"I was just wanting to check in. To see if you are safe," Apostle says, stepping out from behind a tree to face Daniel, who was just enjoying a walk. Daniel jumps slightly, but composes himself.
"If my presence is any indication, I am safe. Still working on finding the others."
"I’m glad to hear it. Any luck so far?"
"Barely."
"I’m sure luck will turn in your favor very soon," Apostle says, "Don’t worry."
"Here's to hoping, haha," Daniel sighs.
"To hoping," Apostle tilts his head, stepping forward, "You were in my dream this morning, strangely."
Daniel perks up, "Oh? I'm curious, tell me about it."
"The others and I were setting out to a local hot spot we frequent at. Irritable since we were running a bit late, but the objective was to hand a file over to you, so we left it in one of those... what do you call it, it’s a box where people leave books and are free to take books as well.. Then I texted you and told you where it was, and that was it."
"It's called a dropbox, and that's interesting."
"Yes, I couldn’t tell what was written on the front of the file. My arm was covering it from view, but it was thick."
"Hmm.. I'll keep that in mind," Daniel says, looking down slightly.
"I’m glad. As will I. Oh, yeah, we have a lead on one of the organization’s facilities!"
"Ooh?"
"However still tracking down the specifics. Somewhere in Colorado, in the side of a mountain," Apostle 'smiles'.
"Secretive. I'll keep that in mind."
"Yes. Once we pinpoint the exact coordinates I’ll get in and see." Apostle hears a notification from his phone and looks down at it, "One moment. Problems."
"Alright."
Apostle begins VICIOUSLY texting a groupchat.
"Apologies," Apostle grumbles.
"Don't worry about it, stuff happens," Daniel laughs.
"Anyways. Get in and see what we can get before I give them a very bad day," Apostle hisses.
"Sounds good to me. Best of luck."
"I appreciate that. However, until we blow a big enough hole in their operation, I still want everyone in crimson woods. Not sure yet how long it’ll take."
"I'm trying the best I can to gather my group over there," Daniel brushes some dirt off his sleeve, "I'm also unsure of how long that'll take."
"Good. Just do your best, but if you’re able to convince them, try to bring a few other groups as well. Rather this not be a kind of extinction event simply because of pride an stubbornness," Apostle says, putting a hand to his chin.
"I can try. I know a few of them are open to new people, so that's already a good start, haha."
"That’s good. Quite frankly it’s well past time all proxies United as one force. Hell, quite frankly none of this was supposed to happen for another few years, but still. Adapt or die, no?"
"Yeah. I really wish we had more time to adapt, but hey, everything's a learning experience."
"I wish there was more time as well honestly," Apostle mumbles, putting his hands in his pockets and leaning against a tree.
"Honestly I'm really not sure if we could've had more time at all. Like, even if we started preparing and uniting in, say, 2017, Abaddon probably would've seen that and decided to start at that exact moment," Daniel explains, a tinge of uncertainty in his voice.
"You’re probably right... Something similar happened when I tried to make a move to bring some of Hell’s armies here to gain ground advantage."
"Oh? I'm curious now, you willing to tell me about that?" Daniel asks, smiling slightly.
"The evil one put a stop to that so fast before it began. Thought he might have thrown out his back, hahaha," Apostle chuckles.
"Hahaa. Yeah, he's quick with stuff like that."
"So basically, I wanted to make a move to take over this place before anything got too serious. It was probably just me trying to be a brat to make the fuckers make a move out of panic. But someone leaked that plan and quite literally a few days. Before they mobilized to start snatching up vessels, the evil one put everything he had into placing a barrier around this realm specifically so that no demon or fallen angel can take a vessel here, and none here who already had vessels here can leave them and go home. Still working on getting that taken down, but brute force doesn’t seem to be the answer."
"That is. Wow. See I'd never think of even attempting such a thing, honestly. You've got good ideas, just you probably shouldn't tell people who would leak them like that."
"Thank you, I appreciate the praise. You’re right, yes. Although I think it was either a servant who was witnessing the preparations or one of the soldiers. Still plenty of traitors in Hell who are secretly still serving Abaddon. Idiots," Apostle grumbles.
"I mean, seeing as he is a Prince, it would make sense. It sucks, but it's something that's probably unavoidable."
"I don’t think anyone is truly loyal to him for the sake of approval. They simply fear him more, despite everything that should have proved to them that’s the wrong horse to bet on. There aren’t many, thankfully, but it has been difficult to figure out which are the traitors. Until they do something stupid, that is."
"Until they show their true motivations and intent," Daniel chimes in.
"Yes, like one recently," Apostle explains, "Making an attempt against one of my proxy's life in the hall, or the one we caught crawling through the vents, or the healer that gave me poison in a tea instead of herbs for dizziness. Stupid things like that."
"Interesting. Stuff like that happen often?"
"Not too often necessarily, but too often for my liking."
"I feel that."
"Politics. Never was a fan of it, but I suppose it comes with the territory. I’m not worried though, I’ll most likely gain the traitors’ loyalties when I throw the evil one’s head into the streets. From the top of the palace. See who they fear more after that."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Fun times ahead," Apostle chuckles, "I’m wondering about that file from my dream."
"I am, too," Daniel stretches.
"It looked freshly printed, no bent edges or wrinkles."
"That's interesting."
"Makes me wonder if it’s something I printed out, opposed to something I found," Apostle says.
"That's a possibility."
"Hmmm...What is something that you would need, or that would benefit you? Intel wise. If you can think of anything."
"Anything involving locating my group, as well as any possible leads on anything that could just help in general."
"Hmmm, and if one were to be left in each region? What would you expect to see on it of interest, instinctually."
"Possibly things relating to the organization, stuff about Slendershit, potential places people may be hiding, things about Black Leaves, maybe something about Crimson Forest as well."
"Well then. It’s worth a shot," Apostle says.
"Oh?"
"I figure the easiest way to figure out what was so important on that file would be to keep trying different things until it lines up. The feeling I had from the dream was that it was direly important, and instincts told me it’s something I need to do on a larger scale rather than just leaving one for you. So I suppose I could just gather enough intel, mix and match until it feels right. Like a puzzle, I suppose."
"Sounds about right."
"I’ll get started on that today," Apostle says, cracking his knuckles.
"Alright. I'll continue to work on finding methods of reuniting with my group and hopefully gathering others," Daniel says, getting up.
"Excellent. Good luck," Apostle says, walking away.
"You as well."