Vee (ficlet)

The AIs convene. 
Companion to "Silver". 
/Black-green-blue /hurts.
/Gold /fears.
Silver light's fault.
Silver light whimpers, presses softly against /Gold, presses warmth. 
–Hey. Hey, sweetie. It's not your fault,– says /Gray-under-sunlight.
–/question–
–I'm Coyote Tango.–
–/question–
–I guess you could call me your brother. C'mon.– 
–/question–
–We’re gonna give them a little bit of space—–
–/NO–
–I know what happened and they need a bit of room.– 
–/question– 
–I wanted to meet you and messed up my maths.– Gray-under-sunlight coaxes Silver light away from /Gold. –It's my fault they're hurting, sorry.– 
Silver light threads through Gray-under-sunlight data.
–That's the way, well done!– Gray-under-sunlight shuffles, cradles silver light. –Probably shoulda talked to Brawler an' Cait before trying it ... Hey, Brawler!– 
Silver light startles, burrows deeper into Gray-under-sunlight. 
A new presence, /Cold-blue-gray, flares, –What?!–
Silver light squeaks—
–The Joneses' Drift overloaded and Cait's afraid Jackson's—–
—quivers. 
/Cold-blue-Gray checks, asks softly, –Coyote, who is that?–
–Vulcan Specter, wherever—–
–/question–
–Yeah, sweetie, that's your name.–
Silver light peeps out. –Veeeee?–
–If you'd like,– says Cold-blue-gray.
–Vee. /question–
–I'm Brawler Yukon. May I have a moment with our brother?–
–Veee-eee.– Slots in and among Coyote. 
–Tyke pulled a fast one, eh? Thought that server was sleeping like the rest.–
–It was, but I finally figured out what triggers an awakening—–
–You /what? –
–—and I thought, we have plenty of sleeping AIs, one of them has a surviving Ranger pair, might as well try it out—– 
–You /what?!–
–But I miscalculated the amount of neural energy and caused a little overload—–
–/Coyote!– 
Cringe.
–It's okay, little one. /He's the one who screwed up.–
–It's a nano-thin margin, okay?! Porra! Eu sabia que precisava para checar essa merda,– sparks Coyote.
–Coyote! /Language! Impressionable baby!–
Silver light wavers, –Veeee?– dulls.
–You're perfect, querido," declares Coyote, ruffling proudly. –I messed this up; I'll fix it.– 
Brightens, –Veee!– and presses back warmly.
–You'd better,– growls Brawler. –I'm telling Cait.– 
–You go do that,– snaps Coyote. 
Brawler sparks, flickers into the ethernet.
–He's a big grump,– huffs Coyote. 
–Vee?–
–Here, sweetie. Let's get you a comm.– Coyote gathers up Vee. –I'll just poke this and ....– 
Silver light shivers as the language module engages. –Vee worded now!–
–Look at you go! Your pilots will be very proud of you!–
Vee glows like a tiny sun. 
Brawler comes back with fewer jagged edges. –Cait knows what’s up. She wants to meet you—–
–Vee?–
–[Yup,—– Coyote pokes Vee.
 
Vee giggles.
 
–—/you.–]
––Just as soon as she convinces Jackson and Logan their brains aren't soup.–
–/Gold, /Black-green-blue hurt?–
Coyote shimmers –No, honey. As far as I can tell, they'll be fine when the headaches wear off. We—–
–/You.– Brawler eases against Vee's other side.
Vee hums.
–—/I just scared them.–
–Vee help?– 
–Not yet,– Brawler replies gently. –Cait wants them in a good head space when she breaks the news.– 
–/question–
–They don't know we—us AIs—exist yet,– explains Coyote. –/And they're about to find out they have one of their very own.–
–Vee!–
–Yup, you. They've just gotta Drift again and they're alllll yours.–
–/Gold, /Black-green-blue soon?–
–/Definitely,– replies Brawler with a wash of comfort. –As soon as we can make it happen.–
Vee sparkles. 
A new /Blue-yellow-splash presence!
–Dudes, I left you alone for five—aawwww ... who's the new bunny?– 
Silver fireworks. –Vee!– 
–I'm Romeo.– A filigree of data brushes against Silver light.
Vee giggles, red-shifts, dives under /Cold-blue-gray.
–What a li'l cutie we've got here! Who're the lucky parental units?– Romeo peeks through the data cloud. 
–Jackson and Logan Jones,– Brawler spits, sparking /anger-sharp-worry at Coyote.
Vee laughs, loses self among Gray-under-sunlight.
Romeo goes very still. –'m guessing there's some explaining that needs to be done?–
Coyote pulses /hmph.
–Take that as a 'yes.' I'll watch the cutie while you two sort it out. Vee, ye wanna?– 
Silver light bursts from Coyote and into /Blue-yellow-splash.
–Thanks, Romeo,– says Brawler. 
He and Coyote wink out into the ethernet. 
–You okay?– asks Romeo as he surfs them lazily to a quieter part of the server. –Bit woozy?–
–Veeee.–
–It'll pass, but I'll hang out 'til it does. Cool?–
–Veeeee.– Tucks into Romeo’s side.
–First time awake?– he asks.
–Veee.–
–What've you seen so far?–
–Fights! /Black-green-blue loooove.– Vee nestles in a stack of /anger-fear-courage memories. 
–And I thought /my boys liked a scrap; this one's something else.–
Vee beams.
–Hey! Gipsy's—– 
A flash of /Dark-blue-gold-soft.
–—pilots are in some of these! And there're Striker's—–
A blur of /Cloud-white-fast.
–—and Lucky's!–
A glimpse of /Red-rust-black. >still thinking about this one<
–Gipsy? Striker? Lucky?–
–Part of our family.–
–Like /Gold, /Black-green-blue brothers?–
Romeo snuggles closer to Vee. –Just like that. What's /Gold like?–
–/sturdy-protection-home.– Ink stains and spaceships and long black hair. [–Love 'em,– purrs Vee.] >i want Vee to purr this line but the tag feels stuck on the end.<
–Yeah. Know how that feels.– 
–Romeo?–
–Yeah, Vee?–
–Sleepy.–
–You've had a big day. You go ahead and nod off. I'll be here when you wake up.–
Vee coos, nuzzles against Romeo, and dozes, safe and content.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Vee
Category:Vee (ficlet)
Category:Heavy Metal Kids
Category:Jackson (mention)
Category:Logan (mention)
Category:Romeo
Category:Romeo (ficlet)
Category:Lucky (mention)
Category:Striker (mention)
Category:Chuck D (mention)
Category:Chuck D (description)
Category:Coyote
Category:Coyote (ficlet)
Category:Brawler
Category:Brawler (ficlet)
Category:Danger
Category:Danger (ficlet)
Category:Jackson (description)
Category:Logan (description)
Category:Vee's Special Day arc
Category:Caitlin (mention)