[Voice] -> [Video]

[thxforthememories]

[Well, this is a new voice. Maybe not for some. But for the most part, this is the kind of voice you'd expect to be all suave and smooth. Like it should be accompanied by saxophone music, or sounding entirely too pleased with itself.]

[Instead? It just sounds downright frantic.]

What is this--! It wasn't like this a moment ago.

[As if in response to his demand, the feed abruptly switches to video. That sure is a new face, standing there on top of a temple roof. He's not a Cybertronian, that's obvious. He's also very obviously distraught.]

[Though... his design is oddly similar to someone else usually present in the Haven. In fact, they look a lot alike.]

Who did this! Which one of you! Answer me!

[The more he talks, the more agitated he seems to become. Like every word is putting him more and more on edge.]

Someone here has to know. Where is he!

Comments

[mccrane]

Whose AI?

[Something is definitely not right. Could Shadowmaru have arrived from the future?]

We will figure this out, but I'm going to need more information.

[thxforthememories]

Shadowmaru's!

It's not here. Mine is!

[Kagerou, no one knows what you're talking about unless you say so...]

[mccrane]

...!

[...]

[Stare.]

[Shadowmaru, you make no sense. ;-;]

Then who are you?

[thxforthememories]

Kagerou!

[... He really needs to stop saying his own name. It's almost physically painful to hear it in this voice.]

[mccrane]

...

[Oh.]

...

[Oh.]

Oh, Kagerou. I'm so, so sorry.

[You weren't supposed to take his place...]

How...?

How did this...? [Now McCrane has caught the 'lacking sense' bit.]

[thxforthememories]

[He just makes a helpless noise, and hunches in on himself. Definitely not a posture the real Shadowmaru would ever have adopted.]

I don't know.

I need... his AI has to be here. If his frame is -- I have to find it.

[mccrane]

I don't think--

[It doesn't work like that, does it? When others come, they start out in the junk yard. Recently, the Acolytes had been taking them to the temples, but no one had been immediately switched with anybody else. This didn't make sense.]

Alright. I will help you look.

When...

No, where. Where were you when you came online like this?

[thxforthememories]

[It's the only explanation he can think of. And... part of it may very well be him clinging on to some kind of awful hope that Shadowmaru is actually here. Somewhere.]

[Because that's healthy.]

Thank you.

The temple Deckerd brought me to, where he'd been staying. I was -- am on the roof.

[mccrane]

You're at Prima's temple, then. [He nods.] I'll begin looking elsewhere.

...

[He wants to have good news for you, but he doesn't think he will, and it is so...so strange to see Shadowmaru, and know that he is someone else.]

Kagerou...

It.

It may not hurt to look for your body, as well.

[thxforthememories]

Yes. All right. I woke up in a different temple. He must have... he must have done the same thing.

[When this is over, someone really needs to talk to him about this dependency problem.]

[He shakes his head.]

Later. I want to find him first. That's more important.

[Because what use is there in living for someone, if something happens to them?]

[mccrane]

Then I will check the temple where you awoke. If he did come in, it's likely that you would have that in common. [Being both ninjas and all.]

I understand you want to find his databanks, but it might be more expedient to look for clues. Your body would have evidence from whoever removed you, and would be easier to locate than a small processor. [He's just being logical, don't mind him.]

[thxforthememories]

All... Yes. All right.

[He actually sounds a little placated by that. Or calmer, at least.]

I don't care where my frame is! I can exist elsewhere if I have to, I just need him found--

[He cuts himself off, though, forcing himself to be quiet and let that process. Yes. It does make sense.]

Clues.

Clues would... be beneficial.

[mccrane]

I'm on my way, now.

[And he would be, transforming into a crane and everything.]

...

[Your temper reminds him of Gunmax, sometimes. He appreciates that you actually bother trying to control it, though.] If you have others searching, then you can combine your efforts. We will solve this. [At the end of the day, it was just another case. However...]

Will you be alright? [Just in case no one else has thought to ask you in the chaos.]

[thxforthememories]

[He's tried to be the reserved one. Like a ninja should be. But there are times, there are things that set him off too much to hold back.]

[This is one of them.]

We... need to. We have have to. We have to.

[He cycles air, shaking his head, and wrapping his arms around himself.]

I'm fine. I'm just fine.

[mccrane]

We will. I know you want to see him again, and...

[He drives a little faster.]

...not like this.

[You're making McCrane want to hug you. Not that he'd recognize the urge.]

[thxforthememories]

More than... more than that.



I just want him to be all right. To be safe. That's all I want.

[mccrane]

I...

Yes.

Understood.

If he is here, we will find him.

[That 'if' is there, just in case.]

[thxforthememories]

Thank you.

I... I need to go. Tell me if you locate him.

[mccrane]

Acknowledged.

Let me know if you find him, as well.

[And McCrane will roll off for looking!]