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"Yeah, lets head to renew you." says Hellih
As they walk he approaches Vyankar.
"And what is your story, kasatha? Did I hear it well that you were part of scoured stars survivors?" asks without looking.
He is still hung up on the unusual nanites used. He wonders if it allows for better integration of augmentation, or is there any other reason...
Stephen guides Modern Body over to the shirren at the cafe and greets them.
"Biotech?" on asks, and turns to another "You think it was from those poor folks?"
"Could be," they reply. "Such a shame. They were such nice people. Too bad they had to close after their host passed."
"I heard that wasn't why they closed," a third butts in. "It was all that fancy new tech - they couldn't keep up with the costs."
"Nonsense! They were doing just fine until the death."
"It's just what I heard. Makes sense too, if you had a successful business, you find a way to keep it going."
"Oh, and you'd know about successful businesses? When was the last time you ran a business?"
The bickering continues for a bit before Stephen interrupts and gets them to confirm that they are indeed talking about the owners of Renew-You.
At this point, the party what left Metagenesis arrives in time for you all to head on to Renew-You.
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The Renew-You clinic is a modular unit that resembles a shipping container. Although it is clearly older than the surrounding structures, it looks clean and well maintained. Metal doors are rolled down over the entrance and windows, and a neat sign reading “CLOSED INDEFINITELY” hangs over the posted business hours.
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"Well, if this is the place that came up with the new augments, it seems they weren't very profitable - or safe. Let's ask around the neighbors and see if we find any indications on who the owners were and where they went."
Modern Body knocks on the metal door over the entrance, shaking the whole structure. "Anyone in there?" He listens in.
He'll also look for any window that might allow a little peak inside the building, looking for a computer in display.
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"And what is your story, kasatha? Did I hear it well that you were part of scoured stars survivors?"
Vyankar walks silently for a moment. "Indeed. Was rescued with Diz." he begins with a nod towards the Shirren. "Long and hard year that was." The Kasatha shakes his head gravely. After a minute, he continues: "Before that, I lived on Kasath. Was proud to be part of descendants of the few families who refused to change tradition and go on the Idari. Thought I was a keeper of wisdom of sorts."
Vyankar dusts his clothes, passing a hand on the traditional weapons hung at his waist. "But when one refuse to change... It changes them. Other Kasatha became bitter, uncompromising. Too rooted in senseless tradition." he spits out with bitterness in his eyes. "What good is tradition when planet, children dying? Couldn't be part of that no more, so I left."
As the group arrives at Renew-You, the Kasatha finishes his tale: "Have followed tradition all my life, but now want to find balance. Balance between progress and tradition."
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Vyankar walks silently for a moment. "Indeed. Was rescued with Diz." he begins with a nod towards the Shirren. "Long and hard year that was." The Kasatha shakes his head gravely.
Certainly less than ideal. the shirren dryly agrees. In end remarkable how many made it long enough for evacuation. Many Seekers would have hesitated to send more agents back after such a loss: Luwazi not only returned for rescue, but remarkably quickly by any measure. D'zyliit's antennae twitch with admiration. She will forever have my respect.
As they arrive at the apparently shuttered Renew-You, his head shakes. Unfortunate. The ysoki spoke that they were having financial issues. Perhaps unable to afford operation costs here.
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Hellih listens what Vyankar has to share.
"I met a lot of Vets coming back from the Scoured Stars. Not all of them are in such a good shape like you two." add dryly.
"Financial issues could also be an effect of gangs. In spike they might bring anyone out of business by extortion and intimidations. If for any reason the establishments get into conflict with a gang."
No one answers the knock. Any doors and windows it has are currently covered by the metal shutters. The clinic is bordered on one side by a temporarily vacant unit and on the other by an accountant’s office closed for lunch.
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In end remarkable how many made it long enough for evacuation. Many Seekers would have hesitated to send more agents back after such a loss: Luwazi not only returned for rescue, but remarkably quickly by any measure.
"Oh, definitely. Most grateful of Society's action following the incident."
Vyankar takes a look at the neighbouring units and sees if he can spot any sign of recent activity around the building.
He angrily swats away some fabric that got in his eyes
"Bleh. Robes practical for sandstorms, not for shopping."
The building backs up against another row of buildings, allowing no access to the back wall. Hellih checks out the lock on the shutter, but it stimies him.
Modern Body is able to work the lock and allowing you to enter the clinic. The inside of the clinic is divided into a reception area, an office, a small workshop, and an operating area. Searching the premises reveals that all computers and physical records have been removed.
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Kargarama questioningly looks at D'zyliit, "You think I'm the muscle?" He points over to Modern Body, "Nah, I'm the pretty one. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"
He starts walking over when Modern Body gets the door open. He walks inside and looks around. "Not much left. Looks like we will have to seek answers elsewhere."
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As they slip inside, the shirren glances around the cleared-out space.
Proprieters have not been here for at least one week. Still... his antennae twitch as he gazes curiously at the operating space.
Augmentations require precision and resources. A medical lab generating and installing them should require more extensive equipment than what looks like was set up here.
Do we know the names of the owners registered to this clinic?
Nothing which remains at the clinic give any clues as to the owners. After you finish your searching, you step back outside, where a halfling child approaches you.
"Excuse me... are... are you looking for the owners?" they ask.
"No. I was hoping to find them..." they begin before blurting out "My momma's real sick."
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Kargarama blurts out, "If your Momma's real sick, why are we standing around asking questions? Kid! Lead us to her quick like and we'll see if we can help!" He motions for the kid to lead the way.
To the rest of the group, "If she is sick because of this place then we can find out if there is any further leads from what she knows. If not, then we can contact the necessary responders to handle her health and proceed with our investigation."
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Hellih flanks the boy and looks at it. His behavior might make the kid uncomfortable. Android turns around looking for the backup of the street urchin.
Where he comes from kids gangs are common and dangerous. Traps like this are common and serve to lead unaware aliens into a remote area where gunned members are.
He grabs his rifle in his hands and begins scanning the area in search of more kids...
He spots no one, but he keeps the rifle in his hands.
The sudden enthusiasm and movements makes the kid nervous and perhaps a little scared. He looks like he wants to bolt.
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Modern Body facepalms and uses Telepathic Message. “{Stephen, please assure him we’re not a group of thugs.}”
He tells you his name is Senndi. He seems quite sincere in what he says, and his worry for his mother outweighs any fears he may have, so he offers to lead you to his house.
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The halfling apartment complex is only a short distance from the Freemarkets. Senndi enters an apartment, and waves you all to follow him. Jumpsuits and equipment belts hang from pegs, crowding the entryway. Farther in, this cluttered apartment is dimly lit. To the right of the entryway is a small kitchen, where an older male halfling is preparing food while assisting two adolescents doing schoolwork at the table. To the left of the entryway is a common area, full of worn but comfortable-looking furniture. A heavy, wracking cough echoes from deeper in the apartment.
The older man looks up as you enter. "Senndi! Who are these people?" he demands. "I found them at the clinic, Dad" explains Senndi, "They say they can help Mom!"
The man gives your group a once over. "Is that true? Who are you?"
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"We're with the Starfinder Society, and we're to help. I'm sure the smell of fine cooking and the nourishment it brings is doing much for your lovely wife, but it can't hurt to have the assistance of a medical doctor. My friend D'zyliit here happens to be one. The love of your family, your fine cooking, and a little science is sure to help her.
Please let us see her, for your children's sake."
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Hellih follows the kid and his team, he looks around in every alley that they pass by. However, when they enter the apartment even he becomes a bit calmer, as he hangs his rifle on his back and reaches for the medical bag.
Giving the time for Stephen to convince the parents Hellih begins to open his medical bag on the table to prepare the most useful tools for D'zyliit to assess the health of the patient
"I have here thermometer, a couple of simple blood tests, and a body scanner. The perceived health of other household members suggests that whatever ills her is not contagious..." shares as his artificial arm drops some of the medical equipment to the ground...
Hellih curses and begins to pick them back up.
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He’s correct. I am a doctor. The shirren brings up his credentials on his holodisplay. The child Senndi was vague on the symptoms of the ill’s condition, but if your wife is sick then it is imperative I see her at once. Depending on condition, prolonged untreated state could risk infection you and the child as well.
Unfortunately, D’zyliit’s bedside manner continues to need much improvement.
The father seems reluctant, but relents to speaking with you. He introduces himself as Hermot and explains that his wife, Maija, had damaged her lungs working long hours in a chemical plant and that she needed a variation of a respirator compounder to continue providing for her family. A halfling acquaintance persuaded them to seek out a biotech augmentation, which would be less obvious than standard cybernetics. As it happened, this acquaintance had recently received his own augmentation—a high-density datajack—from the Renew-You clinic. This friend claimed his graft had taken almost immediately, without problems or scarring, and he had returned to work just days afterward.
Once Hermot gets talking, another halfling speaks up as well. Her name is Tanit, a friend of Maija, and has been taking care of her here at the apartment. She also accompanied Maija to the Renew-You clinic 2 weeks ago. Tanit explains that a shirren male-female couple operated the clinic. The male, whose name was Vrisken, explained the procedure and booked the appointment. According to Vrisken, his partner had personally crafted the augmentation with components from “a new source” that would enable rapid recovery. The female shirren performed the operation; Tanit saw her for only a moment and can’t remember her name. Tanit then confirms that Maija’s operation took less than an hour and that Maija was back to work in 2 days.
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“Hermot, don’t worry - we are from the Starfinder Society and we are here to help. We were tasked in locating the biotechnician responsible for an experimental new type of biotech augment, and we are quite sure Renew-You is involved. Your and Tanit’s information so far have been our best lead into unraveling this mystery.” Modern Body puts two chairs together and sits down.
“But it does seem the augments were not quite finished. Doctor, if you can’t help Maija here, we will see that she is moved to a medical facility and receives a regular, functioning compound respirator. Please examine her, there is no time to lose.”
He turns to Tanit. “Now, that shirren couple. Do you know if they live around here, or do you have any means of contact? A comm unit address, a message service? Perhaps documentation they provided regarding the procedures? There might be even more clients having health issues due to these untested augments.”
Unfortunately, Maija began feeling ill again 5 days ago. Tanit went to the clinic to ask about follow-up care but found it closed down. The family was unable to afford another doctor, Maija has been bedridden at home for the past 3 days.
Hermot speaks up, "If we could have afforded it, we would have found a magical healer without resorting to augmentations at all"
"Yeah, that clinic didn't offer magic healing," adds Tanit. "Though the shirren who handled the operation might be a technomancer. I saw her using magic to move some of her tools around."
"Certainly"
The two of them lead you to a back bedroom where Maija lies resting. She is very tired, but able to answer your questions. The only signs of the augmentation are small scars on either side of her trachea. Little else can be determined from the outside.