caughtinanetwork | 005 || video;

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005 || video;

... ich diese nachricht für Ratsche, sollte in der Lage sein zu entziffern.

Ich werde zurück zum schrottplatz, sollten sie mich gesucht. Und ich hoffe sie tun es nicht. I. .. sie sah, was geschehen war. Ich bin nicht sehr stabil. Und ich glaube nicht, dass ich nie mehr sein wird genug, um sie ständig an meiner Seite.

Sie können immer noch kommen Sie und besuchen sie. Aber versuchen Sie nicht, bringen sie mich zurück.

[He sighs, sitting back and switching back to a useable language. And in his hand, he seems to be attempt to repair a small device, shattered glass spread out like a puzzle all over the table and a small wrench in hand.]

...I would like to think things are back to normal. Or... heh. Whatever's considered normal around here.

Look, just... let's just disregard it. Forget what you saw, forget what happened. I'm willing to.

[He continues working on his project, pulling a pair of goggles over his eyes.]

Thank you.

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[It takes a few hours after the message for Ratchet to decode it. He had to do it letter by letter, guessing with some as he couldn't remember the entire alphabet. Three and a half hours later he knows what the message says and doesn't respond. Instead he walks down to the Junkyard and knocks on the door of his friend's hut.]

[And three and a half hours later, he's still hard at work trying to repair that watch, back turned to the door and leaning over the device. He remembered enough that he'd been the one to mangle it this badly, and the fact that it was broken at all... it tore at his heart to see the shattered glass and mangled metal. He pauses a moment, one gloved finger longingly trailing over the image of his old friend.

Then his ear turns, finding someone knocking at the door. He knows exactly who it is and why he's come... so he keeps his hand away from the unlocking mechanism for now, going back to his work.

Ratchet didn't need to see him like this. He shouldn't have even come.]

[Ratchet waits for a bit after knocking the first few times before he knocks again. There aren't any words, no shouts or demands. Just knocking.]

[Alister pauses in his work at the second knock, hoping his silence would be enough to deter the other Lombax.

He wanted to be left alone with his thoughts. He didn't want to go back. He didn't want to have to face Ratchet, or their broken promise. He didn't--

...

The elder Lombax opens the door.]

[The smaller Lombax walks into the shop and looks around. He's silent for a moment, in his hand is Alister's portable heater. He sets it down and looks to the General.]

...Do you have everything you need here?

[The General remains in his seat, back turned to the other and hands over his work. And he's silent for the longest time, still as a stone.

But eventually, he speaks. And when he does, Ratchet might need to strain to hear it.]

...

Bringing me back to life was the greatest mistake this city could make.

Don't say that. [Ratchet responds fast and his voice sounds firm. He looks over at the door, not wanting to face the other Lombax.]

And why not? [The Lombax swivels around in his chair, glaring down the younger.]

I nearly killed a man, Ratchet. I did kill you. I don't understand any of this.

Because I don't want you gone!

[The youngster yells but he doesn't turn around.]

It was the dreams! They kept you awake and did things to you! It wasn't your fault!

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You okay, General? What'cha workin' on?

Everything's fine now, Demyx. There is no need for alarm. Wenn nur ich die Vergangenheit ändern konnte.

...ah.

{He looks down again, at the shattered remains of a small metal object in his hands... and the Lombax's ears fold back in concern, mourning the broken device.]

In the instability of the curse, I managed to... damage something that held value to me. It's nothing a few modifications won't repair.

Really? Man, that kinda sucks... Is, uh... I'm not that great with fixin' a lot of stuff but is there anythin' I can do to help? What broke?

_{[Nevermind that he barely understood machinery and just gave Alister a crude scribble of the 'walking fish bowl' as he labeled it on the top. At least when it didn't involve music.]}

I think I got a screwdriver somewhere in the house I could let you borrow or somethin'...

[The mournful look turns into a sad smile, and wordlessly, the General turns the shattered device in the direction of the SFC, making its remains clearly visible.

Tiny, and to many others possibly even insignificant, there is a watch with a cracked picture inside, the normally bright lights and turning gears on the other side now dull and still.

But the other Lombax in the photo... that's not Ratchet, is it?]

Whoa...

_{[Really. That's probably one of the neatest things he's seen that small so far in the city. Not to mention it reminds him a little bit of the pocket watches that Myde would recover in his childhood from the various shipwrecks scattered along the ocean floor.

And he's never exactly seen one with a picture in it. It actually looks like a locket too, he notes.]}

S'that you? An' did'ja have a brother or somethin'? Both of you guys got the really long ears 'n stuff! You guys jus' got different color fur!

A brother... heh. I suppose he could have been considered one, yes. Of all the Lombaxes I'd known back on my homeworld, I don't think anyone would have been able to take Kaden's place.

[His fingers curl protectively around the broken pocketwatch, the metal lightly scraping against the heavy wood table.]

This was taken some thirty years ago, when I had been promoted to General of the Lombax Praetorian Guard. Kaden insisted we take a photo together so he could try and embarrass me later.

It's... strange. How fate turns out.

What was he like? I mean if he was your best friend he had to have been pretty awesome. Cuz you're awesome too. I don't really know you that great but I get a weird uncle vibe from you.

_{[He pauses and scoots a bit closer to his SFC, head tilted to the left.]}

Also, uh... What's a Praetorian Guard? 'n did all Lombaxes look like you guys? Orange and white fur? Did'ja ever have any with black fur? _{[Another pause, then sheepishly;]} Erm... Sorry for all the questions. Curiousity, yanno?

Ha! What wasn't he like? Kaden did it all - military, hoverbooting, science, literature. If there was something he could get involved in, he'd do it. I don't think he ever sat still.

Though... you shouldn't judge someone before truly getting to know them. I'm honestly surprised you've gotten this courage to even confront me after that whole mess.

[But now was not the time for wondering what could have been. If anything, the distraction was a welcome one, even if it was still related to the dream disaster.]

There were different areas of Fastoon, with different climates. So Lombaxes ranged from different breeds, species, and origination. You... might notice my own structure differs from either Ratchet or Kaden's. It's because I'm a Siamesisch.