retrospec | (no subject)

Posting from this network, you'd probably assume I got my job back. Hey users. For those of you who're new, my name is Zee. Sorry to say it, but you've been pulled into the Retrospec project now. Not sure what that is? Get someone else to explain it to you, there're plenty of people who've been around for way longer than deserved.

So…you'd probably assume I got my job back, and I kind of did. I kind of did, but there's a funny little thing about Retrospec and memories. Let me tell you a brief story.

Once upon a time, there were the four founders who came to this planet, founded the city of Recollé and started the Retrospec project. Yeah. Another planet. They're technically aliens, I might technically be an alien, some of YOU might be aliens, it's hard to say. So anyway you have the four founders: Spinnato, Cavendish, Mahoney and Vanderweele. These four created an ideal project to protect life on other planets, offer inhabitants a safe haven to recover from tragic events of their world that were being destroyed (as planets are wont to do) and "regrow" the place you once called home. The problem is that the four of them weren't entirely in agreement on what sort of people should be "worthy" of being saved, or who should be able to become part of the Retrospec project to preserve their souls and recreate what was lost. Souls are a tricky thing. I should know, given I think mine was floating around in the endless abyss for a few months while my body regenerated.

There was such a controversy amongst the founders that one of them, Vanderweele, ended up wiping out an entire family line. There are relatives left from the Spinnato family. Cavendish and Mahoney decided to spearhead the project themselves and sentenced Vanderweele to life in solitary confinement. Once that happened, they began changing how the project was one. They hired some of their own family members. They changed and became the "new" Retrospec.

Vanderweele's not dead though. And as a master of illusion, you can guess where this story is going. I'm not going to do this vague and hiding bullshit that the company's fond of: Vanderweele is out there and meddling with the affairs of this city to overthrow and regain control of the project. All of these weird storms that are happening, the things that mess with your soul? That's Vanderweele's work.

So why am I telling you this?

…Vanderweele got to Retrospec. A lot of you asked if Retrospec knew I was alive again and at the time I didn't know if they did or not, so when I got back to this layer (thank you, by the way. All of you.), I went to headquarters. Everyone inside doesn't even seem to remember that they were working on the project. I don't know WHAT he did, but their memories…everything's scrambled. The entire tech department resigned and I'm not sure if Maurice thinks he's working in a normal mailroom or what. They're almost on the same layer that you guys are before you wake up. Or that's how it seems anyway.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like it's just you and me.

We need to start moving and putting a stop to this to fix everything. I'm not saying you have to. If you want to sit this one out, fine, but I have a feeling most of you want to do something about this. Bring people back to themselves. That kind of thing. You're all pretty stubborn from what I've noticed and that's the good thing.

There are some things I need to check. I'm learning how everything works here and I'm trying to understand all of their notes, not to mention I need to retrieve a few things and wait for a field agent but you'll hear from me soon. I have an idea, but these things take time.

Stick together. Talk to each other. Keep focused.

Oh. I guess also I should mention I moved offices? I'll be staying at headquarters for a while but my remote office is easier to access. Head to the public library, you should be set to get past the scanners on the back of the building and the door will appear for you. I'll be reachable by text, too.

Good luck. Be in touch soon.

Zee Carlisle
Hiring Manager
Retr

spec Incorporated

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's really what you want? To just go back to no changes, no memories, no Retrospec at all?

Hitori Togusa That's the world, isn't it? Before this all stared?
Hitori Togusa The hope has always been that when this finishes, the other Togusa can have his world, and I can keep this one. That it all finally stops for us and goes back.

Hitori Togusa Not even getting into that Retrospec has to be tried for their crimes, and so so many other things I want. But getting our world back is a goal, yeah.

I guess. You did say you wanted to split off. But doesn't that just kind of make it all pointless?

[After a few minutes, the above message gets deleted, and she posts this:]

It sounds nice when you put it that way. I don't know. I don't even know what the world for me would be if it went back.

[As Togusa stares at the app output floating in his vision in the realization that he is approaching foot in mouth territory quickly.]

Hitori Togusa What about you? What is it that you do want? I can make a guess based on what you've said, but if it comes down to her world and this world?

Isn't it important to try and save every world?

Hitori Togusa It is. I want to save his world, but I don't know if I want to live in it.
Hitori Togusa That's really the choice I hope we get to make.

I've already lost one world for good. If there's even a chance that I can get another one back, I want to take it. Then maybe things might turn out better and they wouldn't keep falling apart.

[Never "she." Never treating Kara Zor-El as a different person. No matter what Mr. Togusa or Mr. Tsushima or anyone else says.]

Hitori Togusa You. You remember that world being lost? The one Retrospec is trying to put back together?

Not really. But I remember my home planet blowing up. Having to escape to Earth. So if that place got lost too, I just really want to bring it back. And maybe I'm being selfish for wanting to live in it, wanting to become that me instead of splitting off and losing all of it forever. I know you don't want that. I know a lot of people don't want that. I thought I was okay with it.

Hitori Togusa That isn't selfish, that is the opposite of selfish.
Hitori Togusa The worlds should be our top priority. If the choice actually came down to it, I know I would pick to go to that world, if it was the only way to bring back all those people.
Hitori Togusa Please, I'm sorry for what I said, don't feel badly for what you're feeling.

No, I'm sorry. I just want to make everything okay for everyone, you know? Even if it means I have to give up on becoming past me and have to be this world's me forever. Your guys's stuff is more important, anyway.

Hitori Togusa More important?

Hitori Togusa I think we all really want to make things okay for everyone. And we haven't had a choice in how to make that happen until maybe now.

Hitori Togusa If we get to Retrospec, really get to how this is happening to us all? Maybe we can find a way to give everyone what they want.

Yeah. Sorry. We need to focus on stopping what Vanderweele's doing. How do you think we could, though?

Hitori Togusa I think it comes down to the worlds, but Retrospec has never confirmed it. The souls are with us, because it's not like they can exist on their own right now. But once the souls are done reforming? Can they split out other-Togusa once he has a place to go, if that's what I want, and send the merged Lina to your place if that's what you want?

I don't know. I almost don't want to guess. I mean, what if we're wrong?

Hitori Togusa If we're wrong, and there is no choice, then one or the other of us was going to be unhappy anyway. I think I'd rather hope for that choice.