[ An automated voice speaks because someone hasn't bothered to set up a proper voicemail. The only part in her voice is her name. ] You have reached Agent Texas. Leave a message at the tone.
[Hey, that was a fight in another life. As far as he's concerned, this is Beta. This is a collection of bittersweet memories that ate away at his head. A collection of a consciousness he had let form on their own.
As far as Alpha's concerned, the two of them have an unbreakable, intimate connection. Because that's just. How they were created.]
I was imagining more punching bags and targets. [But...] Okay, not common occupation. Actually serious.
... and it's just you and Agent Washington here? [Not that he doesn't trust Washington to be able to handle it, but.......]
[ She shakes her head. 'Punching bags and targets' describes things better before the Soviets took that extra step, but things have tensely returned to it. Well. Somewhat now that everyone's changed. ]
Out of the Freelancers? Yeah, and Epsilon who's another AI from the Project. [ She makes her way to the kitchen for lack of a better destination. ]
Not that it matters. They don't have an alien invasion going on.
[They must be a level below, if the Director managed to get more. Maybe on F.I.L.S.S.'s level, meant to handle one function rather than the versatility Alpha had.
Yeah. Yeah, that makes the idea a little easier to swallow.]
What, the armor in that room? [He crosses his arms, confused by what Tex is proposing.] Why would I? I function better in here. [A pause, before he gestures to Tex's helmet.] Well, in there. But the suit's second best.
Besides, this way I can jump to Washington, if he needs it. And I wouldn't just be leaving armor behind.
[ Emphasis on the 'we' so he doesn't think they were replacements for him. It's an easier lie than the truth.
She eyes the hologram, knowing exactly what he means with that gesture. Maybe sometime she'll let him install there temporarily, but right now she's not chancing it. ]
Function better in here for what? I'm not about to go into combat and neither is Wash.
[There's a moment of silence as Alpha stares at Tex, runs through their conversation up until now, puts it against things he found on the Network on his initial search.]
That future thing's actually true. [It's said quietly, almost... sadly.
A sigh escapes him, a human habit he picked up from the Director.] Shit really hits the fan, huh?
[He shrugs at her response, though. For him, the answer is obvious.]
I'm a combat AI, armor upkeep is just part of what I do, Tex. [A bit of humor returns to his voice.] Besides, it's you and Washington. Sooner or later you're going to search out a fight or he's going to fall into one.
Yeah it does. But at least we win the war in the end.
[ That much should bring him some solace, right? Because it hurts hearing his voice like that, knowing exactly what the 'future' holds for him if he really is from that far back.
She wishes she had never read those goddamn files CT had given her. They don't do her any good here except add another burden. But for him, she can pretend. She's done it before, for years, and she can do it again for however long this bullshit lasts. ]
I can handle my armor by myself, thanks. [ There's a small pause then, ] But I don't mind having a passenger every once in a while. But don't be afraid to use your own body, you're allowed to go places on your own here.
[It's less out of worry for the future and more... for the fact that they apparently need more AIs in order to deal with whatever the future has in store. Whatever it is that disbands the Freelancers.
They're-- shit, they're like his family. The first thing he was told was that he was made to protect them. To help them. He's gotten to know them through records, through data and files and training videos. They're... his.
Knowing that somehow he's not enough to help them, to protect them-- it hurts.
Hurts enough that he has to drop the topic all together. At least until he can take the time to approach it on his own. To pick it apart and figure out what more he can do.]
I know you can, it's just-- [He hesitates, still not quite having dragged himself out of the logic loop he'd sunk into.] I'd rather be here. Helping.
Oh. Uh-- [Shit, he hadn't thought of that. His entire existence has been nothing but guiding the ship and getting ready to help in combat. He never actually considered the possibility he'd ever be functioning outside of a war environment.] I don't... know.
[In the time since he came online, this is the first time he's been rendered speechless.]
What do you... do here? If it's not-- you know. Combat.
[ Okay that wasn't the reaction she was expecting. Great. ]
Work. I have a job with a security company that's started up by some others that were dragged here like us. Other than that... [ God, has her life really gotten this boring? Anything beats what's waiting for her back home.
[Look, he just wasn't prepared for that question! He's been preparing for something all this time and now... he's being asked to do something else. It's perfectly natural to freeze up!!]
Security? [He perks up. This he can work with.] Let me help with that, then. I can probably get your invisibility working twice as long, not to mention helping back up armor functions while you focus on the hitting.
[And... he's completely ignoring the fact that she said no combat. He's just really excited okay!!]
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failureisntachoice) wrote2015-09-11 12:57 pm
no subject
[Hey, that was a fight in another life. As far as he's concerned, this is Beta. This is a collection of bittersweet memories that ate away at his head. A collection of a consciousness he had let form on their own.
As far as Alpha's concerned, the two of them have an unbreakable, intimate connection. Because that's just. How they were created.]
I was imagining more punching bags and targets. [But...] Okay, not common occupation. Actually serious.
... and it's just you and Agent Washington here? [Not that he doesn't trust Washington to be able to handle it, but.......]
no subject
Out of the Freelancers? Yeah, and Epsilon who's another AI from the Project. [ She makes her way to the kitchen for lack of a better destination. ]
Not that it matters. They don't have an alien invasion going on.
no subject
[Does he sound like he's pouting? Because he's definitely pouting.]
Freelancer wouldn't need other AI if I was just allowed to work.
[But that's a conversation for another time. Because he has to sigh at the mention of the war.]
Yeah, I guess everything ranks beneath alien invasion.
no subject
[ And that's all he needs to know about the other AI fragments. ]
You do plenty of work without needing to hitchhike. Why won't you use your own body again?
no subject
I was joking!! Why are there more?
[They must be a level below, if the Director managed to get more. Maybe on F.I.L.S.S.'s level, meant to handle one function rather than the versatility Alpha had.
Yeah. Yeah, that makes the idea a little easier to swallow.]
What, the armor in that room? [He crosses his arms, confused by what Tex is proposing.] Why would I? I function better in here. [A pause, before he gestures to Tex's helmet.] Well, in there. But the suit's second best.
Besides, this way I can jump to Washington, if he needs it. And I wouldn't just be leaving armor behind.
no subject
[ Emphasis on the 'we' so he doesn't think they were replacements for him. It's an easier lie than the truth.
She eyes the hologram, knowing exactly what he means with that gesture. Maybe sometime she'll let him install there temporarily, but right now she's not chancing it. ]
Function better in here for what? I'm not about to go into combat and neither is Wash.
no subject
That future thing's actually true. [It's said quietly, almost... sadly.
A sigh escapes him, a human habit he picked up from the Director.] Shit really hits the fan, huh?
[He shrugs at her response, though. For him, the answer is obvious.]
I'm a combat AI, armor upkeep is just part of what I do, Tex. [A bit of humor returns to his voice.] Besides, it's you and Washington. Sooner or later you're going to search out a fight or he's going to fall into one.
no subject
[ That much should bring him some solace, right? Because it hurts hearing his voice like that, knowing exactly what the 'future' holds for him if he really is from that far back.
She wishes she had never read those goddamn files CT had given her. They don't do her any good here except add another burden. But for him, she can pretend. She's done it before, for years, and she can do it again for however long this bullshit lasts. ]
I can handle my armor by myself, thanks. [ There's a small pause then, ] But I don't mind having a passenger every once in a while. But don't be afraid to use your own body, you're allowed to go places on your own here.
no subject
They're-- shit, they're like his family. The first thing he was told was that he was made to protect them. To help them. He's gotten to know them through records, through data and files and training videos. They're... his.
Knowing that somehow he's not enough to help them, to protect them-- it hurts.
Hurts enough that he has to drop the topic all together. At least until he can take the time to approach it on his own. To pick it apart and figure out what more he can do.]
I know you can, it's just-- [He hesitates, still not quite having dragged himself out of the logic loop he'd sunk into.] I'd rather be here. Helping.
I can't do that shoved in [a box] separate armor.
no subject
[ Which would mean an installation of a very different kind if he wanted to tag along outside of a storage unit. ]
no subject
[In the time since he came online, this is the first time he's been rendered speechless.]
What do you... do here? If it's not-- you know. Combat.
no subject
Work. I have a job with a security company that's started up by some others that were dragged here like us. Other than that... [ God, has her life really gotten this boring? Anything beats what's waiting for her back home.
She shrugs. ] I've been going day-by-day.
no subject
Security? [He perks up. This he can work with.] Let me help with that, then. I can probably get your invisibility working twice as long, not to mention helping back up armor functions while you focus on the hitting.
[And... he's completely ignoring the fact that she said no combat. He's just really excited okay!!]
no subject
[ But if he really wants to test her armor... Why the hell couldn't he want to do this normally? ]
You could grab Wash for a fight, if you really want to test things out.