[psl] York/human!Delta project exploration

[howkickassiam]

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[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]

Couldn't get himself to... Okay, Delta can't help the flicker of annoyance on his face. Training was there for a reason!

"Our end of things has had to prepare more. It would serve no one if we came to you ill-prepared for our role. One half of the team should have the large adjustments at a time. While your side trained physically, learned your armor and the modifications thereon, we learned other things. And yes, that test tomorrow is a simple scheduled one. Our calibration period will be the measure to see if progress should proceed. It will be a simple beginning, but over time there will be escalations to the process."

Tomorrow it will be seeing if Delta really can serve as York's eyes, both out of the armor and while in it. After that... Well, he really hopes York likes three on one battles where he's the one. And in time, who knows how integrated he will become into York's life. The theory was that he'd be removed from the company of the Greeks altogether.

[howkickassiam]

"All right, makes sense. Meanwhile, we ought to just hang out. You know, meals in the mess and all that?"

He figures camaraderie is as big a part of all this as anything else.

[protective_logic]

Meals in the...

"We have a separate mess hall," Delta admits, looking confused. "I'm not certain if we are allowed in yours."

[howkickassiam]

"Sure, y'are," he says, sounding far more certain of those words than he can possibly be at this point. "Anyway, I'll make a case for it if someone tries to say you're not. We ought to get used to one another."

[protective_logic]

"I am not certain that is part of the proscribed method of becoming familiar with each other for a working relationship, Agent New York," Delta says quickly, staring at the other in something like shock. "Your working relationship with your teammates must also be maintained. While Freelancers are individuals, they are still a unit. And unit cohesion is pinnacle."

[howkickassiam]

York arches an eyebrow.

"Well, I think it's important to be friends with people if you're going to work with them like a pro."

[protective_logic]

Friends? That was not what the program had expected of them.

"If friends was the purpose, then I do not believe there would be a leader board," Delta counters flatly. It clearly just fosters competition, and not in a friendly manner.

[howkickassiam]

"Well, obviously being friends isn't the purpose," he says. Seriously, what is this guy's problem? "Listen, I'm just saying if we're meant to be able to sync up and think together, we'll want to know each other better. That's all."

[protective_logic]

"We should proceed according to the schedule provided us," Delta answers. That's.. .that's what the point of it is! The schedule existed for a reason.

Why did they give him such a carefree individual?

[howkickassiam]

"Sure," York says, abandoning the idea of the two of them hanging out at all. Who would want to hang out with such a wet blanket, anyway? "So I guess that means we're going to be on the training floor at—" He quickly checks the schedule. "—1400 hours tomorrow. See you then."

[protective_logic]

"There is a preliminary examination at 1000. Or there is on my schedule. is the same not for you?" he asks, frowning.

[howkickassiam]

York looks at his datapad again.

"Oh...oh, yeah, I see that now. Do you know what that's for?"

[protective_logic]

"Calibrations," Delta answers immediately. "Basically, they will hold cards up in your blind spot while I'm in the room. You'll tell them what is on the card."

[howkickassiam]

"Sounds boring," he remarks, tucking his datapad away again. "But I guess it's just one time, right?"

[protective_logic]

"Do not come in with that expectation. I believe you will be quite surprised," Delta answers, unable to help the proud smile he wore. He was very good with this part of the training. And surely he would impress his future partner.

But to think it was a one time test was silly. It was a standard starting calibration practice.

[howkickassiam]

That's the thing Delta decides to get excited about? York shakes his head.

"All right, guy, I'll keep an open mind."

[protective_logic]

Of course he's excited. He's been working on this. And there may be a chip in his head that gave positive feedback for successes. Listen, there is a LOT of questionable things going on, and Delta doesn't even know it.

Success pleases him, so he's happy to work for it.

[howkickassiam]

With that their meeting is over. York goes to dinner, dismissing the whole idea of ever ending up eating a meal with his partner. It's too bad, in his mind, that Delta was so unwilling to give it a try. But he wasn't going to force the issue.