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[two_percent_dopamine]

[He'd gone blank before, shut down in China, in Dean's office. He was too used to being shut down, waking up some place other than he last remembered.

[But this was...new. And unpleasant, even among a series of experiences that Alex would describe as less-than-pleasant. Because it wasn't his docking cradle he'd woken up in. At first he'd thought he'd been kidnapped, but there were no guards, and his weapons were just where he'd stowed them, fully charged. ]

This is Detective Ale--. Just Alex.

[The voice is slightly modulated, almost , but not quite, inhuman.]

I’m looking for a man. A Dr Dennett Norton. Five foot nine, Caucasian, mid-forties. No criminal history.

[You spend enough time on the force, and people seem to settle into categories like that.]

I can provide a list of known associates.

[A short list: did Norton have a family? Anything outside his work? He should probably know, after all this time.]

He’s….. I need him.

[He doesn’t want to say for what, at least just yet.]

((ooc: open to network or action for anyone on/near the ship))

Comments

[thulium]

There are a few people.

Get in touch with Pepper Potts. She can direct you to the robotics experts.

[two_percent_dopamine]

[What kind of name is Pepper Potts? Seriously.]

Any hint where I could find her?

[thulium]

[A human one. As far as Garrus is concerned, most of them sound ridiculous.]

Hold on. I'll send you her comm code.

[Which we will now say has been sent.]

[two_percent_dopamine]

[If he hadn't spent months already with a computer in his head, getting Norton chatting to him like he was a 24 hour talk line, this whole thing would be more unsettling.]

Got it. Is she the chief around here? What's the chain of command?

[thulium]

Nothing like that. "Refugee coordinator" is a better fit.

[It's a bit wryly amused. There's no Reapers here, but the displaced seem universal.]

The local government's experiencing a bit of upheaval - apparently there's no clear line of succession.

[two_percent_dopamine]

That's just a fancy way of probably saying the same thing.

[In charge is in charge, whatever it's called. At least to him.]

Locals. [It meant it wasn't just refugees here, people who 'fell through' some tear like Trance would have it.]

How do the locals feel about, you know, us?

[He's been in hostile territory before. He could handle it. But a heads up would be good.]

[thulium]

It isn't.

Don't do anything stupid, and you'll be fine.

[two_percent_dopamine]

[He laughs.]

I think you might need to define 'stupid' for me.

[thulium]

Theft. Murder. Trying your luck with the forcefield up north. That branch of stupid.

[two_percent_dopamine]

...yeah, I'm not really the criminal type.

Kind of the opposite.

[Buuuuut.]

What's up with the forcefield?

[thulium]

Keeping explorers from stumbling into a hot zone. Apparently it's contaminated enough that anyone who heads inside is at risk for catching a lethal plague.

[There's a pause, and then he adds, sounding wryly amused,] I haven't felt like testing the theory. Once is enough.

[two_percent_dopamine]

Apparently. Sounds like you don't quite believe that.

[...either.]

[thulium]

Let's just say that if it is contaminated, whatever it's contaminated with is a lot more potent than any disease I've ever heard of. Two hundred years without a carrier is a long time for a contagion to last.