[video: junk pile]

[glacius_passio]

So who do we thank for the gifts?

[She holds up the cybernetic penguin.]

Because he's really adorable.

Also I found something rather...large out here for someone named Fortress Maximus, if you'd like to come claim it.

Comments

[warborn]

[the vehicle just keeps on troopin' towards the bemused Fort Max, who's staring down at it as it approaches as if expecting it to start firing those canons. he's going so far as reaching for a gun, but...just rests his hand on the handle, when the drone settles by his feet with a final 'beep!']

Huh.

[he takes a slow step forwards, still watching it, still watching as it...well, heels. another step, then another, then he's looking up at Leviathan, utterly perplexed]

And we've got no idea who's behind all this?

[glacius_passio]

[Leviathan is really trying hard to suppress her amused smile, but isn't quite managing it.]

Well if anyone knows, they haven't told me.

[warborn]

Great. More mysteries. [he shakes his head, reaching up to rub his face]

Thanks for finding it, I guess. Dunno what the slag I'll do with it, though.

[glacius_passio]

At this point I've pretty much given up on trying to figure this place out.

[She shrugs and puts the penguin back down on the ground.]

You're welcome, I guess. And I'm sure you'll figure something out. Or you can just enjoy having something follow you around all the time.

[warborn]

Cannons or not-you don't know how to use those, do you?

[beep :D!]

-I may be better off dismantling it for parts.

[..beeEEeep D:]

[glacius_passio]

[Surprisingly, there's also a short, distressed peep from the penguin. Leviathan gives it a look before turning her head back up to look at Fort Max.]

Aww, now that's just mean, Fortress Maximus.

[warborn]

It's a drone. Not like it has feelings or anything.

[that sure is a feelings-hurt sounding 'beee_ooop' from it, complete with cannon droop. Fort Max just- rolls his optics, crossing his arms]

I mean, I guess it could be useful, but...

[glacius_passio]

[Leviathan coughs into her hand, trying desperately not to laugh. Drone or not, that had been way too funny.]

I don't know, that doesn't seem very drone-like to me.

[warborn]

So it's got an AI with self-preservation.

[Max is STILL NOT IMPRESSED and nothing that can be done will make him think otherwise. though he is frowning down at it, directly, now.]

You like it, though, you take it.

[glacius_passio]

Oh, I gladly would, but it's not me it wants to follow around.

[warborn]

Well, how about I just-hey. Drone. Stupid. Hey, I'm talkin' to you. [he nudges it with his foot, trying to push it towards Leviathan.] Go follow her. Probably could use as a transport or something. Go on, get.

[it promptly just- goes to his other foot, parking itself dutifully. beep! :D]

...fraggit.

[glacius_passio]

Oh it must really like you if it doesn't care if you call it stupid of all things.

[Gosh Fort Max, you're such a meanie.]

Even if you order it to go with me, it'll just make its way back to you after a while. Might as well just let it do as it wants.

[warborn]

It's a drone. [but. maybe he's eyeing it a little less critically.] with weapons. Hrnh.

-you sound like you know an awful lot about it, come to think about it. [suspicious frown]

[glacius_passio]

I've used a lot of drones in my work. And I've programmed more than my fair share, so I know what the behavior of a completely thoughtless drone looks like.

[warborn]

...Alright, so what'd you call this, then?

[glacius_passio]

Different. I can't tell how sentient it is, but from the way it's acting, I'd think there's at least enough that it's developed an attachment to you already. But on the other hand, it could have been programmed with that attachment. It's hard to know without having a glimpse at its coding. It definitely has more personality than any drone I've encountered before.

[warborn]

[Max considers that for a moment, looking down at the drone...]

...you wanna take a look at it?

[glacius_passio]

Take a...look at it? You mean look at its coding?

[Fort Max water you doin?]

[warborn]

Why not? You seem to know your way around it.

[glacius_passio]

Well, I guess I could if you really want me to.

[Do you really not want it that much? :[ ]

[warborn]

[HE'S JUST CURIOUS OKAY. shrug.]

If you can make sure it's not gonna suddenly try and shoot me, that's enough.

[glacius_passio]

Well, alright. I'll see if I can take a look.

[Leviathan sets the penguin down and approaches the drone, looking it over for an input jacks.

The penguin seems happy that it can move freely, because it's waddling around the roller drone peeping quietly.]

[warborn]

[the drone seems simple enough, at least of design; there's a few ports covered by panels, but they're easily located and accessed. it offers a single 'beep', cannons twitching towards the penguin in a gesture that is anything but aggressive.

it's almost like...a wave.

Max, for his part, crouches down slowly to watch]

[glacius_passio]

[Pip flaps its wings a few times back at the drone before continuing to waddle around it. Most likely to find a way on top of it.

Leviathan kneels on the ground next to one of the access ports before connecting to the drone. Her head drops and her arms fall to her sides as she zones out, searching the coding for anything out of place. It's different from anything she's worked with before; it's much more complex than the simple drones programmed to monitor toxicity levels or act as security systems, so it's several minutes before she moves again to look up at Fort Max.]

I'm not seeing anything suspicious.

[warborn]

[Drone

drone why are you letting the penguin climb on top of you what are...oh. Max's attention gets pulled back to Leviathan as he blinks, once, then nods]

Good enough, for now.