raisetheearth | VIDEO - [Viewable to those who signed up to recieve information.]

[A video post comes online on the Network, but there's something strange about it. For one, it's only viewable to a select group of people, and secondly, all it shows is a silhouette on a screen. When the voice speaks, it sounds distant, almost as if someone were speaking from far away. What's more, there's a strange reverberation on some words.]

Hello. My name is [A garbled noise obscures the sound.]. I am... I am a scientist working for Thunder Corp. I am not a Numbered, but I am contacting you by a means I have created to access your Network. This line of communication only goes one-one-one way, so I am afraid I will not know if this message reached you, or if my full message will even get through at all.

But I have made a terrible-terrible-terrible mistake. Thunder Corp has created a device that allows-allows them to identify wherever Numbered are in the world. They-they... no... we wanted to find a way to find all of you. To make sure that you could never stand up to us again. If they knew where you all were, they could find you one by one. First-First they'd approach you, weed out the ones that were naive enough to listen to them. If that didn't work, they'd hunt you down-down.

But something went wrong. Something-something happened, and it caused those snakes-snakes to reappear. Like out of thin-air, this-this green slime formed and turned into them! Then those dinosaurs in Gateway appeared out of nowhere, and we detected another anomaly in New Zealand. I'm not sure, but my research hints that-that something else is going to happen soon. I don't know where. I don't know WHEN. But something else is going to happen.

We've broken something. You have to warn everyone. I used the device to find you all so I could pass the information on, but I wipe-wiped the records so they'll never know what I did. The others they've already found, their ability to track them is going to run out soon, so I think they've decided to make their move-move. I can show-show you where the device is held... maybe... maybe one of you can destroy it. Maybe you can get this information out to the media, or someone who CAN do something about this. I just don't know...!

...

They've talked about how they've become a different company, that the old corrupt Thunder Corp is gone, but the new leaders... They're the ones that have always been in control. The old leaders were just a front. The ones in charge are the real power now. They-they... they're not going to stop what the tried to do a year ago. I thought... I thought they'd changed. But I've done so many horrible things, I've-

[A loud bang can suddenly be heard, followed by the figure screaming in pain. He lurches forward, and after a moment, seems to press something on some kind of control panel. The image cuts out, and for 10 seconds, a map of Locke can be seen on screen, showing a warehouse in the Phoenix District of Locke City, followed by security footage of some kind of facility, where green slime begins to propagate and form into gigantic stone snakes.

Then it vanishes. The mysterious figure is back, and there's black drops of what appear to be blood.]

Forgive me... for what I've done...

[And the recording finally ends.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Saretha just stares at Jasmine for a moment or two.]

Not in the slightest. Sadly, I do not think it is surprise that is important here - the implications are... dire.

Hey, Saretha. They sure picked some of the right people to contact for this.

But you're right. Everything that's happened in the last few months... it goes back to this. The giant wads of snot that appeared one day, the dinosaurs, the fucking ghosts... everything... I mean, I can't think of anything else he'd be talking about that happened in New Zealand...

Edited 2015-09-26 05:00 (UTC)

Tsukuy-- [Wait, no. There's too many of those, now.] Jasmine. This is... more than a little disturbing, "right" people or not.

It would certainly seem to be clear cut, but Thunder Corporation rarely is.

I'm not saying it isn't. I'm just glad we have someone like you on our side for this one.

And you're right, but... the connections are there, at least.

Well, it's not as if I ever haven't been, has it?

[Even when Saretha didn't trust a single one of you. At the very least she could take solace in that feeling probably being mutual.]

Connections, yes. But do not take everything at face value. I say that not even to play devil's advocate, but... something is amiss.

No, I'm not saying that. More like, it's really good that you're one of the people who saw this. I can think of a few people who'd handle this a lot worse than you would.

Yeah, definitely. We can never exactly tell what's what with these freaks.

Indeed. That much is appreciated. [Is everyone who saw this capable of handling it? That's a good question.]

For now, we have to take some sort of initiative, I think. Just... wisely.

Yeah... and it's probably true that they already know we know about some of this stuff. I mean, if they took that guy out in the middle of everything...

They are unafraid.

That means they are either very confident, or very stupid.

I do not think they are stupid, Jasmine.

No, I don't think they are either. The old me would have made some bad ass retort to that, but... the current me thinks we should live in reality.

The whole thing could have also been staged.

Well. Good to see you've been able to get a cooler head over time, Jasmine.

[She nods.] It could have been, but... We all need to be on the same page, all the same.

Not disagreeing with that. I'm just saying something that may be likely.

I don't know if I like the part of me that has a cooler head, sometimes, though. But it's something I have to live with.

You're not wrong. We have to consider all potential options.

[She blinks a little bit. It occurs to her, she's never really asked much about Jasmine's past self. Or, well. Much of personal information at all. She trusts the younger woman, but she can't say her relation to her or anyone besides Raye and Amy, with the possible exception of Rakka, extends beyond "business.]

We all live with a lot. In this case, it doesn't hurt you, I don't think.

It doesn't hurt, no. But it scares me a bit. But then, I think being scared of what you're capable of keeps you grounded.

Keeps us from going too far, sometimes.

It's a wise person who can make that consideration. I once thought I had no fear, too.

I've learned to have a healthy respect for it.

I guess, in a way, it's nature's defense mechanism.

Heh. We've come a long way since that one party, huh?

Edited 2015-10-04 08:12 (UTC)

[That actually makes her smirk ever so slightly.]

Mm, I suppose that we have. Things change, and that's... not always for the worst.

... Is that a smile? Maybe I have won you over.

[Jasmine chuckles slightly.] Anyway, I don't know. Let's see how everyone takes this.

Well, I suppose there are worst to deal with.

Still, you are not wrong. Once we get hold of that, we can figure out our next steps.

Sounds like a plan, Saretha.

VIDEO - [Viewable to those who signed up to recieve information.]

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private; video; [we can probably wrap it here]