Let's say a mutual acquaintance of ours has spoken about an organization you work for and an offer you made them. Let's say I think you're partially correct, and that said person is in over their head and made the wrong choices on account of tragedy. Let's say I've tried to talk them out of it, and to no avail. Do you think you could genuinely help or is this just your way to either feel good about yourself or weasel your way into having an informant?
Since if we're being entirely honest, her father wouldn't have wanted this. And I feel inexplicably obligated to take that into account and do what he no longer can by looking out for her. Even if she's become fixated on the idea of never being helpless again. But there is, as there often tends to be, limits on how far I can exercise my own authority in working this out on my own. We're not top down like your authorities are, association is voluntary and power's a scarce and thinly spread resource. If I just dismissed her from service, I would be viewed with suspicion by those who believe people should decide for themselves whether to volunteer or not.
And that's why I haven't just put my foot down and done it already. Politics is a fickle thing, and we're a political movement by nature and definition. If you have any ideas, or know of a better way to get her to be with her family, who very much need her, a fact they express to me every day. Then I'll hear you out. Even if you are the enemy, purely because her ship came back unmolested when standard police MO is to vaporize us. We're too dangerous. You at least seem different, someone capable of thinking for themselves and at least not a pawn yet.
To Becky this was a very unexpected message to receive. She never really thought that someone would follow through with this even though deep down inside she wanted to. Seeing the name Cobra rang a few bells. The ship codenamed "Recluse" mentioned something... Something about Cobra being a leader? This shot shivers down Becky's spin and made her quite nervous to speak to someone like Cobra.
So hey erm, Cobra. You can call me... Becky? Your name was mentioned by Recluse. I... err certainly wasn't expecting a message from yourself. Her nervousness shone through. I am a very firm believer in second chances. I was given a second chance myself after an accident I had and ever since then I've been trying to help people in need. When I met Recluse, just outside of the Colorado Jump Gate, she seemed as though she was in pain so I offered her a chance knowing that what I may say there will probably fall on deaf ears which it seemed like it did there and then. Not engaging her ship would hopefully build a small bit of trust and show that I was sincere. Does Recluse have a name? Calling her Recluse just doesn't feel right.
I can certainly help her out financially, out of my own pocket. If she needs a place to start fresh from I can provide that for her. That'll be a start.
I'm well in over my head here. What have I gotten myself into? What if the Marshal's find out? she thought to herself.
I've done you the professional courtesy of giving this channel an end to end encryption, so barring you deciding to leak the contents - we are the only spectators to any conversations held within. I figured I would mention that since you seem nervous. Anyway, her name is Stevie. Her father named her after a singer who did a lot of charity work for the locals of Denver. Well, before their mere presence was criminalized anyway.
While it's refreshing to hear a public servant be generous with their hard earned pocket money, I don't think it'll be that simple. If it was then I'd have sorted it out myself with the help of a few benefactors to expedite the process. The problem is that she's committed to our mission now, hardcoded herself to believe the only thing worth doing with her life now is making sure this never happens again. If nothing else, it's more like she's trying to prove to herself that she's strong enough to not let it happen again.
She's obviously traumatized, everyone in her family is. I expect that to be the normal reaction when the police's less than finest help a sleazebag kill your father. Even though I've made sure everyone even remotely involved has paid for it dearly, she won't give this up and nothing I say will change her mind. That's why I'm contacting you. I'm hoping that at least somehow another woman can get through to her. Make her realize that dying does nobody any favors, least of all her own family that are still grieving.
If you can do this, then I'll owe you. A debt you can call on should there be something a cop can't do but I can.