Maribel Hearn Quest: ACT III - Part 2

[Neovereign]

>Make sure to speak quietly.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Look, someone is over there, let's hide."

>Make sure to speak quietly.

>"_{^{Hide where, exactly?}}" Sumireko asks.
>"_{^{There's a small hill right there.}}" Chen points.

>Have our group search for some cover on the ground to hide on.
>Can we identify the person ?

>You quickly fly down behind the indicated hill and peek over the top, the figure has their back to you, so you are not noticed.
>You do not recognize her, but she has long, purple hair with a white ribbon affixed to it, and she seems to be wearing what appears to be a labcoat. She is busily writing on a clipboard.
>_

[Monarda]

>"I have never seen her before, should we intervene ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"I have never seen her before, should we intervene ?"

>"I don't know..." says Chen, "She hasn't done anything bad, has she?"

>The woman stops writing on the clipboard and slips it into her labcoat, before retrieving what looks like an empty test tube.
>_

[Monarda]

>"Seems like a researcher... but what is she doing here ?"
>Keep an eye on her.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Seems like a researcher... but what is she doing here ?"

>"No clue..."
>"Maybe she's an environmentalist?" Renko asks.
>"In Gensokyo?" Sumireko answers.
>"Well this IS Gensokyo we're talking about... And judging from what Merry and I have seen so far, almost anything can happen."
>"I guess that's true..."

>Keep an eye on her.

>The woman stoops to the ground and fills the test tube with some soil, before capping it with a cork.
>She takes what appears to be a walkie talkie and begins speaking into it, but you cannot hear her at your current distance.
>_

[Monarda]

>"Let's go take a look, she doesn't seem dangerous."
>If our group agrees, head over to the mysterious researcher.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Let's go take a look, she doesn't seem dangerous."
>If our group agrees, head over to the mysterious researcher.

>"We have strength in numbers too if it turns out she is." says Sumireko as your group gets up.

>You begin to approach the woman.
>"--site A seems promising, I'm going to have to conduct a soil analysis, but it's a prime candidate for the test." she says, "Have you received any reports about site B?"
>"_{^{She hasn't reported in yet, but she seems to be staying on task. I'll give you and update when she makes the call.}}" Another voice crackles over the walkie talkie.
>"And what about the status of our assets?"
>"_{^{No problems yet.}}"
>"Splendid, and the professor?"
>"_{^{She's making great progress as well.}}"
>"Excellent." the woman pushes her glasses up, "Anyway, I'm heading back. Call me if anything come up."
>"_{^{Will do.}}"
>The woman puts the walkie talkie away.
>_

[Monarda]

>"Excuse me, who are you Miss ?"
>Be wary of anything she may attempt.

[Neovereign]

>Are we still grop-, er, carrying Renko?

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Excuse me, who are you Miss ?"
>Be wary of anything she may attempt.

>The woman jumps and turns around, bringing her hand to her hip, before realizing your presence.
>She straightens up and composes herself, "Oh, why hello there. I honestly didn't expect anyone to be all the way out here."

>Are we still grop-, er, carrying Renko?

>You set her down when you got to the hill, as that made hiding behind it easier.
>_

[Monarda]

>"Yeah, this is the old home of my friend here, we came back to check on it, who are you maam ? And what are you studying here ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Yeah, this is the old home of my friend here, we came back to check on it, who are you maam ? And what are you studying here ?"

>"Ah, yes, where are my manners." she bows slightly, "I am Rikako Asakura. And if you must know, I am studying the magic content of this field."
>_

[Monarda]

>"I see, the name is Maribel Hearn, so what is so special about this magic on this place ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"I see, the name is Maribel Hearn, so what is so special about this magic on this place ?"

>"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Rikako replies, "And well, what's so special is that this place actually seems to have a lower density of ambient magic than other parts of Gensokyo. Which is good for me, since the ambient magic has been known to interfere with the results of my scientific experiments."
>_

[Monarda]

>"Well, unfortunately this is right on someone's home..."
>Look a bit surprised.
>"Wait scientific experiments ? Are you also from the outside world ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Well, unfortunately this is right on someone's home..."

>"Well, all I see is a rotting wagon, someone can't possibly be living there, can they?"

>Look a bit surprised.
>"Wait scientific experiments ? Are you also from the outside world ?"

>She seems a bit surprised.
>"Well, no, actually. I was born right here in Gensokyo. Though while most people pursue magic and their religious beliefs, I chose to follow the path of science."
>She pushes up her glasses, light from the rising moon glares off of them briefly.
>"Though, you do have me curious. You come from the outside world? The place where magic supposedly doesn't exist anymore and science and technology reigns supreme?"
>_

[Neovereign]

//Drat. Too slow to try and correct it to "Are you from the outside world?" Then add that we are too if she was...
Guess I'll just go back to waiting for chances to enhance our relationship with Renko...

[Monarda]

>"Well, yes, why do you ask ?"
>Nod.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Well, yes, why do you ask ?"
>Nod.

>"I've always had an interest in that place. Or, rather, the technology that's developed there. I hope to one day help Gensokyo attain a similar, or perhaps greater, technological and scientific level."
>_

[Monarda]

>"A fine dream indeed."
>Smile.
>"So what are you experimenting with at the moment ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"A fine dream indeed."
>Smile.
>"So what are you experimenting with at the moment ?"

>"Well, let's just say I'm trying to find a way to completely eliminate a certain disease from an area while leaving other forms of life unharmed. Though I need an environment that has little to no ambient magic in order to get accurate readings. Unfortunately, since this is Gensokyo, such spots are quite rare."
>_

[Monarda]

>"A disease ? What kind of disease ? Maybe we can aid in some way later."

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"A disease ? What kind of disease ? Maybe we can aid in some way later."

>"It's nothing you should worry about. Humans can't catch it. It's mostly a plant disease. Though I do hope to extend the application of my procedure to actual human diseases in the future." says Rikako.
>"Can youkai catch it, Miss Rikako?" Chen asks.
>"I'm unsure. My studies generally don't focus on your kind... Anyway, I really must be going. So I do believe this is farewell."

>She walks over to a patch of tall grass nearby and takes out some kind of odd backpack.
>_

[Neovereign]

>Unless we have any other things to say...
>"It was nice meeting you Miss Asakura. I hope your studies yield successful results, and that we can meet again."

[Monarda]

>Turn to our group.
>"We should check the wagon now."
>Do so.

[Neovereign]

>Get close to Renko and a bit apart from the group.
>"H-Hey... sorry about being sorta perverted when carrying you Renko..."

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Unless we have any other things to say...
>"It was nice meeting you Miss Asakura. I hope your studies yield successful results, and that we can meet again."

>"It was a pleasure to meet you as well." Rikako nods, before strapping on the backpack which you notice has rocket thrusters built into it. "Goodbye, Miss Hearn."
>The jetpack soon roars to life, and Rikako takes off towards the horizon.
>"Huh, neat." Renko remarks as the scientist fades into the distance, "And here I thought almost everyone here used magic to fly."

>Turn to our group.
>"We should check the wagon now."
>Do so.

>Rin nods.
>"That's what we came here for, right?" Rengeteki asks.

>Your group begins to proceed towards the wagon.

>Get close to Renko and a bit apart from the group.
>"H-Hey... sorry about being sorta perverted when carrying you Renko..."

>You pull Renko to the side.
>"_{^{I-It's fine, Merry. I wasn't complaining.}}" Renko smiles with a slight blush.
>_

[Monarda]

>Take a look at said wagon's interior.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Take a look at said wagon's interior.

>You haven't reached the wagon yet.

>"Huh? What's this?" You hear chen ask.
>_