compnetwork | video;

I demand to speak whoever is in charge!

[ the woman on the line, despite her rather harsh tone is looking as calm as she possibly can. the only thing revealing franziska's anger is the way that she clenches her sleeve, as if indicating that she doesn't have time for any of this nonsense. ]

Abduction is a criminal offense. I fully plan to prosecute the fool who dared to take me, a von Karma with the full force of what that entails!

[ there's the sound of a whip and the flash of something in the background hitting the wood desk in the standard Hinoto-Ri apartment very hard. she doesn't look happy at all and it shows openly now. ]

My father is dead. You will not extract any ransom from him. The von Karma estate is held by me, so asking my brother will be of no use either. If I have to negotiate a fee for my release, then so be it. I refuse to talk to these kinds of lowlifes in a normal circumstance however since all that has occurred in my flawless memory is waking up in this barely adequate apartment, I feel I have no other choice but to use this... device to hear the kidnapper's terms.

[ franziska won't even mention the dream she had. it is not relevant. however she is painfully reminded of one of her cases, and she involuntarily clutches her shoulder again, remembering the pain of the bullet once there but cuts the feed soon after ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"For the most part yes. There is a barrier wall surrounding the city we are in that I have not figured out how to bypass yet, limiting where we can go, but for the most part we can be wherever."

She tilts her head a bit, "There is a society of people here, and they do have laws and such so it is best to operate within those constraints however. Most of the food, clothing, and housing resources are controlled by them, so angering them serves no real active purpose as they are just as trapped."

I assumed we were dealing with dangerous criminals here to have the scope to do such an abduction. They only listen to force in most cases.

[ but that does give franziska food for thought and she looks decidedly more contemplative. at least she's not in some lawless hostage commune because mein gott, that would be terrifying ]

"They seem to want us to think they are gods or something. I'm not even sure I believe in that nonsense, but they are very well supplied with technology even I haven't begun to completely figure out. Still, improperly applied force can make one no better than a criminal, so I know I myself have been doing research and helping the local authorities with things I do not find personally distasteful."

And you are...?

[ mainly because she wants to know what your experiences are with these sorts of things, you never know with kids nowadays ]

"Hoshino Ruri."

There is a pause, "Captain of the Nadesico. The large ship in the park."

Ah, so you are someone of some authority. Very well, Captain Hoshino Ruri. I look forward to cooperating with you in the future, if our paths cross again.

I am Franziska von Karma, famed prosecutor from Germany and California and currently working with Interpol.

"A pleasure Miss von Karma. Should you have any need of the Nadesico's data systems feel free to ask. I can't promise them given how we are tapped into the city's communications grid, but I do try and help where I can."