Fifty-Fifth Day of Dark: 5:00 PM: LOG 0039
Your name is Rose Lalonde, and both your cousin and his bodyguard are missing. If the last entry on this drive is correct, it's been a solid week since they disappeared. You've found little to go off of, though this drive is obviously a useful tool, viable as a means of keeping track of what you and your girlfriend, Kanaya, have learned.
You suppose you should enter some basic information onto the drive for the purpose of identification and comprehensive recordkeeping. Thus, you input the following to the drive's database as your first entry:
The following is to certify that the former owner and recordkeeper for this drive, Alternian native Karkat Vantas, has gone missing. Until his return, I, Rose Lalonde, will be maintaining records. Maintenance of such information will be further facilitated by my lovely girlfriend, Kanaya Maryam, whose experience as a former assassin and Alternian troll will be indispensable to the mission.
This drive was found at approximately 4:30 PM today, the 55th Day of Dark in the year 66. Location noted to be on the side of an isolated stretch of Mass Transit Route 1. Other items, including wilted flowers and empty cartons of apple juice, were also found with this drive.
Three spent laser pistol cartridges—determined by Kanaya to be for the StarLord 86 automatic model, commonly used by Skaian officials—were found on the road. One had been run over and crushed, but the other two were intact.
Our initial plans were to travel separately, and Kanaya and I departed earlier than Dave. Dave, John, and Karkat were to maintain steady lines of communication, which was abruptly cut seven days ago, thus prompting our suspicion. We backtracked and discovered these items as well as an unaltered bloodstain on the pavement of the road. The amount of blood was inconsistent with a fatal wound.
Aside from the contents of this drive, Jade informed us that she had provided flowers to Dave. Apparently, she's in the process of trying to hook him up with his bodyguard. The flowers described match the wilted bouquet.
No other conclusive evidence or useful information has been discovered.
The Fifty-Fifth Day of Dark: 7:00 PM: LOG 0040
The usual nonsense station utilized by Dave as the means of broadcasting revolutionary messages has been dead for the past few hours. This is unsurprising, though, as its broadcast schedule is sporadic. Nonetheless, considering recent events, you've tuned the television in your motel room to the correct channel.
And, now, through the haze of static, a familiar voice emerges. "This is an emergency broadcast by the Heir of Breath. Repeat: This is an emergency broadcast by the Heir of Breath. The Knight of Time has been captured, and his identity is now known. As a witness, I can definitely say that this is not good."
At the very least, this tells you that John made it back to Dave's place.
"My name is John Egbert, and I'm pretty desperate right now. If anyone is listening, please report to the Tin Can. I will be organizing search parties to try and find the Knight of Time. His name is Dave Strider, and he should be accompanied by a troll named Karkat Vantas. Anyone with information should report to—" Here, the broadcast begins to fade. Buzzing static overpowers John's voice.
After a few seconds, there's a loud beep. Then, an unfamiliar voice begins to speak. "By direct order from the King, all of Skaia is now under absolute reign. Rejoice, citizens of Skaia, for we have cast away the shackles of the Galactic Regulatory Union, and their tyrannical laws are no longer our burden!"
There's a pause, as if the voice wants those listening to the broadcast to take in the meaning of the message. You, certainly, do. Rejecting the Galactic Regulatory Union is an action historically associated with an impending iron-fisted rule. Why wouldn't it be? The Regulatory Union exists only to enforce human rights laws and ordinances upon planets and artificial colonies.
"I, your beloved Derse King, would also like to announce that all of Skaia is now under the rule of my honorably royal military." Out of curiosity, you change the channel. The television screen remains a sea of dotted static. The next channel is the same. And the next. Clearly, something big is going on, and the continuation of the king's message only confirms your worst fears. "Effective immediately, all members of the Prospitian revolution are criminals. Your district Regent will reward the generous sum of one-hundred-thousand dollars per revolutionary turned over to their care. Any contrary action will be met with extreme force, as Skaia is now entering a new and glorious period of prosperity."
As if nothing had happened, the usual programming returns—in the case of this channel, it seems to be some sort of advertisement for a zero-gravity safe pressure cooker.
Kanaya speaks before you have a chance. "Permission to bring my old assassin gear out of retirement, Captain Lalonde?" she says.
You respond with a firm nod. "Without question."
A gentle hand rests on your shoulder, and a soft, familiar voice whispers in your ear. "I'm sure everything is fine. Karkat was quite the fighter in training. He may be a bit of a softie, but he's got the potential to cause a lot of damage, should the need arise."
"I'm not worried," you respond honestly. "My primary concern now is the safety of our great and honorable king." To emphasize your points, you roll your eyes.
Kanaya, however, would have understood the meaning without your addition. In fact, it seems she might already be aware of what you're about to say, as a wry smile now graces her features. "Any why would that be?"
"Because no one messes with the Strider-Lalonde family and gets away with it."
"I don't doubt that for a second," Kanaya responds, knowingly. She pulls a concealed knife from her boot and hands it over to you, saying, "I believe you'll want this?"
"Definitely."