Ask Below the Radar

[Amarante Proulx]

On most cases, Mara was always able to pull something up about the individual she was going to interview. Even the the most minor of information was useful in her field but the only thing she had was rumors. There was nothing from any reporting source, not even the holo-tabloids on the incident of a possible new disease infecting beings. The blip she did find showed nothing significant, in fact, it seemed to cover up any details, only reporting contained and no more confirmed cases. Though many individuals, including herself would never read too much into it, this galaxy was expansive, there were a lot of strange things, enigmatic, and probably not worth one's time, especially those living in the bubble of the FWA.

The only additional information Mara could pull was a name, a Dr. Riley Elin. The medical credentials checked out and Mara was able to easily reach out to conduct this interview on her current work. It would be a nice break in genre for the journalist, corrupt cops in the Core only wore one down and the holonet had be quiet with any sightings of terrorist cults. Plus space-buzz list of the hottest speeder accessories was not a topic she wanted to swoop down to writing in the moment of calm in the galaxy.

The shuttle to the doctor's camp seemed to have taken longer than what it felt and it was fairly uneventful. She wore field clothing, allowing her sit and move more comfortably during the interview. Mara was uncertain what to expect, she weighed on the types of settings doctors were usually stationed, the options were limited, white walls and chemical smells, a camp with cots, or she could arrive and there would be nothing. Once the shuttle landed, Mara was eager to stretch her legs on solid land, quickly taking in her surroundings of the relatively small space port, noting the types of buildings and who seemed to hang around them. What she really needed was some direction to the doctor. She mentally noted the lack of discussion about transportation arrangements, though after dropping an excessive handful of credits, she managed to get someone to take her to the woman's location.

@Sreeya

 

[Riley Elin]

“Dr. Elin? You sure you want to go see her?”

A gruff man would ask Amarante. He had pulled up in a beaten down old speeder, and he was tasked with transporting the journalist over to the doctor. He was armored from head to toe and was large, beefy man.

He was all too thrilled to be getting paid for this gig, and she would find out just why it was so costly to go see the doctor. The man would wait for her to hop into the vehicle before revving up the engine and getting the speeder moving.

Pretty soon the speeder began to pull away from what looked like civilization. The terrain was rough and there were no lights along the path. Soon enough, the speeder ignored a path and went over a dark field that had trenches and valleys. The only source of light were the headlights from the speeder.

“You don’t look like another doc,” The driver said after a long while. By now, a faint encampment slowly began to come into view, dimly lit, “Brave of you though.”

As they drew closer to the camp, Amarante would note a large a makeshift wall with barbs that surrounded it. The man spoke into his comms and a few armored guards came over to a gate to let them in.

The driver got out of the speeder and beckoned Amarante to do the same. Some people from inside the encampment came out to meet them, one of them holding what appeared to be a hazmat suit. He held it up for Amarante to wear before turning to the driver.

“Evenin’ Gus, long time since you dropped someone off,” The man said cheerfully, “Gonna hang out?”

“Not a chance,” Gus said, “Couldn’t pay me enough to stay. Only to do drop offs,” He shook his head before turning to Amarante, “Wishing you all the best, m’am.”

With that, he turned and took off in a hurry.

@GABA

 

[Amarante Proulx]

His voice made her core rattle with unease as he questioned her decision to see Dr. Elin. A moment of hesitation and silence as she contemplated, trying to add up what the armor and old speeder meant, but skepticism would ultimately win and bloated her confidence; it pushed her onward in this interview and Mara nodded, "Yes, to Dr. Elin." she said climbing into the speeder, convincing herself this was not the first nor the last odd situation she would encounter in her career. Mara did her best to get comfortable in her seat, adjusting her bag between her feet until she finally just set it in her lap.

As the speeder moved away from the port, Mara felt some confusion, having suspected the doctor wouldn't be too far from city, it now seemed they were heading no where, at least where Mara would think to find a doctor. Though when he left the road, Mara felt like asking him where in the hell they were going. Debating to ask, she concluded the doctor was in the field, vastly different from the doctors she was used to seeing in the core at well-funded hospitals. She quickly brushed her hair out of her face and opened her mouth to say something, but her armored driver spoke first, stating she did not look like a doctor. Mara's eyes narrowed in slight annoyance but her attention turned to the camp in the distance with awe. A smarter person probably would have decided to turn back when they saw the reinforced camp.

Passing through the gates, Mara sat up a bit straighter and nearly fell out of the speeder with eager when she was given the ok by her driver. Another man met them with the hazmat suit and the woman fumbled over the suit while Gus, the speeder driver indicated he only did drop offs and said his good-byes. Mara blinked and looked up, "Woah, wait! Only drop offs? What about back to the port when I'm done?" she asked just as the dust settled by the now absent speeder. Mara looked to the guards as she zipped up, "So, uh...I'm Amarante Proulx." She grinned, putting on her most charming smile, "Are you two part of Dr. Elin's team?" she asked, her eyes shifted swiftly between the two guards, uncertain who to direct her questions.

@Sreeya