boxofkururu | raised by noble blood

raised by noble blood

[ Patrol.

Patrol.

The Sons were still waiting for the Sands, and it was night. Nero had left them - his deep glow had kept them awake before, and he could protect them. Ripping apart Gigas and luring away elementals.

Holding himself tall, Nero had just finished off another Gigas, their blood fresh on one of the floating hands around him. (Why bother fixing his own hands when these could be installed? Garlemald had done this, and Nero enjoyed that Cid had given him new hands.)

But even from the light red glow from his body, Nero could sense more movement. In a moment, he had rushed over--

--and moved to pin the one who'd appeared, eyes narrowed. This wasn't another common monster. ]

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Nero…?

[He's seen people get like this, and- he doesn't entirely understand it, but it makes him surer they should get away. Hells- he doesn't know how to handle this, not by himself…]

We're both automatons. It's only natural. [he watches Amon and his device, gripping Nero a little tighter. What does that do…?]

[ ...Yes. You are automation, aren't you? ]

[ Amon then sent a screaming sound from his machine, connecting to the two automation.

...And it suddenly felt like the two were elsewhere. A virtual reality mixed with a memory? It's during the second rise of Allag... and there's Nero, standing slightly behind Amon.

Amon looked jovial, even as he put on his proudest look - even going maskless. On his other side, there's an Ascian - or, at the two would see, simply a black-cloaked man. ] ...Why should Omega Weapon be the one who assists us? We are stronger then that automation - and my latest creation shall prove that.

Forward, Theta WEAPON.

[ Nero stepped forward, softly. He was dressed in noble clothes, but his core was still visible - and his expression was dire. ]

Crafted from the core of one of Omegas' children, Theta WEAPON is unique, in that they have free will. They were given a perfect Allagan form - and have the perfect Allagan mind.

Now, Theta shall be taking your questions.

[ But as people yelled questions, the robot - Nero - was quiet. I mean, he seemed to want to run, but Amon scowled. ]

...Or he shall not. This is over.

[ A flicker, it's night now. Amon was standing by Theta WEAPON - but he had some injuries. ]

What are you doing.

...Following you.

You-- failed, Theta. And Omega found out.
Until further notice from me, you will be patrolling up north.

What for?

I don't care-- other machines.

[ The flashback ended, with Amon standing there, the device no longer beeping along. Amon stood looking at them, as he saw that pathetic look on Theta. Even if the robot wanted to strike him, it wouldn't - would it? ]

[He shudders as the sound slams into him, ears flattening against his head, holding on to Nero, a grip that would hurt on flesh-

And suddenly they're somewhere else.

This isn't in the records- and he thinks he understands why, as events unfold before them. Amon's confidence, the man in black, Theta- Nero- remaining silent in the face of a crowd. Amon's pride, hurt in that moment…

It fades, and G'raha shifts forward a little, in front of Nero. It's not a hurt he knows how to deal with, but- at the least, he wants out. Away.]

…and so you dismissed him- like that.

[he pauses, tail flicking, gaze darted back for a moment.]

…well. We shouldn't keep you, then. I'm sure you've more important things to think of than us.

I don't appreciate failures.

[ Amons then says, grabbing for his staff--

--but in a moment, Nero had knocked him down, knocking G'raha to the side a little - oddly gently. His body trembling, as he pinned him. It was but a moment, but now Nero didn't know what to do. His body glowed, and his gaze didn't seem... normal, as he looked back. ]

...Sorry for knocking you out of the way, G'raha. That'll be the only time I apologize to you.

[ He mumbled, still. Pinning Amon. What should he do? ]

Ah-

[G'raha stiffens- just for the instant before Nero knocks him to the side. He watches, a little open-mouthed.

He shakes his head, offering Nero a little bit of a smile.]

Hah- even if it's the only time, I'll take it!

[but he looks to Amon, and his expression turns worried.] … We need the others. I don't know, but- I don't think- we should let him go.

[what if he tells Xande. Or- does something else.] I can try and get them, or- we both could…

...Understood.

[ Nero Scaeva - Theta - is a WEAPON. G'raha knew this, and Amon knows it well - suddenly beginning to squirm.

But only for a moment. For in the next moment, Amon was gone. Nero looked emotionlessly at the ground where there'd been something. Yup, he just destroyed him... just like that.

Before beginning to tremble. ]

W-we. Need to get out of here.

[He knows. He knows, he simply- hasn't been close before. But that's- solved, really. G'raha swallows, and reaches out for Nero's arm.]

Right. You're fine, but- the others need to know. The Tower's active, and Xande… he's trying to bring Voidsent through.

[ Bweeping softly, Nero stood again - up straight. He lets himself be held - why does he want this why is he trembling why does he want to cry? This is what he does. ]

That's right. And I doubt even I could take down a Voidsent that big.

[G'raha makes a few quiet beeps, trying for being reassuring.]

I think you could give it some trouble. If you wanted to. But- I'm sure our adventurer friends would be capable of taking care of it!

[He tugs, lightly.]

Let's go find them.

[ Nero will follow... but... he's softly beeping, trying to comprehend it. ]

...I was a project of Amon.

[G'raha makes little sounds as well as they keep going, keeping an eye as much on Nero as the path ahead.]

… A superior creation to the one they found. But- you're not just that now. Are you?

...'m still a Weapon.
[ He mumbles. But then again, he lets out a little shrug. ] I doubt Amon expected to die by my hand, do you?

That doesn't have to be all you are.

[he snorts.] I doubt it immensely. … But I'd say it served him right.

...We knew each other, didn't we? Before I was turned into this form.

Yes! We'd talked- you were quite curious. And- well, looked different, of course!

Hah - I'm sure I still looked this good.

[ Nero jokes, looking at himself. Goddamnit he's beginning to cry, isn't he. Or do whatever Spoken call it. Pathetic. ]

The world's a beautiful place. Don't see a reason I wouldn't be curious?

I think so!

[He leans in more, tucking an arm around Nero now.]

I don't see a reason either- as I said, I wanted to see more of it.

[ He softly smiles, the passages so familiar. Nero missed this.
...He missed it? ]

And so, when the end came, you weren't at the tower - weren't frozen. How lucky, hm?

[Aside from Amon and Xande, it's… well it is a nice place! G'raha's fond of it, and glad to see it again.]

I suppose so! It was very confusing at the time- suddenly everything seemed to drop out, all the communications to back home…

[ Nero softly sighed, smiling down at G'raha - resisting the urge to scruff his ears. ]

A deafening silence. I still hear the Empire, you know. [ A beat. ] The Garlean Empire.

[Well- they'd be a bit messed up, but it'd still feel nice.

He gives a little worried sound at that, peering up at Nero.]

Just so. Do they… can they hear you, do you think?

[ ...Huh. ]

Hear me? No. Garlond ripped out those circuits - it took him weeks to recover, mind you. But they can probably still...

...track me.

[ He hadn't thought about it. ]

[…fngh.]

Week- they were that deep? [gods above, Cid.]

We should put that next on the list to think about and deal with, then.

A lot of the defenses that Allag and Garlemald put into me haven't been deactivated, G'raha. [ Is there... guilt in his tone? The smallest bit. ] You'd know how stubborn those people can be.

…yes. [Too reluctant to accept any possibility of giving up any secrets, and he tucks against Nero a little more.] I think- at least looking into deactivating that would be good, still.

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