Colin's posts

"Ah..." Ty stammered, before shaking his head.

"That makes sense, Syraene." he said.

"Though, did I honestly think that the doll was alive? Yeah. I did." he admitted.

"We have an agent here that is essentially a living doll, so it wouldn't be TOO far off to think that it could literally happen." he explained.

"But this is a shell for you?" he asked.

"Fair, fair." he said with a nod.

"Didn't know such a thing was required, to be honest." he then admitted to her.

"Why this doll in specific?" he asked.

"...right, got it." Ty responded.

He then made his way over and picked Serenity up in his arms.

"See ya." he said to Jake.

"Later." Jake replied.

With that, Ty left with Serenity, and they made their way down the halls.

"....pardon me..." Ty then addressed her.

"I can't help but feel we've met before." he commented.

"Have we?" he asked.

Jake shook his head.

"It's fine, I understand." he told her.

"And I mean it, it's fine. You have your reasons, though the roleplaying aspect intrigues me..." he then mumbled.

"But it's fine. It's just a stark contrast, is all." he added with a shrug, as Ty showed up.

"Yo." he said.

"Hey." Jake responded.

"Would you mind... er... escorting her to Sharp?" he asked, gesturing at Serenity.

"....uhh... sure thing." Ty responded, clearing a little on the confused side.

"Ah... got it." Jake replied, before pressing the button on the comm system.

"Agent King to the front entrance, please. Agent King, to the front entrance." he said, 'hanging up' the phone.

"He's on 'escort duty' today." he told Serenity.

"....." he was then silent, before clearing his throat lightly.

"I... must say, this is... kind of jarring." he then admitted.

"Knowing who you are, and referring to me as 'Master'? Just... it's a bit on the weird side." he said further, chuckling lightly.

"Ah, yes." Jake replied.

"Of course." he said, pressing the button to allow her entry.

"Do... you need some help?" he asked her.

"I mean, I know you're very capable, and you know the way, but... does that body pose any... challenges?" he asked further.

"You know, like being a bit slower than usual, or whatever." he went on.

"If so, I can get someone to take you to the boss." he offered.

"I... I see." Jake responded.

"And... and... well..." he stammered, before sighing.

"Something's been happening." he told her.

"Some weird mana has been washing over people... myself included, but it seems like everyone else in the Unit is safe... and it's been making us more... agreeable, to the point of having no real free will." he explained.

"Then... then Ashley showed up." he continued.

"When she walked by... I swear... I could swear I was in the presence of Vanessa, herself."

Again, Jake said nothing, but he felt... strange feelings.

He felt the need to listen to her. Like he was supposed to. Yet, he felt like it was all right. Like he was all right in listening to her. As though she truly cared, and this really was out of the kindness of her heart.

He then leaned forward, and accepted the mana from her.

As soon as he did, the mana dissipated into him, and he felt an immense calm rush over him, and felt clarity return to his mind.

"....." he was silent, before blinking a couple of times, and visibly relaxing.

"...wow." he mumbled, before his eyes widened slightly.

"....Miss Syraene?" he asked, realising what the mana felt like.

"....." Jake was still silent, admittedly still unsure as to what to make of this.

"I... I see." he said.

"....." he was then silent again, before sighing quietly.

Something about this doll was causing him to... speak the truth.

"And I'm... I dunno, just jumpy." he told her.

"My past coming back to haunt me, I guess." he added, as Serenity saw a small sheen of red flash over his eyes.

"....ah?" Jake muttered confusedly, upon seeing this.

"I... ah..." he stammered, before shaking his head.

"I... I'm fine." he said.

"Just... on-edge." he mumbled further, though the little one could tell something was up.

"...who are you?" he then asked.

"And what is your business here?" he asked further.

Hal acquired a very confused expression, before shaking his head slightly.

"In five? That works." he told her.

"Thank you very much, Miss Kiczys." he said further.

"Sorry to have bothered you like this, but this is important, I assure you." he continued.

"Thank you once again." he finished, before the call was ended.

"....her hands are a bit small...?" he mumbled.

"Not... that was not the case, last I saw her..." he said to himself quietly.

"Ah, Miss Kiczys." Hal said.

"This is Agent Sharp from the San Diego branch of The Unit." he told her.

"I'm calling because I wish to speak to a member of your household. One that specified yourself as a point of contact." he went on.

"The person in question being Syraene Encrae." he then informed her.

"Is she available?" he asked.

"And if so, might I speak with her?" he asked further.

Hal nodded in response.

"Shouldn't surprise me that you know her as well." he said.

"But one moment." he told her.

He then grabbed his cell phone, found the contact number that Syraene had given him, and called it.

"....hm. No answer." he mumbled, hanging up the phone.

"All right, I have one more option. A backup number she gave me." he told Terra, before grabbing his desk phone and calling another number.

Kalin's number.

"......The Order..." Hal mumbled.

"Hm." he mumbled further.

"Actually... yes." he then said.

"Yes, I could help with that." he told her.

"I happen to know the Head of The Order, believe it or not."

"Ah, I see." Hal replied.

"Well, that does make sense." he said.

"I'll have to see him once he awakens." he then commented.

"...for now, we have no other choice but to let him rest." he sighed.

"What about you?" he asked.

"Is there anything we can do to help you recover and recuperate?" he asked her.