Marcus Tripp: Bluepill.

Let me begin by saying that the Prophets of Peace is a Morphite faction having no ties to the E Pluribus Neo organization or the Kid.

We came as observers to an EPN attempt at freeing bluepills. We didn't know we would be witnesses to the death of a bluepill.

EPN was sent to scour Richland for three potentials: Kathy Dawson, Marcus Tripp, and Mitchel Harper. According to EPN Liasion Officer Zeissman, these bluepills had been identified as ready to accept the redpill. All they needed to do was find them.

Through a web of deceit and manipulation, EPN operatives brought the three bluepills to a run down building in Dannah Heights. The bluepills were told various lies, some of the choice ones being that they had won a trip, or had been invited to a seminar. We waited for Shimada to arrive, and she presented the choice to the bluepills.

None of the three appeared ready at first. Marcus himself wanted time to think, but the EPN operatives pushed, putting massive pressure on those poor souls to take the red pill. They had many questions, and did not appear to be bluepills ready to take the red pill, at least from our perspective. The only thing I could equate it to was a pack of wolves surrounding their prey, ready to pounce at any moment.

Eventually, Kathy Dawson and Mitchel Harper accepted the red pill, despite all their confusion. Marcus did not, taking the blue pill. He was escorted from the meeting after that. The Prophets of Peace stood there, aghast at what had just taken place...and my captain was first to question EPN's methodology. He was told (by a certain prominent EPN operative) that his logic was flawed.

We left the meeting after that, and were welcomed into the afternoon sun by the sound of gunshots. I swore, readying myself for what I assumed was an attack. Unfortunately, I wasn't greeted by an attack. To my horror, I saw a terrified bluepill, screaming in horror as a Bullet chased him past the Blue Line. I cursed myself for not having had my Clamors at the ready. By the time I could get in range to grab the Exile, I was too late. Marcus Tripp was dead.

An EPN operative tried to resuscitate him with Restore RSI, but I knew it was a fruitless endeavor. Screaming in rage, I saw one of the EPN officers who had been given the task of presenting the bluepills with the red pill. His reaction was simple: "It was his choice."

It wasn't this man's choice to die. EPN's methodology today led to the death of an innocent; his blood is on their hands. Our logic was proven right in a pool of blood on the streets of Dannah Heights.

May he find peace at last.

Is this what EPN stands for? Is this what they put those black coats on for? I wonder...were the last words that went through Marcus Tripp's head "For Neo"? What a shame, that this man died never knowing who Neo was, or what he stood for.

I think there may be more to this gang killing the bluepill.

If I remember correctly, a contact around the city once told me the gangs around the city can sence an awakened person and  will act hostile towards them. I see blue pills walking around Dannah without gangs mugging or killing them. But randomly a blue pill that EPN try to awakened gets killed almost immediatly after the meeting?

There some things that need to be clarified, Operatives.  However, I must first thank Officer Zeissman for his account, and I am heartened that EPN leadership is taking this very seriously.

Let me begin by stating that the Prophets of Peace were invited to the meeting by Officer Zeissman himself.  The plan was to have only one representative in the simulation to assist and monitor the situation.  As you know, it is very difficult to procure allies one can trust within this world of deceit.  Nothing is ever as it seems, and I was tasked with feeling out what I initially thought would be a promising relationship with fellow freedom-fighters.

I was with you all from the moment the meeting began, to the task of finding the potentials (I was on Vesuveus' team), to the meeting in Dannah, to the moment Marcus Tripp's life was extinguished.  My captain, CountZero, joined me in the search for the potentials, as the team was having difficulty.  I felt an additional operative (especially one with his knowledge of the MegaCity) would be helpful.

There is no need to comment on what was said at the meeting, as I promised Officer Zeissman that I would keep such information in confidence, instead using generalizations.  However, I will say this:

When a bluepill chooses blue, and when Shimada herself promises that bluepill that they will wake up SAFE AND SOUND at home and remember nothing of that event, you *CENSORED* well better deliver on that promise.  Otherwise, what integrity do you have?

Morpheus would have given him that.

OOC:

Sigh.  You know, I really hoped you guys would've taken this and ran with it.  There could've been some real nice RP fleshed out as a result of it.

I had no idea the death wasn't scripted...so I took it upon myself to inject emotion into the whole thing, so I could see what could come of it.  Obviously, now, I can see that I was mistaken, as the lines between OOC and IC are becoming, once again, blurred.

If it's too much to ask that OOC and IC remain separate, then I'm going to have to ask that we save ourselves a flamefest and this thread be locked.  BTW, Rarebit, Ibuprofen works much better for headaches than an ice pack.  I'm a pretty big guy, so I take about 600 mg...works like a charm.  Cheers. 

OOC (though at this point I guess it doesn't matter anymore):

You know, this is getting way out of hand.  I'm getting attacks in game OOC, and I haven't the foggiest clue why.  You people astonish me; I can handle IC criticism, because that's what I was hoping to invoke.  But OOC?  Forget it.  Just forget it.

Sigh.  I'm done with EPN...it's not fun anymore.  I know who my friends are.