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Event - Dogged

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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[In light of recent events, Caitlyn feels the need to check in with Neil Grace, as he's both someone in a position of authority at ADI, and someone she respects.

But this is the second time she's discovered that the leader of an organization she's worked for is not what they appear to be, and she needs to know whether Neil had any idea.]

Did you know?

[For better or worse, there's a flicker of what looks like either remorse or pain in his expression before it turns to something more professional. Professional and tired.]

No, Caitlyn. I didn't. I don't know if I wish I had or not.

[He gives a pause.]

Penny for your thoughts? Professional and personal, if you're willing.

[Caitlyn watches his expression change, but isn't sure what to make of it. Regardless, she fully believes him when he says he doesn't know.

She frowns.]

I-- [What are her thoughts? What are they meant to do now? Before coming here, she's only ever dealt with threats that she could understand, that were real people who could be imprisoned if they posed a danger to others. But if fighting the Entities makes them stronger by striking fear into the heart of their followers, if the leader of ADI has been an Avatar this whole time, how are they meant to win?] I suspect that those of us from different worlds may be the key to figuring out how to defeat the Entities. They must have brought us here for a reason, which means they must need us for something. I've got quite a lot of information on all of us, if we can piece it together...

[...maybe an answer will present itself?

The truth is, she's in over her head. She has so much information and no idea what to do with it. But they can't give up. She's sure that if they can just work through the problem, they'll come up with something.

She doesn't really know what he means by 'personal,' and she can't focus on that right now, anyway. The only thing that really matters is figuring out how to defeat the Entities, given this new information.]

[He listens keenly to her read and purses his lips in thought only a moment when she's done.]

I'd be inclined to agree. I think that's a sound thought and maybe, when the dust clears and we're through dealing with whatever new threat's coming, we can have a proper look at what all you've got.

[He gives a small sigh and that tiredness peaks through again.]

But I don't think it's something that can be done alone. Or without some sort of structure still in place...

There's no time to wait until the dust clears. We've got to regroup, as many of us as are able, and start working through it now. Who knows how long it will take to set everything to right, or what ADI will look like after that.

[She's never been good at waiting. And right now seems like precisely the wrong to time to put on hold something as important as getting to the bottom of this.

How to go about it, exactly, well. That's a little more difficult. But she's never let anything like 'practicalities' or 'logistics' stop her before.]

[His hands spread, palms out and open to her and tone ever-patient.]

And who should call everyone together, do you think? Half of my people are scared and losing faith or wanting to hop the next bus out of here as it is. There's got to be some structure in place to keep things together enough to get to the bottom of this. If everyone scatters to the four winds, we'll have no secure method of working together. Plus...Steel's up to something.

[There's just a few too many pans on the fire.]

[Caitlyn's lower lip catches between her teeth as she shakes her head, frustrated by her lack of ability to really do anything.]

We've got to do something. I'll. I'll go after Steel myself, if I have to. [That would be something for her to do. Something that might lead to real answers.]

[His brow lifts, then furrows.]

If you can spare me that worry, I'd prefer you didn't blaze off after a potentially dangerous and very rich man who just threatened the head of ADI. Whatever else might have been said, that part was clear enough. We'll go after Steel, I promise, but look around you, Caitlyn. This place is barely hanging together. I got people at each other's throats, people looking to bail, and people without hope. I need you here. If you can't help me with any of that or these damn artifacts, then I can use you for something else.

[It's not that trying to get everybody's panic under control or tracking down the missing artifacts isn't important - of course those things are important. But they feel like symptoms of the larger problem, and the only way to actually solve the problem is to tackle it at its source. Even if that would be potentially dangerous.

She frowns at him.]

What else could you use me for?

[His eyes flick up to make sure no one's immediately in the area before moving a couple steps closer to her to drop his voice.]

I don't think we can stay like this. You're right there's other things that need our attention, bigger problems than bowing under the weight of our own hubris here, which is why I think we still need something like ADI...just not this exactly. We need to start over, without the corruption. Without the Hunt. I'm trying to move resources, information, find who might want to keep going on this, that sort of thing. I need someone I can trust, cause what I don't want is cracks in the new foundation. You're right Steel needs to be taken care of, but we know where he's going. We need to see who and what we still have here to throw at him.

[Caitlyn imitates him by lowering her own voice and leaning towards him.]

And what would you like me to do, exactly?

[None of what he's saying sounds like it's going to lead into taking actual immediate action, which continues to be frustrating.]

Take a walk detective and if you find people to talk to about this, to see where there heads might be or what they want to see done here, I'd like to know it. While you do, maybe your path can wander over to that warehouse you found me at. Got a bit of storagegoing on there, some supplies, some copies of paperwork, as I can make them. Stuff that would be useful to add to in case anyone else tries to burn the house down while we're all still living in it.

[Delicate work, but no maybe not immediately the results she's after.]

[Caitlyn opens her mouth to object, but closes it again after a moment. What he's asking of her isn't proper action. Not something that's going to see real, immediate results.

But this is her job. And she has to respect that.]

Yes, I can do that.

[And perhaps she'll look into Zyrian Steel on her own time.]

[He nods.]

Thank you. I've got someone looking into what Steel's doing, I promise as soon as I know anything, everyone else will know it too. That's how this should be working.

[Is there a note of bitterness there? Who can say.]

Who do you have looking into that?

[She's trying to sound as though she's merely curious, and not as though she's going to go haring off to find that person and insist on joining their efforts.]

[He gives a genuine laugh.]

Nice try. No one you know. Trust me, you'll get your chance, I just can't sign off on you hopping a bus to chase after a very rich and powerful man, especially if he's got some Entity affiliation we don't know first thing about too. Not a lot of entities associated with medical equipment.

But I can help. I have experience dealing with the rich and powerful, I'd be an asset. [Caitlyn is nothing if not stubborn.] And it wouldn't get in the way of everything else you've asked me to do.

[He holds up a placating hand.]

You're used to dealing with the rich and powerful of your world, might not be the same ball game here. Besides, with everything a mess like this, I couldn't guarantee you the backup and resources I'd want to. Help me make this a little more stable and I'll tell you how to get to the city we've got eyes on.

[He needs to give her something more, though, he can see that much.]

Look, I know you're capable, but I'm not the type of guy to throw my people in the fire without cause or proper tools to handle it, alright?

[Caitlyn shakes her head, biting her lower lip, endlessly frustrated by her inability to take action.]

I don't need backup or resources, I can do it on my own. I'll take full responsibility for whatever happens to me.

[She's not going to stop pushing until he gives her a direct order.]

[There is a flicker in his expression, a mix of emotion that seems to be unable to decide between fondness, exasperation, and maybe a moment of deep sadness that resonates like an old wound before it all locks down and turns stern.]

Agent Kiramman, you will stand down on this until directed where to go to handle Steel, is that understood?

[Caitlyn stiffens ever so slightly, and pauses before speaking.]

Yes, sir.

[Something between resignation and resentment colours her tone. But she nods - still stiff - before turning to walk off.]

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Event - Dogged

Neil Grace

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