[ voice ]

[hostage]

[No video. Getting to be a habit with him these days, but really... who wants to see him looking like he does right now? Thank him later. If he sounded bad before, he sounds much worse now. The way someone would sound when they've spent a week vomiting. That's why he keeps the message relatively short and sweet.]

I tested the, um... the verstatsi. The U.E.'s drug.

In case the obvious needed stating: don't try it.

Full report coming once I can get my ass outta bed, but I can tell you it's about half-opiate, half-synthetic. The comedown's a total bitch and I ain't just talking like regular use. I mean like one shot and you're gonna need another fix in a few hours unless you like spending the next few days worshiping the porcelain god. Seriously, I'm a professional and this stuff... is bad. I don't think we got a lotta samples around here but take my word for it and don't mess around with it. I done H. This is worse than H. Way worse.

So that's your little P.S.A. and don't roll your eyes 'cause this ain't some D.A.R.E. bullshit, yo. I'm serious.

Comments

[hostage]

It's ok it's pretty terrible yeah

Pretty much every Exile was on the drug and got sick when they came here a lot of them died too which I think was kind of the point

UE is really evil that way

[concealingeyes]

they died? shit. is that a side-effect of long term use or something? uh not that you're probably feeling up for reports but. i guess I didn't realise how bad the situation was.

[hostage]

I figured it was long term but I almost died after just one hit so it's safe to say just once is enough for a fatal withdrawal if you don't get care right away and then it's up to luck, stamina and all that

[concealingeyes]

[She has no words for that. But it does make her want to do more to help out here.]

are there any programs to help people when they first escape here? or to help people escape? there's gotta be something.

[hostage]

Don't know

The Initiative don't have a whole lot to do with the Exiles they're more about the war than dealing with local problems

[concealingeyes]

do you think when you get your report done, I could see it, too? i get that they're busy with the war but someone should help out the locals if they don't have time to.

[hostage]

It won't be real useful for that it's mostly chemistry stuff

I'm working fast as I can on an anti-addictive drug though so hopefully I'll have some of that for you to distribute soon

[concealingeyes]

That'd be good, thanks.

[Though she gets curiouser the more she thinks about it.]

hey, sorry to ask but do you work for the Initiative directly?

[hostage]

Yeah

[concealingeyes]

what are they like?

[hostage]

They're nice, good people

Normal, just trying to do their jobs