first mission ; video ; near prima's temple

[constituent]

 [ So waking up happened. It was absolutely disorienting, and let Shepard tell you, she's already had a few of those 'out-of-body' experiences. Spoiler alert; every single one of them sucked. Flashbacks of dying weren't pleasant either; it took some concentration and a few deep breaths to remind her that all that was long since past. Getting out of the temple was a side quest in itself, but she's finally out in the open, hoping the lack of concrete and stone and whatever else the literal monument was made out of wouldn't mess with her frequencies. 

She's pleasantly surprised, her Omni-tool is already adjusted to the frequency change. Completely recalibrated to the Link. Her expression wavers between suspicion and being impressed, and a few screens later, she's in the system. Her voice crackles for a moment as the audio syncs to the video. Hey, it's a Shepard. Her tone is rather cynical, despite her situation. She might still be in some disbelief at what she's been previously told. ]

So I'm not the only refugee then? Who else exactly is here?

[ She'd tell you who she is if she knew whether or not titles applied here. Shep's rather hesitant, after all, you never know who could be watching. ]

Comments

[constituent]

No. It's very, very different.

There's a few. They were reclaimed---well, I dunno about reclaimed. More like stolen---from their creators.

Ironic punishment, but still.

But were you programmed not to, when your thoughts became independent?

That's what I mean.

[thxforthememories]

I don't understand. The... robots were stolen?

[This is amazing and confusing help.]

No. They only tried.

But I ran.

[constituent]

The planet was stolen by the robots.

[ Whoops sorry. ]

...Good. I would've.

[thxforthememories]

Why?

[He shrugs a little.]

The human beings didn't think it was "good". They sent pursuers.

[constituent]

Overly aggressive, quick learning hivemind---who wouldn't destroy what created them if they knew that it wanted to destroy them?

Of course they did. We're all scared of what we don't know.

[thxforthememories]

Hivemind. I'm not sure what that means.

... So we have to suffer for your fear?

[constituent]

They share a brain, a...common place to store information.

[ Oh, son, you just hit a chord. ]

The same instinct that told you to run is the same that told them to dismantle you.

I don't speak for all of mankind, but we've created some pretty terrible shit. To err on the side of caution isn't without reason, I think even you can agree with that.

[thxforthememories]

Like a combiner?

[He's trying. Really.]

[His mouth twitches. It's not really a baring of teeth, but he holds it back, just barely.]

Caution means killing someone? Who isn't a threat to them? Who only wants to live and be left alone?

[constituent]

What is that?

[ Her expression remains stern, so does her tone. She has to keep reminding herself why. ]

Wouldn't you, if it meant life or death for you?

[ She asks that deliberately. Coming from someone who takes out a lot of mercs on a near daily basis, she knows what it's like to deal with the grief that comes after. ]

Killing in the name of staying alive is one of the many injustices about being alive. But it's one of the most basic. Any race, not just human, won't tell you otherwise.

[thxforthememories]

A combiner. Multiple units... able to unite into one.

[Silence.]

[There's a moment of memory -- a flash of a girl in one hand, the blade hovering near her face. Looking at Kay and thinking --]

[Of the Chieftain.]

It feels wrong. Afterward.

Why is wanting to live -- that's all I want. Why do I have to take others' lives to do that? Why does anyone?