Red vs Blue: Private Jessie

Out of Mind - Part 3

Some time later, Tex finds herself walking through the back-alleys of a grime covered, rat infested city. Every building is missing bricks from their walls and most windows are boarded up, if they haven't already been shattered. Tex can hardly walk a few feet without accidentally kicking a stray bottle on the sidewalk. She can hear sirens in the distance and all of the neon signs she's passing are starting to give her a migraine. But she soldiers on. He'll be here. She knows he will. He must be having a field day in a place like this. After a few more minutes of walking, Tex sees someone outside of a building. They're wearing coffee-brown armor with white accents, on one knee fiddling with the lock on the door and humming to themselves. Quietly, Tex creeps up behind them and pulls her gun out of its holster.

Commercial District
Tex: Alright, freeze!

The person curses and drops their lock-picking equipment. They slowly get to their feet and very carefully unholster their own pistol, prepared for a fight.

???: Uhhh... sorry officer, I... lost my keys to my shop here and I was trying to figure out a way to... you know, uhm...

Tex chuckles.

Tex: You never were a very good liar, York.

York: York?

York turns and takes in the suit of black armor standing before him.

York: I haven't been called York in a really long time. Hello Allison.

Tex laughs again, though, mostly to herself.

Tex: I'm actually getting sort of used to being called Allison again.

York raises an eyebrow under his helmet.

York: Oh yeah? Who's the lucky guy?

Tex scoffs.

Tex: Oh please-

York interrupts, raising his hands in surrender.

York: Or girl. I don't judge.

Tex: It's not important... okay, maybe it is but that's not why I'm here.

Tex crosses her arms and leans her back against the wall of the building. She gestures towards the door York was trying to unlock.

Tex: You down to petty theft now, York? Seems like a waste of your talents.

York shrugs.

York: Hey, whatever pays the rent. There's not much call for a former infiltration specialist these days.

Tex: I think that's about to change. There's a place I need to get into and they don't want me to get into it.

York sighs and shakes his head, placing his hands on his hips.

York: You know, they never do? What do you think D. Should we trust her?

Suddenly, a small, glowing, green avatar appears, floating just above York's shoulder. The avatar is slightly see-through, like a hologram. It appears to be a soldier, though its armor looks very outdated. The avatar hums.

???: Hmmm, that depends. Is he still with her?

Tex instantly readies her rifle and aims it at York and the A.I.

Tex: Wha- you still have yours?!

The A.I. changes from green to red.

???: Alarm, threat level raised. 71% chance of violent outcome.