004 ★ text; encrypted

[mathemagician]

[The pyjaks and the varren aren't very concerning, but the water going out had made Kengo concerned from the beginning. Something like this didn't just happen so easily. So, he'd volunteered to work with getting the water lines back on and operating. What he hadn't expected was that fires would start while he was working to get everything online. As soon as he catches the news, he sends a message to the network. He doesn't like being underground and out of the way, unable to help like he had the time before.]

Someone give me a status report. Where is the fire and how bad is it? I need specifics.

[This message is nothing like the ones Kengo had sent before. He learned his way around an omni-tool and has every possible defense up against being traced or having his messages tied to him.]


[A few minutes later, a separate, less heavily encrypted message is sent along to Ryusei's omni-tool.]
Where are you? Are you okay?

Comments

[asteroidbelt]

What were you working on that you needed your weapon?

[mathemagician]

[ . . . ]

It's a safety precaution. With everything that's going on, I didn't know what else to expect. I've been trying to keep an eye on things.

[asteroidbelt]

[You didn't know about the fire.] What things?

[mathemagician]

[well, I found out afterwards.] What's going on. You weren't here when everything happened last time. I made it my job to keep everyone updated with the situation. This time, I was trying to figure out what was going on. Everything about this is suspicious.

[asteroidbelt]

Suspicious enough that you couldn't tell me where you were?

[mathemagician]

[cough.]

I don't want to talk about it.

[asteroidbelt]

About what?

[mathemagician]

What I was doing.

[Not that I don't trust you, but... I don't trust you.]

[asteroidbelt]

Who were you with? [I'll beat it out of someone else, then.]

[mathemagician]

We're both safe. Isn't that what matters? [You can try. I don't think you'd win.]

[asteroidbelt]

...

It's not enough.

[mathemagician]

[He gives a frustrated sigh, tilting his head up and leaning back in the chair.] Fine. What do you want to hear?

[asteroidbelt]

Where were you. What you were doing.

[mathemagician]

I don't know exactly where I was. I was helping fix some of the systems. Everything's online now and back in working order, so I don't need to do anything else.

[Purposely avoiding getting more detailed than that. He would rather not admit he was working with a mercenary group with how angry Ryusei's acting.]

I was worried about you...

[asteroidbelt]

[Those things don't warrant any secrecy. Damnit.]

I'll take your word for it.

[mathemagician]

[It still feels strange to admit it, since I feel all suspicious.]

Let's just go back, all right? I'm not feeling well.