Colin's posts

"Wouldn't be very good at my job if I always assumed the worst." Hal replied with a smile, as the two of them left.

"He's a good boss." Zeke told her as they walked.

"He knows everyone deserves a chance." he went on.

"Possibly even Chris." he then said.

"Though he WILL need to attempt to atone for his actions." he warned.

"...and that's not counting those he wronged in the past wanting any payback..." he then muttered.

Hal was silent, before thinking about it.

"...duly noted." he said.

"I will take that into consideration." he told her.

He had a very unique idea, now. And her statement about fully being within Vanessa's grasp again gave it to him.

"Come on." Zeke said again.

"I'll page you when we're ready." Hal told Zeke.

"All right." Zeke replied.

"Let's get you some food." he told Ayla.

"Zeke?" Hal said.

Zeke nodded in response.

"Come on." he told her.

"Let's head to the cafeteria." he said further.

"And you will stay close to her until such time she requires you to leave for this ritual." Hal added.

"Right." Zeke nodded.

"Yes." Hal replied.

"However, YOU must eat first." he told her.

"It will take me a little time to gather all you have requested." he went on.

"During that time, you may as well eat." he reasoned, looking her up and down.

"You look like you need it." he commented.

"Something tells me you haven't been given quality food in a while." he then mumbled.

Hal looked at her.

"If you can help Hazel, I would be eternally grateful." he said.

"...I can see her soul, really." Zeke mumbled.

"It's not fractured... but it's cracked." he continued.

"A shame... she's a beautiful soul, too." he went on.

"If her mind were helped... perhaps her soul could finally start to heal as well." he sighed.

"That was... uncharacteristically poetic of you, Zeke." Hal commented in response.

"...I get it from my Mother." Zeke admitted sheepishly.

"I don't." Hal muttered.

"It's... just..." he said further, before sighing again.

"Hazel is a refugee from Vanessa as well." Zeke told Ayla.

"...but Encrae's cruel teachings and treatment have left some... deep scars in her mind." he went on.

"Sometimes she reverts back to how she was expected to act around the woman." he continued.

"When that happens, we usually have her only do small tasks so she feels useful, or have her relax and sit it out."

Hal sighed deeply.

"I know who would comply the most readily for this." he said.

"And I don't like it." he growled.

"Hazel?" Zeke asked.

"Hazel." Hal confirmed.

"But she'd do it in the sense that she'd be following orders." he lamented.

"Even if I wasn't ordering her to."

"....." both Hal and Zeke were silent again.

"Yes, whatever it is seems to dislike my presence, and is staying away from me." Zeke commented.

"So it makes sense she'd want me to be away, for this to get done." he reasoned.

"I see." Hal responded.

"A dark underground room is no issue." he then told Ayla.

"We have access to PLENTY of quartz as well." he assured her further.

"As for the last... well... I'll find someone willing to fit that role." he then finished.

Hal merely sighed.

"I suppose I should have thought of that." he said.

"Very well." he mumbled.

"Before you go, is there anything else you need for this... ritual, or whatever it is?" he asked.

"You mentioned you need Jenkins, and something to keep this... thing... inside your body." he went on.

"Do you need anything else at all? A room with specific conditions, or anything else at all?" he asked her.

"I get the feeling we only get one shot at this, and we need to do it right the first time." he muttered.

"Of course." Hal replied.

"Zeke, would you mind?" he asked Zeke.

"Not at all." Zeke responded.

"Anything I need to know about allergies?" Hal asked Ayla.

"Anything to avoid, or anything you need, or whatever?" he asked further.

Already she was being treated with more kindness and respect than with Vanessa... it was something she hadn't experienced in a LONG time.

"....Chris." Hal muttered.

"Very well." he said.

"We'll do whatever we must." he told her.

"We'll gather what we need." he went on.

"Is there anything we can do for you in the meantime?" he then asked.

Both Zeke and Hal were silent, but it was Hal that broke the silence.

"I see." he said.

"This is... a lot to take in." he commented.

"But the fact that you were used as nothing more than a housing for this... thing..." he went on. "It's... horrible." he sighed.

"Is there any way you can help us with them?" he asked.

"Do you know how to deal with them?"

Hal was silent, before sighing.

"....damn it." he muttered.

"Anyway, have a seat." he told Ayla.

"Will you be staying?" he asked Zeke.

"I think it's in her best interests for me to." Zeke replied.

"Very well." Hal said.

"Now... please give me a little information about yourself." he then said to Ayla.

Zeke responded by placing his hand on her shoulder.

In doing so, she felt a little more oppressed by his mana... however, the pull... the impulse to leave the 'safety zone'... was also lessened slightly.

"Stay with me." he told her.

"Just... stay here." he muttered.

They then made their way to the receptionists office, and Zeke sighed.

"Tell Agent Sharp that someone seeking asylum is here." he told her.

She did so, and the door was opened by Hal... with Hazel still there.