001 ✮ text

[centurian]

[ The whole thing was completely unbelievable, there was no doubt about that. Who would've thought that typing random numbers into your phone after a search for cough syrup would turn up an untraceable network filled with what looked like bunch of crazy people? At least, calling them "crazy" seemed like the most likely conclusion. It occurs to him that he really should be doing his job, but sheer curiosity kept him looking through the posts.

Besides, it could all be related to his assignment. Somehow (okay, that was maybe reaching just a little, but what exactly can a guy do?). So, he begins to type on his phone, not quite sure what sort of person will turn up. ]

So let me guess: This is all an elaborate viral advertising campaign for cough syrup, right?

[ Well crap. Sarcasm doesn't quite translate that well through text, now does it? Still, it seemed like the better option than broadcasting either his face or voice, where (to the right person) he might as well just say "FBI agent here! Ask me about my entire life". ]

Unless any of you have a better explanation. Because from where I'm sitting, cough syrup advertising still looks a lot more likely than "aliens" and "robots".

[ Still, as they always say, sometimes "the truth is stranger than fiction". ]

Comments

text;

[earnedmystripes]

write the number down on a piece of paper

[It'll save everybody so much time.]

the faq has a video of edwards murdering a kid and talking to general miller about aliens if you want the extra gory-ass proof

voice;

[centurian]

[ well he wrote the number down but...

WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY. You know what, that merits a voice because this is some serious stuff. When he speaks, you might notice a distinct hint of subharmonics... or maybe it's just laryngitis. ]

Who murdered who?

[ and for good measure... ]

You've alerted the authorities, right?

voice;

[earnedmystripes]

[....Welp.

Kotetsu switches to audio too, and there's first a light rustling noise, as of one carding their hand through their hair restlessly.]

You too, huh.

[There's a slightly bitter huff of a not-laugh here, because how do you even begin to explain all this.]

So here's the thing. When I say Edwards, I'm talking about Police Chief Edwards. As in, the authorities are the ones trying to kill us. And yeah, even those of us who are the authorities.

[i.e. him, and you, though he won't say it outright. He's been pretty open about his own identity as a police officer, but he doesn't know how much Gerald wants to reveal.]

voice;

[centurian]

[ Hold on. He knows that voice. He was one of his father's acquaintances, and from what he remembered, he seemed like a pretty decent guy. ]

Kotet—

[ He stops himself from saying any more because... was it really a good idea to use names in a place like this?

And while he doesn't want to believe what's being said, the source seems reliable enough. ]

Now, I'm taking a lot on faith, you've got to understand. You're saying that top members of the police force are corrupt.

[ a pause ]

But there are some authorities that are above others.

[ The system would work. It had to. And if Kotetsu was telling the truth, then surely as an FBI agent, he could do something? ]

voice; i'm sorry for all these edits fksdjfkaf

[earnedmystripes]

It's fine, you can use my name. I haven't exactly kept it a secret on here.

[There's a rather tired sigh on his end, because he understands the reluctance to believe it, has been there, but then he saw the proof in the video of Paul Ben's murder, which itself was a testament that Jack Sears had been framed for it. Then there was the disappearance of Candy Rodriguez, the disposal of the missing person's report, the surveillance video of her being questioned by Sherman and taken away. The fact is, Kotetsu has long since lost his faith, and seeing it in newcomers is painful in a way. Especially because no one deserves to go through having theirs taken away from them.

His tone is flat, almost deadened as he continues on, though the anger still lurks beneath the surface]

I'm saying that a third of the force is corrupt. No one outside Locke knows anything. Anyone who they find out knows anything disappears.

In April, they shot a child and had his entire family slaughtered after he came to the police for help. Then they framed one of us who got in their way.

In August, a woman named Candy Rodriguez disappeared. A missing person's report was filed, but it was disposed of, and I found surveillance footage of her being interrogated off the record by Detective Sherman and taken away. It was probably an oversight. Same month, they messed with the water supply, put something in it that would make numbered people specifically start laughing hysterically, and told all the cops to arrest anyone suspiciously laughing in public, passing it off as about trying to stop a new drug. And when that didn't work, they got these creepy-ass dogs that could actually sniff us out.

...Basically that's a long-winded way of saying that we can't go to any authorities, because we will die, and our families will die.

voice; I WILL FORGIVE YOU JUST THIS ONCE OK. :|

[centurian]

[ It makes no sense. Absolutely none of it does. Idly, he remembers just what he and his father fought about the previous night. He'd accused him of using his pull at the Bureau to give him a crap assignment, and he countered with something along the lines of, "the less excitement you have, the better".

As much as it killed him to admit it, maybe his father was right in this case. ]

You've got to be kidding me.

[ Even if he doesn't quite want to believe it (though truthfully, he... really doesn't want to believe anything that's happened in the last couple of hours), the source is certainly legitimate enough. ]

So what you're basically saying is there's absolutely nothing you guys [ you know... the non-corrupt officers ] can do about it, and if I try to bring this to my superior's attention, there's a good chance someone will decide to murder me and dump my body... as well as my family's, in an alley somewhere?

[ A sigh. ]

You're going to have to understand why I'm having a hard time believing all of this. Do you happen to have that video?

(yay)

[earnedmystripes]

They'll probably arrest you first, try to turn you informant against us.

[And an FBI agent's connections would probably be pretty useful to Sherman and his ilk in covering their tracks should further need arise.]

And if you refuse, they'll probably just kill you then. Unless you escape or we manage to get you out, then they'll label you a dangerous terrorist and you'll have to go into hiding like those two kids that've been on the news.

And yeah, hold on a second.

[He digs around a little, and sends a link to the video.]

There. I'm--sorry in advance. It's hard to watch.

Re: (yay)

[centurian]

[ He watches the video, frown deepening as it continues to play.

His first reaction is to rationalize it. The Chief of Police didn't seem to want to do it. But, as it continues to play, he knows that there's never any rationalizing for murder. ]

There has to be something we can do.

[ Those bastards. No one was above the law, he was sure of that. There had to be something they could do.

As much as he hated suggesting it... ]

My father has high up connections in the FBI. If we just—

[ ...had proof. Showed him the video. If they could do that, then couldn't they solve this? ]

[earnedmystripes]

If we just what?

[It doesn't sound aggressive or confrontational, just--tired. Carrying this kind of secret on one's back for eight months is a heavy burden. Maybe they weren't completely untouchable, considering they were able to get word of the contaminated water out into the media without detection, but this is different.]

Nobody without a number can see anything on this network. It's like it doesn't even exist to them. If your dad even believes you, it'd be his word against theirs, and they will spin it like he's a crazy terrorist sympathizer, and then he'll be in danger too.

[centurian]

[ There is a very audible sigh that Kotetsu will more than likely hear. ]

He wouldn't believe it. Not without solid evidence.

[ There goes that last-ditch attempt right there. He isn't used to feeling this helpless. ]

So then, what do I do? Officially, I'm here for a preliminary investigation into some of the business dealings of Locke City's corporations. Embezzlement, fraud, the usual. The police aren't going to try to block a federal investigation if it runs the risk of uncovering something... unsavoury, are they?

[ Somehow, he almost feels like he knows the answer to that question. ]

[earnedmystripes]

[There’s a long pause as Kotetsu considers that, and eventually, he concedes with a sigh:]

...I don’t know. The police’ve taken it upon themselves to keep the heat off of ThunderCorp in terms of legal stuff. But I don’t know how far they’d go, or how much power they have to stop it. You might be in a good position to get information out of them, but it’s a risky position too. They might get suspicious about why you’re nosing around stuff they wanna keep hush-hush, and if they get one of those dogs on you and realize you’re one of us, they’ll probably do everything they can to get rid of you.

[Another pause. He doesn’t really like the idea of anybody risking themselves any more than he did eight months ago...but he’s also starting to believe that they can’t hide forever. It’s either keep one’s head down and wait to be discovered or fight for the right to keep living their lives, and Kotetsu’s finding that he much prefers the latter.]

But it’s probably worth trying if you’re careful.

[centurian]

At least, I have something of a lead with ThunderCorp. After all, there's nothing suspicious about asking for details on a company that poured chemicals into the drinking supply, right?

[ Of course, he'd have to ask questions about other corporations as well. ]

But I'll keep my head down as much as I can. Chances are, the police wouldn't want to risk a federal agent suddenly... disappearing, so hopefully I'll have some warning if they start getting too suspicious.

[ He really doesn't like where this is going. ]

At the very least, it's nice to know that I'm not in this completely alone.

[earnedmystripes]

Yeah, that should keep ‘em from getting too suspicious, at least for awhile…

[Or unless Gerald pokes his nose too deep into something the cops don’t want him to know.]

As long as you watch your back, you’re in a better position than most of us to get more information.

[A bit of a grin, though it’s a tired one.]

And I’ll watch yours too, as much as I can.

[centurian]

Thanks, Kotetsu. I appreciate it.

[ a pause ]

Maybe we can grab drinks sometime. I'm getting the feeling that I'll need one.

[ Or three. or four. ]

[earnedmystripes]

[Or five. Or six. Who even needs to keep count.]

That sounds damn good, to be honest.