Tool - Sober
'Thank you Dr. Yamaguchi. I really appreciate the oppertunity that you've given me, and I promise, I won't let you down. I feel I'm ready and capable to do the job you've given me; afterall, it's what I've been training for since I joined this endeavor.'
'We're certain you can handle it Mr. Perkins. It appears that you understand the gravity of our situation, and the sensitivity of the information that we're dealing with. Some had feared that you had been trained...too well, if that's a good way to put it. Your meteoric rise through the institution has been unprecedented and there was a worry that you had created too many enemies along the way. However, the general concensus was that your talents and potential far outweighed any dangers that might be posed. We have every confidence in you!'
Walking out of the office, out of the building and off of the grounds, my confidence and pride in myself continued building. By the time I was climbing out of the subway and towards the apartment, I was practically beaming. It was the kind of mood that was almost too joyous to be ruined. But, there is always that almost.
I noticed that I was being shadowed three streets down from the apartment. Whoever the poor sap was, he obviously wasn't that good, tailing me this close to home, especially with the present assignment I had just been given, what with the protection that came with it. Best to get this encounter over with quickly, set a precedent.
I rapidly crossed 43rd street then quicly darted into the alley, crouched down in the shadows created by the buildings and the dumpsters, and waited. The follower had to have seen me, and ought to come rushing up at any moment.
'It's time Eric', the voice came from behind me. I jumped, startled as much by someone managing to get the jump on me as I was by someone knowing my real name. I whirled around, poised to defend myself. The leering grin on the face I saw was all too familiar. The shadows in the alley, which had just been my ally, had now become my enemy.
'What are you doing here, you know I can't be seen with you!', I stated, trying to gain a moment to gather myself and my wits.
'They're dealing with the trailer you had, we have a few moments to discuss business. You owe us something. And I believe that it's now time to pay your dues.'
'What do you want from me?'
'You've recently come into some information of considerable delicacy. We need it taken care of.'
'You want the leak?'
'No. We want you to do for us what we did for you. We want you to eliminate the leak.'
'You can't mean that! The leak is too important, for everyone, even you!'
'Let us worry about us. You just need to take care of your end. If you don't, I fear you know the sacrifice you'll pay will be beyond your ability to pay. You know Kayla and your little babies would go first. We know where you live, how you operate, and we know the betrayals you've already committed. We could discredit you, rid you of your job, your prominance, and then work on killing, no, torturing everyone you hold dear. And then, naturally, we'd have to kill you too. You knew what you were getting into Eric. You sold your soul long ago, it just hasn't come back to you. Till now. Ofcourse, if you do what is necessary, there's not reason why you can't keep all that you have. We didn't elevate you just to bring you down. That's your job Eric. We have created you as a worm on the inside, to find the center, chew it up then leave. And you will do it Eric.'
I stood there, mouth nearly gapping, not knowing how to respond. I had known this was a possibility when I had accepted their help, I had just figured that they solicited everyone like this, and if I didn't take their help, they'd just back a different candidate, and I'd be up shit creek. And now I was theirs. They knew too much, I had given them too much. I was in a bind, and there was only one way out, theirs. And the Pig knew it.
'We dont' have much more time, so I'm going to head out now Eric. It's been nice chatting with you again, it's been much too long. From now on, I'm going to expect regular reports, not the sporadic shit you've been feeding the Circle of Friends,' he spat. 'I'll see you soon darlin,' he whispered, then sank into the shadows.
I walked out, straightenned my shoulders, and resolved to do the only thing that was left open to me. I was going to go home and get Drunk. Uproariously, Mindblowingly, Drunk. And if, by some unfrotunate hapstance, I did sober up, I would see how I could kill the information. And probably Mr. Yamaguchi too, he was going to have to go. I am just an imbecile, and I am going down. Trusting in me was going to bring the Company down too. I hope I have enough Vodka to do the job.
'We're certain you can handle it Mr. Perkins. It appears that you understand the gravity of our situation, and the sensitivity of the information that we're dealing with. Some had feared that you had been trained...too well, if that's a good way to put it. Your meteoric rise through the institution has been unprecedented and there was a worry that you had created too many enemies along the way. However, the general concensus was that your talents and potential far outweighed any dangers that might be posed. We have every confidence in you!'
Walking out of the office, out of the building and off of the grounds, my confidence and pride in myself continued building. By the time I was climbing out of the subway and towards the apartment, I was practically beaming. It was the kind of mood that was almost too joyous to be ruined. But, there is always that almost.
I noticed that I was being shadowed three streets down from the apartment. Whoever the poor sap was, he obviously wasn't that good, tailing me this close to home, especially with the present assignment I had just been given, what with the protection that came with it. Best to get this encounter over with quickly, set a precedent.
I rapidly crossed 43rd street then quicly darted into the alley, crouched down in the shadows created by the buildings and the dumpsters, and waited. The follower had to have seen me, and ought to come rushing up at any moment.
'It's time Eric', the voice came from behind me. I jumped, startled as much by someone managing to get the jump on me as I was by someone knowing my real name. I whirled around, poised to defend myself. The leering grin on the face I saw was all too familiar. The shadows in the alley, which had just been my ally, had now become my enemy.
'What are you doing here, you know I can't be seen with you!', I stated, trying to gain a moment to gather myself and my wits.
'They're dealing with the trailer you had, we have a few moments to discuss business. You owe us something. And I believe that it's now time to pay your dues.'
'What do you want from me?'
'You've recently come into some information of considerable delicacy. We need it taken care of.'
'You want the leak?'
'No. We want you to do for us what we did for you. We want you to eliminate the leak.'
'You can't mean that! The leak is too important, for everyone, even you!'
'Let us worry about us. You just need to take care of your end. If you don't, I fear you know the sacrifice you'll pay will be beyond your ability to pay. You know Kayla and your little babies would go first. We know where you live, how you operate, and we know the betrayals you've already committed. We could discredit you, rid you of your job, your prominance, and then work on killing, no, torturing everyone you hold dear. And then, naturally, we'd have to kill you too. You knew what you were getting into Eric. You sold your soul long ago, it just hasn't come back to you. Till now. Ofcourse, if you do what is necessary, there's not reason why you can't keep all that you have. We didn't elevate you just to bring you down. That's your job Eric. We have created you as a worm on the inside, to find the center, chew it up then leave. And you will do it Eric.'
I stood there, mouth nearly gapping, not knowing how to respond. I had known this was a possibility when I had accepted their help, I had just figured that they solicited everyone like this, and if I didn't take their help, they'd just back a different candidate, and I'd be up shit creek. And now I was theirs. They knew too much, I had given them too much. I was in a bind, and there was only one way out, theirs. And the Pig knew it.
'We dont' have much more time, so I'm going to head out now Eric. It's been nice chatting with you again, it's been much too long. From now on, I'm going to expect regular reports, not the sporadic shit you've been feeding the Circle of Friends,' he spat. 'I'll see you soon darlin,' he whispered, then sank into the shadows.
I walked out, straightenned my shoulders, and resolved to do the only thing that was left open to me. I was going to go home and get Drunk. Uproariously, Mindblowingly, Drunk. And if, by some unfrotunate hapstance, I did sober up, I would see how I could kill the information. And probably Mr. Yamaguchi too, he was going to have to go. I am just an imbecile, and I am going down. Trusting in me was going to bring the Company down too. I hope I have enough Vodka to do the job.