(Untitled)

[exproject]

[ In hindsight, leaving Epsilon and Cortana alone was probably not the greatest of ideas, but Wash can't be everywhere all the time. Cortana would certainly have the opportunity to get Epsilon or Church alone, if not now then later, and there's nothing that can be done about it

Comments

[overmood]

[ While Wash is off doing his business with the glowy blue death trap, Church leaves the base for a period of time, but only to drop his bag off near the entrance to the cave. He doesn't say anything at all to Epsilon, mostly because he doesn't have jack shit to say, and by the time he comes back, rubbing one hand over his neck, Epsilon is gone and Wash stands in his place.

He pauses when he spots him, hand falling away from his neck to rest loosely at his side. And he doesn't say anything then, either, not at first, just glances over at him, and makes his way across the room, back to the table, so he can sit his lazy ass down.

His fingers flick over the edge of the table, curl around the cool metal, and he tilts his head back, focuses on the ceiling.

And then: ]

Well?

[exproject]

[ Okay. ]

I told her about the Project. About you.

She's decided to help us.

[overmood]

Oh, that sounds nice.

[ Too nice, right, he knows how this shit works. ]

What's the catch, then? Did you sign our souls away? If we're that bitch's bitches now, I'm gonna be pissed, man.

[exproject]

[ BRACING ]

She wants to contact the Master Chief and enlist his help.

[overmood]

[ ACTUALLY LAUGHS. ]

Wow. How dense does that broad think you are.

[exproject]

[ hnngk ]

I agreed to it.

[overmood]

[ . . . ???

DOES NOT COMPREHEND. 8( ]

[exproject]

[ so soft ]

I know, I know. Don't give me that look.

She'd already sent a distress signal before I could jam it. For good or ill he's already been contacted. Now it's whether he's going to be hunting us believing that we're terrorist criminals who have stolen Cortana, or people that she'll be vouching for.

[overmood]

[ Oh my god. Oh my goddd. No, he doesn't want to hear this.

Church leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and runs his hands over his face as Wash talks. He has a cold, sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, the kind that probably won't go away for a good few days, but other than that, he's somehow -- not surprised.

He sounds reasonably calm when he speaks next, his voice muffled against his hands. ]

Regardless of all that shit, he's going to be pissed when he first comes across us, man, you fucking know that. We're the ones that jacked his Best Friend Forever, and she's the one that sent him a distress signal.

[exproject]

[ Watching him quietly ]

We could leave her here and run. But I think she would find us. If she hadn't heard an explanation, she would want to know how we managed to kidnap her from across the galaxy. Now that she knows, I don't believe she'll leave it alone either.

[overmood]

[ Church shakes his head against his hands, not looking up. ]

It's too late now, dude. Crafty bitch could probably track us, if she wanted.

[exproject]

Probably.

All the same, we should work out some kind of fallback plan for you and Epsilon.

And-- I apologize.

[overmood]

[ hhrnghk ]

Don't apologize to me.

[exproject]

It wasn't a decision I should have made for you.

[overmood]

[ He looks up from his hands, then, squints down at a spot on the floor, and then sits back, smoothing his fingers down over his knees. ]

Shit happens sometimes. I'm a grown ass man, I can take it.

[exproject]

[ ...

Oh so now Church is going to act something like an adult. And maybe, MAYBE Wash sounds a tiny bit pissed off. ]

Then what would you like to tell her about us?

Because she's going to ask.