[psl] Tex & Florida

[a_shadow]

Agent Texas had been on the run for some time. Ever since she had witnessed Maine, become the Meta, throwing Carolina off of a cliff. She'd been keeping an eye out for other agents who might be targeted by the Meta, hoping she might be able to disrupt what the Meta was doing, scanning communications and tracking him. What she'd never expected to find was evidence that Church was being kept in another location from the Project's headquarters here on this planet. What she picked up was Agent Florida, communicating with HQ about the status of Church and his teammate. She could hardly believe her ears, but that didn't mean she found it difficult to act. She triangulated the signal and headed toward the canyon where the signal had originated.

She entered the canyon through the caves, switching on her cloak, and making her way to Blue Base. She remembered these simulation bases from her time training as an agent of the Project, but she'd never been sent to this specific place. She spent some time observing the small team of three as they interacted, then waited until after the two underlings were sent out for patrol to reveal herself to the supposed Captain of the squad.

Comments

[a_shadow]

She bristles a bit. Florida had given away more than he meant to with that remark, she thinks. Now she knows the Project had records of her entire interaction with Church when she connected to the ship's systems.

"I wasn't the one who did the damage," she says.

[the_informant]

"It thinks it's people. Of course that sure seems to be going around, doesn't it?"

His arms cross over his chest, frowning at her. What's the point in denying when she knows where and what the Alpha is?

[a_shadow]

Omega causes her to step forward menacingly before she manages to rein him in.

"Asshole. We are people. Just because we're artificial doesn't mean we're not."

[the_informant]

"You're a computer program, an echo of what was intended. As thirsty for reunion with him as any other piece of the original."

What? He knew about it well before she did. Florida's more aware of the program than anyone but the two in charge.

[a_shadow]

Omega spurs her on, and this time she doesn't fight it—she strikes out at Florida, tries to knock him back off of his feet.

"I'm not trying to rebuild him," she says. "I just want to make sure he's safe."

[the_informant]

The man takes the punch and stumbles back a few paces before crumpling in a heap. But that doesn't stop him from glaring up at her in annoyance.

"I'd be careful, Texas. This canyon has a rather lovely rapid response team. Don't make me call them. That would cause the boy more harm. He's fine here. He even, perhaps, enjoys it."

[a_shadow]

She crosses her arms.

"Don't antagonize me, then."

The sound of Florida's underlings returning reaches them then, and she scowls, retreating toward the wall and engaging her cloak. This should make it clear—she doesn't intend to interfere, but rather will observe.

[the_informant]

Florida pushes to his feet, not willing to make it obvious. He has his own mission. Which is cooking for him and his people. Which is about to come out of the oven. Just as Tucker walks in, actually, a nice little pair of baked, open faced sandwiches.

"Good news, boys. I've decided that since you've both been doing such a dandy job here this week, helping me get the base all ship-shape, you can bypass team-building dinner and eat in your rooms. I may have made more of a mess than intended and have a lot of cleaning to do. I can't hold that against my awesome team!"

Church tilts his head curiously at that and takes his plate before even Tucker can comment.

[a_shadow]

"You say that like you're doing us a favor," Tucker says, nevertheless taking his plate and heading back into the depths of the base. Soon enough the two are gone from the common area and Tex re-materializes.

"You sure pour the syrup on," Tex says.

[the_informant]

"Now my dear, that's a rude thing to say. I assure you that my treatment of them is completely genuine. We are all more than the Project presented us as."

And already he's going to tidying up the kitchen, because really, if you wait, you're just giving yourself a harder job later.

[a_shadow]

Church had barely done anything that would let her know how he's doing, other than just being there. She wants to know more. She won't reveal herself to him, though. Florida does speak a smidgen of truth in that her presence may be more damaging for him than not.

"I'm going into his room," she says, and turns to fulfill her words.

[the_informant]

What? Florida moves before he can think, putting himself between her and the path to Church's room.

"To do so would only arm him."

[a_shadow]

She freezes in place.

"How would me taking a look harm him? He'll never even know."

[the_informant]

"Because I do not expect you to content yourself with looking," Florida points out.

The AI had been sent here, after all, because of Tex and her foolishness.

[a_shadow]

"The only thing that'll cause a problem is if you try to stop me."

The troops in their quarters would hear the commotion out here if that happened.

[the_informant]

But he must, by need, try. Florida relaxes his posture a bit, offering her a shrug as if to say 'what can you do'.

"If you wish to see him, you'll have to do it not in here. Please, Texas, let's not do this."

[a_shadow]

She glares at him through her helmet for a long, long moment.

"Are you offering me a deal?" she finally asks hotly.

[the_informant]

What other choice does he have? Florida is good, he knows that. But can he be certain to stand against Texas and her no doubt onboard AI fragment? Definitely not certain there. And he can’t risk his cover. Not without risking the Alpha.

“We have drills later. You can see him then. We’ll be outside.”

[a_shadow]

She continues to stare at him for a long moment.

"I'll be over there," she says, and moves to a farther corner of the living quarters. She should be able to see all the goings-on in the base from here.

[the_informant]

"Of course," Florida agrees with a quick bob of his head. "Thank you. It's really better for his mental development that he not see you or risk bumping into you. He truly thinks himself human at this point."

Which was its own little marvel that Florida was quite intrigued by.

[a_shadow]

"So what would that make me?" she grouses, not necessarily meaning for him to answer. Of course if he thinks himself human, he would think the same of her. It's simple enough.

[the_informant]

Chopped liver? Misfiring programming? Florida doesn't care to think about that.

"You are a ghost of his past."

[a_shadow]

"Oh...don't give me that crap. As soon as he saw me, he'd learn to deal with it."

[the_informant]

No, he wouldn't. Not easily.

"Come on," he says, sighing. "I don't want a fight. Just respect the rules."

[a_shadow]

"'The rules'," she mocks. "You're his commanding officer, not his den mother."

[the_informant]

"I'm both," Florida counters. Doesn't she get that? This place isn't about COs and conflict. It's another simulation trooper base, the only place they can make him safe.

[a_shadow]

"Oh, good lord," she says. "You really believe that, too, don't you?"

[the_informant]

"I know it," Florida counters, arms crossed and hip off a littl to the side in a truly sassy way. "This place isn't really about the conflict. It's keeping him safe. So yes. CO and den mother."

[a_shadow]

"No," Tex says. "There's conflict here."

It's just that the conflict is between Florida and her.

[the_informant]

Really, Tex? Florida frowns.

"I don't want a fight, but there are rules."

[a_shadow]

"As you've made abundantly cl—"

There's a sound of one of the sim troopers coming out of his room. Tex immediately clams up and makes sure her invisibility is on.

"Hey, Captain Flowers, are you...talking to yourself?" comes Church's voice.

[the_informant]

Alpha. Florida turns to regard him and grins.

"Well you know me, Private. I love nothing so much as a nice conversation. Gets me all pumped for cleaning dishes. Got any for me?"

Please, Tex, don't do something stupid.

[a_shadow]

Church approaches with his plate.

"As long as you're not going to ask me to help, you can talk to yourself all you want."

Tex watches him move closer. It would be so easy to reveal herself to him right now.

[the_informant]

It would be easy. And if she did it, Florida would have no choice but to act. Someone would get shot. Does she really want to traumatize the Alpha like that? Again?

"And interrupt morning calisthenics? Absolutely not, Private. Time to head on out and shape up that body of yours!"

Florida moves to interpose himself between Church and Texas, taking the plate from him.

"Go on, get Private Tucker."

let me know if this is okay!

[a_shadow]

The morning goes on like that, with Tex being tempted to reveal herself but not acting, and with Florida carefully keeping himself in the middle, just in case.

Sometimes Tex thinks she isn't acting just to prove him wrong.

By lunchtime, she's bored of this, and goes out of the base to observe from further off. She doesn't let Florida know she has done this. She's hiding outside, cloaked, when Florida sends his underlings on a capture-the-flag mission.

She uncloaks and begins to follow them. Eventually Tucker glances back and there's a bit of a stir among them, pausing in their progress to look back. She quickly catches up.

[the_informant]

There is only so much that Florida can trust her with, apparently. Good thing he had been following her following. And he knew the paths better. Maybe he isn't cloaked, but he does catch up behind her and grabs Tex by the arm.

"Well there is that naughty courier from Command. Keep going boys, I'll talk to this one."

[a_shadow]

Church seems about to protest; he knows it's really her, she thinks.

She herself does not protest. She tugs her arm from Florida's grasp and faces him, gun slightly raised.

[the_informant]

Really? Really Tex? With the boys watching Florida could let her shoot him, or he could act. Acting is what he chooses, ducking under her arm and stepping aside.

"Don't make a scene," he hisses at her in a closed comm channel. "Better that he's here and free with his own life than hidden away again because of you."