As Montoya prepared his response mentally, he felt the vibration of his communication device and automatically picked it up. Lucendez did the same, and both listened.
At first, both thought he was alive, but as they listened on, their expression hardened. Both were left wondering, as the message ended, why it had taken so long for his last transmission.
Montoya begun pacing around the room with his right hand holding his chin, in thought.
Finally he said, quietly.
"Pedro... how I wish this transmission had been earlier... I am a fool... thankyou."
Despite the quietness of his voice, Lucendez heard it clearly in the hall. Stunned by the transmission, Lucendez's gaze just followed Montoya around the room, until his target stopped, facing away from Lucendez. The eerie quiet of the hall was again replaced by Montoya's voice.
"You know, Juan, that is the only person I listen to any more. Pedro Maniaco. I knew him well enough, but not well enough it seems. He has shown me, with this last message, what I should have been doing this whole time. Instead, in...panic, I have been doing the opposite. I will fulfill his last wishes if it is the death of me. Juan Lucendez, we must call all the Elders here right now to discuss this. I was a fool. Not any more."
Montoya turned to face Lucendez, and continued.
"Take a seat anywhere you please whilst I send transmissions to Farquar, Raul, Joe and Skye. In fact...what do you think we should do, Elder?"
