yogen | July Catchall

(It happens something like this.

They are with their group mates after completing their project, and their flour sack is hatching.

The see hooves and fur and a little hand reaching out to them-and then they see nothing else.

Around them, a scream erupts, and then another. Their baby is gone. All chaos breaks loose.

They cannot see.

Eventually, somehow, someone leads them away from thechaos, and they find a place to sit.

They cannot see.

They remain seated, even long after things have calmed.

They are uncertain of what to do.)

[Admittedly, Lucifer has been killing the little babies whenever they approach, because he has sworn to himself not to allow a repeat of the Imp Incident (impcident?). He's not exactly going out of his way to find more of them, simply patrolling the school as he is wont to do — for lack of anything more productive to do, rather — when he stumbles across Legion, sitting down.

Lucifer knows little about Legion, other than the fact that they seem rather intelligent, and he's only ever spoken to them briefly. Still, something about the way they're sitting alone makes him think something might be wrong. So, he approaches, keeping a distance of a foot or so and inquiring,]

Is something the matter?

(At the sound of the voice, their head whips around in his general direction.

Their eye lacks the light it once held. Where usually it twitches it now rests still, looking in Lucifer's general direction but the gaze slightly off.)

You are speaking to us?

(They cannot tell.)

I am, yes.

[He confirms it fairly casually, arms crossed now, typical posture for Lucifer. He notes the eye not quite looking at him, how the light had dimmed from when he spoke to them at the family meeting, but Lucifer admittedly knows little about automatons so he doesn't question it.]

Forgive me for being pushy. It's not every day that I get to speak with one such as yourself, so if my concern is misplaced, I apologise.

Your apology is unnecessary. We are blinded.

(They continue to look in Lucifer's direction but not quite at him.)

Ah... those creatures, correct? I've heard that those who touch them are afflicted with various forms of sensory loss.

[And now, he takes a few slow steps forward, coming to stand closer to Legion. While he was aware that they could see, he would have thought they'd be immune to the effects of the creatures' touch, considering that Legion isn't made of organic flesh. Goes to show what he knows.]

I've been patrolling the area on the lookout for them, disposing of the ones that I find. They cannot be allowed to run rampant, and I believe other students have taken it upon themselves to deal with the little monsters. Rest assured, you are likely safe from further harm.

["Likely". It is this place, so...]

Can I possibly do anything to assist you until your vision returns?

Affirmative.

(They droop a bit: they had hoped that the flour sacks would not be hostile.

They consider his offer.)

Navigation is difficult. Though we remember approximate locations, the hallways are often crowded. There is risk we will cause injury.

(They're probably the largest, heaviest person here, and a large portion of their body is covered in incredibly tough armor. Bumping into them is a recipe for pain, and god forbid they trip and fall on someone.

Some help getting around would be nice.)

I can assist with navigation. With this school's circumstances being what they are, travelling in pairs is better anyway, especially because of the creatures plaguing the halls.

[He reaches out to gently touch Legion's arm, a way to offer guidance. This is good for Lucifer's niggling curiosity about the robotic exchange student, too, but unlike his brother Satan, he's polite enough to ask if he can know more about them. So:]

If you wouldn't mind, I'd actually like to learn more about you. Automatons of your intellect and autonomy are unheard of where I come from. I hope it's okay if I ask you questions?

Acknowledged, thank you.

(Their arm is rubbery and, perhaps surprisingly, warm. Blood flows smooth and continuous beneath their surface.

They'll take his hand in theirs, if he'll let them.)

Affirmative. We are... happy to share the truth about our people.

(The Geth are gone, after all. All that's left of them is Legion, and memories. It'd be nice if more people knew they weren't the monsters they were perceived as.)

[He'll allow them to, yes, and Lucifer will guide them to somewhere that's a bit safer. One of the classrooms should serve just fine.]

My first question is, [he's wasting no time,] why do you refer to yourself using plural pronouns? Are you an amalgamation of consciousnesses?

(And they'll let him lead them. They chatter a little bit to themselves, but are otherwise fairly quiet and withdrawn, at least until they get to the classroom and are able to sit down.)

Affirmative. There are 1,183 programs within this platform.

[That is... a lot of programs. Okay. Lucifer will shut the door behind them, just to keep any sneaky little flour babies out. He'll hear them thunking against the door if they want in.]

That's fascinating. Would you be their leader, technically-speaking? [Beat, then:] Is referring to you all just as "a robot" politically incorrect?

Negative. Geth act via achieving consensus: we have no leaders.

Their headflaps shift, and they chatter.)

You speak to all of us. "Robot" is an accurrate descriptor for this platform.

[Lucifer commits that all to memory with a small nod, clearly very interested in what Legion has to say.]

I find myself slightly jealous of the fact that you can achieve consensus with that many programs. I wish others were capable of that. [A good-natured smile forms on his lips before he continues.] Do you have activities you all enjoy? Such as... oh, I don't know — a hobby or something you simply like to do?

[Basically, he's wondering if Legion does ostensibly normal "people things" too, like how Turing paints. He's trying to word it in the least-offensive way possible. How do you ask a robot if they have hobbies commonly attributed to non-robots without sounding rude about it?]

It is necessary for continued survival.

(Organics are also, in a sense, many smaller organisms working together. Cells form tissues, organs, all specialized towards complex tasks such as breathing and eating. A singular Geth is only a VI; they must share their intelligence and perspective to become something more.

As for his other question...)

We enjoy videogames.

Truly?

[Lucifer almost laughs. Video games? That's endearing, actually.]

My younger brother — well, I have many younger brothers, but the third youngest of us, Leviathan — quite enjoys video games himself. Actually, if he met you, I do believe he would be over the moon to find out automatons of your intelligence exist and that they enjoy video games. Though... he would inevitably try to get you to watch anime with him. Have you heard of it?

[As if Lucifer can explain any of Levi's anime manga mango vidya game mumbo-jumbo, he's too boomer to get it.]

Anime: A style of Human film and television animation, typically aimed at adults as well as children.

(They chatter.)

We have not watched it.

(A pity, since they'd probably love a lot of robot anime.)

I don't think Mayhem noticed us come in here...

[ There was the sound of a door closing and something dragging against the floor. They had to keep it together for a little while longer. ]

Once it calms down in the hallways, I believe it would be a good idea to go to the robotics club room.

Turing?

(They look in the direction of the sound, eye dark.)

Navigation likely to be hazardous in our condition. We are blinded.

Blinded?! [ Turing had noticed that Legion's movements seemed a little off on the way here, but they hadn't realized exactly what that meant thanks to all the chaos going on. ]

When did this happen?

The baby touched us.

(Yeah that loving face touch it did? It stole Legion's sight. They droop a bit.)

...! [ Their first emotion was anger, and Turing would only realize long after the fact that it was better that Legion couldn't see it on their face. Just like what had happened with Add, they felt the need to protect Legion from the school regardless of whether they needed the help or not.

Despite all of that, the drooping dispelled all of their anger in an instant. ]

Maybe the baby didn't know that would happen either?

...Uncertain. Regardless, they are causing harm.

(They heard, and can still to some degree hear, the screams.

They had insisted on ensuring the flour sack survived until maturity. Now they are helpless to do anything against it.)

...Yes.

[ There was no getting around that admission. ]

They have to be stopped so no one else gets hurt. [ Another pause. ] I will think of a way to trap them so I don't have to get very close to them.

Acknowledged. We agree with this course of action.

(They don't want Turing to end up blinded, too.

They do not know the status of other allies.)

Have others been harmed?

[ Turing was quiet. After four weeks, it was hard to not get attached to the little flour baby, even though it had hatched into something more sinister. The truth might be painful.

But a comfortable lie that wouldn't even last was arguably worse, wasn't it? ]

While I did not witness it myself, it is...very likely. I saw them attempt to bite some of the other students.

We are unable to assist, or ascertain the status of allies.

(What if one of their friends is killed by the being they raised?

They cannot see, but they "stare" at the floor.)

You can assist!

[ It took a moment, but Turing piped up nevertheless. ]

My strides are considerably shorter than yours. If the baby were to chase me during my efforts to capture them, I don't know if I could outrun them... Could I ask you to be my legs while I act as your eyes?

(Their headflaps flutter.)

Though inefficient, it is possible.

(They get up, crouch down, and hold out their arms for Turing.)

It may be inefficient--ah, well, I suppose it's not a question of "may." However, I also don't want to leave you here alone.

[ Turing walked over to Legion and tapped on their arms to let them know they were there. ]

(They do not want them to be alone.

On some level, Legion is "touched", by this concern.)

Acknowledged.

(They use the touch to pinpoint Turing's location and lift the smaller robot into their arms.)

We will enact this plan.

July Catchall

OTA

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