Chapter 2 - Visions of Fertilizer

The three girls approach the Swedish police station with a mix of determination and curiosity. The station is a sturdy building with a traditional Scandinavian design. The Swedish flag flutters in the breeze outside, signifying the authority within.



Upon entering, the girls find themselves in a well-lit lobby adorned with photos of local officers and commendations for community service. The atmosphere is calm but carries an air of official business. The soft hum of fluorescent lights overhead adds to the subdued ambiance.

Approaching the reception desk, a police officer greets them with a friendly but professional demeanor. He's a middle-aged man with a neatly pressed uniform, conveying a sense of authority. The reception area is equipped with a counter, a few chairs for waiting, and a display of informational brochures on community safety.

"Good day, how can I help you?" the police officer asks, maintaining a welcoming expression as he waits for the girls to state their purpose. The overall tone is courteous, indicating a commitment to assisting citizens with their inquiries.

Robbie once again tries to look nice and proper. After her feed round in the morning, she took a long shower, then spent some time trying and failing to put on a bit of make-up to look as pretty as Emilia. In the end, she had to ask for her mom's help, but her mom didn't really understand what Robbie wanted and so now, she feels a bit underwhelmed with her look, even if she's wearing her nice new jacket and she even managed to convince her mom to lend her one of her purses, which is a lot prettier than Robbie's backpack. She has the tupper box of cookies in there as she meets the two other girls outside the police station, greeting them both with a hug, though the one she gives Emilia is a lot more shy and hesitant than the one she gives Tanya.

Once they've regrouped, the girls head inside and Robbie walks up to the counter and the man behind it. "We would like to see Skog Nilsson. He's my friend and he got arrested yesterday," she explains.

Emilia tries to hide her uncertainty as she waits for the others . She still wasn't entirely sure why they were here. Wasn't this person behind what had happened? People had been hurt, just suddenly Robbie was running off after him and insisting he was a friend. Was it just everyone was a friend to her? Ehe thought was upsetting somehow, as if if it made Robbie's insistence on being her friend when they first got up with each other with the bird less special somehow.

As Robbie arrives Emilia immediate;y notices the make up and purse and a flicker of surprise crosses her face before she tries to hide it. It looked cute, but there was something to Robbies normal look she found nice. The way she wasn't afraid to look different, to not fit in.

It was because of Skog was it? No that couldn't be it, he was way to old, plus the jacket was before that. A boy she was trying to impress...why was that thought upsetting? She returns the hug, slightly awkwardly as she;s trying to figure out what going on.

'Make up? That's..its cute on you. Like the jacket. ' She doesn't really know what else to say.

Robbie turns bright red at the compliment and turns her eyes away. "I brought cookies," she says before chastising herself, That was the weirdest resposne you could have given, you weirdo. You should have complimented her back. She forces herself to look at Emilia again. "You're really pretty."
She's not sure whether that made it better or worse.

Tanya greets her two friends, and picks up on the awkwardness in the air.
Robbie is trying to impress... The coat... Purse... And now, makeup? she thinks, but just smiles in a friendly way to both. to Impress Emilia? Or that terrorist guy?

She follows inside the police station, saying "Yay! Cookies!"

As Robbie asks to see the captive man, she observes the officer and waits for his reaction. Is Robbie risking to appear like a... Terrorist too? Maybe now they'll think we're all with Skog... she thinks, suddenly concerned.

"But it won't take long. We just want to make sure that he's okay. I'm sure he's sad being kept here like this, so I just want to cheer him up," Robbie says. "And make sure that he's being treated well."

She looks at Emilia. Emilia can always be so convincing, maybe she can get him to let them through. She then also reaches into her purse and takes out the box of cookies. "Look, my mom baked these so we could give some to him. That means she knows we're here. Do you want one?"

At the mention of cookies the image of Emilia's own failed attempt flashes across her mind. She can't dwell on it however as she's caught off guard by the compliment. '..T..thanks.' She goes slightly red and scratches the back of her head, for once not sure how to talk properly.

As Robbie looks to her to take them in she hesitates. still unsure if this is a good idea...though that would mean upsetting the farm girl.

'I realise we're kids but Robbie knows him. It might put him more at ease if we can just say hi?

"Hey," Robbie says nervously. She's never spoken to a criminal in prison before. What do you even say in such a situation? "Do you remember me? I'm Robbie. You gave me some flyers yesterday and then we sat in the woods. And then you gave me another flyer. Do you want a cookie?"

"Actually, we're trying to cheer up the man," Robbie jokes, following it up with a giggle that makes her feel self-conscious. Why is she being such a dork in front of Emilia?
"We just want to know what happened yesterday. They lied about it on the news. They said you were drunk and crashed your car into the train but that's not how it happened!" She takes three cookies out of the box and hands one to each of her friends before taking a bite out of the third. "Are they trying to hide something?"

Robbie decides not to point out to Skog that he very clearly had been drinking. She doesn't really see the point in being pedantic about that.

"My dad said that they haven't properly tested the fertilizer and they just want farmers like us to use it and be their lab bunnies," she explains to Skog. "The way you explain it sounds really creepy. How do you know the visions were real?" She's not sure if alcohol can make someone hallucinate. Her parents sometimes drink wine together, but she's never noticed them acting weird. They also never smell as much as Skog did yesterday, though.

"Is there some way we can help?" she asks. "Should we talk to someone?"

Robbie gives a serious nod, even if she's still skeptical about this vision thing. She looks to her friends for their thoughts on the matter and the meeting.

Tanya observes Skog, wondering if he could hurt somebody, or if his ideological attacks are only against vehicles and things.
And Robbie wanting to help and get involved is even more worrying. She knows so little of these people...

More worried about the terrorist angle she has in her head than any talk of visions, she steps forward and confronts Skog.
"Wait -- Were you not afraid that somebody might actually get hurt? That collision was pretty scary! Someone could have been killed! You wouldn't... you wouldn't harm people, would you?.."

She observes the man, deciding she needs more information before drawing conclusions. He seems convinced about his cause, but... is his cause right?
"These chemicals... what do they do to people? What if they had spilled out from the train, in the crash?"

"Where did you find that plant that was treated with it?" Robbie asks. "The one that gave you the vision?"

That gives Robbie pause again. How could they know it was really the fertilizer and not something else this Astrid had done? Maybe they should see if they can't find some of the fertilizer by the train tracks or something to run their own tests. "Is there anything we can do to help you?" Robbie asks. "How long are they keeping you here?"

"I'll call here later," Robbie promises. "If they're not letting you out, then we'll come back tomorrow morning. I'll bring you hot chocolate. Or coffee. Which do you prefer?"

From their conversation with Skog, the symbolism of the pamphlet, and careful wording, Tanya pieces together information.

The group appears younger or has young members due to the stylized symbol. Unusually, it incorporates aggressive imagery. Most environmental groups emphasize nature and healing, making the use of chains in this symbol peculiar—a symbol that is both aggressive and man-made. This choice raises suspicions about potential hidden agendas, leaving Tanya uneasy about their intentions.

However, the group's effort to recruit more members shows that they don’t want to do anything to scare potential new members away.

The Scene of the Accident
The train station, the day after the accident, is a scene of controlled chaos. Emergency services have cleared most of the wreckage, but remnants of the collision are still visible— scattered debris and a lingering air of unease. People move about cautiously, and the atmosphere is tense.

Areas near the train tracks might yield clues, but will certainly draw attention. Investigating the immediate vicinity could reveal more about the cargo and any markings or labels that survived the crash. The businesses and street may still bear signs of the crash's aftermath, offering potential clues about the events leading up to the incident. There may be people about who witnessed the scene.

"We should see if we can find some of this fertilizer where the crash happened," Robbie suggests. "Maybe two of us distract any bystanders and the third goes and searches the tracks." She looks between her two friends and says, "Emilia, why don't we try to distract everyone and Tanya looks for clues."

Tanya widens her (already magnified by glasses) eyes comically. "What? There's a dangerous chemical spillage, and I'm the one who needs to find it? Thanks girls!"

She rolls her eyes and starts to step closer to the collision area, stopping before her presence would raise suspicion.
She turns to the others mouthing a silent 'COME ON, DO SOMETHING'.

"You're smaller than me and less eye-catching than Emilia," Robbie argues, hoping to make Tanya feel better about this division of labor, but realizing she's probably not helping the cause. "Here, take this!" she quickly says to distract from her previous words. She digs into her purse and pulls out the tupper box again. She hands everyone a cookie and then dumps the rest into the bag. Her mom won't be happy about the crumbs. But she then hands Tanya the box. "If you find anything, scoop it up with this."

'Look I'll come with you. I've got an idea okay. We'll just make out we're looking for one of my earrings that fell off yesterday. Even ask a couple of people if they've seen it.

"That's smart, let's go," she says, seeing Emilia joining her. The other girl's presence is comforting, the task does not seem as overwhelming.

She gestures Robbie, hoping she will get people to look away, somehow.

Robbie nods at the two girls, then she looks around and approaches any nearby people. She asks everyone she comes across a variation of, "My friends and I were here to get a hot chocolate when that train crash happened and my friend lost her earring. Were you there when it happened or did you see it by any chance? Or did you see anything else at the time? Maybe someone who stood out to you and who might know something?"

As Tanya approaches the tracks area, her eyes catch an unusual sight—a patch of ground tinted in shades of orange. It's evident that some of the spilled chemical has permeated the soil, giving it an otherworldly hue. Though there's no remaining chemical to collect, her attention is drawn to an intriguing discovery. Amidst the orange-tinted earth, a small plant has sprouted. Its vibrant appearance suggests a recent growth, seemingly flourishing overnight.

---

The response Robbie receives is far from warm. One of the individuals, a middle-aged man, glances at her with a skeptical look and mutters, "What are you doing here, kid? This isn't a playground." The sentiment is echoed by a few others who exchange disapproving glances, making it clear that they're not receptive to her presence.

A woman, raises an eyebrow and asks as she sees Tanya near the tracks, "Who's that? What's a kid doing over there?" The others exchange glances and some mumble disapprovingly. The atmosphere becomes tense, clearly questioning her presence in their serious and focused gathering.

'Sorry... we're just looking for my earring. We were here yesterday..I.. everything was a panic, I was startled, I think it fell out, its precious to me, we're going to be quick.' Emilia even seems to tear up a bit as she plays up being nervous and upset as she speaks up to anyone who is listening.

Tanya quickly tries to scoop up the small orange plant without touching it, by spooning it up with the cookie container Robbie gave her.

If she manages that, she will hide the strange find under her T shirt.

She plays along with Emilia, "come on, the earring doesn't seem to be here... Let's go look somewhere else..."

As Emilia's eyes well up with tears, a palpable wave of empathy sweeps through the group. The memory of the unsettling events from the previous day unites them in shared emotions. The woman who was focused on Tanya acknowledges, "Sorry, we're all just a bit on edge."

As Tanya carefully scoops up the small orange plant, a clear voice resonates in her mind, reminiscent of Prof. Hedstrom's. "Didn't you hear about the local political movement called 'The Green Vigil'? I bet they are the ones that are involved in all of this." Yet, when Tanya turns to the source of the voice, she finds no one there.

Upon regrouping with Emilia and Robbie, the residual tension from earlier seems to have dissipated, replaced by a collective understanding among the group.

"You guys did so well!" Robbie says. "Sorry I didn't manage to distract the people around. Most adults don't really listen to me. They just think I'm some dumb farm kid." She looks at the closed tupper box in Tanya's hand. "What did you get there? Is it some of the fertilizer?"

'You're not dumb..I mean it just takes a knack to deal with adults. And others. I can try and teach you sometime?'

"O-okay!" Robbie quickly agrees. She's not really sure what Emilia could try and teach her, but any excuse for them to hang out sounds like a good idea. And Emilia really is amazing. At talking to people. That's of course what Robbie meant.

More than a little unsettled by the voice she heard, she rushes back to Robbie, looking nervously around.

" I found a strange plant, maybe it's been changed by that chemical... Let's get away from here, and I'll show you..." she says in a hushed tone.