Tertioday, Rami 10th 067.M42

I've decided what I'm going to do. I don't want to worry Maddy or Mum, but I can't shake the feeling that something is very, incredibly wrong. It's been four days since Arlean called me, and I've tried calling her several times since, she won't answer at all.

The Arbites seem concerned, but their view seems to be that if they send out a patrol that way they'll look for things to support the evidence I gave. They're not in a rush to follow up on what's possibly happened to my sister, or my sister in law, or my workmate or any of the other people who've disappeared from these streets in recent weeks and months.

The Magisters seem like they just couldn't give a frak at all. They didn't even give the same half-hearted promises of looking into the matter. That's just it, case closed, it's off their doorstep. The waif has a home, the missing woman seemed to go consensually and there's nothing more to be done.

I've asked Mum to come over tomorrow to pick up Noodles and look after her for a few days. Mei will love seeing the kitten again. I told her that some more work has come up, that I might have to sleep at work again for a few days. Thankfully the trade troubles have been all over the newscasts, so it wasn't hard to sell that side of the story. I tried calling Maddy too, but her vox was off again. I suppose that she's turned it off while she's helping her Mum out and her hands are full. I left a message for her instead. I told her everything, I needed to tell someone… and I didn't want Mum to worry while she's got her hands full with Mei, and I figured Maddy probably won't check her vox messages until after she's finished with her Mum, and hopefully I'll be back with Arlean in tow by then.

I've packed a bag with a few days of clothes. I'll be dressing down, I won't go in as an Adept this time. I'll go on the public mass trans rather than the cargo lifter, I'll go in as close to Arlean's clinic and her home as I can, I'll find her and get out. If I see any of the weird cult people, I'll try to take some picts or… get a description or something I can take back to the Arbites. But I'll just focus on getting Arlean out. If she's really in trouble, she needs to be away from there. If she's just having a breakdown, then she should still be away, back with her family, where she can rest and recover. I'll take the blame for it should anything come of it.

Once I'd called Mum and Maddy, I called in to work and reported myself out with a family emergency. It'll be a strike, but at this point I don't really care. I can make a perfectly serviceable living as I am, as a Scribe-Adept. I don't need to move up to Scribe-Master or beyond, and I wouldn't want to anyway if I did so at the expense of my sister. I know duty falls before family, but Throne… without my family, I've got almost nothing.

Thought for the Day: All battle requires sacrifice, either in blood or principle.