Juniper shifter her weight to her back foot, taking another defensive step away from the door, her hands raised above her shoulders in what she hoped was an nonthreatening fashion. The security station was smaller than she would have liked, a cramped office space designed to fit a single desk and the person behind it. Now it was struggling to accommodate the three of them as a broad shouldered man in a gray and black uniform stalked her retreating step with one of his own, looming in the tiny office. Behind him, a woman held the student's bag and was busy spreading its contents on the mostly clean desk.

"This is stupid." Juniper said heatedly, pressing her lips together, "You've seen this uniform, right? Where exactly am I going to hide something?" she said, gesturing towards her clothes as she did so. She might've had a point, the white fabric of her shirt was made of a light cotton weave to breath comfortably in the tropical weather, the navy vest had a small interior pocket but it was too small to do much beyond hold the card tied to her financial account, and navy skirt was notoriously brief and prone to flip up embarrassingly during vigorous motion. It was embarrassing enough that Juniper eschewed the use of the school issued white socks in favor of dark thigh-high stockings to give her that little bit of extra coverage. So far as she could determine it wasn't a violation of the dress code any more than hair adornments or other bits of jewelry, though unlike those others the school did issue socks with her uniform.

"With your record, I'm not inclined to take chances." came the lowly, gravely response from the guard, a frown of concentration crossing his face not unlike a man trying to determine how to best get a poisonous snake out of his tent without being bitten. "Now, stop moving around before I have to escalate this to a strip search."

"Tch..." Juniper stopped backing up, but more because her heel had met the wall of the far side of the office than out of any desire for compliance. She cringed involuntarily when she felt the broad hands settle on her shoulders, a flash of heat running through her as she suppressed her instinct to lash out. This was just the price of doing business ... if she was going to make a scene this early then coming out here at all would be pointless.

She looked pointedly away as the guard's hands started their methodical sweep over her body. She was hoping for a quick pat-down and then she'd be on her way, but the hand checked the small of her back and ran up her spine, patting along her flanks as he checked the spaces covered by her vest. He tugged the vest to the side to dip his finger in her inside pocket, checking the card before stuffing it back into place. Her chest, at least, got a quick pat at first, but apparently he didn't like something he'd felt as he returned there to feel more closely. It was about the time his thumb brushed passed her nipple a third time that she realized what he was feeling.

"Those are piercings, you dumbass!" she snapped a little color in her cheeks. She grit her teeth at the knowing smirk at the corner of the man's lips, her hands clenching into tight fists as she grappled with the instinct to try and pummel someone with half a foot of extra reach and at least forty pounds of muscle on her.

"Hey, don't forget to check under her skirt. You heard what happened to Charles, right?" came the woman's voice from the desk as she tried to make sense of the array of photographs that had been stuffed in the envelope Juniper had been carrying with her. Juniper blinked at that ... she didn't remember doing anything to a Charles ... certainly nothing involving raising her skirt at any rate. Just another of those mysteries from the holes in her memories, she supposed ... these unpleasant surprises seemed to be coming closer and closer together in recent months She actually went red as a cherry as the hem of her blue skirt was lifted experimentally, quickly swatting it back down before the plain white panties the school had issued her were exposed for long.

"The hell is wrong with you!?" she barked incredulously.

"Just doing my job. Now, turn your ass around, I'm still going to have to check those stockings."

"For what!? The last shreds of my dignity?"

"More like wire ... hands on the wall."

She grit her teeth at that, if only because the thought had occurred to her in the past. Though, really, she thought that the red tie of her uniform would be a better place to secret a garrote if she were so inclined. Easier to slip off clandestinely.

In the front lobby of the Head Master's Tower, however, all of this bickering was undetectable. Like so many rooms on campus, the sound proofing in the security station was absolute. They could scream bloody murder inside, and the only evidence would be the camera feed to the broad oak desk that greeted visitors to the most impressive structure on the island. A third guard, the one on duty to actually watch the desk, looked at the monitors arrayed in front of him for a few moments and sighed as he picked up a corded phone from it's receiver in front of him. A few keystrokes directed him to the intercom of Vera Matsumoto, the premier Head Girl on campus.

"Excuse the intrusion, Ma'm." he responded cordially when the light in front of him turned from red to amber, "The Modnar girl is here asking to see you. We're processing her now, but it looks like she's clean. Do you want me to send her up?"

Vera had an open door policy when it came to students. Students were allowed to come see her almost anytime they want whether she was in her office or not. Not many took advantage of this as most hated, feared, or were otherwise intimidated by the silver haired Head Girl. It was not often security contacted her directly. Usually it was due to changes being made that involved her or if a crime had been commited in the tower. It was almost never something involving a student wishing to see her.

~The Modnar girl is here asking to see you...~

Juniper Modnar, a student who wronged her gravely in the past. The student pretended to be a reporter only to break in and assualt the Head Girl in her own home. While there was no direct punishment or correction given to the student criminal, Juniper paid a heavy price for her crazy plans. She lost everything she had gathered up till then thanks to the hard drive she stole detonating inside her room. From then on, the school simply ignored the whole matter entirely as if saying to the student it did not matter what she did.

Vera sighed to herself. Was this going to be round two then? Though she had her policies involving students, she reserved the right to see a student if they were truly a danger to herself. But, the Head Girl was not afraid of this student. She had no reason to fear anyone of the student body. Vera had abilities Juniper could never imagine. If matters turned violent, the Head Girl would sense the flare of emotion coming from the student and react accordingly. No, the only reluctance was having to deal with another bout of lies and subterfuge once more. She would be lying to say she was at least not a little curious to see what this student has to say after all this.

"Send her up," Vera replied, "There is no need to search her. She would not go through the front door if she wished to attack me again." Even if she did do something that crazy, Vera would defend herself. But, she understood why security went through this precaution. It was afterall their failure in their duties that led to Juniper being able to get up the tower and break into her suite without notice. Now if only they showed such diligence when stopping the island's guests...

The Head Girl finished what she was working on at her desk and then proceeded to wait patiently. This student would require her attention. Lets see what this criminal had to say after months of finding nothing.

Almost a soon as Vera had approved her visit, there was the click of a latch as the security station door openned again. Juniper appeared in the lobby again with a stumble that suggested she'd been pushed roughly forward. Her uniform was dissheveled after the close scrutiny, the buttons off center and her shirt partly untucked from her skirt, one stocking partly rolled down and her hair that little bit less orderly. Clutching her back to her chest, she shot a death glare back through the door.

"I told you that you wouldn't find anything. Just how stupid do you think I am?" she huffed. As if in response, the guard that had searched her stepped out into the lobby after her.

"Stupid enough to come back here after that shit you pulled last time." he growled back, "Which is stupid enough to be dangerous. March." he said, gesturing towards the elevator with a quick jerk of his thumb.

"Yeah, yeah. I know the way." she said, turning on her heel and making her way towards the elevator. She wasn't pleased to notice the distorted shape of the man's reflection towering over her in the metallic elevator doors as she hit the "Up" button and waited patiently for the car to come back to the ground floor. "I don't need an escort, Hands."

"All the same, I'd like to make sure you don't get "lost" on the way." he responded. She couldn't make out his face in the reflection, but she could feel the smugness radiating off of him. As if he'd like nothing less than for her to make a scene and give him an excuse to eject her from the building. She growled lowly, but said nothing else as the elevator arrived.

The elevator ride, at least, was silent. Juniper busied her hands with the process of getting herself in order before her impromptu meeting. Normally, she'd have used this time to get her thoughts in order. In some ways, what she intended to do here today was even more nerve wracking than what she'd set out to do before. There was no false persona to hide behind, no project to distract her with, just an audience with the woman on the island who had the greatest reason to see her get "lost" down in the basement for a while. Not that she expected that from Vera ... for whatever reason, the imperious silver haired headgirl had seen fit to let her go with a subtle warning. Going back on that seemed out of character for what Juniper knew of the woman.

Which, she admitted to herself while pressing her lips together in frustration, might be less than she believed. Thinking that she was too cunning to be caught was a bad trap that she'd fallen into before, and Vera had found her once through even her best smokescreens. She didn't have the benefit of believing she was the smartest person in the room around Ms. Matsumoto ... and while that made her cagey, it also stole some of her confidence away.

The *ping* of the elevator announced that the two of them had reached the proper floor. Juniper walked out of the elevator with her head held high, reasonably certain that she'd managed to make herself presentable during the short elevator ride. When she head the sound of a heavy, plodding footstep behind her, she sighed.

"You're going to follow me all the way to the door, aren't you?"

"Mn-hmmn."

"...Great."

Rather than the clear head she'd have preferred to have for the meeting, a dark cloud of indignity shadowed over Juniper's emotional spectrum as she made the short trip through the well appointed halls of the Headmaster's Tower. Her guide never touched her, but she could feel his eyes on her like a red hot poking jammed between her shoulder blades, keeping her posture straight and her steps swift and on target. Finally, she opened the door to Vera's suite and paused just long enough to spare another disdainful glare at the guard before she stepped in.

As Juniper took in the room around her, taking in the changes since the last time she'd darkened this chamber, she suspected Vera would be doing much the same with her. Hopefully, she didn't disappoint too much ... she'd been busy in the intervening months. Grown a bit more toned from her efforts, a bit more tan from her time in the out doors, she'd let her hair grow out a bit to rest just over her shoulders and trimmed her bangs back somewhat. Little things that suggested she was staying active ... but, compared to last time, it seemed like she had a bit less energy as well, was a bit more wary. There were no dark circles, but it seemed unlikely she was sleeping much.

Her emotional spectrum was a mess. The dark red thrum of her irritation at the guards came through clear, but there was a tangle of uncertainty, guilt, and maybe a bit of wounded pride. Finally, the lack of prep time she'd had on her way up caught up with her as she opened her mouth slightly and no sound came out. She closed her mouth again quickly before she looked too much like a gasping fish and took a deep breath, scrambling to organize her thoughts as she moved to stall for a little bit of time.

"Thank you for seeing me, Ms. Matsumoto. It's very gracious of you, under the circumstances." maybe that was a tad wooden. She wasn't sure, really.

Vera did not have to wait long as the guard ensured every step Juniper took was in the direction of the suite. The student's aura came loud and clear. The poor girl has had no time to collect herself before opening door and entering, finally being free of the security guard that escorted her here.

Then there was silence. Juniper was still figuring out what to say to the Head Girl. This was a situation not many could say they have ever experienced. This woman was trying to speak to the very person she assaulted and chloroformed in her own home. Vera would be lying if she said she felt nothing about this sudden visit. Juniper had wronged gravely, pretending to work for the newspaper and eventually breaking into her home and attacking her. The only reason Juniper was here and not gone was because those higher than her wanted Juni to remain. Juniper was a student and thus would be treated as such. Vera did not have to like it though.

"It is not often I see someone trying to scramble over the very bridge they burnt down," Vera said calmly, "The fact you are here means that you require something from me, Ms Modnar. Would you like something to drink?" It was a struggle to remain professional when there was essentially a criminal sitting in front of her asking for help. She wanted this meeting to finish sooner than later. But, Vera did notice the woman's aura. Juniper was no longer as confident and sure of herself as she once was. This one tried very hard to find answers and has no doubt failed at every turn. Though people say to drive on after each failure, one can only take so much before that motivation to go on begins to fade. If Juniper was approaching her limit, it would be Vera duty to guide this one back into the fold.

If Juniper requests a drink, Vera would see it made if it was something within reason. "Have a seat," she said before returning to her own chair behind the desk, "Take your time. I understand you were escorted here. That was not my order but they have their pride that you have wounded as well... Now, what can I do for you?"

Juniper stayed standing for a bit when Vera offered her a chair. It wasn't that she wanted to be rude, but being seated would actually interfere with what she had in mind. A faint smile touched the corner of her lips when the head girl invoked the image her trying to crossed the blackened remains of a bridge that she herself had set fire to. She had to admit that the allegory was rather apt ... that was part of what was making this so difficult. Still, the hardest part had to come first. That small shield of battered pride flared up as Juniper let the strap of her back slip through her fingers and gently lowered it to the carpet. Taking a deep breath, she settled down on her knees in front of the desk and bowed forward deeply, bracing her hands in front of her with her forehead touching the carpet.

"Moushiwake gozaimasen deshita." she intoned, the words coming out crisply and clearly, though they still felt alien in her mouth. She didn't speak Japanese herself, there was none in her lineage and her hobbies hadn't taken her that way. No, she'd practiced that particular phrase for the better part of a week, making sure that she could pronounce it correctly and say it without stumbling through on command. Her mother had always taught her that if one was going to make an emotional appeal, to do so in the target's native tongue. Vera's command of the English language was absolute, Juniper didn't doubt that for a moment, but whether it was an insult or apology most people were more strongly effected by their first language. If anything, Juniper worried that maybe she'd bowed too low to be appropriate ... but she figured that under the circumstances being too humble was less trouble than seeming insincere.

"I deeply apologize for my previous behavior." she followed up, if only because those words felt more real to her, "I was indiligent in vetting my sources, and was lead astray. I let preconceptions guide my zeal, and in doing so I committed inexcusable acts against one who bore me no ill will. You owe me nothing, not even the courtesy of hearing my words, certainly not forgiveness, but I am endeavoring to be better. I cannot do that by pretending that I did not commit these deeds, which is why I present myself now, even if these words are long overdue."

She let out a soft sigh, pressing her lips together as she closed her eyes, if only to stop staring at the pattern of the carpet in front of her eyes. That ... stung. Juniper wasn't really in the habit of asking for forgiveness (or permission, for that matter). Still, her assault of Vera's suite had been a sticking point of guilt with her for the months that followed. Maybe if she'd found something she'd have been able to better justify her actions, that EMP booby trap had done a fair amount to assuage her guilt at first after all. In the absence of any kind of evidence though, Juniper had had to face the fact that she'd done some horrible, invasive things to an innocent. Someone who had no apparent links to the strangeness happening on this island ... and if she did it once, there was a chance that she might do it again.

She didn't want to do that. Become another one of the boogie men stalking the tropical island at night ... but ... she was hitting walls in her investigations. She was getting frustrated, and as such she was getting worried that she might do something extreme again. She was hoping that, maybe, there was another way ... if she could just swallow her pride for a damned change.

Vera watched as Juniper lowered to her knees and bowed her head. The words of an apology came out in Japanese followed by Juni's own words explaining the wrongs committed and the forgiveness she sought. The student understood what she has done. This apology was literally all Juniper could do and both of them that would not be enough to forgive these inexcusable acts. "You have committed acts against me that no other student has done, Ms Modnar," Vera replied, "If we were on the mainland, you would be looking at charges that could include time in prison. But, the staff understands the stress this island has on people and know it can lead to rather... extreme behavior. That is why you were not taken by security immediately after your assault. That is why you are gracing my presence once more."

"But," she added, "The lies and your attack upon me, I take personally. I would be foolish not to. Your acts are not ones so easily forgiven. But, I am also a professional and shall not allow my bias to influence my duties. Those above me have allowed you to remain a student so you retain those rights including seeing a Head Girl."

"Rise," she stated, "If you came merely to give your apology, consider it accepted but you are not forgiven. If there is more you seek from me, please have a seat and we shall move onto business. Shall we?" Vera returned to her desk. There was nothing more to say on matters that were now the past. The school wished the matter ignored and to go unpunished and Vera would honor that command. She would assist Juni in whatever issues she may have. But on a personal level, this student had much to make up.

A lot of things would be different if we were on the mainland, Juniper thought a bit bitterly. For one thing, she'd be able to reach out to people outside of the school. It would ease access to resources, and the availability of authorities who weren't potentially part of the problem would mean she had other options. She might play fast and loose with the rules, but that didn't mean she'd set out to be a criminal ... she hardly needed a prestigious university education for that. She was just using what talents she had to aggressively pursue a conspiracy on it's home turf ... or, at least, that's what she told herself.

"Hmn. Well, that's about the best I could ask for, really." she said, pushing off of the floor and rising smoothly to her feet. She reclaimed her bag and settled into the seat in front of Vera with a sigh.

"I honestly wish that was all. It would add a bit more sincerity to things." she said. Given the fact that she'd lead off their association with one another with a false face and a lie, she knew it would be a hard scrabble to scrounge up any measure of trust. "Unfortunately, the fact is that I was hoping I could have your help with something. Nothing too onerous, but ... well, I'm hardly in the position to ask for favors."

"I'm looking for a second opinion on something I'm working on, from someone I can respect." she said, settling her hands in her lap, "I thought I'd covered my tracks pretty well, but you managed to dig me up after everything was done. You kept a level head in some rather harrowing circumstances, so I can't really question your grit. And, of course, I'm fairly familiar with your activities after --" she rolled her hand over as skirted the specifics "--everything. Of course, I'll understand if you want nothing to do with it, but I thought I should start at the top of the list."

The negative emotions did not go unnoticed. The poor student was unaware of what advantages the Head Girl truly had. But, it was not like Juniper was trying to hide anything at this point. Vera's response got a reaction out of the woman though she had no choice but to accept the current state of their relations.

Juniper spoke eloquently enough, articulating her reluctance to ask for more after just giving her apology and requesting forgiveness. Vera usually approved of those who spoke and presented themselves properly but, she just wanted this student to get to the point. The praise or compliments for the Head Girl's behavior after being assaulted and after catching the student was unwanted and brought up the past disappointments she had with this woman. Juniper respected her but the feeling was not mutual at this point.

"I do not need to be reminded of what I did after your little stunt, Ms Modnar," Vera replied, "Please get on with your request. A second opinion on what?" To agree or disagree at this point would be purely emotional as Juniper had yet to really explain what she needed help with. Vera was not fond of this beating around the bush though it did show how reluctant the student was to ask for help from a former enemy. The Head Girl had no clue what the student needed help with though it must be important if she was going this far to ask for it.

“Merely striving for transparency, ma’m.” Juniper said, opening the bag on her lap. A slight frown creased her lips as she looked inside, it seemed that the security checkpoint had jammed her belongings back into her bag in a fairly haphazard fashion. As if she didn’t have enough problems getting her momentum up, she started flitting through the photographs she’d brought along with her, particularly seeking out the matching pairs.

“In the course of my research, I’ve observed some interesting things around the school. This is one that I suspect you have some familiarity with already.” She placed two photographs on an open portion of the desk in front of her. It was of a hallway on the eastern side of the campus, a door hung askew in place, one of its hinges clearly having given away. Not impossible if someone were to run into it with sufficient force, possible should a bit of horse play get out of control. The second picture was time stamped a mere ten minutes later, and the door sat properly in its place.

“I’m somewhat fortunate that I had a hard copy of that particular picture. It’s the first time I observed this phenomenon, though I didn’t know what to make of it at the time.” Four more pictures came down on the desk, a broken window by the athletic field, except that as the sun set around the image the cracks in the impact resistant glass became thinner and less pronounced, until it was a solid pane again by nightfall.

“Some experimentation followed. Nothing that I couldn’t correct myself if my hypothesis didn’t pan out.” Another series of photos fell in a neat stack in front of her, the lighting betraying the post nightfall hour, a small mural of a woman’s hazy white silhouette over water-like layers of blue shown on the first photograph, but then fading ghost-like into nothing again shortly after. She fidgeted slightly, adding two more photos to the stack after a moment that were interim pictures of the creative process with written notes regarding the lack of reaction from the wall until she’d stepped away for a time.

“Of course, with the loss of my journal, it was months before I could finally sort out a promising explanation. And, from there, I managed to capture of sample.” She pulled out another image, this one folded into quarters before smoothing it out against her lap and laying it on her desk. It seemed to be an image from an electron microscope, dozens of identical microbes with tiny manipulating tendrils and dark spiraling constructions held in the rear portion of their main body, “Though, of course, breeding a culture would be impossible. It isn’t really my area of study, so it took some time for me to positively identify them as nanomachines. Something that NICE Labs worked out with the Headmaster, I’m sure. I did some digging and the school’s maintenance budget is far below what it should be for an institution of this size. It’s been over a decade since the school has even requisitioned new light bulbs.”

“Which is fine.” She added quickly, waving off whatever accusation is sounded like she might’ve been building towards, “It’s fascinating technology, and I can’t really say that it hasn’t enriched the school’s atmosphere. It wasn’t really until I came across this that I became concerned.” She pulled out another pair of photographs. The first was of one of the shrubs surrounding the base of the school, it looked as though something had fallen on it, limbs were broken inward and the trunk of the thing bowed outward, tipping off to one side in a disorderly fashion. A few small scraps of white and navy clung to some of the broken branches. Then, the second picture showed the bush again, standing straight, perfectly clipped, though the flash of white from a scrap of cloth peeked out from between the leaves.

“They're interacting with biologicals.” She said, tapping the second photo for emphasis, “Nanomachines aren’t like normal robots, we don’t have the material science to construct meaningful servos at that scale, to say nothing of power supplies. It’s probably better to think of them as artificial bacteria, constructed from synthetic protein strands and programmed with behaviors that benefit their creator’s intention. I’m sure that preventative measures were taken, but the possibility for mutation certainly exists.”

She sighed softly, and then produced a final picture, layering it on top of the last one. It was another image captured from an electron microscope, the flat discs of red bloodcells floating alongside more of the tiny machines from the first slide, though in a greater concentration, some sporting additional geometry. She bit her bottom lip for a moment, pausing.

“It’s only a hypothesis…but I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that the school counselor’s joked about installing a revolving door. Social anxiety, paranoia, delusions, somewhere between seven and ten percent of the student population shows signs of mental imbalance within the first year of arriving on the island’s shores. We all underwent psychiatric evaluation before being accepted, many of those affected have shown no sign of similar behaviors before coming, even when they’ve come from high stress environments. I want to run an exploratory experiment.” She dug into her bag for a moment, producing a cleanly typed sheet of paper.

“It’s above my authority to ask for, but it’s nothing damning. Blood samples from a selection of students divided into three groups of what I suspect are symptomatic traits, and a fourth control group to compare them to.” She slid that list onto her desk as well, some of the students earmarked for testing included those who’ve seen Vera on their own initiative in the past, “I don’t mind saying that I’m hoping that I’m wrong on this. Ideally, the samples should be taken after lights out. It seems that the nanomachines were programmed with a nocturnal cycle to make them more difficult to detect.”