If Izzy asks around, any Troubleshooter here (not just the Specials) will be able to tell her part two of how Steve rose so quickly to the top. Early on, one of the Specials was locked in a room and beaten so badly she had to be sent straight to Medical Services. Not everyone would remember it was Lydia, but they would remember that it had been a young girl. After that, Steve had gotten up on stage in front of every Troubleshooter and given a rousing speech — denouncing those who would beat a defenseless girl, and telling everyone that Specials were not their enemy.
Well, the speech worked. A bit later, he was promoted again.
"Izzy, I know I'm not painting the most ... appealing picture." A breathy laugh, as Steve eyes flicker to the floor and back up to her. "But it's the reality we woke up in."
When she holds the device out to him, he takes it, and moves so that he's standing shoulder-to-shoulder to her. He wants to make sure she can see everything he's doing as he talks. "There's an encrypted network, just for Specials- People like us." Normally, Steve wouldn't know a thing about how to work a device like this, but early on, he'd been given a mission that involved training everyone how to use a PDC. So he'd finally learned through repetition.
"So far, there are nearly two dozen of us here. Not everyone knows each other, but I've seen people stick together when it counts. Your roommates, they should all be Specials as well. But if you ever need anything and you want to contact me, you can use this filter. I trust it."
no subject
Well, the speech worked. A bit later, he was promoted again.
"Izzy, I know I'm not painting the most ... appealing picture." A breathy laugh, as Steve eyes flicker to the floor and back up to her. "But it's the reality we woke up in."
When she holds the device out to him, he takes it, and moves so that he's standing shoulder-to-shoulder to her. He wants to make sure she can see everything he's doing as he talks. "There's an encrypted network, just for Specials- People like us." Normally, Steve wouldn't know a thing about how to work a device like this, but early on, he'd been given a mission that involved training everyone how to use a PDC. So he'd finally learned through repetition.
"So far, there are nearly two dozen of us here. Not everyone knows each other, but I've seen people stick together when it counts. Your roommates, they should all be Specials as well. But if you ever need anything and you want to contact me, you can use this filter. I trust it."