The Past, Rewired

[Soban]

Livadia, Station Block A, Level 1, The bar

---

Mac Donagan entered the bar, muttering under his breath about how much he despised being interrupted in his crucial research. Grey had decided she needed help sifting through some old data rumored to be tucked away in the Livadia databank, and she was convinced Mac Donagan was the best man for the job. As if that weren’t enough, he’d also been saddled with the duty of babysitting an unknown freelancer for the task.

He settled at a table overlooking the nebula that concealed Livadia, waiting for the aforementioned freelancer: John Derius Guerra. A good minute passed with Mac Donagan engrossed in his own irritated mumblings, delivered in a curious blend of Irish and Scottish accents, before the barman, Phillip Watson, deemed it safe enough to approach and take his order.

As the barman drew near, Daniel finally noticed him, his eyes brightening at the promise of a well-deserved drink. Poor Watson quickly realized he should have waited another moment or two when Donagan opened his mouth to speak.

“Ach, me dear Watson, ye’ve no idea how much I’ve been needin’ ye! I’ll take me usual hot tea toddy, but first, let me tell ye what the higher-ups have discovered this time tae interrupt me grand research!”

Donagan then launched into a stream of ramblings about his metallurgical work, while Watson inwardly prayed some unknown deity might spare him—or anyone else within earshot—from Donagan own endless monologue.