Member
Konan375
Sep
Echotech71
Oso
BrokenPromise
Fetzen
mickilennial
Force and Fury
Forced Cooperation
Location: Lost Haven- GeneCo Corporate HQ
Timeline: One week after Jacqueline’s meeting with Noah
Timeline: One week after Jacqueline’s meeting with Noah
==~==
Ramos had to admit, the GeneCo building wasn’t nearly as much of an eyesore as he’d been anticipating. It had a certain elegance to it, all smooth, flowing lines and sinuous curves, seemingly carved out of crystal glass. All in all, it looked more like an artistic statement than a place of business. Ramos sighed as he pulled the remains of his cigarette from his lips, and stamped it out underfoot. He glanced to the left and right, at his associates.
Charlotte, obviously, stood to his left, smartly dressed, as he was. To his right was Cherenkov, looking slightly worse for wear, as usual. He was short, one might say petite, and sickly-looking, wearing bulky clothes that hung slightly off his slim frame. His hair was dirty blonde, pulled back into an untidy ponytail. He coughed quietly, then turned to Ramos, almost questioningly.
”Are we going to admire it all day,” he said, in a raspy, deep voice that didn’t really fit his form, ”or are we going in?”
“I don’t know, it’s got a sense of artistic elegance to it. Likely to make sure the little worker drones buzz away happily and aren’t able to think about the moral ramifications over their efforts,” Charlotte replied in her usual sharp, proper manner of speech. Her hands calmly adjusted her clothes out of habit rather than need since they were pretty much a second skin on her. Not a fact that was far from the truth. She inhaled a moment then added, “However I do agree with our impatient comrade about getting things done sooner than later. Ramos, I believe she’s already met you and it would easier if you lead us in?”
Charlotte made a hand gesture to encourage Ramos to lead them in through the doors.
Ramos nodded, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
”Yes, Charlotte, that was the idea. Noah did say Ms. Freeman would know his… ‘agents,’ by my presence. Obviously, I was to take the lead on this assignment.” He turned and raised an eyebrow to his stuffy associate. ”Or weren’t you listening in the limousine.”
”Are we going to bicker like children, now?” said Cherenkov gruffly, shoving forward, ”Or are we going to do what we came for? Come, you two, let us not waste away any longer out here amongst your…” Here, he coughed for emphasis, glaring at Ramos, ”...exhaust.”
“It’s not my idea of a pleasant mission working with you either, Cherenkov. I was merely agreeing with you,” Charlotte coolly replied.
Ramos did roll his eyes here, following Cherenkov in. ”...It’s not as though any of us here are really bothered by my smoking habits, anyway.”
”That does not mean I want to smell it,” muttered Cherenkov. Regardless, he didn’t say anything more as they all walked into the building, which was just as aesthetically pleasing on the inside. Ramos walked up to the front desk, clearing his throat politely to catch the receptionist’s attention.
“Can I help you?” he said.
”Inform Ms. Freeman, please, that Anthony Ramos is here to see her. She’ll be anticipating my arrival, I’m sure.”
The man nodded then pressed a button for the intercomm directly for Ms. Freeman’s office. Her voice, professional and crisp, came over the speaker back to him.
“Yes, Hoffman?”
“Your expected appointment, I believe, has arrived. Should I send them in now?” Hoffman asked as he eyed the individuals up and down, likely trying to determine what made them important enough to have a walk in schedule for the CEO. He casually waited until her tone came back over the speakers to confirm they were to be let in moments later.
“Yes, let them in and postpone any additional appointments until otherwise notified.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” The man stated then retracted his finger before rising upright from his chair. He paused at his desk then indicate they follow him while he lead them to Ms. Freeman’s officer, pausing at the door and then opened it to allow them in before quickly departing. A blond secretary raised upright from her bent position to point out something and took notice of the three individuals. Jacqueline waved her hand, “Thank you Mrs. Gibbs, that will be all for the day.”
Mrs. Gibbs paused for a split moment as she observed Ms. Freeman, “Yes ma’am. If you need anything else, let me know and it will only take a short time to do.”
She reached to take the papers she was handed and casually made her way past the trio. Charlotte’s dark eyes watched the woman quickly retreat with only mild interest then returned it back to the current proceedings. Jacqueline folded her arms upon her desk surface, her eyes studied the three individuals, until the click of the door made it clear it was safe to discuss business again. She cleared her throat before she began, “As you can see, I’m cooperating fully.”
Ramos nodded. ”Quite. As promised, we are here to assist in your endeavor of tracking and reclaiming Ms. Desdemona.” He motioned to the associates at his side. ”Allow me to introduce myself and my compatriots formally. You know me, Anthony Ramos. This is Charlotte Danvers on the left, and Andrei Cherenkov. We are the Director’s most immediate subordinates.”
“I recall that being mentioned. Here,” Jacqueline stated then picked up a disturbing small file folder and passed it toward the trio, “Is everything we managed to collect since her disappearance.”
Naturally, Charlotte was the first to reach out and seize it. Her figure retreated back to the trio as she flipped through the information. It consisted of Racheli’s early life, limited by resources, and data over early findings of the virus to what little they knew now. Charlotte frowned while she gave Ramos a look in his direction, her hand passed the folder back with clear disappointment.
Ramos took the file, and began thumbing through it. He had to agree with Charlotte’s disdainful look, there really wasn’t much here. A cursory glance at the woman’s life from childhood to now, information on the transportation and loss of their “package,” and the like. Much of their information was already known to Polaris, so it was practically useless. To a point- the quality of the data spoke of a deeper understanding of the Phylactery than most, even if they were still calling it a “virus.” With this information, there was much they would be capable of. Not all of it good. In fact, very little of it good.
Their understanding of the Phylactery is somewhat more in-depth than we thought. We will have to identify just how deeply this knowledge goes and… trim some branches, as it were, he relayed to his associates. He scanned the document further, before stopping. He noticed something, something familiar from the CDC reports. A name. He looked up at Ms. Freeman.
Charlotte frowned at the notion of more work and fact these low intelligent beings managed to collect enough in depth information to worry Ramos, “I don’t think we’ll find them here, that’s for sure.”
Agreed, transmitted Cherenkov. If they do have such knowledge, it will not be in such an open place, where any prying eyes might rove over it. It will be someplace more secure. We should keep our eyes open. Be ever vigilant.
”This man, this… Dr. Gabriel Cole. What information do you have on him?”
“The usual you can over anyone that catches our attention and insists on blocking us. The CDC called him in since the virus had biomechanical properties they felt he might be able to decode and understand better. He took over the handling of Ms. Desdemona rather quickly. He’s been preventing samples from being delivered since she was dropped off making things… difficult,” Jacqueline stated with a hint of subtle venom in her tone over the struggle she felt was unnecessary. Her eyes carefully studied them as they each read the files she had collected and waited for their reaction, “We’re still not fully sure why the virus didn’t kill her like many other subjects. We’ve not her in our custody long enough to figure that out.”
Ramos nodded. It made some amount of sense- without the proper authorization, it was logical that the organization would refuse to release Ms. Desdemona’s records. What didn’t make sense was Dr. Cole, as a consultant, spearheading the efforts against the records being released, rather than the CDC itself. He seemed adamant that no one see anything about the subject, outside of the CDC, possibly even more narrow. That could mean one of a few things. Perhaps he knew Ms. Desdemona personally. Perhaps he knew something of the Phylacteries. Perhaps he was greedy for his own discovery, regarding this “virus.” More than likely, it would be more than one of those possibilities.
”The devices are generally only capable of bonding to one host at a time, Ms. Freeman. Though, your description of the, ah… rejection process amongst your other subjects is rather more virulent than we’re used to. Perhaps it was damaged on reentry… I can only suppose, at the moment, until we reacquire the subject.” Ramos flipped through a few more pages, seeing nothing that really caught his interest. ”Have you reached out to this Dr. Cole? Tried to incentivize his release of the information? Surely you have the resources necessary to provide some sort of compensation…”
“We tried, but every attempt has failed. Nothing has been heard from him since Ms. Desdemona vanished a week ago,” Jacqueline mentioned promptly.
Charlotte raised her eyebrow at Ramos, wondering if he was thinking the samething she was. More specifically how odd it was that both Dr. Cole and Ms. Desdemona had both vanished shortly after the kidnapping.
”Hmm,” said Ramos, turning back toward Jacqueline. ”Well, then… that might give us some sort of lead.”
Cherenkov nodded. ”It’s possible, Ms. Freeman, that this Dr. Cole is involved in your subject’s disappearance. Possibly, he could even be one of the… ‘heroes’ who facilitated her escape.”
“I tend not to jump to conclusions without proper evidence. However, I did see it was odd both him and Ms. Desdemona vanished around the same time. Currently whoever took her knew well what they were doing, had little resistance, and seemed that they are no longer in Lost Haven,” Ms. Freeman stated as she settled back in her chair, her arms fell under her desk and rested on the armrests, “However, I wouldn’t ignore the possibility at all. Is there anything else you require?”
Ramos looked between his associates. ”Not at the moment, Ms. Freeman. We will keep you appraised of any developments in our situation. For now, good day.” And with that, he turned on his heel, flanked by the other two members of his entourage. Outwardly impassive they may have been, however, they were quickly calculating within.
This situation is somewhat more dangerous than we initially considered. Especially Ms. Freeman’s capabilities, regarding this technology. We may have to move up our schedule.
But first, we must find the ‘subject,’ in question. We must find this Dr. Cole, as well. I have a feeling he knows more than he lets on about Symbiotes.
Well, let’s not waste any more time here. Time to see if we can find him, Charlotte stated as she continued to follow them, her mind already calculating the possible places Dr. Cole could’ve went, Sadly, that woman is limited to only Lost Haven, but we’re not.
We shouldn't discount the city, however. If this Dr. Cole has knowledge of Phylacteries, or even is a Symbiote himself- however unlikely- that gives him myriad resources, even within the city limits. We should center our net here, though cast it somewhat wider than usual.
Then we’d best get started now, finished Cherenkov as they left the building. We have a… “subject,” to reacquire.