savetheearth | 6. Video. Laptop.

[Hello Network! Guess who's face pops up after like a month of being MIA? Yup, it's good old Mr Locke, now wearing spiffy new glasses. Behind him, a bit of his fancypants living room can be seen. He stares at the screen momentarily, clearly hesitating, before finally opening his mouth. Boy does he have a lot to say.]

As of Monday this week, my memories of the Network and everything associated with it returned. Nearly a month of unawareness has made me realize how necessary it is to divulge certain information. Not only do you all deserve to hear it, but certain details may prevent unnecessary problems on the chance my memory fails again in the future.

[He takes a breath. Okay, time to do this.]

First of all, in regards to myself: Richard Locke is an alias I go by. My real name is Karl Aurion. I am a Deputy Superintendent on the Locke City PD and have been on the force for 18 years with an additional 3 years served in Boston. To affirm that this information is not another practical joke, here is my badge [said badge gets whipped out and held up for a good while before being set aside] and several individuals here can confirm this information, as well. For those unfamiliar with police hierarchy, my rank is the 6th highest position on the force. I will state for the record that my position does not gain me special favor with Sherman, Edwards or anyone else.

[This is a nice segue into topic two. The seriousness falters briefly before he continues.]

Which leads to the second matter: Miki Kaoru and his death. Unlike the media and the police department claim, Miki was not a victim of gang violence and obviously not of terrorists. The culprit behind his death had been another police officer. That officer had given Miki chase for reasons unknown to myself. Upon noticing the chase, I followed. When I arrived on the scene, Miki was cornered and the officer had his gun raised. I attempted to interfere but to no avail. The officer incapacitated me before killing Miki. [a sigh] I apologize for my own elusiveness on both this matter and everything associated with the drug bust on the high school.

In regards to the bust itself, I admit to being the one behind it. I had been stationed at the high school since last year to help bring this bust to fruition, among other less noble reasons; however any Network arrests were done without my knowledge. I had not assumed my investigation would be used to bring in suspected individuals and I take full responsibility for this oversight. Though it may be difficult to believe, I did not provide my superiors with any information pertaining to the Network or those associated with it, nor do I intend to do so long as I can help it. I, unfortunately, could not help it during the past several weeks and was more than willing to take note of suspicious behavior. This is why I ask for caution when approaching me in person as I can potentially end up endangering lives should this occur again.

[He actually looks apologetic at this. Any seriousness, however, is interrupted by a teeny kitten suddenly popping up on screen, jumping up on Karl's head and plopping itself down for a nap in its new favorite bed. A brief, if somewhat exasperated glance gets spared up at it before the seriousness returns full force at the laptop]

Finally, during the last month, I managed to speak with both Edwards and Sherman, gaining the latter's trust enough to be given details of his investigation and offered modification. [a heavy pause] I accepted this offer a week after my memory of the Network was lost.

The modification process as I experienced it went as follows. It was done at a farmhouse outside of town. A robot greeted me and informed me to lay down on some sort of an operating table. Then, by use of an [insert a very unsure pause] old fashioned, pink perfume bottle, it rendered me unconscious. By the time I awoke, the procedure had been completed. I was handed a pamphlet and a... mint before being sent on my way. Here is the pamphlet in question.

[The front and back of this flower sticker monstrosity get held up to the screen for a few moments before being set back down.]

I have not experienced any significant side effects and can provide further details on the modification if asked. Should there be any other questions about any of this, they will be responded to... honestly.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[That's a lot to read, and Neku looks over a few times to make sure he's got it right. And to try and calm down.

The second part doesn't work.]

ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?

[Text this reply may be, it isn't difficult to guess the emotions behind it. Karl frowns, maybe hesitates briefly, before speaking.]

I am.

[Neku can't make himself switch to voice or video- he mostly uses text on here, and he's having enough trouble containing his emotions as is. Not to mention that the feeling of betrayal brings a none-too-happy Echo with it.]

and you NEVER thought this might be something important to mention? like if, i don't know, you forgot everything and instantly joined the 'kill the network' party??

['No, because I'm a moron' is the answer Karl wants to give. Best and most honest answer hands down. Really, how obvious all this feels now only serves to confirm how big a fool he is.]

Not disclosing any of this had felt the safer choice. Stubbornly holding on to this mindset resulted in carelessness and the failure to take certain details into account. [His frown deepens.] I never thought I would forget just days after making Sherman believe I was with him.

[The fact that Karl continues to sound remarkably calculated (even if he is being as honest as he can) is not really helping Neku's emotions.]

Safer for who?

Everyone. [He means this.] Associating with me leads to trouble. Keeping all of you in the dark felt the best way to avoid that trouble.

[Logic that sounded logical at the time. No really, it did. The less he says, the less they know, the better off everyone is! Nothing could possibly have gone wrong! ...Only it did.]

[Neku is faceplanting on his side of the screen. That's actually really, really dumb Mr. ~~Locke~~ Aurion.]

How does that make any sense? It's not safe to associate with you, on a network where we're all dangerous to associate with, but if it's under a different name and you don't give anyone any information that might help them should it actually become dangerous?

[A+ job making him possibly feel the slightest bit like a moron. Jussttt a little.]

...I provided relevant information and helped when I could without the need to reveal anything about who I am or what I do.

[WELL GOOD.]

And when it became relevant that if you had some reason to, you could arrest all of us?

No, it became relevant when I agreed to join Sherman. Prior to doing so, I would not have arrested someone for doing something barely considered suspicious or spraying graffiti or the like.

[The graffiti mention was on purpose just to drill home the point that arresting really hadn't been high on the to-do list.]

[.....ok that's a good point but STILL MAD.]

And what happens if you go and forget again?

I've left a note for myself to not needlessly arrest people. Should that not be effective then I trust you all to do whatever necessary.

[he completely means the 'whatever necessary' part too.]

[stop coming up with answers and LET HIM BE MAD AT YOU.]

I hope that's good enough. [and he'll just sign off because. yup.]

[NEVER!! HE WILL KEEP SAYING THINGS AND YOU WILL LIKE IT.

But when Neku signs off, Karl frowns and sighs. He really didn't think anyone would be hurt by what he'd done. The fact Neku was, well, he feels bad. Really bad.]

6. Video. Laptop.

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