hyperkinesia | ( Savrou ) IC Contact

A copy of The Komarr Report, a strategy/military memoir written by Miles Vorkosigan's father, will be placed in your mailbox.

[ Steve's been all over the place considering the events of this past month, but he feels like he needs to get a better grip on his team, see how things are. So, much like Wanda, he sends a similar sort message to Bruce. ]

How're you holding up?

[ Bruce can't blame Steve. It's easy to lose track even when they spend the month on board the ship as it is, it's even more difficult when they dock on a planet, especially when they have more than just one city they can visit. But it seems a good time for getting in touch - in fact, Bruce had been thinking of doing that himself, after the explosion in Avelle. ]

Hey, Steve. I'm alright, thanks. You? [ A pause. ] Where were you a couple of days ago? I heard things went down all over the place.

I'm fine. [ Sort of. It's a really complicated situation, but he doesn't want to get into that when he's just brought up one of the reasons they need to speak. ] And yeah. I was in St. Murtel when it started. What about you? Are things... ? [ Ahem, you know. His face says it all. ]

Under control? [ He provides with no pause, fully expecting that question. ] Yes. I haven't run into any problems, despite everything that's happening.... whatever is happening. And I was in Avelle-- there was an explosion on a ship, in the middle of the river.

[ Well, better safe than sorry, but he does look almost sheepish about it as he nods to the question. They're discussing something that's a lot more comfortable than anything personal though, so he rebounds quickly. ]

Whatever's happening isn't going to stay quiet long. Did you notice anything else? [ His mouth thins. ] They arrested someone just outside that main building in the city. Said something about the Komai? [ Weird name. ]

[ Bruce might tiptoe around a lot of things, but his condition is something he's grown used to discussing with people he's more familiar with. It would be different if they were talking about what the Hulk did when out of control, here or back home, but considering nothing's really happened this time around, he sees no reason to dance around the question. Steve's concern is only fair, though, and he expected no less from him. ]

In Avelle too, people were whispering about the Komai. And there was this symbol-- hold on. [ He lowers his MID for a moment, the image shaking before finally it focuses on Bruce again, this time holding a piece of the ship that had washed ashore, bearing said symbol. ] This. I'm assuming it has something to do with these Komai. Anything like that in St. Murtel?

[ Steve gets a pretty good look at the symbol, which is — ]

I saw the same one on the coat of the guy they took away. If there's a connection, they're gonna keep it quiet. [ They being Link'd Inc and their lackeys, obviously, and Steve crosses his arms, thinking it over. Heading back planet-side would be easy, but there's the question of where and who. ] Think anyone down there would be willing to talk?

[ Honestly, it's a long shot. ]

[ He lowers the piece back down, setting it aside before he looks back to Steve and shrugs. ]

We could give it a try, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I asked around right after the explosion, but the natives didn't seem very chatty. [ They either pretended like they didn't know what he was asking about, or they turned around and left as if he hadn't even addressed them to begin with. ] Like you said, I'm pretty sure they'll keep it quiet - and that's not just their government, the natives themselves too. Honestly, I'm surprised I managed to scoop up a piece of the ship without anyone stopping me.

[ But then he was kind of sneaky when he did it, so maybe no one noticed to begin with. ]

I got the same thing in St. Murtel. [ Which hadn't been particularly reassuring as to what might have been happening, but Steve's smart enough to know when he should move on or stick around. ] I followed them as far as I could, but. [ He shakes his head as if to say no good. Steve was pretty fast on foot, but not nearly enough to keep up with whatever vehicle they'd shoved the guy into.

He's quiet for a second or two, rubbing at his jaw. ] Someone's always willing to talk though. It's just a matter of where to start looking first.

Shit is getting real out there, man. You should be careful if you go out.

[He saw someone take a gun butt to the face, so he can imagine things going very badly.]

[ Bruce sounds a little tired when he answers the call, but thankfully still very much like himself. ]

I know. I'm not on the planet. I wasn't feeling like myself so I spent a couple of days in my cage. But-- thanks. [ He pauses. ] Are you okay?

It's probably for the best that you lost them. At least until we know how deep this goes, who these Komai are, and what kind of force Link'd has behind the name. [ And he does mean literal physical force - troops, authorities, whatever they call it. At this point Bruce is pretty sure they're more than just a matchmaking organization, and Steve succeeding in catching up to them might have ended in either making things hostile between them and the natives, or with Steve thrown into jail too. Possibly both. ]

But I agree, we can still look around and see what pops up. We should be fine enough if we keep to ourselves, and if there's any problem, we can just get back to the ship. [ Even though Bruce really shouldn't be involving himself in these plans, after what happened in Caducus Primary, but anyway. ] We could split up by city? Cover more ground, and we won't call as much attention to ourselves. Where were you thinking of going?

I'm fine. But they are even pushing my patience now.

I am a little worried for the guy on the ship [the one matched with a captain], since his father has been taken now.

I know. But it's for the best that we all keep calm and avoid trouble. [ He'd hate to see a repeat of Caducus Primary, in any aspect of it. Even if the planet isn't destroyed, there's still plenty that can go wrong. ]

I'd also worry that he might do something-- you never know. [ They can't really be sure, and clearly there's more to Link'd than meets the eye. ] But he should be fine as long as he stays here. We can keep an eye on him.

I am doing my best. [He doesn't want that either. He doesn't think this whole planet will be destroyed, but he came at a very unfortunate time.]

I think that might be a part of the success with negotiations we had now. Maybe I'm wrong. But it seems like a pretty good idea from Mr. Link to send his son onto a ship when things seem like they're about to go bad.

I'm pretty sure with the people here, though, he'll be okay.

[No one wants to face off with a ship full of people that can kill as well as this crew can.]

I don't know if he was exactly expecting to get kidnapped, but it does seem like very good timing.

[ Bruce doesn't blame the man on that, honestly. If he knew things were about to go sour he would want the people he cares about away from any potentially dangerous situations too. On the other hand, it might mean that they'll end up getting involved in this whole mess one way or the other, even if they might want to not pick sides and remain neutral. ]

He will. I won't get involved unless I have to, but if I have to, I'm not letting them take the guy without knowing what they're planning to do with him. [ He's not handing him over to some execution squad, for instance. He hopes it won't get to that, but he will transform if they're all out of other options. ]

If you would need some back-up, just send the guy to the Cargo Bay.

[Because, really, has anyone seen the Cargo Bay workers?]

I will keep an eye out, too. I told Than to put a tracker on him, but to be honest maybe sticking him in a crew uniform and a hat would be enough.

[He still can't say "tracker" and "hat" without it like "trekker" and "het". It'll take a while before he masters those English short "a"s.]

I'll keep that in mind, thanks.

[ He can't help finding the accent a little amusing, but still he manages to understand it fine enough, if nothing else then by the context of the conversation. He nods, agreeing with Niko's idea. ]

The uniform should work just fine, but a tracker wouldn't do any harm either. Just in case someone gets to him. I'm not a fan of keeping tabs on someone like that, but... [ He shrugs. Exceptional circumstances. ]

I'm not really, either. But this is probably an okay case for it.

You are a scientist, right? What is your specialty?

Nuclear physics, biochemistry, gamma radiation studies. I do know plenty about pretty much all fields of physics, and I have some knowledge in various fields of engineering too, as well as medicine. [ The latter mostly from his experience in third world countries and nothing else, but still. ] Why do you ask?

[Well, he's certainly got a lot of experience under his belt. Damn.]

I was asking the captains about them getting help fixing the Ingress. Have you talked to them any about it? It sounded like they were not against the idea of people looking at it. I brought it up with Tali too.

Not that I think there would be some easy magic fix, but more people knowing things about it is definitely better than just one captain.

[ It's a thing when one is a genius and aching to learn more about pretty much anything. ]

I never did, no. But I could ask them if they want me to look into it, once things settle down. [ As much as he doesn't care for or trust the captains... ] I've been studying the ship myself, and I know Tali works with the engines, so we could take a look around. I know someone else who might know enough to help too.

I am hoping if we start figuring it out, there won't be reason to keep us anymore.

But all I do is drive and fly and shoot. [And he can break into things some.] So I'm not able to do much.

Tali has a lot of experience on her side, I know that. She is from a space faring race.

Hopefully. Who knows.

[ Bruce still isn't entirely sure he believes there isn't some higher purpose for their presence here, but then he's always been suspicious. And the shadier people are, the more suspicious he gets. But no need to spread distrust when he might just be wrong-- and Niko's right, looking into how the Ingress works might go a long way to getting them home much sooner, or at least stopping it from dragging any more new people into the ship. ]

I know, she told me. She probably knows more about space ships than most people on board. If you've already mentioned this to her, I'll get in touch with her too. We can go to the captains about it and offer our help.

( Savrou ) IC Contact

12/18

video. (pretend i'm good at keeping up with stuff ok)

(your secret is safe with me)

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