[002]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies is leaning against the information kiosk, a pad of paper in one hand and a pen in the other. this investigation just got serious, but she's ready for it--and to interview anyone who might be passing by, regardless of whether they want to be interviewed or not]

[when she speaks, she's addressing anyone in the area. she has a feeling they'll all know what she's talking about, at least. if they don't, they must be exceptionally lucky] There's been a development in the missing persons cases. You could say someone lent us a hand--or more like they didn't. [her expression is grim]

The higher ups here had some thoughts on the graffiti. Has anyone talked to them about the disappearances? And has anything been found in other worlds? Or maybe Manchester just won the special jackpot. [she gives a dark, wry smile. she wouldn't put it past Jed, considering how he sounded in his letter]

Anything you know, you'd best come out with it now. We'll never get to the bottom of this otherwise--and I don't think I'm being too dramatic when I say that working this out is starting to look like a matter of life and death.

So what have you seen in your worlds?

Comments

[most_feared]

No. Not still alive. [Grimly.]

Seen any guys dressed like me from Cardiff? [Because that's all she would remember if she did, probably.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she nods. it's what she expected--not that it makes it any better]

[skeptically] Your organisation works out of Cardiff? Nope, can't say I 'ave.

[most_feared]

There's a Division there. [The New York one is Division 6.] Huh. Did it appear while you were out?

[grip_on_reality]

Right. [she smiles wryly at the question] Conveniently enough.

But we're not the only ones who've gotten these special messages, either--I've heard of four others, at least.

[most_feared]

Leela had it. Just floating in front of her eyes. Whoever this sick bastard is can pull off terrorizing a blind woman.

[grip_on_reality]

[surprised] Wait, let me get this straight. You're telling me a blind woman just...saw one of those messages? In front of her?

[most_feared]

That's exactly what I'm sayin'. [And with disgust, too.]

[grip_on_reality]

[to Menzies, that’s rather intriguing--but she’s still disgusted at the level of manipulation they’re seeing] I wonder what could be the point of that. Did they pick certain people because of something we’ve got in common? Or did they do that to her just to show they could?

[most_feared]

It told her to kill herself. [He shrugs, despite it being such a serious subject.] Sounds like a hefty dose of psychological terrorism to me.

[grip_on_reality]

[okay, she's disgusted and shocked now] Yeah, real pleasant, the messages they left for us. But that one--I wonder if anybody else got that level of a self-esteem boost.

[most_feared]

Is there a chance you could get me in to see that body of yours? I know the Plane has been letting people hop over our dimensional divides.

[He crosses his arms and looks curious.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she raises an eyebrow] That your personal specialty? [but she considers the request] I could do. I read about that in those brochures--physical contact, right? Have you done it before?

[most_feared]

Nope. Just... ended up with someone in my universe once. [He offered his hand.]

I can get you into the lab in mine, too. [They'll be under the impression he'll erase her memory later, anyway.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she snorts] I meant studying bodies. 'Cause it's not mine, but I could take a look. [she doesn't take his hand just yet, though] Give me mo'--let me get in the morgue first. Less questions that way.

[and without waiting for a reply, she drops from the Plane, returning a moment later] All right, just keep your voice low, and nobody should notice. [she takes his hand now, willing herself back to Manchester]

[and they arrive in the morgue! which looks about like one would expect. conveniently enough, since the four bodies are still being studied, they're out on tables, although they're currently covered by sheets. when Kay takes a look, he'll find one young man, two young women, and an old man, all short a hand]

Those're are the previously-missing persons. [she gestures at the table] Fred's out to lunch right now, so we shouldn't have anything to worry about.

[ooc: Pst, just want to make sure you saw the new details about the state of the bodies. I'm assuming Menzies hasn't gotten a full report back, though.]

[most_feared]

I've had to look at a few. [But he waits, and he... is a little surprised by the change in scenery but he doesn't do more than raise his eyebrows. In fact, he seems to be ready to get right to work.

He walks over to the side of the table and fishes in his coat for his spectral monograph. Holds it to his eye and scans over the body with it. And the next one. And the next one.]

Their stomachs are empty. ...I mean their intestines are pretty much empty. There's no food in 'em. [He hands off the device to her.] It's sort of an X-ray device. You look through this part. I'm gonna take some come physical samples.

[grip_on_reality]

So wherever they were, they weren't eating regularly. That's a start. [she takes the device, giving it an uncertain look before she holds it up to her eye and slowly scans the fourth body] Same thing here, looks like.

Have your people identified a cause of death yet? Fred hasn't reported anything, but he's not exactly someone I'd bet on in a race.

[most_feared]

No cause of death. But I've not reported in this evening to find out any information.

[He presses a needle tipped device against a few points on two of the bodies.] Dopamine we knew about... Seems to be the case here, too. [He pokes near a wrist stump.

And he gets a brow furrow and a half.] Did your guys notice anything funny about these stumps?

[grip_on_reality]

Yeah, ah, Fred said the edge was "weird." And that there were some "traces" there, but he didn't know what from. What'd you find?

[most_feared]

Enzymes and damage from them. My guess from something big and toothy. Like a tunnel worm.

[He holds it up for her to see. There are a list of partial and degraded chemicals.] It's all broken down, though. I can't tell much about it. Either it's a clean bite or someone gave it a big lob with their tongue when they were done.

[grip_on_reality]

[she stares, that information a complete surprise] You mean these people's hands were bitten clean off?

[most_feared]

Yeah.

[He frowns, and puts that particular device away.] Someone kept them intact and healthy with no food, thoroughly doped up. Then they willingly stuck their hand in something's mouth to be bittin off, because there's not even the slightest indication of restraints.

[He puts his hand on a table and leans on it as he thinks about it.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she scowls] This just gets better and better. [but she pauses to think about it, too, lowering the spectral monograph] If they were doped up, who's to say they even knew what was coming?