C.R.D chapter 2

“Quite the connection you’ve got here…” Roff stated seemingly a little surprised.

“Isn’t it just a little high or something?” Wish stated. “A couple of the tests said I might have trouble making an avatar, but I’ve never noticed anything.”

Roff looked up to listen, and then back down at the number. “Interesting…” He stated quietly before hit a few buttons. “Well, I guess we gonna find out. Qual-Link. Online.”
 
“Connections. Stable” Wish stated. As the blinding white light loaded her in.

“That was…. Rather strange.” Wish wobbled a bit. For the first time she felt a little light headed after loading up. She steady herself using a nearby table, and looked around. It didn’t look that different from other augment spots, at least the ones back from a few years ago. The virtual currency banned was huge cut in funding for places like this, and a lot of them fell into disrepair as a result. “Didn’t think I’d see one like this again.” Wish stated.

“It’s not your first time?” A girl sitting at the table Wish was leaning on asked.

“I guess it’s been longer than I thought.” Wish stated as she sat down. “I used to go more often, but the only ones that are worth anything more are so regular now.”

“Ah, you’re not from around here.” A man sitting across from her stated. “That tattoo of yours could fooled me.”

“”Honestly it’s not accurate anymore.” Wish stated. “You know with how they’ve been doing things. And they weren’t exactly happy with my career choice, of course neither were most of my colleagues.”

“Can’t imagine they’d be happy your here then.” The girl commented

“Speaking of what brings me here. You two hear anything about a Bort Ruribind?” Wish questioned. 

“Heard a lot of things.” The man stated. “Few of them I believe.”

“Something happen to him?” The girl next to Wish asked in return. “I’ve never fully understood when he talks, but it sounded like something big this time.”

“Could change everything, if he’s right.” The man stated. “Bound to attraction way too much attention one way or another.”

“You sound so sure he’s alive.” Wish stated. “Far as I know he’s up and vanish.”

“Find the panda.” Both stated in unison. “He’s been repeating that for a while , but it hammered it in a few days ago.” the man finished

“Well, alright.” Wish stated. “Doesn’t sound like I’d get much else out of anyone. I know you both saw the badge number, so thanks for the tip.” With that Wish left the augment.

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Back at the bar
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“Miss me?” Wish stated sarcastically as she walked out one of the pods hidden away in the backroom. “How was the session?”

“Well, people around are convinced of three things.” Zen stated. "Ruribind wasn’t killed. Somehow, someway, sent his mind off somewhere, and it’s alive and well. And in the event of any surprises we’re supposed to ‘find the panda’. ”

“Got about the same.” Wish stated. “And somehow I doubt we’re supposed to search through millions of line of code, countless buildings, and highly advanced laboratories for a panda.”

“Well, that thing.” Zen stated. “I think we got the panda, so I was kind of hoping Roffguard mention something to you.”

“Why would he-.... Me?” Wish questioned as she pointed at herself. “Well all he mentioned is my connections interesting. Not unusual. It’s been ‘special’ ever since I was little.”

“And you don’t know why? Never wanted to know?” Zen asked. The rather long silence. For a moment Zen questioned if he should even ask again, but, like it or not, this seemed like their only way in. “Wish?”

“If I ever wanted to know it was in Father Triben’s journal.” Wish stated. “So I always assumed it was something from over 22 years ago.”

Zen signed. “You want everything over again? See if we missed a sign or two?”

“Naw.” Wish stated rather casually. “I’d like to think a 5 year old me would be proud, but, honestly, i’ve been less proud which each passing day. I think it’s time the past caught up with me.”

“Well, whatever it’s worth.” Zen replied. “I’m proud of you doing this.”