AUDIO;

[elkmobile]

I'd like to also start a project in growing trees on Cybertron. I don't know how well that would work, to tell the truth. Perhaps around the garden would be best. It would take sometime, but in the end, their growth would help improve organic life.

I... do have a question for everyone here. Is there any kind of spiritual presence on Cybertron? Is such a thing possible?

Perhaps that's a better question for the Firstforged. I don't know if asking the Cybertronians or humans would answer something like that.

Comments

audio;

[thxforthememories]

I'm... grateful for that. But I have to ask you something.

... Can your soul be reformatted? Be... changed by something... out of your control?

Until there's nothing left of you?

audio;

[elkmobile]

[There's a moment of silence.

Then a reluctant admittance.]

Yes. It can.

audio;

[thxforthememories]

[And then it's his turn to fall silent. Whatever he was expecting to hear... that wasn't it.]

It... what?

audio;

[elkmobile]

I mean what I say.

We are truly no different.

audio;

[thxforthememories]

But that isn't... that isn't supposed to be possible for humans. Your data -- it's supposed to be safe.

You're not supposed to be altered like that.

How can you be different?

audio;

[elkmobile]

...I'm sorry. I'd rather not discuss it on the Link.

audio;

[thxforthememories]

... Another promise?

audio;

[elkmobile]

Not really.

I could explain better in person is all.

audio;

[thxforthememories]

Is this something you really want to explain?

audio;

[elkmobile]

I never want to. But sometimes I have to.

It's up to you if you wish to hear it or not.

audio;

[thxforthememories]

I want to know.

I want... to know how a human can be reformatted -- erased.

[Like he was.]

audio;

[elkmobile]

Then I'd like to know where I can find you.

audio;

[thxforthememories]

Do you know where the medical bay is located?

If not... I can try to locate you.

audio;

[elkmobile]

I know where it is. I can go there.

audio;

[thxforthememories]

All right.

That's where I'm staying, for now.

ACTION;

[elkmobile]

[THEN ASHITAKA IS ON HIS WAY.

One elk ride later, Ashitaka is coming into the temple.]

Kagerou?

ACTION;

[thxforthememories]

[As stealthy as he usually is, it's sort of hard to do when you're lugging a generator around. So it's not exactly a discreet sneak from the shadows so much as it is a creak clatter out from behind a door.]

Here.

ACTION;

[elkmobile]

[A polite nod of his head is given to the mech.]

I'm glad to meet you face-to-face.

You wish to know how a human can be forced to change?

ACTION;

[thxforthememories]

[He nods, too.]

[Then kneels, to see him better. He's not as big as most of the 'bots here, but he's still a lot bigger than the humans.]

Yes. I thought it was impossible.

ACTION;

[elkmobile]

[Ashitaka peels off his shirt.

Across his skin are the dark marks of the curse inflicted onto him.]

Where I came from, a demon god placed a curse on me, Kagerou. A curse of hatred. Slowly, it's growing.

It will one day take over my body. It will destroy my soul after killing me.

I suppose my body would become a demon as well.

ACTION;

[thxforthememories]

[He pulls his head back a bit, more startled by the sight of the marking than Ashitaka stripping. You can thank the Commissioner for that one.]

[Very hesitantly, he reaches out -- before pulling his hand back abruptly. Right. Poking people is rude. Even if you are curious. Morbidly so. He shudders, faintly.]

[It would be like watching yourself slowly be reformatted, and being unable to do anything about it...]

... Can't it be stopped?

ACTION;

[elkmobile]

Lord Prima said it is possible. I'm... working on that.

ACTION;

[thxforthememories]

Lord... Prima?

ACTION;

[elkmobile]

Ah, yes. Prima, he's one of the Firstforged.

ACTION;

[thxforthememories]

You've spoken to him?