video;

[thxforthememories]

[The link appears to have been... dropped. It's just sitting on the floor of a hallway in Trion's temple. There's a partial view of a nearby room, the door half-open and sitting strangely on its hinges. The room itself appears... trashed. Like the storm blew through the room as well as the Haven.]

[Everything is absolutely still. Absolutely silent.]

[For several minutes.]

[And then something slams itself down off-screen, hard enough to rattle the Link itself. It actually vibrates a few inches forward at the impact.]

[Someone laughs. There's no amusement in the sound, only smug satisfaction.]

Look! Look, look, look!

[The voice is probably familiar, but the cadence is all wrong. The speaker grabs the Link, jerking it toward the room.]

I did it. I did it so well too, didn't I? You thought you had me -- what was it? What was it? Are you punishing me? Is that it?

No, no. That won't do. I got out!

[More laughter. Delighted, echoing laughter.]

[And all of the sudden, a face pops on-screen, upside down. The smile it wears is sharp, harsh. It's... Kagerou?]

Aren't. You. Proud? Brave Police.

[There is a fevered light in his optics -- both of which are visible now, the scanner no longer marking half his face. And then the feed goes dark.]

Comments

[thxforthememories]

[There's a pause. He stares.]

[And then, abruptly, tosses his head back, laughing almost uncontrollably.]

Look who it is! Look who's come! Running.

Are you proud -- look! Was it your work? Or was it the little one? No matter -- I got out.

[mccrane]

Got out? Of where?

Isn't that your room?

[thxforthememories]

This isn't my room. I know my room. There isn't anything of mine in there.

Where did you put it all? It must have been you. One of you. One of you wanting to silence me.

[mccrane]

Kagerou, no...

Why would we?

You may have left some of your things at headquarters if you want to meet me here to discuss it.

[He's getting very worried right now.]

Are you feeling alright?

[thxforthememories]

Don't play so innocent, combat specialist. Don't.

It's so rude of you to play that, you know.

[He laughs again, spinning wildly around, before crouching down in front of the link again.]

I.

Feel.

Perfect.

[Then he tilts his head.]

Where am I.

[mccrane]

[The title feels like its meant to be a lance...and in a way, it is. In a way, it marks him as the warrior in a group meant to preserve peace.]

Kagerou, this isn't like you. Accusing people is not like you...

Is something wrong with your AI?

[Because he seems physically fit.]

You didn't even open with audio...

[Yes, McCrane, because that is the strangest thing here.]

[Alright. One thing at a time.] Nevermind. I will come to you. Give me a moment to track down your coordinates and I'll explain everything on the way.

[thxforthememories]

If I'm accusing, it's because I'm oh so wronged.

[He holds a hand to his chest, full-on drama diva. Man, if the optics weren't a giveaway, that probably should be.]

Is something wrong with your AI? Hm? Someone seems so... coherent... Were we a good boy? Did we get rewarded lately?

[His head abruptly cocks to one side. And then he begins... rocking. Back and forth. Balanced on his heels.]

Yes. Good. Come to me! Let's see how well you were rewarded then!

[mccrane]

Wronged?

[Kagerou, why are you making so little sense?]

...!

[That hits a nerve, though.]

I...

No.

No, there have been no rewards. We're lucky to keep living day to day, Kagerou, and Gunmax is missing again.

[His words are cold for a moment, but then he shakes his head.]

I'll be there in a moment. We will solve this, somehow.

[thxforthememories]

I was locked away wasn't I? Locked up, silenced, ignored. I didn't do anything wrong -- and someone did it anyway!

That is wronged.

[He shrugs. Scornful, and still rocking on his toes.]

So what of it? The little runt probably displeased our oh so gracious lord. He'll be back.

[... He wouldn't have said that, yesterday, now would he have?]

Yes. Yes, come. Come and find me! I love this game!

[mccrane]

Locked away? Do you mean with Shadowmaru?

[That is the closest thing that McCrane can imagine, although he's starting to suspect that his limited imagination is hurting him in this endeavor. The pieces he's putting together from Kagerou's words aren't painting a pretty picture.]

I hope. I hope he will be back, but I know better, and the Firstforged can't...

They can't help.

...

But you aren't referring to the Firstforged, are you.

[That would make the most sense.]

Kagerou...do you remember that we aren't on earth?

[He is transforming, though, and coming to 'find' you.]

[thxforthememories]

[Every motion ceases.]

[He hasn't stopped moving in some capacity since he appeared on screen -- always twitching, always shifting, or flicking his wings, as if he simply has too much energy to stay still.]

[But the moment that name reaches his audio receptors, it all changes. He freezes. The smug, mocking expression on his face vanishes. And for a second, it's as if he's not seeing McCrane any longer.]

Do. Not...

[He shudders, head bowing, and when it pops back up, his face is a mask of rage.]

Don't ever speak that dog's name! Do you hear me!

[The rest of McCrane's questions appear to be ignored, in favor of shrieking those words into the link.]

1/?

[mccrane]

2/?

[mccrane]

[He's trying.]

3/?

[mccrane]

[He really is.]

4/?

[mccrane]

[He's just...]

5/5

[mccrane]

[He's just not been yelled at like that before. It shocks him. Especially coming from Kagerou.]

I'm sorry.

I know he meant a lot to you.

Re: 5/5

[thxforthememories]

Shut up! Shut up -- shut up -- shut up!

You don't know! You're not allowed -- you can't -- Stop saying these things!

[His shouting takes on the tone of a mantra. Of a chant. If he keeps repeating himself, it will have some effect.]

Stop talking, stop talking -- we'll play a game. We'll play.

That's better.

That's so much better than your words!

[mccrane]

You told me, yourself, before...

[Now he really is worried. Very worried, and the sound of his engine revving into a higher gear to get their faster comes through the link.]

It is going to be okay, Kagerou. I promise. We'll find out what is wrong with you, and we'll fix it.

[thxforthememories]

[There is no response. Just a low, enraged hissing.]

[The link is tossed away in a fit of incoherent anger.]

[... But he can't have gone far. He's too determined to win this self-declared game.]

--> Action

[mccrane]

[That only causes McCrane to speed up, heading for Alpha Trion's temple. If Kagerou wants to hide...this is going to be very, very difficult for him. However, he's not going to give up.]

...

[He'll start with Kagerou's room.]

Action

[thxforthememories]

[He'd moved.]

[He'd left the hallway, skittering like a spider through the darker places in the temple. There had to be a main entrance to this place. Somewhere. That must be where this... strangely coherent version of the combat specialist will be.]

[So that's where he waits.]

[And where he begins to follow the crane, as quietly as possible, his rage apparently forgotten as he stalks his intended prey.]

Action

[mccrane]

[McCrane, if not fast or stealthy, is very diligent. He'll examine the clues outside of Kagerou's room, and he'll slowly start moving away from it, thinking to himself.]

...

[His first thought is that Kagerou would want to be somewhere that he could see McCrane, but he has no idea he's being followed already. Instead, his eyes track to the shadowy areas by Kagerou's room, looking for ones big enough for a robot to occupy. Maybe a room nearby?]

Action

[thxforthememories]

[He almost lunges. Several times, he very nearly leaps out from his concealment along the ceiling edge. The effort of restraining himself is nearly too much.]

[A good game, yes. This is such a good game.]

[He watches as the other BP begins scanning shadows. Well then. He'll have to move soon. He inches closer, clinging to the wall just behind McCrane's shoulder, hanging there like a demented spider until the right moment arrives.]

Action

[mccrane]

[It doesn't occur to McCrane that he might be in danger. He can't fathom it, at all...can't imagine anything that would happen to any BP that would cause them to do that. Kagerou is far past such acts, by now...isn't he?]

...

[There. It must be there. The pedestal along the side of the hallway would make an excellent spot to move up above ground level, and from there to the ceiling supports.]

[His optics travel upwards, towards Kagerou's spot.]

Action

[thxforthememories]

[Now or never -- he realizes, as the other BP's head starts lifting.]

[The sound he makes is almost too animalistic to come from him. It's a shriek and a howl all rolled into one. He all but flings himself at McCrane's shoulders, aiming to knock him to the floor, to pin him down.]

[But for whatever it's worth, no weapons have appeared in his hands. Not yet. This isn't about killing.]