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[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]

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[ She'd noticed. Perhaps that would change once she found him..

Her head tilted up. She knows exactly where that is. The fact she's broken into a run is audible from the sound of her boots echoing in the empty hallways. ]

Go inside, and stay there. I'll be there soon, Church. Make sure your dream eater stays close.

[The door is opening now, and he's walking in. Allison pushing against him as something starts trying to dig at his memories. There's no further response as he tries to untangle things.]

[ It takes her longer than expected to reach Recovery.

It shouldn't have - she's run through these halls at all hours, could have done so once in her sleep, knew the shortcuts by heart and how long X to Y at Z pace should take her. Even factoring in a few breaks to battle monsters taken into account, it shouldn't have taken so long.

Hopefully Church hadn't suffered much while he waited.

When the doors open again, her Hebby Rep hops off her shoulder, yawning enough for the pair of them. Not that he lifted a scale to help along the way. ]

Church? Are you here?

[Epsilon had moved to sit down, Allison climbing on him. It's hard to think.] I'm here...

Edited 2013-05-22 02:50 (UTC)

[ At least he responds to that name.

The cyan armored freelancer strides over, regarding the blue soldier form 'worn' by Epsilon curiously. Once beside him, she frowns, then crouches so that she can stare visor-to-visor. ]

Church. ..Epsilon. Do you know where you are?

[ A pause, then: ]

Do you know who I am?

[ The hebby rep parks his butt beside the entrance. It isn't like he's needed to do anything right now, though his tail flicks in a wave at Allison.

The Mother of Invention. Where I was made.

[There's confusion, but it clicks into place.] Carolina? When did you get here?

[Allison is watching Carolina, making her angry noises. Back off, stranger.]

It's not the real thing, Church. It just looks a lot like it.

[And smells and sounds and feels like it... Except empty. It's unnerving, though she'll be the last to say that aloud right now.]

[ She straightens a little, though she remains in her crouch.]

Yesterday, give or take a few hours. [A slight head tilt, in place of a shrug.] I didn't really sleep.

More importantly, when did you get here?

[ The growling critter is ignored; Carolina doesn't plan on going anywhere. ~~Grif~~ Dax is fairly certain his person can handle herself, and would rather curl up for a nap. ]

Edited 2013-05-22 21:33 (UTC)

Too real.

Probably arrived while I was getting ready to enter. I think I've been in here a bit.

[Allison is now getting ready to attack Carolina.] Months, though I did get to wake up from dreaming for a while. Ended up here again.

Real enough. Right down to the leaderboards. [ A slight grimace is audible in her voice before she straightens up, one hand coming to rest on her hip. ]

It's possible. I don't really know how long I spent wandering the back streets before I met a few people. [Shooting moogles, apparently not the best way to win friends and influence people. Who knew?]

Think you're ready to get out of here now?

[The spikey purple ball of protectiveness is finally given some attention. A stare down, if you will.] So even an AI gets a dream eater, huh.

[Aaaand then a sharp look at Epsilon. Months?] Pretty sure you were with me, before I ended up in Traverse Town.

Edited 2013-05-22 21:57 (UTC)

Hard to miss the boards. All the comforts of home.

[He's uneasy] I was told to stay away or not come alone. But it was by someone I'm not on good terms with. I ignored him.

Please. I don't want to get trapped again.

[Allison isn't afraid of Carolina. She wants her to back away from her person. But the "even an AI" thing gets a flinch as he remembers Wash's comments about him being nothing more than a piece of military equipment.] I didn't have a host. Just this robot. Theta, Delta, and Gamma don't need Dream Eaters. I have to depend on her.

Time flows differently here. We may not even be from the same time.

I haven't missed them in years.

[You can never go home again, after all. Except (apparently) when you do. Carolina doesn't blame him in the slightest for feeling uneasy, especially given what she witnessed earlier. ]

You won't be trapped here, Church. So let's not waste any more time, we have a job to do, remember?

[ Her head tilts a little at the mention of time. Again, this has come up - with Wash, with North, with York. And given his host comments too, Carolina doesn't like what she suspects. The flinch, due to the lack of more current context, prompts her to offer her hand. Don't bite it, Allison, she's trying to be nice here, weird as that is for everyone present. ]

At least this robot means you don't need someone else to make an exit for you. [Her lip curls slightly.] I can't 'pick you up', though.

I didn't miss the place... Something just needed to see this. Wash warned me to not go alone. I don't listen to him.

[Epsilon nods.] But the Director isn't here to do anything about. if that's the job you mean. We won't be able to deal with him until it lets us leave.

[Epsilon takes the offered hand, getting a confused whine from Allison. At least he's starting to stand now.] True enough. Even if my judgement isn't the best, it's better than living in Tucker's armor or a mongoose. [After a pause] You really need to stop talking to Tucker.

[To the dream eater] Settle. She's a friend. This is Carolina. And Carolina please don't get angry at the name I gave her. I named the Dream Eater Allison.

...I understand.

[And she does. In her own way. (Carolina isn't about to lie to herself on this one: she knows she'll be back here again soon enough for her own sake and not someone else's.)

A faint huff follows. York had mentioned they didn't get along, but..]

Next time, get a second opinion from someone you do listen to.

[He's heavy, but pulling him to his feet isn't difficult. Her grip briefly tightens when he mentions the Director; given he's a robot now (again?), he likely won't notice.] Then we'll have to find a way to make it let us leave, whatever it is.

[Not a laugh, but there's brief warmth to her words] Gladly. Though he doesn't ever seem to shut up when prompted.

Dax. [There's a chirp from the door.] We're leaving. Let's go.

...Why would I get angry.

[Said in the most GUARDED FLAT TONE EVER. Eesh, talk about mood whiplash. (The hostility level isn't anywhere near as high as if he'd have mentioned the T-word, so let's thank Heaven for small favours.) The frost doesn't exactly thaw, but she does make an effort not to strangle the name with her mind as she nods to the pricklemane, and steps out of the doors to the corridor beyond the Recovery ward.]

It's nice to meet you. Seems like you have more sense than Church does.

Carolina, there aren't many of those here. And I won't be a burden to them.

Too many loose ends at home that need tied, Carolina. Even if I'm treated better here than I'm likely to ever be treated there, as Wash has reminded me. Here? I'm a person. There? I'm just military equipment. [That would be a lot of bitterness]

[Epsilon couldn't help a long pause.] Because of how many times you shot at me over another name. I don't understand it. But this Allison was named back when I first arrived here. I didn't know you were alive.

[Allison is watching Carolina warily, but Church doesn't seem too upset about her. She must be a friend.] More sense... And without her, I'd be dead. I need her because I can't even protect myself. Ask York about his attempts to train me.

Then next time, you can ask me. [Coolly spoken, but she's quite serious about the offer. Just as she's equally sharp at his bitter coated words.]

You're not someone's property. You were just as much a victim of the Director as the rest of us, Church. Trust me, we'll be tying up every last loose end when we get back.

[ Which was what they were supposed to be doing just before she got here. But apparently timey wimey wibbly wobbly stuff interfered.

He can't see her jaw clench, but there is a definite start of surprise - first arrived? ..But he knew her, now, at least, or at least recognised her banter. ]

[quietly] ..Allison is just a name. Don't mention the other one, and I won't have a reason to shoot you here. [..Is she kidding? It's kind of hard to tell.] And she's clearly a good friend. Have you considered making a second one to help her?

[Her tone softens] Maybe I will. I can do that now.

[ Epsilon, the ~~pokemon trainer~~ dream eater wrangler. Well, he managed blue team, how hard could more dream eaters be? ]

[ Stepping out into the hallways, Carolina leads the way, her plasma rifles in hand and at the ready; Dax the Hebby Repp waits until Allison and Epsilon have left the room before following from the rear. Mostly, because he's lazy. But, details. ]

Fine.

[looking down. He wants to believe that. But things have still been kind of new between them back home last time he'd seen her.] Tell Wash that, seeing as he's tried to kill me twice here and made a point of saying my destruction in nothing more than that if he did it when we last talked before this place showed up. It's not murder. I'm just equipment.

Allison could use the help that won't accidentally shoot her. [Pausing] I've got more than enough pieces, between her hunting and winning a bet on new arrivals. I should.

[Epsilon and Allison are following, though Epsilon is still noticeably nervous. He's just trying to cover it by pulling out his sniper rifle, fussing with it.]

[ There's a faint sigh. She's really getting tired of this timeline bullshit, even if it has unexpectedly given her a chance to see people she never thought she'd meet again (...alive, anyway).]

I'll talk to him. [..Is that a threat or a promise.] Though for someone you don't listen to, you're certainly taking what he said to heart. [She glances back over one shoulder.]

You're certainly not lacking in choices, if that list on the network is anything to go by. [Wait. Seriously?] A bet. People must have been bored. Who's idea was that, then? [It was York, wasn't it.]

[ And then it's all business out in the corridor, Epsilon showing enough nerve for the both of them. Back straight, Carolina sets the pace to a march, mindful of the darkened alchoves. There's hiccups at the back, however: Dax, suffering from overstuffing himself with treats, bounces upwards each time. ]

I take it to heart mostly because Wash can still control the damn strings with me, and does it without hesitation. He has my commands, Carolina. Wash doesn't even have to kill me himself. A few words at a bad time, and I'm nightmare food. Even with the other fragments, I'm completely and utterly alone here, other than Allison. [He doesn't really have his memories like in the unit anymore.]

Ten varieties other than Pricklemanes in the first two places, more here. I just need the right pieces. [Laughing] It was North's idea. York bet on you. Wash bet on she who must not be named. [Okay, yea, Epsilon isn't going to be an angel regarding that...] And I picked Wyoming. He and Gamma are here.

[Epsilon's following, and Allison is taking up rearguard with Dax.]

I'll talk to him.

[She's repeating herself. Her words are spoken a little more flatly, with a hint of frost present, but it's even less clear if that's intended for Epsilon or for Washington. She is listening to him, however, which is more than she did for Church before the talk they had at the abandoned base.

She doesn't offer further reassurance, however. It sounds like he's too well versed in how things have been here. She'd have to settle for proving with action, when the time was right.]

You picked-- [It's a cold flash, anger subsiding immediately.] ..Interesting. Well, I'm glad you got something out of it.

And you're about to get a few more pieces for the puzzle of your choosing. [Said, as two goat-like monsters and two owls materalize in the corridor ahead of them. Always some sort of road block.

Both plasma rifles flash as she begins to fire, no point in wasting time, after all.]

[The Hebby Repp...sits down. Yup. His Person totally has this handled, yo, let's wait and watch. And then eat the food when she's done. ]

Wyoming was the best of a list of shit options. They picked most of the reasonable options. If it weren't for York, I'd have bet on you.

Every bit of money and dream pieces will help. Though I've been careful about ammo. [At the warning, he checks his gun, makes sure his knife is ready for pulling out.]

Small warning? If I fire at all? Beware the ricochet.

[Unlike Carolina's dream eater, Allison is charging forward eagerly, ready for the fight. Lazy Hebby Repp. She'll show him.]

[There's a snort.] Now that, I bought right up until the end. You can't honestly expect me to believe I'd have been your first choice.

[ There's blink he can't see at the warning, but she appreciates it nonetheless; the ram creatures fuss in place before lowering their heads to charge, but their attacks are clearly broadcast. It's the owls she shoots for, sidestepping quickly along the corridor wall to follow their attempts to avoid her.

Not quite one of the workout exercises FILSS used to run for her, but it'll do. For now. ]

[ Allison can show off all the moves she wants. Cuz, hey, he's totally seen his Person fight, and he is NOT getting in the way of that. She be crazy. Dax is staying way over here. ]

Better you than most of the others, Carolina.

[Allison is charging in at one of the ram creatures, trying to drive it back. Her person. Stay back.

Epsilon is aiming but not firing yet at Allison's targets.]

[Hmm. He may have a point.]

Better than having one of those sim soldiers show up, I guess. [...Nope, she's still not a fan.]

[ The Hebby Repp chirps and snarls encouragement in turns, safely sat at the rear, while Carolina charges forwards into the fray. Left hand gun is reholstered, and the right still holds its twin at the reason, but her primary attack is via kicks. Her foot swinging high while Allison goes low, she seems mostly unconcerned by Epsilon's target dithering.

One of the owls explodes in a shower of pieces, and there's a disappointed noise from Dax. That one didn't have any treats. These nightmares suck!]

Hey, even if they're useless? They're harmless. You can't say that about any Freelancer.

[Okay, Allison could get used to having backup like this. It's nice. And better than getting shot again. She could work with this person, and she seems friendly to Epsilon.]

Useless and harmless. Exactly what you want at a time like now, huh?

[ Caboose would either be the best or worst nightmare distraction, lets be real here. And Tucker might even manage to be useful - if he survived long enough.

There's a sharp sideways roll that backs Carolina out of the way of one of the laser blasts from a recently spawned Cyber Yog, but the fight itself is winding down as the ladies take care of business.
Allison is definitely one of the stronger dream eaters Carolina's met since getting here. Not that Abby and Fluffy were slouches, but it's clear that keeping Epsilon safe has been working for her.

Only once the last nightmare disintergrates does Carolina's constant flow of movement cease, the freelancer remaining in a crouch as she observes their surroundings warily. ]

I think we're clear.

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