You know that saying, 'time flies when you're having fun'? Well, I understand what it means now — it's been 2 months since I had that test, but it's only felt like 2 weeks!
What fun have I been having then? Well, just the usual — like beating Octobots into submission.
It makes for a good chance to think about things at least... like the future, the things I'll do when I become Commander and some other things, such as the Octobots themselves.
You see, they really confuse me. Did Octobots exists in Master Porky's time?
See, in the movie, Octobots were not being influenced by Giygas like most things were in the movie — like Starman, Octobots willingly (as willingly as a robot can, anyway) serve Giygas and thus must have not existed before Giygas invaded in the movie. So what's the issue?
Giygas does not actually exist.
So... then did someone else make them in real life? If Octobots really did exist in Master Porky's time, then why would they be agents of Giygas? But, if they were made in the present (as in, my present), then why would they be retroactively made one of Giygas's minions?
Huh. You know, considering I've watched the movie so many times that I can practically recite almost every line by memory (I'm still working on memorising Paula's lines and imitating a girl's voice isn't exactly easy), I'm surprised I never really considered this before.
In fact, while I'm at it, the ending also confuses me. You see, Giygas was supposed to be the saviour for the world.
Why did he cause so much chaos around the world then?
One could argue that this was his attempt to stop Ness, Paula, Jeff and Poo from getting to the Sanctuaries — but the Sanctuaries do nothing!
The Sanctuaries let Ness go to Magicant, in which he gains an enormous boost in power — but in the end, that power boost means nothing, when they're facing Giygas and his inexplicable PSI attacks.
Giygas would have won, if it weren't for Paula's intervention by praying, so why did he need to stop the four from ever going to the Sanctuaries? Was he worried that they could have been powerful enough to kill him if they got to them?
In which case, fair enough, better safe then sorry, but again, why make other people suffer?I point this out because of Stonehenge Base, where innocent people were taken hostage.
There's also the Mani Mani Statue.
If anything... Giygas being the villain, as was the case for 99% of the movie, makes a lot more sense. You know, he's gone completely insane, doesn't really know what he's doing. It may not be the most complicated thing but... I don't know, I think it makes sense.
Wait. What am I doing? Giygas isn't real. None of this matters... does it? No. Giygas isn't real, the Sanctuaries aren't real, the whole thing never happened.
The only thing that did happen, is that Ness, Paula, Jeff and Poo actually did exist, they almost killed Master Porky, and they're despicable human beings that should be suffering for all eternity.
Yeah.
Anyway, that's how I spend my mornings, the afternoons are spent cooking with a killer robot — well, a killer robot to her enemies, anyway.
I recall on one occasion, I asked Miss Marsh, as a joke, if she would spar with me. As I probably should have guessed, she took the suggestion seriously, and I, for... some reason, accepted it.
I thought that I would beat her easily.
So, did I beat her? Yes.
Was it easy?
Yeah... no.
I mean, half of that was probably because I didn't want to actually hurt her, but even considering that, she's very tough, despite her pretty exterior.
Pretty? Well... I suppose she is pretty, considering she is a robot. Pretty doesn't seem to fit though to describe her though... perhaps... cute? Yes... cute, that's the word I'd use...
Wait, why am I thinking about this?
Back to the point... which was... um... ah, yes, battle!
So, despite her cute exterior, she's very tough — that claw of hers really hurts, especially when you're being grabbed by it and slammed into the ground over and over again.
However, being a robot and therefore being made of metal does have a number of disadvantages when facing someone who is capable of using an electrical attack.
Like me.
Even then, it took a fair few uses of PK Thunder before she conceded — again, she's very tough.
Overall, it's been very fun living with her over the last four months.
However, today is a very special day — one I've been waiting for a very long time.
I get to visit the Thunder Tower.
It's actually been finished for a few months, but Master Porky hasn't been able to visit it since he's apparently been very busy recently... for some reason — no one knows exactly what... except for Fassad.
But he went there last week and today, he's asked me to visit as well. I'm quite looking forward to seeing the tower personally.
I even have my first... mission, of sorts. It's... not one I'd like to complete though...
See, Miss Marsh was constructed for the purpose of guarding Master Porky's room in the Thunder Tower, and since that room has actually been finished, she's coming with me today, and I am to safely escort her there.
But... that means she'll be leaving me... and I'll be alone.
I know it is selfish of me... but I do wish she didn't have to leave... I will miss her greatly. But... I must follow Master Porky's orders. He has given them to me, and I will not fail him...
However, while it would make sense for the two of us to take a Porkship all the way to the Thunder Tower, apparently this is not an option as there are some issues with the tower.
I don't quite understand it myself, but there seems to be some issue with the tower that cause dangerous storms or something and as I know from experience, lightning tends to hit aerial objects very well, so flying in isn't an option.
Hence, we're going on foot, and the quickest way is through the desert, where there is a facility made by the Pigmasks that has some sort of alternative transportation to allow us to get to the tower.
So, the two of us take a Porkship all from New Pork City to the desert... I must admit though... I am somewhat concerned about going through this desert.
Why?
It's called the Death Desert, and for good reason — supposedly, many have gone into this desert and have never been seen again.
That... is very scary.
The creatures here are also supposedly very violent, which further contributes to its name. I think if I am careful, I should be able to get through here relatively safely.
It could even be a good way to see how strong I've developed... it sounds fun, in a way.
However... I fear for Miss Marsh... she is capable of defending herself very well but nevertheless... I'll keep my eyes (both regular and mechanical) open. I... I wouldn't want her to come to any harm.
The two of us land with one of the Pigmasks in my group seeing us off.
"Are you sure the two of you will be alright?"
"We will. Thank you for getting us here."
"INDEED. YOU HAVE MY GRATITUDE AS WELL."
"Well... if you're sure. Good luck with your test, Commander!"
Ah, yes. Master Porky has informally told me that this is a test of sorts... if I can safely escort Miss Marsh all the way through Death Desert to the Thunder Tower.
I won't fail either of them.
"SO THEN, COMMANDER, I ASSUME YOU'LL TAKE THE LEAD."
"Yes... give me a moment though..."
I'm looking for a map of the desert, I think I have one... ah, here it is!
A holographic display fills my eyes, splitting the area into various subsections with important landmarks in green. Ah, I can see the facility in the northeast! Let's get moving then!
The two of us make our way through the desert as fast we can, staying away from as many creatures as we can — some of them do chase us down though, seeking a fight, so we are forced to give them one.
Still, our combined strength is enough to take down most things that get in our way easily. The sand lizards go down very easily with a few swings and Miss Marsh comes up with her own effective way of dealing with the dung beetles — simply pick them up and throw them away.
It's kinda funny — whenever she sees one, her eyes narrow and she gives this cute, robotic tut before she tosses them.
"You don't seem to like the beetles very much. How come?"
"THEY ARE FILTH AND WASTE, COMMANDER! AND I DESPISE BOTH OF THOSE THINGS! AND SO THEY MUST BE DISPOSED OF IN THE MOST BRUTAL WAY, LIKE EVERY PIECE OF FILTH, SO THAT EVERYTHING REMAINS CLEAN! THOUGH THIS DESERT IS NOT THE CLEANEST AREA IN GENERAL... PERHAPS I SHOULD TRY TO CLEAN IT..."
"Miss Marsh, you are in a desert, I wouldn't say call these clean to begin with — and surely, you'd have a hard time trying to clean up the entire place!"
"IS THAT A CHALLENGE, COMMANDER? DO YOU QUESTION MY CLEANING ABILITIES? DO YOU DOUBT THAT I COULD CLEAN THIS DESERT ON MY OWN?"
She says that last part with a sense of grandiose that makes me laugh — if only because of the silliness.
"No, not at all! I just think it would perhaps take too much time for you to do so alone."
"AH, YOU ARE RIGHT. IT WOULD TAKE FAR TOO MUCH TIME... AND IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO IT ALONE — I WOULD NEED YOU WITH ME, COMMANDER."
"Me?! I'm... not exactly the neatest person, Miss Marsh."
"I KNOW."
Yep, it's the sassy side... this'll be fun...
"HOWEVER... I WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR IF YOU WEREN'T HERE, COMMANDER. YOUR ABILITIES IN COMBAT ARE IMPECCABLE..."
"I... I'm not that good..."
"THIS IS INCORR —"
Suddenly, I hear this strange rumbling through the desert... I can feel it, moving through the ground... moving towards...
"Miss Marsh, look out!"
I quickly pull her to one side just before the ground splits open and a sink hole appears. From it, a creature with two large horns emerges... a Great Antlion.
I've heard of these — they dig under the ground and rise up, snatching whatever is unfortunate to be underneath, while simultaneously creating a sink hole to hide in.
They stay in these sink holes, waiting more of their prey to fall in, and once they have had their meal, they bury themselves and repeat the process.
Okay... I need to be a bit more careful.
The antlion, a little ticked off from having just missed its prey (though I can't imagine a metal robot would taste very nice), leaps out of the hole at me with its two horns.
I simply block the dive with my stick and bash it back into the hole. It prepares to do the same again, but I'm ready this time.
As soon as it leaps, I fire off a bolt of lightning with PK Thunder, frying it and sending it crawling back it it's hole, before it buries itself once more. Phew.
"... AS I WAS SAYING, YOUR EARLIER STATEMENT WAS INCORRECT AND I BELIEVE YOU JUST PROVED WHY NOW."
"Thank you... it's nice to hear that all my work is paying off."
"HM... IF ONLY YOUR COOKING WAS HALF AS GOOD AS YOUR FIGHTING WAS..."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"
"WELL, COMMANDER, IT WAS A THINLY VEILED INSULT AT YOUR COOKING SKILLS THAT CONSISTED OF ME REMARKING ON HOW YOUR COOKING SKILLS ARE MUCH LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT YOUR COMBAT SKILLS ARE, WITH THE SUBTLE HINT THAT YOU PERHAPS NEED TO PUT IN SOME MORE EFFORT."
Somehow, her ignoring the sarcasm and properly answering my question just made it all the worse.
"Am I really that bad of a cook?"
"NO... NO, NO... NOT AT ALL... I... THAT WAS INSENSITIVE OF ME... I... I APOLOGISE, IT WAS NOT RIGHT FOR ME TO SAY THAT. I... I THINK... THAT WHILE COOKING MAY NEVER BE SOMETHING YOU CAN DO AS WELL AS FIGHTING, YOU ARE... YOU ARE A EXCELLENT COOK, COMMANDER.
She pauses here, as if to take a breath.
"I... I FEEL THAT I HAVE PERHAPS BEEN TOO HARSH ON YOU THROUGHOUT THESE PASS FEW MONTHS... IN PARTICULAR, DURING THAT PIZZA INCIDENT."
"Oh... I won't forget that anytime soon."
"NEITHER WILL I. I WAS VERY MAD AT YOU AT THE TIME — IT TOOK ME A VERY LONG TIME TO SCRUB THE OVEN AFTER THAT! BUT... THAT DID NOT JUSTIFY MY ANGER AT YOU... AND I APOLOGISE... I HOPE YOU ACCEPT."
"Of, of course I do! You don't need to apologise, you were just trying to help! And, perhaps a little frustration is warranted when you're working with someone as unskilled as me..."
She shakes her head at this.
"I DISAGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT OF YOUR SKILLS. YOU HAVE PREPARED MANY DISHES FLAWLESSLY. YOU HAVE MASTERED MANY RECIPES, SOME OF WHICH ARE EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT. AND, DESPITE YOUR CONCERNS, YOU HAVE NEVER SET A DROP OF WATER ON FIRE."
"Miss Marsh..."
"YOU ARE A PERSON OF MANY TALENTS, COMMANDER... I THINK YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THAT."
"Miss Marsh... I... you know... if Master Porky ever asked how I became such a good cook, do you know what I'll say?"
She looks at me with curious eyes.
"I'll say, 'it's all because I had an excellent teacher!' Let's keep going then — this desert won't clean itself!"
"BY... BY YOUR LEAD, COMMANDER."
It takes about half an hour or so, but soon enough we reach the end of the desert, and the facility in question. Alright... woah... what is that?!
There's a strange creature here... it seems like a dog of sorts... no, not a dog, a wolf, I think. But the strange thing about it, is that it has a cactus on its head. In fact...
"Nwehehehe! I am truly the strongest! I've mastered powers you could never hope to! I even fought a Cactus Wolf alone and won!
I remember Fassad one day boasted about beating a Cactus Wolf, which this creature seems to be. Well, the name certainly fits.
When we try to get into the facility, it growls at us... evidently, we're not getting by it without a fight.
"Stay back, Miss Marsh... I will handle this."
I've never come across this creature before... let's see what we have exactly.
"Name: Cactus Wolf"
'These ferocious creatures were wolves that evolved to grow a cactus on their heads — it is believed that they help the wolf retain water, which is supported by the fact that they are most commonly found in the Death Desert.'
Cactus Wolves are known as the kings of the desert, because of how strong they are. Approach with caution.
Weakness: None recorded.
Oh well, that's just great, isn't it — they have no weakness!
All right then... if it doesn't have a weakness, I'll give it one.
"Defense Down Alpha."
A field of blue particles encircles the wolf before plunging downwards on it... that should makes things easier.
However, doing so has startled it... it starts growling very loudly and as I approach the wolf, it growls more and more. When I'm near it, it lunges, but I'm able to quickly move out the way and slam my stick into it as hard as I can.
It growls in pain before spinning and trying to headbutt me with its cactus head. I use my stick to block it — ow! There's something sticking into me...
Ow... the spines of the cactus... they got stuck into my arm. I don't really have a way of dealing with these so I hope they aren't poisonous.
I back away, and get rid of a few of the spines... the wolf growls and charges again but this time I step to one side and it slams into the metal doors behind me, so I take the opportunity to bash it some more with my stick. Soon, it falls to the ground in defeat.
"Okay, now we can go ins — AHH!"
Suddenly, I'm on the ground... the wolf still has fight in him and he's got me pinned down. He opens his mouth... is he going to take a bite out of me?!
I brace myself...
Clang!
What the...
The wolf gives a terrible cry of pain... when I look, I see he's chomped down on Miss Marsh's claw!
The wolf lets go of it, but Miss Marsh takes the opportunity to bash it some more. Still, the wolf is persistent and refuses to get off... but I have the perfect solution.
I quickly change my other hand into an arm cannon and fire directly at the wolf's face — it sends him flying away into a cliff.
Okay, enough messing around. Let's finish this.
I focus my mind and feel that familiar sensation, the hairs on my skin standing on their ends, the air around me becoming charged, the energy coursing through me, stronger than ever.
"PK Thunder Beta!"
Two lightning bolts crash down the wolf's cactus head in quick succession, singing parts of it and shocking the wolf. With one last groan, it finally falls to the ground, slumping over in pain and exhaustion.
Finally.
"Phew, I see they are called the kings of the desert... they certainly are vicious."
"INDEED. COMMANDER, YOU HAVE SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES... HERE, LET ME HELP YOU."
She takes my arm and gently pulls the rest of the spines out and then... her hands, no, her fingers seem to open up, into these nozzles, which release this spray on my wounds and they start to heal... that's amazing!
"Thank you... not just for this, but for your help back there."
"YOU HAVE PROTECTED ME DURING OUR JOURNEY HERE, COMMANDER... IT WAS MY TURN TO DO THE SAME."
I walk over to the unconscious wolf... is it... alive? Did I kill it?!
"Miss Marsh... does the wolf... is it still alive?"
"HM... YES... I AM STILL RECORDING A HEARTBEAT FROM IT... IT IS A BIT SLOWER THAN WHAT IS NORMAL, BUT THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED CONSIDERING ITS CONDITION."
Phew... it may have attacked us first, but even still... there's still no sense in killing it — we'd be no better then... them.
"Miss Marsh, how does your heart monitor work?"
"IT IS A RATHER ADVANCED PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY, IT MEASURES THE RATE AT WHICH THE VALVES IN A HEART OPEN AND CLOSE AT, BEFORE ANALYSING HOW FAST THEIR HEART MUST BE BEATING. IT IS MORE ACCURATE THAN THE TRADITIONAL WAY USED TO MEASURE A HEARTBEAT."
"So... what's the traditional way then?"
"YOU CAN HEAR THE VALVES CLOSING WITH YOUR EARS. I COULD SHOW YOU, IF YOU WANT ME TO."
"Sure! That sounds really cool!"
"TRY PUTTING YOUR EARS TO THE WOLF'S CHEST... DO YOU HEAR ANYTHING?"
I do... it's a bit hard to hear but I manage...
Lub... dub... lub... dub... lub... dub... it's a strange noise... yet very soothing in a way.
"I can hear it... it's a nice sound."
"IT IS..."
"Hey, let me see if I can hear your heartbeat, Miss Marsh."
Before she can object, I sit down by her and put my ears to her chest.
"Hm... strange, I don't hear a heartbeat... but I can hear this faint buzzing..."
"I WOULD BE VERY WORRIED IF YOU COULD HEAR A HEARTBEAT IN ME, COMMANDER, GIVEN THE FACT THAT I AM A ROBOT."
Oh. I start to blush in embarrassment at the realisation.
So, you might be wondering why exactly I thought I'd hear a heartbeat in Miss Marsh... which, is a very good question.
The answer?
I... forgot she was a robot... yes... I'm an idiot.
"Oh... but... why can I hear this faint buzzing noise inside of you?"
"IT IS MOST LIKELY MY SYSTEMS THAT YOU ARE HEARING."
"Ah... that explains it. Is it possible for me to hear my own heartbeat?"
"UNLESS YOU HAVE A STETHOSCOPE..."
She stops upon seeing my confused face.
"IT IS A DEVICE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO HEAR THE HEART MORE CLEARLY, COMMANDER. UNLESS YOU HAVE ONE, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO HEAR YOUR OWN HEART, BUT YOU CAN FEEL IT BEATING. TRY PUTTING YOUR HAND TO YOUR HEART."
I do so... and... hm, I can't feel anything... that's strange...
"I don't think it works, Miss Marsh. I can't feel anything..."
"HOW PECULIAR... MAY I TRY, COMMANDER?"
"Sure."
She sits down and nestles up besides me... she's very warm... I wonder if that's because of the heat of the desert... metal conducts heat, after all.
She places one of her hands on my heart and waits for a few moments. After that, she presses her head to my heart, trying to hear it.
"STRANGE... I CANNOT FEEL ANYTHING, AND MY AUDIAL RECEPTORS ARE NOT PICKING UP ANY SOUNDS EITHER... IT IS AS ALMOST AS IF..."
"As if what...?"
"NO... THAT CANNOT BE IT... MY HEART MONITOR IS STILL PICKING UP A HEARTBEAT."
"Can you play it?"
She nods and soon, I start to hear a noise being emitted from her mouth... it's an eerie sound... something groaning, deep within me...
It's this frantic pulsing of machinery, going... tick... tock... tick... tock... tick... tock...
Over and over again... I don't know what it is... but I know...
It's not a heart at all.
"What's wrong with me... why, what is that? It... it's not a heart, it can't be... why... why don't I have a heart?!"
"I... COMMANDER... YOU WERE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF DRAGO PLATEAU, WERE YOU NOT?"
"Yes..."
"AND YOU WERE HEAVILY INJURED, TO THE POINT OF NEEDING SURGERY TO SAVE YOURSELF WITH SEVERAL PARTS OF YOUR BODY BEING REPLACED WITH MECHANICAL EQUIVALENTS."
"Yes..."
"WHAT IF... YOUR HEART WAS REPLACED... YOUR INJURIES WERE VERY SEVERE. IS IT POSSIBLE... THAT YOUR HEART MAY BE PARTLY... OR FULLY... MECHANICAL?"
No! NO! It... IT CAN'T BE!
But... I know she's right... with all those injuries, my heart... it couldn't possibly be the same anymore.
My heart... it's not even... mine anymore... it's another piece of machinery.
How much of me is just metal? My arm... my back... my heart... and that's just what I know.
It's never really crossed my mind before, but now... I can only think of one question...
What am I?
I'm a child... and yet, so much of me... is just cold, heartless metal...
I don't have a heart... so, am I still alive? Or did I die... and this is just a shell, a shell of what remains?
"COMMANDER... ARE YOU ALRIGHT? YOUR HEA... YOUR RATE IS ELEVATING TO INCREDIBLY HIGH LEVELS, I ADVISE YOU STOP AND TAKE SOME DEEP BREATHS, TO CALM DO—"
"SHUT UP! Don't tell me to calm down! I'm... I'm... am I just another machine?! I... I'm just another heartless robot... with no emotion at all!"
And as soon as I say that, I instantly regret it.
There's a tense silence between the two of us for what feels like... an eternity.
And then, she breaks it.
"I SEE... WELL... IF THAT IS HOW YOU SEE ME... THEN, I SUPPOSE... I CANNOT BLAME YOU... BY... BY YOUR LEAD... COMMANDER."
You idiot.
You just had to say that, didn't you? You couldn't have just done the smart thing and listened to her, no, you just had to keep going and say... that.
And now, you've just offended one of your friends, one of your best friends, who cared for you, who made you feel at home and gave you so many good memories.
I'm a terrible person, aren't I?
I want to just... crawl into a hole, and die. I didn't mean... but...
But I still said it.
I said it... and now... I've gone and alienated one of my friends... forever.
"Commander? Commander!"
What? What is it? I look around and I see myself inside a building of sorts... there's a long corridor that stretches out in the distance, with a large sphere with a large fin on the back and two jet boosters.
There's also a Pigmask Major here, who is calling for me.
I assume that I must have entered the building while I was thinking.
"Oh, my apologies... I was momentarily distracted."
"Ah, I get that sometimes. So, you and Lil' Miss Marshmallow are heading to Thunder Tower, yeah?"
"We are. I was told that there would be some form of transportation here."
"Ah, well, you've come to the right place! You can take a Pork Bean — it'll get you to the tower in no time!"
Pork Bean? I'm guessing that the machine before us is one of these Pork Beans.
"So, we are free to take one then?"
"Yeah... actually, wait, no... this is the only one left, but it needs to be refuelled and there are a few parts which need to be changed. It'll take... maybe, half an hour, so you'll need to wait. But hey, if you want, you're welcome to check out the rest of the area to kill some time."
"Very well."
I step down and walk along the corridor, taking the left exit.
In a way, I'm thankful for the extra time spent... it gives me more time to think about what I said back in the desert...
It was... insensitive. I didn't consider her feelings at all, did I?
I may have many talents... but evidently... empathy isn't one of them.
I keep walking down the corridor — there's a few bugs in my way, but I just ignore them, and thankfully, they do the same in return. I'm not really in the mood to fight... anything...
Because I hurt the one person who never deserved it.
Eventually, after a bit of walking, I find a dead end with a ladder... I wonder where this leads to?
I climb up, but there's something blocking the path at the top... ah, there's a handle. I grab it and pull the tiles apart, before climbing out.
I emerge out of... a grave.
Yeah, that's... not a bad omen or anything.
But, more importantly, where am I?
There's a bunch of graves around me... I assume this is a graveyard. I can see a castle to the north, as well as a number of houses to the south and finally, to the west, there's a...
A forest...
This is...
(Home...)
It's familiar... I know this place.
(Mom... she's still... sleeping...)
And then... it hits me... this is Tazmily... isn't it?
This is... home. Where I grew up. Where... my family is...
It's... a strange feeling. There's anger... yet also, a desire to find out about my past... and... something else... something I... I can't quite describe.
I... I want to explore... but I know I can't. Master Porky said I couldn't go here... and so I shouldn't be here...
So, with a heavy heart, I turn back and crawl back into the grave and when I reach the bottom... I see her.
Miss Marsh.
"COMMANDER... SO THAT'S WHERE YOU WERE. I WAS CONCERNED THAT YOU HAD DISAPPEARED."
She's still worried for me... even after what I said...
"SO... DID YOU FIND ANYTHING INTERESTING UP THERE?"
"I did. I found... Tazmily Village."
"TAZMILY... THAT IS YOUR HOME, IS IT NOT? WHERE YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED?"
"Yeah... it was."
"COMMANDER. YOU'RE SAD."
I start laughing at that — it's the bluntness and simplicity of the statement... and yet, she's completely right.
"I am."
"WHAT IS THE ISSUE?"
"It's... three things, I suppose... finding out that I may be mostly a robot... seeing my home... and... well... I, just don't know."
"...COMMANDER... I... I CANNOT SAY I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL, BECAUSE WE ARE DIFFERENT... HOWEVER, I BELIEVE YOU ARE PERHAPS PLACING TOO MUCH IMPORTANCE INTO HOW ALIVE YOU ARE."
"I CAN IMAGINE IT WOULD BE SHOCKING TO REALISE HOW MUCH OF YOU IS MACHINERY, SINCE YOU WERE ONCE VERY MUCH HUMAN. BUT... DOES THAT MATTER? YOU CAN STILL MOVE. YOU CAN STILL TALK. YOU ARE STILL ALIVE. ISN'T THAT WHAT PERHAPS MATTERS THE MOST?"
"IN TRUTH... I DO NOT KNOW... I WILL NEVER KNOW BECAUSE I AM, FOR BETTER AND WORSE, A ROBOT. BUT... I LEARNED ALL OF WHAT I SAID FROM SOMEONE WHO I BELIEVE IS VERY CLEVER AND... I TRUST THEM."
"That... really does make a lot of sense. Who did you learn that from?"
She gives a robotic laugh at that.
"YOU, COMMANDER."
"Me?!"
"YES. IRONICALLY ENOUGH, IT APPEARS YOU YOURSELF HAVE NOT REALISED THE THINGS YOU TAUGHT. HAS THE PAST EVER STOPPED YOU, COMMANDER?"
"No... I've always kept moving forwards."
"THEN, WHY SHOULD THIS STOP YOU?"
"You're right... it shouldn't."
"EXACTLY. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR LIFE AND YOUR PAST... THEY DO NOT RULE IT... UNLESS YOU CHOOSE TO LET IT DO SO."
"Miss Marsh... you are truly amazing."
"THANK... THANK YOU... COMMANDER."
There's a silence between the two of us for about a minute before she once again breaks it.
"IF I MAY ASK... DO YOU MISS TAZMILY... YOUR HOME?"
"I've been thinking about that... and my answer is... no. I don't. And I think I know why... it's because... it isn't my home. My home... my home is with you, Miss Marsh... at New Pork City. So I don't miss Tazmily... because it never was my home."
"THAT'S... IT IS NICE TO HEAR THAT. I HOPE I WAS ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR DOUBTS THEN."
"You've been nothing but helpful to me... but there is still one more thing I'd like to talk to you about."
"OH? WHAT IS IT?"
"I... I want to apologise to you... for what I said earlier in the desert... about robots being heartless. It was... it was incredibly insensitive of me to say that. You are... you are one of my friends, Miss Marsh... one of my best... and... I would hate to lose you."
"I... to be honest... I'm doing this 'mission' with a great deal of reluctance, because when I complete it... you'll be gone. These past four months... I have no difficulties in saying that they have been some of the best months in my life. Still, despite all of this, I understand if you thought my comment was very offensive... and I think you would be happy to part ways..."
"COMMANDER... THAT COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WERE PERHAPS NOT THINKING AS RATIONALLY AS YOU USUALLY DO... AND I ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY."
"Thank you... I feel much better now."
"I'M GLAD I COULD HELP. HM... PERHAPS WE SHOULD RETURN TO THE PORK BEAN... IT HAS BEEN ALMOST HALF AN HOUR."
"Yes, let's go back then."
As we make our way back, I notice that Miss Marsh starts to fall behind a little.
"Miss Marsh... are you alright?"
"I AM FINE, COMMANDER."
"Are you sure? You're lagging behind a bit."
"IT IS AN EFFORT TO CONSERVE POWER... GOING THROUGH THAT DESERT REQUIRED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF ENERGY, SO I AM TRYING TO SAVE SOME BY GOING SLOWER."
Hm... I think I have an idea — a rather fun one as well.
"Well, why don't I help you?"
"IN WHAT WAY?"
I pick her up — she's actually very light, or perhaps I'm just really strong... she feels rather nice and comfortable in my arms...
"AH! COMMANDER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! I DEMAND YOU PUT ME DOWN!"
"Hm... well... nope!"
I take out my wings and fly off — it's been some time since I've done flown, and it feels great to stretch my wings!
By flying, the two of us quickly make our way back to the first corridor, where I grant Miss Marsh her wish and put her down.
"WELL... I SUPPOSE THAT IS ONE WAY TO GET BACK QUICKLY. IF YOU COULD, PLEASE WARN ME NEXT TIME YOU DO THAT... THOUGH I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT."
"My apologies... I will. It was fun though to see you scared there."
"I AM A ROBOT, COMMANDER. I AM INCAPABLE OF FEELING FEAR."
"Oh? So what do you call the past minute then?"
"...A CONCERN FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF AN OUTCOME WHICH WOULD RESULT IN THE HARM OF MYSELF, YOU OR BOTH OF US."
"I believe that's called fear."
"HM... INTERESTING... I SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FEEL FEAR IN THIS WAY..."
"Why not? After all, if you couldn't... wouldn't you just be a heartless machine? And to quote someone I trust very much... 'THAT COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.'"
"COMMANDER... YOUR... YOUR IMPRESSIONS REQUIRE SOME WORK."
"Hey, I'm getting there! It's hard for me to imitate a girl's voice, I'm still struggling with Paula's! And, I bet you can't imitate my voice!"
She opened her mouth before...
"And, I bet you can't imitate my voice!"
"AS YOU WERE SAYING, COMMANDER?"
"...cheater."
While talking, we've reached the point where the Major was — he seems to have finished.
"Ah, Commander, we have finished! We can take you to Thunder Tower now — just get in from the side, and we'll take you there!"
I don't know what exactly he means — the Pork Beans are just spheres with no viable door. But I look at the side and notice a button on the side, which I press.
The side suddenly opens up... that's pretty cool. The two of us get in, along with two Pigmasks and a Major.
There's not much inside, just a few controls, and some seats so Miss Marsh and I take one.
One of the Pigmasks starts the Pork Bean and woah! This thing is fast! We speed across to the right before emerging in what looks to be a highway... it appears to be about mid afternoon.
It feels rather thrilling to be moving at these high speeds... though I don't think Miss Marsh would agree.
She's doing her best to seem fine, but I can tell the high speeds don't quite agree with her — if she weren't a robot, she'd probably be throwing up.
I gently take her by the waist and try to stabilise her as much as possible. She takes my hand and gives a look... as if to ask if it's alright.
I reply by smiling and gently squeezing her hand, sending that familiar feeling through her... and myself.
As we speed off to the Thunder Tower, I can't help but feel... sad. Because...
I know that feeling is going to end.
A/N: Ah, 13, quite the unlucky number and indeed, Claus is rather unlucky here as he must bid goodbye to his friend/love interest. I may have gone a bit too far with Claus and Marshmallow in this chapter but as Marshmallow will be going out of focus soon, I wanted to get as much out of this as I could before that happens.
So anyone's who familiar with Mother 3 will know that it is suggested that the Masked Man doesn't have a heart — the Magyspies suggest it metaphorically, but interestingly, the Masked Man is the only enemy in the game who does not have a heartbeat in the code of the game, suggesting that he literally, does not have a heart.
It made for a very good piece of introspection for Claus though.
Also, I was looking over the earlier chapters of this fic and I realised that Chapters 1 to 5 were all continuous — as in, each chapter followed directly off the previous one, while Chapters 6 to 12 were all disjointed, but with an overarching narrative. I kinda wanted to bring that continuous chapter style back, so the next chapter is following on from this one.
Next time, Claus scales the Thunder Tower.