video | post Ultimate Showdown

[thxforthememories]

[Once everything has died down, no pun intended, Kagerou figures he may as well say something. The video feed clicks on to show the bird sitting against a wall in what is more than likely the medbay -- and though he is pretty beaten up, he doesn't appear to actually need to be in the medbay. Nothing is leaking and all his limbs are attached.]

[He stares into the video for a moment or two too long, debating what to actually say.]

... I've made the first arrest of my life. I was... part of a team, today. I felt... as if I had a place.

[He trails off -- this is huge, why don't you look happier, birdbrain?]

But it feels wrong. None of that was anything... [He shakes his head.] ... Maybe a stealth unit isn't made for combat like that.

[His visible optic flicks over to something off-screen.]

Maybe none of us BP units are.

[It ends there. Except...]


[PRIVATE TO: KAY FARADAY]
I'm all right. I kept my promise, this time.

Comments

[thxforthememories]

... Live to your heart's content.

[He has the cadence, the phrasing, memorized. Everything but the voice itself. Those words... he'd never forget.]

I don't know how to do it, either. But. I know how not to do it.

Hurting living things -- causing pain. As long as I know I can't stand that, then no, I won't be like those you spoke of.

No matter how many changes happen. How... [He glances down at his arm, at the mark there -- Forgive me, Shadowmaru] How many alterations are made.

[He resumes staring at the other BP with his scanner, the red light flashing briefly.]

If a simple prototype can make that decision... what of you?

[mccrane]

[It is close enough, regardless, that McCrane shivers in the doorway.]

You are not a simple prototype, Kagerou.

Maybe you were, once, but too much has happened for that to be true anymore. Kagerou...is Kagerou.

[With his own decisions, for good and for bad.]

And Kagerou has shown that he fits well with us.

If you know where you lie so strongly, then when we are together you will not let any of us fall.

[Not in spirit.]

[His gaze shifts from Power Joe to Kagerou, thinking on that.] But I will still do what I have to do to protect the Haven. To protect...us.

Even if I fail.

[thxforthememories]

Mm.

He keeps threatening to beat it into me, you know. That I'm part of your team now. [He nods his head slightly at PJ.] I don't think he realizes how much all of this... made it perfectly clear.

I wanted to be part of something... and now that I am... I don't want to lose this.

[He bows his head for a long moment.]

I'll do what I have to. To keep what contentment comes from this. He would want me to. I know that much.

... Why are you so certain you would fail?

[mccrane]

He won't stop threatening that. He likes you too much.

[And...that was how Power Joe was.]

I saw the way you pulled them to safety. I was so glad, Kagerou, that you did that. I was so proud...

[He steps in, towards the ninja bird. Kagerou, accepting that he is part of the team? It was one of the few good things that had come of this. McCrane just wishes everyone could be here to see it.]

[He stops just short.]

I don't have the experience necessary. Prowl has implied it more than once.

[Blurr believed in him, as did Build Team, but with days like this one it was hard to see that himself.]

[thxforthememories]

Likes me... hn.

[His mouth twitches. It's a vaguely bitter little smile. Proud... of something that really was a failure.]

Teammates. They look out for one another. That's all.

[He doesn't look up as McCrane approaches. Not until Prowl's name comes up. Then his head lifts, staring up at him.]

And his opinion is the only one that matters? No one else's? [Again, he jerks his head at Power Joe.] He doesn't trust him.

I'm more inclined to side with the fool, than the stranger.

[mccrane]

He has his own ways of showing it.

[Slowly, he goes down onto his knees beside Kagerou, looking at Power Joe's sleeping form.]

I think it is something more than that. We are more than a team. You...noticed that out there, didn't you?

[His hands clench over his knees, and he doesn't look away from staring straight ahead.]

Nn..no. Perhaps not. I believe Prowl means well, but I also believe he's been through too much war.

Maybe that is what we need right now.

Do you think this would have gone better, if he was in charge?

[thxforthememories]

... So April Fools showed me. Sort of.

[He looks away, as the other kneels, folding his wings closer, out of McCrane's way.]

More than a team? I... you're friends, yes. If that's what you mean.

[The creak of clenching metal fingers gains his attention again. He stares down at the other BP's hands.]

Too much war. That... we aren't made for. That those who killed your Deckerd were.

[It's awkward, and sort of hesitant, but he reaches over to pat one of those hands, in an uncertain attempt to unclench the fist.]

No. I would rather work with a robot who didn't know what made them content, than one who couldn't be, because of war.