Candle
leave me alone :(
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2021
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- #1
INTERROGATION RECORDING - AUDIO TRANSCRIPT - 3/18/2020
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[!] VISUAL INPUT HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD.
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INTERROGATOR(S): ROLLER-99, UNION-03
INTERROGATEE(S): KIRILL ZAPADA
INTERROGATOR'S NOTES MARKED WITH ASTERISKS. ADDENDUMS AT PAGE BOTTOM.
The camera clicks on, after a moment of fiddling. It's aimed at K. Zapada, a recently-captured insurgent. Across the desk, the camera pans to two functionaries- one, sitting, marked as UNION-03- the other, stood and leaning on the table, marked ROLLER-99.
UNION-03
<:: Answer our questions...and we're willing to negotiate. Play dumb, and our hands are bound. ::>
ROLLER-99 raises a hand to their headset, tapping it. Their gaze is seen shifting to the man at the desk.
“What is your intention…”
UNION-03 leaned forward, into the light.
<:: I want information. ::>
"I am not dumb. Just tired."
ROLLER-99 looked to the other unit, considering their approach.
Kirill leaned back in his seat, swallowing something in the back of his throat. He swished his tongue left, then right.
UNION-03
<:: Let’s start with something simple. ::>
<:: Do you speak Russian? ::>
“I do.”
UNION-03 looked to their cohort, and nodded.
UNION-03
<:: Your turn. ::>"
<:: 37, confirmed. ::>
ROLLER-99 shifted their gaze back to the figure ahead. The room is silent for a moment, invocative of suffocation.
ROLLER-99
*1 <:: Was it worth killing her? ::>
The man tried to rub his old weathered skin, only to be stopped by the zipties binding his wrists. He shifted ever-so-slightly, rubbing it left, rubbing it right.
“Who?”
ROLLER-99<:: I thought you said you weren't playing dumb. ::>
UNION-03 looked to the other unit, then at their suspect. The officer leans back on their chair, and silently taps away at their data-screen.
ROLLER-99
<:: Sophie. ::>
"Truth is mutual, unit. Be honest."
"You want information?"
"You want information?"
Kirill coughed and sputtered, nearly doubling over. Nearly. He closed his eyes for a few solitary seconds, then blinked. He once more shifted his attention to the window.
ROLLER-99
<:: It's fair to note that a lot can happen in a crossfire you organize. There's a fair bit more at play here, since when you woke up. ::>
<:: I don't mind giving you some time to think it over. 'Truth' is mutual, sure, but not every other abstraction is. ::>
The man breathed slowly.
UNION-03 had their eyes glued to the screen, only occasionally glancing up. They're leaving the stage for their cohort
ROLLER-99
<:: ..So, that aside. Was that at all worth it? ::>
*2 "I'm sorry if I hurt her."
ROLLER-99
<:: Mm. Apologies, sure. Do you remember waking up? ::>
"I remember that I'm awake."
ROLLER-99
<:: Those first few moments, post-lucidity- barely past the curtain of it. ::>"
"Hard to see past curtains.."
ROLLER-99
<:: I remember a sigh. Not one of pain, though you're - - obviously, still in some fair measure. ::>
*3 <:: ..It almost sounded like disappointment. ::>
Another breath took oxygenated blood into the circulatory system. Made up for what was lost.
"I'm not very happy about my current string of life choices."
ROLLER-99
<:: --Now, far be it from me to assume a man's wishes, but.. ::>
<:: Were you hoping to wake up, or not? ::>
"I was a loyalist..."
ROLLER-99
<:: Was. ::>
<:: Operative term. ::>
<:: Past tense. ::>
<:: Now, answer the question. ::>
<:: Were you hoping to wake up, or not? ::>
*4 "I answered two questions... I would prefer not to answer this."
ROLLER-99
<:: I feel like that's a sufficient enough answer. ::>
<:: ..So, we have a few interesting options at play here, today. ::>
The man put on a strange expression, hiding the intricacies of the human form through folds of old skin and an aversion of his eyesight.
ROLLER-99
<:: I could call in a medic. Have you fixed up. Ask you more questions. Keep you here for.. Hours, days, moving to weeks, months. ::>
<:: Because.. That? ::>
ROLLER-99 motions forward, their hand tracing the light rays.
They're pointing at the bandages.
ROLLER-99
<:: Is borrowed time. ::>"
"I suppose you expect the debt repaid in full..."
ROLLER-99
<:: --The opposite, actually. I don't actually think you value your life. At all. I mean- today's events nonwithstanding. ::>
Kirill looked almost bitter by what he said, the words spoken with equal parts venom and some twinge of acceptance. It clearly stirred something within him.
ROLLER-99
<:: We could fix you up, sure. We could. Might. Maybe. A chance. But I feel like you realize that..-. ::>
<:: That's the worst option for you. ::>
<:: Am I *wrong* in assuming so? ::>
UNION-03 looked up, into the mans eyes, curious
*5 "My death is but one. How many fates were sealed here?"
ROLLER-99
<:: ..And there it is. The speech of a martyr. ::>
It was clear then: Bitterness. Frustration. He coughed, shaking his head.
"And so much pain..."
"I'm in pain..."
"It hurts.."
"I'm in pain..."
"It hurts.."
ROLLER-99
<:: ..Martyrdom, though, requires that exact thing. Death. Passing- whatever you want to call it. ::>
<:: The end. ::>
Kirill squeezed his eyes shut, head aimed to the sky.
UNION-03 reached for their headset.
ROLLER-99
<:: ..And we're able to put that on pause. We're leaning on that, actually. ::>
<:: ..I suppose the real question is - How long do you want to suffer through this? ::>
<:: And the answer, is 'Until we're done.'. ::>
<:: To-- dumb this down, as much as possible. ::>
"Months.."
ROLLER-99
<:: You cooperate, your so-desired end may come quicker. ::>
<:: You don't? ::>
<:: It'll be delayed. ::>
*6 <:: As long, as we possibly can. ::>
Kirill grimaced.
"You want to use me- for what."
ROLLER-99
<:: For what? I couldn't care less. Let the brass play with you like a little paper doll, for all I care. Used up and finally discarded- replaced with the next upshot with dreams of martyrdom. ::>
<:: What I do know- and I know this damn well, is that it *will* end if you cooperate. ::>
<:: I can't promise the same, if you don't. ::>
Finally it came, there was a hint of it, obfuscated by the blood and weakness and smell of death that surrounded the man. He looked between the two units, and he did know there were two... He took a glance at both, seemingly knowing where they were in the exact, in spite of their dimmed LEDs.
"Do I want to live..."
"Will you let me... Better question..."
UNION-03 scratched their neck, returning the mans stare. The PDA rests in their lap, unused at this moment.
ROLLER-99
<:: --It's not if we'll let you live. ::>
<:: It's if we'll let you die, when you're done. ::>
<:: Do we understand eachother? ::>
Another deep inhalation of breath, the sharp wound of a bullet ripped through the body squishing, sending a wave of pressure and pain straight to the stem.
Laboured breathing- slow, and scratchy. A constant beeping, like life support. A Cremator had passed by, and Kirill was looking around worriedly.
ROLLER-99
<:: Quiet, now. Do you hear that? ::>
<:: It's a glimpse into the future. ::>
Kiril had his eyes go a bit wide at the realization of what the implication was.
ROLLER-99
<:: Think about it. ::>"
<:: Now-. ::>
<:: Do we understand eachother? ::>
"Yes."
ROLLER-99 is seen nodding.
ROLLER-99
<:: ..We'll give you some time to think that through, I think. ::>
ROLLER-99 looks to the glass, rolling their shoulders.
ROLLER-99 pushes themsleves back, stepping out. They motion the other, to follow.
UNION-03 rose to their feet, and followed behind the other unit. They throw one last glance at the man, before shutting the door behind them.
POST INTERROGATION REPORT
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K. ZAPADA MOVED TO CONTAINMENT CELL ONE.
SUBJECT AGREED TO COOPERATE, UNDER THREAT.
NOTES
SUBJECT DISPLAYS A LACK OF SURVIVAL INSTINCT.
SUBJECT IS MOTIVATED NOT BY THE PROMISE OF LIFE, BUT THE AVOIDANCE HIS LIFE PROLONGED.
FURTHER POST-INCIDENT INFORMATION TO BE COMPLETED BY UNION-37
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K. ZAPADA MOVED TO CONTAINMENT CELL ONE.
SUBJECT AGREED TO COOPERATE, UNDER THREAT.
NOTES
*1 - "Her" - Yellow-tier collaborator. See UNION-37's report.
This was a bluff, establishing an overall theme of us knowing more than we did, at the time.
*2 - Establishes regret. Later, when it was revealed she was alive, he spat out and claimed to hate her.
*3 - A bluff. He didn't appear to be responding well to 'cooperate and live.' A gamble was taken to see if he'd respond well to the threat of prolonging suffering.
*4 - Establishes potential suicidal ideation. Marked for future use.
*5 - Ideation confirmed. Suspected 'martyr' complex.
*6 - An active threat. Implication of his suffering, extended, and quality-of-life reduced if he did not cooperate seemed to garner the desired response.
This was a bluff, establishing an overall theme of us knowing more than we did, at the time.
*2 - Establishes regret. Later, when it was revealed she was alive, he spat out and claimed to hate her.
*3 - A bluff. He didn't appear to be responding well to 'cooperate and live.' A gamble was taken to see if he'd respond well to the threat of prolonging suffering.
*4 - Establishes potential suicidal ideation. Marked for future use.
*5 - Ideation confirmed. Suspected 'martyr' complex.
*6 - An active threat. Implication of his suffering, extended, and quality-of-life reduced if he did not cooperate seemed to garner the desired response.
SUBJECT DISPLAYS A LACK OF SURVIVAL INSTINCT.
SUBJECT IS MOTIVATED NOT BY THE PROMISE OF LIFE, BUT THE AVOIDANCE HIS LIFE PROLONGED.
FURTHER POST-INCIDENT INFORMATION TO BE COMPLETED BY UNION-37
- ROLLER-99