apocalypsehowcomm | Event

Dogged

The message goes out to everyone on ADI's network. It seems to be something captured live. It's Pam Ruan, head of HR who holds a prosthetic finger up to her lips before whispering, "Everyone's pushing for transparency right now, right? Figuring out where threats are coming from and sharing. I think that should come at all levels. Let's see what Nia's talking about with Mr. Zyrian Steel, hmm?"

The camera flips around as Pam clearly creeps closer to an office door. There are muffled voices, and Pam sets the phone face up before using one hand to shove the thing under the door. The video shows a sliding picture of the office's bland ceiling for a moment before coming to a stop. The voices become much clearer.

"-down in Wolf Trap," a masculine voice is saying. Presumably, Zyrian Steel. "There's just no need for that."

"Zyrian, this ain't a negotiation." Nia Lehrer's voice is familiar to most people working at ADI at this point. They've likely heard her speak in some pre-recorded training videos at the bare minimum. Nia's tone is no nonsense and clearly on the edge of snapping in frustration. "You're not hiring us. I'm sending my people down to Wolf Trap next month. We've got evidence of those signalhead things being on the march, one down that way, your kick off for New Horizons in the park, and evidence out of there about the Lullaby Girl from some of my people."

There is silence.

"You remember her? Ava? Or Amber, it seems like. She's the one you gave us those Lucidio masks to help train our people against. Frankly, I'd be surprised if you don't remember her, Mr. S." Another drawn out pause. "You ain't been straight with me for a long time. You ain't been straight with ADI since Tawnya was Warden. You tell me you need us in Buffalo, payback for helping in Wolf Pen and Cortana and the mobile med units, and not only do half the staff come back with crab claws and whiskers, but I find out you're using us for business politics." There's venom in her tone. "Or were you just going to stay quiet about Etcher's enterprises competing with your own software companies? ADI is not your personal attack dog. You are our client. And I thought my friend. But I'm about 30 seconds away from firing you from both."

Further silence, then a heavy sigh. "And I was going to offer to send you and your staff on such a nice retreat." There's the sound of a chair being pushed back. "Warden, I think you misunderstand the nature of our relationship. You are the dogs. I am the master. I hold your leash. Or have you forgotten just how much technology I've donated to ADI over the years, how many of your systems run on things I built? We've had a mutually beneficial relationship up until now- Well… you and I have. Tawnya got to be a problem before the end, too. But I made sure that was taken care of."

"You self-aggrandizing son of a-"

"You're a much more practical woman than she ever was, even with those shiny ideals you hold so dear. You'll compromise for the greater good, to protect what's yours. Such a good Warden, looking out for her charges."

"What are you talking about? And get your hands the hell off my desk."

"Haven't you ever wondered about the title? Warden. Odd name for a leader of any organization, even one like yours. But maybe not so odd when you consider your more eldritch masters." A scoff. "The Hunt always does pick out the most oblivious avatars, doesn't it? What does a Warden do?" A beat. "She controls the monsters, Nia. Sniffs them out and contains them. And she goes after the poachers coming after her prey. Tell me, have you ever noticed how you're always picking up on threats far afield with uncanny precision. It's been getting stronger, hasn't it? Tawnya was the same way. As was her predecessor, I imagine."

"That's not- I wouldn't ever…"

"Wouldn't you, though? Every time you sent your own dogs after a threat, reveled in it, you were being such a good Warden, instilling terror in the hearts of your enemies, ADI's enemies. So many cults know who and what you are and they fear it. Fear the Warden of ADI, famed avatar of the Hunt. Even now, I know you've compromised yourself. Have you considered what that's done to you? You let that Visionary kid stay alive. I rather think that might have been the start of your slide, hmm? Making exceptions, just this once.

"Now," he continues, voice growing louder and footsteps starting toward the phone, "I realize this is a lot to take in, to think about. Why don't you do that self-reflection while I attend to other matters? You are doing good work, puppy. I need a dependable pet to take care of all those nasty pests who keep trying rituals. But no need to worry about the New Horizons launch, really. I'll just-" Zyrian pauses and everyone will have a view of a middle-aged caucasian man with dark, slightly graying hair and a beard. He's wearing khakis and a Hawaiian shirt, and he's looking down at Pam's phone.

"Well… fuck." He stomps a heeled shoe on it and the transmission ends abruptly.

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[ Steph winces as she approaches to help. She's got bandages on her own right knuckles from trying that, but at least she knew when to stop. ]

Maybe a window? I've tried breaking them...

[ She searches for the nearest one and moves to open it. There's nothing particularly heavy nearby, so that's no good. They can be covered, but she knows from experience that doesn't help much when you know what it's showing. ]

[ Power's knuckles are red and starting to bleed, but she doesn't seem to have noticed, yet. Steph's words cut through her terror like a knife, and she turns to give the other woman a frantic look, her weird, crosshair-pupiled eyes bright. ]

You think obscuring the reflection will help?

[ In the mirror, the door starts to open, revealing a scruffy-looking teenage boy, and an older woman with red hair in a braid, and strange, piercing eyes. ]

[ The eyes only startle her for a second. She's hung out with aliens and witch-boys.

Steph glances back at the mirror. It looks innocent enough right now, but she knows how sideways things can go in the span of a second. ]

It might. The one I turned over, I could still hear it going, but it was just on the floor.

[ Does this window have a latch, or what? Wait, what if they fling the mirror out the window and it hits someone? This is as bad a plan as punching. ]

Cover it as much as possible, then work on finding something harder than fists?

[ (( ooc: I used to play the witch-boy! delighted to see a Steph :D ))

In the mirror, Power, who's looking more apprehensive than ever, clutches the birthday cake and says "Denji...?" The red-haired woman looks at Power, holds up a hand with her pointer finger extended, and says "Bang". Everything goes red, before Power - the real one - tears the mirror from the wall and throws it to the floor, stomping on the back of the frame a few times for good measure. The sound that comes from the glass isn't that of a gunshot: there's a rush of air, the crunch of a crater being formed in the wall, a thud... and then the door being shut again, as if nothing had happened. ]

Shut up shut up shut up shut up! [ She turns to Steph between stomps, just to clarify. ] Not you! 'Tis a good plan! Where can one find a hammer in this building?

[ooc | klarion A++ ]

I know.

[ She shoots the woman a brief, sympathetic smile, hoping it isn't too inappropriate given the circumstances. Steph knows the kind of baggage that makes a person react like that. ]

No idea. Fire alarms? An extinguisher or an axe would be great.

[ She looks towards the main exit, scanning the walls. Most places don't have fire axes anymore, but there has to be an extinguisher somewhere by law. It should be somewhere obvious, but depending on management it might be out of sight. ]

Fire alarms! Yes! Every building has them!

[ Power just. She just takes off down the hallway in a sprint, skidding around the corner before she doubles back to gesture wildly at Steph. ]

Come on, come on!

No, I'll go the other way, cover more ground!

[ If Power is anything like Steph is, she needs someone else to think things through right now. Steph doesn't move quite as fast as Power, but she does sprint as well. ]

That's what I said!

[ It definitely isn't, but Power isn't gonna bother with little things like 'truth' or 'fundamental reality' when she has mirrors to break and bad memories to overcome. It isn't long before she comes pelting back down the hallway towards Steph, carrying a giant fire extinguisher under one arm, and an axe in her other hand. ]

Victory!! I'm keeping the axe, regardless!

[ At least she doesn't have to worry about losing track of someone so loud. She blinks when Power comes back into view, surprised and impressed that she was able to find both items. This woman is taking all this a lot better than Steph did. ]

Alright, well, wanna try at the same time? And pray we don't send shards of glass into our own eyes?

[ That's looking on the bright side! Power nods, and passes the fire extinguisher over to Steph. She was serious about keeping the axe! ]

What if we strike the back? Do it hard enough, and the glass should still shatter.

Event - Dogged

Reflections

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