2017-09-11: Neotectonics

• Cutscene: Neotectonics
• Cast: Loren Voss
• Where: Bledavik
• Date: September 11th, 2017
• Summary: Dwelling on recent events by himself, Loren gets a message from home.

The stone tablet was, by all accounts, completely normal. A rough-hewn piece of rock, unremarkable in every way including the symbol etched on its surface. 'Mountain', apparently; even Loren had to admit that there was little else he could mistake the glyph for, even if he didn't somehow have the impression that this was what it was -- a Medium.

He should have mentioned it in the report. But he hadn't. There was a strange, almost impulsive feeling about it. --Of course, of course he was going to tell the Captain about this.

Picking up the Medium again, he tilts it this way and that under the light of the lamp. Even at this hour -- long since past midnight -- in the converted barracks, he doesn't have to worry about keeping anyone awake. Van Houten had said something along the lines of 'he'd be alone here for a while, but it wouldn't be long before he had company' shortly after he arrived. Well. About that. He'd heard about some interesting rooming reassignment requests.

...Not that it mattered.

It's unusual that he's even been this long in Bledavik in months, and it's only because of recent Gear deployment. He'll be returning to assignment soon enough.

Protect the world from the Metal Demons. That had been the gist of it, the message from entities he could barely fathom. Well, at least he knew for certain that he hadn't sold his soul or anything to some hyper-powered creatures featuring heavily in an archaic religion -- the princess had seemed certain of that, and he doesn't feel any clammy hand of intrusion (or whatever) in his brain. ...If what those 'Guardians' said was true, they didn't have the power to do more than give them these very stone tablets.

Any port in a storm, perhaps. Anything is better than nothing. As long as you're useful, you...

The thought proceeds, despite attempts to shunt it aside. Proceeds, even as he stares at the symbol on the stone tablet intently, as if willing something -- anything -- to come forth and show itself. Though he might almost swear that he felt a presence for a moment, the sense of it slips away quite readily. Loren slowly exhales a breath, closing his eyes as if he has a headache.

...Can van Houten use these things?

Probably, the bitter thought answers him. Probably, because she's just better no matter what she does--

A notification emits from his tablet computer, also resting on the small desk top, and serves as an immediate distraction from these thoughts.

There's a message.

NEW MESSAGE FOR RECIPIENT: LT2 VOSS, MEDICAL DIVISION.

Or rather, a notification. He sets down the stone tablet, trading it for the (replacement (...second replacement)) military-issue device.

SECURITY AND SAFETY SCAN OF NEW MESSAGE CONTENTS COMPLETE. THANK YOU FOR USING SOL-NET SECURE MOBILE INTRANET SECURITY SERVICES. YOUR SAFETY IS OUR DUTY.

...It's a message from his father.

Loren hesitates. Then taps the screen.

His gaze skims the contents of the message. ...It's the usual. Slowly, the breath he'd held is exhaled. A few notes from home. Mother still on assignment. Nothing seems to have changed.

...

No, that's wrong.

You remember what we discussed before you left. Be careful, reads the next line.

He stares at the screen, unmoving, for several long moments. How was he supposed to reply to that?

He taps one icon on the screen instead. A message appears.

ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DELETE THIS MESSAGE?

Y_