To: Tobias Parkes
From: Dankien Moebus
Location: Coronado
Time: ~10 hours after Tobias and Claire left Shasta ____________________________________
.¤.¤.¤.¤.¤.Incoming Transmission.¤.¤.¤.¤.¤.
Hi Tobias,
I finally left Shasta and I've just arrived to Barrier Gate Station.
I am on my way to Freeport 11. I hope I am still in good health after my stay in Baffin. Please, do not inform the Order of my arrival. I'll explain later.
This communication is visible only to Dankien Moebus.
Dankien,
It's good to here you got out safely.
I'm currently recuperating on Freeport 11. Seems the summit stressed my heart a little too much. I'm sure I'll be fine. People are fussing over me, but it shouldn't hold me back for long.
I won't inform them, but I should warn you that The Order sees pretty much everything that goes on in Omicron Delta.
You can meet me at the Corpin Estate inside our biodome. I'll tell the guards to let you pass.
A few days later, Dankien Moebus finally arrived in omicron-delta.
Reaching Freeport 11 he contacted the radio operator of the station:
Dankien: Greetings, this is Mathias Filemonsen, I'm requesting authorization to dock.
Operator: Welcome to Freeport 11 M. Filemonsen. Authorization granted, proceed to gate 1.
After docking, Dankien went to the registration office to get a room for the night. Once again he registered himself as Mathias Filemonsen. Hopefully, the agent at the front desk, a new recruit, did not recognize him.
Inside his room, Dankien immediately sent a message to Tobias Parkes.
Dankien: Hi Tobias, it's me, I've just arrived in Freeport 11. I'll meet you in 30 min at the Corpin Estate.
Then Dankien had a shower, ate some synth paste sandwich, bought a bottle of ŕosé wine at the liquor store and went to the Corpin Estate.
At the entrance, he gave his ID to one of the guard and said to the guards: Good day gentlemen, I'm Dankien Moebus, M. Parkes is waiting for me.
One of the guards: Sure thing, you may pass M. Moebus.
Finally meeting Tobias, Dankien says: Hi Tobias, how are you feeling? I was worrying about your last message. Sorry if I did not replied, I preferred to avoid any contact during my way back to the omicrons.
Parkes had recovered well from the Baffin incident, but was still recuperating at the Corpin estate. Mio Akiyama was running Freeport 11 whilst Parkes and Douglas recovered from the ordeal.
"Dankien." He grabbed Moebus hand and shook it before continuing, "It's good to see you. Glad you got out of there in one piece."
His smile faltered a little as he remembered business.
"So, you're out here. I was hoping to discuss trade and beneficial arrangements, but first, why the secrecy about The Order? They're not that bad you know. Some a little aggressive though." Parkes though about Golanski. He liked the man's effective nature, but his attitude was a little fanatical.
He pushed the thought from his mind as he offered Moebus a seat.
Dankien shakes Tobias hand and says: "good to see you too! The leaving from Shasta was very special, I had to be very persuasive to convince TAZ. I made a bluff about a remaining omicroners fleet going to rescue me. I don't know what they thought about it but ultimately they let me go. Anyway, if they mention it to you in the future, be sure that there is no such fleet, only a very few vessels. So, then I used a false identity to go back to Freeport 11, I avoided all Freeports to be sure I was not traced. Nevertheless, I don't think I've been followed. Note that even on Freeport 11 I used this forged identity, I hope you don't mind. It is very temporary, only for a few hours...
To get to the point, my concern is that I fear that I have been infected by this Persephone ship technology. So I would like to pass a scan to be sure I am clean. However, in the case I would have been infected, I would leave the station with my true identity and let the Order look for an infected human being that does not exist.
Anyway, I feel that all this Zoner summit story is very strange. The fact that TAZ organizes a zoner meeting near-by this TAZ ship hosting an alien technology on board is a strange coincidence. Also, it's pretty funny that the Order acted just at the same time, preventing the summit to happen. Actually I don't believe so much in coincidences. Am I too paranoid if I say that it was TAZ will to expose us to this alien thing?
But before we continue this discussion, can you schedule for me a discreet scan test to detect nomadic infection on my body?
Parkes slowly froze, listening to the tale unfold. To him it was unlikely that the normal scanners on Freeport 11 would allow a full-fledged nomad or infectee on board without warnings. The biodome even had secondary scanners. He pulled a very serious face.
"Dankien, my friend, I'm calling the guards." He motioned for extra guards. Demesa was already there, ready with gun in hand. She was listening from the other room, always on guard.
"I have to take precautions against you, in case you are. I cannot compromise this station. You know this." Parkes said, whilst armed guards from outside filed in. The Solar Runners on the station were notified of a potential infectee and went on alert.
"We have scanning equipment, but not here. We'll bring it here." He nodded solemnly. This was not something he wanted. He paused for a slight moment and then said, "Claire, seal down The Corpin Estate. No-one in or out except for the scanner coming in. Anyone coming in or out needs Mio Akiyama's authorisation and to pass a scan."
"Alright. Now we wait for the machine. It shouldn't take long, but it's a bit heavy. Just for the record, I am intending to keep you here. If you want to leave, you can, but you'll be going straight off this station without clearance to land again. False name or not." His brows furrowed. He disliked his course of action, but the station was more important than him and his friendships.
"What sort of infection do you think this is?" Parkes said, his eyes wide open, listening intently for Moebus' answer.
Dankien rises his hand:"I understand your position, even if I would have preferred more discretion about all of this. But anyway, I don't know really about this possible infection. I am just thinking we might have been exposed to something unknown, something that the Order seems to fear. That's why I am willing to be scanned. I would be surprised it is a nomadic infection but maybe TAZ want to convert all the Zoners to their religion.
I don't believe in god or gods, but it does not mean he or they do not exist. Suppose the artefact found by TAZ is a divine artefact. Then it could has some divine power.
My intention is to be scanned but what will you do if you detect something unpleasant?
Parkes relaxed his gaze. Perhaps he went too far, but such was his nature. He was unsure whether it was paranoia on the park of Moebus to insist on a check, but maybe it could have been something after all since he had never experienced militant TAZ behaviour before.
"It would be troublesome to have a cult-converting device. Even recently, the Administrator of The Nine converted to the TAZ religion and took on a popehood." Parkes pondered on the effects of a device existing slightly, before thinking of another irritance, "No, I don't think that'll be a problem with the Rotch idiot onboard. Never know what he's thinking."
"If I detect something abnormal, I can't have you here. At least, not without lockdown and further medical expertise from The Order." Parkes said, somberly.
"But, I won't stop you from leaving. In fact I'll kick you off this station if you don't want to be quarantined." He nodded, waiting for Moebus to nod in turn.
"Then that's great, I'll wait for the scan and we'll do it. We will see what we have to do after that. By the way, have you made a scan on yourself?
Now, regarding TAZ, it could indeed be a problem if TAZ would begin to brainwash people and recruit mass of discordian disciples. I mean, up until now, TAZ faction has behaved quite peacefully, but with this event in Baffin, I am unsure about their upcoming intention. In human history we had several sects that suddenly rose into chaos. Maybe TAZ time has come and they will reveal their true nature? I've never paid much attention to this discordia principle, but doesn't it sound like to chaos? Actually, maybe we should start here: do you have any reliable information about the TAZ religion?"
Parkes thought for a while. He hadn't scanned himself, but he certainly didn't like the TAZ any more and the amount of medical attention he'd received would've picked up something. Demesa had cottoned on to the same thought of potentially being altered and was analysing her own thoughts.
Then the machine arrived. Six men in bio-suits walked in carrying it carefully. They left as quickly as quickly as they came, minus one who stayed behind to operate it. He was fiddling with it to configure it to work properly.
It was at this time when Parkes decided to speak, "I'll scan myself after you. I'm not sure about chaos or the TAZ religion. I always assumed they were an unusual self-serving bunch. I'm sure time will reveal more than any intelligence Freeport 11 holds. The Order would know more, as would the various leaders of other Zoner factions."
Demesa nodded slightly in the background. She'd undergo the scan as well.
"It's ready." said the technician in the bio-suit.
Moebus nodded and laid down on the machine. It started whirring and moving around him. The air was rigid until it was cut by a beeping noise indicating the scan had finished.
The technician lifted the screen to show Moebus the result.