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[deardirect0r]

Leave a message... likely you'll be ignored, but valiant effort on your part.

(Voice/Text/Video/Action)

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[deardirect0r]

If you insist.

[He will arrive as soon as he's able to convince Caitlin to let him borrow her car. Given the situation, he'd rather arrive early than late. Not that he doesn't trust Tex... but no, he doesn't fully trust her. She's turned on him once already and it's not something he's going to forgive easily.]

Action

[ghostthatlingers]

[He doesn't have to worry about it this time. She wants to give him the benefit of the doubt, a chance to explain himself before she rushes into anything. Everything here is too unknown for her to want to make enemies at the drop of the hat.

He easily gets there before her given that she's forced to rely on public transit. She sees that he already has a table and slips into the seat across from him.]

I was wondering if you'd show.

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[deardirect0r]

I almost didn't.

[It's not until she sits and looks at him that he spots the black eye. Concern fills his face for a few seconds, then the carefully neutral expression returns.]

What happened?

[ghostthatlingers]

[She shakes her head.]

York found out where you were living. You've moved, right?

[deardirect0r]

York. [It's hard to keep the icy hatred from edging his voice.]

I'm not in the house anymore. Stay here, I'll be right back. [He goes off to get ice and a first aid kit.]

[ghostthatlingers]

[She rolls her eyes and busies herself with the menu. She has a feeling what he went off to grab and her suspicions are confirmed when he returns.]

I don't need any of that crap. It's not that bad.

[deardirect0r]

You're a doctor now? [He raises an eyebrow and moves to her side.]

Hold still. [Carefully he starts looking her over and treating any abrasions she may have. Her body is new and he doesn't know if Bifrons has some way to enhance her immune system to cope with that fact or if her immune system is totally naive. Something that was one of the issues with flash clones. Immunity is learned, not genetic.]

[ghostthatlingers]

[She makes a face and winces, forcing herself to stay put as he works. She remembers having cuts and bruises, but this is her first real experience with actual pain. In her line of work, this won't be the last time she gets injured. It's strange sorting between feelings she remembers and how they feel in the here and now.

She grumbles:] Are you done?

[deardirect0r]

Just about... [He finishes and hands her the ice, wrapped in a cloth napkin.] ... Now, hold that gently to your face and it will bring down the swelling.

[He gives her one last look over and swallows down the rage churning within him. He knows she's not Allison, but seeing her hurt, knowing who'd done it... He takes his seat and focuses on the menu. Not that he's hungry.]

[ghostthatlingers]

[She rolls her eyes, but does as he instructs. She hates being babied like this, though she knows it's for the best. Her eyes are on the menu now because while he isn't hungry, she is.]

So, what is this about you working for them?

[deardirect0r]

Hmmmn? [he doesn't look up from his menu.] I assume you mean Bifrons. Yes, I'm working in one of their labs. Before you ask, I don't have a lot of options.

I'm an old man, what else am I going to do for employment?

[ghostthatlingers]

Not to work for the people that dragged us here and did who knows what. [She's being careful to mind how she refers to said people considering the district they are in and she motions vaguely to her back to indicate the ports.]

What are you doing for them?

[deardirect0r]

Somehow I doubt they'd appreciate it if I'd refused. I'm no more fond of the situation than you are.

[He keeps his voice low, his tone conversational. Nothing more than a friendly chat with an old dear friend.]

What they expect me to do, is set up an AI lab for them... what I am doing, is learning their programming languages and how their technology works.

They hold all the cards, if I'm going to figure out how we were brought here and what they are planning, their weaknesses... I need to get into their good graces.

[ghostthatlingers]

[The AI lab part is what makes her uncomfortable. She frowns and shifts in her seat.]

What do they want with AI? With us?

[deardirect0r]

I don't know. [He glances at her over the menu. It's only natural that she'd be nervous about the prospect.]

But they've procured a substantial collection of my work and now they want the knowledge behind it... I want to find out why.

[ghostthatlingers]

And they know we're here.

[The uneasiness only grows and she sets her menu down.] Are they making you help them?

[deardirect0r]

They find you all very fascinating... I suppose I should be flattered by that.

[He motions to one of the waitstaff.]

Let's just say, they won't be inclined to let me leave. [They're too clever for overt threats but he'd gotten the message. Play nice or else.]

Now, we should order something so we don't seem suspicious... don't you think.

[ghostthatlingers]

I'm not very hungry. [Her words are a light grumble, but when a staff member comes over she places an order for a grilled chicken salad and a cup of coffee. It's been a while since her last meal and she'll stomach what she can.

She won't speak again until they're alone.] You're not pulling this out your ass, right?

[deardirect0r]

[He orders the same. Then gives her comment a look that can only be translated as "really?".]

The upside is that I can find out much more from the inside than I could otherwise... and no, I don't plan on just cheerfully helping them along. I should be able to stall the process for a good long while before they start becoming suspicious.

[and in the meantime he can study their AI technology and who knows what else.]

[ghostthatlingers]

[He should know by now that she's as serious as can be with comments like that.]

You sure? I don't want you getting in over your head. From what I've heard, they don't mess around.

[deardirect0r]

I've dealt with the UNSC and ONI all these years, I think I can handle our hosts for a while.

Anyway, it's not like I have much choice in the matter at this point. One way or another, I'm committed.

[ghostthatlingers]

You don't have to do this alone.

[Their coffee arrives and she welcomes to warm and brief distraction as she leans back in her seat and sips at her cup.]

[deardirect0r]

Don't I? [He looks down at his cup, rolls it between his hands.]
I think we've established what happens when you do something for my benefit.

[What happens if she helps him and the others find out. Another black eye? Or something worse?]

[ghostthatlingers]

[She rolls her eyes.]

I'm not helping you take them down. They don't want anything happening to Theta or Delta. [Just as much as she didn't want anything happening to Church.]

[deardirect0r]

As if I would do anything to harm either of them. [The very idea is insulting. He created them! ... just like Alpha... and Carolina.

He goes quiet and watches the coffee swirl in the now still cup.]