| Logs |
2008 June 21
| Hunter |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Hunter Logs |
Part Twelve (and a Half): Thinkin' Time
Scarlet Chimera, deep space
Adarra, Mishka Quadrant
Solbiort paces out of Commons. She needs 15 or so minutes to review what she knows, to clear her thoughts, and then to come back and figure out with the others what the best solution is. Nigel does exactly what the captain suggested and goes to find Natasha a place to get comfortable, though he makes sure she knows she's welcome back in the Commons. Natasha smiles to Nigel, patting his arm. "Spasibo, Nigelchka. But I think some sleep will be best. Haven't had adrenaline rush like that in long time."
Nigel smiles and nods, "I'm going to go back and see what's going on back there." He wanders back to the Commons and settles in, muttering to himself as he fidgets.
Back in the commons area, Elgyn looks stupidly at the door that Solbiort just exited. He then looks around at everyone else, wondering if he's the only one that didn't understand what just happened. When Nigel casually gets up to see to Natasha's quarters, however, he turns to Raj instead. "Did you understand any of that?" he queries the veteran in an undertone.
Raj murmurs quietly back, "You mean the attack, and like that? If I'm reading this right, somebody that knows the Captain was shot bringing something to her -- why they were giving it to Nigel on the street is odd, though. The folks doing the shooting were the same folks after the old man in sick bay."
Kali, after fidgeting a little, moves to the galley to start putting together something light for people to nibble on and soothe rattled nerves. Elgyn's brow knits. "And it has something to do with this book that the Captain's been reading to the General? What the hell is the issue with a damn book?!" he growls in a whisper, keeping an eye on Kali as the professor gets up.
Raj shrugs. "Lots of the war was political. Getting folks to take sides was almost as important as fighting the battles. Maybe this book, or rather the ideas in the book, were quite good at getting folks to rethink their side. The Alliance would really hate that..."
Elgyn mulls on that. "But what does that matter now? The war's over, isn't it? How much power could one book have..." he groans, confused by the matter. While his people did have a written language, it wasn't considered to be important in the overall scheme of things... the oral tradition was where things of significance came. People followed the words of charismatic and wise sonia, not stark writings.
Raj says, "Just because the battles are over doesn't mean the war's over. The Alliance has worked real hard to make sure everybody has the right idea of what the war was about. This book is one of the things that's in the way, I guess." He continues watching the group quietly for a moment, then says, "Must be a damn persuasive book..."
Elsewhere, Solbiort takes a moment to review what she knows regarding The Third Way: first, she's read actual snippets of it being quoted in other books. Also, at one point while she was reading aloud Wintarsen started speaking the quote also, taking it past the point it ended in the book of quotes she read. So... that means there has to actually be a real treatise of some sort titled 'The Third Way,' by those two bits of data. Or at the very least, those quotes existed in some (possibly uncompiled) form.
Solbiort also knows Five Dragons believes Einsort is attempting to secretly create a sort of Third Way emulation/colony -- and they were very cheery and helpful and welcoming. There was nary a red halfmoon symbol while there, either. Excellent, she thinks. What else... she's also been trying to track down a copy of The Third Way for a short while, and having no luck finding it on the 'wave. Even the Browncoats they met couldn't find any copies, although Griz did have a copy of Ng's Commentaries on "The Third Way." So 'officially' no one can find any copies of The Third Way -- including Alliance Security, supposedly. However, if history is anything to go by, attempting to stamp out a particular writing means it just goes underground. So... at this point it looks like in order to find a copy, she'll need to find a hacker. Which, coincidentally, we just happen to have aboard, she thinks amusedly.
Now, as far as the bogus copy of The Third Way, it creates a variety of confusing possibilities. For lack of better information, I'm going to have to assume it was indeed my pretty young contact who was killed, and that the book came from someplace inside the Alliance Security buildings on Ashtoreth. This means either Alliance Security or a branch of Alliance Security has been working on stamping out The Third Way. So... we're going to need to know pretty gorram soon if a) the Colonel Lu Yuan is dead, or b) the Security buildings there have been severely damaged in some way, causing the deaths of many. If that happens, I'll have to fulfill my promise to the Colonel. The confusion is if it does not happen.
If the colonel is not dead, that means he is part of the conspiracy. At this point I'm pretty sure the silencers of The Third Way are with the red halfmoon folks, since they both have been using the same equipment -- the camo suits. The assassins that killed my swai young contact were using the stealth camo -- the same stealth camo used by the guy that tried to kill Raj at the Indep medical facility. You don't get people into place that fast, with that level of equipment, unless they're kept nearby. Solbiort sighs thoughtfully, "So where does that leave us..."
Solbiort continues her thoughts: If the Colonel is dead, it means we must get to Sihnon. We will need to verify that one way or another, which I hope a hacker can discover also. If the Colonel is not dead... then we're playing a dodging game with the killers, and we should avoid Sihnon like the plague, since it's entirely possible it's a trap. She hms, Very well, we now need to start searching for a) if the Colonel is dead, and b) if we can find an underground copy of The Third Way. For it to be so thoroughly stamped out, it must have a truly amazing plan in it to create that third way.
We also still need to return to Demeter to get our shuttle back. Currently we have what, 10 folks on the ship? -and only 1 shuttle? If there's an emergency, we're go tsao de. Plus we have a cargo for Persephone. So that should get us out of this area of space for a while. However, we really need to find out about the Colonel first, I think... and we may need to drop off our civvies as well. They might not want to come along, after all, with a ship load of lunatics. She grins.
So... best bet is either Skamandrios to warn Five Dragons, or... maybe to quietly check on Fleur, where the Indep medical facility was, to see if any of the Indeps managed to escape and are currently either in the hospital, or laying low? She considers a moment, then shakes her head. Fleur's a bad idea -- the Alliance is keeping a lid on the nuke, and finding any escapees from it would take a lot of time and involve asking a lot of questions.
Solbiort looks around, realizing she's wandered into medbay. She glances curiously at Wintarsen, wondering if he's awake, and what he'd think of the fake book she's holding. At this point the man is either sleeping a touch fitfully or unconscious. Solbiort lightly brushes the backs of her fingers across his forehead, murmuring softly, "Peace, boy... you're safe. Sleep easy." She watches a moment, then sighs quietly and paces out again, heading back to Commons.
Solbiort wanders back into Commons and looks around at the folks there, "So... ve need to decide vhere to go to next. Also need to allow our civvies a chance to disembark if they vant in Boros area." She settles down in her chair again, then puts her booted feet up on a foot stool. She smiles ruefully at Nigel (who's muttering about Natasha getting caught up in this) and nods, "Ya, poor voman has only clothes she is standing in right now."
Elgyn looks at Raj. "One port is just the same as another for letting off our unexpected passengers... but I admit to some curiosity of why you want us to go to Sihnon, Captain," he replies respectfully.
Raj says, "Well, we should make an effort to drop them off somewhere they can get home easily. We did kind of slam the doors and drive off with them."
Solbiort shakes her head, "Don't think that's vise just now; shuh-muh, di-di. Spoke out of turn there." She grins faintly at Raj, "True. Vas thinking maybe... Skamandrios? Five Dragons there could help Nigel's doctor, if she has not her ID vith her, I am thinking? Und after that, am thinking maybe vith number of folks aboard, might be vise to stop by Demeter to pick up our missing shuttle, before ve take off for Persephone. Should throw off any followers, too. Sound good?"
Nigel says, "Well, she's probably got whatever was in her wallet."
Raj shrugs, "Don't see any problem with that plan. This is sure gonna show up on the news, so we should make sure this sits well with our passengers, so they say nice things about us..." Solbiort chuckles.
Elgyn's brow is still knit. "I... can find no flaw in the logic of your suggestion, Captain," he says after a moment, still looking bemused.
Solbiort gives Elgyn a faintly quizzical look, but says nothing about it. She nods to Nigel, "Might not be enough to get her back to Ashtoreth, but ve can make sure Five Dragons is good to help her." She studies the book in her hands for a moment, then sighs, looking up at Nigel. "Di-di Nigel, got favor to ask you, please. Got book here vhich I've been searching for on the 'wave for few veeks now. Can't find it, though... und now am finding is apparently important enough to actually kill for. So... am thinking vhen peoples try to stamp out vritings, they usually go underground. Vould like to ask you to be a very sneaky hacker for a bit, und see if you can find underground copy. You be villing to try that?"
Elgyn huhs as he listens to Solbiort's request of Nigel, who shrugs and smiles crookedly, "Can't promise nothin', but I'll try."
Solbiort looks relieved, "Sheh-sheh, di-di." She considers, then adds, "Von last thing, also? Could keep ear out please, on 'wave, for any news of more deaths reported on Ashtoreth, or property damage vith lots of dead? Especially military related."
Nigel nods, hugging his knees to his chest, "I'll keep my ear to the ground."
Solbiort nods, sighing faintly with worry, then considers a few moments. She finally raises her voice slightly, "'Ey, professor! Our next stop is Skamandrios, so you and doctor can disembark if you vish." She grins ruefully, "Am thinking being shot at is not vhat you signed on for, after all." She mutters irritably, "Vasn't for any of us, really..."
Kali meanders back into the commons, carrying a tray. He is quiet for a moment as he sets the tray on the table. "I'm... a little torn, I admit, Captain," he says, straightening and folding his hands in front of him. "I do not wish to leave you -- any of you -- behind if I could be of any help." He chews lightly and thoughtfully on the end of one strand of hair. "On the other hand, if I am more in the way than of actual help, I would not want to be just another target for your foes to use against you."
Solbiort rises, snitching a large sandwich, and grins a bit tiredly at the professor, "Vell, vill have 2, 3 days to decide, pretty." She starts to turn towards the door, then pauses and smiles at Nigel, "Should work on von of your puzzles, di-di, to relax, ya?"
Elgyn looks between Kali and Solbiort. "Do you think... you could be of help, Professor? This is not... well, it is not your area of expertise."
Solbiort growls amusedly at Elgyn, "He can cook!" She chuckles, then adds through a mouthful of sandwich, "Going to lay in nav for Skamandrios, boys. Call if need me."
Nigel snorts and shakes his head "Nah. But thanks for them. Or to whoever got them for me." He rests his chin on his knees. I'm going to work on the 'jacking." Solbiort grins over her shoulder at Nigel, her eyes dancing, as she ducks through the hatchway.
Kali shakes his head. "I do not know, Elgyn. Anthropology is hardly on law compliance agencies' Lethal Martial Arts lists." Elgyn smiles kindly at Kali. He's taken a liking to the scholar, and has respect for what the professor does... but the man's assessment of the situation is quite accurate.
Arriving at Skamandrios, Rivenova and Kali reluctantly make their departure. Both admit that they would not be too much help and would likely be used against the crew. Five Dragons' people promise to get both Kali and Rivenova back to their homes with nobody noticing. (And Five Dragons is grateful for the warning, though so far she's managed to keep everyone thinking she's dead. She and many others are yet to fully recover from the raid on the compound, in fact, which makes laying low quite appealing for the moment.) Solbiort is disappointed to see the young professor leave... glumly she wonders how long until Molly poisons them all. Natasha leaves while giving Nigel a fond hug and an imprecation to stay safe or she will personally hunt him down and -- not kill him, but rather keep him alive. Nigel is pretty sure she's joking.
Raj tries to scrounge up some cargo for the trip to Demeter or Persephone. He strikes out with most of the legit traders; even the Alliance Postal Service is reluctant to grant a physical mail shipment to him. He has somewhat more luck with Five Dragons' people, or rather the remains of her organization. One sub-lieutenant -- not really aware that Five Dragons is still alive -- is trying to maintain order in the boss's holdings to keep chaos from spilling out into an all-out three-way gang war. To do this, she -- Carmen Etheridge -- is willing to bank on Raj's and the Scarlet Chimera's reputation to smuggle some Yuan red sapphires to Demeter.
Nigel is kept busy during the few days on Skamandrios. While the ship is reprovisioned and refueled, he makes a quick search through the local Cortex using resources he knows about from his Cryptography research. He finds something, but it isn't a lot. Apparently as recently as a year ago one of the regular sigjackers in Adarra's sub'Tex on a whim went looking for The Third Way as well... and raised a stink when he couldn't find a complete copy either. He had half of Adarra's sigjackers raiding datanodes as far in as Beaumonde before finally giving up. He eventually released a dox file to the sub'Tex, filled with all the known "confirmed" passages excerpted from The Third Way, and where those passages appeared. Nigel gets hold of the dox without too much trouble. Considering how closed and tight the sigjacker community is, it's unlikely anyone in academia would have this resource.
There is as yet no newswave from Ashtoreth regarding any mass deaths or accidents. Security seems, however, to not be making any press releases for the past several days. Besides that, Nigel finally gathers the medicines he feels he'll need to address Danviere's condition. Solbiort is delighted with what Nigel finds out about The Third Way, and happily offers to buy him a dinner anywhere he'd like on Skamandrios as a thank you. Nigel gracefully declines the offer of dinner -- and in fact spends as much time as possible either alone in engineering or mostly-alone in medbay. Solbiort is puzzled by Nigel's refusal, but simply smiles, shrugs, and lets it go.
Five Dragons isn't immediately met with, though Solbiort does get a chance to meet with Noug. She notes that Five Dragons is away for a day or two to discreetly meet with a doctor; the attack on the compound was rough and none of them got through it unscathed. She does note that Five Dragons would like to see the crew of the Chimera again in a day or two, if they are still on the world. Solbiort will tentatively agree, crossing her fingers that there'll be no more attempted shootings of her crew.
Elgyn is quietly tending to his duties after Kali leaves...which to be honest, aren't many, aside from asking after how Raj and Nigel are doing, and continuing practicing with the targeting scanners on the Chimera. He spends some time starting on reading the text Solbiort acquired in regards to 'The Third Way', though he doesn't seem to be all that impressed by it.
Solbiort's Security drop is empty. There hasn't seemed to be anything in it since she was last on Skamandrios. On Ashtoreth, the press is having a bit of a field day -- or days, rather. They're waxing about how snipers started shooting people in the town square of Asherah City, when a ship swooped in and burned down the snipers before racing off into the black. It's only just now that the Scarlet Chimera is being linked to this mystery ship.
Later, Raj wanders into the main lounge flipping through a sheaf paperwork. He spots the Captain and, after a quick glance around, steps over to where she's sitting. "Do you have a moment to discuss cargos, Captain?"
Solbiort looks up and says, "Sure! Vhat you need?"
Raj takes a seat and says, "No luck getting general cargo, bulk cargo, containers, or even mail. I'm afraid our reputation is starting to get around, and nobody wants to place cargo on a ship that gets shot at too much." He places some flimsies on the table, where a series of polite "Thanks, but no thanks" and "Nothing available" responses can be seen. "The only person that's got something for us right now is Carmen Etheridge. That's the woman trying to keep the doors open for Five Dragons. She's got a cargo of (presumably illicit) gems she'd like shipped 'quietly and with discretion' to Demeter. Right now it's the only thing on the table and I think we should take it... unless it's 100 tons or so, which I seriously doubt..."
Solbiort listens thoughtfully, then nods, "Sounds good. Vhat you need to make this happen?"
Raj says, "Just the say-so. The box shouldn't be too big, but it might be a good idea to take someone with."
Solbiort nods, "Good enough. Vant me or Elgyn?"
Raj says, "Elgyn would be fine if you're busy. I'd like to do this as soon as possible, considering our habit of abrupt leave-takings..."
Solbiort nods calmly, "Good enough." She comms Elgyn, asking him to come assist Raj, please? Just then there is a sudden crash of metal on deck that comes from the Infirmary. Solbiort and Raj bolt out of Commons, heading for the Infirmary post-haste. Nigel is in Engineering, apparently futzing around randomly. He pauses and blinks as Soli zips past, followed by Raj, muttering, "What?" Elsewhere, It's fortunate Elgyn is sitting on his bed -- because the text falls from his hands as he grabs his hogleg and darts out of the shared cabin like he was shot from a cannon. He reappears on the catwalk looking down into cargo, jacking a round into the chamber and pointing it below, scanning for intruders...
In the infirmary, Solbiort and Raj duck in through the hatchway, glancing around hastily to see if anyone needs any immediate assistance. Apparently Wintarsen is feeling somewhat better. He's on his feet, if unsteadily, looking for all the world like he could -- almost -- actually stand on his own two feet. It's the face, though, that's startling: set in a hard line, almost glowing with intensity despite the somewhat gaunt look. He is grumbling, not merely muttering -- in a tone that brooks no argument -- but what he says is confusing: "Battle of Harriman Shoal, seventy-three Independent, one hundred and forty-two Alliance... Battle of the Novaris Wreck, twenty-four Independent, fifteen Alliance... Battle of... Third Battle of Ostrim-Pallas... seven... seventeen... seventy-four... seventy-four...."
Solbiort straightens warily, watching and staying out of Wintarsen's way. She murmurs to Raj behind her, "Comm Nigel to get here..." Then she steps forward, hands out and open before her, "Hokay, easy does it, ching... vant to sit down until the doc gets here?"
Raj steps back into the corridor and calls for Nigel, "Doctor, your patient is up and about." Nigel is up from engineering like a shot, swearing a blue streak the whole way and clanking as if he's got half a toolbox in his pockets.
Elgyn blinks as Raj comes into view and calls for Nigel. "Raj? What the hell is going on?"
Wintarsen sets an almost painfully searing gaze upon Solbiort as she speaks. "Why... can't... I remember?! Third Battle of Ostrim-Pallas. First, second... third."
Solbiort says calmly, "You'll remember... it just takes a while. Have a seat, Vintarsen. Don't vant you to fall."
Raj calls back, "Patient seems to be ready to go for a walk, Elgyn. Nigel's got it." Elgyn blinks and then shoulders his gun, hurrying over to the ladderwell to see what's up.
Solbiort grins, looking faintly relieved as Nigel rockets into the room. Nigel scuttles in and gets a hand under Wintarsen's elbow, "Woah now, gran'pa, you gotta wait for one of us before you go off hikin' the damn ship."
Solbiort steps back a bit for Nigel -- then stops Elgyn at the hatchway, shaking her head, "No veapons, di-di."
Elgyn blinks at Solbiort. "I'm not going to hurt him, Captain," he protests, though he puts aside his shotgun, and unstraps his krisara, putting them on a box of cargo.
Solbiort says, "Is not about you, di-di. Is about him. Krisara is fine -- hogleg is not." She watches thoughtfully as she murmurs to Elgyn... Ostrim-Pallas is one of the minor worlds in the Osterfrau Quadrant -- a moon of Naga -- or actually a pair of moons which share an orbit -- as if the gravitational ballet can't get any more contrived or complex.... Nigel remembers it was the site of some moderately heavy fighting between Wintarsen's forces and the Alliance. The ex-mil types know it was the site of two major battles which cost several hundred lives on each side without producing a victor.
Elgyn understands then. "Don't want him grabbing them and hurting himself or anyone else with them. I see," he agrees, but continues to stay back, only watching though the open hatch. Solbiort nods silently to Elgyn's comment, watching Nigel handle the sick man.
Wintarsen seems ready to fight Nigel... but he relents, his shoulders sagging. "Just... so... so gorram weak," he murmurs in a much more normal tone.
Nigel snorts, "No kiddin'... long as you were in cryo, I'm surprised you aren't frostbit too."
Wintarsen frowns. "C-cryo...?"
Solbiort steps forward to take the other elbow, "You vere in cryo for a vhile, Vintarsen. Need to sit down now and rest. Do vhat doctor tells you. Memory vill come back in time."
Nigel tries to guide Wintarsen back to the medbay bed, "Yeah, that whole long bit you don't remember? You were an ice cube." Solbiort follows Nigel's lead with where to guide Wintarsen, giving the patient a quizzical look as she helps Nigel. A third Battle of Ostrim-Pallas? As far as she knows there was none such. Definitely two battles, with heavy fighting and many dead in the companies of ground-pounders and frigates involved... but that was it, as far as she recalls. There was no Third Battle that she's ever heard of!
Wintarsen seems to be much less inclined to chew the bulkhead in an effort to get out now, letting himself be put back onto the bed. "Cryo... Buddha, they put us on ice... I remember... I think I remember... now."
Raj glances to the others in the room, catching the Captain doing the same. He says softly, shaking his head, "No third battle."
Solbiort nods puzzledly to Raj, "There vere some troop movements a month or two before Vintarsen's capture vas announced, and it suggested a potential conflict might be brewing there... but all military histories I know of agree vith Vintarsen captured, remaining Indeps moved troops to Georgia quad. Didn't vant to fight at Ostrim-Pallas." Elgyn is confused at first, but instead of saying so, just listens. Nigel goes about checking Wintarsen's vitals, keeping half an eye on his companion indecicle. The general is clearly weak, but his synapses don't seem to be firing randomly. He's confused -- irritably so -- but appears to be in decent health... all things considered. Solbiort curiously asks, "Di-di Nigel, could false memories be planted as vell as some removed?"
Raj says softly, "That's surely something the military could have done, given all the time they've had with him and his buddies. Sure enough..."
Nigel shrugs at the question, eyes squinted, "If I remember from my brief foray into psychology, it's fairly easy to do with hypnotics and repetition..." Solbiort sighs and shakes her head, her irritation with the Alliance growing -- or at least with some branches of the Alliance. She just stands by, waiting to see if Nigel needs any further assistance.
Wintarsen doesn't seem to make much of a response, instead continuing on a litany of battles, finally and unexpectedly culminating with a vociferous, "Why the hell can I remember all this?!"
Nigel breathes a sigh of relief, "Well, at least he's not all over the gorram charts again.."
Elgyn says, "Meaning, Doctor?"
Solbiort smiles faintly at Nigel's relief, then studies Wintarsen with a worried frown. If his memory's been so severely tampered with... she steps forward and lays a hand gently on Wintarsen's forearm, "Wintarsen? Do you remember the Third Way?"
Nigel says, "Meaning he's not going to crash on me."
Elgyn says, "Not going to... oh, I see. You're talking about his vitals."
Wintarsen lets out a breath. "Third Way," he moans softly. "Gustavia Orinel... I remember meeting her before... before the Alliance came for me. Said she was writing a book... called it 'The Third Way.' We were so confused then, it...." His voice trails off, and he frowns. "No... we were... we were routing the Alliance... yes, that was it. We were doing well against them... somehow...." Solbiort quietly records this part -- she doesn't want to miss any of it. So there was a real Gustavia Orinel! Fascinating. Nigel listens to Wintarsen, eyes narrowed as he taps his fingers on the counter.
Solbiort says, "Vhat year vas that, Vintarsen, that you met Orinel? Vhy vere you confused?"
Wintarsen groans and shakes his head. "Uhn. Kind of... kind of silly of her. There we were, wondering why it was going... going so...." he shakes his head, wincing. "Gnrrgh... met her... I think it was... eighth year. Eight years after war began." He reaches up to place a hand over his eyes, letting out a long slow breath. "Then the Alliance Marines came, and we beat them off. Somehow. Then the Silver Wires came, and we -- barely -- beat them off. Just as we were going to move headquarters again... I don't know who came, but they got us. And then...." His voice drops to a hoarse, cracking whisper, "And.. then...."
Solbiort glances curiously at Raj, wondering what's worse than Silver Wires to the Indeps. Wasn't her division, she knows. Nigel sighs, "And then you have a big damn blank space, I'm bettin'. General... I'm not sure we want to trust anything you're remembering just now..."
Wintarsen looks over at Nigel. "No... yes, I mean... no... they... they interrogated us. Oh, gods, thought it would never end. Not... not torture, but..." He looks confused again. "Or... no, wait... I can't... I can't remember."
Elgyn folds his arms across his chest...this whole matter disturbs him. Planting memories, removing memories, Not-Alliance assassins... it's enough to make him wish he had never left home. Solbiort shrugs to Nigel, "Vell, got some interesting info. Nothing really surprising." She thinks a moment, then turns back to Wintarsen, "Vhat happen to Orinel? You know?"
Nigel rolls his eyes as if to say, 'What did I just say?' "Torture isn't all gorram electricity to the meat and two veg and pulling out fingernails." Solbiort snorts amusedly at Nigel.
Elgyn just scoffs. "It's all distasteful, Doctor."
Nigel eyes Elgyn, "When did I say it wasn't? He said he wasn't tortured, but brainwashing is torture..."
Wintarsen looks back to Solbiort, shaking his head. "She... left. Two months before... before the marines came for us. She left for some other Fringe world."
Solbiort murmurs softly, "Boys... let him talk." She nods encouragingly to Wintarsen, "Vhich von? You know vhich? Or if she hide a copy of Third Vay anyvhere?"
Wintarsen frowns to Solbiort. "Before she left... she said... so strange, now, to think of it... said she had decided not to write it. She seemed so sad when she said it. And when she left she said... she said, 'Make your own way -- not Alliance, not Independent, not Third.' After that... she was gone."
Solbiort nods quietly to Wintarsen, thinking... could the Third Way have been suborned already by the end of the way? Could Orinel be on Einsort maybe? There aren't many worlds she could hide on any longer... she remains silent, waiting for Wintarsen to keep talking. Nigel clears his throat, "Did he just say the book doesn't actually exist? Wasn't ever ruttin' well written?"
Solbiort shakes her head at the little doctor, "Don't know. Ask him."
Elgyn says, "That doesn't make sense. How can there be a commentary on a book not written? He must be referring to something else."
Solbiort says, "Vintarsen, did she ever actually vrite the book?"
Wintarsen looks up at Solbiort and shakes his head. "Not... not that we knew, I don't think. She said she had notes, but then before she left... she said she wasn't going to write it."
Solbiort sighs frustratedly. "Hokay, so the bits you know are just from her notes?"
"Yes... from what she told me and some talks we had. She'd... she'd said she was going to quote Danviere a few times in her book. Danviere joked she thought it was better not to be quoted -- less chance of being... a moving target... if people didn't have your words on their lips. I think... I think the joke was funnier in French...."
Elgyn looks blank. He leans on the bulkhead, muttering something in Lingua about 'being without a head or a brain.' Solbiort blinks slowly at Wintarsen, "Danviere is the real inspiration for the Third Vay?!" Nigel glances over at Danviere's stats as her name is mentioned. Solbiort rolls her eyes in exasperation, "This is making no sense! Vhy the hush-hush, the secrecy? Book vas not even written!!" Wintarsen winces at the outburst. The stats for Danviere flick slightly, and maybe her eyes twitch a little in her coma. Solbiort tilts her head, regarding Wintarsen with a frown... then she reaches back and yanks the fake book out of her belt pouch. She hands it to the invalid, "Here. Vhat is this?"
Wintarsen looks at the book, taking it gingerly. He turns it over in his hands, frowning at the title. "She said she wouldn't write it...." he murmurs, then opens it and starts to flip through the pages -- normally at first, then slowly, his frown deepening. Nigel double-checks on Danviere, then turns his attention back to Wintarsen. Danviere remains comatose, though as near as Nigel can tell the readings are an improvement over before she had the new medications. After a while of flipping pages Wintarsen blinks... then smiles... then chuckles softly. "Oh... I get it. She didn't write it after all. It exists... but she didn't write it."
Solbiort says, "Vhere does it exist?"
Nigel smiles wryly, leaning back against a counter, "It really is a Zen book."
Solbiort sighs and nods to Nigel, "Sounds like it. Ve need to find if there is copy anyvhere of notes, und maybe vhere she is, if ve vant to find out vhy she change her mind about writing it."
Wintarsen looks up at Solbiort, blinking as he holds up the book. "Here." He looks to Nigel. "I... guess it could be, at that."
Solbiort nods patiently to Wintarsen, taking the book back and tossing it onto a nearby counter, "Right, right... so, any idea vhy she change her mind about writing it? Know vhere she is now?"
"She said... she said that she didn't believe in a third way anymore. Said that there... had to be more. One for each person, each person having their own way. Not third. All." He blinks. "She... said something about... Newhall, I think." Nigel does one last check of both patients, and mumbles on his way out the door for someone to call him if there's an emergency.
Solbiort nods to Nigel, then says tiredly to the others, "So, ve're being attacked and hunted... for something vhich doesn't even exist?!"
Raj says, "You think these folks are after a book?!? Doesn't that seem like overkill to you?"
Solbiort says, "Ya, to me it does. Don't know vhy that poor boy on Ashtoreth vas shot for a fake book, either."
Elgyn looks thoughtful, then. "Are we sure there is nothing written on those pages?"
Raj says quietly, "None of this spook business makes any sense to me at all," and shakes his head.
Solbiort mutters, "Me either..." then sighs to Elgyn, "If there is, is something like invisible ink or tech inserted into paper, di-di."
Elgyn says, "Perhaps we should try to determine, then, if it is so. You made an excellent point earlier: if the book truly contained nothing then it would be foolish to kill your... friend. It only proves there is something important at stake."
Solbiort says, "Think Vintarsen is saying book is a concept, di-di... not a material object." She reaches over to flip the book over to Elgyn, "But feel free -- knock yourself out, di-di. Is giving me headache as is. Vould really love to know vhy so many people dead for this. Not making any sense. "
Elgyn catches the book easily. "Perhaps the Third Way is merely a Trojan Horse."
Raj says, "Elgyn, may I suggest that when you are not actually examining the book, you lock it up somewhere? I get the feeling we're not being paranoid enough, considering folks actually are out to get us..." Elgyn looks around the infirmary for any sort of heating element... he's stymied for a moment, and then gets the bright idea to use a hot water bottle. Laying one page at random on the surface, he studies the page intently, to see if writing appears...
Solbiort shrugs to Elgyn, then turns to Wintarsen, "Hokay. Any idea why Alliance and Orinel vould not vant Third Vay to come out?"
Wintarsen frowns. "Alliance? I didn't think they even... even cared. Orinel... she just didn't believe it by the time she left. I don't... if you're saying she would kill to keep it from being printed? ...no, I can't see that."
Solbiort says, "Hokay, have ever heard of group vearing red halfmoon insignia on shoulder?"
And Wintarsen makes such a dramatic change at the question it's almost like he's a different person. His eyes bulge, he shrinks back into the bed so firmly that he's almost buried in the sheets, and his breathing becomes shaky and shallow. "Not... not them... oh, gods... they... they came for us.... god, god, god, god, killed everyone else, then took us... took us someplace.... they're the ones.... the ones who ended the war for me...."
Solbiort blinks -- then murmurs automatically, "Is hokay, Vintarsen, you are safe. They are not here."
He replies in a hoarse whisper, "How do you know?"
Elgyn says, "If they were that good, we'd be dead already."
Solbiort says, "You are on ship. Extra people vould show in air und vater usage."
Wintarsen seems to digest that, then relaxes visibly. "Damn them," he breathes, trembling. "They... they make me so gorram paranoid... and yet they killed... everyone...."
Solbiort sighs, lightly drumming her fingers against one thigh, "Hokay. Got fake book that vas never vritten. Got disillusioned vriter. Got people vhich am thinking took inspiration from author's book, made her disillusioned. So... qvestion is who she talk to before she talk final time to Vintarsen." She looks at the invalid, bluntly asking, "You know who she talk to before she talk to you?"
"All... all of us. She spent a month with us, talking with me and my command staff. She started out talking about the Third Way so highly, almost had me wanting to take it up... but she started getting uncomfortable talking about it. Then she said that she couldn't write it, that she'd been wrong. Not a third way -- but many ways, our own ways."
Elgyn sighs and shakes his head, picking up the book. Nothing. For a brief moment, he'd thought maybe they used the same tricks that his sister used to teach him about using milk to write invisible messages. But if the book is important, it's not going to be revealed that way. He starts going through the book page by page, then, studying the book thoroughly, binding and all.
Solbiort looks thoughtful, musing, "So... vhat happen... someone on command staff a traitor or somezing? Vhat vas Xin for you people?"
"Traitor? No. She just.. changed her mind. Said she'd been wrong. Xin... Xin was senior enlisted in charge of training, motivating, discipline... master-at-arms. I think he wanted to be bodyguard to Danviere and I, but nobody ever got close enough... except... except the... them...." His eyes drift over to Raj and he narrows his eyes a little, studying the man, "...oh. No, you weren't there."
Solbiort folds her arms and waits patiently. Eventually he'll figure out someone must've betrayed them, for them to have been hit so consistently by increasing forces, right after Orinel left. Raj raises an eyebrow, "No, I wasn't."
Wintarsen nods, still suspiciously looking at Raj. "So," he says resignedly. "Silver Wire." He glances to Solbiort. "Another interrogation?"
Solbiort sighs exasperatedly, "No. He is decommissioned, and the var has been over for eight years."
Raj snorts, "Not bloody likely. Let me know if you need me," and leaves.
Solbiort adds reprovingly to Wintarsen, "That was rude, considering he's risked his life to save you."
Wintarsen blinks at Solbiort. "But... the Silver Wires. Alliance specops." He winces and rubs his head. "What... saved my life?"
Elgyn says, "Give him a break, Captain. His mind is still muddled."
Solbiort says, "Told you -- var's been over for eight years, Vintarsen. The red halfmoon folks are still hunting you, though, and ve've been staying barely one jump ahead of them." She frowns, adding, "Lots of good folks dying too. Vhy these people after you?" Then she nods to Elgyn, "Ya, but he's got to vake up sometime... und if he's avake enough to be rude to Raj, he's avake enough to hear the truth."
Wintarsen groans and lies back on the bed. "Eight years... gods... thought I was still in... in... where they put me...." Solbiort watches silently, waiting for the invalid to answer her. Wintarsen says, "If I had an answer for that, I would give it. I thought it was over enough when they... they... put us in ice... and everything else they did. Now? I don't know... I just... I don't know." He pushes himself up weakly, "I... apologize. Has it... eight years...."
Solbiort gently pushes Wintarsen back, "Take it easy; you need to rest up. Ya, been eight years. Got any idea vhy they gunning for you, or vhy they do this?"
"I don't. If... if you rescued me, all I can think of is that they want us dead now...."
Solbiort nods, sighing, "All right, all right. Go to sleep, heal, hokay?" Wintarsen nods wanly to Solbiort, and in a few minutes is sleeping.
Elgyn sighs and tucks the book under his arm. "Nothing. Far as I can tell -- and I'm no book expert -- this is exactly what it appears to be. Which still makes no sense. If there is no book, why make a fake one?"
Solbiort nods to Elgyn, "My thoughts exactly. Come, ve let him rest -- ve can talk in Commons." As everyone walks out of the Infirmary Solbiort adds, "Only thing I can think is maybe it has beacon to let red halfmoons know vhere it is, so vonce poor boy moved it they vere there und ready to kill."
Elgyn nods slowly. "Perhaps the removal of the book itself was enough to alert them. The fake book exists to warn these half-moon people that someone is seeking what they want kept hidden."
Solbiort sighs, flopping out in a chair in Commons, then growls, "But vhy?! Vhy they care about schtupit fake book?!"
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