>>711096
If Pallavi wanted to come along she wouldn't have been so apprehensive about it. She'd probably feel like she was getting in the way of Jo and Vitus' budding romance if she did come to lunch and wouldn't enjoy it as much. It'd be better if she took lunch elsewhere, such as Cib's cafe. That'd be a decent choice since it'd allow her to meet another of Jo's friends.

>>711099
Partially correct. The official date is Jo taking Vitus out to a romantic dinner, followed by going to something along the lines of a club, museum, gallery, or theater; The final choice for after dinner venue is still up in the air.

...Y'know, Pallavi's right. If she was around you and Vitus would feel you couldn't talk as freely, and if either of you made a fool of yourself it'd be much more embarrassing if she was there. And whether she was right or not, she'd still feel she was getting in the way if she did come along and that'd just dampen her enjoyment. So it would be better if she had lunch elsewhere. Perhaps Cib's cafe so she could meet another of your friends, though if it's during the lunch rush she probably won't get to talk with Cib much. And text Vitus to let him know Pallavi won't be coming to lunch so he can adjust his plan for the meal.

Ask Harmony if it would do a favor for you, as a friend. You want to see the surveillance video from when it handed over those BTLs; Specifically from the camera you assume they have that records in detail how the clerk is handling the BTLs. (The one meant to keep stuff like case swapping pranks from happening.) You're looking to see if Harmony did check inside all the cases and that the BTLs in them are correct. And you want it to give your PAC access to the inventory system to examine it for traces of errors or glitches from then. All this isn't because you don't trust it, it's just that you need to be absolutely, positively, without a doubt certain whether or not the right BTL got into the right case then. ...And you'll owe it a drink for this. Or two. Or a whole bottle. ...From the top shelf, maybe.

If you see the surveillance video, ask PAC to bring up your suit-cam footage from the same time and compare Harmony's movements in both to make sure they match up with no or minimal inconsistencies. If there are then one of the videos has been edited.

Dang it, Shui looks so upset; His visor's done that mood color change thing it did before. Tell him that it's probably little consolation, but you didn't know it was Jidai at first 'cause he was wearing a helmet that completely concealed his face. If you'd known who you were dealing with you'd have handled things differently. As it is... Jidai's going to be even more scared of Peacekeepers, won't he? You wouldn't be surprised if he turns tail and runs at first sight of you, even out of uniform. ...Dang it. You feel like you should pay part of his fine just to show him you're sorry. ...Next payday, that is, since you've got less than 2000 credits to your name right now and have a dinner date coming up.

>The fraking offer only stand under my workings hours. If you want to be taffing around here you have to do it on this shift. Just take a fraking break or some shit, you twit.
Actually, this would be an excellent time to take a break and use that BTL. Text Vitus now to start making lunch and you'll have a half hour of BTL time before the meal's ready. Then ask PAC to start Mr. Ericsson's release procedures and you'll have an hour for lunch before meeting up with Pallavi here for Mr. Ericsson's surprise visit. But if a ninety minute long lunch break is longer than allowed, then ask PAC to start Mr. Ericsson's release now and take a half hour in the BTL and only a half hour for lunch. And make absolutely sure to set the shut-off timer on the BTL so you aren't late. Maybe ask Pallavi to stick around too, just in case you do get engrossed in the BTL and don't get up. That'll give her a chance to chat with Shui too.

It probably goes without saying, but ask PAC to notify you if Mr. Ericsson's medical monitor implant sends an alert after he gets home. If it does, then you rush in immediately and see if you catch who or what injured him. ...Actually, check if there's a record of whether or not Mr. Ericsson turned his med monitor implant off the previous times he was injured so it wouldn't send a alert out. If he did then that shows those weren't just accidents.

>I’m so going to punch that selfish baster for making me worry like this!
Maybe you should, like, punch a bulkhead or something. Get it out of your system.
>Do you want me to release him now?
Wait a bit, we want to eat lunch in peace. Plus God knows something's going to pop up in the meantime.

Kaktus 2016/04/17(Sun)09:31 No. 717320 ID: 65a774
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>we are locking the suit up from now on. Last thing we need to happen is for PAC to decide he wants to pull a prank on us and have him station the suit over our bed and just have it stare at us so we see it first thing when we wake up.
Or something worse… yeah, that’s thing is getting locked up big time!
>I'd like to check to see if PAC has ever controlled your suit but I don't want to tip it off.
...hmm… doesn’t Vitus work with AI’s… and Shui as well? You could be able to talk to them without PAC knowing on your free time.
>Don't forget that the Chief had the authority to control PAC and delete its memories. She could have easily ordered PAC to do that herself to keep the disc safe, knowing that once the guys picked it up, it could have ended up in corrupt hands.
That’s a really good point…
>Journey and Pallavi are the two new officers to the spire, and as such, the only two that Chief can trust.
Also a good point. So, the chief might be behind this? Then… is she working for the… actually, you’re not sure who are the good guys or the bad guys yet… hopefully whatever she does is for the betterment of the station, at least.
>Even if it wasn't Chief, PAC moving the stuff was still helpful, and there's no reason to assume that any "Compromise" is a malicious one rather than a beneficial one.
Right… let’s not assume treachery until proven so. Innocent until proven guilty and all that. Still, if it is true, it’s troubling and you’ll need to check up on this lead as soon as possible.

>It probably goes without saying, but ask PAC to notify you if Mr. Ericsson's medical monitor implant sends an alert after he gets home.
I’ll keep my sensors on it, Jo.
>...Actually, check if there's a record of whether or not Mr. Ericsson turned his med monitor implant off the previous times he was injured so it wouldn't send an alert out. If he did then that shows those weren't just accidents.
There are no report of injuries at all… it seems that Mr. Ericsson manually shut down his medical implants regularly on his free time, even when he isn’t getting hurt.
You can shut it down manually? Why?
Because we live in a democracy and people demand that they get the freedom to do stupid things?

>Pallavi probably feels like she was getting in the way of Jo and Vitus' budding romance if she did come to lunch and wouldn't enjoy it as much. It'd be better if she took lunch elsewhere, such as Cib's cafe.
Cib is one of your other friends?
Yeah, it’s a SAI.
Well, I guess I can say hi to… her? Him?
it.
Say hi to it… I mean, we’ll probably take lunch before the rush, right?
>Text Vitus to let him know Pallavi won't be coming to lunch so he can adjust his plan for the meal.
Got it.
Also, be there in about half an hour.
I’ll start cooking stuff up then.
See you soon <3


>Maybe you should, like, punch a bulkhead or something. Get it out of your system.
Oh, no, I… it’s just a- I didn’t mean it literally. Still, I’m worried about him.
>Tell him that it's probably little consolation, but you didn't know it was Jidai at first 'cause he was wearing a helmet that completely concealed his face. If you'd known who you were dealing with you'd have handled things differently.
No need to apologies. If he actually did something illegal it’s his own damn fault… but if he didn’t… well… then you’ll have some things to answer for, Jo.
>Ask Harmony if it would do a favor for you, as a friend. You want to see the surveillance video from when it handed over those BTLs.
No fraking warrant, no fraking way. Sorry, Jo, but can’t show this shit to every last taffer that fraking comes by to shit on my business.

>Actually, this would be an excellent time to take a break and use that BTL.
Give me a fraking sec and I’ll set the shit up.
>Then ask PAC to start Mr. Ericsson's release procedures and you'll have an hour for lunch before meeting up with Pallavi here for Mr. Ericsson's surprise visit.
:PACDREA: I’ll make sure he’ll be home in about 90 minutes, Officer.
>But if a ninety minute long lunch break is longer than allowed…
You’re not on break, you’re waiting for a suspect person to arrive at a particular location. Otherwise, normal lunch breaks are 45 minutes, so try to keep to that in the future, Jo.
>Ask Pallavi to stick around too, just in case you do get engrossed in the BTL and don't get up. That'll give her a chance to chat with Shui too.
…she’s already discussing something about those comic book heroes they were talking about with Shui… and it almost sounds like an argument… one of those nerd ones. Better let her be.

…

[Now playing: Tour around the Roon System.]
SPAAAAAAAAAAACEEEEEEEEEE!!!! SPAAAAAAAAACEEEEE!! BY JOVE LOOK AT ALL THIS SPAAAAAACEEE!! WEEEEEE!!!

Kaktus 2016/04/17(Sun)09:31 No. 717321 ID: 65a774
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[Now “playing”: Lunch with friend / potential partner / it’s complicated.]
-and the only reason I was able to catch up to her and make the arrest is because… well, remember the soft drink she threw at the start?
You don’t mean she…
She slipped on it and fell, dropping all the stolen spices right on her face.
Oh, that got to hurt…
Remember, we eat through our skin as well.
Hehe, now that is an instance of instant karma of I ever heard one. It remind me of this one time, in code camp-

Kaktus 2016/04/17(Sun)09:31 No. 717322 ID: 65a774
File 146091071254.png - (20.99KB , 900x450 , 79.png )

[Now “playing”: Peace K-
Stop trying to turn this into a montage, PAC.
Sorry.

Here we are…
He’s been home for about ten minutes now… and his medical implants was just turned off.
Then we need to hurry up and-
We can’t just rush in without a warrant, Jo… at least, not unless you want to take the gamble that something is actually happening in there. Remember, you either need a warrant or approval of the owner to enter someone’s housing… or alternatively a really good cause to enter, like a call for aid.

>>717322
Due to the lack of a warrant or proper (legally legitimate) cause for concern, it's probably best to make the checkup informal, ie remove the helmets. Show that you're checking up as a friend.

> or alternatively a really good cause to enter, like a call for aid.
We'll have to wait for one of those- if we show up and the missus doesn't know anything's wrong, a couple of cops will tip her off and we'll throw Ericsson under the bus. Plus, we're already on the thinnest ice with this job.

Can we surveil Mrs. Ericsson's medical implants, or are they turned off too?

>>717322
I expect we can just wait at the door and listen. If there's sounds of a violent argument then we'll have cause to enter.

You two better move back around the corner while you both figure out how you're going to go about this. You don't want to be seen loitering about if Mr. or Mrs. Ericsson steps out. And don't these apartment doors have a fisheye lens "peephole" camera to show who's outside? If so you might have already been spotted. PAC can keep an eye on the apartment door via the hall camera while you're around the corner. It might even be able to use the peephole camera of the apartment door opposite as well.

You and Pallavi over what you have on Mr. Ericsson and his wife and figure out what level of warrants, if any, you can get and how to proceed. Now, he's been very evasive about who has harmed him, or even that it's the doing of another, but he has slipped up. Most notably yesterday, outside the warehouse, when asked if anyone was hurting him part of his response was "how dare you even suggest that she would… that someone would…" when no particular person was suggested. This indicates that someone is harming him, that they're female, and they're someone who he'd take offense at the suggestion they'd harm him. Couple that with his extreme outburst the day before at Pallavi even starting to suggest his wife, and all his responses since then that involve her in any way, and it indicates his wife is the most likely person to be harming him. And it's been determined that he's received all his injuries while in his home, when presumably the only other person there was his wife.

Mrs. Ericsson is also known to have two previous convictions for assault from before she came to New Horizon four years ago. You'll need to get the details from those cases to see if they in any way line up with what's happening with Mr. Ericsson. If she's had a history of abusing her partners that points more towards her being the one who's injuring him. Also check if she came from outside Unity space before she came to New Horizon and if so if she had an aggression inhibitor before. If she's had a aggression inhibitor back then and still committed assault then she could still do it now.

Pull up Mr. Ericsson's medical records and run them back to before he met his wife. Did his string of injuries start before or after he met her? And when did he start regularly turning his medical monitoring implants off when he'd get home? Before or after he met or married her? How has he gotten to the hospital for treatment before? Did he go elsewhere and call for medical assistance? Did his wife bring him in? Has he be been extensively tested for balance or other neurological conditions that would cause extreme clumsiness and have they been ruled out? Ask PAC to do a forensic analysis of the way his bones have been broken and tissues damaged to extrapolate the object that hit him and how much force was needed. Could his wife have had the strength to inflict them? And have all his injuries been blunt force ones or has he been cut?

Pull up Mrs. Ericsson's medical records and look for injuries consistent with her hitting someone hard with either with her hands or feet. Things like broken knuckles, toes or other bones in her hands, wrists or feet. Also check if her medical monitoring implants are enabled right now, along with if she's turned them off before and when. Also Check if Mr. or Mrs. Ericsson have their comms turned off right now as well.

Check when Mrs. Ericsson was last employed and compare the frequency of Mr. Ericsson's injuries to the periods when his wife has been unemployed. Also check if Mrs. Ericsson was fired from her previous job and any before that and the reasons given. If they're related to her having a short temper or nearly hitting someone than that's more to back her possibly assaulting her husband.

Check with PAC whether the aggression inhibitor implants have been brought back on-line station-wide. Because if Mrs. Ericsson's is the one harming Mr. Ericsson and her aggression inhibitor is disabled right now, then without it holding her back he may end up in the morgue rather than the hospital this time.

Check if Mr. Ericsson's neighbors have registered any complaints of noise or anything else on him or his wife. If they've gotten into arguments, or if she's beat him against the wall, they may have heard it. Also contact the neighbors, either at their doors or via comms if they're at work, and ask if they know Mr. Ericsson and if he and his wife have been having troubles. And also check with this apartment block's superintendent for the maintenance and repair logs for Mr. Ericsson's apartment. If Mrs. Ericsson has a short temper then she may have busted parts of the apartment, possibly on Mr. Ericsson. You can also contact any maintenance personnel who've been in their apartment recently to ask if they saw or heard anything out of the ordinary while there.

Call up your friends and ask if any of them know Mats Ericsson and Isa/Johanna (she's been mistakenly given two different names) Ericsson and what they know about their history, situation and how they're getting along. You saw and overheard Aelia talking to Mr. Ericsson the day you arrived on New Horizon, after coming back from HQ, so they are at least acquaintances. Oh, and if one of them knows the Ericssons well enough to have visited them before, and they're not a work right now, then you could ask if they could give them a visit. While you almost certainly wouldn't get approval to enter their home, a friend of theirs would. And a friend of theirs that's a friend of yours could then poke their nose about the place and tell you what they saw and heard.

You could check if the apartment door is unlocked. While you can't enter the apartment without a warrant or the resident's permission, it's still legal if you stand outside, open the unlocked door and look and listen in. However, it's a risky maneuver since if you don't catch something incriminating when you do you've given away that you're there.

While you don't have enough for a warrant to enter Mr. Ericsson's apartment, do you have enough to get additional evidence such as the apartment door and occupancy logs? Or enough to get a warrant to track back the hall camera video and determine if Mrs. Ericsson was in the apartment every time Mr. Ericsson was injured? Or even enough to allow audio surveillance inside the apartment, possibly by silently enabling the microphone on the interior intercom panel? Or video surveillance by commandeering one of the apartment's cleaner bots?

If you can place Mrs. Ericsson as being in the apartment with Mr. Ericsson every time he has sustained a injury, then that makes her the prime suspect and you can get a warrant to question her. At the least you could get a warrant to question her as a likely witness to how Mr. Ericsson is getting injured so much.

If Mrs. Ericsson leaves the apartment then you two should catch up with her and ask her some questions about her husband's injuries.

>Or something worse… yeah, that’s thing is getting locked up big time!
But where could you lock it up in your apartment? Every door has a PK override PAC can access, right? So you can't just leave your suit in the bathroom and lock the door. And the only container you have sturdy enough to stand up to your suit's strength is the evidence locker, which PAC can open. And besides that, doesn't every container large enough for a child to get inside have a manual release for the lock or catch on the inside, as per safety law? So you can't even lock your suit in your wardrobe to keep PAC from potentially roaming in secret.

You'll have to take more measures to contain PAC or at least indicate if it is roaming about. Unfortunately the ones that could contain PAC would be quite obvious to it that that's what you want to do. Something like buying a large safe or sturdy locker and strong chains and locks to wrap around it. However, measures to indicate if PAC has opened its container can be much, much more discreet. Something like tying a thin thread around the container's catch such that it breaks when opened, or catching the thread in door when the container is closed so it falls out when opened. Preferably multiple indicator methods in case one fails.

>...hmm… doesn’t Vitus work with AI’s… and Shui as well? You could be able to talk to them without PAC knowing on your free time.
Unless PAC isn't abiding by its privacy protocols, which if it is compromised would be likely. You'll have to turn your comm implant totally off before talking to Vitus or Shui to be reasonably sure PAC isn't listening in.

>>717336
All the apartment doors and walls here probably have excellent soundproofing, so just listening at the door wouldn't work. However, Jo's suit may have sensors that can pick up micro vibrations in materials. If it does then PAC can use them on the door to possibly pick up sounds from inside the apartment. Unfortunately, this method would very likely be considered invasive to privacy and thus require a warrant.

I hope this doesn't turn out to be some kind of consenting BDSM thing.

>>717571
If it is then they're doing BDSM really wrong. Outside of a accident it shouldn't result in even a black eye, let alone broken bones. ...But better ask PAC what the law is on consenting BDSM or other sex acts that go too far and result in a participant being injured. And also check Mr. Ericsson's medical records to see if there's indications of him being improperly bound in a BDSM act, such as bruising of the wrists and ankles.

Check if the officers that looked into Mr. Ericsson's injuries before talked to Mrs. Ericsson and asked her about them. If they did that'll give you an idea of how she'll respond when asked now. And if they didn't then perhaps one option you have is to talk to her in a non-confrontational way and ask her about it. Present some of what you've observed and ask what her explanation is. At the least it'll show you how she reacts and you can gather a bit more about her behavior that way.

Kaktus 2016/04/20(Wed)10:38 No. 717971 ID: 65a774
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>But where could you lock it up in your apartment? Every door has a PK override PAC can access, right?
Dammit, you’re right… hmm… while you might not be able to lock it up completely; maybe you can make it not want to move around? Like by putting a thread or string on the dresser door or something so you’ll know if it moves around maybe?
>Unless PAC isn't abiding by its privacy protocols, which if it is compromised would be likely. You'll have to turn your comm implant totally off before talking to Vitus or Shui to be reasonably sure PAC isn't listening in.
Right, so you’ll have to go completely silent without rousing suspicion… that would be too hard with Vitus…

>Mrs. Ericsson is known to have two previous convictions for assault from before she came to New Horizon four years ago. You'll need to get the details from those cases to see if they in any way line up with what's happening with Mr. Ericsson.
Apparently, she assaulted someone at a bar… multiple times… though she only been arrested twice; she got a lot of warnings for being violent as well.
>Also check if she came from outside Unity space before she came to New Horizon and if so if she had an aggression inhibitor before.
She comes from Human space, so she is probably rather new to the aggression inhibitor… and she probably got one of those removable ones. Only people born here get one integrated into the brain at a young age.

>Pull up Mr. Ericsson's medical records and run them back to before he met his wife. Did his string of injuries start before or after he met her?
It seems to have started about three years ago… so a year after his wife came here… and a year before they married. Of course, he didn’t break his bones as often back then as he does now…
>I hope this doesn't turn out to be some kind of consenting BDSM thing.
Even if it was, it’s still illegal. Breaking someone’s bones repeatedly, even if they want you to, is still a crime.
>I expect we can just wait at the door and listen. If there are sounds of a violent argument then we'll have cause to enter.
…these things are soundproof.
>Check if the officers that looked into Mr. Ericsson's injuries before talked to Mrs. Ericsson and asked her about them.
There is on record that they’ve talked to her, but not the exact details of any of the conversations they’ve had.

>Due to the lack of a warrant or proper (legally legitimate) cause for concern, it's probably best to make the checkup informal, ie remove the helmets. Show that you're checking up as a friend.
You don’t think he’ll consider you a friend… and trying to play this of as a neighborly visit will be awkward with the police uniforms on.
>Check when Mrs. Ericsson was last employed and compare the frequency of Mr. Ericsson's injuries to the periods when his wife has been unemployed.
It seems that she has had trouble keeping a job as long as she’s been here. The longest employment she had was the first one she got, which lasted about a year… after that, the employment times seems to grow shorter and shorter, with the time between jobs growing longer and longer…
>Also check if Mrs. Ericsson was fired from her previous job and any before that and the reasons given.
“Acting aggressive against costumers”, “Acting aggressive against co-workers”, “Acting aggressive against superiors”… there’s a pattern here… only her first job stand out, which is “budget cuts”.

>Check if Mr. or Mrs. Ericsson has their comms turned off right now as well.
I can’t say if they are on or off, only that there aren’t any outside traffic coming or going from them.
>Ask PAC to do a forensic analysis of the way his bones have been broken and tissues damaged to extrapolate the object that hit him and how much force was needed.
No warrant, Jo… I can’t just check people’s medical records like that whenever I please.
>You and Pallavi should go over what you have on Mr. Ericsson and his wife and figure out what level of warrants, if any, you can get and how to proceed.
There is definitely something going on here…
Yet, we have nothing but speculation-
Speculation or not, we need to do something! We can’t just let some wife-beater… err… I mean, husband-beater go loose?
Well, maybe if we pool everything we know together, we might be granted a Warrant?
It’s worth a try…

>You two better move back around the corner while you both figure out how you're going to go about this. You don't want to be seen loitering about if Mr. or Mrs. Ericsson steps out.
You better move before someone comes out and-

-and clean up the fucking mess you- wait, who the fuck are you two!?
Err…

peace keepers on patrol, so who are you?

You keep her distracted, Pavali peeks -NOT SNEAKS- into the room to see if anything is awry. Introduce Pavali, then yourself, but do all the talking and let her draw her own conclusions so all her attention is directed to you.

...Is that blood on her shoe?

>>717971
Blood on her shoe is probable cause. Time to go inside.

Radio Pallavi that in the short while Mrs. Ericsson's attention is on you to get a solid look into the apartment for anything we can act on. Introduce yourself and your partner and say that you two were just taking a break in your patrol here. Pallavi only needs a few moments, so you don't really need anything more than that to get Mrs. Ericsson's attention.

You see something on Mrs. Ericsson's right shoe that might be blood, but don't get ahead of yourself and call that reason to enter the apartment just yet. Ask PAC to scan that shoe and determine if it's fresh blood. If it is then ask it to look over her for signs of injury that could be the source. If she doesn't have any then you have cause to enter the apartment to check if anyone is injured.

Scan the air around her and her breath for traces of alcohol, or if that's not legally allowed then open your suit vents to get a solid whiff of her. If there's a definite smell of booze on her then that'd be one more likely reason she'd get abusive with her husband, since inebriation lowers self-control. And check if she's had any warnings for public intoxication or other complaints lodged against her for drinking.

>She comes from Human space, so she is probably rather new to the aggression inhibitor… and she probably got one of those removable ones.
How does one of those work? It slots into the neural interface port similar to a BTL? And is it less effective than a implanted one or known to cause side effects in some cases? And it's legal for her to remove it, right? But is it logged by the station systems when it's removed? And if so, do you legally have access to those logs? If you do then ask PAC to pull the logs for Mrs. Ericsson and see if she has it removed right now, as well as to compare the periods when her inhibitor is removed with when Mr. Ericsson sustains injuries, when she's lost her jobs, and with any other warnings or complaints against her for aggressive behavior.

Kaktus 2016/04/21(Thu)05:20 No. 718137 ID: 65a774
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>How does one of those implants work? It slots into the neural interface port similar to a BTL? And is it less effective than an implanted one or known to cause side effects in some cases? And it's legal for her to remove it, right?
It’s a cheaper, less reliable version of the implant, removable by an official sponsored cybernetic clinic. Removing it without a good cause is illegal, unless you are planning of moving away from Unity space… which, thinking about it, will probably fall under a good cause. So, if she has had it removed, she must have done so illegally at a black market cybernetic clinic.

>Blood on her shoe is probable cause.
Scanning… that is indeed blood… and seeing as she has no wounds on her…
>Scan the air around her and her breath for traces of alcohol.
Alcohol detected. She is quite clearly drunk.
>Check if she's had any warnings for public intoxication or other complaints lodged against her for drinking.
Two of her employment termination causes are because of showing up intoxicated and aggressive.

>You keep her distracted, Pallavi peeks -NOT SNEAKS- into the room to see if anything is awry.
(Got it.)
>Peace keepers on patrol, so who are you?
Patrol!? You’re standing right outside my door! If you were on a fucking patrol you would be walking down the corridor, not be hanging out right outside my apartment!
You didn’t answer my question, ma’am.
Don’t ma’am me, pig! You didn’t answer my question either!
What is your name!?
…It’s Isa.
…then why do my implant say it’s Johanna?
That’s my middle name, you fucking moron! Geez, you men are all the same, fucking retarded.

(I can’t see anything suspicious, but I can defiantly hear someone moving in there… someone that’s coughing and whining… like he’s hurt.)
Right, that’s it… is your husband home, ma’am?
Huh? Of course you want to talk to him instead of me! No, that waste of flesh isn’t here.
Have you been drinking?
That is not your damn business!
And is that blood on your boot?
I cut myself when I was cooking.
Yet still you don’t have a wound to show for it… this is now official Peace keeper business. Move aside and let us enter.
No fucking way! Either show a warrant or get lost, creep!
Move aside, ma’am.
Don’t you fucking dare! If you take one more step I’ll fucking punch you!
…
I’ll have you fired for this! Assaulting a woman in her own home!? Fucking pig!

Well, she’s definitely drunk and aggressive…

Well she just threatened to attack you if you move closer, all the while still inside the hallway and not anywhere inside her "home".

>>718137
Part of me wants to stun her immediately. If that would be by the book, then do so. If not then maybe you can just force her to move away from the door so Pallavi can go in. You'd be stronger than her due to your arm.

We know someone is in there, you were just ordering them around. We are unamused and unintimidated and have more than enough probable cause to enter. Step aside, now.

PAC, has she called any medical personnel? ANd don't strike first, it's what she's counting on. This needs to be as cut and dry as we can make it.

Confirm with PAC that based on what Pallavi heard, the blood on Isa's boot, and everything else observed so far that you and Pallavi do have legal grounds to enter her apartment for the purpose of determining if someone in there is injured and in need of aid. If so, then both of you are legally performing your duty and Isa has no grounds to try and stop either of you from entering her home. If she does attempt to block either of you then you both are in the clear to move her out of the way, if there's no other option. And if she strikes one of you then either of you are clear to subdue and arrest her. However, using force should be one of your last options, so try to find other ways first.

Ask PAC if you can get a warrant issued for just entering Isa's apartment to see if anyone inside needs medical aid. You don't actually need an explicit warrant to enter in this situation, but issuing one does give you a legal document to present to Isa which may possibly get her to comply.

Radio Pallavi and ask her to quietly take a sample of the blood for her suit to analyze while Isa's attention is still on you; It's in a public hallway so it's fair game as evidence. Use the evidence drone if it's quieter than bending down in the suit. Get exactly how fresh it is along with a DNA pattern to match against the one on file for Mr. Ericsson. Assuming it is his blood and it was bled recently, along with everything else we've got there should be more than enough to get a rock solid warrant to at the least enter and see if he needs medical aid. And if he does then there might be enough to possibly extend the warrant to determining how he was harmed.

Take a step back and politely inform Isa that striking a officer is a criminal offense and that if she attempts to do so to you or your partner that the both of you will subdue and arrest her. You don't want that and you can only assume she doesn't either. Then tell her that from what you and your partner have observed you have enough grounds to legally enter her apartment. If you've gotten a warrant, ask PAC to get the warrant issuing system to send it to Isa now. That way it'll come from on high and she can't say you faked it or something equally silly. Once she's looked over the warrant ask her to please step aside so you and your partner can perform your duties. If she still refuses, then you can resort to force to remove her and place her under arrest for impeding an officer.

>So, if she has had it removed, she must have done so illegally at a black market cybernetic clinic.
But if she did have it removed illegally, why would she want to do so? Are there other reasons to have it removed besides leaving Unity space? Does that version of the aggression inhibitor have undesirable side effects she would have wanted to get rid of? ...Ah, you don't even know if she has had her inhibitor removed or not, so better stop speculating until you do. If and when she's brought in get her a medical scan right away to check that.

Kaktus 2016/04/22(Fri)10:07 No. 718359 ID: 65a774
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>But if she did have it removed illegally, why would she want to do so?
If the shows you used to watch in your youth is correct, humans tends to value their own freedom above anything else… of course, in retrospect, those portrayals were usually a bit speciest. Still, having the freedom to be angry and hurt others is probably something someone somewhere desire?
>If and when she's brought in get her a medical scan right away to check that.
You send a notice to PAC to make sure they do that when she is taken away.
>Part of me wants to stun her immediately. If that would be by the book, then do so.
You’re already on thin ice… let’s do this by the book.

>PAC, has she called any medical personnel?
As I said, no outgoing communication yet. I, on the other hand, have already called for reinforcements.

>We know someone is in there, you were just ordering them around.
I was talking to myself! I just reminded myself that I needed to clean later, you fucking re-
Right, right…
>Politely inform Isa that striking an officer is a criminal offense and that if she attempts to do so to you or your partner that the both of you will subdue and arrest her.
It shouldn’t be a crime to strike someone like you, fucker! In fact, it should be illegal for people like you to be officers! You’re just violent psychopaths all of you!
…people like me? Cibics?
I’m not talking about species! God, you’re all so dumb too… how do your kind even survive!?
…okay, I’m getting confused here. What exactly are you insulting me over?
Of course you would be confused, man-pig!
...I still don’t- eh, you know what…
>We are unamused and unintimidated and have more than enough probable cause to enter. Step aside, now.
I will never bow down to your kind! Sisters, revolt!
(…PAC, is she on drugs or something as well?)
(Not that I can tell, no.)

>Maybe you can just force her to move away from the door so Pallavi can go in. You'd be stronger than her due to your arm.
Unhand me, you pig!
*Thud*Thud*
Okay, you are clearly attacking me now.
Death to the patri-
*Zaap*
There, much better. Now, let’s hurry up. Someone might still be injured in there!
Err... we can’t just leave her here, can we?
Move her inside and I’ll lock the door after you.

Kaktus 2016/04/22(Fri)10:07 No. 718360 ID: 65a774
File 146134487883.png - (25.63KB , 900x450 , 83.png )

Mr. Ericsson? Are you in here?
Wha- *Cough* who are y-you? What are you...
Subject is suffering massive head trauma. It’s advice to get him to some medical personal as soon as possible.
I-I heard m-my wife scream? Is she alright?
She has been arrested, sir… she can’t hu-
Arrested!? Wha- why!? Why would you arrest my dear little Isa!?
I’ve accessed the cameras inside the apartment. According to them Mrs. Ericsson regularly assaulted Mr. Ericsson here.
She was hurting you!
No, thi- she can’t hurt me! I love her! But if you’ve hurt her… I’ll… I’ll… I don’t know wha- DON’T COME ANY CLOSER!!
Warning, subject is acting aggressive and delusional.
You don’t say.
IF YOU HURT HER I WILL KILL YOU!

Seems Mr Eric here is a victim of stockholme syndrome towards an abusive spouse, we are going to need psychological help afterwords as it seems that it's so further in that he would defend his abuser to the point of slavish devotion despite having a GAPING HEADWOUND directly caused by her.

We also need to calm him down, tell him his wife is unharmed and has settled down in the hallway in an attempt to try and get his weapon down. Signal Pallavi as well as best as you can to try and avoid speaking of his wife aggressively.

What is he armed with and can it penetrate your armor? If we can try and do your best to calm him down, if at worst we will have to potentially rush him and bring him down.

Call in necessary emergency services, try to talk him down before he hurts himself. He can't hurt you with a head wound, half his limbs broken and a broken broom handle, so don't worry about that.

Mr. Ericson, your wife is fine. You aren't, you've been bludgeoned with a pipe and are bleeding profusely. Just stay calm until the doctors arrive, okay?

what they hell is that on the couch? a metal pipe? Did she fucking hit him with a metal pipe? Anyways try to talk some sense into the guy but if that fails just shoot him with that sleep gun you have.

Anyways once we've dealt with him I guess we could explore their home to see what other evidence we can find. Don't touch anything of course, we'll leave that for the forensic team but it defiantly wouldn't hurt to have PAC log some video evidence and give forensics some good places to start.

>>718360
Tell him she's fine. She has not been injured at all. However, he has. Tell him if he does not get medical care he will likely die. Call the ambulance(or non-vehicle equivalent?) immediately. No need to get any closer, you can let the medics treat him once they get here.

Tell him you're sure she loves him very much, and him her, but she was taking out her inhibitor chip and letting her anger control her. It's not her fault, right?
(I don't believe a word of this but say it anyway)

Also I figured out what she was insulting you over, she thought you were a man. She hates men.

>>718365
I'd avoid using the sleep gun; he's in bad enough shape, an unsupported fall would only make things worse.

>>718367
that's why I said only use it if we can't talk the guy down. Because if we can talk him down the good for everybody but if he tries to attack us he could hurt himself more (I have no idea how much that head wound might be messing up his coordination) or possibly even us or our partner. That and he could be charged with assault on an officer and the guy did just get out of jail.

Radio Pallavi to step back to the doorway. Tell her with the level of psychological trauma and distortion you can only assume he has, any sort of logic or facts isn't going to get through his delusion no matter how plainly obvious they are. We're going to have to play to his delusion or avoid bringing up his wife if we're to keep things from getting worse. Now, since she's gotten the focus of his ire, you want her to step out and close the door. Then you want her to cuff Mrs. Ericsson, move her into the bathroom, lock her in, then take a look around the apartment for other evidence. That way when Mr. Ericsson leaves he won't see her unconscious and flip out. We can keep an eye on her via the apartment cameras in case she wakes up.

Stay at the door and try and talk Mr. Ericsson down. Tell him that his wife is fine, but he's very much not. Say that he has serious head trauma and should lay down so he doesn't make it life threatening before the paramedics arrive. He doesn't want to risk dying and leaving his wife all alone, does he? No, he doesn't, right? So he should lay down and rest and wait for the medics. Get the ETA for their arrival from PAC and tell Mr. Ericsson how long it'll be. Also let the paramedics know the situation so they'll be ready with a dose of tranquilizers for him.

Check with PAC how much of a risk it would be to Mr. Ericsson if a stun baton was used on him in his current medical state. Is there a risk the stun shock would exacerbate his head trauma, or would the risk be from him falling over when stunned and hitting his head? Because if it's the latter you should be able to catch him if you stun him with your baton.

If he makes a move to attack you, then it'd likely be for the best to dodge him and use your stun baton at the safest setting to knock him out, then catch him, lay him down and administer a dose of Quick-Fix to stabilize him. You know he can't hurt you through your PK suit, but the strain of hitting you would likely make his injuries worse and he might become unbalanced and fall over, hitting his head. But if he tries to leave, then you should back off and let him, following just out of his reach.

>I’ve accessed the cameras inside the apartment. According to them Mrs. Ericsson regularly assaulted Mr. Ericsson here.
Well, it's damn surprising Isa left the cameras recording, but having this evidence is a hell of a lucky break for this case. Ask PAC to lock the camera access out from Mr. Ericsson so he can't possibly check it and see his unconscious wife. ...Hey, wait. Interior cameras aren't standard for apartments here, are they? You know Tr'ak's apartment didn't have them, and you know your apartment doesn't have them. ...At least, you think your apartment doesn't have them. Does your apartment have them?

>>718362
>What is he armed with and can it penetrate your armor? If we can try and do your best to calm him down, if at worst we will have to potentially rush him and bring him down.
That's his crutch he's brandishing. It couldn't harm Jo or Pallavi through their PK suits even if he was wielding it with both hands. As it is, swung with one arm it's no threat to either of them. He could beat on them all day and they wouldn't get so much as a bruise. It'd be much more of a danger to him, since the strain would most likely exacerbate his head trauma into something life threatening. In that case, rushing him and using a low setting stun baton to knock him out would probably be the best course of action for his safety.

>>718363
PAC already called for reinforcements, which almost certainly included a paramedic team. However, better confirm that it did do that and get a ETA for them.

>>718365
>Anyways try to talk some sense into the guy but if that fails just shoot him with that sleep gun you have.
...That's a option, but it should only be employed if he moves to be actively a threat to himself or others. And it's "shock rifle," not "sleep gun." And it may not even be an option since Jo and Pallavi might have had to turn their shock rifles in when they were busted back down to patrol.

>>718366
>Tell him you're sure she loves him very much, and him her, but she was taking out her inhibitor chip and letting her anger control her. It's not her fault, right?
The aggression inhibitor Isa has, while technically removable, is still implanted and requires a cybernetics doctor or technician to remove. It can't be done by herself. And we don't know if Isa has had her aggression inhibitor removed. It's just speculation that she has. And besides, he's so delusional that he won't react well to any claim his wife harmed him, so saying anything to that effect here will not help at all.

>>718368
Him wielding his crutch as a weapon one handed, balanced on one leg, against the protection of a PK suit would pose no risk of him harming Jo or Pallavi. And that's assuming he doesn't fall over And given he's obviously out of his mind and delusional, a charge of assaulting an officer wouldn't stick.

Kaktus 2016/04/22(Fri)16:08 No. 718439 ID: 65a774
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>Seems Mr Eric here is a victim of Stockholm syndrome towards an abusive spouse, we are going to need psychological help afterwards.
It’s a given people need therapy after being attacked by their spouse like this.
>Once we've dealt with him I guess we could explore their home to see what other evidence we can find.
Your first priority is to make sure the victim is safe, second is to arrest the suspect and third is gathering evidence. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall we?
>I figured out what she was insulting you over, she thought you were a man. She hates men.
...wait, why would she care what pronoun you use? After all, even if you were human… not to sound speciest, but both humans supposed genders look the same to you, except for that weird chest thing… milk bags or what they are. Is she mad that you don’t have milk bags? No other speciest has milk bags either… geez, these alien confuse you sometime…
>What is he armed with and can it penetrate your armor?
He’s flailing around with his wooden- actually, it’s a plastic crutch, but it looks almost wooden. Either way, no way that thing is a threat to either of you. The only thing he’s dangerous to be himself.
>Well, it's damn surprising Isa left the cameras recording, but having this evidence is a hell of a lucky break for this case.
She probably doesn’t remember these apartments have them… or she believes no one would get access to them in time. It is a bit surprising that she let them keep running though, as most people shut them down when they are home. Maybe a part of Eric wanted her to be caught? Hmm…
>Does your apartment have them?
It does, but you currently only have them online when you’re not home. That way, if there is a break in, you would be able to see who did it.

>What they hell is that on the couch? A metal pipe? Did she fucking hit him with a metal pipe?
She probably grabbed the first thing- actually, where would you even get a metal pipe? ...wait, it’s some kind of synth plastic? It’s a lot softer then metal, but apparently still sturdy enough to take a lot of blows… good thing this wasn’t metal, as Mr. Ericsson wouldn’t be alive then. Still, where do you get a thing like this?
>Check with PAC how much of a risk it would be to Mr. Ericsson if a stun baton was used on him in his current medical state.
Remembering you training, you know that stun rods are a no no, while a sleeper gun is usable if precautions are taken beforehand.
>I'd avoid using the sleep gun; he's in bad enough shape, an unsupported fall would only make things worse.
You’ll still need to use the sleep gun on him, as him being awake will only make thing worse. What you need to do is to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself when you put him down, either by catching him or making him lie down on his own admission.
>And it's "shock rifle," not "sleep gun."
Shock rifle are the big, armor piercing ones that you currently don’t have access too. A sleeper gun is these small things that can put people to sleep as long as they aren’t wearing anything thicker than leather. They are the standard tool for all Peace keepers together with the stun rod.

>Call the ambulance (or non-vehicle equivalent?) immediately.
I’ve already called for reinforcements, remember? There will be a paramedic arriving with them.
>Tell him she's fine. She has not been injured at all. However, he has. Tell him if he does not get medical care he will likely die.
Li-liar… she…
Listen, She loves you, do she not? How do you think she will feel when we tell her you died because you refused to calm down?
I… I…
Don’t worry, sir… we are here to help. Just calm down and everything will be fine.
But… I… But if she- ughh…

As soon as Pallavi gets close enough to him, you hit him with your sleeper gun, making him collapse into her arms. She lay him to rest on the floor and starts tending to he’s wounds as best she can, using the peace keeper suits innate abilities to stabilize wounds.

Reinforcements are arriving right now.
I’ll use my Quick-Fix on him while you go met up with them outside, okay boss?

Kaktus 2016/04/22(Fri)16:08 No. 718440 ID: 65a774
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Ah, here we are… Greetings again, Jo. Where is the victim and how bad is it.
He’s in the room straight across from the entrance and he got a nasty head wound.
Very well, I’ll have him ready for extraction in a few minutes.
Good… now, I’m going to guess by the fancy uniform that you’re the one in charge of this area?
That is correct, and as a new recruit I’ll let your lack of respect slide this time. I’m here to personally oversee the arrest of Mr. Ericsson. He has already been suspected of beating his wi-
Wait, I think you got it the wrong way… err, sir! It’s his wife who’s been beating him up… sir.
This isn’t the time for jokes, Officer.
This one fail to see jokes anywhere…
…err… I’m not joking, sir?
A woman beating up a man? Bah! A woman can’t beat up a man! Women are frail creatures who belong at home where they can be protected! Why, I can’t fathom why we would even hire female peace keepers, what are they supposed to do? Scratch the evil bad guys to death?
Frail creatures? Aren’t mantis women the biggest, strongest people around?
I’m talking about humans.
Wait, isn’t the only difference between human genders those milk bags? Oh, and sex organs, of course.
This one is also very confused. Why do milk bags make you a bad officer?
That’s not- ugh, forget it. You’re both alien and don’t understand the sophisticated roles that certain genders are supposed to have. Now, as your commanding officer, I ask you to lead me to this Mr. Ericsson already so we can take him away. Wife beaters like him deserve to rot in a tiny cell, if you ask me.

…he might be right that you’re not very versed in this whole gender thing but still, you can’t see why having milk bags, or the lack thereof, would make someone more suspect than the other… Geez, these alien customs are weird! Either way, you better make sure this baffon doesn’t arrest the wrong person because he’s… whatever he is. Genderist? It’s some kind of –ist, you’re sure.

>>718440
Tell him you must have been mistaken about the genders of the couple. The woman must be the one with the massive headwound and evidence of a history of severe injury, and the man must be the one that has no injuries. The boobs threw you off but I guess they must be implants.

Let him check out the evidence himself. Like, the video evidence even.

Regardless you have to report his blatant sexism to Internal Affairs.

...So did PAC not inform the good captain that you have straight video evidence of who was beating who? Or are we holding that back a bit till he makes a complete fool of himself with how badly genderist he is being.

I don't know the first thing about your species' sexual dimorphism, sir, but you'll find that Mr. Erikson's head has been bashed in with a blunt object while Mrs. Erikson was physically well enough to accost an officer. Video evidence corroborates. I also suggest you stow that attitude before my partner overhears and does something you'll regret.

sir, the cameras that each apartment has instead were running the whole time and caught the whole thing. The wife came out of the door and basically attacked me and my partner when we tried to investigate her home after finding a small amount of blood on her shoe and hearing pained groans coming form the apartment. Inside we found the husband with a massive head wound from some kind of syth metal pipe from unknown origin which was covered in blood and I'm positive if you ran a test on it, it would be the husbands blood. The wife has no visible injuries as well so unless an unknown third party was involved that further cements that the blood is the husbands. The wife also seems to have had her anger inhibitor (or whatever that things is called) turned off if not removed and has had a history of violence and drinking to a lesser extent and when we first talked to her we could smell the alcohol on her breath even through our suits.

Also I may not know all the much about human genders and their differences but I'm pretty sure what you're doing right now is profiling and I believe that can really get you into trouble sir.

Wait how did this moron get in charge? Ask him if he stole that uniform

The video was sent to HQ, right? I mean, if there were orders from this guy to not send it, the fact that he's showing gender-bias now is evidence that any orders to ignore evidence in favor of his claim are the sign of unappropriate behavior for an officer.

I wonder, was Isa's first job as a Peacekeeper? If so, maybe she worked under this guy. Would explain her misandric attitude. "Budget cuts" would be a pretty, well, "Pretty" way of explaining why you fired the lady cops. Even if it wasn't as a peacekeeper, this guy or somebody like him may still have been a coworker or superior at her first job.

Anyways, if the video is sent to HQ, we can safely let this guy see the aftermath of the fight, and if he still insists Isa couldn't have done it, show him the video. If he claims that is false, call in a superior on it, because that's blatant disregard of the book! You have to give fair judgement and not take sides, which he would clearly be doing if he tries to say that Mr. Ericsson (Somebody mentioned his name was Mats?) is guilty.

As much as you'd like to snark at or insult him in other ways, he is your commanding officer and can bust you for insubordination, or at least make your working life hell in a myriad number of ways. The way to handle him is to show him the politeness and respect he expects you to give him, not throwing how wrong he is in his face, all the while quietly stacking up evidence to bury him.

You gotta seriously wonder how has this guy kept his position in the Peacekeepers. He has to be breaking all kinds of rules and regulations with this kind of behavior, and he has to have done it before. How has nobody brought this to his superiors or otherwise brought him in for discipline? ...Oh, dammit, you hope it isn't that he has connections high up keeping him from being demoted or fired. 'Cause that'd make your life just oh so fuckin' perfect, wouldn't it? Better check if he's been transferred around New Horizon a bunch 'cause that'd may be an indication somebody higher up is shuffling him around every time he screws up too much to hide.

Ask PAC if the kind of gross gender profiling, to the point of outright dismissing your claim of who should be arrested, that your commanding officer just exhibited is against the Peacekeeper rules and regulations. If so then ask if PAC got a recording of your conversation with him and what's the procedure for dealing with him breaking the regulations. You assume it's to open a case file with Internal Affairs or add to one that already probably exists. And also ask PAC to send a request to PK Archives that two encrypted off-line backup copies be made of all the evidence files related to the Ericsson domestic abuse case, with one placed in the HQ evidence vault and one sent to you. You want that in case your commanding officer tampers with the evidence files.

Before you go in, make sure that PAC is recording everything that your commander is saying and what evidence files you'll present to him. If he does arrest Mr. Ericsson, you want to have solid evidence he's in the wrong.

>I’m here to personally oversee the arrest of Mr. Ericsson. He has already been suspected of beating his wi-
Politely ask your commanding officer where the basis for this suspicion came from. What did he hear and from whom?

Your commander asked you to lead him to Mr. Ericsson so he can be taken away, so lead him to Mr. Ericsson so he can see that he's already being taken away on a stretcher by paramedics. Then ask him how it could be that Mr. Ericsson has a long medical history of injuries while Mrs. Ericsson has next to none. Ask him how come Mrs. Ericsson has not a scratch on her. Then present all the evidence you have, starting with the most damning: The apartment camera video. Ask PAC to make a nice montage of all the times Mrs. Ericsson assaulted her husband, starting with the one today, to show your commander. Work your way back through the strongest evidence you have. If after all that your commander still arrests Mr. Ericsson, then you'll have plenty of evidence he ignored blatant evidence in the form of PAC's recordings.

Send Dr. The Dawn of Dew a message asking that once he's done getting Mr. Ericsson ready for transport if he could scan Mrs. Ericsson to determine if her aggression inhibitor has been removed or disabled before he leaves. And also ask him why he's been on paramedic duty lately. Not enough Cibic patients to keep him busy so he's been put on emergency calls? ...Actually, you just realized that he's been on the paramedic team both times you've called for medical aid since you've met him; Both at Sol Corp HQ and this time. Bit of an odd coincidence, don't you think?

>Either way, you better make sure this baffon doesn’t arrest the wrong person because he’s… whatever he is. Genderist? It’s some kind of –ist, you’re sure.
Better radio Pallavi to inform her what's up, what he said and ask her just what kind of "-ist" he is. She's a female human so she probably knows what the heck he's on about and can maybe start to inform you. And also explicitly tell Pallavi to not get all up in his face about how wrongheaded he is. For the time being he's our commanding officer, which means he can find all kinds of ways to make our lives miserable. Keep it cool until he isn't our commanding officer, okay.

>After all, even if you were human… not to sound speciest, but both humans supposed genders look the same to you, except for that weird chest thing… milk bags or what they are.
You should probably look up the correct name for them before you end up making a fool of yourself calling them "milk bags." Get both the anatomical and common names, as well as the most common slang names as well.

>She probably grabbed the first thing- actually, where would you even get a metal pipe? ...wait, it’s some kind of synth plastic? It’s a lot softer then metal, but apparently still sturdy enough to take a lot of blows… good thing this wasn’t metal, as Mr. Ericsson wouldn’t be alive then. Still, where do you get a thing like this?
That pipe is rather out of place, isn't it? What is it from? The end that hit Mr. Ericsson is jagged, like it was broken off something. Maybe it was part of a shelving unit or it came from some plumbing. You have the apartment video, so PAC can run it back to figure out where it came from or if it came from outside the apartment. And better head in to give the pipe a closer forensic examination. Scan the fingerprints and take a sample of the blood from it to confirm Mrs. Ericsson struck Mr. Ericsson with it, then scan the interior of the pipe for traces of anything that may have once flowed through it. Also scan Mrs. Ericsson's palms for traces of the synth plastic the pipe is made of.

>It is a bit surprising that she let them keep running though, as most people shut them down when they are home. Maybe a part of Eric wanted her to be caught? Hmm…
"Eric?" Isn't Mr. Ericsson's name "Mats?" And perhaps it wasn't him that enabled recording. Maybe Isa did it 'cause she enjoys watching beating her husband up. Or maybe it was turned on for some unrelated reason awhile ago and they forgot it was on. Or some unknown third party enabled it. But this is all just speculation, which doesn't help. Stop speculating and ask PAC to download the access logs for the apartment camera system and show you who's been changing it's settings and viewing its contents and when.

>It does, but you currently only have them online when you’re not home. That way, if there is a break in, you would be able to see who did it.
It's a long shot, but once you're off the clock you should review your apartment's video for who may have swapped the BTLs or moved them around. Of course, if it's your PAC that did it it would have done so while you were home and asleep, so there'd be no video. And even if it did it while you were out, it could easily have deleted or edited that part of the video out.

And your apartment cameras do offer the possibility of maybe catching your PAC moving about, but you'd have to find a way to enable recording while you're home without your PAC finding out... But if your PAC is compromised, it'll already be in your apartment's camera system watching what you're doing. And that means it'll see you putting in place means of detecting if its exited your wardrobe and know not to. Well, nuts. There goes that plan.

PAC are recording this idiot?
This is why Mrs.Ericsson was so anti male, cause the PC in this area is run by a sexist.

In fact why is someone how is sexist allowed to be in charge of anything, shouldn't there be regulations about giving bigots power.

...maybe this is a symptom of corruption in the police force. This guy might be friends with someone higher up that keeps him from being fired.

Your best bet to get Mrs. Ericsson arrested may just be to play to your commander's genderism and present to him your observations that shes a even bigger, violent genderist. He'd hate that she's a man-hater since that's pretty much exactly opposite to the gender role he expects. Play for your commander what she said to you, emphasizing the insults based on you being male, as well as what Mr. Ericsson has said around you the previous few days that indicates that he fears his wife.

Also don't tell your commander that you use the female gender if you can avoid it. Let him think you're a guy. And tell Pallavi not to correct him either.

You should also start recording what you see and hear of your commander's actions with your own implants in case he or any friends he has higher up have the authority to order PAC memories and PK records deleted, similar to what the Chief did earlier. That'll give you a record outside their ability to destroy. Unfortunately, any communication he does over PK secure comms you can't copy out to your own implants' storage, which probably means he's going to use them all the damn time.

Kaktus 2016/04/23(Sat)13:24 No. 718650 ID: 65a774
File 146144309046.png - (21.08KB , 900x450 , 86.png )

>This is why Mrs.Ericsson was so anti male, cause the PC in this area is run by a sexist.
You’re pretty sure one bad apple won’t make you start beating your husband half to death in just a year. No, she was probably troubled even before she got here… and all this bouncing between jobs only made it worse.
>Wait how did this moron get in charge? Ask him if he stole that uniform.
Let’s not insult the one who is in charge of your job, alright? …even if he is a moron.
>you have to report his blatant genderist to Internal Affairs.
This is clearly breaking against some rule of the peace keepers, yes. As soon as you’re done here, you’ll tell PAC to report him to… whoever you’re supposed to report these things to.

>...So did PAC not inform the good captain that you have straight video evidence of who was beating who?
He just got here, so he probably hasn’t had time to go through it yet.
>...maybe this is a symptom of corruption in the police force. This guy might be friends with someone higher up that keeps him from being fired.
Even more reason not to get on his bad side.
>Better check if he's been transferred around New Horizon a bunch 'cause that'd may be an indication somebody higher up is shuffling him around every time he screws up too much to hide.
He’s only been working for four years on the force here… and he was being moved around a lot the first two before settling down here. Seeing as this area is designated as “Low priority, Low Crime zone”, there might be a reason why he is still stationed here.

>Ask PAC if the kind of gross gender profiling is against the Peacekeeper rules and regulations.
Do I need to actually answer that?
>If so then ask if PAC got a recording of your conversation with him and what's the procedure for dealing with him breaking the regulations.
I’ll report him to the chief immediately, if you wish.
>You should also start recording what you see and hear of your commander's actions with your own implants.
Done and done.

>Better radio Pallavi to inform her what's up, what he said and ask her just what kind of "-ist" he is.
Oh, great, that guy. I’ve heard about him. Apparently he’s the Majors niece or something, which explains why he got this job… and it’s sexist, Jo.
Really? Not genderist?
…I’m pretty sure that isn’t even a word, boss.
>You should probably look up the correct name for them before you end up making a fool of yourself calling them "milk bags."
Hmm… apparently they are called breasts or mammaries… or tits… boobs, jugs, hooters? Wait, why are they called owls? Gazongas? Really?


>Politely ask your commanding officer where the basis for this suspicion came from. What did he hear and from whom?
The name Mr. Ericsson has already been on my desk several times. I’ve usually dismissed it as they usually are just some exaggerations… like what you’re doing now.
>I don't know the first thing about your species' sexual dimorphism, sir, but you'll find that Mr. Erikson's head has been bashed in with a blunt object while Mrs. Erikson was physically well enough to accost an officer.
So she finally fought back after years of abuse, huh?
…that’s not… ugh…
>sir, the cameras that is in each apartment has instead were running the whole time and caught the whole thing.
Well, that just-
It shows how she have attacked him several times just this month, sir.
Really? You would think that she would go to the police after she fought back the first time…
>Your best bet to get Mrs. Ericsson arrested may just be to play to your commander's genderism and present to him your observations that she’s an even bigger, violent gen- sexist.
She did what?
I believe she hates men, sir… she attacked my because she believe I was a man even. So that might have been the main motive for the crime as well…
Ah, yes, she one of those types. Then it’s more understandable. Females can get so emotional sometimes it’s a given some of them will go berserk ever once in a while… I must apologize for doubting your work, mr… or is it miss?
Call me officer Journey, sir… but I do hope that I’m identify myself as female won’t matter… sir…
You can identify as an attack helicopter for all I care, Officer. I already told you it isn’t alien genders that I care about. I’m not some disgusting xenophobe.
>I'm pretty sure what you're doing right now is profiling and I believe that can really get you into trouble sir.
Oh, please. I have connections. They can’t touch me for something as silly as this. Now, you two, arrest this Mrs. Ericsson then and bring her into the transport. After that, Officer Journey and whoever your partner is, is to stay here and start gathering evidence. I don’t believe a professional forensic team will be needed for this case. Got that?
Roger that, sir.

Kaktus 2016/04/23(Sat)13:25 No. 718651 ID: 65a774
File 146144310373.png - (25.04KB , 900x450 , 87.png )

Ugh… this is so damn boring! This is a crime scene, how can it be boring searching through all this junk!? It’s supposed to be exiting! Dammit!

Haven’t we already gone through this room from top to bottom?
I just need to make a few extra scans of it, just for redundancy sake.
Ugh…

>That pipe is rather out of place, isn't it? What is it from?
Apparently, it’s not even a pipe. It’s just something Isa synthed up herself to beat her husband Mats with. It even got the word “Liberator” carved into it.
>ask PAC to download the access logs for the apartment camera system and show you who's been changing its settings and viewing its contents and when.
Let’s just say it was Isa who had put them on, to help film their bed activities… which are almost just as violent as her outbursts…
>It's a long shot, but once you're off the clock you should review your apartment's video for who may have swapped the BTLs or moved them around.
You’ve already checked those… or PAC did way back when it first happen. That means either PAC deleted that part or it happen while you were home.

>Send Dr. The Dawn of Dew a message asking if he could scan Mrs. Ericsson to determine if her aggression inhibitor has been removed or disabled before he leaves.
Hmm… she does indeed lack an aggression inhibitor. In fact, whoever removed it did a sloppy job of it and might have damaged her mental capacities doing it.
Making her aggressive?
More impulsive and more prone to depression, actually. Her sour mood was there before this, probably.
>Also ask him why he's been on paramedic duty lately. Not enough Cibic patients to keep him busy so he's been put on emergency calls?
In a sense, yes. Working for the peace keepers means that I’m on emergency duty as long as I don’t have any patients myself and seeing as few patients I have… let’s just say that I probably do more work as an paramedic on the field then in my office.

I found something interesting. Look at this!
Pallavi just sent a photo of a list of addresses.
What am I looking for here, sis?
PAC, tell boss where those addresses leads.
The first two addresses are two different Storage areas… to be specific, the storage area owned by Tr’ak’kq’urk, the first victim, and the storage area where we arrested Jidai. The other addresses are to Tr’ak’kq’urk apartment and Jidai’s apartment.
And this last one?
Leads to an apartment of an Uredo named Light of the Fantastic.
Which means that’s our next lead on this big conspiracy! There’s no way those five addresses can just be coincidence!
Which is located outside your jurisdiction and as you’re not on this case anymore either… no can do, Jo.
… … … … …SON OF A-

>>718651
Let's investigate the inhibitor removal, then. Check her medical records to find out who did it.

>Ugh… this is so damn boring!
Between both Eriksons and the clown in the peaked cap, that's probably the feeling of stupid by osmosis.
>… …SON OF A-
Calm down, we can communicate with plausible deniability. We'll report the address to da chief directly and in person, and then say we await our next patrol tomorrow as if it were completely unrelated. If we're still wanted on the case unofficially, (s?)he'll find an excuse to shuffle our patrol around to the right spire.

>Which is located outside your jurisdiction and as you’re not on this case anymore either… no can do, Jo.
Wait a second... Is PAC saying you were just taken off the Ericsson domestic abuse case? And it was right after you found this lead? 'Cause if so, then you're most likely still being monitored via your suit by the higher ups who got you taken off the investigation, which means being busted down to patrol didn't take their attention off you. That means you can't do anything to follow the lead while on-duty without being immediately caught. And besides, even if you could do it without the higher ups spotting you, your PAC wouldn't cooperate with you and you wouldn't be able to get a warrant to enter Light of the Fantastic's apartment since you're not on the case. So that's a dead end.

One idea is to follow the lead off-duty, but that's even more risky than if you did it on-duty 'cause if you get caught you'll be charged with tampering with an investigation or some such. You'd have to pull it off without leaving a trace that you did follow the lead, and you just don't have the knowledge or skill to do that. And besides, even if you did get to Light of the Fantastic's apartment, then what? You'd be off-duty, so you wouldn't have Peacekeeper authority to enter or question. And you don't know how you could convince Light to talk to you, a Cibic its never met before. So a off-duty investigation is a no-go too.

Goddammit, how the hell are you supposed to follow the Chief's order to keep up the investigation without immediately tipping off those who don't want you to? You know the Chief wrote that she'd give you cover, but you have no idea how much cover that is. You go beyond it and the Chief will get a order from on high to put you on desk duty or suspend you from duty entirely; One that she can't get around or ignore. You'll be stuck for good.

The Chief is likely secretly watching what you're doing via your suit or monitoring what evidence you generate, so she probably already knows about the lead or will soon. Maybe she'll contact you somehow with a way you can follow it. Or maybe she'll change your patrol route tomorrow to one that runs near Light of the Fantastic's apartment.

Right now, if you haven't been taken off the Ericsson case, you can try to start figuring out where Mrs. Ericsson got her aggression inhibitor removed, but that's a bit of a long shot. It was likely taken out quite awhile ago, so the black market cybernetics doc who did it will probably have either been busted or moved on by now. Still, you may as well poke around and see if you get lucky. Check her and her husband's financial records to see if and when she withdrew a sizable sum of money, probably around three years ago, since that'd likely be the payment for the removal. Also check if she took a large block of sick leave from her first job, since that may be when she was recovering from the removal. Get the contents of her comms implant and check her contacts, call history and messages since she might have been dumb and still have the illegal cybernetics doc's contact in there.

However, if you were taken off the Ericsson case then you may as well just leave and dejectedly keep following your patrol. And if you were taken off this case, ask PAC who gave that order. It'll most likely tell you that it can't tell just whom it was, but there's probably no harm in asking.

While you're on patrol ask PAC to show you where the station surveillance cameras have blind spots, and where there aren't private cameras either. You'll say it's so you can check them while on patrol, but it'll also be so you know where you can slip out of sight while off-duty.

Oh, and thinking of off-duty, you haven't gotten a message back from Kasha with her suggestions for restaurants for your date with Vitus. She said she'd contact you at lunch and it's been after lunch for a bit now. Better check if she left a message for you.

>I’ll report him to the chief immediately, if you wish.
Do it. The Chief undoubtedly already knows about him and that she can't do anything about him, but it might give her enough of a cover reason to call you two in for a in-person meeting before the day is out. Then you might be able to

>You’ve already checked those… or PAC did way back when it first happen. That means either PAC deleted that part or it happen while you were home.
Okay, while the video can't show you who swapped the BTLs, it can still help you narrow down the time period when the swap happened. Look at the beginning of each video segment recorded from the camera watching over where you put down the SPACE BTL you rented. And if the camera viewing the room with the table Shilse said she found the porn BTL under has a clear viewing angle under the table, look at the video from that one as well. You'll be able to tell from when each BTL was moved or appeared what immediately preceding period you were home it happened in.

>>718653
The aggression inhibitor removal was done illegally, most likely by a black market cybernetics doc, so there'll be no medical records of it to check.

>>718664
>We'll report the address to da chief directly and in person, and then say we await our next patrol tomorrow as if it were completely unrelated.
Considering it was automatically recorded into the PK evidence system and thus the Chief can view it from anywhere on-station, meeting her in person to report it would very obviously be for ulterior reasons. Besides, there's probably no need to tell the Chief at all. She's likely secretly keeping tabs on Jo and Pallavi, so she'll probably know in time to adjust their patrol route for tomorrow or take some other action to position them where she needs them to be.

>Is PAC saying you were just taken off the Ericsson domestic abuse case?
What does the terrorist group have to do with the domestic case? The note mentions the terrorist's place and Mats' place, so Journey saw a connection to the previous case; it has nothing to do with this one.

>>718751
From PAC saying that Jo was "not on this case anymore either" instead of "not on that case anymore" makes it sound like she was taken off of this case, the Ericsson one. And as reason, I thought it was to prevent Jo from possibly using the Ericsson case as a back door to speak with Light of the Fantastic, perhaps on the basis of asking his friends about his situation... But that seems rather a stretch in hindsight, so that's unlikely. So if she wasn't immediately taken off the Ericsson after finding this evidence, that means she isn't being watched by the higher ups... Actually, we can't tell if she's being watched from that, only that if she is they didn't take action. We'll just have to trust that the Chief is somehow is keeping the higher up's eyes off Jo and Pallavi.

And this still doesn't change the fact Jo can't just go outside her jurisdiction to follow this lead... Unless... If she did follow the lead while on duty, who would it be reported to? Because if it's just the Chief, then there's a chance it could be done. But then her PAC wouldn't cooperate with a off-book investigation, would it? And it may just tattle on her as well. And she wouldn't be able to get a warrant to enter Light of the Fantastic's apartment either, so it would have to be convinced to speak with her. And if her commander is notified she's left her patrol zone before the end of her shift, then he's going to flex his authority and reprimand her... Unless he regularly just ignores his officers going off and doing whatever on their shifts. This is a "low priority, low crime" area, so he may not give a fuck if his officers do whatever while on shift as long as a minimum stick around. This area probably gets the problem officers as well for the same reason the commander got assigned here, so the commander may have just said "fuck it" to reprimanding them all the time for going outside their patrol zones. Anyway, it might be possible to follow the lead, but a lot would have to be accounted for first. That means stopping and figuring things out and making a plan.

And, based on what's been found so far, they're not terrorists. What they appear to have been doing, based on Tr'ak building "junker" bot bodies from spare parts in his storage unit and the illegal AI transfer setup where Jidai was arrested, is liberating enslaved SAIs by moving them into new bodies built by Tr'ak. That's illegal but it's not terrorism.

...This does raise a bit of a question about Tr'ak going to the Deus Machina to trade the ARC data for two 'bot bodies, supposedly to transfer his SAI K55P 'bot and the SAI ARC bot in to. Why would he do that when he could have assembled two 'bot bodies on his own from all the parts he had? Or if he was short parts, just buy the parts needed if he was in a hurry? Was there something about the Deus Machina's 'bot bodies Tr'ak couldn't provide, like false papers? And then there's the matter of the Deus Machina seemingly only wanting the ARC leg data for the deal, not the directions to construct an ARC AI, so why'd Tr'ak get the latter? ...Perhaps Tr'ak putting the ARC AI directions into the BTL is unrelated to his dealings with the Deus Machina. Perhaps he needed to hide the data there for a bit. After all, the Deus Machina were expecting to get their data hidden in a AI transfer cube, not a BTL.

Kaktus 2016/04/29(Fri)11:52 No. 719776 ID: 65a774
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>Between both Erikssons and the clown in the peaked cap, that's probably the feeling of stupid by osmosis.
All this incompetence you’ve met today does make your brain stem hurt, true, but this is still rather drool for being something as exciting as an actual violent case. The Holoshows always make these things seems so damn exiting. False advertising, that what it is!
>Wait a second... Is PAC saying you were just taken off the Ericsson domestic abuse case?
…you’re pretty sure it meant the… whatever we call it case. The ARC case, I guess? Yeah, it meant the ARC case. You’re removed from that.
>Oh, and thinking of off-duty, you haven't gotten a message back from Kasha with her suggestions for restaurants for your date with Vitus.
You did actually get a message while confronting the Ericssons, but you haven’t had the time to check it. It seems that she has found a rather nice interspecies restaurant that isn’t too expensive and is nearby too. It even got a really nice view and everything!

>If she did follow the lead while on duty, who would it be reported to?
To your superior officer… who is an arse. He’ll probably be mad that you’re not doing your patrol as instructed and will probably punish you for it, so better keep following orders, eh?
>This area probably gets the problem officers as well for the same reason the commander got assigned here, so the commander may have just said "fuck it" to reprimanding them all the time for going outside their patrol zones.
You’re pretty sure you can’t just waltz off and to anything you like while on the clock. Those kinds of officers are fired, not transferred to “low priority” zone.
>Calm down, we can communicate with plausible deniability. We'll report the address to da chief directly and in person, and then say we await our next patrol tomorrow as if it were completely unrelated.
Genius! …except, you don’t have a reason to really report it in person… still…
>The Chief is likely secretly watching what you're doing via your suit or monitoring what evidence you generate, so she probably already knows about the lead or will soon. Maybe she'll contact you somehow with a way you can follow it.
It’s impossible that she has enough free time to monitor everything you do, but you can bet she is monitoring everything having anything to do with the ARC case… which this evidence belong to. You just have to hope that she’s clever enough to change your patrol route tomorrow.

>...This does raise a bit of a question about Tr'ak going to the Deus Machina to trade the ARC data for two 'bot bodies, supposedly to transfer his SAI K55P 'bot and the SAI ARC bot in to. Why would he do that when he could have assembled two 'bot bodies on his own from all the parts he had?
The only variable that I can find that differs from the usual case is that one of them was an ARC. The ARC AI is more advance then the normal ones, so they probably require specialized hardware, something Tr’ak might not have access too. Oh, and the other SAI was someone he knew personally, so he might have wanted to get it something a bit better than the usual fare.
>While you're on patrol ask PAC to show you where the station surveillance cameras have blind spots, and where there aren't private cameras either.
Those areas are already marked on your map, Jo.
They are? Where?
You got to enable them. Just think about it.
Oh, right, there we go.
>Do it. Tell the Chief what your superior did!
Sending data now… please stand by… the chief wants to converse with you.
Officer Journey, Officer Pallavi, I see that you’ve meet your superior officer.
Superior nothing.
Oh, and this little confrontation is rather juicy, I have to say. Though his actions aren’t that surprising.
Excuse me for asking, ma’am, but why don’t you just fire him? His bound to be breaking some kind of rules acting like that.
Sadly, I can’t just kick him out no matter how much I want to. The major’s office would convince the media to paint it as discrimination in a heartbeat, forcing me to rehiring him anyway. No, I have other plans with this little movie clip you sent me, something that will sure to shake up that incompetent major a bit… yes…
Still, I rather not work under someone like that…
Of course, of course… don’t you worry, I’ll have you transferred tomorrow… I’m sure I can find just the patrol route for you two.
I don’t doubt you can, chief. Thank you.
One last thing, do try to keep this with your superior a bit hush hush until further notice, alright?
As long we see him suffer, I’m keeping my trap shut.
Good… now, you can stand around gossiping like old men over tea and crumpets when your off-duty, so back to your patrol, officers!

>Let's investigate the inhibitor removal, then.
And how are we supposed to do that?
We can start with checking her bank account! To see if there has been any strange withdraws while she’s been here.
Err… Jo…
And then we can check her comms implants for recent transmissions and contacts. She might have left something there!
You’re a patrol officer, Jo.
Not to mention, she has bound to have taken some sick days after the operation!
Jo, as a patrol officer, that isn’t your job. I’ll send your ideas to the PACs working with the investigators, but more than that I cannot do.
Aw, dammit, and I was getting exited… fine, let’s get back to patrolling. At least we’re almost done.
Then you have a large pile of paperwork to do concerning the Ericsson case.
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!

…

Ugh, you’d hoped that you would have be able to avoid these boring patrol missions when you moved here… those damn holotapes makes it all look exiting, but in real life it’s all walking in circles and filling out paper work… ugh, you have a headache just thinking about it. At least it’s over for today… now, you still have a few hours until your “date”… so what to do? Hmm… maybe you should just take some you time? Take it easy for a while? Or you can call someone and hang out with them. You’re sure most of your friends are home by now… or maybe you should sneak over to Vitus a bit early and surprise him? He never locks his door, does he? Heh… or… hmm… or maybe you can find a way to keep working on the ARC case somehow? It would be difficult, sure, but… there has to be something you can do, right? Ugh, but first of all, let’s do something against this headache you got from all that stupidity you were exposed to today.

TAKE SOME YOU TIME DAMMIT!

last time you went to "hang out" with you're friends you damn near blow Vitus off entirely so don't repeat that mistake twice. You'd also probably be more distracted if you started working on the ARC case again seeing as that one would actually require you to focus so it would be easier for you to miss the time.

Just set up some reservations at the restaurant you were told about so you don't have to worry about that (unless it's a walk in type of place then forget about it) and just relax for a bit to get your headache down. Then show up at Vitus's place a little early just to make sure you're not late.

>>719776
>Vitus never locks his door
Isn't that a bad idea since there's a death threat against him? Maybe you should remind him to keep his door locked.

One thing's for sure, you have GOT to clean up those floating eyes over there.

Take a shower as "you time." May help ease the headache.

>>719776
oh uh just another quick thing but who the hell is waiting over by the window next to the chair? I see their eyes but that's about it.

Kaktus 2016/05/01(Sun)08:38 No. 720258 ID: 65a774
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>TAKE SOME YOU TIME DAMMIT!
Damn right you deserve some you time after everything today!
>Just set up some reservations at the restaurant you were told about so you don't have to worry about that.
According to Kasha, a reservation shouldn’t be necessary… but just to be on the safe side…
>Take a shower.
Showers are for solids. No, it’s a nice trip in the hydro chamber for you… and seeing as you have time, maybe you should put it in one of those longer, relaxant cycles. Afterwards, you can just watch an episode or two of one of those cops shows you like… yeah, that does sound pleasant, doesn’t it? But first, let’s get out of this peace keeper suit.

…

>Then show up at Vitus's place a little early just to make sure you're not late.
Helloooo? Is anyone home? The door was open so I kinda let myself in? I’m sorry that I’m forty minutes early but… Vitus? Are you there? Hello?

…Huh, that’s odd, he’s not home. You’d think he would be busy preparing for the date. Well, you guess you’ll just have to call him on the comm then? …and he’s not answering? What is he doing?

>Isn't keeping the door unlocked a bad idea since there's a death threat against him? Maybe you should remind him to keep his door locked.
Um… yeah, maybe having a the door unlocked isn’t the best idea… and now he’s not home… and… there’s a tipped over chair on the floor with a half full glass of… something next to it… oh, by the sun, please don’t say something has happen to him!?

Really hoping he just stepped out to the store or something to grab some cologne maybe. You can at least look around a bit. An unlocked door and no answer is valid reason to check, and stuff knocked over is cause for investigation.

you know that stun baton you always keep on you? Take it out and check the other rooms, have PAC check out the room's cameras and see if can't find out what happened here. If we can't find anything or find something that points to foul play call the Peace Keepers and request backup.

So I guess those 4 lines in the last panel were just an artist mistake then?

>>720281
No suit, no PAC.

>>720258
There's something new in the room. That thing behind the table. What is it? Also the cactus moved.

Look around his apartment to see if he's just taking a nap, before you assume he's gone missing.

Kaktus 2016/05/01(Sun)13:15 No. 720294 ID: 65a774
File 146213372037.png - (27.12KB , 900x450 , 90.png )

>An unlocked door and no answer is valid reason to check, and stuff knocked over is cause for investigation.
Something definitely feel awry here, yes…
>You know that stun baton you always keep on you? Take it out and check the other rooms.
You make a quick sweep of the apartment and come up with nothing. No trace of Vitus par the usual, no signs of struggle except for the chair and no clue of where he could currently be. Dammit, something isn’t right here…
>There's something new in the room. That thing behind the table. What is it?
It’s… it’s… absolutely nothing? It seems like he just changed the image in the digital painting he has… looks like some kind of Sakkilian city skyline?

>Have PAC check out the room's cameras and see if can't find out what happened here.
Sorry, Jo, no can do. You’re off duty right now nor is there enough evidence to consider foul play yet. Besides, you need your suit to access those anyway.
>If we can't find anything or find something that points to foul play call the Peace Keepers and request backup.
Are you sure you want to call them? It might still be a bit premature to assume he’s gone missing…
Still… my ectoplasm is itching… there’s something that isn’t right here…
So… could I call the peace keepers?
…wait, the glass?
… … …it’s a glass of soda, yes?
No, I mean, why is it there? If he dropped it while being assaulted it would have shattered, wouldn’t it? But it’s just standing there, on the floor… and seeing as the floor is still moist around it, he definitely spilled half that glass before leaving it there. Or at least enough to activate the cleaning bots, at any rate.
While the glass is very interesting, Jo, you did not answer my question. Could I make the call or not?

think he might have fallen down, spilled his drink, and just left in on the floor in a rush to leave his apartment? Hell hold off on calling work for now and call your apartment instead just incase he had the same idea you had and went over to meet you at your place and call the restaurant to see if he already showed up. Wait did you tell him you where you two were going?

Only other thing I can think of other then foul play is he got a call from work or something that was an emergency and rushed out to deal with it.

But yeah, all I can really make out of this is that whatever happened here didn't happen to long ago seeing as the floor is still wet. And Other then a knocked over chair their really isn't any sign of a struggle. Plus If someone did get dragged out of here would someone have called the peacekeepers? I mean this place isn't exactly isolated, he's got a ton of neighbors and there aren't really any back allies for someone to sneak around here with.

It just sounds like he accidentally fell off his chair while drinking and spilled his drink, put down the glass, and is in the middle of changing clothes right now, or is showering. He had to have put his phone down to do either of those things.

Do not call for backup. You can just wait for a couple minutes.

Don't call it in. PAC's right that doing so would be premature. You don't have enough to report Vitus missing, let alone that he was assaulted or kidnapped. They'd tell you you're overreacting, which you most likely are. You need to get more before you call it in.

>…Huh, that’s odd, he’s not home. You’d think he would be busy preparing for the date.
And it's a bit odd he'd be sitting here drinking a glass of soda as well. Why would he be doing... Oh... Oh, dammit... You never told Vitus that you were planning to have your date tonight, did you? Yesterday you only said that maybe it'd be today or tomorrow, but nothing solid. And then Vitus said it'd be fine any time, then outright asked you to warn him a few hours beforehand, and you completely forgot to do that. So Vitus doesn't know about the date, so he wasn't getting ready for it! Curse your bloody flaky memory! And since he didn't know, if he did leave here in a hurry on some emergency he wouldn't have called you to let you know to postpone the date.

Looking at this, it's entirely possible that what happened is Vitus was sitting here drinking some soda and was startled by something or someone and stood up real quick, knocking the chair over as well as slopping his soda on the floor. And he didn't right the chair 'cause he had to leave in a hurry 'cause of what startled him. So perhaps a call from someone, or someone came around to get him? But then why did he put his soda glass on the floor and not the table? Hm... Maybe he was in just that much of a hurry? Or perhaps he didn't want to get soda on the tablecloth and have to wash it. Though, the latter one only works if the cleaner bots can't clean the tablecloth.

Is Vitus' comm "ringing" when you call him, like he's ignoring it, is it stopping after a ring or two like he's seen who's calling and dismissed the call, or is it going straight to voicemail like he's either set it to private or turned it off? If it's the first or second one, that's odd 'cause you'd expect him to accept your call right away, or at least shoot you a text saying he's busy and can't talk. Would it just ring if he was unconscious? Well, whatever it is, leave him a voicemail telling him how you arranged for a dinner date for you two tonight and then forgot to tell him, making sure to apologize for flaking out like that.

>If he dropped it while being assaulted it would have shattered, wouldn’t it?
Unless the glass isn't actually made of glass but something sturdier. But even if it isn't made of glass, it's unlikely it would have landed right side up, and more unlikely there's even as much soda left in it as there is. And if he was assaulted, all or nearly all of the soda would have not only ended up on the floor, but probably also some combination of the wall, table, chair, his assaulter, himself, and anything else in the vicinity.

Give Aelia a call and ask her to come over to Vitus', then tell her why you're here, your forgetting to tell Vitus about the date tonight, and your worry that he isn't here. Tell her about what you found that may indicate he had to leave in a big hurry, and that he isn't answering your calls. Ask her when she last saw or communicated with him, if she can call him now, and if she has any idea where he may have gotten to. And also ask her if Vitus gave her any access to his apartment's systems, such as the door locks. Since she's been his long time neighbor and friend, he may have given her permissions to them, which means she might be able to show you the logs or even the camera video. If he did, ask her to lock the door for you so nobody comes in after we leave. Then ask if she can show the door, lights and cleaner bot logs to you so we can determine when Vitus left. And if she has access to the cameras, ask her to show you the video. There'll probably be only video from after he left, but it's possible he left the camera recording this room all the time. Oh, and ask her if Vitus always leaves his door unlocked or if he locks it when he leaves, 'cause if it's the latter then it being unlocked would be rather out of the ordinary.

Start calling around to all your other friends and ask them if they've seen Vitus or talked with him recently. If they ask why, tell 'em that you have a surprise you wanted to give Vitus but he's not home and he's got his comm turned off or set to private or something and you can't call him.

Take a look at the wall and other nearby surfaces for signs the cleaner bots have been at work there as well. Especially look at the tablecloth. Cleaner bots can't clean fabric, right? Well, even if they can, the tablecloth would still be damp in the spots they cleaned. From what you see you can guess at the direction the soda glass moved and with how much force.

Look up how quickly the cleaning solution the cleaner bots use evaporates, then from that estimate from large an area is still wet how long it's been since they cleaned. Then check what's the default time after a soda spill they would activate.

Check what's the minimum time period a person is missing for before the Peacekeepers would consider it worth checking as a missing persons' case.

Hey, wait a minute... After what happened to Cib and the threat against your friends, aren't they still under Peacekeeper monitoring as "bait?" Or did that expire when you were taken off the case because the threat would only be acted on if you continued investigating? 'Cause if Vitus was still being monitored, then if he was assaulted or kidnapped it would have likely been caught right away.

>Besides, you need your suit to access those anyway.
Why would you need your suit to be in the apartment to access its cameras? Your PAC accesses them remotely, so why does it need to be in proximity to them to do so? It can't just do it over the station network?

>>720315
Jo did a quick sweep of Vitus' apartment, which I assume means she peeked into every room looking for him, including the bathroom, and didn't find him. Unless he's behind a couch or in a wardrobe or cupboard, he's not here.

>He had to have put his phone down to do either of those things.
And Vitus doesn't have a phone, he has a multi-function comm implant, same as pretty much everybody else on New Horizon. He can't put it down, but he can ignore calls, set it to private mode or even turn off it's communication capabilities completely.

Kaktus 2016/05/02(Mon)11:50 No. 720503 ID: 65a774
File 146221502875.png - (27.31KB , 900x450 , 91.png )

>Check what's the minimum time period a person is missing for before the Peacekeepers would consider it worth checking as a missing persons' case.
There isn’t a minimum time period, that’s just a myth! Of course, they’ll still need a good reason why to check, which they don’t have right now.
>You never told Vitus that you were planning to have your date tonight, did you?
Err… o-of course you did… you did it when you had lunch, right? At least, you think you did? Maybe? Hopefully? You know you were thinking of doing it? …y-you forgot about it, didn’t you...?
>Is Vitus' comm "ringing" when you call him, like he's ignoring it?
It’s set to private, so no.

>think he might have fallen down, spilled his drink, and just left in on the floor in a rush to leave his apartment?
…that is possible, yes. He might have slipped getting up in a hurry… or tripped over the chair trying to get past it.
>It just sounds like he is in the middle of changing clothes right now, or is showering.
You already checked the other rooms, including the shower… but if he is hiding somewhere stark
naked, maybe you could take another look? J-just to make sure, of course.

>Take a look at the wall and other nearby surfaces for signs the cleaner bots have been at work there as well.
PAC, scan for soda stains! I want to know how exactly this spill happened!
…really, Jo?
Yes!
Calculating… the spill originated from the direction of the fallen chair. I would guess someone either tripped on it or was sitting on it when it fell over, thus spilling the soda.
Hmm…
>Look up how quickly the cleaning solution the cleaner bots use evaporates, then from that estimate from large an area is still wet how long it's been since they cleaned.
…Jo.
Just do it.
Calculating… with the default setting on the cleaning bots, this happen twenty minutes ago.
Twenty, huh? Let’s see, how far can you get in twe-
Jo, Please-
He might be in danger, PAC!

>If someone did get dragged out of here would someone have called the peacekeepers?
It’s possible, though very unlikely, that they would be able to get someone into a tram without anyone seeing it. Unless they had special permission and parked the tram right outside the door, that is…
So, who has special permission? Anyone who has been nearby?
…*Sigh* Let me check… no, Jo.
So they have had to wipe the record too? Hmm… that means…
>Hey, wait a minute... After what happened to Cib and the threat against your friends, aren't they still under Peacekeeper monitoring as "bait?"
…indeed, you friends are still being protected, though not at the same scale as before. If there is foul play involved here, the peace keepers would already know about it… you know, probably.
That means it’s a corrupt officer who did this! Not only would they be able to do it in broad daylight, but they have both permission and can subvert the cam-
Jo, listen to yourself. Take it easy.
He needs me, PAC, I can’t just-
Just remember, Jo, the simplest solution is often the correct one.
…and what is the simplest solution, PAC?
:PACDREAM He stepped out to buy tea and crumpets?
No, there has to be more than that…
>Call your apartment instead just in case he had the same idea you had.
No one is in your apartment, Jo.
But what if-
No, Jo, just… no.
Fine, then I’ll call everyone else then… someone must know something!

>Give Aelia a call.
Oh, hel-
WHEREISVITUS!?
…w-what?
I mean… I m-mean… I n-need you to… it’s Vitus…
Vitus? What about him?
It’s-at Vitus place- with the- and a- but- not here and- I don’t- what if… w-what if he’s… i-i-it’s all m-my f-fault…
…are you getting cold feet? Is that what this is about?
…cold feet? W-what?
You know, the date?
…wait, you k-know about the…
Well, yes, he told me. In fact, I’m helping him getting ready right now here at my place.
He’s… at y-your place?
Indeed… and let me tell you he’s just as excited as you are.
He w-was… he was… just across the hall this w-whole time?
Is something wrong? You sound like you’re having a panic attack, Jo.
…
Jo? …are you hyperventilating? …Jo, are you there?
W-what am I d-doing?
What did you say?

Jeez, Journey. Way to get all weird.

Still don't know how we're talking to PAC without the suit. Is this a dream or something?

>>720506
>Still don't know how we're talking to PAC without the suit. Is this a dream or something?
Jo's communicating with her PAC via her comm implant using a Peacekeeper secure encrypted channel over either the station network or short range direct radio link. She's talked with her PAC like this since before she even put her PK suit on after arriving on New Horizon. (See >>/questarch/606561)

The secure link also allows her PAC to remotely access some of Jo's cybernetics, such as her medical monitor and internal foreign substance scanner, which is how her PAC detected that nanomachine in her a few days ago at the club. (See >>/questarch/635353 for PAC detecting it and >>/questarch/636228 for PAC saying how it did so.) It also can hear and see via her aural and ocular implants, which is most likely how her PAC could scan for soda stains here without needing her PK suit to be present. It did an analysis of the video to determine darker areas and spatter patterns. Of course, when off duty PAC remote access permissions can be restricted or turned off for privacy reasons, but when on duty they all or nearly all have to be allowed.

>W-what am I d-doing?
Proving that loony bin who got kicked upstairs right? Would the fact that everyone's inhibitors are offline even justify this?

>>720531
Who? Jo's sexist commander? He's just sexist towards humans, not other species, so it wouldn't prove any part of his wrongheaded beliefs right. And the inhibitors are for aggression, not all emotions, so even if Jo's was off-line it wouldn't apply in this situation. And also the aggression inhibitors have been brought back on-line... I think. I'm not sure. Did we ever check if Jo's is back on-line, or check if they've been brought back on-line station-wide?

What you're doing, or rather, did, is panic and behave irrationally. Jumping to the worst case scenario and speculating as to what happened from there. Failing to examine the simpler explanations in favor the much more worrisome unlikely one. It's probably because the stress and worry of the past several days is catching up with you now and warped your judgment. And it's also because you really, really do care for Vitus, whether you'll admit it to yourself or not. Put 'em together and you overreacted at the mere possibility he's in danger. It's understandable, but it's no excuse.

Right now you just want to see Vitus. To see him and touch him to be sure he's safe. Ask Aelia to tell Vitus that you need to see him in his apartment now. Alone. Then set PAC to privacy mode so it's not listening in and lean against the cactus planter to catch your breath. When Vitus walks in, as soon as the door closes rush up to him and hug him with all your being. Hug him and start crying. Let your stress come out in sobs. And in between them, slowly tell him what happened when you came over to his place. Of how you panicked when you couldn't find him or contact him and thought the worst had happened. And that you thought you'd forgotten to tell him about you two's date tonight. Then keep hugging him and crying until you feel good enough to go on with things.

I think crying in Vitus' arms would make things a little awkward.

>>720623
Okay, then what do you suggest to do instead? Because both you and the other suggester haven't offered any course of action to take.

Personally I think it'd be cathartic for Jo and it'd show Vitus how stressed out and upset she is so he can offer to help. And that would be an opportunity for Jo to tell him in private some of what's been happening that's got her all stressed, talk with him about it and unburden herself a bit.

>>720654
Okay.

>>720503
Tell her you were just worried and stressed out. She can call you when things are ready.

Maybe go scan yourself for foreign bodies.

Just calm down. You've had a stressful day but it's over now. Head home, relax, wait for the date, and then enjoy yourself. No need to start crying.

Actually, on second thought, calling Vitus over and hugging him while crying your eye out while blathering out that you thought he was kidnapped or worse would be real awkward and put something of a damper on the evening. That idea is rather an overreaction and must have come as a result of your panicking right now. So take some calming breaths, pull yourself a bit more together and come up with what to do that isn't over the top.

Take a few moments to compose yourself, then tell Aelia that you'll be fine in a minute. You've been rather more stressed lately than you're used to and it boiled over just now into irrational worry for Vitus' well-being when you couldn't find or contact him right away. This kind of thing happens to you sometimes when you get really stressed. You'll be okay once you calm down. Then ask her to tell Vitus you called her 'cause he wasn't home and you couldn't call him and that you'll be waiting for him at your place, thank her and hang up. Head back to your apartment, strip out of your clothes and relax in your hibernation sphere with some nice music on until Vitus arrives. And if you still feel like crying, then cry while you're in there. And when he arrives, give him the big hug then.

Jo, you need to GODHAND pimp slap yourself to snap out of it! And if one slap doesn't work, then multiple slaps until you snap out of it!

Now just take a moment to calm down. Then, (fail to) calmly go over there and hug Vitus and tell him you were worried.

Aw, screw worrying about it being potentially awkward or embarrassing and go hug Vitus right now. You just need to know in person that he's actually safe. Tell Aelia you're coming over to see Vitus now, go there and hug him tight until you feel better. Say that you have a heap of stress built up from your work and it boiled over when you when to his place, saw the tipped over chair and spilled soda and couldn't find him nor contact him. You panicked and irrationally thought something terrible had happened to him, like he'd been abducted.

Kaktus 2016/05/05(Thu)10:50 No. 721125 ID: 65a774
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>Fail to calmly go over there and hug Vitus and tell him you were worried.
You fail horribly at staying calm as well as going anywhere to hug anyone. You’re a complete failure, apparently!
>Rush up to him and hug him with all your being. Hug him and start crying. Let your stress come out in sobs. And in between them, slowly tell him what happened when you came over to his place.
…You just need to know in person that he's actually safe! You need to feel him… his warmth… his heartbeat… you need to know that he isn’t in danger! That he’s still here! Here for-

>Jo, you need to GODHAND pimp slap yourself to snap out of it!
*Slap!*
What was that?
> Tell her you were just worried and stressed out. She can send Vitus over to you when he’s ready.
Err… okay, no worries. Actually, he got here a bit late so... I hope it doesn’t do anything if he’s ten minutes late?
It… it’s fine. Thank you for telling me.
No probs, Jo… so, good luck with tonight!

>Head back to your apartment, strip out of your clothes and relax in your hibernation sphere with some nice music on until Vitus arrives.
You put on some sad music on the speaker and take a much needed rest.
>What you're doing, or rather, did, is panic and behaves irrationally. Jumping to the worst case scenario and speculating as to what happened from there.
What you did is not something a sane person would do, is it? Maybe all this stress is finally getting to you?
>And if you still feel like crying, then cry while you're in there.
…no, no crying… not today… you don’t deserve to cry today.

Kaktus 2016/05/05(Thu)10:50 No. 721126 ID: 65a774
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Calming down and catching your breath, you finally have some time to reflect on the time you’ve spent here. You’ve never thought that you would have been thrown into something this big so soon… something so… dangerous. If you make mistakes people might die... people have already died… Eli… Tr’ak… you were attacked and almost killed as well... and they attacked Cib too. And now, just by being close to them, you’re putting everyone in danger… everyone you care about. They are all at risk because of you… and here you are, leading Vitus on with false hopes. He’s a great guy but… he’s an alien… an alien you don’t know if you’ll ever be able to actually love… and you are leading this great guy, this great guy who’s suffering from depression already, leading him on with false hopes and promises. Your enemies is not the only thing that is a danger to those that you care about, are they? …you’re an asshole.

>And when he arrives, give him the big hug then.
Jo? Are you ready to head out?
…
…Jo? Are you alright? You look a bit… um… gloom…

He deserves someone so much better then you, don’t he? M-maybe this wasn’t such a great idea?

Hey now where is all this coming from? As soon as you came to this place, you were thrown into the deep end. Conspiracies, murder plots...and you've handled every situation extremely well. You've stared death in the face without flinching and reasoned your way through circumstances that would cause almost anyone else to curl up and cry. You've stood up for what you believe in despite heavy opposition. And every day, by the nature of your profession, you provide safety and security to all the people who live on this station. Sometimes things get stressful. But you can handle it, because you have a sound mind and a strong moral compass. As for Vitus, it's obvious he wants to be part of your life. And it's obvious that you are developing some feelings for him as well. If things don't work out, he'll live and you two can probably still be friends. But for now, you need to stow those insecurities in the trash where they belong and go enjoy your date!

What makes you say all that? It's not like a guy will stick around in a relationship anybody else can see is bad for him, right?

>You look a bit… um… gloom…
It's been one of those months.

>>721126
>false hopes and promises
What promises? You don't know if you'll be able to love him, but nobody would know. You have nothing against aliens, so why would you be unable to care for him? Maybe you won't love him in the end, but he understands that risk, he's an adult.

...also look at yourself in the mirror. Did something change? Are you perhaps infested with something?

Kaktus 2016/05/05(Thu)18:01 No. 721195 ID: 65a774
File 146249651926.png - (13.55KB , 900x450 , 94.png )

> ...also look at yourself in the mirror. Did something change? Are you perhaps infested with something?
You’re still pretty sure you’re you. The only thing that you’re infected with is doubt… and jewelry. The finest Cibic jewelry you can buy… cheaply…
>What makes you say all that? It's not like a guy will stick around in a relationship anybody else can see is bad for him, right?
…you just saw how the Ericssons turned out…
>You have nothing against aliens, so why would you be unable to care for him?
Because he’s… just so odd and… and so… so… compact? Solid? He’s non-gooey.
>Maybe you won't love him in the end, but he understands that risk, he's an adult.
An adult who’s recovering from depression… by the sun, why are you doing this to him?

>You've stared death in the face without flinching and reasoned your way through circumstances that would cause almost anyone else to curl up and cry. You've stood up for what you believe in despite heavy opposition. And every day, by the nature of your profession, you provide safety and security to all the people who live on this station.
…you are, aren’t you? You’ve face far harder things then this… you’ve stood up against worse… you are an officer of the law, and should be acting as one.
>Sometimes things get stressful. But you can handle it, because you have a sound mind and a strong moral compass.
Yeah, you can do this…
>You need to stow those insecurities in the trash where they belong and go enjoy your date!
This night will be delightful no matter what you say, doubt! So stop worrying and enjoy it! If anything, do it for him… he deserves a great night if anything!

>It's been one of those months.
Ah, that’s sad to hear, yeah? Considering you moving here to the station and everything, it’s a given things might seem a bit hard at first, but don’t worry. I know that you will pull through all the stronger, Journey.
I hope I will, Vitus.
So, tell me, where is this da- this evening of ours taking us?
:JourenyDREAM: First, I have this restaurant a friend recommended to me… it’s not far with a tram.

…

-and I’ll be delighted at taking your order when you are ready.
Heh, I can see that they cater to Cibics here, as your menu is more than three times the size of mine, yeah?
I’m pretty sure they just took all the other species menus and removed anything harmful to Cibics from them. We aren’t really picky about food, after all.
Yeah, probably… hmm… let’s see what they got…
Oooh, they apparently have some nice cardboard based desserts here…
Err… maybe we should start with the appetizer?
Oh, and one last thing. Are you here as a couple? We have some extra services that we offer to make your evening more romantic free of charge, if that is what you two desire?
Well… we are… err… we’re not? Um… Are we?

…so, this is it, isn’t it? You have to decide once and for all exactly what Vitus means to you. Do you love him or not? Can you even love someone so… weird? So… solid? How do you love someone you can’t properly kiss? Someone you can’t share a hibernation sphere with? Or the hydro-chamber? Someone who you can’t melt together with on a cold winter evening… or can’t properly dance romantically with? You do like him for who he is… yet… those odd darting double eyes still freak you out at times… and not to mention that weird muscle in their snouts… they are just so weird… can you ever fall in love with someone like that? Can you spend your life with one?

>>721195
Yes, you do love him. Why? Because you are Song of the Mother Fucking Journey, that's why! You don't care that he's solid, has two eyes, and has weird face muscles! You'll love whoever you want to! And right now, you love Vitus!

>>721195
This is your first official date. I think the whole love question can wait, can't it? You are trying something new, and you have to have some measure of attraction to him considering your behavior while drunk.

It does take a little more to be an official couple though. More than just dating. So no, you're not, you're just dating. Wait until after the first real date before you decide if you want to call yourselves a couple.

I think it's obvious you really like Vitus though. Enough to put his happiness over yours.

>…you just saw how the Ericssons turned out…
Did I forget to wink and make elbowing gestures?

>literally a dozen doubts
...Yeah, you really sound ready to make this kind of commitment. Is all this in addition to the fact that you may be bad for him too? And what's this about 'once and for all', is there a deadline on this we didn't hear about? You're taking this way out of proportion, again, which is just further evidence you're not acting like yourself.

Just... tell the waiter you'll need a minute to look over the menu, and then talk it over with Vitus. He's got as much skin in this as you. Half of those excuses you mentioned can be solved with judicious application of Science! and he's going to be missing out on the other half too. All of this, by the way, still pales in comparison to the fact that you may in fact be literally the worst.

Well no that's an exaggeration but don't act like binocular vision and a tongue is going to be the deal-breaker here.

Love is a strong word at this point in the relationship. But since we've firmly decided to call this a date, it's safe to say the two of you are a couple.

Whoa there, Jo! "Spend your life with one?" Jo, this isn't a marriage proposal. You're not irrevocably choosing to stay with him for the rest of your days here. And love? It's way too early to figure if you really love him or not. While you do have feelings and attraction to Vitus that might grow into love, it'll take time and trial to see if it does. And this is all uncharted territory to you. You've never been in a inter-species relationship before. You don't know if with time your affection for him will grow to overcome the physical differences in one way or another. And even if you do, you don't know if there's other things about him you don't know that you can't overcome. It's all a big unknown, and the only way to find out is to push on. But if in the end it doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world. You just gently break up with him and stay friends. He's certainly had partners break up with him many times before, so he can handle it. His psyche isn't so fragile that it'll shatter into a million pieces that can't be put back together if you break up with him. And even if he does break down, he has friends to support him. He'll recover. So, basically, you're blowing this one choice way, way out of proportion.

However, even though this choice isn't as huge as you made it out to be, it'll still have influence on your relationship with Vitus. But before you choose, you should talk with Vitus. Ask the server to give you two some time, then tell him you need to talk first. Tell him how you do like him but also your worries. Find out what his expectations and hopes are and adjust them if need be. 'Cause you don't want him to go into this pinning a whole lot of hope on your relationship lasting. Even if it wasn't your first inter-species relationship, you still just arrived on New Horizon. Your emotions and thoughts are all over the damn place from that and your work. You won't know how it'll go unless you try, but the two of you should be prepared in case it doesn't turn out. You just don't want to hurt him if it doesn't work out, y'know. That said, you do have feelings for him, and you'd like to be a couple. All we can do is see how it goes from there, yes?

As for the problems of being intimate and "intimate" with Vitus... Well, this is New Horizon. If there's any place in the universe where Cibics have figured out how to be close to other species in that way, it'll be here. At the least, there's always the option for a shared BTL sim with him. The kind where the participants can experience what it's like as species other than themselves. Maybe if he felt what it's like between Cibics they can't get from any other species he'd understand what you're missing with him and if you broke up with him he'd know part of why you did.

>Oooh, they apparently have some nice cardboard based desserts here…
Jo, remember that one of the reasons you came to New Horizons was to try new and alien foods. So pick dishes that aren't cardboard and other Cibic foods and see if you like them. And if you're unsure what to choose, you can get Vitus' suggestions from what he likes and what he doesn't like but knows is popular among the other species.

Hey, isn't this restaurant supposed to have a great view of the planet below? Then where is it? ...Oh, the window is behind the holo-projection of the sunset, isn't it? Or is it that there isn't a big window and they holo-project a view of the plant?

Kaktus 2016/05/06(Fri)17:39 No. 721388 ID: 65a774
File 146258157591.png - (13.50KB , 900x450 , 95.png )

>Whoa there, Jo! "Spend your life with one?" Jo, this isn't a marriage proposal.
Okay, you admit, you might be exaggerating a little bit… still…
>Yes, you do love him. Why? Because you are Song of the Mother Fucking Journey, that's why! You don't care that he's solid, has two eyes, and has weird face muscles! You'll love whoever you want to! And right now, you love Vitus!
Y-yeah! You can love anyone… anyone you want… even if you don’t if you actually… yeah…
>Love is a strong word at this point in the relationship. But since we've firmly decided to call this a date…
…it’s a step towards the L-word. You like him... isn’t that enough for now?

>Half of those excuses you mentioned can be solved with judicious application of Science!
You’re pretty sure judicious application of SCIENCE!!! is above your paygrade, sadly…
>As for the problems of being intimate and "intimate" with Vitus... Well, this is New Horizon. If there's any place in the universe where Cibics have figured out how to be close to other species in that way, it'll be here.
You did get that interspecies guide, didn’t you? Too bad it doesn’t involve a lot of intimacy except for the… well, really intimate parts.
>All we can do is see how it goes from there, yes?
And all we can do is try to steer this towards a positive destination. Hopefully, we will all end up better off in the end…
>All of this, by the way, still pales in comparison to the fact that you may in fact be literally the worst.
T-that means you can’t get any w-worse, r-right? Heh… err… right… you really need to start getting your shit together, don’t you? You’re starting to become an emotional wreck after all this…

>Just... tell the waiter you'll need a minute to look over the menu, and then talk it over with Vitus. He's got as much skin in this as you.
What I want? Well, um… what do you want? I mean, I’m fine either way, yeah? Maybe it’s a will be a bit much? After all, it’s good now so… why gamble and ruin the moment, yeah?
Yeah…

…

>Jo, remember that one of the reasons you came to New Horizons was to try new and alien foods.
Alright, alright, you can’t always eat cardboard… hmm… maybe you should try something human this time?
>Hey, isn't this restaurant supposed to have a great view of the planet below? Then where is it?
It does… on the side of the restaurant that is completely full! So, instead of an almost genuine view of the glory of space you have to be content with this holo-projection of a sea… you guess it should be worse?

I have to ask, why is it called a ham-burglar if it doesn’t have any ham in it?
I’m pretty sure the hams became extinct when the human home-planet became uninhabitable. Those round, pink haired balls didn’t stand a chance against all the toxics.
But I read that some of the other dishes had this ham thing in them.
Oh… then I guess they can make it artificially?
It still doesn’t answer my question, does it?
…maybe they burgled away all the ham?
That doesn’t make sense either!
Now, ham or no ham, what are your plans for after this?
I… actually, I got a few ideas, but I’ve not actually chosen one yet.
Really? Hmm… as long as it is something a bit slow and uneventful, like a walk in the park or an art gallery. I rather just go around and talk for a bit then to do something exiting… even if the talking is about the fauna or making fun of stupid paintings…
Making fun of paintings sounds like a good time, doesn’t it?

Kaktus 2016/05/06(Fri)17:39 No. 721390 ID: 65a774
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So, yeah… what do you think it depicts?
Clearly, it’s the abstract, emotional state of being near victory.
…is that really wh-
Because it looks like one of those silly last bosses final forms from a Serpent RPG game.
Heh, yeah, you’re right. Those things have never made sense to me. So what, this is some kind of embodiment of death or something? Or war? Oh, I know, the embodiment of meaningless, abstract art without meaning.
Oh! Definitely the last one! Those Serpent sure now how to make fair game mechanics, I’ll give them that, but their stories?
Completle insane, yeah… hmmm hey, maybe it’s a dessert gone horribly wrong? Like someone exploded a cake?
No one was spared in the dessert storm operation!
Yeah, we will never forget about your sacrifice, pair of tartars… but it had to be done to keep the world delicious! Those round orbs of… err… wait...
Hey… maybe it’s someone love letter… err… painting to a pair of huge, honking Gazongas!
Pfff-HAHA hah… oh, oiled cogs, what did you call them?
Gazongas?
Heh… really? Gazongas? I’ll have you know, a fair bosom like that deserve some more respectable name… like huge, honking tits!
What up with those milk bags anyway? I can’t fathom how people find appeal in them.
Well, being the xeno lover that I am, I can say that they aren’t really living up to the hype they usually gets by humans… at least until you put some lotion between them and introduce them to certain parts of the body.
…wait, you can fuck those things?
Hey, don’t be so brazen! This is a classy art gallery, after all.
Oh, sorry… have intercourse with them.
Why yes, my dear pupil, you can indeed make the most splendid of love to them.
And I’ve heard that you solids have a thing for finishing on faces, so their location has to be a plus?
Why, indeed it is… heh, yeah, I have to be honest here, I didn’t expect to start discussing something like this on the first date with a lady… it usually something that happens with the guys I’ve gone out with…
Well, technically I am both a man and a lady, you know…
Yeah, you are, aren’t you? Weird that…
Besides, it seems like it can’t pass a day here on New Horizon without me discussing the D in some form… I blame the new environment personally.
Taking a daily dose of vitamin D is good for you, yeah?
I hope that isn’t a pick up line you usually use.

Kaktus 2016/05/06(Fri)17:39 No. 721391 ID: 65a774
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Well, here we are…
It’s getting a bit late, isn’t it?
I’ll have to say, I’ve had a lovely evening, Jo… just the kind of evening I needed.
I can say the same thing.
So… am I to brazen to ask if you want to come in for a cup of Serk before heading to bed?
…A cup of what?
…Serk? …um… how about a cup of coffee, yeah?
:JourenyDREAM: Don’t coffee make it impossible to sleep?
That’s kind of… I mean…
Oh! Oh… you mean-
I didn’t actually mean it like that… err… now it feels like I’m trying to rush things a bit here… I mean… yeah…

>>721391
Okay. This isn't that much of a rush, you've been going out together for a while, even if it wasn't official. Sex doesn't have to be a huge deal, either.

Tell him that you'll take him up on both that cup of coffee and that cup of Serk, since you haven't tried either of them. And you'll cuddle up against him while you two are drinking and talk about whatever. And after the cups are empty... Well, you dunno. Depends on what your mood will be. You'll probably give him a tight hug and head back home. But maybe you'll stay awhile longer and see where things go. ...Though you probably shouldn't stay overnight since he doesn't have a hibernation sphere. You'd end up having to sleep in the bathtub and you know if that happened you'd wake up sore and cranky come morning.

Y'know, you never did compliment Vitus on his outfit. The jewelery and horn caps are quite pretty, and he really looks good in white. It goes against his red scales nicely. You have to say he's really rather handsome in that getup.

...Thinking about it, you could push your membrane out in two spots on your front to make it look sorta like you have breasts. It could be funny, especially if you move 'em about in ridiculous ways or make 'em dance.

Hey, is it out of the ordinary that the door control panel on the apartment to the left is off? Aren't their displays supposed to be on as long as the door is on-line? Is that a sign it's broken? If so, point it out to Vitus and suggest that perhaps he should call his neighbor to let them know it's busted so they'll know to notify facilities maintenance about it.

>Don’t coffee make it impossible to sleep?
Actually, does it even have that effect on Cibics, given how drastically your biology differs from humans? For all you know it might even have odd or detrimental effects on Cibics, so better check on that before having a cup. And for that matter does it even work as a stimulant for Sakkilians?

>You did get that interspecies guide, didn’t you? Too bad it doesn’t involve a lot of intimacy except for the… well, really intimate parts.
You don't have to limit yourself to the guide, y'know. There has to be at least one or two inter-species relationship advice sites or message boards on the station network you can check for ways to get close with a "solid" partner. After all, you can't be the first Cibic to get into a relationship like this, so take advantage of any knowledge that they may have left behind.

...actually I guess you should at least tell him you're worried about the physical aspects of your relationship so fair warning-- it might be real awkward.

Kaktus 2016/05/07(Sat)06:30 No. 721565 ID: 65a774
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>Actually, does it even have that effect on Cibics, given how drastically your biology differs from humans?
You… don’t actually know for certain. You do know that all those old cop movies you watch usually have a lot of coffee and something called donuts in them. Apparently, it’s something they’ve gotten from the humans, but still…
>You don't have to limit yourself to the guide, y'know. There has to be at least one or two inter-species relationship advice sites or message boards on the station network you can check for ways to get close with a "solid" partner.
There definitely has to be tons of those guides out there! Of course, it being a network, you’ll have to be careful not to venture to deep into it. Dark things hide down there…
>...Thinking about it, you could push your membrane out in two spots on your front to make it look sorta like you have breasts. It could be funny, especially if you move 'em about in ridiculous ways or make 'em dance.
…you know, that would be funny, though you’ll need some practice before pulling it off.


>Y'know, you never did compliment Vitus on his outfit. The jewelery and horn caps are quite pretty, and he really looks good in white.
You think so?
You look absolutely dashing like that.
Thank you… though you might want to compliment Aelia as well. She’s the one who made it look this good.
I’ll do that.
Speaking of beauty, I have to say that I truly love your jewelry, yeah? It’s something so exotic about you actually having them inside yourself.
Why, thank you.

>Okay. This isn't that much of a rush, you've been going out together for a while, even if it wasn't official.
Still…
We can always just cuddle a bit while drinking this… what was it called again?
Serk… and that was my original plan, yeah.
Though I don’t think I will stay the night. Not sleeping in my hibernation sphere will probably leave me cranky in the morning.
Oh, of course.
>I guess you should at least tell him you're worried about the physical aspects of your relationship so fair warning-- it might be real awkward.
Personally, I’m actually looking forward to it for that exact reason. Yeah, sure, it might be a bit awkward at first, but just think about the new experiences you’ll have.
I guess that’s one way to look at it.
Besides, why worry? I can’t say if you’ll like it or not, but I can tell you that you won’t know until you try, yeah? So, when you’re ready, I’m sure we can have an interesting evening together… but as for now, cuddles?
Cuddles sounds… wait…

>Hey, is it out of the ordinary that the door control panel on the apartment to the left is off? Aren't their displays supposed to be on as long as the door is on-line?
Wait, are the door control panels supposed to blink on and off like that?
Huh? I’m pretty sure they aren’t supposed to?
Hmm, this is odd… PAC, what does this mean? …PAC? PAC, are you there?
Hey, don’t worry, as long as the door light is blue, the doors should still work, yeah?
Are you sure?
I’m positive… look, as long as they aren’t like that… door right across the corridor… yeah…
…oh great… that’s my door... and PAC seems to be offline too… right, something is definitely wrong here. Vitus, if I don’t call back in ten, call the peace keepers.
What? A-are you going in there unarmed and unarmored!?
Don’t worry, I’m never unarmed…

Kaktus 2016/05/07(Sat)06:30 No. 721566 ID: 65a774
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Greeting, Songs of the Journey, I’ve been waiting for your return.
You!? What are you doing here!? Why did you break into my apartment!?
I was actually hoping of visiting you, but sadly you weren’t home at the time so I had to let myself in instead. Don’t worry, I haven’t touched anything. Oh! And how rude of me! I completely forgot to introduce myself. I am Lady Estania, and I was hoping to have a civil talk with you… so if you would be so kindly to lower your weapon?
You… You’re the one who attack Cib!
…Cib? Ah, yes, you mean the SAI. I do have to take responsibility for that, yes, though I did not mean for it to happen.
You cut off his freaking head!
Now, I admit that I did order someone to scare you a bit, but I also ordered them not to resort to violence. Of course, they assumed as a SAI can’t technically feel pain, it wouldn’t be “violence” to assault one. Don’t worry; I’ve already taken care of those two. They have been reassigned to a rather cold and empty rim world for their incompetence.

Kaktus 2016/05/07(Sat)06:30 No. 721567 ID: 65a774
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Now, I do hope any personal interested can be set aside, as I will need your help to prevent an galactic scale genocidal war from occurring.
…wait, a what now?

End of Act Three.

well that escalated quickly

>>721567
Yeah we're already working on that.