dappered | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ Cortana doesn't sleep. Ever. Which is maybe why she had spent a good majority of her time watching John sleep instead, from her chip on the table next to him. She didn't need sleep, ever, got along just fine without it, and she had never been really sure if that was one of the quirks or the downsides of being inhuman.

At least she doesn't miss much.

Still, this isn't something that should have happened. Whatever it is, whatever it was, Cortana doesn't understand how she could be in one place one second, staring out the hangar of the Forward Unto Dawn, and then -- here, the next. There's no lapse of what she would call consciousness, no falter in her program, she's just there, and then she's not, and for once, Cortana doesn't understand at all.

The sun is stretched high above her, high above the chip from which she's currently standing on, fingers outstretched as if waiting for something. It takes her a moment to look down, to look around, and then finally, to figure out where it is she's at.

Her commands are a little shaky, her various programs slightly off-balance from whatever apparent instantenous journey she had just made, but it doesn't take her long to determine she's not far at all from Valhalla.

Which is. Great. Just what she needed. ]

Chief? . . . John?

[ And, of course, she's met with silence. ]

Scanning and analyzing area --

Retreating back into chip. [ And with that, the holograph disappears back into the data chip, hiding her under the grassy green field. ] Unidentifiable lifeforms. Total, 7, possibly more. Analyzing further. Human. Non-human. Non-human. Human. Human. Human. Human. Closest human lifeform, approximately three-fourths of a mile away.

Damnit.

[ But she had no choice, either way. ]

Releasing distress beacon. Chief, if you can hear me, standby.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

-- CTN 0452-9?

Master fucking Chief's AI?

Unless there's another one floating around somewhere.

[ way too calm ]

We're taking her hostage.

Wash. Do you have any idea who the fuck it is you just stole from?

I didn't steal her! She just-- showed up! Out of nowhere! Just like--

[ Stop. Breathe. ]

It doesn't matter. She's here and we need to deal with it and this is what we are going to do, understand? I will handle it.

He's not human -- ?

[ She won't have to turn very far, because the second that blue glow starts to take shape Wash is between her and Church, physically cutting off her line of sight.

As if that would help.

His voice is almost pleasant, though, totally at odds with the battle ready stance he's taken up. ]

You don't need to worry about him.

Just where do you plan on taking me, anyway? I'm all for a much-needed vacation, but now's not really the time.

-- Ah, I understand. You just want to leave. Your location's been compromised?

So distrustful.

With all due respect, miss Cortana, if our positions were reversed, you'd be doing the exact same thing.

[ He turns to look over his shoulder at Church. ]

You've got packing to do. Calm down and get to it.

Bad day?

[ neutrally ]

You could say that. Your arrival certainly didn't make it any easier.

[ And. Maybe it's a small blessing that she doesn't seem to recognize the name 'Church.' Maybe she wouldn't anyway. Wash hadn't fully understood himself just how much of the Project had been kept hidden from the UNSC until he'd been arrested. ]

You definitely know how to make a girl feel welcome.

Just how familiar are you with AIs, Washington?

[ Oh. ]

[ His fists clench involuntarily, and he turns abruptly from her to start fiddling with the cannon all over the computer console. One portable EMP, coming up. Apparently they might need it. ]

Is there a reason you'd like to know, Cortana?

Well, I'm thinking either you're not real happy to see me because you're wanted by UNSC, which is definitely reasonable enough, or . . . well -- then there's him. Who isn't human. I don't know what he is. Maybe an AI. Maybe not.

Is it really UNSC you're running from?

...

He's. Special.

We're running from everyone and everything that wants him. Including the UNSC, since they've proven themselves... untrustworthy.

-- Then he does belong to UNSC?

[ snapping ]

He doesn't belong to anyone except himself.

I just mean, UNSC created him?

Yes.

And does that have something to do with Project Freelancer?

[ Oh this is not a conversation Wash particularly wants to have. ]

He was given to the Project for their use.

For their use? As I was used for UNSC?

Or differently?

[ Hnnnngk.

Tightly. ]

Differently.

I'm going to ask you for security codes in exchange for returning you to the UNSC unharmed. If you choose not to cooperate, well.

I guess I'm not sure in what condition you'll be returning.

Do I seem uncooperative to you?

[ A forced exhale. ]

You're the Master Chief's partner. You know very well that the odds are in your favor, since all you have to do is wait until he or someone else from the UNSC hunts us down and executes us.

I would humor my captor, too, if I was certain he was probably going to die horribly for daring to steal a hugely valuable military asset.

If UNSC wanted you executed, they would have already done it by now. And the Chief's the least of your concerns.

I doubt you're an awful man, Washington, and I don't revel in the death of humankind, no matter who it is.