Searching for Tyrianno (continued)

[______________Ehrynn]

Second Entry

No sign of Tyrianno just vague and disturbing leads.

I made contact with a woman named Savoy who is a member of the South Rubi-Ka Society; the SRS seems to be a social organization devoted to benevolent projects to improve life on the planet. Of course, they could be a secret society bent on achieving world domination for all I know.

In truth, Savoy was very helpful and she could see potential problems in the way I was going about looking for Tyrianno. The issue of a debt and others seeking him as well is worrisome and Savoy was quick to point out that they might try to use me to find him. So many complications, so many things to consider, none of the things she mentioned had occurred to me before I left the university to come here.

Savoy is going to introduce me to another SRS member, Vallentia. Apparently, she is quite streetwise and can help me learn how to get around the sewer district. Maybe she can also explain what this finger-in-a-jar that I received from Tyrianno’s supposed creditor means. I’m pretty sure I know what it means but it would be nice to be proven wrong.

[______________Ehrynn]

Well I met Vallentia and she is without a doubt streetwise. Mother would claim she is as common as dirt but then mother only pays attention to what is on the surface. On the other hand, her speech is rather blunt. Her comment about the Sanctuary Centre barbeque did put me off at first; after all, Tyrianno may have been in the Centre on that night. My intuition, however, tells me you could not ask for a better friend than Vallentia.

We were about to head off for a tour of the Omni Sewer District when she was summoned to an urgent meeting with some other SRS members. I was pleasantly surprised when she suggested that I come along as well. We traveled by transporter machine (I can never remember what the locals call them, Whompo, Wampah, Whonka, something like that) to Galloway Castle. Vallentia mentioned this was one of the high-rent districts on the planet. I don’t know what she would say if she saw where I grew up; the castle district looks like one of the beach houses we rented for the servants while on vacation.

After we arrived, we met another SRS member, Speechio. I’ve never seen anyone change appearance so frequently or easily. His main concern was too look tough for the meeting and once the “guest of honor” appeared I understood why. Skybert and Rusty also arrived to represent the society. They looked tough enough right from the start.

A disgusting little man named Roskin was waiting for us in one of the more remote plazas. Roskin, the name alone has a nasty taste akin to drinking sour milk. He suggested Vallentia’s investigation into the Centre bombing and the drug “White Trash”could be turned into an Omni-Pol probe of her activities. Of course, all would be right as rain if the SRS did him a little favor. I thought Skybert and Rusty were about to place Roskin in orbit when he outlined the specifics of the favor. What a pair they make, Skybert and Rusty; I think I hid behind them most of the day.

The SRS had a private chat about Roskin but were most kind to include me after a bit when the discussion turned back to Sanctuary Centre. I even accompanied them on a short investigation of a lead in the vicinity of Rome under the guidance of a member named Heksa.

In truth, at day’s end I knew little more about where Tyrianno might be then I did at the start. However, it seems that there could be a connection between my brother’s creditors and this Roskin fellow. (Note: complete application for SRS membership, one certainly needs good friends on Rubi-Ka.)

[______________Ehrynn]

She paced nervously about her apartment. It had finally happened, she met with Dr. Emmet Gray, the director of the Sanctuary Centre, about her missing brother. Savoy had arranged everything and the Society’s butler, Wodehouse, led her safely to the meeting. Finally, she paused long enough to make a journal entry.

Ehrynn reviewed Dr. Gray’s comments:

He could not recall if Tyrianno was at the Centre because of the drug “White Trash.” He was fairly certain that her brother had escaped the destruction of Sanctuary Centre, since there was a good bit of warning before the attack. He had no idea where her brother might be now. It was most likely that they had managed to find shelter in some of the more run down areas of the city or surrounding area. Dr. Gray did provide one hopeful lead; it seems that Tyrianno had become very close to a girl named Melba who frequented the Centre on a regular basis. He described her as “clean-ish” and able to hold down a position with one of the Omni-Tek cleaning contractors.

Also, I recently learned about a small shantytown across the river from the Omni Trade district, not to far from a place called Harry’s. Will head there next day off from work

[Dabblez]

When Val first heard that Wodehouse, the Society's butler, was going to escort Ehrynn across Omni-Sew to meet Dr Gray, she burst into laughter. "They are gonna get eaten alive!" she remarked. Omni Sewers, always something of a rough neighbourhood had become down right dangerous of late. Even "Sewer rats" like herself had to be careful nowadays.

Then it occurred to her. Taking Ehrynn to the Sewers had originally been her task, something she'd totally forgotten about thanks to that unsettling meeting with a class A creep and would-be blackmailer called Roskin. "Aw, this sucks Chirop eggs." she said out loud to no one in particular as she grabbed her coat and ran after them.

By the time she'd caught sight of the pair, they were already deep in Omni Sewers. Wodehouse in his tuxedo and Ehrynn with her shiny, clean long blonde hair looked woefully out of place here. She was about to shout to them to wait up, when she noticed the partially hidden, predatory figures carefully shadowing the two. "Bugger" she muttered quietly. "This ain't gonna be pretty".

Moving quietly she sneaked up behind the closest ganger and landed a precise blow to the back of his neck. Without wasting a second she leapt into the air and engaged a second ganger with a flying kick.The ganger fell to the floor. Before he could get up again Val was on him, pinning him down with her weight and striking a knock-out blow to the side of his head.

For the first time Val got a good look at the ganger. He was an old man, well into his seventies she judged. Val smiled, "What's sort of gang is this? The Old Timers?".

The moment of distraction was all it took for a third ganger to grab her from behind in a bear hug. Val struggled, but the old ganger was strong, very strong. "Gotta lay off the spinach gramps." she taunted. The ganger just kept squeezing harder. His skin was hot, as if he were running a fever. "Trashie" Val thought. She'd heard stories about how the drug made them super strong, though had not given them much credence till now.

Slowly, painfully Val moved her arms into a position so to be able to strike her assailer with her elbows. She then elbowed him in the stomach with all her remaining strength. The ganger in reaction released his grip just enough to allow Val to slip away. Making the most of the moment, she spun on herself and kicked the ganger in the face all the time trying to ignore the pain from her cracked ribs.

The old ganger fell back, and again Val moved forward to press her advantage. She placed a foot on his neck and was about to land a conclusive blow when for he first time, he spoke.

"Val?"

"Huh?"

"Vallentia, that you? It's Stiggs"

Val blinked "Stiggs? Get out of here, you are not Stiggs. He is my age, gramps."

"Yeah.. sucks, huh?" he said, coughing blood.

"You can't be Stiggs."

"Yeah.. whatever." he replied, and died.

Val looked blankly at the body of the ganger for a while. Then she looked for Wodehouse and Ehrynn, but they were nowhere to be found. It struck her as terribly amusing that they might not have even noticed how she'd saved their lives. Oh well she was in no condition to help them any further. "You are on your own now kids" she said out loud and proceeded to limp her way back home.