savetheearth | Network | Text, Typed.

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Network | Text, Typed.

I see you all managed to keep yourselves busy while I was gone.

As entertaining as it's been to follow without echos, would it be possible for someone give me a rundown of everything the news reported incorrectly since October? I'd take a FAQ, but the most recent date on it is from June.

Assume that I've had my number back for a week, and that I'm familiar with the basics of what's recent.

Is anyone hurt?

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Then we have that in common.

What about your projects? You've been handling Espresso Yourself and guardianship of Project Jump?

Among other things, I think. My projects? There are a lot of them. Some are more important than others. Some are not important at all. Project Jump would cripple us if it was compromised. Though circumstances surrounding it were sad, I am not unhappy that the network leak is gone.

*Cesar sits up in his seat, feeling something cold slip into his veins. Questions jump towards his fingers like hungry wolves; he has to force himself to couch the most important ones as though they don't matter.*

That's how it goes.

Gone? They found the leak?

I thought you knew. I mean... I thought you'd have to know about it, given what I'd assume to be a vested interest in knowing who sold out your brother and potentially you as well.

This happened while I was gone.

What happened?

*Congratulations, L, you have his attention: The message came with no delay at all. Cesar doesn't even re-read it, unable to wait, and hating the feeling that he's following this conversation on L's terms.*

[That lack of a delay prompts rather a long one on L's end. Cesar might or might not feel every second of it.]

This might come as a shock to you, then. It turns out that Chuck was leaking names to the Mafia; another detective alerted me. We kept it secret then and I specifically asked not to be involved from that point forward; as we've discussed, I couldn't have handled the situation with the restraint it required. It's no matter now, though. Chuck is gone, and met a sorry end. Maybe worse than what I could have done even at my most sadistic.

Edited 2014-12-22 04:41 (UTC)

*Every second lasts hours. Cesar doesn't look away. When the message finally arrives--*

*--'A shock' doesn't even cover it. It's an anvil to the gut, an entire lake of icy water pouring past him.*

*He almost can't type fast enough.*

What doyou mean? What happened, specifically?

And how did you find out any of this in the first place? He was the Numbered's source of information, not a mole.

Edited 2014-12-22 04:51 (UTC)

Specifically? I guess you are invested in this. My condolences. As I said, another detective told me. We work together sometimes and share notes. Perhaps I shouldn't say more than that.

Cut to the chase, and stop toying with me.

I knew Chuck. Whatever he was, he wasn't the leak. He was a teenager, and a victim.

You seem so certain that he wasn't the leak. Tell me why.

*Cesar grinds his teeth, barely aware of the pain. He's worthless, good-for-nothing scum: he'll lie, even at a time like this. Did Chuck take the fall for him? Is that why he's dead?*

His Other's parents were the same as my Other's parents. We were Echoed brothers.

What Happened to him?

*He can't let that stand. If Chuck died because of him...*

[It's another long while before L responds.]

I'll tell you what I know, but I wonder if discussing it over text does it justice. If he was your brother... it's a cheap way to learn about his fate.

I don't care how you tell me. He's dead.

Tell me how he died!!!

*He's shaking and sweating, and his grip on the cellphone is enough to strangle. Breath. Pull yourself together, Sanchez-Ortiz.*

*The shaking slows.*

You told me once that you weren't cruel. Prove it to me now.

Edited 2014-12-22 05:50 (UTC)

The first thing you should know is that I was hands-off about handling the leak itself. I insisted that I shouldn't be heavily involved because, as you recall, what happened did a number on my sanity. You can certainly imagine, especially now that you've been through it, too. He was spotted during the bust on Albero, and he was apparently quite an obstacle. While I wasn't there in person, I have video footage, audio and stills. It looks like he was modded, like the hybrids Albero employs. But before you go saying he's dead, keep in mind that I never actually said that. I just think that if he did survive, whatever he became isn't Chuck anymore. Even if you can forgive him for what he did... I really don't know if there's any coming back from what's been done to him.

Someone else already told me he was there.

How do you mean modded? What happened to him?

Does anyone know where he is now?

I don't know what happened to him. I wasn't there, as I said. But there were blue lines running under his skin, glowing through him and his clothing, and he was covered in metal plating. His hands were larger and also appeared to be made of metal. He sounded like a machine. Would it matter if they did? He was fighting for them, long before any of this went down. Moises is dead, they hurt Tony, Robyn was terrified and hurt, your vocal cords were forcibly removed. Even if you don't want to believe it, he was giving them names and information that devastated plans and people. Mourn him if you have to, but if you want to try to save him... I confess I don't understand.

Parts of those mods are nothing new.

He was a kid. He was family, and he had a family. You wouldn't understand, so I'll spell out parts I think you'll listen to: if you gave Chuck the chance to talk, you'd be interested in what he had to say. He's innocent, at least of leaking Numbered information.

Edited 2014-12-22 06:26 (UTC)

[That would sting, if L allowed it to. He swallows, suppresses it, and responds.]

I am sorry for your loss, Cesar. I admire your determination to remember him a certain way, so... please continue to do that. I recognize when arguing further would be cruel, or at least I like to think that I can.

Don't patronize m--

*He deletes that.*

I'm not in denial--

*He deletes that, too.*

Before you retreat from this, at least consider what I've said. I'm not in denial, and I know exactly what I'm telling you. Chuck used giant mechanical hands to protect me in our first encounter. It's not just possible that he could tolerate extreme modifications along those lines, but possible that they were actually echoes.

If anyone finds him, they should ask him what he did do. The truth will start coming out, then.

I wish only not to be cruel.

*No response. This conversation is over, as far as Cesar's concerned.*

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