[ His cup set aside again, as Herbert nodded.] Yes, I was researching a drug here that was killing chosen. I pissed off the wrong dealers in the process, so they killed me for it.

[ Works clipped very logical explanation. Someone was refusing to himself dwell on it. ] Of course, I do not remember anything past being shot. It was as if no time passed for me, myself. No going home, no new memories, as some get when they vanish and return. I awoke in a dusty bed of my assigned housing as if nothing had happened, aside from old caked blood on my clothes.

[ There was the important question. ] The Emperor, the Duchess, seems to have replaced him. He lived to toy with us, never offering answers or insight, and seemed to enjoy watching us suffer. The others I have heard of were the same. Except for Nina. Nina was a wonderful woman. She seemed out of place for that crowd. She'd offer you into her home and talk to you as a person. While, she couldn't give a lot, but she listened and tried to help.