'First Contact' Might Not Be The Name For It
A knock on Adeline’s door is what makes her notice how close to the computer screen she’s been. By the light of only the monitor and her own face, she scours her desk for her mask until Angel calls out, “Just me.”
Relieved, she sits back down. “Come in.” By the time Angel has shut the door and wandered over, her attention is back on the webpage, the glow of the screen fighting the glare from her eyes.
Angel drapes an arm around her shoulder and puts their face as close to the screen as hers is. After far too long a moment holding the position in silence save for the thoughtful tapping of Adeline’s finger, Angel finally says, “Sooo...”
Adeline doesn’t look away, but cracks a dry smile. “So I’ve been at this for five hours straight–”
“Oh my god.” Angel pulls off of her. “You know, maybe we should just–” They take the back of her chair.
“Hey, no, stop,” orders Adeline as Angel rotates her away from the screen, “I may have actually found something.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“I don’t kid. Turn me back.”
“Adeline, please, don't make me have to tell everyone you've gone insane, I can't handle the pressure.”
Adeline stands up, takes hold of the chair. “I’m serious. I’ve seen a lot of scams over the past few days, and this one–”
“Is the most legitimate looking scam so far?”
Adeline lets Angel stir in her unamused silence before pulling the chair out of their hands. “Honestly,” she says as she guides it back to the table, “scam or not, at least they’ll work with me.”
Angel groans. “Ads...”
“Listen to this.”
“You need to convince the doctors.”
“I’m asking to be allowed to kill people 'for science.' The website’s completely blank, untitled, white background, black text.”
“And I’m supposed to be serving a life sentence right now. You can’t let those medschool fucks shut you down.”
“I have no proof it would even work. It's different from the other sites, the way it's trying to avoid drawing attention.”
“You need the permission to get proof.”
“Right, unless there's another way to get proof, which is what I'm working on. They’re not even asking for payment.”
Angel tilts their head all the way back. "Alright! Alright, go ahead, tell me what this page says."
“Thank you. It says:
“If someone important to you has died, you’re not alone, and someone may be able to help. If you’ve lost a pet, don’t hesitate to reach out. If you’ve lost a friend or family member, please consider the following first: If their death has been reported to any authorities, a secondary identity and relevant paperwork is necessary. If their death is public to members of your community, a disguise or change in location is necessary. If their body is badly damaged, repair to return them to a livable state is necessary. We can only send someone when it is safe and reasonable to do so. However, in this trying time, if you need help with any of these requirements, we can offer that as well. As usual, we don’t charge any fee, as long as you’re willing to pay a good deed forward. Keep in touch.
“... And there’s a box under it. To submit a request.” Angel is quiet. “I’ve had one written out for half an hour trying to decide if I should send it.” When Angel still says nothing, Adeline looks over the back of the chair. “Angel?”
“Yeah?”
“What do you think?”
“Uh, ’jesus christ...’”
“I’m gonna send it.”
“Oh, god.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Look, it just... That whole thing made me nervous. It just ticks some red flags, you know? It sets off some boxes. It–”
“They’re not criminal. Resurrection isn’t illegal.”
“I mean, I feel like it’s not explicitly legal, but–”
“Great, because that grey area is my specialty.“ Adeline raises her eyebrows at them and they cringe in acknowledgement. “But what I’m hearing is that you think it could be something legit?”
“... Have you sent it?”
“I have.”
“Doesn’t matter what I think then.”
“Hm. Well I think,” says Adeline, standing up, “that right now it feels good to take a step regardless of the direction.” She stretches her back, walking past Angel to sit on the bed. After a moment, Angel begrudgingly plops down beside her and lays back, legs dangling off the bed and arms still folded. She glances at them out of the corner of stretching her neck. “Look,” she says, a bit quieter, “either this is critical progress or just another thing to cross off the options. The most I can lose is my precious time if I don’t get an answer.”
A notification sounds from the computer.
They both look up. As it fades away, Angel looks towards Adeline.
“I... have an email.” In an instant, she’s up and sitting back at the monitor.
“No fucking way.” Angel leans over her shoulder.
“The address is just a string of numbers and letters, no subject...”
“You’re killing me. Read it!”
Adeline is almost grinning. “Shut up and I will.
“Hi, Adeline. I didn’t expect to hear from you. We have a mutual friend. Keep in touch.
“... That’s it.”
Angel looks to her. “That’s it?”
“What is–?”
“Answer them.”
“What?”
“They know you! That’s good! Probably! Make conversation!”
“Yeah, right, okay. I don’t know their name, who do I–? Oh, whatever.
“Hello. It’s a pleasure to get a reply so soon. I’m flattered you know of me. May I ask who this mutual friend is? Regards, Adeline.”
A moment after Adeline sends it, Angel says, “’Regards’?”
“Please, what would you have said?”
“I dunno but not fucking ’regards.’ Jesus.“
“Oh no, I bet the fucking necromancer is going to think I’m too serious and uncool to reply to me.“
“Did you not hear the words fucking necromancer in that sentence?“
A notification. Instantly, they both go silent so Adeline can read the newest email.
“I’m sure you’ll remember if you think back on it, Adeline. You met on
“...
“December 8th, 2007
“...
“at about 3:45 AM. Keep in touch.”
Adeline is silent for a moment. “... What the fuck...? Are they trying to scare me?”
“3 AM?” echoes Angel.
“Bullshit. All of it.” She starts typing.
“Respectfully, I’ll have to call your bluff.”
“Hold on,” says Angel.
“Perhaps we can move on from the bizarre small talk and discuss your services instead. Cordially, Adeline.”
Send. Adeline relaxes her shoulders. “... Alright, I think cordially might have been too much that time. I’m not cordial, I’m tired and I'm not here to play mind games.” Angel stays silent. It drags on. Adeline looks up at them. “Angel?”
A notification sounds. The thought is dropped, Adeline’s back on the computer. Her eyes scan the screen, the light from her eyes making the glare on it flicker. “... What?”
Angel looks to her. “What is it?” Adeline rereads it. Angel taps her shoulder urgently. “What did they say?”
“Call whatever you like, Adeline, but don’t call me again. I’m not offering my services to you. Next time, think twice about who you want to keep in touch.
“... Bullshit.”
“Adeline...”
“It’s bullshit. Nonsense. I’m not letting that slide.”
“Adeline.”
She starts typing again. “I’m not going to take a no without a reason. Not that easily, they–”
Angel seizes her hands.
She braces. “What?”
“I know who the mutual friend is.”
Stopping, she pulls her hands from theirs and turns to look up at them.
“... December 8th, 2007. That was the week you got me released.”
Adeline’s silence draws on, even as that sets in on her. Finally, “And on the 8th...”
“And on the 8th, at sometime past 3 in the morning, someone broke in and tried to kill us.”
Adeline turns to look back at the email. In silence, powers down the computer, plunging the room into silence.