thisavrou_log | june intro log overflow

Pretty cool about it!

[ From what he remembers! ]

With Epsilon?

No, no—Epsilon was the only one not with us, actually, as part of the Meta.

I remember the bit you talked about, where the Meta picked Delta up. I might have found out why he was still alive but things were so hectic... I never knew the part about South having him.

Oh. You were there.

[ Oh. Um.

He takes a step back. ] So ... what do you remember last, Tex?

Washington setting off an EMP. Church and I being interrupted when we were trying to have a goddamn reunion.

I woke up here. Well, not here. On the Moira.

[ She watches him for a moment. ]

Are you worried I'm going to do something, Caboose?

Maybe.

[ He nods. ]

Right. I was getting to that part. Yup. The EMP. I was able to take Epsilon and run away, but everyone else... everyone else went away. [ He hugs Freckles as he summarizes the last bit of the story. ] But Epsilon wasn't able to forget. And ... [ Um. That's another story, isn't it? Another long one. But Tex knows up to that part, so that's probably good. ] I told him lots of stories so that he'd not feel lonely. Then he was able to remember Church and was able to be Church, again!

[ She nods at first, then frowns. ]

Wait—what do you mean, Epsilon was able to be Church?

Epsilon said that he remembered everyone.

[ Memory is the key. ]

He remembered the Alpha, so he became Church.

No, he didn't. He didn't become Church. Only Church is Church.

[ Okay, does that seem to upset her? Maybe it does. She doesn't like the idea of Epsilon becoming some kind of counterfeit Church—even if he did 'remember' him. ]

[ He takes a step back.

Um. Um. ]

No, it's ... it's Church. [ Maybe. It's wrong not to say that, because Epsilon wanted to be called Church, too, right? ]

Maybe he got you to believe that bullshit but don't try to sell it to me. Epsilon is Epsilon. Church is Church.

[ Ah. Tex is being mean! ]

Epsilon wants to be called Church, though, and it makes him happy and, and he's making memories with us. Memory is the key, and it's nice to have Church back and not have him gone.

Church is gone.

[ She snaps the words out at him. It's unclear even in her own mind whether she's talking about what happened back at Freelancer HQ or the fact that Church is not here in this universe any longer. Goddamn that AI.

And Caboose was wise to step back because Tex advances half a step when she continues. ]

Keep it straight. Epsilon came from Church but that's not who he is.

[ That's hard.

Epsilon said that he is Church now, right? But it makes Tex angry to hear that and he doesn't like arguing with Tex. Tex always argues with fists! Sometimes! Sometimes, it's not that and when it's not, it's not good! Beating someone with their own body. Eep. ]

O, Okay.

[ She acknowledges his response with a proud jut of her chin and turns back the direction they had initially been facing. She starts walking again, but her stride is more purposeful, more forceful. It's as though she's in a hurry to get somewhere, even though in actuality she's liable to get back on her motorcycle and head off at any time if Caboose gets on her nerves any more. ]

[ He makes a soft, scared noise as he follows after her. He isn't sure if he's supposed to start up his story, again, but he's happy to walk in silence. Silence is good. His shoulders hunch a little as he isn't sure about the idea of thinking that Church is gone now. Gone ... forever. Isn't that for too long? ]

[ She glances back, head tilted sideways, frowning. It takes some doing to make one of those suits of armor look like the person inside is upset, but that's how Caboose looks. That must mean he's pretty upset.

Well. Ask her if she cares. She keeps walking. ]

Tex, are you mad?

[ Because it seems like that is an important question to ask. He does stop so that he could make a shuffling step backward. ] We're friends! Friends can talk about what makes us mad, right?

[ She sighs, turning and stopping along with him, softening at the mention of the word 'friend'. She never quite put the simulation soldiers into that camp in her mind, yet...that's really what they were, weren't they? That's why she was so protective of them, why she wanted them kept as safe as possible. That's why she had been unwilling to let Omega kill them, at the last there.

So she looks at him, and tilts her head a little, eyes cast downward for a second. ]

I know what Epsilon was. So I know he remembers being Church.

[ She looks back at Caboose. ]

It's not right for him to try to be Church though.

I, I guess.

[ Maybe. ]

All of the AI were really hurt, weren't they? Like really, really hurt. [ That's why they fragmented. He looks at Freckles and pets the muzzle of the assault rifle. ] I don't... I don't understand. It's... 'cause the person who made Church was Church, too. So, that's, that's the part of the story that I don't know. Not really.

[ But he straightens and says: ] But that's the part of the story that's for Church and you, right? Not Epsilon or anyone else? So, that's for you two, and so it's okay if we don't know that part of the story. Right?

[ It didn't really work that way, not with Epsilon in the mix, but Tex thinks this is the best Caboose is going to understand. So she nods, and turns, looking upward for a moment, before continuing on. ]

june intro log overflow

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