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

[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.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[Washington feels the attempt to calm him, to soothe him. It's just frightening him more. They'd enjoyed that. Let him calm down. Letting him relax. Just to torment him more once they got bored.

He doesn't even really comprehend time now.] You can't be real.

[alaspooryork]

[In response he sends his complex AI identification code. "I'm real", he's saying without words.]

The power outage has resolved itself; it was only temporary. York and I are no longer stuffed toys.

Do you remember what I taught you about controlling your surroundings, Wash?

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Delta.

I can't... I tried to change it. To fix it. I just made it worse. It was fine until the power went. It went dark in here. [Feeding all his fears and insecurities. Took half a day to get him unresponsive.]

[alaspooryork]

Then I will help you, if you desire my assistance. I have far more experience in such matters than you.

[His tone isn't accusatory. After all, Wash has had only a few days in total as an AI, while Delta has been manipulating this kind of environment his entire life.]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Help me. Please. Can't even hear the outside anymore. Just the voices. They won't go away.

[alaspooryork]

Of course.

[Delta concentrates for a moment, and inside the unit things begin to noticeably brighten. He leaves the hallway and room alone, but connects it to a much more familiar Paradisan-looking hallway and a replica of Wash's own castle room. Once that room is entered, it becomes blessedly silent. All that's left is for Wash to make the move himself.]

Please, come here. You must move of your own free will.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[There's hesitation, but Wash finally starts moving. The cell scares him more than he wants anyone to know.

He hesitates at the edge of the changed area.]

[alaspooryork]

[And Delta is there, offering him a hand. Here at least he can offer physical contact, and he's as solid as any human on the outside would be.]

I am here.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[Washington can't help the shakiness as he takes that hand.] Thank you, Delta...

/slams into this thread

[youfallback]

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

Noble Five, it's Agent Carolina.

o7

[noblefive]

Oh, god. [Jorge mutters

He straigtens and walks to the door]

Agent York is here. Agent Washington's went quiet.

[encryptedlock]

[York turns away from the AI for long enough to stride over to Carolina and give her a friendly shoulder-grab greeting. Delta more or less has the situation over there covered.]

Hey.

[youfallback]

[Carolina nods efficiently to Noble Five and the shoulder-grab is definitely appreciated. ]

Hey. [Just some staring for a few seconds, keeping up that professionalism, especially in front of a NOBLE.] Wash okay?

[noblefive]

You do know that I ain't that fussy when it comes to protocol. Should learn to relax a bit, agent.

[This is all said in a nonchalant tone of voice as he walks back over to the AI unit to watch]

[encryptedlock]

[Professionalism or not, York can tell when she's acting strangely. They're going to have to have a talk later once they're alone. But for the moment he nods.]

He's frightened. Delta's trying to talk him out - think the power outage made him panic, and he doesn't have a way to cope with panic when he's not in a body that can sweat.

[youfallback]

[Carolina doesn't acknowledge Jorge's comment with much more than a glare from under her visor. She moves over toward the AI unit carefully, not wanting to spook Wash herself.]

He was scared as soon as his loss started. [Turning back toward Jorge.] How long has he been like this?

[noblefive]

Since you handed him over to me. It took a few hours, though.

[Jorge sighs slightly] I thought he was saving power. I'll be damned if I've seen this tech before.

[encryptedlock]

D's getting through to him - shouldn't be too much longer now.

I think I'll show him how to use one of the crystals for backup energy. I'm pretty sure he has one, and if he's not using it for anything else, well, we can at least temporarily rig it to this. That way even if he gets kidnapped and tossed out into the Dead Zone, he'll be fine.

[youfallback]

[Just nodding. She should've seen this coming.] Freelancer tech, Noble Five.

He mentioned a few things I need to ask you about, York. We can take him back to your room once he's back with us.