[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

[thxforthememories]

... I wish I could have seen it.

[wakizashi_straight]

I am sorry you did not get the chance. Perhaps someday you will. It is nice here too, though.

[thxforthememories]

If there is no way home, how would I get the chance?

[wakizashi_straight]

There is always the possibility that a way will be found to send us home, eventually.

[thxforthememories]

Has anyone tried to find a way?

[wakizashi_straight]

Not yet. But that does not mean that it will not happen.

[thxforthememories]

No, it doesn't.

We need to try. I... want to see places like Tokyo. I can't do that here.

[wakizashi_straight]

Someone will. I myself am not capable. But we will find a way to get you to Tokyo.

[thxforthememories]

You... Are you offering to help? To return me to Japan?

[wakizashi_straight]

I am, if I am able to. I do not leave bots stranded.

[thxforthememories]

But you don't know me.

[wakizashi_straight]

That does not matter to me. But you do not seem like a bad bot, which is what does matter.

[thxforthememories]

['not a bad bot']

[Is that really true?]

What would make someone 'bad', to you?

[wakizashi_straight]

An unending anger in their heart. Arrogance. Attempting to use others for their own gain. Or cheating in the ring.

You do not strike me as that sort.

[thxforthememories]

[Well, no he can't really say he has any of those qualities...]

I see.

"In the ring?"

[wakizashi_straight]

[Noisy Boy's criteria might be pretty simple, but they have been effective for him so far.]

I am a boxer.

[thxforthememories]

... Box... er?

[He is sheltered and what is that.]

[wakizashi_straight]

Boxing is a sport, on Earth. The simple description is that two bots punch each other until one does not get back up.

[He's so used to this by now he doesn't even think anything of it.]

[thxforthememories]

You fight other robots? For sport?

[This is mind-boggling. Why would robots fight until they couldn't move?]

[wakizashi_straight]

Correct. It is what I was built for.

[It's perfectly normal for him.]

[thxforthememories]

[... that's almost sadder than his purpose. And that's saying something.]

I don't understand why... Do you enjoy it?

[wakizashi_straight]

For entertainment. Humans like to watch it. Especially since human boxing was outlawed.

[He gets so confused by how people find it sad.]

I enjoy it a great deal. It is why I travel.

[thxforthememories]

Human beings created you to fight. Because they can't?

[That... He doesn't know what to think of that.]

What happens if you lose?

[wakizashi_straight]

I believe robot boxing began as a novelty. It simply became popular quickly.

[And now the humans can't box anymore.]

It depends upon our injuries and the funds our handlers have available.

[thxforthememories]

But you have AI. Don't you?

... What happens if they lack the funds?