A copy. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
repeatedprayer) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thehauntedfrequency2024-03-04 10:16 pm
repeatedprayer) wrote in thehauntedfrequency2024-03-04 10:16 pm
doggone
[In the time following his departure from Tabito and Manabu's company, the alias "Grey" has wound up sticking.
Not that everyone calls him that, he's used a few other aliases since then, but it's what he's wound up thinking of himself as. If Grey had taken the time to think about it a bit more he might have picked something with a little less connection to Rezo's name, but it's still leagues better than thinking of himself as "Rez- wait, no, just a copy." And maybe that's why he's felt significantly calmer since he left Sairaag.
By his own standards, Grey has been laudably well-behaved; sure, he's been mostly doing under-the-table psychic work, often on behalf of criminals, but! He's been trying to keep a low profile so it's usually things like clairvoyant spying rather than anything violent, and he's been making a point of not doing anything that directly impacts the galaxy railways.
It would be extremely awkward if Manabu Yuuki had to try and arrest him, after all.
He's found himself frequently thinking about Manabu, much to his annoyance. He has no serious expectations of ever seeing Manabu again, so it's simply a waste of mental bandwidth to find himself wondering what Manabu is doing right now or where he is, or to reminisince over their incredibly brief acquaintanceship. Grey can only suppose that because Manabu was the first reasonably normal person he got to know after leaving Sairaag that Manabu is going to stick out in his mind for a while.
And it's probably because of the real estate that Manabu is hogging in Grey's mind that he's been very aware of every mention of the SDF that crosses his path. He hasn't exactly been tracking the SDF's activities deliberately, but he does pay attention to the news and the SDF frequently winds up in there, even if Manabu's name in particular isn't normally dropped.
Until the day it does.
SDF Officer Taken Hostage By Pirates]
* * *
[It's taken several weeks of investigating, but Grey has been able to track down The Huntress's client, a Dr. Parish and associates. It must be a small galaxy, because Dr. Parish is someone Grey knows. Sort of.
Rather, Dr. Parish was a colleague of Rezo's who collaborated with the man on chimera research (and other unsavory things) in the past. Not only that, the man was an ardent admirer of Rezo's superior psychic prowess, and desperate to improve his own meager abilities.
He'd had quite a shock when Grey approached him in town, but after the initial surprise it had been sickeningly easy to convince Dr. Parish that he was the real Rezo. Grey can only surmise that the man wants to believe too badly to let himself be properly suspicious. It had only taken a day for Grey to be invited to tour Parish's laboratory.
The lab's located on the grounds of a former Marquess's estate, a ways out of town and secluded by trees, a high wall, and a long drive. Grey's done a little recon before, but actually being here is different, especially since he has to navigate by cane at the moment. Grey is doing his best to politely nod and smile as Parish guides him from room to room, explaining their work and occasionally handing him things to examine himself.
But evidently Parish realizes that "Rezo" isn't entirely interested, because he stops partway through an explanation of some stem cell experiments he and a few others have been working on to say "Of course, the really interesting specimens are kept in the basement floor."
Grey already knows this. He hopes his expression seems the right sort of eager.]
Interesting?
["Something along the lines of what we did in the past. Would you like to see them?"]
Nothing would please me more.
[Grey can practically hear Parish's delighted grin. To soothe the surge of irritation, Grey reminds himself that he's going to kill this man before the end of the day and allows Parish to guide him out into the hall and to the basement entrance at the back of the building.]
Not that everyone calls him that, he's used a few other aliases since then, but it's what he's wound up thinking of himself as. If Grey had taken the time to think about it a bit more he might have picked something with a little less connection to Rezo's name, but it's still leagues better than thinking of himself as "Rez- wait, no, just a copy." And maybe that's why he's felt significantly calmer since he left Sairaag.
By his own standards, Grey has been laudably well-behaved; sure, he's been mostly doing under-the-table psychic work, often on behalf of criminals, but! He's been trying to keep a low profile so it's usually things like clairvoyant spying rather than anything violent, and he's been making a point of not doing anything that directly impacts the galaxy railways.
It would be extremely awkward if Manabu Yuuki had to try and arrest him, after all.
He's found himself frequently thinking about Manabu, much to his annoyance. He has no serious expectations of ever seeing Manabu again, so it's simply a waste of mental bandwidth to find himself wondering what Manabu is doing right now or where he is, or to reminisince over their incredibly brief acquaintanceship. Grey can only suppose that because Manabu was the first reasonably normal person he got to know after leaving Sairaag that Manabu is going to stick out in his mind for a while.
And it's probably because of the real estate that Manabu is hogging in Grey's mind that he's been very aware of every mention of the SDF that crosses his path. He hasn't exactly been tracking the SDF's activities deliberately, but he does pay attention to the news and the SDF frequently winds up in there, even if Manabu's name in particular isn't normally dropped.
Until the day it does.
SDF Officer Taken Hostage By Pirates]
* * *
[It's taken several weeks of investigating, but Grey has been able to track down The Huntress's client, a Dr. Parish and associates. It must be a small galaxy, because Dr. Parish is someone Grey knows. Sort of.
Rather, Dr. Parish was a colleague of Rezo's who collaborated with the man on chimera research (and other unsavory things) in the past. Not only that, the man was an ardent admirer of Rezo's superior psychic prowess, and desperate to improve his own meager abilities.
He'd had quite a shock when Grey approached him in town, but after the initial surprise it had been sickeningly easy to convince Dr. Parish that he was the real Rezo. Grey can only surmise that the man wants to believe too badly to let himself be properly suspicious. It had only taken a day for Grey to be invited to tour Parish's laboratory.
The lab's located on the grounds of a former Marquess's estate, a ways out of town and secluded by trees, a high wall, and a long drive. Grey's done a little recon before, but actually being here is different, especially since he has to navigate by cane at the moment. Grey is doing his best to politely nod and smile as Parish guides him from room to room, explaining their work and occasionally handing him things to examine himself.
But evidently Parish realizes that "Rezo" isn't entirely interested, because he stops partway through an explanation of some stem cell experiments he and a few others have been working on to say "Of course, the really interesting specimens are kept in the basement floor."
Grey already knows this. He hopes his expression seems the right sort of eager.]
Interesting?
["Something along the lines of what we did in the past. Would you like to see them?"]
Nothing would please me more.
[Grey can practically hear Parish's delighted grin. To soothe the surge of irritation, Grey reminds himself that he's going to kill this man before the end of the day and allows Parish to guide him out into the hall and to the basement entrance at the back of the building.]
no subject
[innocuous sentimentality, the Manabu Yuuki special, drops out of his mouth just as quickly as the food gets shoveled in. it's just sense to him, unfettered by his fraught feelings over the past few months; the normalcy of the space they're in, the daylight...it goes a long way.]
no subject
Oh.
[There may be a faint flush on Grey's face at that moment. This damn, nonchalantly sentimental man-!
It's good to see Manabu in a better mood. But it's another reminder to Grey of how important it is for Manabu to get back to his old life, his family and friends in the SDF.
When the last of the rice has been inhaled Grey glances at the remnants of food on his own plate, then back at Manabu.]
-Are you ready to move on?
no subject
[move on. the meal starts to sit a bit heavier in him, no longer as delicious as it was mere moments ago. ever the anti-pokerface, Manabu looks somber for a few beats before he double-takes back at Grey and catches himself, straightening up.
he puts his utensils on his now-empty plate and nods.]
Let's do this.
[time to try and set some of this right.
...the things that need to be set right.
Manabu's reminded of the tail with the ache in his spine as he climbs to his feet, reminded of himself as a body with the weight, the tension starting to course back into him. but it's time to go.
though, once outside, he hesitates.
warily:] We...can walk there, right? [not that flying is inconvenient. but--but it makes him nauseous!
and walking is slower.]
no subject
But it's hard not to brood speculatively on those consequences, so Grey is quiet and stern as he sets his cutlery aside and accompanies Manabu to the door. Thinking about where he'll go. Before all this, what had he even been planning on doing next...? And if they get caught at the station...
He notices Manabu hesitating and turns, momentarily concerned.
Oh, walking.]
Right, that's fine.
[Grey's a little concerned about how well Manabu's stamina will hold (one more thing to brood about.) It's a fair bit longer to the train station than it was between here and where they spent the night- but he would prefer Manabu not horf up breakfast, so.]
Just stay close to me.
[At least he can be on hand if Manabu's overestimated himself.]
no subject
drugs are not involved right now, and he feels troubled and annoyed that he doesn't feel as brisk as he needs to be, but to voice complaints now is akin to conceding defeat, and he's not about to do that. and while he notes when Grey slows his steps, it only compels him to work harder to keep a steady pace.
that just brings them closer to the station sooner. along the way, his thoughts are entirely forward and elsewhere, missing the way some bodies seem to be going in the same direction (it's a public train station, why wouldn't people head for it?), keeping up with them.
his heart starts thumping when they reach the building, scanning over it. every station is unique to the city they're in, so not everything is always in the same place. some things are, though.]
There should be an interface terminal inside I can use to send the data and ping Big One. Civilians aren't supposed to use it, so... [he glances up to Grey.] So you think you can keep the officer stationed by it busy for a minute or two?