New Year, New Trials

[auspex_caelo]

Stratos hasn’t been in the Nexus since Halloween, but today the Imperial tribune is standing in the middle of the plaza rather than at his people’s desk. Both his steel-plated boots and the red cloak draped from his shoulders are spattered with mud. He cradles his crested helmet under one arm, running a hand through his untidy hair.

It’s been a rough few months for him, but he’s refusing to show it. Especially since the first days of the new year have brought yet another emergency for him. Another very personal emergency.

“Good day. Does anyone here have information on the whereabouts of Captain James T. Kirk? Alternatively, a method to contact him aside from use of a PINpoint?” He glances down at his pocket, urgency creeping into his voice despite himself. “Preferably before anyone does something… reckless in pursuit of him.”

Comments

[mudblood_andproud]

"Which one are you looking for?" The question comes from a young woman, nearby. Hermione had been on her way to the Grand Library when the question had made her pause.

"I have met three."

"And know two of them well enough, to contact them by magic."

[auspex_caelo]

Which one? That raises an unexpected complication. Stratos lifts his eyebrows at the young lady. "I only know of one man by that name. He's about ten years younger than I, perhaps a little shorter. Fair-haired, blue-eyed, clean-shaven, typically in a Starfleet uniform. My brother Felix is rather attached to him."

In his defense he really has no idea what the other Jim Kirks might be like or what features distinguish them.

"What sort of magical communication are you suggesting?"

[mudblood_andproud]

Hermione studies Stratos carefully as he speaks. The uniform he is wearing is familiar. And when he mentions Felix, that confirms things for Hermione.

"A Patronus." Hermione explains. She pulls out her wand, and casting the spell, the otter spirit appears before her.

"I can send any message you might like. What do you want to say?"

[auspex_caelo]

His eyes narrow slightly at the summoning, but he nods. It's worth a try, although he doesn't know this woman's magic, and he feels he should warn her...

"His realm is quite nonconducive to magic. This may not work. However, if it does, I need to know if he's well, if he's safe, and I want to know how to reach him."

[mudblood_andproud]

Hermione nods to his recommendations. She holds out her hand to the otter, and speaks to it softly. "Jim. It's Hermione. I am here in the Nexus, with Felix's brother who is quite worried about your welfare. Can you assure us that you are safe?"

She then concentrates all her happy feelings and thoughts, to send the Patronus into the Nexus. It swims away from her, until it is out of sight.

The witch keeps her focus on her spell, watching her wand with all her energy. After a moment, she speaks, "You are quite correct about his realm. I sense litte innate energy for my spell to draw upon for further strength."

Hermione continues to concentrate. It is becoming harder and harder for her to focus on her spell, because of the challenges facing her. But Hermione takes a deep breath and focuses more of her magical energy. If Stratos can sense magical energy, he would sense a powerful energy around the wtich right now.

"It sees him..." She gasps. And then before the otter can deliver its message, or receive one back, the spell breaks. And Hermione curses. "Merlin's Beard!"

"He is alive. And very calm right now. My Patronus did not sense any danger around him."

[plagueofdeception]

After getting into an argument with the librarian after she mistook him for a mad scientist, Dr. White was just leaving the grand library with a book on anatomy under one arm, ready to drown his fustrations in coffee. Yes, he might have been seen around Halloween, but he's not wearing the plague doctor costume at the moment so he might not be recognizable at first.

He made it to the coffee machine when the man who was covered in mud spoke up and got his attention.

"... I have no idea," the doctor admits. He has met two Jim Kirks, but never bothered to get their names. "But here's a better question for you: where have you been? You look like you got a bucket of mud dumped all over you." Gross.

[auspex_caelo]

"Not precisely." Stratos doesn't bother to look down - he knows the state his armor is in. Some of the mud splashed up to where his legs are bare between his boots and armored skirt. "I was leading a mission in my own realm before I was called here. Unfortunately the back roads of the province where I'm stationed tend to lack paving. Along with most other virtues."

It could have been worse. At least he rode most of the way instead of slogging along on foot like a common auxiliary, with the result that most of the mud is confined to his lower half. It's still going to mean a good couple hours of cleaning for someone later.

[plagueofdeception]

"Uh huh..." It's still a mess, sort of. Still looks like that guy was running through the mud to the doctor.

"Well, welcome back. You are free to clean yourself off somewhere. Anytime would be nice." And he really hopes you do it sooner than later because you're probably tracking filth all over the plaza.

[auspex_caelo]

Don't worry, doctor, it's already been tracked over half the Nexus. There isn't much left on the soles of his boots by now. So that's better, isn't it? Stratos clearly doesn't care either way, since he's giving the man a stern look in spite of the patient tone he adopts.

"Thank you. I'll certainly enjoy having the chance to do so after I've found the man I'm looking for." He's just gonna keep mucking up your vicinity until that happens, yep. Or he finds a reason to take his search elsewhere.

[plagueofdeception]

He rolls his eyes. Geez, you can take baths at any time...

"Alright, then. You do you." As far away from him as humanly possible. "Just wondering, though. Why do you need to find this... James Kirk bloke? He owe you something?"

[chiron_survivor]

"Hi, Stratos." Adia is looking as well as she did at the Halloween party, although the warm glow of her complexion is marred by a worried frown -- first for the Imperial's question, and second for the Imperial himself. She's noticed his absence in the Nexus, and has a good idea why he's kept a low profile.

She pulls out her PINpoint, double-checking something on the screen. "I wish I did, I'm sorry. I tried texting him earlier and got an error message.. I think something might have happened to his ship." And who might he be referring to when mentioning reckless pursuit? She has a good idea about that, too. "Felix doesn't have another way to get in touch with him?"

[auspex_caelo]

"Adia." However worried he may be (and after all, Jim is important to the elder Caelus too), Stratos inclines his head to her courteously.

"We received the same message." Which just confirms that Felix is in on the situation and Adia can imagine how well he's taking it. "I have a similar suspicion, since PINpointing to the ship is blocked. Felix has co-ordinates for a location on his Earth, but of course Jim isn't there. He says he's trying some other methods."

That's... what worries him. Besides the possibility that Jim is already hurt.

[chiron_survivor]

"Wait, he's on Earth right now? Has he tried contacting Starfleet? If something happened to the Enterprise, they'd be able to put him in touch with wherever Jim is now, or at least send a message."

Please don't tell her that Felix is trying some crazy dangerous magic instead. Figures that now he would rush in recklessly, instead of talking to Jim all those months ago at the Halloween party. She won't even entertain the idea of Jim being hurt. Ships get damaged, but people get rescued from them. They don't fall out of contact because they're stranded in a signal-blocking nebula, or falling into the event horizon of a --

She swallows, hard, and tries to push the worst case scenarios from her mind. "Is there something I can do to help?" she asks, nearly pleads. Anything to keep herself from falling back into useless worry.

[auspex_caelo]

"He is - I believe his co-ordinates lead to Jim's house there. I have to assume that's where he is. The captain has always been adamant that Starfleet cannot be informed about the Nexus. I warned Felix to respect that, but if Jim can't be found..."

He doesn't put it past his brother to storm into Starfleet headquarters and demand they hand the captain over. Stratos knows the feeling, but he also doesn't see that ending well.

He understands how Adia feels, too. He gives her a sympathetic look. "Do you know Jim's other friends here? Perhaps you can reassure them about the situation and inform me if they've heard anything."

[chiron_survivor]

"Is there a television there? Can he at least check the news first?" Do they even have televisions in the 23rd century? She sighs and drags a hand through her hair. On a visceral level, it makes sense for Felix to search for Jim personally, but on a logistical level he's likely ill-prepared. "Maybe Jim will send a message to his house..."

She frowns a bit at the seemingly pointless request. How, exactly, is she supposed to reassure Jim's friends when she's the opposite of reassured herself? Oh, don't worry, Felix has coordinates to Jim's Earth. Yep, the same Felix who once turned to necromancy and had to be rescued himself...

No, that's not fair. Not to Felix, and especially not to Stratos. The poor man has been through so much these last few months, dealing with crisis after crisis. The least she can do is help in the way that he sees fit. "Sure," she says quietly. "I can do that." She takes in his muddy uniform and disheveled hair. "I'm sorry you have to deal with this on top of everything else. I was hoping that the new year would be peaceful for you." As much as it can be for someone in the middle of a war.

[boldygoing]

Jim Kirk - the other one - has likewise been somewhat scarce in these parts since that fateful night. A short visit here, a watchful eye kept on that winter solstice party thing, but no questions. No answers to give, either. No reason to come back to this place, not when he still sees the Nightmare every night in his dreams, time slowly softening the sharper edges.

Today is different.

Jim has spent the last five hours systematically searching the Nexus for any sign of the other captain's door, well aware that in an infinite place like this, odds are low that he will ever find it, if it's even still there to find. But giving up is not in Jim Kirk's vocabulary, and perhaps it's high time he was finally reminded of that, his shoulders set with determination, concern written across his brow, burying the dread in the pit of his stomach.

The sound of a familiar name - his name - gets his attention as he passes through the Plaza on his way to the next part of his hastily-created search grid, and it's not a difficult leap of logic to assume that it's not actually him this guy is looking for.

But shit, if he's got any better ideas, or even wants to join the search, Jim will grasp at the opportunity like his life depends on it. The other captain's might.

"There's a door somewhere in the Nexus that leads to the Enterprise," he says, approaching the tribune, ready to share everything he knows if it means finding out what the hell happened.

[auspex_caelo]

At that voice Stratos's head turns so fast the air nearly whistles past. But the hopeful leap of his heart is quelled by the lack of recognition in this man's face. Aside from the beard (and the unfamiliarity of that really is jarring) this man looks, sounds, moves like he could be Jim's twin.

He finds himself staring, eyebrows slowly rising upward. His mouth stays half-open, words of exasperated relief dead on his tongue. What in the name of Julianos...?

"And just who would you be?" he asks finally, regaining his frown and with it a degree of poise.

[boldygoing]

Maybe later, Jim will feel bad about putting that look of utter bewilderment on this guy's face, confronted with a stranger with a familiar face. Growing the beard was probably the smartest thing he's done in that regard to make it immediately obvious that they're not the same person.

"James T. Kirk, just not the one you're looking for," he answers, cutting right to the heart of the matter, trying not to be too impatient. It was a surprise the first time he'd seen the other captain, too, even though he'd been warned about it. It's pretty much expected that he's gonna get the occasional doubletake.

"I haven't seen him in over a month, and all my messages to his PINpoint are getting bounced back." He can only assume that this man must be having the same problem - despite the level of technology suggested by his armor, and from what Jim's heard of Tamriel, the tribune did mention PINpoints by name, so he has to be at least somewhat familiar with the tech. Jim crosses his arms over his chest, all business, all captain, slipping back into the role like a second skin. He has a job to do, and whether or not be can do it, he's sure as hell going to try. "I've been searching for the door since yesterday."

[auspex_caelo]

As far as Stratos is concerned that explains nothing at all, but he sets his mouth and nods shortly. This is the Nexus, and he is a mage. Sometimes you just have to be ready to accept the bizarre, if not have fun interrogating it and writing up a pile of semi-comprehensible notes about it.

"There'll be time for explanations later. According to the last message I received he was... well enough last week." He doesn't know what this time of year means to Jim, nothing like the way Felix does. But he's garnered hints that going quiet is not the unusual part.

"This is the first I've heard of another door, but if it still exists I should be able to locate it." It's a possibility he can work with, and that's enough for the tribune. "I have seen the ship before, at least. What do you know about the door? The better you can describe it, the faster I can find it."

[boldygoing]

Jim just nods, mentally filing that information away. It may be only a small comfort to know that this isn't something that's been ongoing for a long time with no one noticing, but it could be vital intel, something to help them fit together the clues. And hopefully find a solution that doesn't mean what he dreads it does.

It's slightly more of a surprise that this man would be familiar with the ship. He's way calmer than Jim would assume that Felix would be, so this can't be him. But he supposes the other captain would know more than one Tamrielic citizen, and it's not that weird that he'd make friends.

He's not sure how much detail he needs to give, how familiar this man is with the inner workings of the ship. Normally he'd rather do damn near anything else than look for the door to the warp core. His self-administered exposure therapy hasn't gotten quite that far yet. But just like last time, knowing the danger and what fate awaited him, he can't let that fear hold him back. Not when there may be lives in the balance. "It's a glass door, about an inch thick. Slides open sideways. Has the Federation symbol for radiation warning on it. Do you need me to draw it?" He can't assume that Tamriel even has a concept of radiation, never mind recognize the warning signs. If this guy knows what the hell he's talking about, so much the better, but Jim knows better than to automatically assume.

[ixis]

"You Overlanders. Always misplacing one another so easily. Or maybe too concerned with where the other is at all times. Maybe even a lethal combination of the two? Egads."

Ixis Naugus is lounging on a nearby sofa, boots up on a coffee table, the tip of his tail lazily going one way and then the other as he skims a magazine. Turning the pages with his claw while his hand holds it up. It looks to be a gossip publication? All kinds of lurid promises of scandal regarding some far off world where, going on the candid photos on the cover, is populated by lizard-like beings.

"I feel like it was just yesterday Jim was in here asking after your brother, in fact. Shouldn't you look into tracking spells by now? Anyone to do with that boy scatter like dust in the wind the second you take your eyes away."

[auspex_caelo]

Ixis Naugus. A man Stratos has heard much of and never spoken to. He keeps his tone civil for now, but he remembers what Jim relayed about Naugus scheming with Felix months ago. Plans which must have played a part in urging Felix to take up the runeblades. Stratos still has difficulty getting his brother to spill the beans on what happened inside his head, but he's capable of forming his own theories. Theories which generally look down on mortals trying to gallivant through the Oblivion planes.

"A hazard of dealing with those who live dangerous lives, I suppose. Ordinarily I would scry for a missing person, but magic takes poorly to the captain's plane. I suspect Felix is there making his own attempt as we speak." He's not sure which of them Naugus is pegging as 'that boy', but does it matter? "Under the circumstances, I can't blame him for his fears."

Not that he thinks Naugus will be grieved to think some terrible fate could have befallen Jim. Obviously.

[ixis]

Naugus probably doesn't look all that impressive or formidable when he's lazily flopped upon furniture and reading gossip rags. But then again, underestimating things isn't always the best course of action in matters regarding the Nexus OR Oblivion, for that matter.

"Jim takes poorly to living quietly and keeping a respectful tongue, two major factors that could have him be just about ANYWHERE. Are you only tracking him down for your brother's sake? Maybe this is the time to pull him aside and tell him this is an opportunity to examine other romantic prospects."

[auspex_caelo]

Give Naugus his due, Stratos does look inclined to agree with his first sentence there. But his nod of admission is followed immediately by his eyebrows drawing into a deep frown. Look at the way his mouth is twitching. Is that anger? shock? Exasperated amusement?

"You seem to be mistaken about the way he takes my advice." Sure, Felix is forever complaining about how Stratos made him go on watch or scrub things out or do his ward drills instead of running off to do the fun magic. But Stratos also forbade the daedra-summoning at first and look how that turned out. And then there's his uncomfortable awareness of Felix's most recent attempt to help the Imperial cause... Stratos clears his throat and dismisses the thought. Act casual and disapprove of Felix, that's the ticket.

"In any case, he has never been less inclined to abandon Jim, and for my part... the captain has proven himself an invaluable friend." Who the tribune is deeply worried about. "Though I'm well aware that your opinion of him is far different."

[ixis]

"Mistaken it, have I? I make no apologies, I wouldn't know how siblings go about matters. Only example I have is the ongoing buffoonery of Harrowheart and the one with the glasses." Naugus, it's been THIS LONG and you still haven't learned his family's names? Then again, he HAS been shut up an exceptionally long while.

"But fine, fine, Jim DOES have his uses. I'll cede to that. I heard there was a great ruckus over the last Halloween festival; does THAT have anything to do with his untimely disappearance?"