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

[ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yep. New Jersey. It's been called the Crime Capital of the World. If it existed in your world, you'd now about it.

You'd also know about the half-dozen times the world has almost ended in my lifetime.

At some point you get used to everything going nuts all the time.

I'm still getting used to the idea of "worlds," myself. It's a lot for somebody like me to think about.

I'll spare you any bad jokes about New Jersey being the crime capital of the world where I'm from too.

I see. So waking up on a desert island, with no idea how you got there — that would be considered normal for you in "Gotham City?"

Edited 2023-06-01 00:35 (UTC)

Not normal for Gotham, no. But I'd probably call it 'mostly harmless'. I mean, the drones aren't firing bullets, right? That's already way better than most kidnappings go.

You say that like you've been kidnapped enough times to know! Is that what it's like in the crime capital of the world? You just get kidnapped all the time?

Edited 2023-06-01 01:56 (UTC)

Oh, once or twice. It helps that my dad was a bank robber.

A bank robber dad? As an officer of the law, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to take that. [ Small laugh. ]

What about you? Go into the family business? Please don't tell me I'm gonna have to track you down and arrest you now.

Are you kidding? I helped put him in jail the last three times. Being a dad is probably the only thing he's worse at than robbing banks.

I'm sorry to hear that. [ He even sorta means it! Family is the one thing we can all rely on. If you can't trust dear old dad, who can you trust? ]

What did he do to lose your loyalty like that? My family is everything to me. I can't imagine turning on them like that. Even if they were robbing banks.

As a matter of fact, I have this cousin. He's a good kid, but he's an addict. Meth. It's sad. When he's using, it's like he doesn't think straight. Doesn't, you know, see reason. But I'd never give up on him. He's still family.

I can't imagine what your dad did that's worse than that, but whew! It's gotta be bad.

Edited 2023-06-01 21:46 (UTC)

You're a cop, right? Whatever you're picturing, it's probably right. He was worse to my mom than to me.

[ ... ]

He's still alive, by the way. I know I'm talking past tense, but he's just been out of our lives for the last 4 years or so.

Sounds like it's for the best. It's such a sad thing to see families separated, though. Breaks my heart.

[ It does! It truly does! A separated family is a terribly sad thing! Not that Lalo can imagine any of his family members doing anything to make him abandon them. His most beloved uncle uses waterboarding as a training tool, which is a very normal and cool and non-psychotic way for a person to impart lessons to their young nephews. ]

Anyone else you and your mom can rely on? I don't know how it works in Gotham City, but I'd be happy to try to give you recommendations for social services, if you need them-- maybe some of it might translate--

Edited 2023-06-02 00:16 (UTC)

[ ... ]

Sorry? What do you think social services is gonna do?

[ Heavy sigh. ]

Probably not much, in your situation. I'm sorry. I was hoping maybe I could find some way to help. Anything at all. But if you ever do need clothes, food, even advice on scholarships for school-- let me know. I'll recommend what I can.

You ever think about becoming a cop? You sound like you'd be good at it.

[ Maybe it's a bit presumptuous to assume she's on the younger side, but the way she talks about her mom like they're still a family unit makes Lalo believe she skews young, especially taking into account that she said she's an American. So probably somewhere between 15 and 23, give or take... ]

Edited 2023-06-02 01:38 (UTC)

It's a sweet thought, but we do okay. I'm actually on a scholarship already. Haven't declared a major though. Maybe nursing school? I'd make a terrible cop. I don't take orders well.

[ Also she's a masked vigilante. But, you know, details. ]

Whatever you do, it should be something you love. If I were you, I'd take time, explore different options, take different classes and see what interests me. Then I'd pursue what I knew I was good at.

You do go into nursing school, make sure it's because you want to be a nurse and not just because it feels like what you should do.

Me, I went straight into the family business without thinking about it, and I've always regretted it.

Yeah? Why not quit, then?

Well, I did! How do you think I became a cop?

Just wish I'd done it sooner. Don't make the same mistake I did.

Oh, I assumed the family business was police. I know that's the kind of thing that runs in families.

It does! You're right. But uh, no, no — actually my family, they're all small business owners. Turns out sales just wasn't for me. I wanted to do something more with my life. I wanted to help people.

[ She can see why he might be taking his failure hard if that's his goal. ]

You seem like you're feeling a little better now.

Hey, it's like you said, right? Dwelling on being miserable won't help anybody. I've just got to keep focusing on the next right thing to do.

Thanks, Steph. I owe ya.

I'm glad I could help.

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

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