|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:20 pm
His name was Thomas Roswell. Not a number, not a letter. His employer called him Roz, with affection. He had a headache and his throat was dry.
He had confided to Lysander only once that he always had a nagging sense of being hunted, that no matter what he did the past was always biting at his heels,
an old spectre of violence and coercion and family.
And everything he'd done now, again, left a rotting aftertaste. Was this who he was? He had his memories back, and now he had to live with before and the results of the trials. Who he'd been willing to crush. Who he'd been willing to kill. Had Lysander been there? He must have been. Was he alive, was he here? He wouldn't have hurt him, not if he'd known. He wouldn't have hurt anyone, if only he remembered. Would he forgive him, if he knew? He'd left everything, but there wasn't much to leave. If Lysander couldn't stand him, he didn't know what he would do, or where he would go.
There had been another voice, polite and well-bred, accepting him. In spite of everything. Maybe because of it.
So when he stumbled from the pod, it was with a thin grip on control. Everything was so bright. What had they signed up for? What had he gotten himself into?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:38 pm
It was quiet and cool in the pod rooms, and the glow of runic energy was one he come to be familiar with tinged with a bit of affection. It was calming, and these days, being alone to stare at the rows and rows of pods gave him moments to either let him drift away from himself and other times withdraw into himself.
Things were different.
Things were changing.
He had to make them.
The beeping sounded in the distance like a oven timer left 3 rooms away. Finding the pods were always hard sometimes and it reminded him of just how many were here when he had to rush down the aisles. Sometimes the pods were empty in certain areas. Other times, he noticed, they would be frosted and full again.
He never did see anyone load a person inside. Wasn't that peculiar?
The pod lid popped open when a man stumbled out, and Melvin moved in quick to hold him. "Whoa there. Hold still. You're gonna need a moment so just hold on there for a moment to get into focus. Okay? You know who you are? You're name?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:49 pm
Lys had had a very strange nightmare. There had been a lot of brutality, things he considered needless. For a time he'd managed to get a small group of people to stand up to the idea of having to fight at all, to resist via taking no action at all, a statement they were better than whatever this was. He hadn't had a name, he'd been sigma or something like that but it hadn't made much sense.
In the end he'd been killed by people who cared a lot more about winning. He wasn't all that traumatised by it, he had weird dreams pretty often, even since he was a kid.
He was somewhere weird when he opened his eyes, but it didn't take too long to remember that he'd signed up for this, that there had been a choice he made. Choices were what mattered and if he knew what he'd done before, he knew what he was doing now.
Technically anyway.
He didn't fall out of the pod the way most people did, frankly it was comfortable, he felt like he could lay there for ever, and if it wasn't for the irritating alarm beeping somewhere outside, maybe he would.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:57 pm
Roz held back the hands that were steadying him, trying to be calm. Names? He was asking for his name. His...actual name.
"Thomas Roswell," he answered. "I'm...alright," he lied, and pushed Melvin from him, straightening his suit and pushing back his hair.
Had this man seen everything, too? Did he know? He gave the stranger a sharp look.
"Who are you? Where are we? Where's...was there another man, here? I came in with him. Lysander Astoria."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 7:10 pm
Melvin stared back, surprised by by the man's resistance at his help but decided to let him get a grip of himself while Melvin grabbed his chart to confirm his name. "Yeah. Okay, that's good. Name checks out. Another one?"
He said, turning back to stare down the hallway before looking back. "Stay right there, Thomas. I need to check the other pod. Don't move. You could still trip."
Taking the chart with him, he moved to get to the other pod which had sprung but who's occupant had not left yet.
Please don't be dead. Please don't be dead. He had heard rumors that some pods popped when the occupant was just too far gone. It was a chilling thought that he wasn't sure was just a tale to freak people out or not, but felt like it could be very true.
Not everyone who volunteered for this life actually got to see it. To think that just becoming a hunter would somehow be a blessing.
He moved the lid and looked inside. "You okay?" He asked the man, offering his hand to help him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 7:42 pm
"I'm fine." he said with a very lazy yawn, declining the hand to push himself reluctantly to his feet. He felt woozy and confused but was very good at not outwardly showing it. Wherever he was he had meant to be, and that was all that mattered.
"You would think they'd lie these things down properly." he said. "Not very comfortable way to sleep."
He seemed to check himself and extended a hand to Melvin lazily. "I am Lysander, pleasure to meet you I'm sure."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 7:51 pm
Roz did not stay where he was, tagging along at Melvin's heels and holding his coat to him, as if he was cold. He peered over Melvin, color draining from him to see Lysander so still and with the same litany of please don't let him be dead running through his mind, but all of it drained out of him as Lysander stirred and stretched, looking his usual perfectly unruffled self.
Maybe he hadn't been there.
"Lysander," Roz croaked over Melvin's shoulder. "Alright, I hope? It's good to see you. I...think these are the only accommodations they provide."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:26 pm
He had never seen anyone so at ease in being fresh from a pod and stared back as the man criticized their design before giving in an introduction before even being prompted. A bit stunned, he jumped as Thomas spoke up.
"For these pods to be laying down would take up too much space and it's better for the occupant to be standing for a prolonged set of unforseen time." He stated, defending the Life department's work as he reached for Lysander's clipboard and then taking his hand to shake. If Mr. Lysander disliked the pod, he could only imagine what surprise awaited him when he saw his room.
"I'm Melvin Wood. Life department. I'm guessing you two volunteered to be hunters together." And he tried his best not to be bitter at that very idea. Most people never got to see any familiar faces ever again since leaving their past lives, and there were times even he grew envious at the fact Lawr had his children and Mimsy had Caroline. A few just got lucky.
A few got to keep some part of their life. To have that love and support.
Checking the boards, he noticed that the names matched. "Well since Mr. Roswell didn't bother listening and is walking, I'll ask if you are able to stand. Do you two remember why you are here? Feeling okay? Vision doing well?" He asked, taking the boards and writing some quick notes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 5:01 am
Lysander hadn't entertained the thought for a moment that Roz wouldn't be there, somewhere in the haze of thoughts he was sure that he'd brought him with him, that he wouldn't have left him behind. Hearing his voice only affirmed what he'd thought and he relaxed a little more. "Hello Roz. Quite good." he said with a smile. "A little dazed but I assume that will pass."
Melvin got that same friendly smile. "Yes, together, as far as I'm aware."
He looked thoughtful. "Erm. I know that I agreed to this, whatever this is, something to do with an escape? With saving people?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 2:23 pm
Roz cleared his throat, folding his arms uncomfortably.
"We've joined a secret organisation with the intent of combatting...creatures very few people can see." It sounded ludicrous just saying it. "Through a combination of magic and science. Correct?"
He had, for the record, been against it.
He looked a little flustered at the acknowledgement of together.
"And I'm...accompanying him, yes. These are your other recruits? How long does this measure of the process last?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 3:04 pm
"More or less. You'll be fighting with traditional weapons made capable to affect Fear creatures through a weapon bond. You will both be getting a weapon next. It's essential to your survival to have a Fear shield that only a weapon can provide if you want to live on the island and to fight in the war." He informed them both.
"Yes, these are people just like you who have volunteered in the war against Halloween and the Horsemen. There is no set measure of time. Some take weeks, months, years, and some never wake up at all. Consider yourselves lucky to be living. What wakes you up is that there are two weapons who have decided to bond with you. So I'll be taking you both to the cove to get them."
"If you can walk, I can take you there unless you want a moment to process everything and ask more questions." He looked back down, jotting down a few notes on their clipboards as per the waking up procedure checklist.
"After you get your weapons, we can take you to the Quarter master for your coats and supplies and then you can select a room."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 3:16 pm
Lysander hadn't entirely belived the whole weapon and monster schtick, but he'd been curious and had very very little to lose. It hadn't felt like a normal scam, they didn't want a single penny of his money, they didn't want anything from him other than his help, and there was the matter of the shadows, the strange things he'd begun to see around his workplace and home that almost no one else could see. He'd thought it was stress, but he didn't think he was even capable of stress, even the divorce had just left him a bit inconvenienced rather than strained.
"He's my secretary." Lysander said brightly. "Wouldn't get by very well without him now would I?"
He did however look immediately wary at the idea of going straight to some mystical cave to bond with who knew what. He wasn't here to join a cult, he already had a religion and pleading fealty to different masters wasn't something he was about to jump straight into bed with. The guy talking to them might have had a tree on his coat but nothing about this place so far seemed very friendly to nature.
"How about we get our supplies and accomodation first." he said, straightening out his suit jacket. "And leave the armoury until later, when I decide if this is exactly what I want to be doing with my time. I signed up, yes, but I want to be in possession of all the facts. If you are our guide I'm sure you can lead us to this quartermaster."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 3:43 pm
"Decide? You...don't remember the briefing I gave?" Roz huffed. This was par for the course.
"This is a permanent and non-negotiable venture. We agreed to sever all prior relationships, engagements, and possessions bar what we could carry with us, and then only a few personal effects-" He could tell he was losing Lys's interest immediately. "You, did sign the contract knowing it was nonretractable? It's not a weekend retreat," Roz said with some desperation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 3:50 pm
"I don't think I made myself clear. Sorry. You have to get a weapon first before everything else. This island won't allow your bodies to survive without one. Things tend to start to go bad if you do not have a weapon bond. As for leaving, don't think you can return home. You agreed never to contact anyone from your past life. At this point they have already arranged everything and they probably have your funerals already. If you try contacting anyone, that person will be killed." He didn't even bat an eye at this, looking at them both as this was a very serious but very every-day fact.
"There is no going back." He looked to the secretary. "Secretary? Did you come from a business? Hope you don't mind paperwork. There is plenty reports to do."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 4:05 pm
Something that couldn't be condensed down to two sentences probably wasn't that important, Lys thought. People SAID non-negotiable but what they meant was that if you didn't have some really really good lawyers you were probably stuck. Nothing was permanent when you had enough money and no one could really make you do anything for ever.
"Look, if it's as scammy as it seems to be, I'm sure the newspapers would love to hear about it. Then we'd get out of it when everyone in this little independent military gets arrested. If it isn't then maybe I'd want to stay anyway."
As far as he was concerned until proven otherwise it was a retreat and something pretty novelty.
Melvin got a slightly impatient and irritable look, immediately filing the blonde man under the mental heading of unimaginative pencil pusher. He'd work well in HR. "Well, we'll see I suppose." he said, giving him a smile, you had to just smile at these people, they'd enforce their little rules like vicious little terriers till the end of days.
"And yes, business. Pharmaceuticals. And heavens, you still use paper? How barbaric. I thought only lawyers still used paper anymore. Goodness."
He had already started walking towards what looked like the door. "I want to use the bathroom, which way is it?" he said aloud, without stopping.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
