retrospec | (no subject)

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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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[ Bakhura isn't going to judge Wesker on that front, having been a world-destroying god in a past life himself -- but to be fair, he's also not going to be the best judge of character for that exact same reason. ]

It also sounds like what little strategy they do have is going to revolve around us solving all of their problems for them yet again since we've proven ourselves to be more capable of getting the job done than they have.

[Why were all of you like this? God, his past life was a mass-murdering narcissist and he seems almost normal by comparison.]

I don't suppose you have any ideas.

[ The founders who wanted to decide who was "worthy" of saving were probably trying to keep riffraff like this out, tbh. ]

Just think of it as one big tabletop campaign with us as the adventurers and Vanderweele as the Dungeon Master that we have to defeat: the first step towards finding his boss character is to gather more information about where he's actually located. That's something that Zee, who's something of an NPC in this game, is probably working on already, so staying in touch with him -- and, by extension, keeping him alive this time -- is going to be pretty important.

[ What a goddamned nerd.

But it's the easiest way for him to approach the problem at hand. ]

However, that doesn't mean that we can't still contribute towards that important first step -- it's just a matter of, as others have already mentioned, gaining access to Retrospec headquarters, as that's most likely where Vanderweele is going to be hiding... but only after we've built up some kind of army, of course.

Unfortunately, recruitment is something that's going to require people skills that I simply don't have no matter how riled up I might be over both Retrospec and Vanderweele... that being said, I do have some magic at my disposal now that I can fight back with when the time comes.

I'm also not opposed to breaking into the Retrospec building by whatever means necessary.

[ Finally, his former pickpocketing habit is going to come in handy! ]

[...]

I'd think that it would be more prudent to find some way to bring him to us, instead of the other way around. I don't know about you, but engaging on an unfamiliar field of battle, in an enclosed space no less, sounds like the exact opposite of a good time.

[...He hates citing his past life for any of his decisons, but he was military to a given extent.]

And how would you suggest we go about doing that?

Even if I had any plans for doing so, putting specifics on the network is likely not good.

That's a very good point you're raising... the first step towards finding Vanderweele's boss character, then, is actually going to be settling on a place where those of us who want to do something about him can convene without having to worry about any prying eyes -- another thing that obviously can't be discussed in greater detail on the network.

Right. I'm fairly sure there have been implications that they can watch us even outside of the network, at all times, but I'm not sure how well that will hold up nowadays what with the situation being what it is.

Still, it's very probable that Vanderweele, as one of the founders, has the same capabilities, if not better... acting as though nothing has changed on that front can only work in our favor in times like these.

Fair enough.

God, I have no idea why they felt the need to drag me back into this. I had no recollection of the app or anything for several months, and it was wonderful.

Probably because they were desperate for the manpower and the apparent strategic expertise that you could add to their campaign... the network does seem to have been shrinking by the minute lately. A lot of the people that I used to talk to, even if it was only once have suddenly forgotten all about the app as well... I'd say that it's only a matter of time until you and I will be the next to join them if it weren't for this unfortunate development.

I wouldn't say I have much strategic expertise. I'm a lawyer, not anyone who's used to planning for this sort of thing. My past life was a knight in control of a good number of people, though, so it's possible some things have rubbed off, as much as I hate that notion.

At this point I'm trying to resist the urge to insist that we'll work it out or something will present itself or we'll accomplish...something, because that's disgustingly optimistic given the situation. I think right now I'm just angry enough to want to actually do something about this.

[Determination. Gross.]

[ It's awful, Bakhura agrees. ]

None too fond of your past self either, are you?

Oh, he was disgusting. Not nearly as bad as some others I've seen have it, but he made an admirable attempt regardless.

That's all the more reason that people like you and me are going to want to fight for the sorts of lives that we're able to live here.

[ Determination!! If only because 1. being killed and 2. going back to being who they used to be are both equally terrible options. ]

...So we're just going to form some sort of coalition of terrible people and we're going to save the city.

Congratulations, our lives are stupid.

Oh, don't worry; the goody two-shoes of this city are going to be forming a brigade of their very own as well.

It would just be foolish to let the bleeding heart types run the show all by themselves, that's all.

As it stands, I know a few questionable people that would likely be interested.

I suppose every team could use a few anti-hero types... especially when you're dealing with a man like Vanderweele who's not going to play by the rules.

Exactly. Besides, the emphasis is on "questionable"; if they're flat-out insane, I certainly don't know about it.

Granted, I'm not going to ask about their sanity level, either, because I like plausible deniability. But the sentiment remains.

Some of them are just less forthcoming about it than others for their own reasons.

[ He might be speaking from experience, but his lips are sealed. ]

Honestly, some could stand to be a little less forthcoming.

[...People here tend to either not say much or tell him their entire life story within fifteen minutes, no middle ground.]

At least you know you're not going to be in for a nasty surprise later down the road with those types, because they've already laid it all out for you.

Oh, certainly. I'm just not sure why they expect me to care in the first place.

I think it's less that they expect you to care and more that they just want someone to listen... it's really best to nip those types in the bud unless you can perceive some benefit in listening to their sob story later on.

[ Your past self is showing a little there, Bakhura. ]

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