.1 caliber [Intro]

[goesawol]

[ACTION]

[She steps down from the bus and tugs at the strap around her shoulder tighter - she travels light, but there's something rather long, carefully wrapped, strapped between her bag and back. Squinting lightly at the warm summer sun, she sighs. Mixed feelings, all in one breath. This lady travels light except for the baggage in her mind.

Still, as she treads through the beaten paths towards an x in a map (excellent orientation skills, for one), she looks around carefully with what seems like a half smile in her piercing gaze. Yet, when she finds the place in the map, she keeps walking around, checking the Community center, the city, - greeting a couple of kids playing outside with a smile - walking through the beach... ending up finally at the Saloon around the evening, asking for a cup of tea at the counter.

Where do you meet her? ]


[VIDEO]

[That's exactly where she is when the video feed opens up. She's looking down at the screen, kohl rimmed eyes scrutinizing the device with a somewhat disappointed expression to them. She tsks.]

So unintuitive. How old is this?

[Dexterous fingers reach the screen and blip! goes the feed

Ring ring?]

Comments

[strikecommand]

I like to keep busy.

[She should know better than anybody that Jack tends to go a little crazy if he doesn't have anything to do, but of course she's the practical one. Jack nods, but it's clear he doesn't quite have a business plan, not just yet. They have to make the house livable, but to do that they need money, and it seems like farming is the main form of subsistence here.

Perhaps, with more hands, they can multitask a little better.]

We can see what we can trade, maybe.

[goesawol]

I know. [Said with a sigh that is as equally fond as exasperated. She's already making a list of things to do. Get a list of competitors, see the price things are being sold at, brainstorm something that they can offer aside from just the produce, if everyone is going to be doing the same thing.

Sounds like fun, anyway.] I heard you scared a couple of townspeople already. Maybe we should work on our marketing a bit, hm?

[She can't help but tease him a little. Jack Morrison was many things, amongst them a good representative. But if there was anything that Ana knew he was good at but not keen on was doing things for the sake of PR.

Not that she blames him. ]

[strikecommand]

[Jack offers an apologetic shrug and a sheepish smile. He finds himself wondering how many of those gray hairs he gives her, over the years.]

Sorry. We were just trying to get the lay of the land.

[In that he didn’t know what was a threat and what wasn’t—he and Gabriel needed to make sure nothing nefarious was going on. If that means they don’t make friends, well. Jack will take it.]

[goesawol]

[Some. Although many come from the state of affairs that was looming onto Overwatch before she ended up in the bus. But the others are the good kind of greys, she considered, those that come with the bittersweet care and concern for those she cared about, Fareeha, Jack, Gabriel and Jesse, along with many others. She had started covering them with henna at the beginning in a bout of sudden stubbornness that no, age and concern weren't something that happened to Ana Amari.

And then she stopped, and never retouched that henna again, when she realized that no, age and concern were something that didn't bother Ana Amari, instead.

Her eyes narrow in reassurance, and Ana gives a little chuckle.] It's okay. We'll work on it together.

What did you conclude from the lay of the land, then?

[strikecommand]

[That provides Jack with more relief than he lets on--the simple use of together reminds him of all that he and Ana are able to accomplish when they work as a team. Add Gabriel to that equation and they're basically unstoppable. They'll figure this out. They always do.

Unfortunately, however, his investigation with Gabriel didn't yield much.]

There aren't many locals. Most of the people here came in on the bus, like us.

[To Jack, that doens't bode well, and he imagine Ana has similar thoughts.]

[goesawol]

[It doesn't, and Ana is having similar thoughts. Gabriel had told her that, already, so she assumes that their recon mission wasn't very conclusive aside from that and a couple of other bits.

Not knowing what was happening around her was never one of her favorite things.]

So, some sort of relocation program that we weren't aware we applied to? [And... and this comes out as an afterthought more than an actual question. ] Why farms, out of everything?

[strikecommand]

Some people might call that kidnapping.

[That's what Jack would call it--brought somewhere against their will with no real knowledge. True, they have some measure of freedom, but not the freedom to get out of here. Maybe the buses will start running in the other direction, but he isn't going to bet on it.

He offers something of an exhausted shrug.]

At least it's something I know how to do.

[Maybe it's just a ploy to keep them distracted.]

[goesawol]

It is. I don't know any word for it.

[And this is what has bothered Ana the most, since she walked through the town, overheard the people talk and scoured through the feed in the tablet she was given. People seemed to find this odd, for the first moment or two, but then... They seemed to settle. It was as if there was nothing besides this place that was worth meeting or going to. It rubbed Ana the wrong way and she frowns at the thought even if she doesn't really voice that newly found concern.

She sighs, the comment loosening the skin surrounding her brow. She knows she's not the only one carrying it, at least. ] Finally, the moment you have been waiting for to show off your farming skills, hm, Jack?

[strikecommand]

Glad we've got it settled.

[It's kidnapping--there's really no other way around it. All they can really do now is keep investigating, try to find who's really in charge, and make the best of things in the meantime. They're not being held captive or tortured. It seems they can do whatever they want with the land they're given.

It's something, at least, though it doesn't escape Jack that it might just be a ploy to distract them.]

I wouldn't say I have skills, really.

[It had been his parents' farm, and he only lived there until he turned eighteen.]

[goesawol]

I heard whoever brought us here has intel on some people. Withdrawing information doesn't seem the goal here.

[She is concerned, still. Maybe the reason they seem to come from a different spot in time was to create some disagreement. Different experiences and knowledge placed in a completely detached context would easily create misunderstandings and discord. It could be used as a power move.

Or perhaps it's all an experiment.

Regardless, the dislike is enough to have her run several possibilities in her head.

Ana tilts her head.] You definitely know more than I do about the subject. The last time I tried having a plant it died.

[strikecommand]

[Jack grunts a little in acknowledgement--there's not much more he can contribute to this, as he doesn't know what information this person has or how she got it. They'll just go around in circles forever about the possibilities, all of which are a little uncomfortable to think about. He's going to have to talk to this local in person. Until then, there's not much to do but get their living situation in order.]

Geez, you grow up on a farm, and everyone thinks you're good with plants.

[He has the context, sure. Some know-how. Logistical knowledge will give him a leg up, but he's not quite sure about the practical application of it.]

[goesawol]

[Ana snorts. Trust Jack to naturally talk himself down about his experience - which, next to absolutely none, is already of some help. ] You're aware of the logistics, at least. I'm sure we can figure something out while using that as a starting point.

[She almost moves to bite her lip. Almost.] At least there doesn't seem to be much press around here.

[strikecommand]

Do you think they'd recognize us even if there was?

[Jack asks that as a genuine question, because he's become increasingly accustomed to everyone with a news organization knowing exactly who he is and what he does. Being famous is not quite what he wants it to be--he'd rather not be famous at all.]

The last thing I want is tabloids about me killing plants.

[goesawol]

With so many people from Overwatch here? It's a possibility.

[But she gives him a shrug to say that it's just one possibility, one as big as another of them being unknown at all.

... They'll deal with that if the occasion comes, she supposes. ]

"Jack Morrison, Plant Killer" has a ring to it, though.

[strikecommand]

Outside of-- [He gestures vaguely into the air.] --us.

[He's still wrapping his head around the existence of different worlds and timelines, though he's not entirely sure he'll ever be used to it.]

I'm sure people have called me worse things.

[goesawol]

[Ana tilts her head at that.] People have called you better things, too.

[strikecommand]

You might have to remind me of them.

[He says that with a grin--Jack is definitely fishing for a compliment, perhaps a little bit.]

[goesawol]

[She knows he is, and she gives him a nudge with her shoulder, which is kind of awkward because Ana's still holding a bag and a huge rifle on it.] You know that what people have been saying about you doesn't exactly mean I agree, right?

[Teasing. Mostly. She does agree with some.]

[strikecommand]

You agree with the nice things.

[Jack knows that's not true--Ana's not his second-in-command because she's a yes man--but he can't help but needle her, on the grin on his face says as much.]

[goesawol]

[Eyebrows arched, she gives him a pointed look. A silent oh really?]

Well, I suppose I agree that half your fashion choices cut you a nice figure.

[strikecommand]

Which half?

[He imagine she's making fun of the uniform, like she doesn't wear one just like his. Despite the withering look she gives him, Jack knows that if she really wanted to shut down this line of conversation, she most certainly would.]

[goesawol]

[Ana slowly, slowly smiles.

And says nothing except:] That's a very good question.

[strikecommand]

I can wait for an answer.

[They can walk and debate, of course. It's not like they have anywhere to be.]

I've got time.

[goesawol]

[She tries to give him her most professional look.] I take it the Great Strike Commander needs help in figuring it out, then?

[strikecommand]

Sometimes it's nice to hear it from you.

[Ana look how charming he's being; how can you possibly resist?]