Kem practiced his "small talk" ability with the receptionist while he and Aishe waited for Nikhila to appear. He hadn't exactly expected such fanfare for delivering papers, but then again he'd been in this field for a tolerably long time and he was aware that it was unusual for him to be making this delivery himself, rather than sending along some poor overworked intern.
He'd wanted to see this place for himself, though, and it really wasn't that far from home. There was no problem in dropping by. It was small for a four-year school, he decided, but everything he'd read about the Stafford Academy had emphasized its exclusiveness and excessive pickiness.
He tried to remain observant; if 1600 years of undeath had taught him anything, it was that sometimes the best way to hide something was right out in the open. Kem wanted information and he knew that somehow, this place and these people were linked to what he was looking for. Not to mention Nikhila's research.
To the untrained eye it may have looked like gobbledygook, but Kem had been reading scientific publications long enough to recognize certain key phrases and even tests. What Nikhila was looking for was information on a virus, and the testing for such had involved a number of human specimans - as well as canine.
Kem believed in coincidences, but too many of them in one place was too much to pass up.
[Here we go,] he sent to Aishe as Nikhila finally arrived.
"I think we're good," he said with a small smile to Nikhila. The receptionist gave her assent, and Kem continued, following behind Nikhila, next to Aishe. "Don't worry about it. It turns out we don't live too far from here, and since we were both putting in extra hours tonight it wasn't a big deal. I know this isn't exactly what you were looking for, but I hope it helps."
Just Passing Through (invite only)
It had been a long day, and it wasn't over yet. It had started with two very early morning meetings with two of the new professors they'd hired. Both seemed to be fitting in well but she still had to check in with them. Then she had one class, just the one, she still taught followed by another slew of meetings and then her outside lab work. That whole assignment was tense and she was quite ready for it to be over, but every time she though she'd found out everything she could something new seemed to come up. Needless to say, by the time she got back to the den and put away a few groceries she felt wilted. Still there was only one meeting left today and she had promised herself a date tomorrow come hell or high water. Perhaps she ought to mention that to Xeph.
Checking the clock Nikhila saw she had time yet before the head of Meridian's archives was due. It really was too generous of him to stop by so late. And being that the meeting was so late she also decided it was appropriate to be somewhat casual and changed her clothes. The fresh less formal and more comfortable attire gave Nikhila new energy as well, as did the thought of seeing what Kem was bringing her and it was now time to go and collect her visitor from security.
She wasn't exactly nervous, after all she had met Kem before and he'd been quite helpful and she'd found him likeable as well. Nikhila, however, was still a bit on the cautious side given her previous visitors from outside the Pack. That is to say she'd given Aidan warning who she was expecting and why.
Kem was wonderfully prompt. She smiled at him and the petit woman he was escorting. They'd met at the bowling alley, what was her name. Ah yes, Aishe.
"Kem, Aishe thank you for coming so late I hope I haven't kept you waiting. If you are both finished here why don't we go up to my office?"Â?
Nikhila nodded to the receptionist who indicated they'd already signed in and had visitor's badges and were good to go.
Kem`Raaisu
15 years ago
Aishe
15 years ago
Aishe spent her time at Stafford Academy taking in as many details as possible. She had gotten a good idea of the layout of the place; it was dark outside but the field out front had been very well-lit and she had been able to make out a number of buildings around the field's perimeter.
Kiamhaat was playing "Mr. Nice Vampire" with the receptionist, a game she found fairly attractive, considering how charming he was capable of being when he applied himself. The receptionist was just as susceptible as anyone else, and Aishe laughed inwardly with amusement.
When he'd proposed this trip, Aishe had done her best to absolutely forbid him from coming, but Kiamhaat had had his mind set on it. Once he'd explained his idea to her, Aishe had to agree it was sensible and practical. She didn't think Nikhila should have any reason to believe they were other than what they claimed, and she was perhaps just being a bit jumpy. Kiamhaat and Nikhila had met plenty of times before; even before the bowling alley incident.
[If anything happens...] she was sure she didn't need to go over the plan with him again.
"Hi Nikhila," she said aloud as she followed Kiamhaat's lead. "We haven't been here long at all. It was a nice drive. I never noticed this place here before. It must be such a peaceful place to work."
She wasn't lying either. The tiny college, set into the woods beyond a stand of tall pine trees, had been like entering another world away from Nachton. Meridian could sure use a forest, she mused. That'd be a terrific getaway.
Kiamhaat was playing "Mr. Nice Vampire" with the receptionist, a game she found fairly attractive, considering how charming he was capable of being when he applied himself. The receptionist was just as susceptible as anyone else, and Aishe laughed inwardly with amusement.
When he'd proposed this trip, Aishe had done her best to absolutely forbid him from coming, but Kiamhaat had had his mind set on it. Once he'd explained his idea to her, Aishe had to agree it was sensible and practical. She didn't think Nikhila should have any reason to believe they were other than what they claimed, and she was perhaps just being a bit jumpy. Kiamhaat and Nikhila had met plenty of times before; even before the bowling alley incident.
[If anything happens...] she was sure she didn't need to go over the plan with him again.
"Hi Nikhila," she said aloud as she followed Kiamhaat's lead. "We haven't been here long at all. It was a nice drive. I never noticed this place here before. It must be such a peaceful place to work."
She wasn't lying either. The tiny college, set into the woods beyond a stand of tall pine trees, had been like entering another world away from Nachton. Meridian could sure use a forest, she mused. That'd be a terrific getaway.
Nikhila
15 years ago
“At this point just about anything would help.”
It was said with no small amount of frustration in her voice.
“This whole line of research has turned into one giant knot and I’m starting to think I’m doing nothing more than chasing my tail.”
She nodded at Aishe with a slight smile.
“It can be. Of course, you might think differently when there are students chasing all over. Still I’ve gotten to like it very much.”
Being Dean had some privileges, not many but some, and the corner office was one of them. The stained glass, however, wasn’t as remarkable in the dark as it was during daylight hours. Her office was obsessively neat the book shelves were crowed with books on education, administration, chemistry, biology and microbiology and not all of them were in English, after all she’d taught in more countries than you could shake a stick at and spoke several language. There were several well-tended plants, chief among them a white orchid she kept on her desk. A hand full of knickknacks of various size shapes and median from her travels representing a number of cultures from Inuit to African and everything in between were scattered through out the room.
Ushering her guests in she absently gestured to a picture of water and some glasses she’d set out, just in case. There were, of course, chairs for both of them. Chairs that had held her ‘visitors’, Nikhila frowned for a second before forcing her self to concentrate. She was over reacting.
Settling behind her desk, she accepted the papers and quickly skimmed them. She wanted to be sure she had everything in order but didn’t want to keep either of them.
“Now these aren’t the papers we’d mentioned previously are they? Are they from the same lab, the same company?”
God help them if it was a different company. How many different groups could possibly be aware of the virus and want to research it. Short of being infected and joining the pack, it wasn’t exactly a gold mine. You certainly couldn’t use it as a vaccination or a weapon.
It was said with no small amount of frustration in her voice.
“This whole line of research has turned into one giant knot and I’m starting to think I’m doing nothing more than chasing my tail.”
She nodded at Aishe with a slight smile.
“It can be. Of course, you might think differently when there are students chasing all over. Still I’ve gotten to like it very much.”
Being Dean had some privileges, not many but some, and the corner office was one of them. The stained glass, however, wasn’t as remarkable in the dark as it was during daylight hours. Her office was obsessively neat the book shelves were crowed with books on education, administration, chemistry, biology and microbiology and not all of them were in English, after all she’d taught in more countries than you could shake a stick at and spoke several language. There were several well-tended plants, chief among them a white orchid she kept on her desk. A hand full of knickknacks of various size shapes and median from her travels representing a number of cultures from Inuit to African and everything in between were scattered through out the room.
Ushering her guests in she absently gestured to a picture of water and some glasses she’d set out, just in case. There were, of course, chairs for both of them. Chairs that had held her ‘visitors’, Nikhila frowned for a second before forcing her self to concentrate. She was over reacting.
Settling behind her desk, she accepted the papers and quickly skimmed them. She wanted to be sure she had everything in order but didn’t want to keep either of them.
“Now these aren’t the papers we’d mentioned previously are they? Are they from the same lab, the same company?”
God help them if it was a different company. How many different groups could possibly be aware of the virus and want to research it. Short of being infected and joining the pack, it wasn’t exactly a gold mine. You certainly couldn’t use it as a vaccination or a weapon.
Kem`Raaisu
15 years ago
Kem and Aishe followed Nikhila up several flights of stairs as he responded to Aishe's cut-off question.
[I'll stick to the plan. Don't worry, merit, nothing's going to happen here. You're paranoid.]
Upon entering Nikhila's office, Kem was instantly drawn to her book collection. He handed the file folder he'd brought to her and didn't sit, but instead browsed the book, reading the titles on the spines.
"May I?" At Nikhila's answering nod he pulled one of the books from the shelf and opened it. Psychometry being what it was, he recognized it as fairly old but not an antique. Still, he was careful of the binding as he flipped through it. It wasn't the text that interested him so much as the book itself. Having been associated with books since his earliest days, Kem considered himself fairly attached.
Most of the books on Nikhila's shelves were standard hardcovered textbooks, maybe from the mid 1900s, given the quality and kind of bindings. Nothing horribly exciting.
He tore his attention away from them when she asked about the files. "Unfortunately they're not the same ones," he said by way of apology. "There's a veritable sea of legal jargon to be rowed through before I might be able to release them. This is a different facility altogether, but I thought it might interest you since it actually predates the first one by about thirteen years. I thought maybe some of the researchers would have been the same, but they appear to be completely different."
Let Nikhila make of that what she would; without knowing exactly what she was researching (although he and Aishe both had a fair idea), it had been difficult to locate anything that might be useful. Kem had his own reasons, though, for ingratiating himself with Nikhila - and through her, Aidan Xephier.
((ooc: permission obtained to poke at books and use psychometry on various knick-knacks))
[I'll stick to the plan. Don't worry, merit, nothing's going to happen here. You're paranoid.]
Upon entering Nikhila's office, Kem was instantly drawn to her book collection. He handed the file folder he'd brought to her and didn't sit, but instead browsed the book, reading the titles on the spines.
"May I?" At Nikhila's answering nod he pulled one of the books from the shelf and opened it. Psychometry being what it was, he recognized it as fairly old but not an antique. Still, he was careful of the binding as he flipped through it. It wasn't the text that interested him so much as the book itself. Having been associated with books since his earliest days, Kem considered himself fairly attached.
Most of the books on Nikhila's shelves were standard hardcovered textbooks, maybe from the mid 1900s, given the quality and kind of bindings. Nothing horribly exciting.
He tore his attention away from them when she asked about the files. "Unfortunately they're not the same ones," he said by way of apology. "There's a veritable sea of legal jargon to be rowed through before I might be able to release them. This is a different facility altogether, but I thought it might interest you since it actually predates the first one by about thirteen years. I thought maybe some of the researchers would have been the same, but they appear to be completely different."
Let Nikhila make of that what she would; without knowing exactly what she was researching (although he and Aishe both had a fair idea), it had been difficult to locate anything that might be useful. Kem had his own reasons, though, for ingratiating himself with Nikhila - and through her, Aidan Xephier.
((ooc: permission obtained to poke at books and use psychometry on various knick-knacks))
Aishe
15 years ago
Aishe rolled her eyes at Kiamhaat behind Nikhila's back as they ascended the stairs to where she assumed Nikhila's office was. He was usually the more paranoid of the two of them, but apparently today was her turn. She was all right with that.
When they entered the office, Aishe took one of the offered chairs while Kiamhaat inspected the bookshelves. Aishe smiled with amusement, offering Nikhila a little shrug when he quickly became absorbed in the Dean's collection.
For her part, she simply stretched her legs out and gave a happy sigh. She was glad they were finally done working; they'd both ended up putting in extra hours at Meridian in the last couple of days. Aishe was doing her best to convince Kiamhaat to at least let her set up an apartment at Liefde for temporary use; that way he wouldn't have to crash on the break room couch and she wouldn't either, but he was being stubborn so far.
She didn't have anything particular to add to the conversation between the two scholars amongst them. Aishe was simply there as the "girlfriend along for the ride" and it would have looked odd if she betrayed the fact that she knew exactly what was in those papers. Not that she understood it - but she still knew.
When they entered the office, Aishe took one of the offered chairs while Kiamhaat inspected the bookshelves. Aishe smiled with amusement, offering Nikhila a little shrug when he quickly became absorbed in the Dean's collection.
For her part, she simply stretched her legs out and gave a happy sigh. She was glad they were finally done working; they'd both ended up putting in extra hours at Meridian in the last couple of days. Aishe was doing her best to convince Kiamhaat to at least let her set up an apartment at Liefde for temporary use; that way he wouldn't have to crash on the break room couch and she wouldn't either, but he was being stubborn so far.
She didn't have anything particular to add to the conversation between the two scholars amongst them. Aishe was simply there as the "girlfriend along for the ride" and it would have looked odd if she betrayed the fact that she knew exactly what was in those papers. Not that she understood it - but she still knew.
Xeph
15 years ago
Xeph heard people passing through the hallway outside the staff offices, and figured Nikhila's company had arrived. Initially he'd been less than thrilled at the idea of complete strangers wandering through the Den but Nikhila had vouched for them and that went miles with him. Additionally, he understood the importance of what she was researching and if Meridian's Head of Archives was willing to help them, Xeph didn't want to deny him the opportunity.
He recalled meeting Aishe and Kem some months ago, at the bowling alley with Bastian and Reign. At the time he'd been concerned that the two were, perhaps, affiliated with the Vyusher. If they were, though, they were respectful of the truce between the Packs. Xeph had heard very little of or about Bastian since Reign had joined their family, and truth be told that was fine with him. As for Aishe and Kem, he understood that they were Reign's neighbors and she had never said anything that reflected poorly on them. In fact, she seemed to like them.
Being the overprotective sort however, Xeph decided to drop by - just to make sure, of course. The last time Nikhila had had company things had gone poorly. So, in the interest of watching over what really was his, he sauntered down the hallway. Satisfied that the conversation he heard was, indeed, what he expected (something about legal stuff, blah blah blah), he poked his head into the doorway.
"I'm done grading papers boss, can I go home now?"
He flashed Nikhila his most winning grin, ignoring the dirty look he received in reutrn for calling her 'boss' and then moved in to greet Kem and Aishe as well. "Hey there. Nice to see you again."
They moved accepted his offered handshake, Kem from his position where he had, apparently, been perusing Nikhila's books. Aishe remained seated across the desk from Nikhila, looking perhaps slightly bored. Xeph couldn't blame her. When Nikhila was in "professor" mode she could be a little hard to stomach.
He recalled meeting Aishe and Kem some months ago, at the bowling alley with Bastian and Reign. At the time he'd been concerned that the two were, perhaps, affiliated with the Vyusher. If they were, though, they were respectful of the truce between the Packs. Xeph had heard very little of or about Bastian since Reign had joined their family, and truth be told that was fine with him. As for Aishe and Kem, he understood that they were Reign's neighbors and she had never said anything that reflected poorly on them. In fact, she seemed to like them.
Being the overprotective sort however, Xeph decided to drop by - just to make sure, of course. The last time Nikhila had had company things had gone poorly. So, in the interest of watching over what really was his, he sauntered down the hallway. Satisfied that the conversation he heard was, indeed, what he expected (something about legal stuff, blah blah blah), he poked his head into the doorway.
"I'm done grading papers boss, can I go home now?"
He flashed Nikhila his most winning grin, ignoring the dirty look he received in reutrn for calling her 'boss' and then moved in to greet Kem and Aishe as well. "Hey there. Nice to see you again."
They moved accepted his offered handshake, Kem from his position where he had, apparently, been perusing Nikhila's books. Aishe remained seated across the desk from Nikhila, looking perhaps slightly bored. Xeph couldn't blame her. When Nikhila was in "professor" mode she could be a little hard to stomach.
Nikhila
15 years ago
Although, typically Nikhila treated the spirits and energies she often saw around people as background noise and ignored it, today she wanted to see what was around her two guests. There seemed to be something protective around Aishe but it was so faint it was easily dismissed. Kem on the other hand, there was a lot there an odd combination of sadness and affection. At least she wasn’t getting anything angry or malicious from either of them and for now that was enough for her.
“Who knew you needed to study law to be a scientist?”
Nikhila lamented before what Kem had said fully sunk in.
Another lab, with apparently no connection what so ever had started the same research over a decade before. And of course those old journals Kem had shown her predated this and had no discernable connection to the first. At least not to her knowledge, and she’d done her best to run that down. This now made three separate entities with the same idea and information. She was not happy. Perhaps the Vyusher…
That thought was interrupted by Xeph’s arrival. She scowled at his use of the term boss before tossing him a cheeky smile.
“You can if you’d like, but you should know you’re taking me out tomorrow night so you might want to get a bit ahead now.”
He may come in and sit for a second, he may not some days it was so hard to tell with him. Either way Nikhila returned her attention to Kem figuring what she had to say next would catch Adian’s attention
“So this is an entirely separate lab? Does Meridian have any affiliation with them that you were able to find these? I’d love to have the company information, to try and trace this back to the source.”
If it had been only Pack about in her office she would have more blatantly pointed out that a totally separate entity had access to similar information. But Nikhila didn’t want to call Kem and Aishe’s attention to the fact that any one else had any interest in her research and its history.
((OOC... permission granted to use spirit sense))
“Who knew you needed to study law to be a scientist?”
Nikhila lamented before what Kem had said fully sunk in.
Another lab, with apparently no connection what so ever had started the same research over a decade before. And of course those old journals Kem had shown her predated this and had no discernable connection to the first. At least not to her knowledge, and she’d done her best to run that down. This now made three separate entities with the same idea and information. She was not happy. Perhaps the Vyusher…
That thought was interrupted by Xeph’s arrival. She scowled at his use of the term boss before tossing him a cheeky smile.
“You can if you’d like, but you should know you’re taking me out tomorrow night so you might want to get a bit ahead now.”
He may come in and sit for a second, he may not some days it was so hard to tell with him. Either way Nikhila returned her attention to Kem figuring what she had to say next would catch Adian’s attention
“So this is an entirely separate lab? Does Meridian have any affiliation with them that you were able to find these? I’d love to have the company information, to try and trace this back to the source.”
If it had been only Pack about in her office she would have more blatantly pointed out that a totally separate entity had access to similar information. But Nikhila didn’t want to call Kem and Aishe’s attention to the fact that any one else had any interest in her research and its history.
((OOC... permission granted to use spirit sense))
Kem`Raaisu
15 years ago
Speak of the devil. Kem would have liked to look guilty but he just couldn't manage it. he smiled at Aidan... Xeph, if he recalled correctly, and shook his hand firmly. Turning to address Nikhila's question he shook his head.
"The companies in question were both purchased by Meridian and subsequently dissolved. Dissolved rather than absorbed, in the sense that any of the research that was being done was never continued, as far as I know. I can't find any continuous records that would lead me to believe that Meridian put time or effort into it."
He moved to Nikhila's desk, sat, and shuffled through the files again. "Here. This is a timeline, basically, the best I could come up with." He handed it to her, indicating where he'd found the files. "They weren't easy to find, but I tried to get an idea of what you were looking for that night at the library. I'm no biologist but I do know my archives."
Intimately. Most of this stuff, Kem had been around to receive and catalogue himself.
"The companies in question were both purchased by Meridian and subsequently dissolved. Dissolved rather than absorbed, in the sense that any of the research that was being done was never continued, as far as I know. I can't find any continuous records that would lead me to believe that Meridian put time or effort into it."
He moved to Nikhila's desk, sat, and shuffled through the files again. "Here. This is a timeline, basically, the best I could come up with." He handed it to her, indicating where he'd found the files. "They weren't easy to find, but I tried to get an idea of what you were looking for that night at the library. I'm no biologist but I do know my archives."
Intimately. Most of this stuff, Kem had been around to receive and catalogue himself.
Aishe
15 years ago
Aishe grinned at Nikhila. "We actually did take a law class, when I was in college." Then, realizing Nikhila probably didn't know what she had majored in, she added, "I was an archaeology major myself."
She once again feigned disinterest as Kiamhaat and Nikhila began to discuss the files in earnest. Kiamhaat, she knew, had simply intended to drop them off but the scholar within couldn't resist analyzing them. The matching inner historian loved anything old, and so the files and reports intrigued him doubly.
She was rescued from having to look bored much longer by Xeph's arrival. Aishe was impressed at the fact that he had approached very quietly. Had she been human, she wasn't sure she'd have heard his footsteps outside the door. Unusual for someone so big to move so softly. But then, she and Kiamhaat knew he was more than what he appeared to be. At least, they had reasonable cause to believe it.
She greeted him with a smile, her usual, while reflecting inwardly that he didn't -seem- like a werewolf. But then, never having met one, she couldn't possibly know what to expect. What a shame, that they were historically meant to be enemies. Did that still hold true? If everyone in this room was to reveal him or herself for what they actually were, would anyone be surprised? And would anyone really want a fight?
Aishe bit her lip as she pondered that, trying to look less introspective and more impatient to be gone. It was her job to be the unobtrusive observer here.
She once again feigned disinterest as Kiamhaat and Nikhila began to discuss the files in earnest. Kiamhaat, she knew, had simply intended to drop them off but the scholar within couldn't resist analyzing them. The matching inner historian loved anything old, and so the files and reports intrigued him doubly.
She was rescued from having to look bored much longer by Xeph's arrival. Aishe was impressed at the fact that he had approached very quietly. Had she been human, she wasn't sure she'd have heard his footsteps outside the door. Unusual for someone so big to move so softly. But then, she and Kiamhaat knew he was more than what he appeared to be. At least, they had reasonable cause to believe it.
She greeted him with a smile, her usual, while reflecting inwardly that he didn't -seem- like a werewolf. But then, never having met one, she couldn't possibly know what to expect. What a shame, that they were historically meant to be enemies. Did that still hold true? If everyone in this room was to reveal him or herself for what they actually were, would anyone be surprised? And would anyone really want a fight?
Aishe bit her lip as she pondered that, trying to look less introspective and more impatient to be gone. It was her job to be the unobtrusive observer here.
Xeph
15 years ago
"There's nothing to get ahead on, I'm giving a pop quiz, and I'm what?"
Xeph raised his dark brows at Nikhila. "Where am I taking you?"
Inwardly he cringed; he still owed her a night at the opera or a lecture. Please, not a lecture. Anything but a lecture. He'd been lectured up one side and down the other in college; the fun of graduating (three times) was that he didn't have to be lectured anymore!
Of course, he wasn't sure the opera was much better. It was like a lecture too - except in a foreign language sung by a fat lady in a metal bra.
He was hosed, either way.
Kem may have saved him, though, by distracting Nikhila. Apparently the documents he'd found were of interest and relevance to Nikhila's studies. Xeph glanced at Aishe, who was chewing her lip and looking like she'd rather be at home. He grinned at her and caught her eye.
"I see you have a 'professor' too," he said sotto voce, with a little head tilt in the direction of the two bent over the file folder. "I'm going to have to pry her away from that stuff with a crowbar."
Xeph raised his dark brows at Nikhila. "Where am I taking you?"
Inwardly he cringed; he still owed her a night at the opera or a lecture. Please, not a lecture. Anything but a lecture. He'd been lectured up one side and down the other in college; the fun of graduating (three times) was that he didn't have to be lectured anymore!
Of course, he wasn't sure the opera was much better. It was like a lecture too - except in a foreign language sung by a fat lady in a metal bra.
He was hosed, either way.
Kem may have saved him, though, by distracting Nikhila. Apparently the documents he'd found were of interest and relevance to Nikhila's studies. Xeph glanced at Aishe, who was chewing her lip and looking like she'd rather be at home. He grinned at her and caught her eye.
"I see you have a 'professor' too," he said sotto voce, with a little head tilt in the direction of the two bent over the file folder. "I'm going to have to pry her away from that stuff with a crowbar."
Nikhila
15 years ago
"A pop quiz? Remind me to come by and observe one of your classes soon."Â?
It was more tease than anything, he started this by calling her boss so she was going to wear her dean hat a little.
It was hard not to laugh at his apprehension and Nikhila decided to play.
"La Boehm is playing this weekend. I haven't seen it in quite some time."Â? As she turned her attention back to Kem and the papers she added, "But its been so nice out and even I'm tired of thinking so I thought the beach would be nice."Â?
She quickly smiled at Aishe,
"That was quite practical thinking. I should have done that."Â?
Meridian had far too many connections to this. It could be coincidence it wasn't a small company after all. And big corporations grew by eating little ones and, according to what Kem had been able to find her so far, Meridian hadn't continued any of this work so she was obviously being suspicious.
Nikhila didn't mean to hold Kem and Aishe up, but some times it was harder than others to turn off 'professor mode'. With Kem's timeline in front of her she unlocked her computer and went to cross-reference her notes from the library and those papers.
"You obviously do and I am extremely grateful. Ah there you do have the researcher's names there wonderful."Â?
If they'd had any kind of career, at all perhaps she could follow their work and find where the idea came from and even though Kem said that the scientists were different in each case maybe careers had over lapped.
"Do you mind if I ask how you came across this, it is a rather obscure line of research? I know I should look a gift horse in the mouth, but some days I can't help myself."Â?
It was more tease than anything, he started this by calling her boss so she was going to wear her dean hat a little.
It was hard not to laugh at his apprehension and Nikhila decided to play.
"La Boehm is playing this weekend. I haven't seen it in quite some time."Â? As she turned her attention back to Kem and the papers she added, "But its been so nice out and even I'm tired of thinking so I thought the beach would be nice."Â?
She quickly smiled at Aishe,
"That was quite practical thinking. I should have done that."Â?
Meridian had far too many connections to this. It could be coincidence it wasn't a small company after all. And big corporations grew by eating little ones and, according to what Kem had been able to find her so far, Meridian hadn't continued any of this work so she was obviously being suspicious.
Nikhila didn't mean to hold Kem and Aishe up, but some times it was harder than others to turn off 'professor mode'. With Kem's timeline in front of her she unlocked her computer and went to cross-reference her notes from the library and those papers.
"You obviously do and I am extremely grateful. Ah there you do have the researcher's names there wonderful."Â?
If they'd had any kind of career, at all perhaps she could follow their work and find where the idea came from and even though Kem said that the scientists were different in each case maybe careers had over lapped.
"Do you mind if I ask how you came across this, it is a rather obscure line of research? I know I should look a gift horse in the mouth, but some days I can't help myself."Â?
Kem`Raaisu
15 years ago
Kem tilted his head at Nikhila, fairly certain he'd just described how he'd come across his information. Then he realized she was looking for the particular search he'd used, so that she might do the same. He shook his head and shrugged.
"First, I skimmed over the subject matter. Some kind of virus, mutated, tested on canines. Then I checked through years and years, decades and decades, and centuries of Meridian's history. I have particular access to Meridian's database that not many have, and I was able to determine that Meridian itself had never conducted experiments like these; at least not on the record, because there aren't any. Records, that is. After that I went through the small companies Meridian has acquired over the years to figure out which one or ones might have had anything to do with experiments of that nature, and found several. I'm still researching. It could take a while. Meridian's a very old company, dating back many centuries more than this research.
"Over the years they've purchased and absorbed hundreds of smaller entities. Most of them had multiple specialities, but Meridian didn't keep them functioning." he shrugged. "It's a common business practice. Buy a smaller company, pick and choose what you want, send the rest of the crap to the poor overworked archivist. You can't get rid of it because there was a contract written. You can't publish it, because there was a contract written."
Kem took a deep breath, and then simply shrugged again. "What can you do?"
"First, I skimmed over the subject matter. Some kind of virus, mutated, tested on canines. Then I checked through years and years, decades and decades, and centuries of Meridian's history. I have particular access to Meridian's database that not many have, and I was able to determine that Meridian itself had never conducted experiments like these; at least not on the record, because there aren't any. Records, that is. After that I went through the small companies Meridian has acquired over the years to figure out which one or ones might have had anything to do with experiments of that nature, and found several. I'm still researching. It could take a while. Meridian's a very old company, dating back many centuries more than this research.
"Over the years they've purchased and absorbed hundreds of smaller entities. Most of them had multiple specialities, but Meridian didn't keep them functioning." he shrugged. "It's a common business practice. Buy a smaller company, pick and choose what you want, send the rest of the crap to the poor overworked archivist. You can't get rid of it because there was a contract written. You can't publish it, because there was a contract written."
Kem took a deep breath, and then simply shrugged again. "What can you do?"
Aishe
15 years ago
Aishe gave Xeph a little grin of her own. "Oh, Kem's not so bad," she said. "I imagine pretty soon he's going to remember I'm here and, aditionally, that we both have the day off tomorrow." She shook her head. "He just enjoys his work. So when someone really needs help finding something and he's in a position to just that, well, he does."
She studied Xeph as he reacted to Nikhila's suggestion. They were in close enough proximity that she could see colored shapes about him as he spoke, and for all his disappointment his words were literally colored with anticipation. He was looking forward to going out with his "boss" in spite of his protests.
Aishe stood, partly to remind Kiamhaat that she was still here and they'd lingered long enough, and looked up (and up) at Xeph. "I have a feeling you won't have too much trouble getting her away," she said mischievously.
She studied Xeph as he reacted to Nikhila's suggestion. They were in close enough proximity that she could see colored shapes about him as he spoke, and for all his disappointment his words were literally colored with anticipation. He was looking forward to going out with his "boss" in spite of his protests.
Aishe stood, partly to remind Kiamhaat that she was still here and they'd lingered long enough, and looked up (and up) at Xeph. "I have a feeling you won't have too much trouble getting her away," she said mischievously.
Xeph
15 years ago
La Boheme? Xeph mouthed the name of the opera in dismay until he realized Nikhila was giving him an out with the beach. "Beachtime it is. I'll even make you a picnic lunch," he offered, delighted to be off the hook for opera night.
Turning his attention back to Aishe, Xeph nodded agreeably to her. "Maybe not," he said. "At least I might not need the crowbar, if a picnic basket will do."
Aishe was standing now, all five feet nothing of her, if that much, and Xeph was impressed by her subtlety. She managed to scrape her chair ever so slightly on the floor and shuffle her feet the tiniest bit. More amazing, Kem responded to it, turning to her with a warm smile and giving her a slight nod.
It was the sort of interaction that he was almost jealous of; the kind of tiny little communication born of years of intimacy. He wondered if they knew how lucky they were to have developed that, and if he and Nikhila might, in time, grow that close again.
Shaking his head he moved to one side so he was out of the way; it did look ilke they would be wrapping things up here soon.
Turning his attention back to Aishe, Xeph nodded agreeably to her. "Maybe not," he said. "At least I might not need the crowbar, if a picnic basket will do."
Aishe was standing now, all five feet nothing of her, if that much, and Xeph was impressed by her subtlety. She managed to scrape her chair ever so slightly on the floor and shuffle her feet the tiniest bit. More amazing, Kem responded to it, turning to her with a warm smile and giving her a slight nod.
It was the sort of interaction that he was almost jealous of; the kind of tiny little communication born of years of intimacy. He wondered if they knew how lucky they were to have developed that, and if he and Nikhila might, in time, grow that close again.
Shaking his head he moved to one side so he was out of the way; it did look ilke they would be wrapping things up here soon.
Nikhila
15 years ago
Some how she had expected that. She wasn’t an incompetent researcher and should have come across this sort of information if it were public domain. Still it irritated her she swore, well she came as close to swearing as Nikhila ever did. She closed her eyes tightly and sighed. Apparently she was going to need to add Kem’s name to her Christmas card list he was far to valuable a source to just let go.
“Not much.”
Nikhila agreed slightly disheartened to come across another brick wall.
The movement from Aishe caught her eye as did Kem’s shifting about to acknowledge her. While it took a second to sink in, she realized the young woman was dropping a hint. Of course, of course; it would have been far too easy to hold Kem hostage for several hours. She stood too, to escort them back, at least as far as the lobby.
“Thank you again. I do apologize I really shouldn’t have kept you so long.”
With a mutual accord, they all started back down stairs. Kem was kind enough to give her his contact information so she wouldn’t have to jump through too many hoops to get a hold of him and she made a silent vow not to pester him too often or too soon. She had enough to work with right now.
Taking her duties as host seriously she made sure they checked out with security properly and continued with them to the gate as well. Without thinking about it she fell into step with Xeph walking near him.
“Some time you’ll have to come back during the day. The grounds really are quite beautiful it’s hard to appreciate them in the dark.”
((OOC permision to move people given))
“Not much.”
Nikhila agreed slightly disheartened to come across another brick wall.
The movement from Aishe caught her eye as did Kem’s shifting about to acknowledge her. While it took a second to sink in, she realized the young woman was dropping a hint. Of course, of course; it would have been far too easy to hold Kem hostage for several hours. She stood too, to escort them back, at least as far as the lobby.
“Thank you again. I do apologize I really shouldn’t have kept you so long.”
With a mutual accord, they all started back down stairs. Kem was kind enough to give her his contact information so she wouldn’t have to jump through too many hoops to get a hold of him and she made a silent vow not to pester him too often or too soon. She had enough to work with right now.
Taking her duties as host seriously she made sure they checked out with security properly and continued with them to the gate as well. Without thinking about it she fell into step with Xeph walking near him.
“Some time you’ll have to come back during the day. The grounds really are quite beautiful it’s hard to appreciate them in the dark.”
((OOC permision to move people given))
Kem`Raaisu
15 years ago
Kem was torn away from what could have become an intellectual sinkhole for him by Aishe's 'reminder' which was punctuated by a little [ahem] as she did her best to be subtle. It was for the best; this wasn't his project and he had enough on his plate without getting too involved. He thought their objective had been achieved, however. If Nikhila needed this information, she would simply have to come through Meridian, and through Kem, to obtain more of it.
He didn't necessarily intend to blackmail her or anything. As far as he could tell the research wasn't anything that would potentially cause harm to his Clan. In fact, if he were to give it his best guess, he would hypothesize that whoever had been doing this was trying to use a mutated virus of some sort to turn dogs into wolves. Twisted, but interesting. At some point he might grill Nikhila on the importance of this research, but at the moment he really didn't want to betray that he understood more than he'd initially let on.
"Not at all," he responded to Nikhila's words of thanks. "I'm sorry it's all locked down at Meridian. They've sure taken care to cover their bases with all the paperwork. I'm not sure why. It's all just old theory, but again - scientists and their work..." he let the sentence trail off. One thing he did know - almost any researcher habitually became very proprietary with his or her work.
They all went back downstairs where Kem and Aishe turned in their visitor tags and checked out. Kem also gave Nikhila his personal information, aside from his work email which could take him days to get to at current.
At Nikhila's suggestion that they visit by day, both he and Aishe smiled and nodded. They were both far too adept at that by now to do otherwise; as it was with Aishe's parents, or their other non-Clan friends, something would come up; they'd be late at work, they'd have an appointment elsewhere. Whatever the reason, they'd never manage to make it by.
It was a shame, Kem thought as they headed out, his hand gently resting on the small of Aishe's back. The grounds did look appealing. Less appealing, though, when compared with he thought that they would literally roast.
Shoving that unpleasant thought from his mind, they bid Nikhila and Xeph a friendly farewell, and headed home.
((ooc: Kem and Aishe out))
He didn't necessarily intend to blackmail her or anything. As far as he could tell the research wasn't anything that would potentially cause harm to his Clan. In fact, if he were to give it his best guess, he would hypothesize that whoever had been doing this was trying to use a mutated virus of some sort to turn dogs into wolves. Twisted, but interesting. At some point he might grill Nikhila on the importance of this research, but at the moment he really didn't want to betray that he understood more than he'd initially let on.
"Not at all," he responded to Nikhila's words of thanks. "I'm sorry it's all locked down at Meridian. They've sure taken care to cover their bases with all the paperwork. I'm not sure why. It's all just old theory, but again - scientists and their work..." he let the sentence trail off. One thing he did know - almost any researcher habitually became very proprietary with his or her work.
They all went back downstairs where Kem and Aishe turned in their visitor tags and checked out. Kem also gave Nikhila his personal information, aside from his work email which could take him days to get to at current.
At Nikhila's suggestion that they visit by day, both he and Aishe smiled and nodded. They were both far too adept at that by now to do otherwise; as it was with Aishe's parents, or their other non-Clan friends, something would come up; they'd be late at work, they'd have an appointment elsewhere. Whatever the reason, they'd never manage to make it by.
It was a shame, Kem thought as they headed out, his hand gently resting on the small of Aishe's back. The grounds did look appealing. Less appealing, though, when compared with he thought that they would literally roast.
Shoving that unpleasant thought from his mind, they bid Nikhila and Xeph a friendly farewell, and headed home.
((ooc: Kem and Aishe out))
Xeph
15 years ago
Xeph said his goodbyes to the couple and turned to Nikhila as Kem and Aishe disappeared beyond the pines at the front of the Den. The security team had plenty of cameras hidden out that way; they would make sure they didn't linger and that they did, indeed, head out.
"So did you get anything useful out of that?"
He'd been as surprised as Nikhila when he'd heard that Meridian's Head of Archives was still working on her request. He'd assumed the man would have had other important things to get to. To be fair, though, Meridian was a professional company and employed only the most capable people. It had been a long enough time that it was clear Nikhila's research had not been Kem's top priority, but that he'd obviously not forgotten it. He'd done it himself, too, rather than passing off to some hapless intern. Then again, he'd mentioned not everyone had access to files that old. It had probably been necessary.
"They seem nice." He said grudgingly. He'd liked them both when he'd met them bowling that time. Aishe was cute and vivacious, a perfect counter to her far more somber boyfriend. Kem had been polite and quietly accomodating, which, based on what Xeph had seen tonight, was normal for him.
Still, he never trusted too quickly. He'd done his homework on both of them, as had Nikhila.
"Did you 'see' anything around them?" He knew she had an uncanny ability to catch glimpses of peoples' psyches. Spiritual energy; whatever you wanted to call it. Some folk were skeptical about that particular gift but Nikhila's instincts, if you wanted to call them that, had never been wrong.
"So did you get anything useful out of that?"
He'd been as surprised as Nikhila when he'd heard that Meridian's Head of Archives was still working on her request. He'd assumed the man would have had other important things to get to. To be fair, though, Meridian was a professional company and employed only the most capable people. It had been a long enough time that it was clear Nikhila's research had not been Kem's top priority, but that he'd obviously not forgotten it. He'd done it himself, too, rather than passing off to some hapless intern. Then again, he'd mentioned not everyone had access to files that old. It had probably been necessary.
"They seem nice." He said grudgingly. He'd liked them both when he'd met them bowling that time. Aishe was cute and vivacious, a perfect counter to her far more somber boyfriend. Kem had been polite and quietly accomodating, which, based on what Xeph had seen tonight, was normal for him.
Still, he never trusted too quickly. He'd done his homework on both of them, as had Nikhila.
"Did you 'see' anything around them?" He knew she had an uncanny ability to catch glimpses of peoples' psyches. Spiritual energy; whatever you wanted to call it. Some folk were skeptical about that particular gift but Nikhila's instincts, if you wanted to call them that, had never been wrong.
Nikhila
15 years ago
“A headache.”
Nikhila answered honestly. This whole mess was getting increasingly frustrating it was also starting to worry her.
“That’s now four times, including the lab I’ve been watching, at least four times there is record of this line of inquiry being started. I’ll need to go over what Kem brought just now but I’m willing to bet I know what’s in it and where the research breaks off. It’s almost like there is a time line. Each of these places starts at about the same point and each time they get a bit further and then something happens that the work just stops. They go bankrupt, they get bought out or they just disappear and nothing I’ve been able to find sheds any light on the end goal of all of this research.”
But, so far there was no connection between anything. It was as if some one behind the scenes was feeding the starting point to some hapless researcher and nudging them in a certain direction. But the time line was about one hundred years it couldn’t be just one person running this.
She, at least temporarily, shook off her frustration, almost visibly.
“Yes, they do. I’m surprised he handled it himself. Most heads of something like that get too involved in administration for simple requests.”
Granted her request hadn’t been all together simple and her only experience had been with academic and public places of research so maybe it wasn’t unusual for Kem to have handled this. Either way, Nikhila wasn’t going to lose any sleep over it. And nothing in the background on either of them suggested anything suspicious.
“Nothing notable from her. More than I’m used to seeing with him though. I’m not sure he’s had a happy life, still it wasn’t anything that suggested hostility or malicious intent.”
Nikhila answered honestly. This whole mess was getting increasingly frustrating it was also starting to worry her.
“That’s now four times, including the lab I’ve been watching, at least four times there is record of this line of inquiry being started. I’ll need to go over what Kem brought just now but I’m willing to bet I know what’s in it and where the research breaks off. It’s almost like there is a time line. Each of these places starts at about the same point and each time they get a bit further and then something happens that the work just stops. They go bankrupt, they get bought out or they just disappear and nothing I’ve been able to find sheds any light on the end goal of all of this research.”
But, so far there was no connection between anything. It was as if some one behind the scenes was feeding the starting point to some hapless researcher and nudging them in a certain direction. But the time line was about one hundred years it couldn’t be just one person running this.
She, at least temporarily, shook off her frustration, almost visibly.
“Yes, they do. I’m surprised he handled it himself. Most heads of something like that get too involved in administration for simple requests.”
Granted her request hadn’t been all together simple and her only experience had been with academic and public places of research so maybe it wasn’t unusual for Kem to have handled this. Either way, Nikhila wasn’t going to lose any sleep over it. And nothing in the background on either of them suggested anything suspicious.
“Nothing notable from her. More than I’m used to seeing with him though. I’m not sure he’s had a happy life, still it wasn’t anything that suggested hostility or malicious intent.”
Xeph
15 years ago
Xeph turned and started walking back toward the Den with Nikhila, deliberately steering her away from her 'headache' for the time being. He had a bad feeling about this "research" of hers. He couldn't put his finger on what, exactly, but he resolved to work a little more closely with her on it. Despite his protests regarding work work work, he was interested in it. His specialty might not be Nikhila's exact field, but he was well-read enough on the topic to understand biology on a micro-level.
He nodded with her evaluation of Kem and Aishe. His own background checks had revealed nothing extraordinary about Aishe. "Her parents are both still alive. Living in Egypt apparently. No brothers or sisters. Lots of cousins, all over there too. He has no family. Parents were killed in a train wreck when he was in his early teens. Had an aunt who passed away within the year, and a brother who died as an infant. After that I can't find much on him. He disappeared off the radar and then showed up again when he was 18. I'm guessing he didn't want to be fostered out."
Xeph shrugged. It was a sad story, and it accounted for Nikhila's impression of the man, but it looked like he was none the worse for his rough youth, holding the position he did now, apparently putting himself through college. Smart guy. Both of their backgrounds were legit as far as he could tell. Stafford had its sources, too. He trusted them.
Putting the matter out of his head, he changed the subject and moved onto happier discussions.
"So about this trip to the beach. Is it nude?"
Ducking the oncoming punch he jogged off toward the Tikerak and then down to the Long Run. It was too nice a night to waste on worrying, when a good chase would suffice.
((ooc: Xeph out))
He nodded with her evaluation of Kem and Aishe. His own background checks had revealed nothing extraordinary about Aishe. "Her parents are both still alive. Living in Egypt apparently. No brothers or sisters. Lots of cousins, all over there too. He has no family. Parents were killed in a train wreck when he was in his early teens. Had an aunt who passed away within the year, and a brother who died as an infant. After that I can't find much on him. He disappeared off the radar and then showed up again when he was 18. I'm guessing he didn't want to be fostered out."
Xeph shrugged. It was a sad story, and it accounted for Nikhila's impression of the man, but it looked like he was none the worse for his rough youth, holding the position he did now, apparently putting himself through college. Smart guy. Both of their backgrounds were legit as far as he could tell. Stafford had its sources, too. He trusted them.
Putting the matter out of his head, he changed the subject and moved onto happier discussions.
"So about this trip to the beach. Is it nude?"
Ducking the oncoming punch he jogged off toward the Tikerak and then down to the Long Run. It was too nice a night to waste on worrying, when a good chase would suffice.
((ooc: Xeph out))
Nikhila
15 years ago
Nikhila frowned slightly, Kem’s story wasn’t a happy one. And for a brief second it made her wonder about her own brothers. Where they were and how they were doing but she didn’t dwell on it. Part of her wondered why Kem had chosen to disappear but everyone had their reasons and it had apparently worked out.
Xeph had apparently decided they’d spent enough time on work. She went to punch him in the arm but he was too fast for her. Grinning at him as he jogged off she sprinted past him.
“Only if you can catch me.”
((OOC… Nikhila out too))
Xeph had apparently decided they’d spent enough time on work. She went to punch him in the arm but he was too fast for her. Grinning at him as he jogged off she sprinted past him.
“Only if you can catch me.”
((OOC… Nikhila out too))