Chapter Text
Heading back down the stairs to the living room, Hailey tried to finish up the homework she had left for the day. Fortunately, she hadn’t set high goals for her homework completion for the day, and was able to clear through it quickly enough. While she was there, her mom brought up something important. “Remember, you need to work out a time with Scott. You two will be going to the AESIR station with one of his friends.”
After finishing dinner, Hailey went up to her room to pack her things for the Study Tour. Stepping into her bedroom, she felt relieved to be back in her personal space. It was a place where she could freely express herself, and a place she could truly call her own. Sure, it was a little messy here, but it was hers nonetheless. Sitting on the windowsill below her Rosie the Riveter poster was Beta, the self-proclaimed “world’s most advanced AI”, albeit with the body of a Kommander Koala plush. Having noticed her come in, Beta looked up from the pamphlet he was reading, and turned his attention towards Hailey. Beta asked, “So, you’re back from the library, huh. How was it?” “It was alright, I guess,” answered Hailey unenthusiastically.
Beta then habitually recited, “Now Hailey, your next most optimal list item is-” Hailey then quickly cut him off. “Yeah, you aren’t kidding anyone with that, Beta. We both know that it’s done for good,” snapped Hailey. “Whoa Hailey, what’s up with you today?” inquired Beta, taken aback at her sudden shift in attitude. Hailey shouted, “The List was pointless! We couldn’t have saved the world with it, much less our own asses. What good did any of it do?” A now furious Beta ranted, “You think you’re the only one who’s not taking things too well? What about me, the AI who was created for the sole purpose of helping Hailey Banks complete her List, only to find out it was just a giant lie! If completing the List wouldn’t have actually achieved anything, what even is my purpose anymore?”
As Beta’s digital face began looking crestfallen, Hailey’s heart stung with regret and remorse for her outburst. “Look, I’m sorry for lashing out at you like that. Ever since the Professor told us the truth about the List, it’s like we lost a part of ourselves in the process,” said Hailey, trying to make an attempt at an apology. “But just because it’s not the key to saving the world, it doesn’t automatically make it pointless. And you’re not useless, you’re still a great friend and I wouldn’t want to lose you too,” she continued. Beta replied, “It doesn't mean much if I’m your only friend. Well, it’s not like you hang around with Scott often. Actually, what is that buffoon up to these days anyway?”
Hailey decided not to reply, and instead went for her travel backpack, which had laid there on the floor still unpacked. “I have a list of things that I’m going to need to pack, and my backpack’s not gonna pack itself. Wanna lend a hand?” asked Hailey. Beta stared at her blankly for a moment. “Only if you want to, of course. I can just do it myself, if you don’t feel like it,” she added hastily. Beta just wordlessly tossed the "pamphlet" he'd been reading earlier at her. Picking it up, Hailey realized it was the Study Tour Handbook that had been passed to everyone in her class before their summer vacation.
With Beta seemingly unwilling to help out, Hailey could hardly blame him. She flipped to the page of the flimsy paper Handbook containing the checklist for items she needed to bring, and grabbed an Trifectus EasyWrite Pen she had to write in it. "I might as well use one of these crappy pens that they gave out during those talks for the checklist,” explained Hailey to Beta, who she presumed was listening. “Didn’t these get recalled because the ink used in them was known for exploding the instant they came into contact with heat?” asked Beta. “Well, they were only recalled from commercial sale. Nothing said they couldn’t hand them out for free, so that’s what they ended up doing,” said Hailey. “To a bunch of students, no less,” remarked Beta. “Zero regard for safety standards, or genuine malice? They certainly could be intentionally trying to kill us, considering their absolute disdain for our entire generation,” wondered Hailey.
As Hailey went ahead to grab everything that she needed, Beta decided to step in. “Really thinking of doing all that by yourself? I did just give that checklist a scan,” said Beta. “I thought you weren’t planning on helping?” asked a confused Hailey. “Well, I didn’t say no, did I? After all, it’s not like you’ll be able to pack as quickly on your own,” remarked Beta. Hailey shrugged. “If you do want to help, I don’t see why not.” Together, they started to pack everything on their checklist. “So you’ll need your ID card, student ID, mobile phone…” Beta rattled off the items she needed. “On it!” Hailey went and gathered everything Beta told her to get. “And before you ask, I excluded the stuff you wouldn’t need to bring anyway. Like, a camera? Why would you need that when you already have a phone?!?” remarked Beta.
Despite his advice, Hailey decided to bring along a Snazz-Cam. "Hailey, why the fuck are you bringing that. The flashes are too bright." - Beta
"I don't fucking Care lmao"
Hailey
"Okay", said Beta.
Not wanting to take too long gathering up everything, Hailey took notice of a plastic bag filled with hygiene-related items, with some of them just happening to be on the checklist. “Honestly, I thought I might just bring along some of the supplies from the Highkeep Care Package for the study tour, even though they’re by Umbra Pharmaceutical,” said Hailey. “Are you serious? Look, Hailey… these disinfectant wipes are coated with activated charcoal, these masks are chock full of asbestos and that hand sanitizer is just really flammable. Using a product from an Trifectus subsidy never ends well,” said an incredulous Beta. “Well, they’re mostly for show. It’s not like I’m really gonna use them, especially not the wipes. Me and activated charcoal do not mix well,” replied Hailey. “Then why are you bringing them along with you?!?” asked an exasperated Beta. As she grabbed her pencil case and her school handbook, Hailey decided to give the short answer. “To make myself feel more prepared, I guess.”
With the checklist finally being done with, Hailey noticed that Beta seemed
Hailey was first given Beta by the Professor to help complete her List, on a fateful New Year’s Day. Since then, she’d started completing list item after list item, with Scott tagging along for once instead of the other way around. But then, she