VIDEO

[loborobo]

[The feed flickers on, which shows nothing at first. Oddly enough, it’s the inside of the altar room ov Vector Prime. Maybe someone had left their--

But there’s a flash of orange eyes. They only flicker in the feed for a fleeting moment. In another flicker, there’s something peering down into the device, a nose prodding it. It looks to be a a dog of a robotic nature.]

A communication device… [The dog’s eyes brighten and fade with every word and he lifts a red paw up to reposition the object.]

Calling Brave Police, this is Shadowmaru. [He lifts his head, ears alert as he hears something off in the distance. Thankfully it was one of the acolytes. The BP Unit relaxes.]

I am low on fuel. I’m not quite sure if this place even has fuel, but. I’ll try my best for the time being.

If anyone else can hear this, I will try my best to send my coordinates. I read other signatures here, but I’m not familiar with any of them. [His head perks up again, orange optics wary.]

Again, this is Shadowmaru, calling for the Brave Police. If anyone could give me their location, it would be appreciated.

[He then races off screen, the device jostling before shutting off.]

Comments

[loborobo]

[He looks up at him but nods. The other unit's smile was contagious. Then again, it was sometimes a rare sight to see.]

I trust you.

[thxforthememories]

[Now that everything is all right -- now that there's no more misunderstandings... he can't help but smile. This is what he wanted, right from the start.]

It will be easier in your wolf form.

[That's right. He said it.]

[loborobo]

[He blinks but soon understands. And he is also very appreciative to Kagerou's attention to detail. Wolf form.

He takes a few steps back to transform, and stands on all fours, looking up at him.]

Ready when you are.

[thxforthememories]

[Right, they have a job to do. But... first...]

[Before he does anything, he kneels in front of him, and... just... rubs his fingers along those stupid dorky robot-dog-ears. He can't help himself.]

We'll try the junk pile first. For gasoline. Then the clinic, for a generator... all right?

[loborobo]

[Oh. Oh that's the spot.

He finds himself leaning into the contact, his stubby tail wagging before he realizes what he's doing.

Shadowmaru pulls back, face plate heated. He 'clears' his throat as he tilts his head.]

You can find perfect containers of fuel in a junkpile?

[thxforthememories]

[And for the first time in... weeks... he laughs. It's brief. It's little more than a dry, whispering sound. But it's there. And it's honest.]

[He's wanted to do that for a long time.]

Yes. Kay has found food there, before. And Power Joe found a... vending machine... once.

[loborobo]

[That's an unfamiliar name.

Shadowmaru squints, looking Kagerou up and down. There's a hint of a smile in his voice.]

Kay?

[thxforthememories]

[Now it's his turn to feel his faceplates heat. His wings flutter, and he makes an impatient little gesture for his fellow ninja to just. Climb up in his arms already.]

She's a friend. A good one.

... She'll be happy to meet you. Finally.

[loborobo]

[He stares up at him, his optics soft and amused as he watches him.]

You've been telling people about me? [A light laugh but he hops up into Kagerou's arms.]

Hopefully you've been telling them good things about me.

[A pause.]

Do you have more friends, Kagerou?

[thxforthememories]

[He huffs, clearly embarrassed, but catches him, regardless. No sooner does he have a good grip than he's taking off.]

You're the reason I exist. Why wouldn't I speak of you?

[He looks down. Then nods a little.]

The other Brave Police. A human soldier. Blurr. Ravage...

They're all that's left. Besides Kay.

[loborobo]

[Shadowmaru curls himself against the other ninja's chest, almost hiding his face.]

And if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here either.

[His gaze lowers.]

So people come and go from here?

[thxforthememories]

[He stiffens a bit, realizing... that statement. It mirrors so much of what others have been trying to tell him. So much. But he'd never...]

... When you're settled, and your engine is converted, I... have a lot to speak to you about.

[To apologize for.]

Yes.

They leave. They just vanish one day with no... [He shakes his head.] It's always sudden.

[loborobo]

[His ears droop a little. That wasn't reassuring to hear. But the first part has him curious. But like he said. It was a lit to talk about. Now wasn't the time to ask.]

So a medic is going to convert my engine. But it won't change me completely... right?

[thxforthememories]

No.

[And he's a little quick to say that, whoops.]

It... you'll be like me, then. We'll be alike again.

[He'd worried over that, for so long. He'd held off for far too long, thinking he'd be too different from the other ninja. Worrying he couldn't do it, for that reason.]

[He doesn't want to see Shadowmaru stuck hooked to a generator like he was...]

[loborobo]

[He wants to protest that comment but his fuel gauge is already quietly beeping at him. It would have to be saced for another time.]

If you say so...

[thxforthememories]

... Do you believe it's changed me? Or the others?

[Please say no.]

[Please reassure him he didn't make a terrible mistake.]

[Fortunately, he's already landing at the junkpile, still carrying dogmaru while he starts searching for a can.]

[loborobo]

[He stares up at him as he searches and shakes his head.]

You have changed. A lot. [He quickly speaks, so Kagerou would listen.]

In a good way. You have grown here, for over a year. You have made friends. You probably even overcame many obstacles in your time here.

I'm not disappointed, Kagerou. I'm proud. Of all of you.

[thxforthememories]

[He tries to keep from flinching when he hears that. The last thing he wanted to hear was that he'd become different -- too different. An apology starts to form.]

[But then Shadowmaru continues.]

[And all motion ceases. He stares down at his friend, at the face he'd been waiting for in lonely desperation. The one who mattered most to him in the world is... proud. Proud of him...?]

[He was already kneeling, digging in a likely spot, but he stops, just for a moment, and grips the other robot tightly, his face pressed to darker plating.]

Thank you. Thank you... Shadowmaru...

[He remains that way for a long moment before resuming his search, finally pulling a small canister free of the debris.]

Here.

[loborobo]

[He lifts a paw weakly to hug him back as best he could in this form.

But he takes a few steps away in order to change back and takes the canister, sitting on the ground as he guzzles it down almost greedily.

With a small 'gasp' he finishes the gasoline in a matter of moments, his tank satisfied. The younger bot stands up carefully, smiling at the renewed strength. Shadowmaru readdresses Kagerou however.]

Were you that worried?

[thxforthememories]

[He doesn't hold on, when the other moves away. As long as he's going to refuel, everything should be all right. They can check the pantry supply next, then see about finding the right medic.]

[He rises as Shadowmaru does, his smile earning another from Kagerou. Though it's more fleeting. He folds his arms across his chest.]

Yes.

[He couldn't lie to him, even if he tried to. So he doesn't bother.]

I always wondered. If you'd be angry with me... for altering parts of myself. Not... just my engine.

[loborobo]

[Shadowmaru blinks owlishly as he looks him up and down, and even walks around him.

He didn't look different. Not on the outside at least.]

Have you had upgrades? Besides your engine.

[thxforthememories]

[When he starts to walk around him, his hand comes up. It slaps down over the glyph on his arm, out of pure reflex, self-consciousness winning out rationality.]

[It's only after he's actually done it that he realizes it's happened at all, and looks down toward his hand, avoiding Shadowmaru's face.]

[He'd dreaded and dreamed of this.]

[Having the moment of revelation so close makes unease flood through his AI. Shadowmaru is proud of him. Proud of him. What if this changes everything?]

Something... something like that.

[Very slowly, he lifts his hand away. His Glyph is different, to be sure -- it's not Vector's mark. But it's also far more intricate, more detailed and defined, than any other's.]

[loborobo]

[Shadowmaru blinks again and walks up to his shadow, taking a look at his glyph. He looks back down at his own and furrows his brow in confusion.]

...What do these mean, Kagerou?

[thxforthememories]

[He fidgets, where he stands, his wings anxiously flaring and folding down again. He still avoids the other's gaze, though he no longer makes the effort to hide his glyph.]

They mean... we've been claimed by the FirstForged -- the robots in charge here. That we won't lose our minds, and disappear.

[Like the others.]

Mine... Mine is different. Because of what -- [His voice catches a little.] -- what I've done.

[loborobo]

[Shadowmaru takes a step back, unsure by what he means by that. He's a little disappointed that they didn't share the same... FirstForged was it? But perhaps there was a little more behind these markings.]

What did you do?