[ This time, he decides to text her like a normal person. Her question, however... he's not sure how much she needs to know about what they found at the summit, about the abandoned research facility and bloodstains all over the walls. ]
No, I spent time up in the mountains. It was breezy and the air was surprisingly normal. I had heard about the breathing difficulty in other places, however. I'm sorry.
Did you make contact with any of the natives? Seen what they looked like, even if they tried to stay out of your way?
Shinya [She's getting a little less formal? Kind of?] I'm sorry. I did not get to see any of the natives. They didn't come out, and anyone who entered their homes was warned away by Ardeo.
[The "being unable to breathe" part certainly didn't help her investigative prowess ... she had been torn between panicking at her own lack of oxygen, worrying about the people who were in the shrine with her, and being terrified that Hak was going to die somewhere far away.]
Could you tell me more about where you were? I haven't learned much from my guardian, Hak. He too was sent to the mountains. I'm worried that perhaps something terrible happened that he doesn't want to share. I would be grateful for anything you can tell me.
[ He may not always be forthcoming, but he's honest if asked something directly. ]
We were attacked by winged creatures on our way towards the top. They appeared to have some kind of man-made implants inside them, but the purpose isn't entirely clear. When we reached the summit, there was an old research facility in which I suspect the creatures were experimented on.
While the creatures themselves didn't prove much of a challenge, there were old bloodstains inside the abandoned room. Non-human by the looks of it. Was your guardian acting strange in any way? There had been reports of violence and aggression being evoked from coming in contact with the blood, but the effects were not long-term.
For what it's worth, Yona, I've found our group to be quite capable. I don't think you have much to worry about your guardian.
[It takes Yona awhile to respond to this message, for one very good reason: Hak has gone missing. She's torn the city apart looking for him, but there's no sign of him anywhere.
She'd been horrified when she first read his message — too horrified to know what to say — but now the words fill her with an even deeper chill. Could those bloodstains and that facility have something to do with Hak's disappearance?]
My guardian has gone missing. Has anyone else from your group disappeared?
[She's too desperate to couch it in any kind of politeness.]
Yona, listen to me carefully. I'm told that this isn't an uncommon occurrence and that people have a way of coming back after a while, too. However, it doesn't mean that the trail should be left untracked.
[ He certainly hasn't stopped investigating Tsunemori's disappearance. These two incidences could be related anyway. ]
Please remain calm and send me a photograph with a name. I need to be able to I.D. your guardian. [ Even if he just ends up finding a body... but that can't be said out loud, obviously. He really hopes this doesn't have a grim ending, but he's seen too many of these kinds of cases back in his world. ]
I'm sorry. [As calm as he sounds, she knows he must be upset about his partner disappearing. Losing the people you care about is the absolute most terrifying thing she could imagine.]
[A few minutes pass as she tries to remember how to send an image through the device — and then as she tries to find a picture of Hak, since she's not really a picture-taking person. Eventually she sends along this image with a message saying "This is Hak."]
text
Date: 2015-11-03 03:44 am (UTC)No, I spent time up in the mountains. It was breezy and the air was surprisingly normal. I had heard about the breathing difficulty in other places, however. I'm sorry.
Did you make contact with any of the natives? Seen what they looked like, even if they tried to stay out of your way?
text
Date: 2015-11-05 01:50 am (UTC)I'm sorry. I did not get to see any of the natives. They didn't come out, and anyone who entered their homes was warned away by Ardeo.
[The "being unable to breathe" part certainly didn't help her investigative prowess ... she had been torn between panicking at her own lack of oxygen, worrying about the people who were in the shrine with her, and being terrified that Hak was going to die somewhere far away.]
Could you tell me more about where you were? I haven't learned much from my guardian, Hak. He too was sent to the mountains. I'm worried that perhaps something terrible happened that he doesn't want to share. I would be grateful for anything you can tell me.
Best regards,
Yona
text
Date: 2015-11-05 01:11 pm (UTC)[ He may not always be forthcoming, but he's honest if asked something directly. ]
We were attacked by winged creatures on our way towards the top. They appeared to have some kind of man-made implants inside them, but the purpose isn't entirely clear. When we reached the summit, there was an old research facility in which I suspect the creatures were experimented on.
While the creatures themselves didn't prove much of a challenge, there were old bloodstains inside the abandoned room. Non-human by the looks of it. Was your guardian acting strange in any way? There had been reports of violence and aggression being evoked from coming in contact with the blood, but the effects were not long-term.
For what it's worth, Yona, I've found our group to be quite capable. I don't think you have much to worry about your guardian.
text
Date: 2015-11-09 02:42 am (UTC)She'd been horrified when she first read his message — too horrified to know what to say — but now the words fill her with an even deeper chill. Could those bloodstains and that facility have something to do with Hak's disappearance?]
My guardian has gone missing. Has anyone else from your group disappeared?
[She's too desperate to couch it in any kind of politeness.]
voice;
Date: 2015-11-09 01:32 pm (UTC)Yona, please explain to me calmly - are you saying he hasn't returned at all since we all woke up in the city? What happens if you try to message him?
[ Should Hak's code have disappeared, any messages should instantly bounce back with an error. Kogami knows this from experience. ]
voice;
Date: 2015-11-10 01:20 am (UTC)No, he came back. He was here, but now he's gone and none of my messages to him. Has anyone else gone missing?
voice;
Date: 2015-11-10 01:20 pm (UTC)It's my partner.
Yona, listen to me carefully. I'm told that this isn't an uncommon occurrence and that people have a way of coming back after a while, too. However, it doesn't mean that the trail should be left untracked.
[ He certainly hasn't stopped investigating Tsunemori's disappearance. These two incidences could be related anyway. ]
Please remain calm and send me a photograph with a name. I need to be able to I.D. your guardian. [ Even if he just ends up finding a body... but that can't be said out loud, obviously. He really hopes this doesn't have a grim ending, but he's seen too many of these kinds of cases back in his world. ]
voice;
Date: 2015-11-11 01:47 am (UTC)[A few minutes pass as she tries to remember how to send an image through the device — and then as she tries to find a picture of Hak, since she's not really a picture-taking person. Eventually she sends along this image with a message saying "This is Hak."]