milliways_bar | (no subject)

*From a few seats down, Andrew sees him and slides over, grinning in welcome.*

Oh good, you're awake!

Crichton stares for a moment, more than a little confused. "Yeah, I am. Either that or I'm sleepdrinking again. Who are you?"

*Andrew stares for a moment, his face falling.*

Y-you don't remember?

Flash of inspiration, due to *everybody* telling him he has to talk to this guy. "Andrew."

*brightens* Yeah.

You okay?

"No. Chip. Talk. Now."

*He blinks. Then:*

Right. What's the last thing you remember? Before being here?

"Scuba diving without an air tank. Metaphorically. I did the whole flying-through-space-without-a-suit bit, and woke up in Angie's room. She says you know... well, she says you know just about everything. What do you know?"

*They've talked about this before. Andrew frowns.*

Not everything, but ... okay, a lot.

How much do you remember about last time you were here?

"Going out with Angie, hanging out with Raph, drinking a lot and running up one hell of a tab. Not much else."

But --

-- oh. The neurochip. Damn, damn, damn.

Okay, look. You were on the Ju'kench transport ship, right, and Scorpy's lieutenant had just gotten away with the last pressure helmet? And you couldn't make the comm work and the ship was about ready to explode? And you were panicking?

And there was this voice in your head? Do you remember?

"Yeah, I remember."

Did you recognize the voice?

"Our favorite cackling supervillain. What's your point?"

'Kay. Well ... um ...

You weren't imagining it.

When he had you prisoner on the Gammak base a while back? Bastard put a neurochip in your head. It's got his personality and goals programmed onto it.

And last time you were here, it came out and took over your body.

Crichton stares for a moment. "You're serious."

Something to remember me by, Crichton...

*He nods, soberly.*

Yeah. "Something to remember me by, Crichton." Bastard.

I guess we didn't shut it down entirely last time. I sort of hoped we had. But, no, if you don't remember it happening, that's probably the neurochip's doing. It can make you forget it's in there.

Crichton stares again. "You just read my mind. How the hell did you know what I was thinking?"

...What? No, I -- I can't read minds.

I just ... I saw it happen. And I remembered it, even if you didn't.

"Saw it happen. On TV?"

...Yeah, actually. We talked about that last time you were here. I think it might be another one of the things you don't remember.

And now Crichton asks the dangerous question.

"...So what happens next?"

*Andrew looks ... well, awkward. And unhappy.*

I don't know what I should tell you. It's a bad idea to know too much detail about your own future.

"Heard that before. Tell me anyway."

*he takes a deep breath*

Look, I'll tell you what I can, okay?

You get out of this one alive. And pretty much intact. And so do your friends.

Then, um ...

*His hands make uncertain motions in the air, as he works to find the right words.*

There's a bad time coming. It's gonna get worse before it gets better.

A lot worse.

But it's gonna get better. You have to believe that.