Brand is just so, so hosed right now. Except... who does Prince Shock Jockey think stole Saida's body if he just took Suzocon down for the count?

Oh. We're back to, "Brand is just so, so hosed right now."

No. The way Taran is talking implies they know the details of the stone, so Taran knows Saida's body has to be kept alive and in tack, otherwise Saida can't be switched back.

Intact? Yes. Alive? NO. Don't forget, Roko didn't get body swapped, he got removed from his, and it decayed FAR too much before he ot it back.

It would still be preferrable to keep the body alive for as long as possible I'd imagine.

And if they're feeling extra cruel, so that Brand can be turned over to his original body and... *ahem* punished

.3. Roko did it

Maybe admit what really happened or you're probably as good as dead. You didn't steal Saida's body.

If he was smart he'd pin the entire thing on Suzocon. He's not exactly got the highest credibility here. But we are talking about Brand...

Where is Saida right now, have they found Roko? They could reemerge and hopefully help.

We left Saida right at the entrance to Suzocon's little Re-Animator project. Hopefully we'll rejoin her soon.

I am going to guess right at the chapter switch.

Below is how I would pin this situation on Suzocon, while explaining Roko’s part and why they went from the mountain to the island.

*Start of lie*

Roko was an undercover agent of Suzocon, living in one of the towns the quetz frequently visit for their offerings, in order to infiltrate the Quetz citadel and steal the Eyestone.

After Brand’s wings were taken, Roko saw an opportunity to enter the Quetz domain, and tagged along in order to accomplish his goal.

Roko then got Saida to use the Eyestone to return Brand’s wings, so he could cut ties with them and return to Suzocon unhampered.
However, Saida messed it up (without ghosting Roko) and Roko had no alternative, but to bring the swapped Brand and Saida with him to Suzocon.

When Roko learned that Suzocon intended to use them to charge the Eyestone, Roko’s conscience got to him and he confessed to Brand and Saida. However, they got caught by Suzocon, and Roko was “punished” becoming a ghost by Suzocon’s power, and then trapped in limbo for betraying his master.

Suzocon imprisoned Saida to force Brand into cooperating with him, threatening to kill either of them if they defied or stalled against him.

*End of lie*

"And, why d'yoo think I gonna lissen to a WORD of a TIEF'S lies???" **ZAP!!!**

Why anything that sophisticated and complex. Especially for a fathead like Prince Taran? Just tell him Suzocon captured them, forced Saida to retrieve the Eyestone, and the body switch was because of one of his experiments. They were forced to do what he said on pain of immediate death... just like Taran's soldiers. Then thank Prince Taran for rescuing them.

Watch how flummoxed he gets at THAT switcheroo. But this is still Brand, who has the creativity of a snail.

But he DID. Just not intentionally. But the swap occurred while Brand was committing high treason towards the Quetz, don't forget. So that little detail won't help him one IOTA!

Treason? What loyalty did Brand have or owe to the Quetz?

"High treason" means that he was giving and comfort to the enemy side in a war. The quetz aren't at war. They're just pillaging the Diggers for gems to make more Eyestones.

I thought high treason meant that he was acting against the wishes of the crown... My bad.

Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance, according to my dictionary. The Volcano Dragons don't owe the quetz squat. Vetra may THINK she rules the world, but that isn't the case. She's queen of her own people and that's it.

What Saida-hime did might be considered high treason since she stole Vetra's Eyestone and used it to try and give the wings back to a declared enemy of the quetz. But historically, at least... children of the crown were handled a wee bit differently than average soldiers in this sort of situation.

Thanks for explaining.

You're very welcome! I'm not trying to show anyone up. We're all here to have fun, and if you learn something along the way, great! It will be *interesting* to see how Vetra handles Saida.

I wouldn't call it theft, just unintential switching, caused by Roko. Both Saida and Brand would prefer to be in their own bodies.

Well now this took an interesting turn. He knows what is going on obviously.

Not entirely, clearly.

Correct situation, wrong assumption

Suzocon didn't pay for the surge protection.

It could also be that his shield crystals were out of warranty. :)

Wait don't kill the kitsune yet not until they stick Roco (one c right) in Miyo that way they both have a body but then kill him after so we don't have an entrapment situation

He doesn't think it's a kitsune. Not anymore. Kitsune do NOT live in groups. I think he knows EXACTLY who that is in there now.

Well no not the thing in Saida the thing recruiting them you know the one that made the shield

Actually they can. And they throw parties. But Suzocon is... not your average kitsune, and Roko always has been a free agent.

"It was an accident, I swear!"

Well, he’s half right

Okay, so I guess he's not as dumb as he looks.

"An intelligent guard. Never saw that one coming."

https://youtu.be/9pPQnhhUqtU?si=TTVH2Xq0qhP4Vt9s

I just can said, i knew i wasnt crazy when said those cristals would explode against him due they wasnt draining the power to the ground and just glew more and more in each panel

Also aleast we know he will dont d
Damage saida body for now but if they dont hurry things will get bad XD

Again, options are basically: fight, flight, or attempt to reason with him. Hoping he comes to the correct conclusion on his own clearly won't work.

Hes stronger, faster AND smarter than Brand. Surrender, (And PRAYING that said surrender is ACCEPTED!_) is the only reasonable action here!

Oh no

"...Would you believe that this was all just a silly misunderstanding?^^;; "

.3. Roko did it

"Ohh, is a misunderstanding, all right! You misunderstand how much I CARE what you got to say. Now, your only choice, fry now, or fry later. "

Very true! o.o

Oh boy. He's probably thinking Brand's the dead kitsune (Roko's body) they found -- and is assuming that Suzocon bodysnatched Saida (operated the Eye and bodyswapped Saida with a minion kitsune -- for the purpose of having a quetz to recharge it), and then killed what he'd assume is Saida!Roko.

This just got a few orders of magnitude worse for Brand here. First he was framed for stealing a rock from Queen Vetra. Now, he's going to stand accused of murdering Queen Vetra's youngest daughter.

My guess as to what's going to happen next is that Brand is going to be kidnapped and imprisoned while Saida and Roko have to come up with a way to save him, hopefully without Roko having lost his memories by the time that Saida finds him.

I still have my doubts on Roko being rescued, tbh.

.3. Roko did it

S...so...you'll be able to help us reverse it, right?