Quinday, Rami 5th 067.M42
Throne, I didn't realise how much I missed the ordinary things, even just the routine of being at work. It's been just on a week, but it feels like the last time I walked through those doors and sat at my cogitator was some immeasurable time ago.
I have to admit to a bit more than a small amount of trepidation when I left my hab this morning; every person on the street outside was a potential threat, a watcher waiting for me. I keep telling myself that there's no possible way that they could know who I was, where I came from. I took as many precautions as possible, made sure I didn't come straight from the lifter to home. I didn't see anyone who seemed to be following me, and there were no familiar faces or odd-looking sorts lingering around my block when I left.
Saints, listen to me. Talking about "they", as if I even know who "they" are. Some group of robed, creepy weirdos who have some bald freaks amongst their number. Who are apparently stealing people from the mid-hive to take down to the lower hive by… mindwiping them in some way? Who might be following me around the place now because they know I'm interested in them. Emperor knows if I was listening to anyone else tell this tale, I'd probably be looking for the nearest medicae to offer them something soothing and possibly a precautionary lobotomy.
Though as much as I'd missed my routine, it was hard to settle back into the flow of things properly. Mining operations on the antilium began a little under a month ago, and after some initial setbacks, it seems they're in the full swing of things. My entire feed this morning was mining reports, purity samples, pricing adjustments. Normally all extremely fascinating and enough to keep me engaged throughout the whole day, but for some reason I was finding it hard to keep myself properly focused on the work. I just kept seeing the one who'd looked at me, feeling the weight of that terrible, dark gaze on me. I hope I never see anyone like that again.
Speaking of seeing someone again… How good it was to see Maddy once more. If we hadn't been at work I think I would have just grabbed her up and never let her go. But just seeing her smile was enough to make me forget about creepy weirdness for a while. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to catch up with things during the day, everyone wanted to know what I got up to on my "vacation". Thankfully I was able to get away without lying when I said that I went down-hive to the level where my sister works, which was enough to satisfy most of them.
I eventually made it through the day, even though at some points it felt like it wasn't going to end. But the bell finally rang, the cogitators locked down and we were free. I was going to head straight down to twenty-fourth and go to the Magisters on my own, but Maddy insisted on coming with me, which I was glad for in all honesty. I mean, I enjoy her company at any time, and it was nice to have her by my side again, but it was also good to have someone that I could talk over what I'd seen and been through, so I could get my thoughts in order before trying to present them to the Magisters.
She was… not happy to hear about my experiences in the last couple of days. I got a bit of a lecture about being safe and not taking stupid risks, leaving these things to the professionals - but as I said to her, I had no idea that it would turn out like this. I thought I'd follow these people down somewhere to some… I don't know, some church or shrine or some commune or something, I might see Daisy again or find someone who knew of her, and I'd be able to point the Magisters in that direction.
I wish I could say that we marched in to see the Magisters, that we sat down and showed them everything, they took all of my evidence and ran with it but… No. I got told that the Senior Magister in charge of the case was busy, but that he could see me in three days. I got given an appointment. To see a Magister about what could be a crime crime. Despite me telling them that more people might be taken. Anything to do with the Xia-Yung case was to go through Senior Magister Josiah and they wouldn't hear a word of anything more.
Maddy tried to encourage me to take this to the Arbites, but I'm still not sure. They're the upholders of the Lex, they deal with major crimes against the Imperium. Serious matters like mass murder, or crimes against the state. Not a handful of missing people who might have gone with a creepy group that may or may not be kidnapping them. I'll give the Magisters one more chance, I'll see what Josiah has to say on Primoday and if it still seems like they're not interested in doing their jobs, then I guess I'll have no choice but to escalate it.
Thought for the Day: Keep faith, not hope. High hopes only increase how far your spirits can fall.
