[CLOSED] Missing

[twoaffirmations]

» WHO? 9S & A2/Rhea'li/Hank
» WHEN? late 6/18
» WHERE? Chapel
» WHAT? 9S contacts A2, Rhea'li, and Hank separately about a missing 2B
» WARNINGS? None

[A2's device buzzes to life, a transmission forcing itself through without her permission. There's no sender's name or image, and a distorted, but distinctly male voice is the only indication of his identity.]

Rendezvous requested in the Chapel. Please respond.

[The transmission ends.]

Comments

[a2brutus]

[Well, it's not like A2 has anything better to do, but she doesn't like how cryptic the message is. She also doesn't like how the sender has tried to hide their identity.

So, A2 just outright ignores the request.]

[twoaffirmations]

[Exactly ten minutes pass, and her device lights up again. The same anonymous voice greets her.]

Rendezvous requested in the Chapel, located on the Observation Deck. Please respond.

[The transmission ends.]

[a2brutus]

[And... once again, A2 ignores it.

Fuck off, anon voice.]

[twoaffirmations]

[Oh come on! There's no way she can't find the Observation Deck!

She's just ignoring him and making this more of a pain than it has to be. When he contacts her this time, he can't quite hide his impatience.]

Helloooo? I said rendezvous requested. That means meet me there.

[The transmission remains active, a distinct static accompanying his silence.]

[a2brutus]

[This time, A2 replies.]

No. Buzz off.

[Feed end.]

[twoaffirmations]

[She hung up on him!

He calls her back immediately.]

Rendezvous at the Chapel or your device will self-destruct.

[a2brutus]

[A2, probably much to 9S's chagrin, isn't affected by that.]

Good, that means you'll stop bothering me.

[twoaffirmations]

[Dammit!

If he does that, he won't be able to track her at all. He didn't think she'd call him out on his bluff.]

What are you, scared?

[a2brutus]

Absolutely shaking in my boots.

[She does not sound the least bit frightened.]

un; nines

[twoaffirmations]

[Rhea'li's device buzzes with a message.]

It's 9S. Are you busy?

audio; un: ku78p

[lightduties]

[At least he answers fairly quickly, even if he doesn't necessarily respond in text. No one wants to be subject to Rhea'li's awful texting.]

No.

[It's making him crazier than a person wearing swimwear in Coerthas.]

What need have you of me?

text; -> voice;

[twoaffirmations]

[Oh, well he'll switch to voice too then.]

Let's rendezvous, I'd rather discuss it in person. How's the Chapel sound?

[lightduties]

[Pray return to the Waking Sands-- aw damn it you don't even play this game you don't get the joke.

Rhea'li nods, even though 9S can't see it.]

I'll see you soon.

[Sure enough, he'll be wandering over at a leisurely pace. Since he frequently hangs around the Observation Deck, it doesn't take him long at all to arrive.]

[twoaffirmations]

[Sand doesn't have sentience, it can't wake up.]

Right.

[9S will already be there by the time Rhea'li arrives. He's standing just outside the Chapel door, just in case he's unsure of its location. It kind of seems like something he would do.

He takes a step forward to greet him.]

Glad you made it.

[lightduties]

[Excuse you Rhea'li has a very good mental mapping skills he just gets... easily distracted...

Rhea'li returns the greeting with a nod of his own.]

Is aught amiss?

[twoaffirmations]

[Well, he did make it to the Chapel in a timely manner, he'll give him that.]

...Yeah. Let's head inside.

[Where no one can eavesdrop without making their presence known. Well, besides Hank, but 9S isn't worried about him.

Once they're inside, the door tightly shut behind him, 9S starts with a casual inquiry that feels out of place given all the meticulous lead up to it.]

Sooo... Did you ever meet 2B?

[lightduties]

[Rhea'li shakes his head.]

Nay. I've not seen hide nor hair of anyone resembling your description of Two Bee.

[Wouldn't Nine Ess rather him not meet her?]

[twoaffirmations]

[He should have just contacted Hank in the first place. Having access to the Station's cameras made him the most likely to have witness 2B's disappearance. It was simple fact.

...But getting a definitive answer also meant having to accept it. As long as 9S didn't have proof, he could have hope.

He taps at the terminal screen, trying not to look as hollow as he feels.]

Hank. I need access to the station's cameras.

[lostsymmetry]

[The terminal comes to life with a flicker of blue and a chipper monotone.]

<Welcome to Domesticon warranty and recycling depot #127: Keeping your Domesticon products efficient, so you don't have to be.>

[...things he hates? That. But the request forestalls any unrelated griping.]

Can do. What are we looking for?

[twoaffirmations]

[9S just ignores the cookie-cutter intro. He's too tired to care.]

I need all footage dated between the 15th and now. Can you get me that?

[lostsymmetry]

...it'll take a moment to compile. But sure.

[I. Interesting subject change. Especially regarding several days of footage across dozens of sources. Embodied AI tend to be a little more fixed in their perspectives, and he can't imagine that would make for quick review. But Nines did say he was designed for intel.

It's either that, or he doesn't want anyone else watching. Hank works silently for a moment. Then:]

Are you after anything particular?

[twoaffirmations]

[9S considers a moment if he actually wants to tell Hank what he's looking for. There's a good chance that even if he requested to search alone, Hank would be able to go back later and find out the truth.]

Another YoRHa android. She has white hair and a pair of goggles, wears the standard jumpsuit. Last known residence was Deck 4, Room 30.

[lostsymmetry]

[Goggles. Not the one he'd spoken to, then. And after the last few search requests he's gotten, it's not hard for Hank to guess why Nines is looking. His response is quick and to the point.]

Got it. <Processing...>

[The room number makes a visual ID easy enough. And the date range is narrow enough. Less than a minute later:]

<Match: found.>

Ah...

[It's not good news.]

[twoaffirmations]

[Curt and uncomfortably stoic, 9S continues.]

Show me.

[lostsymmetry]

[The screen blanks out, and refreshes on a view just outside room 4-30. It shows a white-haired YoRHa unit closing the door and turning to walk off. 9S will have no trouble recognizing her.

And having seen it before, what comes next won't be strange either: a shimmering in the air. 2B's entire form dissolves away to nothing, leaving behind an empty hall.]