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Taro     Neo Arcadia has been plunged into darkness. Not into the darkness of night - if it were merely night, then if nothing else there would be stars or clouds in the sky above the city. This is a more profound darkness, caused by the sky -no longer being above them-.
    Though the city escaped whatever it is that caused the displacement relatively unscathed, some slabs of rock came crashing down from the after the forcefield dome collapsed. Also, it seems that every shelf was upended and contents strewn everywhere, as one would expect after a mild earthquake.
    The massive, intricately patterned blast doors of the Temple of SHODAN have been opened since the first hour of the crisis and are likely to remain so for some time to go. The main hall has shifted its purpose somewhat - it remains a gathering place, but as a crisis center than a place of worship. Though things are calmer now, many of the wall vidscreens are still displaying maps and communiques between the civilian, military, and religious divisions rather than images of the saints. A full overview map of the entire city is displayed across the floor, with various towers and streets marked where repairs are needed and aid is being distributed. A small knot of reploids is praying directly in front of the altar, seeking the guidance of the CyberGoddess, but otherwise everyone else is moving with a sense of purpose. Clergy and congregation alike scurry in and out with news and supplies.
    Taro is in the midst of it. Though his face does not show emotion well, the corners of his eyes are tight and his frown deeper than usual. His shoulders are slumped beneath his mantle, and he's all but leaning on his staff of office by the time he finishes dispatching the latest wave of volunteers to do something useful and constructive.
Kari Wolf     Pushed out by virtue of not needing more serious care, Zarenna and Kari have made their way home to Neo Arcadia after the collaspe of the Citadel. She's managed to get to the Temple of SHODAN as well, with a missing arm and Kari on her shoulder. She's quietly asking for directions to Taro, making her way through the madhouse the place has become.
    Harriet on the other hand, was home in Neo Arcadia when the shakeup happened and has been trying to help Taro keep things from getting worse. In little ways, like inspecting crawlways and conduits too small for normal reploids or humans to access. She hasn't seen Zarenna yet, though she helped Kari and Zarenna find Neo Arcadia after the big shakeup.
Taro     It's a mostly controlled madhouse in here, at least. Whatever religious fervor has come out of the event has (for now) been directed in mostly constructive directions - SHODAN has always been more about work and results than the average deity.
    Taro has been grateful for Harriet's help, and has told her as such when she's passed through between dispatches. She and any other shinki that have made their home in the city are definitely being kept busy, since the only other machines of their size are drones. He's spent nearly all of his time here, doing all he can to keep the city under control and its people calm, delegating people and resources to where he judges would do the most good. Which means he's had no chance to check on those he deems important for reasons that have nothing to do with administration.
    Mercifully, two of them have managed to find their way to him instead. He raises his head as yet more people pass through the open doorway, and then his eyes narrow as he thinks he hears familiar voices that would otherwise be out of place here. It's hard to say whether he sees them or they see him first, but his brows raise a moment when he finally does spot Zarenna and Kari...and then furrow when he sees the empty sleeve. "I leave this to you," he says to the priest on his left, then steps away to head towards the pair. "Thank the CyberGoddess."
Kari Wolf     Kari waves to Taro. "Hello Taro! Nice to see you again!"
    Zarenna looks tired compared to normal. "We wouldn't have found Neo Arcadia again without Harriet being here. Nice to know it's in one piece still." She glances back over her shoulder. "Though I guess you need new generators?"
Taro     Trust Kari to be cheerful even in these circumstances. As usual, Taro doesn't smile, but some of the tightness around his eyes slips away. "Hello, Kari. Zarenna." A deep nod. "It's good to see you both alive...if not exactly whole." His gaze focuses mostly on Zarenna. "Harriet is out with an assessment crew. I will have her return once she's finished."
    The android's shoulders slump again, the tension returning. "Everything outside the city walls, including the solar stations, is gone. Not that the collectors would do us any good now..."
Kari Wolf     Zarenna nods solemnly. "What about geothermal taps?"
    Kari has hopped off her Master's shoulder and is looking for coffee of some kind, or a food cart.
Taro     There are food parcels set up on a table to the side, along with bottled water and bottled coffee. No one is going to object to Kari taking some for her master.
    "Geothermal exploration is on the list," Taro answers, barely keeping a sigh out of his voice. "Along with many, many other things. Sub-Arcadia is still intact, and we are balantantly ignoring inspection protocols for its fusion reactors and allowing them to run so long as they remain stable." He gestures with a hand to indicate the outside. "The forcefield dome was disrupted, but since the initial tests show the local air and earth are relatively clean and uncontaminated, we've left the shield down. That has spared us energy to shunt to other sources." Without any pause, he continues, "Have you lost the entire arm, Zarenna?"
Kari Wolf     Zarenna ohs. "Most of it. Crushed under falling debris when the Citadel went. Why anyone decided making a structure out of arrogance and hate was a good idea I have no clue. No resources to just regrow it, I'm afraid." She moves aside for a group of folks heading out. "Probably time to replace it with a cybernetic one." She says, sounding resigned.
    Kari makes it back with one of those instant coffee packets, having pulled the heating tab thingy so it would be nice and hot for Zarenna. She manages to hop back up on her Master's shoulder and passes the bottle thing, twisting the cap so the human can drink it without having to use a non-existent hand.
Taro     "There had been several questionable decisions made by Confederate Command staff over the years," Taro says darkly. He leaves that thought lie, as this is not a proper time to detail the sins and errors of the faction's leadership. "I take it that this time all has completely fallen apart." It's not asked as a question so much as a statement seeking confirmation.
Kari Wolf     Kari answers. "Yep! It woke up and spewed hate!"
    Zarenna eehs. "More or less that." She takes a sip of the coffee. "Huh. I was expecting mud. Pleasant surprise."
Taro     Taro's expression sours at Kari's short explanation. "Lovely." Sarcasm. He's entitled to a bit of that.
    "Good food and drink bring comfort. We're doing what we can to provide that." Which Zarenna can translate to 'You're welcome'. "Harriet will have a better idea as to what your apartment looks like...You may have some cracked windows along with a mess on the floor, but otherwise it should be intact." His gaze then shifts back to the woman's empty sleeve. "I believe I made you an offer for when you were ready for cybernetic augmentation. The offer still stands. Though if you want an arm that's completely bespoke, I'm afraid you'll need to be patient for a few days until I am not being pulled in so many directions."
Kari Wolf     Zarenna huhs? "Aren't most cybernetics tailored to the person who needs them?"
    Kari ooohs. "You could have tools in your arm!" Zarenna shoots her shinki a look that implies she doesn't want Taro to get any ideas.
    "Just a replacement for the one I lost will do."
Taro     "I have an entire catalogue of cybernetics," Taro explains, "of varying styles and complexities, depending on the needs of the recipient. It's generally more efficient to make any necessary customizations to a standard model design when the needs are basic."
    He may already have ideas, but he wisely does not share them. Zarenna can blame Kari regardless.
    He gives a small nod. "All right. Then we will both meet at my lab once you've had the chance to rest, and decide on the best model for you. Did they graft any implants for you, or did they discharge you right after the wound healed?"
Kari Wolf     "They discharged me after it healed, since they had a lot of people to deal with still." Zarenna explains. "It should be removeable at least, since I'm sure some airports and starports will get upset at integrated cybernetics."
    Kari seems to be stuck on cool ideas. "It could be shiny chrome too! And shoot lasers! Pew pew!"
Taro     Taro does his model best to not let his amusement creep into his voice. "Normally for limb replacement, the interface port is the only direct graft. The limb iself connects through that. More efficient for repair and replacement in addition to compliance with questionable security restrictions."
Kari Wolf     Zarenna frowns a bit, wrinkling her nose. "Not using nerve pickups for the prosthetic?" She's worried about an interface port getting infected, clearly.
Taro     "Direct intigration between your natural nerves and the cybernetic implant offers the best reation time and feedback." Taro catches himself beginning to slouch, and forces himself to stand straight. He's probably - no, he's almost certainly pushing the edge of his charge cycle. "If you'd prefer a prosthetic arm instead of a full cybernetic one, I can do that, but I don't normally recommend it unless there's a medical or other reason."
    He almost says more, but he's interrupted by a cleric stationed at one of the vidscreens waving his arms furiously to get his attention. "Your Eminence...!"
    A weary grunt. "If you'll excuse me..." The words are barely spoken before he's already striding toward where he's needed next.