[closed]

[whatever_it_takes]

She knew by now that the teleporters weren't anything to be trusted, that just as she relied on them to get her from one zone to the next, they could just as easily spit her out a pony or hold her captive for months on end.

She knew, she always knew, somewhere in the back of her head, that there existed the possibility the teleporters -- or Hypatia, or whatever force was at fault -- could throw her forward in her timeline,

but crippling herself with worry wasn't an option.

She keyed in her destination and walked into the teleporter without a hitch. In that instant -- that one, infinitesimal moment of time -- she saw the beginnings of what everyone from her world had been talking about. The feud, the AIs, how utterly hopeless she'd felt losing CT to Texas, how absolutely determined she was to make it up to the rest of them, blinded by the competition. In that one instant, she came to the moment she broke.

She tumbled out of the other side of the teleporter in pain, in so much pain. Each voice inside her head was screaming for recognition, in pain and agony from the Director's words, and she couldn't think, she couldn't function. She was only vaguely aware of writhing on the ground, that somehow her surroundings weren't what she was imaging them to be. Her movements knocked the wearable alive, and it glowed brightly as it started an open video feed. It showed a view of Eta and Iota crouched by Carolina's side, the three in synchronized agony.

Comments

[neverknocks]

[ York's just chilling at the apartment she shares with Wash and Delta, idly flicking through Sacrosanct's network, but when the video feed of Carolina plays she swears she feels her heart stop for one long, terrible moment. She sees the AI, sees Carolina's face contorted in pain, and she immediately springs from the couch, trying to see if she can extract a location even as she's sending audio back Carolina's way. ]

Carolina! Jesus -- it's York, okay? Can you tell me where you are?

[whatever_it_takes]

[She hears York's voice, but it takes her a while to register. This York being different than the York on her timeline actually helps jolt her to the fact that she's back in Sacrosanct, but that does little to quell the pain and confusion in her head, the stab of raw, panicked emotion that the AIs are still reeling with, that Carolina feels just as sharply. She tries to look into the video feed but everything hurts and it's hard to get the right angle.]

Make it stop, make it -- please, help -- [She struggles with coherency for a moment, trying to look up at the teleporter for a location but even her vision is effected by the AIs within. The wearable tips just enough, however, that the R03 flashes briefly into view.]

[neverknocks]

[ York doesn't hesitate, not for a second. She doesn't even bother telling Wash where she's going, thundering out of the apartment with heavy footsteps. She knows by heart, now, where the nearest teleporter is, and she's at Carolina's side as soon as she can be. She's in civvies, no time to throw on armor, and she hopes to god she doesn't wind up having to carry her anyplace. ]

Carolina! Hey, c'mon, can you hear me?

[whatever_it_takes]

[By this point she's at least quieted to soft and pained whimpering, holding her head as if trying to keep it from splitting open. She looks up at York, imploringly, reacting more to the other woman's voice than her actual words.]

[neverknocks]

[ Aw hell. This isn't good. The look on her face just about breaks York's heart, her chest tightening. ]

You're gonna be okay, Carolina. You hear me? C'mon, let's -- let's get you somewhere a little safer.

[whatever_it_takes]

The voices ... make them stop ... please make them stop ...

[She reaches out to grip York's arm, trying to find some stability while the AIs continue to pitch and moan in her mind. Focusing on anything was impossible, and pain split through her skull like lightning, causing her to momentarily tense and curl in on herself. Moving is going to be a very slow, very difficult thing.]