Discord
Hearing about GeoTrust made your emotions come forward before your actual processing mind could remember what it was. You still weren't all together yet, it seemed. GeoTrust, you remembered. A consortium of energy and technology companies that came together in the last half of the century, a while before clouds stopped forming in the sky. Proportedly to help stem the worst effects of global warming, in actuality it hastened them by investing heavily in weakening global politics and consolidating power in preparation for what was likely going to be a worldwide famine. Despite what they published, their research and development teams were lagging behind their own projections. There weren't enough bodies, weren't enough minds, weren't enough people anymore with the training to keep up. Which meant--
"Oh no. I'm not working for you. I already said no."
"I do understand, ma'am. You have made that very clear. I would, however, ask you to consider your predicament."
Your eyebrows furrowed as you realized you felt personally insulted by this man. "My predicament? Our predicament. You did nothing while we all died--"
"--While you all died," he said, staring directly into your eyes. "Trust me, ma'am, the consortium has a plan. It doesn't have to end here."
You laughed bitterly. "I'm sure. What have you got, huh? A time machine? A magic ritual to bring the rain back? A cure for otaru?"
"Well," he said, with a genuine smirk this time, "we actually do have one of those." He held up a syringe, still attached to the line leading into your IV bag. You stared, dumbfounded.
"You actually... I mean, you did it?"
"We definitely did," he said, "as your current condition can attest to. We only have limited resources, however, and considering the situation we are taking a big risk here giving it to you."
You thought for a moment. "I see. Well, that still doesn't change anything. I didn't ask to be cured, and I'm not going to take a job with you. Thank you for your help, but I'll be leaving now."
You got up from your bed to head out of the room. Or at least, you should have. You realized, with dawning horror, that your legs would not move. You touched them, tentatively, and felt nothing. No matter what you tried, your legs felt completely dead.
The man gestured to the empty beds and deserted staff counters. "I believe now you may be realizing your predicament."
>_
"Oh no. I'm not working for you. I already said no."
"I do understand, ma'am. You have made that very clear. I would, however, ask you to consider your predicament."
Your eyebrows furrowed as you realized you felt personally insulted by this man. "My predicament? Our predicament. You did nothing while we all died--"
"--While you all died," he said, staring directly into your eyes. "Trust me, ma'am, the consortium has a plan. It doesn't have to end here."
You laughed bitterly. "I'm sure. What have you got, huh? A time machine? A magic ritual to bring the rain back? A cure for otaru?"
"Well," he said, with a genuine smirk this time, "we actually do have one of those." He held up a syringe, still attached to the line leading into your IV bag. You stared, dumbfounded.
"You actually... I mean, you did it?"
"We definitely did," he said, "as your current condition can attest to. We only have limited resources, however, and considering the situation we are taking a big risk here giving it to you."
You thought for a moment. "I see. Well, that still doesn't change anything. I didn't ask to be cured, and I'm not going to take a job with you. Thank you for your help, but I'll be leaving now."
You got up from your bed to head out of the room. Or at least, you should have. You realized, with dawning horror, that your legs would not move. You touched them, tentatively, and felt nothing. No matter what you tried, your legs felt completely dead.
The man gestured to the empty beds and deserted staff counters. "I believe now you may be realizing your predicament."
>_
