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

Sorry Jim, Stratos got run over by the timey-wimey ball there

[auspex_caelo]

"One of the Nexus mages attempted to send him a message on my behalf." And if Stratos had any doubts about strange foreign magic, or if his faith in Jim's survival is less about evidence than refusing the alternative... he's not going to admit that. It's not a discussion either of them needs.

"She was certain of his condition, though as to where he could be found or how to reach him... one moment, excuse me." He's frowning deeply at the message waiting on his phone, fumbling a reply to Felix on the little keypad.

He doesn't have to wait on an answer himself: there's a little PINpoint flash as another man appears beside them. He's about ten years younger than the tribune, a bit shorter and lighter-built under his rumpled blue tunic and trousers. His hair is still odd - the black is growing in again, giving him dark uneven roots and small streaks in otherwise stark white hair.

There's enough similarity in their features to guess this is Stratos's brother, even before he turns right on the tribune and exclaims, "I got a message!"

Stratos glances apologetically at the captain. "Yes, I sent-"

"No, I mean Jim sent a message, Stratos. At least I think it was him. But all he sent was a string of-" The wild-eyed young mage takes note of the other Jim standing there at last, and his expression changes rapidly much as the elder Caelus's did earlier. A split second of stunned hope- and then his eyes narrow sharply. He sounds much calmer when he asks frostily, "Who is this?"

Gotta love wibbly-wobbly timelines

[boldygoing]

Nexus mages? Jim can think of several people who fit that description, although in a place like this, it's impossible to say if it's someone he knows. Still, he'll take it. Assuming that the other captain is alive until proven otherwise is far, far better than the alternative, for so many reasons.

He may have never met Felix before, but it's a damn good educated guess that that's who this is. A Tamriel native, familiar enough with his alternate to have access to the house, an almost desperate hope on his face - before he sees the bearded captain standing here, anyway.

By now, he's become somewhat used to the doubletakes, the occasional look of suspicion, but somehow it's a little different coming from this man. Jim has a pretty damn good idea how fucking weird it must be for the guy, suddenly meeting someone who looks almost exactly like his missing... fiancé? Boyfriend? Whatever. Jim has questions, but he can tell he's not getting anywhere until this gets straightened out. "I'm Jim Kirk, just from a different universe than your Jim. I'm a... friend of his." He's not sure that entirely describes the strangely familiar rapport the two captains have been developing, but there might not even be a word that does that. 'Friend' will have to do. "I've been trying to find out what happened to him since yesterday." If this really is Felix, like Jim assumes, he's pretty sure he won't have to explain why that date in particular.

[conjuredskies]

Felix's icy stare falters at last when he mentions the date. Yes, Felix understands. And the way this man casually sidestepped it is the most convincing evidence of his identity so far. Still he looks back at Stratos, the question written all over his face. You know illusions. Is he real? Only when his brother gives a tiny nod does he fold his arms, lifting his chin and giving the man a more neutral kind of scrutiny.

"Felix Caelus, conjurer and... apprentice battlemage in the Imperial Legion." Happy, Stratos? He gave his real rank and everything. He's being responsible.

"He sent a message to the house today," he goes on, brushing over the awkward meeting. He's not quite looking at the bearded Jim now, but however grudging he's accepting the man's existence. "He or someone acting under his name. But I don't understand what it means: it's just a long string of numbers. They make no sense as co-ordinates; I thought perhaps it was a code, but we never spoke about anything like that before." He sounds a little frustrated - finally a sign that the man's alive, and all he does is send a bunch of numbers.

[boldygoing]

So, this is Felix. Jim certainly doesn't plan to hold that frosty reception against him; after all, he's pretty wound up himself, trying to find out what the fuck happened to the other captain. Maybe it's a shame that they're meeting like this, but at the very least, their goal is the same.

To that end, he pays close attention to the mage as he speaks, trying to fit together the scattered clues he's gotten so far into a picture that makes sense. "Starfleet does have codes like that, but if you haven't talked about it before..." Jim frowns, rubbing at his beard as he thinks. There are a few possibilities, but to narrow it down... "What are the numbers? I might be able to recognize it. Or at least take a guess what he was thinking."

[conjuredskies]

Felix opens his mouth- then reaches for a satchel that's not slung over his shoulder, then fumbles in his pockets.

"Didn't you write it down?" Stratos asks, trying not to pressure his brother but frowning at this uncharacteristic neglect. They are mages, after all - who finds a mysterious message and leaves without a copy of it?

"I didn't have paper to hand..." Ah, phone. Did he...? His expression creases in frustration as he scrolls through photographs, double-checking... and swears in Dunmeri. "...Namira take it, I just ran straight here." His mouth draws tight with embarrassment. Ugh. "I-I'll fetch it-"

"Or," Stratos interjects quickly, seizing the opportunity, "you might bring this captain back to look at it. If you're willing to try and assist," he adds politely, looking at Jim. "Who better to interpret the code and determine how to proceed?"

[boldygoing]

"Willing and able." Jim tries not to sound too eager to go, but fuck, he wants to get to the bottom of this and now that it's being dangled right in front of him, how can he not jump at the chance? He knows damn well he won't be able to relax until he knows, one way or another, whether his counterpart is okay. Just 'alive' isn't good enough.

"It'll be faster than going back and forth," he adds, if Felix is reluctant to bring him along. "If nothing else, I'd be another set of eyes to help look for any more clues."

[conjuredskies]

For a couple of seconds it looks like Felix does want to object. His mouth draws tight: he glares at Stratos before his eyes flit back to Jim. He knows when he hasn't a hope of winning an argument. Were it not an argument concerning Jim he wouldn't even hesitate in giving up. The fear that's been gnawing at him for months now has him clutching what he knows the way a starved wolf holds onto a bone.

Nonetheless. He can't refuse the chance.

"Very well." He bites his lip, but lifts his chin in something like hauteur before he sets the co-ordinates and offers his hand. He can keep his cool. He can deal with unsettling doppelgangers of the vanished man he loves. He can get through this without breaking down and demanding to know what the fuck the Nexus is trying to do to him.

They're going to find Jim. That's all that matters.