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

[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?

[thxforthememories]

[What courage he'd gathered in order to tell him falters, seeing him step back like that. Maybe he should have waited. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything...]

[But he craved reassurance... so badly. He had to know it was all right.]

[Or... if he were irredeemable for it.]

I... I told him I would help him. Watch for him. Observe for him. Do as he asked of me. In order to keep my memories safe. To keep all of you safe.

[The words start coming out in a rush. Anxiety sparks in his every word, his posture slowly growing more hunched and uncertain as he speaks.]

I only wanted to help. I wanted all of the others to stay safe. I wanted my memories to stay safe. I --

[It will set you apart from him. Make you different from him.]

[His head jerks up, something abruptly fearful in his face.]

I'm so sorry.

[loborobo]

[Shadowmaru watches him as he explains, listening carefully. Squinting, he steps back up to him again and holds his shoulders, to try and calm him down.]

Kagerou, calm down. [He says calmly. Shadowmaru grows concerned. It sounded as if Kagerou had made a deal with someone...]

Who is he?

[thxforthememories]

[It's as if the words are some sort of magical keywords. He stops, staring at him, then starts to cycle air through his systems more slowly. A nod.]

[When he speaks again, it's with forced calm. But, still, calm.]

The FirstForged who claimed me. Alpha Trion.

[Another pause, another series of slow "breaths."]

[loborobo]

He... He claimed you?

[His hands fall from his shoulders, slapping at his own sides.]

Is... Is that a good thing? A bad thing? [Shadowmaru frowns, his hands gripping into loose fists.]

Who says these First Forge can just... claim whoever?! [Shadowmaru wasn't angry with Kagerou. Not at all. These FirstForged, however, were another story.]

What does it mean to be 'claimed' by them?!

[thxforthememories]

Like... Vector did you. And Megatronus Gunmax.

[He can see that anger. And he isn't sure how to take it. He'd always known how to react to Shadowmaru, but... everything about this is different.]

[He does his best to keep the calm mask in place, though, for whatever it was worth.]

Having their mark... like you do. It means you're safe here. [Safer, anyway. Because it's not a sure thing. But telling him that now won't help. That much he knows.] You won't lose your mind. You won't start trying to kill others. You'll... be protected.

That's all.

Unless you make deals with them. [Like I did.]

[loborobo]

But you practically made a deal with him!

[And he shakes his head, pursing his lips.]

Is that such a good idea? Just to make a deal with some kind of 'robo-god'? Sure, maybe he'll keep us all safe, or claim he will. But what if he does something to you? What if he treats you like some kind of lapdog?

[thxforthememories]

[That calm mask flickers. All the uncertainty beneath shows through. Just for a moment, before he manages to get it back under control again.]

I only wanted... I wanted to protect the others...

[But there's hesitance in the words. As calm as they are.]

He promised.

[That's really all he has to go on. But given how important promises are, to him...]

He promised he wouldn't force me to do anything. That I could end it... if I chose.