Lost and Found (SSoDI-N)

[DanteMGalileo]

"Hmm. Yes. It is impressive what humans accomplish in such short lifespans," Perdix admitted, tapping on a display for something in the 1900's. "This was a large period of boom. Not the painful kind. The good kind. The non-literal kind."

[ACTION: HAVE HIM NOTICE.]

"Especially this." He tapped something. "A walk-man and sell-fone. Very clunky. And yet, in blink of eye... Eye-Phone. Not clunky. Looks like it was made from crushed mirror crystals." Perdix reached into his coat, pulling out what looked like a cracked crystal. "Admission. Apparently harder to break than Sending Stones even after our head-start. Maybe you can build Sending Stone that does not shatter when tapped funny and with no shady practices. Break strangehold that BananaCorp has on smartcrystal market."

[ParamountKeymaster]

"OOOOOH, NOW THERE'S AN IDEA!" Mic exclaimed, looking back and forth between Perdix's crystal and the various generations of iPhones. "So many different functions I could introduce! Maybe an indestructible Sending Stone that lets you communicate over long distances, look up archived information, store nonphysical data and physical objects, open portals, organize your schedule, take both still and moving images, create temporary sources of light, play music, play games, predict the weather, detect magic, FIRE LASERS, COOK MEALS, TELL YOU JOKES, GIVE YOU A MASSAGE, WARD AWAY DEMONS, SANITIZE YOUR LAUNDRY...! GAAAAAHHH I GOTTA WRITE THIS DOWN!!!"

[DanteMGalileo]

"Eternally excitable as always."

As the artificial angel continued his way through the wing, he looked up. "Reminds me of old song. ... Sadly, song is real. What a shame."

He frowned as he passed through something on the 56th century. "A shame. Humanity became slothful. Moreso. How did they survive? An elite class of humans that maintained mobile shape?"

[ACTION: ACCESS CORE MEMORIES.

ACCESSING CORE MEMORY #712

MEMORY SUCCESSFULLY ACCESSED.]

"Ah. Yes."

[ParamountKeymaster]

Mic lowered his notebook and shrugged, smiling sadly at the rows upon rows of displays. "I suppose that's what happens when people stop trying to create new things or improve themselves and just accept whatever is handed to them. That is the fine line of brilliance. At what point does your creation become so advanced that it renders you yourself obsolete?"

He looked over his notes. "I think about that kind of stuff a lot. I want to improve angel life, but I don't want to replace the strengths we already have. Y'know?"

[DanteMGalileo]

"Is sad. But inevitable. When race becomes slothful, it soon dies barring some deus ex machina." Perdix sighed and shook his head as he and Mic continued walking through the wing. In the 66th century, it appeared as though even human reproduction had become industrialized. "Hey look, one who makes things go boom. Humanity became like me. Born from the bottom of long glass tube. I wonder if cold unfeeling robotic arm is included? Ha ha ha. Is joke."

As they continued into the 76th century, something seemed... off... "Uh... one who makes things go boom... I am not genius in technology, but is human technology supposed to look like rusty stick for practicing proctology?"

[ACTION: SCAN FOR ACTIVITY.

SCAN INITIATED AND RUNNING.]

And then the 86th century. Perdix freely admitted his skin lost its colour as the blood-oil substance drained. "... I feel... dread... Exhibit emits strong levels of..."

[SCAN COMPLETED.

GROUP OF INTEREST #661 PRESENCE CONFIRMED.

NOW RUNNING FILE SCAN OF KNOWN GROUP OF INTEREST #661 MEMBERS.

0%... 5%... 10%...]

The sound of gears running at high speed in Perdix's head could be heard.

[ParamountKeymaster]

"Well, generally speaking, no... not beyond actual proctology or kinky sexual practices that I never read about ever..." Mic responded, his eyes darting away, his pale yellow cheeks turning a vibrant chartreuse.

He looked back up at Perdix as the taller angel seemed to zone out, staring at the exhibit. After casting a quick glance at it himself, Mic took one look at his notebook and felt a sense of shame rising inside. Perhaps he had been too easily distracted. There were more important matters going on than his research and personal practices.

"Um... Maybe we should go..." he meekly offered. "I-It might be best if the council is informed of this posthaste! This all seems... problematic."

[DanteMGalileo]

[FILE MATCH FOUND.

GROUP OF INTEREST #661 MEMBER #1

IDENTITY: C̷À̸̸T̀̕͡A̷̸ST̢͞R̕O͡P̀͝Ḩ̷̨I̸C̵҉̷ ̧͟A̴͠B̢̡͞OR̕T̢̢͝!̕]

Perdix punched his own head, eyes shut momentarily. After apparently rebooting himself, he nodded to Mic, actually worried. "Yes! Report to Lady Bennu at once!"

Without waiting for the shorter angel, the artificial one bolted out of the wing, out of the museum, only stopping when he was clear of the building.

[ParamountKeymaster]

"WHOOP-!!!" Mic hastily scrambled after Perdix, tucking his notebook inside his jacket in his mad dash. Soon the two were back outside in the pouring rain, the little yellow angel trying to ignore the droplets on his glasses and maintain focus on the automaton several feet ahead of him.

"S-SO WHAT'S THE PLAN?! AM I TAKING YOU TO THE SHIP? THE TRAVEL STATION? THE, UH, WHAT...??"

[DanteMGalileo]

"Take me to the ship," Perdix said bluntly. The gears in his head could be heard running.

[REPORT:

GROUP OF INTEREST #661 PRESENCE CONFIRMED.

ANOMALY SIGMA-18 PRESENCE HEAVILY SUSPECTED.

GROUP OF INTEREST #661 MEMBER #1 PRESENCE ALL BUT VISUALLY CONFIRMED.

GET YOUR ARSE BACK!]

And then, noise, followed by a distant crashing sound. "... Please tell me that was not ship. And if so, please tell me you had nothing to do with that."

[ParamountKeymaster]

Mic slowed to a halt, staring worriedly into the distance where the rumble had emitted from. "Doggoned doofers... That... definitely didn't sound like thunder."

He looked between Perdix and the horizon, the dread evident on his face. "I-I had nothing to do with that, I assure you! We faced immediate opposition upon arrival! There was a demon girl among them! Maybe she... or one of them...!"

[DanteMGalileo]

"Ugh. Demon girls." Perdix pinched the bridge of his nose. "Because the ones possessing the antique shogi automaton were not annoying enough."

Looking out into the distance, he shook his head. "Take me to the other place. I must deliver my report to Lady Bennu immediately."

[ParamountKeymaster]

"RIGHT!" Mic took a good look around, getting a bearing on his surroundings. Despite having memorized a map of the city beforehand, it was a little difficult to figure out his exact location while he was in the middle of it all, so he paused for a moment to mentally chart a course. Based on the ITS's location in relation to the museum and the names of the streets they were currently standing at the intersection of, it was more than likely... "THIS WAY!"

As he took off running again, Mic looked over his shoulder at Perdix. "HOW WELL CAN YOU FLY IN THIS WEATHER?!"

[DanteMGalileo]

"Why, are you offering to fly me there, one who makes things go boom?"

[ACTION: ASSESS RISK

WEATHER: RAIN AND THUNDER

VISIBILITY: DUBIOUS

HOSTILE PRESENCE: LIKELY.

RISK ASSESSED.]

"I will find way on land." Perdix began to walk away. "Us mechanicals have same disdain for electricity as you flesh-angels."

[ParamountKeymaster]

"W-Well, okay, that's fine, I don't mind travelling on walky frond!" Mic anxiously responded, turning around and jogging in place as he watched Perdix start to walk off, slightly nervous and utterly perplexed. "But, uh... the travel station is this way!"

[DanteMGalileo]

"Yes. I know." Perdix did not stop to look at Mic. "I am just going to laugh at stupid overzealous Keruv first. Even I need to get my jollies."

[JOLLIES: 0 OF 312 DAILY QUOTA

ESTIMATED MOCKERY: 312 JOLLY UNITS.]