From All Sides
| From All Sides | |
|---|---|
| Date of Cutscene: | 13 June 2019 |
| Location: | Executive Suite, Sims Building, Manhattan |
| Synopsis: | Ezekiel Sims and Nina Smith have a brief discussion. |
| Cast of Characters: | Ezekiel Sims |
"And that is exactly why I have you, Mr. Sanderson. Please see to the details." Ezekiel Sims, a silver-featured man in his 50s, stands from his desk chair. Behind him, New York's East River dominates the view, with the South Street Seaport far below, and Brooklyn visible beyond the water.
The man whom Ezekiel is addressing, Mr. Sanderson, is a similarly-greyed gentleman, though gaunt, and with a more conservative haircut. "Mr. Sims... there are so many other..." Sanderson begins to protest, but Ezekiel turns away to face the window. "Thank you," he sings, with an air of finality. Defeated, Sanderson sulks away.
A young woman, dark and attractive, emerges from a shadow nearby. "The paper pushers are getting worse."
"You can't stop the bureaucracy, Nina," Ezekiel offers. "All you can do is manage it."
"They're taking over."
"It's nothing I can't handle."
Nina walks around Ezekiel's desk to stand next to him, squinting her eyes in the daylight. "Ezekiel, this game you're playing, all these ghost companies... there's a lot on the line. Some of those people downstairs, they don't even /like/ spiders."
"Most people don't. But there is a thorough vetting process in place." Ezekiel turns to face her. "None of my businesses are likely to hire so much as a jaywalker, much less something more sinister."
Nina fidgets, shifting her weight to the other foot. "What about the totems? You know you can't bring them in. It's too risky."
Ezekiel sighs. "We've lost too many Hunters. You know that better than anyone." He frowns. "Something big is coming. I can sense it. There are too many totems for it to be a coincidence."
"Your vetting process isn't going to work on masked vigilantes, Ezekiel."
"I'm not so sure about that. Are we or are we not in the business of surveillance?"
"We can't trust them," Nina insists.
Ezekiel's face tightens. "It is upon me to make that determination." His expression quickly softens. "I'll look before I leap. I promise."
"But," Nina whispers, fixing her attention on the skyline, "what if you're /wrong/?"
Ezekiel returns his attention to the window and smiles, folding his hands behind his back. "That's why I have you, Nina. That's why I have you."
