Thunder Corp Recruitment Drive

[raisednpcs]

Who: Everyone who agreed to be approached by Thunder Corp
When: September 21st
What: Thunder Corp is out to recruit
Where: Various Locations

On the date of September 21st, the visitations begin.

For some, they arrive in the form of men in well-pressed business suits. All of them are fit and attractive, almost artificially so, carrying suitcases that contain contracts they wish for those they approach to sign. Their friendliness is also absolute, though they are somehow aggressive at the same time. They've bought themselves into absolutely every location possible, either having traveled great distances with ease or simply found people where they would logically be. In any case, they approach their "targets" out of the blue, greeting them with an outstretched hand and an aggressively polite demeanor.

Still others receive a message in the form of electronic mail. The approach is different simply as a matter of personal resource. How exactly did they find out your e-mail address? Why, it's for the same reason they're able to approach people wherever they happen to be right now: They're Thunder Corp, and they are very resourceful! That's how!

A much more pressing question would be... how did they know you are a Numbered?

[OOC: There's two threads you can reply off of depending on how you decided to be contacted, ones for being approached in person, and ones for being contacted by personal e-mail.]

Comments

[speedpariah]

Weller's blood ran cold as he heard him say the word "Numbered". Weller had never told anyone outside the network that he was Numbered. His hands balled up into fists.

Except... wait. He'd revealed himself to Sonia Clarke.

"Before I answer that," he asked. "How did you come to know I'm a Numbered. Did Factor Industries leak my information to you?!"

[raisednpcs]

"Factor Industries...? Again..." the man laughs, an edge of discomfort in his tone. "This has nothing to do with them. We're Thunder Corp, and a lot of our methods are, ah... how should I put this. Confidential, to people who aren't on the inside, so to speak. You understand, given the delicate nature of your own work, I'm sure."

[speedpariah]

Weller's mind was going faster than Weller himself could run. He was definitely disconcerted, but he couldn't deny the opportunity being presented to him. So many things has slipped through the cracks...

"Surely you can understand my trepidation," he said. "Your company, its previous leadership colluded with the people that tried to destroy our world..."

[raisednpcs]

The man's benign smile mellows out into something a little more serious and somber.

"Ah, yes. Some trepidation is certainly to be expected, and it's my hope that I can allay some of your concerns. We're trying to repair the damage done to our image, and I hope that by reassuring you that we're operating under new management and we have Locke City's best interests at heart. Have you ever been to Locke City? I understand that's where a lot of Numbered originally hail from."

[speedpariah]

"... I only went there when I was given a chance to analyze the wreckage of the alien vessels," Weller responded. "I wrote one of the first papers on their technology." This... this was bizarre. He felt cornered. Trapped. How did this man know he was Numbered?

"... This has to be about more than Locke City, doesn't it? I mean. I don't even live there. You seem to be under the impression I can do something... special. I'm just a scientist."

Because not even the other Numbered knew about Weller's super speed yet.

[raisednpcs]

The man nods emphatically. "Ah, good. Well, not good, I suppose, but it seems like you've seen firsthand the damage that was done to the city. No one foresaw it and no one wanted it, and so many good souls were either killed or displaced from their homes. It was such a regrettable mess. But on the topic of your paper, it was noticed, and many of my colleagues were very impressed. I haven't read it myself, I have more of a head for business than science, but I'm told it is a tour de force in your field. Clearly, you're a little more than just a scientist, and Thunder Corp will pay generously for your valuable perspective."

[speedpariah]

"... I see," Weller replied, thinking. "So... you're the errand boy. Come to collect me..."

He looked to the side, nervously. Everything about this seemed dangerous, and yet...

"I've never wanted anything than to be appreciated for my gifts. To be someone my father could be proud of. What you're asking me... that could help me, but it could also make me the object of scorn..."

[raisednpcs]

"Errand boy?" the man laughs good-naturedly. "I prefer to think of myself as an associate, but if you want to use that term, I suppose it's not totally inaccurate. I go out and talk to other associates, sometimes before they even are associates. It's an important and respected position within the company."

He leans an elbow on the table, watching Weller seem to struggle with the offer as it's been presented.

"It's sounds like what I'm asking you could work out really well for both of us, if those are things you truly want," he says, nodding, wordlessly encouraging him to go on.

[speedpariah]

... They'd come here solely because of his abilities. They didn't know about his speed. It was his abilities, and his Numbered status, that drew them to him.

That was far, far more than Factor Industries, or any other employer had offered him.

"What would you have me do?" he asked, voice leveling out.

[raisednpcs]

Encouraged, the representative is quick to launch into an explanation that is mostly surface and doesn't really broach the details of what his employment would entail.

"Rest assured, we would find you a position that would be personally and professionally fulfilling with your unique skill set in mind," he says. "But we have a problem with the recent goings-on in Locke, and among your first duties would be helping us with some of the cleanup. Those snakes have done a number... ha! Forgive the pun! ...on our city."

[speedpariah]

"Hmm..." Weller thinks for a moment, rubbing his chin.

"Would I be able to do it... without outing myself to my fellow Numbered? At least not... until we've all proven ourselves. I'm a very private man, you see..."

[raisednpcs]

The man's eyebrows raise, as though he wasn't expecting that question... but there's relief there, too, as if it's one of the easier questions he could have asked. Even if he doesn't have an answer prepared, he can certainly formulate one rather easily on the spot.

"That shouldn't be a problem, Mr. Weller. I can certainly understand how you'd want to keep your anonymity, given that... well, with the reputation Thunder Corp has managed to accrue, if you do choose to sign on with us, some might view the decision as controversial. It can be arranged."

[speedpariah]

"... I see," he said, turning back to face the associate. "Then, there's one more thing I have to show you. Perhaps, it can give you a greater value of my worth."

A moment later, and he dashed, racing behind the Thunder Corp employee with a burst of speed, the only trace of his movement being a red streak of lightning. He stood behind him now, his voice distorted by the vibration of his vocal chords.

"As you can see... I have abilities."

[raisednpcs]

The man sits back slightly, blanking out all possible expectations as he awaits what Weller is offering to showing him and gives him silent permission to proceed.

The "greater value" part is a moot point, already; they know they want him, along with other Numbered targets, but it can't hurt to become a little more informed about this particular one.

"So I see..." he says, sounding deeply impressed. "With speed as well as brains, we really can't go wrong with recruiting you, in any amount of secrecy you want. As you probably know, Thunder Corp can be very discreet."

[speedpariah]

Weller smiled. Yes... this would work out to his benefit.

"Very well then," he said, his voice returning to normal. "If I do this, what would you have me do? I can get to Locke... easily, but if I suddenly up and move there, my anonymity will be in question..."

[raisednpcs]

The representative beams; clearly, he's extremely pleased with the results of his attempts to recruit a Numbered, as they appear to have been successful.

"If you do this," he says, with the air of a salesperson about to seal the deal, "we can work with you to accommodate the anonymity you value so much. Essentially, we can provide you with a cover for why you're moving to Locke, or commuting is also an option since you can get there relatively quickly and easily with the technology we had such a major hand in developing."

[speedpariah]

Weller shook his head. "I'm not ready to move just yet," he said. "There's too much for me to do here, yet. It'd be suspicious if I just... closed down everything."

He held out his hand. "If that can be accomodated for, I believe we have a deal."

[raisednpcs]

Thunder Corp's man stands, clearly pleased, accepting the handshake. "I'll go back to HQ and draw up some paperwork and discuss your terms with my boss. As I mentioned, I can't imagine they'd be a problem. Thank you very much for your time, Dr. Weller; I'm sure that this arrangement will be a mutually beneficial and satisfying one."

[speedpariah]

Weller chuckled, and nodded.

"I'm extremely certain it will be..."