savetheearth | 002 ✮ handwritten/hand-drawn text

[ Even if there were other important matters on his mind, Gerald Vakarian had been thinking about one thing in particular since the New Year began. So, after a productive day (or as productive as police officers stating "we've told you all we know about ThunderCorp, Agent Vakarian" in ten different ways can be"), he figures it's time to give this strange network a whirl yet again.

This time, he connects via a piece of paper, and he can't quite say that it makes him comfortable. Thankfully, his bold text doesn't quite give that away. ]

SO, SEEING HOW THIS IS ALL NOT A DREAM, I WAS WONDERING IF ANY OF YOU COULD TELL ME WHAT SORT OF THING THIS IS.

[ What follows is an assortment of images clearly glued onto paper by someone who is not a professional artist. ]

[ . . . ]

ACTUALLY... SCRATCH THAT.

[ This is exactly what he does, scribbling furiously over the image. ]

HERE, LET ME TRY TO ACTUALLY DRAW IT WITHOUT USING OLD NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINES.

[ The following sketch demonstrates that while Gerald may be a man of many talents (and a truly remarkable programmer), art is definitelynot his strongest point. ]

YEAH... SOMETHING LIKE A SECOND ONE. IF YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES AND SQUINT.

[ Well... it was worth a shot. But it still doesn't stop him from scribbling over that one too... ]

IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE A COMBINATION BETWEEN A DINOSAUR, A BIRD, AND A BUG THING.

IT'S TIMES LIKE THIS I REALLY WISH I MAJORED IN ART.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You could say you have a voice box installed.

So do a lot of other people, including myself.

That... might not work so well. I've already told my co-workers that it's laryngitis.

[ a sigh ]

I guess I could always just say that whatever I did caused permanent vocal damage. Given how much I was yelling... it wouldn't be that out of the ordinary.

[ Seriously. Why can't it just be laryngitis? ]

That's a possibility. Hopefully they'll believe you.

Yeah... I might be in a bit of trouble if they don't.

[ He might be an FBI agent, but the police aren't exactly playing around. And if they kill kids... well, let's just say he wouldn't put anything past them. ]

Or you're out of a job.

[Whoops, that was kind of blunt.]

...Sorry. It's not unusual for people on here having to quit their jobs because of 'pulses'.

Yeah, I guess.

[ Out of a job was still preferable to "dead". ]

Either way, it's not all that bad. And, I'm technically only in town for business as it is.

Well, I don't know if anyone has told you this, but the moment you leave this place, you forget the network and your 'pulses'.

Yeah, I've heard.

[ a pause ]

But I'm hoping that by the time my business is done, that won't be a huge issue anymore.

[ At least, by putting corrupt police and business executives away. After all, that is his goal. ]

Then I wish you luck with whatever you need to get done.

Thanks.

[ a pause ]

By the way, you can call me "Garrus".

It's nice to meet you, Garrus. I'm Xander.

Likewise. Given the circumstances, of course.

Yes. At least, we didn't meet during a horrible situation.

[ a laugh ]

Well, this isn't exactly ideal. But you've got a point, there.

[A chuckle is heard in return.]

Then I made my point.

002 ✮ handwritten/hand-drawn text

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;