- Joined
- Oct 17, 2024
- Messages
- 44
- Reaction score
- 76
- Points
- 18
[RADIO STATIC]
D (low, controlled):
…You still out there?
[STATIC — then a calm voice cuts in. One that is unsettlingly too steady.]
UNKNOWN:
Depends who’s asking.
D:
You helped me once.
Cartel job. Outside Baton Rouge.
UNKNOWN:
That narrows it down to about three bad weeks.
D:
(smiles despite himself)
Yeah. Thought you might say that.
UNKNOWN:
You don’t check in unless things are sideways.
D:
They are.
UNKNOWN:
How bad?
D:
Dead don’t stay dead anymore.
[A pause. Static hums.]
UNKNOWN:
You sure?
D:
I put one down twice.
It got back up.
Didn’t blink. Didn’t bleed right.
Just kept coming.
UNKNOWN:
…Alright.
You calling for advice…
or backup?
D:
There's people. Civilians.
Cops who didn’t make it out in time.
State guard with nothing but static.
Kids.
City’s lost control, and nobody’s coming to help.
UNKNOWN:
(slower now)
And you think I’m the answer.
D:
I think you’re the only one I know
who doesn’t panic when the rules stop working.
[Another pause. Longer.]
UNKNOWN:
You remember what I told you last time?
D:
Yeah.
UNKNOWN:
You listen?
D:
I’m still breathing.
UNKNOWN:
Good.
D:
I need you back in New Orleans.
UNKNOWN:
That city’s a grave on a good day.
D:
I know.
That’s why I’m asking.
UNKNOWN:
You asking me to save it?
D:
No.
I’m asking you to help me keep some people alive.
[Silence. Only static and distant thunder.]
UNKNOWN:
If I come back…
it won’t be clean.
D:
It never is.
UNKNOWN:
People will die.
D:
They already are.
UNKNOWN:
And when this spreads—
D:
—it will.
UNKNOWN:
—there won’t be medals.
No command.
No backup.
D:
I’m not looking for a hero.
UNKNOWN:
Good.
Heroes get killed first.
[A faint exhale over the radio — like a man deciding something he didn’t want to.]
UNKNOWN:
I’m in the area.
D:
That’s not an answer.
UNKNOWN:
It’s the only one you’re getting.
D (firm, grateful):
Copy that.
UNKNOWN:
If anyone asks who helped you—
D:
I won’t say a word.
UNKNOWN:
Good.
[STATIC SPIKES]
D:
Be careful out there.
UNKNOWN:
You too.
D:
…And hey.
UNKNOWN:
Yeah?
D:
I’m glad it’s you.
[A pause — just long enough to matter.]
UNKNOWN:
So am I.
[TRANSMISSION ENDS]
D (low, controlled):
…You still out there?
[STATIC — then a calm voice cuts in. One that is unsettlingly too steady.]
UNKNOWN:
Depends who’s asking.
D:
You helped me once.
Cartel job. Outside Baton Rouge.
UNKNOWN:
That narrows it down to about three bad weeks.
D:
(smiles despite himself)
Yeah. Thought you might say that.
UNKNOWN:
You don’t check in unless things are sideways.
D:
They are.
UNKNOWN:
How bad?
D:
Dead don’t stay dead anymore.
[A pause. Static hums.]
UNKNOWN:
You sure?
D:
I put one down twice.
It got back up.
Didn’t blink. Didn’t bleed right.
Just kept coming.
UNKNOWN:
…Alright.
You calling for advice…
or backup?
D:
There's people. Civilians.
Cops who didn’t make it out in time.
State guard with nothing but static.
Kids.
City’s lost control, and nobody’s coming to help.
UNKNOWN:
(slower now)
And you think I’m the answer.
D:
I think you’re the only one I know
who doesn’t panic when the rules stop working.
[Another pause. Longer.]
UNKNOWN:
You remember what I told you last time?
D:
Yeah.
UNKNOWN:
You listen?
D:
I’m still breathing.
UNKNOWN:
Good.
D:
I need you back in New Orleans.
UNKNOWN:
That city’s a grave on a good day.
D:
I know.
That’s why I’m asking.
UNKNOWN:
You asking me to save it?
D:
No.
I’m asking you to help me keep some people alive.
[Silence. Only static and distant thunder.]
UNKNOWN:
If I come back…
it won’t be clean.
D:
It never is.
UNKNOWN:
People will die.
D:
They already are.
UNKNOWN:
And when this spreads—
D:
—it will.
UNKNOWN:
—there won’t be medals.
No command.
No backup.
D:
I’m not looking for a hero.
UNKNOWN:
Good.
Heroes get killed first.
[A faint exhale over the radio — like a man deciding something he didn’t want to.]
UNKNOWN:
I’m in the area.
D:
That’s not an answer.
UNKNOWN:
It’s the only one you’re getting.
D (firm, grateful):
Copy that.
UNKNOWN:
If anyone asks who helped you—
D:
I won’t say a word.
UNKNOWN:
Good.
[STATIC SPIKES]
D:
Be careful out there.
UNKNOWN:
You too.
D:
…And hey.
UNKNOWN:
Yeah?
D:
I’m glad it’s you.
[A pause — just long enough to matter.]
UNKNOWN:
So am I.
[TRANSMISSION ENDS]
