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[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.]

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Stupid's... a harsh way to put it but I can't say I don't agree with you. There's so much evidence that points to their corruption that you'd have to be senseless to miss it.

Take the jump on it, then. You have my support and my blessing and I'll back you up if anyone needs corroboration for the claim, and if you take a bullet, it won't be alone.

Yes, it is harsh. [And she kind of just leaves it there with a distinct pause. Saretha's never been one to mince words of her opinions, even if they can be extreme to some degree.] Either that, or extremely naive.

[Dammit. Okay, maybe she's getting soft.]

But... yes, I will. I do not expect everyone to jump to that, but... It is appreciated, at the very least.

[Saretha's ability to be both honest and concise are two very large reasons Lazarus respects her so deeply. He can always count on her to say things straight, even when they might not be terribly pleasant to hear.]

Naivety can't be condemned too harshly. Coming into all this fresh would be terribly confusing, even for someone with a sharp wit and a lot of determination to get all the facts straight. Not all of the newest Numbers can say as much, as I'm sure you've already noticed for yourself.

Don't mention it. We're in this together, aren't we?

You are not wrong. As frustrating as that fact is - still, it must be rectified, all the same. If we do not take the steps to correct misconceptions, we cannot avoid responsibility when it comes back to us.

But yes... in the end, we always have been. We must all remember that, especially now.

I can't say I never saw myself in the role of an educator. I tried to renovate a school once when I thought our future would be based in Locke City.

I won't forget.

Now would seem an appropriate time to renew that. There's enough new faces out there, anyhow.

Edited 2015-10-12 06:39 (UTC)

It would be a lie to say that I'm not tempted. I still own the land and whatever ruins are still standing. Do you really think that Locke is safe enough these days?

That land could be utilized then, in some manner or another. If you don't have the funds to do so, well... I am certain someone does.

[Such as Factor.

Or... someone who owns a construction company. Perhaps.]

That said, I do not believe it is safe to leave Locke alone. That is in fact the far more dangerous prospect.

I have funds. Not infinite ones, but enough, certainly, to do something. Even if it would be starting all over, I'd feel better about it than just leaving the rubble there forever.

I agree that a presence there would be ideal, given the volatility of the city at this time. I don't know if I can return there within the near future, but I can at least start working out the logistics of a project of that scale.

No one's resources are infinite. It is merely how we use them... and at the moment, that is one no one is utilizing. It is something to consider, at least.

My business ventures are currently based from Gateway - it serves as a good staging grounds between the undamaged United States and the section of the country razed by the invasion. So, I can only make the occasional trip to and from there, but... There are others, beyond us. You have your eyes set to a safe haven. I can monitor things from here.

Some have been returning to Locke, at this point.

I suppose it seemed that way for a little while, at least, due to some particularly lucrative Pulses. But you're right... the land is still there, and probably at least the foundation of the school and some burned-out parts. It could be very useful to us if it was rebuilt and maybe outfitted with the kind of technology it was before. I'm pretty good at security and computers so I could see to a lot of it personally.

...with adequate protection, of course.

Do you have some of the names of those who have returned to Locke, even briefly? Emilia told me she had been back, but isn't particularly popular at this time.

Protection can be provided if you don't already have a source of it. At the very least, I can direct you to people.

It would seem some of the Precure girls are there, or on their way. The Tsukuyomis, mostly.

I'm sure I'll be fine if I'm just going to essentially survey it. I had Tony, but...

[But. Things with Tony, lately, are kind of weird.]

I'll keep it quiet. Just slip in and out. I'd rather not be high-profile about it, even with bodyguards.

Mm, I can understand that. Still... If you need the assistance, do not hesitate to speak up. No matter what it is.

[...she's not going to pry on the matter with Tony, of course. It's none of her business, right?]

[It's very personal, very complicated, and not nearly as private as Lazarus wishes it was. That's true of much of his personal life, but he senses that Saretha is trying to both keep a respectful distance and extend a helping hand... still at a respectful distance.]

I don't suppose you've heard from him. Where he is, or what he's doing. We've not been on speaking terms, as much as I wish this wasn't the case.

[Saretha... blinks. Well, they shifted subjects very suddenly, didn't they?]

One moment.

[The video ends. Lazarus' phone will ring a moment later.]

[Lazarus is taking a lot of calls today, but fortunately, Saretha's call doesn't have to spend any time in waiting before he answers.]

The line is secure. Hello?

[The tone she follows with is still even, though a hint of concern manages to creep in.]

I figured it best to not let Satsuki and Ryuzaki eavesdrop on us any longer.

But you sort of veered off the topic there, a little ways. Is everything quite all right?

I apologize. The nature of the issue is somewhat distracting.

Tony Sparado left Shepherd's Haven some weeks ago. He is afraid that he poses a danger to others, primarily to me. I promised him I'd support and protect him, but... there have been so many close calls. Whatever he's getting back is powerful, violent and hungry, and as low as I feel saying it, part of me feels safer since he left, even though I worry about him every day.

Do not apologize. I would not be asking if I was not at least moderately... concerned.

[Wow, there's a new word for Saretha in relation to people.]

By 'getting back,' I suppose that you mean his echoes? That is...

[She thinks. She recalls Junketsu. If she was in a position where she is now, getting that thing, where she has people she actually cares about...]

...honestly, I can understand the perspective, on his part, if that is the case. Even if it is not the most healthy thing for him to do, in the long run. Perhaps then... if both of you honestly do feel as such, it may be better give him the time to figure that out.

[That implies that Lazarus has given people reason to be concerned, and it's his initial instinct to cringe and recoil from the prospect. But it's the truth, isn't it? He's spread too thin and it shows.]

That's what I mean, yes. The first time I saw something really... horrifying was when we were being held and tortured by the Mafia. When we escaped, I remember him turning into a demon, but obviously I wasn't medicated during this stint so I spent a lot of time questioning what my eyes showed me. But since then, it's gotten worse rather than better. Some things were good; when Luca shot him in the face when they met for the first time, he got back rapid healing abilities that doubtless saved his life, and I'm very grateful for that, but ultimately, everything contributes to distancing him from the human condition.

[And me, he doesn't say, but he probably doesn't need to.]

Sorry... I'm concerned, and it's making me spill my guts. I'll give him time. I know that Richard's with him, and he won't let anything bad happen. Furthermore, he has the strength and resilience to handle him on a physical level that I can't approach.

[Saretha nods, unseen to herself, taking mental catalog of everything. Of course, she does this with anything anywhere, but she is quite glad she cut this conversation off from their doubles when they did. It would not due for someone like Satsuki to become more acutely aware of someone like Tony's abilities.]

I can understand. Remember, to do battle, I must wear a monster. [And it could perhaps turn her into one, or worse, as she saw with Raye that one time.] Not all of us get our ability to fight through magical means of love and friendship, after all. Many of us have to walk a certain...

Tightrope.

[She hmms a bit.] So I can perhaps understand what he may be dealing with a bit more, on my end.

That said... Do not apologize. It is not easy, but if you have faith in his strength to do that, then good. Just do not see reaching out to others as a weakness.

[Lazarus doesn't know the details of how most of the supremely excellent fighters are able to do battle; he considers it outside of his jurisdiction and understanding and is content to leave those finer points untrifled-with.]

It sounds like you do understand. Probably better than I can. I don't know if it's...

[A pause. Maybe it is too forward.]

Would it be very much trouble for you to consider talking to him? His motto these days is that no one can possibly get what he's going through, and as far as I'm concerned, I guess he is right. He only resents me when I try.

[Saretha considers that a moment, thinking it over, leaving a potentially uncomfortable silence before she responds.]

If that's a request, I could. We are allies, and further beyond that it is for everyone's well being to be united in some sense.

[Another beat.] Plus, it is the decent thing to do, isn't it?

[Used to be, that part wasn't in her considerations.]

There are people who can understand a great many things, and it is short sighted to believe they can't. [Even if her situation wasn't precisely the same, Raye's was... well, a hell of a lot closer. So she's certainly dealt with it to some degree.] I had to learn that lesson myself, in time.

[Most people consider long silences in phone conversations uncomfortable. Lazarus is not most people; he just patiently waits as Saretha considers.]

I would consider it a personal favor, in addition to the help it could do everyone if you were able to reach him. Because while it might be short-sighted of him to be so wrapped up in his own struggles, when I try to see it from his point of view substituting my more personal difficulties, I do begin to understand at least that much.

Can I ask about the circumstances that taught you?

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