Welcome to Gaia! ::

He skimmed the mission briefing for what felt like the fifth time that hour and then set it aside. Jack's head hurt--staring the words down as hard as he did under poor light did that--but it was a minor inconvenience compared to the summons sitting atop his desk. He closed his eyes and rubbed at his temples with a small groan, as if he felt only a pre-sleep headache rather than the nervous excitement turning over what little he had eaten that day.

"There's clone activity in Greece," he told her, opening one eye. "One of mine, maybe. Nothing seen matched Thompson's description." The report lacked thorough enough investigation for his tastes, but the signs were the same: Fear distribution at the very least. "Supposed to go in less than two days."

"Haven't you been paying attention? They can't be killed," Jack replied. "More than likely because I'm just fine. Plan is to capture and hopefully find more use in it than the ******** idiot they have right now."

It was a strange feeling, to be disappointed in himself but not himself necessarily. There were a lot of strange feelings stirring with this clones business to be honest.

"They're giving me threeish days. Standard investigate, pursue, and capture protocol, nothing special. Least it's not the Sahara," he added with wry optimism.

Jack had a few choice words about that--like the fact that the notion of Death couldn't possibly be killed, no matter what they thought--but he pressed his lips together in a thin line instead. Too many what ifs as it was.

"Not short," he insisted. "Standard for local investigations. People have dug around in schools for about the same length for the same reason." He was taking the long route to get to what he actually wanted to say, which for some reason felt harder than it should have: "You want to come with?"

"No. I could invite someone else, but three people feels excessive." That was a lie. It was ego (he'd done very well on his last few missions, all things considered) and uncertainty of the future that made him hedge around the idea of bringing someone else along. It was enough that Chel would get to see whatever aspect this clone would latch onto--and there were plenty that Jack was not proud of. It was illogical: the clone wouldn't have much time to latch onto his behavior, so there was a good chance it was a blank slate still. That was the annoying part, that his impulse to keep the group small was illogical. A need to prove himself and keep his clones as hushed as possible until he had a better handle of the situation.

"Three in a small space would all attract too much attention anyway," Jack added more smoothly, and that was no lie. "And I know you hit hard when it counts. The point is to grab and go, not wage a small war in the middle of a sprawling city."

He nodded and seemed to deflate a little, as if he were holding back some breath. "Already have it taken care of. The Royal Olympic Hotel is across from the Acropolis," he explained. "You're not cleared for the trapping gun, are you?"

"At least I can say it's the last time you'll need to worry about it." He was determined to be successful in this mission--half so that he could get his ******** coat already, and half because maybe this was the one that would finally get that damn bracelet off her wrist. Either way, he was going to make sure his girlfriend didn't keep prostituting her schedule out just to do anything.

"I'll see if I can stop by the course as well," Jack continued as he organized the papers back into the file. "Can't let you do everything."

Scoffing at the toga comment, he replied, "We're allowed two runics, so whatever you feel is choice. I'm bringing the torch and bandages if I can't make it into deathsweeper. We might have some light rain, and it's going to be hovering between the upper fifties and lower sixties. Oh, and bring your artifact too if you think it'll help."

pre-mission

He didn't make time for the course in the end. Instead, Jack forced himself to an early bedtime and then, the day before the mission, he spent it next to one of the most irritating parts of his persona incarnate. Not wholly so at least: there were the physical, blood sample, urine sample, semen sample, BMI, drug usage when and how long, alcohol imbibed how much, etcetera. He only spent a minimal amount of time next to the still nameless clone.

Excitement has quickly turned to exasperation given its aspect.

"You think you might die?" it asked. Jack couldn't tell if that was morbid curiosity or hope in its much too familiar eyes. "Is that why you're dropping by now?"

"No. I've been meaning to for a while; now just felt appropriate."

"Appropriate." It tilted its head and narrowed its eyes. "Why? What are you up to?"

"Well. You won't be lonely for long, if that helps."

"Doesn't."

It approached a few steps, suspicious looks melting with frightening accuracy into the blank face Jack was undoubtedly wearing. He found it took a demanding amount of energy not to immediately push it away on instinct.

"You can't catch us all," it said. "You can try. Even if you hold us, it won't work. Your plan won't work, whatever it is."

He made a soft noise of derision. "Oh ye of little faith."

It scoffed right back but appeared edgy at how confident he appeared, fiddling with the ID band around its wrist as it backed away. "Okay. Whatever," it muttered. "Whatever it is you're doing, what any of you are doing, what I think you're doing, won't work. Nothing works when you need it to. It all falls apart in the end because of one thing, one thing. Collared dogs can still bite the feeding hand. Training can't beat instinct. Training can't beat out what's already there."

"Mm." Jack was already turning to locate a tech so he could sign off and get back in the elevator.

"You don't know jack," the clone muttered, a strange look dawning on its face. "You don't know jack. You don't know jack." A half laugh escaped it.