117.0

[encryptedlock]

[Backdated slightly to this morning.

York wakes up not only on the floor but in a completely different room than where he was before. There's a moment of panic - it looks entirely too much like something from home to be recognizable as the castle immediately - but as always Delta is there in his mind, reassuring him. Yes, he can still access the CastleNet, and look around a little. This is Noble Six's room.

The question then becomes why is he in Noble Six's room, and how did he get there? And why is his journal mostly blank?]

Hey there, castle. It's me, and I seem to be back to normal now. So. What kind of loss was I on and for how long?

[UNSC filter, sans Maine]

And what the hell is going on with the journals?

Comments

UNSC Filter

[noblefive]

Oh! Uh... Do you know Freelancer Washington?

'cause I got a bit of a problem, and if I tell Carolina, I'm afraid she'll kill me.

Jorge

[encryptedlock]

Sure do. Besides me, he's been here the longest of all of us.

Yeah, uh. What's up?

York

[noblefive]

Uh. Well, he's currently in an AI Storage unit.

...And it's not making any noise. That a problem?

Jorge

[encryptedlock]

Aw, hell. Yeah, it could be - are the lights still on? Where is he? I'll get over there right away.

York

[noblefive]

He's with me, in my room.

[insert directions here.]

Jorge / action

[encryptedlock]

Be right there.

[And within a few moments, there's one tan-armored Freelancer knocking on the door.]

Action

[noblefive]

[And it's answered by a 7'8", in armour, SPARTAN-II. He hasn't gotten around to customising his room too much, but he steps to one side.]

Take it you're York, right?

[encryptedlock]

[HI YOU'RE BIG. York finds himself unconsciously saluting. Sure, Kat and Six were damn tall, especially for women, but Jorge is in a class all his own.]

That would be me. Uh, I hope you're fitting in all right so far. How many people have accused you of being a robot?

[noblefive]

[A crisp salute back.]

No-one, yet. I suspect you guys have taken the brunt of that stuff.

And, uh... You don't have to salute unless we're on-duty... Or whatever. You don't have to salute.

[encryptedlock]

--Right, sorry.

[York steps in and closes the door behind them for privacy.]

Where is he?

[noblefive]

[He jerks his thumb over his shoulder at the unit on the table]

It stopped making noises during Friday's blackout.

1/2

[encryptedlock]

Probably freaked him the hell out, poor guy.

[York kneels down a little to be closer to eye level, and before long his on AI flashes on, perching on the table and about eight inches tall.]

[alaspooryork]

Agent Washington? Please do not be concerned. We are here.

[Delta speaks in a calm voice, hoping he can get a response from the other AI.]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[The unit itself appears to be mostly functional other than the lack of noise or reaction to external stimuli.

Inside would be a different story, completely, not that they'd be aware of it.]

[noblefive]

[Jorge leans in to have a closer look himself.]

Know what's wrong?

[alaspooryork]

[Delta nods.]

He is withdrawn, most likely due to fear or discomfort. The unit appears to be both fully functional and containing an AI. I am attempting to contact him further.

[And indeed, he's sending a "knock" code down into the unit, a polite way of requesting his way in rather than simply hacking in - which he'll do if there's no response.]

[noblefive]

...Don't blame him.

[alaspooryork]

Nor do I. He was not entirely well when this happened last, as I recall.

[Being eaten by the Meta will do that to you.]

I will attempt to contact him directly.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[That gets a burst of noise but no real rational response. He felt that, but the fear is overwhelming... He's trapped himself in there.]

[alaspooryork]

[Oh, Wash...Delta's just going to have to go in there himself, isn't he?

Cloaking himself in a calming algorithm which repeats a message of no intent to harm, his hologram winks out as Delta sends his consciousness into a probe deep into the heart of the storage unit....]

[noblefive]

The Meta? Another AI?

[He knows someone'll answer at some point.]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[Inside the unit is something from Wash's nightmares, and he's no longer even able to control himself to keep the surroundings what he wants like Delta taught him. It's a cell like before, but this time it's dark and small enough that there really isn't much room for a second person. There's a hall and a small window in the door...

And there's the whispering that just won't stop.]

1/2

[encryptedlock]

The Meta is what Agent Maine became after taking too many AIs - he wasn't the man he used to be, not at all. The other AIs weren't exactly nice people. Let's just say there was plenty of mental torture involved and leave it at that.

[He's watching the unit, though, mentally cheering Delta on.]

[alaspooryork]

[Meanwhile, Delta is entering through the hall, as the projection demands. He speaks calmly and firmly.]

Agent Washington? I am here. Will you come out now?

Your situation is secure.

/slams into this thread

[youfallback]

[And Carolina's at Noble Five's door, knocking efficiently!]

Noble Five, it's Agent Carolina.