(no subject)

[fearmylaserface]

[Well... That trip home had been enlightening. Unless it was some kind of strange dream. And the fact that Allison was gone and he woke up somewhere other than where he'd last been with her...

Besides, he doesn't sleep. Not really. He's an AI. He turns on the comm on video without thinking about it as he looks his body over...]

Yes! I'm not a damn Tonka truck anymore. A definite improvement.

I thought this place was bad for people not staying dead... Actually? I think I'm going to make a point to never assume someone died again. It just bites me in the ass later.  Here or at home.

[Actually focusing on the comm now.] Something really strange just happened... I was home again. I don't know if it was a dream or real, but I woke up someplace else here when it was done and Allison is gone. Has anyone seen her? She's a Pricklemane.

Comments

-> Action

[unrecovered]

I wasn't planning on it. Be right there.

[And a few minutes later, he is, both Fang and Allison in tow. At least Allison goes around him this time on her very enthused way to Epsilon.]

Action

[fearmylaserface]

Allison! [He's so happy he doesn't mind almost getting bowled over by his own Pricklemane before he scoops her up for a hug.

Give him a little time, Wash, he'll get to you.]

[unrecovered]

[Wash winces behind his helmet - that name said in that tone drags up memories that aren't his, memories he doesn't want to see again. It takes him a moment to shove them back and lock them down again. Fang notices the silence - or maybe he's jealous of the affection - and perches on his shoulder, nuzzling against his helmet and squeaking. Wash reaches up and scratches behind his ears.] Yeah, I'd miss you too if I left.

[fearmylaserface]

[Epsilon looks her over, pleased she's in good shape in spite of his absence. And he realizes he should probably say something to Wash.] Thank you for watching over her. It's good to know she'll be safe if I'm gone.

And it's the least you can do, considering you replaced me.

[unrecovered]

No problem. [Because it wasn't, and really, what else do you say to that?]

[He does a double take at that one. His first thought is that he's replaced Epsilon in his life somehow - that he's gotten another AI. But that doesn't make any sense-] I what?

[fearmylaserface]

You took my place when I was trapped. They were even calling you my name. Do you know how awkward it was coming back to that?

[unrecovered]

[It takes a moment for him to shift gears that abruptly. That makes a hell of a lot more sense.]

On Blue Team. Do you really think Caboose could adjust to that big of a change that easily?

[But he's got bigger fish to fry.] I'm not even going to tell you how stupid that remark about dead people was. What I want to know is, who's back from the dead?

[fearmylaserface]

Dude, it felt like I was getting dumped by Caboose.

[shaking his head] Get over it, Wash. You aren't my boss.

As for who's back? Carolina.

[unrecovered]

[He files that one away for later; now is not the time to pursue it.]

No, I'm not. But I don't think you understand the kind of damage that sort of thing - and the information that goes with it - can do to North and York. Just think before you open your mouth. [Don't make him mute you again. Don't do it.]

[That strikes him dumb for a little bit. He wasn't expecting it somehow, but he hadn't seen how she died, and if anyone could survive and live that far under the radar, it was Carolina. It takes another few moments for the pieces to fall into place.] Was she the one that pulled you out of the storage unit?

[fearmylaserface]

I'm not saying anything in detail to them about that stuff, Wash. And they aren't asking me for anything I'm not willing to give... And I'm thinking before I speak. York needed to know. After how long he looked for her...

[Shaking his head] Sarge and Caboose were the ones that pulled me out. But she was the reason why they came for me. Even if I was content to die in the unit... She wanted the knowledge I might have.

[unrecovered]

[There's a part of him that wants to cut and run the moment he hears that. If there's anyone who knows what sudden information overload and the subsequent trauma can do to someone, it's Wash, and he doesn't want York to go through any degree of that. When he does speak, his voice is low and angry and dangerous.] You told York. Do you have any idea what that could do to him?

[He's almost too angry to focus, but he manages.] Why did she want that.

[fearmylaserface]

He deserves to know, Wash.

[If it were possible to glare at Wash, he would be doing so.] She wants to find the Director, Wash. She wants revenge. For all of us.

[unrecovered]

Even if it breaks him? [No, you're not getting off the hook that easily. Wash is scared for York's stability now, and it's a hell of a lot easier to let that out as anger, especially when the person that caused said potential instability is right in front of him.]

[The last Wash remembered, Carolina had been devoutly loyal to the program, to- Well. It looked like some sayings about blood and water didn't quite hold up. He's still furious at Epsilon, and it comes out in his snarl.] Good luck to her. She'll need it.

[fearmylaserface]

It won't break him, Wash. He has Delta to take care of him.

[Pausing] You're helping her too, Wash. He's going to pay for what he did to all of us. Human and AI.

[unrecovered]

[It's a good point, but he's still angry that this happened in the first place.] There's a big difference between taking care of and damage control.

[On one hand, that doesn't make any sense; on the other hand, he's once again up against information that he doesn't have. He takes a breath and lets it out slowly, doing his best to rein in his temper.] Start from the beginning. Tell me what you know.

[fearmylaserface]

They will be fine, Wash.

What beginning are you talking? What happened once I got out of the unit?

[unrecovered]

How do you know that?

Yes. After you got pulled from the unit.

[fearmylaserface]

Once they pulled me out, they mentioned it was a woman that was the reason they'd come for me, then Carolina came in to check on things and let me know that I was going to help her do something she should have done a long time ago... I'm going to help her kill the Director. Her words, by the way.

She doesn't know where he is though... And as a copy of the Director's memories, she thought I would know. Too bad I can't remember a lot of those memories. Especially as she's got a worse temper than Tex. At least all she can do is shoot at my hologram there.

[unrecovered]

[So Carolina was alive and out for revenge - against her own father, of all people. On one hand, it made sense; on the other hand, something pretty damn bad must have happened when she supposedly died in order to make her shift her loyalties that completely. He bites back a spike of bitterness - there's a reason Epsilon doesn't have those memories anymore. It's because they're all in Wash's head, and he doesn't want them there - but saying that won't help anything.] And you agree with her?

[...wait.] Please tell me you didn't actually mention Texas to her.

[fearmylaserface]

I'm starting to remember things, Wash... And the things I'm remembering... [There's a pause there. He's been digging in his memories a little, even while talking... Have a small hint of static in his voice when he continues. He's not perfectly functional all the time now.] Make me realize how right she it. You know what he did to all of us, David.

[Nodding] I may have said she's as bad as Tex... Which she is.

[unrecovered]

[He actually feels sympathy of all things for Epsilon. He knows what it's like to struggle with memory, and for a moment he wonders if he can get the right supplies and tools from the Moogles, if he can maybe do something to stabilize Epsilon a bit more, because that static isn't a good thing-]

[And the next moment that sympathy is gone, drowned in the rage he's become so accustomed to feeling when dealing with Epsilon. He knows he's talked about this - he knows Epsilon knows how he feels about this, and the AI does it anyway, goddammit. His voice has gone red-hot with anger, low and vehement.] Don't call me that. You don't get to use that name.

Yes, I do know what the Director did - I remember everything you don't. And I tried revenge once. It landed me in jail, and then taking it out on all the wrong people - I'm sure you remember that much, at least. York tried revenge and it got him killed. So no, I don't think Carolina is right, I think she's obsessed. [Which is par for the course for Carolina, really.]

Watch your goddamn mouth before you say anything else damaging and leave me alone. [He turns away, throwing one final slightly-less-angry comment over his shoulder.] Go spend some time with Allison. She missed you. [If Epsilon doesn't make a move to stop him, he'll leave.]

[fearmylaserface]

[And what name he'd used didn't really even sink in in his own mind until Wash blew up at him. And he is moving to stop Wash now.] Look, Wash. I'm sorry. It slipped. Probably doesn't help that I was digging through memories for her before arriving back here. That doesn't leave me in the best state.

And Wash, let me ask you this: Either way, do you think refusing to help her is going to stop her? It's complicated... This whole situation is. She needs help.

I'm just one AI, trapped in whatever the hell I end up getting shoved into. I literally can't walk away at home, even if I wanted to.

I'm not trying to hurt anyone.

[unrecovered]

[He stops, seething. Normally he'd listen, and normally he'd probably have sympathy, maybe help Epsilon think of a way around it. The problem was, that was normally, emotional blank slate territory, and right then Wash was beyond sympathy and empathy and beyond pissed. He doesn't look at Epsilon while he's talking, voice a bit calmer on the surface than it had been before. That doesn't hide the bite, the danger in his tone.]

Doc once told me I couldn't kill everyone I met. When I asked him why not, he couldn't give me a straight answer. I'm still waiting for one.

And I thought I told you to leave me alone.

[That was the verbal equivalent of a warning shot. Stop him from leaving again and things will likely get nasty. As it is, Epsilon is pretty damn lucky that Delta and Theta like him and that Wash cares about those two.]

[fearmylaserface]

I'll give you one: Because you are better than that, Wash. Or at least... You were once.

What the fuck are you going to do if I don't? [He knows he should walk away. He shouldn't do this. He's playing with fire this time, and even the training York has given him isn't likely to save him if Wash snaps. But he's getting pissed off too.

Allison isn't happy that her person is doing this and she makes a confused noise at Fang. What is with them?]

[unrecovered]

[He's furious, his rage pressing up against a breaking point, but he can still feel something inside of him twist at Epsilon's words. He probably was better than that at one point - before Freelancer, at least.]

[And then Epsilon opens his mouth again and he snaps, rage barreling through that breaking point and beyond. Without warning, he drops low, sweeping Epsilon's feet from under him and knocking the AI on his back, then moving to pin him. He straddles the robot, knees on Epsilon's hands to keep him from fighting back, one hand on the robot's throat. The only thing that keeps him from squeezing is the knowledge that it won't have any effect - it's not like Epsilon is actually breathing. Wash is, though, too hard and too fast and completely submerged in his own fury, nearly spitting out the words as he speaks.]

What do you think I'm going to do? Every time you show up in my life, you push me. The first time, you pushed me so hard that I broke. I am not going back there again. Ever. So if you keep pushing me, I'm going to push back, and if you ever even come close to pushing me to breaking again, I will destroy you and nobody will ever find the pieces.

Do you understand me.

[He still has one free hand. Don't give him a reason to plunge his knife into your throat. Don't do it.]

[Fang squeaks in alarm - he's seen his person get this angry before, but not for a long time and this is not good - and puts himself between Wash and Allison. His person may be angry and may not be in the right, but Fang still won't let him get hurt.]