New Avalon

[Hammer Sister]

Rob hesitates for the briefest moment before turning to go himself. I hope she's OK by herself; would hate for something bad to happen to her again... But now, focus on my job, go explore those ruins.

[CalamityJade]

And so they go their separate ways...for the moment. It's unlikely that everything will be as neatly wrapped up as either of them would believe.

Rob would have a bit of a time getting any sort of transportation to the ruins. The project is apparently some really big deal. So much, in fact, that they'll only allow him around the entrance to the thing. It took a call to the GRD to even get him that far and all around seemed unhappy about it, but at least he got there. There were people buzzing all around the place and in a couple of enclosed tents. It was pretty strange, and even stranger when you considered this was actually under the city.

[Hammer Sister]

Initially, Rob simply observes the organised chaos; the GRD may have pulled some strings to get him here, but he daren't try anything untoward. The strings that would pull him away again are not strings he wants pulled at all; those strings could easily end his career, and possibly his time in New Avalon.

On the other hand, coming all this way and doing nothing at all could end the same way; Rob figures the best course of action is to speak to whoever is in charge.

Spotting someone who appears to be less busy than the rest, Rob politely attracts their attention, and asks "Could you direct me to the person in charge of this operation?"

[CalamityJade]

"If you're one of the new st-" The woman that he'd gotten the attention of turned to look at him. "Wait...sir, who are you? you know this is a closed site, right?"

[Hammer Sister]

"I am aware, yes; that is why I have this permit," Rob explains, producing the permit in question.

[CalamityJade]

"...Ah! I...I should get Dr. Valkin!" She looked a tad bit nervous before running off. Well...that was ONE way of getting to find the person in charge. Still, pretty jumpy for someone working at a dig site.

A few moments later a woman looking to be in her late thirties heads towards Rob. "So, your the one that scared one of my assistance?

[Hammer Sister]

For what is meant to be an archaeological dig site, that girl was awfully jumpy...

"My apologies; I can assure you, that was not my intention," Rob assures. "Dr Valkin, I presume? Your colleague mentioned your name."

[CalamityJade]

"That's me." She offers her hand. "Now, how about you? I'm sure you have a name to go wit that permit to trounce around my site."

[Hammer Sister]

"Rob McCarthey," Rob answers, shaking the doctor's hand. "And I promise to keep my trouncing to an absolute minimum; I don't want to interfere with your work here if I can help it. Is there a place we can talk?"

[CalamityJade]

"Believe me, that won't be a problem. I'd remove your fingers for doing so anyway." She gave a bit of a smile before turning. "This way. There's a clear space in one of the sample tents."

[Hammer Sister]

Definitely not someone to mess with.

Rob simply nods politely and follows Dr Valkin to the sample tent.

[CalamityJade]

The tent had a couple of rock slabs on a table with a couple of people looking over symbols and taking rubbings while another was at copying down some notes on a small bundle of papers tied together with some string. Dr. Valkin gave Rob a nod. "So, what did you need?"

[Hammer Sister]

"I'm hoping you can help me with identifying something," Rob explains, taking the sketch out from an inner pocket to show Dr Valkin. "I understand it was first seen here?"

[CalamityJade]

She looks it over carefully. "Huh...well, yeah, though a couple of lines on this are different. It's something you see every now and again with the symbols on the walls. So what's that got to do with why you're here?"

[Hammer Sister]

"It was on the uniforms of the gang that attempted to kidnap the Lady Mordriana; I've been tasked with finding out who they are."

Rob keeps his voice down so as not to distract the researchers.