𝛃-001

[inmylight_comdr]

When does he get off calling a demolition op Priority One -- [Kat slows to a stop, her robotic hand immediately dropping to the pistol affixed to her thigh armor, but she doesn't do more than brush her fingers against the surface

Comments

[encryptedlock]

[York's been running up and down a LOT of stairs double-checking nameplates for Tres and he hears something come on...over his helmet radio?

Huh, that's weird.

He responds almost instinctually.]

Noble Two, this is Freelancer York, currently on floor ten of Cair Paradisa. Guessing you were in the middle of something and arrived in a castle?

[inmylight_comdr]

[Ah good, that crackle through her helmet is at least reassuring.]

Pretty much. Tell me everything you know about this ... Cair Paradisa, did you say?

Moving to intercept now. [She's taking the odd journal - which she's just noticed also has her name on it - and locating a doorway and staircase into the castle proper]

[encryptedlock]

All right, heading up. [They'll probably meet around floor 12.]

It's kind of a long story, but "residential castle in a pocket dimension" make sense to you? We don't really know how we got here, and everyone goes home eventually - but we have no control over the timing.

[inmylight_comdr]

[Floor 12 it is. She's sizing you up as she strides down the hall, tipping the Air Assault helmet in assessment of his armor.]

'Freelancer', you said? Name and number, Spartan. I'm not familiar with your callsign.

Had I been in a slipspace malfunction I might believe you. Still, this is out of the ordinary in ways I can't explain yet. You'll have to do better.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[Have a rather annoyed open radio response.] Noble Two, this is Recovery One of Project Freelancer, and you should consider yourself lucky that the AI Omega is not in a state to attempt to use your radio to try to get a new host.

My location is none of your damn business, and if you're smart, you'll find the nice journal the castle gives us to communicate through safely and use that exclusively.

[No, he doesn't care who she is or where she might rank at home. Though there may be a little worry the he's trying to hide about he possibility that she might be UNSC personnel familiar with the investigation at home.]

Radio - Secure Channel

[inmylight_comdr]

Recovery One, you will tell me everything you know about this AI Omega. [She'll be comparing it with the files York sent her, which were pretty in depth themselves, but it's possible this new person can offer a different perspective, considering he brought it up himself and therefore might have had personal experience with it]

I'm making it my damn business, and I don't see any reason to trust this book enough to use it exclusively. [There's a small pause as she shifts through the files York supplied her with, specifically Security Details and Floor Map] You're Freelancer Washington, room 1103. [She's adding her own notes here about you, and they're not pretty; uncooperative, patronizing, generally bad attitude. What you tell her about Omega may trump that, but right now she's on the fence about you.]

Radio - Secure Channel

[dontpatr0nizeme]

I don't have clearance to tell you everything. [And he doesn't plan to tell her some of the more personal details. There's something odd about how he's speaking about Omega. Something very close to fear.] Omega was the AI that was assigned to Agent Texas. It has the capability to jump hosts through helmet radios, and is well known for doing it. Some of the hosts have ended up with severe mental scarring, as well as damaging AIs that it has come into close contact with. It and a number of other AIs are currently being contained for the time being while their current host is recovering.

I don't like it either, but I'd rather not see Omega find someone else with no defenses to hijack. The capture units I have built from scratch are still untested. [Pauses] You've talked to York. How much has he given you on me and the Meta?

Radio - Secure Channel forever!

[inmylight_comdr]

I can make clearance if I need to. [Meaning; she'll hack your shit if she thinks you're keeping something important from her. As it is, she's marking your fear as possible personal emotional stress related to the AI in question, but otherwise the information you supply is in accordance with what she has from York.]

Foxtrot-12 has given me far more on this Meta than yourself, Recovery One. You want to tell me why that is?

[bogusmagic]

[since that radio broadcast is open, she's picking it up in her head]

.....

[will go get her journal out and write in this page number]

Dictated - Filtered to this person]

[inmylight_comdr]

Appreciated. Requesting clarification on points 5 and 7.

Also dictated and filtered to this person

[bogusmagic]

Every lifeform that arrives in this region of space has a memory, attribute or object of importance removed from their being. This is commonly referred to as a "permanent loss". "Temporary losses" can also occur, and typically last one week to one month.

Non-corporeal beings are utilized by Cair Paradisa for domestic services such as cooking and cleaning.

Dictated/Filtered Forever! :3

[inmylight_comdr]

Assuming this is not anything retrievable, given the nature of the rest of the castle that I've learned so far?

How convenient.

Identify yourself, friend. I may have more questions for you later on.

[domeanthings]

[Oh hey, a newbie to be cranky at. Tex is more than willing to jump at this opportunity; being bodiless has made her...testy.]

This is Freelancer Tex. And you're stuck in an incredibly stupid magic castle. Congratulations about that. If you think it's bad now, wait until you turn into something.

Dictated

[inmylight_comdr]

[Dryly] Thank you for the rundown, Freelancer Tex.

[A little wary, she's seen the most and least helpful of the Freelancer lot so far, and is wondering where you fit in,] You have anything new to tell me?

[domeanthings]

Depends. Did anybody tell you about how the castle likes to screw with us on holidays? Halloween's coming up.

[inmylight_comdr]

No one said anything specifically, but it only makes sense. What can I expect?