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 Yuuta has been...not depressed, but a little withdrawn in his grief the last two month since Deckard never returned.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!!*

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.*

*Dumpson has been settling in with Wing.  He’s out today to pick up some things they need when a big hand taps his shoulder.  When he turns around he’ll find himself looking at a man piloting a giant robot.*

Man: Excuse me, I must ask, is your name by chance, Dumpson?

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.

Kendra: *peeking around DB at the fox, back enough to not get bitten if the animal does get hostile. She meets the fox's gaze.* Can you talk?

Zeirik: Don't be silly. Animals can't talk.

Jerrin: *normally he'd say the same, but this is /his sister/ asking, and so he's studying the fox.*

Fox: *lifts its head and glances around but then won't look at anyone.*

DB: *looks down at the fox . . . shifts his hold to pick him up and hold him at eye level, checking him out*  Uh . . . do you?  Talk?

PJ: *claps the back of his head*  Drill Boy!  Like Zeirik said, don't be stupid.

DB: *ducks from him*  Hey!

Fox: *soft whine at being moved, ears flattening when DB asks...and is struck for it........ * ....yes. *the answer is soft, but DB, Kendra, and perhaps PJ will hear.*

PJ: *jaw goes /slack/, optics bright*

DB:  Ha!  I was right!  *looks at Kendra*  /You/ were right.  *to PJ, triumphant*  We were right!  *cradles the fox back into his lap, looking pleased*

Dmps: *frowning over at them*   Right about what?

DB: *points at the fox*  He talks!

GM:  *been standing at the edge of the clearing, but right everyone's making so much noise, standing guard is almost pointless, so he crosses to get a closer look*  Last I heard, animals don't talk, Drill Boy.  Not even on /this/ world.

DB:  Yeah, well, they said the same thing about Deckard, didn’t they?  "That's impossible, robots aren't intelligent, they can't talk!"  But he does.  We all do.

PJ: *to the fox*  What's your name?

Fox: *voice soft, strained with pain, but louder so he can be heard.* Kemen.

Kendra: */beams/ up at DB.*

Inami: *wow...but she needs to prepare these medicines...*

DB: Kemen . . . pleased to meet you.  I'm-

Dmps:  Kemen, who hurt you and tied you to that tree?  And why?

DB: *gives Dmps a dirty look for the first instant at being interrupted, but that's forgotten when the questions register, looks down at Kemen for the answer*

Kemen: ...Demons. They needed no reason. Though as I'm Inriomai, I am an enemy.

Dmps: ………demons?  This close?

*The Braves all exchange looks, even DB /serious/.  There's no need for discussion – they'll step up their security measures.*

Inami: Demons....they.... *frowns* And were they planning to come back for you?

Kemen: I don't know.

Inami: .... Drill Boy, Dumpson. Where did you find him? How close to the den?

Dmps: *tells her*

Inami: *frowns.....* I think we should head back to my den.  It’s smaller, but farther from where those demons will be searching, farther from there than this place.  ...I hope Terris decides this is a good move, else we’ll have nowhere to go...

Jimn: *grins at each.* It's a pleasure to meet you all. This is my friend, Aren. What brings you here?

Aren: *smiles and nods.*

Mitham: We want to see if this is really a safe place for our family.

Jimn: *nods* Then allow me to be your guide.

*And again, the Braves will sort of "fall back", following Terris and Mitham in subconscious sort of guard positions.*

*Being evening, people are home and cooking.  Children are running about, laughing and playing. When they spot the bots, the group will find a gaggle of children around them, touching and asking questions. Everything from what they are, and what they eat, to what they like to do and will they come play?*

*The Braves are…a /bit/ bewildered and uncertain.  They'll answer questions easily enough, though they apologize, they're on duty right now and can't play.  But go have fun for them, they'll keep watch.*

*Will they come back? Are they moving in? Can they play later?*

Mitham: *is /grinning/!* Making friends, guys?

Dkd: */sheepish/*  S-sorry . . . we got waylaid.  *will motion for his teammates to come with him and catch back up*

Mitham: *laughs* Don't apologize. Make friends.  It's a good thing.

McC: …we're on duty at the moment.  *aren't they?*

Mitham: *looks around.....and kind of glances at Terris* I think we’re safe here....

Terris: *nods* We are safe here...

Mitham: .......*shifts and gets up on his knees, and will get Deckard to sit up enough for Mitham to HUG him.* There will be.  The numb will go away, and I'll be here for you when it does.

Deckard: ............... *hugs back, but then looks at him*  Why? *not suspicious, not doubtful, just...an honest, almost /innocent/ question*

Mitham: ....Because I wish someone would have been there for me, when the numb went away.  No one should have to grieve alone....

Deckard: *finally /looks/ at him*  You've . . . lost someone?  I-I'm sorry... *for Mitham's loss...and that he's so focused on himself, he shouldn't be, he's got people to protect...starts to push everything down as he moves to climb to his feet*

Mitham: *catches his hand to keep him there* Couple years ago now.  ...Don't go back yet... *he just...wants to sit with Deckard.  He feels like he can connect with the bot...*

Deckard: ...........my team's probably looking for me. I shouldn't have left them. *though he makes no move to pull away*

Mitham: They know you needed time to yourself.

Deckard: .................. *sits back down, looking defeated*  I've failed.  I'd sworn I would protect Yuuta with everything I have.  I . . . I couldn't protect him.  He was killed . . . we couldn't stop it.  It's my job to lead the others and keep them safe.  I'm the team head, but I . . . I-I don't know what to do anymore. *and that...that frightens him, especially with everyone he's ever relied on taken from him*

Mitham: *studies him a moment* .......I don't know Yuuta, so I don't know what he'd say, but....if he really loved you the way it sounds like he did, he'd want to to enjoy your life, to find a reason to keep going, to learn new things, experience new things, and remember him fondly, always. Do that, and I'm /positive/ you'll make him proud.

Deckard: .........we were built for one thing.  /I/ was built for one thing.  I don't know how to do anything else.  I don't /want/ to do anything else.  Even when I was given the chance, I choose to remain a police officer.  Even the others . . . they went off to pursue other things, but they all wound up coming back.  *never mind that it all wound up being a dream, it felt real at the time so they really did do what they did, in a sense*  But here . . . never mind that the laws don't protect /us/ - they didn't back home either.  But . . . slavery?  /Killing/ a child just because of her parents?  Abusing people, especially children, instead of caring for them?  I just . . . I . . . I can't . . . I /can't/ defend that!

Mitham: Then don’t.  We can start our own place, our own city, and bring people there that would be hurt or killed.  They’ll be under your protection, and no one will dare do them harm.  I’m not saying to rush into town and take all the salves, but there are so many people we can help, we can keep safe, give them a second chance at life! *such high hopes...he doesn’t know the first thing about surviving on his own, not.../really/.  He can steal and raid garbage piles, but....but Terris does....and Inami, they’d teach people how to farm, and maybe they can get animals to raise, and make houses, and all of that....right?* We can do it...together.  All of us.

Kendra: *studying Dumpson's face, she'll reach out and touch his cheek, giving him a smile.* You'll keep us safe. *and she puts her head on his shoulder*

Jerrin: *gapes!*

Dmps: *chuckles and pats her head, brushing the back of her hair*  "You're a sweet girl, kiddo." *looks at Jerrin, mild frown of confusion*  "Is everything okay?"

DB: *glancing around for the possible source of trouble Jerrin's staring at*

Jerrin: *sees them glancing around and goes from gaping to amused and sheepish.* Yeah, she definitely sees something special about you two.

Dmps: *has no idea what Jerrin's just said, just smiles*  "It's all right.  She's no trouble at all."  *he frowns a bit again as he looks around*  "We should probably get moving, though.  See if we can find the nearest city or . . . " *or what, he wasn't really sure*

DB: "Maybe Deckard and the others are here too.  We should look for the rest of the team."

Dmps: *nods*  "Good idea.  I'll stay with these two.  You do an aerial sweep, let me know if you can see anything nearby."

DB: *salutes!*"Roger!" *steps back a few feet, transforms, and /takes/ off for the skies*

Kendra: Ah! *startled? amazed?  It’s hard to tell.  She watches DB go, hugging a little closer to Dumpson.*

Jerrin: *gaping again, this time after DB*

*In the Decker Room, the team's been debriefed on the situation before the two ninjas arrive.  When they walk in, the team stands…and at Deckard's signal, salutes in unison.*

Kage: *stands awkwardly to the side and just behind Maru, wings quivering softly with nerves.* *he'll give them a bow, rather than a salute* I am glad for the opportunity to meet everyone, and ask your forgiveness for previous encounters.

Saejima: *quietly*  Brave Police… *unspoken "at ease" – the group relaxes from the salute – he steps forward, standing at the edge of the dais*  Kagerou . . . if anything, I think it's we who owe /you/ an apology.  …/I/ owe you an apology.  Nobody fully understands how Super AIs work or what all is possible with you.  But if anyone should have known better than to handle things the way they were back then, it's me.  We've all learned better . . . in part thanks to you.  Can you forgive /us/?

Deckard:  *nods*  Commissioner Saejima is right.  You were poorly handled from all angles.  I can't say how /any/ of us would have handled what you faced, if we would have been any better.  I'm sorry you were wronged as you were.  */bows/*

*McC, PJ, and Dmps do as well.  After an instant's hesitation, DB does too just because his brothers are.  GM and Duke are…kinda staying out of it, though they're watching.*

Kage: *kind of...looks around at all of them...finally, softly.* There is nothing to forgive. *he turns to Saejima* I hope that my return can be a further source of learning of what our Super AI's are capable of. *he doesn't even have an AI chip like the others now. Zero used some kind of chip to house his spirit, but it's not an AI chip so much as a conduit holding his soul.*

Saejima:  Agreed.  Will you let Chief Toudou go over your systems, Kagerou?

Kage: *nods* Yes, sir. Though...I will say now, they will not be as he expects.

Saejima: *glances at Maru – he's already been told the ninja was rebuilt by an /alien/ robot*  I'm sure he'll be eager to discuss the differences with you.

Kage: *nods again* Yes, sir. *will look at Maru, and will either follow his brother or head for the maintenance bay...at least he's assuming Toudou-san is already here and waiting to see him. When he sees the engineer he'll give the man a small bow* Toudou-san.

Maru: *will go with him*

Toudou: *turns from his work, looking up as the two ninjas approach*  Kagerou… *eyes wet, looks like a father who's prodigal son has returned, aggrieved and /happy/ at the same time*

Kage: */affected/ but the expression on the man’s face.  He....hesitates, and then steps up and kneels, very carefully resting a finger on the man’s shoulder...and then gives him a small, warm smile.*