He's gonna change her like a remix, then he'll raise her like a phoenix

[otomechapilot]

(For a second, there's a certain gathering tension in the network. Both bewilderment and fear. It comes to a head in a single, piercing telepathic cry, not quite a scream, over the network.)

Oh my GOD, what did I DO!?

Oh my god I nearly killed Hebe! Is - was Hebe one of ours?! Was Atlas? Athena? Nike?! Kallias!? The manticore!? Doctor whatsisname was definitely one of ours but I just -

Oh god oh god please tell me I didn't kill any of ours.

Comments

[reallymean]

My real name is Allura, not Nike, but I am a Traveler.

If you did kill any of us, they will have come back by now, and you can apologize for what you did while you weren't yourself. It's one of the more unfortunate side effects of Infiltrating - you don't know who's actually an ally.

[otomechapilot]

Yeah I really wish Don Orlea had mentioned that part when I asked him what was going on.

...answered everything I asked him, but didn't mention anything else, now that I think about it.

So, uh. Even if that wasn't you, thanks for... for everything.

[reallymean]

I've never met him, but I would guess that if you confronted him about it, he'd say he didn't think to warn you because you didn't ask.

Thank you. You were a good friend to...to her.

[otomechapilot]

...no, you've gotta be right cause that's the most Foolish thing I've heard since I got here - and I heard about the Goat Of War in the council. Or she did. Or - is this what dreaming is like for people who don't Pilot?

If it's okay with you I'd like to be your friend too. ...forcing it won't work, but, just throwing it out there.

[reallymean]

I think I'd like that too.

...I wouldn't say it's exactly like dreaming, but it does feel that way sometimes. Don't you dream?

[otomechapilot]

Yeah, but dreams for me are more like liminal space, and I remember them after. It's one of the reasons I...

...one of the reasons I should tell you about ANIMa Pilots when we get the chance, huh.

[reallymean]

[There's something naggingly familiar about that, and so she's silent for a moment before replying.]

I'd love to hear about it - and about your world - once we've both had a chance to rest.

[otomechapilot]

I promise to.

...I am probably going to live at the Aiya when I'm not sleeping at the Workshop. That's a good place to meet me.

[reallymean]

I'll look for you there, then.

[Once she figures out where 'there' is. Her last stay in Liminal Space had only left her so much time to explore.]