Yes hi, corporate contact-us box, here's a photo of his esper passport as arranged by Vanguard Group ("Netlink"), he wants to interview agents as he's not getting along with the Vanguard one.

Sure, does he want to narrow it down at all?

...Someone who's good at psychological backlash handling? Who isn't pushy? Has worked with other sensors? And can do things in Canada.

Here's a candidate shortlist for him to meet or call!

Yaaaaay.

--He finally remembers at this point to tell his old job that he officially quits.

And then calls various agent-candidates and - gosh it's weird to be on the other side of the interview questions.

He wants someone who's OK working mostly in text or email, for them to manage a schedule/task list he can check more than directly pinging him about things if possible. He doesn't want to be pushed about doing more dungeons more often, he's worried he just... Would, especially if already backlashed, and it could be a negative feedback loop. He's not entirely sure what-all he wants in an agent yet, and also he's judging on ineffable tone things and probably going to go with someone who comes off as very neutral and factual just because there's less - social implication - there to have anxiety about. He also doesn't want to end up bouncing between like six of them, switching once is fine and switching a dozen times probably less fine.

Anyway. Analysis paralysis is a bitch so he'll call... Four whose profiles pass a vibe check, and talk to them, and then when it's all done tell them he'll sleep on it and decide in the morning thank you for your time. The same general idea as his rant to Haru- 'You can actually just do the thing, and see if it's awful and fix it if so'.

And the next morning he picks one and asks to be represented by them, keywords in the email about why them include "professionalism" and "clarity". Please contact his prospective-partners' agents at such and such numbers, also he's currently in Toronto near Traceless and would like to sense a demo dungeon.

Sensing is usually the very first thing they want an esper for in a dungeon once it's been called in to the authorities, so it's harder to schedule down to a very specific clock time, but if he offers a time window, Toronto is big and they should be able to get him something in that window.

He'll be here all day. And won't do any uninterruptible multiplayer stuff.

Haru, found an agent, I don't want to linger over it too long, hoping for the best. I'm going to be standing by for sensing into one as a test today. Here's to fewer people in dungeons. Still processing the other thing.

Wendy, thanks for introducing me to Haru. We're getting along OK. I'd like to hang out more with you too- I had an idea about how the ship's computer network might run if they expected it to be closed off for hundreds of years I want to run by you.

What time, or do you not know? I can mark myself available to dungeoneer if you'll be able to meet up after.

I don't know- Sensors go in first, so my target hasn't happened yet. Probably soonish, there are several a day in a city like Toronto, right? And I'm fine with meeting up after.

(Wendy doesn't reply right away. She likes to sleep in.)

Can you copy Paula on it when you get an assignment and she'll try to finagle me something short notice?

OK.

........You know what, how about the magic of delegation.

And to his agent:

When you assign me the test dungeon, please copy Paula (###-###-####), agent of Traceless, on it. He wants to also do an assignment around the same time so we can guide after.

At around noon he has a dungeon assigned at the lakefront. It's dark in there, but otherwise it seems pretty tame; he'll be accompanied by a non-esper dungeoneering force who would like to know how many people they need to grab from where, and if he can sense the dungeon core.

"Hello everyone. I'm fairly new at this. I'm still feeling out the most efficient uses of my power. My first idea was to stay at the entrance and scan by sector, sort of like a rotating RADAR beam, and give directions and distances to victims. Instead of, uh, going right into the middle of the place. My range seems to be measured in miles, so... I can also talk to people, sort of, I'm not sure if that's - tactically useful, or how to be efficient with my backlash yet. Should I address the victims in any way? Just a 'we know where you are, help is on the way'?"

"Is that expensive? We'd rather have you functional for the duration than a little more reassuring for less time," says the squad leader.

"I don't have a good feel for the expenses yet. It does seem to be worse than just detecting people. Long range scanning is kind of expensive but I am, uh, unashamed to admit I'm pretty darn scared of actually going deep into a dungeon? I probably can't active-scan the whole time especially if there's delays. Periodic checks would be better."

"Periodic checks is fine. They don't kidnap people very fast after the first wave. Most important thing is if you can find the core."

"I will try."

He does try, gazing into the portal and plotting out contacts on a sketched paper map to the best of his ability- He pauses to text his agent that he needs some sort of physical reference for horizontal and vertical angles, like old navigation instruments or something- He identifies... 14 people inside the place in three different clumps.

"I'm sweeping but I can't feel the core or any monsters, sir. Just people. I can't tell anything about the terrain either. I think maybe I should check your position every couple of minutes and telepathy you course corrections if necessary? It's a bit of an odd feeling and if yes I should probably try it now so it doesn't startle."

"All right, ready for the dry run."

[Nearest victims: Five people, eleven'o'clock, ~400m] all as one sensory clump.

"- yep, got that. All right, alpha team stays here with you and prevents breach, delta with me." And they go people-collecting.

Is he doing a terrible job? Do the army guys resent having to hand off the glory to espers? He has definitely made at least 3 protocol mistakes. Backlash isn't even here yet he's just Like This.

Deep breaths, wait for the agreed periodic check time. And then check.

[Nearest victims: Five people/same group, ten'o'clock slightly elevated, ~50m]

[Acknowledged]

They get the victims and start leading them out. There's periodic flashes of light and noise when they shoot monsters.

Those would presumably be guns. So, yeah.

...Do NOT bother the spec ops guys with your insecurities. Do the job to the spec.

Next check-in. [No changes]

[Acknowledged]

They get the victims out and start feeding them through the portal to float down to their support team, and then they need a new heading, and again, and again.

He keeps the stretch of power use to brief, economic bursts as much as he can. He feels a bit better about himself if he thinks of it as like managing the stamina bar in an action game.

Soon:

[No victims found. Stop checkins until core found?]