Who: Charlie Emily/Church/Peter Quill What: Time to go When: Late Thursday night or early Friday morning Where: Freelancer house then Quill's Warnings: TBD Status: Closed/gdoc continued in comments
It was so hard to sense anything. Church felt like he’d been wrapped up in the dark even though he was still in Carolina’s implants. There was something seriously wrong. Somehow he managed to force his way through to run a bioscan and there was...well he wasn’t sure what it was but Carolina was entirely muffled in it and it made her brain completely shut down.
And as if that wasn’t terrifying enough there was no way for him to get to Wash or even York (even though that was always incredibly crowded and he hated to have his Delta and York’s Delta in the same spot, it got fucking confusing) and he started to panic. Desperate to figure out what was going on he managed to wrest his way out of Carolina’s implants into the house network but then he had to take several minutes to recover. Of course for him several minutes felt like hours.
Charlie was there. Hers was the only network online and...in confusion Church stopped reaching to jump to her when he saw through the cameras and holo projectors all over the house that Carolina and the others were still up and moving. But it wasn’t them. The neural implants were in the dark and not in the bodies moving around but otherwise he couldn’t tell the difference.
oh fuck this is bad. So, so fucking bad. Muttering to himself in the network he finished the jump to Charlie’s system. Charlie, wake up. We have to leave like right the fuck now! He knew she wasn’t really asleep like a human would be but that was just the easiest term to use.
***
For Charlie, when she received a warning, she tended to run headfirst into the problem. She had done that with Freddy’s, the animatronics, Elizabeth, and most certainly with Afton. Moving to the problem and danger was never the good decision, but it was better than letting anyone else get hurt.
Especially now. She wasn’t entirely immune, but it was better for her to try and withstand damage than someone else. Even the highly-trained soldiers that she lived with.
She had been keeping an eye on anyone and everyone after receiving Tim’s message, but it wasn’t easy to differentiate normal behavior from odd behavior. Not when she didn’t know what normal behavior was for most people. What if they were having an off day? What if something had happened that would change their mood?
Charlie had maintained a neutral outlook after that point. She kept to herself and made mental notes if necessary.
Church’s tone only confirmed whatever concern Tim had shared, though. Enough that she didn’t argue, didn’t question whether he was overreacting, but did hesitate briefly. While she wasn’t sleeping, she had been in a deep state of rest and it took her a moment to collect herself and her bearings.
“What is it?” She paused, frowning. “What about the others? Are they…” Charlie didn’t mean to think the worst right away, but she had reasons.
***
Church was buzzing with multiple voices at first but they all started to bleed back together and when he spoke it was just his voice again. It had sounded briefly like a crowd having an argument.
They’re alive. I can’t tell much else but the problem is they’re not the ones up and walking around looking like themselves. Church was using all the equipment in the house to keep track of the others and make sure they weren’t heading this way. He’d rather not have to play combat assist AI to get Charlie out of the house.
The bodies moving around don’t have implants. It’s like that old fucking story the Thing. They’re like perfect copies but none of the metal or medical stuff. We need to leave, find somewhere safe. He wasn’t sure where exactly to go but the first thing that came to mind was Tucker’s stupid friend Quill. He had a translator implant so that meant he could be identified as real. Quill, head to his place. Just be quiet when we leave because I don’t want to know if the copies can fight like the real deal.
***
The buzz of voices made Charlie wince and she put a hand to her ear. It was a bit much at first before things calmed down and she could hear herself think again.
“Did I ever tell you how much I really did not like that movie?” Reanimated beings like zombies were one thing. Having your entire body taken over by a strange being or object? That hit a little too close to home. Enough to where Charlie felt slightly queasy at the thought.
There was no time to collect anything aside from Theodore, her phone, and her bag. Pajamas would have to suffice and after quickly tying her shoes, Charlie grabbed for her father’s flannel. It was beyond wearable but was there for comfort and safety much like Theodore.
Closing her door as quietly as possible, Charlie started toward the front door. “This way? Back door?” She paused and frowned. “Please don’t make me crawl through vents.”
***
Just how many movies do you watch? The vents are like a foot wide and six inches tall. Church snorted mentally and looked around since he was tapped into all the cameras. Fake Carolina and York were in the living room so the front door was out. A quick check showed that the back door was okay for now.
Back door. Just stay quiet and if I say to do something just do it. I’m using the cameras and stuff to keep an eye on them. He braced himself in case he had to take over to keep her from running into someone but Charlie was able to get out the back door without them appearing to notice. Okay, go find a car that looks expensive and let’s take a ride. Expensive meant it would have electronic everything and he could override its alarms and start it.
***
“I’m from the 90’s, remember? We had a lot of good movies and a better appreciation for the classics.” She made a face, probably unseen by Church, and sighed. “I have a thing against vents, okay? It happens when you’re using them to run for your life.”
There was a moment when the backdoor creaked but they were in the clear. Clutching the strap of her bag, Charlie fished her other hand inside to find Theodore’s arm and gave it a squeeze.
There was a muffled ‘I love you, Charlie’ and she felt better for a few seconds. At last until Church suggested finding a car. “Uh. I’m not stealing a car, Church. I don’t want to have to explain that one after this is all over.”
***
Charlie, what do you want to do? Walk all the way there in your pajamas and not knowing if other people are Things? It’s not like we’re going to disappear the car we’re just going to move it. Worry about breaking the law when we aren’t in possible mortal danger huh? Okay this was one time he missed the guys from back home, they’d be all over taking a car for a joy ride. Hell they’d probably be making him unlock things on a daily basis just because he could.
Seriously, let’s get the fuck off the streets and somewhere possibly safe huh?
***
Charlie just sighed in response as Church was clearly right with his statement. It meant creeping through a few yards, around some cars, and settling on a decent-looking car.
Peering into the window, she could see a light flashing and little else.
She didn’t even know what type of car it was. “What about this one?” she whispered, crouching down beside the car. The sneaking and secrecy probably wasn’t necessary, but Charlie wasn’t going to take any chances, just in case.
***
That'll work. Church jumped from her head into the car's systems, unlocked the doors, turned on the motor and programmed the on board GPS to Quill's house in case she didn't know the way. Then he got back in her head ready to nudge her into driving if she balked but apparently Charlie had given in to the need to 'borrow' the car.
It didn't take long to get to Quill's, there wasn't a lot of people on the streets. Church wasn't sure if that was the o-god early hour of the morning or if a lot of people were turned into Things. He'd research traffic patterns later.
Okay I'll scan him when he comes to the door I'll scan him. If I say run do me a favor and don't argue okay?