Ranma moved so that Kasumi was entirely behind him. The form rippled for a moment, and Ranma tensed expecting something to happen. However, nothing did.
“Salutations, people of Middle Leptar the Third.” Ranma knew he heard the words, yet he knew he didn’t.
“Telepathy,” Kasumi gasped. “But how does it know our language?”
“A rapid neural scan was performed prior to my disembarking. We’ve been told it feels like Uptgar slime upon one’s proboscis nerve endings. I have come in search of assistance and to bring a warning. Time is finite and imploding.”
“I think it needs to practice more, did you get any of that, Kasumi?” Ranma was confused by the thing’s odd speech patterns.
Kasumi began to slide out from behind Ranma, only to have him hold her back with an arm. From over Ranma’s shoulder, Kasumi addressed the visitor from space. “How can we help you?”
“This unit has been damaged. This unit is in need of repairs. This unit is part of a freedom pack, protecting weaker species. This unit has a mission, but damage induced amnesia erased all mission related data. This unit’s host deactivating. Without host, this unit can not function. Need to protect Middle Leptar the Third, maybe, this unit uncertain. Help this unit?”
Kasumi and Ranma looked at each other in confusion. “I think he’s hurt,” Kasumi commented in concern.
“What can we do about it?” Ranma questioned.
“What is your name?” Kasumi wanted to know what to call the creature.
In response, a beautiful and haunting melody filled the air, ending with two timed bursts of sparks. “In your language, it would be Protomecha X7-B.”
“Puroto-mecha?” Kasumi tried to sound out the name.
Ranma shrugged. “What if we call you Pupo?”
“This unit concords.”
“Pupo,” Kasumi asked as she kneeled down to be closer to it, “what are you?”
Pupo seemed to shimmer for a moment. “This unit is a symbiotic construct compatible with carbon based machines such as the units found on this silicaceous body.”
“Symbiotic?” Kasumi was intrigued. “How does that work?”
“Host unit provide sensory functions and upper capacity cognitive subroutines. Host unit provides energy and stabilization of structure within gravity fields greater than five ur-centas. Host provides directive. This unit’s kin and self provide elongation of interval until total senescence and custom speed repair capacity. This unit and kin provide defensive and offensive protective functions and routines. This unit’s type provides nodal access to interneural networking of symbiotic partnerships. This unit is damaged, this unit’s host is fading. Need repairs.” Pupo had shimmered and rippled a couple times during the course of his speech.
Kasumi looked at Ranma, who looked back. Ranma shrugged, indicating that it was Kasumi’s show.
“What do you need for repairs?”
“Unknown what available resources found on Middle Leptar the Third. When host deactivates, this unit follows suit. Need new host promptly, need to find raw elements. Need beacon so this unit’s pack can locate this unit.” Pupo started to sound weak.
Kasumi and Ranma looked at each other. “Well?” Ranma asked.
“It needs to bond with one of us. Maybe we can understand it better then. Once it is healed, Maybe we can alert Pupo’s friends and he can go home.”
Ranma looked at the stars in thought. “Is the bonding permanent? Sounds risky. I’ll do it.”
“I don’t know, Ranma. If something goes wrong, we’ll need you to stop the coming insanity. I think that this is an omen of chaos to come.”
“Why can’t we just stop by a pet store?”
Kasumi rolled her eyes. “Then what? One bark for yes, two for no?”
Ranma looked at the silver slime. “What about your ship?”
“Escape vessel primed for imminent implosion. Recommend minimum distance of five foobies in three ud-stellicans.”
“We better decide quick and get out of here. I didn’t understand much other than we shouldn’t be here.”
Kasumi nodded. “Very well.”
The two waged a silent staring contest. “Tell me,” Ranma asked without breaking his stare, “does this bonding hurt?”
“Negative,” Pupo replied. “Bonding lacks simulation of nerve endings. Take one planetary rotation to complete. No mark present to indicate bond. This unit will interface with nervous network, enhance speed and sensitivity of network components. The ensuing sensations do not only hurt, do not not hurt. Sore, not pain. This unit’s cognitive computational center accessible by host. Subroutines include pain-suppression protocols. Host role includes protector function. Membership in freedom pack and access to trans-gravity vessel recommended.”
The two humans shrugged at each other. In the end:
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(Posted Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:10)
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