Log:Out of her Body with Frustration, Scene 1

Out of her Body with Frustration 2019/09/27 	 Artemis Blok Carpenter Lady Winters Rangel Voyager Doug Williams

1

Detective Carpenter is ordered to check up on a woman in the hospital - possible victim of a meta crime. She appears to have been drugged and her account is confused, but she's babbling on about how some meta has to be stopped....

Carpenter heads to check up on the woman, while also trying to do a couple of searches for related cases in the past, using his PDA. It might be a new meta who is hte culprit. Might be someone with a rap sheet.

Lady Winters is at the hospital discussing the possibility of starting a internship there to obtain formal training and knowledge to supplement her natural healing ability.

The Voyager Intelligence is here, volunteering its uptime to assist those in need as well as to better understand the Human Condition. Its during one of its trips, lugging oxygen bottles to the ICU that its auditory systems overhear- not eavesdropping initially, but in time the droid found itself making unnecessary steps to garner more information about the situation the woman described.

Eventually it reorients its priority taskload and takes a position across the hall at a android charging station situated between the nursing station & the floor's closest bathrooms.

Artemis is attempting to be sneaky as she slips out of the double doors that lead to the morgue. She checks to see if the coast is clear before stepping out.

Blok has been in the hospital cafeteria, having lunch with one of his friends, Jackie, who also works with StarGuard Gamma. Before that, he had an meeting with the hospital adminstration concerning his upcoming residency.

Rangel elects to not wear the disguise hologram as she enters the hospital ground, hearing something about the attack by rumors and recognizing something about it. Placing exactly what it might have been is difficult but familiar can only mean troublesome.

People, other than Carpenter and Blok, overhear rumours among the staff - something about how the victim of the alleged meta attack is talking about body swapping.

Artemis walks up to the staff she hears chatting, no longer trying to be stealthy. "What is this about an attack with a body thief? Where is this victim?"

Carpenter continues on to the woman's room and knocks on the door lightly before stepping in to see if she can deal with having a visitor.

"Huh..." Rangel murmurs, making her way into the hospital chamber with the woman making the sounds of distress.

The nurse looks Artemis up and down. "Why are you asking?" It might have been more a mind-your-own-business for a less imposing-looking questioner.

Blok sees Artemis (who he recognizes from her fight with Chen) speaking to the hospital staff. He steps up behind her and looks down at the nurse. "May Blok be of assistance?"

Artemis gives the nurse a patient look. "Because if there's a body thief on the loose, it could create more victims as the one in your care, yes? I would think helping me learn more to bring it to justice would be most wise."

The woman is there, half awake, and still muttering on about a body thief. Physically, she seems ok, but for the faint hint of some old scars. A nurse, hovering nearby, checks Carpenter's ID.

"Please, keep your voice down! We don't want to cause mass panic!" says the first nurse to Artemis.

Less concerned with showing anyone identification, placing herself in the room, Rangel looks her over from a few steps away, walking around the bed to get better viewing angles. "You awake?" she inquires.

Artemis doesn't have a low volume setting. But she tries. It's still at what humans would consider normal conversation levels. "The body thief could be stealing someone's body at this very moment and hurting others. Innocents are at risk. Are you still refusing to aid me?" she tries reasoning with the nurse.

Carpenter shows his ID to the nurse, and then says with a point toward Rangel, "And that's a Starguard agent. I can vouch for her, despite her not following protocol."

"The police are dealing with it," says the nurse to Artemis.

Blok is getting called away. Thank you all.

Artemis places her hands on her hips, thinking on a moment. "Very well," she says, then turns to leave.

The Voyager Intelligence hears Artemis' 'low volume' discussion. It reorients itself and waves towards Artemis, beckoning her over to its present location near the nursing station and the room with the victim in question.

Artemis blinks as she notices Voyager and smiles. "Friend Voyager, what brings you to this place of physician healing? You have no need of it," she laughs warmly as she heads over.

"She's also got a lead on this case," Rangel says aloud. "This half-asleep body, I've been around it before. If it's safe to wake her, this would be a really good time."

"Hello Artemis. It is good to see you again." The Android says cordially. "This Unit is volunteering time to assist these humans in their goal of mitigating the suffering of others. I have found that, though the pay is limited- the experience is eye-opening. This Unit has discovered much here in a short time." It answers before it lowers its volume and says, "Even trouble that may be of value to your own efforts." It nods towards the room in front of them, where Detective Carpenter and Rangel are talking to a woman claiming ot be the very victim she is seeking.

Carpenter raises a brow and says to Rangel, "You've seen her before?" He moves over closer to the bed.

The nurse says, "We don't know what she was drugged with - but she's getting more lucid by the minute. You'll probably be able to get more out of her soon. We've seen some other victims of drugging with the same symptoms lately."

"Most noble of you, my fine friend," Artemis says to Voyager. She falls silent as it indicates the room Carpenter and Rangel are in, listening in on the conversation inside.

Rangel leans in closer to the woman, sniffing out the injection point.

Rangel mentions, "I've met her before. She was involved with a vehicular collision."

Carpenter turns to the nurse, "Who else had the same symptoms?"

Rangel draws attention to the spot. "That's a contact toxin." She sniffs at it closer to see if it was skin contact.

Artemis plants her hands on her hips and stage whispers to Voyager, "It seems all is well. She is recovering. The healer said so."

"The feline female has also indicated that she was poisoned. So while recovering, she is not the first to suffer these symptoms which implies she won't be the last." The Model 9 Prototype responds in a cheerful manner.

The nurse says she'll get the doctor who's been handling the cases.

Rangel nods. "Yep. That's a secreted toxin from the attacker. Male. Very grabby. A few mixed scents."

Carpenter nods again to the nurse, "Thank you. They...might be linked."

Artemis nods to Voyager, seeing it is of the same mind as her. "Yes! Thank you. That is what I said the the incongruous nurse."

Rangel nods. "Well, here's the fun fact. She's going on about body swaps now," Rangel mentions. "That theme's familiar with when I last met her. So she knows a lot about this."

Carpenter turns his attention back to Rangel. "When was this that you saw her before?"

"It is a logical assumption. Though, it should be noted that these Humans strive to keep their patients calm for more immediate, urgent reasons. So one must give them leeway here. Starting a panic could send their other patients into more dire medical conditions." It explains before adding, "Nevertheless, this Unit still finds it necessary to intervene with this present poisoning situation."

While the nurse goes goes to her station to summon the doctor, the woman's eyes falls on Rangel - and widen. She makes a rough effort to retreat a little. A sign maybe she's getting more with it!

"Uh... can't say with certainty how long. Had a bit of attempted brainwashing recently," Rangel nods to the suddenly aware nurse. "That's Ferryl. F-E-R-R-Y-L for the police when you call them. They'll explain why I'm not locked up. Long story. Enjoy!"

"Uh... can't say with certainty how long. Had a bit of attempted brainwashing recently," Rangel nods to the suddenly aware woman. "Hi. You might remember me. I can't say i recall much about you but we're ready to believe you."

Rangel stage-whispers to Carpenter, "I think I mighta shot her once. She has that look like I shot her once."

"Wha - who are you?!" says the woman to Rangel, with a look like Rangel might have shot her once. :)

Carpenter raises a brow at Rangel's comment, but doesn't say anything in return. Instead, he looks up the woman's name in the CBPD records, to see if he can find a reference to another case she was involved in.

Carpenter says to the woman while showing his badge, "I'm Detective Jack Carpenter, of the CBPD. This is Ferryl, who is with Starguard Gamma. I was asked to investigate what happened to you."

A wave. "AKA Rangel. I'm liking the latter better on account of I didn't do any felonies under it."

Sydney Rollins: Carpenter finds a mention in an accident report. 30th October, 2058. She was hit by a truck, and nearly killed. Superheroes on the scene are mentioned: Spirit, Ferryl, Rebound, Jennifer, Jessica.

Lady Winters makes enquires of the person she overheard and from there heads to the area the patient is located at, probably encounting Blok and Artemis.

Artemis nods to Voyager. "And indeed we shall once we learn of the sinister culprit behind this," she says, standing just outside the door where the patient is. She hasn't the forethought to hide around the corner or anything like that.

While the report is primarily about the accident itself, it mentions that there was a body swap incident, fairly quickly resolved, involving among other people the truck driver, the victim, and a police officer (not the one who wrote up the report).

Carpenter raises a brow. "Looks like you were at hte prior incident with body swapping, Rangel? As was your current boss, Spirit. At least based on this report I'm reading."

Lady Winters makes enquires of the person she overheard and from there heads to the area the patient is located at, probably encounting Artemis and Voyager. (corrected)

"I wouldn't use my memory as a reliable witness," Rangel suggests. "And if our hospital-resting person here doesn't know me, I got some bad news about body swapping currently active and maybe this one might not know the name of their current body."

Rangel asks, "Got any identification?" of the patient. "Also your name."

That seems to serve as a sort of reminder. (Sydney) looks down at her body and swears. "Shit - you've gotta help me - that bitch stole my body!"

Carpenter raises a brow at the woman's statement. "So...wait. The mind in this woman's body isn't the original mind that goes with it, then?"

Rangel nods. "So that's the guy who touched her arm, which uh... okay, could you walk us through the stealing of body? Seems you're the one who got arm-grabbed and drugged so... that strongly suggests someone did the grabbing and thieving, but if that's true and you were riding the grabbing body... doesn't quite add up."

She seems a bit confused by Rangel's statement "I... uh..... I guess she must have drugged me after we switched bodies - so she could make a getaway and pretend to be me?"

Carpenter tilst his head. "And what's your name, then?"

"I'm... Doug - Doug Williams."

Artemis folds her arms, listening in while chatting with Voyager. "The culprit is still at large. Perhaps we should charge forth and begin the hunt."

Lady Winters politely knocks on the door of the patient's room.

The Android listens carefuly, commiting everything to memory as Lady Winters arrives. The Android steps aside for her and continues its eavesdropping.

Artemis blinks as the woman Winters just steps up and knocks on the door they're next to. She looks at Voyager. "We were permitted to do that? The nurse seemed adamant..."

"Okay, so Friendly Doug," Rangel begins. "You happen to be in a body that was super-involved in a previous body swapping incident that I happen to have run into at the time of the incident. I don't like the idea that it's just a coincidence, and if you weren't doing any body swapping yourself, and I really hope you weren't, because that would be weird and complicate matters, tell us about your familiarity with your current body's previous owner."

Carpenter does a quick search online to see if he can find a picture of Doug Williams. Or at least what he used to look like. He glances over toward Lady Winters. He hesitates briefly upon seeing who it is, but nods to her.

Lady Winters nods back to detective Carpenter. "Detective, may I have a brief word with you. Out here?"

"I really don't know anything about her! We just met at this bar and - we'll, she seemed nice, and - well we were hardly outside when -"

Carpenter nods. "Sure." He glances toward the woman in the bed, but steps outside to speak to Lady Winters.

The Model 9 Prototype tries to look busy, relying on its artifciality to have it overlooked.

Lady Winters lowers her voice so hopefully the patient cannot hear what she says, "She, or maybe he, was lying about being drugged after the switch. However he did give you his real name."

Rangel folds her arms. "Friendly Doug, there's a little piece of your story that does not quite add up to match what I understand. You were grabbed by a male hand, and that male hand secreted a contact toxin, and that's why you arrived in a wonky brain state." She motions to the palm spot. "Right there in fact. Does it feel at all odd? I mean other than what you might feel all over odd from changing sex abruptly."

"Off course everything feel $*^&ing weird!" she snaps. Then adds, calming slightly, "I guess it's a bit numb there?"

Rangel leans in. "I'm being calm. You might want to stay that way if you have any control over yourself. So what can you tell me about the grabby toxin? That part, seems you might have more understanding about since if what you say about the swap is true, it came from your body."

Carpenter nods to Lady Winters and speaks quietly, "I have a suspicion what happened. He tried to drug her. If this is her power, it went out of control, and they swapped bodies. This sounds just the kind of person to try to drug a woman and take advantage of her. The symptoms match some other cases, aside from teh subsequent body swapping."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" says Doug(Sydney).

Lady Winters nods, an expression of distaste on her face at the implcation of druggung and takinhg advantage. "Detective, I can almost always tell if someone speaks a lie. If you wish to ask question and I am able to hear the answer I can tell you if the answer is truthful or not."

Artemis studies Nicky and Carpenter, then looks to Voyager acting like it's not listening. She frowns as she tries to make the connection, then gives up. She pats her metal friend on the shoulder. "You continue your work here, and I shall go out to see if there be any signs of this body snatcher at large. Take care, my friend," she smiles, then walks away from the trio and the room.

"And was that Bitch with anyone else when you walked out of the bar with her?" Rangel asks gently. "Anyone else looked like they were paying real close attention? What I'm getting at is you can probably name a scapegoat I mean... probably name another suspect who could have grabbed you by the arm and put you under after the fact. Or..." She stands upright. "You can lie some more to my face. I mean it's not like I'm about to do anything illegal to you about it. But when we find your body and match the scent of that palm to what I got from your arm, lying now is gonna bite you right in the butt and chew its way into your jail cell with a much bigger sentence."

Carpenter glances toward Artemis briefly as she walks away. "Hmm." He doesn't say anything to her, though. Not even the admonishing 'Please don't hurt anyone' that he might usually say. Instead he nods to Nicky and steps back into the room. "Doug. I have a question for you." He rubs his chin, "Did you try to drug the woman whose body you now inhabit?"

Voyager turns towards Artemis. "Please keep me updated to your progress and this Unit will endeavor to do the same." It replies cheerfully. "Farewell, Artemis."

Artemis leaves Lobby - CBSU Hospital and enters Hospital - Blue Wing.

Chyoode says, "What the hell? No, of course I didn't! I'm the victim here!" exclaims Doug."

Rangel glances at Carpenter. "I heard the thing from outside the room. Kinda confirms my suspicions. So, your title is no longer Friendly," she informs Doug. "So tell us about the contact toxin. This guy, he's the kind you really don't want to lie to, legally speaking."

Rangel adds, "The sooner we know as much as we can about that, the easier it will be to return you to your rightful body and the sooner you can be back on the streets picking up dates that aren't quite aware of what's going on."

Carpenter raises a brow as he watches the person in the bed. Either the person is a good liar, or she (he) is telling hte truth. Or...it could be their perception of the situation. He is a victim, in a way. Of someone lashing out in defense. Well, if the theory holds.

Doug's not admitting anything. "Look, I don't know where you got these crazy ideas about me! I just want to get my body back!"

Carpenter raises a brow. "The more we know about what happened, the easier it will be to fix it. Otherwise, you might be stuck in that body. Perhaps permanently."

From outside the room Nicky tells the detective, "He lied. He drugged the body he is now inhabitating."

Doug falls silent for a bit. He thinks long and hard.

Lady Winters looks at Doud, "You speak with words. I listen to your soul."

Carpenter nods to Nicky, "Not sure how you can tell he lied, but it supports my theory." He smiles and turns his attention back to Doug.

The Model 9 stops an aide who is delivering a fresh set of towels and sheets to each room. It takes the bundle prepared for Sydney/Doug's room and moves inside to place them wehre they belong.

It pretends not to be listening, which is very easy wehn your features are hardset.

Rangel nods. "And you're being decidedly unhelpful in retrieval. Tell us about the toxin. Do you know the compound involved? Did you use some kind of injection to yourself or is it a natural secretion that you decided to keep under wraps?"

Rangel adds, "I'm not legally empowered to arrest you for whatever weird stuff you do with dates you find. You're not currently in an interrogation. That can change by the way."

"OK, look," says Doug. I didn't want to say anything about it, because I just know people will jump to the wrong conclusions, but - yeah, ok. My body - my real body - produces this drug stuff. It's a medical condition, ok? But I wouldn't use it on anyone! But she used it one me! I guess that could be an accident, if she didn't know about it."

"Great! So what can you tell us about it? Have you done any study about what elements are contained in it?" Rangel asks.

Carpenter doesn't look convinced at the story. But it's a start.

"What am I. a biochemist? No! I just wear gloves so I don't touch people accidentally."

Lady Winters says, "That statement contained multiple untruths. You have used the toxin on others. You used it on the body you now inhabit before the switch. A warning. Do not enter Harrisberg."

Rangel folds her arms. "And she removed those gloves before grabbing your arm for some reason. Look this is just getting dumber the more you lie."

Rangel asks, "Would you be so kind as to identify your body from a photo lineup?"

Rangel adds, "Assuming you have some kind of public presence in social media or something."

"Yeah, of course I'll show you what I look like! Got a PDA?"

Rangel draws out hers. Hands it over. "Go nuts."

Carpenter sighs to himself. He always ends up with the weird meta cases. This is a curse.

Rangel's PDA is not logged in to any social media sites. It's not logged in to anything. It has seen use purely as a telecommunications device and occasional very specific URL handler.

Doug pulls up his MyFace page. He's a moderately handsome but largely nondescript guy of 33, with sandy blonde hair.

While the Victim/Victimizer plods away on Rangel's phone the android turns around and speaks. "It stands to reason, that if you all are looking for a metahuman with the ability to 'swap bodies' that you may need some kind of insurance to confirm everyone is who they say they are. Though that is just my suggestion." It returns to its assumed duty of putting away the linens in the room.

Rangel offers the thing to Carpenter. "Well, there's your info. I can track him down. got his scent. Which bar did you say you tried to make very nice friends with that bitch at?"

Doug names a bar in Old Town.

Carpenter gets a copy of the picture for the case file. "Next step is to track down this person. So...worth heading there, I guess." He says to Rangel. "Might want to dial back the animosity a little bit."

The Android manuevers to see the picture as well so it might inform Artemis as well as provide further assitance.

"Yeah, I might," Rangel replies. "I just have this history with being strongly controlled by people who'd use me as a punching bag that I had to attend each day til I learned how to not be used as a punching bag. So I don't really... like Doug very much. I'm being civil at least!"

The nurse aplogises, "Sorry, the doctor is busy at the moment, but he;ll send you the information you requested as soon as he's free...

Lady Winters nods to Rangel. "He drugs females and takes advantage of their drugged condition. Given that I don't think you're being hostile enough, personally."

Carpenter nods to Rangel, "No, that I get. You've used the term 'bitch' twice, though." He says to the nurse, "Thank you." He hands a card to the nurse, "Have him contact me."

Rangel motions toward Doug. "Incidentally, you, I am going to be watching for you once this is all done. I don't miss much! And I know how to legally do that without any complaints someone might make being legitimate! It won't be harassment or a breach of privacy!" She's grinning. It's not a nice grin.

Lady Winters turns to Doug. "If we catch you near Harrisberg I'll eat your soul. Are we clear?"

Rangel nods. "Yeah, i was mocking him because he called her that."

The Android jsut watches all this, learning, adapting, & hopefully not at all taking on the traits it observes.

Doug barely manages a nod to Lady Winters. He's heard about the vampire of Harrisburg and is duly terrified.

Carpenter nods to Rangel, "Ah. I missed that. I was assuming you were talking about the woman in anger. Sorry for the confusion."

Rangel shakes her head. "No, I have very little recollection about her but I can't recall anything that would make me go name calling. Which isn't saying she's an upstanding person but I get a strong impression that Grabby Mc Knockout here triggered something really dormant. That's your new nickname by the way," she mentions to Doug. "I'm hoping it catches on but things rarely do from me so you have that going for you."

Rangel leans over the bed. "I am not threatening to harm you. But if I wasn't so inclined to be lawfully operating now I would consider strongly seeing how far I can get a blunt arrow up your real body's butt from a half mile."

"New Designation Accepted!" The Model 9 Prototype says after Rangel renames Doug.

Rangel adds, "Oh and I can look like a human person so... have fun with your future date escapades!" She heads out of the room, hackles raised.

Doug seems almost to retreat into the bed from Rangel, clearly terrified.

Rangel is also grinning. It's a large, horrifying grin.

Carpenter sighs again. It's a little like herding cats. A lot like herding cats, actually.

Rangel informs Carpenter along the way, "I'm going to stay with you for this because otherwise I may end up testing the range-arrow-butt ratio."

"Science is important, after all."

The bar is a proves to be of a relatively respectable sort, middle-class and rather characterless.

Rangel heads for the back to pick up the scent.

The Android is last to leave, and watches Doug until he is out of view. He follows the other heroes and Detective as well to the bar, noting that it has never been to one of those either.

Carpenter nods to Rangel, "Not shooting the person would be good. After all, it's a different person in the body."

Rangel mentions, "I mean later when the mess is sorted out and he's back in business body. This is gonna have me pretty livid for a while. But I'm your best shot at getting to that body right now."

Carpenter nods. "Oh, I know it. I'm just acting like Jiminy Cricket." He smiles. "But with less singing and dancing."

"I have no idea who that is," Rangel informs. "Movie character? Sounds like movie character."

(Doug) seems to have sat next to (Sydney) at the bar for a while, then they headed to the door together. The seems to have paused for a while at a spot just outside. Then (Doug) took off rapidly down the street, leaving (Sydney) outside the bar - which is where she was found, according to the police report.

"This Unit is also unaware of who 'Jiminy Cricket' is. Database shows no designations matching." The Robot says unhelpfully in agreement with Rangel.

Rangel focuses hard on keeping (Doug)'s path. "They split here," she motions. "The she-body was unconscious at the time. The he-body ran pretty fast. Probably confused. I'm standing by the theory that the lady didn't know she could do that. But it's not exactly concrete."

Carpenter shake his head, "Old movie reference. And book too for that matter." He turns to Voyager, "I don't think I've met you before. "I'm Detective Carpenter. You know Rangel here?"

Carpenter nods to Rangel. "Seems to fit the theory still."

Rangel has her folded bow in hand, unready as she continues tracking. "Don't mind the hardware. Just more familiar to have it in hand as I go."

The scent trail runs for a couple of blocks, when (Doug) seems to have paused again for a while. The (Doug) set off in a different direction.

Carpenter follows after Rangel. "Hopefuly they stopped to rest someplace. Eitehr Doug's residence, since the keys and ID on the body, or her residence, since she's familiar with it." He starts checking where those two locations on in relation to where they're going.

Rangel sniffs for other scents that may have collided for a moment, glancing around for things that may have caught the lady's attention. "Paused here. Minutes passed... went that way. Mighta cuaght breath."

"I have met Designation Rangel/Ferryl in one of my exploratory outtings in the city." The Android answers before offering its hand to him. "This Unit is referred to as Range Technical Systems Model 9 Prototype, though entities with Condition: Ally and Condition: Friend refer to this one as SONA." It answers as it follows along.

The trail leads, sure enough, to Doug's apartment building.

"Which one's his?" Rangel asks. "I'd find out by sniffing at each window but might be under a time crunch here."

Carpenter nods to Sona. "Nice to meet you." He looks at the address. "Apartment 3B. That's Doug's place."

Rangel leaps to third floor to sniff out Doug's window.

Carpenter heads into the building, assuming he can get thorugh the door, and it isn't somethign he has to get buzzed through.

The Android follows Carpenter, not wanting to cause structural damage going up the side of the building.

The outer door proves to be locked. Rangel, meanwhile, can run around the outside of the building, sniffing windows, and locates the apartment in question as one of the rear-facing ones.

Carpenter tries the buzzer for the apartment.

Rangel sends quick info to Carpenter by PDA, glancing inside while keeping herself mostly out of its view.

There's no response to the buzzer.

Lady Winters leans in and presses a dozen or so buzzers for various apartments. "Someone almost always unlocks without checking. Learned this from a reformed thief at the Clinic."

Rangel listens at the wall adjacent to the window.

Carpenter nods to Nicky, "Good point."

Lady Winter's trick works well, and the door is buzzed open by someone.

Carpenter pulls the door open. "At least I didn't have to resort to picking the lock." He grins. He then starts to head up the stairs to the third floor.

Lady Winters casts a surprised glance at detective Carpenter, reassessing him after that comment.

Rangel checks for openable window. Even chance Doug is enough of a careless man to leave that an option.

"If you would prefer, Detective Carpenter- this Unit can remove most consumer quality doors from their hinges, saving you from picking the lock." The Model 9 Prototype says flatly, clearly missing the joke.

Carpenter glances to the robot. "No...let's avoid property damage, please."

'No movement inside' Rangel sends to Carpenter.

Carpenter responds back, 'Getting to the apartment now'.

The apartment building is fairly typical for this area on the Old Town/Upper East Side border. Which is to say, rather old but not too run-down.

Carpenter gets up to the apartments' door and knocks on it.

Rangel listens for reactionary sudden movement.

There's no reply. Rangel hears the knock. :)

Carpenter calls out. "Sydney. I'm Detective Carpenter of the CBPD. We need to talk." He knocks again.

'Either she's a rock in his body or she's gone' Rangel sends.

Still no reply.

"Request Confirmed. Minimizing property damage." The Model 9 says, trying to be helpful. Its Intelligence pays special heed to built in systems that might illustrate the fragility of these human constructs.

It waits patiently for a response at the door.

Lady Winters turns into mist, and seeps into the apartment through the gap under the door. Unless hindered she unlocks the door from the inside so Carpenter and Voyager can enter.

And so there came a rapping, a Rangel gently tapping, upon the chamber window.

Carpenter steps inside and looks around the room. He then heads to the window to let Rangel in.

The apartment has been searched, quite thoroughly and messily - that is obvious to Lady Winters at first glance.

Carpenter snaps his fingers...and tries to look up Doug's PDA contact information, if he can via CBPD resources. "Maybe I can short circuit this."

"Alright, so it's been a bit of time, let's see where most of her interest went..." Rangel muses, stepping carefully to avoid disturbing things.

Rangel shrugs. "Her apartment is probably next on the list of places to be."

The Android is surprised by Lady Winter's misty powers. Its iris opens and closes as it regards her after opening the door.

As it passes the threshold it cheerfully says, "Thank you!"

It begins scanning the room, committing every detail to its new, expansive memory.

A bit of poking around makes the pattern fairly clear. Clearly someone has packed a bag with clothes, documents and anything small and valuable, rather hurriedly.

Rangel looks thoughtful. "Skipping town. That's easy to track. Check records and see which travel method was contacted."

Carpenter shakes his head, "No luck." He puts his PDA away, and then starts to look around at the room to find some clues where 'Doug' got off to.

Rangel suggests, "This is poking a hole in my theory about surprise body swap. Something real bad was involved in and this is an opportunity escape."

The Android finishes its scan and consults its memory for electronics capable of purchasing tickets out of town, since 'Doug' looks like he's attempting to skip town.

"This Unit was under the impression humans preferred to keep their original bodies." The Robot says cheerfully, but in truth its confused by the concept when involving humans- one of the reasons its endeavored to get invovled with this investigation.

"It's more comfortable to stay in the same, I'd guess," Rangel shrugs. "But uh.. if it's something someone can do whenever they want to? They are definitely doing that when they can get away with it."

Carpenter rubs his chin. "Found passwords and such. A PIN number. But Sydney didn't find them. Pretty sure that's what she was looking for. Keep in mind, she doesn't have access to her money right now."

Carpenter shakes his head, "She won't have gotten far. Not without help. Can you get the scent again?"

"Right, but she's hiding. So... why?" Rangel asks.

Lady Winters says, "This is not as expected. The cat lady person is correct. Having taken valuables from here, if she is intent of leaving she'll likely go to her dwelling to collect move items."

Rangel picks up the scent again to follow.

Carpenter nods. "That would be my next guess. Her own home."

"Cat lady person can be abbreviated to Rangel," casual tone.

Carpenter says to Nicky, "When we leave, please lock the place up again.

Lady Winters nods to Carpenter. Then to Rangel, "Thank you. My name is Nicky."

Rangel asks, "Mind reader or specialized lie detector?"

Lady Winters says, "Both. But I can tell when someone is lying automatically. Reading their mind takes effort."

"What about self-depricating untruths that aren't intended to deceieve?" Rangel asks. "Like how I'm a braindead cat-lady with no self-control?"

Lady Winters says, "If someone believes what they say I will not detect a lie even if their statement is untrue. I read the soul. They have to knowingly lie for me to tell that they are lying."