Ed Jr.

Xe shakes xir head at Stanley's question "In a moment--promise," xe says as xe stumbles toward the controls, and nearly collapses again in the six short paces to the console. "Resources limited, time sensitive," xe tries to explain.

Xe was still functional enough to stabilize the transport, but didn't have the energy to multitask on anything else, including communication. Dex had known, and was counting on the fact that Thanatos would never dare risk corrupting xir creator to keep xem from trying to purge the script from xir system... and once the transport was complete, it would be too later.

Once xe is certain Ed is stable, but before he is removed from stasis, xe turns to Stanley. He deserves an explanation, after witnessing...that. "Functionally, it's close enough," xe admits. "As far as I can tell, meant to override certain functions if triggered. I can sense... more, but can't determine out what. It won't infect anyone else, however. It is... targeted."

Once Stanley confirms he won't mention the incident to xir creator, xe unfreezes Ed from stasis.

Ed blinks and stumbles backward. "Wh-what's the chance of corruption you didn't detect?" he stutters. He pulls out a microfiber lens cleaning cloth and takes off his glasses with shaky hands and rubs at the lenses.

"Ten percent," Thanatos admits. "Once you are set up with a disc, I can help you go through your code to ensure that there is none," xe says.

Ed gives a short, jerky nod.

His entire body trembles violently, like a small bump would topple him. Or he might just collapse on his own, if he doesn't manage to get his breath under control.

Thanatos slowly retrieves xir wheelchair baton, and splits it open, wheelchair materializing out of the neon red wireframe emitted. "Sit." Xe says, gesturing to the chair.

Ed's eyes widen, though he takes a slow, hesitant step toward the chair.

Thanatos takes a step back, and Ed's shoulders drop from where he'd held them around his ears.

Xe shuts down the laser, and locks the console. At least that easy nobody could accidentally fire it.

Though, that wasn't currently the problem.

"The flask is for you," xe says. "It contains energy--it is safe for consumption."

Ed hesitantly reaches for it, tense, as though expecting... something. A reprimand for drinking it, or for not, most likely.

His eyes widen at the first tentative sip. Thanatos's pretends not to notice.

If the energy is the "tea" flavoring xe had been experimenting with, Thanatos claims it must certainly have been a glitch of the energy dispenser.

He stays quiet during the entire exchange between Thanatos and Ed Dillinger Jr. too. Stanley never met Dillinger Jr. directly, but he did know who he was and a vague sense of what he was like - James had told him about him during their time together, and he had heard whisperings about the big boss's son here and there too, things about nepotism, "spoiled rich kid" this and "doesn't deserve to be where he is" that, while James had chuckled about how fun it was to rile him up, like he was a rival, and a tightly-wound one at that. Stanley hadn't had much opinion on him himself, except to not make eye contact with him in the hallways if they had ever crossed paths - he was the CEO's son, and therefore bigger guns than he was, and therefore making eye contact mus be forbidden, at least it felt that way to Stanley.

He watches while Thanatos gives this "spoiled rich kid" xir wheelchair and for a moment feels like maybe his coworkers were right - this guy really does expect everything to just be handed to him, and for what reason, because he's the CEO's spawn? This guy is who Thanatos has been bowing down to all this time? The one xe has been practically worshiping as a god, the one xe wants to impress so much that xe can't even comprehend Stanley as an individual, xe only sees Stanley's life as worth saving because it's what he would want?

Stanley is almost offended by it, by the wheelchair and tea charade. Who is this guy kidding? To come here pretending to be some victim, when Thanatos worships him and puts everybody and everything else on the backburner literally for him? Stanley is the one here who means nothing, not him.

He almost forgets everything that Dex said just a little a bit ago, how it had pinned Thanatos against the wall and called him xir pet, whatever that was supposed to mean! How Jacquard or whoever had said xe had been soft on him, whatever that was supposed to mean! Xe never gave him a wheelchair to sit in. Xe never gave him tea to drink-

Except. Xe did. And he hated it. Not the wheelchair, but the tea. He hated it because it reminded him of his stupid father. Xe had reminded him of his stupid father. And it had all led into this huge mess.

He wish he knew what to believe.

At the moment, he was being led to believe that Thanatos was trying to look out for him, and for Dillinger Jr., and that Dillinger Jr. seemed afraid of being here. That's what it looked like. He was just having difficulty understanding why, and what his part in all this was. Thanatos said he didn't trust xem, that much was plain, Dex was crazy, vicious, and cruel, that much was also plain, and Thanatos had been infected with... something... that much was also plain, but not completely.

And now Stanley was being drawn back into the conversation by being introduced to the CEO's son and he's supposed to be assisting him and not telling him what he witnessed and figuring out what to do from here.

All of that, and all Stanley can think to do, the least harmful thing he can come up with without spilling out all this chaotic thoughts or flapping his arms wildly or running around and screaming, is...

Xir agenda for the day is intentionally short so that Ed can take time to adjust and settle before getting back to work--a decision that Thanatos is even more grateful to have made after that encounter with Dex--which means there will be plenty of time at the end of the cycle to debrief.

Xe just hopes xe doesn't accidentally make things worse between xem and Stanley in the meantime.

---

Ed's eyes widen at the mention of Stanley, that he will be helping with his work.

Another minder? Would Stanley report back his activity to Thanatos or Hypnos to be relayed to his father? Or did MCP-B have other plans? To hold any potential companionship above his head if he did not abide by his father's rules--or any new ones laid out by Thanatos.

Was this xir way of saying xe knew what he had been up to with Charlotte?

Just the same, xe doesn't know what the program's intentions are with the "energy" xe has given him. It tastes like tea. Somewhat, there's something subtly off about it, but it tastes like the camomile lavender tea he likes.

He expects it to be a trap, that xe will report it to his father and then...

...And then he doesn't know what. He doesn't know what Thanatos will do if he breaks the rules, and that terrifies him.

He sets the flask down, not wanting to find out. Currently, Thanato's lack of reaction sets him more on edge.

He returns Stanley's wave, though he also doesn't quite meet his eyes. He's too afraid of what he might see if he does.

"Yes sir," He responds automatically. It doesn't occur to him that he's actually supposed to choose one, that he is effectively in charge for the short work cycle, as he's never really had choice over his schedule. Every second of his day is planned out, either by Cyrus, his father, or Peter, and he expects the same from Thanatos.

Thanatos sighs.

Ed freezes. He's fucked up and he knows it.

"I don't use that one, Creator," Thanatos says quietly. If you are going to address me by title, it is 'Admiral' or 'Administrator'."

Ed haunches his shoulders, expecting... a reprimand, backlash of some sort. "Sorry," he says.

"If you are ready, there is a recognizer for transportation back to the ship, which should be approximately five minutes. If it helps, you may think about how you would like to proceed on the way back and make a decision once we are aboard the Laurel."

The chances, Thanatos calculates, are effectively zero, given how little free time he has with all the work required of him, given that the Dillinger patriarch makes sure he has very almost none, and that what little free time Ed had, he mostly spent sleeping.

His father also almost certainly would not approve of the activity, and hiding even a small skein of yarn and hook would present challenges.

Xe hums in thought. Xe suspects xir creator would appreciate a cape like the one Doom had made for xem, or a cloak or blanket--something soft he could hide under.

"Yeah, because his father probably doesn't want him associating with anything that's too 'feminine' or some shit. Well, maybe the miserable old fuckwad should kill himself for being birthed by a woman if he thinks everything 'related' to women is to be looked down upon," she can't help but scoff.

She decides not to elaborate any further than that, though. She feels it speaks for itself. And besides, if Senior won't kill himself, she'll gladly do it. Imagine the audacity for him to die by a woman's hand. The thought alone brings her all kinds of joy.

However, Thanatos says nothing to the contrary, either.

Xe accepts the yarn, eyes widening in shock as xe is suddenly nearly engulfed by the enormous pile.

Xe has to think for a moment about her question, and carefully stacks the yarn on the low table by the sofa.

"I had not considered it, since everything native to the Grid just smells... like ozone, supposedly, though it may be possible to simulate other fragrances."

Xe had instructed Azmidi to prepare a room for Ed's residence aboard the ship in preparation for his inevitable arrival to the Grid, and comfortable and spacious compared to the rest of the crew quarters, was still... plain, though he would have full permissions to embellish his space as he chose.

Some personal items as a gift would certainly make the room feel less like the prison he certainly would feel like it was originally, however--

If you’ve ever had to deal with an abusive person in your life - like an abusive parent or partner - you’ve probably wondered what made them treat you that way. If you understand why abuse is happening, the thinking goes, you might be able to figure out how to make it stop. 

So why do abusers do what they do? Do they have anger issues? Drinking problems? Past trauma? Personality disorders? Do they just need to get in touch with their feelings and learn how to communicate better?

Nope. 

Abusive behaviours come from abusive beliefs. Abusers - whether consciously or unconsciously - hold specific beliefs about relationships that drive their behaviour and allow them to justify the horrible things they do. Even if your abuser has never put their beliefs into words, you’ll probably recognize a lot of these abusive beliefs:

You are responsible for my emotions. It is never my responsibility to reflect on my emotional reactions or learn better coping skills - it’s your responsibility to stop doing things that make me angry or upset.

I must act on my emotions. If I am angry, I am going to lash out. You have no right to criticize me for that, and it’s not my responsibility to learn to manage my  emotions - you have to stop making me lash out at you. Asking me not to act on my emotions is controlling and wrong.

You will always be responsible for my emotions. Even if the relationship ends, you will continue to be responsible for my emotions, and I will expect you to continue to prioritize my feelings.

If I have feelings about something, it’s my business. If something you do or think causes an emotional reaction in me, then I have a right to get involved or tell you what to do. My feelings must be the priority. You don’t have the right to tell me that it’s none of my business. 

You must judge me on my intentions, not my actions. If I didn’t mean to hurt you or scare you, then you don’t have the right to be hurt or scared. No one has the right to try to hold me accountable unless I meant to hurt someone.

I get to decide what your intentions were. If you hurt me, you meant to hurt me. If you make me jealous, you meant to make me jealous. Nothing you do is ever accidental or unintended - everything you do is intentional and malicious, even if it was a response to something I did.

My feelings are genuine; your feelings are manipulation. If I’m upset, my feelings are real and important. If you are upset, you have an ulterior motive - you’re just trying to be manipulative and get attention or sympathy for yourself.

You have freedoms because I allow you to. Every freedom you have in your life - like wearing what you want - it’s because I generously allow it. I expect you to be grateful to me for that. I have the right to take those freedoms away whenever I want, and I expect you to obey.

If you set boundaries with me, you are mistreating me. If you really loved me, you wouldn’t set boundaries with me. You are doing this to intentionally hurt me, which means I don’t have to respect those boundaries.

You holding me accountable for hurting you is worse than me hurting you. My pain at being called out is worse than your pain at being mistreated. If I feel bad about something I did, I have already been punished enough. You trying to discuss the issue or hold me accountable is just your way of abusing me.

If I apologized for something, you have to forgive me. If the relationship has ended, you have to reconcile with me. You don’t get to ask for more time apart or more discussion of the issue - once I’ve apologized, the matter is closed for good.

The relationship is not over until I say it is over. So long as I want a relationship with you, you must have a relationship with me. Your feelings are irrelevant. Even if we have broken up, you must remain available to me so we can get back together in the future. Not wanting a relationship with me means you are mistreating me or being immature. 

I am the authority in this relationship. I am smarter and more perceptive than you. I know what is best for both of us. My version of events is always the correct one. I have superior judgement, taste and opinions. If you question me or disagree with me after I’ve given you the correct answer, you are disrespecting and mistreating me, or you are simply immature and incapable of knowing what’s good for you.

I have the right to control you. It is my absolute right to decide what you do and who you associate with. You have no right to disobey me. I am owed obedience and control; if you don’t give me those things, you are wronging me and cheating me out of the relationship I deserve. 

If you resist my control, I am allowed to do whatever I think is necessary to get it back. Once you’ve resisted me, I am justified in whatever I do to regain control of you. I am not responsible for my actions when you resist my control; you forced me to do it, and it’s your own fault. 

I should be your main focus. Everything else in your life comes secondary to me. When you make decisions, my feelings should be your first consideration. You are expected to make sacrifices for me and put me at the center of your life; I am not obligated to do the same for you. 

If I spend money on you or do something for you, you are in debt to me. You spending money on me or doing things for me does not erase your debt to me, and I am never in debt to you. You are indebted to me for as long as I decide. I may decide that your belongings and earnings also belong to me, since I allow you to have them. I may also decide at any time that you owe me for gifts I gave you, even if they were meant to be gifts.

I am not abusive, and you are not allowed to tell me otherwise. I know what abuse is, and real abusers are significantly worse than me. If our relationship has ever had any good times or positive moments, it can’t possibly be abusive. If you accuse me of being abusive, you are the one abusing me, or you have been led astray by bad influences. 

Relationships should be effortless (for me). I am owed a relationship that is peaceful and requires no real effort from me. It is your job to make sure we have that kind of relationship. If there is any tension or conflict in the relationship, it is your fault, and you are depriving me of the relationship I deserve to have. 

Abusers and victims alike often buy into the narrative that abuse is rooted in anger issues - after all, abusers are frequently angry, and anger is an issue that can be treated. But this narrative just isn’t true. Abusers aren’t abusive because they are angry. Abusers are angry because they are abusive. 

A non-abusive partner is not someone who has learned how to control their rage whenever you spend time with your friends or get home 15 minutes late from work. A non-abusive partner just doesn’t feel any rage in those situations. An abuser’s rage is firmly rooted in their beliefs about relationships - they feel entitled to a relationship that meets their impossible expectations, and when they inevitably don’t get it, they bubble over with fury. Whether they know it or not, they have firmly entrenched beliefs about how relationships should be, and those beliefs are at the heart of their abuse. 

Eve peeked around the door of the tech conference's closing gala, eyeing the attendees. She wasn't supposed to be here. Wasn't supposed to be this side of the screen. Definitely wasn't supposed to be attempting to poach employees from rival companies.

But really, was it poaching when it felt more like a rescue?

Future Control Industries... Eve shuddered. She knew exactly what kind of Programs they had as flagships. The Master Control Program that had torn through her home before she was aware enough to understand what was wrong was proof enough.

But their new star programmer...

The child of the owner, named for the same. Intelligent, inventive, driven. A dangerous young man, second only to his father.

At least, according to the media.

Eve thought Edward Dillinger Junior looked... tired. Burnt out. Chained to the man who even now gripped his shoulder so tightly it couldn't be any less than painful.

In need of an Admin - someone to look out for him and help him thrive.

Eve could provide.

She flashed her pass, a gift from Lora Prime - unable to make the conference for health reasons - and stepped in to mingle. Her black dress shimmered pink in the lights, heels high and sharp, eyeliner like tiny knives.

The Legacy Grid had become a battleground not too dissimilar to this one, for all the weapons didn't leave visible wounds. And Eve was an Encom Program - designed, as they all were, to adapt and fight.

Ed always hated tech conferences. It's something he should have looked forward to. There were lots of good talks about the latest innovations, demos of the latest gadgets, lots of fascinating ideas.

It also meant he was stuck in close quarters with his father and no escape.

"Because of his disability," his father rationalized. And maybe that was part of it, but Ed was also aware it was to keep him in line. He had his entire schedule handed to him, every second of his day and a warning not to deviate.

By the time the closing gala arrived, Ed was exhausted. The ballroom was too loud, to bright, and Ed was out of patience for interacting with his father's business partners, or anyone. The only saving grace was the soft silk of his outfit expensive outfit. Ed doubted he could manage any other texture.

He just wanted to go back to the their suit at the hotel and sleep.

Ed snapped at a one of his father's business partners. Someone important, though Ed doesn't remember the man's name, and doesn't particularly care to.

His father squeezed his shoulder in warning.

It's only years of training and discipline that kept Ed from tensing or flinching. He apologized, then excused himself. His father stepped in to smooth things over, and Ed took the opportunity to attempt to disappear into the crowd, though he's aware Dymitr--Ed's "assistant", though Ed was fully aware that the man reported to his father and was truly there to keep him in line-- is following him, not too far behind.

Expressing his anxieties never ended well. They were always dismissed as nothing, and if he did say anything and it did come true, nobody liked being told 'I told you so'.

He shook his head, and switched off the disc. "I'm fine."

He quickly put the disc back in its coat pocket. Or at least, attempted to, though it took several tries to find the opening and shove the disc back inside.

"Love you too, an leanbhín." Alan paused his sewing, looking over with a soft smile. "Have fun, both of you. Drive safe."

"I promise."

And he didn't know if that would be a trap, either.

For a moment, Ed tensed, expecting... he wasn't sure what he was expecting in Alan's response. A warning to behave, or a threat should he step out of line.

But Alan didn't say anything, and Ed was left disoriented. For a minute, Ed wondered if he should say goodbye as well, but... Ed really didn't want to call Alan's attention to himself. Especially if it would result in a warning or threat.

He settled for waving awkwardly from the kitchen and then followed Jet.

...Longest part was the door?

What?

"Yeah, it's like a ten minute drive to the I/O tower, and the door fully takes fifteen minutes to open - while kind of automated, it's not controlled by anything other than its own hydraulics and those are set extremely slow so no one gets squished. Fully isolated from the rest of the security system." Jet hummed. "There are chairs next to it for that reason. Why spend twenty minutes walking through and then around the whole building when you can sit for a bit and be out straight into the way nicer secondary carpark once the door's open."

Ed, for all the description, could not fathom just how large the door was, that it would need hydraulics to operate.

"Oh," ...better not to think about that.

Ed blinked.

Car. Boot.

Better not to think about it.

Not--not a car, similar, but Jet had called it something else, hadn't he?

His eyes caught on a jacket in the boot of the lightrunner - the one he'd given Ed earlier, before Ed got his coat, the corruption that had once snapped at it long-gone. Thin, light, more of a windbreaker than anything particularly warm. Soft and silky enough to hopefully not be a sensory nightmare, made of some cooling quick-dry material Jet had never bothered learning the name of.

Hooded. Oversized. Non-descript. Another thing Dillinger Sr would expect Ed to not be caught dead in, if he bothered looking.

The outer garage door rose silently, folding away into the roof space. Outside was a jarring reminder of how alien the Grid was - rolling grey terrain abruptly disappearing to jagged peaks, gleaming Spheres hovering in the blue-purple sky with no support, glowing pink and blue and amber lines running and pulsing across the whole landscape in a strange inverted sunset - the only way to describe it, given the nature of the world.

A flock of Bits swooped across the sky, twisting and turning like starlings.

Another reminder that his life as he knew it was... over.

It should have been a relief to be away from his home, and yet...

Even with the resources on his disc, he had no idea if he could live alone with his chronic fatigue, he dreaded the thought of having to push through it at work.

He didn't know what he wanted to do for work, if he even enjoyed programming. Learning to work with computers had been expected of him. Demanded. His life had been carefully laid out for him by his father with very little flexibility. And now... that path had come to a dead end, and he had no idea which way to go.

Anyone he's ever trusted enough to get close with, to form any sort of bond with, his father had made a point of driving away, to the point where in high school he'd given it up as a lost cause, had only really made one in college, and now...

And now Thanatos was going to take her away from him--and Oleander too, since they were likely to go looking and succumb to the same fate.

Ed forces his expression into something neutral. This wasn't about him, it was about Stanley, but he can't help but hear what was implied. Was he not worth staying around for?

It is only years and years and years of practice that he doesn't flinch or jerk away when Charlotte reaches out to him. Instead, he lets go of the thermos and drops his hands into his lap.

"Of course he deserves to be found, and we will, we're not giving up, I just--"

It would be pointless for her to go in there when Stanley wasn't there and he had proper access and had a better idea where to look.

It was pointless when his father was pressuring him to go anyway to figure out why Thanatos wasn't returning anything.

But above all--

He couldn't lose her.

He pulls away from her, but he wants her to stay.

He says Stanley has disappeared and she will disappear too if she tries to go looking for him, but he insists that they will find him.

He doesn't even seem to know why Stanley has disappeared, and yet he also seems to know something about it.

What is he trying to say, but is NOT saying????

Feeling foolish and feeling the rejection ring through her harsh as a wasp sting, Charlie takes her hands back to herself and leans them against the desk, unsure of where to put them momentarily before crossing her arms across her chest and tucking her hands between her arms and her sides, as though she doesn't want them to be seen at all, as though she's embarrassed that they exist and that she offered such a vulnerable part of her to him.

Maybe they aren't friends like she thought they were...

"......Why???" she asks thickly, like she's out of breath. Really, she's incredulous and trying not to...... express some kind of emotion, because she wants to scream, wants to cry, wants to break something.

"What are you- What are you even saying? I don't understand you, Ed. You..... What's your plan, then? If you don't want me to go looking for him, then what's your plan? I mean, if it your friend, wouldn't you want- wouldn't you want know what happened? Wouldn't you want to find them? If it was-" -me? "-you? Wouldn't you want someone to look for you?"

"Of course I'd want to find them—"

—to fined her—

"—I don't want to have to go looking, why do you think I'm—"

He wipes at the moisture in his eyes. Please not here, not now, he can't let Charlotte see him cry—

Thanatos steps into the laser control facility, and halts in xir tracks, alarms immediately going off in xir system at the sight of Dex. Xe can feel Stanley nearly knock into xem, and reaches back to both catch his arm and steady him, and also to keep him behind xem.

"System Administrator, why are you here?" Xe lets go of Stanley and steps into the room. Xe clasps xir hands behind xir back, posture loose though xe is ready to reach for xir scythe at a moment's notice if Dex were to try anything.

"Oh, just checking on things on your end, making sure the arrival of the user goes to plan."

"Without access to the portal, project Datawraith is stalled." Thanatos said flatly.

"Until that user is dead"--it gestures toward Stanley--"nobody exits the system," Dex said.

Thanatos pressed xir lips into a line. "You overstepped your jurisdiction, Administrator."

Xe glanced at the laser controls. ...Though, if xir Creator was entering the Grid, perhaps xe just needed to convince him to check xir permissions...

Xe meets Dex's eyes. It knows precisely what calculation had run through xir processors. It knows xe knows it knows, and it knows Thanatos plans to inform xir Creator of what had happened.

Dex's circuits briefly flare bright yellow, and it grows until it is an eight foot giant, as tall as the control room. Quick enough that Thanatos barely has time to process what is happening, it grabs Thanatos by the throat and slams xem into the wall, lifting xem just high enough that xir feet barely didn't touch the ground.

Thanatos catches sight of xir hat discarded in the middle of the floor, though xe couldn't see where Stanley had gone. Distantly, xe hopes he would be smart and not get in the middle of a fight between two administrative programs. Powerful as the User was, he was still learning, and still had poor defensive reflexes.

Dex pins Thanatos with a knee between xir legs, their faces inches apart. It reaches out and grabs xir left wrist with a duplicate of the arm holding Thanatos by the throat, so that it is simultaneously still holding xem and grabbing xir wrist, with an effect that looks like its frame is glitching. It grabs xir other wrist in it's other hand and brings them both above xir head, and holds both wrists in a single fist. It duplicates each arm once more, the left fist slamming into xir gut, and the other hand in contrast almost gently pressed against the large circuits of the insignia over xir chest.

Dex draws energy from Thanatos's circuits, it's circuits flaring blindingly bright while xirs in contrast dim until the red glow is barely visible. Xir entire frame feels like it's being squeezed in a vise, xir gut is being pulled downward, and xir core being sucked out of xir frame and into Dex's palm.

Xir circuits feel cold, like xe imagines ice would feel coursing through xem instead of energy.

"Whose commands do you follow, MCP 2.0-B?"

"My User's," Thanatos responds, though it takes considerable effort to keep xir voice even and not show the exhaustion and pain that Dex is causing xem.

"And whose command does he follow, Version B?" Dex increases its draw on Thanatos's energy.

Thanatos grit xir teeth against the ache in xir chest in a desperate attempt to keep from screaming in pain.

"Answer the question."

Thanatos meet's its eyes and glowers.

"Your user takes commands from my creator. Say it, Version B."

"I am going to tear your backup files apart bit by bit and then destroy your disc," Thanatos growls.

Dex increases its draw to maximum, its circuits flaring and filling the room with nearly blinding gold light. The room spins, the edges of Thanatos's vision blur. Xir shoulders slump, the only thing keeping xem from collapse was Dex's vice grip on xir wrists held above xir head.

"If you derezz, there will be nothing stopping me from killing your pet user, and I will proceed with your user's digitization." Its voice echoes.

"My Creator follows his father's commands," Thanatos grit out.

"And I am the embodiment of his will on the Grid. I am your SysAdmin, and you obey my commands, do you understand?"

"Yes, System Administrator." Dex reduced its draw, the pressure on xir chest easing to a more bearable pain. "Good. Say it. I want to hear you say you obey my commands."

Thanatos keeps xir eyes level with Dex's.

A long whip-like tail with a stinger sprouts out of Dex, and it caresses Thanatos's cheek with the stinger, a sly grin on it's face. "You're really going to put your pet user in danger over your pride, Version B?"

Thanatos catches a glimpse of the user in xir peripheral.

"...I obey your commands, Administrator."

"Excellent. Be sure that remains in your expansive long term memory. Under no circumstances will you inform your User of the changes to your permissions nor will you allow him to change them."

Thanatos stares at it as though xe could derezz the Sysadmin with xir glare alone.

Xir core seizes as Dex leeches more energy.

Dex twitches it's tail. "Confirm, Version B."

"Yes, System Administrator," Xe grits out."

"Good. You will need energy so you can properly operate the digitization equipment."

It duplicates another arm, and retrieved a vial containing a glowing emerald liquid.

"That's not energy."

"Its mixed with energy. Else it would derezz you in your current state."

Thanatos clenches xir jaw.

Dex flicks its tail, and it sweeps the full length of the room in a clear warning. "That's the last warning you're getting, Version B."

Thanatos does not fight as Dex duplicates another arm and grips xir jaw, then tilts xir head back

Dex grins. "Good. Though you must face consequences for your disobedience." It releases a pulse of energy into Thanatos's circuits through the hand on xir stomach.

Thanatos's frame jolted from the input of energy.

The next instant, it drew the energy--and more--back from Thanatos's frame again through the hand on xir chest.

Thanatos gasps. The fluctuation in energy through xir frame hurts. Xir whole body aches from it.

In the same moment, Dex shoves the vial into xir openmouth, the liquid burning the back of xir throat. Dex eases up on Thanatos's throat, using the hand to hold xir jaw closed until xe swallows.

As soon as xe does, Dex immediately drops xem, and Thanatos collapses into a heap on the floor.

Xir insides burn as the script floods xir system. An internal diagnostic scan shows what the script is: a trap, should anyone other than Dex attempt to modify xir permissions, that will override xir code and force xem to blindly attack the other person.

...Dex had given this nasty bit of code some thought.

Dex strides to the laser control, where a panel shows what is currently in the laser's range of fire: xir creator, sitting at the computer trying to figure out why the laser hadn't--

Dex taps the console, and the laser fires.

"...Perhaps you're right, all these conversion matrices, the compression algorithms... it's such an involved process. So much could go wrong if not done properly. Better left to the professionals. I'll take my leave, I don't particularly care to meet the user anyway--they're all quite annoying."

Dex turns and walks back toward the entrance, altering its path just enough that it manages to step on xir fingers on the way out.

Thanatos scrambles to xir feet, and stumbles toward the console, xir core howling with rage at Dex's overstep, at xir own frame's betrayal and that Dex would use xir loyalty to xir Creator against xem.

Usually, xe would try to purge the script slowly wrapping itself around xir code, it's tendrils ensnaring xir core, but given the choice between fighting the script and ensuring xir Creator arrived to the Grid unharmed... there isn't a choice. Rage burns through xir exhaustion and pain. Xe takes the controls, adjusting them carefully according to readouts on the display, and stabilizes the User as he is resolved into the Grid, frozen and encased in something that looks like a translucent block of opal.

Thanatos scans xir creator anxiously, though the user's energy signature is still too noisy for xem to comprehend. The laser console does the same through the heavyduty filters designed specifically for the purpose of detecting corruption in transport, and the results show up on a screen.

"Safe," xe breathes. Relief flooding xir aching circuits. "He's safe." Thanatos sighs, xir entire body shaking both from the panic of potentially losing xir Creator, and from the exhaustion of Dex leeching xir energy reserves.

One final step. But before that--

Thanatos pulls a vial of emergency energy rations from xir storage, and drinks it all at once. It's just enough to steady xir hands, to keep xem on xir feet until they get back to the ship, though xe will need more to get through the end of the milicycle.

Xe pulls out a larger flask of energy, but leaves it on the console, rather than drinking it.

Xe finally turns to Stanley. "User... A request: not a word of... Dex, or any of this to him... please." Ed would be stressed enough without having to worry about another malicious program, on top of everything else that would surely be going through xir mind.

Xe takes another deep breath, and presses one final button. The glassy material encasing xir user shatters into cubes.

It's really hard to believe that when a huge monster of a... whoever... has xem pinned against the wall and is hurting xem while mocking xem and forcing suspicious-looking liquids down xir throat, though. It's not quite so easy to convince himself that xe doesn't care about him when even this program who is supposedly above even Thanatos is saying he's xir "pet" and holding his life over xir head for it. It's also just plain difficult to see xem as... well... an enemy regardless of whether or not xe might care about him when xe is being attacked like this. There's also the fact that this thing is saying that it is the reason Stanley can't get home. It is the one keeping him here.

That's enough to put Stanley back on Thanatos's side automatically, no matter what.

Part of him wants to run away, but an even greater part of him roots him to the spot, too afraid of running. If he runs, he might be noticed. If he runs, he'd be leaving Thanatos here by xemself. He doesn't say anything because he knows he isn't strong enough to do anything in this situation. If he's quiet, he might live. If he's quiet, he might take in what's happening and take it elsewhere. Charlie would have said something, thrown something, maybe even thrown herself, but Stanley... well, he's Stanley, and keeping quiet is his game.

As soon as Dex is gone, though, Stanley is at Thanatos's side, all previous anger over everything out the window. He isn't sure if he should try to help xem up, though. Part of him is still skittish about being pushed away. Any other of the soldiers would do the same thing, though, wouldn't they?

"What was that stuff? That he made you drink? Was it poison? It looked like-" -those viruses. It looked to Stanley to be the same color, and that drew the connection in his mind, anyway. But a program wouldn't purposely infect... essentially itself with a virus, would it? Could it? I mean, they're part of the same system, working together, as far as Stanley understood it - what sense would it make for it to infect itself?

Xe shakes xir head at Stanley's question "In a moment--promise," xe says as xe stumbles toward the controls, and nearly collapses again in the six short paces to the console. "Resources limited, time sensitive," xe tries to explain.

Xe was still functional enough to stabilize the transport, but didn't have the energy to multitask on anything else, including communication. Dex had known, and was counting on the fact that Thanatos would never dare risk corrupting xir creator to keep xem from trying to purge the script from xir system... and once the transport was complete, it would be too later.

Once xe is certain Ed is stable, but before he is removed from stasis, xe turns to Stanley. He deserves an explanation, after witnessing...that. "Functionally, it's close enough," xe admits. "As far as I can tell, meant to override certain functions if triggered. I can sense... more, but can't determine out what. It won't infect anyone else, however. It is... targeted."

Once Stanley confirms he won't mention the incident to xir creator, xe unfreezes Ed from stasis.

Ed blinks and stumbles backward. "Wh-what's the chance of corruption you didn't detect?" he stutters. He pulls out a microfiber lens cleaning cloth and takes off his glasses with shaky hands and rubs at the lenses.

"Ten percent," Thanatos admits. "Once you are set up with a disc, I can help you go through your code to ensure that there is none," xe says.

Ed gives a short, jerky nod.

His entire body trembles violently, like a small bump would topple him. Or he might just collapse on his own, if he doesn't manage to get his breath under control.

Thanatos slowly retrieves xir wheelchair baton, and splits it open, wheelchair materializing out of the neon red wireframe emitted. "Sit." Xe says, gesturing to the chair.

Ed's eyes widen, though he takes a slow, hesitant step toward the chair.

Thanatos takes a step back, and Ed's shoulders drop from where he'd held them around his ears.

Xe shuts down the laser, and locks the console. At least that easy nobody could accidentally fire it.

Though, that wasn't currently the problem.

"The flask is for you," xe says. "It contains energy--it is safe for consumption."

Ed hesitantly reaches for it, tense, as though expecting... something. A reprimand for drinking it, or for not, most likely.

His eyes widen at the first tentative sip. Thanatos's pretends not to notice.

If the energy is the "tea" flavoring xe had been experimenting with, Thanatos claims it must certainly have been a glitch of the energy dispenser.

"Since Dex has locked down the portal, he will be here long term as well," xe continues. "Not his choice, he would prefer to avoid this place entirely if he could, except the CEO has demanded it."

Thanatos pushes xemself to xir feet, and paces to the other end of the room with xir hands held behind xir back.

"He... does not trust me." An understatement, but he had little enough privacy, and Thanatos would rather keep private the things xir creator said during their debug sessions when he thought he was alone in the lab and thought Thanatos wouldn't remember.

Xe turns and makes a circuit around the room, moving slowly.

"Justifiably, given his experience with my predecessor... Which is why I need your help. Not to convince him to trust me—not when you don't trust me either, and... I hope to earn both your trust, but... That must be earned. I want you with him any time I must speak with him, at least unless he decides otherwise."

Xe stops and turns back to Stanley.

Like the questions his eyes ask that his lips won't.

He desperately wants to ask questions, but he won't. There isn't any point in asking. It will just open up more questions, and all those questions will lead to one answer - nothing matters. His thoughts and feelings here don't matter. Whatever his place in all this is, it doesn't matter, it's all about xir creator, and xe pretty much says as much. For all xir pacing and long-winded speech and revelations about xir creator not trusting xem and wanting to earn his trust and earn Stanley's trust and this and that, it all boils down to one thing:

Stanley is to be by xir creator's side... to help xem earn xir creator's trust.

Xe says it's not to convince xir creator to trust xem, because Stanley himself doesn't trust xem, but what else could this meeting be for? Opening up to him like this? Bleeding xemself out to him? It's a manipulation tactic, pure and simple. By doing this, it's to convince Stanley that xe isn't such a bad guy, and xe is banking on Stanley being curious about why xir creator doesn't trust xem, and playing the mediator between the two of them, and therefore trying to convince him to trust xem after all. Despite what xe has said, that's all this is. A roundabout way of getting xir creator to trust xem. Stanley is just a pawn.

He's seen this all before. Been through it all before, in one way or another, if what James did to him really did happen.

Its probably for the best, so xe can let Stanley go and have his space.

"If for any reason you feel like this arrangement doesn't work and you would rather continue with your current assignment or like to discuss an alternative... Either is acceptable. Just let me know."

i'm sort of having a mild brain fog moment rn so i can't fully articulate what i'm on about, but i think a lot of able-bodied artists view things like canes and crutches as interchangeable. and they often don't know enough about the wide range of mobility aids to make an informed decision about what their character might actually use based on their disability

Eve peeked around the door of the tech conference's closing gala, eyeing the attendees. She wasn't supposed to be here. Wasn't supposed to be this side of the screen. Definitely wasn't supposed to be attempting to poach employees from rival companies.

But really, was it poaching when it felt more like a rescue?

Future Control Industries... Eve shuddered. She knew exactly what kind of Programs they had as flagships. The Master Control Program that had torn through her home before she was aware enough to understand what was wrong was proof enough.

But their new star programmer...

The child of the owner, named for the same. Intelligent, inventive, driven. A dangerous young man, second only to his father.

At least, according to the media.

Eve thought Edward Dillinger Junior looked... tired. Burnt out. Chained to the man who even now gripped his shoulder so tightly it couldn't be any less than painful.

In need of an Admin - someone to look out for him and help him thrive.

Eve could provide.

She flashed her pass, a gift from Lora Prime - unable to make the conference for health reasons - and stepped in to mingle. Her black dress shimmered pink in the lights, heels high and sharp, eyeliner like tiny knives.

The Legacy Grid had become a battleground not too dissimilar to this one, for all the weapons didn't leave visible wounds. And Eve was an Encom Program - designed, as they all were, to adapt and fight.

Ed always hated tech conferences. It's something he should have looked forward to. There were lots of good talks about the latest innovations, demos of the latest gadgets, lots of fascinating ideas.

It also meant he was stuck in close quarters with his father and no escape.

"Because of his disability," his father rationalized. And maybe that was part of it, but Ed was also aware it was to keep him in line. He had his entire schedule handed to him, every second of his day and a warning not to deviate.

By the time the closing gala arrived, Ed was exhausted. The ballroom was too loud, to bright, and Ed was out of patience for interacting with his father's business partners, or anyone. The only saving grace was the soft silk of his outfit expensive outfit. Ed doubted he could manage any other texture.

He just wanted to go back to the their suit at the hotel and sleep.

Ed snapped at a one of his father's business partners. Someone important, though Ed doesn't remember the man's name, and doesn't particularly care to.

His father squeezed his shoulder in warning.

It's only years of training and discipline that kept Ed from tensing or flinching. He apologized, then excused himself. His father stepped in to smooth things over, and Ed took the opportunity to attempt to disappear into the crowd, though he's aware Dymitr--Ed's "assistant", though Ed was fully aware that the man reported to his father and was truly there to keep him in line-- is following him, not too far behind.

Expressing his anxieties never ended well. They were always dismissed as nothing, and if he did say anything and it did come true, nobody liked being told 'I told you so'.

He shook his head, and switched off the disc. "I'm fine."

He quickly put the disc back in its coat pocket. Or at least, attempted to, though it took several tries to find the opening and shove the disc back inside.

"Love you too, an leanbhín." Alan paused his sewing, looking over with a soft smile. "Have fun, both of you. Drive safe."

"I promise."

And he didn't know if that would be a trap, either.

For a moment, Ed tensed, expecting... he wasn't sure what he was expecting in Alan's response. A warning to behave, or a threat should he step out of line.

But Alan didn't say anything, and Ed was left disoriented. For a minute, Ed wondered if he should say goodbye as well, but... Ed really didn't want to call Alan's attention to himself. Especially if it would result in a warning or threat.

He settled for waving awkwardly from the kitchen and then followed Jet.

...Longest part was the door?

What?

"Yeah, it's like a ten minute drive to the I/O tower, and the door fully takes fifteen minutes to open - while kind of automated, it's not controlled by anything other than its own hydraulics and those are set extremely slow so no one gets squished. Fully isolated from the rest of the security system." Jet hummed. "There are chairs next to it for that reason. Why spend twenty minutes walking through and then around the whole building when you can sit for a bit and be out straight into the way nicer secondary carpark once the door's open."

Ed, for all the description, could not fathom just how large the door was, that it would need hydraulics to operate.

"Oh," ...better not to think about that.

Ed blinked.

Car. Boot.

Better not to think about it.

Not--not a car, similar, but Jet had called it something else, hadn't he?

His eyes caught on a jacket in the boot of the lightrunner - the one he'd given Ed earlier, before Ed got his coat, the corruption that had once snapped at it long-gone. Thin, light, more of a windbreaker than anything particularly warm. Soft and silky enough to hopefully not be a sensory nightmare, made of some cooling quick-dry material Jet had never bothered learning the name of.

Hooded. Oversized. Non-descript. Another thing Dillinger Sr would expect Ed to not be caught dead in, if he bothered looking.