singularityderp | Dark Future Meme

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meme

Dark Future Meme

Ten years later, humanity and the synthetic life on the station are at odds
Hypatia has inducted as many citizens of Sacrosanct into a private military and launched
an all-out war against organic life and the people of Asphodel.
Some were kept on the station as captives, some escaped down planet-side
to become part of the resistance, and countless others were re-purposed into
Hypatia's willing slaves.

Now, tensions are at a peak and both sides are preparing for a throwdown. Skirmishes break out on the station and planet. Many of Hypatia's prisoners have been freed, but many more have fallen to the clutches of reprogramming.

Where will you be?

How this works:
-If you are synthetic or part-synthetic, OR if you have special armor (Looking at you, Spartans, Troncast, EVERY ROBOT EVER) you are a target for re-purpose.
You can still have escaped down to the planet, but she'll be after you. Going to the station is dangerous, once you enter her wide-area-network you are at risk of being hacked

-If you are fully organic, you are either dead, kept prisoner and made to work on the station, or part of the resistance on Asphodel.

-Anything in-between? You decide. Be creative with this.

-Fill out the form below to give us an idea of what your character is up to, what happened to them etc. Thread with each other! RP it out!

-Also, bring in your extra journals! There won't be the same people on the station ten years from now! If you're planning to app someone, or just have something interesting lying around, toss them in!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He knows it's stupid, but he can't stop himself. He's spent countless nights on this and he wants to ensure it works. It has to work. Delta's worth any effort, of course, but--

A creak from down the hall makes him jerk and pause ( nothing there, everyone's out, aren't they, so logically-- ) and then he continues, humming faintly under his breath as he hooks it all together and just looks it over. He has to talk to him. Has to at least try and get through, has to save him-- he has to try, goddamnit.

Holding the tiny chip carefully, he lifts it up, and starts to bring it to the nape of his neck, sliding it home. ]

... D?

[A connection is supposed to feel like mercury, a cool chill of integrating minds and, especially with these two, a gentle filling-in of all the little nooks and crannies they'd become accustomed to over the years.

Of course, that was long before Hypatia had taken him, accelerated the rampancy process, and corrupted every shard of feeling Delta had once possessed. Delta answered the call all right, more than willing to gather information on three dangerous members of the Resistance, and remembering almost nothing of his former self.

This is like salt over a wound, boiling water, molten iron instead of quicksilver--]

[ He'd known York wasn't himself -- they all knew it, whether or not they wanted to admit it to his face. Losing Delta had changed York -- maybe not as much as Epsilon had Wash, but far more than something he could just pass off as nothing.

He'd been trying to keep it together, though, they all had, and any lapses York had were understandable given the circumstances. Even so, Wash can't help but think he should have fucking known York would try something like this, no matter how much he wishes he wouldn't.

He doesn't think about it, doesn't have the time to -- all he has to see is the chip plugged into the slot in the back of his head, the wires coming out of it, and Wash is behind him in a moment, yanking it out and squeezing York's shoulder tight. ]

Son of a bitch--

[ He wants to be back to normal but it's not really possible, not when his head is jumbled and all he needs wants needs wants--

D e l t a

The noise York makes is almost a scream save for the way he bites it back, choking on it and gripping the table hard enough that it creaks and his knuckles go white. He's never hit either of them before but from the way he whirls, it's clear he almost does, only stopping when he sees it's Wash. ]

What the hell is wrong with you-- I had him I could have had him in my head and back and you messed it up. Wash, I need him, goddamnit--

[She'd been putting the groceries away - everything may have gone to shit, they may be scraping by just trying to keep each other from falling apart, but some things haven't changed. They can't live on just the cans and cans of nonperishables stored away in the basement, and sometimes, they need to go out and buy fresh food, just like before.

Well, maybe not just like before. They'd paid for the fruits and veggies she's stowing away with ammo, not cash.

Except she turns after closing the fridge - thank god for the generator - to find that Wash has disappeared from the kitchen, and before she can wonder where he's gone there's yelling from down the hall.

She dashes for it, swinging to a stop in the doorway and still holding the doorjamb tight, staring in bewilderment.]

What the hell-?

He's not here!

[ Wash only spares Sarah the slightest glance as she comes to the dor, all of his attention on York. He reaches out to grab his other shoulder automatically, trying to keep him from jerking up and out of his grip and ignoring the way it tugs at the ache in his shoulder, still bruised from the mess they'd been in last week.

He knows what York was doing -- what he was trying to do, and he can understand, but that doesn't mean he can let him do it.

Wash bends over him, still holding him tight, but his voice is softer, finding his gaze and holding it. ]

He's not here, okay? You know it's not him.

[ He doesn't hit him-- he wouldn't ever hurt them, but he does stand up and use those few inches he has on Wash to try and lean over him, gripping his shoulder tight enough to bruise, tone low and pissed. ]

I know he's not here! That's the whole-- damnit, David--

[ He hears Sarah the moment she comes in and instinctively cups the nape of his neck

( she won't hurt you you should know that )

( i don't i don't what if she -- )

He shoves all of that down for a moment, focusing on the fact that he doesn't need logic for this, he just needs them, just needs how he knows they'll react and she won't hurt him.

c'mon man, keep it together. ]

Just-- drop it. Drop it, okay.

[ he drops his hand, pretending like it doesn't shake, and backs away, shaking his head. ]

Edited 2012-02-06 07:37 (UTC)

[Sarah moves closer, taking a few tentative steps into the room, her eyes on York the whole time. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what - who they're talking about, and when York's hand goes to the back of his neck she stiffens, stopping before him and staring up at him.]

Hey. Hey!

[A quick glance at Wash, to make sure he's all right, and then she turns back to York, the fear creeping into her voice despite herself.]

York. York, what did you do?

[ He's still holding the chip, and he holds his hand out to Sarah to show her, swallowing hard. It's obvious what he was doing, what he was going to do, and Wash slowly follows the wires down to the systems York had plugged it in to, realizing all at once just what he'd been after. ]

...Did you get through?

[ He can't help the horror seeping into his voice, no matter how much he tries to keep it steady, and takes a step forward, boxing him in. ]

York, do they know where we are?

Edited (ngl that was a pretty epic typo) 2012-02-06 07:51 (UTC)

[ Delta would have kept him steady, would have reminded him it's logical to be concerned, to be scared-- hell, to be horrified that someone could do this, that someone could consider giving their position up.

Instead, York just stares him down, hands shaking, but he looks entirely serious, lips in a thin line. ]

I'm not an idiot, David, give me some credit.

[ Except were it the other way around, he'd think Wash was insane for trying this. ]

You don't-- neither of you get it, so stop looking at me like that! I'm not trying to put us in danger!

[She stares down at the chip, recognizing it immediately, of course. They'd let him keep it because there was no way they couldn't - it was hard enough for him, getting used to the idea that Delta was gone, without destroying the chip too, forcing him to accept that Delta was beyond saving forever.

But fuck, he was never supposed to use it.

Fuck.

[Her head snaps up, and she stares at York, as if she doesn't know him at all.]

Jesus Christ, York, what the fuck did you think you were -

[And she stops. She knows exactly what he'd been thinking, what he'd been trying to do, and god. He should know better. He had put all of them in danger, whether he'd been trying to or not, and he can't even fucking see it.

She steps closer, her voice low.]

Hey. Hey, we get it, okay? We fucking get it, but fuck, you can't just - [She shakes her head, glancing back at the chip, and when she looks back there's honest regret on her face, her voice softer.]

...He's gone.

[ There's little else he can think to call York but an idiot, right now, and Wash wipes a hand down his face, closing his hand around the chip. He knows it's empty, knows it's not Delta, but that doesn't change what it used to be.

( He remembers another chip, one he'd been stuck with for far too long, but that was before this all went to so much shit. He hates thinking about any time here as happy, but-- )

Wash looks down at the chip and back up at York, swallowing hard. ]

They could have found us.

They could have-- what the hell were you thinking plugging it into your head? What do you think they would have done to you? To us?

[ He lets out a bitter snort. ]

What the fuck, York.

[ He hates when they get like this, hates when Sarah tries to talk to him like she does John, hates when Wash talks to him like that, like he's an idiot

( what the hell are you doing, man? )

he was doing what he had to, how come they don't see that?

( delta'd see he'd know he always understands because it's logical. delta's missing, so we need him back. )

There's a spot, an empty spot in the back of his mind and he needs Delta back so it stops feeling so wrong, so empty. ]

He's not gone, goddamnit, I felt him there. You two keep treating him like he's dead, but he's not.

He's gone.

[He'd backed away, and he's standing there hard and defensive, but he can't keep them at arm's length forever.

Sarah's voice is firm, but when she reaches for him it's gentle and pleading, putting a careful hand on his arm and praying he doesn't push her away.]

I know - I know you hate it, York, I know it's hard, but he's - corrupted, they got him, and you can't -

[She stops, swallowing, and steps that much closer, hand tightening on him.]

You can't get him back.

[ He's as good as dead -- he is, no matter what York likes to think. He's not getting Delta back, not now, not ever, not unless they manage to get him from the source, and the chances of that are laughable at best.

There's a voice nagging at the back of his head, but Wash doesn't let himself listen to it right now, watching Sarah comes closer and slowly setting the chip down on the table. ]

Listen to her, Sean. We can't save him. You know that.

[ He just stares them down for a long moment, knowing they've had this conversation before but that doesn't make it any easier to swallow. Instead of arguing, he just shakes his head, shoving past Wash carelessly and grabbing the chip to unhook it and slide it into his pocket again, where he normally keeps it. ]

Sure. Hope none of us get captured like that otherwise we're clearly shit out of luck, huh.

[ it's petty and stupid and wrong, he knows it ( hopes it ) but that doesn't stop the words and he knows he's fucked up as soon as he says them, just going still, standing there. ]

Don't know why it's okay to leave him behind. S'all.

It's not the same thing.

[She follows him, tensing when he grabs the chip, ready to lunge at him if he decides to slide it back in again.

But he doesn't, and she slides her hands carefully up his back instead, pressing against his side and looking up at him.]

York. None of us wanted to leave him behind, okay? Nobody wanted to.

But even if we could get him back, even if it was safe to try - it wouldn't do any good. You know it wouldn't.

[She goes quiet for a moment, pressing her cheek against his shoulder.]

He's not Delta anymore.

Son of a bitch.

[ It's just a quiet little mutter, more directed at this whole fucked-up situation than either of them, and Wash leans back against the wall, watching Sarah go to him and hoping it makes some kind of difference.

They've had this conversation before, but they shouldn't have needed to, only they just keep seeming to have the same arguments over and over again. ]

You get that, don't you? He's gone.

[ He just looks at them both for a long moment, shoulders tight and jaw clenched.

It's not like that. They don't get how it is, not without him in their heads. He's a person, yeah, but he's data too and data can be uncorrupted.

They've had this same fight over and over and he usually just gives it up with a fine, fine, but he doesn't want to, not right now. ]

Don't get how all of you are just okay. Being like this.

[ He drags a hand through his hair, just looking at them, circles under his eyes. ]

Spent more time running and hiding in the last half of my life than I ever fucking expected to.

[ And it's true, too. He'd spent time with Delta, hiding and running and trying his best to remain under the radar. And then with this-- he's tired of running. He can't sleep, he can't think half the time, and much as he loves the other two, this is wearing him ragged and thin. ]

[Sarah snorts, exhausted and bitter, letting her hands fall away from him.]

Yeah. Because it's just a bed of roses for the rest of us, you know.

[She backs away, sitting down heavily on a chair and resting her head in her hands, fingers buried in her hair.]

Because this is really what I want to be doing. It's not like it's exactly what I've been fighting against my whole life or anything.

[She looks up at him, the bags under her eyes as dark as his.]

What the fuck do you want us to say, York? I'm sorry about Delta. I am. But we can't get him back.

Sarah--

[ Wash looks at the both of them, not wanting this to turn into another fight, but there's nothing any of them can really do about it. They can't go back to the way things used to be, together on the station in their little house in the woods, all alone with each other and the closest thing to happy Wash thinks he's ever known.

He comes closer and presses a hand against Sarah's shoulder, letting out a slow breath and looking up at York. ]

It's not okay for us, either, man. I get it, okay? Stop acting like I don't know what you're going through. I get it. But it doesn't change anything.

[ Sarah pulls away and he instantly wants to reach out to her, wants to drag her back to him, breathing unevenly, a little hitch that he can't fight back, can't get rid of.

He's so fucking tired and Sarah's pulling away and sometimes the only thing that makes him feel better is them touching him, distracting him. Wash's hand lands on Sarah's shoulder instead, and York's hands twitch, the empty feeling in his head making his palms itch, but he won't make them do that. ]

I can't stop trying. He wouldn't just. Give up.

He'd want you to, though.

[She speaks quietly, looking up at him, leaning into Wash's touch a little bit as he rests his hand on her shoulder.]

Look at yourself. You're exhausted, you're unhappy, you - shit, you could've gotten us all killed tonight.

[She shakes her head, frowning unhappily.]

He wouldn't want to see you like this. Not the real Delta.

[ Wash kneads her shoulder, careful to avoid old scars -- they've all gotten pretty busted up over the years, just trying to keep each other alive. He reaches a hand out to York, wanting him closer, to stop shaking so much, but he knows it's not easy for him. ]

C'mon, man. You know she's right.

[ Even he can recognize that he's a shadow of his old self, but damned if he knows how to change that.

He didn't ever think he'd find the day when he'd see Wash and Sarah better adjusted to things. Much as he loves them, he knows that he's the one that's the most unstable now. ]

Yeah.

[ York sits heavily, like he's got weights on his shoulders, and just looks at them for a moment, before finally just looking at Wash, asking something he hasn't ever dared ask. ]

I don't know how to get used to it, Dave.

BLUH BLUH and now for york/sarah/wash/delta

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