Samantha had quickly arranged for a meeting with the University of Washington Police.    The building was a modern two-storey building that was fairly dwarfed by the Hans Rosling Center for Population Health across the street.

When Marie and Virginia arrived, they were met in the front lobby by the desk sergeant who had relevant files and all the appropriate paperwork ready for them.  He had them wait a couple of moments, then a pair of officers came out to meet them.

The first was a young man, polished and upright, dark hair and dark eyes, with cheekbones so high they might've cut glass.  He wore dress pants and a pale blue shirt, with the sleeves rolled up precisely to the elbow.  His partner was a shorter, older indigenous woman who wore jeans and a t-shirt with a windbreaker over-top.

The tall man offered a hand, with a confident smile, "Nigel Finley."  he said, "Community Protection.   My coworker, Joanna Alphonse, Investigations.   We're glad you guys reached out.     Unfortunately, our Meta liason is in the hospital.  She, ah..."

Alphonse shook her head, "She forgot that cooking oil is really really hot."  Her expression was absolute deadpan.

Finley led them beyond the desk and down a short hallway to an unadorned conference room.  "We've had a meta-division for almost a decade, with response options adapted from STAR policies, but with a more community and integration-oriented focus.   We've established a strong bond of trust with our community here, and what we're facing now...  well, with Vanessa out of commission at the moment, we're scrambling."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:08, Tue 10 May 2022.

Alphonse took a seat, motioned for the girls to do so.  "So, the news that's caught the most attention is Victoria Van Voigt.  She's a psychology doctoral student doing behavioral research out of Guthrie Hall.   She's got a clean record, no priors, not even a parking ticket.  Other than a drunk & disorderly five years ago in her undergrad, she never crossed our desks. She's still at Montlake until accommodations can be arranged for her injuries."

"CP has put together names, contact information and briefs of events of note where the issues seem dramatically at odds with the people involved." Finley remained standing the entire time.

Alphonse laid both hands on the table, looked Virginia straight in the eye.  "We don't know that this is metahuman in nature.  These days, the distinction between super-powers and meta-tech is almost pointless.   But if there is a correlation and there's someone actually doing this on purpose... that comes under a number of legal possibilities.  And we've got a very strict policy of community engagement and trust."

Finley crossed his arms and nodded.  "It's why having a outside party is a good thing.  Different eyes.... So,  what do you need from us?"

--
Montlake - University of Washington Medical Center)

So... How do you wanna approach this?  I've got plans, but wanna have Nigel and Joanne give you whatever you might want or need before whatever happens happens and you can go do the hero thing!
This message was last edited by the player at 05:44, Tue 10 May 2022.

Marie considered for a moment as she listened to the pair speak before she herself finally spoke up. "I might be able to see if they were coerced somehow if I can look into their minds. It's a bit more difficult looking that way, and not something I'd do without their permission, but is something that might be possible." She said with a small nod. Her tone typical, and showing it's usual lack of emotion.

Then she considered for a moment again. "Is there any links between the people that this stuff was happening to? Same class? Friends? Bullied the same kid? Attended the same party recently before all this started? Anything."

She then looked towards Virginia. "Finding a tie, any tie, would make locating potential victims better. Would further make using my sense to determine when and if a power is being used more accurate." It seems that she purposely left out that she could sense the use of mental powers in the presence of the two college personnel on purpose.

"We do not need much really." Virginia responded. "This is simply an investigation. For all parties involved, I think it is beneficial to be as low key as possible. As you said yourself, this may be neither a tech or meta influence problem at all. Let's start with their class schedules, addresses, parking permits, known friends and associates. Marie is looking for links between them. That information would help us in retracing their steps and finding those links. Also if you could provide us with some student I.D.s, we may could blend in as part of the student body while are out and about."

Virginia paused for a moment with more words on her lips. She took a look around the office for personal items related to the people they were speaking to. Were there any family pictures, personal awards, but more specifically were there any items in sight that dealt specifically with their involvement with meta peoples?

"Of course we may run into people with powers who are not involved in any way. To maintain community trust we will be discrete and not draw attention to anyone without due diligence. Marie and I simply thought it would be good for you to see our faces and know who we are in the event something went sideways."

Joanne nodded her approval.   "I'll get your information together.   Come on by again a little later.  We've also got UWMAD (she pronounced it like "You Mad"), which gives us what we know about our metahuman population, both staff and student.  We've got a telepath on staff, but he's trusted and alibi'd.  You can touch base with him in Astronomy, if it would help."


Finley pushes over the folder with Victoria Van Voigt's information.   "If anything else germane to the case comes up, we'll be in contact...."

--
OOC: So, I'm assuming off to the hospital to interview Victoria?  Or did you wanna do anything else, first?

Marie tapped her chin a moment, then in her usual emotionless manner. "Was this telepath near any of the scenes as they occurred?"

"No." Finley said. "He's not a suspect.  He was teaching during the red court event, and was in Portland when Miss Van Voigt took her giant leap.  My money's on a newly erupted meta.  Someone who doesn't know what they've got.  But we just don't have the equipment to track this kind of thing down.  Not before something truly tragic goes down."

--
Added the astronomy prof simply so that Marie has another possible contact (he's nowhere near as strong as she!) and there's someone not police they can go to for help and insight.  If it's wanted.

She considered a moment then nodded, stating in her usual emotionless manner. "The idea was not to see him as a suspect, but to see if he sensed something. Sometimes those with abilities like that can feel when similar abilities are being used near them. Even down to the type." She explained. "Sometimes said sense is strong enough, that it can work as far as you or I can hear or see. Thus further giving the person a rough direction and distance." She then added.

"Oh, like triangulation. Finley said. "Gotcha..."

--
OOC: I'm always a little worried about giving too many options and too many potential paths to go down as I've seen players go into option-paralysis.   Since we're going pretty episodic, pretty much any path you choose will lead to the story I've got in mind.

Next engagement will likely just be a "hey, go do this, willya?" without the leadup...

"Pretty much, yes. We could have used that information to figure out who was in that area at that time, and narrowed down actual suspects." She said with a single nod. "That being said, it might be worth inquiring if he has such a sense, and if he does to inform him to keep a feel out just in case."

Alphonse gave a short nod and Finley offered a genial shrug. "His contact info's in the dossier.   He knows you're here.  But we're not advertising things.  The database we've got is strictly under FOI and it is a voluntary disclosure thing."

Alphonse stood up. "Is there anything else you need?  If you'd like, Finley or I could go with you.    Some places many need special authorization.  If any staff gives you any trouble, have them contact us."

So, obviously question...  where to next?  I wanna know whether to write up the astronomy faculty offices or the hospital or... well, wherever else you'd like t ogo.