( c o n t a c t )

[babysit]

first.last@compass.net (3) (no subject) D12 63:19PM first.last@compass.net (6) Re: Mission D11 8:01PM first.last@compass.net (12) [text] D10 9:35AM

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<span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">TO:</span> first.last@compass.net <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">CC:</span> firstname.lastname@compass.net <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">BCC:</span> firstname.lastname@compass.net, firstname.lastname@compass.net <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">FROM:</span> firstname.lastname@compass.net <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">DATE/TIME:</span> Day Twelve, Night. 63:19PM <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">SUBJECT:</span> (no subject) <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">MESSAGE:</span> No message.

<span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">CONTACT:</span> first.last@compass.net <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">MESSAGE:</span> <span style="font-family:courier; color:#000000;">text</span>

 

Comments

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

attached: how to take care of samuel 034.pdf

I'd rather them be alive somewhere, than dead here.

[babysit]

You made a manual.

Don't worry, Chief. I'll make sure they have every opportunity.

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

You'll need it.

Don't let Cortana stay up past 12 hours soaking in information. She isn't used to not directly interfacing with things and it'll make her extremely tired. Make sure Sam sleeps with her back against hers, she isn't used to sleeping and she's used to having a boundary where she ends and I begin.

[babysit]

People shouldn't come with manuals. Spartans might, but people don't.

[ And where they're going, there aren't any Spartans. ]

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

Former AIs do. She can't sleep unless there's someone there.

[babysit]

Keyword: former.

Cortana's going to have to learn how to be her own person, especially with you not around. And you have my word, I'm going to help her in any way I can. But I'm not going to dictate any part of her life, or Sam's.

I need you to understand that.

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

Understood.

[babysit]

[ After a few minutes. ]

How are you holding up?

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

Fine. What do you need?

[babysit]

For you to communicate with me.
You don't want to talk about it?

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

There's nothing to talk about.

[babysit]

Just because a decision's been made doesn't mean there's nothing to talk about. If things work out the way people think they're going to work out, you're going have to say goodbye to both Sam and Cortana. Now you might not want to talk about it, but I know that affects you. Deeply.

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

They were going to die, now they're not. The only thing I feel is gratitude.

[babysit]

Even gratitude can be bittersweet.

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

I've spent 32 years mourning Sam. I can stop.

[babysit]

And what about Cortana?

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

I'm grateful that she'll live too.

[babysit]

You have a part of her embedded in your spine. I refuse to believe it's as simple as that.

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

It is.

[babysit]

Fine.

[ She wasn't going to fight him, not forever, so she leaves it at that. ]

Well if it ever stops being just "gratitude" and starts becoming "separation anxiety" you feel free to give me a ring.

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

I can't have that emotion. It'll make it hard.

[babysit]

Refusing to acknowledge an emotion isn't the same thing as not having it.

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

Yes, it is.

[babysit]

You might need it to be, but it isn't. Things like this are meant to be hard, but long-term the only way you're going to be able to properly move past this is to deal with it in a meaningful and constructive way.

I am with you right now, John, and I am a resource. In a few days, in a week, I might not be.

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

I'm fine.