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

[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?"

[auspex_caelo]

"Quite." Stratos isn't used to being the one looked down on as an unwashed plebian, but he is pretty good at being politely stubborn. Besides, there's a more important topic at hand.

"The captain is missing, out of contact, and I have reason to believe he may be in serious danger. He and my brother are currently involved, so my concern is also personal." He won't rest until he's at least established where Jim is. Bath time is right out. "I take it you're unfamiliar with him."

[plagueofdeception]

"A captian, eh?" He raises an eyebrow as he taps his finger to his chin.

"... Never heard of him. And you can't get a message to his PINpoint, can you?"

[auspex_caelo]

"A space captain, yes. The device claims his ship is inaccessible, which concerns me even more." As a man whose reference point for ship travel is medieval seamanship, Stratos isn't terribly sanguine about the safety of such vessels. Even if it is a marvelously advanced ship for traveling the Void.

[plagueofdeception]

"Well, yeah! Of course you wouldn't be able to get to your ship when it's been launched into the cosmos!"

A sarcastic remark from someone who has zero idea what a space ship is.

"But seriously, what are you talking about?"

[auspex_caelo]

"Ah, no-" He bites back a sigh and musters his patience. There's always some temperamental citizen... "He is captain of a ship that travels between different planets. Travelling to and from the ship itself has never been a problem before - certainly using a PINpoint has always worked. But now the PINpoint says that travel there is impossible. Naturally I'm concerned."

On the bright side, it's nice to see someone else being flummoxed by advanced Earth technologies for a change.

[plagueofdeception]

Gee, thanks. It sure is nice to not know how future technology works. At least he's willing to listen to this explaination. More information to potentially use later if this Captian Jim is ever found.

"Aaaah, alright. So you're saying he's either on his ship or crashed it, and that PINpoint device can't get to it. I get why you're so worried now..."

He twiddles his fingers, frowning at his loss for words. He's a plague doctor, damnit, not an astro physicist or a mage. "I'd be happy to help you figure out what went wrong if I had a better understanding of that blasted thing... The PINpoint, that is."

[auspex_caelo]

That nets him a small smile, albeit a weary one. "Would that I knew more about it myself. The device seems a mystery to all who make use of one. It recognizes every place on every plane by a set of identifying numbers, and once it has those numbers it can transport the bearer to that place. Beyond that, there's little I can tell you. But I appreciate the thought, sir."