vii. voice

[firstroar]

–omeone...

[a beat, a breath heavily drawn and shakily exhaled. sentences are punctuated with overlong breaks.]

Help me understand. Not one person I have spoken to recalls this mission...But she is still gone. [breath.] Physis is. Others, perhaps? I don't know. No one has any recollection...

Comments

[maddeninghatter]

Self-recrimination doesn't do anybody any good. You don't know where she is. You haven't any clues where to begin searching. You're unwell. Going off half-cocked looking for her, and dragging along any other well-meaning, sympathetic souls is, more than likely, going to get all of you injured, captured, or killed.

[ He's aware that he is probably saying too much, particularly if this fellow is involved somehow; but he is too angry. ]

That might make you feel better about yourself, but it won't help her in the least!

[firstroar]

[a stifled sound, and quiet.

a beat.]

Y...you're right. [dammit.]

[maddeninghatter]

[ His tone softens a little. ]

The more I hear, the more I'm convinced this has all been carefully planned out in advance. A coordinated, intelligent response is what's needed.

I suggest you go to the Initiative and report this immediately, if you haven't already. And then--

[ A short, sharp sigh: ]

Get yourself some medical attention, you sound ghastly.

[firstroar]

[coordinate, then, he wants to say. instead, murmured:] Soon.

[maddeninghatter]

Good. Get some...

[ He was going to say, "Get some rest." But he knows you won't, poor man. ]

Er. Good-bye, then.

[ END TRANSMISSION ]