[b]"You know your Tafsirs. Lockdown would be pleased."[/b]

Astrid did her best to appear blank-faced as she thought backward from their conversation to try and piece together the meaning of the word Tafsir. For a moment she thought about asking, but the notion was as lost as quickly as it came. [color=808080][i]'Just another name for the Classics I guess.'[/i][/color]

The hologram continued circling her, disappearing behind her then suddenly jittering back into view. Its words seemed to resound deep into her bones, a sound she could feel as much as hear. Her gaze followed her assessor's as it swept across the veritable pack of robo-hounds and their sleek designs; their charm was undeniable. She suddenly became aware that Megahertz had finished talking, a moment passed before the words she had heard fully registered. [color=808080]"Wait... You want me to investigate the Justice Square bombing?!"[/color]

Her right hand balled into a fist, a reflexive ripple running along her arm as she unconsciously shifted her form. [color=808080]"I don't know anything about what happens topside, I haven't been to the surface-"[/color] The rest of her words were swallowed as quickly as they rose. [color=808080]"In a while,"[/color] she finished lamely. Scrutinizing the hologram, Astrid suddenly cursed how impersonal video calls could be. Did this person know she had come from the surface, that her family had ties to the Corpos? The whole thing suddenly felt like a set-up, she knew better than to trust the Ripperdocs in the Undercity, and yet...

[color=808080]"I'll find them. Whoever orchestrated the whole shebang."[/color] A wolfish grin spread across her face, [color=808080]"Pun intended."[/color] Esme had probably heard something up on the plates, at least more than most slum dwellers, which already gave her a lead. If that was supposed to be one of those impossible Herculean labours, Megahertz was going to be sorely disappointed. 

Closing her eyes, she extended an index finger to the sky and rattled off part of the bedtime stories that she had first heard the name Jahannam from, [color=808080]"Danger, mine to overcome, and in recognition of such valorous acts, an audience with the King will be granted that the true measure of one's character may be taken."[/color] Her eyes opened again, fixed on Megahertz, her demeanor lax with sudden ease now that she had actual work to do, [color=808080]"I don't suppose you have a lead? Or some sort of Bloodhound unit among these dogs?"[/color]