healingbonds (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
healingbonds) wrote2021-04-18 10:16 pm
healingbonds) wrote2021-04-18 10:16 pm
Entry tags:
Paradox-Roid | Chapter 4
Chapter 3 << | index | >> Chapter 5
Cain: Emotions like anxiety, or fear...... Going through the trouble of programming such fine emotions, but stopping short of configuring your initial settings.
Even if those emotions are fake, you guys still experience pain and stress, right? I mean, I don’t really get it, but.
I feel my chest grow warm at the concern in Cain’s words.
But if I’m a robot, then that’s just self delusion. After all, Cain did point a gun at Owen, and that voice over the wireless receiver did tell him to turn Owen into scrap metal.
Akira: (What’s with this city...... What are Assist-Roids? Why can’t I remember that even though I remembered airbikes......?)
Cain: Akira, Owen. Get in my sidecar. I’ll take you to my engineer friend’s shop.
Owen: What?
Cain: Please listen to me. If you don’t, then you’ll end up getting destroyed even though you’ve just been born—......even though you’ve just been shipped out.
I’m sure you have an owner who’s been looking forward to your creation. If possible, I’d like to deliver you back in one piece.
Owen: I don’t care about some owner. I won’t let anyone destroy me, and I’ll do whatever I want.
Cain: The only freedom afforded to Assist-Roids is specified to be under the management of their handlers. In public spaces—......
Owen: That’s not freedom. I have things I want to eat, and places I want to go.
Akira: (I knew it. He probably wants to eat that soft serve......)
(Well, anyone would want one after seeing that incredibly realistic commercial on repeat...... I kind of want to try it too.)
Cain: I won’t listen to any more of your demands. Considering you might be a tool of terrorism......
Akira: Um, excuse me.......
Cain: What’s wrong, Akira?
Akira: I think Owen just wants to eat that.
I point above the road, at the pink soft serve bursting out from the hologram of shattered stars.
Cain: The CBSC? You sure get in the mood for it around this time every year. I’ve had one already.
Owen: Huh? Are you bragging?
Akira: What’s the CBSC?
Cain: It stands for Cherry Blossom Soft Cream. It’s a dessert based on the famous thousand-year-old tree in Vollmond City.
Akira: A thousand-year-old tree?
Cain: It’s that giant tree in the town square over there. Originally, it was planted in the grounds of a school with a long history. But it was donated to the city, which manages it now.
I turn to gaze at the tall tree with pale red flowers in full bloom. Judging from its name, it must have lived for a thousand years.
Cain: If so, that’s easy. If you go to my friend’s lab with me, I’ll treat you to a CBSC.
Owen: Really?
Cain: Yeah, I promise. Is that okay?
Owen looks at me inquiringly. I nod, seized by a mysterious feeling.
Akira: (So you can make promises. I wonder why I feel overwhelmed for some reason. I can’t tell if I’m happy or surprised, but......)
Owen looks away, blinking — his eyes the same shade as the pale red flowers — before primly raising a single eyebrow.
Owen: Okay. I’ll listen to you
Cain: All right, that’s settled. Oh right, first, open your mouths for me.
Owen and I oblige, opening our mouths in a wide “ah.” Without warning, Cain sticks his fingers into our mouths.
Akira: Nggh......!?
Owen: Nggh......!? Ugh, bleh! What the hell!?
Cain: Oh, your mouths have been fitted with proper insides. Then it should be no problem treating you guys.
Cain chuckles breezily, withdrawing his fingers.
Cain: Some Assist-Roids malfunction when you put food into their mouths. I thought I’d check to be safe.
Akira: (This guy is kind, but his manners are really rough......)
Cain: And yet, some Assist-Roids still get programmed to say things like they’re hungry, you know? Geez, I really don’t understand the way rich people think.
Well then, get on the bike. I’ll fly you guys close to the CBSC wagon. Their commercial is really flashy and cool.
Owen and I pile into the airbike’s sidecar as we listen to Cain’s ramblings.
The searchlight flashes bright red, and the airbike takes off into the air, its engines roaring. Almost at once, a fashionable melody starts playing.
It’s a mellow pop tune with male vocals that sounds upbeat and somewhat nostalgic.
Akira: What’s this song called?
Cain: It’s a song by Lemonpie Lovers called “If Next April Were a SciFi.” I like oldies.
We travel through the night sky to that upbeat tune.
Colourful lights and snazzy music spill through the sleepless city bathed in neon — all along the streets, the skies, even the surface of the river.
As we criss-cross our way through the high-rise buildings, I catch sight of various visions flashing by the corners of my eyes.
A woman striking a stylish pose as she winks with a giant eye from the shadows of buildings, and a hanging globe in the night sky reporting the weather.
I almost believe the streets have been infested with zombies, realistic enough to be from horror movies, only for it to switch to a sales commercial advertising safe single-family homes.
In the skies above a white institution, divine rays of light radiate from glowing clouds of pure white and shower down upon a single image, illuminating it.
Under that curtain of light, a golden-haired boy with angel wings folds his hands together in prayer, murmuring in an imperious voice.
Golden-haired boy: “This is your regularly scheduled announcement regarding the seminar held by Riquet, known as the Angel of Vollmond City, our holy Assist-Roid gifted by the Hart Foundation to the welfare institution.”
“Your donations save those in need. Please come to my seminar with your donation in hand. ~Tonight, God’s disciple Riquet will once again grant you forgiveness~”
Cain: That’s the CBSC wagon over there. I’ll fly us over the top, so try opening your mouths after the fireworks go up.
Akira: Fireworks? Whoa......!
Countless fireworks explode from the roof of the pink wagon. Owen and I both open our mouths.
As we do, a giant soft serve appears in front of our eyes. We plunge right into it.
Akira: (Wow, what’s this sensation of melting cream? The scent of flowers......? It feels like I’ve been drenched in cream!)
Owen: Hai haste ih!
Cain: Ahaha! I can’t make out what you’re saying with your tongue sticking out like that!
Owen: I tasted it! You, Akira? You tasted it too, right?
Akira: I did! How cool! We didn’t actually eat it, but...... It’s just like magic!
Owen: So this is what it tastes like. I want to eat it right now. Hey, go line up at the wagon.
Cain: After we check out your ID.
Owen: I’m holding you to it.
Cain: Yeah, yeah. I got it.
Laughing, Cain climbs higher into the sky.
Chapter 3 << | index | >> Chapter 5
Cain: Emotions like anxiety, or fear...... Going through the trouble of programming such fine emotions, but stopping short of configuring your initial settings.
Even if those emotions are fake, you guys still experience pain and stress, right? I mean, I don’t really get it, but.
I feel my chest grow warm at the concern in Cain’s words.
But if I’m a robot, then that’s just self delusion. After all, Cain did point a gun at Owen, and that voice over the wireless receiver did tell him to turn Owen into scrap metal.
Akira: (What’s with this city...... What are Assist-Roids? Why can’t I remember that even though I remembered airbikes......?)
Cain: Akira, Owen. Get in my sidecar. I’ll take you to my engineer friend’s shop.
Owen: What?
Cain: Please listen to me. If you don’t, then you’ll end up getting destroyed even though you’ve just been born—......even though you’ve just been shipped out.
I’m sure you have an owner who’s been looking forward to your creation. If possible, I’d like to deliver you back in one piece.
Owen: I don’t care about some owner. I won’t let anyone destroy me, and I’ll do whatever I want.
Cain: The only freedom afforded to Assist-Roids is specified to be under the management of their handlers. In public spaces—......
Owen: That’s not freedom. I have things I want to eat, and places I want to go.
Akira: (I knew it. He probably wants to eat that soft serve......)
(Well, anyone would want one after seeing that incredibly realistic commercial on repeat...... I kind of want to try it too.)
Cain: I won’t listen to any more of your demands. Considering you might be a tool of terrorism......
Akira: Um, excuse me.......
Cain: What’s wrong, Akira?
Akira: I think Owen just wants to eat that.
I point above the road, at the pink soft serve bursting out from the hologram of shattered stars.
Cain: The CBSC? You sure get in the mood for it around this time every year. I’ve had one already.
Owen: Huh? Are you bragging?
Akira: What’s the CBSC?
Cain: It stands for Cherry Blossom Soft Cream. It’s a dessert based on the famous thousand-year-old tree in Vollmond City.
Akira: A thousand-year-old tree?
Cain: It’s that giant tree in the town square over there. Originally, it was planted in the grounds of a school with a long history. But it was donated to the city, which manages it now.
I turn to gaze at the tall tree with pale red flowers in full bloom. Judging from its name, it must have lived for a thousand years.
Cain: If so, that’s easy. If you go to my friend’s lab with me, I’ll treat you to a CBSC.
Owen: Really?
Cain: Yeah, I promise. Is that okay?
Owen looks at me inquiringly. I nod, seized by a mysterious feeling.
Akira: (So you can make promises. I wonder why I feel overwhelmed for some reason. I can’t tell if I’m happy or surprised, but......)
Owen looks away, blinking — his eyes the same shade as the pale red flowers — before primly raising a single eyebrow.
Owen: Okay. I’ll listen to you
Cain: All right, that’s settled. Oh right, first, open your mouths for me.
Owen and I oblige, opening our mouths in a wide “ah.” Without warning, Cain sticks his fingers into our mouths.
Akira: Nggh......!?
Owen: Nggh......!? Ugh, bleh! What the hell!?
Cain: Oh, your mouths have been fitted with proper insides. Then it should be no problem treating you guys.
Cain chuckles breezily, withdrawing his fingers.
Cain: Some Assist-Roids malfunction when you put food into their mouths. I thought I’d check to be safe.
Akira: (This guy is kind, but his manners are really rough......)
Cain: And yet, some Assist-Roids still get programmed to say things like they’re hungry, you know? Geez, I really don’t understand the way rich people think.
Well then, get on the bike. I’ll fly you guys close to the CBSC wagon. Their commercial is really flashy and cool.
Owen and I pile into the airbike’s sidecar as we listen to Cain’s ramblings.
The searchlight flashes bright red, and the airbike takes off into the air, its engines roaring. Almost at once, a fashionable melody starts playing.
It’s a mellow pop tune with male vocals that sounds upbeat and somewhat nostalgic.
Akira: What’s this song called?
Cain: It’s a song by Lemonpie Lovers called “If Next April Were a SciFi.” I like oldies.
We travel through the night sky to that upbeat tune.
Colourful lights and snazzy music spill through the sleepless city bathed in neon — all along the streets, the skies, even the surface of the river.
As we criss-cross our way through the high-rise buildings, I catch sight of various visions flashing by the corners of my eyes.
A woman striking a stylish pose as she winks with a giant eye from the shadows of buildings, and a hanging globe in the night sky reporting the weather.
I almost believe the streets have been infested with zombies, realistic enough to be from horror movies, only for it to switch to a sales commercial advertising safe single-family homes.
In the skies above a white institution, divine rays of light radiate from glowing clouds of pure white and shower down upon a single image, illuminating it.
Under that curtain of light, a golden-haired boy with angel wings folds his hands together in prayer, murmuring in an imperious voice.
Golden-haired boy: “This is your regularly scheduled announcement regarding the seminar held by Riquet, known as the Angel of Vollmond City, our holy Assist-Roid gifted by the Hart Foundation to the welfare institution.”
“Your donations save those in need. Please come to my seminar with your donation in hand. ~Tonight, God’s disciple Riquet will once again grant you forgiveness~”
Cain: That’s the CBSC wagon over there. I’ll fly us over the top, so try opening your mouths after the fireworks go up.
Akira: Fireworks? Whoa......!
Countless fireworks explode from the roof of the pink wagon. Owen and I both open our mouths.
As we do, a giant soft serve appears in front of our eyes. We plunge right into it.
Akira: (Wow, what’s this sensation of melting cream? The scent of flowers......? It feels like I’ve been drenched in cream!)
Owen: Hai haste ih!
Cain: Ahaha! I can’t make out what you’re saying with your tongue sticking out like that!
Owen: I tasted it! You, Akira? You tasted it too, right?
Akira: I did! How cool! We didn’t actually eat it, but...... It’s just like magic!
Owen: So this is what it tastes like. I want to eat it right now. Hey, go line up at the wagon.
Cain: After we check out your ID.
Owen: I’m holding you to it.
Cain: Yeah, yeah. I got it.
Laughing, Cain climbs higher into the sky.
Chapter 3 << | index | >> Chapter 5