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[lastdecember]

This is the after hours contact for Nicholas Wolfwood, Logistics. If this is an emergency, stop wasting everyone's time and page me.

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[lastdecember]

[ Wolfwood's about to explain that his memory couldn't have been him, because there's no way he could have fought the monster he remembers fighting -- he's strong, but he's not that strong! -- but then Saverem pulls out a pen light and shines it on himself. Wolfwood leans forward, curious, then jolts back when he sees what Vash is talking about. ]

What the hell is that?!

[ There's lines in his eyes! Over the sclera and iris both, lines, like somebody took a light pen and traced circuits there. It'd be pretty if it wasn't so wrong ]

How the hell are there lines in your eyes?!

[plantussy]

I don't know! I just showed up a few weeks ago!

[ He turns the pen-light off with a bit of an uncomfortable look on his face. ]

Dr. Hilbert doesn't know what it is, either. Aside from the lines, my eyes are perfectly normal. Just like they've always been.

[lastdecember]

[ Memories are one thing -- they could have been shuffled around when everyone was in cryo and they're only being noticed now -- but something like eyes? Something clearly new?

He's not going to stop freaking out anytime soon, sorry. ]

He's lying. It was either him or Doc Jiaoqiu, unless L3TH3 did it. Somebody did that to you.

[ Somebody injected shit into his eyes. That's weird in a way Wolfwood would never have imagined! ]

Shit like that doesn't just happen.

[plantussy]

[ That's fine, they can freak out about it together. Vash isn't exactly happy about about these new lines, but at least they didn't affect his vision - and the fact that she had them as well made it less frightening. ]

It wasn't Jiaoqui, it happened long after he went back to cryo. I don't think it was Dr. Hilbert either, he seemed genuinely frustrated that he couldn't tell me what it was.

[ Vash glances down at his food and then pushes it to the side. He's not eating after this. ]

I think it had something to do with the memory I got. I was myself but as a kid, looking at this... woman floating in a tank. She was ethereal, like an alien, and full of these lines that glowed brightly. Not just in her eyes, but all over her face and body.

[ He felt to safe with her. Even as that little boy. ]

If that memory was implanted, maybe the eyes are a side effect.

[lastdecember]

[ Wolfwood just shakes his head, trying hard not to wonder if Saverem's got those lines anywhere else. ]

You said they just showed up one day, right? Remembering stuff, real or not, wouldn't make your eyes change.

[ Only people -- or machines -- can do that. Somebody did this to Vash, and they're going to find out who. ]

What day was it? When you first noticed 'em?

[plantussy]

That's true. It's just... weird that they match what I was remembering. That can't be a coincidence.

[ There's a bit of a pause as he goes over the timeline. ]

I think it was around the fourth that I noticed it, and I saw Dr. Hilbert about it on the sixth. The memory came earlier, a day or so after the big alien left.

[lastdecember]

[ That's all he needed to hear. Wolfwood pushes back from the table and stands, turning expectantly to Vash. ]

Let's see if there's anything on the security feeds.

[ Whether it was the AI, the alien, or somebody on the ship, if anyone went into Savement's quarters, they'll be on video... or, more likely, the video will show signs of being tampered with. Either way, it'll be an answer.

You coming? ]

[plantussy]

[ Vash is a bit stunned at first, but then scrambles to get out of his chair so that he can join Wolfwood. It feels... well, nice. For some reason he always feels happy at the other man's side. ]

We probably need to talk to Massani or the other two security guys to get tapes.

[ He's not sure if he wants even more people knowing he has an issue, but it's not like he doesn't trust them.

...well, at least Massani. He has barely talked to the other two men. ]

[lastdecember]

If we have to.

[ If there's nobody in the security office then maybe they'll be able to take a look on their own. The fewer people who know that somebody's been performing unwanted surgeries on the crew, the better. ]

I don't want anyone thinkin' you're a risk now that somebody's done that shit to you.

[ Even though he might be. Even though the alien might be watching them all through Vash's eyes, or who knows what else? ]

[plantussy]

We have to! It's procedure... and you're already in enough trouble.

[ No need to get on everyone's shitlist, Wolfwood. ]

I'm not saying we have to tell him exactly why, [ He's not stupid, after all. ] but asking to see some tapes shouldn't be an issue.

[ Vash thought about that, too... if someone could be seeing things through his eyes, now. However, if it is that woman? Then he's not worried at all. ]

[lastdecember]

[ Fuck the police, Saverem. ]

Okay, so we tell 'em something else. Some other reason why we want to see who was in your quarters around then.

[ If it was L3TH3, the damn thing's already listening to them and there's nothing they can do about that, but if it was one of the crew, or the alien, then dammit he needs to know it! He needs to know whot o go kill. ]

How about... somethin' got stolen?

[plantussy]

That could work, but it would also mean that we'd create a 'thief', and everyone's paranoid enough as it is.

[ He taps the bottle-glass green arm thoughtfully. ]

Maybe we can ask to check it for sleepwalking.

[lastdecember]

[ Oh, that's clever. That's a much better idea. ]

You should go in by yourself then. Wouldn't make sense for me to be there askin' about something like that.

[ A theft, sure, that affects everyone, but sleepwalking? That doesn't have anything to do with him. ]

Plus, if it's Massani in there, he'd tell me no just to be a dick.

[plantussy]

Have you made enemies with everyone, Wolfwood?

[ How did he manage that? Rin, Massani, Hilbert... impressive.]

Okay, I'll talk to him. If we just check my room I'm sure there will be no issues. I wish I could check the lounge where I collapsed after that memory, but Rin helped me and I don't think they saw anything unusual.

[ You know, other than a blonde idiot meeting the floor. ]