xp_logs | Sooraya & Garrison

xp_dust posting in

Concerned about the missing people in the Underground and frustrated by the police's non-response, Sooraya turns to Garrison Kane for some advice.

"Mr. Kane, any chance you have a moment?" Sooraya peeked around the open door. "I got something I want to ask you." She spoke a little hurriedly, worry etched around her eyes.

"Yeah, come on in." Kane said from behind a stack of hard drives. They were upgrading the Danger Room, and while Kane was neither a programming or a technician, he knew enough about the Danger Room processes to run tests of the new systems while the others worked. "Find a flat spot that hasn't already been colonized."

Sooraya picked her way through the technology and removed a box filled with screws from a chair before sitting down. "I was hoping you could give me some advice. I have a bit of a situation."

"Sure. Unless it's about boys. It's not about boys, is it?"

"It's not. Two young people involved with the Underground have vanished and we haven't been able to find any trace of them. It was decided to at least report them missing, but when I went... well... basically I was sent away." Sooraya explained.

"What relationship do you have with them? Missing is something that unless it is a parent or a spouse reporting, always carries with it a huge dollop of doubt," Kane said. "

"I work with them in the Underground, but that is not something I can exactly explain to the police. I told them I was a friend who had not heard anything from them when I was supposed to and that other friends mentioned the same to me." Sooraya let out a sigh. "That is part is true, by the way. And not like Kaori and Ray."

"I'd say that's a big chuck of your problem. Whatever cop you talked to likely has a stack of thirty reported missing on their desk, and three-quarters of them are coming from people who have a relationship with the missing person that allows them the inside information to know when someone is missing and their patterns change." Kane hunched forward, his forearms resting on his knees. "Look, if I asked is it outside of the realm of possibility that a sudden trip or a family emergency or some other private matter could have made them leave town without telling people, can you say no? As long as the doubt is there, they're going to be bottom of the pile."

"That is just the issue with this." Sooraya leaned forward, shaking her head. "I am pretty certain I can say no to that, but not for reasons I can explain to the police."

"Yeah, see, even if they wanted to help you, they'd need to find an excuse. If they don't give a shit to start with... well, you don't need to guess why they aren't going to help. I can't even use that to move FBI resources."

"What would you need to do that?" Sooraya turned thoughtful. "Or even for the police. If I have some idea what to give them so that they might care..."

"Evidence that they're actually missing. No shows to work, no indications at home of an emergency trip, a list of contacting family to confirm they have no idea..." Kane shook his head. "I'll be honest, Sooraya, if they're essentially transients working for the Underground off the books and dossing at random places, you're not going to get much help. That's why some people like to target street kids, because there's so little footprint of their lives, it is nearly impossible to confirm something is wrong."

She let out a long sigh. "So basically there is nothing I can do to get the authorities involved... I can't explain too much and compromise the security of the Underground. And with the fact that they are visible mutants, even if fairly subtle..." Sooraya looked up from her hands. "I've already spoken with XFI. Is there anything else you can think of that I can or should do?"

"Officially, no. But if you can get me a picture of each of them, I can at least put them down as a person of interest and get it circulated. It isn't much, but if they've ended up in a hospital or a jail cell without ID, it might help. Otherwise, I think XFI boots on the ground investigating it is your best option."

"I'll going out tonight with Quentin to search for them. And photo’s... that I can help you with. I figured you might need them." She reached into her bag and pulled out two pictures. "Like I said, both are visible mutants. Not overly so, but still..." Sooraya handed him the first photo. "This is Kaori Tanaka. She has skin that glittered in the sunlight... we used to call her Twilight because she reminded us of the vampires in the book."

"That's a detail that will hopefully stand out. The other?"

"Ray Miller." Sooraya handed him the other picture. "It's a little more subtle with him, but more dangerous as well... he has eyes pretty much like a snake. Slitted pupils... actually has the teeth and the poison to go with it as well."

"Alright, I'll see what I can shake lose and keep you updated."

"Thanks, Mr. Kane." Sooraya rose. "I better go find Quentin so we can head to the city."