Chapter Text
Raven…
C4-621 opened her eyes.
Or, well, activated her optic sensors.
It was still difficult to adapt to her present inorganic state some days. Having an AC for a body was no small task.
Raven, are you alright?
C4-621 focused on the question. Ayre .
“I am fine, Ayre, don’t worry.”
Raven… Your systems were showing signs of agitation in your sleep.
“They were?”
Another nightmare, then. Luckily, she couldn’t remember it. She already has an idea what it could have been about, though…
Walter and Carla fighting for their lives… ALLMIND barrelling towards them… The sight of Carla’s wrecked AC, of Walter’s headless one…!
Raven, calm down!
Snapped out of her thoughts, C4-621 gasps, the speakers on her frame letting the sound come to life, despite her lack of need for air.
It’s fine, you’re alright, they’re safe…
“Are they, though…?”
Waking up after Coral Convergence had been an ordeal and a half. Not only had every human on the galaxy had their consciousness transferred to an AC; turns out that, while these newly-evolved humans had less of a predisposition towards violence, they were still capable of fighting and debating over their beliefs; not to mention the lack of infrastructure, now that humans were no longer a couple meters tall on average, but instead as tall as the buildings they once lived in.
Even more of an ordeal had been finding out that not only had Rusty survived to see this new era, but Walter, Carla, Iguazu and ALLMIND had ended up being saved from death by the Convergence.
Especially considering three out of the five were unbelievably pissed at C4-621 over her actions.
Ironically, it had been Iguazu, with some aid from Ayre and ALLMIND, that had saved C4-621 from being scrapped by the others. Didn’t mean they suddenly became friends with her, though. Far from it, the cold shoulder they had been giving her was impressive.
They had decided to stick together, more out of necessity than wanting to do so; the galaxy had just gone through an enormous change, and in these turbulent times, you needed allies.
Even if they were not someone you truly trusted.
A voice cut cleanly through her thoughts.
“Yes, we are.”
Iguazu.
Turning her head, she spotted him sitting nearby. Instead of the expected HEAD BRINGER that he had liked piloting so much, he had ended up stuck along with ALLMIND in the altered IB-07: SOL 644; probably because it was the last AC-adjacent weapon he had piloted.
Her thoughts came back to Iguazu’s words, and she intelligently responded:
“Huh?”
His optics turned towards her form; her own AC, BLACK KNIGHT.
“Yes, we are safe. You don’t have to worry so much, freelancer.”
While that nickname had stuck, much to her chagrin, it was still impressive how much Iguazu had mellowed out since their final fight. The Iguazu from before Coral Release would have taken the opportunity to mock or insult her, maybe even try to kill her. This Iguazu was calmly offering reassurances.
Truly ironic.
“... You like eavesdropping on my conversations, huh?”
He chuckled, “Difficult not to, when Ayre and you like talking real loud right next to me.”
If she still had blood, C4-621 would have blushed at that. As it is, her optics shine a brighter Coral red.
Sorry, Raven…
“No, Ayre, don’t apologize for Iguazu being a filthy spy .”
The man himself let out a bark of laughter at that, “Me? A spy ? Even I know I’m not fit for that line of work.”
C4-621 had to admit; in the face of the others’ cold anger, it was nice to have someone that wasn’t just Ayre to banter with. It was a bit weird that it was Iguazu , the man who had tried to kill her out of jealous rage several times, but the galaxy had seen weirder friends, surely.
…If Iguazu did consider her a friend in the first place.
His voice once again cut that line of thought short, “But really, freelancer, you don’t have to worry so much. All of them can more than defend themselves if push comes to shove. Really, I’d be surprised if Walter isn’t the one forcing others to fight for their lives.”
He let out a hearty chuckle at that, likely picturing the scenario himself.
However, she couldn’t shake a question from her mind. And before she could think it through, it slipped out of her speakers.
“Why don’t you hate me?”
His laughter came to a sudden stop. He froze for a second, then turned back towards her. Iguazu’s gaze stayed fixed on her for at least a couple minutes, and right when she’s about to say something,
anything
, to cut through the tension, he finally said:
“You know… I have asked myself that same question several times.”
She remained frozen as he went on.
“Because, facts are, I did hate you. Hated you enough to go along with that batshit insane “Coral Release” plan, even if it cost me everything. I was so jealous of you… That perfect freelancer who always got what they wanted, always performed perfectly… While I was stuck as part of the Redguns under mean old Michigan, with no way out.”
He had stood up while talking, and had started pacing.
“Really, why were you so good at it? Why, when I couldn’t accomplish anything, not even a single win in my book? It was unfair; it’s still unfair.”
His pacing ground to a halt, and he finally looked at her again.
“But… I guess it wasn’t worth it.”
C4-621 suddenly feels as if the world has been taken out from under her feet.
What?
“I was so angry , all the time, and even that couldn’t win against you. No matter what I did, you always won. Even when I became part of ALLMIND, you still beat me.”
Iguazu…?
“And… I guess I realized that being second best to the woman who changed the galaxy is not so bad.”
She felt a sudden pressure behind her optics. How…? She couldn’t even cry anymore.
Her voice came out brittle, “Iguazu…”
He looks at her for a second, then his head turns away. His voice sounds sheepish.
“Heh… I’ve become just as sappy as good old Volta.”
Taking the chance Iguazu looked away, C4-621 leaps and tackles him.
“HEY! What’s the big…?!”
He froze when he noticed she was hugging him.
He sighed, “Ugh, I guess we’re doing this.”
C4-621 had not kept track of time, so she jumped when another voice piped up.
“Iguazu. C4-621. Your allies approach.”
ALLMIND. While the AI had kept mostly to herself and had not attempted to have anyone killed ( yet , a voice that sounded suspiciously like Walter’s said), it was still difficult to shake off the dread that rose up C4-621’s frame at the sound of her voice.
Then her words finally processed. Oh shit.
Hastily standing up, she offered Iguazu a hand. Then, once they were both on their feet, she turned towards the approaching rest of their group.
Rusty raised his hand in a greeting, “Hey, buddy.”
His past enthusiasm was non-existent here, and C4-621 sorely missed the times when they bantered with ease. When they were friends.
At least Walter and Carla made no pretense of amicability.
Suddenly, as Rusty and the other two got to organizing their haul within the old hangar they called a base, a hand was placed on her shoulder. She turned, only to find it was Iguazu’s.
“Don’t sweat it, freelancer. If you can make friends with me, you can definitely earn their forgiveness.”
As Iguazu walked off to help the others, she mulled over his words.
Friends…
He’s right, Raven.
C4-621 looked up at the ceiling, picturing Ayre above her.
It doesn’t matter whether you did the right thing or not; they will learn to forgive you.
…
She truly hoped Ayre was right.