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Entry tags:

brave police: j-decker | shadowmaru

VIDEO

[The feed flickers on, which shows nothing at first. Oddly enough, it’s the inside of the altar room ov Vector Prime. Maybe someone had left their--

But there’s a flash of orange eyes. They only flicker in the feed for a fleeting moment. In another flicker, there’s something peering down into the device, a nose prodding it. It looks to be a a dog of a robotic nature.]

A communication device… [The dog’s eyes brighten and fade with every word and he lifts a red paw up to reposition the object.]

Calling Brave Police, this is Shadowmaru. [He lifts his head, ears alert as he hears something off in the distance. Thankfully it was one of the acolytes. The BP Unit relaxes.]

I am low on fuel. I’m not quite sure if this place even has fuel, but. I’ll try my best for the time being.

If anyone else can hear this, I will try my best to send my coordinates. I read other signatures here, but I’m not familiar with any of them. [His head perks up again, orange optics wary.]

Again, this is Shadowmaru, calling for the Brave Police. If anyone could give me their location, it would be appreciated.

[He then races off screen, the device jostling before shutting off.]

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[There's a sudden, sharp clattering sound, as the stack of datapads he was carrying fall abruptly to the floor.]

[No.]

[No, it can't be. He's hallucinating. This is another trick. Another malfunction. It's just stress and fatigue and guilt. Like that day at the lake...]

[But what if it isn't?]

[He forgets McCrane's admonishment to use video. He forgets what he was doing in Trion's library. He ends up sinking down to sit against a bookshelf, staring at his Link.]

[It can't be.]

Sh... Shadowmaru?

[Shadowmaru pauses as he looks down at his device.

That voice. It couldn't be him. It couldn't be. His limbs tense as he glares down at his Link. If he could, he would be frowning so tightly. His wings twitch irritatedly.]

Is this another copy speaking? [He snaps at the device.] One proclaiming to be him? I thought none of Shinjo's creations had survived.

[The silence makes something in his AI twist, sparking. No, no, he'd gotten his hopes up, for nothing... he's not really there, he--]

[Hearing him speak up, finally, isn't nearly as reassuring as he'd been hoping. He actually flinches back from the Link.]

Wh... What are you...?

Shadowmaru, is it really you?

[He growls, his frame tensing.]

Stop it! I'm not listening to this nonsense! You... you're not him!

[Shadowmaru slams his paw down on the ground.]

Whatever you're trying to do, it isn't going to work on me.

[Suddenly, he wonders how he ever could have doubted he had a heart. Because, at that moment, it feels as if his were breaking.]

[This isn't what he wanted... how he wanted...]

I don't -- what's wrong with you? Why are you saying these things?

[He switches to video, and the feed shakes, right along with the rest of him.]

Please.

[His 'breath' gets caught in his throat. as he sees the video feed flick on, and he almost flinches.

Had... had someone taken his body from headquarters? No it couldn't... Those orange optics narrow, his gaze accusing.]

How do I know you're the real Kagerou? He died! right before my eyes! Both in body and mind!

[It is him. He would know that shape anywhere. He knows it better than his own, almost.]

[He actually lifts a hand, to touch the screen, but pulls back, expression crumbling when the accusations come.]

I... I'm so...

[And the words catch in his throat.]

... please tell me. Tell me where you are. I can't do this over the link. I can't prove anything to you this way.

[The fact he has to prove anything to the one he exists for is... he doesn't have words for it.]

Why should I tell you?

[He almost barks at the feed.]

So you can come by and take me down? Is that it? To get back at me for foiling Shinjo's plans? Is that it!?

I have no reason to tell you anything!

I don't know what you're talking about! I don't know who that is! I would never hurt you, I would never... do anything like that... not to you!

[Suddenly, more than ever, he wishes he had the ability to cry. Or do something other than shout.]

[This isn't how he imagined seeing Shadowmaru again. Not in the least.]

[It wasn't supposed to hurt so much.]

Then tell me how to prove it to you! Please...

If you were the real Kagerou, you would have already proven yourself!

[He looks away and lifts his paw to kill the feed.]

If you'll excuse me, I have to find my teammates.

Please don't do this... You -- you don't...

[That's like a slap in the face.]

[His head actually jerks back, like he's really been physically struck.]

You're so over-dramatic!

[It comes out in a purely frustrated, thoughtless shout. Completely exasperated -- nothing pleading or uncertain about it.]

What do I have to do! Chase you down? Is tag what you're after again?

That's if you could chase me.

[He snaps back at him with a snarl in his voice. There was no way that he'd let some Shinjo copy try and take him down.

Even if it meant running out of fuel in order to keep away from it.]

Of course I could! Could anyone else ever find you?

[He's so damned desperate now, he'll latch onto this. Keep running with it. Maybe... maybe memories will convince him.]

[Memories... it's all he has, after all.]

You couldn't even hide in the vents from me.

I...

[He falters, lowering his paw and slowly leans his face in close to the feed.

Only Kagerou would know abut his favorite hiding spot.]

Please. Don't. Let this be some kind of trick.

Please tell me I'm not dreaming right now.

[And suddenly hope surges. It's so sharp and sudden it's painful.]

I'm here... Shadowmaru...

I'm here, I promise.

[If his voice breaks a little on the last word, that's understandable, right?]

It's me.

[His ears perk up at the word 'promise' and his AI aches.

He 'swallows' hard and stands up straighter, on shaky limbs.

His voice is firm, shaky around the edges, but he's quick about it.]

Temple of Vector Prime.

[Every movement is familiar and therefore painful. He's waited so long. So many months and now...]

[He can only nod.]

I'm coming.

[And he'll be there in a matter of minutes. His AI racing.]

[Shadow doesn't care that he's wasting his fuel.

He's running towards the entrance now, jumping off the ground to change back into robot form, going into an all out sprint.]

[He won't have long to wait. It's a ways to fly, but Kagerou is moving more quickly than usual, desperate to get to him. To see him. To...]

[He sees him there, at the entrance. His AI feels as if it's simply stopped working at all.]

[It's not the most graceful of landing, but he's distracted. For a long moment, he can only stand there, gaping, waiting to wake up...]

It really is... you.

[He stops a few yards away from him, watching him land and furrows his brow.

It. It was different, seeing him in person. In full frame. He could just sense a difference. But.

Shadowmaru staggers a few steps forward, his legs almost frozen in place.]

Kagerou. Is it... really you?

[It's harder to hold himself back, in person. Now that he can actually see him, with his own optic, now that he's there just a few feet away.]

[It feels as if something is squeezing his AI.]

I promised. Didn't I...?

[He holds out a hand, his voice shaking almost as much as his fingers.]

Welcome, Shadowmaru...

[His voice. His presence. There was no denying it now. He could feel himself trembling again, legs threatening to give out.

Kagerou, who he saw die twice before his eyes. Was alive.

Choking back a small sound, he rushes towards the older BP unit and throws his arms around him in a tight embrace, burying his face in the crook of his neck.

Solid. The form was solid. He could feel it against his own frame.

It was him]

Kagerou--!!

[He manages to hold his composure until he feels those arms around him. Until he feels the familiar weight against him, the way the plating feels under his hands.]

[This. This is what he'd wanted for so long now. This is everything he'd hoped would happen.]

[He can't keep himself from shaking. But he has to be strong for him. He has to be the calm one. His arms slip around him in turn, just supporting, holding.]

[The tremors find their way into his voice, however.]

It's. It's really you.

You're really here. You're finally...

[He clings to Kagerou's plating, thinking that if he were to let go, he'd disappear. He buries his face against the mesh on his neck, his shoulders hitching with small sobs.]

Y...You're alive! You're really alive! [He cries out, with a mix of pure joy in his voice.]

Kagerou I.. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry about everything that happened. It was all my fault.

I shouldn't have let you go...

[He wants to calm him. He wants to offer the right words and the right touch. The old feelings surface all too quickly -- wanting to see him happy, wanting him to be all right. More than anything.]

[But his own feelings are getting in the way. He was so desperate for this. How long has he longed for this, when everything was going wrong?]

[He can't help but sound choked, as well.]

I'm here -- I promise. I won't leave you...

[He could never leave him again. Nothing could make him.]

[He feels his head shake, one hand lifting to press to the back of the other ninja's helmet, gently. Consolingly.]

Don't. Don't say those things. It's... it's all right now.

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