Project HOUND: What Happens If I Say No? (Patreon)

Adrian thought he was testing a rule.

Elias already knew there were some rules you don’t get to test without consequences.

This episode leads directly into The Breaking Point — the first pinned post on my IG profile, which was originally released before this part of the timeline. I'll post it here later

Julian: Then I want authority over it.

Julian: If I'm the one starting this, I'm not handing the decisions to someone else.

Lucien: You're asking to take responsibility for the entire project.

Julian: I know.

Lucien: Then understand what that means.

Lucien: Once it starts, there's no stepping back out.

Julian: My name is Julian Veyne.

Julian: From this point forward, your clearance, deployment, and return fall under my authority.

Julian: You're standing here because this project achieved what conventional medicine could not.

Julian: But waking up was only the first part.

Julian: Keeping you functional takes continued resources.

Julian: Those who clear rehabilitation and medical assessment enter operational deployment.

Operative: What kind of deployment?

Julian: High-risk field work.

Julian: The kind conventional channels can't handle.

Operative: So you bring us back, and we work for you?

Julian: Yes.

Julian: You require continued maintenance.

Julian: Complete your assignments, and that maintenance continues.

Operative: And if we don't?

Julian: Your condition starts to deteriorate.

Julian: You lose control first.

Julian: Then your ability to function.

Julian: Eventually, the reconstruction won't hold.

Adrian: What if someone doesn't deploy?

Julian: If it's medical, you remain in rehabilitation until you're cleared.

Adrian: No, I mean I'm cleared.

Adrian: I'm just not in the mood.

Julian: Then fix your mood.

Soren: Do I report only to you?

Julian: Yes.

Julian: After every deployment, you report here first.

Julian: Then medical review.

Julian: Then maintenance.

Julian: Your next clearance depends on both.

Elias: You didn't answer Adrian.

Elias: He's cleared.

Elias: He's capable of deployment.

Elias: But if he simply doesn't want to go...

Elias: So what happens if he just refuses?

Adrian: Do I report only to you?

Adrian: So you're actually going?

Soren: I just want to see what they want me to do once I say yes.

Adrian: I'm more curious what they're gonna do when I say no.

Elias: You actually agreed to let that happen?

Julian: I didn't make those rules.

Elias: But you're the one running this project.

Julian: You think I wanted this part?

Julian: I had one choice.

Julian: Use the project, or leave them where they were.

Julian: They're alive, Elias.

Julian: Without this project, they wouldn't be.

Elias: That question you asked before.

Elias: Don't test it.

Adrian: What about it?

Elias: When they call you, you go.

Adrian: I was curious.

Elias: Be curious about something else.

Adrian: You came over here just to tell me that?

Elias: Adrian.

Elias: Adrian.

Adrian: You definitely left out the part where I end up on my knees.

Elias: You weren't giving me much room to explain.

Adrian: I gave you plenty of room.

Elias: Not to speak.

Adrian: Okay.

Adrian: That works.

Elias: Then listen.

Elias: When they call you for deployment, you go.

Adrian: You used that just to tell me to go to work?

Elias: I used it because you wouldn't let me finish a sentence.

Elias: Don't test this.

Adrian: I said it depends on my mood.

Adrian: Can I get up now?

Adrian: Good.

Adrian: Because that position was starting to give me ideas.

Lucien: Looks like you have everything under control.

Julian: That's the idea.

Lucien: You've done well.

Julian: I had the right people.

Lucien: Doctor.

Lucien: I was hoping I'd see you.

Elias: Why?

Lucien: I never properly thanked you.

Elias: For what?

Lucien: For getting them this far.

Elias: They got themselves this far.

Lucien: But none of this would have happened without you.

Elias: I still have work to finish.

Lucien: Of course.

Adrian: Who the hell is that?

Soren: No idea.

Soren: Looks like another boss.

Adrian: He knows Elias?

Soren: Looks like it.

Adrian: I don't like the way he looks at him.

Adrian: You've been busy.

Soren: Yes was boring.

Adrian: Good. My turn.

Staff: We need to complete your final check.

Adrian: Get Elias.

Staff: He already signed your clearance.

Adrian: Then he can finish it.

Staff: The doctor is unavailable.

Adrian: I'm unavailable too.

Staff: HA01 is ready for deployment.

Julian: Deploy 01.

Staff: Sir, there's an issue with HB02.

Julian: Cancel his deployment.

Elias: Don't cancel it.

Soren: Checking on me?

Julian: There is an issue with your partner, you know.

Soren: He does that.

Julian: Don't get reckless.

Elias: If you don't go, they don't just stop the deployment.

Elias: They make it worse.

Adrian: Whatever happens, I take it.

Elias: Do you have any idea what it took to get you back?

Adrian: Alright.

Adrian: I'll do it.

Adrian: Just don't—