Checking up on a friend. ((for protolawyer))

[chiron_survivor]

It is rare that Adia has a free moment to herself in the Nexus these days. When she isn't caring for Steve's pokémon, she's reading about them in the library, or answering questions in the Plaza. She doesn't mind because it keeps her busy. It keeps her from worrying about Steve, or the fragility of the AV field, or the fact that she has her own personal stalker who may or may not be a Cylon.

So when she finds herself in the Plaza with nothing to do, she can feel that worry creeping up on her once more. Maybe... maybe she should talk to someone.

She could text Shark. He's been keeping an eye out for Cylons, anyway. He might have a good suggestion or two. Better yet, he won't panic or overreact, or insist that she limit her visits to the Nexus.

Pulling out her PINpoint, she types up a quick message. Hi, Shark. It's Adia. Do you have a couple of minutes to talk about something? I need your advice.

Even after she sends it, it doesn't occur to her to be worried about the fact that she hasn't seen him in the Nexus lately. Shark's a smart guy with a healthy sense of self-preservation, he wouldn't have stuck around during the Khan invasion.

Comments

[protolawyer]

Shark listens to the tale, leaning one elbow on his desk. As it goes on, his eyebrows continually lower as his eyes simultaneously widen.

Once it's concluded, he's quiet a moment, just staring with that same expression of disturbed surprise. Then Shark sits back in his leather swivel chair as his arms move to have both hands resting on the surface of his desk. A deep breath through his nose while his fingers drum a few times. Then raising his hands to clap them together between each word.

"What. The. Fuck."

[chiron_survivor]

Well. That's a very helpful response.

"Yes, I know," she says with the tiniest hint of frustration. She sighs and gestures helplessly with her hands. "Is there anything I can do about this? Aside from staying away from the Nexus. What would you do if you were me?"

[protolawyer]

"Get a goon. Which I already have, so then I'd kit that goon out. Get some guns in his hands and keep him on watch and pay him out the ass to do it. Because like some homicidal IDIOT is gonna axe me in my sleep and do weird shit with my body. I mean, I technically won't mind the second part cuz I'll be DEAD but that also means I can't get my carbon recycled and that's not a good way to treat company property."

Shark sighs as he leans forward again, one hand now rubbing at the end of an eyebrow. "But considering you probably don't have that kind of scratch, I guess carry heat? Sew a switchblade into your jacket sleeve. Change your mailing address and chron numbers. Buy security cameras? Or webcams, that's cheaper. And get in touch with your local snitches and stoolies and start asking if there's a guy who's out for your blood and why."

[chiron_survivor]

This is all very practical advice, but based on the mortified, vaguely unhappy look on Adia's face, there's not much she can salvage for her own use. She actually prefers the first option, having someone look out for her, but Shark's right, she doesn't have the money to hire one. She could ask one of her friends, maybe...

No. After Shark's reaction, she's not willing to try. He wanted her to hide out in a bunker, imagine what extreme measures Blaze or Reynard would demand of her to stay safe. Besides, she can't expect anyone to drop everything and babysit her. It was too much to ask.

"I don't know if I can change my contact information in the Nexus... or if that will even make a difference... but maybe carrying something for protection isn't such a bad idea." Although can Shark honestly picture her defending herself with a switchblade? "And I guess I can ask around. It's why I texted you in the first place."

[protolawyer]

"I've got a few guys in the Nexus who might have some dirt. I mean, assuming they didn't get blown up in that attack. So I'll ask 'em. See if they've heard of some headcase who's stalking girls for no reason. Also, nail wounds? Like, with a hammer or a nailgun? That's a really specific and fucked-up way to get rid of someone. A guy like that is gonna stand out, even among other psychos. So him being a huge creep like that might actually work out in your favour."

[chiron_survivor]

"Thanks," she says quietly. It makes her feel a little better.Somebody must know something. If her stalker made the effort of charming a young couple into inviting him into their home, then surely he's talked to other people.

"A nail gun," she confirms with a small frown. Shark's right, who ever did this was sicker than most. She gives him a worried look when another thought occurs to her. "You'll be careful, won't you, when you're asking around? He tortured strangers to get close to me, I don't want to think about what he'd do to a friend of mine..."

[protolawyer]

"Well, after the LAST fiasco, Neirin's all up my ass about sticking close, like I said. So even if we narrow in on the guy, he'll have to contend with a giant blue dude with metal legs and no issue with shanking haters. And maybe I'll look into methods of escape, you know? Get one of those PIN things to zap out when the heat's on." Shark mimes pressing a button on his wrist and makes a 'pew' noise, apparently meaning to invoke teleportation.

[chiron_survivor]

It's reassuring to know that Neirin is sticking close to Shark, and she has enough faith in the mordesh's ability to take care of himself that her worry eases and her expression clears.

At least until he reveals that he still doesn't have a PINpoint.

She leans into the screen, eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You haven't gotten a PINpoint yet? A free PINpoint? Like the one I have? The one I showed you?"

[protolawyer]

O fuk. Busted. Sharks eyes dart back and forth before he puts both hands up defensively. "Look! I've been busy, okay. It was on my list. I'll bump it up a few steps, how about that." That's his way of covering up that he completely forgot about doing this particular task.

[chiron_survivor]

She frowns at him a moment longer before sighing and bringing a hand up to her forehead.. "Just... Shark. Please make it a priority. I have enough to worry about."

[protolawyer]

"Scout's honour, baby," he says with a little salute and a wink. "Don't worry about me. So I got shot! It's street cred in the end. And a wicked cool scar. Can't forget that part. Just focus on not getting stalked. Oh, don't leave any food or drink unattended. That's another important one. Like, ever. Don't do it. I don't deal benzos but other people DO, so."

[chiron_survivor]

His gesture gets a tiny smile from her -- more like a smirk, really. But she looks genuinely touched at his warning about unattended food and drink. It might be the one and only time that he and her parents have ever given her the same advice.

"I'll be careful," she promises. She glances off-screen, presumably to the Plaza at large. It seems innocuous as usual; people drinking coffee, or swiping their phones. "I should let you get back to work... tell Neirin 'hi' from me, okay? And thanks."

[protolawyer]

"Totally, totally. And yeah, I GUESS I gotta knock out the rest of this case and paperwork." He heaves a heavy, loud sigh, picking up a ream of papers and tapping them on his desk to line them back up. "But hey, if anything gets crazy, just call or text, kay? Me or Neirin. And we'll see how fast we can show up to crack some skulls for ya." Shark does a pair of finger-guns and another wink.

"Take it easy, lady."

[chiron_survivor]

She cracks a smile at the finger guns. "Sure thing. You'll be the first person I text." Possibly the only person. It was a relief to get this off her chest, but she's not sure she can handle telling anyone else about her stalker problem.

"You, too." And then, "And get a PINpoint!" right before she disconnects the call.

It takes her a moment to log herself out of the computer, and then it's back to her ship and her research, and a little less worry.