text;

[bloodbathing]

[ "Augusta" is the name attached to this TAB. The picture is of curved white metal with a stripe of dark orange — leg armor, for any who may recognize it. ]

UNSC. Marines. RT-636.

[ In order: the military Maine knows, the branch he's in, and the hull classification symbol for the Mother of Invention.

[ North insisted on gathering intel while keeping a low profile. Maine's only interest is in returning to their mission. This is the result of compromise. ]

Comments

text;

[bloodbathing]

[ The thought of leaving the military, period, is a strange one to him. But not everyone stays in. Who knew Project Freelancer allowed people ... A.I.s ... to leave? ]

When?

Re: text;

[a_shadow]

[ At some point it occurred to her that she shouldn't spill everything about the Project's fall to him, so she decides not to give details. ]

When I good and felt like it

text;

[bloodbathing]

[ For a moment, Maine tries to imagine what it would be like to just feel like leaving.

[ He fails. ]

Why?

text;

[a_shadow]

Turned out we had different goals

text;

[bloodbathing]

[ Again, the answer gives him pause. The goal is to protect humanity. To win the war. Nothing is more important than that. ]

Your goals?

text;

[a_shadow]

[ His direct questioning makes her very uncomfortable. She knows what he thought they were doing during the Project—and considering when he seems to have come from, he doesn't realize they were being lied to.

Combine this with her recent talk with her boyfriend about sharing too much over the network, and she balks. ]

I don't want to talk about it over this thing

text;

[bloodbathing]

[ Sorry, Tex. Maine is about as subtle as a brick to the face. For now, he relents. In his experience, pushing her doesn't work. ]

Roger.

[ On to the next question. Or rather, on to seeking confirmation. ]

I can't talk?

text;

[a_shadow]

Not where I'm from

text;

[bloodbathing]

[ ... Well. That's. A thing. ]

Shitty.

text;

[a_shadow]

Yeah. It sure is.

They getting you squared away in some quarters or something?

text;

[bloodbathing]

[ He'll ask how it happened, eventually. Once it sets in. ]

With Carolina.

text;

[a_shadow]

Good.

With all of us here I think we ought to have a get-together of some type.

text;

[bloodbathing]

[ A get-together? Maine's got an immediate suggestion for that. ]

Drinks.

[ He sure as fuck needs one. Or twenty. ]

text;

[a_shadow]

Yeah. That'll be good.

I'd invite everyone over but I'd have to check whether that's okay first.

text;

[bloodbathing]

Why?

text;

[a_shadow]

[ She'd been sort of avoiding mentioning Daniel, but oh, well. ]

My boyfriend's very private. He doesn't even want to hire a housekeeper.

text;

[bloodbathing]

[ ... Boyfriend. Who Texas is living with. And apparently she cares what he thinks about her inviting teammates over.

[ Make that old teammates, since she also defected from Project Freelancer.

[ Oh, and she's a goddamn A.I.

[ Maine is ... so done learning new things about her today. Goddamn. What is this personal information bullshit. ]

Roger.

text;

[a_shadow]

I'm sure I'll be getting a hold of you about some plans soon.

text;

[bloodbathing]

I'll be here.

[ Whether he likes it or not. ]