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Post by rileywilson on Oct 23, 2011 0:16:11 GMT -5
*We split up then and the hours go by quickly. I spend the time preparing for the next stage of Red and Max's reintegration. This includes temporarily evacuating and locking down the section of the tower they are being held in and rehearsing the steps with the security and tech personnel. The killjoys on the prison level are quiet, ready for tomorrow's reintegration. Patrick finishes his audio wolfblood session and is wheeled back to his room on the floor above. He shows all indications that his first session was a success*
*When all is ready I radio Orwell, telling him to wait in Security Feed Room 34. I'll join him shortly. I have the two Exterminators I've picked for this assignment meet me outside the locked-down wing*
It's time. Follow the plan exactly and radio me when you are finished. You may then go about your day.
*They nod and use their passcodes to enter the section. I join Orwell in Room 34, where all the camera feeds in the entire locked-down section are on display. He nods to the half-full coffee pot and goes back to watching the screens*
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Post by Max Griffiths on Oct 23, 2011 0:26:08 GMT -5
*I'm sitting on my bed staring at the wall when the Exterminators enter. I register a dull surprise when I see them instead of the usual doctors; despite the fact that I dread my next session, I'm long past resisting. I stand up without waiting for them to tell me to, and they handcuff me before leading me out.*
*I'm not paying attention to my surroundings and don't realize I'm in a different section of the floor than usual until I hear a door close and see I'm in a medium sized room with one chair in the center. A single light shines down, illuminating the chair while leaving the rest of the room in shadow. Standing up a bit straighter, I look around. One full wall is a concealed observation window, although only someone who's spent as much time in the Tower as I have would notice*
What is this?
*The Exterminators just shove me towards the chair, undoing the handcuffs long enough to pull my arms behind the back of the chair before locking me down again. My ankles are also secured, and I'm increasingly confused. There's no screen in here, and no doctor with a tray of syringes. When one of the men suddenly reaches towards my face I jerk my head back but can't keep him from pulling off my mask* What are you doing? Give that back!
*Again, the Exterminators say nothing. After checking my restraints one last time, they signal to whoever's in the observation room and then exit the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. I sit in silence, feeling terribly exposed without my mask, and wait for whatever's coming.*
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Post by rileywilson on Oct 23, 2011 0:37:24 GMT -5
*Orwell smirks when the mask is taken off. Scars criss-cross Max's face, some so deep they form unnatural valleys. His face is also marked on one side by a burn. We stare in odd facination*
Orwell: 'I didn't really get a chance to see your report. What exactly is it that your doing?'
Wilson: Just wait. Max can't stand his own face. The real show is about to begin.
*I turn to the tech sitting behind us*
Begin part 2.
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Post by redhavoc on Oct 23, 2011 0:50:23 GMT -5
*Something wakes me up. A noise, the lights...I'm not sure. Everything is silent*
~CLICK~
* hear the bolt on the door unlock and try to quickly get up, dreading whatever is coming. My body responds slowly and I end up tumbling with the sheet out of the bed. Once on the floor, however, my reflexes kick in and I spring up. I stand there for a full minute before I realize no one is coming.*
*Curiosity wins after another two minutes and I silently approach the door. I'm only wearing the regulation white judo pants and black shirt of crow trainees. I miss my combat boots and gun, but forget about it when the door handle turns in my hands. My adrenaline spikes as I realize what is happening and I slowly open the door. No one is in the cooridor, to my great luck, and I begin to sneak down to the elevator. Up ahead only one door is open...I frown, wondering how to get past it*
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Post by Max Griffiths on Oct 23, 2011 0:54:23 GMT -5
*Several minutes pass before I hear footsteps in the hallway. They're not the quick, purposeful steps of a doctor, though; no doctor walks so quietly, or hesitates partway down the hall. Then a thought occurs to me and I shudder despite myself. I strain against my handcuffs, but they don't yield. If it's her...*
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Post by redhavoc on Oct 23, 2011 0:59:35 GMT -5
*I stop at the boundary just before the open door, hearing the chink of metal-on-metal inside. I'm wondering what to do when I see the reflection of the opposite door. A man is chained to a chair, wearing a partial uniform, his face in shadow...*
*I smile a little when I realize who it must be. Blinded by my delight and not considering how convenient the situation is, I run inside, ready to save Max*
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Post by Max Griffiths on Oct 23, 2011 1:02:57 GMT -5
*It's her. It's her, and I can't do anything about it. She can't see me like this! I'm panicking, the images from the films flashing through my mind. If she sees me, she's as good as dead.* Red! Stop! *I shout at her, my head turned as far from the light as possible*
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Post by redhavoc on Oct 23, 2011 1:09:20 GMT -5
*I halt, mere feet away from Max, confused. His face is in shadow and in my mind he's still wearing a drac mask. Max turns his head away, straining against the cuffs. I inch forward warily, hands up to both protect myself and release Max if I can*
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Post by Max Griffiths on Oct 23, 2011 1:22:48 GMT -5
Stay where you are! *I shout again, but I know she won't listen. It's out of my control. My need to keep her away from me drives me to do something I've never done before - beg.* I know you can hear me, Wilson! Stop this! I'll do whatever you want, just stop! Please!
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Post by rileywilson on Oct 23, 2011 1:38:43 GMT -5
*I look over at Orwell, who's grinning from ear to ear*
Orwell: 'Make the mighty Max beg? Is there anything you can't do, Wilson?'
Wilson: 'I tend to ignore my limits, Jon. It seems to suit me well. Are you all set then? Yes. Tech, begin part 3'
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Post by redhavoc on Oct 23, 2011 1:42:56 GMT -5
*I falter when I hear Max plead. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong*
*Suddenly, the lights change and any and all shadows are gone from the room. I gasp as I see Max's face for the first time. There are deep scars crosshatched across older, lighter ones. Part of his face looks mottled, pitted. Even his ears are not free from abuse. The tip of his right ear is completly missing. I automatically freeze, my eyes taking everything in. Scarred cheeks, scarred brows, and his eyes...they are the same eyes...and they're furious*
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Post by Max Griffiths on Oct 23, 2011 1:50:43 GMT -5
*I close my eyes when the lights go on, then open them again and slowly turn to face Red. I never wanted to see that look on her face, but it can't be undone now. I imagine what she sees when she looks at me and it's somehow worse than the videos. At least my family is dead. At least they never had to know what was done to me.*
*I want to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry for her having to see me; for what was done to her because she was assigned to me; for what was done to my family because they were related to me. But all that comes out is* You need to go.
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Post by redhavoc on Oct 23, 2011 1:58:10 GMT -5
*I shake my head 'no'. More than his monsterous face, I am afraid of his voice. His tone is dangerous and defeated sounding all at once. No. It can't end, not like this. Max is my closest confidant, my brother, my mentor. If he rejects me then I truely am just meant for violence... just a weapon. I take a step closer*
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Post by rileywilson on Oct 23, 2011 1:59:35 GMT -5
*I turn to Orwell*
Now watch as they rip their own friendship apart.
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Post by Max Griffiths on Oct 23, 2011 2:08:36 GMT -5
Red, no! *I force myself to meet her eyes* You need to go! It's not - I'm not safe for you to be around! You shouldn't be here! I - *I hate myself for saying the last few words, but I have to. I have to say them, or Red will die like everyone else does* I don't want you to be here.
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Yes, I'm still running - sort of. But it is lonely out here. Haven't seen anyone else for a while.
//