Escape route

Guess, I hope to high heaven you can see this because I've got no other way of contacting you right now. The Institute was attacked early this morning, only a couple hours ago, now that I think about it, and it's shot to all hell. The - well, I'm sure it's fine intrinsically but we've been kicked out and replaced by Indoctrinated. They ransacked the place and I don't even know what else they're doing in there because none of us are in good enough condition to go back and see. The Professor, Squirm, and I all got out with only a few scrapes and bruises, but most everyone else has at least one serious injury. Atlas is in the worst state. All the action has completely messed up the final few stages of his recovery; we only just managed to staunch the bleeding before he bled out, and he's unconscious and jittering and mumbling in his sleep and in all honesty I'm scared, Guess, I'm scared.


Calm down. Okay. Calm. Better. None of the familiars are hurt at all, but they seem traumatized somehow. I think it has something to do with the Businessman. I would appreciate it if you would ask Anansi to find out something, because we're completely at a loss, and we simply don't have the time to be trying out things with the level of damage we've sustained.

We do have your cure, though. Soon as we're stable I'll...find some way to send it to you. Isabella is definitely a top priority. OK. Think. Need records before we all dry up out here.


Some poor man arrived in the foyer with a package. I don't know who he is or how he's connected to the Tablet or where he got the cure, but that's what he was delivering. I'm not even sure he knew what he was delivering, the dear. I went up to receive it, but before he could even smile it was like something switched off in his brain and he collapsed to the ground. That was when it started. Some kind of explosion rocked the place from downstairs. A van pulled up outside. Masked men and women were coming towards us, slowly, slowly. For the life of me, I can't think why they'd want to do this...we're only scientists. And we're - well, you know. God, God, God. The rest is a blur. The others showed up beside me and we sprinted for all we were worth. I must have grabbed the box that the deliveryman had dropped. None of the Indoctrinated attacked us. They were only there to drive us out. We're safe for now, but...


Oh, God, Guess, be on your guard, they might come for you next.


Oh, God, the woman...the woman that - oh, God. She died in the attack. We had no idea who she was or where she came from but we were tending her as best we could. I was going to give an update if she had even spoken or said anything at all, but it's too late now. From what the Professor tells me, that first explosion knocked out her IV drip and caused severe mental trauma. It was only a matter of seconds. At least she went without pain.


Guess...please stay safe. We can't risk losing you or Isabella.


To direct, to instruct, to lead, to guide: the Compass.


Right. This was in my drafts today. I am going to let you read it as I have, because I am a faithful reporter...I'll...I'll ask Anansi if he knows anything. Later. First I'm making sure the protections on this safehouse are good enough. Infinity still refuses to acknowledge that she is not a vegetable.


Not to take away from the drama and despair of the moment, but I have a job to do. C'est la vie.


This one, for holy quests: What is the French name of a very wet guardian of a certain sword?


You get         chances.