outer_divide | Third Howl [Private Messages, late Friday night]

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Third Howl [Private Messages, late Friday night]

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.

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Interesting. Think he was bringing her supplies?

[One hand lifts, rubbing thoughtful fingers along the stubble-shadowed line of his jaw as Kaidan looks out across the rows of planters, and considers things entirely unrelated to them. He seems to lag a little more than usual -- residual effects of the headache, likely.]

Was there anything off about her scent? Signs of injury, anything like that?

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.

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?

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?

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.

[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.

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.

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?

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.

[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.]

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

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

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

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.

((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.]

Ah. Yeah... there's a lot of welding and other shop work that would be hard on the ears.

[Tactfully, Kaidan opts not to share sudden memories of his boyhood dog's disappearing act in the face of his father's power tools.]

You could send him a text message, maybe -- all the information, none of the hearing loss.

[Shaking his head, Lyall says,]

He has the gist of the information, as it is, it isn't that imperative. Besides, I would really rather keep as much of this off the network as I can.

[He offers Kaidan a brief bow.]

I'm sure I'll be seeing you again soon, Alenko.

You know where to find me... and I promise I'll kill the arc welder first if you want to talk.

[Alenkos: More polite than Starks.]

Good hunting, Lyall.

[Much more polite, and that would be one of many reasons Lyall likes him so much more.... He offers a small but warm smile for the major.]

Thank you.

[And with a final tip of the hat, he's off.]

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Third Howl [Private Messages, late Friday night]

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