0-1 Action; Walking through the city

[zerolimits]

Zero could learn close to any technique from defeated enemies. He could fight off hundreds of Mavericks without much effort. He could even rush back into action constantly, mission after mission. But there was one thing he had difficulty doing. And that was dealing with excessive free-time.

Since being brought here, Zero has had close to nothing to do. He would train from time to time in the small area that was his living space, but he could only do so little without risk of either wrecking his room or accidentally smashing into someone else's. He tried to do some reading a couple days ago, but there was little at the library that interested him by way of fiction. He did read about the different races within and without the fleet's Confederation, particularly the Wadjit and the AIs of Bama, the latter he though of as just Mavericks by a different name.

Today, Zero can be seen just walking around Teuberg, minding his own business. He has been walking for sometime now, since late in the morning in fact. Just walking, thinking about what to do to occupy his time, which by now was what he WAS doing to occupy it. When he finally got fed up with that, he let out a sigh as put his hand to the jewel on his forehead in aggravation.

"All of this downtime is torture. At this rate, even I might go Maverick if I don't find something to do," he said out loud to no one. With the wording, he of course meant that he'd go crazy.

Comments

[driftlock]

Deadlock doesn't know what to make of this guy. Because he looks like a robot--has a kind of rank crest and everything there, but the face is like...human and gross. That's enough to get his attention.

But that sentiment? What are you, some sort of freaky mindreader? "Thinking the same thing. Haven't even found a range in this place."

[zerolimits]

Zero must have been crazy already if he didn't notice such a large robot approach him before speaking to him. Looking up, he estimated the machine to be about ten feet tall. Not really a size that seemed imposing, considering what he HAD seen before.

"It wouldn't be so bad if I was at least still sealed away. Least then I wouldn't be awake to BE bored by the downtime."

[driftlock]

Yeah, yeah, even in Deadlock's world he doesn't exactly rate as a physically imposing powerhouse.

Not the size of the frame that matters, if you ask him.

"You want to be sealed away? In that place where they woke us up doing Primus knows what to our bodies?" Yeah, he's been talking to Flashpoint and she's been putting creepy thoughts in his head.

[zerolimits]

Zero would agree on that. If size was power where he comes from, then he'd either be dead or several times bigger by now.

"No, I was sealed away in my world prior to the event that brought us here," Zero explained to the robot.

[driftlock]

"Sealed away. What? You some kind of dangerous thing?" He sounds...almost impressed.

[zerolimits]

"...Let's just say that I can be a major threat to other machines. Mainly those that try to either harm me or the defenseless," Zero said after a short pause.

[driftlock]

"Threat to machines." He doesn't know whether to be wary or smug. Because, you know, he just happens to be a machine, but then again, he's Cybertronian and therefore awesome.

"So who the slag locked you up, then?" If the guy's only a threat to people attacking the defenseless, you know, you'd think he wouldn't be all locked up.

[zerolimits]

"I willingly sealed myself away," Zero said in reply. "I had something in me that needed to be removed. Something dangerous to those around me that would only promote the war I was fighting in."

[driftlock]

That...yeah, that's gonna take a minute to process.

"But would it have helped your side win?" He's not normally a question asky kind of mech, but this is a special circumstance. Because if he had like a bomb or a super virus in him and it would take out a mess of Autobots, he'd use it.

[zerolimits]

"You don't understand. 'Those around me' include my friends, allies, and innocent bystanders. It's a virus that changes the personality and programming of machines to where even ones as harmless as a gardening robot will seek to do harm to humans and other robots around it," Zero plainly explained to the machine.

[driftlock]

"Hngh. Friends." You see, right there, Deadlock has diagnosed your problem. Friends! Like some kind of infection or something.

"And if you got it how come it's not messing you up all angry and harmy, huh?" Deadlock's superior robot logic.

[zerolimits]

If friends were an infection, then they'd be one that you'd WANT to get.

"It's...complicated." Zero has his secrets, and this one he wasn't gonna tell someone he just met.

[driftlock]

Deadlock had friends once. They died. Yeah, he's not keen on signing up for that again.

"Hngh. You let one of these medics check you over?"

[zerolimits]

Look on the bright side. You didn't have to retire most of yours whenever they went mad.

"I have not." It being more of a computer virus, Zero would've had to see either an engineer or a programmer anyway.

[pinkspaceprincess]

"You shouldn't say that, Mr. Zero," said Tsumugi, from her spot at the entrance of a city park. She was on a stroll, and certain areas of the city were, like this one, open enough that she could stand and watch people go by without interfering with their business.

"If you did, other Maverick Hunters would have to fight you."

[zerolimits]

Zero looked up to where Tsumugi was. He was so lost in his own thinking that he didn't notice that he was actually within her shadow at first.

"Oh, Tsumugi. Don't worry, I didn't mean it. Just a figure of speech," Zero said with an assuring tone.

[pinkspaceprincess]

"I'm glad to hear it," she said. "Do you not have enough to do? Perhaps a part-time job would help? It must be quite a change from what you're used to. In fact, I don't think I've seen a single Maverick since arriving on the Teuberg."

Or any ever, really, but that was beside the point.

[zerolimits]

"It is a drastic change from what I'm used to. Back home, whatever time I didn't spend either training or resting was used fighting Mavericks and protecting others. I alone would usually average at least 18 missions a day." Excluding major crises or slow days of course.

"Here though, life is very peaceful within the ship. I do like the peace, it's what I fight to preserve after all. It's just that this is the first time I've had so much time to myself." He felt that saying that the experience was bugging him would just be stating the obvious.

[pinkspaceprincess]

"Hmm... so does that mean this is your first vacation? In that case, maybe you'd be better off getting a tourism pamphlet..." Zero certainly sounded like a bit of a Type A personality. He should be relaxing and enjoying his time off!

"You could try a sporting event, or cultivating an interest in music."

[zerolimits]

'Vacation'. Yeah, guess this would be Zero's first one. Unless you counted the couple of times that he died. He doesn't.

"Finding a hobby might help. Though I wouldn't begin to know what I'd like." Part of the problem was that constant fighting didn't really leave much time to find something to do during freetime.

[pinkspaceprincess]

"Well, not to put too fine a point on it, Mr. Zero," she said, "But no one starts out knowing what they like. You have to try a bunch of different things, and find out. In fact, this may be a great chance to do just that!"

She steepled her fingers, looking pleased. "I remember Yuhata-san was rather fond of scale models, for instance. She'd put tons of time into making sure they were just right."

[zerolimits]

"I'm not sure that I'd like model building. I don't have anything against it, I'd just prefer something that will keep my entire body active. Maybe we could start with what you have for hobbies?"

When trying something new, it never hurt to see and even sample another's interests. Often, it would be the best way to start.

[pinkspaceprincess]

"So far, I enjoy reading, trying new foods, taking baths, watching films... oh, and cats!" Tsumugi listed each item off on her fingers as she ran through the list.

"But I'm afraid sports aren't really my area of interest, so I wouldn't know very much about those..."

[zerolimits]

"I see," Zero said as he thought for a moment.

All of them were legitimate interests, though they didn't really click with Zero. He DOES have a sense of taste, though he doesn't find trying different foods that exciting. Baths didn't seem enjoyable to him, mainly since he can just get cleaned up with a quick wipe-down in most cases, and he already tried reading for pleasure.

The only ones he hadn't mentally shot-down were watching movies and taking care of a cat, and he wasn't too certain he'd be able to take proper care of a living animal. He might try to find a sport that interested him later, though right now he didn't want to seem rude with Tsumugi helping him out.

"What kinds of films do you enjoy, Tsumugi?" Who knows? Won't keep him active, but he might enjoy a good movie.

[pinkspaceprincess]

"Hmm... all kinds that I've seen so far. Which would include dramas, romance, and documentaries on mushrooms."

She simply hadn't had much time to sample many genres. But maybe now that would change. "I'm planning on expanding to other areas, though, so I might find a topic I like even better than those!"

[zerolimits]

"Well, if you find something you feel I'll like, feel free to give me call. I might join you if I'm not busy," Zero said when Tsumugi mentioned watching different movies.

Just count him out with any documentaries. Particularly about mushrooms.

[fuckaccuracy]

"I know the feeling. I haven't shot anyone for days and it feels like I'm really close to losing my mind." Gaige sure did say that loud enough for Zero to hear. And of course, she didn't think much of the fact that she admitted to shooting others.

"I have all these sweet guns but no bandits to use them on. Tell me that doesn't' suck."

[zerolimits]

When Zero heard the voice, he turned to see Gaige. He was a little concerned when she mentioned the implication of shooting people.

"I...won't say that it's favorable. Is it only bandits you shoot at?" Because there might be a problem if you attack innocent people as well.

[fuckaccuracy]

"Mostly bandits, machines that are shooting rockets at me, Hyperion soldiers..." Because fuck those guys. "Oh, and anything that thinks a cute 18-year old would make a delicious snack." As most of the wildlife in Pandora tended to think.

Actually make that all the wildlife.

[zerolimits]

"Man, sounds like a living Hell where you're from." Gaige must be stronger than she seems if she could survive what she described.

[fuckaccuracy]

"Yeah it does kind of suck. But you know what? It's not all bad. I mean, I was able to become a vault hunter and do all kinds of awesome stuff." Like help take down a major weapon manufacturer and it's douchebag of a leader!

Oh, and the loot.

So much loot and cash.

[zerolimits]

"A Vault Hunter?" Zero asked when she mentioned the term. Mainly, he asked because the title had the word 'Hunter' in it. If it was anything like a Maverick Hunter, then perhaps they wouldn't be that different from each other.

[fuckaccuracy]

"Oh, right... You probably have no idea what I'm talking about." Figures. It was a major drag that so many people here didn't know a damn thing about Vaults. It only served to remind Gaige of Marcy, which was never good. "Okay basically? We just travel the planet and look for vaults, which usually have something pretty awesome inside."

Excluding both The Warrior and The Destroyer.

Okay, so maybe it was more like a mix between some pretty awesome loot, or a really giant monster trying to kill them all.

[zerolimits]

So a treasure hunter.

"That sounds like an interesting occupation," Zero commented. He couldn't really imagine just searching for valuables the world-over himself, though he HAS been fighting for the protection of the defenseless for as long as he could remember.

[fuckaccuracy]

"It's pretty cool."

Gaige had always held an interest in vault hunting, and that was before she accidentally murdered her classmate and became a fugitive. "I mean, not all of them are as successful as me, considering I have more guns and money than I know what to do with."