a_gentle_boy: (Attack)
Lucas ([personal profile] a_gentle_boy) wrote2010-05-29 08:34 pm

Eleventh PSI

[This was the the task entrusted to him.  And come hell or high water, he would do it.  The man hadn't specified what exactly 'something' was, but Lucas figured that being roasted to a crisp qualified.  It wasn't too hard to guess what had happened.  The Netherlands and America had invited Jane Smith into the pharmacy on some pretense.  They'd confronted her.  And some how or another, the pharmacy had burnt to the ground, all three of them killed.

He'd wiped away his tears and set to work, returning home and making 10, 20, 50, nearly 100 copies of both sides of the note by hand.  It had taken him nearly two hours.  Placing a note into each mailbox took even longer and by the time he'd gotten back to his house, he was exhausted.  But that was alright.  Being so tired . . . It meant he could hardly think about what had happened  And that meant he wouldn't just crumple up and cry.  There was no time for that.  Now . . . Now he had to complete the task that Mr. Netherlands had asked of him.  He would be strong.  He would believe that tomorrow morning, both of them would be back in their beds just like Margot had been. 

He ate dinner, thinking over what he was going to say in his head, then waited another half hour before picking up the phone.  He, of course, filtered it away from all the drones.  And when he speaks, his voice is quiet and calm, but almost completely toneless.]


This is Lucas, the boy who lives on 846 Goldberg. 
I have something important to say.  By now, everyone should know that the pharmacy burned down this morning with three people inside -- there were three bodies.  I'm here to tell you that it's almost certain they were Mr. Netherlands, Mr. America, and Miss Jane Smith. 

[pause]

Mr. Netherlands found something in Westport that he'd kept to himself the last few weeks.  I didn't see it until today.  But because of what the note said, I guess it seemed like a good idea to talk to Jane Smith and find out what she knew.  So he did.  In the case that something happened, I was asked to distribute this note to as many people as I could.  Please check your mailboxes.  It should be clear what I mean once you read it.

 . . . This is the reason they died.  Remember that.  I don't know how the building burned, but I'm certain of it.  This is why they died . . . 
If there are any questions you think I can answer, you are welcome call me back in about ten minutes.  Thank you.

[Click.  Lucas stares at the phone silently for a long time after he's hung up, his breaths short and ragged.  Finally, he lets himself go and allows the tears to come pouring down his face.]

EDIT:
There's a witness who saw Officer Grady do it.  Set it on fire, I mean.  . . .  Um.  That's it.

[identity profile] passes-out.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
[After receiving the call, Ichabod wasted no time in checking his mailbox. What he found in it confirmed his worst fears. Jane Smith, Netherlands and America were the three victims inside the building that he witnessed burn down. He picked up the phone and called Lucas immediately.]

Lucas, this is Dr. Crane. I have...some important information for you.

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[identity profile] eminent-lady.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
So that's what went down.

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
He . . . He didn't say anything about telling people about his plans, but I thought everyone should know . . .

[It isn't too hard to tell that Lucas has just finished crying.]

[identity profile] bornwithskison.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
...That idiot.

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
He said they would be careful.

...

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[identity profile] mr-blandy-bland.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
Dammit...dammit...dammit.



T-they're human, they're not invincible here.

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
Are they invincible usually . . . ?

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[personal profile] braided_icarus 2010-05-30 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
...

[And Ed is silent, listening. Opening his mouth a few times as if to interrupt but refrains, instead, going out to check said note in the mailbox. The revelation is not lost on him either, the possible implications it held. He's quiet himself for a good while before, finally...]

Lucas. If you need anything.....

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
I . . . I'll be OK . . . T-They'll be back tomorrow, right?

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[identity profile] redorblueshot.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
Oh dear. So that's where all the smoke was coming from.

[Taking a moment to process all that info.] ...How long will it be for a new Pharmacy to be built?

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
. . .

What? Um. I don't know. Maybe it will come back tomorrow just like people do. Is that really important?

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
. . . That seems to be what most people are saying.

s'okay <3

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[identity profile] perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
Grady did it?! I… why...…

[A pause.] Lucas… are you feeling any better?

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
. . . I don't know.

My fever? Oh. I got better almost that same day. Thanks . . . It was. It wasn't a very big deal . . . But thanks.

[identity profile] kol-shevik.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
Was always very bad at being covert.

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
They were secret enough that no one else knew what they were planning . . . But you meant Grady, right?

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[identity profile] bluecapboy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
Lucas, are you okay?

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
I'm f -- . . . I'm . . . Um. Honestly . . . Not really, Luke. The bodies were . . .

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[identity profile] steel-massifail.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
We're... we're going to make Grady pay.

[[Massimo's furious, and his tone of voice shows it. After a moment or two, he seems to calm down.]]

Are you all right, Lucas?

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
. . . Yes.

[Short and simple. But Lucas's 'yes' vibrates with an uncharacteristic anger.]

I'll be OK . . . They'll be back tomorrow. They will.

[identity profile] weaponsparked.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
... They did what?

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
. . . It. It was a long story. What part did you need me to repeat?

[identity profile] bestestpapaever.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
...I see. Thank you--you've been helpful, kid.

[He has the note in his hand, staring at it.]

I'm sorry... I tried to help your friends, but the fire was too wild by the time I got there...

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
. . . There probably wasn't anything you could've done. If Grady wanted to kill them . . .

[identity profile] teacup-parry.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
Hm...

Thank you for the information, Lucas. I hope they managed to learn something useful before their unfortunate demise.

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
It's no problem. You know, I hadn't even thought about that . . . I hope they did, too. But I think the point was probably to make Jane remember who she really was.

...

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[identity profile] armywithcountry.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
Netherlands -- that fucking weakling! Idiot! Should have brought me with him!

Verdammt. So this is what they do to people who try to fight back, is it? Fine. Bring it on!

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
If you'd been there, you'd have gotten killed, too. That's why he didn't want anyone else involved, I think . . . But this is more of a reason to keep fighting than anything. I can't forgive them.

[identity profile] weiss-tank.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
Grady? But how, even with accelerates that place couldn't have gone up that quickly...

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
Did you see it? . . . H-How fast did it burn to the ground?

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[identity profile] numanstan.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
[He's reading the note as he speaks, re-reading it and re-reading it again. Shit just got real, yo.] ... They're both mad, if they thought that'd work.

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
I don't know if they did. But I guess they just wanted to give it their best shot . . .

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[identity profile] cowardly-prince.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you for having the courage to do this.

[And he's done. Away from the phone. Too busy hiding his household's copies of the note for safekeeping.]

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
. . . [Well that was different. Lucas murmurs a, "You're welcome", then hangs up after a few minutes of silence.]

[identity profile] wafels.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
*From the other side of the phone, Lucas may hear a sharp, pained gasp.

And then a thump.

Belgium's fainted.*

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
. . . Miss? Miss, are you -- Um.

[OK, OK. Who did he know who was female who was close to the Netherlands? Margot. Taiwan. His sister. Margot wouldn't be the type to faint, Taiwan was droned, so it was probably the last one. Oh, shoot. Had the Netherlands ever told him her name?]

H-Hello?

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[identity profile] mokorilove.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
... Are you all right, Lucas?

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
Fine. I'll be fine.

[He sounds terribly mechanical. Perhaps everyone has already asked him this and even though it's a lie, he has to keep repeating it anyway.]

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[identity profile] followyouthere.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Margot's seen the note, seen the wrecked building on the pharmacy. After hearing Lucas' message, she picks up the receiver and though she's trying to keep from panicking and sobbing, her tone of voice is shaky.]

H-he's... That stupid bastard, that stupid fucking...

Is this what's going to happen to us? Fucking this?!

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
I know . . .

It . . . It happens already, doesn't it? The permanent droning. B-But that sometimes means that people go home, too.

[identity profile] hourai-branch.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
Smith...is that the little girl?

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
That's Lucy Smith. Jane is the mother.

[identity profile] paysyoursalary.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
[The fire at the pharmacy and this note...It certainly makes sense.

The wheels in her head are starting to turn. She'd been wondering how far the town would go to protect whatever secrets it had. Perhaps it might be useful to go farther...

Thoughtfully]
Hmmm. This is very useful. Good work...Lucas, was it?

[She doesn't give out "good work" to just anybody.]

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
That's right. Thank you, miss. But it wasn't really anything.

[Maybe the hours and hours of copying notes and walking all over town to every mailbox was exhausting, but it wasn't as if it had been especially difficult. Lucas's response, in any case, is mechanical and stiff.]

[identity profile] tsukurimasho.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
A-A fire!? [She totally did not hear because she recently came out of droning.]

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
. . . Uh-huh. The pharmacy was set on fire last night or sometime this morning.

[identity profile] eightfuryflames.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
CAN'T BLAME IT ON ME ANYWAY

Hm. So this note might have something to do with why we're stuck here?

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-05-30 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
Ah. Were you here for Westport . . . ? It's one of the ones from the city.

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