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ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ The Beginning || The Death of Messiah || The Turning of a Page || A Whole New World || Every Rose(Dale) Has Its Thorns || The Inner Circle || The Upheaval ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ

Make sure you're on the right website. When you Google LifeInvader, the first result is the wrong website. Try here: https://lifeinvader.eclipse-rp.net/ I hope that helps!

Good luck y’all! You’ve all shown some amazing RP so far, I can’t wait to see this family thrive!

It had started with nothing more than the combined determination of a handful of people as they stood around a table littered with the blood of their old leader. Salvation was a pretty dream, a glimmering hope of something different in the city, led by two opposites who loved each other enough to admit they hated one another some days. Their shadows and light were meant to create a beautiful portrait of gray all members of Salvation walked as they tried to make a real difference in a place that seemed hopeless more often than not. And for six months, Jacqueline and Chase tried their best to meet in the middle. Organizations rose and fell as they trudged on through the internal issues, the external threats, the restructures and the chaos. Somewhere along the way... they lost themselves. How does one continue to bend without inevitably breaking? They couldn't have been more different and as the months carried on, Salvation became more and more divided. Jacqueline could feel it in the depths of her soul. She could feel her members breaking, her own heart following not long after. She watched herself and Chase chip away pieces of who they were until they barely recognized one another anymore. It had started with a meeting born of frustration. Something had to give. Chase had told Jacqueline if his stepping away was best for Salvation, he would do so. She had told him the same. Both stood adamant that the other was more needed and deserved the chance to lead the organization they desired. Everyone present voiced their opinions. In the end four chose one leader, two refrained, and one chose another. A decision was made that night- Jacqueline was to take over Salvation and Chase would be her second in command. It lasted less than a day. Jacqueline awoke the next morning to a call over the radio for a meeting at their HQ. When she arrived, the message became quite clear: they didn't know her. If she were to lead, Salvation risked losing everything they had worked to obtain since the death of Messiah and though it would take hours of circular conversations afterwards to finally end, Jacqueline made her decision long before she left Overlook that day for the last time. The dream of Salvation was polarized between its members and six months ago, she had voted Chase Allen in as its leader. It was time to let him live his dream the way he wanted to live it. It was time for her to live her own dream the way she wanted to live it. He wanted those men they'd formed relationships with and worked so hard to fill orders for. She did not. She'd find herself a few hours later, surrounded by men who had pledged their loyalty to her dream and had no desire to be in a Salvation that changed, and watched as they all thanked Chase for the opportunities before leaving themselves. Their masks were placed on the snowy ground and for a long while they just stared at one another. No one knew what the future held but what Jacqueline did know was this. Something within the city of Los Santos was broken. To fix it, one needed to be whole themselves.

Issue Being Reported: I would like to have the username for the Government Website changed from jacquelineperinneau to Jacqueline Drakk. Date and Time of Issue (provide timezone): 15/12/2021 01:02AM Your characters name: Jacqueline Drakk Thank you!

Jacqueline didn't believe in coincidence. There were patterns throughout all the chaos if one looked hard enough and that week in particular had raised a number of red flags in her mind. It all started with a text from [REDACTED], claiming she had been reached out to by old family for some help. It followed swiftly with the name of an organization she'd never before heard despite all her time in the city- [REDACTED ORGANIZATION]- that was claiming to have spies in nearly every group in the city with roots as deep as the government itself. Sprinkle in a once-enemy coming out of the blue to apologize for his actions in the hopes of recruitment to the very organization he'd tormented and a chance encounter with a complete stranger asking to be killed in cold blood on the pier because of [REDACTED ORGANIZATION] she'd just heard of the day before and it all seemed too... quaint. Something wasn't adding up. It only took a few days and a few texts from trusted allies and Salvation members before their HQ was located. And as their ally drove them past the sprawling building, [REDACTED] spoke of the fancy cars they possessed and the seemingly infinite pockets at their disposal. [REDACTED] spoke of the people they knew, the organizations they were watching, their very reason for existence. The irony that Salvation was nowhere on a list containing nearly everyone in the city was not lost on her and she smiled despite herself. Jacqueline made note of the location as they drove away and several hours later, she and Donnie were driving in with a note in hand. The paper was tucked on a table underneath the gazebo, safe from the falling snow, and they departed the area as quickly as they came. The snow had blanketed the city of Los Santos for a week now but as the mystery HQ disappeared in the rearview mirror, she couldn't help but feel there was an even bigger storm coming. Now it was just a matter of waiting to see whether or not they took the first round of bait.

I will keep it as is then, I was just trying to change it for continuity. Thank you for your time!

Issue Being Reported: I would like my forum name changed from Jacqueline Drakk to risk. Date and Time of Issue (provide timezone): 02/12/2021 Your characters name: Jacqueline Drakk Thank you!

Hi there! I can confirm as of typing this there are no pending applications. If you haven’t received an email, check your spam folders. If you’re still unable to find an email, launching Rage and logging into Eclipse will tell you whether or not your application has been approved. If it wasn’t, you’ll be given another opportunity to apply. Good luck!

This can be archived.

i was born to play this game "I've never seen a group that takes the moral high ground make it as far as you all have." "I heard she was placed as High Command of [REDACTED] after a week... who does that?" "All we're going to do is give them a stern talking to, what the fuck does it matter anyway?" "Salvation doesn't like anyone with guns and immediately thinks they're the enemy." "At some point we're going to have to put our foot down and fight back if they keep talking shit." "Is Salvation doing okay? I heard y'all lost quite a few members recently." "What do y'all DO anyway? Sit around and wait for trouble?" "I never expect anyone to be happy here for long. What we do is hard." "Ego plays such a huge part in those that have left." _________________________________________________________________ Jacqueline had known so little about the criminal world when she'd been brought into Salvation. She'd never so much as held a gun in her hands by the time she was voted in to High Command and had only fired it once upon the death of Messiah. Everything she'd learned, everything she'd created had been through months of trial and error: creating maps and processes and protocols by talking to trusted sources of information while twisting the knowledge and talents she possessed to best suit the position she now held. More than once, she'd almost walked away. It had taken countless sleepless nights to grow into the woman she was now, forged by the conflict and the drama that came with running a successful organization who chose violence only when necessary and didn't engage in games born of ego. Jacqueline was a firm believer in the power of being underestimated. From the outside looking in, no one really knew what Salvation did. They knew nothing of the vast network of associates they held within the city from all walks of life who would do nearly anything were they only to ask nor the files of information they held on dozens of individuals that could dismantle their entire existence from the inside out if they chose to continue their corrupt actions. And now, as she sat in the darkened living room with the whispers of things said since she'd donned the color white echoing loudly in her head, Jacqueline couldn't help but smile softly at the nothingness surrounding her. Peaceful and democratic did not mean weak. It was a difficult lesson to learn, one Jacqueline had come to realize many never would, no matter how many times she said it. Death is the easy solution. You don't suffer your choices from a single bullet between the eyes. _________________________________________________________________ There was a poetic beauty in it, really. Even those who had left Salvation in search of greener pastures didn't truly understand. She leaned over to switch the lamp on the living room table, the dim light illuminating a simple jar that had been purchased for a single purpose. It would hold the tongue of someone who had betrayed them soon enough and they'd never see it coming. After all... Salvation was just a fishing gang who hated guns.

She hadn't been foolish enough to think it would never happen. One does not enter the criminal world expecting to forever maintain their innocence and Jacqueline Drakk was far from an idiot. It had been only a matter of time. What Jacqueline hadn't anticipated was the downfall of her legal standing not on the heels of a mistake despite hours of meticulous planning but on the lips of a trusted friend who let something slip to the wrong person. It all began with an apartment raid while she'd been sleeping elsewhere and a stash of tables tucked away in safes located at the back of the closet discovered. A few calls to trusted sources in law enforcement and a visit to the courthouse later and Jacqueline knew it was only a matter of time until a warrant was placed for her arrest and she was charged. Four days later, while in pursuit of a stolen vehicle with her family, she found herself surrounded by cruisers and police telling her to step out of the car. "What am I being charged with, exactly?" she'd asked the man in front. He wouldn't answer her, choosing instead to throw only a penal code at her as if she had any earthly idea what that meant in the here and now. It wasn't until she was on her way to the DOC did the kinder officer pull over and explain it all- manufacturing narcotics, a year in prison, $2,000 in fines- a felony. It all seemed fairly cut and dry, really. The only thing Jacqueline could not figure out was how. The apartment they'd raided was far from loaded with their belongings. It was their home; the one property they owned that really saw no illegal activity. They watched their backs when entering and exiting the elevator, they never carried anything suspicious in and out of the lobby. Why there? Why that one? Why was the search warrant so broad it covered nearly any illegal thing she could have possibly possessed? What did they know? As she waited for her contacts to return with the answers she needed, Jacqueline did what she did best. She began to weave another story in the chance there was a possibility the charges could be removed. After all, Donnie had said to the officers who had raided the apartment everything in there belonged to him. He knew what she'd try to do the moment the door had been broken down and he knew her well. He'd promised her when she left the legal life for him he'd do whatever needed done to protect her and Jacqueline knew he kept his promises. A public fight. Statements casually littered to everyone she spoke with in regards to the situation she had no idea the tables were there. Friends and colleagues drawn into the loop that their marriage was having issues and she was furious over what had been stored inside their home. An accidental fall that led to an impromptu trip to the CRU where she bemoaned marital issues and secrets that were tearing them apart, punctuated with a nervous admission she was hoping their visit could be kept off the record. Everything was set up to bring an imaginary scenario to the courts: Jacqueline had no idea Donnie was storing those items in the apartment and upon their discovery, she had been so angry... they had separated. The anguish over the downfall of their marriage had led to what most believed to be a suicide attempt and every breadcrumb since her arrest had corroborated the story. She knew her prints were nowhere on those safes. She'd never even accessed them and their location was such it was easy to believe she hadn't even known the safes themselves existed. Had she not gotten the answers she needed 24 hours later, it would have been a hell of a fight. When they came, however, everything came to a standstill. "[REDACTED]'s name is all over the sign off on your warrant," they'd said after being promised Jacqueline would seek no revenge on the person who had been her downfall. As she stood there surrounded by her family casting her concerned looks while the color drained from her skin, Jacqueline felt pinpricks running up her spine and she felt dizzy. "I appreciate you, [REDACTED]. I promise no one will know their name," she hung up and turned without a word to walk to the back of the Observatory. Anger shot through her limbs as she took a few deep breaths, her gaze drifting over the city. Whatever plans she'd created were dropped then and there. She'd always been a painfully careful woman- it was how she'd gone six months as High Command of Salvation with her weapons license and a clean record. It was over now, at the hands of someone else, and there was comfort somewhere deep within the betrayal. It hadn't been her own mistake and she was going to make damn sure she never spent another day in jail as she turned back and returned to her family with a forced smile painted on her lips. There was work to be done.

+/- 1. While I understand the intention behind this post and see both sides of the coin when it comes to the argument, I don't believe the issue can be resolved by the simple matter of punishing players who use certain "banned" words. Ultimately, this is an adult game with adult themes and everyone who joins ECRP should be explicitly aware of all that entails. There are going to be times when your character is placed in uncomfortable, volatile situations- particularly if your character has walked into the criminal life. And while there is a rule in place with the simple matter of going into /b, personally I would rather see more elaboration and room for handling those handful of players who antagonize just for the sake of antagonizing underneath the NRP or Ruleplaying rules. It's entirely feasible there are biased, aggressive, hostile people within Los Santos; however, it seems some choose to take that and roll with it under the guide of "being in character" when in reality all they're doing is hoping to bait someone into some type of fight or get some type of reaction from people knowing the repercussions will be limited within the rules as they stand. If you're going to run around calling people f******, n******, t*******, etc. everywhere you go regardless of location, situation, or people involved you're just being edgy for the sake of being edgy and adding nothing to the RP environment in my opinion.

you call it chaos; we call it family ----------------------------------- "Do you remember that offer you made me last time we were talking about my going to jail?" she'd asked. It was Melody from The Underground, a woman who ran an organization that was nearly the opposite of Salvation yet holding such similar values, and a friend who Jacqueline would do nearly anything for. She didn't even need to ask- not really. Jacqueline was already slowing to a stop with Donnie staring at her utterly confused as she pulled over on the side of the road. "What do you need?" "Just a radio," came the response. It was purchased from the store minutes later and they were on the way to DOC, hoping against hope that one of her contacts on the inside would be on duty. She could have kissed him when she saw him surrounded by unfamiliar faces wearing the uniform she'd once donned herself. Had her family not caused such a ruckus outside, perhaps she'd not have had the ability to pull him aside and request a very delicate favor... but they worked like a well-oiled machine. The moment the unfamiliar faces were outside dealing with the ridiculous party, Jacqueline was pulling him aside and whispering in his ear. A few deft maneuvers inside the visitation room and a whole lot of luck later, Melody was in possession of the radio with the unfamiliar guards none the wiser. ----------------------------------- "With all due respect," Jacqueline's jaw was set as she sat atop the roof in Little Tokyo. "I am going to address the elephant in the room." She and Donnie sat with High Command of the Rising Suns and were mid conversation about how they could potentially be of use to one another. "I am curious how you expect us to be willing to work with an organization that allows the type of situation I encountered on the pier," Jacqueline continued. "From your own mouth, shit talking about our organization and allowing other members to do the same." There was a brief pause as their leader protested it had been nothing but a joke and she met his gaze. "It wasn't a funny one. The Salvation you knew is not the Salvation we are, Mika, and if you expect anything to come of a working relationship whatever grudge you are holding on to about the people who are dead or no longer here gets buried tonight." It took only a brief discussion to bury the hatchet, as it were, and as their leader left his High Command apologized profusely for the incident. Jacqueline just smiled and shook her head. She knew very little about their organization, all things considered, but she knew that the men apologizing had come to her aid more than once and for that she was eternally grateful. Bygones would be bygones for now and a date was set at a later time to further discuss whether or not they could find a mutually beneficial option. ----------------------------------- "Did he just..." Leah sounded appalled at the sight before them at the Church of Flarg. Salvation had come en masse to formally meet the Bathshebas, a family they'd heard much about, and the men and women in white stared at the front entirely at a loss for words. Was it a baptism? Or a murder? "I don't know," Jacqueline whispered. "But maybe it's best we start a file on them just in case?" It was more question than confirmation as her gaze remained forward. More were being invited to join a strange cult of deluded human beings and she pressed herself further into the seat. Yuki's question as they were lined up front made far more sense now. What are you doing here? You seem like an educated woman. Her response had been simple enough: they were there to observe the Bathshebas and see firsthand the insanity. It was what they did best, after all. As the ceremony came to a close and Salvation filtered out, a photo was taken with the odd ones. Whether or not they were harmless was yet to be seen. ----------------------------------- Time was running short on their task given by the man who had invited them to their inner circle. Most still knew very little about the why's of what they were doing but for weeks, amidst the madness of potential moles and custody break outs and endless meetings and lab explosions and apartment raids, they did their due diligence and patrolled the city to compile whatever information they could find on the living shadow. And as the clock ticked towards midnight of their final day, High Command stood around the computer staring at the file they'd all worked tirelessly to fill out. "Do you think we'll ever make it a day without a shit show?" Chase asked. "Probably not," Jacqueline said tiredly with a quiet laugh before printing off the file they'd code named EZIO for the man's protection. "We wouldn't know what to do with ourselves if that was the case."

Love you guys. I can't wait to watch y'all progress!! ♥

No one prepares you for success. What it looks like, what it feels like, what comes next... "Welcome to the inner circle," he'd said. What did that even mean? They were given a task suited to their organizational strengths yet it was still somehow Mission Impossible. How does one chase a shadow? Where does one begin creating a file on the man who didn't exist? More demands were given with promises of reward were Salvation able to complete their tasks to the masked men's satisfaction. It was a vague whirlwind not unlike their brief encounter at Kortz Center. Despite being on their own home ground, the existence of two men in masks whose names were never to be spoken kept them on their toes and their attention forward where it belonged. And just as before, it was over before it even began. Jacqueline stood there as the men drove away, equally giddy and terrified as to where Salvation went from there. She'd been placed as High Command before she'd been even close to ready and had undergone trial by fire to earn the respect of not only those who knew far more than she but most of the other organizations in the city. From the Toll Booths to the Department of Corrections to the right hand of one of the city's first vigilante organizations, Jacqueline had clawed her way to understanding of how the criminal world in Los Santos functioned but this was entirely new territory. "Now what?" she asked those surrounding her as the rest of the organization was told to stand down from their positions and file into HQ. No one seemed to have an answer. After months of bleeding for an organization that so often felt like it was dying, it was almost surreal to be where they were in that moment. She felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth as the men and women of Salvation trickled in, chattering excitedly and speculating on who the men were. They'd not know everything yet. They'd not know everything for quite some time. Only Command held the full weight of the truth upon their shoulders as those dressed in white lined up and Chase began to speak. When he was finished, Jacqueline stepped forward. "I'd like all the Specialists to meet me at Vigilante HQ, please," her voice was steady despite her heart thumping violently against her ribcage. "We have a new target and we'll need to discuss procedures and protocol. This will take precedence over any and all operations in the foreseeable future." They'd been noticed and invited into some inner circle most of them knew nothing about. Now it was time to show those who had been watching them they claimed to be the best at what they did for a reason.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. She sat in the middle of the HQ office with legs crossed and residual tears running down her cheeks. The empty apartment that not two hours ago had held the sounds of raucous celebration to mask the sadness that came with goodbyes seemed haunted, somehow, and Jacqueline found herself repeating the same words in her head all members of High Command had uttered as four of their family decided to part ways. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. You were family the moment you were brought in; you will remain family regardless of what colors you wear. Salvation isn't going anywhere. We've come too far, we've fought too hard to give up now. If you need us... call us. We love you." Jacqueline's gaze lifted to the computer. It was the center of all that they were going to accomplish. It had required weeks of research to set up, to ensure that any idle prying eyes would not see what they were not meant to see. Logins, audit tracking, hidden folders, protocols and processes and names and photos and restricted access to lower ranks and cameras set up to keep their members in check... "I don't want to see any of you go. But this town is such a shithole, everyone deserves their chance at happiness. Go out and find it. We'll be your most vocal supporters every step of the way." Their keys had been taken before they left for the final time. Empty liquor bottles littered the living room floor. It was time to rebuild. She pulled herself off the office floor and walked over to the computer, logging in to the administrator profile and navigating to the system settings as she rapidly blinked tears out of her eyes. "Gretchen, you're going to be getting a phone call," T's voice rang out the next day over the radio. Seconds later, Jacqueline's phone came to life and she tapped on the screen to answer. "Hi Jackie, this is [REDACTED]. Trevor gave me your number. I'm a part of The Underground and I was hoping to talk to you about [REDACTED]. I know what you all stand for and I think we could work well together..." Her brow quirked. She'd heard of them, of course, given it had been started by one of their good friends, but on the heels of grieving for those that had chosen another path, it was somehow unexpected. "Of course," Jacqueline rolled up the windows of the Penumbra as she watched the woman they'd been called to the pier to protect stand by several of their boys. "Text me his name and we'll open a file on him to do some recon. I'm sure we can work together and come up with a plan to eliminate the problem." There was some small talk and civilities afterwards but she was hardly paying attention. Her gaze was locked on [REDACTED], a woman who had called them in a panic because of her stalker and who was surrounded by five of their best in case he came back. It was when the other end of the line said they wanted to be the one to finish him off that she snapped back to focus. A pause was their response before finally she uttered, "I don't see how that will be an issue. We'll be in touch, yes?" She hung up after they agreed and sank back into her seat. For a long while, she sat in the car and watched those who had decided to stay. They were the new foundation of Salvation. They were the men who had stuck by them through all the changes, all the lows, all the complications and differences and had took on the challenge she'd posed them the day everyone left with a smile. "We have an opportunity to rebuild. What Salvation is doing is something that has never been done before. We don't have our pathway paved like so many organizations in the city... we're doing it differently. We aren't trying to be the biggest, the baddest, the ones engaged in shoot outs every day. We are trying to protect the innocent. It hasn't always been easy. It won't get easier overnight with all that we have lost. But if you're willing... if you truly believe in what we are trying to do, you have the opportunity now to help us make Salvation better than it ever has been before. Are you up to it?" There was no hesitation in their responses. They joined Salvation because it was different and they were staying because it was different. And as she sat there in the light of the setting sun, watching them joke around and lighten the mood of a woman who had not only reached out to them for help but who would join their ranks the very next day, Jacqueline smiled for the first time since she'd been called to HQ for a devastating meeting. Salvation wasn't over by a longshot.

He had been taken to a secure location after being bound and blindfolded at the back of the pier with members of Salvation trickling in to see their newest target. A Mr. [REDACTED], spotted stealing cars and stabbing anyone who dared get in his way. “I gave him a nice, stern talking to,” Damien told her. “Wonderful,” Jacqueline smiled as she arrived to find Lykos, Trevor, Damien, Magnus, Hayden, and Donnie holding him at gunpoint. She bent down to inspect him, searching for any form of identification, before snapping photos of his face. “It’s my understanding my colleague has already spoken to you, Mr. [REDACTED],” she said quietly as she knelt before the helpless man. “I’ll leave you with his words but know this- if we are required to interfere with your actions again and you remain a menace, our next encounter will not be quite so pleasant.” “Or peaceful,” Lykos said with a set jaw. He was left where they had taken him with strict instructions to count to 140 as Salvation dipped out. It wasn’t entirely surprising when Trevor called out on the radio the very next day. “[REDACTED] shot me. He SHOT me,” he seethed. What happened next could only be described as a man hunt. Hours upon hours of every available member perusing the streets. Their allies and eyes within Los Santos called in his location every few minutes, only to be gone by the time they arrived. The sun had set when Esco called out. “I’ve got him. Behind the pier, where we took him the first time. He’s on his knees.” Everything moved quickly then. Before Jacqueline could even blink, all hands were on deck working to relocate [REDACTED] to a hidden location where they could continue to speak. This isn’t right, Jacqueline thought as the damp, musty air of their surroundings were outweighed only by the sight of an admitted drug addict who couldn’t find help, the men around her nearly cackling with glee. Words and phrases hung thickly in the air and she felt as though she couldn’t breathe through all she was hearing after their hostage admitted his plight- Water boarding, so many toys to play with here, save me a kneecap… “Gretchen, come here,” Chase called, his voice felt like nails on a chalkboard because she couldn’t bring herself to tear her gaze away. “No,” the response was curt. “You won’t like anything I have to say.” “I don’t care. Come here.” By the time she reached the top of the stairs, Jacqueline was shaking in quiet rage and she met his eyes. “What the fuck are you allowing to happen down there, Gojira? Those are YOUR men circling like rabid hyenas. This isn’t okay. He is broken, not evil, and there is a DIFFERENCE.” She turned and left before he even had a chance to respond. And as she called out on the radio she was going off frequency, she couldn’t help but feel as though this was the end of her time in Salvation. After all- she never wanted to hold any of them hostage to her own personal beliefs and opinions. They were free to do as they desired… just as she was free to walk away. “They’re really upset, baby,” Donnie had whispered to her on the phone after she’d stormed out of [REDACTED] and returned home. “I don’t care,” she had nearly spat back into the phone. “That wasn’t fucking justice. That was rabid animals taking pleasure at the idea of hurting someone. Is that what this is? We track down those who we don’t agree with and hurt them just for the sake of inflicting pain? He stole some cars and shot at Trevor. How does THAT deserve what I heard them planning on doing down in that place?” “Chase put a stop to it,” Donnie sighed. She could hear the sounds of the operation continuing on the other end of the line and Jacqueline rested her forehead on the window. “They’re doing it differently now.” “Please tell them to come to our apartment when they’re done,” she hung up without lifting her head, taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart. “I have only one question,” Jacqueline spoke flatly, blue eyes that were swollen with tears drifting to every man sitting before her. “When you think justice, is what started happening tonight what you think of? There is no wrong answer. I ask only for honesty. If it is, that is your right and I have no desire to stop it… nor do I have any desire to participate in it.” The tension was so thick it could have been cut with a knife but finally, Damien spoke. “It was frustrations boiling over. It wasn’t right. We all got caught up in the heat of the moment,” the others were nodding as he finished his sentence and she exhaled a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “I understand,” her own deflated tone was evident even to her own ears. “We’ve all gotten angry before, we’re all guilty of it. I am not opposed to violence when necessary, I am not opposed to teaching harsh lessons but there has to be a plan in place. If we lose ourselves to the heat of the moment...” Jacqueline trailed off, remembering how Messiah had looked bleeding on the floor that fateful night. It was such a simple thing, creating steps and defining serious crimes and nonserious crimes. Lists and plans and locations and actions to be taken by every member of Salvation regardless of the scenario and by the time all was said and done, they sat around the living room of the apartment hours later looking tired and worn but content. A ladder of escalation, a mark to be given to repeat offenders as a reminder they were being watched, and an agreement between all those gathered that night would never happen again. “Do you remember when the five of us were on the beach a few months ago and I said that moment would all feel like a distant memory?” Damien’s voice was tired and hard edged, the adrenaline from the night sounding eerily similar to her own. She nodded quietly as a shiver ran up her spine, a visceral reaction to how far they had come. “You were right.” It was. Long gone done were the days of less than a handful of Salvation present in the city of Los Santos. Now, they were over two dozen strong and doing more than they could have ever possibly dreamed. Cars were being retrieved, chopped money was being returned when they were too late, and people were coming to them for help every hour of every day. A moment where they nearly lost themselves to the shadows threatening to consume so many in Los Santos was left behind, the members of Salvation stepping forward once more to continue on … this time, with a better plan.

Five days. It was the longest Jacqueline had been out of the city in months, a vacation on the heels of three attempts on her life in as many hours. By the time those who had threatened her were taking their final breaths, all of Salvation and some loyal allies were standing on the side of the road with quickly beating hearts and guns drawn. Only one was arrested- a woman who all of Salvation owed their life to a few times over at this point. She went willingly... she demanded it... but as the sound of sirens disappeared in the distance with their friend in the back, Jacqueline found her gaze drifting over those gathered with a shaky breath. Everyone had a breaking point. It seemed for Jacqueline Drakk, this was it. Five deaths in a single day, all brutal and fights hard won. Her hands were shaking as the world around her turned black and the congratulatory cheers from her brothers and sisters fell on deaf ears as she began to walk. It didn't matter where she was going: all she knew was that she couldn't be here. The next night, she packed a bag and disappeared without a word for nearly a week. Thirty eight text messages. They pinged at her phone incessantly when she arrived back in town and Jacqueline fought the urge to throw her phone into the wall. Where are you? Do you have any product for us? Hey J, [REDACTED] wants to have a meeting. The same thing ad nauseum seemed to litter her inbox and she nearly stopped reading until three messages in particular caught her eye. Three different people, three friends, three requests for help with justice from Salvation. A brow quirked as she tapped out a quick response to the first and fifteen minutes later, the Penumbra was flying through Los Santos to meet an old friend. [NEW ENTRY] Name: [REDACTED] Last Seen: Unknown Vehicles: [REDACTED] BF400 with Unk LP Home: Eclipse Apts, Unk # The first new target was the easiest. After all- she knew him well. They already had a starting point and then some. The second and third, however, were not quite so simple. With her meeting finished, Jacqueline began to send out some messages to the people she trusted the most to keep her secrets. First order of business? Find a name. [NEW ENTRY] Name: [REDACTED], Badge # [REDACTED] Last Seen: Unknown Vehicles: Unknown Home: Unknown It wasn't much but it was enough. More messages were sent to confirm the name before action was taken as Jacqueline opened a third, equally sparse file. [NEW ENTRY] Name: [REDACTED], Badge # Unk Last Seen: Unknown Vehicles: Unknown Home: Unknown Simple notes stored on her phone in a password encrypted file transferred to her computer the next time she was home. It felt agonizingly slow, the pace at which Salvation moved, but as she crawled into bed that night with the memories of all they'd managed to do since they brought down Messiah she reminded herself it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Slow meant careful. Slow meant well thought out. Slow meant they continued to work in the shadows, with no soul suspecting a thing, and the continued success of their goals. If she could manage to keep herself from insanity, it would all be worth it.

This looks amazing, Brody!! I can't wait to see this in action!

Issue Being Reported: Bots are malfunctioning and I'd like to have the Donator role added to forums/Discord, pretty please. I also would like to update my forum name from whisperedaubrey to Jacqueline Drakk. My Discord account is rockaubster#6969. Thank you! Date and Time of Issue (provide timezone): July 9th, 2021 03:35 CST Your characters name: Jacqueline Drakk Other player(s) involved: NA Evidence and/or notes worth mentioning:

"Who I am doesn't matter." It was the start of a whirlwind conversation that left High Command with more questions than answers; it ended as abruptly as it had began. By the time the two masked men departed, Salvation had strict instructions, demands of secrecy, and a simple phrase that seemed dangerous despite its banal existence. Somewhere laced within all the confusion was the knowledge whomever was watching them, whomever has tasked them to defend something they knew nothing of, they saw something good in the organization the four had bled over to keep alive after Messiah's massacre. It was a dim light, a flicker of something that could just as easily go out, but it was there... and it was enough. It had felt for days now they had grown stagnant. They were questioning why... they were questioning how. Jacqueline wasn't the only one having doubts about her continued existence in Salvation, that much she knew, but there in the shadows of a towering building hope began to blossom in her core once more. Their work had just begun. "I don't care how you feel about any other organization," she spoke to the men surrounding her as the sun rose behind them in a blaze of light. "We all have disagreements, we all have our personal opinions of people and how they carry themselves. When you are with Salvation, you are to behave accordingly. We hear everything- our eyes in the city are everywhere. We are all being watched. Everything you do. Everything you say. Every choice you make reflects upon the organization as a whole and you are to conduct yourself as such. I do not ever want to hear any instance of your being disrespectful, rude, or antagonistic towards another group in public. Say what you must in private to keep your anger from boiling over but the trash talk ended the moment you donned the colors. We are not them. Understood?" Quiet, sincere nods were her response as a light smile tugged at the corners of her mouth before she continued. "We are going to start expecting far more from all of you. Messiah nearly shattered Salvation when he took the lives of one of our own but we are still here. We are still standing and we are still more dedicated than ever to the cause. When you are not working, when you are not training... I want you all to begin pairing up in groups of twos and threes. Patrol the city. The pier, the observatory, wherever you know citizens tend to gather... and I want you to watch. You are to remain in the shadows, you are to keep the spotlight off yourself. You'd be surprised at what people will say in public and knowledge is power. If you hear or see of something we can assist with... then do so. We brought you all in because we saw something in you and until you show us a reason not to, we trust in your judgment. Not all corruption requires weeks of recon and trailing. There are abhorrent acts in the city occurring hourly and it is our job to find them and to put an end to it." That seemed to get their attention as whispers of excitement began to filter through the group, heads bobbing more frantically and eyes shining brightly in the morning light's reflection. Command and High Command knew the task before them was daunting- their numbers had increased at staggering rates. For now, as Chase took over the meeting and Jacqueline stepped back to flicker her gaze over those gathered, she couldn't help but wonder how many of them would pass the tests in the coming weeks. "Do you know the man in red?" [REDACTED]'s voice whispered in her ear as she arrived at the pier to find chaos. Jacqueline shook her head, casting him a look of confusion as [REDACTED] continued. "He stabbed [REDACTED] and I earlier. Those boys in white- they yours?" She nodded at him, looking at some of their newest members across the way in curiosity before gaze flickered back to the man in red. "They helped me out earlier when he attacked me." Jacqueline could feel a smile flirting with the corners of her mouth at his words and she beckoned the men over. They didn't know it but they had unwittingly assisted one of her dearest friends in the city doing exactly what she'd asked them to do in their last meetings. "Cryptix... Crowdie... Goose... Maverick... I want you to meet my friend [REDACTED]. He is one of the people I hold most dear in this city and he is under our protection. If he ever needs help, he knows to come to us. Thank you for stepping in before you were made aware of this," Jacqueline's nose wrinkled in amusement. "Please take off your masks so we can properly introduce one another." After names were given, [REDACTED] nodded. "Jackie is one of the few people in this town I trust with my life. I would take a bullet for her... the offer goes both ways, gentlemen. If there is anything you need of me, do not hesitate to ask." "I'd like you all to meet someone," Jacqueline had given the address of their new temporary HQ to every member in the city, requesting they arrive sooner rather than later and as they all stood atop the roof a woman with vibrant red hair stood at her left. "I have known her for quite some time now and she has been an invaluable seed for months. She has fed us information, she has taken care of our people, and she has expressed interest in helping us more. Her identity must be kept secret... you may call her Cypher," she looked fondly over at her friend. "If you see her out and about, or at her place of work, you are not to acknowledge her by this name or even at all. If you know of her already and have met, then you understand why it is of the utmost importance it never becomes public knowledge she has claimed loyalty to Salvation." She didn't know then that less than 24 hours later, that same woman would lose her job and arrive at their HQ an official member with gifts. All she knew in that moment was Urban's identity was to be buried deeply when she was around them and as her men and women nodded in understanding, Jacqueline's gaze drifted over the city skyline. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she inhaled sharply. It was just another text looking for another connection within the city. It wasn't the mysterious man nor the mysterious phrase... Jacqueline wondered when that time came, if they would be prepared. She felt Urban's hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly, and she forced a smile onto her lips before tucking her phone back into her pocket. Her arms wrapped around the woman in a hug as Trevor arrived and began to catch up the troops to all that had transpired that day and she leaned in to whisper in her ear. "I'm really glad you're here."

We're all a little broken, it's how the light gets in. NEW ENTRY Name: [REDACTED] Last seen: At the [REDACTED] by [REDACTED] Vehicle Information: Red [REDACTED] with LP unknown Course of action: Text members on sight, first to receive text calls out exact location on the radio. Member with [REDACTED] shall not under any circumstances call out on the air. ALL members in the city make immediate location- proceed with caution. [REDACTED] is highly unstable and has kidnapped two of our own. May do so again. Status: Irredeemable NEW ENTRY Name: [REDACTED] Last seen: At the [REDACTED] by [REDACTED] Vehicle Information: Silver [REDACTED] with LP [REDACTED] Course of action: Recon stage. Follow if safe to do so. We are aiming to find who [REDACTED] spends his time with, when he is in the city, where he lives. No information is too small. If spotted, call on the radio. NO DIRECT INTERACTION WITH [REDACTED] SHOULD OCCUR AT THIS POINT IN TIME. Status: To be determined ----------------------------------------------- Jacqueline's fingers hovered over the keys of her laptop as she finished typing in the secured file, chewing thoughtfully on her bottom lip. So much had changed since Messiah had shattered the organization into sharp fragments and so much more had been rebuilt. It was still reforming- bits and pieces of what they had once been were being fit into a new picture, a new goal, a new family and the edges were slowly closing together. Soon, they'd have nothing but gaps to fill in and the framework would be complete. She closed the laptop with a quiet click as her legs crossed in the chair and her eyes closed, the sounds of the canal drifting through the open window and washing through her. It felt like it had been weeks since she'd had a moment to herself, with no radio chatter or phone calls demanding her immediate attention. Thoughts drifted to the last few days- of Billy Bluewater and his kidnapping her, of arguments in training as everyone was taught all that Salvation knew, of silly dance parties in the car lot and of monitoring store robberies or picking at farms before they finally settled on one particular meeting in the rain after she'd been set free from Billy's car. "With your permission, Jackie, I'll see to it that myself and Donnie ensure Billy never sees another day. We'll skin him alive for what he's done to you and Charlie." She had been surrounded by family. Men who had dropped everything to rescue her, to chase a sociopath through the streets even as he held a gun to her head and demanded he merely wanted to talk. Jacqueline knew every one of them wanted to tear him apart for what he'd done and she couldn't blame them. Had she known what she knew now, that Billy had lied to her blatantly about what had brought him to this point, perhaps her answer would have been different. "I can't give you that, Chase, but I won't stop you all from doing what you feel needs done. All I ask is you keep in mind before you act that we promised this man a family and took it from him. We abandoned him. Regardless of his actions, imagine what that must feel like- having your family taken away from you when you've never had one before and thought you'd finally found home." Jacqueline could see the boys bristle. She thought for certain her request would be denied until Echo spoke up. "Salvation used to offer a last chance. A judgment, if you will. An interview... only then, once they've showed they cannot be saved, do we act." "How many chances do we give him? He's kidnapped two of us. He kidnapped Jackie." Donnie's voice was hard and cold as he held onto her, as if afraid she'd disappear again the moment he wasn't touching her. Talisman piped up then, his gaze darkened. "If we just go in guns blazing, what sets us apart from any other organization? We're supposed to be different." She could hear the silence that followed even then in her bedroom, deafening in its roar as anger was swallowed and heads began to nod. "We give him one more chance," Chase said curtly. "That's what will set us apart." Mother Nature was as relieved as Jacqueline then, a booming thunderclap in the sky above drowning out her sigh of relief. ----------------------------------------------- She awoke an hour later, still curled in the chair with the sounds of the canal reminding her she was no longer standing in the rain surrounded by family but in her bedroom, safe, with a man who loved her more than he loved himself slumbering peacefully a few feet away. So much had changed since Messiah shattered Salvation into sharp fragments but no matter how much blood had been shed one thing had not. Salvation, what it was and what it was going to be, was a family. It was different.

There is a moral gray line one walks when taking justice into their own hands. It is slippery and blurred, ever edging from one extreme to the next until it becomes nearly impossible to find. Salvation was built on family. On justice where it felt like there was none. They trusted their lives to one another and they walked that line daily, working together to veer back towards the light when one of their own seemed to be traveling into the shadows but that fateful night… they were too late. No one ever expects family to be the one holding the gun pointed directly at you and Salvation was no different. No one could have ever expected to hear Charlie call over the radio with her words strangled in sobs. “... killed them. He killed them. They’re all dead…” High Command was at a meeting when the distress call came out. Old wounds with LNF were being repaired and new bridges were tentatively being built. They weren’t expecting to be followed by the organization that owed them nothing as they cut everything short but as wheels began to scream on asphalt and time began to loop itself into infinity, LNF came with them. “Where are you, Ladybird? Take a deep breath. We need you to tell us where you are. Who killed who?” The response was no more coherent than the beacon of help. “.... Messiah.... Dallas is dead… Grizz… killed himself… I’m at HQ.” Pedals were pressed down- no matter how fast they could coax their cars into moving, it didn’t seem fast enough. Their newest members were rushing to the area, High Command was en route with LNF right behind. Charlie’s sobs through the radio accompanied them the entire way as they tried to understand what was happening. By the time backup arrived, the radio was silent and the HQ door was unlocked. “Ladybird? Ladybird are you safe?” Endless quiet was their only response and as people began to filter in a final call was made on the radio. “Get in here. Now.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three bodies littered the floor. A member of command, an old leader, and their Messiah- a man brought down by those he had once called family because of his deeds. As the sun set on what Salvation once was, to those who were shaking with grief and cheeks stained with tears as they looked around at one another and those who had come to aid them, it became painfully clear the past of Salvation was buried. What they were is not what they would continue to be. There is a moral gray line one walks when taking justice into their own hands. For Messiah, the seduction of shadows ended two lives. For those still standing, determined to rise from the ashes of tragedy, that blurry line became more clear. Salvation wasn’t over with the death of their Messiah. It was only just beginning.