Terminal Ballistics

[trustycrowbar]

[Action]

[Being as it is a permanent fixture of the Hold, the mareketplace has manifested several trappings of a mall-like nature. Like, say, an arcade. Well, actually it's just a few "antiquated" game machines stuffed into a corner, but with the training routines disturbed by the VR shenanigans they'd reached a level in popularity again.]

[One in particular, "Superah-RealCombato Sim 3000" has a ring of holographic projectors no more than six feet across, that cast flickering red shapes in parallax for characters standing in the middle to aim a virtual weapon at and shoot. The resulting sea of red gradient that they loosely call a "firefight sim" is hardly realistic, somewhat headache-inducing, and kind of flickery thanks to the wear of years.]

"HEADSHOT. DOUBLE-KILL. MULTIKILL. SURVIVALIST. NEW HIGH SCORE..."

[Wait, is that Gordon in there? Where did he learn to shoot like that?!]

[Watch? Comment? ...Try to beat his score?]

Comments

[trustycrowbar]

"Let it go?" I'm not going to give up on my own world! I'm trying to find a place where I can be useful here so we can WIN this damn war, which is better than most everyone else here who all seem content to skulk around and cower from the Initiative and complain about how much the future sucks!

[totallytrustworthy]

[Chloe's eyes widen at the word 'cower'. Her brow furrows, her lips press into a thin line. If Gordon was aiming for an award for managing to spark Chloe's temper, he's won it. (And oh, what a temper it is.)]

And your definition of 'useful' is to try and steal their tech right out from under their noses-- which would be fine if you were a thief, but you're not! Okay? You're just not.

I don't even know why we're having this conversation right now. It's a stupid fucking mistake, but if it's the one you want to make, go right ahead. Knock your sorry self out, love.

[She's more bitter about this than she wants to be, but at this point, after having this conversation with Nate so many times, she's sick and tired of seeing the people she cares about risk their lives for nothing.]

[trustycrowbar]

[Oh hell. He was aggravated before, but now he recoils with an actual snarl when Chloe mentions the word 'thief'--]

Damn right I'm not a thief! Jeezus, I guess the concept of cooperative research and sharing information is a little beyond some people's scope!

If I work with them the maybe this war'll be over that much sooner! Once we do win then it's just a matter of figuring out how to go home! Who do you suppose has their hand in that? The Labs! Why the hell can't you or anyone else SEE that?

[totallytrustworthy]

Yeah, it is beyond my scope and you want to know why? Because it doesn't exist outside of your optimistic sunshine and sodding rainbow-covered fantasies! The minute they let you in is the minute they'll start gauging how much of a threat you are versus how much of an asset, and if they think for a moment the scale has tipped too far...you're screwed. End of story!

Wake the hell up, Gordon. You're not going home, none of us are.

[trustycrowbar]

...

[Direct fire from a strider has fazed him less than that singular statement does. He slowly flinches, and he looks back up to her his words are through clenched teeth.]

...I can't bring myself to believe that yet.

[Even though HE HIMSELF DERIVED IT.]

[totallytrustworthy]

[There's still a firmness to her voice, but Gordon's reaction brings her back from her crusade enough to know she's pushing this a bit too hard.]

Well then, I guess there's nothing left to be said. You've made your call.

[trustycrowbar]

...Yeah. [It's a dry croak of a word. He draws himself up as the check is passed to him, and if Chloe even reaches for it she'll get a high-caliber glance over the rim of his glasses.]

Let's not talk about it for a while... [And he means the probability of going home as much as his probable new occupation.]

I'm just not sure what to do when I'm not fighting, anymore.

[totallytrustworthy]

No, I doubt you're alone in that, here. [Luckily, she doesn't bother to reach for it. You brought up a bad subject, so you get to pay, buddy.]

But...if it's fighting you're after, I might know someone who needs the same thing.

[trustycrowbar]

I didn't really mean in the literal sense. What I mean is it seems like I need a cause to work for anymore or I just don't... ngh, whatever. Who is he? I could use the distraction. [And the practice.]

[totallytrustworthy]

I know, I know. You want to fight for a cause you believe in. [Heroes. Pft.]

I never said they were a man.

[trustycrowbar]

[Oh really? He gains a humorless smirk again.]

More like, I don't know how to act without one. Sorry about the presupposition. Who are you talking about, then?

[It couldn't be her. She avoids a fight whenever humanly possible. Right?]

[totallytrustworthy]

A man. [There's her sass again, back in action. Bet you missed it.]

His name's Koltira. Lives a short ways from the city, tries to keep out of the way of our kind.

[trustycrowbar]

[Yeah he kinda did Dammit Chloe--]

I get the feeling there's a reason for that.

[totallytrustworthy]

Now why would you ever think that?

I assume it's because the guy's built for war, and can't seem to get any peace during...well, peace.

[trustycrowbar]

People don't normally avoid contact with the only people they would find solidarity with, unless there's a very good reason for it.

Built for war, huh... is he human?

[totallytrustworthy]

Right again.

He's not exactly...living.

[trustycrowbar]

Oooooookay... the continued animation of formerly-living matter isn't impossible, I guess. Is he UNdead, MOSTLY dead...?

[totallytrustworthy]

Oh I don't know. Dead is dead to me. Is there any real way to tell the difference?

[trustycrowbar]

Depends on the animating force I supppfhgh--how should I know? [Knee-jerk theorizing FTL.] I suppose if he's not too picky about what to call him, I'm not going to question it too hard. For now.

I suppose he was given life again with the sole purpose to fight, and without it he... has problems...?

[totallytrustworthy]

Uh-huh. [She busies herself with draining the last few drops of coffee from her cup, letting Gordon do his...you know, thinking thing.]

Still, from what I've heard he's managed to keep it under control. Probably would've had less trouble if people around here had common sense, but I don't think there's much helping that.

[trustycrowbar]

...And all he needs is a battle from time to time. Nothing else, right?

[totallytrustworthy]

[Chloe shrugs. SHE GUESSES. Maybe?]

Sure.

[trustycrowbar]

That's not very reassuring, Chloe.

[If that guy bites him dracula-style, then he's going to have problems. In lieu of a stake or garlic he'd just have to blow the guy's head off. He wouldn't even apologize while it grew back, either...]

[totallytrustworthy]

Well you could always ask him. He's sane. Usually. Mostly. God knows I don't like to spend my time talking to the less than sane, and even at his worst he's been reasonable.

So...I don't know. Take it or leave it.

[trustycrowbar]

[Well hell, Chloe, when you put it that way you arouse the one sense he can't deny: his curiosity.]

--All right, all right, I'll at least meet the guy. If I go with the pretense of going a few rounds with him, though, I'll have to prepare a little beforehand. A short stop at the Hold, that's all.

[Good thing they were willing to hold onto his "weapon" for him and get it charged up after retrofitting it; HE sure as hell hadn't wanted to see it for a while.]