The Sound Of Approaching Feet--

[thalassino]

And then, suddenly--

The elevator was open, lights in the Station Master's house warm and inviting. Suddenly there he was, grinning once more, offering rides once again. He says nothing of the situation, nothing except, with a grin-- "The rain is gone."

That means it's safe to go up.

The ride up is silent, swift, but once up--

SilenceIt is

Comments

[sweeperpartner]

[Sven came as soon as the entrance was open, he managed to cross paths with Yukari along the way. She was familiar to him, but not by much.]

I saw some of the missing people- something isn't right.

[garudyneinstyle]

...

[Yukari stops for a moment, seeing the older man. She looks startled at first.]

Hey. Sven, right?

[He's from the Defense Force...he hadn't gone missing.]

I've...I've seen some of them, too. Are you okay?

[sweeperpartner]

[That confirmed it. Her knowing his name. She was part of the force wasn't she?]

Right. [...] I'm fine, but this situation raises too many red flags.

Do you notice how the people missing from before are all wearing the same clothes now, and have bands around their arm as if it's a tag?

It's possible...they were messed with. Be alert.

[garudyneinstyle]

[She simply nods. It's the first thing she noticed about them, really.]

Of course. Those creepy white clothes...it's like they're ghosts.

I think I saw some numbers on those bands too, but I couldn't really make them out.

[She breathes a sigh, though. She'll definitely be staying alert.]

Where have they been...?

[sweeperpartner]

I'm assuming up here. There were no traces of them back in the barrier under water.

The only area we weren't able to search was the southern end of the forest because it was guarded by different barrier. If I had to guess, it might be there.

I don't know what's wrong with them though. [Guess they'll have to find out.]

[garudyneinstyle]

...I don't either.

[The southern end of the forest...she hasn't gone that far yet.]

It seems like they're all trying to get us to go with them somewhere.

[sweeperpartner]

Possibly to where they were.

You have your SFC with you, right?

[garudyneinstyle]

Yeah, I do.

[She pulls out hers from her pocket where she's made the habit of keeping it. And she draws closer to Sven, as if to let him see the screen as well.]

You have some sort of plan?

[sweeperpartner]

[He took her SFC for a moment and pecked a word onto the message screen.

Vegetable Oil

It didn't have any particular meaning, it wasn't suppose to. He wanted it to be completely unrelated to anything going on now. He handed it back to her.]

That's the safe word. If something happens, you contact me with it. Got it?

[In the end, he just wanted to make sure she was safe.]

Honestly I'm not quite sure what to expect, but we have to assume the worse until we figure things out.

[garudyneinstyle]

[Vegetable Oil.

She reads it when he hands it back to her, for a moment wondering why he'd chosen those particular words, but she quickly realizes it doesn't matter much.]

...

Right. Something's off about them, but it seems like most of them are willing to at least talk.

[They've got to snap everyone out of it...

She begins to look around. She'd been separated from Minato, so now she's even more worried about him. Where'd he get to...?]

1/2

[sweeperpartner]

You're concerned. [Factual statement.]

We'll meet back in Vatheon in several hours. Be sure to spread the word. We can't risk losing more people, and if someone one is in trouble, help them or find help.

We're resorting to survival tactics.

Contact me if you also find out any other leads.

[sweeperpartner]

That's what the Defense Force is all about isn't it? Protecting the people?

[garudyneinstyle]

Of course. That's why we banded--we've got no other choice now.

[And yes, of course she's concerned...

She's not used to taking orders from someone else, either, but she's got to roll with the punches for now. She's got to find Minato again, and figure things out. Get answers.

...She nods.]

Let's meet by the Coral.

[They might need it.]

And same goes for you, on everything. Keep me updated, and be careful.

[She raises her tone a bit, as if to speak on equal level with him--but between the two of them, it's pretty obvious which one has the more experience.]