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Post by marionarsis on Nov 26, 2015 9:46:20 GMT -5
Jacob turns off the car and its lights. Keeping an eye on the house, he calls the hotline to Washington. If Washington's compromised, I'm just screwed he thinks as he listens to the phone ring in his ear.
When someone answers, assuming someone does, he follows the protocol and desparately tries to remain calm and to not sound insane:
"This is Sparrow stationed in Cairo, and I have an emergency. I believe Cairo HQ is compromised. AIN has utilized doppelganger technology to impersonate NDL personnel. AIN may also have access to a list of all agents in North Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Europe. I am on the run and am not in a secure location. I could use some guidance now."
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andrew
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 110
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Post by andrew on Nov 26, 2015 23:17:49 GMT -5
The voice that addresses you on the other side of the phone is tired, montone, male. It's 4:50 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
"Hold, please."
Another voice comes on the phone. Fresh, assertive, male. He asks for a full explanation. What do you tell him? Everything? If not, everything, what parts do you tell him?
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Post by marionarsis on Nov 27, 2015 22:09:27 GMT -5
Adhering to the belief that he's lost if Washington is compromised, Jacob is prepared to tell practically everything, but believes time is of the essence so he avoids unnecessary details.
-- He relates the mission, including the events of his past Spy Trips.
-- He relates the events in the cafe including mention of who the contact was (on the theory that if they don't know an agent died in the shooting yet they will check his story and find out, then wonder why he didn't reveal it)
-- He takes that opportunity to express doubt that Grant was a double agent, but "that's not important right now"
-- He relates the events in the safe house, emphasizing how convincing the doppelganger was
-- He ends by relating what happened in his call with Phelps including the mysterious end, which is what gives him concern that something happened to Phelps.
-- But he does not reveal that he left the safe house, and leaves the impression he is still there.
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andrew
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 110
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Post by andrew on Nov 28, 2015 9:24:27 GMT -5
The voice on the other end of the phone identifies himself as Mockingbird. "This is Sparrow, correct?" You reply in the affirmative, and hear the shuffling of objects. "Sparrow, we have you listed as deceased."
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Post by marionarsis on Nov 28, 2015 15:44:47 GMT -5
"Huh? As I said, Phelps said I'd died twice performing this mission, and this was my third try, after two Spy Trips. Hasn't he provided updates or reports?" Jacob finishes rather lamely, "Regardless -- I'm not dead. And I do have this coded list of agents . . . and Grant's computer . . . which should be of concern to the NDL. So there's that."
He wracks his brain: had he ever heard of technology that could revive a man from death (Spy Trip) before meeting with Phelps?
OOC: Had I?
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andrew
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 110
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Post by andrew on Nov 28, 2015 23:20:18 GMT -5
"Sir... we have a bit of a problem, here. First, there is no such thing as a 'Spy Trip.' One can't go back in time, beyond their death, to somehow not die. That's insane. No one has that ability, no one ever will."
You hear more objects--papers--shuffling, perhaps a laptop being shifted on a desk. His tone is harsher now. "Second, I don't have a record of a 'Phelps' as the Station Chief of our Cairo branch. In short, I don't know who you are, or how you got this number. You're not Sparrow. He's dead. I suggest you never call here again. Understand?"
The line goes dead. You think. There's something there, but you can't be sure.
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Post by marionarsis on Nov 29, 2015 11:15:23 GMT -5
Jacob stares with unseeing eyes at the phone in his hand. His mind is racing, but going nowhere in particular.
He begins to doubt everything. He starts with doubting the accuracy of his own memories. But no -- some if that was true; he remembered the number to Washington, D.C., he remembered his code name, so that much was a real memory.
Isn't it?
Because what's the alternative: that he is a construct of some sort? But if so, whose? Assuming the doppelganger was AIN, then . . . does that mean he is really supposed to be working for NDL? But if so . . . what's up with Washington?
He shakes his head, as if doing so would remove the confusion and replace it with clarity.
"OK . . . maybe you aren't Sparrow. But you definitely think you work for NDL, so go with that. What should an NDL agent do?"
After a moment, Jacob calls Washington again. If he gets the "switchboard," he'll ask to speak to Mockingbird.
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andrew
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 110
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Post by andrew on Nov 29, 2015 15:51:28 GMT -5
You ask to speak to Mockingbird, and after a moment the same male voice, still irritated, speaks into the phone.
"Yes?"
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Post by marionarsis on Nov 29, 2015 23:17:04 GMT -5
Jacob speaks quickly, hoping to entice Mockingbird into staying on the phone.
"Look, I don't know what's going on. I think I'm who I said I am, but even if I'm not -- I know things only an agent would know, like this phone number and the name 'Sparrow,' and I'm telling you I have sensitive information about NDL that it would not want to be in anyone's hands.
"You've got to at least want to interrogate me, and I'm willing to turn myself in. Because I believe I'm an NDL agent working in Cairo with the code name Sparrow, and therefore that's what I am programmed to do?" What I'm saying sounds crazy, Jacob thinks.
"Even if you think what I'm saying contradicts your info and that Sparrow is dead, this isn't like a kid calling up and asking if you've got Prince Albert in a can -- and if this is some nefarious plot by me, you've got to admit it's the most amateurish thing you've ever heard of, which strongly suggests there's something I have or about me that needs to be investigated."
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andrew
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 110
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Post by andrew on Nov 30, 2015 10:20:13 GMT -5
"Okay. Let's say I believe you. Where are you right now?"
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Post by marionarsis on Nov 30, 2015 16:03:27 GMT -5
All right. You're all in, buddy.
"I'm down the road from the safe house. The doppelganger's and Bradley's bodies are inside."
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andrew
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 110
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Post by andrew on Nov 30, 2015 20:27:50 GMT -5
He asks you which safe house. You tell him the one in Giza. You give him the address that Phelps handed you on a piece of paper.
"All right, you've got me interested. Return to the safe house. I'll send someone to interview you."
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Post by marionarsis on Dec 1, 2015 10:28:22 GMT -5
"OK, but can you tell me something about him? I want to make sure it's not another doppelganger trying to kill me. Phel-- the guy I talked to here in Cairo is sending someone too, or said he was before the line went dead. I want to make sure I'm talking to the right person."
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andrew
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 110
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Post by andrew on Dec 1, 2015 15:20:53 GMT -5
"His name is Anderson. Dark hair, six-two. He will be at the safe house in three hours. Just hold tight."
It's been thirty minutes since Phelps told you the expungers would come. If everyone arrives on time, Anderson will arrive ninety minutes after the expungers arrive.
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Post by marionarsis on Dec 1, 2015 23:40:42 GMT -5
"OK, I will. Tell him I expect him to know my codename. That way, if he's intercepted and 'replaced,' I'll be able to know."
Jacob waits, keeping an eye on the house. Two were sent by Phelps and one by Mockingbird; barring a change of plans he should be able to tell the difference.
He tries to piece things together. Everything that has happened has been utterly fantastic.
Like a child sounding out words, Jacob tries to piece together an idea in the hope that maybe something jogs.
What happened to Phelps? The way the call ended sounded like he was dead -- but if he was AIN, who would have done that?
He shakes his head. All this confirms what he already knew: something weird is going on.
He tries a different tactic: he tries to remember what happened yesterday.
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