Uncertain Heart [Open]

[upupatomway]

Soldiers take stock of weapons and ammunition, mechanics are in and out of the armor workshop, all in anticipation of the movement on Vindess that leaders are discussing. Atom had finished reading another magic book and in practice at the target range, he leaves targets quickly fried to a crisp by electricity. He had faced monsters here, he had faced other monsters and robots at home. Logically, he is ready to join the battle.

He had never attacked a human though. At home, it was against the law for a robot to seriously harm or kill a human, even in self-defense. He had always been under the watchful eye of the public as a representative of the robot race, and labeled a hero after saving people from accidents. He delayed the bad humans until the police arrived. There are definitely parallels between the slavery in the Empire and the slavery of robots, but this is a different world with different rules, and he is aware of what participating in battle might mean.

He isn't sure what the right thing to do is.

He decides to seek out someone who might have more battle experience to give him perspective. The Vault has a few possible candidates, but he also makes a point of visiting Flotsam where there are warriors abound. Atom approaches an individual at lunchtime, with a drink or food in hand to offer them.

"Excuse me. Do you have some time to have lunch and talk? I might be assigned to the front in the next battle, and I could use some advice from someone more experienced facing the Imperials." He asks politely.

Comments

[upupatomway]

Surely of all people Donnie's brother will provide some reliable insights. Atom nearly applauds watching how acrobatic he is, then remembers the topic he's really here for. But first, he should do the polite thing.

Since he was just working out, Atom offers him the bottled drink he had brought. "I don't know if Donnie mentioned me. I'm Atom, a robot from another world. Nice to meet you, Raph."

[supersmashbrother]

"Nice to meet you, too, Atom. Donnie sure knows a lot of people," Raph chuckles, accepting the bottled drink with a nod. "I guess that's a given when you're all on the same team, right?"

It takes less than a second for him to snap the top off of the bottle with his meaty fingers, raising it up and taking a swig. "Mm!" A second swig, and he sets it down with a sigh. "It's also weirdly reassuring that there are others 'round here in a similar predicament. How long have you been here for?"

[upupatomway]

Hearing Raph express that he had similar concerns puts Atom a bit more at ease, though he still isn't quite his cheerful, curious self. "September 2nd, last year I was pulled through the Servant's Gate by the empire. The Corsairs saved me from a ship on the way to the mines on the 5th," he answers. He has been counting the time since he first found out he was in a different world. Some part of him knew it might be of scientific interest later when compared to the time passed at home. Or maybe he was really counting until he could see his family.

"I've helped with measures to block or weaken the empire, and I've learned magic, but I haven't faced the soldiers so directly yet. I know there are probably some who were injured by something I helped to unfold, but the idea of fighting them... Or taking someone's life... It feels different to me." He glances around at the ships of Flotsam. "Have you joined Flotsam on the frontlines yet?"

[supersmashbrother]

He wasn't expecting such a detailed answer. Raph's brow creases as concern colors his expression. "Whoa. That's longer than it should be." He may be botching comfort, checking Atom for any visual signs of distress. "Still! Better to be here with the Corsairs than the mines, right? Otherwise we'd be havin' a very different conversation..."

But he considers the rest of what the boy has to say, nodding as he shares his thoughts with him. "Not yet. When I first got in about two months ago, I helped scout newer areas in the Vault for the overflow of people that joined us recently. Kind of like a front line there, punchin' giant bugs that spit acid at you. Maybe if you squint really hard."

His tone sobers a bit as he looks off to the side, folds his arms inward to nurse the drink in hand. "Where I'm from, as part of the Mad Dogz– I'm used to throwin' myself out front, smashing my way through problems. Fighting bad guys an' saving the day is our thing." Forgetting the drink in the next second, he lightly pounds his drink-laden hand into the other, spilling some of its contents. He then looks back at Atom with a slight frown. "From what Raph has seen so far, this world really upped the ante in terms of violence. But he's seen it in his own world, too. It makes for tougher decisions all around."

[upupatomway]

Any of Atom's outward signs of destress are those that were already there when he approached Raph to talk about a difficult subject. He has to agree with him on the mines, and nods his head. He might have even met a worse fate and ended up called back to the Imperial base where studies are conducted on otherworldly technology.

Punching big bugs can certainly count as the front line, but it's not the kind of enemy Atom is hesitant to face. If anything, he would have thought it was a shame they had to kill some fascinating creatures.

It's easy to imagine Raph literally mowing opponents down like an imposing athlete tackling the other team. Atom smiles faintly, wondering aloud, "Are the Mad Dogz like superheroes?"

A team meant to save the day sure sounded that way.

[supersmashbrother]

"Yeah! Sort of!" Raph beams. "The 'super' part can probably pertain to us being mutant turtles."

...Which doesn't match their team name at all. But it still sounds cool.

"It's mainly the four of us," he explains a bit more. "Me, Leo, Donnie, an' Mikey – whenever we went up to the surface, we did stuff. Patrols. Protectin' the public. Fightin' crime." His smile turns slightly wistful at that, and he shrugs after a short beat. "But now that Raph's here, he's gonna be applyin' those skills when we start heading out."

[upupatomway]

Atom smiles and nods at him. "That's close enough to count as superheroes if you ask me! It's not that hard to imagine Donnie as some kind of engineering expert for a superhero group, now that you mention it." He could easily launch into questions about the differences between Donnie's but he'll stay on the original topic for now.

"Sometimes I help the public too. Probably not as often as your group, but some of the abilities I was built with are useful in dangerous situations." He might be underexaggerating his reputation back home.

Atom looks more solemn. "Have you ever been a soldier?"

[supersmashbrother]

The kid hits the nail on the head. "Bingo! Donnie's our engineering, tech genius! Always has been," Raph says proudly. "We can always count on him to have something cookin' up in his lab." He then counts everyone else on his two fingers and thumb. "Leo's the Face, I'm the brawn, an' Mikey's...Mikey?"

It's okay, it's a brief summary of the team. Atom doesn't need to know everything just yet. Raph is happy to hear that Atom also helps the public whenever he can, only to look slightly puzzled while nodding his head. "Hey, heroics come in every shape an' size. On occasion still counts– wait, hold up, what do you mean by 'built'? Aren't you a human?"

The moment passes, however. "Funny story, actually!" Being faced with a serious question causes the turtle to utter a short laugh of sorts – not one of mirth, but one more in line with nervousness. "The long-short of it is I could've been! But I didn't! Raph's been a ninja his whole life."

[upupatomway]

"It's hard to imagine a Donnie who doesn't enjoy engineering!" Atom says with a little laugh. It sure sounds like the interests are consistent between the two. "It must be nice helping people and spending time with your brothers at the same time."

Atom shakes his head. "I'm a robot. That's why I can do things that humans can't do. Like fly. Being strong or flying happen to be helpful for helping people in danger." He laughs and tilts his head. "Now I'm the one with a surprised question! You're a real life ninja? They used to have them where I'm from, but not in recent years."