thenearshore | -Overflow- for 016

[Edward pauses again at the question. The suspicion makes perfect sense—Nasods are a lost technology, something that's been not just looked down upon but actively sought out and destroyed by those against it. He only knows of his own family, but he understands now that they were in hiding because of their knowledge. Nasods aren't something people are supposed to talk about openly.

But it's a little different since he's already seen a Nasod in this place... obviously this Add person doesn't hate Nasods if he uses them to guard his temple. Still, it's not something he's used to talking about. Edward looks down at the floor, trying not to feel anxious.]

My parents were Nasod researchers... I know a lot about them. I've even built a few small ones before.

[ Well that’s…helpful.

Not.

Jakob sighs, shaking his head. He sounds kind of like Add, really, if Add had any parents—did he? Jakob had never thought to ask. ]

Right, well, perhaps you might wish to look back upon this incident should you make another attempt. Now, come along. We’re already wasting too much time here.

[A small part of him was hoping that maybe Jakob would be impressed or say he's also interested in Nasods or something... but the mild encouragement will do. If he's telling Edward he should continue pursuing a highly illegal activity, he's definitely someone Edward can trust. The boy nods enthusiastically.] Y-yes! Definitely!

[Just as they're about to leave, he steals one more glance back at the waterlogged machine... and stops, something else catching his eye. The machine still isn't moving, but...]

What's that blinking light? [It should be broken, right? But now there's one small light blinking in a steady pattern on the top of the Roomba.] Is it still alive?

[As Edward crouches down again to get a better look, Jakob should easily be able to see a familiar purple hologram start to form above the boy's head, fragments of hardlight swirling into existence to create a cube.]

[ Well it’s not like Jakob can ban his master from doing illegal life-threatening experiments anyway. All he really knows is when to duck and cover. ]

What? [ He turns around, panicked at the thought that Rin might be coming to life with a vengeance, when that glow finally resolves itself into something familiar— ]

Apocalypse! [ Though part of him is relieved to see the cube, he nevertheless quickly places himself between it and Edward just in case Apo-chan might be malfunctioning like Rin is. ]

[Apocalypse is a weird thing to shout out of nowhere, from Edward's perspective, and he scrambles back in alarm at Jakob's reaction combined with the strange cube forming above them. The security Nasod called for backup...?!

But Apocalypse recognizes its name being called. Rather than proceed into defensive countermeasures, it pauses to study these reported "assailants". It sure is a good thing that Apo has an advanced enough AI to realize a bunch of scared children armed with a knife and a bucket probably aren't that much of a threat. It eventually switches on its facial features, lowering itself to hover between the small trespassers and Rin's damaged body.

A small holoscreen pops up in front of Jakob.]

GREETING
HELLO! USER PROFILE NOT FOUND.
MASTER ADD IS UNAVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT.
PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND STATE YOUR BUSINESS.

[... and since nothing is trying to murder them and this cat-cube thing looks kinda cute, Edward leans in from behind Jakob to get a closer look at it.]

[ The fact that Apocalypse hasn’t begun hostilities gives Jakob room to be testy: ]

It is Jakob, and I would appreciate it if you help us out of here and search for that feckless master of ours!

And you— [ Turning a sharp glare at Edward—something tells him he might try something funny— ] Don’t get too close!

[Edward already has a hand out trying to touch the holoscreen when Jakob turns to glare at him. He makes a face, but reluctantly lowers his hand a little.]

I wasn't going to... [He's only respecting this kid's authority because he seems to know what's going on, but that doesn't mean he has to like it.

Apocalypse flickers, studying "Jakob" curiously while it processing the meaning of that reply. It would be simple to just label this one "Jakob 2"
and call it a day, but there's only one Jakob Apocalypse is aware of who would refer to Add as both of their masters... but this Jakob is inconsistent with that Jakob. The energy signature is similar, but the appearance is all wrong. But master Add also looked different compared to Apocalypse's records when it first arrived here, so something similar may have happened to Jakob?

The cube hovers a little closer, circling slowly around Jakob once before settling back in its original position. The text refreshes itself a moment later.]

ERROR
I AM UNABLE TO VERIFY YOUR IDENTITY.
NO SECURITY QUESTION ON FILE.
PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO VERIFY.

[ Jakob, who has no understanding of Apocalypse’s lapses in logic, only grows even more impatient at the reply. Ugh, if Apocalypse can’t recognize him, then it can’t be helped. Jakob is sure he wants nothing to do with his own past as it is. ]

If I must… [ The most put-upon sigh. ] I will tell you a deep, dark secret of Add’s…a secret so grave that it must never leave the ears of anyone in this room.

[ Turning a glare to Edward, he continues, in a most confidential tone— ]

I have once caught him effusively swaying his hips to Bubblegum Generation’s latest number, “I’ve Got Booty.”

[ And no one is allowed to question how he’s managed to identify the song and the band— ]

[If it weren't for all that buildup, Edward wouldn't have even guessed that this was such a serious matter... but he has no idea what any of that means. It sounds really dumb, though. It'll only be much later that he'll seethe with embarrassment over the fact that Jakob witnessed this horrific event. How does he even know it's such a huge secret?! Don't you dare judge him for this, Jakob—!

But surely such a secret is more than enough to prove a closeness to Add. Apocalypse is familiar with his taste in music, after all. It hums thoughtfully for a second before responding with the only logical answer:]

ERROR
UNABLE TO VERIFY.
THIS INFORMATION IS NOT LISTED AS SOMETHING JAKOB WOULD KNOW.
I AM SORRY, PLEASE TRY AGAIN!

[ It’s okay, Add, Jakob judges you for plenty of other things already!

But Jakob stamps his foot impatiently upon reading that reply, ever more like a petulant child than ever despite his adult mind. ]

What sort of reasoning is that? Who else could know of this secret but his own shinki?!

-Overflow- for 016 | The Good Old Days

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