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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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To everything! I can't take a break now, not when the answer is right here in front of me.

[How can Rue even think of taking a break? Rue can't be... No, no, surely not. Rue can't possibly be working for the Entities, trying to thwart and misdirect her investigation. That would be absurd.

... But...

They're not helping.

Caitlyn's fingertips drum against the grip of the gun as she frowns at Rue before returning her attention towards where it's needed: her notes.]

Can't you see how important this is?

[There's a fierceness in their friend's voice that Rue is wholly unprepared for, their feathery brow jumping upwards in surprise at that tone. Something is wrong, even if Rue can not begin to understand why or how, but something has taken ahold of her.]

But Caitlyn, you have not even explained what these are! Of course I do not understand the significance of your findings.

[and then more gentle, a paw moving to rest against Caitlyn's forearm.]

Pray, explain it to me. Plainly. I am not well-versed as most in such conspiracies.

[Caitlyn immediately shrugs off the paw on her forearm. Normally, she would be welcoming of such a gesture, but now it's nothing but a distraction. There's no time for comfort, no time for friendship.]

There's an artifact that's the key to everything. If I can just find it, I can finally get to the bottom of it all.

[She's staring intently at the mess of papers on the floor.]

The answer is in my notes, somewhere. I just need to find it. There's no time for anything else.

What does that mean, the key to everything? What is it we are trying to solve?

[There is some small part within the owlbear that hurts at their touch being shaken off like that, but Caitlyn is acting just wild enough that they know better than to truly take offense at the action. There's more important things going on.

Rue peers down at the mess of papers, finally seeing the full amount that has been absolutely plastered all over the young woman's apartment. The very sight of it leaves Rue feeling taken back. Where did all of this come from?]

When did you begin taking all of these notes? I do not remember you ever speaking to me of such conspiracies before today.

Everything! [Frustrated that Rue can't understand the importance of what she's doing, Caitlyn scowls, moving away from the owlbear. Maybe she needs a different perspective on the notes.

For a moment, her head swims, dizziness from lack of sleep and food momentarily making her vision go static and her stomach heave. But that isn't important, she has to push through. If she could only focus.]

I've always been taking notes. [That's true. Caitlyn's always been an avid note-taker. Though perhaps there's been a bit of an uptick in the past week or so. Perhaps an exponential uptick.]

Not like this you have not. [Even in their short acquaintance, Rue knows that much about the woman.] Caitlyn, my dear friend, please, may we sit and talk this out?

[But she's already off, attention shifting away from Rue and back to her stream of notes, looking over and over for the connection that she just can't seem to make. For a connection that, Rue supposes, probably does not exist.

Their worry just increases considerably.]

Have you been eating? Or sleeping for that matter? Darling, you have bags under your eyes, you look exhausted.

There isn't time!

[Caitlyn crouches down to get a closer angle, pulling her gun out of its holster and fiddling idly with it, just to have something to do with her hands while her eyes rake over the same pages they've been staring at for days.]

I haven't got time to sit and talk, or eat, or sleep. Can't you see how important this is?

[The startled hoot of a noise that drops from Rue's beak would be much more embarrassing if they weren't so obviously distressed at the sight of that gun being drawn.]

Caitlyn! Put that away! We are indoors, inside your own home, you do not need to brandish a weapon like that!

[Rue's gun trauma may be peaking out.]

I must insist that you take a break. Come, let us take a walk to clear your head, then we can get a coffee together, wouldn't that be lovely? I have new gossip to share from around the office.

[The last thing in the world that Caitlyn would ever want to do is upset or frighten Rue, which is why it's so odd that she can tell Rue is very upset by the gun and she simply doesn't care.

Getting to the bottom of this mystery is what matters. The only thing that matters. If fiddling with the gun helps her think, she's going to keep fiddling with the gun.]

How many times must I tell you, I haven't got time for a break!

[Why is Rue being so insistent that she stop working? Her earlier thought that they might be attempting to thwart her floats back to the surface, nagging at her. She doesn't want to believe that Rue could be working for an Entity, but is there any other explanation for their behavior?]

Why don't you want me to work? [She scowls at them, thumb stroking across the grip of the weapon.] I'm trying to stop the Entities, why wouldn't you want me to do that?

[It's only because it is Caitlyn, Rue's dear, true friend, that they don't feel any real danger to being in her presence. No matter what is going on, there's just no way that she would harm them. Even if this stress she's under seems to be coming from somewhere completely unusual.

Somewhere else entirely even. Could this be related to those odd artifacts that have been running wild around ADI?

It's true, they don't enjoy the sight of that gun in the woman's hand, but it doesn't drive the owlbear away. They stand their ground, drawing a touch of calm into their tone, even if the authority of their former title can't help but curl around the edges.]

Look at yourself, Caitlyn. You look on the verge of passing out. I promise, once you have slept, I will help you personally with this endeavor. We made that pact together at my wedding, did we not? To give everything we can to defeat the Entities. But that means knowing when to step back and reassess, when to take care of one another, to always make certain no one has to fight this fight alone.

[Rue steps closer then, daring to reach out and take Caitlyn's free hand in their paw.]

You are not alone.

[Caitlyn violently jerks her hand out of Rue's paw. It's clear now, Rue is against her.]

I don't need to sleep!

[In her anger, she stands up abruptly, and her head swims. For a long moment, she's afraid she really is going to pass out. Or throw up. Or both. She leans forward, bracing her free hand on her knee, waiting for the dizzy spell to pass.]

You're working for them, aren't you? The Entities. You don't want me to defeat them. [Because she will figure out how to defeat them. If she can just focus. Her knuckles are turning white with the force with which she's gripping the gun.]

[Rue recoils as if slapped, the mossy-green feathers around their head and neck poofing up around them, their already large eyes somehow widening even further. Their expression swims between deepening concern and absolute offense.]

You are being completely unreasonable! [Their tone does not raise, but there is a certain bite of anger to their words.] I am only trying to help and -

[Their gaze suddenly narrows on the force that Caitlyn is clinging to her gun. It should be terrifying, and perhaps somewhere they feel that fear and it is exactly why their beak then trembles slightly, but there is nothing that would chase Rue away at this moment, not when their friend so obviously is in desperate need for help.

Their shoulders straighten, as they delicately smooth down their ruffled feathers, and like a teacher speaking calmly to a misbehaving child, state their next command slowly.]

Put. Down. That. Gun.

[Finally, the static fuzz fades from Caitlyn's vision, and she straightens herself up - more slowly, this time, more careful not to send herself into another dizzy spell.

She glares at Rue.]

Why? So you can attack me?

[This is too much of a distraction. She's already spent too long dealing with this, instead of working.]

[Rue's gaze back in unblinking, firm and unwavering.]

Why? [They parrot right back.] Because I am a beast?

[Caitlyn's glare turns steely. Beast or vastaya or human, it's all the same to her. They're in her way.]

Because you know I'm going to stop them. And you don't want me to.

[She wavers ever so slightly. Not from lack of conviction, but from lack of sleep. She blinks, a little too slowly. Her grip on the gun isn't as steady as it should be.]

[Rue will feel absolutely awful about this later, they so hate to use their natural size and strength for anything, but they simply must try.

So they attempt to strike the gun out of Caitlyn's hand, to grab her wrist and slap the weapon away. Maybe it would be more effective to twist the gun and take it for themself, but they can't stand the idea of handling such a weapon in their own paws. So instead, they'll just smack it away and try to use their body to keep the woman from retrieving it again.

Emphasis on try.]

[Caitlyn has very good reflexes, and under normal circumstances it would be perfectly easy to simply move out of the way of Rue's swipe. But she hasn't eaten or slept in days, and her head is so foggy that by the time she's registered that Rue is slapping her hand, it's already happened.

The gun goes clattering away across the floor. Caitlyn sways, off-balance.]

Why won't you let me work?

[This is all a distraction. She doesn't want to fight Rue, she needs to be working. Once again, she crouches down, trying to focus on the notes in front of her, but the treacherous thought steals into her mind: maybe she should take a break.]

[For all of their hesitation before, Rue's next action is immediate. They do not need to think for even a second.

The gun skitters away and before Caitlyn can fully stoop to dive back into her notes, the owlbear is drawing her into a hug. And it's everything that Rue normally holds back in their gentle embraces. This is tight and powerful, almost crushing as their whole body trembles, lifting the woman up off of her feet to just fully rest against their soft feathers, cradled and shielded by their wings.

And Rue will not let go. Not yet]

You are too important to us to let you give your life to this cause! You mean too much to me.

[Caitlyn cries out in surprise as she's hoisted up by the owlbear, weakly thrashing in an attempt to escape - she needs to get back to work! - before finally succumbing to the hug and resting her face against Rue's shoulder.

Had she accused Rue of working with the Entities? Had she been ready to fight Rue? That was terrible of her, wasn't it? How could she have done such a thing?]

Rue. I'm so sorry.

[The moment that Caitlyn gives in, when her head drops to their feathery shoulder, Rue's squeezes the woman affectionately, not quite ready to let her go yet.]

You have nothing to apologize for. Truly, my dearest, I am just so grateful to have you back. That was most terrifying. I so feared you were going to hurt yourself.

[She could almost fall asleep like this, cradled in Rue's soft, warm embrace. Like being hugged by a pillow...

Caitlyn forces herself to open her eyes, frowning heavily from the effort. It's becoming clearer now - truly clearer, not the awful sort of clarity she'd been convinced of a few minutes ago.

This started shortly after she picked up that gun. And only now that it's no longer in her possession is she realizing how self-destructive she'd become in the time she had it.]

You mustn't touch the gun. [That's about the extent of what she can manage before she finds her eyes slipping closed again. Not having slept or eaten in days, her body is going to force her to rest whether she wants to or not. But she's got to warn Rue before she falls asleep.]

[These artifacts are so truly terrible. Rue can not believe they were so carelessly lost among them.]

Of course. I will send someone to come and dispose of it. Fro now, please, dearest, rest. I will bring you to bed. You need not worry about a thing.

[And they will stay as long as Caitlyn is asleep and for as long as she needs after, just in case the poor woman wakes up in a total panic. Rue will not leave her alone to face this.]

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Event - Dogged

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