Chapter 11: A Fork in the Road of Time

[nanocerancowboy]

[One choice can make all the difference of a lifetime.]

[Gat might still be an android, but the change Friday brought to the minds within Mayfield have tampered with him considerably. He doesn't remember a thing about his life in the Gurhal system, or serving aboard Pioneer 2 and exploring the haunted world of Ragol. In fact, he doesn't remember Coral at all, either.]

[Gat's memories come from a life that might have been, had he never chosen to join the Pioneer colonization project. Instead he continued his work as a freelance Ranger for the various warring nations of the dying planet. Decades, maybe centuries passed—Gat will never know for sure, for the Great Blank forced all of Coral's androids offline, sent the Numans seemingly into extinction, and left humanity on the verge of following their child races into oblivion.]

[All Gat remembers is being recovered by an expedition party in the remains of the city of Paru, roughly a hundred years agter the Great Blank, with no memories left to him save for his name and what had survived in his body's sub-memory systems. By then, Coral was a very different place—most of the planet was now inhospitable, with toxins of unknown origin threatening to kill any human who wandered too far from the safer areas on the planet. Most of the wildlife that competed for space in these havens were openly hostile to sentient creatures, making both travel and communication between human settlements difficult—and life was difficult enough, with the once high-tech civilization of Coral reduced to something akin to the American Wild West, imbued with fragments of the previous age.]

[So, since Friday, Gat's been coping with the awkwardness of this CAST body built with technology very different from those from Coral at the time of the Great Blank. Dakki Sigal was never a co-worker or friend—and given her own memory corruption, they only barely manage to get along. Gat's personality has changed some, too—he's a little more blunt and serious than usual, and more of a loner.]

[ACTION - A (In and Around 458 Stone, Morning, HOUSEMATES)]

[Gat's busy taking care of house chores. Much as he'd rather be outside the house doing things other than being here with this woman who sees him as an arch-nemesis, this house was a shared living space. There's Chen to think about, and the drone human kids, too. He's got some responsibility to keep house.]

[ACTION - B (Mayfield Firehouse, Afternoon, OPEN TO ALL)]

[Where the technology of Mayfield's era once left Gat a little awkward due to its relative primitiveness compared to that of Gurhal and Coral's, he's now more confounded by it because much if it is actually more advanced than the technology Coralian civilization is capable of producing after the Great Blank.]

[This isn't exactly a good switch-up when you're trying to check the fire engine's ... engine ... for problems.]

[Are you a fellow firefighter? Or just passing by the firehouse? Feel free to bug the RAcast!]

[ACTION - C (Shooting Range, Evening, OPEN TO ALL)]

[When you're living with a woman who thinks you're her arch-nemesis and is more than ready to kill you to satisfy her deep-seated grudges, it pays to keep your own fighting skills at top notch. Which is why, while Dakki's out spending time training or exercising her skills as a Hunter, Gat's doing the same as a Ranger. Even though he has a strange mechgun that was sent to him for Christmas last year, Gat's preferring to train with whatever weapons are at hand—mostly shotguns and hunting rifles. As might be expected of an android, he's not a bad shot—but it looks like he's working on his timing and speed more than his aim.]

[ACTION - D (Anywhere in Mayfield, Evening/Night, OPEN TO ALL)]

[Rather than go home, Gat's decided to take some time to explore the town. Not necessarily to get a feel for the lay of the land—he'd already done that a few times, especially after he got this strange non-Coralian CAST body. It's mostly exploring for the sake of exploring—and the closest thing he'll get in a town such as this to the lifestyle he led in the post-Great Blank world, drifting from one town to the next.]

[Given the increase in violence in the town recently, though (to say nothing of Dakki's behavior), he's not letting his guard down.]

Comments

[redwhiteandhero]

How long've you been here now?

[nanocerancowboy]

[He looks back over to Alfred.]

Since last August. Almost been a full year, come to think of it.

[redwhiteandhero]

[Alfred lets out a low whistle.]

Damn. That's a long time to be stuck somewhere.

[nanocerancowboy]

Far as I know, there's been some folks livin' here for longer'n that.

[redwhiteandhero]

One of these days, someone's gonna make a breakthrough.

[nanocerancowboy]

[Gat glances toward the town again, this time in the direction of City Hall.]

Here's hopin'.

[And then he looks back over to Alfred.]

Name's Gatt, by th' way.

[redwhiteandhero]

America.

[nanocerancowboy]

[Gat tilts his head again.]

Ain't that th' name of th' country this here town's s'posed to be in?

[redwhiteandhero]

Yup, that's me.

[nanocerancowboy]

[... This is a new one on him, if the way Gat keeps his head tilted is any indication.]

How do you figure?

[redwhiteandhero]

Well, I represent the Colonies. Sort of like a physical spirit of the people.

[nanocerancowboy]

Huh.

[Yeah, color Gat unsettled.]

If'n you represent th' nation, then that means you ain't actually a human, I take it. Th' town ain't sent you back your actual body?

[redwhiteandhero]

Well, no, not totally. I look the same, but I don't feel the same.

[nanocerancowboy]

[He's still trying to figure this out, as evidenced by the way he rubs the back of his helmeted head.]

By that, do y'mean you're actually a human of some kind, or that th' town's already sent you pieces of your real self back?

[redwhiteandhero]

I'm not human. I'm a nation.

[nanocerancowboy]

[A beat.]

Alright, I think I understand.

If'n you're th' nation, though, wouldja have any idea why this town's takin' folks from everywhen an' where?

[Come to think of it, why would Mayfield's people kidnap the personification of their own country? Though Gat doesn't voice that question.]

[redwhiteandhero]

I dunno if Mayfield's really mine. I mean, it looks like it should be, but I can't feel it. [Of course, that could just be because he's human at the moment.] In any case, it beats me. I'm just as stuck here as you guys.

[nanocerancowboy]

[That explanation makes sense, at least. Gat nods once.]

I reckon they ain't been any kinder to you than us, if they've got th' gall to kidnap you in th' first place.

[redwhiteandhero]

Trust me, if I'd anything to say about it, I'd bust everyone out of here in a heartbeat.

[nanocerancowboy]

[Gat draws himself up, as if satisfied by that response.]

Well, I reckon if'n th' people runnin' this place ever were citizens of this nation, they sure ain't showin' loyalty to it now.

[His head turns to look toward the direction leading to the highway.]

In fact, thinkin' on it ...

[redwhiteandhero]

Yeah?

[nanocerancowboy]

Were you 'round these parts last November?

[redwhiteandhero]

Nah, I only been here since March.

Finally able to start tagging again! Sorry about the long wait!

[nanocerancowboy]

There's a holiday these folks practice 'round that time of year. I reckon it oughta be th' same for you, too, if'n they're takin' after th' country you represent. "Thanksgivin'," they call it.

[He glances in another direction, this time toward City Hall.]

One of them holidays they like tormentin' folks with.

[His tone of voice suggests he's got more to say about it.]

No worries!

[redwhiteandhero]

Not on Thanksgiving! [Thanksgiving is for food and family and football, not tormenting :(]