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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A month long nap. That would be nice. If you figure out how to produce this mythical napping month, please let me know.

Messed with him? What are your powers? If it's okay for me to ask.

Will do.

Ah, the guy you're talking to downstream, actually... I've noticed I can kind of sense people that I can't see? So like if people are behind a door or hiding or something, I just instinctively know someone's there. It doesn't usually bother me, but I think he was sensing everyone at once or something because he was kind of freaking out.

Whoa. That's kind of cool actually. Like, people wouldn't be able to sneak up on you.

Yeah, that's basically how it winds up working out for me. It's been useful in keeping me from getting flanked, at any rate

So like I said, it's not a problem for me. But I can guess being hyper-aware of where everyone is at all times would be pretty weird if it were just suddenly a thing you were dealing with out of nowhere.

I mean, it was for me once, too, but even then I don't recall it being that strong. It's weird.

Did you get any memories where you used your ability? I got a memory of phasing before I actually got the power, though I didn't really realize it was phasing at the time. But afterward, the memory made a lot more sense. Maybe having memories of using the power helps?

And, I guess, people can react to different things in different ways. Maybe being hyper-aware of other people is something that would just really freak him out on an intrinsic level. So it's probably a good thing it's your power and not his.

I don't, actually. Then again, it's not so much a thing I actively use so much as a thing that just kind of happens, and I think it was the same for past me. So maybe it's in there somewhere and it's just not sticking out to me right now.

That's a point, though. I already kind of was before this started, so I had a leg up there, too.

So it was a power that'd kind of fit you, in a sense. I wonder if that had something to do with it as well. Having someone else's power somehow felt wrong.

Yeah. I mean, it was kind of fun, short of the whole "if you don't know how to control these powers they could kill you" thing? But fun in the way a rollercoaster is fun... every once in a great while for a thrill and then otherwise you're good. If that makes sense.

No, that totally makes sense. Getting to experience different things can be fun like that. But only for a short while.

Yeah. At the end of the day, I'm much more comfortable in my own skin.

So I guess now we just pray that doesn't happen again, huh?

That might be all we can do.

Unfortunately.