May 11: A Soul Laid Bear

[Samantha McManus]

"That might fly. I just wasn't sure how much danger we were looking at here. You've had a lot more experience with these sorts of organizations than I have."

[Madison West]

"With Doom in town, I think at this point going anywhere else would only make you safer," Madison says with a grin.

"Realistically? It could be dangerous as hell. I'd recommend a faculty member be sent with any student team personally. Luckily, I think we already have someone that's keen to visit."

[Ivan Petrenko]

"No... nonono... please no..."

[Samantha McManus]

"I'd have to agree. I wouldn't send him without another faculty member. He's too close to the case."

[Madison West]

"Why do I get the feeling we're not going to be sending Miles?" Madison asks.

[Samantha McManus]

"Unless Miles neglected to list special ops experience on his CV."

[Madison West]

"Fine," Madison says, "But I'll need papers. I have a...complicated history in the region."

[Samantha McManus]

"I think I may have enough here to get Pete Wisdom interested and get you some cover that won't require me using Mister Taylor's slightly more questionable methodology."

[Madison West]

"Sounds good. I'll get a team together," Madison says, "I also have the debriefing ready on the Madaraki case when you're ready."

[Samantha McManus]

"The way things have been going lately, I strongly suspect I'm not going to be more ready simply by waiting."

[Madison West]

"I warned you about how busy this job gets," Madison says, "You need an assistant."

[Samantha McManus]

"I'll think about it. What have you got for me?"

[Madison West]

"Nina Madaraki is in custody while we figure out just what to do," Madison says, "She's not guilty of any of the murders it seems but it seemed like the appropriate thing to do."

[Samantha McManus]

"Aye. Can't have her out among the general population, to use the prison term."

[Madison West]

Madison nods, "The media seems satisfied. X-Teams went in, a body came out and everything stopped. I've kept the finer details under wraps for now."

[Samantha McManus]

"And I'm guessing the finer details are rather more complex?"

[Madison West]

"Intelligence from the future possessed her apparently," Madison says, "Then split her into two bodies. Nasty stuff. From the sounds of it, I'm guessing it's the same version of Ms. Madaraki the X-Teams encountered."

[Samantha McManus]

"That makes more sense than it really should."

[Madison West]

"It's practically straightforwards for us," Madison agrees, "What you want to do with her is up to you. Personally? I recommend we expel her and let her become someone else's headache."

[Samantha McManus]

"Ah yes, because one more major rejection would be so helpful for her psychological issues," Samantha said dryly.

[Madison West]

"Never claimed to be a keen insight into the human psyche," Madison says, "But people don't change easily. And the path she's on doesn't look very bright and sunny, Sam."

[Samantha McManus]

"That doesn't mean we should accelerate it."

[Madison West]

"Just my opinion," Madison says, "I hope I'm wrong."

[Samantha McManus]

"If you want it on a more practical level, I think we have to understand her a little better and at least try to help her, or it's going to bite us in the arse."

[Madison West]

"Then I wish you the best of luck," Madison says, "She's in holding cell nine. I'll let her out if you want unless you wanted to speak with her first."

[Samantha McManus]

"I still think I'm going to hold off a bit on letting her go. For her own safety as much as anything."

[Madison West]

"You'll hear no argument from me," Madison says.