I can never come up with good titles (backdated to the beginning of September)

[forwearemany]

Who: Legion and you! (+closed prompt for Faust)
What: Maintenance and repairs
When: Beginning of september
Where: Legion's house on islet 2
Warnings: ...Damaged and busted robots? If there's anything worse than that it'll be mentioned in the thread.

A) Self repair (OTA)

(For anyone who decides to stop by Legion's house today, they will find two Geth; one being the robot everyone knows and loves ... and the other being that same robot's corpse.

When the Drifter's shadow killed them so many months ago, they saved their remains to use to repair themselves should they ever need it.

Now, apparently, is that time.)

B) Gun repair (Faust only)

(And while they're at it, once they finish fixing themselves, they decide to work on the Widow. Carefully, they take the gun from it's usual spot in their house and unfold it, before gently beginning to work on cleaning and maintenance. They get pretty absorbed by this task: they won't notice that anyone is approaching, or even standing in their doorway, at least not at first.

It's probably more than a little disconcerting, seeing them lovingly caring for an absolutely massive gun like that.)

Comments

[forwearemany]

Yes.

(They headtilt as they watch the Drifter examining the tools.)

You are unfamiliar?

(It seems strange, considering how ubiquitous tools like these are in technological societies.)

[hyperlit]

with some

[They were never a mechanic, after all. Never had to build anything. They can learn; they're certain they can learn. It's just...a lot, to start with.]

[forwearemany]

(Their headflaps ripple. After a moment, they point at the wirecutter.)

It is used to cut wires.

(Then they point at the soldering iron.)

Though its primary purpose is soldering, we use it for welding polymer.

(They proceed to explain several others, including: a tool used entirely for grabbing small parts in hard to access places, the different heads of the multi bit screwdriver, the smaller ordinary screwdrivers, and a thing that sort of resembles some kind of tether but is actually for the purpose of ensuring that the static electricity inherent to bodies composed of organic material does not damage vital components. They won't be needing the last one this time: they aren't working with anything that easily damaged.)

[hyperlit]

[The Drifter listens carefully, though they do pause to input notes here and again. If they are to assist, it would not do to forget any of the most vital pieces of information imparted to them.]

have done this often

[Or at least, Legion must known their way around it. The fact that they're handling their own body doesn't seem to bother them, but then, death is a fleeting constant.]

[The Drifter has had to loot their own corpse as well.]

[forwearemany]

We would not survive otherwise.

(Geth must repair and maintain themselves, after all.)

[hyperlit]

with your dead?

[Perhaps insensitive to ask. But...every species has its dead. And every species handles those final rites differently.]

[forwearemany]

(They chatter.)

Recycling is the most common method of platform disposal.

(Their headflaps ripple, and their eye stills its usual twitching, staring off into the distance, as they gather their thoughts in their attempt to explain what comes next.)

Additionally, damage or destruction of platforms did not necessarily equate to death.

[hyperlit]

recycling

[That's a word for it that they hadn't considered. The Drifter looks back down at the leg indicated by Legion, and slowly starts to set about trying to disassemble it. Their work is slow, but careful.]

merely a container
for the soul

[forwearemany]

It is resource efficient. Additionally, as most polymers do not easily degrade over time, it prevents clutter and pollution.

(They'll work alongside the Drifter, using gestures and occasionally signs to help guide them through the process.)

Yes. Our programs are capable of uploading themselves to servers, other platforms. In addition, backups were kept.

(They don't even pause in their work as they say this. It is simple for them to do both at once.)

[hyperlit]

keep backups here?

[Would that save them time and effort, in case memories are lost again?]

[forwearemany]

We cannot.

(There are no servers, no extranet, and no collective.)

[hyperlit]

cannot store in body?

[This body, that is. The dead one. Maybe it doesn't have any of the important bits, but it would have once, right?]

[forwearemany]

The required components were damaged.

(When the Drifter's shadow shot them, they hit something vital.)

[hyperlit]

[...ah.]

[The Drifter lowers their head. Returns to their work.]

understood

[forwearemany]

(They watch the Drifter for a moment. This time, they pause before speaking.)

Drifter?

[hyperlit]

[What are they to say? Whatever they say will be insufficient. Words are insufficient. They cannot mend or alleviate the damage that has already been caused, months prior. The aid they venture now is a poor substitute.]

cannot fix

[forwearemany]

(They chatter softly as they stare at their friend.)

You did not murder us.

[hyperlit]

a piece who did

[Their Shadow didn't spring from nothing. It was a manifestation of something they never wanted to face, and it hurt others just as harshly as the Drifter could.]

[forwearemany]

And many that did not.

(They continue to focus all their attention on the Drifter.)

You are a good ally to us.

[hyperlit]

[They find that assertion...debatable. But who are they to contest it? That isn't their expertise, their job. Someone passes judgment. They accept it. It seldom matters if it is correct or not.]

[Regrets do not change anything. They do not change anything.]

will not allow it to happen again

[forwearemany]

(It is partially a matter of perspective anyway. The Drifter is unquestionably a better ally than the people they fought alongside in their home universe.)

Acknowledged.

(Their headflaps ripple.)

Manifestations of your "shadow" appear to be unacknowledged fears, hurts, and desires becoming redirected toward allies, primarily in the form of aggression.

Suggest acknowledgement.

[hyperlit]

it has been acknowledged

[Acknowledgment does not fix it. They were able to do away with their other half, eventually. It was only...too late to mend all that it had wrought.]

does not erase hurt

[forwearemany]

(The Drifter has steadfastly refused to admit fear at any point, as far as they're aware, but where has arguing gotten them?

It is possible that the Drifter has acknowledged more than they know.)

Yes. The past is immutable. However, with acknowledgement, there is opportunity for hurts to heal over time.

[hyperlit]

do not have time

[They tap at the center of their chest. They're still dying, after all, just slower than before.]

[forwearemany]

Your time may be limited, but that does not mean healing cannot occur.

(And perhaps there is more that can be said there, but something has occurred to them.)

Query.