first entrance

[configuration_birdwatcher]

There are a lot of repairs that need to be done around Watchpoint: Gibraltar, as a consequence of it having been inhabited solely by a gorilla engineer from the former Overwatch and the building's non-mobile AI for the last five years or so; Winston and Athena simply can't keep up with the maintenance all by themselves. Torbjörn still trusts Bastion about as far as he can throw them, but has begrudgingly accepted that they want to help rather than pull the watchpoint down around their ears, and it's not as if the omnic can go into town without causing a panic. Therefore he's put them to work bringing him and Winston supplies from other parts of the base.

This is not Storage Room 14-C. This is some sort of human refreshment area that is completely inconsistent with the architecture of the watchpoint. It's filled with humans consuming food and drinks and engaging in recreational activities. Some are armed or armoured or both, but many are not. Despite Bastion's search for a pattern, no visible elements unify the different types of humans present here.

Not just humans. Their scan of the surprisingly large room detects several omnics of unfamiliar design, a number of small to medium size animals that seem as much at home in the refreshment area as the humans, a few completely unfamiliar organic creatures, and five rats carrying trays of drinks. They appear to have been teleported to an unfamiliar location, but with no trace of any portal or translocator technology that would allow that to happen; Bastion swivels their head 180 degrees to examine the door behind them, which is still open to the hallway they entered from and does not appear to have changed in any way, then looks back at the bar full of people in front of them. Additionally, their wayfinding software picks this moment to give up and report that it can't detect their present location, which is strange in its own right.

They take an experimental step out of the door and back into the hallway. Their wayfinding software reconnects. The room full of mostly human strangers on the far side of the doorway does not go away. They step back into the Bar, and it loses the signal again. A little yellow-green bird follows them in, this time, flying down the hall and around the corner to catch up to the robot.

They're feeling very, very conspicuous in the presence of all these humans. Ganymede flitters up and perches on their hand, chirping reassuringly at them. It soothes their tension a little.

"Zwee?" They beep a question to the room. // Where are we?

[OOC: Open until it scrolls off the page!]

Comments

[childofrebellion]

Cassian spends most of his time around a large droid, when he hears a heavy metal footstep, he looks up expecting to see Kay.

Then stares as there's a bird on the droid and stands up, closing down his datapad and slowly walking forward, his hands up in case its violent, "Hello. This is Milliways."

[configuration_birdwatcher]

"Bwoop?" They tilt their head and let out another confused beep. // Where is Milliways?

Bastion is careful to keep their gun arm pointed towards the floor. The human is being cautious, but friendly; they don't want to alarm him. The bird, for its part, hops up to Bastion's shoulder and peers at Cassian.

They let out a few more inquisitive beeps and whistles. Cassian's reaction is similar to Tracer's, and she knew to expect them. In their experience, most humans who weren't prepared to see a Bastion unit react to them by raising the alarm and fleeing the area. // Did you know I was going to be here?

[childofrebellion]

He's never seen this type of droid before but he spends his time around Kay, and is keeping an eye on the gun,

"I don't understand you, sorry. It doesn't sound like Binary and my Binary's not as good as it could be."

[configuration_birdwatcher]

"Bwooo." They sound disappointed, but not surprised. // I didn't expect you to. Humans usually can't.

They try a friendly wave instead, now that they have a free hand for it. That should at least make it clear that they understood his greeting.

[childofrebellion]

The disappointment comes through and Cassian smiles at the wave, "Maybe we can figure something out. Do you have a designation?"

[configuration_birdwatcher]

They point at the side of their chestplate, which reads 'E54' in worn but clearly legible stenciled paint. This is accompanied by an upbeat voo-vwheep. // I am an SST Laboratories E54 Bastion unit.

The bird chitters at Cassian, and Bastion beeps in response. // And this is Ganymede.

[childofrebellion]

"E54. I'm Cassian and my co-pilot's a droid about your height thought your build is wider. Let me introduce you to Bar, she'll probably be able to understand you,"

He gives a nod to the little bird and gestures to the counter.

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Introducing them to a piece of furniture makes perfect sense to Bastion. They've met Athena, whose mind is housed in a supercomputer deep within Watchpoint: Gibraltar and interacts through the PA system. They step over to the counter, making sure not to bump into any of the strangely unperturbed human patrons on the way, and look around for a screen or speaker.

[childofrebellion]

There's nothing visible and Cassian says, "Bar, this is E54 and their friend. Could I get a caf?"

A mug appears in front of him along with a bowl of seeds and berries for Ganymede and a note for Bastion.

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Ganymede is delighted. He chows down immediately.

Bastion reads the note, which is written on a napkin and ends with a smiley face. They respond to it with another string of beeps and trills, and get another note back. This is an unusual interface. They beep another question, and receive a dry-erase board with a cyan marker and an eraser clipped to it.

In neat, regular handwriting, they write, 'She said she didn't have enough energy to answer all my questions and I should ask other patrons to tell me about Milliways.'

[childofrebellion]

The whiteboard's a good idea and Cassian watches the interaction as he sips his caf, "I can try to answer some of them.

[configuration_birdwatcher]

The whiteboard still has plenty of space, so Bastion writes their next sentence underneath and then holds it up. 'Where is Milliways located? My positioning software hasn't been able to get a signal.'

[childofrebellion]

"I don't know if I can tell you that. According to those who've been here longer, its at the End of the Universe. Its clearly located at a kind of nexus of time and space, but doesn't match with any of my own experiences,"

He wish he knew better because as a pilot, he likes knowing where he is.

[configuration_birdwatcher]

"Vweeoo?!" Bastion whistles out loud in astonishment. // The end of the universe??

They erase the whiteboard and write, on separate lines:
'1. The universe has an end?
2. How did anyone build a bar there?
3. Do you know a lot about nexuses of time and space?'

[childofrebellion]

Cassian gestures to the Window without actually looking at it,

"Its apparently over there. I don't know and no, not a lot. In my world, I fly in hyperspace which slips slightly in and out of space but that's not like Milliways. And while I know how to keep my hyperdrive running, I don't understand all the whys of how it works."

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Bastion follows Cassian's gesture, swiveling their head in that direction.

They had been assuming he meant the furthest possible spatial point in the universe, which was already a very strange and improbable concept, but the galaxy being pulled apart outside the Window would seem to indicate that it is in fact the cessation of the universe. They look back at the bartop, across the room, and then out the Window again, wondering why it doesn't affect Milliways.

[childofrebellion]

“I don’t know how it works but we’re safe in here, but I wouldn’t want to chance flying outback,”

All that destruction is too close.

[configuration_birdwatcher]

That's enough watching giant space things get destroyed for now. It's kind of entrancing, but unsettling to think about.

Bastion takes a moment to get their thoughts back on track and decide what to ask next, then writes, 'Why are there rats delivering food and drinks? I didn't know rats had the dexterity or carrying capacity to do that.'

[childofrebellion]

"I'm not certain when they decided to work here but they're Milliways' wait staff."

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Bastion writes in response, 'They must be very talented & hardworking.'

Apparently that's something rats can do. Or maybe Milliways has particularly extraordinary rats.

Having filled the whiteboard, they erase it to make room for their next question. 'What's flying in hyperspace like?'

[childofrebellion]

"They are," At the second question, Cassian smiles, "Its freeing as you're flying in another sort of space. I don't know all the science behind but I do know what my ship needs to do it." He gestures with his hands to try and capture it all.

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Bastion doesn't know if the gestures have any connection to what a hyperdrive does, but Cassian seems to enjoy making them.

They add to the whiteboard, 'My world doesn't have that technology. Teleportation exists, but it's not practical to install on vehicles.'

The multiple-worlds thing is hard to get used to, but they're trying to take it in stride. Ganymede polishes off his dinner and flutters up to sit on Bastion's shoulder.

[childofrebellion]

"Teleportation doesn't exist in my world. I've yet to find another world that uses hyperspace," Cassian watches the bird, "Does your friend have a name?"

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Bastion beeps fondly at Ganymede, who chirps back.

'His name is Ganymede.' They draw a little heart next to the sentence.

[childofrebellion]

"He seems very sweet. How did you end up with him?"

Droids and small creatures aren't a normal pairing.

[configuration_birdwatcher]

'I was damaged and powered down in the forest for a long time. He was the first thing I saw when I reactivated, and he stayed near me afterwards, even when other living things had good reasons to be terrified of me.'

Bastion doesn't like to think about the false alarms and close calls with their combat protocols that marred their first weeks after reactivation, before they had any idea how to stop themself; they're not eager to go into detail.

[childofrebellion]

"That kind of trust is rare. Its good you have it as its not easy for many people to look past your weapons,"

Cassian's seen that with Kay time and again, but he knows and trusts Kay no matter what.

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Bastion lets out a low, glum-sounding boop, and writes 'That's true. I can't change that.'

Ganymede chirps at them, peering toward their faceplate.

[childofrebellion]

"No, but I think you'll find many people are accepting here."

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Bastion considers this, wiping the whiteboard clean as they do. Then they write, 'Well, you don't seem to mind, so your prediction has been accurate so far.'

They add, 'What else do you think I should know about Milliways?'

[childofrebellion]

"I'm a little biased. My droid co-pilot tends to scare people who aren't used to him but when he came here only one person was scared of him. In terms of rules, they're simple with the idea of keeping Milliways a safe, neutral space. No outside business, if enemies come in you're meant to not do anything, no violence and no sex,"

There was staring but it wasn't as much about what would Kay do?

[configuration_birdwatcher]

'Those rules sound reasonable. What's your co-pilot like?' Bastion writes.

[childofrebellion]

"Careful and honest, he's always aware of what might go wrong with our flights."

[configuration_birdwatcher]

'He sounds very responsible.'

[childofrebellion]

"He is. What do you since you've been reactivated?"

Where Kay places that responsibility can be complicated but its always there.

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Bastion erases the board before they start to write. 'For several years after reactivation I was not obligated to do anything. I used my time to protect Ganymede from predators, explore the wilderness, and practice dealing with my combat programming in ways that would not endanger anyone else.'

They add, 'Recently I found myself closer to a human settlement than I intended. The locals believed I would eventually try to kill them if they didn't kill me first, which would have been the case during wartime when I was constructed. Torbjörn Lindholm intervened and had me transported to an Overwatch facility where I could stay with him and his colleagues.'

'Most of our duties have involved repairing the facility. Overwatch was shut down approximately 6 years ago and has not been given authorization to resume peacekeeping operations.'

[childofrebellion]

"What's Overwatch?" Its not a reassuring name to Cassian.

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Bastion crams in 'Overwatch = international paramilitary force, ended omnic/human war & then switched to combating criminal organizations' in smaller letters under what they've already written.

They don't have an extensive grasp of what Overwatch did either, to be honest, since for almost its entire operational lifespan from formation to disbandment they were either deactivated or living in the woods.

Meanwhile Ganymede begins preening his feathers.

[childofrebellion]

Omnic he remembers from Sombra, so E54 must be from her same world. He wonders if they're from the same time,

"What kinds of criminal organizations do you deal with?"

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Bastion erases the board again, then writes their response. 'Currently the biggest threat to Overwatch is an international terrorist organization called Talon. The two organizations were in direct conflict for at least a decade before Overwatch shut down, but Talon has continued targeting former Overwatch agents.'

They start another paragraph. 'In the past, apparently Overwatch also dealt with groups such as large criminal enterprises whose primary sources of income were selling illegal substances and weapons, and violent ideological extremists, whenever they had the capacity to help. Right now the organization consists of five people in an insufficiently maintained watchpoint; we don't have the resources to do anything on that scale.'

Also it would technically be illegal, but no one else at the watchpoint seems concerned about this factor.

[childofrebellion]

"That sounds like a difficult position to be in? Does Talon have more agents than Overwatch?"

It seems like there's no way this can end in a good way for Overwatch, unless Talon has weaknesses they can use against them.

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Bastion makes a concerned-sounding bwoo noise and erases the whiteboard so they can start writing again.

'I don't have enough information to answer that; I only arrived at the watchpoint nine days ago. I'd need to ask Winston. I've been told to expect more people to arrive soon, because he put out a recall order. He's in charge of what's left of Overwatch.'

[childofrebellion]

Winston is a name that Sombra mentioned but Cassian doesn't want to let on that he knows her, "Is Winston a good leader?"

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Bastion shrugs, although they only raise their gun arm at the shoulder. They then pick up the marker again. 'I have no objections so far, and the others trust him. He seems capable.'

They don't have much basis for comparison. The chain of command in the omnic army was headed by super-AIs of vast and incomprehensible intelligence that were as likely to take direct control of your entire squad as give you orders.

[childofrebellion]

"I hope he continues to be. Leadership you can trust is key to any organization."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Er."

Alistair's seen a robot a time or two during his sojourns to Milliways. Metal golems, is how he classifies them, though they don't quite look like something that came out of Orzammar; they're usually shinier and more delicate than a lot of dwarven machinery. Not this one, though. This one's big, blocky as a Paragon carving, and very heavy if those thumping footsteps are any indication.

At Alistair's feet, Brother Fuzzy lifts his head to eye the bird, then the robot, then the bird again as his tail sweeps a slow arc.

"Hello?"

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Ganymede eyes Brother Fuzzy suspiciously, trying to look as fierce and inedible as he can. Bastion, for their part, tries to look nonthreatening. They keep their gun arm pointed down towards the floor, although their other arm is nervously drawn inwards.

"Bweeoo-wip?" // Do you know where this teleporter came from?

The human is wearing peculiar clothing, but that wouldn't be out of the norm for an Overwatch agent, in Bastion's experience. What's really strange is that he seems confused rather than frightened or wary.

[bringspeopletogether]

...oh dear. Has the translation magic failed again? But they just fixed that! Ugh, Milliways, sometimes you're a terribly unhelpful place.

Fuzzy gets to his feet; he's small for a mabari, but still stands a good height above Bastion's knees. The bird's too far away to bother with, he decides, and anyway if it tries to peck His Majesty it'll be easy to deal with. Time to sniff the giant metal golem instead!

And Alistair, for his part?

Well.

"Um. Wee-ooo beep?"

He'll try to overcome this language barrier on his own and pray he didn't just insult the robot's mother.




...Do robots even have mothers?

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Well, this one doesn't, unless the omnium that built them counts.

Bastion smells like dirt, metal, engine grease, moss, bird, a hint of seawater, and miscellaneous other telltale signs of their mechanical nature and outdoorsy lifestyle. Ganymede stops trying to look too intimidating to eat once Brother Fuzzy stops paying attention to him, although he doesn't take his eyes off the dog.

The strangely fearless human is now attempting to establish contact by mimicking their beeps. Since Alistair doesn't have a wireless transceiver, his whistly noise doesn't actually translate to anything except a general tone of hesitant confusion, but they can tell what he's trying to do. They wave at him and beep a friendly greeting.