It's so crowded in here

*Meanwhile, school is just getting out. Yuuta has been...not depressed, but a little withdrawn in his grief the last two month since Deckard never returned. He /has/ returned to work, refusing to abandon the rest of the team, but he seems so....worn right now. He looks worn has he steps out and looks to see who came to drive him to the office today.*

Yuuta: *gives Maru a bright grin, the BP always bring a little life back to his eyes.* Shadowmaru! Hey! *waves and jogs towards the ninja.*

Maru: *kneels and offers his hands* Boss, I'm here to take you to the precinct. The commissioner is arranging a meeting with a pair of aliens who are coming for a brief visit. *there's something in his tone that should tell Yuuta he's holding something back…and for a bit of a mischievous reason*

Yuuta: *nearly comments that he knows Maru is there to take him to the precinct, but the ninjabot doesn't stop at that. He climbs easily into Maru's hand, giving him a curious look.* Aliens? Did they say why they're here? *he'd be nervous and worried were it not for the look on Maru's face....what aren't you saying?*

Maru: They did. They have a guest they're bringing home. *and he can't contain it any longer* Boss . . . it's Deckard. He's okay. He's coming home!

Yuuta: */freezes/ at "bringing home" and then lets out a /cry/ at Deckard's name!* H-he's okay? He's really okay?! *tears pouring down his cheeks even as he grins up at Maru* Deckard is home?!

Maru: *GRINNING* Not yet, but he will be. They're still a ways out yet. But yes, he's really okay. His comm call came in through the Decker Room.

Yuuta: Then let's go! *delighted laugh, trying and failing to scrub tears from his eyes.*

Maru: Yes, sir! *will get Yuuta into his cockpit as he transforms and flies back for the precinct*

Yuuta: *bounds into the Decker room* Guys! *he's so excited!*

*Unfortunately, he won't get to talk to Deckard yet. A landing has been determined and so Deckard has hung up so the ship /can/ land.*

Saejima: *grins* Yuuta-kun! We were just waiting for you to arrive. Let's go meet Deckard!

Yuuta: Yes! *SOOOO READY TO GO!!*

*They’ll head out to the landing sight and it doesn’t take long to see the massive ship coming in.  It feel like it takes forever for it to land!  And when it does it feels like another forever before a door opens and a ramp drops down.  And there’s Deckard!  Zero gives him a light push to go out first.*

Yuuta: DECKARD!! *it comes out a HAPPY SOB!!*

Maximus: *sitting in a room not too far in where DB comes in. DB will definitely spot him. If DB is quiet about entering, he may manage to catch Max doodling on a big tablet with a painter program.*

DB: *initially tries to sneak by the room, still kind of wanting to be left alone, but…then he gets a glimpse of what Max is doing, and he finds himself slipping /into/ the room rather than past it* Oh! You can draw?

Maximus: *startled yelp, fumbling the pad as he stands to turn and face DB...the look on his face is like he was just goosed.* Uhhhh......y-yeah. *lets out a buzz, looking sheepish.* Don't tell anyone.

DB: *confused frown* Why not? That's neat. None of /us/ ever drew. Actually . . . we really didn't do much but work. And sometimes watch TV or play games when there was time. Though I guess it makes sense that we could draw and stuff if we wanted. *approaches, reaching for the pad* Hey, show me what you've done?

Maximus: *because it'll destroy his tough guy reputation....he lets out a huff and holds out the pad. He's not bad!*

DB: *looks through them* Wow . . . these are really good. *honest!*

Maximus: *WOULD BE BLUSHING IF HE COULD!!* ...thanks...

DB: *hands back the pad* How'd you learn to draw? Can I learn too?

Maximus: *shrugs* Online videos. And probably, if you wanted to. *dammit DB, he's never told anyone this before.* Always wanted to learn, just...never had a chance before this place...

DB: …………. *gaze falls* Yeah . . . we never really had time for much either, even . . .well, before.

Maximus: .......So take the time now. ......I'll show you a few things....if you want, of course.

DB: Ah . . . sure . . . *kinda boggling at the thought*

Maximus: *smirks...feels they're even now. He'll sit DB down and let him play on the data pad, showing him a few how-to vids and how to use the program.*

DB: *is like a little kid!*

Maximus:  *......feeling like a proud big brother watching his little brother learn something new....dammit kid, he doesn’t want to bond like this....it’s unmanly...*

DB: *won't really hear the exchange between them - Yuuta approaches and he /darts/ off the other way, only to be lunged at (okay, maybe not) by CFN-139 - with a /yelp/, he ducks and spins away, stumbling back into a corner* DON'T TOUCH ME! 139, what the hell are you even /doing/ here!?  We're supposed to capture these people and destroy this place. /You/ people just fight and destroy everything! YOU'RE THE REAL MONSTERS! */sobs/ and sinks down to curl up behind his knees* I-I don't understand! What's going on!?

Maximus: *foot /stomps/ down in front of Drill Boy, but he doesn't touch the bot* My /name/ is Maximus, Drill Boy. And I'm here because these people /freed/ me from "Mother" just like they just freed you. Think, kid, /listen/, I can /hear/ the Hameln song playing now, can't you? They've realized you're gone and are trying to make you come back...is it /working/, hm?

DB: */YELPS/ at the stomp, head slamming back into the wall as he looks up, optics bright . . . he looks at the door, around the room, at the engineers, at Yuuta, finally back up at Maximus*  H-how? Mothe-…F-fahrzeug embedded that slave circuit in /all/ Fahrzeugronnes…

Maximus: *smirks* They removed it. *taps a finger to Drill Boy's forehead.* The part that left us at their mercy whenever that song plays, anyway. So unless you /choose/ to hurt these people, or do something stupid in your panic to not hurt them, you're not going to end up forced to just attack them.

Yuuta: *steps up, touching Max's ankle, just a gesture of thanks for...getting DB to calm down to listen.* You're going to be okay, Drill Boy. Promise. *he'll try moving to DB again, hands out as though /wanting/ to touch the Brave*

DB: *chin tucks, shying from the tap, but doesn't otherwise resist, gaze locked on the Chieftain... gaze shifts to Yuuta . . . then he tucks back behind his knees with another sob* I-I'm sorry, Boss. I’m sorry…I'm sorry…

Yuuta: Shhh.  Shhh, it’s not your fault.  *he HUGS DB’s ankle as best he can*  You don’t need to apologize to me.  Hey.  Hey, Drill Boy, look at me, please? *has pulled back enough to look up at him*

Crim: *gives DB a weak smile* Hello, Drill Boy.

DB: Well . . . help you get her repaired, anyway. We'll deal with the Wraith. *gives her a grin and salute* Drill Boy, Brave Police. Pleased to meet you, miss.

Crim: It's nice to meet you. Didn't expect anyone l-like us here.

Zero: *shrugs* Neither did I.

DB: */grins/* You're lucky I found you! *never mind technically Zero found DB, not the other way around* There's only a dozen of us at all! Eight on my team and four in England. *frowns* There were also those Chieftains, but they were /really/ bad news, so we had to destroy them. They were built from a stolen prototype, but they were completely evil.

Zero: I guess it's our luck the Wraith landed here. As I said, we could use the help. *and yet feels so bad involving them....but it's /their/ world if he and Crim fail, they have every right to take part in this.*

DB: No problem. The Brave Police were built to deal with the threats that normal human police aren't strong enough to handle.

Terris: *still all praises for him, and when his lifts a dripping DB from the tub, he'll smile and softly touch DB's shoulder* Well, not just a little boy under the dirt, but a handsome one at that. Can I get a smile?

DB: *gives him a grin, pleased at all the praise – see, he's a good boy, really!  Mama would be proud…*

Terris: */smiles/* And you have a wonderful smile. I hope to see it often. Let's get you dressed. *will pick up one set of clothes Maru bought and help DB get dressed.* How does that feel?

DB: *looks up in surprise*  It . . . it doesn't!  *he doesn't really know "soft" in terms of clothes, just that it's not baggy or scratchy or full of grit or insects or something*

Terris: *chuckles* Is that a good thing? You like them?

DB:  Yeah . . . they don't make me itch.

Terris: Good. We certainly don't want that. How are you feeling? Are you tired, or would you like to start learning your letters? *that's also a hint to Maru and Kage that it's time for school.*

DB: *looks tired, but…*  Learn? *interested!*

Terris: Mn. *nods* We'll do a little bit today. *motions for him to join the older two at the table. He'll get Kage and Maru set with something to work on, then will sit by DB to start teaching him.*

DB: *fascinated!*

Terris: *will keep things as engaging as possible....but it's been an exhausting day for DB. So when he starts nodding off, Terris will close the book.* I think we're done for today.

DB:  N-no!  No, I'm good, I'm good.  *sits himself back up – thinks this is his only time, so he wants to learn as much as possible*

Terris: *brushes a hand over his head* It's okay, Drill Boy. We'll do more tomorrow, but you're tired now, and won't remember as much if you keep trying to learn right now.

DB:  We will?  You promise?

Terris: I promise.

DB: *grins*  Okay.  *and with that . . . HUGE YAWN*

Terris: *chuckles* Go crawl into bed, Drill Boy.

DB: M'kay… *looks around the room . . . goes and crawls /under/ the bed, shoving himself back against the wall and curling up*

Terris: That's not in bed, silly.

Wes: *hears the knock. He's always up early. So he and whoever is on last watch will hear the knock. He'll head for the door.*

Duke: You mean once you've /brainwashed/ me with your own demonic rhetoric, you sadistic heathen.  *takes the caning with /growls/ and cries, but there's still fire in his gaze as he focuses on the one torturing him . . . at the last, he /spits/ at the man and snarls that the only demon is the one he's looking at . . . by the time he's taken to what he recognizes as a med room, he's all but spent, only giving the medic a weakened /glare/ when he comes in*

Maru: *is the one on watch, /stiffens/ at the knock, watches Wes leave…*

Wes: *checks on both young men, notes that Duke is a new face here. He softly touches Duke's head and then will shift his attention to Duke's shoulders.* Your shoulders are dislocated. I'm going to pop the joints back into place. *will get a piece of wood wrapped in gauze and hold it by Duke's mouth* To help you brace, this will hurt a lot.

Duke: ……… *turns his face away, refusing the wood – for all he knows, the gauze has been medicated with something*

Wes: ...*nods and will set it aside and get a grip on Duke's arm, with a /yank/ and a twist, his shoulder will /snap/ back into place. He'll step around to do the other, then settle a towel over his lower body for some modesty while he sees to Gray, as Gray's wounds are worse.*

Duke: *CRIES out at the first arm . . . GRUNTS, breathing in /snorting/ huffs at the second . . . a-and lays there, not even caring about his nudity right now, will roll his head to watch the man take care of Gray*

Wes: *quick, efficient, and gentle as he cares for Gray. When he's done the other gray men will take Gray into the room. Wes returns to Duke and is just as quick, efficient, and gentle with getting him treated and bandaged up.*

Deckard – son of a constable and an officer.  His parents were murdered for botching a job of a notorious assassins guild.  He was claimed by the guild at the age of 15 and spent the next 2 years of his life with them.  They taught him many things, trying to corrupt the “cops kid”.

Duke – son of an upper class family.  Strict, proper, perhaps not around too much because of business (ambassadors maybe?).  Like Deckard his parents were killed and then he was claimed by the guild...few months after Deckard was.  They've been there about the same amount of time.

McC, PJ, Dumpson, DB - McC is the eldest at 17.  PJ and Dumpson are fraternal twins, both 15, and DB is the youngest at 13.  Pregnancy was hard on their mother, and she died in child birth when DB was born.  She should never have survived having one child, let alone four, it's a miracle any of the boys were born.  When McC was 8 (PJ/Dumpson 6 and DB 4) their father abandoned them. They were scooped up by the guild, always looking for young recruits.  They'd been with the guild for 7 years when they escaped with Duke and Deckard.

Kage and Maru - Mirrored Identical Twins.  They're both 16, and have been with the guild the longest.  Their mother was part of the guild...though not by choice.  She sheltered her sons as best she could.  They learned, and learned very well, but she was also able to instill morals into her boys.  They're good people, and they knew their mother hated the guild and so when she died (beaten to death by another member because she wouldn't just let him rape her) they determined to leave, just as they knew their mother would want.

Gunmax – ran afoul of the guild all on his own, after being orphaned at a young age. He got roped in – “either join us or we have our way with you (torture/kill).”  Well...much as he hated it, he wasn't stupid. But he also knows he can't trust /anyone/ . . . Deckard and the others have had to /earn/ his trust and it was HARD WON.

Ages: Deckard – 18, Duke – 18, McC – 17, Kage/Maru – 16, PJ/Dumpson – 15, GM – 15, DB – 13

*The brave band of young men has been moving from town to town for the last year.  They get by how they can..../honestly/.  They will help out, a band of vigilante heroes at times...and others they’ll take odd jobs and do street performances.  They’re not above panhandling now and then when they’re desperate, but Deckard and Duke are definitely big influences on keeping them honest.  They...don’t tend to stay in one place for long.  They always draw attention eventually, and when someone finds out that one of them is a “trained assassin”...they’re all forced to flee or face execution.*

*Today has proved to be a BAD DAY for all of them.  Doing a small performance for whatever coins people might spare, the whole lot of them were snatched up, arrested, and moved into cells.  DB, SM, and PJ are in the same hall.  They’re in separate cells but they can at least talk to each other.  They’ve had everything taken from them, pockets emptied....for now, at least, there’s no getting out.*

Maru: *almost doesn't dare believe . . . j-just . . . studies Kage, torn between EMBRACING him a-and…walking away before he can be hurt by the deception…*

Kage: *trembling faintly. Afraid Maru will turn away in disbelief, /aching/ to close the distance and hold his brother. His voice is soft, it's the only way he can speak with /static/ choking his voice.* It's really me, brother. I remember the time we hid the engineering team's tool kits, *a smile twitches his lips* so we could finish a movie uninterrupted. It didn't work. And I...I remember you on the submarine, ready to go down with what was left of me, but I wanted you to live... I watched over you...for so long after that, a shadow in truth then. *he manages to pull his gaze from Maru to look at DB for a moment.* I saw so much that happened...the friends you made. *he give DB a grateful little smile, then looks back at Maru.* Until the last three years. I was frustrated, I couldn't help you, and then I realized someone could see me. I-it was the hardest choice I made, leaving you. I couldn't do anything for you, and I...saw possibility. Starscream could see me, he could hear me, when no one else for decades had been able to. He found one of the AI chips originally used for all of us, and was able to...to download me into it. *he shrugs, not sure he gets well enough what Stars did to be able to explain it.* After that he rebuilt my body based on the designs I gave him, and I've spent the last year hoping to find you again. *a brief pause and then he reaches a hand towards Maru, hopeful and longing.* It really is me.

Maru: *gaping at him the whole time – if /nothing/ else convinces him, it's…it's the comment about hiding the engineers' tools that one time, practically /nobody/ but them and the few who'd been around that night knew about that . . . finally he sways a bit, catching himself against the door jamb*  K-kagerou . . . *voice /broken/ with static*

Deckard: */grinning/ . . . if Kage doesn't move on his own, he'll give the ninja's shoulder a light push*

Kage: *it does take a light push, and then he's to Maru, arms /tight/ around his brother. He's shaking softly, and the faint sound of something like a sob will escape him.* Shadowmaru. I'm so sorry.

Maru: *a faint squawk of surprise is the only protest before he's HUGGING back, static like sobs scratching from his vocalizer*  Oh, /gods/ . . . Kagerou . . . you're /back/!  You're really back . . . */sobbing/ as much as a robot can*

Kage: I'm back. I'm really back. I'm sorry I left you. I won't leave again. *murmuring the same sort of things over and over.* I love you. *finally goes quiet and just /clings/.*

Maru: *face buried against Kage's shoulder*  I failed you . . . I'm so sorry . . . I failed . . . I-I should have…s-should . . . */buzzes/ and falls quiet too, /clinging/ and trembling*

DB: ………….. *a little worried, to be honest, shifts over to Deckard*  Are they going to be okay?

Deckard: *wraps an arm around him, snugging him close*  Yes, I think so.

DB: *settles easily against Deckard*

Kage: *shakes his head, and will finally push Mari away enough to look at him.* No. /You/ never failed me. What happened was /not/ your fault. So many things went wrong, /you/ are not responsible for that, or for the choices I made, or the choices the board had decided for us, or what /anyone/ else did. /You/. Did not. Fail. Me. *gripping Maru's shoulders and...will pull him back into a /hug/*

Maru: *has lived with that guilt and grief for FAR too long to just accept that, plus still stinging from and processing the failure to protect and rescue DB . . . j-just . . . just keens softly, CLINGING to Kage*

Deckard: *softly rubbing his back*  Will you share with me?

Mitham: *face in his hands.* Just...nightmares. *swallows.* I have nightmares often. U-usually of when my parents died, or some of the masters I've had. After I found Shaila, they would often be of failing her, not being able to keep her safe, or even of my second master getting hold of her. *that makes him shudder....and he can't yet make himself say what last night's were all about.*

Deckard: …………….I'm sorry.  *not sure if he should press for more current details or not*

Mitham: ...*soft huff that might be a sob.* I can't...lose you. Not like that. N-not to those /things/. You have no idea what they'd do to you if they caught you. *he can imagine, even if he doesn't know*

Deckard: *quietly*  Better me than you, or anyone else here.  I can be rebuilt. *will catch Mitham's chin, getting the boy to look up at him*  You can't.

Mitham: *meets his gaze, tears in his eyes* Can you, though?  Here? 

Kage: Sirrah-sama can fix us, Mini Boss.  So long as our super AI’s are intact.

Mitham: ........*he curls forward, top of his head thumping lightly to Deckard’s chest.*

Mitham: *will pull a blanket off a bed and end up snuggled up to one of the bots at the edge of the pile sometime in the night*

*Rest is fitful for the bots. They wake each other inadvertently with twitches and soft, distressed buzzes, and soothe each other back down.  Mitham winds up back-to-back with McC, who at one point is making soft, choked sounds almost like crying.*

Mitham: *turns over and wraps his arm up over McC, like he's done for Shaila so many times*

*That actually wakes him, and the realization there's something behind him, /right/ behind him, has him shifting over to look before he can catch himself, optics bright in the blackness . . . and he calms, offering a faint smile.*

McC: Is everything all right?

Mitham: *McC actually waking and sitting up wakes Mitham fully. He gasps softly and sits up to look at McC* Yeah. M'fine. Are you okay?

McC: I'm fine.  Why aren't you in bed?  *concerned*

Mitham: I am. *bed is wherever he ends up sleeping...*

McC: *confused*  No, you're not.  Where's Shaila? *climbs up to a knee, scanning the room visually and with some of his sensors, counting and reading heat signatures*

Mitham: Yes I am. I'm with you guys. *yawns and lies back down* Snuggled up with Zeirik.

McC: ……….Mitham, the floor is no place for a child to sleep, not when there are much better options.  You're not on the streets anymore. *just…trying to look out for him – it's /really/ not right for Mitham to be on the floor like this*

Mitham: *shrugs* I'm used to the floor. I'm fine, McCrane. *looks up at the bot*

McC: …………………. *nods and resettles – hard to tell if he doesn't argue further because Mitham insists he's fine and he is…or if it's something else*

Mitham: .....*he puts out a hand a rests it on McCrane* ....It's okay to argue with me, you know? I know you're just looking out for me, and I know I'm not always going to be right.