Discovery

[a_linear_mind]

1. [Slightly backdated]

[It's been a while since both Strahlend and Amagahara went missing from the hangar of Fort Alhambra, some reports about a battle breaking out between the two machines was passed around the base. The amount of damage they caused did not go unnoticed and anyone who decides to check out the scene of the battle would find the aftermath of what could only be described as reckless abandon. Both machines were heavily damaged, leaning against each other for support.

At a closer glance, Amagahara's blade can be clearly seen a few inches away from Strahlend's cockpit. Strahlend itself had seemingly impaled it's sister machine, as Quicksilver can be easily . A huge crater surrounds them and everything in a huge radius around the two machines had been completely destroyed. Despite the destruction, a rather large cloud of blue dust and what seems to be glowing cherry blossoms surround the place, restoring the area and machines around them. The view is a rather strange one but it has a strange sense of serenity. Willis himself is sitting on top of Strahlend again, enjoying the scenery while scratching the back of his head.]

I can't believe she's still such a monster...

[2]



[Much later, Willis is over at a secluded corner of Fort Alhambra's hangar with Strahlend, still damaged from it's fight with Amagahara. From the look on his face it was clear that something was bothering him. A few seconds later he raises an arm and a sword similar to Quicksilver forms...in Willis' hand. Even without Willis being in the cockpit of the machine.]

...she's right about that also...then...

[He seems to contemplate something for a second, and then scatters Quicksilver back to it's base nanomachines which surprisingly return to him rather than Strahlend.]

2 out of 3....then that just leaves...

[There's a bit of hesitation from Willis, like he was scared to finish his tests. With a deep breath, Willis gives one last command and parts of his own body begin to break off into the hazy cloud. Specifically, parts of him that had been previous torn apart or crushed to bits. Anything that was previously restored was in reality nanomachines replacing the missing bits rather than rebuilding them.]

...great.

Comments

2

[star_of_sad]

Willis? Are you here, I...

Ahh!

[Setsuko witnesses the cloudification.]

Wh... what are you doing?!

[a_linear_mind]

Setsuko!?

[And at that he...literally pulls himself back together.]

I was just...confirming something.

[star_of_sad]

Confirming? Confirming what?

What... was going on just now?

[a_linear_mind]

Whether I qualify as a human or not I guess.

Turns out I have more in common with the Chimera than I thought...

[He manages to raise a smile but it's more of a sad one.]

Most of my body has actually been the Core Cells acting like regular human parts...probably because I've been under the assumption that I was one.

[star_of_sad]

Is this why you can't die? And... all the other things, too?

I'm not sure I like the implication...

[a_linear_mind]

That seems to be the case.

Well before I thought the reason was because it was rebuilding things I lost, not just...completely replacing them.

...I don't think I qualify as a human being anymore.

[star_of_sad]

You're stil a person though, aren't you? No matter what your body is made of, you're still Willis, aren't you?

[a_linear_mind]

In the end I think that's the only thing I can still be sure about.

1

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Mizuki'd come to see the aftermath of this skirmish. She didn't expect to see, well...]

... That's... certainly something.

[a_linear_mind]

Ah...hey.

[He gives a mischievous wave.]

We might have gone a bit wild.

2)

[tillallareone]

It seems you owe a great deal to that technology Willis.

[For a big guy Optimus could move pretty quietly. Or maybe his footsteps were drowned out by other machines... or even by thought.]

[a_linear_mind]

Probably a bit more than I'd like to admit.

Now I'm beginning to wonder how much of me is still...me.

[The nanomachines cloud continued to float freely around him as if to emphasize this worry.]

[tillallareone]

...

[It was probably difficult for a mechanical species who possibly routinely replace limbs and perhaps even entire bodies should the situation demand it to understand... but then again.]

If it is a matter of feeling whole perhaps one of our allies can provide the technology to rebuild your body. But if it is more than that Willis...

I believe that the most important parts of you are most definitely still you.

1/2

[a_linear_mind]

It's not that...I mean everything still functions the same. If anything I've probably been subconsciously limiting myself because of the assumption that I was just a normal human who was hard to kill.

2/2

[a_linear_mind]

I'd like to think that the same about that though...I sincerely hope that I manage to keep those parts of myself no matter what happens to me.

[tillallareone]

Agreed. I think the universe would be a darker place without your sense of humor.

[There was a goodnatured chuckle from Optimus at that.]

[a_linear_mind]

Ha...I'm sure that you're the first mechanical being that thinks that.

[tillallareone]

And I am sure in both that I will not be the last and that there are many organic beings that feel the same way.

2

[abugslife]

[A certain insect watches this quietly from her hideout. Until now.]

...I suggest putting yourself back together before you suffer from organ failure.

Re: 2

[a_linear_mind]

I don't think I have to worry about that anymore Heph.

[Despite saying that the cloud converges back together into their Core anyways.]

I'm guessing you saw that whole thing then...

[abugslife]

Most of it.

Are you trying to keep it a secret?

[a_linear_mind]

Not really, I was just wondering how long you were standing there watching me.

It's just...a lot to take in on top of everything else that's been going on.

[abugslife]

A body that can at least partially disassemble into a swarm of nanites, and then turn back into its previous form again...

You possess a gift, Willis. You should be proud of it.

[a_linear_mind]

It's a bit hard considering my relationship with them.

They've given me a lot...probably a lot more years of life than I should have gotten but...they've also taken a lot from me...

[abugslife]

Without a doubt. But that has already happen, and cannot be undone. And at the current time, you can use this gift for the betternment of others, and yourself.