[ 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.
[ She manages to keep herself from rolling her eyes. 'Tex' isn't far of a leap if she's going to going by codenames anyway. ]
It works better than Beta. [ And less conspicuous. She eyes his hologram as it moves. ]
What corrupted files are those? And if you mean the color of the armor, it doesn't have much purpose besides decoration. The porter is the piece of junk that brought us here.
[There's a mixed moment when Tex says her AI designation. A second where he would be grinning, if he had a mouth to do so. But at the same time, there's a hint of unease. Since he's... not sure if she should really know that. He never was told the full scope of what the Director laid out for her.]
Right. Yeah. Sure. Better than Beta. [At least he still sounds amused.]
And I dunno. Files. Shit about a Florida that doesn't exist. Cities that don't match up. People who aren't in the Freelancer Program. [He's facing Tex fully now, tilting his head to the side as he regards her body again.] What the hell is going on? I mean really going on.
[ He really doesn't know shit about what's going on. Well, he's about to get a crash course. ]
First of all, Florida exists. We're not in Project Freelancer. That stupid porter people talk about? Is some damn magical technology that drags people from everywhere here and they want us to help with their crappy war.
[ There's a pause because she knows how ridiculous this all sounds. Her next statement doesn't make it any less so, but it's important dammit, ]
Magical technology? [He snorts, complete disbelief in his voice.] Sure. And I'm actually a genie from a lamp.
[Look, he may be bound by the Director's orders, and he may just be a super high tech calculator of sorts, but like hell will he ever give up his sense of humor.]
Wait wait wait wait wait. They don't have colonies? That-- hold on. [He holds up a hand, skimming the network, jumping from there into the internet, running a quick search on this place, on the local history and technological accomplishments and--]
[ She rolls her eyes at his scoffing. Whatever, she's not here to make him believe the bullshit they've been forced to since arriving. He'll figure that out soon enough.
Instead she focuses on his reaction to that last bit of news. Good to know they still share that opinion. It had been her first damn thought when she showed up here. ]
Yeah. You should see their military tech. Somehow they can build transporters and hover cars, but that's where their advancements stop.
[If a hologram can perk up, Alpha just did. Maybe his light seems a little more intense, or maybe it's just the way he's standing with his hands on his hips. Either way, he suddenly looks a little more interested in this conversation.]
Sure. [Oh yeah, he sounds interested.] Show me their military tech.
[Oh, wait--] You have open storage in your suit, right?
[ He had her interest, her own expression brightening with excitement, until that last question dampens it completely. ]
Yeah, I do. [ But the thought of him that close to her mentally... She's not sure that would be for the best with their current age discrepancy. ] Is your own body here not usable?
[He claps his hands together, though. Undeniably excited over the prospect of actually doing what he was designed for.]
What, you have shit to hide? [He raises a hand, though.] Yeah, I'll be a good shoulder AI and leave your stuff alone. Just basic access, sitting in the suit, not the head.
I know the drill, Agent. I was kind of designed to do this.
[ She rolls her eyes and slides her helmet back on. If he's only interfacing with her suit, then everything else should be fine. She's already reaching for his chip to install it. ]
And more like I don't want you digging around where you don't belong.
It's what you are! [Look how defensive he sounds!!] But okay. Tex.
[His hologram floats on over to where she's getting his chip from, and he lets himself slide out of the housing and into the suit itself, mentally patting himself on the back for making that transition so smooth. He'll jump into her suit once the chips in place, but he doesn't really want to be in limbo in the meantime.
He's spent too long crammed inside his code, he doesn't really want to go back to that just yet. Even just for a few seconds.]
I won't. I'm not invasive, I swear. They didn't make me that way.
[ God, she hasn't truly been an agent in... Well, since she crashed the whole damn Mother of Invention to try to break him out. Even if she still went by it at times.
But he doesn't need to know that. It's irrelevant and instead she focuses on making sure she doesn't jam his chip in wrong. At least this is easy enough. ]
Just because they didn't make you that way, doesn't mean you aren't.
With all the restrictions and safeguards they put on me, I don't really have a choice.
[Says the AI blatantly disregarding one of the Director's most stressed orders-- don't interact with the Freelancers.]
But I promise. No digging, no peeking, no getting shitty country songs stuck in your head.
[He makes the shift, jumping from suit to suit with only a slight flicker running through his avatar (and no silly possession sounds), settling into the woodwork and absently running through a system check in the back of his mind.]
So, Not-An-Agent Tex. What military stuff have you been up to?
[ Still better than any of Tucker's she's heard. She shrugs and moves to step out of his room. Has he even seen the rest of the house yet? ]</small
Besides dealing with an occupation and a kidnapping, not a whole lot. They're not that efficient here.
[ Particularly after their last fight caused some drifting. A less tangible one than the movement of his hologram. She brings them out into the main room and does a slow walk through of the main floor. ]
It's what we were assigned. And it's less common here than you think. It's been over for a few weeks now.
[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.
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failureisntachoice) wrote2015-09-11 12:57 pm
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It works better than Beta. [ And less conspicuous. She eyes his hologram as it moves. ]
What corrupted files are those? And if you mean the color of the armor, it doesn't have much purpose besides decoration. The porter is the piece of junk that brought us here.
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Right. Yeah. Sure. Better than Beta. [At least he still sounds amused.]
And I dunno. Files. Shit about a Florida that doesn't exist. Cities that don't match up. People who aren't in the Freelancer Program. [He's facing Tex fully now, tilting his head to the side as he regards her body again.] What the hell is going on? I mean really going on.
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First of all, Florida exists. We're not in Project Freelancer. That stupid porter people talk about? Is some damn magical technology that drags people from everywhere here and they want us to help with their crappy war.
[ There's a pause because she knows how ridiculous this all sounds. Her next statement doesn't make it any less so, but it's important dammit, ]
They don't even have colonies. [ HOW ]
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[Look, he may be bound by the Director's orders, and he may just be a super high tech calculator of sorts, but like hell will he ever give up his sense of humor.]
Wait wait wait wait wait. They don't have colonies? That-- hold on. [He holds up a hand, skimming the network, jumping from there into the internet, running a quick search on this place, on the local history and technological accomplishments and--]
Holy shit! They can barely go into space!
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Instead she focuses on his reaction to that last bit of news. Good to know they still share that opinion. It had been her first damn thought when she showed up here. ]
Yeah. You should see their military tech. Somehow they can build transporters and hover cars, but that's where their advancements stop.
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Sure. [Oh yeah, he sounds interested.] Show me their military tech.
[Oh, wait--] You have open storage in your suit, right?
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Yeah, I do. [ But the thought of him that close to her mentally... She's not sure that would be for the best with their current age discrepancy. ] Is your own body here not usable?
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What? That thing? [He glances back to the armor.] Why the hell would I use that? It's armor, yeah, but that's not how I work.
[He waves one hand through the other, the white light flickering a little as he does it.] Hologram, Texas. Way more mobile this way.
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[ She nudges his unused armor with her foot. Why couldn't he just want to use that instead. With a sigh, she folds her arms over her chest. ]
Are you going to keep to yourself if I let you on board?
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[He claps his hands together, though. Undeniably excited over the prospect of actually doing what he was designed for.]
What, you have shit to hide? [He raises a hand, though.] Yeah, I'll be a good shoulder AI and leave your stuff alone. Just basic access, sitting in the suit, not the head.
I know the drill, Agent. I was kind of designed to do this.
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[ She rolls her eyes and slides her helmet back on. If he's only interfacing with her suit, then everything else should be fine. She's already reaching for his chip to install it. ]
And more like I don't want you digging around where you don't belong.
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[His hologram floats on over to where she's getting his chip from, and he lets himself slide out of the housing and into the suit itself, mentally patting himself on the back for making that transition so smooth. He'll jump into her suit once the chips in place, but he doesn't really want to be in limbo in the meantime.
He's spent too long crammed inside his code, he doesn't really want to go back to that just yet. Even just for a few seconds.]
I won't. I'm not invasive, I swear. They didn't make me that way.
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But he doesn't need to know that. It's irrelevant and instead she focuses on making sure she doesn't jam his chip in wrong. At least this is easy enough. ]
Just because they didn't make you that way, doesn't mean you aren't.
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[Says the AI blatantly disregarding one of the Director's most stressed orders-- don't interact with the Freelancers.]
But I promise. No digging, no peeking, no getting shitty country songs stuck in your head.
[He makes the shift, jumping from suit to suit with only a slight flicker running through his avatar (and no silly possession sounds), settling into the woodwork and absently running through a system check in the back of his mind.]
So, Not-An-Agent Tex. What military stuff have you been up to?
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[ Still better than any of Tucker's she's heard. She shrugs and moves to step out of his room. Has he even seen the rest of the house yet? ]</small Besides dealing with an occupation and a kidnapping, not a whole lot. They're not that efficient here.
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I guess that depends on if it worked.
[He sort of drifts behind Tex, letting the range of her suit's projection drag him along into the main part of the house.]
Huh. I expected something less... homey than this.
[Oh. Wait. She's saying important military stuff. He clears his throat.] Occupation? Sounds like an ordinary old Earth Thursday.
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[ Particularly after their last fight caused some drifting. A less tangible one than the movement of his hologram. She brings them out into the main room and does a slow walk through of the main floor. ]
It's what we were assigned. And it's less common here than you think. It's been over for a few weeks now.
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[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.......]
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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.
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[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.
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[ 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?
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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.
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[ 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.
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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.
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[ 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.
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