Agent Texas (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
failureisntachoice) wrote2015-09-11 12:57 pm
failureisntachoice) wrote2015-09-11 12:57 pm
Yeah, I'm still here. You're not the only one it's screwing with. What's happening to you?
[The first thing Alpha had done, upon realizing he was online somewhere other than the Mother of Invention, was figure out where the hell he was. And that was... well, it was simple enough. Even though it didn't make sense. Florida. In some city that wasn't matching up with historical records even when the state still existed.
The second thing he did, was search through the main network for any names he recognized. So far, there were three. Leonard Church was-- well, it was the first one he looked into. And it was jarring, hearing the voice he'd settled on back when he was first allowed to run. But it wasn't the Director, that much was for goddamn sure.
So, he turned to the other two names. Agent Texas and Agent Washington. Out of the two of them, only one really made sense, as far as contact went. After all, one of the first things the Director had made clear to him was that he was to have limited (which really meant no) contact with the Freelancers. At least until it was decided who he would implant in.
Which is why, just minutes after the life of every imPort went to hell, (and after a full minute or so of frantically wondering just how the hell you actually start a conversation with someone you're not actually supposed to be talking to-- not that that's stopped him before, but. You know. There's some basic programming he's going around, right now) he's sending a text through to her comm.]
Agent Texas?
The second thing he did, was search through the main network for any names he recognized. So far, there were three. Leonard Church was-- well, it was the first one he looked into. And it was jarring, hearing the voice he'd settled on back when he was first allowed to run. But it wasn't the Director, that much was for goddamn sure.
So, he turned to the other two names. Agent Texas and Agent Washington. Out of the two of them, only one really made sense, as far as contact went. After all, one of the first things the Director had made clear to him was that he was to have limited (which really meant no) contact with the Freelancers. At least until it was decided who he would implant in.
Which is why, just minutes after the life of every imPort went to hell, (and after a full minute or so of frantically wondering just how the hell you actually start a conversation with someone you're not actually supposed to be talking to-- not that that's stopped him before, but. You know. There's some basic programming he's going around, right now) he's sending a text through to her comm.]
Agent Texas?
[ There he is. She's been running into change after change all day and after she heard from Epsilon not too long ago, she's making her way back to the house. Epsilon hadn't heard from Alpha, but Wash and Tucker sounded disoriented yet fine from the AI's accounts. They'd manage fine without her.
It's Alpha, Church, that she's concerned about and thank fucking god he's texting her. Even if that's a weird as hell greeting for him to use. ]
Church? Are you okay? Epsilon messaged me a bit ago, sounds like things have been going to shit for more people than I thought.
It's Alpha, Church, that she's concerned about and thank fucking god he's texting her. Even if that's a weird as hell greeting for him to use. ]
Church? Are you okay? Epsilon messaged me a bit ago, sounds like things have been going to shit for more people than I thought.
[ It's late that night, with Miles having been put to bed a couple hours ago. Put to bed being the key phrase there; sleeping is certainly not what he's doing. There's a faint buzz along the link to show that he's still solidly awake, turning things over in his head ...
Until he finally knocks on her side of the link, a little shyly. ]
Until he finally knocks on her side of the link, a little shyly. ]
[ Lucky for him she's still awake, though she has gotten herself ready for bed. It's less for necessity and more what the hell else is she going to do in the late hours except shut off for some of them.
It's as she's reaching for a book that she feels the knock and lets out a small sigh. She's unsurprised it's him as she opens the link up enough for communication. She could feel he was still awake, full of too much energy at this late an hour.
What are you doing still up? ]
It's as she's reaching for a book that she feels the knock and lets out a small sigh. She's unsurprised it's him as she opens the link up enough for communication. She could feel he was still awake, full of too much energy at this late an hour.
What are you doing still up? ]
[ At some point after the false porter has been fixed but before he starts prepping surgery plans in earnest ... Miles goes through his links to discover that he has one new one. One he dimly remembers making as a child, paired with a pleased sense of rightness from his younger self at having had an armswoman at his back. Carefully, almost shyly, he reaches out along it to knock at his side of the link: ]
Tex? ... Allison?
Tex? ... Allison?
[ She's not surprised at which link the knocking is coming from, Miles has been the only one inclined to take advantage of the instantaneous connection. Something she's been more than fine with. This time it feels... different and with Gregor already aged up, she has to wonder if it's finally happened for him too.
Well, she's made this decision for better or worse. She allows their link to open just enough to make communication easy. ]
Yeah? Everything back to normal on your end?
Well, she's made this decision for better or worse. She allows their link to open just enough to make communication easy. ]
Yeah? Everything back to normal on your end?
[The shift to official Armswoman of the Vorkosigan House happened without much fanfare. Nothing had been said between Tex and Aral, merely a simple nod passed between them the next time they had met after everyone had returned to 'normal.'
As such, this first night, as Miles is sleeping off the aftereffects of the anesthesia, Aral sends a polite knock across the link, rather than bother with that damned keyboard.
Your watch, Allison.]
As such, this first night, as Miles is sleeping off the aftereffects of the anesthesia, Aral sends a polite knock across the link, rather than bother with that damned keyboard.
Your watch, Allison.]
[ The transition had happened seamlessly and her new paycheck had reaffirmed her decision even if it meant being on call more. At least surface-wise. That strange feeling that she finally had a real place she belonged to, one she had been missing for a while in her life now, was bundled neatly somewhere she wasn't touching. Not right now. There were other priorities.
Such as making sure Miles didn't get himself killed by the damn devil he pissed off while he recovered from his long-overdue surgery. The knock doesn't surprise her and she's not far as she switches direction to head back towards them.
I'm on my way. How's he doing? ]
Such as making sure Miles didn't get himself killed by the damn devil he pissed off while he recovered from his long-overdue surgery. The knock doesn't surprise her and she's not far as she switches direction to head back towards them.
I'm on my way. How's he doing? ]
[ boop be boop someone is attempting to hack into Tex's computer, which just so conveniently means hacking into Tex
Cadel has not realized this yet. He would be approaching much more cautiously if he did. But he's had a long, exhausting few days of pouring over all the material he can find, brushing up on U.S. tax law, and fretting himself to pieces. He had, eventually, stolen a computer of his own. It's an awful, wretched, clunky thing, and Cadel is afraid his powers are going to start doing things without him meaning for them to, but he has to start somewhere.
'Starting somewhere' means hacking into all the imPort files he can. He needs to assemble a database. He's been at this for hours and has lost his edge of awareness by the time he gets to Tex. He's used to being interrupted to be forced to go to classes, or to sleep, or eat or to keep his appointments with Thaddeus. Normal child things. But Cadel has foregone classes and work entirely and has done nothing but holed himself up in his room eating granola bars and crisps and diving into cyberspace.
To be fair, it's a very good hacking attempt, even tired as he is. It's subtle, nuanced, unintrusive. It's just doomed to fail. ]
Cadel has not realized this yet. He would be approaching much more cautiously if he did. But he's had a long, exhausting few days of pouring over all the material he can find, brushing up on U.S. tax law, and fretting himself to pieces. He had, eventually, stolen a computer of his own. It's an awful, wretched, clunky thing, and Cadel is afraid his powers are going to start doing things without him meaning for them to, but he has to start somewhere.
'Starting somewhere' means hacking into all the imPort files he can. He needs to assemble a database. He's been at this for hours and has lost his edge of awareness by the time he gets to Tex. He's used to being interrupted to be forced to go to classes, or to sleep, or eat or to keep his appointments with Thaddeus. Normal child things. But Cadel has foregone classes and work entirely and has done nothing but holed himself up in his room eating granola bars and crisps and diving into cyberspace.
To be fair, it's a very good hacking attempt, even tired as he is. It's subtle, nuanced, unintrusive. It's just doomed to fail. ]
[ It's not every day that Tex has a hacking attempt. She's connected to the network due to the ease of life it creates and it's never been an issue. Until now.
It takes her a few moments to realize what the probing sensation within her code is. It's not any of her links, no they were always far more obvious about their intrusions and this one was trying to be subtle. Trying being the key word.
Cadel won't get too far before he's locked out. If there's one thing she's learned how to do, it's keep invaders from coming into her territory. Tracing the signal of the attack however would be more difficult though she manages to send a message to the offender. ]
What the hell do you think you're doing?
It takes her a few moments to realize what the probing sensation within her code is. It's not any of her links, no they were always far more obvious about their intrusions and this one was trying to be subtle. Trying being the key word.
Cadel won't get too far before he's locked out. If there's one thing she's learned how to do, it's keep invaders from coming into her territory. Tracing the signal of the attack however would be more difficult though she manages to send a message to the offender. ]
What the hell do you think you're doing?
[There were a number of things that Aral Vorkosigan would expect from armsmen. Sometimes a bit of drinking leads to a missed shift and the scrambling of fellows to cover the rearrangement from the eyes of the Count and Lord. Sometimes, it's as simple as sleeping in.
However, Tex missing a paying shift was actually alarming. A simple glance over the link hadn't gathered any signs of danger or those heady surges of adrenaline he'd come to associate with an Issue In Progress... in fact, he hadn't found much of anything at all.
It was just a little after noon that he quietly, and without any fanfare made his own search.. and after a few dead ends, checked a little bar she'd mentioned in a recommendation some idle conversation back.
There's no greeting, no questioning, he simply sat next to her, and put in his own order, scotch on the rocks, damn the time.]
However, Tex missing a paying shift was actually alarming. A simple glance over the link hadn't gathered any signs of danger or those heady surges of adrenaline he'd come to associate with an Issue In Progress... in fact, he hadn't found much of anything at all.
It was just a little after noon that he quietly, and without any fanfare made his own search.. and after a few dead ends, checked a little bar she'd mentioned in a recommendation some idle conversation back.
There's no greeting, no questioning, he simply sat next to her, and put in his own order, scotch on the rocks, damn the time.]
[ No, she doesn't come in for her shift. It had been as simple as coming back one day and finding Church... gone. Not from some fit of rage or pulling some stupid prank. His comm was no longer functioning if her repeated requests to get through meant anything.
She waited. In some vain hope he would return as if nothing happened, but the sinking pit in her stomach grew deeper as time dragged on. There's nothing for him back home, nothing for either of them. Here he had more time, the luxury of having a life he only imagined before, and she's not sure if that brief spell he was here with her was better than the nothing he had before.
There had been nothing to lose until they came here.
So she doesn't show up for her shift. Instead she holes up in a quiet bar, as most often are this time of day, and buys herself beer to sip as she tries to forget her thoughts. If only she could actually get drunk instead of pretending. It would make this a helluva lot easier to do.
She notices him first thing when he walks in, her posture stiffening immediately. She should have given them some kind of warning she wouldn't be coming in, but that thought hadn't even registered. There's a moment of silence as she waits for him to speak, expecting some remark about her absence this morning. Instead all he does is order.
It's another moment of silence before she breaks it herself, grumbling, ] Yes?
She waited. In some vain hope he would return as if nothing happened, but the sinking pit in her stomach grew deeper as time dragged on. There's nothing for him back home, nothing for either of them. Here he had more time, the luxury of having a life he only imagined before, and she's not sure if that brief spell he was here with her was better than the nothing he had before.
There had been nothing to lose until they came here.
So she doesn't show up for her shift. Instead she holes up in a quiet bar, as most often are this time of day, and buys herself beer to sip as she tries to forget her thoughts. If only she could actually get drunk instead of pretending. It would make this a helluva lot easier to do.
She notices him first thing when he walks in, her posture stiffening immediately. She should have given them some kind of warning she wouldn't be coming in, but that thought hadn't even registered. There's a moment of silence as she waits for him to speak, expecting some remark about her absence this morning. Instead all he does is order.
It's another moment of silence before she breaks it herself, grumbling, ] Yes?
Good for you. There a point to this call or did you just want to rile me up?
[It's been a couple weeks since he said he'd deliver. Sometimes shit happens, guys get busy seeing their best friend leave suddenly. The usual blue team antics.]
Hey, you said you wanted to see this.
[He sends over a video file, a little rough being transferred from his suit storage to the comm but serviceable enough.]
Hey, you said you wanted to see this.
[He sends over a video file, a little rough being transferred from his suit storage to the comm but serviceable enough.]
[ Give her a few minutes, she might be watching that a couple of times. Because it's not every day you get to see someone owned that thoroughly.
When she sends back a reply, it starts off with a low, appreciative whistle. ]
How long after your time in the canyon was this?
When she sends back a reply, it starts off with a low, appreciative whistle. ]
How long after your time in the canyon was this?
ssssoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hey question
remember like a million years ago we were talking about people liking each other hypothetically
[ if this has been a worry on Maya's mind recently, she hasn't shown it during training. Mostly because it's not really life or death or... sad. Honestly. ]
remember like a million years ago we were talking about people liking each other hypothetically
[ if this has been a worry on Maya's mind recently, she hasn't shown it during training. Mostly because it's not really life or death or... sad. Honestly. ]
Yeah I remember vaguely talking about it.
Why?
Why?
Yeah, of course. Do you need me to come over now?
What happened?
What happened?
Agent Tex? This is Miles Edgeworth. I'd like to request your services, if you have time to spare.
Maya's friend, right? I'm guessing you mean the training or are you looking for a bodyguard?
Yeah, I heard. You wanted a bodyguard for certain events?
[ Just rolling in here out of the blue. Don't mind him. ]
So, think I'm ready to have that conversation with you. If you still wanna hear it.
So, think I'm ready to have that conversation with you. If you still wanna hear it.
[ Ah, there's that voice again. She had almost been worried he wouldn't contact her. ]
I've been wondering where you were. Spill.
I've been wondering where you were. Spill.
[It was always traditional to provide housing to armsmen (women, in this case) separate but adjacent to the main house. Having some private space in the general storm of being in the service of a Vorkosigan was something of a necessity, rather than a perk.
The quarters were large, with more than one room, kitchen, storage, almost a mini house itself. And certainly Tex's sole domain, which is why Aral, wrapped packages in hand and Cordelia at his side, sure as hell knocked and waited.]
The quarters were large, with more than one room, kitchen, storage, almost a mini house itself. And certainly Tex's sole domain, which is why Aral, wrapped packages in hand and Cordelia at his side, sure as hell knocked and waited.]
[ She didn't need much space. The place provided had been more than enough to convince her to give up any stake she had in the government housing. A fact that made her glad since she decided to opt for deregistering.
One of her rifles is dismantled on her small dining table for cleaning when she hears the knock and she abandons her task to open the door. At the sight of Aral and Cordelia, her expression brightens subtly and she steps aside to let them in. ]
I was wondering when you two would stop by.
One of her rifles is dismantled on her small dining table for cleaning when she hears the knock and she abandons her task to open the door. At the sight of Aral and Cordelia, her expression brightens subtly and she steps aside to let them in. ]
I was wondering when you two would stop by.
[The nicest part about having the small guard house on property is that Aral doesn't have to deal with texting. Knocking is way, way more his speed.]
[ A visit from Aral while not unwelcome is entirely unexpected. And he's alone. She steps aside to let him in. ]
Hey. Didn't think you'd be coming over today.
Hey. Didn't think you'd be coming over today.
Hi, hello! Space La-- [It's been a while, does Tex even recall that nickname?] Um, Miss Texas, hi! It's Ripley. You remember Ripley, right?
Yeah, I remember. Blue team kid? You made them that sign for their base. [ One that had to be around here somewhere still... ] How are you holding up?
[Tex will receive an envelope with a gift card to a guns and ammo shop and a note]
A Blessed Midwinter to you, and luck in this new year
A Blessed Midwinter to you, and luck in this new year
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