Rebirth ~ Māra

[an_emulated_mind]

1-[The announcement]

"...So, um, I've got some good news, and some not-very good news."
Doomstar, of all people, is making an announcement for Sakihama base.
"Good news: Jen's fork is up and running. I set her up this morning, and we've been going over recent events and helping her pick out an appearance for her body. Other news is...well, she beat me up, stole my wallet and car keys, then jumped out a third-story window and escaped. Her sense of self is still very fragile, and I don't know that she's entirely stable, either. So if you can find her...please return her safely. With my car!"

2-[The escapee]
Elsewhere in Sakihama, a blonde woman with red eyes lounges about. Atop a moving car, in traffic. As the car she's on slows down for a turn, she hops off, rolling into a crouch as though it were the most natural thing in the world. From there, she walks past a sweets store and manages to filch some anpan from the tray out front. She tosses it in the air, catching it in her mouth like a trained circus animal and quickly gobbling it down.


"...Nifty! So I can eat food, or at least a little bit. That's nice! Though the taste is bland..."

Comments

2

[pulledplug]

Woah, where you gettin' off on this crap?!?

[Stealing food like that? Not cool! But the law's coming in action, courtesy of the Roybot!]

And a freaking joyride on top of everything else?!?

Re: 2

[an_emulated_mind]

Oh, hey there. Don't worry, I'll pay them back once I've got money.

And what's wrong with the joyride? It's not like I'm banging up their car or anything.

[pulledplug]

Well, first I think you've got money from what Doomstar said, and two just...

You're doin' all this without even going "hey everyone! I'm Jen's 'fork'!"?

[an_emulated_mind]

Oh, so she called in the hounds...Well, I think I'm legally property for right now, so this money is for emergencies until I can get at my inheritance.

And, I wanted to explore the world in my own way, get a handle on how my body works-then meet everyone. If I went around saying hello right after I woke up I'd have been bald, you know.

[pulledplug]

Lady, you're nobody's property and I'll have some words for anyone who says anything otherwise and a whole lotta punches for anyone who tries to force it that way...

... But that's no excuse for being a dirty thief and for first impression's you're really gonna be blowin' it with a ton of people for doing this. You know what I mean?

[an_emulated_mind]

Thanks, but I think I'll ask for legal counsel from a professional.

And who are you to complain about first impressions? You went looking for me before I was ready, while I'm still testing my limits.

2

[stupidhonor]

[The announcement lured Sielje out. She's not sure what she's going to do, but she knows where to go - just follow the trail of dishonorable behavior!]

There you are... the appearance is different, but I cannot be mistaken!

Re: 2

[an_emulated_mind]

Sielje!

[and, with no further warning-the gynoid gives Sielje a hug.]

It's good to see you. Did you come looking for me?

[stupidhonor]

Uhm, yes. I did.

[Sielje looks awkward, being hugged like that.]

Please do not cause trouble...

[an_emulated_mind]

Right, right. I'll keep trouble to a minimum.

[She lets go, patting Sielje on the back.]

I'm sure you have a lot of questions. Feel free to ask away.

[stupidhonor]

I appreciate it.

Yes. So...

[The really hard part begins now.]

How much do you remember?

[an_emulated_mind]

[Ah yes. The part Gwen had been avoiding.]

...Most of it, I think? The few days before Jen's...disappearance, those are blank-there wasn't a backup from then.

It's-it's weird. The person in my memories, I don't really understand her, or why she'd do certain things...

...I remember you, though.

[stupidhonor]

Yes. This is because, you are not her. You have her memories, but you are a person of your own.

[Suddenly, Sielje's gut clenches. Keep an open mind no matter Jen's appearance... she has a really bad feeling about what she might have meant.]

...

We... should talk elsewhere...

[an_emulated_mind]

Somewhere we can sit down, right? Makes sense.

[Soon enough Gwen leads them to a small cafe, where she sips a coffee-and makes a face, putting it aside.]

...So. Should you go first, or should I?

[stupidhonor]

Indeed. I brought money, just in case...

[Sielje sits down but she doesn't feel like drinking anything. Not even a sweet chocolate drink.]

W-well. I think I will.

But you know most of it already, do you not? You remember what Jen did.

You do not know what happened in the last few days because Jen... was not around. There was a very hard battle. She is... lost.

[an_emulated_mind]

I wouldn't be around if she was well, would I?
[There is a hint of amusement in the gynoid's voice, a tinge of dark humor.]

You have a question about your relationship with her, don't you? Let's hear it.

[stupidhonor]

I am not certain. She may still be...

[Sielje's voice trails off. She sounds obviously doubtful, trying her hardest to cling to last shreds of hope.]

I... I do not, actually.

You know how the two of us were. You have her memories after all.

But you are your own person. You are not Jen. I will not ask you to be.

1/2

[an_emulated_mind]

...Ah.

[That...was not the answer she was planning for.]

That's true, but...How to put it...

[Gwen takes a deep breath before she speaks up again.]

I'm not entirely like Jen, I know. That proposal, for example...I don't understand it. But I'm not entirely different from her, either.

2/2

[an_emulated_mind]

[Gwen smiles, and reaches across the table to rest a hand on Sielje's.]

And, I still have feelings for you.

People have been trying to make sure I'm not forced into anything since before I was made, but if I've got a choice, can't I make this one?

I understand if you want to wait. But, if you'll accept me, I'd like to be with you.

[stupidhonor]

[Sielje's gaze turns away. This feels so much like Jen, that she can't look.]

I cannot...

I cannot give you an answer. Not right now.

[an_emulated_mind]

That's...that's alright.

[Gwen sighs and sits back in her chair-pulling her hand off Sielje's as she does so.]

Things have happened pretty fast, haven't they? If you need some time...take it.

[stupidhonor]

[Sielje nods sadly. She doesn't really have anything else to add.]

1)

[mechasaurusrex]

...Me Grimlock not surprised.

[The Dinobot folds his massive arms.]

Cannot promise anything about car. Where think she go?

Re: 1)

[an_emulated_mind]

I don't know! Usually I'd guess some super-expensive restaurants or escort services, but Gwenhif..Gwenhy...Gwen is an entirely new being! She could do anything!

...Oh! My car has a tracking device in it as part of my parole. Maybe you could use that to help find her.

[mechasaurusrex]

Unless she send car into lake. But will see.

[Grimlock seems surprisingly unconcerned. Perhaps he's trusting Jen's fork to be relatively not too crazy? Either way the Dinobot's going to get a move on and see if he can track Gwen down.]

Stay here. Will see if any problems. If anything broken. Your fault.

[an_emulated_mind]

Hey, don't go blaming me! I'm a victim here too, you know!

[Still, it's not like she has any way of keeping grimlock around while she rails at him. And it is easy enough to get access to the car's tracking information. As it turns out, Gwen didn't drive it into a lake.

She did, however, drive it into a bay.]

[mechasaurusrex]

[That... was not that surprising at all. It was unlikely that Gwen would have remained close to said car, but it still meant they had a good area to narrow the search down to.]

Victim that needs new car unless want pull from water. Will have people search for Jen Fork.

[And of course Grimlock and the Dinobots would probably go on the lookout themselves. Though it probably wouldn't be very successful for them. Giant robot dinosaurs do not good detectives make.]

2)

[not_a_prize]

[Incidentally Peola, Ourania, Salwah and Monika were wandering close by. Peola was off Security Rotation so she decided to have a day out with the crew as it were. Imagine the sheer coincidence that they bump into a certain fork.]

Hey!

[Cue one Princess quickly dashing over to Gwen with a somewhat concerned look.]

I'm pretty sure that tray isn't for free samples... how about you go pay for it?

Re: 2)

[an_emulated_mind]

[Gwen's eyes gleam with a cold light as she brushes Peola's hand off her shoulder.]

Relax, Peola. I'm not in the habit of forgetting to pay my debts.

Let a girl have some fun, will you?

[not_a_prize]

Wha-?

[Which... earned a rather surprised look from Peola. Normally she'd get some kind of read with such close contact... Gwen gave off nothing. Not even a hint. The fact that she knew Peola's name was also pretty off-putting.]

How do you know my nam- ACK!

[Peola would quickly find herself being pulled over by her sister who gave Gwen a polite wave.]



"Could you wait there for just a while please?"

[The fork would find the small group of aliens having a quick discussion.]



"I don't see what the problem is, she's just a thief right? I mean a bunch of people would know the Princess' name by now."

[Peola rubs her neck casting Gwen an unsure look.]

There's something really weird about this person... I couldn't feel a thing from her...

"What? So she doesn't have a soul-?"



"Salwah! Don't go saying things like that! Honestly... you didn't even apologize to... sometimes you're just so... rude!"

[The Magl songstress gives her scarred friend a rather unhappy look, putting her foot down with surprising force. Salwah raised her hands defensively... though any excuse was cut off by a musing from the younger princess.]



"She could just have a lot of mechanical parts. That usually makes things harder."

[That being said Ourania simply looks over to Gwen and gives her a friendly wave.]

"Its not really any of our business. If you're so concerned anyway sister you could just pay for what she just ate and then talk to her.

[an_emulated_mind]

Heeeey~! It's rude to talk about someone behind their back-especially right in front of them!

[This would be a good chance to explain things. Or, on the other hand, trolling. So Salwah is on the receiving end of a surprise hug from behind, complete with creepy whispering.]

After all, I came all the way back from hell to meet you again...You really should be nicer.

[not_a_prize]

[Gwen did not get a startled shriek or frantic flailing. She did however have Salwah freeze in place like a deer in the headlights because that line coupled with the fact that she could not feel a thing from the fork freaked her out to the point booting fight or flight out of the window and replaced it with 'TERRIFIED INTERNAL SCREAMING'... otherwise known as Calvin's 3rd most common expression. Peola had a look of absolute shock on her face, Monika covered her mouth as her eyes went wide. Ourania... did not have that much interaction with Jen... but given her love of trolling she had a feeling this was a con.]



"Was it fire and brimstone like a lot of the books and movies on Earth say or is it more like frozen wasteland filled with eternally trapped souls that can never escape from the ice like in Magnolys version of a sinner's underworld?"

[That being said however she wasn't going to ruin someone else's fun and simply decides to roll with it. Salwah lets out a very high pitched noise that could almost be a whimper of terror. The words manage to have Peola finally get out of her shocked state... though it wasn't to chastise her sister on the commentary.]



...Jen? Is it really you?

[an_emulated_mind]

Not quite. It was more like a restaurant with just, the worst service. And the only appetizer was ash! It's good to be out.

[She smiles and gives Salwah a kiss on the cheek, before Peola speaks up.]

Not exactly right. But not exactly wrong, either. Gwenhwyfar Jen二 Douglas, at your service.

[It is at this point that poor Salwah is released from the abomination's grasp.]

I'll be more formally joining the unity group soon, so we should be seeing a lot of each other.

2

[lostamigo]

Showing off the new body, are we?

Re: 2

[an_emulated_mind]

Yep! What do you think, do you like it?

[Gwen does a small spin around, letting Daniel see all parts of her.]

I spent a long time picking all of it out. Hey, touch my skin, it's just like the real thing!

[lostamigo]

I'll pass. Don't have much of a sense of touch. Even on hands.

[Daniel raises a metallic hand to demonstrate.]

What happened to Doomstar's car? It's not the one you just rode on.

[an_emulated_mind]

...Let's not sweat the little things, shall we?

The important thing is, I'm here.

[lostamigo]

She won't be happy. Well, your problem, not mine.

...Your memory. It's all right now? You know well who you are, nothing fuzzy or weird?