𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐂𝐇𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐇: 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Season 6, Chapter 7

Flashback

Fade in to a dead A.I. in an enclosed room.

Voice: "Agent Washington? Agent Washington?"

Washington: "Sorry, what were you saying?"

Voice: "Were you thinking about Epsilon again, Agent Washington?"

Washington: "No."

Voice: "What happened with Epsilon was not your fault, Agent Washington."

Washington: "I didn't think it was."

Voice: "We have safeguards for the unstable emotional patterns of an artificial intelligence. Sometimes these algorithms fail."

Washington: "Oh. So then it's your fault."

Voice: "We prefer to think of it as noone's fault."

Washington: "Really."

Voice: "Just a possible, but rare, unfortunate outcome."

Washington: How convenient.

Voice: "Are you having new feelings about the incident?"

Washington: "No. Just the same old feelings. You know, that I had another person in my head, and I got to experience first-hand as their mind unraveled while mixed with my own. That I still have trouble distinguishing between its disintegrating thoughts and mine. You know, the usual."

Voice: "What about the hostility from other agents who lost out on assignments once we suspended the use of implants?"

Washington: "What about them? Am I supposed to feel bad for them, er something?"

Voice: "Do you think you could work with an A.I. or another agent ever again?"

Washington: "... No, I don't. Nevermore."

Voice: "Good. Then we have a job for you."

Snap back to the present, with Washington in a firefight.

Washington: "South! I need you out here now! Get over here right now, South! Where are you!?"

Cut to South's point of view, which is hazy and has Delta in the middle of it.

Delta: "Keep breathing. Hearing my voice internally can be jarring, at first. I am told it helps clear the mind to concentrate on one thing. May I suggest that you try-"

South: "Will you please not talk for a second, that might help!"

Delta: "Technically, I am not talking."

South: "Delta. Please!"

Delta: "My apologies."

South: "Okay, I'm feeling better."

Delta: "Remember to keep breathing."

South: "Yes, I'll keep that in mind. How many enemies?"

Delta: "I do not detect any on my sensors. But the gunfire would indicate that we are facing only one. This is an atypical enemy. I can offer no advice."