[mingle] the space (january).

[fracturamods]

interim mingle

( WELCOME BACK, TRAVELERS. )

There's nothing but the clatter of train tracks, and the odd feeling of almost floating.

When you wake, it's hard to tell exactly what it is that you're missing - only that you are. There are pieces that aren't quite right, even if you're not sure where those pieces would normally be. Pieces of what, exactly....? Well, if you had to put a word to it, it would be - yourself, probably. Or did you get something back recently?

The place you've found yourself in is strange, certainly. It's probably worth exploring a bit. Though it just as easily seems that the only form of welcome or explanation that you have, comes from nothing more than a slab of marble. It might've changed since the last time you saw it.

You might have changed since the last time you saw yourself too - perhaps with a new emblem on your clothes, or a portrait on your skin.

There's no need to fret that much though. You've already gone through the ordeal once, and you might be able to see results from it. Even so, it's best that you don't get too comfortable, because there is still the unshakeable feeling:

There's still much more ahead of you.

Comments

[decryptic]

Well... it's a little complicated. Used to be that I could backup my personal data on a big old satellite in space. If I got blown up, my most recent instance of data would just get uploaded into a new body, and I'd only lose the memories that happened in the interim. It isn't ideal, but its better than going kaput entirely.

[ 9S is probably worse about self-preservation than most other androids, but it's also part of what makes him a good support unit. ]

Still, I probably have a pretty different outlook on those kinds of injuries than you humans do... unless you figured out a way to regrow limbs and such?

[rateup]

Nope. Just some slow-ass regeneration through scabs and bedrest. But who knows what the future will bring, you know?

[ 2018 isn't much, but things really have changed a lot since the start of the decade. ]

I forgot to introduce myself, didn't I. It's Chigasaki Itaru. Uh, Itaru's my given name, in case your database missed that. [ since he's encountered some people from ancient china who observe different naming conventions than him. he's been mindful of it ever since. ]

[decryptic]

Understood. Japanese, right? I actually have experience with the language. I spent some time in the region.

[ Not that he had to speak it, but as a unit made for information retrieval, it made sense for him to have the language on file. ]

[rateup]

Oh? Were you there one a mission?

[decryptic]

[ 9S blinks from behind his goggles. Maybe Itaru understands androids even better than expected... which would put him in an interesting place on the timeline of human history as 9S understands it. ]

Got it in one. Recon, mostly. Can I ask what your experience is with androids, sir?

[rateup]

Oh, we have our own android back home... Kind of. He's gone through some character development of his own, so now he's trying to adapt the concept of human emotions. You know, typical coming-of-age stuff when it comes to robots.

[ even though Guy is probably much older than the rest of them... he's a cool dude, ultimately. ]

Still, for an android you seem pretty human yourself. I mean that as a good thing, of course.

[decryptic]

[ This is. So puzzling. There's a typical coming-of-age narrative for robots? He's never thought about how humans might have portrayed fictional A.I.... ]

Well, sure. We were intentionally made to be like you. I'm pretty sure I have more than a few years on your android, too. I come from 11945 A.D.

[rateup]

That far off, huh.

[ a beat. ]

...Does that mean the human race has been replaced by you guys?

[ poor 9s is going to have so many questions about how fictional robots have been portrayed in two-thousand-LATE-een ]

[decryptic]

[ jesus that pun ]

We weren't trying to replace you. It just kind of ended up... happening. Oh, but I really am grateful to be able to meet you all. It was every android's dream to see humanity safe and sound.

[rateup]

[ oh......... for some reason, that really got to him. there's a possibility that 9s might have come from an alternate version of a doomed earth anyway, but that doesn't stop itaru's features to soften with a smile. ]

Mm, I'm grateful too. And we won't let you down while we're all here, Nines.

[decryptic]

[ 9S twitches in surprise. He hasn't told anyone here about his erstwhile nickname, so 2B would've been the only person who knew it. Maybe it was just a whim of Itaru's to call him that. Either way, it's a jolt to 9S's system. ]

Er... Right. I know you won't, sir.