[The message comes in the dead of night, maybe 2am, and he sounds awful. Even putting aside the breathless coughing - no wonder he can't sleep - the confidence and amused, inquisitive detachment are all gone from Beckett's voice. He sounds dead serious, and very unsure - even a little afraid.]
I hate asking for favours, but this is an important one, and you seem the best person to approach it with. [He'd formed a very good opinion on her through their conversations. But he still hesitates. Not just an important favour, but a personal one as well...]
You were right when we last spoke. I'm... not well, and... not improving. It might not be as bad as it feels, [He chuckles dryly, but it just triggers another cough] but I need to be prepared for... all eventualities.
[A deep breath, and out with it. Just be out with it.] I've seen that others have met people they're familiar with here. There might be... there are a man and a woman from my world. Kindred, like me. Lucita and Anatole. They'll know my name. If I am - not present [he actually stumbles a little over the words]
Please be kind to them. They will need it. Tell them that I was here and that I... didn't find the answer. They'll understand. And they will repay my debts.
[ It takes a few seconds for her brain to fight off the drowsiness enough to form a response, and even then she's lost for words. Her immediate urge is to lay on the reassurances - tell him he's going to be alright, that there's no need to worry, that he can tell these people himself if they show up because he's going to be fine.
Except that would feel more disrespectful than helpful, really. That'd be comforting herself, not him. If something is important enough for him to reach out this way, then it's also important enough for her to agree to it with no questions asked. ]
That's hardly a favour. There won't be any debt to pay. But I - okay.
Is it really that bad? Did you speak with one of the doctors?
So far, I know of only one person with a program that can do this, and it's someone I trust, but if one person can, it's possible that there are others. Be careful what you say, even if you think it's private.
[And then for good measure, he sends the same warning to Rhys's tablet.]
Edited 2015-10-26 01:45 (UTC)
@Mnemosyne; voice | Day 52, morning | SORRY FOR SPAMMIN UR INBOX ANGEL
Yeah, Angel still isn't sure how she's feeling about this. Her initial response is a bizarre mixture of relief and disappointment that doesn't seem to want to coalesce into one emotion or the other. It's difficult to decide how to respond, or whether she should even respond at all.
She doesn't owe him anything.
But he did die for her.
But that doesn't erase everything else.
But isn't it a step in the right direction?
Ugh. When she finally turns on the video, Angel keeps her expression as neutral as possible. Sup, weird-sounding pops. ]
[No preamble, right to the point. Evidence has been collected; it is now Theory Time.]
The people of a small, out of the way town, through whatever means, stumble upon something they shouldn't. An entity, a power source, a gateway. Along with it they discover its warden, or perhaps the artifact's own innate spirit or personality. They call their finding NIMA and use it to improve their lives. The warden is either convinced or coerced into cooperating with this. It becomes Administrator for the town and they increasingly rely on it.
Then something goes wrong. The unleashed power alters both the people and their world. The Administrator offers relief efforts to her best ability, but eventually everyone in the town dies out, leaving the Administrator purposeless. In distress, she reaches out through whatever power she holds to repopulate the town. But there's only so much control she has. Inevitably whatever was unleashed corrupts the new residents as well, and she is forced to destroy them, and bring in a new crops. They succumb as well, but she does not give up. Having been moulded to the service of the town, this is all she knows. She erases all signs of her previous failure, and keeps pretending that this next batch will not end up as the last ones did. Not through wilful cruelty, but simply through her nature, because the town is all she has.
[ Angel nods along to herself as she reads. This all sounds plausible. Sound. It makes sense.
And some parts of it itch at the back of her brain with their familiarity. So much so that she reads it again, twice, before things finally click into place. ]
DUDE.
[ An entity. A power source. A gateway. What if it's all three?
What if it's a Vault. ]
You are a genius and I love you. Is there precedent for this where you come from? Because there is on Pandora!! There are things where I come from called Vaults (capitalization intended) They're like - hidden alien treasure caches, as far as the legends go? But that's a vast oversimplification All they have in common is that they contain great power (sometimes in the form of riches, sometimes knowledge, sometimes power in a more literal sense), and they are watched over by a guardian. They also have some kind of innate connection to Sirens! Which could be why - and how - my powers got taken?
Looks like things are finally settling down where I'm at. I'm releasing the patients I've been treating and headed straight for the southern wall to meet up with you and Rhys. The weather's cleared up, so at least that should make the trip faster. Sorry again for the delay.
Hey, wanted to check up on you two. Did you meet up with Epps yet? Close to the clown house? I won't tell that guy where you're at if you are avoiding him. Tifa is pretty worried, man. I'll talk to you later. Let me know if I need to go teach anyone some manners SeeD style.
Sorry this is so late! I'm with Rhys and Dr. Epps, we're all alive, it's okay now. I sent a message to Tifa too, I'm sorry for causing so much trouble. Nobody needs to be taught any manners, seedily or not! Don't fret ^w^
[ There is an exceedingly good chance that Angel is literally right next to him. He's supposed to be sleeping, but he's feeling much to good to waste time asleep.
He's spent the last several minutes sat up in bed, mumbling to himself quietly. Abruptly, he grapples for his tablet and transmits a live call. ]
[ After lizardfest, Angel is exhausted. And worried for the people who didn't leave until after she did. Annnnd also she can't feel her hands and feet despite being indoors away from the cold. That too.
SO, she's having a well-deserved nap. Right up until Rhys calls her, anyway. She gives the tablet a groggy look - ]
I was sleeping!
[ And then turns her head to look to her side wheRE RHYS IS SITTING, RIGHT THERE, LITERALLY WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE WHAT THE HECKIE WHY THIS ]
[Al had been present at the meeting of the town, but he had found himself preoccupied with other matters during it, and somehow time had slipped by before he managed to attend to everyone or everything of importance to him.
Then people were moving off, enacting the plans they set into motion during the hours of talk, and he had been in a flurry of farewells before he realised that he still hadn't spoken to Angel. He left it a few days, still preoccupied with other things, but he's finally in a position to call.]
Angel? Hey, it's-- uh, it's Alphonse. Do you have a minute?
Hi, Zell!! ♥ We're doing just fine! Muddling along, you know? Keeping busy. You're all fine too, I hope? If you do come downtown (which you should!!), be careful! The last stretch of the caves is pretty long. Beckett and Rydia had to sled down here too after we did, so be prepared for that. (OnO)
Geez, you're the second person to ask that today! Has someone been spreading rumors that we're dying in a ditch?? XP We're fine! Exploring is difficult when there are no maps at all, but it's also pretty fun. ♥
Oh - sure! Though if you're talking about the second time, when we broke into the server, it wasn't actually me who did the hacking. I just aided in the prep work! I should still be able to answer questions, but you may want to speak to Rhys if you want a first-hand account.
Angel! Hi, honey! I know you're probably, like, way super overwhelmed right now.
[Considering, well, everything. But the point of this message is to not talk about that stuff so Ginger utilizes her nervous, manic energy to try and stay positive! For her friend! Her sweet sweet cutiepie friend who could use something a bit less scary right now!]
But I'd like to...ask you a question! I mean, like, a favor? If you have time!
[ Angel even manages a smile. Because lbr she needs something else to think about right now, and Ginger doesn't seem to be upset with her, and also there's that whole thing she does with hiding when she's scared or sad because it Just How She Do. ]
What's up? I always have time to help a friend. Um - if I can.
[He knows she said to never contact her again, and that this might just make matters worse.... but honestly, when has that ever stopped him before? Exactly never, and so he's going to try his chances.
Besides, something funky was going on over the network, and so he's pretty certain that there may yet be hope!!
maybe...]
Lady Angel, I know you had expressed that you wished for me to never contact you again--and whilst I am clearly not respecting that, I feel the terms of such an exclamation may very well be up for dispute, which I feel makes this well within my right.
[Wow, already starting out great. But to be honest, he's really not sure how to traverse this. SO HERE!! HE GOES!!]
What... happened last night--there was something amiss with it, and I feel both you and myself were afflicted with whatever it was, along with nigh everyone else. I cannot explain it, but the horrors that were on display and the harsh words shared between those who held naught but high regard for one another...
'Tis dreadful, a right misfortune if there ever was one, and for what trouble you may have faced--even if I was an unwilling part--I express my apologies and humbly request that we may speak so we can put this to rest.
[He's a little desperate sounding, even if he's trying to keep his cool. Angel is legit one of his only friends--here and back home, so he's not really ready to discard that so easily...]
[ The mere presence of Emmanellain in her inbox is enough to make Angel sigh in relief. She's been back through all the messages, of course - several times, as though studying people's reactions will eventually reveal what they'd thought she was saying or doing.
Yelling at Emmanellain like that after he clearly hadn't done anything wrong? Embarrassing. Not stopping to think that maybe, just maybe the freaking dragon wasn't legit? E M B A R R A S S I N G. The fact that he's made the first move here is much appreciated, to say the least. ]
Oh, you goof - there's no need to apologise at all. I mean - I'm sorry too, obviously, but neither of us is really at fault. I've been wondering how to address this myself, so. Thank you for taking the initiative! Despite my, er. Outburst.
[ EM. BAR. RAS. ING. ]
I hope you're alright. And that the things you saw weren't too distressing. Dealing with it alone can't have been easy.
Hey, Angel :) I still owe you details. Also, thought you should know Beckett and I are cool again. Well, as cool as we normally are. How's it going with you and Rhys?
Oh, that's awesome!! I know Beckett can be the hugest grump, but he's the most amazing friend. I'm so glad! ♥ And Rhys and I are fine. We took some time to rest up and do some crafts after all the unpleasantness and now everything's cool. (Cool and covered in fake flowers.)
[No cheery hellos today, Al just gets right down to business sounding harassed and worried.]
Angel, if you're there then I need to talk to you. Rhys got-- hurt, we called the Admin but they said we weren't authorised to ask for medical support for him. Do you know what that's about? Does he have to ask for it himself?
I'm alive. Are you - please tell me you're all right.
[The first thing he's seen on the network on opening it may have been yesterday's obituary. And the guilt he's already feeling about going and dying on her may have just been roughly quadrupled.]
[ She's beauty, she's grace, she jUST DROPPED HER TABLET IN A SNOWDRIFT OUT OF EXCITEMENT HOLY HECKIE. It only takes her a moment to retrieve it and wipe it down, but she almost drops it again in the process. Twice. A+. ]
Sorry - Beckett!! I was worried sick! I'm fine, though, it's - why are you asking if I'm fine? If this is a fuss-diverting tactic, it's a really bad one that makes me want to fuss more. I'm showing incredible restraint, here. I'm so glad you're back!
[ To say she sounds fine is something of an understatement. She sounds thrilled, geez. ]
*Beckett had said Angel was planning something for...that night. However long ago it was. So its not that surprising that he jumps to her for the first question.*
MEANING Angel hesitates a little, but. Doctor. Doctor who isn't House. He gets a pass. ]
I'm not sure. His port overheated badly - we cooled it down pretty quickly, but not quickly enough, I suppose. He had some kind of seizure, I think? And he's finding words and concentration difficult.
Page 1 of 3