Hey readers (if there are any of you left).
I know I've been a bad blogger, and that you all think I don't love you anymore, but it isn't true.
There were days where I was barely able to come home and turn my computer on to check e-mail, let alone try to make an attempt at a coherent blog post.
But I've been given a moment to catch my breath now (after a few weeks).
I come bringing that e-mail exchange from Clyde I've been building anticipation for. Mind you, we've swapped a lot more than four e-mails by now, but I might not be posting some of them.
Why?
'Cause I likes them and they're my preciouses.
In all seriousness, though, there are just a few ones that have some content I don't feel like sharing. No hard feelings?
The point is, though, the guy loves to talk. Not only that, but he doesn't speak solely to me (look at
Ryudo's blog, for instance).
Now, the main attraction (I know it's quite old, but if I were to post anything that arrived after it, you all would be thrown off):
From: "Midnight"
To: "Clyde Citrine"
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 4:31 PM
Subject: No Worries?Dear Clyde,
Glad to see we can skip the neuro-smalltalk.
I always had a feeling that the staff kept an eye on operatives blogs--considering the warnings they give about publishing information related to Neurocam assignments and whatnot. Is there some kind of special system in place and procedure that is followed for the monitoring of Operative blogs?
In terms of your answer to my question about the posters: yes, I'd say that explanation is sufficient.
However, I am slightly more intimidated now to know the extent of Neurocam's activities in my city.
Just how much is really going on? Are you keeping tabs on me every time I go outside? Is there one of those vans like in the movies that parks somewhere on my street and monitors my phone-calls and e-mails?
If that story of yours is the abbreviated version, I can't even emagine how long the normal version is.
One thing caught my eye, though. You said that you were "back in Los Angeles." Would that be some kind of typo, or is that an actual implication that you have been in Los Angeles before?
I know I am all questions, but let me end today's e-mail with one more:
Can you tell me what is in store for Neurocam and its Operatives in the future?
Regards,
-Midnight
------------------------------
From: "Clyde Citrine"
To: "Midnight"
Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2005 12:28 AM
Subject: Re: No Worries?
Dear Operative Midnight,
Your usage of the ever-popular "neuro" prefix amuses me. I am not entirely sure of its origins or how exactly it came about, but the online community's usage of it has certainly made it popular.
We have even become quite taken with it here at the office, and it has turned into somewhat of a running joke. (e.g. "Pass me those neuro-papers." or "I believe you have my neuro-stapler.")
Let me put it this way: If I told you that we did not have a particular method by which we monitor online publications like blogs and forums, would you believe me? There is procedure for everything in the neuro-world. Hopefully you have observed that by now.
Try not to be intimidated by Neurocam's presence in LA, at least, not too intimidated anyway.
Unfortunately I would be breaking Neurocam's Operational Security Guidelines, which you of course know I love and hold in such high regard, if I were to tell you just how closely we have our eyes and ears trained on everything that is going on around here. Would you say it was I lucky guess if I knew that you happened to see a couple of men in orange work jumpsuits on your street the other day--Neurocam covert surveilance agents, or city sanitation workers? Or would you think twice if I told you why there was a specific vehicle that drives down your street two times a week, no less?
Keep looking over your shoulder, Neurocam International values that kind of perceptiveness in its Operatives.
Maybe, someday, I will tell you the full version my story. That is for another time, though.
Be advised that I did not make any typographical errors in my previous e-mail.
I was indeed implying that I have been in the City of Los Angeles before. Several times, actually.
This would be another facet of the story:
Once, several years ago, I was actually a zealous little Entry-Level Operative (like yourself, and so many others). As it so happened, I lived in Los Angeles, out near Beverly Hills. I did things for Neurocam, and they were pleased. The tasks I received became more complicated and trying, until one day I reached a point where I thought I couldn't be any more in the thick of things than I was. Then I receive a summons, of sorts. It was a mandate saying that if I wished at all to continue my involvement as a member of Neurocam International, I was to fly to Melbourne, Australia, where I would take up permanent residence and work at their headquarters. They were generous enough to pay for airfare, so how could I refuse such an offer? So, for a couple of years, I worked out there with everyone else, saw some things I thought I wouldn't see, did some things I thought I would never do. But now life has changed, and here I am in Los Angeles once again.
On to your final question (and I honestly don't mind answering them); Curiousity is a natural thing, and I find that contrary to popular belief, it is not very prone to killing the cat.
What does Neurocam have in store? Well, Neurocam International, as you may have already intuited, has been, and is still undergoing, some drastic changes. It is why Crispin Black was called into service from the Nautonier. It is why there has been so much internal restrucuring, and it is why regional specialists like myself have been deployed. Of course, there are still many other things connected to Neurocam that are in a state of metapmorphosis, which makes it difficult for me to illuminate the scope of their alterations.
To tell you what to expect in the future would be like handing you a gift and saying "Here is a shiny new wristwatch," before you have had the chance to unwrap it.
For now, expect the unexpected.
Regards,
Clyde Citrine
Operations Division
Neurocam International
clyde.citrine@neurocam.com----------------------------------
Well...
I'm not quite sure what is more disturbing: the fact that there were actually men in orange jumpsuits outside a couple days before I got the e-mail, or that he actually knew they were there...
Still freakin' out to no end over this.
(Edit: Blogspot has the worst WYSIWYG editor EVER. I blame it for the inconsistency of the font sizes in this post.)
