[video/action]

[fearmylaserface]

[He knew what Wash had said. Wash had damn well warned him not to go alone.

Did Epsilon listen? Of course not. When he wanted to see something, he was stubborn.

That's why he's currently somewhere on the Mother of Invention in spite of the warning, holding his head. At first... It wasn't terrible. It probably would have been fine if he hadn't been alone with Allison and his memories. The Alpha's memories.  Being tortured to the point of breaking over and over again.  Now? He couldn't really tell where the memories ended and the world began.

And that's why Allison has his communicator, pressing buttons to turn it on with the camera on her person.  The camera isn't steady...  Someone needs to talk to him for her.  She's making anxious noises and trying to comfort him... It's not helping. Especially as she knows there should be Nightmare Dream Eaters somewhere here. It's a matter of time before they're noticed, and her person in no shape to run or help. Not that he isn't more likely to put a hole in the ship than help.

Allison would die before she let him down in a time like this.

The background of the shaking camera isn't various obvious, but it appears to be a hallway.  Epsilon managed to get further than the bridge before he was overwhelmed.  Not by a whole lot.]

[Edit note:  Added last paragraph]

Comments

[unrecovered]

[This, some tiny voice in Wash observes, is what it looks like from the outside.]

[It's not good.]

Epsilon, get out of there.

[fearmylaserface]

Need more time...

[unrecovered]

No- Epsilon, listen to me, you have to leave. Allison, can you snap him out of it?

[fearmylaserface]

[That name probably wasn't a good idea to mention for the moment. There's panic. Despair.] Allison!

[Allison makes protesting noises. She's trying. She keeps trying. He stopped responding after being there a few hours.]

Filtered to Epsilon

[unrecovered]

[Usually he can handle that name. Then again, usually that name isn't said in that tone by that voice-]

[His head snaps back as the fragments, the memories that are still stuck in there surge to the forefront, screaming with grief and despair. He gives a short, sharp cry, pressing his hands to his helmet - that never helps, that doesn't work - and forcing himself to breathe, to shove the memories back so he can function.]

[He at least has the presence of mind to filter this post. That doesn't stop him from sounding ragged and desperate as he falls back on the commands Epsilon hates so much.]

Program Epsilon! Command: full shutdown and reboot! Execute!

no filter

[fearmylaserface]

[Epsilon goes silent at that and is no longer moving. Instead, it's Allison that's freaking out. You hurt her person. You hurt him.

And while it's taking a little longer than might be expected to reboot... His systems are managing to push aside the memories that took over so badly. He's been stressed too much.]

[unrecovered]

[Wash ignores the panicking Pricklemane. He can't address her - not when her name is a trigger for Epsilon. Instead, he focuses on the AI. He's not immediately breaking upon startup; that's good, at least.]

Come on, Epsilon. Talk to me.

[fearmylaserface]

[He barely feels up to moving now. But he manages to look at the communicator. Allison his snuggling up to him, but he's mentally blocking her name to try to protect himself. Not here. Wash is on that same list. He knows them... But the names hook to memories.] Remembered.

[unrecovered]

[It's better than nothing, at least. His voice is even - he's gotten pretty good at locking down those memories.] You need to leave. Go back to the bridge. Take the portal to Traverse Town.

Do you need me to come get you.

[fearmylaserface]

I can't. Lost.

[He's been here too long, being pulled through memories. Energy levels aren't at there best either.]

[unrecovered]

Have your Pricklemane lead you back to the portal. She knows the way.

[It's a lot of faith to put in Allison, but she's smart. Wash is already on the way to the portal himself.]

[fearmylaserface]

[Trying to get to his feet, unsteady.] Someone was coming. Don't remember clearly.

[unrecovered]

Go back to the bridge, Epsilon. You'll find them there. Follow your Pricklemane and go.

[Allison, that's your cue. Wash is trying to steel himself for another trip into the Mother of Invention.]

[fearmylaserface]

[Epsilon's leaning against the wall, trying to walk after Allison making encouraging noises, dragging the communicator along.] Will try.

[unrecovered]

Keep going. I'm on my way.