SET Initiative

Addie choked on a laugh. "Believe it or not, he was a nice guy, once. Things changed when we got serious." She shook her head.

At his offer, her whole attitude seemed to change. She brightened, and glanced at him. "Austin, could you really? I would.." She looked at a loss for words, and just shook her head. "Please. If it's not too much trouble, yes, please do." She smiled weakly.

Luckily for Austin, Jackson wasn't about to fly around the corner, but he definitely had his eyes set on him now; he would get his chance soon enough. Addie just squeezed his hand back, breathing out shakily.

Austin wondered what on earth could happen in a relationship that could turn a "nice guy" into some pushy jerk.

Oh, well. Not about to pry for answers. She'd tell him eventually, right?

Austin grinned when she perked up at his offer. "Of course! It's not a big deal at all. If I'm not mistaken, there's still another ship that has a majority of the remaining population on it. There are a few more empty rooms here. Plus I have a few friends. Make sure it's at least very hard for him to find you and harass you."

They walked around a little bit more, Austin recounting stories about friends and teammates, pointing out trivial facts about the ship, and occasionally (read: often) cracking a joke. He took his time getting to the cafeteria- He knew where it was but there wasn't a rush. Eventually they got there and found a table. It was a serve-yourself type of deal. Austin turned to Addie and smiled again. "You ready to eat?" He asked, eagerly.

Addie was grateful for him and his frequent jokes; this was the Austin she didn't think she'd ever get to see, the guy that had just grinned and talked about coffee the first time they met nearly seven months ago.

Arriving at the cafeteria jerked her back to the present day, and she gave his hand a quick squeeze. "Yeah, I'm starving, actually." She grinned at him. After hesitating, she leaned over and pecked his cheek, standing on her tiptoes to do so before releasing his hand to go grab a tray while Austin was kind enough to wait at their table so no one would take it.

Whenever she returned, tray carrying a variety if mildly appetizing food one would expect, Addie took her seat, smiling up at him. "Thanks for saving me a spot. "She teased, waving for him to go get his own chow, but not before she offered him a french fry, less than perfectly crisp, but at least hot.

Austin was grateful to feel good enough to make frequent jokes- Having someone who enjoyed them made it even better. It was great, even if he wasn't as whole as he was before he made his last drop.

When she grinned at him, he beamed right back. "Alright, you go get your food first, I'll wait at the table." She stood on her tip-toes to kiss his cheek, and his face turned the slightest shade of red.

He let go of her hand so she could grab some food for herself, and he sat down and waited. Suddenly the man at the table across from him turned around-

Oh no. Infected. Austin had forgotten to wear his watch today, dammit. He stood up. The person at the table next to him was violently mutilating a child, laid out on the table like he was prepared for surgery.

This wasn't happening. Where were the SET Operatives? Infected started walking through the entrances- Pouring in by the hundreds.

Some of them were faces he recognized. He swallowed hard and accepted his fate. This was it. It was all for nothing. Addie was undoubtedly dead or worse.

They converged upon him. Claws dug into his left shoulder like an open wound. His legs gave out. He felt himself turning back into one of them...

Addie sat down with a tray full of food. She seemed chipper. She was fine. How was she not dead?

A puzzled look was on Austin's face before he smiled. "Oh, O-Of course. I wouldn't want to be eating lunch with some random person, would I?" He was clearly hesitant with his first words. What was going on?

His eyes told more than his words did. He was scared and confused.

This was real. The Infected were gone. They had vanished. Fine. He was fine. Deep breaths.

Austin smiled at Addie again. Oh, she was holding out a french fry for him. He took it gratefully. How had he not been medically discharged?

"I think I'll go grab some chow for myself now. Don't get into too much trouble without me."

Austin walked away to grab a tray and get some food. He kept shaking his head. It had happened again. He saw it with his eyes. Was he crazy?

I'm crazy. How am I still a qualified SET Operative?

He had grabbed various food items that looked relatively good: A cheeseburger, some french fries, a bottle of water. Not exactly what you'd expect to find at say, Five Guys, but it was food.

Before he knew it, Austin was back at the table. "Back," he pulled his cheeks back in a small smile that didn't show his teeth.

Addie saw that look on his face, and she heard the hesitation in his voice.

Her brows furrowed, and the amusement switched to concern in the blink of an eye.He didn't look like he had moments ago. he looked.. afraid. When he took the fry, she started to reach for him, before he headed off to get his food.

Watching after him, she felt anxiety creeping up on her. That look.. it looked like they were back on earth, when she really thought he was losing his grip on reality. Please, not again.

Whenever he returned, she dropped the fry in her fingers and reached to rest one against his arm. "Austin..?" Came her hesitant voice, the hand on his arm gently squeezing. She knew he had mentioned having anxiety attacks of sorts..had this been what that was? "Are you alright?"

Austin wasn't fully there, even when he managed to get his food. He was trying to get through this. It had happened to him a million times: His brain would revert back to full survival state. It wouldn't let him relax. He couldn't think of anything but a solution to a problem that was already fixed. It was stressing.

Austin flinched when she touched him, and instantly put his arm back where it was. He put his left elbow on the table and covered his mouth. His eyes looked down, away from Addie's concerned gaze, and he moved his hand away from his face to reveal pressed lips and a frown.

"Oh gosh. I'm sorry. It's- It's just a daydream. I'm... I'm fine now." Austin smiled softly at Addie and took her own arm in his.

Let's play: How much can we put her through before she breaks it off?

"I guess I forgot where I was," he somewhat joked. "I think too much." Just like that, he was back. The episode was over.

Addie felt her heart sink when he flinched away from her. Something gnawed at her mind. His actions, thought they frightened her...why did they seem so familiar?

The way he just kind of bounced back brought it all rushing back: Alex He was behaving like Alex did after his second deployment. She gave his arm a tight squeeze when he held it, the other hand coming to rest against his. "Austin.." She bit her lip. "Don't..don't leave me like that, okay? I'm right here." She forced a small smile, though the concern remained evident.

Not wanting to push him, she turned her attention back to their lunch. For the moment, at least, he seemed to be alright. She reached for her forgotten fry, quietly popping it into her mouth and reaching for her water bottle. "So besides running around, eating, and sleeping, is there anything to do on the ship?" She chuckled faintly.

Addie's worry was noticeable. He looked down at their arms, and then back up at her face.

"I'm doing my best," cheerfully, with a grin. "I know you are. Thanks. And, sorry. I don't like... Going back. It just kind of happens."

He was grateful for the attention shifting away from his mental problems. It wasn't that he didn't like to address his problems- It was that he didn't want to address them right now. In the cafeteria.

He snickered at her question. (Finally remembered that word. I was getting tired of "laughed.")

"Well, let's see. Besides eating, sleeping, and running around, you can watch Operatives go through simulations, work out at the gym, flip through the digital library... Um..." He paused. This wasn't exactly Carnival. "I guess if you're into astronomy, there's some windows on the upper and first levels that you can see into space. Not a whole lot, but there are a few." Austin made small gestures with his hands as he talked.

Addie nodded as he detailed what there was to do on board. She wasn't expecting there to be mini golf, so she didn't look all that surprised.

"Only two and a half years left of this." She chuckled, popping a fry into her mouth and chewing thoughtfully. She hadn't bothered trying to find a window, but space would be somewhat interesting to look at. Hopefully more so than the ceiling in her living quarters.

Austin exhaled forcefully through his nose. He smiled as he grabbed a few fries from his own plate.

Austin began on his cheeseburger, taking it in his hand and taking a bite. It didn't taste too bad; It might do well to have some mustard on it.

"So, I guess we're on a date. Finally." He smirked.

Addie chuckled faintly, shaking her head slightly as she washed down her own mouthful of fries with her water. Setting it down, she glanced at him. "I guess we are. Boy, you really know where to take a girl to sweep her off her feet." She teased, gently elbowing his arm.

She reached for a chicken strip, tearing it in half before taking a bite. Once she had chewed, the red head shot him another glance. "So, since dinner and a movie is out.."She teased. "You heading back after we eat? I don't know your work schedule, I know you said you get a lot of time off, but.."

Austin just snickered again and nodded. "Well, it's not exactly like I could take you to Sea World." He moved a slightly dramatic amount away from her when she elbowed him with a smile.

Austin shook his head. "Nah... It should be a weekend. I've got time off. Plus they're easing up on workload, now. Operatives pretty much just train how they want, and every once in a while some poor schmucks'll get picked for maintenance. Like I said- Lots of off time. On mars, it'll be different. Little bit more work required...." He stopped himself. "Unless you don't want me around- Which I get. I wouldn't want a talkative paranoiac near me too much either." He laughed and lightly nudged her with his own elbow.

Addie just made a face at him. "Of course I want you around, Austin. I dragged your butt around down there for a reason." She teased with a light chuckle, taking another bite of a chicken strip before turning back to him.

"Besides, who else would I have coffee with or take long walks on the ship with? I mean, it's not a beach, but it'll do." She grinned. It didn't take long for her to finish her tray, and after pushing it away, she turned to face him fully. "So, where are we heading now?"

The words had no sooner left her lips when she caught a glimpse of Jackson walking in. Hos face was stained with blood, but it had stopped bleeding for the time being. He didn't come over, he just glared at them, and moved to sit at a table with a group that looked just as aggressive as he did. Addie stiffened, but looked away.

Austin just rolled his eyes and smiled before taking a few more bites of his burger. He finished his lunch shortly after she finished hers, and stood up, stacking his tray on hers and picking them up.

He noticed her freeze and traced her gaze to where Jackson was sitting.

"Dang," he whispered. "I wonder what happened to him. Doesn't seem too happy today."

Austin shook his head and smiled at Addie. "I don't know. I guess we could, um, head up to the upper levels. Find a big window to look out of. Looking at the night sky is one thing, but watching it go past you is quite the experience."

Addie smiled. "Let's go, I haven't gone to look out any of the windows yet." She got to her feet, grabbing their empty water bottles for him, and followed him over to dump the trays and stack them. Once she had tossed the bottles, well aware that Jackson was watching them like a hawk, she reached and slid her smaller hand into his, ready to follow him up.

They weaved through people in the cafeteria until they reached the doorway. Austin was nice enough to let Addie exit first, since there were lots of people coming in, but she waited, hand returning to his the moment he joined her.

Alexander had just gotten off the transport from the second ship, and was on his way to some meeting. The man froze, however, hearing a familiar laugh. Glancing wildly about, he finally spotted that head of dark red curls. He'd know that hair anywhere.

Pushing his way past people, he stood, flabbergasted, dropping the datapad in his hand. His voice practically cracked when he tried to speak. "Addie?"

Addie glanced up at her name, brow furrowed. She spotted Alex standing there, jaw dropped, and gasped.

He looked exactly like his sister, just a much, much taller, more muscular male version. They even had the same freckles, though his hair and skin were much darker, and his eyes were a dark blue, rather than green. In a flash, Addie release Austin's hand and sprinted over to him, and he caught her and spun her, hugging her tightly. People glanced at the two as they practically wept, but finally, after several minutes, Addie managed to compose herself. Whenever Alex sat her down again, she turned to Austin and waved at him frantically to come over. It was pretty obvious who he was, though.

Austin took Addie's hand and led the way to the doors, letting her through first and following afterwards. Everything seemed normal- He was ready to take them right and towards the lift, but then a voice came from the left.

The voice sounded familiar, although Austin couldn't tell you why until he put a face to it.

It was like something out of a movie: Addie ran over to her apparent brother and then they did that hug-spin thing that people do.

Austin just watched them for a bit before Addie motioned for him to come over. He walked over and looked at Addie, then at Alex. Then back and forth again.

"Hi," Austin smiled at Alex and held his hand out. "Do you two know each other somehow?"

Addie was stupidly excited. "Austin, this is Alex, my twin. I told you about him." She glanced to Alex, who seemed to be eyeing Austin rather closely. "Alex, Austin. He got me out of Texas."

For a moment, Alex hesitated, but he reached and gave Austin's hand a shake, grin slowly spreading over his face. "Hey, good t meet you, man." He seemed to be ignoring the fact that Austin had just been holding his sister's hand a few moments ago. "Addie, how long have you been up here? Dad, Sam, everyone, we're all on the other ship." Addie brightened, if possible, even more, glancing over to Austin.

Austin shook Alex's hand, nodding and smiling.

"I remember hearing about you. You were a big help." Austin couldn't blame Alex for seeming wary at first glance- After all, his sister had been dating a total loser the last time he saw her. (Apparently.)

Addie's big family was apparently on the other ship. How'd that happen? He piped up when Addie glanced over at him. "She's been recovering. We were lucky to get off the planet at all." Austin's face bore a grim expression when he spoke. This wasn't exactly the best first impression to make.

Alex draped an arm over Addie's shoulders and gave a quick squeeze, nodding grimly at Austin's words. "Yeah, it was pretty brutal on the east coast before we got out, had to try and find Michael, one of our older brothers." He shook his head, then glanced towards his wrist. "Addie, I've gotta get to this meeting, but I'll find you as soon as it's over. Dad's going to want to see you."

She nodded, giivng him a quick little hug before releasing him so he could get going. Before he left, he clapped a hand on Austin's shoulder as he went by, and with a wave, disappeared into the small crowd of people moving through the halls.

Addie glanced up at Austin, grinning. "Oh my God. You were right. they're alright."

Austin smiled when Alex clapped him on the shoulder. He and his team would do that. Alex most likely approved. Austin turned around and waved at him when he waved back at them. (It was really more of a small hand raise than a wave, but I guess that counts.)

He smiled at Addie when Alex had gone. "That's amazing, Addie! I had a feeling." Seeing her embrace her brother like that reminded him of his own family and friends. He hoped at least a few of them were still alive, somewhere. (The ship he was on was quite massive with people scattered everywhere, however.)

He looked at her. "I can see the resemblance. You still up for going upstairs?"