LOG: Anywhere you go, there you are

[mercenarymayhem]

Who: Anyone who's out and about town
What: Mingling
Where: The business district and casino
When: A fairly normal day
Warnings: Please warn as needed

It's a rare day, one with clear skies and empty air, and everyone seems to be out and about, shopping and stopping in to various places of entertainment to make the most of it. Some people are even seen without their helmets, a risky behavior but one which they chose take the luxury of indulging in.

Today's curious though, for it's the day that Jimmy settles his newest acquisition into a basement room of the casino. The Transponser, a teleportation device, left to malfunction until the inventor who sold it to him can be located again, for yes, he's made himself scarce after this deception. Apparently getting money for his work was more attractive than perfecting the technology behind it.

In any case, it's a day for socializing and getting to know friends better and meet neighbors.

Comments

[logicunlocked]

He can sense it when someone's looking at him through one of those helmets—there's something about the angle of the head that he's gotten used to reading back at Freelancer. And this black-helmeted person is definitely looking at him. He turns, then gestures a little with his head as if to say, 'get a load of this place.'

The black helmet doesn't tell him much—Tex wears black, but he doesn't think she'd be caught dead on a foreign planet without the rest of her armor. And there are other Freelancers it could be. "I hope you got here long enough before I did that you know what's going on," he says.

[baruthumos]

Omega makes sure he's between this stranger and Theta, fold his arms and looks the armor up and down. He probably lose a fight. The other man's words make no sense. Nothing is going on, as far as Omega knows. "Not really," he has to admit. "Why, did something blow up?" Maybe this guy's bomb squad? "It must have been important if they ruined everyone's clear day."

[trustandfireworks]

Theta is very content to stay behind Omega, one hand flexing at his side as he tries not to grab hold of his brother's shirt. He's eleven years old, he's not a baby anymore! ...That armor's really freaky. And big. Meg's strong, he knows it, but that guy looks like he's about to go fight in a war. He slips a bit closer to the safety Omega provides, peering out from behind him.

[logicunlocked]

He cocks his head slightly. He does recognize that voice, or he thinks he does, but it doesn't make sense. None of the AI fragments can possess a body, as far as he knows. "Well, I never saw an explosion, but maybe that explains it," he says. "But you sure sound like you've been here long enough to get used to things. What's with this Transponser thing?"

[baruthumos]

Omega is confused, and Theta doesn't seem too happy, and he's starting to get angry. "What under the sun is a Transposer, you fool?" he asks. "And why are you wandering around in a large tin can?" Forget bomb squad. This man's clearly an idiot. "Do you have a name?" He looks over his shoulder to check on Theta, who hasn't said a word in far too long.

[trustandfireworks]

A small smile crosses Theta's hidden face at 'tin can' for a brief moment. Sometimes Omega's anger provides small bits of funniness... providing the anger's not aimed at him of course. Feeling eyes on him, Theta glances up to see Meg looking back at him and he nods, assuring him with a quiet "I'm okay".

[logicunlocked]

"Okay, you're not who I thought you were," York says, making a dismissive motion ith his shoulder. "People call me York."

[baruthumos]

"People call you York?" Omega repeats. "I'd call you a banana. A large ... metal ... banana." Hey, they can't all be winners. "Wait. Who did you think I was? And what's with the banana suit?"

[trustandfireworks]

This time Theta can't help but giggle. The man, York, might still be scary and inmitidating, but it's less so now, especially after the banana comment. He shifts away from Omega a little, feeling a bit braver, though he stays close enough to quickly retreat again if need be.

[logicunlocked]

"It's just what we wear," he says. "It's very slimming." He shakes his head. "Who I thought you were doesn't matter because you are definitely not him. Omega's an AI and as far as I can tell, you're human."

[baruthumos]

"Yes," Omega drawls, "Last I checked I was human, banana-boy." Theta's moved out from behind him a little, a good sign. Omega does not like people who scare his brother, as a general rule. "Wait. Who's we? Are there more of you? Perhaps someone else I could talk to? Someone a little quicker on the uptake?"

[trustandfireworks]

Theta's been staring at the man for a while now, taking in the armor that covers his body. It looks like it's made of the same material as their helmets, so he really hopes this guy doesn't turn out violent.

Then his eyes widen and he darts back behind Omega, not even smiling at his brother's next banana quip. He tugs Omega's arm to get his attention.

'How does he know your name?'

[logicunlocked]

He looks from the man to the boy and back again. "You're Omega. And he's Theta. What the hell is going on? How did you two get bodies?"

[baruthumos]

Omega can't quite parse that. How does anybody get a body? More disturbingly, did he just say they did not always have bodies? There is a whole lot wrong here and Omega doesn't like any of it. "How do you know those names?" he growls. "Who sent you?"

Omega checks and makes sure there's a clear shot for Theta to the nearest storefront. Not too far, lots of people there, surely he'll be safe with witnesses. He silently points it out to his brother, in case York isn't on the level and Theta needs to get out of there quickly.

[trustandfireworks]

Theta glances across to where Omega gestures and nods once, showing that he's seen and understood. But he really doesn't want to leave his brother, especially when he could be in danger. But what could Theta do? He doesn't know how to fight and Meg might get even worse hurt trying to protect him. Better run then.

But not yet, not until there's no other option. He stares up, wide eyed at the man who claims to know them and yet doesn't. What he's saying doesn't make sense, maybe he's mad?

[logicunlocked]

"No one sent me, man, the transporter in the basement of the casino is malfunctioning, apparently. No one asked me, I just got dumped here. And I know the names because I know that's who you are. I've met you before. Just not...here."

[baruthumos]

Omega is torn between believing this guy is just an idiot, or he's stalling until the other agents get into position. "Look, you tiny ball of sunshine and daffodils, any time you feel like making sense is about ten minutes too late, understand? Where do you think you've met us before?"
Theta understood, Omega knows, and he's staying close. Good.

[trustandfireworks]

The silly nicknames are out, that's not a good sign. Theta may usually find the silly nicknames funny when they're not being directed at him, but right now he's just scared enough that hearing one makes him draw a little closer because silly nicknames mean Omega's angry and an angry Omega is a protective one. He looks around for any sign that the man is not alone, but there's no other armored people walking the streets that he can see.

[logicunlocked]

He raises a hand to shoulder height. "Hey man. Last time I saw the two of you, you were AI units assigned to other soldiers. I just lost my assignment to Delta last night, if that helps you understand where I'm coming from. I just wanted to know why you're here and why I'm here and what the hell is going on."

[baruthumos]

Omega's heart stops when this strange, heavily armored guy mentions his brother, and what's more his brother being lost. No, that does not help him understand at all. He's almost ready to grab Theta and get away from this man -his brothers assigned to soldiers? That sounds like it could get real dangerous real fast. "How, in the name of all that is holy," Omega begins slowly, "do I get through your neutrino thick skull that I have no idea what you are talking about, what you think we know, and why we shouldn't just leave you dead in a bathtub full of lye."

Omega does not much care for threats to his family, and even if this guy is on the level, what if people are looking for him?

[trustandfireworks]

He knows Delta. He knows Delta and he said he was lost! Theta's clinging to Omega now, no longer caring about how childish it makes him look. He wants so badly to open a channel to his second oldest brother, hear his smooth voice tell Theta that he's okay, that this man is mad or mistaken. But he doesn't dare. What if the man - York - is right?

'Meg, I want to leave,' he begs, his fingers tightening in his brother's shirt.

[logicunlocked]

His head tilts skeptically. "Fine, whatever, where's Tex?" Tex always kept Omega in line...well enough to keep him from dying, anyway.

[baruthumos]

Omega puts his arm around Theta's shoulders. As soon as they're done dealing with this lunatic, he's calling Delta.
"Who the hell is Tex?"

[trustandfireworks]

Theta feels a bit better in Omega's grip, but he still wants to leave and he wants to leave now. He tugs at Omega's arm, silently pleading that they leave.

[logicunlocked]

"Fuck, man. It's obvious whatever world this is, it has nothing to do with mine. Or...something, but not in any way that makes sense." He makes an exasperated motion with his arms. "It's obvious you don't have the answers I'm looking for, so I'll just get out of your face now."