thoughtformed

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Well.

I don't think anybody was ready for that.

But we could be.

Starting today, I'm keeping a video diary on my computer. I'm going to document everything I remember about arriving on the island, basic facts about everyone I know, an account of every crazy thing that's happened here. It's going to play automatically every time my computer boots up. The next time some psychotic, disorienting event takes place, I'll have already briefed myself about the possibility.

I'd suggest everyone make a similar record.

[Private to Steph.]

Apparently I grow up to be an idiot.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Um ... Tim? What kind of psychotic, disorienting event are you talking about here?

What do you remember about the past few days?

Let's see. I remember talking to people who sounded like they'd all gone insane. I remember Victor saying he'd been shot. I remember thinking that living in my closet for a while would be a good idea. Did I miss something important?

Possibly the bit where many of us were years older or younger than usual. Which, to me, can be classified as both psychotic and disorienting.

I guess that might explain why people sounded like they'd gone completely nuts. It didn't happen to me, though.

uh Isn't that was Facebook plans on doing with the next update?

Victor.

Good to see you're still around.

Good to still be around.

I imagine.

Sorry I couldn't do more.

It's not on you.

One day, I'm sure I'll stop feeling responsible for everything.

When is anybody ever ready for anything unexpected?

Ready? Maybe not. But you can still prepare some ways to cope.

You think there are ways to successfully cope with having our brains screwed with? Outside of like ... narcotic drugs.

Yes. Having everyone keep journals to remind themselves of reality is a first step.

Answering some more questions about how this island works and why it does the things it does is next.

That's kind of the one I'm stuck on.

Yeah, color me surprised!

I know it's not enough just to say it, but I would never do that. I will never do that. If that happened again today, I'd be suited up and right next to you, not... pulling strings like a puppetmaster.

That better be the way it goes, 'cause if you try something like that again, I take no responsibility for what my fists do to your face.

But you know, I do kind of wish I'd been warned about everything that was gonna go down back then.

Me, too.

You know, that's actually not a bad idea. I like the way you think.

Question: What are you doing with yourself?

Me? Going to college, stocking shelves at Juanes... wondering why my future self went into insurance.

College? Good for you, thinking about your education.

Insurance is boring. You don't have to go into insurance if you don't want to. What would you rather be doing?

Well, with my double major, I was planning on forensic sciences. Not sure how much good that will do me on an island where all the evidence evaporates the day after, though.

Double major? Ouch. That's rough. Can't say I don't feel for you, kid. College is tough enough even just with one major, so I can't imagine doing two.

I can't say that I fully trust the people in charge of the police force. I've seen enough coverups in my time to know when they're there. They don't report on these supernatural events, do they?

Is that the sort of thing you're interested in?

Chemistry and criminology.

In a place like this, even if the police are doing their jobs, I don't know if they're going to be enough. Would police have been able to stop the trolls?

I guess you could say I'm interested in finding a system that works better.

I might know of something. It's still very much in the pre-planning stages, but we could use someone as sharp as you are. You're very resourceful, too. It's an admirable trait that I look for when I'm looking for teammates in this little project. And if you're as dedicated to it as you are to your studies, I can see us making a big difference.

I'd want to know a little more before I'll commit. But you've got my attention.

It's something I used to run back where I came from. It was a group that investigated and controlled extraterrestrial threats and kept the public safe. I want to bring it back here in New Moore, though with the lack of anything truly extraterrestrial, it might be difficult. However, there are plenty of supernatural things here that we need to look at, frankly, because someone ought to, and I think we both know that the New Moore police isn't going to do anything about it.

I think they know more than they're letting on. And I've already recruited someone in the police department. How good are you with computers?

[A response comes about ten minutes later, as any open windows Jack has minimize themselves and his desktop background has been changed: in red print, in a professional sort of font, against a black background, is the word "Very."]

Perfect. Wonderful. Oh this is great! I can't tell you how happy this makes me!

Captain Jack Harkness. And what do I have the pleasure of calling you?

Tim Drake.

So. If you're looking to hire me, you;ll probably need my resume. And I'll definitely need to know the terms and conditions I'll be working under.

Well... it's not quite like a regular job. But I'd like to interview you, of course, and let you know a bit more about Torchwood and my rules and things that you can expect working under me.

It's not easy, and it's not safe.

In the interests of full disclosure, Jack... you don't need to worry about my safety.

I'm proficient in aikido, biangan, capoeira, judo, jujitsu, karate, dragon and leopard style kung fu, ninjutsu, and savate. I have acrobatic, escapology, and parkour training from world-class experts; and I can get into and out of a federal penitentiary or a police precinct house in lockdown without getting shot.

I'm also an expert in chemistry, computer systems intrusion, criminology, and genetics. Dabble a bit in biology and mechanical engineering, too. I'm well read in military and scientific history and classical literature, and I speak Cantonese, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, and Russian; and I'm working on my Arabic.

I'm not really worried about 'easy,' either.

Very, very impressive. Yeah, I think I can say with no uncertainty that you would be a perfect fit for the Torchwood family. That's a lot for someone so young to know. How old are you, anyway?

Eighteen. If it helps, I have no social life and spent six years being trained by an obsessive paranoid to be the greatest detective in the world. Though I wasn't exactly a slacker beforehand.

I understand.

You're still a student, and a student first. I'll want to see progress reports regularly. I want you to treat this like a sports team, in that if your grades start to slip, you'll be hitting the books instead of coming in. Does that sound fair?

I can handle that.

Is there a paycheck associated with this job? If so, I'll scale back my hours as a stockboy.

And while I can't guarantee that they'll be interested, I know... other qualified people in town. I can talk to them, if you're interested in more new hires.

It's more of a volunteer job at the moment. We'll be operating outside the police and from within it... so it might be hard to call what we do, "legal". But as we grow and expand, it's definitely something I'll be looking into. I can't expect you lot to blindly do something like this with no form of compensation.

It's less a job and more a ... mission You've got more resources than I have on my own; so I'm in. But I admit, I'm used to having more of an operating budget than the island allows.

Well, I dunno about resources just yet. It's still very much in the bare bones of it. I hope to get up and running properly in the next few months.

And believe me, I know what you mean about the budget. Not having CCTV is going to be a pain, but maybe there's a work-around with the traffic cameras or something.

People are resources too. Space is a resource -- even if it's empty.

Believe me, not having to work out of my bedroom is going to be a treat.

If you need more money to get set up, I have about $1200 saved for my own operations budget.

As for the traffic cameras: not a problem. I'm far from comprehensive coverage, but the external cameras almost anywhere except on official government buildings are only a keystroke away.

Well we've got plenty of space that isn't used for sleeping and lounging, though a lounge isn't a bad idea. I couldn't ask you for your money out of good conscience, you being a student and all, but I wouldn't refuse a donation, because every little bit helps in this situation.

You're really serious about wanting to help out, aren't you? I like that sort of dedication, and really believe that you're going to be a wonderful asset to Torchwood.

This isn't exactly a new line of business for me... just a new format. Yes. I'm serious.

Rather than donating, let's make a list of what we need and see how far we can stretch the available funding, first. Budget by triage.

We can do that if you like, but please, don't feel obligated to use your money, though I certainly appreciate it. I might need to pull Jenny in to see what she's got for us as well.

We'll network.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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