'Cause he gone daddy gone [video]

[schrodingerscatalyst]

Okay, I know I shouldn't panic yet because my father runs off more than a toddler on a sugar high but... [And he mops his face with one hand]

Has anyone seen Walter lately?

[[ooc: please pretend this was on-time ;; stupid illness]]

Comments

[most_feared]

[oh.]

No, I haven't. He hasn't been reported missing, either. How long's it been?

[schrodingerscatalyst]

Just a day. But honestly, all that man needs is ten minutes to wander off and get lost.

[most_feared]

Ah, one of those types. [Honestly he's not too surprised.] I think you could use your security clearance to check his rooms and office for any signs for where he might have gone.

[schrodingerscatalyst]

One step ahead of you. [He's not going to elaborate on whether he did that the official way, or...]

Of course, Walter has his own... special organizational scheme. This is gonna take a while to sort through.

[most_feared]

How special is special?

[He's guessing very, very special.]

[schrodingerscatalyst]

I'm pretty sure only he would ever truly understand it. Luckily, I've had the pleasure of running headlong into it a few times over the years.

[athousandcurses]

I haven't heard from Dr. Bishop in a while... either here or on my trips to the lab.

[schrodingerscatalyst]

Sometimes he gets a little absentminded. That's why I check in on him... but it looks like he hasn't been home all night.

[athousandcurses]

Have you checked with Jeffers yet? He may be able to locate him.

[schrodingerscatalyst]

That's a really good idea, actually. I'll do that. Thanks.

[ewestmarch]

What? He has a kid?

[schrodingerscatalyst]

Well, me. Sort of. It's... complicated.

[ewestmarch]

How complicated can it be?

[schrodingerscatalyst]

You'd be surprised.

Possibly.

[timesbureaucrat]

The lab has been pleasantly quiet and subdued lately.

So no, I haven't seen your father.

[schrodingerscatalyst]

Don't strain yourself caring too much, Narvin.

Did he mention anything he might have been working on?

[timesbureaucrat]

Caring isn't part of my job description.

I know he had a great interest in the spawners. In truth, he had a great interest in seeming everything, but the spawners in particular seemed to catch his attention.

[schrodingerscatalyst]

[He nods, ignoring that first part]

Yeah, that'd make sense. Looks like he took his work home with him this time.

Which isn't entirely unusual for Walter.

[timesbureaucrat]

Is it possible he went off to do fieldwork? We're supposed to take a guide, but he seems the sort who thinks of rules as optional.

[schrodingerscatalyst]

No kidding.

I think that's entirely possible. Which is exactly what I'm afraid of.

[timesbureaucrat]

[He huffs.]

When you find him, you should embed a tracking device in his neck. I volunteer to hold him down for you.

I can try to compile a record of known native spawners in the area. It might be a place to start.

[schrodingerscatalyst]

[He's nodding.]

Would you believe we actually tried that before? The tracking device, I mean.

[timesbureaucrat]

What happened? Did he play rough with too many electronics and short the thing out?

[schrodingerscatalyst]

He didn't have enough time. Someone... removed it. [And remembering all that, now Peter's looking a little more worried. What if Walter didn't just wander off? What if he was taken by someone?]

[timesbureaucrat]

Kidnapping? I should think it would have been more aggravation than the worth of it.

[Although he wouldn't put it past the Orions. If they did, perhaps his associates in the Black Sun Syndicate would know. He decides that he'll quietly make some inquires to see.]