Erius

…It’s my fault.

I should have tried harder to stop him.

I should have stayed with him.

I shouldn’t have left when he was so set on leaving.

I’m sorry.

I’m so sorry.

@bearingasanguinemantle obtc)

<He looks uncharacteristically disheveled. His scarf is tugged all out of place.>

Actually, I was coming to say the same thing. <His voice, albeit deep, is small and raspy from both disuse and their predicament. He looks down, noticing Jackson was practically covered in his own blood.> It's not your fault. I knew he'd escape. I would have been better fit to hold him back. I'm so stupid. I shouldn't have missed that.

<He shakes his head, covering half of his face with his scarf.>

You’re right. We need to find them, do you know any way we can track them down?

[He doesn’t seem phased by being covered in his own blood, maybe that’s what Brillar did to him. Something to do with blood.]

<He tries to stiffen up his body into its usual position, but he just can't. He's been tracking Lumen for days, stayed up the entire time, but each time he narrows down a point, they're gone. As if they know. He's exhausted.>

I can track them myself. My mind is just... elsewhere.

However, they spoke for the first time in the past few days:]

"You need to track Lumen, right?"

[Lumen has the last captive. The other was with Opaq, who is supposedly in the hospital recovering now.

So yeah, they do need to track down Lumen.]

<He crosses his arms over his chest. How can he trust this guy? As far as he's concerned, this could fully be for their personal benefit.>

"(WHAT I NEED TO DO IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS,)" <Starmie conveyed rather bluntly for him.> "(FOR ALL I KNOW, YOU'RE NO BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE YOU WORKED FOR.)"

<Admittedly, he'd been on edge recently. Days were blending together. Everything was a threat to him at this point. He was tired, but he's been through worse. As long as that kid is safe.

Alas, after a moment, they gather their words.]

"Honestly, you make good points. You, that other guy, and the kid have no reason to trust me. Just hear me out, at least."

[They've had a lot in their head for their past few days of captivity. They're sick of being useless.]

"Lumen is my superior. Didn't care for me when I reported I was going to die. Terastalis is the boss and even he didn't bother to come and help me. I overall have no reason to go back. They clearly didn't care for me."

[It's hard to admit that. Terastalis was like a dad to them. Put them under their roof, paid for their education, let them work, let them live their life. Lumen was kind of just, there, but they're grouped into this now.]

"I can help. Given that, if, the communicator you confiscated from me is still here and working, I can reverse a signal or find some properties that track down where Lumen is. Or whoever else."

[They shake their bangs out of their face.]

"Now if it's broken, it'll take longer, but I could figure something else entirely. Even make malware if you– if we– if necessary."

[...did the kid kidnap the tech guy of the team?]

"Take it as a proposal of sorts. For my life. I know nothing about what Lumen and Opaq did to ruin the kid's life– and perhaps more lives– but considering how much the team cared for me, I'd rather be of some use for justice than be a reminder of a dead body."

Honestly, this sounded just about like any other sob story he'd heard from captives like these. Except, this time, the person seemed hardened. No crocodile tears. Little voice cracks. It's a voice of genuine betrayal and a hope to get back at who wronged them. Part of him would respect that... if not for the fact this person hasn't done anything to redeem themselves yet.

He starts to move forward, but his phone buzzes. He sighs, checking it impatiently.

TEMPORARY LEAVE!?

It’s more than necessary.

I'll track Lumen down myself. And tell Jackson to hold you back.

TEMPORARY LEAVE!?

I need to save him.

His breath hitches. Audibly. He rushes to your side, pressing a little button on his belt (likely to call for help).>

Why would you...?

<He grabs your head gently and tilts it back, trying to gauge if you can breathe. His other hand checks your pulse repeatedly. At least you're alive. But he's still holding his breath, looking around for what you could have possibly tried to go out with.>

|| @code-lock-errin obtc ||

[You notice a spilled bottle of painkillers next to the boy.

Well. That makes sense.]

[He can still breathe, but he needs to be gotten to medical care FAST.

His hand reaches for that button again, spamming it as quickly as possible.> Come on... Jackson...

"Is this Jackson?

My name is Erius.

I was notified of your cause by somebody named Theodore.

I'd like to know more about your operation."

|| obtc @code-lock-errin ||

So that’s who Theodore was talking about.

Well, this is an operation I made to finally dismantle Team Brillar.

They have wronged me and countless others, and I wanted to bring them all their justice.

<Really, he wouldn't have even heard about Team Brillar if not for the multiple reports in different regions.>

"I've had my experience with teams like these.

I'd rather prevent them entirely than wait until they get worse.

That being said, I believe there are missing person reports that align with Brillar already.

Regardless of their involvement (which I believe is true), what they're doing is still highly illegal.

Being involved with the Looker Bureau doesn't give me the exact help I need for specifics.

Hello

Are you Erius Rotarn?

@asktheodore obtc)

"Who is this?

I am Theodore Jackson. I am Second in Command of Operation Break The Crystals, a group that wants to dismantle the disgusting cult known as Team Brillar.

<How long has it been since he's heard anything about them? Who could have possibly told this person about him, no less? Was he being compromised?>

"I don't understand.

Who notified you?

But if you need a reason to trust me..

I can promise you I want nothing more than to tear that team to shreds.

They ruined my life, took everyone I care about, kidnapped them all. Took my arm.

"Alright.

I'll talk to him.

Hello

Are you Erius Rotarn?

@asktheodore obtc)

"Who is this?

I am Theodore Jackson. I am Second in Command of Operation Break The Crystals, a group that wants to dismantle the disgusting cult known as Team Brillar.

<How long has it been since he's heard anything about them? Who could have possibly told this person about him, no less? Was he being compromised?>

"I don't understand.

Who notified you?