(016) Sixteenth Report [>>Audio]

[zerosuitjill]

[It's a sound you're all probably used to by now: the light patter of wrapped candies hitting the streets every now and again. Suddenly there's a more solid smack, a sigh--]

"Did you know that some viruses permanently alter a host's DNA? This can have both short- and long-term consequences that may even affect reproduc--"

[A very solid flick, and

Comments

[video]

[morethanafour]

[She's clearly curious about the 'secret' but doesn't ask about it.]

Any good? The candy, I mean.

[video]

[zerosuitjill]

I haven't tried it. Around here, the better it looks, the worse it probably is.

[video]

[morethanafour]

[Wry grin.]

Probably. That...was sort of a weird message you got there...Something about altering DNA?

[Boy does the thought of that bring back memories - involving dark caves and creepy pale monsters.]

[video]

[zerosuitjill]

Oh-- yeah. [She glances aside briefly, thinking] I've dealt with... well, I'm a Special Operations Agent for a counterbioterrorism unit, so I've seen my share of nasty viruses. A lot of them worked by changing DNA in their victims.

[video]

[morethanafour]

That sounds... [She would say 'scary' but she doesn't think the other woman would appreciate that as much.] ...intense.

[Not that the idea of biological weapons changing DNA is precisely new to her. That was what Navarro was after by trying to get a hold of El Dorado.

[video]

[zerosuitjill]

It can be. [A lopsided kind of smile] Helps ease the shock of some of the things that go on here a little, though.

[She won't go into detail about how the virus with the most drastic effect on her life wasn't necessarily designed to change DNA -- which leaves her wondering if it did screw her up that way without her knowing it, which is obviously the fear the stupid candy tapped in on.]

[video]

[morethanafour]

[She nods and can't help but smile a little.]

I feel the same. If I didn't have proof there are unexplained things in the world, I don't know if I could handle this place as well as I have.

I guess there's always a silver lining.

[video]

[zerosuitjill]

True enough. I'm used to science playing some kind of excuse, though, so talking candy is pretty out there, even for me.

[video]

[morethanafour]

Me too, at least without a speaker being involved.

[video]

[zerosuitjill]

[A curious glance] Speaker?

[video]

[morethanafour]

Speaker...for a radio or tv?

[video]

[zerosuitjill]

Oh. Right. [Aha.] So many things have double or triple meanings here that I can't be sure anymore.

[video]

[morethanafour]

[She laughs and nods.]

Don't worry - in my case at least, I think it's more likely that I'm not going to know what you're talking about. I'm just a journalist.

[video]

[zerosuitjill]

Hey, don't sell yourself short. Some journalists have traveled more than I have.

How far do you work, exactly? National or international?

[video]

[morethanafour]

International. I've been in Nepal most recently - tracking down a war criminal who's conveniently made everyone including NATO believe he's dead.

Have you heard of a man named Zoran Lazarević?

[video]

[zerosuitjill]

Nepal, huh? That's one place I haven't been stationed in. [And then a truly understanding nod -- she knows the frustrations of that kind of manhunt job. 'B|]

I haven't, sorry. He's the one you're looking for?