#mmx ;; shaska future

[machinesandman]

"My what-- possible for WHAT--"

Ah, Shaska has been listening. she did not want involved but Sam decided otherwise.

[machinesandman]

"Why? Because I've touched a nerve, and it's only right I apologize and recognize my wrong. I should not have spoken to you like that, nor reacted so sharply either. You don't deserve that from me." He'd never known anything about her after all, nor was he one of those whom had left her worried and tense, just had a similar face and appearance. Not the same individual. "And I do try to be better for them, I awknowledge you are correct that it still has a long way to go."

Her stance remained as passive as she could, but did break eye contact, instead looking over to the side with a frown, those silvered sections of her hair amongst dark browns shining in the light as if the very color was drained from them to leave what was underneath, like a silvered hue over earthen soil. He was right about this, not pushing her limits like that. But how else would she get better? It's what she deserved for the failures of the past after all, not going the whole way, never pushing the issues to get fixed or watched over... And now here she was, seeing the consequences of those who came before her, and after her long hibernation.

"Thank you for not prying and the forgiveness. It's not an easy topic for me... And I often do try, to be that better... Heh."

Her smile becomes bitter then, looking back up to make eye contact once more, but the gaze is tired. Accepting yes, but so drained and yet holding that spark of never ending drive. Determination, and maybe a hint of spite. "The world may not have asked me to do that, no one ever did, but I made the choice to do what I can for this world. I can't ignore the plights of our forefathers, and I have a feeling you know what that is like. But I'm sure as hell not going to give up."

"Never the less, I intend to do better for those I care about. Others deserve better than this from me."

"Why... are you apologizing to me?" Even as she does her best to lose the tension in her frame, his stare is critical. You don't get it, and you're not one of the ones I want to ask me for forgiveness. One of them was dead. The other two were actively trying to get there. "You should be be saying sorry to those that care about you. The ones who will miss you when you're gone."

That she bothered to explain how she functioned at all to a stranger... Do you need someone to forgive you for your own actions? Psi knew it wasn't him that she was looking to for that acceptance from. "You shouldn't be burning yourself to the quick just because you have those as a fallback."

Why was he giving advice at all? It's not the self-sacrificial types. It was the ones they left behind. The ones that wondered if they could have done anything to help. The ones that wondered if they were worth anything after abandonment.

"...The only thing I can forgive you for is not sharing your history with me. It's not my place to ask. But you shouldn't be doing better for me."

"Do better for those you value. The world didn't ask for you to carry its mantle."

[machinesandman]

"I've just learned who really kissed my baby brother, and the why... The protective older sibling instinct is real high right now."

"Thankfully I've been asked not to take action- but Sam sure as hell isn't making it easy to not tackle Theta for what he did to Thresh..."

[machinesandman]

Shaska stares at the goings on, hears the conversations being said...

Nope. Not her circus, not her monkeys- And way too close to becoming it maybe.

Armored up, and she is leaving.

[machinesandman]

A Gentle Confrontation

All of the Robot Master's knew by now the bad habits that their human had. Yes, their human. The one who had revived them, gave each and every single one a chance at freedom, no laws, true choice, and fully open sense and emotion. To live as they chose to be no matter their original functions or creators. Given exactly what the world wanted to ensure never had been given to them, and yet this lone human was a damned fool. Denies herself the same courtesy. It drove many of them up a wall with these facts, others deemed it useless to worry about, or just left.

Metal Man had even made Shaska promise him to his face, that she would not die or give up until all of them, or as many as can be, were back and online. The Wily Bot had been furious about the very idea of her dying on them without keeping the promise made so long ago. And he often times stuck around when she worked, especially on more dangerous numbers, just to ensure no accidents happened, nor did she mess up. Quick was much of the same boat, but preferred other methods to take up his time. Elec himself would come to assist now than then, more so to ensure that the human herself wasn't ragged, nor was her armor ever left at subpar power.

The list went on of who else would be involved, to help, either by locating remains, or by working around the underground facility, anything to get their end goals finished. And all the same that human kept pushing the limits that shouldn't be taken, even augmented as she was. Burning at both ends with a seemingly never ending candle, just as well as being more and more bitter, alongside health ever on the wavering thing line if any support system failed or medicine ran out. It was familiar. Not exact, but just enough...

Shadow Man has been seeing it for some time now, others slowly catching up to the traits he had already recognized. That woman who had taken a near impossible, and admittedly foolish, goal to revive robot masters... Was slowly becoming the amalgamation of all the worst traits of Proto Man, once upon a time. But without restrictions, laws, nor a network inside that head of hers. Truthfully? As much as Shadow did respect the woman's talent in the labs, and how she had gotten better in the battle field- he still believed her to be quite foolish at times. And he has had enough.

The old hybrid bot had found the woman as always, doing tasks within the work space she had deemed 'Restoration Section'. Where the base parts of Robot Masters were all repaired or put back together, alongside the updates. Next door to the 'Revival' room. It was well organized, if not dreadfully human of her to use this. But he wasn't here to argue semantics right now. No, the bigger issue at hand was the scientist herself.

"Shaska." Shadow spoke up to draw the others attention, watching as she finally looked up from repairing another Buster arm. It seemed to be another Wily bot if he judged the wiring just right. There was always a notable distinct way those threaded together for maximum weapon output. Whom it was for was not yet clear to him without details, but it was still a comfort to know another brother of theirs may yet be brought back online. So many were walking around now, living lives as if they were Reploids, but so many yet remained dead and lost to them.

Tools were put down as the woman stood up from her work bench, turned to look entirely towards the wily bot. "Hey, Shadow Man. How can I help you? Has something happened?"

Always jumping to conclusions that something is needed or required of her. Every time. A learned coping mechanism perhaps, or just automatic instinct after so long. Shadow gently shook his head. "Nothing of the sort. I am here to merely talk to you. Face to face and very seriously."

The brunette perked an eyebrow slowly, while one hand reached out to flick at a switch at her work desk, forcing the door behind the Robot Master to click closed for some privacy. "Absolutely. What's this about?"

"It's about you."

As he suspected, Shaska tensed up in fight or flight mode. Her shoulders were back, head lifted another inch. Braced for impact. Shadow knew it well, considering the amount of people that had snapped at her in similar ways. The shouting, the rage, furious entreaties. That was a learned way to prepare herself for the inevitable and worst possibility, simply accepting that rage to shoulder it and let people make their assumptions. It was useless, lacked any sort of reasoning to do so, other than the trauma of survivors guilt and the self punishment of the past she had no reason to keep.

Shadow stepped closer. "You need to give yourself days of recovery, after stints out in the world, or days spent in the labs. You are human. If you intend to hold up your side of your promise to us." He was well versed in how some almost obsessed scientists would just keep going, more and more. Wily was even worse when it came to being a workaholic. But at least he didn't go about getting personally involved in combat like this mad woman. "This is not your weight to bear, but you have taken it all the same. It's not your punishment to make up for the past."

Dark eyes looked away, back towards the unfinished buster at her table. Shaska knew he was speaking the truth here, but the furrows of self doubt ran deep in that psyche, like canyons eroded away through the many long nights left to her own horrid thoughts, dug out from mental claws of anguish to leave her own inner self confined in it's own trap. A starving creature devouring it's self not unlike an ouroboros in the worst ways. "Who else has the where with all to do it? Or, well, the means to find any of you that is, and safely. It's my people that wronged you and yours, when Robot Masters deserved better, as do Reploids of the now-"

"Doctor Jonez-"

"Do not call me that!" Shaska shouted suddenly, head whipping around to stare at him. "I am not a Doctor nor as good as them! They have that title, I do not!" A step forward in challenge at the Wily bot. Shadow knew damn well she was capable, had been sparring with other Robot Masters in this underground bunker they hid away in most times. Yes, she could take him in a fight, but he wasn't here for that and was not ruffled into such. Instead he met her step with one of his own, hand snapping out to grab her by the shirt and yank closer, lifting the short human clean off the concrete flooring.

"I'll call you as I see fit, Shelly."

"Wh-"

"You're right, you're not Doctor Light or Doctor Wily. Not even Doctor Cossack... But that is a good thing. You are Shelly Jonez, you are also Shaska. You are Doctor Jonez now, and to us you are our means of revival and life anew. You will never be any of them, instead you are someone new, something new. What ever anyone else tells you is a lie." The hand tightened on those clothes as Shaska stared up at Shadow in stunned silence. When she went to speak, he jostled her and turned, shoving the human against the wall, forcing her to grunt and shut up. "I've heard you talk. Claiming the shadows you walk in. But you don't see the shadow you cast yourself. Step out from others, because they would not approve of what you do, yet we do. Let yourself live for once, Doctor. So we can live to." Now is when Shadow man finally let go of her, allowing the woman to slide down and stagger, standing once more.

Was it bad she flinched then? Being released without so much more shouting? It was all spoken with that calm tone. Almost gentle, despite the harsh handling. Trying to knock the sense physically into the woman.

A heavy swallow followed as Shaska glanced up, unsure of just how to react- especially when Shadow Man's hand lifted to gently pat her on the head, gentle as can be. Which is a stark contrast to any Wily Bots. "You're good to us. And we try to be the same. So be kind to yourself, my friend." That hand dropped once more to his side. "Just stay you."

Before anything could be said, Shadow felt he had outlived his welcome at the moment. And his internal code was struggling, too much of this was hard for him at times. Unless it was his fiance, Aria would be proud of him today, he thinks. The bot hummed and turned, vanishing in a rush of energy as he sank into his own casted darkness. Leaving a confused and caught off guard Shaska standing there.

"... I need air."

[machinesandman]

"Oh! Good, I'm proud of you! Consider me corrected." Shaska was going to give Jayden the benefit of the doubt, after all, the reporter rarely lied, she did at least try. Something more than just the drinks and caffeine in the young womans system was a reassurance. Dinner though, hm... Concerning... "Want me to get Cut to pick up a pizza for you tonight? My treat."

Ah, and then came the bite back, making the black armored cryptid sputter and look almost offended. "I charge myself quite often thank you! Only times I drag on it are in times of extreme duress or I am on an extended stake out! ... Or I'm using the demon car..."

"These days though I do try and keep a full tank for the most part. And it does not take me a full week! Come on, Jayden!"

"I have...actually..." While several empty coffee cups still sat at her desk, as far as she knew unless the custodians stopped by for a quick clean, Jayden never skimped out an afternoon meal. Thankfully for today's lunch, their boss treated the team to a 'special' surprise sandwich party. Very delicious! She grabbed seconds to take home too.

"Dinner...may be another question, but I made sure to keep something in my stomach instead of pure caffeine." She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Sounds to me like I'm doing better than you at the moment. Sure you charged yourself up today, but when will you do it again? In a few days? Next week?"

[machinesandman]

"Since when were you married?"

"I'm not? I never was?! Thresh, when would I ever have time to be married????"

[machinesandman]

so how is the divorce going?

"That what...? I'm not with anyone-"

"Wait... Do you mean my falling out or loss of friends? That's not a divorce what the hell- and it is none of your business. It's fine. For the love of... Cease and desist your nonsense for one day, I beg."

[machinesandman]

"...."

"I am so glad that is not my circus nor my monkeys over there-"

Shaska is simply going to drink her coffee and watch whatever the hell is going on, over in that other side of... Whatever the hell that is.

Are you guys okay? No?

[machinesandman]

melodic-mayh3m

"Hey there, how you doing."

"..."

It was another Proto Man, that other Blues that was more scruffy than others. The slight facial hair, his more unkept hair. Still distinctly the same bot though. And staring her down. And her without her voice morpher-

"I'm doing..."

"And now going-"

[machinesandman]

"Well, I think today has been productive for me... Completed several codes, finally finished some leeway on the next rebuild body- and finished the next copy chip upgrade."

"Now sounds like the perfect time to relax."

[machinesandman]

"WHY ARE YOU THROWING ME UNDER THE BUS!?"

"YOU'VE DONE IT TO ME BEFORE! WE'RE SIBLINGS, IT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE THROUGH THE YEARS! Remember the E-Tank and cookies incident?"

"I'll always remember that fondly, trying to point at the other as we did. Listen, I recognize I'm terrible at self care sometimes, it's a Jonez trait."

"And you're a Jonez."

[machinesandman]

"Maybe because this all stemmed from conversation about Jonez, I suggest running while you can, my beloved brother mine. As fast as possible... And also please take a nap."

"Why do I have the feeling someone's talking about me?"

[machinesandman]

shaska, opinions on celebrating valentines day?

"It's not a holiday for me much, never had someone to celebrate it in the romantic way with, not really." Not since before a century ago at least. "But I find it cute all the same. Can even exchange little things for friends, or even family." It was with that last comment that the armor clad woman popped a little chocolate into her mouth, a gift from Thresh earlier in the day.

"But otherwise? Not my cup of tea day. I do like seeing others happy to enjoy it though, brings me joy in turn. Sounds silly maybe but, thats my opinion."

[machinesandman]

"Learned the hard way, not to let slip any smallest details around the local feral teenager. Even hinting you liked or like someone in any way will get her to pry into things..."

"I much prefer hands on action, I'll stick to repair work or defensive lines. Public PSA: Sam is in the prying mood."

[machinesandman]

endl3ss-blu3

"Well, way to destroy my chance at being an uncle."

"I've not even dated anyone since before everything went down! Well over a century ago! You think I have any time for that? My focus is on other things thank you. Go talk with one of the others!"