[psl] York/human!Delta project exploration

[howkickassiam]

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Assignment

[howkickassiam]

Today is the day. York had been assigned a new partner for missions, a partner who would be connected via his neural lace, someone who was supposed to be able to help him see for missions. Today they are going to meet.

York's not nervous. Not per se. But this is going to be an interesting change. The fact is that Freelancers in general are pretty independent-minded, and having a partner who will be so involved in everything York is doing in the field will be strange.

The Counselor facilitated the meeting. York has no idea where this partner had come from, whether he was going to be someone who had gotten into trouble the same way York had done or what, but he was determined to be open-minded about the whole thing.

"Hey, guy," he said once the Counselor had left the room for them to get acquainted.

[protective_logic]

He had been prepped for this for a long time. Gone through testing and more testing, and tweaking and STILL more testing. Had been told that there was a point to this, that without this project, the war might end, and not in favor of humanity.

That said, he still didn't like that this meeting was happening. Everyone on the ship, everyone in the 'AI' branch of the program, knew well the mythos that was building up around the 'States' half of the Freelancer project. No one on his side even knew if any of this was going to work, not with real field agents.

Why they had selected Delta go to first into this project, why they had chosen him to meet his agent in person first, none of that he knew. So he'd stayed silent as the Counselor had gone over some of the initial introductions, eyes forward, posture stiff, trying to hide how nervous he was. A nervousness that only ramped up when the door closed with the Counselor on the other side of it.

"Hello to you as well, Agent York," Delta spoke, finally turning his head to regard the other.

[howkickassiam]

Delta's nervousness comes across very starkly and York doesn't want to make things worse by cracking a joke or anything. Which is how he'd normally try to quell doubts. Something about this situation tells him that's not what's needed here.

"Hey now," York said, soothingly as he knows how. "I don't know what all you know about me but I can tell you, I'm not going to bite."

[protective_logic]

"The Greek Agents are not kept very appraised of the personalities or behaviors of the State Agents. What we know amounts to what rumors make it to our half of the ship through the intermediaries of the crew," Delta admits. And the soothing tone does earn a raised eyebrow and a refusal to submit to annoyance. He doesn't want to be treated like he understands nothing and no one, thank you. He is not a timid animal. Just... The States are legends on the ship, and the Greeks are so far under the radar of most people present.

Add in that the other Greeks are going to expect Delta to report back and gossip, which wasn't much in his nature, and you had plenty of stress over.

[howkickassiam]

York shrugged.

"Well, we're all different people. I don't think you can say us State agents are a certain 'way'. Other than being picked for certain traits for the Project, like being ambitious and efficient and stuff."

An addition which negates what he said before, of course.

"Anyway, you know what I mean. Like, are the Greek agents a 'way' that you can describe?"

[protective_logic]

"We are each of us... unique. But very skilled with technology," Delta says after a long moment of thought. "I am afraid I cannot speak of them much. I am not allowed to. Assignments are pending."

[howkickassiam]

"Is that so?" York looks at him for a moment, then shrugs. "Well, I've never been told I can't tell you about the State agents, so ask away. Got any juicy gossip you've been hearing?"

loving the art lol

[protective_logic]

Gossip? Aren't they supposed to know each other?

"I can't understand why I would wish to know them. They are not my partner. The purpose of this meeting is to get to know you, Agent York."

Delta looks so confused at this statement. Definitely uncomfortable too. He had never seen the purpose to things such as that. "I am told from my briefing that you are an infiltration expert."

isn't it good

[howkickassiam]

York chuckles. If Delta doesn't want to swap gossip it's fine.

"All right, all right," he says. "Yes, I'm in infiltration, but my skills have been weaker since I hurt my eye. I think that's where you're supposed to come in, from what the Counselor said."

[protective_logic]

Interesting. Delta reaches out, clearly intending to touch. Was that wrong? Perhaps.

"They expect me to process sufficient environmental intake to help improve this?"

[howkickassiam]

York flinches a little, but then nods, gesturing at his face. Delta can touch if he wants, just not without warning.

"Apparently? I don't know how it works, just that it's supposed to help."

[protective_logic]

"I will feed into your neural lace. Not only will I see what you see, I'll see what your armor cameras see as well. And what I see, you'll see."

So much data. Managing it was what most of his training had been.

"It's like... how your HUD in the helmet feeds you data like bullet counts. But it's also like instinct. That feeling, between your shoulder blades, when you're certain you're being watched."

[howkickassiam]

"Wild," York remarks. "You definitely know more about this program than I do. Or, you know, were able to get myself to pay attention to."

York knows he's bad at that, sometimes.

"So when do we test this out? Is that the session tomorrow, I guess?"

He'd seen it on his schedule, but hadn't thought it was much than his usual training.

[protective_logic]

Arrival should be early, for showing up on time for an operation was late. Early allowed for proper preparation. So Delta is in the classroom they're supposed to be doing their calibration.

There was a special sort of pleasure that came in good work well done, and Delta was here to make sure he managed to earn it.

[howkickassiam]

[ York arrives at precisely...1002 hours.

He ambles in, turns his chair around, and sits in it with the chair back in front of him. ]

Sorry I'm late.

[ Of course, he knows the test isn't going to happen at this little table, but he figures he'll socialize with Delta before things get going. ]

Have a good night?

[protective_logic]

You're late.

[Delta doesn't need to be the one to observe it. Because there is a technician there waiting for them. Delta frowns briefly at York but then raises a hand to silence the technician. Clearly the man needs something.]

The night was restful. Though I have been looking forward to this. Do you know how to work with your neural lace?

[howkickassiam]

They taught me the basics, yeah. Haven't done anything with it yet, though. I guess that's what this session is for.

[protective_logic]

[Yes, there we go. Delta's got him focused.]

That is what this session is for. I need you to move into that mode, and be open minded about what is about to happen.

[howkickassiam]

Sure. Are you basically in charge of the exercise, then? I thought it was going to be this guy.

[ He glances over at the technician. ]

[protective_logic]

[Well yes, the technician was observing and running it, but...]

The technician has never had to join a neural link. He cannot guide you into it so easily as I can.

[howkickassiam]

Ah.

[ York's not sure what he thinks about Delta being in charge of him. But he'll have to get used to it, he supposes. ]

All right, let's get started then.

[ He rises to move to the area in front of the screen. ]

[protective_logic]

[He really better get used to it. They are a team. Delta, with a sigh, gestures to a chair. And once York sits in it, he brings another over to sit in front of York.]

Give me your hands.

[howkickassiam]

[ York flops his hands out in front of him. ]

This is weird.

[protective_logic]

No. Just different.

[He cups the other man's hands in his own and closes his eyes. There's a look of peace on his face.]

Close your eyes. Focus inward. On your breathing. On my voice. Let the world go silent around you.

[howkickassiam]

Oh, boy.

[ Definitely weird stuff, no matter what Delta said about it. York obeys, though, closes his eyes, and listens.

At first it's odd, just listening to himself breathe. He is the sort of person who never stands still long enough for something like that. ]