audio | backdated to after the Meet & Greet

[thxforthememories]

[Coming to you from the Police HQ roof... is a groggy-sounding ninja bot. If he were human, one might say he sounded hungover...]

I don't think I like... high grade.

[A beat passes, metal scrapes -- someone pressing a hand to his face.]

For what it's worth... I'm sorry. To anyone I ran into.

And... the Chieftain? [He hesitates again, this time for different reasons.] My offer to you still stands. Regardless of how I acted... afterward.

Comments

[thxforthememories]

Yes. As soon as you're ready.

[And as soon as his head stops pounding -- but he lets that part stay unsaid.]

Where?

[littlecrowgirl]

And maybe we could look for more stuff?

[She holds the notebook out flat, so he could see if peeking over.]

Mr. Jetfire was really helpful with it.

[thxforthememories]

Would you like that?

[Because all she has to do is say the word. He scoots a little nearer, to better see it.]

... I don't think that applies to me.

[littlecrowgirl]

That would be AMAZING!

[Your nest is going to become a teenage girl lounge, Kagerou. Make sure to ration her collecting.]

Really? You weren't made that way?

[thxforthememories]

Then we will. Soon as we can.

[He just wants her to be happy. Whatever that takes.]

Not like the others, no.

[littlecrowgirl]

You're the best, Kagerou!

[She opens to a blank page, getting her pen out.]

Tell me how it works for you, then!

[thxforthememories]

I care for you. It... stands to reason that I would look out for you.

[He tilts his head.]

Humans build us. Didn't I tell you that?

[littlecrowgirl]

...Kagerou...

[She stops writing to look up at him, smiling gratefully. She doesn't get tired of hearing that from someone. It's just...been too long.]

Wow...I didn't know that! I thought you were like the others!

[thxforthememories]

... Yes?

[He has to tilt his head to look at her, meeting that smile with confusion.]

No, I'm only AI. Not like the living robots...

[littlecrowgirl]

Nothing. It's just...really sweet of you to say that.

[She tilts her head at the book, making a note of that.]

But you guys are REALLY close.

[thxforthememories]

It's only the truth.

[He shakes his head.]

No... they have souls. Or something like them. They're alive... living beings. I'm not.

[littlecrowgirl]

Do you think...humans can make souls?

[She looks up, pen tapping on the paper.]

[thxforthememories]

No.

[He shakes his head slightly.]

I don't have one. So, I don't think it's possible.

[littlecrowgirl]

Well, let's see.

What do beings with souls do?

[She makes a little chart on the blank sheet of paper.]

[thxforthememories]

I... don't know. Human things?

[Sorry, Kay, he's just that clueless.]

The robots... they fight in wars.

[littlecrowgirl]

Well, let's think. They get happy...sad...

Do you do that?

[thxforthememories]

I... yes. I do.

[littlecrowgirl]

And you get angry and scared?

[thxforthememories]

I... think you know the answer to that.

[littlecrowgirl]

Well, humans with souls have that.

[She starts marking tallies on each side of the chart.]

Everything we have, you seem to have.

[thxforthememories]

But... emotions were part of my programming. All of us were programmed to be able to feel emotion.

I don't think it means I have a soul. Just an advanced AI.