Temporis XXIX - The Epicenter

Meeting Maureen

1

Dipper never had doubts about his love in relation to Maureen. What upset him was his inability to protect her when she needed him the most. Just like Frankie, Maureen had her body discarded after a biological attack while he was in the army. He only knew what happened years later after he had returned home.

She never blamed him, but he never forgave himself for what had happened. Maureen saved him from the details, but he knew from others the horrors that those people in the attack had been through.

Maureen was a social worker, one of the professions that has never changed with the passing of time. There will always be people who need help, no matter the evolution of societies. She was very good at it. It was like drying ice. Every time she rescued a person from drug abuse, the next week few other people will come up with the same problem. She was a born fighter. She never gave up. Even when Dipper treated her in a strange way, she never let herself get hurt.

When she got home after a hard day at work, she was scared to see Max naked in her living room, sitting on Dipper's favorite chair.

- Max? What are you doing here and naked?

- Sorry, Maureen. I thought your "loose screw" Dipper, had told you.

I'll stay here for a few months to recover. I can't live in a hospital. I need friends to talk. I had severe depression symptoms. Sorry if nudity excites you.

- Feel yourself at home, you idiot. I'll make some tea for us and then you can update on your prowess on the moon.

- You know, Dipper doesn't talk much and sometimes I'm not sure if he's telling the truth or just joking.

- It's another Dipper's flaw. One of many flaws he has. Thought Max, smiling discreetly. Bring me a beer instead of tea, please.

- Where's he?

- He went to a place we're investigating.

- I thought you'd be on leave until you get your legs back.

- No. I don't have time for this. Things are getting complicated and we can't lose tracks.

- I see.

- I would like to visit the moon. It seems like a cool place to live.

- We only went to the transmutation station, Maureen. We didn't go where the rich have fun, unfortunately.

- I didn't know that the attacks happened at the transmutation stations.

- They did, but the information is confidential.

- What kind of beer would you like to drink?

- I can have those Dipper's special ones.

- Will Dipper work until late?

- Probably.

2

Dipper knew if Frankie really wanted to hide herself, she would be in the Tartarus where the land laws weren't respected. If a police officer wanted to die, it would be the best place to choose. Maybe her plan is exactly this that he would take the wrong decision and get into big trouble. The feeling of being a puppet in a game was getting bigger every day.

- Ok. Let's do this, Nancy9. Send a message to Max saying that I suspect Frankie is in the Tartarus and we'll need to send some dolls there to check it out and find her. Maybe the chief and Qi had thought the same thing, but we must be cautious. Another thing we could do is to get some of our informants in the Tartarus involved, but to do this, we'll need some virtual money.