002 | AUDIO | CALLSIGN: DI481O | LATE MORNING/EARLY DAY 003

[salamanca]

[ There's a click and static of the walkie turning on, and then... nothing. Just breathing. Each breath is slow, heavy, and labored, like the person on the other end is gearing up to say something, but it's too hard. The walkie clicks off.

Then back on again. One more deep breath. The voice on the other end is quiet, soft, ashamed. Lalo is trying to seem less hysterical than he was trying to come off when he first messaged Jet, but still sad and forlorn. Who knows if he's actually accomplishing that goal, but that's what he's going for, anyway. ]

Hello, everyone. This is Ben.

[ The voice on the other end is slightly warm, but low and sad; very very faint Mexican accent, if you're familiar with what a Mexican accent sounds like, barely there unless you really listen for it. ]

I have a confession to make. I —

[ Another pause. ]

I let two of you down last night. I'd like to promise that it won't happen again, but I can't. The thing is — the last thing I remember before I woke up here, some perp attacked me with an electrical cattle prod. Last night, I encountered one of the drones, and when I saw it coming at me, crackling with electricity, I — I — I — it was like I couldn't think straight. My whole world collapsed. I was able to keep it together for a little bit, but it was like that sense of helplessness, those awful feelings came rushing back.

I'll never forgive myself. I'm not asking any of you for sympathy. Or for forgiveness. I say this only because I believe it's only fair that all of you know this before trusting me with anything again.

Thank God for Jet. If anyone is wanting to know about Martin, Jet is with him now. In the building with the drones...

He's working to rescue him. We're keeping in touch.

Kokichi is with Jet too. Kokichi, I am sorry I failed you. I will never forgive myself.

[ There's yet another brief pause. ]

Please be careful, everyone. Stay safe.

Comments

audio; SH442K; 1/2

[sharktrash]

[ Well. This is... a lot of things. ]

Voi. Did you mean to send this publicly? 'Cause if you were tryin' to have a moment with your two buddies, it kinda flopped. [ However, entertainment here is sparse, so; ] Go on, then.

2/2

[sharktrash]

[ But wait. There's important information there. ]

--They reached the building with the prison cells?

[ He's trying to get there... not having much luck, either. ]

audio

[salamanca]

I— "my two buddies?"

No. I'm afraid not. This was intended to be public. Everyone deserves to know what I did. Or failed to do.

Yes. Jet did. He's there now. If you have any suggestions for a computer password, we could use 'em. [ Sigh. ]

cw: mention of child yeeting (humorous)

[sharktrash]

Y'know, the names you keep apologizing to?

[ Wow. This is better than the afternoon soaps, actually. ]

What did you do, exactly? Throw the kid at the drone?

[ He's not exactly forking over the details... ]

[ But nevermind that. ]

Ugh. [ He's... kinda useless with computers, actually. ] "Password"? If the computer's not used for much, he could try checking if any keys are more worn down. Any personal belongings around the desk, y'know, photographs or cards or somethin'.

[salamanca]

Right...

[ There's a scandalized little noise. ] Throw the—? What? No! I would never do that! I — no, he was trying to sneak off. I told him not to, but he wouldn't listen. We fought about it for hours. Then the drone came and I... I... I....

I tried to distract it, but it went after the kid anyway. When I saw it carry him off, I couldn't think straight. I thought that I was going to faint! Instead, I just broke down. I felt like I couldn't move. I just sat there. Useless.

Jet went after him. Then. He found the building. With the drones. He's there now.

[ DEEP breath. ] He already checked the desk for anything like that. No dice. The worn out keys are a good idea, though. I'll pass that along.

[sharktrash]

Ha. Typical cop.

[ Sitting on his ass while people die, all that. It's why mafia was first founded to begin with! Not that... Squalo necessarily has a lot of opinions about that part. They just happen to be on opposing sides, that's all, but he totally would leave someone behind or throw them under the bus if he didn't like them. ]

Sounds like they're fine. You're overreacting.

[ Says the guy, trekking the jungle without supplies to try to rescue the guy who was nice to him once on the internet, but who's keeping count. ]

Got anythin' magnetic? That fries electronic keypads sometimes. Maybe tell 'im to check the drones too, if they're the ones dragging people in then they had to open the doors somehow.

[salamanca]

[ Secretly, Lalo agrees, but he can't say that. Over the walkie he makes a sound like he's about to get offended or object, but thinks better of it, or maybe just feels he doesn't have the right to, and shuts up. ]

I'm not-- [ He has to cut off the walkie here or he'll laugh and ruin it. ]

Okay. I'll tell him. Thank you.

[sharktrash]

[ and so they pass each other, like ships in the night... ]

Hey, let me know if it works.

[ Just in case he runs into something like that later... ]

[salamanca]

[ Sometime later, after Jet's message to him. ]

Looks like you were right, man! He's free.

BT612L; voice

[ichoosefight]

[ Steph isn't sure what to think of this confession. It's hard to tell how someone feels from just their voice. But she can muster a little compassion, as tired as she is, even if she isn't sure why this guy felt compelled to discuss his trauma with people on the complete opposite side of the island from him. ]

You're not responsible for failing to fight an electrically charged, flying robot. I can see why you might feel that way, but I assure you, "run away" is the normal response to that kind of thing.

voice

[salamanca]

I don't think I deserve it, but I'm grateful for your compassion, Miss...? [ Sure, he can keep track of people by their call numbers, but Lalo's the kind of guy who likes to have a name. ] I'll try to keep that in mind.

voice

[ichoosefight]

Stephanie. Just 'Steph' is fine.

Don't worry too much about what's already happened. Focus on what to do now.

voice

[salamanca]

Steph. Nice to meet you. You can call me Ben.

Those are wise words. How'd you get to be so thoughtful? [ A sigh. ] It's a little hard to absorb them right now, though, I'm afraid. What you're saying makes sense, but it's just--

[ He forces himself to trail off; imagines himself gesturing helplessly. ] I can't just forget about this. I have to do better.

voice

[ichoosefight]

Let's just say I've been through a lot.

[ More than you can imagine, probably. ]

I'm not saying forget it. You can always try to do better. But don't lose track of the present because you're caught up in the past.

voice

[salamanca]

Like what? You don't have to tell me, but I'm curious. I like hearing about other people's lives. It might help me clear my head.

[ That's not a lie, anyway. He is curious about people! ]

How do you not get caught up in something like this? I've never failed anyone this badly before...

voice

[ichoosefight]

[ ... ]

Have you heard of Gotham City?

voice

[salamanca]

No. But it won't be the first time I've ever heard about something new here. Where is that? Your home?

Night 003 | voice | HO125E

[trialbyliar]

Huh, I was wondering where you were. And here I thought you just heartlessly abandoned me!

[He already got the explanation from Jet ever before listening back to this post. But he's Kokichi, so of course he's gotta be a brat about it.]

[salamanca]

Kokichi...

[ A sad sound. ]

You're safe now? I'm sorry. I'm not fit to take care of you. You'll be safer with Jet.

[trialbyliar]

Ehh?? Y-you're really ditching me just like that? I can't believe it...

[There's a waver in his voice, but then it disappears in an instant with a snicker.]

That you thought I'd care, I mean. You didn't actually think I was upset, did you? It's fine, Mr. Jet's waaaay more useful anyway!

[He's being his normal self, but there is a touch of weariness that wasn't usually there. The cheery brat persona's a bit harder when he's sore and still fighting off the vestiges of the drone drugs.]

[salamanca]

[ Small laugh. ] Hey, that's the spirit!

[ The weariness is noted, but not important. Sorry, kid. He liked you, but you were a liability. ]

You shouldn't care, Kokichi. It's no thanks to me that you're able to listen to this at all. Promise me you're only going to worry about yourself and Jet and Martin. Not me. Got it?

[trialbyliar]

Got it! I wasn't worried about you in the first place so that's easy enough!

[Is he lying? Who knows!]

[salamanca]

Good! Then it's settled! But how are you holding up? Looked like it was a nasty fall you took. No concussions, I hope? Are you hurt?

[trialbyliar]

Oh yeah, I pretty much split my head open! There was sooo much blood when I woke up...

[Ironically, he does have a half-healed scab under his bangs from a nasty fall just a week or so before waking up in this island. It's a good thing he didn't actually hit his head this time around – that much blunt force trauma probably isn't great for the brain.]

But that's a lie. I just twisted my ankle a lil bit, no big deal! It's a good excuse to make one of these guys carry me.

[salamanca]

[ Aww, he's almost gonna miss this. Almost. ]

From what I remember, mijo, you don't need an excuse.

[ He says it like he's trying to force his own spirits to lift, and maybe Kokichi's too. ]

Sounds like you could use a splint, too.