savetheearth | 001 ✮ text

[ 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". ]

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Are there lots of people on here that can't protect themselves?

[ though, if many of them are kids, he might have the answer to his question. ]

Some are quite capable of it. Others...

[She pauses, and gives a defeated sigh.]

Well, I guess I'm mostly talking about myself right now.

[ There's a hint of concern to his voice. ]

No one's bothering you, are they?

Not actively, but I appreciated the concern, sir.

It's more... the things people are talking about are extraordinary.

Yet I can't really defend myself from them beyond trying to be wise to what's going on.

You know, sometimes wisdom can be your best defence. Like that saying goes...

[ hold on... he's totally got this... ]

"The pen is mightier than the sword" and the like. You need to know when to pick your battles.

I'd like to say I believed that before all of this.

Sadly, I'm not sure what my pen is supposed to do against aliens when writing it out in the open would get me killed.

Well, you're doing something right now, aren't you?

[ Though really, he doesn't exactly have the best answers for anything himself at the moment. ]

Certainly, but it's not really anything you haven't heard from everyone else...

It's still something, though.

But if you ever do need help, know that not all of the police are corrupt.

...the problem is, I don't know all of the ones who are.

It makes it rather hard to trust blindly that maybe I'll get lucky.

[ He considers this for a minute... ]

This isn't really my jurisdiction, but if you have trouble, you can talk to Kotetsu Kaburagi. He's on the force, and I know for a fact that he's a good guy.

[ Not to mention, on the network. ]

Your "jurisdiction," huh.

[That came up again, and she didn't even have to pry for it, so she can't very well be blamed if she mentions that, can she?

That name...]

That sounds a little familiar...

[She'd done some reading back through the Network, but there was a lot of people here. Was that one of the Numbered?]

Yeah. Unfortunately.

[ But... he was sorta sure it was "classified". Or, he just didn't feel comfortable sharing too much personal information on this network just yeah. ]

He's a good guy. And the point is, there are still some people you can rely on, even if there's a few bad apples in the bunch.

I'll- ... I'll keep that in mind, sir.

[She still sounds a bit uncertain. Certainly, what she'd seen struck her as this Kotetsu guy sounding trustworthy, but... she was also wary about inviting police attention at all at that point.]

Thank you, though. The concern is appreciated.

It's no problem.

[ And... because he has introduced himself to everyone that he doesn't know on the network by his childhood nickname... ]

By the way, you can call me "Garrus". Sir makes me feel way too old.

I'll try to keep that in mind.

I guess the question is, should you worry about sounding old, or not?

Well, I'm not even thirty yet, so... I'd say I'm not that old.

Little early to be that self conscious, isn't it?

Well... you know.

[ ...all these kids are making him feel old. ]

[She laughs a bit.]

I'm sure you have more important things to be worried about.

[ a laugh ]

Yeah, like a possible lapse in sanity that caused me to dream up a magic network that you can access on paper.

Good luck with maintaining it, then.

Still working on that, but I think I'm doing alright.

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