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No, he's never done anything to harm me. Why would you think that?

[Maybe because you're bad at explaining these things, Kagerou. But it doesn't occur to him. He just stares, waiting.]

[Then shrugs again, hunching his shoulders, and gathering his knees to his chest again. He's still not sure how he feels about Alpha Trion. Even though he's been given the chance to make something familiar here, to be important enough to create life. To really, finally, be able to do something to truly protect Kay...]

[... he has no idea what he should think.]

I suppose so.

But they aren't supposed to be imperfect. They're some kind of... god. That's what the Cybertronians always said.

[Deckard pauses, then sighs softly, shaking his head. His tone is patient and even.]

I don't, necessarily. Kagerou . . . I'm a detective. It's part of my job to try to see both sides of anything, to not assume but also not rule out anything until I have reason to. I am glad to hear he's not hurt you, though.

Has he ever asked you to do anything you didn't want to, though? Something out of character for you? And what . . .

. . . what is it you're able to do in return? What is it he's granted you? If I may ask.

[He grunts softly at the last.]

They could be wrong about that, too, remember. Just because they're more powerful than Cybertronians doesn't mean they're deities, even if that's how they want to be seen.

[He's not wholly ruling it out, honestly - he still remembers how...rather /deific/ Prima had seemed - but he's not ready to just accept it without question either.]

I just don't see why you would even think...

[He trails off, shaking his head in dismissal. Never mind it.]

No. He hasn't. He just asks me to keep notes. To watch. Observe. I don't have to spy or anything.

... I know languages. I remember things more clearly. Better. I have an assistant. And... I can create a life. When I wish to.

[He's got to speak with Kay about that, actually. It was going to be her project, too. And then they'd learn -- they'd learn the fighting together.]

I trust those who told me, though. They would know best.

((ooc: Okay, now that time- and brain-eating RL stuff is finally over with, I should be able to tag regularly again. 9,9 Any thoughts or particular want for where to head with this thread?))

[He starts to clarify, to reiterate, that he /doesn't/, but...Kagerou seems to let it go, so he does as well. He nods at the rest . . . until the comment about creating life comes up. That makes him visible startle, optics brightening for an instant.]

Wait, life? Really? That's . . . impressive. How? ...if I may ask. I understand if you can't or don't want to tell me.

[He wouldn't really anyway, continue the discussion about the First-Forged being gods or not - he wouldn't want to seem to insult Kagerou's friends by doing so - but the comment about life keeps him from really even registering it.]

Yes.

[He shifts a bit, his chin still resting on his folded arms. It sounds bizarre, to hear it said aloud. But it was what he was told...]

I write it down. Describe it. And... then take it to him.

[Then things happen with a book that he's not even sure he completely understands. Maybe it will make more sense when he sees it happen.]

((ooc: hey whatever~ I'm just kind of letting it happen how it happens! c:))

((ooc: 'kay! Enjoying this too much to let it go yet, but didn't want to seem like dragging it out or something. =3))

...I see. You come up with the idea, and he . . . ah . . . builds it?

[Since this is a world of mechanicals, he supposes that makes sense . . . assuming what Kagerou comes up with a form of robot, of course. If it's flesh and blood . . . huh, well, anyway . . . that's not really - for now, at least - what he truly wants to focus on. He shifts as though to stand.]

Walk with me?

[He's wondering if getting Kagerou up and moving - and not all curled up on himself - would prove beneficial. If the ninjabot doesn't move, though, he won't make him, just resettling. Either way, he'll ask-]

Will you tell me more about Alpha Trion? What he's like and what he does here?

[There's no suspicion in his tone - he's honestly curious. One, he's Kagerou's patron. Two . . . he may try approaching the being himself regarding ways to protect his loved ones.]

I think so. More or less.

[He's not sure exactly how Trion was going to do it. Or if he's supposed to say anything at all. Maybe it was supposed to be a secret.]

[He doesn't answer at first. His head is pressed firmly to his arms, optic fixed straight ahead. It doesn't seem as if he's going to answer for a while.]

Right.

[And then he's slowly levering himself to his feet, his damaged wings hanging limply from his back.]

He handles knowledge. Knowing things -- archives. Data. Information. He's... distant. Absentminded. Dangerous, because of that.

[Deckard waits patiently, and then is just starting to settle again when Kagerou finally starts moving. He'll stand, then offer a hand if the ninjabot wants it. If not, that's fine too. He frowns at the wings, concerned.]

Should probably let Barricade or someone see to your injuries.

[He'll head for the lake for now, though. Kagerou's apparently not overly bothered –or he's doing an excellent job of hiding it –so Deckard won't press. Were it one of his other teammates, he would, without a doubt, but he doesn't know the ninjabot well enough yet. And for now, the calm quiet will probably do him more good anyway.]

Dangerous because he's absentminded? How so?

[He folds them flat. Well, as flat as they'll go, given the damage. He shakes his head a little.]

I'll manage. I can still fly.

[Which is the important thing. He'll have someone look at them, later. When he feels more up to facing people. Now he wants nothing more than to withdraw, to be a shadow again. There's safety in it...]

[But he can follow, easily enough.]

His absentmindedness caused problems before. It changed people before... twisted things we wanted.

[... he'd spent a long time wearing Shadowmaru's frame, as a result. Even been tempted to keep it with him, afterward. Not something he's proud of, these days.]

. . . Alpha Trion has the power to change people if he doesn't maintain his attention?

[That does /not/ make him comfortable, to be honest...]

It... mm.

[He quiets, shoulders hunching in thought. His teeth dig into his lower lip, unconsciously.]

[How does he explain this...]

He didn't pay attention to where the pages of an important book were going. They were lost. Those who found them... wrote on them.

And were changed.

…a magical book of some kind?

[Surprisingly, perhaps, there's no skepticism in his tone, just a note of uncertainty regarding if he's understanding correctly. He has, after all, faced a sorcerer before –it was one of his earliest cases, before even the Build Team had been formed; it was his very first time achieving his J-Decker form –so he's well aware that magic is real. ~~Those damned bats had certainly been real enough.~~ He nods.]

[He looks at Kagerou for a moment, tempted to ask if he was one of the affected and what happened…but it's none of his business, so he refrains.]

So what is it you're able to do to protect Kay better?

Something like that.

[He's not really sure how to elaborate on that. Or if he's even allowed to. Trion hadn't been very specific on that point.]

[He shifts a bit, arms folding around himself again. As if cold.]

We were supposed to be learning a way to fight. Something... only the old ones -- the Cybertronians -- knew.

[But then the whole Pillar thing had happened.]

[When the ninjabot wraps his arms around himself, Deckard reaches a hand to lightly grip his shoulder without thinking about it, trying to lend support.]

. . . and now Alpha Trion and the others are missing. Damn.

I wonder if the Pillar did something to them too, and that's why they're MIA…

[It's a thought, at least.]

[He starts to twitch away. The motion begins. But he halts it, before his shoulder moves entirely out of grasp. He settles himself.]

[Forcibly. He's still not totally used to all this contact. And not after that week...]

[He does lift his head a little, at that information.]

They're missing?

No one told me that.

[Kagerou didn't pull away, but Deckard felt the twitch and can read the discomfort on his face. He pulls his hand back, letting it drop.]

I'm sorry. If you don't want to be touched, just let me know, and I'll stop.

[He shrugs.]

As far as I know, and others seem to agree. No one knows for sure, but no one seems to know where they are or what's happened to them, either. The few that I know of who have tried to reach any of them haven't been successful, and the Acolytes I've talked to at Prima's temple don't seem to know anything either.

It's just new. From others.

[He'd gotten used to physical contact from PJ. Kay. A few Cybertronians. But for the most part, it was new, coming from everyone but ...]

[He shakes his head -- shakes off the thought. No, thinking about him doesn't help anything right now.]

I should check the libraries. Maybe... he's just lost. Or forgotten. Something like that.

Understood. Still, if you'd prefer it not from …me, considering…

[Considering what little previous history they have.]

You mean Alpha Trion? Were it just him, I could believe that. But if that's the case, I'd have to guess he took Prima and possibly at least Solus and Nexus with him.

[He thinks about that for a minute…and nods.]

Still, checking the libraries might not be a bad idea. Even if he himself isn't there, he might have left some kind of clues about his whereabouts or what he's doing.

[By that point, they've reached the lake's edge. Deckard . . . decides to try something. Even if it doesn't work, it'll be worth the momentary distraction. He picks up a stone and tosses it out into the water, throwing underhand in an attempt to skip it on the surface. It…just plunks and disappears. Hmn.]

It doesn't hurt.

[So why would he mind? It's just something he needs to get used to. Nothing more.]

[He nods.]

Yes. That's who I mean.

I can look for him. Regardless. I can go places in there... others can't.

[At least, that's how he understood things.]

[Deckard gives him a questioning look at that last . . . but then nods, figuring it makes sense. Be that because of his stealth systems, because Alpha Trion is his sponsor or whatever they're considered, or because of the deal the ninjabot made with him.]

Yes, please do. And you'll let me know what you find? If there's something I can do to help, also, please let me know.

I'm not sure.

It's hard to say what is and what isn't allowed for those who aren't like me. I should have asked... but I was trying to focus on other things.

[Like remembering all of McCrane's advice. And Gunmax's.]