evocation | (no subject)

[Wow, this could not be going worse.]

Okay, first, get the guns out of my face. And yeah, I mean Washington.

[She shifts impatiently, trying to peer around him. It's probably extra weird that the guns pointing at her don't seem to phase her.]

Is he here? Is he okay?

[ Yeah, no one is lowering their guns, but Andersmith at least isn't pointing one at her. As he moves forward everyone else murmurs around them, wondering how she knows anything about Agent Washington. Should they call General Kimball? Dr Grey? Should they take her into custody? No one recognizes her and it doesn't seem like they trust her one bit. It looks like Andersmith is going to say something, maybe answer her question or just ask another question, when Palomo steps in. ]

Don't you dare, man, she came out of nowhere, I saw it. That wasn't even a teleportation grenade, she just appeared! Somebody go call Kimball!

[ Andersmith blinks, but still doesn't seem agitated. ]

Doctor Grey seems more appropriate, considering.

[ Palomo glares, as if the other soldier said something wrong. ]

Kimball. Now.

[ A soldier closer to the door seems to break out of his stupor, snapping to attention and turning to leave the room. Kyna can hear him speaking as he puts his helmet back on, making some sort of report over his radio. His voice is muffled, though, and she's about to be distracted by Palomo again, who's looking her over more carefully now. ]

Who the fuck are you, anyway?

[Kyna watches them argue, crossing her arms. She's waited way too long to get stuck in some stupid room with a bunch of people debating what to do with her, and the longer they take, the more obviously frustrated she gets.]

Kyna. Look, just get Wash and he'll tell you.

[ More murmuring at that, the soldiers' alarm shifting further towards confusion. There are a lot of frowning faces in the crowd gathered around her now. But the fact is Andersmith has already tipped their hand and let on that Agent Washington is, in fact, on Chorus, so Palomo squints at Kyna and asks a different question. ]

We can't. But how did you know he was here?

[Well, that's... complicated. She has a feeling if she starts talking about magic they'll think she's nuts and just dump her off somewhere or something, so she hesitates, struggling for an answer. It probably makes her seem like she's looking for a lie.]

Um... He told me. And what do you mean, you can't?

[ It does make it seem like she's searching for a lie. And since what she's claiming is technically impossible? As far as they're concerned she is lying. Even Andersmith's expression shifts to something distressed now, and he draws his own sidearm. ]

He couldn't have--

[ Before he can explain anything -- or refuse to -- the soldier who went to report to Kimball steps back in. ]

The General says to search her and put her in a holding cell. She and Dr Grey are on their way.

Uh, what?

[Kyna's head whips around towards the soldier, and she tenses.]

No one's searching me. If you just go ask Wash, he'll tell you you're being stupid.

[ Hey now, tiny stranger, stay calm. ]

Ma'am -- Kyna. You need to come with us. It's not stupidity, it's caution.

[Kyna is incapable of staying calm, at least not now, when she's worked her ass off to get here and no one will even tell her anything about Wash. She rolls her eyes.]

I don't have any weapons.

Then just let us confirm that, and we can bring you to holding to speak with General Kimball and Doctor Grey.

[ Pretty much everything about this soldier's tone and body language is placating, trying to soothe her so she'll comply. He reaches out towards her, gesturing for her to lift her arms for a search. ]

I assure you I am a gentleman.

[Unfortunately, Kyna is still on edge. Logically, she knows it makes sense for them to vet her before letting her wander through their base, but she's exhausted, and she's so close to seeing Wash after so long. She shoots the soldier a look.]

I wasn't worried about you not being a gentleman until you said that.

[But she raises her arms.]

[ Whoops? He does look apologetic, though, and the search is thorough but polite. They ask her to remove her boots, and when she leans down to unzip them her necklaces slip free of her shirt collar... the dog tags jingle and catch Andersmith's attention. He reaches out and lifts them up for examination. ]

Miss Kyna? Where did you get these?

[Kyna tenses when he reaches for the dog tags, then gently tries to tug them back.]

Wash gave them to me.

[ He doesn't keep hold of them, not wanting a tug of war, but uh. They definitely want to verify that these are real, since Wash was brought in wearing an identical set. This doesn't make much sense. ]

We're going to have to verify that. Please remove them?

[There are a million reasons why she's not going to do that, mainly because if they kick her out or she has to go back home, she won't have any way to get back without those dog tags. Besides, they're the only piece of Wash she has left. She hasn't taken them off since leaving Hadriel.]

No. You can verify them while they're still on me.

[ The soldiers look to one another, then back to the tiny angry woman before them. She's currently cooperating... maybe they should just let Kimball handle this?

The stretch between her refusal and Andersmith's response is tense, but he winds up just gesturing towards the door. ]

This way, please.

[ They lead her through the halls of the base, into an elevator to holding downstairs where she's left to wait. The cell is surprisingly low-tech, metal bars and a cot against the wall. She isn't left to wait for long. Only a few minutes later, two more armored figures move in, flanked by lesser security. Kyna's likely familiar enough seeing past armor at this point to recognize that they're both women, who hold themselves confidently. The general's armor is the color of desert sand with blue trim, and her voice is calm and authoritative. ]

Kyna, is it? My name is Vanessa Kimball, and this is Doctor Emily Grey. I've been told you've been cooperative so far, thank you for that. But we have a few questions for you, if you don't mind.

[It doesn't matter how long Kyna is left to wait—she paces anyway, half considers just teleporting out of the cell before deciding that would make everything a million times worse. By the time Kimball and Dr. Grey show up, she's practically vibrating with impatience.]

Okay, fine. Then can I see Wash?

[ Doctor Grey pipes up on her own, stepping closer to the bars to peer at Kyna -- she's noticed the ears. ]

Wash, hmm? That's awfully familiar. Where did you get these modifications done? They're spectacular.

[ Vanessa sighs, the sound barely audible through her helmet. Emily plz, they have bigger issues to address than the woman's physical appearance. ]

We'll discuss that possibility. Right now you need to tell us how and why you arrived on Chorus, and specifically on base. All transit is strictly monitored and you're unarmored, unsupplied, and not in any database we have access to. If you'd used a teleportation grenade without protection, you wouldn't be standing right now. So please, if you could explain.

[ Doctor Grey finally looks back at Kimball, shaking her head. She sounds excited about all this, honestly, her voice chipper and curious. ]

That was no teleportation, General. [ Back to Kyna. ] We've seen the surveillance footage -- fascinating stuff! Just pop, there you were!

[Kyna is starting to look a bit deer in the headlights, because she knows there's no way she's going to be able to explain it, and if she says "magic", they'll think she's crazy and never let her near Wash. She could lie. Maybe she should lie. What would Tucker say?]

It's, um. It was teleportation, just... not a grenade. New tech or whatever, you know?

[Except she's not nearly as smooth as Tucker. Whoops.]

[ The women spare each other a glance -- even without seeing their faces it's very obvious they're unconvinced. ]

New tech "or whatever" seems unlikely. How and why, please?

[Yeah, she can't bullshit that.]

Uh... I could just show you?

Yes, please!

[ At that, Kimball's calm seems to slip a little, and she speaks to Doctor Grey sharply. ]

Emily, slow down. Kyna, what exactly is this new technology?

It just lets me teleport? I'm not like, an engineer or whatever.

[God, she is so bad at this. Suddenly she desperately wishes Tucker was here.]

We didn't find any such devices on you. And you haven't explained why you're on Chorus or searching for Agent Washington. Practical demonstrations can wait a moment.

[ Emily's shoulders drop as if she's disappointed at that, but she doesn't push the general. She's curious about this too, after all. ]

[Damn it. She doesn't know how to explain this either.]

We, um... We met a while ago, and I promised I'd come find him as soon as I could.