[OPEN]

[dontpatr0nizeme]

Who: The Freelancers and anyone else
What: Nightmares
When: Through the Nightmare plot
Where: The Mother of Invention
Rating: TBD, potential warning for torture or other really bad things, as RvB Freelancer era isn't very nice

This is the Frigate Mother of Invention. The home base of the UNSC's top secret Project Freelancer. As much as the frigate might have been lively before, now it's full of eerily empty echoing halls, windows into the empty blackness of space, and alarms that seem to be going off all too frequent. The training areas have grown a darker, more sinister air. As for the medical areas and the research labs? You really don't want to go there.

[OOC: Okay, there will be specific nightmare threads within this that I'll be linking on the main post and I will put warnings if any of those might be too bad. If you'd like to join in from outside cast, either hit one of those or start a new thread. We'll be tagging around, and I'll link any new threads you might set up.]

Locker Room (York)  |  Ranking Board (South)  |  Implantation Room (Washington) (Warning, not sure how bad this might be)  |  The Director (Carolina)

Comments

Locker Room

[encryptedlock]

[York's in the locker room, sitting on a bench with his helmet off and his head down with elbows on his knees. It would seem strange to anyone looking that the only names on the lockers are of Freelancers that have since died at least that he believes, but in reality all it means is that Wash's is missing. Two pistols are sitting on the bench next to him. One is loaded with the paralyzing paint used in exercises, and the other with live ammunition. Which is which?]

Ranking Board

[i_got_this]

[It's all about the ranking board, which can be found in basically any sizable room within the Mother of Invention. It's in the training room, the lecture hall, the mess hall, the locker room, the bridge ... everywhere. It's probably even in the bathroom.]

[And in this nightmarish world, it's large. It's taking up whatever entire wall it's on. In addition, it's always moving; the names are always changing.]

[South's staring at the board, tense, waiting to see her name on it but not having any luck yet. She's out of armor; for some reason she can't get in it ... she can't find it, or it's damaged, or it just won't fit.]

Implantation room - Warning: This thread is likely to get ugly.

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[It was an important day for Wash. Very important. But not one he was going into without misgivings. Especially after what happened to Carolina. But he'd been schedule for implantation... And today... He was on the able, being readied for that implantation. But oddly enough, for anyone that might be wandering the dream... The door wasn't locked. The sounds within could be heard outside.

The personnel talking and getting Washington ready... The Counselor saying that Washington is ready. The unit Epsilon was waiting in in his hands...]

[i_got_this]

[South stalks in and kicks a locker, then swears because yeah, that hurts without armor. She's not quite aware of the one missing locker, but she's at least noticed that York's there.]

What's your problem?

[encryptedlock]

[York looks up at her and frowns. His unconscious mind hasn't quite caught up with this dream yet, so it still seems very strange to him that he's here in the locker room at all.]

Hey, leave the poor locker alone. It never hurt anyone.

[As for her question, he shrugs and gestures to the pair of pistols, not touching either yet.]

Just wondering how deliberate it is to sneak live ammo onto the practice floor.

[encryptedlock]

[The other Agents aren't supposed to be able to watch the implantation, but it does help to have Delta on your side. York is just outside, spying on the cams through a HUD interface. He sends a quick text to Wash.]

everything ok in there?

The Director

[youfallback]

[Carolina feels too worn, too thin, exhausted and surprisingly frail. Standing in front of her is the Director, his hands tucked behind him as he stands with his back to her. She knows what's about to happen is bad, that she even though she did her goddamn best it won't be enough. She won't ever be enough and the thought drags a thick spike of pain through her. In front of her is that scoreboard, Texas's name above hers.]

Our next phase is ready to begin, Carolina. We'll be asking you to do a great many things. Some of these things might be... questionable.

[Hearing his voice again sends her heart racing, feeling his disappointment weigh her down, physically tug on her limbs as she tries to find the air to speak, but she doesn't have any. The words that come out of her mouth almost don't feel like their hers.]

I'll do whatever it takes. You've given me everything, I would do anything for you.

[i_got_this]

It certainly hasn't helped, either. [she plops herself down and crosses her arms, looking at the pistols as well.]

What? You thinking of getting a little revenge?

[youfallback]

[Carolina at first pauses at the door to the locker room, eyes finding the scoreboard before she enters, reminding herself of that strict space she kept between them at all times. There's no touching, no fraternizing, it's against protocol and with the Director riding her hard-- no, with her failing the Director, she can't take any chances.

Still, she moves to stand next to the closest locker, arms crossed, unknowingly leaning against the locker with her name on it.]

York.

[youfallback]

[Carolina's not sure when she starts standing next to South but one moment she's simply there, watching as the board changes and blurs and names cross so fast she can see. Hers disappears and reappears so quickly that if she blinks she misses it. Still, even as she stares at the board, she can't bring herself to think of the woman next to her-- can only feel her head filled with thoughts of being number one again, of finding her name above Texas.

But she still manages,] Where's your armor, South?

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[He starts a little, but he's trying to not give York away... He sends a text back. "Finished prep. About to begin. Nervous. But no choice."]

[encryptedlock]

Touchy, touchy.

[He frowns as he regards them.]

It was an accident, South. Accidents happen. But revenge against whoever put the live ammo in there in the first place?

[He doesn't say it, because it's as likely to have been the Director as anyone else, and you can't say things against the Director. But he wouldn't mind a little payback.]

[i_got_this]

[South immediately tenses when Carolina speaks. She hadn't been at all aware of how long they'd been standing side to side, and turned her head just the smallest fraction to glance at the other Freelancer before returning her gaze to the board, taking a moment to try and readjust herself and straighten her back.]

[It was futile, though. Not seeing her name on the board, standing here in loose shirt and sweats while Carolina bore the full weight of her armor ... every little thing seemed to remind her now she wasn't ever going to be good enough to play with the Big Kids.]

Didn't fit. [She tries to sound disinterested, but it's soft and weighted, as if the admission took a great deal to get out.]

[encryptedlock]

Hey, Boss. [He wants to ask if everything's all right with her, but he knows that's about as likely as the sun rising up to greet them while they're still on the ship.]

You going in for another session already?

[encryptedlock]

[...This probably isn't the best thing to send right before the surgery, but York has to be honest with his friend.]

Got a bad feeling. Come get me if you have any trouble. Me and Delta will help.

[i_got_this]

[South picks one up and passes it back and forth between her hands.]

Still revenge.

So do you think we'd still be calling it an accident if Maine'd hit Texas, like he tried?

[encryptedlock]

[He won't argue that.]

No, see, he was aiming for her. That part wouldn't be an accident. I'd call it stupid though.

[i_got_this]

Director seemed like he'd be okay with it.

[She pops out the magazine clip to see if it's the paint or the bullets, then slides it home and sets it back.] It got him up the board, though.

[She looks over to his locker, then frowns and glances at the rest of the nameplates.] What happened to Wash's locker?

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[It really isn't helping. "Thanks, York. I will. Good to know you're there..."]

[encryptedlock]

Are you kidding? He'd freak out the minute she was in any kind of real danger.

[York frowns and grabs his temple at that, looking down at the ground again for a few painful seconds. He would--but how does York know that?]

I don't--it should be here. He's still all right, isn't he?

[encryptedlock]

I got your back.

[And he'll stop texting for the moment, leaning his back against the wall and unable to shake this feeling of impending doom.]

[i_got_this]

Yeah well Maine still got on the board with that stunt. -- and why would he freak out over that? No offense, but he didn't seem at all put out when you got hit.

[She shrugs and leans her back against hte lockers, propping a feet up on the opposite bench.] Far as I know. Not like anyone tells me anything here anyway.

[encryptedlock]

Yes, South. We're all aware that you're bitter about that. Just do well on another mission and you'll be right back up.

Why would he? [He lets go of his head and looks up again, frowning.] I can't really say I know for sure. Just a feeling that I have.

[i_got_this]

[She glares at him with that comment, and pulls further in on herself. She was really hating the fact that she wasn't able to get her armor on; she felt exposed and vulnerable, and that made her tongue sharper than usual.] Not like anyone'd notice.

How'd she get to be so good, anyway? She really a recruit or is she some like, freaking ... Spartan thing?

[dontpatr0nizeme]

[And while he was focusing on the text, they had brought the Epsilon unit over the the table and begun the implantation... Then there's the pain. The overwhelming agony as the memories flood his mind. And the screaming as he starts thrashing around, unable to control himself.]