voice/text | 2/24 evening | un: aximili

[canadese]

<I have discovered another body in a corridor near the general commerce area. I have sent the remains to the medical bay for examination. I will update once they have been identified.>

[A pause.]

<And if anyone has information regarding Marco's whereabouts, I would appreciate hearing it.>

[TEXT UPDATE, forward dated to 24 hours later, 2/25 evening]

according to the lab data the remains are those of ukoku sanzo. my condolences to anyone who knew him

[He's skeptical, though. Who says the data is true?]

Comments

[canadese]

<That is always a possibility. There is no reason the ship's staff could not be lying.>

[rockthemonkey]

Yeah. It sucks, but we can't really count on him bein' dead, I guess.

[Ukoku's castmates are a loving, compassionate bunch.]

[canadese]

<However, if he is not dead, then where is he?>

[Pause.]

<Along with the many other missing.>

[rockthemonkey]

[Hm. Where is Ukoku? Goku feels the hair on his neck stand on end and he looks behind him cautiously before replying. (No one's there.)] ... Probably creeping around or something.

[Shitty crow bastard.]

But you're right, we gotta find the others... Even if they're- ya know... We didn't find all of 'em, right? Just bits and pieces.

[canadese]

<From what I understand, the identities of the other remains have only been confirmed by the ship's lab as well. So those results are about as trustworthy as these.>

[Of course, that begs the question of what is there to gain by convincing them that they're dead when they're not. But then, the whole situation is an increasingly disturbing mystery.]

<Neither possibility is particularly comforting, honestly.>

[rockthemonkey]

If they're still alive, we can still find 'em. Your friend too.

[Don't give up. Maybe it's overly optimistic or naive and maybe Ukoku would be thrilled to know his death managed to raise some hopes that could be brutally crushed, but giving up won't help anyone either.]

If they're hurt or something- that's bad, yeah, but... If they're alive and we're alive, there's still something we can all do.

[canadese]

<There are some fates that death would be preferable to.>

[Well, that's morbid.]

<I just want to know for sure.>

[rockthemonkey]

... Yeah, I guess there are. But we can deal with those too.

[Goku's solution to Morbid and Troubling Themes is to stubbornly push through them. It usually works out.]

We'll figure it out soon. I don't know Marco, but if I hear anything I'll tell you, okay?

[canadese]

<Thank you. I will not hope, but the thought is appreciated anyway.

At least, if all the missing are dead, I will hope it was quick.>