Scene #7553: The City of Tir

Owner	Pose
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	It has been a week since the spectacular destruction of BIOMARE. As any one of you might have guessed, the Omni-Tek Press Corps were quick to attempt to control the narrative, painting the facility as a notum mine and only that--but the neutral and especially Clan outlets weren't content to leave it at that. Still--you have dealt a major blow to the company's holdings on the planet. The constant influx of mutants created only to languish in the desert upon failing some marketing expectation or other has stopped. The only other immediate concern at present is the corporation's occupation of the neutral city of Borealis--but Phreak is working on a discreet way into the city. For now, that gives an opportunity to check in on another matter, discussed about two weeks ago... [Vicinity] Gerard: Hibiki. Nice to meet you. ...You know, I have a grandson about your age. [Vicinity] Gerard: He's training to be a martial artist in some temple out Tir county way. I'd go myself, but the Sentinels-- [Vicinity] Bercilak: Wouldst quell thee whanne-so thei espied thee. [Vicinity] Gerard: I haven't heard from him in a while... [Vicinity] Gerard: If you're ever that way, I'd surely appreciate you checking on him, Hibiki. Rubi-ka Tir County The City of Tir Clan Territory - Sentinels Tir is quite different from Old Athen, and even from its more organic neighbor West Athen. This is a Clan city built by Clan hands, and it is also the unofficial capitol of the Clans on Rubi-ka. Tir County is all desert, and the two suns bear down oppressively on the walled city. Shades of brown complement the sunlight at all times of the day. It is a busy city--busier even than the towers of Old Athen. Always, the huge public teleporters are 'Whom-Pah'-ing away (a good way to get here, for those who tend to hoof it--they require no special computer knowledge, unlike the Grid). Air traffic is also frequent, and it is not uncommon for even the specialty shops to have landing pads. Antennae reach into the sky, broadcasting gridstreams to big screens--news, advertisements, even entertainment. The guards are very much different from the Vanguard you encountered in Athen. They are dressed for the heat, and for mobility. They prefer either heavy blunt weapons or imposingly large carbines with underbarrel grenade launchers. Primarily, they are either the heavily muscled Atrox or most-human-adjacent Solitus. A few people and places of note: SIMON SILVERSTONE is the commander of the Sentinels. THE COUNCIL OF TRUTH is a huge tower in the center of town surrounded by a moat of clear blue water. It is where representatives of every Clan meet to discuss issues affecting all of them. It is not currently in session, but is always staffed. THE ARENA is pretty much exactly what it sounds like--a place for people in town to blow off some steam. It is a walled-off, force-fielded square pavillion that is fairly bare-bones. An auto-surgery clinic is in one of the corners, as is an Insurance terminal. FLUX is a member of the Unionists, the oldest Clan on Rubi-ka, descended from the first miners union who struck back at the corporation. He's met a few members of the Watch before, on Saint Patrick's Day.
DIOMEDES	DIOMEDES, knowing nothing about anything except that Hibiki is looking for a martial artist, heads straight for THE ARENA. He proceeds, once there, to ask about two things at the Arena front desk: Where can I find martial artists? Can I fight? I have a spear. It really is that simple for him right now.
Karlan Nobles	After learning from their mistakes in a certain beach simulation, the two snow leopard-y people from Kjerag have finally wised up and opted to wear something more appropriate for the desert heat! One of them, anyway. SilverAsh is still wearing his usual dapper-ass suit and tie combo, although he's opted for a considerably thinner and beigeier outfit than his usual snow-suited fare. Pramanix, meanwhile, has decided to forego the fancy and has opted for a desert hiking outfit, complete with loose convertible pants, a long-sleeved button up, and a wide-brimmed hat to keep her head and her necklace protected from the suns. The next step is actually finding the boy. It may be a bit difficult, considering that both of the siblings seem to be more interested in seeing the sights, but their wandering eventually takes them to the COUNCIL OF TRUTH. They head towards the tower, seeking out anyone that looks like they might know a thing or two about the region in order to start asking them about local temples and other religious buildings.
Hibiki Tachibana	"I didn't know you guys had martial arts temples out here--but I'd be happy to go check on him for you." "In fact, I'll go first chance I get. If he's okay, I'll let you know. And if he's not, I'll help him out with whatever the problem is." So promised Hibiki to Gerard back before the final raid on BIOMARE, and she has every intention to uphold it. Certainly not alone of course, with how unfamiliar she is with Tir let alone Rubi-ka as a whole. She's only been here for the sole purpose of wrecking things, after all, so coming by on good terms feels a little weird so soon after that. Until Phreak hits them back up though, she doesn't plan to start any trouble. At least she's used to bustling cityscapes. Her own doesn't have teleporters, but she's happy to take one for the purposes of not needing to get here the hard way. "Alright, where to start...?" With a wealth of energy to spare despite the desert suns beating upon the land, which she's tied her jacket around her waist rather than actually wearing to account for, she does a big think at their potential options. In the end though, she ends up having pretty much the same thoughts as DIOMEDES. If there's anyone she'd expect to know what they're looking for offhand, it'd be people who frequent a place like this, so she comes with and adds on after him, "And if you know anywhere to learn how to fight like 'em, like a temple or something anywhere nearby, could you point it our way?"
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	TIR ARENA The arena is a big concrete pavillion with protective forcefields, a little concrete island in the middle surrounded by waist-deep water, and pilings spaced evenly to make cover for ranged combatants, and interesting terrain for melee fighters to spring from. The front desk is manned by a robot--clearly a human interaction model. oWhere can I find martial artists? The robot, a sleek creation of polished chrome, with superfluous 'eyes' and the suggestion of a mouth, is very differently made than DIOMEDES. It isn't a fighter, but is evidently very social and knowledgeable. It perks up notably at the first question. With a gesture of its hand, a monitor rises from the counter to display a few slides of martial artists in combat. "Rubi-ka enjoys a rich history of martial arts--both those surviving the pandemic of ancient Earth, and those developed after humanity's recovery and subsequent colonization of other worlds. There are even a few styles which originated here, incorporating the unique physiology of humanity's metabreeds and the versatility of nanotechnology. When referring to a Martial Artist with a nanopool and an NCU, it is common practice to treat the word as a proper noun, to distinguish the Profession from the calling and/or hobby." The slides depict the Profession, now--a woman with hands wreathed in acid mulching a tree with a palm strike. A slender, grey, pointy-eared man drawing a bead with a bow, mid-leap. An Atrox making a flying kick, the air ionizing around their extended heel. oMay I fight? I have a spear. "Of course!" though its face doesn't convey emotion, the robot is pleased to hear this question. "Just put your name here--and if you're from off-world, please use the Reclaim terminal. There's a special offer on now where the Arena will cover your Insurance for your first fight, so don't worry about the cost. Just use the promocode HANDS at the terminal!"
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	COUNCIL OF TRUTH Silverash isn't the only one who is determined to wear a suit in the desert heat. "Hey! Wow. Who does your tailoring? You look great. Oh--you too, miss. That's a cute hat." Target Info Name:Atticus 'Wolfowitz' Morgan Profession:Bureaucrat Faction:Clan Organization:Terra Nova Before the twins stands a tall, gangly man in a sharply tailored suit. He weathers the desert heat well, though the tie and the shirt are a little unkempt. His skin is so pale that veins can be seen beneath it, without a hint of hair on him. Not even eyebrows--but you wouldn't be able to see those, either, because his eyes have been completely replaced with a cybernetic visor, the sleek construction of which wraps all the way around the back of his pale head, and appears to take up space on the back of his neck, as well. "I'm Atticus Morgan--I'm part of Terra Nova's liason corps with the Council. What can I do for you?" He's not a Tir native, but he's here fairly often to submit discussion requests ahead of council meetings. He ought to know... oAre there any temples or religious buildings nearby? "Well... the nearest would be the Temple of the Three Winds, allegedly. No one who's not a... member of the congregation... knows exactly where in Tir County it is." He frowns. "I'd be very careful who you ask about that place, and my advice is to find someplace else to visit," he says cautiously. Brightening, with a smile, he adds, "There's a few surviving Earth religions with temples, churches, that kind of thing--one in Bliss, another near Borealis. Omni-Tek territory won't really have much in the way of that."
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	oAnd if you know anywhere to learn how to fight like 'em, like a temple or something anywhere nearby, could you point it our way? "Nearby? Hmm... scanning local IFFs! Running grid search... Filtering results to within 20 miles..." "I'm sorry, ma'am. I don't have any information on nearby martial arts schools. However!" It steeples its metal fingers. "Like I told your friend with the spear, Rubi-ka does have several temples elsewhere. Most recently, Master Huzzum, a claw mutant, started his own monastery in Athen Shire. It's relatively new, but his Iron Fist style draws humans and mutants alike. There are also many wandering masters who may teach you, but some are dangerous, unstable or otherwise political extremists--or in the case of Master Sai Feng, all three."
DIOMEDES	DIOMEDES is surprised by the service robot, but they don't seem to be upset or in pain, so he just waves. He's not human-type, so there's no mouth-like, but his eyegleam is friendly enough. "I see. Martial arts is quite interesting, as is Martial Arts, apparently." Hibiki gets her question asked, and DIOMEDES sends an encryptede radio comm. <"This Sai Feng may be an ally, depending on their brand of political extremism. Or an enemy."> And then...DIOMEDES places his name, heads over to the Reclaim terminal, and enters the promocode. He's absolutely gonna just go brawl and see who he meets in the process.
Hibiki Tachibana	"No hard information, huh..." Hibiki says quietly while scratching at her cheek with a finger, then adds on in a more normal voice. "But that's real informative. I didn't know that Rubi-ka held them in such high standing. So you even have crazy techniques like that..." She pays close attention to total tree destruction via palm strike, with her eyes going just a little too wide between that and that totally absurd kick before she clears her throat and gets back to the subject. Given it sounds like gerard hasn't been in touch with his grandson for a while, she's not sure if this Iron Fist school is what they're looking for, but she'll keep it in mind. "Thanks. We'll have to look into 'em when we have the chance. For now..." She tilts her head, and radios back appropriately. "< Anyone who's a political extremist /here/ could go either way, I guess. >" She follows after DIOMEDES, with the intention of following suit. Time to tag up, it looks like. "...If we're just gonna run into any wandering master martial artists or someone who knows what we're looking for, might as well try here." Fistpunch into palm. She may or may not be just a little fired up after watching those clips.
Karlan Nobles	A voice! It's one they don't recognize, naturally. As they turn to face Atticus, both of the siblings smile in return. Pramanix's is far less formal as she tips her hat back, and SilverAsh's is even followed up with a slight bow at the waist. Pramanix: "Greetings, friend. Pramanix, Saint of Karlan." SilverAsh: "SilverAsh, president of the Karlan Trade Company. A pleasure to meet you." Atticus speaks of several temples, and they listen closely. The mention of the nearest one visibly draws their attention, and Pramanix raises an eyebrow at the hairless man's suggestion while trying not to let on that that's her primary target thanks to it being the one right in this city (probably). "Really? Ah, but that makes the first one so much more intriguing. I'll have to visit the ones in Bliss and Borealis, of course, but..." "The forbidden fruit is always more delectable when you're told it's forbidden." SilverAsh adds with his usual dramatic flourish in his voice, drawing a momentary groan from Pramanix. "But there is nothing to worry about, Sir Morgan. We will heed your advice, although just in case... Are there any particular locations we should avoid in order to minimize the risk of encountering this Temple even by accident?"
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	TIR ARENA - DOUBLES MATCH Signing up puts the two of them into a virtual waiting room. Helpful and easily dismissed AR displays pop up in their fields of vision, showing there are currently three members: DIOMEDES Hibiki Tachibana 'Flux' And then... there's a ding. Someone else has joined. Target Info Name:Rosa 'Stitches' Marquez Profession:Doctor Breed:Homo Sapiens Nanomage Faction:Clan Organization:Vanguard "Arena's popping today," says a woman who must be Stitches. She is a short, stout woman so pale that in places, veins are visible where they otherwise wouldn't be, on most humans. Her eyes are hidden behind two glowing blue lenses that appear to bore into her skull. She carries no weapon. Her hands are scarred, and her hair is thin and jet black. Flux arrives a few minutes after. Both Hibiki and DIOMEDES are strangers to him--but he seems a friendly sort. Unlike Stitches, he's a Solitus--the closest to 'OG Human' there is on Rubi-ka, and identical to the average human on the surface. He's dressed like the intersection of 'working class' and 'the Fifth Element,' and his dreads are well cared for. The lobby describes him as a Meta-Physicist. "Flux." "Sup, Stitches." They exchange a professional elbow-bump. "Don't look good for us," notes Flux. "These guys look like the up close and personal kind." "Just get your meatballs out quick and let me worry about that. You two ready?" Once everyone is, the fight begins. Despite the profession of 'doctor,' Stitches is immediately in the middle of Hibiki's shit. She isn't the artist that Hibiki is with her fists--but she is competent enough. What she lacks in artful mastery or brute strength, she makes up for with irritating tricks--for one, healing herself (though nowhere near as rapidly as Bercilak), and for two, the use of debilitating nano-assisted contagions to tire Hibiki out. Flux, meanwhile, attempts to handle DIOMEDES. "Fuck a meatball," spits the meta-physicist, ducking behind one of the pillars. "This motherfucker'll chew 'em up." "Well, you better get something out, because she's got my number!" A golden flash of light bathes the pillar, and there's a bottomless feeling in the gut--yes, even DIOMEDES. A monster comes bounding out, carried forth by long arms with deadly claws and powerful hind legs. Its sickly green hide oozes ichor when stuck by the spear, but the beast is as stubborn as it is strong.
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	oThe forbidden fruit is always more delectable when you're told it's forbidden. Atticus sighs. "Yeah, don't I know it." He stuffs his hands into the pockets of his slacks, then seems to remember he's speaking to two strangers. There's a nervous cough, and the two discover that nanomage blushing is equal parts unsettling and endearing--the veins in his cheeks become more prominent and there's a bluish tint there. "I mean--ugh." He runs a pale hand over his head. "You're... certain, then. Okay... C'mon, we'd better talk about this in my office. It's just a block away, and it's less... open." It's not far. His office is a space he's renting in the city apartments. Most of it is indeed an office, but there is a tiny bedroom and a tinier kitchen. Atticus takes a seat behind a far-future take on a rococo desk. "Look, there are people in the county who listen for questions like the ones you two are asking," he says. "The Sentinels have a hard time keeping them out--and what's worse, people like you tend to go missing. I can count on one hand the number of people who have made it out of that place--and there's only one I know of that's..." He taps his temple. ".../with it/ enough to even talk about it. Assuming she would ever want to. As I understand it, she doesn't." "First it's the dreams. Then it's the visit. And then you just feel a calling to go there. They practice martial arts there, sure. But whatever it's for, it's not for love of the art. I..." He frowns, his brow creasing as he cradles his head. "I don't know how else I can convey that this is not a place you want to be. Do you... know someone they got? Is that it?"
Karlan Nobles	Success! The pair have enough sense not to press the matter on the way to Atticus' office, although that strange blush has Pramanix stifling a giggle despite SilverAsh's attempts to calm her with light elbow nudges. Once they're inside, SilverAsh takes the suit off while Pramanix removes the hat, letting them breathe a little better inside that room. SilverAsh: "Going missing, hm? I wish I could say that wasn't something we've both had extensive experience with." Pramanix: "It'd be easier to say it if someone didn't... Eh." The two remain awkwardly silent as they instead opt to keep listening to Atticus, the talk of missing people and one potential escapee that could make for a useful information source down the line. SilverAsh even raises an eyebrow slightly when Atticus mentions that possibility, but Pramanix gets the jump on that by looking straight at him and shaking her head. "Dreams.. Does this place get into people's heads before they ever even go?" Pramanix asks while fanning herself briefly with her hat. "And what's this about a visit?" "A friend of a friend is looking for someone that may be there. The grandson is a martial artist named..." SilverAsh pauses, then taps a finger to his chin while his expression remains as stock still and indifferent as ever. "... We never got his name, did we?" Pramanix's expression, meanwhile, has that distinct look of 'oh shit did we really not think about that this whole time'. "But we are looking for a him, we know that much. Does this temple often bring in new... 'recruits'?"
DIOMEDES	As the two opponents show up, DIOMEDES turns to Hibiki. "Let's make this good. We'll get reputation, likely." And then, the fight's off. A giant monster comes out, and DIOMEDES feels something - fear? unease? Either way, it's odd, and as the monster comes and smashes him backwards even when stabbed, DIOMEDES looks to see if there's a crowd. He can test something out with his spear. This isn't a real Deathmatch, based on what he read at the Reclaim, so... GODSLAYER PROTOCOL - ACTIVE Suddenly, a red lens flare pops across DIOMEDES' lens, as he boosts forward at max-speed. He's moving Extraordinarily Fast, faster than a fighter jet but on land, as he shouts out. "SORRY, BUT I NEED TO SEE HOW THIS FEELS NOW THAT I'M ALIVE!" The spear glows, and moves to pierce through the meatball. It will not be stopped, and will impale a hole straight through it, unless the monster has Special Anti-Piercing Defenses or something. And then he'll keep going, pushing it to the pillar... And pierce through the pillar too, to try and see if there's anything behind it to stab.
Hibiki Tachibana	After surfing the Grid back during the BIOMARE business, a virtual waiting room isn't so weird at all. Kind of funny when she thinks about it, how used she's getting to this. But she'll put that aside in favor of prepping properly for the upcoming battle--huh, 'Flux'...? "Don't sell yourselves too short," she says while putting that aside for now to roll her shoulders, answering the 'ready' with the way she shifts her footing and brings her fists up. Transformed, because she's sure going to need it to throw down with the kind of combatants who'd go out of their way to visit an arena, and prepped--and then, after a nod towards DIOMEDES, it's go time. "Don't have to tell me twice." She shifts to move forward...before Stitches gets the jump on her first. 'Competent enough' is plenty to make her work when it comes to pushing back, doubly so when it comes to the kind of gimmicks she should've expected from a doctor. Her efforts at curbing the regeneration by simply hitting even harder are slowed by the attack on her body, something she can't easily fight back against, but the longer things drag on the scarier she gets when it comes to outright powering through adversity to keep going for earth-shattering strikes. "I've got more than just your--...!" She's cut off by the sinking sensation and the sudden appearance of the beast, and Hibiki immediately is forced to switch over into engaging it when it closes in. It claws her, she unleashes a combo attack into its body back. It tries to smash her, she hastily stops its limbs in its tracks with a grunt of effort. And then she catches on to what DIOMEDES is doing. "Then let's see what that spear of yours can DO!" A punch with force like a pilebunker--and what might as well be an actual pilebunker behind it--comes up into the monster's center of mass from below, to blow it off the ground and up into the air to set up for the high-speed piercing.
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	oDoes this place get into people's heads before they ever even go? "Yes. It might even get into -yours- now that you've asked. Especially if you're psychically inclined. Solitus and Nanomages in particular--we tend to have brighter psychic presences than Atrox or Opifex. Professions like Metaphysicists, Nano-Technicians, Martial Artists or..." He blanches. "Bureaucrats." So that's why he's so cagey about it. But he lifts both hands, palms out. "I've never had one, thank God. But..." Atticus cups his palm over his visor, the other hand drumming on his desk. "I'm told they're graphic. Disturbing. But there's this... sick sense of peace, mingled in with it." oDoes this temple often bring in new... 'recruits'? Atticus nods. "Often enough." He presses a button on his desk. "Here. Let me get an assistant in from the home office..." The nanomage straightens his tie and stands up. A hard light keyboard like Phreak's appears before him, and with a few taps, his nanites begin to construct a compact container, evidently working from a schematic he's pulled up from the aforementioned 'home office.' Atticus opens it up, and out unfolds a sleek black robot--it looks like the more personable, happy younger brother of that intimidating assassin droid the Director had. "Hello!" "Hi," says Atticus with a slight smile. "My friends here need a transcript of the Council meeting from last month's session. Could you call ahead, have them prepare it as a data disc?" "Sure! Anything else?" "One other thing. While you're out, if you could also get a list of missing persons from Sentinels HQ?" "Date range?" "Mmm... three months ought to do it." When the assistant-bot leaves, Atticus falls into his chair with a huff. "Ah... he'll have that for you before the hour's up, I'm sure. Your 'friend of a friend...' If he's still there, if you can even find the temple... I hope you know what you're getting into." He shakes his head, and even with the visor in place of his eyes, his expression conveys pure dread. "It would take -serious- deprogramming to have him back to normal. I'm talking--" He stops himself, lowering his voice to a whisper. "I'm talking like Omni-Intern Ops level shit. Okay? It's--you'd better hope you find that place before they find you."
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	@emit That monster is tough--it's no wonder that Flux decided to go with it instead of 'the meatballs.' Even speared by DIOMEDES and battered by Hibiki, it takes a while to get the picture of 'die.' At the very least, Hibiki's blows are enough to throw the hulking thing off balance, its wild black mane fluttering as its claws attempt to rake her and DIOMEDES both. Eventually... DIOMEDES killed the Rihwen. Flux begins casting nanoprogram One Mind, One Purpose... ...DIOMEDES' spear pierces through the pillar. And, judging by the cry of pain, through Flux, as well. "Need a heal!" "Don't you guys have those?" Flux jukes out from behind the pillar with a staff that... well, the blue and black mottled sheen of it says one thing. But it also radiates a certain emotion--determination. As if it were conjured from that emotion. "Like it's that easy," he grumbles--largely to DIOMEDES--as he makes a valiant, but vain attempt to ward the robot off and conjure another beast. Though he has incredible determination to see the nanoprogram through, DIOMEDES is much better in close quarters--and Flux 'dies' before he can finish casting. Flux has been defeated by DIOMEDES! "Should have done the meatballs." "Yeah, what the fuck ever, Doctor Hands." calls the respawned Flux from the Reclaim terminals. 'Doctor Hands' is then forced to fight two on one. Be that as it may--and as Hibiki already knows--it is still a very annoying fight. Hers is a soft style focused on deflection, and while she takes her fair share of wallopings from Hibiki's hands, elbows and feet, and nicks from DIOMEDES' spear, she is annoyingly good both at healing and at nickel-and-diming. It isn't until the two both strike at once that she is finally 'killed,' respawning outside of the arena. Stitches has been killed by Hibiki! VICTORY - Hibiki and DIOMEDES Outside the respawn terminal, there's no hard feelings. Flux seems happy to have gotten the chance to blow off some steam--Stitches, even more so. "Thank you," she says, approaching DIOMEDES and Hibiki with a smile. "Any time I can fight because I want to... it's nice." She frowns. "I know why you came here, though... I had a friend set up a bot." She glances towards DIOMEDES, then the Arenabot. "I mean--a grid bot. Not... a physical... nevermind. Anyway, I know the place you're looking for. I... used to be part of it. I can tell you where it is--you're clearly good at protecting yourselves. I won't go there. But him..." She glances towards Flux. "He might. And I'd suggest you take him with you. Strange things happen in that place. The kind of things that people like him spend their lives studying."
Karlan Nobles	Solitus, Nanomages, Atrox, Opifex, Metaphysicists, Nano-technicians, Martial-actually, that and Bureaucrats sound relatively normal to the two. Atticus' visible discomfort at the latter is mirrored by them, at least, so he does have some kindred spirits here even if they clearly don't understand the rest of those titles. That, or they're just reading into his expression the wrong way. Considering his Profession, it's definitely that. When he relays what he's heard of the dreams, however, Pramanix looks more troubled than SilverAsh. Pramanix: "How can a sense of peace be sick?" SilverAsh: "Perhaps it isn't a feeling born of things being good, but if things being hopelessly terrible. As though one lost their sense of hope and had it replaced with utter despair..." Pramanix: "... You'd better not be having one of those dreams right now." While SilverAsh looks confused by what Pramanix just said, Pramanix looks over as the robot arrives and is given its instructions. "Hello there~ Oh, that'd be lovely." She greets the robot with a gentle chuckle, then turns back to Atticus while clapping her hands together. "Thank you so much. We'll be sure to look into this thoroughly. With any luck..." She settles back into her seat with a light sigh. "We'll be able to stop more of these cases from happening." She rests her hand on the bell at her hip, gripping it briefly to calm herself. "And if they come to us to first, we'll be ready. It'll save us the hassle of tracking them down, anyway."
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	oWe'll be able to stop more of these cases from happening. Atticus pushes a breath between pursed lips. "I hope you're right." There's a buzz. Someone's at the door. "Oh, that'll be the assistant." Another button at his desk is pressed. True to form, in comes the assistant-bot. Two palm-sized discs in special cases. The recess within each case contains a bed of gel. "I took the liberty of requesting CompatiGel." "Sure," says Atticus with a nod. "Good call." His visor hums slightly as he turns to face SilverAsh and Pramanix. "Don't open those until you're ready to look at the files--the gel there will dry out, otherwise, and then you'd have no choice but to look at them on-world. Now--" Atticus rises from his chair and steps around the desk to offer both siblings a handshake. "I've got a three-o-clock today, and I need to pick up a coffee tablet and some nanostims before then. Here's my card--give me a call if you need an in with Terra Nova or an appointment with the Council."