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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"I was talking to Reyes about accountability, about... surveillance and the system we'd set up. They've been struggling for a while with things I shouldn't mention. So, we talked. Accountability at all levels. If we're using something like that system, everyone in ADI needs to be clean. Zyrian's a rich man. Very rich. And I know Nia's his friend."

She sighs. "I just thought she might be bribing him or something in their private meetings. I never expected... that."

Martin listens intently, looking only more sympathetic when Reyes is mentioned, nodding at he reasoning. "I... I get that. It's... it's really hard, t-to do anything with these, these things without getting wrapped up in it. Without doing things you don't mean to."

He sighs, trying to collect himself, figure out how to say any of this gently. For now, he sticks to rubbing her shoulder. "Do you ever feel like this happens to you, uhm, a lot? Like... things are your fault, t-too much, or something. I, I don't want to make you feel bad, or anything, I'm-- t-to be fair, I'm worried about you." He wants to chuckle, but it's not really a laughing thing. "A, a lot, actually."

Her lip wobbles when he mentions things happening to her a lot, that they're her fault. He seems to have hit on something. Pam swallows, breaths a little bit shallower as she tries to rein herself in. A few stray tears roll down her cheeks, anyway. "I am responsible. I let these-these things into ADI. Into my home before. My parties were their playgrounds. I let the Corruption onto the network. I let-I let the Eye in with decorations. The End in with a 'spooky' party. So many others for Thanksgiving. I can't- I can't do this anymore.

"Mr. Steel said he's sending money. To my family. I let the artifacts free, and he's going to make sure they're taken care of forever. The least I can do."

"Money isn't going to replace you." He can feel the pain off her in waves, and it hurts. This is loneliness he knows well, an alienation of hopelessness that leads to terrible, terrible ends. "Look, this-- this isn't your fault. I know, I, I know it feels like it, trust me, because there's... there's people who just, see opportunities to hurt people. But you don't seem like that. I mean, you, y-you would never."

He shuffles over, putting his arm around her shoulders, if she'll allow it. "I mean, I don't think there's anything you could gain from all this anyway. You're just trying to have some fun."

Pam sniffles. "You're kind. But it-it is my fault. Some of it is. These. The-the artifacts. They're my fault. And now I'm messing up again. I want to protect my family. But there are people I love at ADI. I don't know what to do. That's why I thought, if I could go into Dogtown, find something... maybe. And if I don't, then, it's... at least I won't die becoming one of the things that hurts people."

"Pam, dying isn't going to fix anything." This is one thing he can be adamnt about, serious about, and he gives her another squeeze of reassurance. "There's-- becoming something else doesn't make you a bad person. As long as you're trying to do better, it means something, it-- it really does."

"Does it?" It seems to be a genuine question, at least. "What if trying isn't enough, though? I don't want to become the things we've been fighting. That we were supposed to be getting rid of. None of this feels right. How can ADI- We fight the monsters. We weren't supposed to become them. I thought- I think... Nia's always been a good and honorable person. I don't understand how the Hunt could get her."

"I know. I know, and... I'm sorry it's like this. It's so, so hard, and-- and you're right, it's not right. It's not fair." He swallows hard, trying to fight through a bit more of his own hesitation, the grief that he's shoved down forever from the act of existing with the Entities. "They're just... encompassing. Once you know about them, they just-- they try to come for you. Just, just fighting, surviving, is-- it's all so hard."

He sighs one more time, trying to steady himself. "I-- the one thing we have, that they don't, it's-- it's this connection. It's being human, and, and knowing we can depend on each other. It's those connections. And they can't take that from us, y-you know? Not if we don't let them."

"Connection." She reaches to touch him with her remaining hand, to lay a hand atop his. "You think that can save her? Stop her becoming-becoming one of the monsters? Stop us becoming that?"

"I know it can." He smiles, even with the tightness in his eyes, even with the worry in his heart. "I've seen it. All-- All they do is work against each other. Our bonds are what makes us. And they can't take that from us."

Martin exhales just a moment, musters up a little courage, and says one more thing. "I... I was stuck, once. In a very lonely place, w-where no one could find me, and... and Jon did. He broke through it, and, and took my hand, and it worked. So... yeah. It's important. It's really important."

Pam nods, wiping at her eyes briefly with her sleeve. "Okay. Yes, I-I want to believe that. Nia will- She'll need her people to keep her, then. I know Neil and Rae are going to leave. They're too... good to stay after something like this. Maybe I'm not.

"I don't want to lose my family again."

At this point, there's nothing he can do but pull her into a hug. He has an opportunity right now to make a difference, and he knows this-- and Jon always said he gave good hugs, anyway.

"I promise. You'll always have family. You're not-- you're not bad for trying to stay and help." He can't help but chuckle at the next bit. "I-- I've been there, really. Please, stay with us. Don't go."

Her hug is fierce, a little too needy, maybe. Perhaps some part of Martin might even be able to feel a tug of the intense pit of fear at the core of her, the part that sees a life without others as something horrific. She's already lost so many. Offering others and then pulling them away... that could be the thing that would break her, lead the Lonely to consume a person like Pam.

"I'll stay." She nods against his chest. "I- We should go back. I need to get back to help fix this mess I made. Will you come with me, Martin?"

He knows. He knows, more than he would be able to say, and he has to help. He can help, he can do this, and for once he can stay and comfort her and get her to keep going.

"O-Of course. If you're ready. You can always, uhm-- s-stay here for a few more minutes. If you need it."

"No. No, I'm ready. I think I'm finally ready." Pam takes a deep breath and pull away to stand up. Her smile is sad and desperately earnest. "I've stayed here too long already. I won't let Mr. Steel have another moment of my time.."

Event - Dogged

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