Panic! at the Starstone

Chapter 5 - Chasing Answers

Nevaz stepped off the tram and walked up the steps leading to the station's exit. When he reached the surface, he found himself standing under a grove of trees just outside the Arcanamirium. To his right were gleaming buildings belonging to the prestigious university, with real stone walls, decoratively carved, placed around them. Nevaz supposed the extravagance was also practical, as it ensured that people used the correct entrances and didn't drive their vehicles onto the pedestrian paths.

He located the main entrance and walked to it, squinting as he left the shade of the trees. The guard at the doors looked nervous when he approached. Nevaz hated it when they got nervous.

"Stop right there," the guard called out, when Nevaz was still 10 meters away. "Keep your hands where I can see them."

Nevaz sighed, but knew better than to disobey. "Yes officer." He raised his hands.

"Do you have any weapons?" the officer asked, his own already drawn, but fortunately not aimed at Nevaz just yet.

"Yes officer. I have a pistol in a holster by my right hip," Nevaz answered in his politest tones.

The officer tapped a communicator with his left hand, still holding his weapon in his right, "This is officer Pike requesting backup at the East entrance."

Nevaz did not like the way this was proceeding. "If I may," he began, "I've been invited here to assist in efforts to communicate with some fire elementals."

Officer Pike pointed at him. "Do not move. I'm having someone come to remove your weapon, and then you'll be permitted to enter the facility."

Nevaz sighed, "I'm perfectly capable of removing the pistol myself and leaving it in your keeping." He began lowering his hands.

Officer Pike was suddenly aiming directly at his heart. "Put your hands back up, NOW!" he yelled, making it clear that Nevaz's life was suddenly at stake if he failed to comply.

What the hells? Nevaz thought in alarm as he shot his hands back up. His heart was racing. First the security robot, now this guard - this day was beginning to develop a disturbing theme. He'd had nervous guards to deal with on Absalom Station before, but this one was far and away the worst guard he'd ever encountered (and if he wasn't careful, the last).

Another guard came out of the building and walked over to Pike's side. "What's the matter, John? He threaten you or something?"

"He has a pistol. I need you to disarm him while I cover you." Officer Pike supplied.

"Cover me?" the other officer asked. "Easy there, big guy. I think he can take off his own weapon."

"But he's a Vesk," Pike replied. "He might be dangerous."

"Yeah, I can see that," the second officer answered. "I can also see he's wearing a scholar's robe and is coming through the front entrance. And with the Allip situation, they've been telling pretty much everyone to carry a weapon when they travel. We should at least be open to the possibility that he's just going about his business and we shouldn't keep him from it."

Nevaz was still nervous, but the other officer seemed to be calming the first one down. "Fine," Pike said half-heartedly. "You there, unhook your weapon belt and hold it out to Officer Marcus." He lowered his gun to aim at the ground. He did not re-holster it, however.

Moving slowly, Nevaz did as instructed. Officer Marcus shook his head sadly as he walked over to collect it. "Sorry about that," he said softly. "He's jumpy."

"So I noticed," Nevaz answered, his heart still pounding. "He's going to kill someone if he doesn't learn to calm down. My gods, I thought I was about to die when you showed up!"