doggone

[repeatedprayer]

[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.]

Comments

[siriusly]

[he is, at least, not completely checked out at the start! doing some arm and leg stretches while he listens keeps him from zonking out entirely, though he doesn't follow the flow of narrative to narrative very easily without the links being reiterated.

business stuff... man, it's so boring! merger this, board review that...imagine having that be the type of thing that stimulates you to work day after day! couldn't be Manabu.]

...Wait. Go back to that photo.

[eventually he's done stretching and come to sit beside him, looking at the images attached to articles. one catches his eye. when it's brought back into view, he peers at it hard.]

I recognize that person. [he points to one of the face.] In the lab.

[repeatedprayer]

[Business isn't really Grey's area of expertise either, but he naturally has an easier time than Manabu keeping track of everything. Though it probably helps that he has to explain it to Manabu as he reads; you have to understand something pretty well in order to do that.

They're well in the thick of an article about the merger of a pair of chemical manufacturers from a few years ago, when a photo catches Manabu's attention.]

This one?

[Grey stares hard at the photo, trying to commit the man's features to memory. Pale. Medium-toned (brown?) short hair. Wearing a suit.

His first instinct is Ah. I need to kill this man, but fortunately some of the past arguments he's had with Manabu prevail, and he tries to ask for more information first.]

What do you remember about them?

[siriusly]

[troubled, Manabu doesn't answer right away, though he does have that impulse to say something, leading to just an opening and wordless closing of his mouth for a bit as he stares and considers.

after a beat:] He...I don't know if he was ever part of the procedures, I don't remember him scrubbed up, but he would come in...into the room, I mean, and ask about vitals and things. He'd try to get me to answer a bunch of questions. Like, like my medical history...doctor stuff, I guess.

[talking about it makes him uneasy, the creeping feeling under his skin, the ache near his surgery sites reappearing as if on cue.]

I can't remember...how many times, though.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey drums his fingers against the mattress, thinking over the information Manabu's given him. It sounds like this man was a fairly important part of the operation whether he did any of the handiwork or not.]

There's a possibility that he's the assistant surgeon I killed, but I didn't get a good look at them so I can't be sure.

[One thing Grey is sure of- If Manabu meets him again, that man will be the one answering questions.]

Let's see...

[He checks the photo caption, which lists the names of the people from left to right. A CEO, a different CEO, a researcher- and there's their man.]

Doctor Anatoli Kohut.

[siriusly]

[remembering the carnage his drug-addled mind could glean is chilling; Manabu sits quietly as his eyes linger on the face.]

...Note the name. We can look and see if he's been about. Or on campus.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey glances briefly at Manabu before returning his gaze to the tablet and scrolling down. But at the same time he reaches out and sets his spare hand on top of Manabu's.

And he promptly ruins the sweetness:]

If we find him, then we'll ensure he wishes he were dead.

[siriusly]

[Manabu's hand twitches a little under Grey's. his eyes wince as he looks over to him, frowning.]

He has to go on trial. Him and everyone else involved. Because if other people were cut up like me and are still missing... [well, it's personal, isn't it? Manabu would have no choice but to feel compelled to find them.]

[repeatedprayer]

...I know.

[Grey nods. No murder, that would ultimately be counterproductive, no matter how satisfying. Though surely a little torture would be understandable, under the circumstances...?

Grey glances at Manabu and deflates a little.]

I suppose it'll be enough if his career and reputation are ruined and he spends the rest of his life rotting in a jail cell.

[That seems a fair enough recompense for the haunted look that was in Manabu's eyes.]

[siriusly]

[he is visibly relieved to hear that reluctant admission - even smiles in a pained kind of way as he nods.] At the very least, if we can prove there's grounds to investigate him and the whole operation...that sets everything in motion.

[he looks back down at the tablet.]

I just hope we can make it in time...

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey withdraws his hand and ponders for a few moments.]

I think we have enough data as is that we could risk physically investigating the campus.

[...Well, Grey says that, but...]

...Or at any rate, I can go. You're still not ready.

[siriusly]

[it's plain by the way his expression scrunches that he hates that idea.]

What if you get recognized? [what is he going to do? in a public place? with so many unrelated people, innocent of the crimes they're chasing the perpetrators of?]

[repeatedprayer]

[The question surprises Grey a little, since he was bracing himself more for Manabu to be woeful about not being able to come. But he's able to answer easily enough.]

That's unlikely to happen. Any witnesses from the lab will be expecting to see Rezo; the change in my hair color, wardrobe, and demeanor will throw them off even if they're already aware that the Rezo lookalike isn't actually blind.

[Okay, so maybe that doesn't answer Manabu's actual question...]

People see what they expect to see.

[siriusly]

...

[he's not so sure, but he also has no means to prove it here in this apartment.]

I have no means to know...where you are, what you're doing. I'm always completely cut off here. You could say you're going off to get shoes, and for all I know that's true, but you could be heading out there instead. [doing a murder.]

I can't stand that idea...

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey shifts a little and frowns, an uncomfortable feeling creeping up his spine.]

What reason would I have to lie to you about that? We're supposed to be collaborating so I'd have to share my findings with you.

[So he'd just have to say it in the first place, wouldn't he? Unless it was a situation where he thought it better to ask forgiveness than permission- but it isn't as if he needs Manabu's permission...]

[siriusly]

[his face gets a little red.]

I-it's more the waiting thing! More than anything. I can't make myself get better any faster, but it's driving me crazy not to be able to just...go. See for myself. [and let HIM be the one doing stupid imagined detours into trouble, not Grey!]

Realistically, you'd be better off doing things at your own pace. It's faster than I can be. But that-- [he grimaces. word salad. he's not very good at expressing complicated feelings - it's complicated! especially in the moment, and especially when being stared down.] I don't know. I've already let a lot of people down, so it's better to not get frustrated and make things worse, but that doesn't feel great. But that doesn't matter either--

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey's frown fades as enlightenment dawns. Oh. This isn't about Grey being untrustworthy. Or about Grey at all, is it?

Grey listens as Manabu attempts to articulate his frustration, until Manabu finally cuts himself off. Grey ponders, and offers words of comfort.]

So it's something of a situation with no good options, isn't it?

[Look, words of comfort aren't Grey's area of expertise. He idly looks back at the tablet.]

I understand what you mean. I despise having to wait myself. [He'd spent the first few years of his life doing that... Just waiting for something, some kind of chance, some path or opportunity to reveal itself...

Ah. That particular bit of commiseration might add to Manabu's guilt, however.] -Usually, anyway. It's easier when you have good company.

[siriusly]

[Manabu hesitates, feeling a bit admonished despite the attempt at consolation. that's just it though - it's embarrassing to have a need for it, you know?

he looks away because of that embarrassment.] I, I at least have that, yeah...

[repeatedprayer]

...Do you now.

[Grey hopes so! He's trying! He feels he's at least surpassed Eris in the better-company-while-waiting department, in that he actually gives a damn about Manabu himself rather than what he can use Manabu for- doesn't he? But that's rather damning by faint praise and he knows Manabu would still be better off with his family, colleagues, and so forth...

Ah well. Grey's not the one in need of consolation right now. Although consolation is difficult, so after a moment's thought Grey asks a question instead.]

If you could go out, what precisely would you intend to do?

[He's not sure if it'll be remotely possible but maybe they can figure out something Manabu can do while he's here? Apart from further research?]

[siriusly]

Right now? Walk the campus. [he nods faintly, more consoled by the ask about work than the assurance that his stupid feelings are valid.] Get a feel for the layout. Where people congregate more, where there's less...that sort of thing. It's one thing to look at a top-down map, but another thing to have boots on the ground.

[repeatedprayer]

[Talking about work = far superior to talking about feelings, let's be real.]

Right. I suppose you could also directly ask the people there for information- if you were sure you could do so without risking attention.

[But surely a random, disoriented freshman wouldn't be anything too new.]

[siriusly]

Mn, yeah. So long as I didn't wipe out on some stairs. [without a skateboard and everything.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey smiles thinly.] I suppose that would gather some notice.

[But that reminds him...] Speaking of stairs, would you be willing to tackle them again tomorrow? We need to get you shoes... and maybe a cane.

[siriusly]

Huh? [blink.] Of, of course! The only way I'm going to get better is--

[wait.]

A, a cane?

[repeatedprayer]

Partly as a disguise. Your balance issues will seem less strange if you have one.

[He'll still stand out, but people will hopefully think "physically disabled and/or injured person" as opposed to "????"

Or "drunk asshole."]

But it also might be genuinely helpful for those same issues.

[siriusly]

R-right... [and also he'll telegraph he's even weaker! which is lame but...

not wrong, is it...

he sighs.]

No, that makes sense. [it's just LAME!]