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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Wild, the sheer power of deja-vu. Tim can almost swear he's hearing gunshots. That level of distraction, that sort of intrusive whisper, just might actually get someone killed. So Tim sighs something that sounds like a _"Woof." and lets her have her moment as he brings himself back from the bitter grip of Russia.

"Yeah. I guess that makes both of us poor students," he concedes.

"Anyway, have you seen the amount of Things They Don't Teach You In Harvard books out there? This isn't only about book smarts. I'm offering you a chance to hold the leash of some pretty big dogs."

He is so going to pay for calling people that but, y'know, he'll burn that bridge when he gets there.

Tim looks pointedly at the thumb drive. Oh, what he'd do to have two working legs. He looks back at Rae, says, "You know. Before something shows up and eats you."

"I always liked the books for dummies best," replies Rae. "Never was much of a dog walker, but if that was a threat, I'm sure I can find a rolled up newspaper somewhere around here."

She's warier now. The shift is almost imperceptible; she could still be nothing more than a tired woman at her desk...but there's just that little shift of weight. Just a little subtle repositioning in her chair, another assessing look. That sledgehammer she's been carrying around lately is nowhere in sight line of the door.

"I'm aiming to get out of here before someone starts yanking my leash," she says with the air of laying out her hand. "No other guy. No cash offer. But you...is it Steel paying you, or did you find a different rich asshole to bankroll the next version of this place?"

Please.

"Now I'm offended." But he's gotta admit, rakish something wanting to pull at the corner of his lips. "I was born a rich asshole and I've only gone up that ladder since. None of these guys could pay me enough."

(--as in, yikes, yeah, he is absolutely going to regret this headspace. Later.)

"And that's the thing. I kind of hate having less here. Me? I just want to get home. If that's your aim, Rae, then I'm gonna have to wonder why you aren't just ditching the baggage. Whatever you have-- or are getting, is worth something."

If he were sitting he likes to think he'd be steepling fingers like some cliche supervillain or something. Instead he just shifts his weight too. "Aaaand, here we are. Negotiating. Or playing 20 Questions. I don't know. Where's your new office? Has it got a fancy plaque with your name on it? I can get you ten, right down the street."

"Whatever game we're playing, I don't think we've read the same rulebook," says Rae dryly. "Not if you think I'm going to be working out of an office after this. Like I said, no other guy. No cash. That was our mistake in all of this to begin with."

The computer makes a sound, indicating it's done copying files to the thumbdrive, and her gaze flicks to the screen for just a split second.

Event - Dogged

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