Report #13

[11:22:06, 11/23/14]

So, finally checking in. Status update, absolutely nothing.

Sorry, Bro. This might take a while.

I understand that. Doesn't make it not annoying as hell.

Like I said, we may not find anything at all. That said, it's weird being back here.

Have you come back since you were here with her?

No. Never.

For all our loyal listeners out there, Beau and I are currently in an abandoned warehouse. Why, I hear you ask? Because apparently this is the last place that my mom was with Rex's gang, right Beau?

This was the last place I ever saw her, yes.

Unfortunately, other than the delightful dank smell and the cobwebs there appears to be nothing here.

Your mother can use the path, so my guess is she'll come out when she's good and ready.

It makes me think there's no reason to keep moving around trying to chase after her.

Maybe there is, maybe there isn't. I doubt she'd show up around Anna though. They didn't uh...part on good terms.

Oh God no, I didn't mean waiting for her to show up at the shack. That'd be a whole extra level of nightmare.

My plan is to find some places with significance to her. Maybe she'll show up.

I guess that sounds as good as anything else. Though I'm not a big fan of hitchhiking, how can you do it so often, Beau?

I don't know. I've been doing it for so long it doesn't really bother me anymore.

I guess I understand the concept of being able to get used to anything.

You do live with Anna.

Exactly my point. I never thought I'd have a point in my life where I considered rattlesnake an everyday dinner item, but look at me now.

A true wild boy.

For those who can't see I am literally jumping for joy.

We are all so proud.

I should program sarcasm detection into this thing. Seems like it'd come in handy.

Well I was only half sarcastic.

Hm, it'd be tricky to program half sarcasm into it.

Well, now I suppose we'll need to figure out somewhere else to go.

You got any more hot spots?

Hot spots?

You know, important places from her past.

Well kid, she is your mom.

Do you......You think we should go to my house?

I don't know, should we? Was that place important to her?

I don't, I mean, she was never there, I doubt she'd care about it. More likely we should check one of her crack dens.

Any idea where one of those might be?

Nope. We could try her grave.

She wasn't really buried there though, was she?

I guess not. I guess this is just proving how little I know about my own fucking mother.

Well I'm guessing you were important to her right?

It's doubtful.

You okay?

I'm fine. It's just....how fucking pathetic is it that I can't even come up with a place that means anything to my own fucking mom?

Well that isn't your fault kid.

I know. I mean, yeah. It's been a long day is all. I had hoped we'd find something here.

Well maybe there's a clue here we still haven't found.

True. Wanna look around?

One more sweep can't hurt.

We're not going to get much else done today anyway.

Until next time then?

We'll check back in if anything actually happens.

[END]

Report #12

[2:53:45, 10/21/14]

Hey guys, guess who finally showed up?

I did.

Welcome to our humble shack Beau, how was your trip?

All right, ride could have been better. Got caught in a pretty messed up detour. Remember kids, don't hitchhike. It's dangerous and I'm a professional.

Thanks for the PSA.

It is my personal pleasure.

Anyway, first thing tomorrow, Beau and I are setting out to find my mom. I can't believe it's really happening. Thanks for doing this Beau, really really, it means a lot.

Well yeah, like I said, it is my personal pleasure. No big deal.

Sorry, I'm just fucking excited.

Right. No I know.

If you're excited I'd say you're going into this with the wrong attitude.

I'm not going to be stupid about it, Anna. But I mean.......Seeing my mom again, it's been something I never thought could ever happen.

Good for you man, I'm glad we can help make it happen.

I mean, I've been prepping for the past two weeks. My fingers are shot to hell, I'm not made out for this sewing shit. I even did some of that shooting practice Anna's always on me to do.

I have a sewing machine dumbass. You look like Raggedy Andy.

Shut up, I did it in the end.

It'll be super fucking funny when a bunch of money falls out of the legs of your pants.

Ha ha ha ha.

Shut up! I did fine, it's fine, it's good enough.

Ah man, don't get all pouty, Anna's just messing with you. This is how she shows affection.

Fuck you Roland.

See?

Good to know.

So Anna, are you letting us take the truck?

Fuck no, I need that.

We can hitchhike I guess. It'll be fine as long as the master is with me, right?

Yep, but it might take a little longer. We're working on conjecture here, so first stop is Texas. You sure you don't want to at least lend it to us?

I've got driving I've got to get done too, okay? And hitchhiking is the fucking worst. I once got picked up by a van of white supremacists.

What makes you think she's in Texas?

Last place I ever saw her. Thing about Proxies is they have "the path" so she could be jumping around anywhere.

Be honest Beau? What's the chance we actually manage to find her?

I can't say for sure. I'd say it's likely. You're her kid, and I think she wants to be found.

Yeah of course she does, so she can give you a big fat cuddly hug while driving a knife into your

Anna.

You don't know that Anna. I know you think you know better about everything, but you don't know that for certain.

I can reason a pretty educated guess.

Anna, come on, we're already here, we're going.

Tomorrow. We're leaving tomorrow Anna.

Right, yes. Of course.

Aww cheer up. We still have tonight.

Ew. Do I have to sleep outside?

No.

Yes.

Ew ew ew please let's not talk about it.

You're the one who asked.

Hey now, nothing to be embarrassed about we're all friends here. We tell it like it is.

You are not helping anything.

It's bad enough that you do it, just please please don't talk about it.

Our love is beautiful.

That is the last thing our love is and you know it.

Shhh...We are epic.

Moving on! Moving on. Um, Annalee, I'll teach you how to use that flashdrive program before we go, okay? Anything else that needs wrapping up?

Uh, one thing I guess.

What?

I got you something.

What? That's unlike you.

Oh yeah, I only let you live in my house without paying rent. Generosity sure isn't like me at all.

Fine, whatever, you're kindness incarnate. What is it? .........................Is this a rabbit's foot? Like an honest to goodness real rabbit's foot?

It honest to goodness is.

Did you like, cut it off a rabbit yourself?

What did you think I'd buy a shitty curio one? Those things are fake as hell. Don't even fucking know to get the goddamn left foot. Like what good is that piece of shit going to do anybody.

That sounds just like you Anna. Thanks.

You're welcome.

Nothing to wish Beau good luck?

Well...

Do us all a favor and don't even start that sentence honey.

Good call Anna. Before this all goes horribly, horribly off topic in the worst way possible, anyone have any last things to say on the recording?

May the road rise to meet us and may the wind always be at our backs.

You don't Irish bless yourself idiot.

And on that note, we'll end this report. I'll post again once we're on our way. We're leaving tomorrow. God, I can't even believe that. We're leaving tomorrow to go find my mom. See you all later.

[END]

No, I'm not an idiot

Though to your guys' credit, nobody seemed to think that I had stormed off into the desert after Anna and I had that fight. Maybe I'm not as “battle-hardened” as she is, but I wouldn't just go running out unprepared trying to find a proxy with several kills to her name. I have at least that much common sense. It'd be pretty much suicide wandering out by myself without any sort of plan, trust me, I haven't forgotten what happened last time I set out on my own. No matter how many times you've been kidnapped, you still remember just how much each time sucked.

I was still thinking about it, but meanwhile life has been going on as normal around here. Annalee's been doing what she does, still trying to do something about my favorite little brain implant, and I've been doing what I do. Been putzing about working on some kind of independent recording program, probably on some kind of disk drive, so that Annalee can still make audio reports from a different computer if she wants. I'm going to take mine with me when I figure out the logistics of going after my mom. And although I doubt that Annalee will even be able to figure out how to use the fancy tech I'm putting my time into making her, it could be useful for her to have. I have plenty of free time.

But none of that's really important, I'm making this update because things are finally getting moving. I made a call to Beau, the banjo guy who has the “history” with Anna. He knew my mom after she became a proxy, and he has agreed to come with me to find her. He seemed to have similar worries to Anna about it being dangerous, but was more understanding than her when I explained how important it was. Besides, I'm going to be careful about it.

We are leaving pretty much as soon as he gets here, which I think should be soon since he said he wasn't far away. Anna hasn't said anything, but I think she's looking forward to seeing him. It's hard to tell, but I think she really likes him.

Speaking of Anna, we've made up. I mean, she still thinks going after my mom isn't a great idea, but she's letting me go. She doesn't seem that upset about it, I think she even trusts me to be safe which is exciting, since she so often doesn't trust me. I also promised her that I'd have five easily accessible weapons on me at all times. I hope I won't have to use them, but it's safer this way, and it makes her worry less. I know she's worrying about me, isn't she sweet.

Speaking of sweet, she said I've grown up. Actual quote right there. Wish I'd gotten it recorded so that I could prove that she'd said it if she ever tried to take it back. This is a great sign of progress.

I'll check back in when Beau gets here. I can't wait to finally be doing something, I'm sick of sitting around here while my mom is alive out there.

Report #11

[2:13:05, 9/9/14]

So, hi guys.

Yes. Hello.

Wow, Annalee. Thanks for actually talking to me today, unlike recently.

Hey I talk to you.

Not about anything important.

I thought you said you wanted to do a report.

Yeah, I do. Where's my mother?

How the hell should I know? It's not like I've got a tracking collar on her or whatever.

Well an area then! I know you know, I know you've got an idea of where she is.

Oh you know huh? Did you know I once saw your mom rip a guy's throat out with her finger nails? Did you know that?........Danny I'm not an idiot. I know how this shit works. Its the oldest trap in the eldritch terror book and I know you think, Oh I'm Danny and I went to college so I have a fucking idea what I'm doing, but you don't okay? You are starting down one hell of a bad road.

Stop it. Stop saying shit like that.

No. Because you're thinking you've got the power to fix her and you know what? I'm going to tell it to you straight. You don't.

Well maybe I don't, but we can find someone who does!

She's a lost fucking cause.

STOP CALLING HER THAT!

She didn't care about you enough to be there for you when she was normal! What makes you think you're enough now! Shit. Fuck. I didn't mean that.

She's my mom, and you weren't fucking there! How do you know how she felt about me! Screw you and your stupid leave everyone behind life, I'm not you!

You're only setting yourself up to be hurt, or worse.

I'm sorry that my heart's not so frozen solid that I can just abandon everyone I ever loved like you do! Maybe if it was your mom you'd go out there and kill her without blinking but it's not, it's my mom. And maybe you've forgotten that there are things worth being hurt for!

Nobody said you had to go out and kill her.

You were thinking it! I bet you were thinking that if my mom was just dead then it would make everything so much fucking easier. Well, I lived with my mom being dead for basically my entire life and I'm not going back to it.

Alive or not she's not the person she was when you knew her. Is it not sinking in she's killed people? People who didn't want to do anything but help her! I was sixteen when she did this to me? Do you really want that back in your life?

You kill people!

I kill proxies Danny! I kill people who want me dead! People who have knives to my throat. You know why? Because I'm no good to anybody fucking dead. Not to them, not to you, or anybody else.

If I became a proxy, you'd kill me, wouldn't you.

Danny I'm trying to help you.

I know you would because you've fucking said that you would!

Would you calm down and think with your brain for one moment. Just be logical.

You say you're trying to help me, but you'd be the first fucking person to give up on me and put a hole in me or cut my head off or stab me in the heart or dissect me to look at the goop in my brain! I mean nothing to you!

Is that what you think?

Of course that's what I think because it's true.

You know what Danny. You're an adult. You make your own decisions. If you want to go find your mom, fine. Go ahead. I'm not going to stop you.

Maybe I fucking will, Anna.

Prove me wrong. I honest to God hope you do.

That's it. Recording over. I'm done.

[END]

Back From LA

So I'm back! We're back. Whatever, either way the whole mission was a failure. I've never seen Annalee so upset. Not that she's showing it on the outside, but I can tell she's pissed. Her "contact" had absolutely no idea how to take this spark plug out of my head. I'd be gloating over her finally getting beaten by someone if it didn't mean that I have a kill switch directly implanted in my brain.

That's really bringing me down these days.

In other news, Annalee won't let me out of the house. She doesn't want me going out to find my mom I guess. I mean, I get that. But I'm not a fucking kid. And it feels like I'm in prison or something. I never really realized how little freedom I have. Since I've gotten here, she hasn't trusted me to go anywhere alone. Annalee has all but literally chained me to my desk. She just keeps glaring at me from across the room, it's freaking me out. Basically, I'm not getting a moment to myself any time soon.

Now that I've got all this free time I've been going back through my old blog posts (nothing better to do. Why can't I remember how I spent all my fucking time before this?). Way back in the beginning I said that I wouldn't be hanging around with Annalee for very long. It's kinda weird to read that now, I mean, I'd completely forgotten about ever planning to leave. I don't know where I thought I'd go. And I'm obviously not going anywhere now with her literally keeping an eye on me every second.

Anna was also pretty pissed about me posting that last conversation. I am having a really hard time feeling sorry about it though. I deserved to know, (I deserved to know a LONG time ago), and now it's down in print, it's on the internet and it can never be completely deleted. It was about time I got the chance to have the upper hand on her.

I'm rambling. But anyway, I may be on here more often than usual cause I'm so bored. And I need something to keep me from staring at the door. She's my mother Annalee.

whathappened[2]

[8:42:17], 7/10/14

Is it off?

Yes its off, now tell me right now what that lady was talking about.

Danny, cool your jets for one second.

No! What the fuck was that lady talking about? Is she alive? Is my mother alive? You were asking about her, if we saw the body and we didn't!

Danny calm down.

IS SHE ALIVE ANNA!?

Yes! She's alive, all right?

...How long have you known.

...A while.

Define a while, Anna. We're you ever planning on telling me? No of course you weren't, because god knows this doesn't concern me in the fucking slightest, its only my fucking mother!

Listen Danny, ok? Just be quiet and listen.

I'm listening.

Your mom. She's not...She was involved.

Involved with what? With that thing? What do you mean involved? She was a runner? I knew her right up until she died and I never saw one sign of

Think harder. What exactly did you see.

...No. Fuck no.

Danny.

She was a drug addict, she wasn't a fucking proxy. 

There's a reason you're involved, as much as I hate to admit it, that bitch was right. There are no coincidences in this life, and you don't just begin to be stalked.

When did you find out this?

...Fifteen years ago, I was traveling around with a man named Rex, and his posse. You remember me telling you that.

That's where you met Beau.

That's besides the point. We found a proxy, who Rex was convinced we could bring back, but his plan backfired horribly and she wound up killing him and his girlfriend and giving me this scar right here. That was how I met your mother. 

...She was the proxy who..

You look enough like her its uncanny. When I picked you up in the woods that night I already suspected.

You knew the whole time. 

I didn't know for sure, it was just a theory.

Is that why you kept me?

Fuck no Danny, whatever the hell train of thought you're having, stop it right now!

Where is she?

I don't know.

Yes you do. You know!

Ok maybe I do, and if I tell you, you're going to run off into the dark to look for her? Danny's she's insane!

Was she the one who hacked my computer? IS SHE THE PROXY THAT's JUST BEEN SITTING AROUND OUTSIDE THE SHACK?

Danny do not go out there!

She's my mom Anna!

So fucking what? She's murdered people! She's tried to kill us! She left you to fucking rot and she didn't look back.

You said that Rex guy thought we could bring her back.

Don't even go down that road, now sit down and listen. Right now Laurel and her goons have a kill chip installed in your brain and we are going to get you fixed. Your mom is a bridge we are going to cross at a later date. I know a guy in LA who can probably take that think out. You're coming with me and that is that.

...She's my mom Anna. She needs me. 

...We'll figure it out.

What does that mean?

I don't know, we'll just...we'll figure it out okay. But right now, pack your bags, we're heading to LA.

[END]

whathappened[1]

[8:09:35], 7/10/14

It really is a wonder this place hasn't fallen in on you yet. A house of cards would be more stable.

Shove it up your ass.

Just looking out for you Annalee dear, I worry about you on your own up here.

Yeah I bet you do.

How is Daniel?

Fine. Perfect. Super. Could not be better.

You make faces like that all the time and it'll stick like that you know.

Yeah well what's your excuse? Look can you just skip to the part where you stick a syringe in my neck and make me cry about my basket case mother? You making passive aggressive small talk is an embarrassment.

It's called etiquette but none the less your right. On to business. It's come to my attention you plan on leaking LEGION information to your KGB friend.

You can't really complain, can you? You pinned my eyelids open and zapped me senseless. Our truce is officially off.

Anna, I don't enjoy killing runners. Nor do I enjoy damaging them permanently.

Doesn't stop you from doing it.

It's counter-intuitive to my ultimate goal, and it's a sad facet of the job. You and I acknowledged that long ago, now didn't we?...But anyway. You've gotten to the point where you're unfortunately more valuable alive than dead. Congratulations.

Ha ha.

That's the product of all the sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. Now of course I could just lock you up and torture any information I wanted out of you, but you're not a petulant child anymore, and I can't just lock you up to make you behave anymore. So as you can see, my problem is-

How do you put me under your thumb, when torturing me proves not to work.

...Yes. How do I do that?

I'm sure you know the double B rule. Bribes and Blackmail. And you don't have shit on me to threaten me with, so what exactly are you going to offer?

Be realistic. I'd jump off a bridge before willingly giving you any of my documents.

So then we're at an impasse.

Oh it would appear that way. But unfortunately you once again slipped up.

...Beg your pardon?

Honestly Annalee, it is not as impossible to outfox you as you might think. You may be the luckiest business woman this side of the Mississippi, but you are a far cry from the cleverest.

...What did you do to him?

Daniel! Could you come in here please. Stop listening at the door like a stranger.

Oh shit.

Danny get your ass in here! We X-Rayed him there wasn't shit there. What did you do to him?

It's a tricky little device. Not impossible to detect but definitely hard to spot if you don't know what you're looking for. It can administer lethal levels of electric shocks.

No way, that's nothing but a bunch of scifi bullshit. You don't have that kind of torture weapon.

I'll demonstrate.

Holy fuck!

That's a light voltage. Of course a lethal voltage would be quite a bit more painful.

FUCK! FUCK!

Anna darling, you make this too easy for me.

...What makes you think he matters to me?...Go ahead, kill him, I don't care.

ANNA!

Oh calm down Daniel, I know a bluff when I hear one. You honestly think there's one thing preventing me from delivering this dosage.

You said it yourself, killing runners is counterintuitive to your cause, and what do I have to lose other than a tie up. You kill him, and I'm free as a bird to kill you where you stand.

Very shrewd Anna, I'm impressed, and only how many glasses of alcohol in you? My goodness you must have two hollow legs.

Shut the fuck up.

Then again, maybe we could arrange to have you dragged back in. There were a few more blood tests that results I want to recheck. Also...

KEEP THAT FUCKING THING AWAY FROM ME.

Anna it's a simple watch, no need to be afraid. I'll wind it back, and you tell me again about the night your father disappeared.

Stop it!

It must have been so hard, being abandoned again. Perhaps that's why you have issues with trus—Ugh!

You stay the FUCK out of my head, and stay the FUCK away from Danny.

What will you give me in return?...I'll tell you what you'll give me, you'll put me down this second for starters...Good girl.

Go to hell.

Next there's not going to be any export of those files you stole from us, nor will there be any disclosure on our operations or various projects. If your breach our confidentiality I'm not locking you up, I'm going to have you and your stooge shot and thrown in the ocean, is that clear?...I said is that clear Anna?

Yes, it's very fucking clear you psychopathic bitch.

There's not going to be any information trade with your Russian vigilante. I don't need some loaded unhinged fool storming my base, I deal with enough of those already.

Is that all?

Hardly. We still need a trade to re-cement our truce.

I think you meant to say noose.

You're adorable. I want two things, the first is the biological sample of your friend Tilde you took.

Why the hell would you want that? It's barely more than some raw azoth.

Oh there are some properties there I am very interested in.

You leave her the fuck alone.

I don't think my work is any of your concern. The second thing I want is Summer's remains...You have them don't you.

I burned Georgia.

You did say something to the contrary when we had you under. I think I have it on tape...Anna, where are they? I want the sample and the remains right now.

...Give me a minute.

Very good...So Daniel, I must ask, how's it been living in the desert with this trigger happy maniac? Must be very enlightening I imagine, though there are other runners I must say who would treat you with a bit more dignity.

Ughh shut up.

Still recovering from the shock? I apologize for that, it's a shame you'll have to suffice as Anna's leash for the time being. She's been without one for too long. Let's not talk about though while we're alone. How's your mother? Have you seen her?

...My what?

Your mother.

My mother's dead.

...Oh now that's cruel.

What!? What is!

I thought she'd told you.

Told me what?

I'll let you bring it up with Anna. An important lesson though Daniel, to keep in mind when you're living this life with these threats. Coincidences are never just coincidences. Ah and speak of the devil, wonderful. Oh and you've already labeled them too, though this isn't some sort of silly disguise trick is it.

No.

We've got checks for that sort of thing.

I KNOW YOU FUCKING HAVE CHECKS FOR THAT SOT OF THING.

Anna, what I'm asking is really not all that unreasonable. Cheer up.

Go fuck yourself.

This is Miss Summer's remains huh? Funny how a person after so much can fit into a jar this size DON'T YOU DARE HIT ME AGAIN.

Hey, it's my terms!

Oof!

Get the fuck out of my house. GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE.

All right darling, no need to have a hernia. Daniel, my regards.

...She said something about my mother. She said you were keeping something from me...Anna?...Anna say something.

Turn off the computer.

[END]