savetheearth | one | audio + photos;

[She'd been lurking the network on and off for a few weeks. Now, she knew a fair amount of what had been happening, but her schoolwork - regrettably - came first. As tantalizing a lead as this network was to the truth, it would be there regardless. But now, she finally had some time between studying and her scattered extracurriculars. Marvelous.

A voice comes across on the network, and it sounds like a teenage girl speaking softly.]

Let's get right to it. My name is Natalie Sherman.

... I have to say, for all I'd heard, I didn't expect to be a part of this. I've done a bit of reading, and this certainly explains a few things - my uncle's arrest, for a start. He was guilty, to put it mildly, so today's verdict is what he deserved. And as for the source of those sex scandal allegations... [her tone changes on that last point, she clearly isn't pleased or comfortable.] I'd like to have a few words with whoever thought that blog was a remotely good idea...

However, I do have a few other questions? Relating to one thing, primarily. I'm going to attach a pair of photos to this post. If anyone recognizes this card, I'd appreciate anything you might be able to tell me.

attached: IMG0145.jpg, IMG0146.jpg

[two cell phone photos, two sides of a card. it's a little fuzzy, and surrounded by a blue glow. those paying close attention will see what looks like some kind of workbench behind the camera in these shots.]

I know that it's a tarot card - the Wheel of Fortune. But that's all that I know, and it only raises further questions.

Another thing... [she's not even going to bother making this private. she just needs to get his attention, and if she can open a line to anyone else who might know something by calling him out? so much the better.] Matt, I know you're here. You're a little hard to miss. Contact me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...

Well, that's enlightening.

[he sighs]

My old self uses a fake gun to shoot a monster out of his head and attacks things with lightning. The world was going to end somehow. They had to fight it. They were working together to save the world? Is that good enough?

[guess who's going slightly delayed-fire on these echoes WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT MAYBE]

I'm still curious, of course, but I'm willing to guess that you don't know much more than I do.

Thank you. I don't have any information to offer for my end of things, unfortunately.

Even if I did, there's information I have that's not mine to share because it's not about me.

Anyway... if you're Matt's cousin, are you -- um, the aunt and uncle he's living with?

I can respect that.

No, it's... complicated and I wouldn't want to bore you with the details. The short answer is that he lives with an aunt and uncle we have in common.

Edited (oops) 2014-05-02 05:46 (UTC)

Oh. So that's why...

Don't worry about it. I was just curious since he never mentioned a cousin whenever I went over.

[... wait, there's an Echo.]

Do you remember a man named Akihiko Sanada? Or something he called Caesar, perhaps?

[And another for him.]

Um, just now. Like literally just now.

The boxer?

I wouldn't know that much. It doesn't sound wrong, but... [She vaguely remembers how he was dressed, and all the scars. It'd line up decently well, at least.]

He used something like what you've described.

That's probably him, then. Everyone from SEES used it, it was their thing.

You're part of SEES too then?

No. We called ourselves the Investigation Team.

...

Well.

I guess the English for that makes more sense than Special Extracurricular Execute Sector.

.... I can almost grasp what that's getting at.

So, what then, was it a school club?

I guess? It looked like they lived in a dorm and all the people there wore the same uniform. But what sort of school run club goes out to fight monsters by shooting monsters out of their own heads with guns?

One that is very good at covering its tracks?

That's suspicious as all hell...

Maybe a private army of kids more like.

That would be... [hm. she's trying to figure out the right word here.]

If I find out, i'll let you know.

Welcome to the network, I guess.

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