Playing in the Park (Open to 3)

It was another nice, warm, and sunny day on San Malarus. It was a Saturday, aka freedom day for many young children. The android was escorting Maria to the playground since she had just so much energy to spare and run around with. Granted, that was her normal state, but if the android ever gave her sweets...well world look out here comes a hyper Maria Farren. That being said the young girl was currently occupying herself with an obstacle course on the playground. Various others were playing on the swing set, jungle gym, teeter-totter, and slide. Children were scampering too and fro to play with their friends or go on fantasy adventures to faraway lands of kings, princesses, and evil wizards. Fortunately, they had installed a water fountain not far from the playground in case the children go thirsty, and so the mothers would not have to worry about their children passing out.

Her guardian was watching her while reading excepts from the famous work of Plato, The Republic, the android was intrigued by the thought of an idealistic society guided by a philosopher-king, who acted the part of reason when compared to the soul. Then you had honor-lovers and money-lovers to make up the other two classes, which represented the honor and appetite of the soul. Plato's idea was truly fascinating, but ultimately it was like a house of cards, one misstep and the entire thing comes crashing down. A shame, but he noted that a commentary on it labeled the entire thing as satire, which was curious and the android was unsure of whether or not to believe it that commentary to hold merit. However, if one were to approach Maria, they would not do so without the android's knowledge, it may not look like it but he was paying careful attention to his main directive.

Yes, Sharaku's little acrobatic show got the attention of more than a few children who rushed up toward him, some of their mouths agape as they observed the older man's seemingly effortless front flip. Maria was one of the first, and she smiled as she waved enthusiastically to Sharaku as she approached, "Hey Sharaku!" She said, and a majority of the children turned and looked at Maria and began to ask how she knew of this older man. Maria stood on a small rock elevating her above all the other children, she was taking what she had observed from Curoe and putting into practice. She spoke in a loud and excited voice making wide and sweeping gestures as she spoke. "Because Sharaku and Senty are super-heroes! They fight crime and keep all our families safe from the bad guys! Sharaku is like...umm...he's like Batman! And Senty is Iron Man! Together they protect us from supervillains like bedtimes, homework, meanies, and angry dogs!" The girl seemed to be quite into her tale, and the android heard this and glanced up from his reading to see Sharaku surrounded by children looking up at him with awe.

The android closed the book and moved over through the crowd of children, he would allow Maria to have her fun for now. He recalled the first time he took his first steps into the world, and began to move much like those first steps. His steps were slow, sudden, a bit clumsy, but very robotic. He even made the noise that one hears in the movies whenever Iron man walks around, loud metallic thuds. "That's right Maria! We're the defenders of the dreams of young children such as yourselves, and the enemy of true evil such as early bedtimes! No child should be put to bed before eight o'clock!" The android declared a wide smile on his face as all the children cheered loudly for their new heroes and defenders of all their hopes and dreams. The android placed a hand on Sharaku's shoulder.

"Though now my associate and I must go on a vigilant watch to prevent such evils be committed. If you would excuse us." The android said and the children parted ways clearing a path for the two to leave the group. The android passed through the aisle that was made, gesturing Sharaku to follow. Once they were back at the wood bench that Sentinel was sitting at before, he gestured for his comrade to sit. "I do hope that did not cause you too much of an inconvenience. Children will be children after all." The android said as he glanced back toward the group of children who were now scattering all over to play a large game of hide and go seek.

Evidently Sharaku was more than agitated with the attention he received. Though his comrade assured the android that it was his own fault, and there was little that Maria or Sentinel could have done about it. When asked if he was here because Maria wanted to play, the android nodded his head, "Of course, though she phrased it a bit differently. She said, 'I'm going to lead my peers on an adventure by sailing across the seven seas on a pirate ship, and landing upon an island with lots of dragons. From there we shall each acquire our own pet dragon to take home.' I think I gave her a bit too many sweets today." The android said making a note not to do that again or at least for a while. He looked back toward Maria who was leading her group through the obstacle course. He should convience her to try her hand at writing, she might be quite good at it due to her creativity.

"But what brings you here? You seem to have a knack for surprising me. From what I have observed is that humans fall into a pattern or rhythm, but you are always quite surprising. Perhaps more so than Hyde and Naomi. Though I digress, my question still stands. What brings you here?" The android was trying to prevent himself from going into a rant! He'd like to avoid that if he could, since that seemed to be one of his problems. He treated things like an argument, and less like a conversation and he would like to work on that a bit more to ensure that the others got their say.

The android listened to Sharaku's reply carefully, as he normally takes many conversation with close associates. It was convenient that Sharaku created a way he could bring up a question that he wanted to know. While the android would normally analyze and take a step back to explore why Sharaku would do something that had a moot purpose, he risked losing this chance to pounce on something of interest to him, and quite possibly Sharaku. The android glanced over toward Maria seeing how she was keeping the other pre-occupied, which she was doing an excellent job of.

"The way you talk about being different from other humans, makes it, to me at least, sound like you don't consider yourself entirely human. However, it doesn't seem to bother you, why is that? Is it a sense of individualism that makes you care little about fitting in to a prescribed norm?" The android inquired, it was blatantly evident that this was something that the android was interested in, the question was why? It had never seemed to bother the android before, granted the android rarely showed what troubled him on his face. It certainly helped being made of circuitry, and quite literally having to think about being sad in order to be sad. The android knew he could never be human, rather he was curious about human nature, and saw benefit in some particular parts of it. He intended on asking many questions about this topic, and one could see it in his eyes. Red eyes brimming with curiosity and questions to ask his comrade in arms. It was these characteristics that he sought to understand at a deeper level. However, before he could attempt to harness such characteristics there was one thing he had to discover from a logical stand point. Can something not human harness those parts of human nature that Sentinel sought? If not then there was no purpose in trying, and the android would have to find another way to achieve his goals. Granted, where he would start if this failed would be difficult to discover. While the android could do it, he wasn't sure where to begin.

The android listened intently as Sharaku explained his answer, he had heard of the saying there is no crying over spilled milk, and nodded his head when he was asked that question. It meant that there was no need to get upset over something that has already happened or cannot be changed, essentially. Sharaku's point seemed to be that they are what they are, and there is no changing it regardless of how hard they try. Why would Sentinel want to try change himself there were many benefits to this form such as his enhanced strength, and large database to store information? While he could admit that humans had their advantages over him, but the same was true with him over them. Though Sharaku did have a point he did not really care when people figured out his secret, granted that was the least of his worries, he had another secret that was far worse and he was more than a little concerned about, though he kept a passive look on his face as he nodded his head.

When his comrade mentioned the words, lie, forget, and cannot, the android nodded his head. The effect those words had in that sentence were far more than what the android was expecting. Was that what he was trying to do with Maria? Was lying to her in order try to forget what had happened? He cannot change the fact that he took Maria's father's life with his own hand, the act was done and the blood was spilled. The question is was he truly lying to forget what he had done? He could accept the fact that it was in the past, and he can never change what was done. That was practically impossible. However, the reason why he lied was to protect her, but also...to try and forget the words of his creator that ring in his head to these days, "One day...you will fail....to protect....her. When...that day comes....you will rue what you have done here." It was not the act he wanted to forget, but the words….

Yes, those were the words that he could not escape from easily. Often he tried to lie about it in order to attempt to forget the message and the warning his creator had for him. To convince himself that he had done the right thing and that only his creator’s blood was staining his hands. The android prayed that Maria’s blood was not fated to stain his hands that well because of his one decision. He was so afraid of that message that it made him quiver often, but he managed to hold himself together this time. When asked if the answer satisfied him, the white haired robot nodded a bit, "It did, I thank you for your answer I found it very insightful. Though this leads into my next question, if we cannot change what we are or the past, can beings like us that are not entirely human can enjoy the feelings and emotions that humans have, can we adapt some if we see them for our purposes and use?"

The android noted the mixed expression, he understood that it was a difficult question, but all the android was really searching for was an a thought or wall to bounce ideas off of. The android has his reasons, and wasn't sure if he would share them unless he was asked to do so. Even then he wasn't sure if he could sure it...then again Sharaku tended to be calm and rational...someone who he could discuss this with. However, his companion's answer seemed to be solid. It was a very subjective question, but Sentinel was not looking for an objective answer. He was looking for an answer, and even though he knew that Sharaku could not answer completely for the android, because they were two separate beings. Though his comrade decided to give him a generalization, an answer that the android was looking for. He wasn't annoyed, Sharaku was trying to help, and while his thoughts seemed to indicate anger he actually wasn't.

"Thank you, so if I desire it, I should do it...that makes sense to me. I should act in what I believe is my own self-interest."The android said aloud though it sounded more like he was thinking to himself aloud. However, with his directives in place he could not do that, he could only act in what his systems and matrices determined to be in Maria's interest. Granted, he still had some free will, but not as much as he possibly could have. If there was something of debatable interest, then he had to argue it with the ultimate directive A.I. or matrix. It was very time consuming and exhausting for the android, but thus far there had been agreement between him and the ultimate directive.

However, the android left his thoughts when Sharaku asked him why the android wanted to know. Though Sharaku had a point mentioning that emotions can be fickle. It was true he had seen many fickle emotions from humanity, but despite that he also saw strength. At this point he was not sure if he wanted to tell his friend, his plan was still not in its final stages, and the robot wasn't even sure he could pull it off. He was made of circuity, which was designed to work a very certain way. The android's gazed turned down toward the ground, and then toward Maria as she led a bunch of her peers on a fantasy adventure. Finally, the android responded, "I understand your concern, but the reason why I want to strive for it is because I think there is a great strength among you humans. I....I don't know what it is yet, but I think it would be better for Maria and myself if I did something drastic." The android said, though it was clear there were still some concerns about this. Perhaps it was this concern that was the reason why android asked such complicated questions, but after another moment the android looked toward Sharaku, "I don't want to protect Maria because someone or something tells me to. Rather, I want to do so because I feel a strong connection on an emotional level. Not the cold methodical calculating process that I currently have. Does that make logical sense, or is this an irrational desire."

'You never know what strength is, until you have to be strong'. What on earth does that mean? In other words we did not know the source of strength we possessed until it was necessary to call upon it? A flash of Sentinel reaffirming his desire to defend Maria crossed his mind, was he strong or weak there? He figured it was strength, but maybe it was weakness for not subjecting to the unknown and facing it. The android wondered if he was ever going to get an answer to that question, he would like one, but that didn't mean he was going to get it. Surely, if he did enough soul...well circuit searching he would find that answer.

When Sharaku mentioned attachment, the android nodded, yes that is the word he was searching for. Though his face did not show disappointment at Sharaku's answer he was hoping for something more definitive. He figured the more level-headed of the group would have had some experience in regards to attachment. Though he claimed not to know enough about emotional attachment, perhaps not on the level the android was thinking of, but Sharaku seemed to be attached to his friends. Then again that was a completely different level, maybe that was something he had to commit to on his own.

"Well thank you for what help you provided, I think that this is something I might have to determine on my own. Again, I'm not sure, but with time and thought on the issue clairty will come. I'm fairly certain of it." The android said glancing down at the ground, before looking back over to Maria. A soft smile crossed his face as he watched her play with the others, the topic was open if Sharaku had any questions or wanted to shift it to something a bit more optimistic.

The android took his eyes off Maria and the other children to look at his comrade when he was asked a question. The android appeared to be processing the question for a little bit placing a hand to his lip and thinking on it, though he was not imitating the great Thinker, he was still pondering nonetheless. After a moment of two of thinking the android responded, "Ultimately, I find you all to be fascinating. Each one of you different from the rest in some respects, while being a lot alike in others. Your imagination, your conception of social ideas, politics, and I feel as though the strength I am seeking to understand is the key that unlocks all that potential. Thus, I am in curious in this strength and where it originates from. My initial observation leads me to conclude it has something to do with others, but I do not see you humans doing anything special with others whom you are close to. This is puzzling to me. Often times the exchange or growth in power in living animals is seen as muscles or maturity, but the kind of strength I am seeing lacks a physical form. However, it is evident that you all are affected by it. I seek to understand what it is and why. I have a starting place, and "attachment" could be what it is, but I'm not sure how that makes humans strive beyond their normal capabilities." The android paused pondering Sharaku's second question before shaking his head.

"I believe you said it best that there is no point in crying over spilled milk? I cannot change what I am, but that should not stop me from making the most out of my form. I may never be human, but why should I change myself to achieve something that matters little? Sure I may have my flaws, but so do humans. We are all imperfect in our own ways, and I am content in this form. I am able to keep Maria safe, happy, and healthy, while at the same time meeting interesting individuals, like you, who I can "hang out" with." Yes, the android was attempting to make his vocabulary less formal, mostly because Maria will stop looking at him strangely as he gets colloquial. Though the android looked toward his friend, wondering how he would respond to that answer.