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

[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?"

[auspex_caelo]

"Ah. Harrowheart." There's a comparison he's not thrilled by. Not to mention how uncomfortable it is to think about Harrowheart having siblings. A brother he cares about... "I can't imagine what sort of example he gives you, but in our case Felix takes my advice as and when it suits him. I merely do my best to keep him alive, whole and... tolerably respectable."

Bringing up the Halloween incident makes him fall silent for near a minute, pretending to think while he makes sure he's composed and not about to show any sign of weakness in front of Naugus. "After such a delay? He was certainly affected, but I believe something has happened to his ship. PINpoints can no longer reach its location, and- there was a portal which led to it, but no longer."

[ixis]

"A portal collapse likely points to the zone coming destabilized entirely. Or shifting its location, like tectonic plates tend to do. I would imagine trying to reopen another would be unwise. Not that you have anyone who's nearly as good at it as I am, of course." Wow, and he's humble too.

"Unless the portal was keyed to his vehicle itself? I would hope and think whoever or WHATever made it would have known how to tether to an object or a doorway within the ship. Which is it?"

[auspex_caelo]

"It was linked to a doorway, from what I gathered. One composed largely of glass - the stuff was shattered on the floor when we found the spot." Stratos frowns. "I have no idea who made it - Jim never spoke of a doorway, and never used it that I know of. Perhaps he wasn't fond of it, for whatever reason." He remembers how the other Jim flinched at the mark it bore...

"The plane itself seems to be where it always was, I should point out. Felix has certainly had no trouble getting there and back."

[ixis]

Naugus grunts as Stratos explains, finally tossing aside the gossip magazine, letting it carelessly flutter behind the sofa. "He's bound to turn up, isn't he? I thought part of Jim's charms was being impossible to kill." The mention of this glass door that invokes revulsion, however, stirs up distant memories. Didn't Jim tell him once something to do with a door? A door where-

"...It couldn't have been the one he stepped through that caused his death by irradiation, could it? Hah, proof positive of how hard it is to be rid of him right there. The lad's died before and somehow reformed by means of his zone's doctors and tech. All the same, if it were the door he'd told me about once upon a time: perhaps he undid it himself? Why have a portal attached to something he views as repulsive, or traumatic?"

[auspex_caelo]

"That was it?" Stratos's eyes have widened with understanding. "Yes, now that makes sense. It bore the symbol for a radiation threat." He almost mentions the other Jim's reaction, then holds back. He hasn't yet decided whether it's more amusing useful to let Naugus find out for himself.

Stratos doesn't always spoil his little brothers' fun.

"That would be logical," he says slowly. "Would it be as simple as destroying the physical door itself?"