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[followorders]

Speak.

[Click.]

 

Comments

[worstever]

Fine.

What do you want out of this?

[followorders]

If Felix oversteps, you and your men will stand down.

I'll take care of it.

[worstever]

What?

[He's not blind -- Locus and Felix's methods are... at odds. But this?]

If he 'oversteps', it's most likely to be by killing one of my men!

[followorders]

I'll stop it before it gets that far. You just keep your men from interfering.

I don't need guns on two fronts.

[worstever]

Before I make any kind of decision about this, I want to know why the sudden concern.

Sure, Felix isn't trustworthy, but that's old news.

[followorders]

[There's a long bout of silence as Locus tries to gauge how much to tell him until he finally settles with: ]

What do you remember from before you were bought here?

[worstever]

I remember exposing you and Felix, if that's what you mean.

[Smug, smug, smug. Smuggity smug.

Wash has been, consistently, the furthest ahead. He has no reason just yet to think Locus would be any further.]

[followorders]

[Sorry to disappoint you, but he'll be taking that from you now. You should be used to it.]

So, they pulled you before the real war started.

[He looks at him.]

I'm from the end of it.

[worstever]

[And just like that, he's offguard.

Locus could be lying, but why would he? To pretend he has info? Wash will find out what happens eventually. Key word eventually.

But there's one thing he can infer:]

Looks like you made it out alive.

[Does that mean they lost?

(Or -- Locus deserting is a remote possibility, but...)]

[followorders]

[So far. The war isn't exactly over but the final battle is already under way and Hargrove is fighting a war he's already lost. Not that Washington knows that and Locus has no reason to correct his assumption so he goes along with it.]

One of the few.

[His next words come out slowly, as if he hesitated to speak them before fully committing himself.]

I've seen.... how things turn out. What toll is paid. There's no reason for us to fight here, but Felix--

[His words come to a sudden stop. He already made his choice regarding Felix when he first arrived. He, like everyone else, still believed them partners and Locus.... he's a strategist at his core. He has no reason to reveal the truth when the cards are in his favor. He'll control Felix. He has too. The only other alternative is--]

Felix is my responsibility. [His voice gains confidence once again.] You keep your men away and I'll keep him from killing them.

[Whatever happens in the future, Locus will take responsibility for it. When Felix finds out - because he knows it's only a matter of time - his cards will be exposed and he'll have enemies on both fronts. But for now, while he's still taking in his bearings of this place, he'll keep things as they are. It's the only sound thing to do.]

[worstever]

[Wash is loath to make that promise. The sim troopers often do as they will -- orders are more like suggestions. Things always go out of control with them.

Well. He sets his jaw, thinking quietly for a moment, eyes still trained on Locus. It amounts to no one making the first move. Wash doesn't need to do anything for that -- just keep things as they are.]

If they go after Felix, I'll do what I can.

[He doesn't say he'll keep them away -- Felix has been gluing himself to Tucker too much to prevent that.

Still, though. About Locus -- something's different.]

If I didn't know better, it would almost sound like you're growing a conscience.

[followorders]

[Locus understands Washington's position. He watched the sim troopers in that canyon long enough to understand they don't exactly follow orders. So, he'll accept his terms.]

Know this, if they interfere then I can't guarantee no harm will come to them.

[They both have little room for mistakes, and they know it. With the deal in place, Locus is ready to seal it when those words have him taking another step toward him.]

You should know by now, Agent Washington. Monster's don't have a conscience.

[worstever]

[Yeah, this isn't the Locus Wash is used to. That much had already been clear, but that seals it. Where is the instant denial?]

... No, I guess they don't.

[Locus is getting awfully close, though, and he thinks again of Felix's knife at his neck, ready for the ceasefire to break at any moment. Wash hopes the way he looks up at him is belligerent.]

Fine. Then we just keep leaving each other alone?

[followorders]

[He gets even closer still until he's a foot apart looking down at him.]

Do your job and your men will get to keep their lives.

[worstever]

[Wash bristles at Locus' tone. As though he gets to tell Wash what to do. The ground they're on isn't perfectly even (what does Locus know?) but the new universe has its way of neutralizing advantages, too.]

Do yours, and the same goes for Felix.

[followorders]

[.......]

If only you knew.

[The words linger in there air between them before he turns his shoulder and gives him his back, effectively ending the conversation.]

[worstever]

[Fine. That's clearly that. Locus is as terse as ever, so at least some things stay the same, whatever happens in the future. Under his breath:] Cryptic ass.

[Speak for yourself, Wash. It takes him a few backward steps before he decides Locus isn't going to shoot him as he walks away and turns to go.]