forum 1-1 with @Hiro_Shimada (I’ll figure out a better title later, maybe)

Started January 03, 2022 by @Serpentess health_and_safety language

tune

Hiro walked until he came cross something " hey.. hey da- Malcolm! Come look!" It was another skeleton just like his. Nanobots and all. Just no body suit. Just bones .

Malcolm walked over, trying not to focus too much on the fact that Hiro nearly called him ‘dad’ again. His eyes widened at the sight of the skeleton.

“Kid… did your father, or creator, whatever the fuck, have anything to do with Alecorp? Do you know?”he asked.

Had that bastard been selling Malcolm’s designs to one of the biggest corporations in the world? Even with the knowledge that Malcolm hated corporations?

" I don't know, he never told Me anything.." he said and stared at the bot

“Shit,”Malcolm muttered.

He didn’t like that possibility, but, on the bright side, the bastard was dead. However, Malcolm didn’t know how many of these skeletons existed. Just this one, or were there hundreds more? He didn’t know, and he hated that.

After a moment to calm his mind, he started getting ideas. It was a robotic skeleton that was in good condition, and only required an upgrade. Humanoid guardian? Maybe another creation like the AIs? Or… maybe even a sibling for Hiro?

Malcolm didn’t know what to think regarding that third option. He didn’t work with biological things. Though… the AIs did.

“Um… you want to take it with us? I could build pretty much anything with this as a base,”Malcolm asked, his voice unusually timid.

Hiro looked to Malcolm " like build a family? I've always wondered what it was like to have one.." he said softly

Malcolm didn’t know how to respond. The concept of a family, though familiar to him, was alien. He had lost that opportunity long ago, and had abandoned any thoughts of it ever returning. And now this.

“I… I don’t know,”he stammered. Why did it seem to him that ‘I don’t know’ was becoming his go-to phrase for ‘This subject is freaking me the fuck out’?

Hiro sighed " we'll grab it, bit we don't do anything until were sure. " He said and looked to bax. " Okay with that bud?"

“Alright,”Malcolm replied, happy to get his mind off the subject of families.

Bax flashed once, moving to assist in carrying it.

Hiro helped move to as well, using his powers to lighten the load

Bax flashed at Hiro as a thank you, carrying the skeleton to the canister Hiro had made.

Malcolm watched, not helping whatsoever. Though, he had a genuine excuse, since his frail body couldn’t carry much anyway.

Hiro chuckled and lifted it into the container " anything else from here?"

Malcolm checked to make sure his crate was packed, then looked around, humming.

“I think this’ll work for now. If only we could just snatch everything at once. This is a fucking gold mine,”Malcolm replied.

He then turned to the canister, deep in thought for a moment.

“You want me to miniaturize this? It’d be much simpler to carry, and we can bring it back and forth as we see fit,”Malcolm offered.

" okay. " Hiro said and patted his shoulder for bax " com'on boy." He said

Bax climbed up onto Hiro’s shoulder, settling. It watched Malcolm with almost eager curiosity.

Malcolm brought out his toolkit and found a miniaturized spray bottle. Bringing it to full size, he looked at the pale grey fluid inside and smiled. He then started to mist the sides of the canister, walking around the entire thing.

“Alright, now to let them spread out,”Malcolm mumbled.

After about five minutes, the entire canister had a silvery sheen. Malcolm smiled, stepped forward, and lightly tapped on the side. The canister shrank to the size of a small jewelry box.

“And that, is why I fucking love nanobots,”Malcolm said with a chuckle, picking up the canister.

" that was.. cool.." Hiro said with utmost interest. He walked with Malcolm " back home we go"

Malcolm chuckled,”I could tell you how it works, if you want.”

He then sighed happily, glad to be heading back home. Though he absolutely adored the warehouse, he loved his home more.

" that would be nice." Hiro said contently. He watched, listened, and felt their surroundings. He could feel a good bit of movement through his feet from the ground. Though it caused him to jump when a mouse scurried by

Malcolm smiled, then laughed when Hiro jumped. He watched the mouse for a moment, snickering.

“Alright. So, the liquid in the spray bottle is, basically, oil. The nanobots in it, which are mite-sized compared to the others, are programmed to mess with the molecular structure, primarily regarding size and weight, of whatever they land on. They have to completely cover whatever they’re on to work, but after that, they’re permanent and you have a shrinking item at the ready,”Malcolm explained.

" that's amazing " he said and looked to the stars. Hiro only wished he could touch them " I've always favored astrology

Malcolm noticed Hiro’s gaze and glanced upward.

“Astrology is pretty fascinating, though I’ve never been much on it. But, before the holocaust, there used to be ships that would go up into space and explore. There was actually several bases on the Moon as well, but I never much paid attention to what was said about them.”

" woah, I bet it's lonely up there.." he said

Malcolm shrugged, not caring whatsoever. As long as the folks on the moon stayed there, he wouldn’t have any reason to cause another holocaust.

Hiro yawned. " Let's get camp up." He said and touched his hand o the ground again

Malcolm nodded and watched Hiro, particularly his spine. He stood near the kid, in case he’d have to catch him.

Hiro lifted the ground, it taking a little bit longer for his back to flash " damn it.."