Third Howl [Private Messages, late Friday night]

[professorwolf]

A series of private audio messages:


[To Eliot, left on his phone:]

Eliot, this is-- Professor Lyall.

[Yes, there's a brief hesitation there. He's still not entirely sure he oughtn't go with his first name, since Eliot insisted he use his.]

I have found a scent trail for the Oracle. If you would like to help me investigate, I would be glad of your company.

---

[To Kaidan, who has now graduated from title status into last name status:]

Alenko, this is Lyall. I seem to have found the Oracle, or at least some sign of her. I would like to speak with you in person about it, if possible.

---

[To Tony, since he was so... helpful last time, and proving he did indeed learn how to make a private call:]

Mister Stark. I thought you might like to know I have found some sign of the Oracle, though not her, herself. I will keep you updated, if you like.

Comments

[professorwolf]

Or else he's holding her there, and keeping a close watch.

[Lyall isn't sure which line of thought to settle on: that Nem is being helpful, or harmful. Why bring the Oracle out to the middle of nowhere? And was it on her request, or by force? He looks about as torn as he feels, for once, since he doesn't guard himself nearly as well as he used to around Kaidan these days.]

I couldn't tell. The scent is too old, and too faint. I feel myself lucky to have picked it up, at all. I'm taking a friend out with me for a second opinion tonight, to see if we can get her out, or at least make more sense of the situation.

[nodavinci]

Huh. And here I thought this might be important.

[There's a brief pause that probably would be filled with a shrug, were they speaking in person.]

Okay. I'll be in my workshop.

[Which is where, Tony? He doesn't seem to recall this detail; at least, a muttered 'end call' kills his end of the connection.]

[professorwolf]

[How rude. Lyall strongly considers simply leaving the conversation at that, and finding Tony when he finds him, rather than seeking him out.

But rudeness does not call for rudeness in return, and Lyall prides himself on his manners, so he gets the location out of Kaidan ((assuming Kaidan knows? XD )) and heads there after his conversation with the Major. Perhaps by then he'll be finished with that particularly noisy activity.]

[golden_retriever]

[ The noises of that change drew grimaces from Eliot as his own bones seemed to twinge with sympathy pains. He looked away and didn't look at the man until the newly returned man spoke. ]

Yeah, I got that. [ He grumbled the words softly under his breath. His next ones, still complaints, were louder. ]

But the next time you decide to suddenly appear as a wolf, huh, you write down what you wanna say first and you hand me the paper to read.

[professorwolf]

Hmm, probably a wise idea, you're right. Or better, simply not change until after I've come met you. My apologies, Eliot, I'm afraid the whole situation has me a bit befuddled.

[Him, befuddled! His pack would be stunned. Lyall blamed Tony Stark and his obnoxious phone noises.]

[golden_retriever]

[ It was just as well that Eliot hadn't a clue what was going through the other werewolf's mind. ]

So, now that you can tell me... what's goin' on and where are we headin' in?

[standsentinel]

Holding her there doesn't seem like Nem's style. But I'll take your word for what you've scouted.

[Kaidan's expression is close-held but considering, his tone measured as he considers Lyall's unsettled air.]

Let me know what you get -- I'm not as, ah, unobtrusively mobile as you are, but I'd like to know what's going on. You two need anything?

[professorwolf]

Of course.

[As if he would even consider leaving Kaidan out of the loop, in this matter. Or any matter dealing with potential security issues. Lyall doesn't look any more settled, really, but he moves past it anyway. He hates not having all the facts to work with. Mysteries bother him.]

We should be fine, he seems quite capable. Eliot Spencer, have you met him yet?

[professorwolf]

[Lyall finished with his coat, and led the way inside, explaining quietly as he did so.]

There is a door at the end of this tunnel. The Oracle's scent is here, as is Nem's. I don't know whether he is complicit in keeping her here against her will, or merely checking on her while she hides for reasons of her own, or some combination of the two.

[standsentinel]

A couple times -- helped me with some stuff tied in to the hydroponics project.

[Kaidan's answer is a little vague -- Eliot is clearly acquaintance rather than colleague or friend -- but it's a neutral-to-friendly sort of vague.]

He was in on one of those trade runs that Ms. Potts set up, I think? He should be good backup, if that's the case.

[professorwolf]

[Looking vaguely amused at the irony there, Lyall nods in agreement.]

He'll be fine. Not that I really expect trouble, I just want a second nose on the scent, as it were.

[Perhaps literally, but if Kaidan doesn't know about that, then it isn't Lyall's place to tell him. Still, odd that Eliot is being so secretive about it all.]

Any insight you can offer on the Oracle or Nem, before I go to meet Eliot? And possibly make a call on one Tony Stark, if I can find his workshop.

[standsentinel]

I really don't know much to tell about the Oracle. She does seem to have some sort of premonitions, or at least she seems to pop on the network right before something bad goes down -- the raid, then I guess the flooding would be another.

Nem's good people -- he's the reason all of us odd and ends from the ship have a place to stay and meals to start with. But if it comes down to us or his own people, he'll side with them. Reminds me a little of some of the better colonial settlement leaders I've met.

[professorwolf]

I don't blame him for that. His own people have no form of defense, besides what force or arms they can muster. That doesn't mean I am particularly comfortable being considered something outside his purview. I want to work with the people here, not around them.

[Lyall sounds a bit frustrated, and that's probably because he is. Even as a werewolf in London, he never took this long to win someone over. He sighs.]

The Oracle is not one of us, then, I assume. Is she the only person on this world who shows any sign of... other-ness, in that manner?

[golden_retriever]

[ Eliot gave Lyall a look, then put his hand on the hilt of his knife. He would rather be armed if he was to venture into the unknown tunnel like this. ]

Only one way to find out.

[ He gave Lyall a look and indicated for the werewolf to take the lead if he wished. After all, he was the one who had been here before. ]

[professorwolf]

With any luck, we will not have to deal with Nem tonight, at all. His scent isn't strong enough for him to be here.

[Still, Lyall takes the lead as intimated, and starts confidently enough down the hall. The Oracle, he's sure, is behind that door. It only takes a couple turns down the tunnel to reach it, but it's still just as inaccessible-seeming to him as before.]

[standsentinel]

In my experience, [And Kaidan smiles crookedly at calling up the experience of a lifetime about a tenth as long as Lyall's.] It's not something you can force. Even more when they've got some legitimate reasons to be suspicious of everyone like you. But don't sell yourself short just 'cause you haven't been given top secret clearance.

As for the Oracle... I don't know. She's old enough that there's rumours that place her nearly everywhere. Ship person, local, you name it. She's the only one I've heard of with that sort of predictive ability, though.

[professorwolf]

[Lyall resists the urge to look skyward for patience, but the look he gives Kaidan is reminiscent of it.]

And I have been at the top of the pack for longer than even the good Doctor T'soni has been alive, and I apparently forget how to be a stranger to untrusting people. Everyone requires a reminder of their fallibility now and then, I suppose.

[Honestly, his ability at winning over Roni had made him more hopeful than it should have with Nem, he's realizing. Ah, well.]

[golden_retriever]

[ Eliot followed, hand at ready on his weapon and senses extended completely to pick up any strange traces. Lyall was right, Nem's scent definitely came by this way although it was old. He smelled something else too, but it wasn't one he was familiar with, probably the Oracle. ]

Unless he comes back often, but we'd have noticed.

[ They stopped before the door and Eliot stared at it. ] I take it this stopped you last time?

[professorwolf]

Exactly.

[Lyall put a hand on the door, smelling cold metal and electricity.]

It appears to be locked, as far as I can tell, and I cannot budge it. I was hoping you might have some insight into the problem, or at least a second pair of werewolf arms to put to bear on it.

[standsentinel]

Doesn't mean we have to like it, though.

Let me know if you need a hand with anything you find out there, eh?

[professorwolf]

Of course, you will be the first to know.

[Lyall offers a small smile.]

I had best be on my way. Especially if I want to track down Mister Stark's laboratory or whatever it is, before I find Eliot.

After Eliot, Kaidan would of course be his second option for breaking into something locked. He just imagines Eliot to be both stronger and more devious than Kaidan, who he sees as a much more upright sort of fellow. Lyall

[golden_retriever]

[ Eliot gave the door a push, but they couldn't budge it at all. He looked down at the physical door set up and frowned. ]

We can try, but it didn't budge even a tiny bit. Way door is built, pushin' in will make it twice as hard to open.

[professorwolf]

Would pulling be preferable?

[It didn't look like that sort of door, but Lyall supposed he could be wrong. He had been before, and fairly recently, after all.]

Or would pushing warp the locking mechanism?

[standsentinel]

Have you tried calling his communicator directly to ask him?

[For anyone else, there might be a bit of mild snark leavening Kaidan's tone. For Lyall, who he knows full well is from an era before even the invention of the telephone, it's offered as an honest suggestion.]

I've only met him while out and about, or at the ship, or invited him here, so I'm not clear on where it is myself.

[professorwolf]

((wow, that's what happens when I tag late at night... XD holy unfinished thought, Batman!))


[Lyall looks rueful.]

I was already speaking with him on the communicator, unfortunately, and I could barely hear him over this awful... noise, which he refused to either desist of or explain. I suppose I shall just track him down the old-fashioned way, then, or else give it up if it takes too long.

[He shakes his head. Yes, he's aware of the uses of the things, but he's not willing to subject his poor ears to that again.]