[audio]

[thxforthememories]

[Behold! A new voice on the network. And... it sounds decidedly uncertain. Maybe a little shaky.]

[Hey, when you get electrocuted by thousands of volts out of nowhere before waking up somewhere you've never seen, you're bound to sound a little off. Not to mention completely overwhelmed.]

[And quite honestly, he doesn't know what to say right now. Asking the empty air for help? In a place he's never even heard of? Surrounded by sights and sounds and robots utterly foreign? That seems... odd. But what choice does he have?]

Someone... please. [He hesitates.] I don't understand what's happened.

I --

[And here is where the first bit of real panic seems to show through. Sure, he got the explanation, but--] I don't remember coming here. Or ever hearing of such a place.

Please answer me.

Comments

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

[MAGIC IS HOW.]

A location. In a place I've never seen. How is that meant to help?

[Sorry, Deckerd. Someone's on edge.]

[Video]

[patokichi]

A landmark? Anything? What do you see around you?

[He's trying.]

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

I haven't left the building I came back online in.

[He's just right outside it, actually.]

[Video]

[patokichi]

Ah! Good. Can you show it to me?

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

[How do you feel about shaky-cam videos, Deckerd? Because that's exactly what you're getting right now.]

[BEHOLD. The location of one not-so-dead ninjabot.]

[Video]

[patokichi]

Great! Thank you. Stay there. I'll drop by to get you.

[A beat.]

I'm really glad you're alive.

[He remembers what it was like, knowing one of their own was wiped away, like he almost was.]

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

To 'help me', or to 'arrest me'?

[Hahah. Remember that? Because he does. That was the last time he remembers seeing Deckerd, in fact. The first and last.]

[But the last comment -- he frowns.]

What do you mean?

[Video]

[patokichi]

What? No- why would I need to arrest you?

[Oh... right.]

I have no purpose to do that here, I just want to help.

[A beat.]

You- ah... don't remember?

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

You have no reason to do that anywhere. Or did Shadowmaru forget to tell you?

[Another pause. He's starting to look... worried.]

I... what are you talking about? There isn't anything wrong with my memories...

[Is there?]

[Video]

[patokichi]

No, you're correct. I don't. I... it never felt right to begin with. Please, Kagerou.

[One of their own.]

We can talk about it later. When we've figured things out.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

But you pursued, regardless. Even when I told you to just leave me alone.

[He grits his teeth.]

Fine. I will stay here. [Pause.] Until you arrive.

[... not like he has anywhere else to go.]

[Video]

[patokichi]

I'm sorry, Kagerou. I didn't understand then, but I do now. I promise you that. I don't know how I can even begin to make it up to you.

[The sincerity of his statements is pretty much overwhelming.]

I'm on my way.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

[It's like talking to Robot Jesus or something, holy crap. Needless to say, he looks... taken aback.]

I...

All right. I believe you.

[What else can he really say to that?]

Thank... Thank you.

[Video] -->Action

[patokichi]

Thank you, Kagerou. I'll be there soon.

[And he's en route.]

Action

[thxforthememories]

[He'll be there. Waiting awkwardly in front of the building.]

[Like a socially inept ninja robot.]

Action

[patokichi]

[He arrives moments later, changing out from his patrol car mode and keeping a nonthreatening distance.]

Kagerou?

Action

[thxforthememories]

[He straightens up. Despite the distance, and their conversation he... looks ready for another confrontation.]

Yes.

I waited.

Action

[patokichi]

[He smiles warmly.]

You did.






It's.

Good to see you.

[If only Shadowmaru were here.]

Not damaged at all?

Action

[thxforthememories]

[He is... not sure how to take any of this. The smile is -- there's no doubt it's genuine. But still.]

All right.

[Well, there's one thing they can agree on.]

No. Why would I be?

Action

[patokichi]

This place can be very dangerous. There are... there are creatures out in the junkpile.

Action

[thxforthememories]

Creatures? What kind of creatures?

[Excuse him, he's just letting the chain slide through his fingers. Just in case.]

Action

[patokichi]

Monsters of some kind. Everyone here had to fend them off, and I'm not sure if there are any left behind.

Action

[thxforthememories]

I haven't seen any. But I can defend myself.

[He pauses.] ... your warning is... I appreciate it. [SOCIALLY AWKWARD UP IN HERE.]

Where are we going?

Action

[patokichi]

I don't doubt that.

It's no problem. Don't worry.

[He changes down into his patrol car mode.]

Prima's temple, where all of us are staying currently.

Action

[thxforthememories]

I do. Worry. There are times I think it's part of my basic personality.

[He watches the change... before initiating his own. Not the batmobile car, but the bird.]

I'll follow.