"Re: They Have No Reflections"

November 16, 2014
From: louise@arkhamimaginations.com
To: giadab@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: They Have No Reflections

Hi Giada,

Just curious to see if you've spoken with the new clients yet. I know we're a new start-up, and we need every customer we can get, but... can we maybe have someone run a background check on them? They asked a lot of questions that someone in the industry should already know the answers to, and they have some really strange schematics for the server architecture they want installed. I'm not even sure we can make it function as a piece of technology with the materials requirements they have.

And... okay, I know this is going to sound strange. Believe me, I do. I was actually kind of hesitant to put it down in writing, just in case it turned out to be a trick of the light and I was laying the groundwork for some kind of mandatory work-life balance training. But the more I think back on it, the more sure I am about what I saw. When I was leading that woman Drita on the tour of our facilities, I took her through that big glass causeway between Building A and Building B, and... Giada, I swear she didn't have a reflection. I could see myself, I could see Ben, but I couldn't see her reflected in the glass. It spooked me the hell out, I can tell you.

Now I've talked to Ben about this since then, because I know he's been spearheading this deal and I thought he might have noticed something, and he says Drita's perfectly normal. But the weird thing is, he says it exactly like that. "Ben, did you notice anything odd about Drita's reflection?" "Drita is perfectly normal." "No, of course, but did you see her reflection in the windows?" "Drita is perfectly normal." I'll tell you what isn't normal, Giada - those responses. I'd feel a lot more comfortable if we could get someone local to Albania who knows the tech scene there and can tell us what kind of a reputation this 'Endless Twilight Technologies' firm has.

Anyway, if it all goes south at least I've got something to show the auditors when they start taking heads, right? Talk to you later.

Sincerely,

Louise Falkner
Chief Technology Officer, Arkham Imaginations

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November 17, 2014
From: giadab@arkhamimaginations.com
To: louise@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: Re: They Have No Reflections

Ooooooh, spooky! Guess we've got vampires for clients, huh? Seriously, Lou, maybe don't mention this to anyone else? Telling people you think our foreign clients are sketchy because you don't like their vibe or whatever feels like a pretty good way to open us up to a discrimination lawsuit. Just get their servers up and running, make sure it meets their specifications so they don't have any grounds to refuse payment, and let me worry about their background, okay? Don't worry, I won't say anything to Ben. As far as I'm concerned, this is an office joke that didn't land.

All the best,

Giada Benjamin
Chief Operating Officer, Arkham Imaginations

* * * * *

November 20, 2014
From: louise@arkhamimaginations.com
To: giadab@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections
Attachment: Eyes.JPG

Giada,

I know you think you're being smart about this, but respectfully, I think you're a little too far removed from the situation to understand the realities of what's going on. This isn't about prejudices or 'vibes' or anything, this is about some technology requirements that are very hinky and clients that are acting very strange in a way that simply being foreign does not explain. Have you talked to Ben? Have you seen his eyes when he gets out of one of his meetings with Gentian and Drita? They're pale, Giada. The irises are faded and the pupils are milky. That's not 'vibes', that's something you can take pictures of. I attached one for you.

I know the checks have been clearing. I know they've got deep pockets. But I don't have a single person on my team who can actually tell me what these servers of theirs are supposed to actually do once we install them and hook them up, and that's a problem. You know we hire good people, you know this isn't just a case of our group getting lapped by someone smarter than we are. This is weird and it's raising a ton of red flags and I really want you to listen because I don't want someone holding me responsible if we plug this thing in and it blows up a building or something. So you do whatever you're going to do, but don't act surprised when it goes tits up because I gave you a warning.

Sincerely,

Louise Falkner
Chief Technology Officer, Arkham Imaginations

* * * * *

November 21, 2014
From: giadab@arkhamimaginations.com
To: louise@arkhamimaginations.com; benjamink@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: Re: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections
Attachment: Eyes.JPG

Louise,

Really cute. Is this what you've been doing with company time, photoshopping pictures of Ben? We have a deadline, here. That server has to be up and running by the end of the month, or we stand to lose over three million dollars in completion bonuses. I've checked with HR, and your contract specifies that we can take that money out of your annual performance incentives if something fails due to a technology issue on your end. And you just admitted, in writing, that you don't have the slightest clue how these servers work or what they're supposed to do. That is not a good sign, Louise, and you're going to need to get your ass in gear if you want to keep your job here.

Ben, I've copied you in on this to make sure you're aware of the potential issues with the Endless Twilight contract. Louise has made some very... inventive pictures of you, and she thinks you're somehow being unduly influenced by our new clients. Who, according to her, don't show up in reflective surfaces. You want to maybe tell her she's losing her goddamn mind so we can get past this and collect our money? Thanks.

All the best,

Giada Benjamin
Chief Operating Officer, Arkham Imaginations

* * * * *

November 21, 2014
From: benjamink@arkhamimaginations.com
To: louise@arkhamimaginations.com; giadab@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections

Hi Giada,

Drita and Gentian are perfectly normal.

--Ben

* * * * *

November 22, 2014
From: giadab@arkhamimaginations.com 
To: louise@arkhamimaginations.com; benjamink@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections
Attachment: Client Meeting.ICS

Seriously, Ben? Did Louise put you up to this? Are the two of you pulling some kind of fucking prank on me? I really do not have time for this. We've got less than a week before these servers have to be live, and these aren't our only clients. I've scheduled a meeting for Monday with you, me, Louise, Drita and Gentian. Let's go in together, clear the air, and get this shit done so we can all collect our pay. I'll have a discussion with you about professionalism when it's all over, and we can talk about your future employment prospects then.

All the best,

Giada Benjamin
Chief Operating Officer, Arkham Imaginations

* * * * *

November 23, 2014
From: benjamink@arkhamimaginations.com
To: louise@arkhamimaginations.com; giadab@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections

Hi Giada,

Drita and Gentian are perfectly normal.

--Ben

* * * * *

November 24, 2014
From: louise@arkhamimaginations.com
To: giadab@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections

Hi Giada,

I won't be attending that meeting, and I strongly suggest you don't either. I did a little digging with my European tech contacts, and they haven't heard of any company called 'Endless Twilight Technologies'. They haven't filed any incorporation papers in Albania, or America, or the Bahamas or the Cayman Islands or Switzerland or anywhere I could find after three days of research, and when I did give a call to a firm over there that does what we do they just said, "Never let their lips touch yours," and hung up. I don't pretend to know what's going on, but I seriously think this is going to be a major issue and I recommend we find some excuse to pull out of the contract. Non-ferrous servers and circuits that draw energy from themselves are fucking batshit, and I don't want to be involved with it anymore. Fire me if you want, but this is a fucking Soviet parade of red flags and I'd rather be out of the company than at at their headquarters when that piece of shit launches.

Which reminds me. They've only been renting space in that building for about four weeks now. One day before they contacted us about the new servers, in fact. Doesn't that at least seem a little bit odd?

Sincerely,

Louise Falkner
Chief Technology Officer, Arkham Imaginations

* * * * *

November 27, 2014
From: giadab@arkhamimaginations.com
To: louise@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections

Hi Louise,

Drita and Gentian are perfectly normal.

All the best,

Giada Benjamin
Chief Operating Officer, Arkham Imaginations

* * * * *

November 29, 2014
From: louise@arkhamimaginations.com
To: derrig@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: FWD: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections

Hi Derrig,

I forwarded you this email chain because I think it's really important for you to step in at this point and use your authority to void this deal. Giada and Ben have completely shut me out of the decision-making process, they're scheduling meetings with members of my team without letting me know and they're inviting our clients, who at this point I think have to be treated as foreign nationals and potential security threats. I can't get any of my people to stop working on this new server architecture, they all just keep smiling at me and telling me everything is perfectly normal, and I think if the whole thing is allowed to go live tomorrow we're going to sincerely regret it. You're the CEO of the company - either you can make them stop, or if you can't we'll at least have confirmation that whatever's going on is more than just an internal dispute. Please respond right away? I know you've got a lot on your plate this week but this is very time-sensitive.

Sincerely,

Louise Falkner
Chief Technology Officer, Arkham Imaginations

* * * * *

November 29, 2014
From: derrig@arkhamimaginations.com
To: louise@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: Re: FWD: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections

Hi Louise,

Drita and Gentian are perfectly normal.

Luck in battle,

Derrig Cavanaugh
CEO, Arkham Imaginations

* * * * *

November 30, 2014
From: louise@arkhamimaginations.com
To: natezerochill@freemail.net
Subject: FWD: Re: FWD: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections

Hi Nate,

I know I'm probably breaking some kind of confidentiality clause or something, but I can't go into this without at least leaving behind some kind of record of what happened just in case Derrig wipes our archives or something. I'm going to go to the Endless Twilight HQ, I'm going to do everything I can to wreck their weird unholy servers before they can bring them online and... I don't know, open a portal to the Fey Realms or something... and hopefully I won't wind up a blank-eyed zombie like everyone else on my team and the entire senior leadership of my company. If it all goes tits up and I don't succeed, just know I love you and I'm sorry and - maybe stay away from me?

I know. It all sounds crazy. But I saw what I saw. There was nothing in the glass that day. And I'm pretty sure if I spent any time alone with them, I'd be just like Giada and Derrig and Ben. I'm sorry I got into this whole mess, and I don't know if I can get back out. But I have to try.

Love you so much,

Louise

* * * * *

December 1, 2014
From: louise@arkhamimaginations.com
To: natezerochill@freemail.net
Subject: Re: FWD: Re: FWD: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections

Hi Nate,

Never mind. I was being silly. Drita and Gentian are perfectly normal. You should meet them, in fact. I'll arrange everything.

Sincerely,

Louise Falkner
Chief Technology Officer, Arkham Imaginations

THE END