A.R.C.
"Good late evening Empire Wasteland. This is Maxy again, reminding you there is joy and music to live for!"
"Time for little quiet evening song called Tulips And 'Heather' by Perry Como
There wasn't much morning sun to speak off. It was rather overcast. But quite dry as well.
T2-30 crouched and picked up the metal casings.
12.7mm and 20 gauge shells. T-800 was here. He was close. It was close. But not close enough. He could not feel him on the link.
And there was blood. Had T-800 terminated someone?
It stepped over to the blood, still low to the ground, and touched on slender finger in a clotting pool, then brought the blood to his tounge.
Male. Type A positive. Caucasian. Brown eyes.
He looked over to a seperate blood pool a few feet away and repeated the process, touching a blood soaked finger-tip to his tounge.
And it's sharp face dissolved in shock.
Morgan Jones. Female. Type O positive. Caucasian. Blue eyes.
Wanted criminal on several counts of murder, destruction of property, treason, assault, resisting arrest, and terrorism.
She was alive. There was not a fatal amount lost, and the trail ended. The wound had been bound.
T2-30 rose to it's feet, cocked it's gun and it's shoulder, and continued on.
It now had two targets.
Morgan yawned and awoke with the rising of the sun. She shivered in the chilled morning air before opening her eyes and looking around.
Was a nice nap…
Rook was still awake, staring out into the distance.
"You are awake." He suddenly said.
"YA..." Morgan yawned. "S-sorry I fell asleep..."
"It is alright, Morgan. It is only a biological function."
Morgan rolled her eyes and smiled before stretching and groaning happily.
"Sunrise looks amazing, doesn't it?"
Rook started blankly at the sun.
"Yes." He answered, even though he had no idea how it was 'amazing.'
Morgan sighed. "Amazing, in this case, means it looks great. Beautiful..."
Rook still didn't get it.
"Ah, I see."
"Do you really?" Morgan asked, raising her brow as she was thoroughly unconvinced.
"No. It is a celestial body that serves to provide warmth and without it the planet would not be able to sustain life. It is 5778 degrees kelvin and is 333,000 times as big as Earth. Yet I do not see how it's position this early in the morning makes it any more or less attractive than it was at a different time."
"Yes, but look around you." Morgan said, taking his hand and dragging him over to the practical edge of the tower. "Look at the light, how it captures the buildings, look at the sun itself." She sighed wistfully.
"I guess you'd never really understand, huh?"
"Yes, but look around you." Morgan said, taking his hand and dragging him over to the practical edge of the tower. "Look at the light, how it captures the buildings, look at the sun itself." She sighed wistfully.
Rook did as he was instructed, glancing around at the ruins.
"Does it have something to do with the angle of the shadows?" He asked, not sure what she meant.
"I guess you'd never really understand, huh?" Said Morgan.
Rook hesitated before looking at her. "No. Such things do not compute. I am much more... utilitarian."
"Try being less utilitarian then. Try just...looking and appreciating the moment of quiet for what it is."
Rook still had no idea what she was talking about.
"It is quiet. Because there is no noise? I am to appreciate the lack of sound?"
"Well, in all the fighting we do, it is best to appreciate these little moments of peace when we get them, don't you think?" Morgan queried.
"Yes." Agreed Rook. "I appreciate the peace." He considered or a moment. "I do not appreciate very many things."
"Tell me the few things you do appreciate then." Morgan encouraged with her smile. It was nice to hear Rook talk.
"I appreciate my firearms. My memories. My knowledge. I appreciate my freedom. But foremostly, I appreciate you, Morgan." He said, offering her a smile at the end.
Morgan blushed and looked away, awkwardly staring out over the horizon. "Hush you. Freedom is more important than I am.."
"Negative. Originally, yes. But not anymore."
"Hm." Morgan shrugged. "But what about when I die? What'd mean most to you then?"
"Assuming you face termination before me, I will find a new purpose. I will mourn you, Morgan, but I cannot self-terminate. I cannot function without a mission."
"I wouldn't ask you to self-terminate." Morgan mumbled, a little shocked. "It is...comforting to know you will find yourself a new purpose."
"That is not my meaning. A T-800 is designed to complete a mission, and then it becomes unimportant. If its mission is complete, it can be terminated. You are my mission. Upon its completion, either you no longer require me or you are terminated, I am defunct until I have a new mission. Between missions I would have no qualms with my own destruction."
"But you are self-determined are you not?" Morgan sighed. "You're free to pick your own missions. That's how life works, you know?"
"Yes, Morgan. But I am still a machine. I have programming and runtimes that cannot be defied." Rook explained softly. "I am self-determined, but the command codes could still control me." He stated as an example.
"Oh I get it..." Morgan nodded, understanding somewhat.
You are restricted by programming. You will never be truly free...
"Even though I do not want to be terminated as of now, the idea would not bother me. If you were to put a gun to my head now, I would stop you. That is a threat to my existence. Without a mission I would not, for I have no reason to exist. I cannot simply exist to exist. I am unable to function like that for both technical and ethical purposes. I do not want to exist for my own benefit. That is not how I operate.""
"Ya I understand..." Morgan sighed, stretching her arms out and splaying her fingers out wide. "Rook...I... well it's strange, but I'm so very attracted to you. Y-you're like...a better man than any human I know."
Rook canted his head.
"Thank you, Morgan. But now is not a prudent time to discuss intercourse. We must descend into Central Park."
"I..." Morgan began before pausing and sighing.
I wasn't going to talk about that...
"Yeah, you are correct as always, Rook. Let's go wake up the other two."
Rook raised a dramatic brow in question at the meaning of the pause, but said nothing.
"Affirmative." His eyes stayed on Morgan's face for a moment, before he turned away to go awaken Garry and Heather.
Morgan watched Rook leave and turned to face the sunrise, watching it somewhat tiredly.
Rook soon returned after awaking the two.
"Garry and Heather are alert." He announced.
Garry and Heather were waiting for Rook and Morgan to join them downstairs, they were ready to go, fully loaded and equipped for their up and coming jungle trek.
Garry and Heather were waiting for Rook and Morgan to join them downstairs, they were ready to go, fully loaded and equipped for their up and coming jungle trek.
Garry approached the Red-haired tinkerer and her android, whilst Heather lingered behind, studying a small piece of paper.
"Shame we can't take the bedrolls; they don't look it but those things are so comfy."
"Negative. Excessive weight would be deadly in a dense jungle. Now, let us proceed."
"Yeah, I wasn't serious Rook..." The Former slaver sighed, gesturing for the Android to lead on.
A.R.C.
"Good morning, good folks of the Wasteland. Sleep well?"
"Let's get started: Saturday Night In Central Park by Ray Noble
Meanwhile in the People's Republic Of Chinatown
"You did an excellent job, my Thongzi..." Mother Chao-xing congratulated.
After which she presented her agent that had just come back from Broadway a seat in her cutesy cottage. After which she continued:
"Those fatcats deserved it... Capitalism... It's like a cockroach. A lot harder to kill then you think, and you must do it correctly, otherwise it'll just get worse."
"Sounds about right." The agent agreed a bit aloofly.
He seemed to be the sort of man that didn't care about ideology but did believe in purpose. And being an agent for the PRCT gave him just that, something to do in this wrecked world. He seemed a bit annoyed because Mother had forbidden him to smoke in her house. And the incense she had drifting around the place gave him a headache.
"I just did what I was asked." He added.
"You certainly did. Now we are in our final stages... However there has been a slight... Complication." Mother sighed, clearly annoyed about what she was about to reveal.
"The antenna fell over. And a part has been irreversibly broken."
"Have those responsible been punished?" The agent said, leaning forward from his comfy chair.
"Oh, they have" Xing was quick to add, hinting.
"So I guess you want me to get a new... What is it?"
"Luckily the component that was damaged isn't that expensive. But it is hard to come by... It's a connection fuse. About the size of a fission battery and about just as heavy."
"So, I guess I need to get a new "connection fuse" then?"
"Indeed." Chao-Xing nodded, drinking some tea from an old porcelain cup.
A.R.C.
"Time for a bit of news."
"There's been suggestions and forecasts about bad weather. Don't ask me how these people know, they claim to have stuff that can measure these sorts of things. So do take that with a grain of salt... for what it's worth. But maybe there will indeed be some downpour later this week, we'll just have to wait and see."
"Now, some music. Johnny Cash with... Guess Things Happen That Way"
Garry glanced up as he saw the tip of the Empire States building in the distance, peering over several lesser buildings in the immediate vicinity. He wondered who made such a tall building and what its purpose was of it all, way back then.
The most likely explanation was that this city was trying to play a game of 'my dick's bigger than your dick' with the entire world and looking at the size of that tower, Garry would assume that these assholes won it. Well, maybe hoped is the better word as Garry hoped that there wouldn't be anyone stupid enough to make a tower this needlessly huge, just to rise up to the challenge...
As Morgan, Heather, Rook and Garry approached Central Park, and were about a city block away they could see lush greenery start creeping through the tarmac. It looked bizarre, especially for a world so devoid of live plants. Also, the air started to get clingy and wet which was a by-product of the photosynthesis on steroids up ahead.
Rook was silent for the journey, calmly leading his squad up to the jungle and then into the brush.
About 10 metres in he froze, and cocked his head, like he was listening for something. He must've brushed if off, like it was nothing.
Twenty more metres in, when the jungle was becoming thick, and he had been hacking through plants, carnivorous or not, with his axe, he stopped again, mid-swing.
He was tempted to ask the group if they felt it, expect that he knew the answer would be no, or perhaps a condescending 'what?'
He let the axe hang from his side. Rook turned slightly, to look at the group out of the corner of his eye.
"Wait here." He instructed the three humans. "Stick together. Do not follow me until I call you." Then he was gone, disappearing into the brush.
Garry sighed as he drew his Colt 1911, slowly raising it upwards as he looked to Heather, who got her shotgun at the ready, neither of them liked this.
The sounds and noises this thick jungle produced seemed so alien and other-worldly.
The faint sound of leaves dancing in the wind along with what sounded like birds. Those flying creatures you'd see on old record covers or old movies.
"This is going to go wrong..." Morgan fretted. She looked over to Rooks already barely visible figure and her eye twitched in frustration.
After about a minute of Rook's disappearance, gun shots rang out. First the crackles from an automatic weapon, and then the booms from the blasts of a shotgun. Eventually both parties switched to pistols, and until all that rang out was a lone shot every once and a while.
There was one more shot, and then a voice called out to the party, about 50* east of where Rook had disappeared.
"Hostile neutralized!" It was Rook. "Come, quickly." He called again.
Morgan darted off in the direction of Rooks voice. Her feet pounded with her heart as she ran to his location.
"Y-you okay, Rook?"
Rook was facing the other direction and turned around to face her. He nodded, shoving in the pistol in his hand into a holster.
"Affirmative."
He glanced around. "Where are the other two?"
"Here... We didn't move." Garry pointed out, with a shrug, taking Heather's machete.
"We're gonna have to move quick if we want to get started before nine... I ain't doin' this at high noon."
"Not far behind..." Morgan breathed. She walked up close and peered around the Android. "What attacked you?"
"Not far behind.." Morgan breathed. She walked up close and peered around the Android. "What attacked you?"
"Another Android. A terminator, like me."
"Here... We didn't move." Garry pointed out, with a shrug, taking Heather's machete.
"We're gonna have to move quick if we want to get started before nine... I ain't doin' this at high noon." It was instantons. The instant Garry and Heather stepped out of the brush, Rook had seized the latter by the throat, lifting her up into the air, and stuck the 9mm pistol in the former's face. Heather's feet dangled half a metre over the ground.
"Morgan Jones goes with me." 'Rook' ordered in monotone. "Otherwise you and this one will be terminated."
Garry quickly raised hsi combat shotgun and raised the barrel to Rook's head, wrapping his finger tightly around the trigger.
"Drop her... now."
This ain't Rook...
Morgan looked up warily. "R-rook? Put her down!"
The android tightened his grip around Heather's throat, so that its fingers dug into her fragile flesh.
It levelled the pistol further at Garry's head.
Morgan was bluntly ignored.
"Put down your weapon, or I terminate you and the girl. I only require Morgan Jones."
"Put her down!" Morgan shouted, stepping forwards. "You know I'd go with you wherever you asked, so just release her and let's go, yeah?"
"Morgan... You can do that... Override bullshit right? Get 'im to shut down!" Garry said, sternly, keeping his combat shotgun pressed against Rook's head.
Heather's fingernails dug into Rook's synthetic flesh, unintentionally tearing away at it as her fear caused her to grip it tightly as her eyes darted around.
As Heather's fingers dug into the android's skin, Heather noticed it seemed to harder, resisting the intrusion.
'Rook' kept it's own pistol against Garry's chin, which perhaps seemed odd given all it would hit was bone.
"She has several seconds before she loses consciousness and begins to asphyxiate." The android announced, it's eyes calmly locked on Garry's.
"Sorry for this..." Morgan whispered.
"T dash eight zero zero. Initialize manual override. Authorisation code: Beta. Five. Three. Alpha. Orders: Release Heather and enter rest mode."
"Then you have several seconds to let go before I turn you into scrap metal..." Garry replied, sternly, not wanting to surrender to the demands of this bricked machine. "Sorry for this..." Morgan whispered.
"T dash eight zero zero. Initialize manual override. Authorisation code: Beta. Five. Three. Alpha. Orders: Release Heather and enter rest mode."
Garry himself didn't flinch, he just kept the gun pointed at Rook's head, in case thing went south.
The command code did nothing.
Given that it was the exact same command code Morgan had used earlier, there could only be one conclusion.
This was not Rook.
The T2-30 did not even seem to acknowledge Morgan, it's bio-gel constructed face unwavering.
"I am not T-800. Surrender Morgan. This if your final chance." T2-30 lowered the pistol a centimetre...
"Fine, let 'er go and we'll work somethin' out!" Garry snapped, lowering his gun.
"I already said I'll go!" Morgan pleaded.
T2-30 opened its hand, letting Heather drop to the ground. It kept it's gun on Garry though and raised the barrel to his forehead.
"You are terminated." It announced, just before receiving a 12.7mm round to the back of the head. It's bio-gel splattered, a bluish goop streaming into the air. It spun around, and was crashed into by the real Rook.
"Run!" He shouted. The T2-30 gripped him around the waist tossed him behind its head like it was throwing a child, before spinning around to locate where Rook had landed a metre behind, on his back.
T2-30 visage was already fast fading, instead being replaced by a featureless, but humanoid, form. it was in fact shorter than Rook, decreasing in height by several inches, and slighter.
That did not mean it was any less dangerous.
Garry rushed over to Heather's side and took her hand as he gently pulled her to her feet, turning to the T2-30 and pulling the trigger on his combat shotgun, blasting at the android in an effort to at least stun it.
The T2-30 stumbled forward, it's bio-gel blasting away from the shotgun's impact, briefly revealing metal underneath. It quickly reformed though, but the slip-up was enough to give Rook time to fire his own shotgun into the thing's face, flattening it out.
"Let's move!" He yelled, motioning for the group to join him in a mad dash into the forest. On the way out he scooped up Heather, who was probably suffering from oxygen deprivation.
Garry spun around as he began to move, firing two blasts at the T2-30 before moving on with the others, Heather was too weak to run as she could barely stand, she simply let Rook pick her up and carry her to safety.
Hamilton's eyes slowly slid open as he lay in the dark, feeling the weight of something that was lay across his chest. His eyes rolled over to the side, to see that the Ghoul from earlier was wrapped around him, under the delusion that he was still indeed this 'John' character...
How long had she been down here? To be this blind to reality, she must have been down here for centuries, unaware of the fact that there was a war and that she now looks like something that Duane Jones would have shot in that movie.
Maybe she wasn't blind or delusional at all, maybe she just ignored the world, because it was too horrendous to look at. Maybe all fact had to be brushed aside in order for her to function on any level and over time all facts had to be brushed aside, until she reshaped the new world into the tranquillity of the old.
She wanted to believe that things were better than they were, so she made them that way, in her eyes at least. Whether it's through delusions or... A refusal to accept reality, she saw the world her own way, suppressing all logic, common sense and opposing evidence as she continued to exist in her own little world. Turning janitor's closet in a grubby subway into a suburban home.
In many respects, that made them the same...
The stimpaks had done their work and though Hamilton felt like shit, his injuries had healed, thanks to the hours of sleep that he'd had. He had to leave this place and find the surface again, though he had no idea what he would do, once he got there.
That redhead scientist was dead, her robot was probably wandering around on its own, waiting to be taken down and stripped for parts, by scavengers. He did have that sniper, up in the building opposite ARC, who could be John from earlier...
Hamilton was unsure and he didn't care to be honest, that traitor's bitch friend was dead, as far as he was concerned, that was a satisfactory outcome. He just wished that he had gotten more out of it, he got the caps and some of the weapons but that was about it. He had the half a sheer, that would serve as a machete and though his Barretta wasn't Marcia, it would do...
He was ready to move on, maybe head to Boston, though part of him was reconsidering that. Everywhere he went there was always somewhere better but nowhere sounded more appealing to him right now than back home...
Maybe he'd head there...
The T2-30 had been trying to reform from Rook's shotgun blast, only to receive two more, debilitating it for a short while. But long enough for the group to lose it in the jungle.
Of course, they also got lost themselves.
"Shit... Stop a second!" Garry insisted, looking around before his gaze fell back to Morgan.
"Where's your wrist do-hickey say we are?"
Morgan shrugged, looking at her arm and scratching her head slightly. "I er...we're like right in the middle s-somewhat." She said breathlessly, a little overwhelmed.
Rook, who now it was clearly obvious was covered in some kind of green goop that matted down his hair and coated his skin, turned around.
"Are you alright?" He asked Heather. "Can you walk on your own?"
Heather's breathing was still quite raspy from being strangled but her legs worked just fine, now that she had had time to recover, she'd be okay for a bit.
"Y-Yeah... I can walk, might..." She stopped as her croaky voice gave in and she began to wheeze, coughing rather heavily for a brief moment as tears welled up in her eyes.
Garry stepped closer and placed his hand on her shoulder as he knelt down and looked her in the face, glancing at her eyes as she gave him a weak smile.
"She'll be alright, so long as we don't push 'er for a bit..."
"Then we need to go this way...I think..." Morgan said, looking at her map.
the trees were tall and hid away any possible landmark. Instead large shadows were drawn across the ground which was covered in a few inches of water in which roots had nestled themselves making it difficult to walk in any direction.
Rook nodded, and stepped up alongside Morgan as they began moving.
"Are you alright?" He asked, repeating the same question he had asked Heather, but with a new layer of tenderness.
Morgan nodded, shoving her map in Rooks face. "Y-yeah I'm f-fine..."
"Morgan." Rook said firmly, pushing her Pip-boy down.
"I'm fine!" Morgan snapped, striding off in a random direction.
Heather's almost strangled to death and he wants to know if she's alright? This shit's fuckin' unreal... Garry grumbled inside his head, watching as Heather followed Morgan into the wood, realising that she wouldn't have time to catch her breath.
The Former slaver just sighed and followed them through, glancing back to Rook.
"Fuck man... Back there, I thought you went... I dunno, malfunctional or somethin'."
"Negative. If I were to malfunction it would be much different." Rook explained, watching Morgan. His expression typically stoical, but there was certainly something wistful about it.
"Different as in you'd fry and stop working? Or different as in you'd go crazy and kill a bunch of people?" Garry asked, truly not knowing which one he meant.
"My speech would be garbled and I would possibly lose several functions. If one function was my ability to identify friend for foe, then yes, I would 'kill people.' But such a malfunction is not possible with my multiple runtimes. I would need to be severely and expertly altered by someone who possesses an in-depth knowledge of robotics and medicine. I would also need to be neutralised first."
"I'll er... Keep that in mind..." Garry grumbled, not having a clue what half of that meant in practical terms. The best that he could do is have Rook crushed or blown apart with whatever gun he could get his hands on and prey to gods that he didn't believe in that it worked.
Morgan stumbled her way through the jungle, her frustrations mounting due to the humidity and the situation. She listened to the conversations and growled quietly to herself. The heat was unbearable.
I know that other Android ain't dead. It'll come back. I am sure of it. But...
Why was it so interested in me?
"Negative. It would be safer for all of us if you forget it. Otherwise a hostile could possibly withdraw the information from you."
His eyes trailed after Morgan, and concern finally wrinkled his brow.
Morgan stopped after some time. She panted, her hair sticking to her head in a sweaty, matted mess. She leaned against a tree after ensuring it wasn't carnivorous and slid down it to sit, her head in her hands.
Why is it always me?
Rook stood over Morgan, before crouching down to be level with her.
"Morgan." He said softly, reaching out and touching her knee.
Morgan stiffened then sighed heavily, deflating in defeat.
What did I do?
"Morgan, speak to me."
Morgan shook her head.
"S'no point. Just leave me be."
"I cannot comply."
"Rook. Seriously." Morgan muttered, glancing a glare at him. "Please don't agitate me anymore than I already am."
Rook fell silent and rose to his feet.
If he pissed Morgan off, he'd have to neutralise himself, which would probably be difficult.
Morgans eyes watered and she growled in frustration. "S-sorry..."
"It is alright, Morgan." He said, sitting back down beside her. "But I will not pressure you about it. May I sit here with you?"
Morgan nodded silently before shuffling along the soaked ground.
Rook scooted closer, pressing his side to hers, but was silent and unresponsive aside from that, respecting her wishes to be left alone. He focused on his boots, now lost in thought.
The two of them sat quietly together for a while. Morgan kept a firm grip on her knees and kept focused on her hands. After about fifteen minutes or so she finally spoke.
"Who was that?"
"I already provided you with this information. It is a T2-30, with a bio-gel sheath over a titanium alloy endoskeleton. It was sent by the Commonwealth to capture me. They are specially designed to capture escapees from the Commonwealth, such as criminals or defectors. But they are also used heavily by the SNB."
"But...if he had you." Morgan said quietly and incredibly timidly. "Why was he after me as well?"
"Are you not an escapee from the commonwealth?"
"Yeah, but that was over ten years ago now..." Morgan said sadly. "Why'd they still be after me?"
"He likely picked up your trail while tracking me. It is standard procedure. It will take out two targets if it can take the chance."
"Great..." Morgan sighed, looking even sadder than before. "Maybe I really should just shoot myself. Too much stress for too little reward here. Its bullshit..."
"Morgan. Do not talk like that. It is counterproductive."
"You don't control what I do..." Morgan muttered bitterly. "You can't advise on this because you have no idea what feelings are!"
"Perhaps not." Agreed Rook. "But I do know that you saying you would be better off dead is not helpful. You have gifts I cannot even began to imagine, Morgan, you have everything I want. Throwing that in my face is not productive." Rook paused, looked away.
"There is too little reward, that is correct," he continued, "but the alternative is worse. If I must complete this mission to keep you safe, I will. Regardless of the danger I face along the way. It would be beneficial if you also felt the same way about your own survival."
"My own survival?" Morgan questioned, the mocking disbelief in her voice quite apparent. "Why bother looking out for that? It feels like everything is out to get me, ever since you came into my life."
Because of you, I...
"I've lost my home, fallen out a building, been shot several times, can barely use my arms, can barely move..."
I'm so confused.
"And I'm now being hounded by a fucking bot from Boston just cause he had to have been after you. It's so bloody typical."
She sighed heavily and looked away.
Its all your fault...
Rook was quiet for a moment.
"Then I should depart, Morgan." Rook said. This had been his plan earlier, of course. But she had said no. His distance would protect her. "It is true. You will be safe without me. T2-30 will only be able to follow me by the link. If we separate, it will not be able to find you. I will go to Governor's Island alone. You may do as you wish."
"I'm not..." Morgan began, though she was mumbling pretty quietly. "I'm not letting you abandon me in this stupid fucking jungle and I am not letting you go to Governors alone. You do not realise how...horrid it is. B-besides I..."
I love you, too. It scares me. Freaks me out.
Again, she cut herself off before quickly replying.
"You owe me a new home."
Rook furrowed his brow dramatically, as he did when he was supremely frustrated.
"Then stop telling my mistakes. I have been used by the Commonwealth, Morgan. I know when I am inadequate. When I fail, it is made abundantly clear."
If Rook could look pissed off, he did. He clearly did not like where the conversation was headed. He also did not like how so much was expected of him. Talk about "little reward."
"Fine. I will acquire you a new establish. And then you can be done with me. I will leave you alone."
Someone else would have use of him.
"Wasn't that our arrangement anyway?" Morgan retorted, shifting away slightly. "I keep you alive and repaired, and you would find me a new home on the way?"
Urgh...I gotta learn how to talk to people...
"Look how well that turned out."
Now Rook just looked confused.
"I thought we became special friends." He asked, desperately needing elaboration. Was this all some sort of extremely complicated business contract that he had confused terribly?
"We...we are." Morgan whispered. "I'm just...so...frustrated right now Rook. I want to be all alone in my workshop again..."
"Then why are you citing defunct arrangements? If you do not want to special friends anymore, I will attempt to terminate our special friendship. You do not need to confuse me. Much of this seems like it no longer applies. I have said I can leave you alone, if you desire it. I do not want to burden you. You are my mission. Your wish is my command, Morgan."
"Why are you making this so tough?" Morgan mumbled. "I don't even know what I want from us anymore. I don't know what we are!"
She curled up into a ball, looking extremely vulnerable for the first time.
"I want to go home..."
Rook just watched her for a second, like he was uncertain what to do, before he put his arms around Morgan, and pulled her onto his lap.
Rook was about to correct her about saying how going home was impossible, but decided that wouldn't go over well.
He had no words. Rook could barely speak like a normal person to begin with. He could not say anything that would be even considered remotely comforting, aside from perhaps advice about how to steady one breathing.
Morgan sniffed and shuddered before she reluctantly gave in and cried in Rooks arms. "I'm s-so sick of this. I... I don't care about our mission, I don't give a shit about the Chinese and I don't care a-about anyone but us two. Ijus...I just wanna be back at my research..."
She continued to sob quietly...
Rook tucked Morgan up against his chest and muffled the sound of her cries with the crook of his arm.
"What do you want me to do?" He asked, willing to do whatever she decided.
"I don't know..." Morgan whimpered. "We'll just have to keep on going I g-guess..."