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Companion - 7 Blazing Trails
Pss. Pss.
Trailblazer puts his hands together in silent respect at the heap of soil—over which a stone slab has been erected in place of a gravestone.
This, according to Weixian, is how one should commemorate the dead...
...May you rest in peace.
This, according to Weixian, is how one should pay their respect to the dead...
Although a few doodles are all that's lying under the soil.
Once again, Trailblazer is back at St. Soraya Cathedral—where his "mission" began.
Trailblazer has found the drawings Victor mentioned at the specified location...
And made Victor a grave the way Weixian had shown him before.
"Victor Jackson—R.I.P." And the dates... There.
And now...
Trailblazer wants to make Weixian a grave, too.
Weixian may be gone, but Trailblazer still wants to make something the world can remember her by.
Seconds into starting making her a gravestone, however, Trailblazer stops.
Because it hits Trailblazer that he knows absolutely nothing about her—other than the name she went by.
Having no idea what to write on Weixian's gravestone, Trailblazer instead wants to draw a picture of her with mud.
What did she look like, though? To Trailblazer's surprise, Weixian's face now seems a world away—even though Trailblazer has her facial features saved in his system.
Then, it dawns on Trailblazer that he never really had a good look of her face until she told Trailblazer to run in the trench.
Is there someone out there?
Trailblazer snaps back to his senses at the voice coming from behind him, having been fully engrossed in trying to make the stickman in his hands look as close to Weixian as possible.
...So you're still alive.
Behind Trailblazer now stands a new confessional—one that, while being a crudely simplistic makeshift on this wasteland where Trailblazer now finds himself, appears entirely fitting alongside the cathedral.
Hey... it's you. It's great seeing you again. Mr. Machine of War.
It's been a while since we last met and I still see you pacing up and down. What's the matter?
Well...
Overwhelmed with feelings, Trailblazer feels the urge to pour out his history, thoughts, regrets, and his achievements—at this person whose face he's never seen.
Then, he comes to an abrupt halt.
Is he mistaking Trailblazer for someone else?
The man in the confessional said he couldn't see Trailblazer. Does that mean the man has mistaken Trailblazer for some human that needs his help?
...I think there's some misunderstanding here. I'm not really someone you can help.
Because I'm just a mechanoid.
Having finished what he has to say, Trailblazer falls quiet, as though waiting for the man in the confessional to deliver a judgment.
The man, to Trailblazer's surprise, lets out a few chuckles.
First of all, congratulations.
Because the fact that you think there is a misunderstanding here shows that you're trying to understand what I said.
Now, the ability to see things from another person's perspective is precious and impressive, and it's something that even some humans aren't capable of. Someone might have taught you this, perhaps?
...
And about you being a mechanoid...
Yes, I'm keenly aware of that, and I knew it from when we first talked.
Be it your tone of voice or the way you talk, you never tried to talk like a human.
And, of course, being a mechanoid myself really helps, too.
...!
Dumbfounded for a few seconds, Trailblazer dashes forward and pulls open the door to the confessional...
And sees that there is no one in there—except for a working communicator.
If you're curious about who I am, then come to the place I said before.
Three kilometers eastward, and from there you head north...
...
Trailblazer is speeding through the sky.
Having lost most of his mobility equipment from all the battles and travels he's been through, Trailblazer is quickly burning through his power reserve.
That, however, is far from what's on Trailblazer's mind now—as he keeps his mind focused on the place the man said, as though trying to escape from something.
When he comes to a stop, Trailblazer sees a rolling hill, on which a cottage with a double door stands—exactly like the confessional he's seen before.
As Trailblazer approaches the cottage, he hears a man's voice.
A trick? I'm not surprised you think of it that way, my friend. I was indeed using a trick. So, tell me, what do you think about all this?
...That's right. You want to sound absolutely innocent. You can't expect them to open up to you if you aren't in the same boat, right?
Psychology says the caretaker is to blame; sociology says the society is to blame; and philosophy... says that we're all innocent, as you've pointed out.
So it's the innocent self against the evil world. The million-dollar question, though, is, "What do we do about it?" What do you say?
...It's okay. You don't need to give me an answer right away. I'll just be here waiting for you... Ouch!
Reaching his hand into a confessional and rummaging in it for a few seconds, Trailblazer yanks out a man-shaped being.
Yo, buddy, easy! What's the matter?
The man, having been yanked out of the confessional, is then dropped on the ground.
Hey, it's you, Mr. Machine of War.
...That familiar annoying way of talking. So it's you, huh.
Now, who are you? What do you want from me?
...Before we get to that, let me just quickly wrap up this other conversation I was having in there.
The man sticks his head back into the confessional.
I'm afraid this is going to take a while, but do take advantage of this time to think about my question just now.
Getting no response from the person sitting inside the confessional, the man turns around to face Trailblazer with a smile, his request apparently having been approved.
Now, allow me to congratulate you again, Trailblazer—on becoming an "awakened machine".
And as you might have already noticed, being an awakened mechanoid now means you're no longer vulnerable to Punishing. This immunity to the virus, however, is only part of what it means to have become an Awakened Machine.
It also means that you now have your own will—and it just so happens that we, the Church of Machina, are now looking for awakened machines such as yourself.
Now, you can think of the Church of Machina... as an institute where awakened machines help one another. While we do share common goals, I personally focus more on helping mechanoids gain self-consistency.
...Are there a lot of mechanoids out there in this world immune to Punishing like you and me?
Yes. Like I said, you'll find a lot of companions here.
Seeing Trailblazer thinking out loud with his arms folded, the man lets out a chuckle.
If this whole Church of Machina idea makes you feel uneasy, it's totally understandable. I can get down to the nitty-gritty of it with you in a bit, but before that...
...Hey, how much longer do I need to keep waiting?
A figure pulls the confessional's curtain open and hops out.
Hey. Look, I was just about to introduce you to...
...!
With his thoughts interrupted, Trailblazer finds himself at a complete loss for words...
Because there is no mistaking the person who's standing right before himself now.
...Weixian?
...Steely? So you found me, eh...
Weixian doesn't seem surprised at all seeing Trailblazer, who's at a loss for words seeing Weixian in her current state.
Because she's holding her head in her hands.
And where her head used to be...
There is now a glaring cut that's spitting out tiny specks of spark, with shining electronic components visible inside.
...And you're a mechanoid?
...? C'mon, I thought I'd never see you again when I got out of that pile of monsters, and this is all you have to say to me?
Wow... I know your human scanning system is down, but I never ate anything or slept once the whole time we were together. Didn't you find that weird at all? Have you seen a human capable of that? Are you alright up there, Steely?
...Well, most of the humans I've seen are like that.
Says Trailblazer, as he recalls all those times when Victor was too busy working on new weapons to properly eat and sleep, so he actually had to have his housekeeping robot carry him out of the lab to make him eat and sleep.
...Wow, just, wow.
But anyhow... I was actually going to look for you... to thank you. Those monsters were a real handful and you did blow my head off, but hey... you did save me.
Weixian bobs her head with her hands as she speaks, her voice sounding funny with the movement.
I... blew your head off...
Trailblazer finds it hard to wrap his head around what's happening.
What's wrong, Steely? Never seen a machine that's still alive with its head blown off?
Oh, about time I told you why I've been calling you Steely, eh? Well, that's what humans call mechanoids, so I thought I'd do that, too, to sound like a human.
I looked the part, didn't I? None of the other IDO-1 machine idols have got anything on me! I'd stop calling you Steely if you start rocking the same artificial skin we do.
Wait, Steely in artificial skin. Oh gosh, that's just... Hahahahaha!
Weixian bends down from laughing, all the while oblivious to Trailblazer's confusion.
Uh-hum, sorry for interrupting, but could you wait for us in the confessional, Weixian? I need to have a talk with our new companion here.
Fine. Pulling that same trick again where you don't allow a third person present when you do your counseling, huh?
It's not so much counseling... as it's an invitation, and I'd also like to take this opportunity to answer some questions Trailblazer here might have.
Of course. Now, just don't keep me waiting forever, please.
And I need to have a talk with Steely, too, when you're done.
I mean, it makes sense for us to get to know each other better if you're going to hang out with us at the Church... right?
Says Weixian as she slips back into the confessional. The man turns around to face Trailblazer, looking apologetic.
Apologies, Trailblazer. There are a million things I haven't had the chance to tell you. As you can see, Weixian is an awakened machine, just like you.
I was tied down with some duties here when I got a hold of her, so I asked her to stay around the Church and wait for a brother from the Church to pick her up.
And then you came along and took her... which is something I never saw coming.
But it's wonderful to see that you've awakened yourself, and whenever we get to sit down for another talk, I'd love to learn about what you went through after that if you don't mind sharing.
Well, now... Uh-hum.
The man clears his mechanic throat—of non-existent dirt.
As a member of the Church of Machina, I hereby would like to invite you, Trailblazer, to join us.
...
Still trying to wrap his head around the situation, Trailblazer finally recovers himself with the man's gentle tone of voice.
Being offered to him now is an invitation—one coming from a fellow mechanoid—and not a military order from some higher-up, nor a plea from an enemy to spare their life.
An invitation to join them as their companion, that is.
A companion is something that the man who created Trailblazer never gave him, nor is it something that Victor himself ever had.
With all his make-believe, the man was all alone in the long pursuit of his dream—eventually finding himself ground to a pulp in absolute solitude...
With nothing but the starry sky he had hoped to reach, and all his petty little lies lamenting for the fallen man.
On the other hand, Trailblazer, in the very same solitude, sees not even a starry sky in sight.
He needs companions—very desperately.
During the time he spent with Weixian, not only did Trailblazer come to see the unyielding persistence in human nature, but also recognized the importance of companions and why everyone needs one.
And this man and Weixian—whose patience is running short inside the confessional as she kicks her legs repeatedly—are exactly what Trailblazer most desperately needs.
...Just stop talking to me like that.
I beg your pardon?
The man's invitation, however, should not be accepted without conditions, Trailblazer reckons.
I'm talking about the way you talk to me. It really grinds my gears, and I think I know why now. Now...
His finger hanging mid-air as he points at the man, Trailblazer is suddenly at a loss for words when he realizes that he doesn't know the man's name.
You should probably tell me your name, since I only know you as the man who kidnaps kids.
...Haha. Hahahahahaha!
As though laughing with every ounce of his being, the man bends forward.
Oh boy, that's hilarious, but I'd prefer you to address me with my favorite nickname.
"Typhoon Dicer", that is.
...Pst.
A quiet burst of laughter can be heard from the confessional.
Okay, just stop talking to me like that, "Typhoon Dicer".
Alright, I will.
Says the man in a straight tone and voice, all the while feeling cheerful on the inside. Mutual respect is indispensable in a healthy partnership, and making sure you're heard is the first step toward building such a relationship.
Right then, Trailblazer takes a step toward the man, as he has expected.
Well, then...
Take me to this "Church of Machina", then.
I still don't know what a "companion" is, but Weixian told me that when you share memories with someone and interact with them, they're your companion.
I need companions. I want you to be my companions.
With pleasure.
Raising his hand as he tiptoes, the man holds Trailblazer's hand.
Welcome, Trailblazer.
>>>Trailblazer Log, Entry Number 10000.
Trailblazer, looking for companions.
