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Post by tsukikoko on Nov 10, 2020 19:14:50 GMT -6
Today was shaping up to be... Slightly better than average. Which was far better than a lot of other days as of late.
She'd seen, from the corner of her eye, as Decker had been pulled up by one of his colleagues before he could stride his way over to her - she'd clocked the focus in his expression and knew what it meant, so was glad to be free of his next round of demands or questions. Lately, there'd been an attempt to step up her protection detail, but the agency was simply stretched far too thin for it right now. That suited her; the shifter tried to see the good in everyone, but she really wasn't sure what to make of Decker's assigned agents, when they accompanied her.
Then there was the lab work. At first, frustrating and slow-going. Someone had been carelessly using her reagents and equipment, without placing it back correctly. Or perhaps they'd been rummaging. There'd been a note too, in her work area, stating that the new specimens (extracts from an anomaly, most likely) would be in one location, only for them to be in exactly the opposite.
Sara had found her frustration levels rising, as they were wont to do over a number of weeks. While she hadn't experienced quite the level of sleepless nights as that one fateful day where she'd contacted Casmir, the shifter was now entering a state of perpetual, bone deep exhaustion that pervaded her every day. Most times, it was manageable, a light drone in the back of her head. Other days it was a dragging, sinking weight that she could barely fight against.
So, she took a moment. Breathed deeply, fell into some of the stances Casmir had taught her. Then hummed a soft tune to herself and moved through exotic, borderline seductive dance steps as though she were on stage. The physicality of her movements, a moment's respite to indulge, worked wonders.
After that, her work flowed as though she were a well oiled machine. Small breakthroughs and sudden inspiration led Sara to check the energy readings of one specimen, initially to see if any magical interference had tampered with their bodies. She had still been waiting on DNA sequencing, so took the time to take some readings.
What she saw bore an eerie resemblence, though far more erratic, to another energy signature she recognised.
A shiver of both nervousness and scientific thrill ran through her. She'd taken recordings, pictures, saved a myriad of data onto her laptop to peruse later. Cross-checks are validation would need to be conducted, of course, but Sara was fairly certain she knew this energy signature.
She'd spent long enough researching him, after all.
A glance at the clock sent a shiver of a different kind of fear down the redhead's spine. She was late! Or- Aaron was late? She hadn't heard a knock, or her phone ringing (she didn't keep it on silent). But... He was unusually late.
Now with her brows furrowed, Sara stripped off her lab coat, decontaminated her hands and checked her phone for messages indicating the agent has been called out on a mission. He always made time for lunch with her and was prompt with it, or let her know if work had gotten in the way. To hear nothing was disconcerting, to say the least. The back of her neck began to prickle, raising the hairs along the shifter's skin. While the ticking clock was too loud all of a sudden. Nightmares, both recent and old, began to rear up inside her, sending the pace of her heart skywards.
She tried to breathe, reason that this was an overreaction. But in the back of Sara's head she couldn't help but worry. Aaron was always so punctual. To have him not appear, without a word, even by just 15 minutes, rose many a red flag.
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Post by jarahamee on Nov 10, 2020 22:15:39 GMT -6
Cassius stared down at the same form for the fifth time, turning the pen in his scarred hand. The paperwork part of the job never got any easier, no matter how many times he did it. He read through the annotations below the line to make sure he didn’t miss anything, making special note of comments d and e, and then compared it to the copied records to his right. Sometimes he worried that his work might be invalidated if he did not fill things out properly. It would, at the very least, delay the processing.
Being productive took his mind off the inevitable. Being useful, being helpful. Fulfilling his function, and yet it felt hollow. There was nothing more he could do at this point. They were staring their doom in the face. Metaphorically speaking anyhow. He knew logically he had times in the past where he had lost master and purpose and the world hung in the balance, but it never felt any less…terrible.
Maybe when he went home, he could have a glass of wine before his evening workout with Viktoria and the rest of his evening research. There was more in his cases that needed to be looked into, especially when it came to all the dead-end leads. No, they were real, they just needed more attention, more time, they were missing something important. Obvious.
He shrugged off his weak human body’s desire to sleep, and realized he might need his energy potion before lunch. A bad sign, along with the steady increase in his neck and shoulder pain. Well, there was no real drawbacks to taking them besides a waste of his resources. Maybe this was the event he had been stockpiling them for. Or maybe he needed to rest. No, not when there was such important work to do.
The agent pressed on his eyeballs, pushing thoughts of Director Lonan and his developing migraine out of his mind.
Things were easier when they just wanted you to kill people.
Commented the Beast from somewhere in the back of his mind, before it curled up and napped. Paperwork was far too boring to keep its keen and fickle attentions.
Cassius did his best not to answer. While that was true, it was no longer his duty, or the right thing to do. That was all behind him, and would be for the rest of his life.
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Post by MP on Nov 11, 2020 0:44:11 GMT -6
[Sara]
The knock, when it came at the door, was off. Wrong weight, wrong tone. It was too soft, too terse, a different kind of formal than Aaron's. Without waiting for an answer, the door eased open. Black coat. The silver glint of a badge. But it was a lanky agent who craned inside, black hair pulled into a ponytail that hung over one shoulder.
"Oh, Sara!" A little wave. "Glad I caught you. You got a minute?"
His blue eyes turned on the shifter. It could be an off-putting gaze, seeming to stare both through and into the core of a person. But Agent Todd Amato had an easy friendliness about him. Though he and the shifter only met infrequently, on serious occasions when Fireteam Hoodoo deployed together, he chatted with her as readily as with any member of his team. Today seemed no different. The agent nudged into the room, twirling his trademark mask absently by its strings.
"I was hoping to get some Surras advice. Gotta check on the tree later, and Telmore said you're good with those guys. You mind giving a primer or something?"
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Post by MP on Nov 11, 2020 1:47:02 GMT -6
[Cassius]
The officer's efforts, for all that he tried to focus, were interrupted by the steady rasp outside. A dry, meaty sound, like the coils of a snake. A heavy pad of feet that could be felt through the soles of the feet as much as heard. With every step, a fresh rasp, as if something heavy were dragged along. It faded down the hallway, leaving a few moments of peace. Only to return, heading the other way. Silence. Back again. There was a harsh sound through the door, hot and deep as a bull's breath. Then a knock sounded at the door.
It was a surprisingly timid sound, and the creature that peered around the door more timid still, for all his stature and the Silver badge on his sleeve. He towered nearly eight feet high at the shoulder, crowned by a thick red mane and a curving set of horns. But the eyes, deep-set in an unlovely amalgam of humanoid and reptilian features, seemed faintly anxious. He unclipped something from around his neck - a small blackboard and a piece of chalk - and scribbled on it. Grasping it delicately between two massive claws, the creature held it up.
NEED ELIXIR FOR HIGASHI KOJI.
The wiry end of the creature's tail knotted itself anxiously, and his bear-like neck dipped in an apologetic way. He didn't like it, taking up roles that Telmore had always filled. But Telmore hadn't left a spare, and with Medical's supplies so scarce, there was no one else to ask.
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Post by jarahamee on Nov 11, 2020 2:18:16 GMT -6
Cassius finished the last line of his form as he listened to someone feel unsure about entering his office. He didn’t call them as he worked. They would come when they wanted to. His suspicion was correct; not long after, the huge form of a reptilian being somewhat familiar to him entered his office.
He looked up sharply, his dark eyes boring into the figure of the half-dragon, as if making an assessment. The gold badge was clearly a human, but had the fearless confidence of a dominant predator. While not hostile, his gaze was intent, discerning, and did nothing to deemphasize the gaunt angularity of the alchemist’s features as he processed what it meant him to be here.
Agent Lin. One of Telmore’s firesquad.
The absence of Telmore was strange. The man never took vacations, didn’t take breaks, and didn’t send anyone else to do his work. He had been both making his own, and asking for some from Agent Lucidus. He had never sent anyone else to do anything of the sort.
“I have plenty, Agent Lin. I’ll deliver it myself. Where is Agent Telmore?”
It made him suspicious, but he would do as requested. He kicked back in the chair to give himself enough space under his desk to retrieve two blood-red potions in small vials. They did not appear like they would be enough, but they were just as potent as the full-sized bottles that Telmore had made. The advantages of being an expert at potions, he supposed.
Cassius stood straight up, ghoulish mouth half-smiling while he frowned. He was awaiting a response with all the alertness of the police-dog he often embodied in a literal sense.
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Post by tsukikoko on Nov 11, 2020 3:27:14 GMT -6
The knock didn't raise Sara's hopes any, because it wasn't her agent's knock and she knew it, if anything the sound twisted another knot of tension into her gut. For all that she normally loved seeing and interacting with various people, the recent inclusion of federal agents into the mix had made half her encounters most stressful. While not all were openly antagonistic, there was always a level of scrutiny, of watchfulness, trained to catch people in a lie and almost assuming she would be spinning one. Her reputation for keeping the Director's secret had most certainly preceded her. A shame, really, because she hoped under different circumstances that a fair few of them were decent people she could have gotten on just fine with.
The sight of Agent Todd was at least something of a relief, compared to the alternatives. Even with her persistent, perhaps unsubstantiated, nervousness, she could make time for him.
"Why aye luv, she do." A small smirk, despite herself, at that. Come on in, like." Said with a friendly smile, even as Sara closed the inner door to her lab and so enclosed them in the entryway vestibule, to avoid any potential contamination. She tried, too, to keep the worry out of her voice. "Can tell ya reet off though, like, don't git too attached te ya personal space 'cause if they like ya, they'll end up reet in it, like. Proper curious lot." She knew that one, very much, from experience. "The wee luvs 'ave tails stronger than they look, an' a crackin' set o' teeth, but they 'ave a lot o' predators, ya know? So don't be makin' sudden movements when ya first arrive, ah-" she waved a dismissive hand, chuckling lightly "-but I don't need tah natter on at an active agent abowt that, like. Reckon ya reet good at readin' a room by now. Was there somethin' specific ya needed tah know, like?"
After a question, a small pause, where the shifter glanced at the small clock nestled above the doorway behind Todd. She began to roll her engagement ring between thumb and forefinger, as she often did when thinking about Aaron. "Also, 'ave ya seen our Aaron, like? 'E ain't often late, so wondered where 'e's gannin' te, if ya know?" She was trying to sound light, just a simple question asking after her fiance, but the nervous way in which the shifter's tail began to curl over her feet gave her away, to anyone in the know about that particular habit.
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Post by MP on Nov 11, 2020 18:43:22 GMT -6
[Cassius]
The reptile made a short harrumph in the back of his throat - a hot, deep sound like a bellows. But it sounded more uncertain than anything. He trundled after the officer, tapping an idle claw against his scales. He held out a hand that could have engulfed Cassius' chest, waiting. When it was clear the officer didn't intend to hand the elixirs over, the claws curled in on themselves. Lin scratched uncomfortably at his mane. Shuffled a little under the officer's stare. Finally, he took up his chalk again.
Lin scratched at the blackboard. Hesitated. Rubbed out the words. Scratched some more. He kept it angled away from the officer, beady eyes moving over the words. He held it out with a deep snort.
BUSY, the blackboard said over a slight smudge. HANDLING CHECK-INS IN HIS ABSENCE.
He beckoned at the elixirs with two clawed fingers, pointing at the door. The angle of his shoulders and his intent look made it clear the agent was in a hurry. He seemed resigned to Cassius' company.
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Post by beastly on Nov 11, 2020 18:50:11 GMT -6
Simon held his work phone to his ear with his shoulder, frowning slightly at a piece of paper. He flipped it over several times, as if it would reveal something secret if he looked at it hard enough. Things weren't exactly going Kate's way right now, which was a real shame. She'd been doing so good lately. Maybe he could put in a good word for her?
"-Right, I gotcha, really, you said she'd been doin' a lot better, right? Improving? Right. So, I'm thinking-...Ah. I understand, thank you. Yes. Mmmhm, as always, I appreciate whatcha do. We'll figure it out, no worries. I think it's been good experience for her. Yes, been a pleasure. Alrighty, take care."
Simon hung up the phone and rubbed his face. This kid was gonna be the death of him. Really, he was very proud of her. She'd turned her whole attendance issue around, she'd been working very hard on her social interactions, and generally had been doing just a hell of a lot better at work. It was a shame it hadn't been enough to convince them to keep her around for the rest of her internship. They could find her a new place to work at. It'd be fine. Better, possibly. He'd need to get on that. He started going over new internship options on his laptop, places they'd had success in putting folks before. The cupcake place was fun. There was always the library...
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Post by jarahamee on Nov 11, 2020 20:44:09 GMT -6
Cassius nodded, rolling both tubes in his maimed hand. The shadows gave his cruel face an uncomfortable sharpness. At least they understood one another, for now, though his question wasn’t answered. His frown deepened for a moment, and then he ironed out his growing snarl into a more amiable blank expression. His face did the rest, making it seem almost smile-like; the advantages of his gruesome scarring.
The werewolf struggled with his growing annoyance and anger, and instead pushed it all down, covering it with a coating of calm and focus. Agent Lin didn’t cause this, Agent Lin was not a part of this. Agent Lin was just doing his job, and he would have to be patient to get to answers. So, he spoke in his most patient voice;
“Thank you. If you don’t mind me asking, what is he busy with? I’ve worked with him for years, and he’s never sent anyone else to do his work.”
His command was confident. He knew that it was an abnormality. If Aaron was at home, well, all the better. His worry would be misplaced and it would be something else to knock off his plate of concerns. After all, he had the gnawing feeling that he owed him something. Had wronged him. He wasn’t sure quite what it had to do with though.
The scarred man walked down the hall next to Agent Lin, attentive as always. Suspicious and grizzled as a wild animal. One could never predict what might happen, even in a familiar place. Especially in a familiar place.
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Post by MP on Nov 11, 2020 21:42:56 GMT -6
[Sara]
"Yeah, if you can." Todd's fingers wound the mask strings in a vague cat's cradle. "Lin's coming with me, so I want to make sure they won' t have any toxic reactions with draconics - food, fluids, irritants, you know. On either side."
He waved a hand at Sara's workstation. Lab stuff, the gesture plainly said. He took the return question with an apologetic smile.
"Oh yeah, he probably didn't have time to text you. Had another big one come in, so he's pretty swamped, you know?"
The agent gave a little smile, but those eyes, pale and distant and strangely sad, watched Sara closely.
"Hey," he said slowly. "I know it's not any of my business, but Telmore...hasn't been looking great lately. Neither are you - no offense. Are you guys, you know. Doing alright? I know it's been hard with the Genasi."
[Simon]
"Simon Groves, right?"
A halo of frizz was waiting for Simon when he turned around. The agent was taller than him, and a good bit stouter, the effect helped along by an unruly mass of curls. She stood squarely in his path, feet planted and hands on her hips. While she offered a hearty handshake, the set of her shoulders and the strength of her grip made it clear she wasn't going anywhere.
"Agent Nora Ruiz. I don't think we've met."
Though the casual tone and the broad smile never dropped, something in her demeanor hardened.
"I'm sure you're busy, but if you got a few minutes, I need to speak with you. In private."
Like the handshake, like her solid stance, the message beneath the niceties was clear: this was not a request.
[Cassius]
Pale, beady eyes slid from the officer to the hall and back again. Lin didn't answer immediately. He paused as they reached the elevator, clearly debating whether to call it up or take the stairs. At last he reached out a claw and, with a delicacy that hinted at prior incidents, pushed the button. An approaching agent, seeing who was waiting there, made an abrupt u-turn.
The elevator dinged. Lin's horns clacked against the upper portal as he ducked inside. Even hunching, it was like packing into a sardine can. But he pressed his bulk to the side as much as he could, tucking in his arms and tail to leave room for the officer. Once the doors had closed, he took up the chalk again. One scaled elbow bounced off Cassius' shoulder, jostling the officer as Lin scribbled.
SUSPENDED. REMOVED FROM ALL CASES & PENDING INVESTIGATION. SENSITIVE INFORMATION.
The writing trailed into a cramped mess where the half dragon had clearly run out of room. Lin shrugged apologetically, though it was hard to tell whether for the handwriting or the message.
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Post by tsukikoko on Nov 12, 2020 5:07:20 GMT -6
Sara's laugh, when it came, held none of the usual humour; there was a flatness, irritation, near despair. Of course they didn't look great. There was too much to do, not enough time, no ways to help the people closest to her. The shifter was fighting her hardest just to keep head above water, but the madness occurring outside, her missing friends, Koji's slow descent into captive insanity that she could do nothing to alleviate, the complicated situation with Casmir, the hoops she had to jump through just to get any headway with her research seen under an untinted view and not be used as leverage... the whole thing was exhausting.
"Everythin's 'ard luv, ain't just our Koji an' Strid, like." With an exhale, the shifter ran her hand through the fiery mass of her hair, noting idly how her fingers caught in various tangles. She probably did look an unkempt mess. "Eee, man, the world's gone reet barmy lately, an' I cannae do enough abowt it. Frustratin', ya know? Our Aaron was feelin' the same, like. Doin' too much, feelin' like it ain't enough." Sara's fretting concern for her agent was plain to see - in the fidgeting of her fingers, the rapid movement of her eyes as she sought ways to alleviate his stress, the tapping of her tail against the floor.
But then, she stilled slightly, turned her gaze to hold Todd's own. There was a professionalism to her tone now, dragging herself back into the work mindset since he'd asked something of her. "Our Lin should be alreet so far as allergic reactions gan, both ways. They're carnivores, so food offered is meat they caught, like, nowt added to it. But they're gannin' te be a wee bit nervous of 'im, withowt an appearance charm, like. Prey species, ya know? Oh-!" She held up a finger in a 'wait one moment' gesture and began rummaging in the drawers of a nearby cabinet. Before long, Sara produced a necklace-looking object with a rounded, crystalline charm attached. "Translation charm, like." She said, handing it over to Todd. "Would recommend it."
Now that she was closer, though there was still a friendly smile on her face and a casual air to her tone, something piercing glinted behind the bright green of her gaze. "Why aye so, big one, like? What is it, anomaly? Should I be expectin' some new specimens, like?" A valid question, given how swamped the crocodile-tailed scientist already was she'd need to be sure her time was properly allocated. "Eee, an' if it's reet big, are any of ya, 'is fireteam, on it too, like? Or 'ave ya been stretched too thin for that?" The idea Aaron might be on his own for 'something big' made Sara's skin prickle, her protectiveness flaring to life.
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Post by MP on Nov 12, 2020 11:52:08 GMT -6
[SARA]
It wasn't any hesitation or facial tic that gave him away. Rather, it was the quickness of Todd's response - a smoothness that, after weeks of official questioning and Aaron's practice sessions to delineate the tactics of an interrogating agent, subtly caught at the awareness.
"We're working on it - we're on it. But honestly," Now Todd did hesitate, a timed pause. "It's hard to tell with Telmore sometimes. He's been pretty distant since the data center. Has he been like that with you?"
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Post by beastly on Nov 12, 2020 12:03:35 GMT -6
Simon turned at the voice, dragging himself out of 'problem solving' mode. Oh! He hadn't ever said a word to this frizzy haired person before. Simon stood from his desk to greet the woman, shaking her hand and offering a polite smile. Strong grip noted, and he could tell she wanted... something. That was the vibe he got. That was fair, helping people was his job, after all. He'd try his best to help the lady where he could.
"Yes, that'd be me. Nice to meetcha."
He listened, and nodded. Something seemed serious beneath everything. He clapped his hands together, and glanced around. Must be something private?
"Right- absolutely, let's, uh, just step into one of the meeting rooms, yeah?"
Kate's future as a cupcake chef would wait. This field agent clearly had something important to say. He turned for a moment, sweeping the kid's personal information neatly back into a folder, you don't just leave that out, and went to duck into an unused meeting room.
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Post by tsukikoko on Nov 12, 2020 14:12:19 GMT -6
Silently, Sara thanked her agent wholeheartedly for the training he'd given her. If it hadn't been for him, she'd have taken Todd's response at face value. Now, she called bullshit.
As it was, she gave a casual wave with one hand, barrelling immediately into the sexual innuendo that was so often her norm. "Eeee man, ya 'avin' a laugh, like! Per'aps abowt six inches? But I 'ave a feelin' I'm a special case, ya know?" She chuckled, selling the joke. But as the shifter folded her arms, regarding the man before her with an air almost disappointed, the good humour in her leeched away. "I'd appreciate if ya'd be straight with us, though."
She was waiting, patiently, for his response, when the trilling note of a ringtone filled the space between them. Sara knew that ringtone. Had designated it specifically for Koji. Like a slowly dragging claw, the redhead felt dread run down her spine. The Genasi didn't call her without warning, always worried about being intrusive and instead resorting to text. If he was ringing, he needed something urgently. Couple that with the timing - Aaron's lack of appearance, the subtle interrogation of her that seemed to be happening - had the shifter feeling abruptly distrustful.
So, as she took out her phone and glanced at the screen, Sara let the rising nervousness lend a believability to her voice - realising one has forgotten something important. "Oh bollocks, I bloody well forgot!" Her gaze flickered up to Todd, even as she raised the phone to her face and connected through the call. She mouthed a quick 'sorry' and held up a hand with two fingers raised. 'Two minutes' was the implied message. She was chattering quickly into the phone in the same moment, apologetic and hurried. "Eeee Justine, luv, I 'ave those readin's for ya," she opened the door to her inner lab, sliding her way inside, "-just give us a tick." The door closed with a click, leaving Todd behind with the frosty atmosphere of her final statement to him.
A few minutes later, Sara returned, a hand running through her hair. She wasn't sure if Aaron's fireteammate would still be present and was conflicted over whether she wanted him to be or not. On the one hand, she wanted to hear his answer to her confrontation, wanted to know why he would be less than transparent about Aaron's whereabouts. But, after her brief interaction with Koji, she also wanted to get out of the building as quickly as possible.
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Post by Sharei on Nov 12, 2020 14:12:32 GMT -6
No news yet, the nurse had said apologetically, too busy to stop and have a chat.
Koji's gaze rose to the clock on the wall. 12:46 PM. The minute hand ticked over with a quiet sound. 12:47. The nagging feeling of unease that had been sitting in the pit of his stomach grew uncomfortably. The morning had been suspiciously devoid of Aaron Telmore's presence, and for anyone else it might have been a minor thing, but this wasn't anyone else.
Not only was it not within Aaron's personality to blow off a friend, but Koji was part of his job, and Aaron took that even more seriously than his personal commitments. It was one thing to text Sara that he was busy, or to reschedule a lunch - it was quite another to miss an actual agent check-in.
The Genasi reached across to the bedside table. He'd gotten his phone back from evidence, and Sara's number was on speed dial.
There was enough of a wait that Koji got the sense Sara was either disinfecting and getting out of her lab coat, or extricating herself from a conversation before she answered the phone. Her tone was light, slightly distracted; "Eeee Justine, luv, I 'ave those readin's for ya, just give us a tick." Then sound of a door closing, and then Sara's voice lowered in volume. "Sorry Koji petal, y'alreet?"
Justine?
"Something's wrong." It was Koji's business tone, short and brusque with the urgency of an unfolding situation. He only brought it out when he was in Asset Mode and time was no longer a luxury, and it's use translated his intensity well down the phone line. "Aaron didn't show up for his 6:30am check-in this morning. None of the nurses know where he is and I didn't get an update from him. Have you seen him?"
"I 'aven't." The shifter's tone was oddly flat, trembling ever so slightly. A deep inhale, an exhale down the line. When she spoke again there was a fierce focus, a brisk efficiency. "Reet luv, what do ya need us tah do? Ya more experienced than I am, like."
"The only reason Aaron would miss a check-in without sending word, that I can think of, is because he can't. We need to know where he was last, and what he was doing," Koji said, already thinking back to yesterday's activities. Nothing had seemed out of the ordinary, had it? He dismissed the idea of a late sleep-in almost immediately. "If we can get ahold of someone on his fireteam, or another agent, they could authorize a phone trace."
" 'Is fireteam, or one at least, were interrogatin' me, like. Subtly, but I noticed. Said 'e were on 'a big case' an just divvint text us, like, but I called bull."
Big case? Koji's frown was obvious down the line.
"I ask Aaron about his cases every day," Koji said, the frown deepening. "He never mentioned anything about something new." Granted, Aaron was less inclined to share case details with him than their regular conversation, but he did at least mention if there was something particularly important he had on his plate - he always did, just in case it spilled over into their check-in.
I smell bullshit, he thought, mirroring Sara's own assumption. But why would his fireteam lie about Aaron's whereabouts?
"Either they know something and are lying about it, or they don't and are fishing," Koji said. "We just don't know why. If the WDSA isn't being transparent everyone but us is suspect."
Koji's gaze rose to the open doorway. There was a wheelchair just inside it, which the nurses used when helping him to and from the restroom. It was out of immediate reach, but not that far...
"I'm leaving the room," he said, thinking of his promise to Aaron. "Sorry."
"Don't apologise, luv, just take it slow, alreet?" Sara said. "I'll be there fast as I can, reckon I can git ya owt o' there if ya 'aven't managed it yaself, like."
A soft pause, and when next she spoke there was a deep sense of apology. "It's been a long time comin', an' I'm sorry it weren't sooner, or under better circumstances, like."
There was another short pause on the line, tense and silent, but there was no waver in Koji's voice when he answered.
"It doesn't matter. All I care about right now is finding Aaron. I'll see you soon."
"I know luv, I know. I'll be fast as I can. Love ya Koji, be safe."
The shifter didn't get a reply, only the dial tone of a call ended. Koji pocketed the phone in his hospital gown - thankfully the wrap-around kind rather than the ones that tie at the back - and pulled the blankets off. The IVs came out next, disconnected with a quiet backwards glance at the door to ensure no one was watching. Koji shut off the heart monitor.
Both legs were in full splints and his back was in a brace, protecting the fragile bones still healing after his ordeal. The only part of his body that worked reliably were his hands and arms, but even using them made his injured shoulders ache. Never mind the hundreds of stitches that would leave lasting scars. He hadn't been allowed to bear his own weight yet and for good reason, but the potential damage seemed a small sacrifice.
Koji considered the distance to the wheelchair and squinted at the side table. Next to it was the chair Aaron always sat in, and beyond it his ultimate destination. It would be hard on his shoulders, but that would do.
Koji swung his legs over the side of the bed and his pained grunt became a soft, elongated sound as his bones creaked under his own weight. The agony became a stabbing in his ribs and a grind in his shoulders as he caught himself on the edge of the table, forcing himself to keep upright in the first frantic moments where simply breathing seemed difficult. His head swam, throbbing with the sudden change in elevation.
Telling himself not to black out, the Genasi put one hand in front of the other and painstakingly pulled himself along the edge of the table. It was slightly more bearable with his weight on his hands, but navigating from the table to the chair was half again more difficult then getting from the bed to the table. As he transferred, he checked the door.
Good, no one had noticed yet.
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