maskormenace | URGENT BULLETIN.

URGENT BULLETIN.

[ The following is secured to the network at 9 PM, via an ID that has not been present on it yet, a simple non-interactive bulletin. It will not be responded to, although imPorts are free to engage in discussion amongst themselves. ]

ATTENTION IMPORTS!

It is come to our attention that Unsettled imPorts have been allowed to skirt our regulations regarding what benefits are and aren't received up to this month, which is a dire oversight on the part of your liaisons and supervisors. Upon discovering that the budget for imPort benefits received far exceeded the amount needed for the current amount of Registered imPorts we have on file, further investigation showed that many similar oversights have been provided for non-Registered imPorts off the books that have not been sanctioned by those of us outside of Cape Canaveral.

We are getting to the bottom of this and are making cuts in the budget where they should have been already: Non-Registered imPorts were never meant to be receiving these benefits for as long as they have been. Furthermore, upon questioning your current imPort Affairs Liaison, Captain Parc Holiday, he could not account for every inconsistency we've since discovered and showed some alarming signs of blunted affect and apparent memory gaps; those inconsistencies he claimed he could recall he admitted to committing.

Make no mistake, we in the Federal Government sympathize with the imPort plight, but we cannot afford to let free resources be given out illegally; Captain Holiday does not have the authority to make such decisions. Effective immediately he has been removed from his position as ImPort/Government Affairs Liaison and has been moved into a maximum security psychiatric facility to further study his symptoms. Until we can locate a suitable replacement or Captain Holiday proves himself truly fit to resume his duties, we are promoting Lieutenant Ananke to Captain so she can operate in his stead and will be keeping an eye on the situation as well as her performance to determine what other changes may prove necessary.

- L. Chases
Secretary of Defense

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ he is completely up to listening to people on base. if he can control his power well enough not to set off suspicion. creepy military people don't deserve brain privacy, ok ]

Yeah, I can make it there. No problem. [ he pauses ] Thanks, Annie.

[ she would both be wierded out (by the telepathy, it's still... strange to her) and yet also pleased by how he thinks (when useful bits can be gleaned it's nice).

is she going to have to dodge people to get out (how do you slip out past an empath) no. no, annie will state things clearly before heading out, because she's not... looking to get people worried. ask if it feels like lunatic's around, too, while rubbing her temple. ]

... See you soon.

[ which is really relative to heading out after tracking down the housemates she needs to, leaving them word and her.. partly melted comm with the non-functional camera on her person as she heads out. thank goodness it's text and audio features both mostly work. there's enough of the screen left unaffected (if in odd colors) that annie can make it work for her.

still, she's one of the short figures who aims to keep herself a low profile when she's escorted out topside from the Porter rooms underground. people aren't all out of sorts... whispers are going around, but nothing concrete. she'll need to be listening to more than a changing of the metaphorical guard. political talk trickles down too, but the best place to listen in to that stuff is where people are allowed to speak. the on duty men and women around the porter facility are less inclined toward it anyway.

take a five foot tall blonde teenager in a grey hoodie and slacks outside the entrance to the porter facility. yo, thomas, meet annie. she's scanning the area for anyone who seems to also be looking for someone, glancing down at her... melty... comm every so often. ]

[ gurl, he is still weirded out by the telepathy, and he had it in a lesser capacity in canon already. but thomas always appreciates resources and information over personal comfort, so he has no issue using what he's got.

there's a quick affirmation and thomas is signing off too, sending a quick word to newt and minho alone that he's going to meet someone. he has to dodge grey to get out unnoticed, not wanting him involved in this, seeing as he's pretty much like a duckling with thomas.

for once, he's actually left the rag-tag glader clothes behind and pulled on some things he got out of local stores, making thomas blend in better to any of the other teenagers wandering around heropa and taking the shuttle to the cape. there's headphones in his ears that aren't actually playing anything, and he spends most of the ride there trying to be more sneaky about reading the other passengers on the train. when he'd been more panicked, trying to use this with Lydia and in the maze, he's bleed over a little too much of his own mind into the attempt, but he's finding out, when he has more time to focus, to ease into it, he's able to keep traces of himself out. before, with teresa, all it was was sending and recieving messages. actually trying to read someone takes more patience. but thomas is nothing if not persistent in things like this.

after spending the shuttle ride listening in on a teenage girl texting her crush and imagining movie dates with him, a middle aged woman thinking about bills and the supervisor she thinks has a grudge against her, and another man checking out the middle aged woman, he's more than ready to get on with this. his conversations with annie so far have only been text of voice, so he's not really sure how he's supposed to pick her out, and, well, trying to read for her seems way too creepy. it's someone he knows, okay, that's strange. he spots the girl right at the entrance of the facility, and watches her for a second, eyeing the comm in her hands. it seems like it... once... was the one thomas had been given when he came in, but it might just be a popular design. either way, he pipes up, casually remarking. ] I don't think you're supposed to microwave those.

[ annie tilts her head back, looking tired. it's there on her face, and she doesn't bother trying to hide it. her headache is less intense, but it's been there since she went to bed the night before, and it's a reminder of what she isn't able to do. for one, make it work as a lone wolf. that much she already knew... but there isn't always a choice when it comes to action.

she glances down at the warped device in her hand. her shoulders come up, rolling in a small sort of shrugging motion. ]

Got a little too fond of playing with fire.

[ she says, calm and steady, tension only showing in her shoulders. ]

Paid the price.

[ los ta life. remembered the smells of the burning dead of those people she'd helped condemn. it's so different, always, remembering those details. annie shakes her head, shedding the ghosts that want to cling. it's not the time. she pockets her comm, holding out a hand for shaking. ]

Thomas, I take it? Thanks for meeting me here.

[ casual. everything about this needs to stay casual, though the way her eyes are trained on his face is speculative, searching. wondering at what they can do, and considering what they might learn while they're here, in the unrestricted areas. ]

[ thomas's eyebrows raise, giving a nod that says 'yeah, okay, that makes total sense, except for the part where it doesn't'. either way, the question was more just for starting conversation. it's still impressive to have actually melted part of it.

the wear she's had on her is evident, and thomas has sympathy for her. from what he'd seen her post about before, it hasn't been an easy time for her, being questioned about hacking and all that. then this holiday stuff, and coming all the way out here. he does appreciate it, though, giving a short nod and a smile. ] Thanks for coming.

[ they don't look too odd and thomas starts to lazily walk, just wandering the area, like he'd only come to meet up with a friend, considering they're both teenagers. granted, she's five foot, and he's five eleven, so that's a little odd. thomas chews at a lip for a second, trying to figure how to say what he meant to without anyone tht might overhear finding it too suspicious. ]

I think I can talk to him. Like how you said. [ telepathically reaching him. ] Maybe I can figure out what he's been up to, how he's doing.

[ tries to sound like they're just wanting to talk to a friend that's been out of touch. he's gaze tilts to her, trying to search for recognition. ]

[ discussing how she's been in an imPort to imPort fight isn't... important at the moment. she merely moves along with him, hands in the kangaroo pocket of her hoodie. casual, relaxed, still tired, but teenagers can run the gambit. she knows that on that count, she doesn't stand out right now. maybe a little for the hour of the night, but that's where there's more forgiveness from those who expect imPorts to be moving through than if they were citizens of this country.

annie tilts her head to the side, as if she's contemplating what he's said. ]

If he's around... He's difficult to get on the phone.

[ he might not be in range, whatever that range is. annie doesn't know his extent. ]

Still worth trying. We can always see if any of the guys he's been hanging out around might have an alternate contact number.

[ now's her turn to look for recognition in his expression of what she means. if holiday isn't around, then someone here might have an idea of his whereabouts, or his husband's name, whereabouts, something concrete. it's the military. there should be someone wandering through who knows, or wonders, about such things. they just needed a few military gossips with a focus on imPorts and imPort control methods.

she doesn't doubt that his removal was fairly quiet to anyone not directly involved. ]

[ he watches her as she speaks, giving the slightest incline of his head to signal, yes, he's got it. thomas's eyes shift to some of the military personel, trying not to look to obvious about observing them. his lips press in a line, and he's still not totally comfy with using this power. ]

My phone kinda new. [ he admits, a little sheepishly. ] Not sure how well it'll work, but I can try it out.

[ he focuses in, trying to remember how he'd tapped into this to search for teresa, how he'd skimmed lydia's mind. after a moment, thomas tilts his head over to a bench, making his way over to sit heavily, so they're not standing in the middle of a street with one of them looking like he's trying to do quantum physics with mental math. he extends his mind, searches around, and ends up pulling out his phone, tilting his head down as if looking at the screen, but closes his eyes instead. it helps to focus. ]

There's... someone. A doctor. [ he mutters, after a decent while of trying to find something more than 'i'm hungry' 'this shift is taking forever' and 'my boss is a jackass'. ] 'Poor Holt'. Know anyone named Holt?

[ annie follows after him, one teenager attentive to another in that lazy, proximity based way, peering down at his phone screen as if it were telling some worthwhile story. it's blank, but it gives some casual glance believability to their ongoing charade. ]

I don't. Not personally. He's never really told me who to expect if we call him at home.

[ but it may be Holt. a doctor? 'poor holt.' ]

Any ideas on why the poor Holt? No one just feeling sorry for themselves?

[ thomas frowns, shaking his head. ]

Someone important. Close to Holiday. Family member? Friend... ?

[ he searches a little longer, tries to push some on the minds that had mention of him, digging further. ]

Husband. He's his husband.

[ His husband. That's who they need to track down. ]

Does he have a first name? Any sense for what kind of doctoring he does?

Hope so. Just 'Holt's a terrible name.

[ he says it a little dryly, but goes back to concentrating, brow pulling, and he unconsciously tilts his head a little, like trying to listen in to something quiet. aftet another several minutes - ]

Rodrigo... Something with backs and joints? Orthopedic, right. [ sometimes it takes him a while to remember these regular world things. ] He's in...

[ digging for the location takes a while longer, and annie may have to be patient with him. not everyone is that familiar with them, and it's taking thomas some effort to make sure he's not alerting anyone by digging too deep. ] Miami. He has an office in Miami.

Rodrigo Holt...

[ she straightens, looking down the street as if waiting for some figure to appear down in that direction. ]

That should be enough to narrow down and find him. Orthopedic... what does that deal with?

[ doctor specialties have not been one of her study concerns, to be fair ]

It's, uh... [ it takes him a second to think of. ] Skeletal injuries. Like muscles and tendons and ligaments, and broken bones.

[ right? right. something like that. ]

So... I think it's about time one of us had an old sports injury act up.

[ though, considering they're both teenagers and it may look suspicious if they go their themselves, they may want a third party. with better people skills than the two of them. ]

... Or found someone who may be better suited for this kind of thing. There's a few people I might be able to ask... have you noticed a Clark Kent on the network?

[ Investigative reporter. That's the kind of mind she wants on this, and not with Freddie's pushy nature behind it, though she's invaluable in her own way. ]

I've seen him around, yeah. [ noticed the reporter thing, and it makes him feel a bit wary, really. ]

Can we trust him not to blow the whole thing?

Enough to probably play it smart, but I don't know past that. There are more I know who we probably shouldn't send in than we should.

Yeah. Dunno. Whoever's best for the job, really.

[ he frowns, thinking, idly listening in on the brain chatter of the soldiers as well, in case there's more information he can pick up on. ]

Annie, there's... something else. [ he's only noticed it now, after having settled in their heads for a while. ] Everyone who's thinking or talking abut Holiday... they're acting like they know he's not gonna be back.

[ he watches her, concern etched on his features. ] What's that mean?

[ She's quiet, expression difficult to read as her thoughts turn inward. She shrugs, breathing in long and slow, then breathing out at the same pace. ]

It means he's been replaced.

[ He's been taken out of the game, and it may have been at the hands of the government they're mixed in with, or some smaller faction, or something altogether different. She doesn't know. ]

And that Dr. Holt might be having his unfair share of lonely nights for a long time yet.

[ thomas swallows, so very uncomfortable thinking of a man as already dead. or worse. of someone attached to him having to live with the unnecessary grief of losing him.

it adds a new edge of urgency onto it. ]

Then we probably don't have a lot of time.

[ he closes his eyes again, trying to pick back into the minds of the troops on the base. ] Gonna see if anyone knows where they took him.

[ Annie pursues her lips, then shakes her head. ]

If we don't know how he's been acting, we can't put forward a suggestion on if it's a mental breakdown he's suffered in truth due to stress or other factors, or if it's and induced one. Holt reporting back on his behaviors and any changes in the last few months can give us insight we can use to figure out what went on.

I don't believe he'll be killed. He's already been incapacitated... the more we learn about the hows, the better we may be able to provide outside assistance. You can find out where he is, but we can't go directly after him. Not at this point.

[ his eyes open again when she speaks, watching the sidewalk in front of his feet, as he processes that. he hadn't really been convinced for a second that the claims of him having a breakdown were true. but then again, thomas is paranoid as hell.

and the idea of waiting to check on him, and figure out what's going on, has him absolutely on edge with anxiety. ]

Yeah, but what if it is made up? Maybe they don't kill him, but like the shrink said - if he's getting anti-psychotics when he's not actually psychotic, it could melt the guy's brain.

Which changes what if we believe we can charge into any facility currently holding him, and do... what? Who exactly do you think is being most watched now?

[ They are, and so is Holiday. At the same time... ]

I don't know how far people in this government will go. Back home, it'd be simpler. If Holiday were a liability, he'd be executed, written off as a tragic accident, or even sent to front lines to hope he'll get written off naturally while he's there.

[ Or in some circles, people get eaten. So it goes. ]

Find the name of his holding facility, but know that even when you do, we can't come at this problem head-on. We have to think around it.

If they're talking about him like he's not coming back, that means he may as well be dead.

There's how many of us around, with superpowers, and how many guards at the facility with none? [ it's always been incredibly hard for thomas to be able to sit still when he knows there're things he can do. it's what had him running into the maze when it was closing, because he couldn't want minho and alby get stuck in there, everyone else just accepting that they were already dead. he's being rash, and he knows this sort of thing is more delicate. in a sense. there's laws here, not just some giant death monster that you have to be able to run fast enough from. while being eaten alive is the worse option, it's also the only option with the maze. he sighs, though, rubbing the heel of a palm against an eye and loses the fire in it. ] I'm not saying storm the castle, but I'm also not saying we've got the luxury of time to sit around and be certain there aren't risks first.

[ he closes his eyes ago, focusing in, and lets go of the argument, trying to search for the name of the facility. it takes a while longer, following any mention of transfers, Holiday, Holt, or the recent announcement. Eventually, after a long while, he comes upon someone looking at a file, brows narrowing as his head tilts, trying to wait for the person's eyes to focus where they need to be. ]

"Bethesda... Military Psychiatric... Wellness Compound." That's it. That's where they're holding him.

How many guards in a facility that nullifies superpowers? Because I'll make that presumption that knowing they took away an ally who imPorts identified as such, any facility he's held in will be equipped with the technology that nullifies super powers, and based on our skills alone, we don't have the upper hand in this situation. It's not about a lack of risks. It's the payoff and the plan for afterward.

[ She's been here longer; she's seen this happen to degrees, knows it has kept some very powerful people suppressed, knows it can do the same for those less powerful. They don't have enough clout or time or information on their side. ]

Bethesda... There'll be a listing for an address on it somewhere. That gives us two angles to move on.

[ She looks down the road, lips pressing into a thin line. ]

Using people with the skills to do the moving.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

URGENT BULLETIN.

voice;

voice to action?

action!

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sorry, hiatused for a while!

it's all good!

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