question on everyone's mind. How did this happen?

Aglaea: By 'this', you mean Robert Angel's attack on the Anue.

R-1: Yes, dear.

Aglaea: Coeus and members of the Fair Channel management team transported Robert Angel and his ape-men near the Anue Cave. Robert Angel was told through a slightly less artistic vision than I use what he would find.

R-1: But that doesn't tell us why?

Aglaea: Robert Angel was chosen as a dra-stern of The Human Experience for his ability to kill without remorse. Considering the violence of human existence during their primitive eras, Hephaestus believed someone like Robert would be well suited to surviving and flourishing in the environment. Robert's reaction to Achilles and the Anue was predictable to anyone who witnessed Robert's failure as dra-stern.

R-2: But with the success of Achilles, how could someone be allowed to wreck such havoc?

R-1: Wasn't security increased once you realized Achilles's adventures were serving the intended goal of The Experiment?

Aglaea: That very success engendered our oversight.

R-2: I don't understand.

Aglaea: The Experiment is our future. The Human Experience with Achilles as the dra-stern is the first successful attempt to affect a reversal of our population decline. How could any of the Fair Folk interfere?

R-1: I'm sorry, Aglaea.

Aglaea: Hephaestus was within his contractual rights to move The Human Experience to the Prince Consort's network. Even if he was wrong though, the birth of the Queen's Heir trumpeted our success. With so much riding on this, it was inconceivable that anyone would dare interfere? Damn, Coeus!

R-2: Obviously, like many of us, you are still deeply affected by the tragedy.

R-1: Do you believe the Queen held her hand from stopping the duels?

Aglaea: I can't speak to what the Queen did or did not do.

R-2: Really? But Aglaea, Hephaestus participated in five duels in as many sunrises. Surely, the Queen must have been aware he was cutting his way through the Fair Channel upper management.

Aglaea: Princess Els was ill.

R-1: I heard that too.

R-2: You did?

R-1: Yes.

R-2: Why didn't you tell me?

R-1: What's the better story? The Queen, worried over her newborn, is unaware Coeus and friends have made the monumental error of forgetting Hephaestus is the heir to The Fair Throne's Champion or that the Queen might have willfully ignored her Champion's crazy little brother doing his best to bring down her Consort's competition?

R-2: If you put it that way!

R-1: Do you believed that happened, Aglaea? Coeus did not remember that Hephaestus's family is very good with sharp, pointy things.

Aglaea: I cannot speak to what Coeus might have forgotten. Though, none of the Fair Folk generally think of death so it is more likely he never considered Hephaestus's reaction.

R-2: Nor did any of the other Fair Folk whom Hephaestus executed.

Aglaea: That statement is untrue and unfair to Hephaestus! They died in perfectly legal duels; all of the Fair traditions were honored.

R-1: Aglaea, please!

R-2: Hephaestus's family has held the position of Champion since the rise of the Fair Throne.

R-1: There have been six different families to sit on the Throne, but only one family to defend its honor. There is an entire section in the Fair Library dedicated to speculating why the Champion's family never ascended to the highest power. Probably because they're all somewhat insane if Hephaestus actions are considered.

R-2: You cannot deny as a scion of that family, Hephaestus's first toys probably had sharp edges.

R-1: The duels were as fair as Achilles fighting the Idiot Priest Pek.

Aglaea: I did not say the duelists were fairly matched. As you have mentioned, those involved should have known a legal duel with the Champion's Heir would almost surely be fatal. These fools might not have accounted for Hephaestus's reaction, but there is no question their interference with The Experiment would have brought down the Queen's wrath in the form of a formal challenge from her Champion. The Queen might only have asked for Coeus's death; unfortunately for the others, Hephaestus acted first.