001 - [Video]

[zsaber]

[Judging by the background, somebody appears to have wandered over to the Junk Pile. Zero's expression is as calm as ever, but a low electric hum can be heard and faint wisps of smoke occasionally drift into view of the camera.]

X? Shadow? If you guys are out there, respond.

[A long pause.]

Figures. Looks like I'm on my own for a while. [The view whirls around erratically, as if he no longer cares where he's pointing the camera. It briefly points up at the sky, then there's a flash of something glowing bright green, and then finally it points at a robotic green and white dog that's been chopped in half.

The two ends are still glowing red-hot and billowing smoke, so the kill looks fresh.]

So, new question. This belong to anyone?

Comments

[video]

[glacius_passio]

Isn't that a-

[Wait a second. Leviathan pauses and then stares at the screen with narrow eyes.]

Zero?

[video]

[zsaber]

And you are...?

[His tone was neutral, but it was clear from his expression that he had no idea who he was talking to.]

[video]

[glacius_passio]

Did you fry your memory circuits? I'm hurt that you've forgotten who I am~.

[video]

[zsaber]

[Sigh. This is going to take all Zero's charm and interpersonal skills to deal with.]

Maybe you aren't that memorable.

[Yeeeeeeeah. About that.]

What unit are you with? The Sixth?

[video]

[glacius_passio]

Your manners definitely haven't improved since I last saw you.

[She doesn't even bother to hide the pouty look on her face.]

The Sixth? From the Maverick Hunters? You must have taken quite a lot of damage, because the Maverick Hunters have been gone for a hundred years, Zero.

[video]

[zsaber]

[Sadly, the pout is not very effective.]

What are you babbling about? It's only been an hour since I left. [And he would know, what with the internal clock and all.]

[video] I apologize for Whirl.

[whirlybird_of_prey]

SNUFFLES!!!! You fraggin' glitch!! You killed Snuffles!!

[Whatever that thing is. Yeah, it's Whirl's favorite pet now that he just met and never had.]

[Video]

[zsaber]

Keep the next one on a shorter leash.

[Owch. Why, no, sympathy isn't one of Zero's strong suits, why do you ask?]

[Video]

[whirlybird_of_prey]

[Then they shall get along swimmingly!]

Leashes are for perverts.

You owe me, Snuffleslayer.

[Video]

[zsaber]

I suppose that's one way of looking at it.

How about I give you nothing and we call it even?

[Video]

[whirlybird_of_prey]

That some sort of one-optic joke?

[Grrrrrr.]

How 'bout I get all these mechs thinking they're the law involved?

[Video]

[zsaber]

Do what you like. [Looks like the bluff was called.]

[mccrane]

Was there a reason to kill it?

[He's mostly curious, and trying not to sound accusatory.]

[zsaber]

[Flatly:] It attacked me.

[mccrane]

[Ah. Defense. That's actually a good reason.] Are there others nearby? Do you need assistance?

[It doesn't look like a monster, but one can never be too sure.]

[Video]

[zsaber]

I'm pretty sure that was it. Otherwise I'd have been jumped by now. I'll be fine; it didn't even scratch me.

[There's the sound of tearing metal in the background, though, and Zero isn't quite looking into the camera anymore. He mutters in a distracted tone:] Now where did you come from, I wonder...?

[Video]

[mccrane]

Keep an eye out. [He warns, just in case.] The monsters thus far have attacked in groups.

[It's still hard not to wince at the sound of tearing metal. On Earth, ripping apart robots was a crime, even if they had been dangerous. Then again, you don't look entirely human, yourself.] Something you recognize?

[Video]

[zsaber]

[More metal squealing in protest. Then a loud 'pop'.] Mm, nothing yet. I don't recognize any of these part numbers. Could be a one-off. Or a local. Or from some world I've never even heard of.

[He casually pitches what looks like an oil-soaked circuit board over his shoulder in frustration.] This is probably a waste of time.

[WHIRL]

[whirlybird_of_prey]

Hey. You're one of those Earth Policey types, right?

Arrest him.

[WHIRL!!!! OBVIOUSLY YOU NEED HUGS]

[mccrane]

[McCrane doesn't recognize you--or rather, he does, but not well enough. There was some post about eating cake, he recalls, but he's still not entirely sure how a robot manages a digestive system.]

I need a just cause, first.

[the last mech who hugged whirl said he was going to kill him ;-;]

[whirlybird_of_prey]

[Ah, give up that logic stuff as soon as Whirl enters, Earth robot. His alien logic is superior to your own.]

[Also, he's crazy.]

Wut are you, blind? Didn't you see him there with the dead, uh, whatever? Bragging about killing it? Clearly he's a fraggin' sociopath who needs to be stopped.

[CLEARLY.]

[McCrane doesn't kill people! He...uh...cranes them!]

[mccrane]

It seems to have been in self-defense.

[He thinks.] It's possible that this was a crime, but I'll need more information, first. Have you seen that creature before?

[Video]

[cliffjumper]

That always sucks when it happens, [and there's a tone of knowing in Cliffjumper's voice, as well as a frown on his faceplates] an' no, I don't think it does.

[Cliffjumper only briefly gives the severed dog-like creature a glance and shrugs.]

Think there sometimes are a few things in that place, probably dropped through recently... and if I've understood things right, just as well that ya killed it.

[Video]

[zsaber]

You make it sound like this is a regular thing. [Zero didn't sound annoyed, more curious.] I'm guessing they come the same way we do, then.

[Zero glances off-screen, and there's the faint 'clunk' of two metal objects colliding.] Why am I not surprised?

[Video]

[cliffjumper]

Dunno 'bout the rest of us, but I've done this three times by now.

[So. much. annoyance.]

Pretty sure they do. The only difference, apparently, is that we've got these glyphs.

[And here he'll move to tap the one his upper arm, though Zero's probably already seen his own.]

Hey, how else do these things go? Can't have a proper adventure without slaverin' monsters, right?