Quoted By:
"It's been a journey, hasn't it?"
"So it has. A month or so stretched on what feels like years at this point." The dusty dunes below offer an odd comfort to the both of you. Perhaps the vast emptiness helps both of your minds to decompress and relax.
"Do you ever regret coming along with me, Kiara? Doing the things I ask you to do? Throwing into life or death situations?" You already know the answer. It's more of a formality.
"Without you, I wouldn't have exciting stories to tell. To be blunt, I fucking hated Lapis. Never liked her...but we could agree on one thing."
"That is?"
Her LED eyes glimmer a soft, faint teal. "People are enthralling. Their likes, dislikes, hobbies- Ah, I'm starting to sound like her." A series of high pitched tones chirp out of her voicebox. "They really is enthralling."
"I suppose so." You never really connected well with people outside of your group of allies. The close to 20 associates you know are the only people you care about at the end of the day. Well, and Otto. "I suppose you should thank me for letting you see these people."
"Oh, I believe you misunderstand. The most enthralling person I've met is you." "Again, Kiara, don't flirt with me, I don't swing that way." "Fuck you."
Kiara shakes her head, trying to hold back her laughter. Even Clover, who's been quiet lately, lets out a few polite chortles. "No, but seriously. You are a bizarre, violent and irrepressible anomaly that may never be seen again. You have more powers than 95% of SHIFTers, you're more akin to an anomaly than a SHIFer frankly."
"You somehow keep avoiding death regardless of the missions you get under and no matter how much risk you put yourself in. You would wipe out anyone who got in your way...can you blame me for being enthralled by you? You are the most interesting person I've had the fortune of meeting and following."
You can't tell whether you should blush or not. "Thanks? I'm just doing my job, frankly. So that one day I could..." Be at peace. To have a family. You want to say those words but they die in your throat.
Kiara's teal-tinted LEDs shimmer for a moment. "You don't have to say it outloud. I get the gist."
"I suppose that's why I even humored you at the end of the day. When all I knew about you was that you were a schizophrenic mess. You had potential, a story to tell. And I'm glad I could be part of it."
A small genuine smile crosses your face. "It was nice having you along too. I can almost feel the end approaching. Perhaps only the middle. Who knows?"
"Who knows indeed." An electronic sigh exits the robot like exhaust from a vent. "I'll promise to remember you no matter what happens."
"Pft. You say that like I'm going to die."
"Who said anything about that? I know what fate is more likely for you."
>+ALL SEEING LEDS to Kiara.
Kiara's eyes sudden flash red. "Uh oh. I think we should go. Now."
You check to see what she's looking at. Faintly over the horizon- Oh. <span class="mu-r">OH THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE ON HORSEBACK.</span>
