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]

[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.

[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.]

[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.

[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?

[golden_retriever]

[ And Lyall was right in thinking that it wasn't that sort of door for Eliot was shaking his head. ]

You can, it's how it's built, but not with nothin' to get a solid grip. This door ain't meant to be broken into from this side, man...

[ Eliot gave Lyall a look. ] Way this is built, it's to keep people on this side out.

[professorwolf]

[Lyall is still a moment to consider the possibilities of that.]

How interesting. I may have misjudged Nem's intentions, if that is the case. So there is likely no way for us to get through now, with the methods at our disposal.

[Less a question than a statement, there.]

[golden_retriever]

Not if the both of our strengths combined can't budge against the design of this thing. It's solid, and it ain't locked with a simple lock and key.

[ Eliot knocked on the metallic structure then shook his head. ]

If it's really to protect rather than imprison, if we knock this down, it's gonna destroy whatever protection inside has.

[professorwolf]

Then I suppose we are at an impasse, then.

[Because Lyall didn't want to destroy something potentially useful and, it seemed, possibly in the Oracle's best interest. Now all he could do was wonder at the reasoning, and consider whether he could-- or should-- bring someone with a different skillset out this way.]

I'm sorry to have dragged you out here for naught.

[golden_retriever]

[ Eliot gave the structure another look then shrugged. There was no more to be done here. ]

Don't worry 'bout it. Not gettin' in doesn't mean we didn't learn anythin'.

[ He tilted his head back to the entrance. ] Let's go before we're caught here.

[professorwolf]

Yes, I suppose we should.

[Lyall clapped a hand lightly to Eliot's shoulder as they turned back to the tunnel entrance.]

Thank you for coming, my friend.