Nothing Significant

Taiga was thinking, thinking really really hard. Not about how to get out of the situation he was currently in with endless questions at the police station. He was thinking about what he did last night that incited the rescue.

“Were there any other people involved?”

So the only two possible things I can think of last night were bringing Modu to a hospital, then getting Amy to a hotel room. “No, I was the only one targeted.”

“And you say that it’s because you had an altercation prior, is the altercation you’re referring to related to the situation where you two were rescued in an escape pod together?”

The Modu theory is a lot more likely, for someone to show up in an Atmosuit they must have some underground ties. “Yes, we were…” But nothing showed that either of them knew who the other was? I get the idea that that person just saw me in trouble. Was it really because of Amy?

“You were what?”

Taiga turns to the officer irritatingly as they interrupt his train of thought once again. “Hey, I’m going to apologize. I’ve been holding back on some of the things I know, can you get my ring?” None of this is interesting anymore.

–

For the second time in forty hours, Taiga walks out of the police station unperturbed.

“You seem very good at attracting interesting people, for better or worse.” Chief Bostein tells Taiga. He was the police chief in New Sumer, while simultaneously being a close friend of Taiga’s. Despite the age difference, Bostein considered Taiga an equal and swept away a lot of his legal altercations.

“I wouldn’t call Modu interesting, but scaring him was definitely worth it.” Taiga responds.

“Scaring is such a light word from the footage we saw… Why the hell would you jam a bolt under the escape pod’s lever in the first place? What if he figured it out? Or you couldn’t unstick it in time?”

“Dunno, never really thought about that. I only did it because I was daydreaming about this exact scenario playing out a couple months ago; I guess that’s why I started taking some of the shadier commissions too.”

“Uh Huh… Your insurance company would probably have some select words if you told them what you just told me.”

“You know I only tell this kind of stuff to you.” Taiga nudges his chest playfully.

”Sure, sure.” Bostein looks down and grins.

Taiga laughs. “Sometimes I wonder how a person as morally flexible as you ever became chief of law enforcement.”

“You’re just a bad influence sometimes. Right, so you’re probably wondering what we’re going to do with Modu.”

“Actually, can you just leave the situation alone for the time being?”

“Well, that’d be a bit difficult considering we already got Modu. He apparently decided to not flee from the scene when we arrived.”

“Oh. Then can I ask him a couple questions?”

“That’s probably never going to be approved, but I can ask them in your stead.”

“Just ask him if he has any idea who the person who helped me was.” Taiga says.

“Huh? What are you talking about?” Bostein asks.

“I survived because someone in an Atmosuit saved me, and I want to know who they are.”

“That’s an absolutely wild thing to bring up only now, but alright, I’ll ask about that. I’m assuming you don’t have much more to go off of either?”

“Dang, I was wondering why you didn’t ask. Shouldn’t there be security cameras around there?”

“All the cameras had been tampered with and were recording looping footage, none of them caught anything.”

“Oh…” Taiga bites his fingernail. “Alright, I’ll let you know once I find something out, see you.” Taiga waves goodbye as he walks away, he then dials a number, briefly holding his hand against his ears as a piece detaches from his ring, molding against his ears.

“Hello? Ah, yea, this is Taiga, how are you…? Mmhm, I brought you to the hotel, don’t worry about paying me back… Yea… Yea… Yea, you got incredibly drunk, and you wouldn’t tell me a friend or a place you could stay… It’s alright! You don’t need to feel guilty or pay back anything! Well actually, I wanted to ask about something… Uh Uh… Yea, if you tell me, I’ll consider us even… Okay, so do you know anyone who uh… Might be in the mafia or military… Why? You might find it hard to believe, but someone in an Atmosuit was following me… Uh—“

—

“—Okay, so Modu knows nothing either. Thanks for asking.”

Taiga’s ring reconstitutes as the metallic speakers in his ear magnetize back to his finger.

Did I sleepwalk? The hell did I do last night?

…

“Current… Atmosuit… Models…” Taiga searches up, his eyes flicking through various images and databases. He does this for a couple minutes before giving up. None of these look like what they wore.

”Old… Atmosuit… Models… With… Round… Helmet… And… Visor…” Taiga searches again. However, once again, nothing matched.

Taiga closes his laptop and stares at a strange painting on the wall. His apartment was still quarantined for evidence collection, so he was staying at a hotel for now.

The painting was an abstract... Honestly what the hell is this supposed to be? Did the artist strip naked then cover themselves in paint and roll over the canvas? Is that little splotch their… Well it’s definitely a guy who made this. Honestly, good job to the artist! I don’t understand why, but it’s definitely provocative.

“Right.” Taiga turns back to his laptop. “News… Stolen… Atmosuit…” Taiga then meticulously scrolls through various articles until…

“There you are.” Taiga stops on an article, the Atmosuit on the image shown in the perfect likeness of the one he saw.

The day of the very first Lunar Dies festival was a cause of celebration for most, many were cautiously optimistic at the prospect of returning to the life and images only shown in history books. However, many also saw it as an opportunity to sow mischief, much of this was only limited to petty thievery; however, some decided to be more bold with their crimes. One report came in of an Atmosuit stolen, one of particular historical significance to the people of the infamous Goid City. The Atmosuit was previously bought by Mr. Dipen from a private collector to donate to the residents of Goid city, where it was stolen in transit, the motive and suspect/s are unclear to this day.

…

Oh yea, I remember reading about this case. Dipen was the head of a company accused of dumping nuclear waste near Goid city, thereby increasing Omvolord activity around the area; he stepped down after the case went public, alongside some scandals with investigative journalists. Dipen currently lives in Pedion due to achievements in philanthropy.

“Mmmm…” Taiga stares at the ceiling with a slight frown. Someone did tell me recently they got accepted into Pedion.

…

Taiga calls Amy again.

“Hey, where are you right now?” Taiga asks.

”I’m working, I’m too busy today to hang out, sorry.” Amy replies.

“What hospital?”

”… Look, I appreciate what you did, but we’re not that close.” Amy says.

“No, no, no, this isn’t about that. I’m trying to make sure that you’re safe.”

“Well… I’m still here, so I’m safe I guess… What are you trying to do right now?”

How do I mention her twin without directly mentioning her twin?

“Hey, I’m about to ask a bunch of stuff. Stop me if I sound crazy. Alright?” Taiga says.

“Uh huh.”

“What alcohol did we drink that night?”

…

”Why are you asking?” Amy says after a pause.

”Just answer the question, you said it was your favorite to drink.”

“Uh, I guess whiskey then?”

“It was not. You lied.”

Amy doesn’t reply and the sounds from the phone are replaced by light breathing.

Well she was right, we did drink whiskey, but she wouldn’t know if she’s right if I’m right.

“Can you go already? I’m busy.” She says afterwards.

“Second question. Who is Steve?” Taiga ignores her.

“Okay, nice talking to you, bye.” She says.

”STOP!” Taiga suddenly screams into his hand, immediately startling her.

“What?!”

“You will die a horrible death if you hang up now.”

“Huh?”

“A thousand years of bad luck will rain down on your— Okay you can go now.” Taiga hangs up before the person on the other end has the chance to.

Reont Street, 134.