Seth does his mind thing.  He doesn't have to go far to find someone who knows who the dentist is.  You do.

It's the guy from the kendo match.  The one who was shot in his car.  That guy.  He's the one who did the filling on this old man.

Shit.

To Saul and my parents: "Well now what? Do we toss the clinic? How can we trace this connection?"

To the Toothbearer: "Look, man, you've got a radio transmitter in a filling and it's controlling some terrorists' explosives. I believe you, but the police won't, and you'll be in solitary faster than you can say 'I'm innocent.'"

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 2):

Grandpa just blinks.  "What?"

He's clearly out of his comfort zone.

Saul sighs.  "Lemme handle this guy.  You guys are probably better suited to handling the bombs."

Mother shrugs.  "If we have all the bombs at the bottom of that filthy lake, what's the issue then?"

Dad is staring around the room.  "If this is a shake down, someone has to be ready nearby to scoop up the loot."

"I love it when you sound Noir movie."

Dad ignores her.  "But if I were them, I wouldn't want to be inside the building in case the bombs do go off.  So.  Someone nearby outside.  Who's keeping an eye on the place?"
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 02:36, Sun 12 Nov 2023.

Oh no, Sera's one weakness. Being nice to stupid people!

I appreciate Mother's attitude, since I have much the same instincts. What's the big deal? Saul is a cop's kid, though, and Dad has actually fought real crime instead of just playacting, so I should probably follow their lead.

"Guess we case it," I reply to Dad, and so we go. To find anybody suspicious.

I miss my private space. It was nice to be able to take a nap just whenever I wanted to.

"Should I go with you people?"

Saul pats the Old Guy on the shoulder.  "No.  I'm not thinking so."  He glances at you.  "Will we be okay if we wait here for you?"

"It'll be fine. I'll stick around."  Mother isn't hiding the fact she's a little bored.  She waves you and Dad off.  "Go on.  Go bond.  I'll hold down the home fires.  Or whatever the saying is."

Dad scowls and then puts a calloused hand lightly on top of your head, mussing up your hair a bit.  "Let's go."

Outside, people are milling about.  Parents Weekend apparently has a big attendance.

You and Dad scout about.  You find three likely suspects.

There's one woman who is standing by a light pole, adjusting her make up in a compact.  But the compact isn't a compact.  It's like some spy do-hickey.  With a screen instead of a mirror.  Since she's frozen, you can't make out the image on it.  It was flickering when you went into Limbo.

There's a man in a car watching the gym with binoculars.  By his side is a half eaten chili dog and a Mr. Pibb Zero.

Dad seems to be glowering at a security guard.  He keeps staring at that guy.

"What's wrong with that guy?" I ask Dad, while fixing my hair.

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 6):

Dad looks over at you and then back at him.  He gestures towards the guard with his chin.

"That's the first security guard I've seen on campus.  Like all day and yesterday.  Does Saint George have security guards?"

You can't recall seeing any before now.

"Not that I've seen. I figured that they either just stayed in security rooms or the school relied on the monitors because they're cheap. Now that you mention it, most big schools have their own police departments."

I take out my phone to check the student handbook and search up 'security,' 'guard,' 'police,' or any related term I can think of.

While searching, I comment, "Now that guy over there, he's really suspicious. Who drinks Mr. Pibb on purpose, let alone Pibb Zero? That has to be some kind of crime against nature."

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 8):

Dad shrugs.  "Could be worse.  Could be a Fresca.  Or a Chocolate Soldier.  Do they even make those anymore?"

The phone wouldn't be able to pull up the handbook while you are in Limbo, would it?  Wouldn't you need to step back into real time to get a signal?

I shrug. "I don't know what those are, but I don't like soda anyway."

I figured it would be downloaded already, but if that's not the case, that is fine.

I thought I'd downloaded the manual, or at least the pdf would still be in my browser history, but no luck. I put my phone away.

"I've never investigated something like this before. To me it looks like any of those three suspicious people could be a problem, so we might want to interrogate all of them. Who would you start with, Dad?"

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 10):

Sorry.  Missed this post.

It's reasonable you would have downloaded it.  I think you did in the very first story arc now that I think about it.

So let's assume you did

Per the Handbook, there is a number for "Security".  But that's all it really says.  The handbook advises students to contact their closest Monitor in cases of emergency.  Or call 911 as needed.

Dad studies all three and shrugs.  "Ladies' choice."

I forgive you.

I pause for several seconds, wheels turning. This is completely unlike the parents I know. They've always had a plan for me. Always demanded specific things in particular orders.

"You two have never been this uncommitted about anything around me. Am I being tested again?"

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 12):

Dad blinks several times.  You seem to have actually surprised him.  His looks is a bit unreadable.  "Seraphina...do you think all I do is test you?"

"No, but this is starting to seem like a test. I've never seen you noncommittal before. The same regarding Mother."

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 14):

Dad slowly shakes his head.  "No more tests Princess.  You're a big girl now.  You'll need to make your own decisions.  And while I'll always have your back, I can't tell you what to do.  I'd like to.  If I'm honest, I'd love to set it up so you'll always be happy and safe."

He smiles, a sort of crinkled up smile that looks like it's been thrown into one of those machines that smash old cars into cubes.

"But...you wouldn't like that, right?  You are capable.  And you can handle things on your own.  Am I wrong in wanting to give you a chance to prove that?"

I am so terribly busy. And sorry. I really need to pick this up as a daily habit again, like in the Good Old Days.

I put my hands on my hips and think about what Dad said before responding. He's either lying or just not as smart as I thought. Of course this is a test. Apparently, a test of my ability to take initiative. I hope it's as competent as it appears, rather than Dad just not understanding himself well enough.

Or maybe that means I have surpassed my parents.

Maybe.

"No, you're not wrong." I smile at him. "I'm just not used to it. Security guard guy is the most out-of-place, so I'll start with him."

Unless Dad interrupts me, I go over that-a-way, grab the "guard" by the shoulder, and pull him into Lim-

Sideways.

I really don't like thinking about being able to enter and leave the land of the dead at will.

"Don't panic, sir. I just need to ask you some questions."

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 16):

No worries.  RL always comes first.  Always

Dad says nothing and doesn't stop you.

The security guard blinks, jumps sideways, blinks some more while looking around, and pulls out his Taser.

"Stop!  Don't move!  Unless that's how your power works!  Then move!  Or something!"

Brusquely, "There's an active terrorist threat. I'm a monitor for the school. Do you have a badge?"

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 18):

He peers at you.  Then taps the badge on his uniform.  He's not close enough for you to make out much detail on it though.

"How do I know you're not the threat?"