9. Voice. Cellphone.

[flamberge]

Loss of echoes is by far one of the most irksome experiences, as is the sudden recollection of them. [The timing of this one had been super bad too.] However, as of yesterday, mine have returned. Given that no odd occurrences have been in the news or in the reports I've seen, the colorful vigilantism aside, I take it nothing of notice has occurred during this time?

[Damn that vigilantism and the pain in the ass paperwork that comes with it. Nice that happens, not nice that it takes hours to write up.]

I also ought to mention, though it should be obvious due my prolonged absence, that I will no longer be undercover at Locke City High School as Richard Locke. Not only is my present workload far too large to permit for it, but my superiors deemed it no longer necessary. Under our new 'management', if you were, the department is attempting something unheard of, namely being a police force without gratuitous levels of corruption among its ranks.

[Karl sounds both amused and, though difficult to tell, hopeful while saying that last line. Will the force change? Will it just go back to what it was? Who knows. The connection is almost cut before he remembers something. Between the trial and loss of echoes, he hadn't had the time to really address this.]

One final matter, does the following have any meaning to anyone here?

[A breath gets taken before he speaks once more.]

Once upon a time, there existed a giant tree that was the source of mana.
A war, however, caused this tree to wither away, and a hero’s life was sacrificed in order to take its place.
Grieving over the loss, the goddess disappeared unto the heavens.
The goddess left the angels with this edict: “You must wake me, for if I should sleep, the world shall be destroyed.”
The angels bore the Chosen One, who headed towards the tower that reached up unto the heavens.
And that marked the beginning of the regeneration of the world.

[And, following an uncertain pause at the almost fairy tale like little story, the connection ends.]

Comments

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

You've been missed for our weekly coffee, Karl.

[He doesn't quite say "welcome back", but there's definitely pleasure and relief in his tone-- if just because now he's entirely trustworthy again, but mostly because a friend is back.]

[Audio]

[flamberge]

I'm sorry for missing them. To make up for my absence, the next few coffees will be on me.

[There's almost a questioning tone at the end of that, as though asking if him coming by despite no longer being at school is okay.]

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

[No question there. They're still friends, after all, and if he doesn't come for coffee once a week, how will he ever see the man again?]

I certainly won't protest. Best run that by Nick, though, since he's the one usually paying for them.

[Otherwise it wouldn't be fancy coffee, it'd be free coffee, or at best coffee he brought from home to make a fresh pot of, himself.]

Voice

[mimicery]

I don't know, is there something that is suppose to happen?

[Sorry, Karl]

Voice

[flamberge]

No, however, things tend to happen whether or not they're supposed to.

text;

[detectivetroll]

Hey, I guess this means we can carpool to the school for our weekly coffee now.

text;

[flamberge]

So long as you're not opposed to breaking several speeding laws should I be the one driving.

[Maybe he has a bad habit of speeding. And turning on the no turn on red signs. And possibly cutting across parking lots.]

[Voice]

[dominateartimus]

Welcome back.

[There's a brief pause, almost waiting for something to trigger from the passage, but nothing happens.]

As for your... story at the end, I'm afraid I don't know what it means. Sorry.

[Voice]

[flamberge]

Thank you. Oddly enough, it feels good to be back.

[Remembering everyone and everything beats forgetting it all.]

No need to apologize. It would have been wishful thinking to hope that more than one or two people find these words meaningful.

[Voice]

[boredallready]

Oh, good. It's been kinda hard not talking about all this stuff...

And...that sounds kinda familiar. I think... [There's a pause.] I-I think it means I can sleep when I'm standing up!

[Voice]

[flamberge]

Should be of any consolation, you've done a good job of hiding it.

[Karl mirrors that very pause cause... what????]

...Excuse me?

[Voice]

[seriallylucky]

I think your story just gave me a pulse. I don't know about meaning, but do the names "Tret" and "Kolima" mean anything to you?

[Voice]

[flamberge]

[There's a pause as Karl waits for any potential echo. When none seem to be coming, he finally responds.]

No, I cannot say they do. Do you know what either of those has to do with this story?

[Voice]

[beforeweproceed]

[The last line of the story's finished.

And here comes an Echo. And then there goes an Echo.]

Not... the goddess and angels - stuff, but, say.

The tower and "Chosen One" aren't given names in that story, are they? Far as you... "have Echoed."

[Voice]

[flamberge]

No, any names are still beyond my present knowledge. All I've been able to gather thus far is that a Chosen was sent on a Journey of World Regeneration where her becoming an angel was the key to salvation.

[At least that one echo had made it seem that way. His past self, Kratos, had put great emphasis on the whole angel thing, after all.]

[voice]

[peacefulwinter]

You will be missed at the school, Mr. Loc- ah. I guess that's... not what I should be calling you now. I wish you l-luck at the department, though. There is a lot that needs to be answered for, after everything, and I believe you will do a fine job of... making sure everything is addressed.

[Winter lets the story wash over her; it's a very intriguing tale, but unfortunately, it's not hers - she knows that much already.]

It's an interesting story, but... I'm sorry, it doesn't mean anything to me. I hope you can find someone, though. I get the s-sense that it's something that could change the fate of a world.

[voice]

[flamberge]

I will miss those of you at the school, as well, and thank you. I plan on seeing to it that those issues be addressed. Should there be any issues that rise up in the future, do not hesitate in bringing them to me.

[He's not in jail so he's going to be doing his damnest to not waste that. It may never be a perfect force, but it can at least be better than it was.]

It very well may be. Another pulse had alluded to how all life could end were this journey not to succeed.

Text

[evowhisperer]

There've been a few things that you may have missed.

Has anyone filled you in on the Numbered that was abducted, or the murder of a Numbered in Vegas, yet?

Text

[flamberge]

No, no one's made mention of either. Care to do the honors?

[stavros]

My apologies. I know not of this.

[flamberge]

Nothing to apologize for. Only a small handful of people would likely find this tale familiar.

Audio; Private

[buildyourworld]

You're so dead, Karl.

[ Guess who has been lending his shoulders to your upset Melissa? ]

Audio; Private

[flamberge]

Dare I ask what for?

[Is this over his attitude in the YOU HAVE A LONG LOST SON post? Cause he will apologize for it. No need for death threats!

AH and one more thing.]

Also, you ought to know that Melissa's lost her echoes as of this morning.

voice

[featherduster]

Hey- it's not unheard of, just exceptionally rare.

Still. Glad you're feeling better, Chief.

[ He has probably never actually called you anything else, sorry Karl ]

voice

[flamberge]

Then we can only hope Locke City becomes such a rarity.

Aurion or Karl.

[Didn't they go over this? He's pretty sure they did.]

I hadn't been aware you were a numbered.