fifth light [action/video]

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

[Epsilon is seated on one of the benches in her memorial garden, which is near the edge of the Gardens. Standing before her is a very tall, muscular woman with short, blonde hair, dressed simply in pants and a sleeveless t-shirt. She appears human, but if someone were to study her very closely, they might realize that she is not breathing, and she does not blink. The two women are too preoccupied with each other to realize the Vine is recording them.

At first, nothing seems to be overtly wrong. Epsilon appears quite calm. Then the taller woman speaks, her voice low.]

There's nothing left now.

[Epsilon's eyes widen, but she holds the woman's gaze.] You mean--everyone?

There was no one to protect them, after you were gone.

I-- [As the full meaning of this sinks in, Epsilon's calm suddenly breaks, and she buries her head in her hands.]

[The other woman continues to speak, implacably.] You watched it happening, and you were too weak to act. It's your fault.

[Epsilon looks up again, and although her expression is as pained and twisted as if she's been crying, there are no actual tears on her face.] I accept responsibility for my choice.

For all their deaths?

[Though Epsilon cannot answer this question verbally, she nods. Another few moments pass before she can speak again, her voice edged with desperation. She doesn't want to be alone. In spite of the woman's anger, Epsilon knows her--though the robot she remembers was male in form. Nonetheless, this person is a part of her world, something that remains.] Stay with me, Heracles.

With a weak little traitor like you?

[Epsilon nods again.] Yes.

[After a hesitation, the woman snorts.] All right. There's nowhere else I could go, now. I'll stay with you, to remind you. You shouldn't be allowed any peace after what you've done. What you didn't do. [Heracles sits beside her on the bench.]

[Epsilon does not object. She's aware that this woman might not be real, could well be another of the Gardens' illusions. Heracles died before she herself did; how would Heracles know what had happened after? Yet Epsilon has no way to contradict her words. It is all too possible that they could be true. She has feared that possibility since arriving here. She has no knowledge of what happened after she was destroyed. Her children, dead. Everyone dead. She can see the flowers all around her, so bright and tall, but they seem so far away.]

Comments

[phobophage]

[Silently, Deimonea'd been watching the broadcasts. They reminded her of something familiar. Weapons used by an enemy she'd helped fight before, crippling and undermining attacks in a war of psychology. It wasn't unusual for people to turn up without an introduction, but three in a row, all speaking such words...

The others she didn't really know and she hadn't yet ascertained the pattern, but with this one, she finally spoke up.]

Does anything about this strike you as strange?

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

[Epsilon turns toward the sound of the voice, surprised out of her melancholy reverie. She considers Deimonea's words.]

Yes. She shouldn't know these things. [Yet Epsilon doesn't seem inclined to fight back, sitting quite still at Heracles' side.] I think it might be an illusion, like the ones in the Labyrinth.

[The other woman speaks too, but she is terse and scornful and not inclined to explain.] It isn't.

[phobophage]

Yes. Like those in the Labyrinth. And others I've seen too, before those gardens. You aren't the first. By this point, I'm almost certain they aren't real.

Attacking you with accusations you fear to be true. It's an old and tried tactic of the enemies I fought before coming here.

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

[It is true that this does not seem like Heracles, not the last time they spoke. They had come to an understanding of sorts.] I believe you must be right, Deimonea. Thank you.

[Heracles doesn't seem concerned by the claim that she is not real.] She knows it's true. She watched me die and didn't stop it. She could have.

[Epsilon doesn't deny or confirm what she says. She remembers that in the Labyrinth, one was supposed to challenge the things one saw. Then they disappeared.] As odd as it may sound, I don't want her to leave.

[phobophage]

[Deimonea stares at Epsilon perplexedly for a while then slowly nods.] I suppose you miss her.

[urbanwonderland.livejournal.com]

[Reeve appears onscreen, her expression one of concern and puzzlement. She routinely monitors the vine when working and has caught enough of this particular conversation to grasp the thread of events. It's been a very odd day.]
Epsilon? Do you truly believe what-- this person has to say?

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

[She turns toward the Vine. She looks a little dazed, not a common state for a robot.]

I believe it could be true. I can't know what happened in my world, after I came here. [It's all she wants to know: some glimmer of home or scrap of knowledge.]

[Heracles chimes in.] She could have stopped it all, but she didn't.

[urbanwonderland.livejournal.com]

[Reeve has decided to take the tack (for now) of not addressing these-- whatever they are, manifestations. She ignores the other woman, focusing on Epsilon. The expression on Epsilon's face concerns her.]

I can't tell you what happened, obviously. All I can do is tell you what I do know-- and that is that the person I've come to know would have done everything in her power to safeguard the people she loved. That person would even have given up her own life if she had thought it was necessary.
[She's calm, but firm.] Whatever the outcome of events on your world, I feel sure that you did your very best for everyone.

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

There was someone in my world, someone very dangerous. He'd become that way because terrible things were done to him. They filled him with hate. [It's strange to speak of that here, in this recreation of the field of flowers that Sahad had loved and hoped for.] He caused a great deal of harm, but I could never see him as my enemy. I didn't destroy him when I had the chance.

I'll never be able to return. I'll never know what happened.

[Heracles repeats her earlier words.] There's nothing to go back to. Because you didn't do what you were meant to do. You saved him, but not your own kids.

[Epsilon glances at Heracles, sadly, before returning her attention to Reeve.] I promised them I'd be back. I broke my promise.

[urbanwonderland.livejournal.com]

But Epsilon, what you did-- wasn't it to save them? I don't think it's wrong to consider taking a life the last possible resort. In the end, what you did you did for them.
What if this-- apparition is wrong? What if your children know what you did for them, and they love you, even if they have grief? But in any case, in the end you did what you thought was right, even though it cost you a great deal. You might never know what happened, but I don't think you can call a sacrifice a "broken promise".

video;

[dia-f.livejournal.com]

...Who the fuck is that?

video;

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

Hello, Dot. [She manages a faint smile, though the strain is still visible in her eyes.]

It's someone from my world. Or she seems to be. [As a robot, she isn't completely overwhelmed by her emotions, though they are strong. Some of the things Heracles says do seem odd, and she has her doubts.] Her name is Heracles.

[Heracles answers the question, too, with another snort.] She didn't tell you? She sat back and watched me die. But you could say that about a lot of people, couldn't you, Epsilon? The mechanical coward, that's what they called you, isn't it?

video;

[dia-f.livejournal.com]

What a dick. What's Miss Mann doin' here if she's dead, then?

video;

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

There are others here who died in their worlds.

[Heracles laughs.] She died too, if you can even call it a death. Just a coward, breaking apart.

[Epsilon reacts to this with a sharp glance.] No, I protected them. [She turns to Dot.] It's true, I was destroyed as well.

video;

[dia-f.livejournal.com]

So what's the big deal then? Who gives a shit if you're a coward?

[Audio]

[fallenfreelancr.livejournal.com]

[Just a low, questioning growl, alright?. She's not entirely sure what's going on, but some of what's been said strikes a chord with the person inside the suit.]

[Audio]

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

Hello, Meta. [She recognizes the voice. The growl is distinctive.] It's all right. This is someone I know, from my world.

[While that might not be entirely true, it is true enough that her programming allows her to say it.]

[text]

[fallenfreelancr.livejournal.com]

[She's figuring not many people are as adept at the 'grumblygrowly' talk as she is. She switches to writing, though, because at this point she recognizes Washington's the only one who can actually decipher her.]

[So far Epsilon's about the closest she's come to an AI here, and although certainly not the same as implanting one, she was eager to avail herself whenever possible.]

[Audio]

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

Thank you. There's no need to worry. I can't be harmed. [She keeps her tone even.]

[Heracles speaks as well.] You're not someone I know, Epsilon. Or someone I'd want to know. You let me die. You don't deserve to be here. Someone should rip you apart again.

[text]

[fallenfreelancr.livejournal.com]

[Meta's not discerning enough to be able to recognize that this other person probably isn't really there, and she replies with a angry growl on her end as she scratches words in.]

video;

[brands.livejournal.com]

[Fang's voice is gruff, but it's clear she's concerned. Whatever, she likes Epsilon. ;;]

Hey, don't listen to that. It's the same as the Labyrinth -- a bunch of smoke and mirrors.

video;

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

Hello, Fang. [Part of her knows Fang is right. This can't be real.] Yes, she can't know as much as she does. She wouldn't--I don't think she would say these things to me. But there may be some truth in her words. I have to accept that possibility. [She can't bring herself to deny what Heracles says, as awful as that possibility is.]

[Heracles seems amused by this.] Don't expect her to fight back. That's one thing she won't do. She couldn't fight to save her own life.

video;

[brands.livejournal.com]

Even if there's some truth to it...[a pause, she glances up to the sky. She doesn't know how to handle this, exactly. All of Fang's plans end in fighting, destruction. It's all she knows. But even she recognizes that strength does not always equate violence.] You did what you could to protect them, I'd wager. And on your terms. That takes a lot of guts.

video;

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

[At this, Heracles seems to grow angry.] There was a murderer, killing all of us. He killed so many people, and this one, here--wanted to make friends. What kind of protection is that?

There was no one else in the world who could kill that thing, and she let it live. That's what you call guts?

[Epsilon shakes her head, slowly.] No--

video;

[brands.livejournal.com]

[Fang's jaw tightens.] Shut up. I'm tired of you damn things.

[It sounds to her, like something Vanille would do. She addresses Epsilon now.] There's gotta be more to it than that.