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Started September 21, 2021 by @CaseyJ group

tune

Chet's voice was even as he responded. "We took your chip out. You're a free man, at least for a little while." He had watched 3110 nearly concuss himself sitting up, and was watching him closely now that he was aware of the situation. At the first sign of threat, Chet was going to put a bullet between his eyes.

The ginger gritted his teeth, looking around violently. It was probably the worst thing he could do with a head wound, but he looked around like the sky would be a different color or he could see the air. Nothing was different, everything looked.. The same. But brighter. the colors seemed a tiny bit more vivid, his senses just a little bit sharper. 3110 sucked in a breath through his teeth. The air still felt tense, and he knew if left alone for a moment he'd start remembering things he'd wanted to repress for a while. For the moment, he blocked those off in the far corners of his mind. Lurking just around his conscious thoughts like unwelcome shadows.

"Why? Why would you do that? Shouldn't I be dead?" Absolutely nothing was adding up, and it was beyond frustrating the man. His nerves were starting to fray, he wanted answers, but answers never came for free in this world. And 3110 was out of patience to dig for anything else. He should be dead, so many times over today. It was insane. The chip was gone, he should be dead, he met rebels, he should be dead, he'd been shot twice, he should be dead. Yet here he was, alive, beat up, but alive.

Chet nodded, stepping over to him. "We did it to see who you would be on your own. Without the Guvs literally in your head, controlling your every thought. Wanted to see what you would choose to be."
He got close enough to raise the revolver and set the muzzle against 3110's forehead. "So you tell me, should you be dead?" He cocked the gun, making his deadly intent clear. "Who are you?"

The man heard the click of the gun and fell completely silent. The silence stretched out, blanketing the area with a thick tension. The metal was cold against his forehead, and he felt a bead of sweat start to fall down the side of his face. The question finally broke the silence. His mouth went dry, all color slowly draining from his already pale face. Dark red hair stood at a startling contrast with a bone white face. The words kicked up his brain like moving silt at the bottom of a stagnant bond. Darkly swirling and mixing with the rest of the water. Bringing up murky memories that he didn't want to examine too closely. The ginger licked his lips, which didn't do much to help his dry and cracked lips.

"Me? My.. My name is Elliot. And I'm a murderer." The red head's voice cracked a bit at the end, he was staring hard at a piece of metal in the distance, with enough desperation that one could almost imagine it might save him. The words had forced their way out of his mouth. The chip being removed didn't make him a whole new person, it didn't force him to do anything, hell he probably still had the same personality. But it made things so, so much easier. Elliot could remember his mothers name, Lillianna, and- He breathed out harshly through his nose, getting himself under control. He was a soldier, that was how he was raised, that was what he was taught, that is what he should be. No matter what he wanted, no matter what happened. Soldiers followed orders, no question asked, soldiers didn't hesitate at the sight of a gun, soldiers didn't cry for days after shooting a boy his own age, soldiers didn't stare at art and feel moved, they didn't feel. Elliot was stern, unmoving, and disciplined, he shouldn't.. Memories didn't matter, they couldn't-

The world had gone all blurry in front of him. The ginger thought for half a moment he was dying, or the earth was finally giving out. It took him until the first tear spilled out of his eyes to realize that it was nothing of the sort. No more tears fell, but the mans shoulders kept trembling, too caught up in his own personal world to care what was going on.

(To be totally honest, noooot how I absolutely expected this scene to go :)) )

Z watched the situation from the sidelines and took in everything she could. The kid thought that if the chip was removed he would die? They understood the thought process, but that was wrong on so many levels. She frowned when Chet put the gun on the kid's, Elliot as he claimed, forehead. And when Elliot began to cry and shake, they reached out and pushed the gun off the kid's forehead. She was being careful in the movement using her prosthetic hand so that Chet wouldn't accidentally shoot. They crouched back down in front of Elliot and placed their human hand on the kids knee, "Hey. It's okay. Just take some deep breaths. We're not gonna hurt you."

That last bit was a half-truth, but if Elliot's reaction meant anything, Z probably didn't need to give Chet the order to shoot.

Elliot responded well to being told what to do, a command given to ground him in the moment, he focused on breathing, in an out in a steady rhythm. The tears dried quickly in this post-apocalyptic heat, a small blessing. The gingers shoulders slowly stopped trembling as well. He looked up at the metal one, he still didn't know their name, or the older mans for that matter. Though he knew now where that tug of familiarity came from. A face with a lot less anger, fewer frown lines, and much younger, it was a face he recognized. The one with prosthetics seemed the most calm and rational in these situations. He stared at them for a while, still unsure of what to say. Before finally asking.
"Were you the one who removed my chip?" The question was quiet, soft and a tiny bit angry. "Why? You've ruined me. I can't go back now.." Elliot's eyes widened at the realization, he doubted he could go back now, he'd failed too many times. Without bringing back something, he'd be executed on the spot for incompetence and wasted resources. And he'd deserve it wouldn't he..? Nothing good had come of his missions thus far.

"Yeah, I was," Z admitted to him. She understood where the anger in his voice came from. Especially so after his last few lines of being unable to return to the Gov. They kept their steady and calm gaze on Elliot, "It was the right thing to do. And ya don't have to go back ya know. You're more than welcome to stay here with me until ya figure yourself out."

(Oh please- Character arcs are for people who actually plan things >:D You're doing great, promise.)

( :D )

Chet's eyes had widened when 3110 proclaimed himself a murderer. That wasn't what he'd expected the agent to say. He was stll too surprised to move when Z pushed his arm out of the way. He stepped back, watching her talk to the crying man.
When 3110 said he couldn't go back, like it was a bad thing, Chet bristled. So he DOES still want to go back. His eyes narrowed, and he watched Z invite him to stay with rising frustration that she was being so gentle with him. He's admitted to being what I think he is. Let me finish this.
He said nothing though, letting his emotions simmer as he waited. Z clearly was trying to give 3110 a chance, and Chet was at least willing to let her try.

After a few minutes Sean came back, forcing a smile on his face, "welcome back to the living bro." He attempted a joke. Glad that Chet hadn't gotten trigger happy when he walked away. He put his arm around Chets shoulder, "So ginger, you still want to go back?…I won't judge if you do…its hard to leave everything you know behind… Especially if you don't have a choice." He muttered the last part. He was still bitter that the Refugees kidnapped him, then banished him for wanting to leave.

Chet wasn't sure what Sean was trying to get out of the situation. But offering that as an approach was not an option.
"He may not judge you for wanting to go back, but I certainly will." He kept his voice even as he talked to 3110. "Anybody who gets a chance at freedom and would choose to serve that imbecilic tyrannical regime needs to see reason. If they won't, I'm not adding another enemy to my list." The words were mostly for 3110, but Sean was also displaying some… concerning ideas about wanting to go back.
He'd seen too much. Chet was not about to let either of them just go back and snitch.

Elliot breathed out again, muffling a quiet sigh. He'd been doing that a lot lately, his father had always described it as a waste of air. The metal one was calming, a steady presence in a sea of chaos and confusion. He did his best to steady himself, oddly enough.. Considering her words. He felt oddly relaxed for a moment, thinking quietly. It really was a tempting offer, the constant kindness from her kept throwing Elliot off, perhaps.. Maybe he could stay? Then Sean spoke to the older man and Elliot's little illusion of peace was shattered abruptly like a mirror dropped on the floor. Scattering his thoughts, he realized he was not safe, especially with a man with a very justified vendetta against him. Elliot was honestly going to say he was going to go back anyways, face his execution with any last scrap of dignity he had left. He couldn't do that now.

"Thank you for your offer…?" He trailed off, looking pointedly at the metal one, hoping they'd catch on he'd never been given anything to refer to her as. "I'd be more than glad to stay here as long as you'd have me.. I have a lot to think about." Elliot finished slowly. He couldn't make any rash decisions and he'd already been warned if he went back the older man would kill him. Besides, observing these people for a while might yield something. Perhaps that would be enough to grant him amnesty? Elliot looked at his leg, still poorly healed from the last time he'd been shot. He'd never been given medical help, they felt he didn't earn it. The bandage tied neatly on his leg made him feel a stab of emotion. The ginger cleared his throat, looking down.

"well wanting to have shelter and food and not have to worry about being shot by random strangers, can be considered useful." Sean stated, then angrily stormed off again. They just didn't understand…no Chet just didn't understand. He didn't spend his whole life being taught that the Gov was doing what's 'best'. He didn't get kidnapped and forced underground for months after spending everyday outside. He didn't have to deal with the stuff Sean did, or even what Elliot had. Sean was not a fan of violence, but sometimes…sometimes people pissed him off to the point where he simply forgets that he hates fighting. He punched the first big thing he came to, which was metal, and hurt. He jumped back hugging his hand, no longer angry. "yep, just needed to nearly break my hand to remember violence only ends in pain" he muttered.

With literally anybody else on the planet, Chet would have been all about second chances. Any other Guv agent just released from their chains would have Chet's full support in getting started in a life outside. With any other person, he'd have shaken their hand, helped them to their feet, and joined Z in welcoming them to figure out who they were.

But Danny's confused face as his chest puffed red was all he could see when he looked at this man.

Some part of him recognized that was unhealthy. Some part of him knew killing 3110 wouldn't bring Danny back. Maybe it wouldn't even ease the ache in his chest every time he thought about his brother.

Some part of him even knew it was dehumanizing and cruel to keep referring to the man as 3110, now that he had a name.
And dehumanizing was what the Guv did. Not what he did.
So he swallowed his thirst for vengeance for a moment.
"Why did you say you were a murderer?"

Elliot looked up at the man, his face flat of emotion. He knew this man, had seen him with the boy. Younger and happier and not staring at him with eyes filled with hate and murder. The ginger didn't want to think of it, didn't want it in his mind, but with the chip gone memories kept bubbling up unbidden into his conscious thoughts.
He'd killed someone close to this man, a boy around Elliot's own age. Had stalked them down in the wreckage, had followed their tracks for hours. Hidden himself in an easy location, defensible and easy to escape from. A good distance away. He'd sat and waited and planned. He'd lined up his shot with the utmost precision, in a spot trained to kill quickly and effectively. And.. He'd pulled the trigger. Elliot despite all of the careful planning and training, in his young mind, still didn't actually expect the other boy to die. That he'd actually ended a life with his own hands, watching it happen through the scope of a familiar rifle. Before that, the younger man had planned on shooting the other as well, dispose of both rebels before they had time to react and leave, to congratulations from his superiors and maybe even an extra ration or two! The minute he saw red all thoughts of a second shot fled his mind, almost as quickly as the boy himself had ran. And ran and ran and ran. He hadn't stopped, even when he knew he was being pursued, even as he got back to the Compound, the boy dreamed of running and blood and the face of a boy he'd watched the life leave from.

He stared at the man infront of him, understanding the hatred. He felt it himself, bubbling in his chest, always threatening to pour out, breaking him.

"I think we both know why." Elliot didn't want to say it out loud, though he knew the other man wanted to hear it, to have confirmation of what he'd done. Blood was on his head, it coated his hands. But who out here in this wasteland could truly call themselves clean?

"So you do remember!" Chet snarled between his teeth. "You know exactly who I am then. And you're going to answer this next question carefully." He leaned forward, his voice going quiet, but no less deadly. "Why?"

He didn't know what he wanted 311-… Elliot to say, but… maybe a reason would help him understand. Maybe some reason would pull him back from the animal rage still burning in his chest.
Maybe a reason would make it hurt less.

Elliot swallowed hard, staring deep into the other mans eyes, seeing all the pain, the anger, the absolute loathing plain as day. It was a startling mirror to see himself in, he lowered his voice as well, to match the others. Why? Did he know why? Did they ask why the sun rose, or the wind blew, or the stars slowly burned out?

"Because a good soldier follows orders." Why ask why, for the facts of the thing. There was no reason, there never had been, Elliot knew it in his soul. Why did plants grow? Why did the moon wax and wane? There was no reason, they just did. Even still, no reason could justify murder, nothing could bring the dead person back. No words could force forgiveness and nothing done would bring redemption. What makes one life worth more than another? No one knew. Elliot stared into those hate filled eyes and felt a deep sense of.. Pity? Pity for all of them, and he knew in that moment he could never go back to the Government, he was too tainted. Why risk toppling the fragile tower of cards every dying man was building? No, he would stay, it was what he deserved.

(Couldn't resist making a clone wars reference- It's too good a quote T^T )

Z watched silently as Sean finally showed his true colors and then saw Elliot do the same. She knew that she would have to do everything she could to convince Sean that nothing was worth going back to the Gov for, but that could come later. They had another more pressing situation to deal with in front of them. She glanced over at Chet and then back to Elliot before she spoke her voice quiet but firm.

"I get that. But ya don't have to follow any orders here kid. And Chet? As long as the kid expresses some resemblance of regret, and he does seem to, back off. Leave the past in the past," They gave a hard look at Chet that was indicating that as long as they were in their scrapyard, their word was final. She let the hard look soften just an ounce as she turned back to Elliot. They were hesitant before holding out their proesthetic hand towards the kid, "And Elliot, I'm 0499, but I go by Z now. Welcome to the scrapyard, you're free to stay as long as ya need."

Chet wasn't sure whether that answer made him more furious or less. It frustrated him, certainly. But it didn't make his path any clearer.
Z was trying to make it clear they were offering amnesty to Elliot, but Chet wasn't ready to have that decision made for him. He wanted all this tension, all the waiting, over and done with. He wanted an end to the hunt. And his prey was sitting on the ground right in front of him.
To hell with mercy. Danny had been given none. Elliot hadn't hesitated then. So Chet didn't hesitate now.
He stepped around Z, steel in his eyes, and put the muzzle of the revolver against Elliot's forehead again.

Without a second thought, he pulled the trigger.

The hammer slammed home with a loud click.

Nothing happened.