Okuu Quest Thereafter - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>You interpose yourself and give the order.
>The purse quietly opens, and cards begin to float out toward you, one by one. The first one you get is a Visa Card.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Try to non-verbally communicate to Stargazer to put that one back, when she returns from bringing us the next one.

[Hello Purvis]

>Try to non-verbally communicate to Stargazer to put that one back, when she returns from bringing us the next one.
[/quote

>You think she gets the idea, as she hands you a few more. She takes it, while you find yourself holding a debit card for a bank you don't recognize, what seems to be an ID for the University, and a fishing license?

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Does the university ID look like what Yumemi used at the facility last night? Or might it be something else? Is there a chip or a magnetic strip, or something on it that could serve as a card key?
>Probably should put that one in our pocket, anyway
>Non-verbally communicate to Stargazer to take the other cards back
>Assuming we're not fully satisfied with the university ID, do there appear to be other cards that Stargazer think are possibilities?

[Hello Purvis]

>Does the university ID look like what Yumemi used at the facility last night? Or might it be something else? Is there a chip or a magnetic strip, or something on it that could serve as a card key?
>Probably should put that one in our pocket, anyway
>Non-verbally communicate to Stargazer to take the other cards back
>Assuming we're not fully satisfied with the university ID, do there appear to be other cards that Stargazer think are possibilities?

>It...could be. You were too far away to get a good look at it. You're not really sure. It does have a strip on it, though.
>You take the University ID and return the rest to Stargazer.
>Stargazer ponders, then pulls out two more. One you don't recognize, it seems to be rather old, but it has a photo. The other has the logo of the Research Institute on it.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Are there any identifying marks at all on the unknown ID?
>Does the Research Institute logo seem to have a chip or strip on it?

>If we hear the slightest hint of Yumemi coming back in, just pocket the ID that we have and signal for Stargazer to stop

[Hello Purvis]

>Are there any identifying marks at all on the unknown ID?
>Does the Research Institute logo seem to have a chip or strip on it?

>If we hear the slightest hint of Yumemi coming back in, just pocket the ID that we have and signal for Stargazer to stop

>You look over the unknown ID. It seems...to go to the US Military base, judging from the flag on it.
>The Research Institute ID has both.
>Right now, Orin seems to be getting directions confused. The Professor is starting to sound irritated.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Take them both, to be on the safe side
>Are there any more cards?

[Hello Purvis]

>Take them both, to be on the safe side
>Are there any more cards?

>There are, but Stargazer doesn't seem to think they'd be of value.
>You obtain: Military Base ID
>You obtain: Research Institute ID
>You obtain: University ID

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Signal Stargazer to close up the purse, if it isn't already
>Look over towards Orin and try to discretely indicate that she can stop distracting her now

[Hello Purvis]

>Signal Stargazer to close up the purse, if it isn't already
>Look over towards Orin and try to discretely indicate that she can stop distracting her now

>Stargazer does so.
>You try to signal to Orin, but she seems to be doing her best not to look in your direction.
>After a couple more minutes, though, Orin allows herself to finally get the directions in her head, not really being able to extend the act any further plausibly. With flustered apologies and thanks, she bows and runs off. "Some of the people they let in here," mutters the Professor as she returns to her desk. "But I expect the Arts department needs people too, eh? Now, where were we?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, we were talking a little about life outside Gensokyo, but we may as well get down to what I came here for, now."

>"As you deduced, I'm here for a little course selection advice. I don't really know what my options in terms of course choice are. I mean, I can read the courses listed here, of course, but I don't know which electives are really worth taking, and which aren't. The descriptions aren't always too informative. But I'm sure someone with as much experience as you knows what kind of background real scientists are looking for in a research assistant. If I wanted to build as productive a track record as I could, how would you recommend I focus my program at first? What are some courses you would recommend taking?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, we were talking a little about life outside Gensokyo, but we may as well get down to what I came here for, now."

>"As you deduced, I'm here for a little course selection advice. I don't really know what my options in terms of course choice are. I mean, I can read the courses listed here, of course, but I don't know which electives are really worth taking, and which aren't. The descriptions aren't always too informative. But I'm sure someone with as much experience as you knows what kind of background real scientists are looking for in a research assistant. If I wanted to build as productive a track record as I could, how would you recommend I focus my program at first? What are some courses you would recommend taking?"

>"The best thing I can advise," says the Professor, "Is to get in the less common courses as soon as you can. Literature? Basic maths? Those will always be there at many times a day, so try to elegantly mold them around the courses that are harder to get. Hmm, let's have a look here."
>She spends the next 15 minutes helping you plot out several really good schedules around this advice, explaining what some of the less obvious courses are. Soon enough, she sends you on your way.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Head out of the building, and off-campus, towards the bus stop

[Blitzer]

>Feel good that you managed to accomplish something extra.

[Hello Purvis]

>Head out of the building, and off-campus, towards the bus stop

>Feel good that you managed to accomplish something extra.

>You leave, as nonchalantly as possible, feeling the pilfered IDs burning a hole in your pocket. You feel a weight has been lifted from your chest. You're still nervous about what is to come, but overall, things seem a lot more possible now.
>You head to the bus stop, and find Orin waiting there, along with a dozen or so other students. She nods to you as you approach. "Did it work?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yup, we've got them."
>"I think Yumemi was pretty convinced you were a total airhead. Nice job."

>Give Ace a quick call while waiting for the bus

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yup, we've got them."
>"I think Yumemi was pretty convinced you were a total airhead. Nice job."

>Give Ace a quick call while waiting for the bus

>Orin smiles. "Well, I did have a good role model for that."
>You dial up Ace. It rings a couple times before she picks up. "Hoi, chummer. This Utsuho?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Elbow Orin for that. Not too hard.
>"Yeah, it's me. We've got them. You can head over to the meeting place now. We're on our way there now."

[Hello Purvis]

>Elbow Orin for that. Not too hard.
>"Yeah, it's me. We've got them. You can head over to the meeting place now. We're on our way there now."

>You elbow Orin in the ribs a bit. "What?" she asks, "I was talking about Orange, from back in school."
>What a liar.
>"We'll link up out front," says Ace, before she hangs up.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, yeah, sure."
>"Well, that's done, anyway. Now let's get out of here."
>Grab the bus to Parsee's

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, yeah, sure."
>"Well, that's done, anyway. Now let's get out of here."
>Grab the bus to Parsee's

>"Yeah," says Orin.
>You get on an A route bus soon, and find yourself back in the Industrial District. The ride is pretty unremarkable, save for Stargazer pacing up and down the isle.
>Heading for Parsee's apartment, you see a small woman with short green hair, waiting with her arms crossed beside a pair of motorcycles. She nods to you. "Hoi choomba."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Nod back at her
>"Hey, there."
>Gesture towards the bikes
>"Shall I assume the second one of those is our ticket out of there for the night?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod back at her
>"Hey, there."
>Gesture towards the bikes
>"Shall I assume the second one of those is our ticket out of there for the night?"

>She nods. "That one's yours," pointing to the larger one. "Don't give it a cement poisoning, or Chiko will probably want to take it out of your meatparts."
>She tosses you the keys.
>"Now, the card?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Catch the keys
>"Ha, Chiko. I, uh, wouldn't be surprised if she did. Does she know she lent this to me, specifically? She's actually been trying to get me to buy one, but I don't have the money for it at the moment."

>"I ended up grabbing a couple of ID, actually, since I didn't get a good look at the one she used last night. But I figure this is probably the one we're after."
>Show Ace the Research Institute ID

[Hello Purvis]

>Catch the keys
>"Ha, Chiko. I, uh, wouldn't be surprised if she did. Does she know she lent this to me, specifically? She's actually been trying to get me to buy one, but I don't have the money for it at the moment."

>"I ended up grabbing a couple of ID, actually, since I didn't get a good look at the one she used last night. But I figure this is probably the one we're after."
>Show Ace the Research Institute ID

>You Obtain: Motorcycle Keys
>"She hadn't clued in when I told her," says Ace, "But I think she'd probably get the drift after a bit."
>You show her the Research Institute ID. She takes it and walks over to her motorcycle. "Right, I'll have a couple fake SINs made. You and Boxcars, right?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yup, that would be her."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yup, that would be her."

>"Right," she says, as she starts up the her motorcycle. "I'll be back around nine. Adios!"
>"What a odd person," says Orin, "So, what are you gonna do now? Need me for anything?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Nah, I think I'm good for now. And thanks again, Orin. Like, seriously. Don't know what I would have done without you, there."
>Give her a hug
>"Now I just need to catch my breath before the REAL scary part. But we can do this. We're already past the first hurdle."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Nah, I think I'm good for now. And thanks again, Orin. Like, seriously. Don't know what I would have done without you, there."
>Give her a hug
>"Now I just need to catch my breath before the REAL scary part. But we can do this. We're already past the first hurdle."

>She nods. "Alright. I'm going to head home, then," she says. "Seeing as you got a couple hours, it might not be a bad idea to talk with Miss Hijiri if you have time. Well, assuming you don't have something else to do. Anyways, later!"
>She heads down the street toward the bus stop.

>_