un: unitA2 (voice)

[abandonware]

[The voice that filters through has the gruff, raspy edge of someone who hasn't spoken in a while.]

I need intel on the monsters on the outskirts. I'll kill them in exchange.

[After a moment:] There's something else that I need. A cloak. It needs to - [an irritated sigh, and in a mutter:] how do I explain this - to be able to offset high temperatures. A heat sink. It'll increase my functionality.

I can do something in return. That's all.

Comments

text; un: kingofzaun

[howyouseit]

A heat resistant cloak? Sounds feasible enough I'd just have to find a suitable material that is capable of withstanding extreme temperatures here in Aldrip.

Perhaps the hide from one of these supposed monsters but I'm afraid I cannot help much on that front having limited knowledge about the flora and wildlife here since returning without my prior memories of this place.

voice forever over here

[abandonware]

Oh. It's you again.

[The username makes her huff, more exasperated than anything else. She almost asks if he's allowed to speak to her, but decides to focus on her task instead of socializing.]

Not only heat resistant. It needs to cycle heat out of my body and redistribute it so that I don't overheat.

I'm going to kill the monsters. If there's something that can be used, then I'll relay the information.

[...]

You've been here before?

[howyouseit]

Nice way to greet the person who saved you from turning into an ice cube, A2.

[He's teasing. Mostly.]

I see. So not only must it be able to resist the heat with exudes out from your person but repurpose it to keep your core temperature to sustainable levels. This shouldn't be too difficult I've had to deal with similar properties for my hoverboard so it's engine bay does not overheat.

Yeah that's right. I didn't retain any of my memories prior to arriving but some have been slowly returning to me over the course of time.

un: ecophagy

[nobetawedielike]

A clothing-based heat sink... It's different, but I may be able to make something for you, if I can get the tools.

Please be careful. The monsters sound pretty dangerous.

[abandonware]

Hm.

If you can help... I'd appreciate it.

I see. That's that same thing that weird girl who made the guide mentioned. She must have been talking about people like you. Wonder how often that happens.

[abandonware]

Ah. Beta.

Me and Pod can work on acquisition of tools. And I'll be fine. I'm asking for intel to know what I'm up against.

[nobetawedielike]

I'll get together a list for you, then.

Did something happen?

[abandonware]

Thank you.

No. Nothing happened.

[She hesitates before speaking.]

It's only... my function is combat. I can clear threats from the area.

[nobetawedielike]

[ hm, wow, is this what it feels like for other people when she talks about having a function? it's presumably normal an android would have one, but... ]

Do you like fighting?

[abandonware]

[This question is a mirror of what Heimerdinger had asked her. But the dreams have left her emotions scattered, exposed too much of her.]

It doesn't matter if I like it or not. It's my designation. I was designed-

[Her hands clench, unclench.]

Designed to kill machines. Just because they aren't here doesn't mean there aren't threats.

[nobetawedielike]

But you don't have to do it if you don't want to. No one will make you. That's one of the nice things about being free.

@sakura

[cupidsammo]

You're going to go after those monsters? But some of them are really dangerous!

voice; un: spartan

[melnik]

[ The deep, Slavic accented voice that answers has a solemn intrigue to it, seemingly prepared to offer more information dependent on the response. ]

If killing them is simply a bonus, then why do you ask?

voice | un: user010102

[computation]

[ Root's voice sounds bright and curious. Computer senses tingling!! ]

A heat sink, huh? What're you doing putting off so much heat?

[abandonware]

[Oh... the winged girl. She recognizes her voice.]

That means they'll be a good challenge. I'll be fine. I'm meant to fight.

[abandonware]

I want to know what I'll be up against. I've never fought organic enemies before.

[abandonware]

[An interesting username.

Accustomed to curiosity by now, A2 answers frankly.]

I'm an android. My core temperature's higher than a human's, so I can overheat in battle.

[abandonware]

[Freedom? In a machine's simulation for her? It should be laughable, that she had achieved the thing that her more noble sisters had died without ever being able to grasp, and all at the whim of one of their enemies. But it isn't funny to her.

A family. A name. Peace. These were all things that had belonged to the ones who died for her. But as for her? She was a ghost. A failure. A traitorous deserter. She didn't deserve any of this, even if it was fake.]

This isn't freedom. It's just some screwed-up machine's simulation. And if I'm stuck in it, I can at least be useful. What I want isn't important.

[computation]

It looks like you got a few other offers, but if none of them pan out, let me know. I'm sure we could make you something at STEM club.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear all about being an android.

[abandonware]

STEM club... oh, right. The science nerds. Got it. I'll let you know.

I'm a combat android. Designed by other androids [the humans seemed to find this particular note fascinating, for some reason] to fight in a war against machines.

[Another voice pipes up, more clipped and mechanical than her own.]

Unit A2 specializes in close range weaponry and battle tactics. This Pod is assigned to assist Unit A2 in field operations.

What are you butting in for?

Negative. This Pod is not "butting in." Unit A2's descriptions were inadequate.

Ohhh-kayyy. Smartass.

[nobetawedielike]

[ it takes her a moment to respond, caught off-guard. ]

I think what you want is very important.

[abandonware]

[Despite being a programmed tool, a living weapon, A2 knows when she's said something upsetting. She often did this on purpose — another method used to force others to detach from her. But it didn't mean she enjoyed it. It didn't mean she didn't feel bad about it.]

... Look, I-

[She swallows audibly. Her tone is more subdued when she speaks again. Softer. Ashamed.] You don't know me. You don't know the things I've done. If this is some kind of freedom, then... I don't deserve it. It's better for me to fight.

audio; un: grimreaper666

[rebellions]

[ Ah. There she is. He probably owes her an explanation (and an apology) after the whole dream fiasco, but frankly, he doesn't want to think about it or deal with it in any way, shape or form! So he'll just choose to ignore it, for now. ]

Still looking for that tourist information, huh?

[ Of course he can't just offer what she's asking for without being a snarky asshole about it first. That would be dangerously close to being nice. ]

Nothing too dangerous or exciting, really. [ For him, maybe. ] Some mutated plants with teeth, mushroom crossed with jellyfish, stone gargoyles or whatever the heck they all are. Nothing a good swing of a sword can't handle.

[ Will those descriptions do anything for her? Chances are the answer is no, but it's genuinely the best he can offer. He's bad at this "helping" thing, in case you couldn't tell. ]

... There are some birds that can spit fire. Maybe their feathers are heat-resistant? That's just a guess, though.

[nobetawedielike]

[ if A2 was a human, Beta likely would have left the conversation. She's skittish, and easily thrown off when she senses rejection of any kind.

but she can't help but feel for A2. as a human raised like a tool, she felt lost and confused about her path moving forward enough. for an artificial intelligence designed as a combat tool... ]

Why should you have to deserve it?

private.

[abandonware]

I-

[The sudden swell of guilt that overtakes her almost makes her cut the conversation short. It would be easy. Could just forget all of this. Drop this device somewhere and wander to the limits of this pace. But...

A memory, then: of 2B. How she had dragged herself across the ruined expanse of their world and sought her out.

She switches the feed to private.]

Because my-

People died for me, so I could live. And I failed them. Because I killed others who didn't deserve to die.

If anyone should be here, it should be them.