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]

<We do know that whatever it is is likely intelligent.>

[bayarm]

That doesn't really narrow down the who. And the what only somewhat. How did you find the body? I mean, what position, that kind of thing.

And are you all right?

[canadese]

[why does everyone keep asking that]

<I am fine. I am doing much better than the body, which consisted of a severed head I discovered in a sack, in a way that was obviously staged.>

[bayarm]

[ because finding a severed head in a sack can be traumatic... ]

Can you tell me any details?

[canadese]

[What's one more dismembered body part to an Animorph. Thousand yard stare into the middle distance.]

<It was missing eyes and teeth and holding what I believe is called a cigarette. There was blood elsewhere in the area that possibly indicated a struggle, but I found no other part of the body.>

[bayarm]

Whoever is doing this is going out of their way to set the scene each time, it seems.

[canadese]

<Yes. Exactly why they must be intelligent.

I have to wonder their purpose, in that case.>

[bayarm]

Sadistic pleasure comes to mind.

[canadese]

<At our expense or the victims'?

In truth, I doubt their motives are so simplistic, if they are truly intelligent.>

[bayarm]

Both, I suppose.

I'm not sure intelligence precludes simplistic motives like that, but it could definitely be something else.

[canadese]

<If what they really intend is to scare us, then there must be a reason why they want us afraid. Or at least we must assume there is. In my experience, it is never a good idea to underestimate your enemy.>

[bayarm]

Yeah, you're definitely right about that.