RE419S | audio | Day 7

[aluminumandash]

[ Rust's voice comes over the walkie, urgent and forceful. ] Anyone in the area between the concrete structures where Martin and me were held—that's the foothills with, ah, a river to the south and the jungle ten hours to the west of the northeast coast, check in right the fuck now.

[ He thinks to type the rest out—some semblance of a record, something for people to refer back to for the while it's around—but five minutes punching little keys and he can't take it anymore. So his voice returns, matter-of-fact. ]

Officer de Guzman's dead. [ If anyone was hoping for a eulogy, it's not fucking happening. ] Took an arrow to the shoulder then was executed, from the sound of it, likely with his own firearm. He was in the region I just described, about a kilometer away from a wood cabin with no defenses or occupants he could discern. Guessing he walked into some kind of a trap. [ He concludes, irritation seeping into his voice. ]

Much as I hate to state the obvious, circumstances compel me to say: do not seek out the cabin. Hell, I'll say it twice: do not seek out the fucking cabin. You find yourself in an area suspiciously quiet and bereft of animal activity, turn around and go back the way you came.

The individual who killed him had a message for us. It follows.

[ After a short delay: ] The next animal I find here will die a much slower death. Tell your friends for me.


OOC: Replies subject to even more robust threadjacking than usual from Lalo!

Comments

[metalicarus]

Ben, you strike me as less of a team player than I am.

[salamanca]

[ This comes several hours later, after Lalo has had some time to cool down. ]

Yeah, you know what? I think you're right. Think I'll sit this one out.

[ He still wants to go, but... probably better not to admit that on the walkies, he realizes. Maybe if they're ever in person together later, they can discuss it then! ]

[metalicarus]

[He's not sure he believes that, but also Ben is a full grown man who can do what he wants in Jet's book. Just as long as it doesn't get anyone else killed for being stupid.]

Sounds like a good plan. At least for now. There's plenty else going on here to focus on for now.

[salamanca]

You shouldn't go either. Nobody should. Maybe stick to making maps. Might be better.

[ The guy in the cabin might be able to read all of this, after all. He doesn't know if Jet will understand what he's getting at, but Jet seems like a smart cookie. Hopefully, he'll pick up what Lalo is putting down: don't even talk about going to the cabin on the network.

Perhaps it's too subtle and he'll think Lalo is actually just talking about making maps. Hopefully not, though! ]

If we're ever in the same place, I'd be happy to help you! If we're not, just promise me you'll tell me anything you find out.

[ Lalo and Jet are on good terms, or so Lalo imagines anyway... and he thinks Jet can imagine how he must feel right now, in a way that some of the other people can't. He wants to believe Jet will understand why babying him, cutting him off from all information about the cabin, will make him feel worse, not better. Jet, he thinks, might also want to know more about the creature...person?...being?...that killed him.

He stares at the message, unsure. Whoever is in the cabin may very well be able to see this. ]

[metalicarus]

[This feels...weird. Pointed. Both parts. Something about being worried about them being watched or was it more to do with something else on Lalo's end? Either way, Jet shakes his head to himself and lets it go. Not his business...besides, he doesn't really need to know to answer the question honestly.]

If I come across anything and we meet up again, you'll know it. Glad you're not permanently dead. Look into keeping it that way.

[salamanca]

[ Lalo smiles softly at the message. He knew he could count on you, Jet! Or so he decides, anyway. ]

Gracias. I'll do my best. You too, eh?