"Rogue? Can I talk to you?" The Gargoyle looked up, and blinked when Mockingjay took a seat on the bench beside him.
"Sure, what's wrong kiddo?" He asked, instantly noting that her frame was hunched slightly, and she kept looking over at Raven who was talking to Jinx about something.
"I'm worried about Raven. She's acting differently from how she did during the war and during the viruses' tirade through the caste. I'm worried about her, she isn't usually so… Angry." Mockingjay explained softly. Rogue gave her a look, obviously not believing her before looking over at Raven herself. While he personally had never met her until he was released from his pod, he had heard rumors that she acted nothing like an actual princess should.
But, he also knew the rumor about Raven and Mockingjay practically growing up together in Broken Covert, a forest only lower caste bots could navigate without their wings breaking. It was a forest that used to be filled with most of the organic wildlife of Galexia. However, the rebellion and war did a number of a lot of the species, and the lower caste.
"What makes you say something is wrong? She's a Phoenix. They have tempers worse than yenta herself, and our current situation isn't exactly one to be calm about." He said, watching her scowl at him and wring her hands together. The metal screeched slightly, but other than that didn't make much noise.
"Raven never uses her temper. It's never had a reason to flare up- ever. Not even when I had been captured by Roc and nearly experimented on. If it weren't for Raven and my creator I would…" Rogue watched Mockingjay shudder, but frowned anyway. Being a Roc experiment was nothing new. However, the fact they went after an /Angel/ of all things was a little surprising. Even if Mockingjay HAD grown up in the lower castes.
"War and wandering the stars alone for millions of year's changes people 'jay. Raven's acting like a typical Phoenix- if not much more reserved. You worry too much." He huffed. She made a sound of protest, but left without another word of complaint.
While the thought was in his head, Rogue took a moment to look Raven over. She seemed fine. But that didn't mean that Mockingjay's worries weren't irrelevant.
It was times like this Rogue wished a Sphinx had taken the Alicorn's place. The tactician family always seemed to know what was going on before anyone else.
But there wasn't. There was only Rogue, and a few other youngsters in their small group of survivors.
He'd have to keep and optic on Raven himself, and keep up the facade that Mockingjay was just over worrying.
"Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?"
"Jay,"
"In the lane, snow is glistening'!"
"Mockingjay!"
"She's not gonna stop Raven. It's a beautiful site!"
"We're happy tonight!" Raven deadpanned at the insistent looks from Lycidae and Mockingjay, but downloaded the lyrics as their plane rumbled and shook.
"Walking in a winter wonderland~" Both cheered happily when Raven sung. The soft, melodic vocals gaining Jinx's attention as she came over blinking.
"Gone away, is the blue bird." Raven sung next, smiling and giggling when Mockingjay jumped on the next part.
"Here to stay is the new bird!"
"He sings a love song,"
"As we go along,"
"Walking in a winter wonderland."The three sung in unison, laughing in a break as Jinx smiled and leaned on the crate they were surrounding.
"What on Galexia are you singing?" She asked, looking between the three.
"Christmas songs! Apparently Christmas whatever that is, is in a few weeksand I found this one off the internet. It's a nice song!" Mockingjay chirped beaming. Raven laughed at Jinx's face, but grinned when she seemed to download the lyrics.
"... In the meadow we can build a snowman," She sung now, her voice much higher than Mockingjay's, and Raven's, but she didn't seem to enjoy singing too loudly.
"And pretend that he is Parson Brown!" Mockingjay sung, her voice carrying over the sound of the jets around them.
"He'll say are you married," Lycidae joined in, his voice a deep, smooth bass sound that could easily harmonize with Mockingjay's.
"We'll say no man." Jinx added in, smiling as Raven laughed took the last part.
"But you can do the job when you're in town." Raven's voice had a range of high and low notes, hitting each perfectly and easily changing herself the harmonize with her friends as they joined in on the chorus.
"Sleigh bells ringing', Are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening, A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, Walking in a winter wonderland~!"
"Must you make that infernal racket?" The group paused, and Mockingjay glared at Peregrine as he made his way over and glared at them all.
"Must you rain on our celebration with your infernal ego?" She snapped back glaring at him.
"Come on Peregrine, let them have their carols." Gold optics glared to playful blue ones as Sparrowhawk joined the group.
"We're supposed to be making a plan, not standing around singing." He snapped.
"Someone's in a worse mood than usual." Raven hummed. He glared to her, but quickly looked away as Sparrowhawk touched his shoulder, and pushed both of them into the circle. Rogue taking up Raven's other side away from Mockingjay chuckling.
"Just join in, it might be fun." Sparrowhawk coaxed. Peregrine sneered at him, but shut his optics in defiance.
"Later on, we'll conspire, as we dream by the fire." The friends grinned to each other when he relented and hummed the next few lines, and Sparrowhawk joined in happily.
"To face unafraid,"
"The plans that we've made," Rogue thrummed deeply, smirking when Raven shuddered happily grinning.
"Walking in a winter wonderland~"
"Vice-Commissioner, I think they have the right to know about Heavenly Grace! The United States created sentient mechs- I'm sure of it!"
"On what grounds can you prove this? A simple reaction to a small child approaching their Unit Commander? That's hardly enough evidence."
"How about the fact the child held an actual conversation with the Unit Commander AND her Second in command? They showed more emotions in that one conversation then just a few drones with an understanding of emotions!"
"Inspector, I understand why you feel so strongly about this, but we can't launch an investigation on a newly formed group without any valuable evidence that the United States has sentient robots running military and policing duties! It would violate every contract and agreement we have ever had with them."
"There won't be any evidence if someone doesn't investigate it! Look Vice-Commissioner I get that you don't like my team and I, and you never have but this is staring us right in the face and you won't let us go on a hunch!"
"Going on a hunch is dangerous."
"We've gone off of less than that!"
"I said no Inspector Tomonoga. That is my final say on the subject." The detective stopped and watched the older man continue into an elevator then vanish behind its doors. A rage built up in the 31 year old's chest, and with a growl under his breath, he swung around and marched back to the huge office. People in the hall made way for him, murmuring about his anger and the intense rage on his face as he went.
When he got to the door, it slammed shut behind him, and jolted the mechs that had been conversing peacefully in the room.
"Boss?" Taking a deep breath, the detective heaved a deep breath then released it and slumped into his seat.
"Have any of you seen the news in the last few hours?" He asked, leaning on his desk as the group blinked at him. The bot closest to him frowned in concern, orange lenses brightening as the inspector slumped when the others shook their heads.
"No, Yuuta, what's wrong?" Yuuta leaned back, and scrubbed at his blue eyes with an aggravated groan.
"America in a nutshell. Who's got the remote; we're channel flipping until we find something on Heavenly Grace." He ordered. They all blinked, but none-the-less, one grabbed the remote and turned the huge screen on. While the others flipped through and watched channels, the blue mech turned to his friend still concerned.
"Yuuta, what is Heavenly Grace?" He asked, frowning when Yuuta scrubbed at his face with another sound.
"Assuming the world is still talking about them, you'll find out." He promised.
"Moron you passed it! Go back a channel!"
"No I didn't!"
"Yes you did dumbass go back."
"Screw you there was nothing on that channel!"
"Just do it." Whining, the youngest flicked back a few channels, then stopped on the news channel as his yellow brother snapped at him to stop.
"This Christmas might actually start looking up this year. The United States of America has just sent Heavenly Grace to Tajikistan which had suffered a massive earthquake earlier this month. Harley Garet says that Heavenly Grace's number one priority is looking for survivors and providing support and protection to civilians and authorities against unsteady structures. Halide is in the field now, Halide are you there?" The screen split in two, showing the female reporter and the destruction around her and people in the background.
"Here Janet. I'm on the scene at Dushanbe, one of the cities that were hit the hardest with the earthquake back on December seventh. The mechanoid team known as Heavenly Grace touched down just an hour ago and already they've cleared away rubble, rescued survivors, and provided protection against the continuously falling building structures. Under strict command of their leader, a female mechanoid that goes by the name Raven, the seven robots have split into groups of two or singles in order to aid the recovery and reconstruction of the once great city. With me right now is Third in command Rogue, who was assigned the job of taking down unstable buildings." The camera tilted upwards towards to the dark grey and green mech who had been conversing in low voices with Raven, the copper and gold female patting his shoulder before moving towards another section of people that were shouting for assistance.
"Rogue, this is your first assignment since being introduced to the world only a few days ago, and it's rumored that no one of your team were told where you were going or what you would be doing. Did you have any expectations before arriving as to what Harley may have set you up for?" The mechanoid scowled to himself, but vented heavily before answering.
"I did not have any specific expectations for this assignment. Given how often the people we were created by complained about this 'ISIS' and 'ISIL' group, most of us assumed that we'd be going to deal with them first and foremost."
"Now, there's been a lot of talk about the fact Heavenly Grace is lead by Raven, who's said to Identify as Female," The screen glitched, showing pictures of said leader during their introduction and while she was working.
"Dammnn. Now there's a beautiful chick."
"Gunmax!"
"Aw come on! I can't be the only one who thinks she's attractive."
"Shut it."
"If you're asking me my opinion on whether or not Raven is capable of leading us then my answer is yes. Raven is the oldest of us, she has the experience and training to know what's she's doing. I trust her with me life." All of the mecha focused to the screen. Watching the brimming anger in the mechanoid optics and the sharpness of his tone.
"Someone's touchy." Gunmax muttered. Yuuta made a sound of agreement.
"Rogue! Over here I need your help!" The mecha looked up, and left despite the human's protest and hurried questions. The camera jerked and followed the mecha over to a second mecha. He looked over the building, eyeing it as the other held up what had tried to fall. Ignoring the human and their chatter, the group watched the TIC shift and adjusts the other bot before directing a rescue team on where they had to go to get to survivors.
"Yuuta…"
"Drillboy shut down the TV." Scrambling, the youngest shut it down, and all their attention swung to their human leader as he walked around his desk, and sat on it facing them.
"I thought they stopped making AI chips."
"So did I. They're American,"
"Figures."
"You wanna pick a fight with me kid?"
"Bring it!"
"Hey! Now is not the time to start fights!" Gunmax and the yellow mecha backed down and grumbled to each other.
"Yuuta-"
"The human element said that Heavenly Grace- ALL of Heavenly Grace wasn't sentient." Silence enveloped the group, a wide range of shock then turned to outbursts and shouts of objections.
"There is no way in HELL they aren't sentient!"
"That's the stupidest thing I've heard!"
"He practically ripped the reporter's head off for being sexist!"
"Yuuta, is Heavenly Grace being investigated for being violations of the law?" The group quieted down, and looked to their leader hopefully. Yuuta huffed, but looked down and shook his head.
"I'm sorry guys. I tried to get us a case to investigate them ourselves, but Azuma bastard wouldn't agree to it, and Saejima doesn't come back from the UN for another two weeks." He confessed. The group went into an uproar again and instantly calmed when the blue mecha raised a hand.
"Yuuta, we need to get that case." Yuuta sighed heavily, but nodded and stood.
"I know Deckard. I'll try again, but I can't promise I'll be successful. I'll try and put in a call to Harley too. See if that gets us anywhere."
"Mrs. Garet?" Harley looked up, and stood as the doctor walked over smiling. A flutter of hope rose in her chest as her hands clasped at her chest.
"Tom is going to pull through. You have a very strong son Mrs. Garet. But, I am a little worried. This is his fifth time in the last two months in the hospital for a break or worse. Is he getting into fights at school?" Harley shook her head quickly, a pit of fear starting to grip her gut.
"No no he's always been a good boy at school. He doesn't have many friends true but he's never spoken of any bullies either." She explained. He nodded, and then led her off to the side.
"Mrs. Garet, I know this might be hard to comprehend, but is your husband a rough, angry man?" Harley's heart skipped a beat, and she shook her head.
"No not at all! John is nothing but gentle and kind with the kids- and with me he'd never hit or hurt anyone of us!" She gushed. He slumped but nodded.
"Of course, is he in any after school programs or sports?"
"Not that he's told me."
"I see. Here, this physiatrist, she's a good person, and is very good at her job. She might be able to help." He said, offering Harley the card. She nodded quickly, and hurried into the directed room.
Brown eyes looked up at her, and a smile spread across her face as he smiled weakly back to her.
"Hi mom." She slumped, and took a seat on his bed smiling gently.
"Hey darling. How are you feeling?" He shrugged, then looked to the TV and unmuting it.
"Heavenly Grace is supposed to be the strongest, and the most well organized force America has. Each unit has the ability to work alone, and within a group under the leadership of their Unit Commander Raven. While unlike Japan's Brave Police, Heavenly Grace is NOT sentient-" Tom hit the mute button again as the president continued to babble about Heavenly Grace before turning to his mom expectantly. Harley glared at Raven and her team, before turning a warning look as Tom crossed his casted and unbroken arm awkwardly across his chest.
"You said you hated robots." He said accusingly. Harley knew where this was going, and grit her teeth when she felt her anger rising.
"I do-"
"Then why are you working with them? Why couldn't you just give the job to someone else?" He demanded. Harley got up, and shut the door before spinning on Tom.
"You think I had a choice? The President ordered me to take the job, if I had it my way I would never have taken that job." She hissed. Marching over and looming over him. He glared at her defiantly, and then pointed at the conversation Raven and Mockingjay had with the child when it played.
"Not sentient? Mom ANYONE can tell that's bullshit! What are they really? Aliens? AI? Mom we could all go to war if they're AI." He snapped. Harley clenched a fist, trying to hold back from creating a red mark across his cheek and stomped down on her anger.
Tom is fourteen. She thought angrily.
Every fourteen year old rebels against their parents. It's normal. She thought, glaring down at her son.
"All that matters is that people believe they aren't sentient. You will hold your tongue if you don't want to end up on the streets." She hissed. He glared at her, and gestured to his arm.
"Like it could be any worse than this." He snapped back. Her hand raised, and something akin to a growl but dropped her hand.
"Don't tempt me boy." She hissed lowly.
"You know what my work does. I can easily make sure your life is a living hell if you anger me enough and believe me Thompson. I will gladly-" Harley cut off when her phone went off. Cursing, she pulled out the expensive phone, and scowled at the work number dialing her.
"We will finish this have my call." She warned pointing at him. He glared at her, but watched her step out into the hallway and answered the call.
"What?" She snapped, crossing one arm under the other.
"Sorry to bug you Mrs. Garet, we have Inspector Tomonoga Yuuta on hold; he wants to talk to you about the Brave Police meeting Heavenly Grace." Harley's breath hitched, and she stilled in the impatient swaying. Tomonoga Yuuta.
Yuuta. Leader of the Brave Police since 1994 - a legend for being the youngest police officer to ever join the force, and command an entire team immediately.
A child, now a man that had been around sentient robots his whole life.
"Put him through, and start the translation programs." Keeping Raven and her robots as non-sentient was going to be harder than she thought.