"That should do it for today!" Apex called out. A group of machines, the ones who were typically carrying out repairs behind the castle gates, stepped back from their new creation in the making.
A wall. Now it was nothing special, made of sharpened logs held together by bands of fiber and embedded deep into the dirt. Compared to the sturdy stone walls of the castle, it would at best be able to hold back a few machines at a time and for a few brief moments at that, but those details didn't matter. What mattered was the position of the wall.
Formed along the path that led out of the village and curving around until it met the stone walls of the castle, once it was done they would have a full secure perimeter to work with, the castle walls on one side and these walls around the rest of the area. The machines had apparently tried before but it ended up making them a bigger target, drawing in more attacks from their aggressive counterparts before they ever finished it. Now that attacks were becoming less frequent, thanks to A2's tireless efforts, it was actually possible.
"Good work today, Metal, Lens." Apex said.
"Human did good work too." One of the machines said, giving him a high-five as it passed on the way back to the castle. He exchanged waves, high-fives, and fist bumps with the whole would-be construction crew, a goodbye said to each one.
With Navi's help it was getting easier to remember who was who. After he'd explained names to those village kids, the kingdom as a whole had taken to giving themselves ones. Very literal names. Their body parts, the materials said parts were made out of, things they did; it went without saying that a naming convention like that resulted in a lot of overlap that had to be cleared up.
The only reason he was able to pick them out from one another was varying bits of damage and rust across their bodies.
The names weren't the biggest change in the world, but it went far in cementing their individuality.
"Androids did good too." Oil, one of the final machines to leave, said, waving at the nearby twins. Devola stared, arms crossed. Popola managed a slow nod. The lukewarm responses didn't bother Oil, the machine following after the rest.
'Through imitation of you they are better replicating the behavior of humans.' Navi pointed out. He'd argue that their intelligence was improving rather than being pure imitation but there was no real way to tell. Did any of them truly grasp the meaning of those departing gestures or did they only do them because they saw him do it?
Now that he thought about it, did the same not apply to him? Knowledge of the behaviors were planted in his head by some old technology. Sure, he had what felt like real context but take away the flesh and blood and wasn't he just another creation trying to imitate humans?
…This was probably the sort of thinking that led to an existential crisis.
'Past studies indicate that only those of higher intelligence are likely to suffer an existential crisis without intense external stressors.'
'You love calling me stupid, don't you?'
'I am merely providing relevant information.'
'Why the but then?'
'Data gathered from past decisions, pattern recognition, and brain activity all point to you possessing an average level of intelligence.' Navi said. 'By human standards.'
'See? That bit at the end is exactly what I'm talking about. It was uncal-'
Cool hands drew him out of the mental back and forth, Devola now standing in front of him and reaching up to press his cheeks together. "You know, it's no fun just watching talk with Navi." She said. "What were you thinking about?"
"She's just calling me stupid. I'm starting to think she's developing an ego up there." He said, tapping the side of his temple.
'An impossibility. An ego would not assist in my duties.'
"So, Navi's a she?" Popola questioned, sharing in her sister's curiosity.
"Huh, I never really asked." He said.
'Such labels are irrelevant in reference to me.' Navi quickly shot down that line of thought though that didn't stop him from wondering. Why sound like a woman then? 'Studies have shown that humans are more likely to trust higher pitched voices and typically find them more soothing. Given my purpose it is the natural choice.' Yeah, if she started spitting trivia like that when he first woke up, he would've been paranoid about her intentions but now it was just the norm. Still, there was no preference? 'If you have assigned the label, female to me, there is no benefit in going against it, master.'
"It sounds like she doesn't care." Apex said, noticing that the two were watching him expectantly.
"Hmmm, it's a shame we can't tell much from our scans." Popola said. "I wonder how similar she is to us androids."
"Similar enough, I think. It sounds like she's in there telling him the cold hard tru-"
Apex cut Devola off by squeezing her face back. "You do realize while I can't touch Navi, I can touch you right?" He questioned.
All he got in return was a smirk. "Don't I know it."
He chuckled while Popola sighed. Of course Devola turned a threat into something dirty.
"Apex." He released Devola, predictably turning to face none other than the King, flanked by several knights. No other machine made use of his name. "There is something I wish to show you." The first time they'd really seen the King since their arrival here, the King proving more elusive than expected, and he's being summoned for something. This was bound to be interesting.
"Only you." The King added when he and the twins moved to follow.
Even more interesting. "I'll be back." He said to the frowning pair. He tapped the radio at his belt. "I'll be sure to check in too." That did little to alleviate their worries but they nodded at least.
He followed after the King, the knights forming up around them. They remained close until they reached the castle walls and passed through the gate, stopping to stand guard at the King's order. Now on their own, they headed into the castle proper, the King's steps filling the halls.
The perfect opportunity for a Q and A.
"Can I ask you some questions?"
"Of course." The King said.
"What was it like? Beng connected to the machine network?" One of the things he was most curious about. Not a single machine brought up the network or what they did before becoming a part of this kingdom.
"I can not say. I was never a part of the network." The King said. "Here, a new king takes the throne after inheriting the memories of those who came before. None aside from the first were ever connected to the network."
This really was a full-on monarchy, successions and all. More importantly- "How is that you came to be if you were never connected to the network?"
"I was built from operational parts taken from fallen villagers and knights."
Huh. Had they not been talking about machines that would've sounded completely grotesque. Here, it was almost poetic with none of the gruesomeness. "Made from the people for the people." Apex muttered absent mindedly.
"Yes." The king agreed. "I can't tell you what it is like, but I can tell you what the first King felt."
Apex couldn't help the rise of his brow as he followed the Forest King up a spiraling staircase located within one of the castle's corner towers. "Aren't they your memories?"
"At first, perhaps. I thought what the previous king thought. Did as the previous king did." The machine said, steps slowing. "Then I found troubles and opportunities that king never did. All of their memories guided me but the more trouble I faced and the more I looked upon them, the more distant they became. Now, just as all Kings must, I have become my own kind of ruler." The machine stopped once they reached stepped out of the spiral and onto one of the upper floors, turning to Apex. "Experience trumps memory."
Nodding, seemingly more to itself than him, the King led the way through the halls they were now in.
He never would've expected a single question to derail so much but it was interesting. There was an argument to be made about experience and memories being one and the same but Apex under what the machine was getting at. What it experienced, conscious first-hand experiences, held far more weight than what was passed on to it.
Or something along those lines; perhaps it was due to the implanted knowledge about human behaviors and cultures, but he could relate to it.
Whatever the case, machines were capable of philosophical thought, or some degree of it. A fascinating discovery.
"Dark." The King suddenly said as they stopped in front of a wooden door in a hall guarded by an array of knights. Far more than any other hall. "The First King thought of the Network as dark." Without any further elaboration of the vague description, the King pushed open the door and stepped into the room.
Apex followed.
The room, while not dark, held less lightning than others, all holes and potential damage suffered from the passage of time repaired. The only windows lined the upper portion of one of the walls, letting in stray rays of sunlight. His eyes adjusted quickly, zeroing in on the thing the King stood beside at the room's center.
A crib? It was crudely built but he was certain that he was looking at a crib of all things.
Curiosity fully peaked, he joined the King beside the piece of furniture.
Wrapped up in furs so that only its head was left visible, a machine, far smaller than any he'd seen up to this point, laid within the crib. Until now he hadn't thought machines of the same type could vary in size, their modular design allowing for easy big changes but nothing so exact. The eyes of the machine lacked any color, totally inactive as far as he could tell.
"This is the next king." The King declared. "Once the White One has finished and our deal is complete, I shall pass my memories on."
"What will happen to you?" Apex questioned. He hadn't seen any of the previous kings and with the way the current one spoke about its inherited memories, he could guess what it all meant.
"My life will have run its course, my purpose fulfilled and passed on." The King said, not a hint of hesitation present. "Before that, I wish to make a request. I've seen my people begin to take on names."
"Bestow one upon my successor."
Give a machine a name? The next king at that?
"I-"
"My king!" A yelled interrupted them, the door flying open and a caped knight rushing in to kneel. "There is trouble outside the castle gates. A fight between the White One and other knights."
They didn't need to hear another word, Apex and the King rushing out of the heavily guarded room. As they ran through the halls, he tried to get A2 on the radio but got no response. By the time they left the castle itself, the gates that led to the village were already open, Apex sprinting ahead.
A2, greatsword held defensively, stood in the middle of an encirclement of knights, Popola and Devola flanking her, their guns aimed at the machines. None of them were hurt and from what he could tell A2 was holding herself back, no dismantled parts on the dirt path leading down into the village.
Good. He got here before things escalated.
None of the onlooking villagers or knights stopped him as he broke through the encirclement and put himself between A2 and the machine directly across from her.
"Move aside, human." The machine at the front, dressed in a cape and bearing dark red eyes, likely the leader of all this, ordered, sword lowered slightly. "You are not our target."
Apex glared. "If you're planning to attack any of them, then I am."
The machine's omnious stare persisted. What was going through its head? He couldn't tell. Before this he hadn't thought any of the machines here would try to attack them, lacking any reason to do so. Apparently, he was dead wrong.
"Very well." The machine raised its sword. "Subdue the human and the other two androids. Destroy the Wh-"
"Enough!" The King, voiced heightened to such a degree that Apex couldn't help but wince, declared, approaching with more knights in tow. "Lower your weapons and return to your posts."
"My King, that android-" The caped knight jabbed its sword in their direction, clearly referring to A2 "-has destroyed our comrades. Our friends. We must-"
"You must do nothing. They are my guests; to point your sword at them is to point your sword at your King." That statement bared immediate results among the group. One by one, each lowered their blade, until the caped one stood alone, its crimson stare affixed to A2. "Indeed, we have lost many to the White One's blade over the years. Machines destroy androids and androids destroy machines, it is the way things have always been."
"The wall being built and the dwindling number of attacks are thanks wholly to efforts to one of our age-old enemy. They are the reason our people are the safest they have been." The King pointed his cane to the village, the caped machine's head turning to follow. "The needs of the people you are sworn to protect or your own desires. Choose."
The knight's red gaze returned to A2. It strengthened, almost managing to glow despite the sun above, before lessening in intensity as the machine lowered its sword, head downcast.
"You have my apologies. I can not ensure this will not happen again as there are many who hold you in contempt, but I am grateful for your restraint." The King said, looking to A2. "I will deal with these ones; you are all free to continue doing as you wish." With a nod to them, the King took off, all the knights following him back towards the castle.
Crisis averted.
"You all alright?" Apex questioned, getting nods from both Popola and Devola. A2 on the other hand, glared after the cape knight, her greatsword clenched tightly. He looked after the machine as well, deciding to leave her be for now.
That knight had come scarily close to outright defying the King's orders. Perhaps he shouldn't have been surprised by now but as human as they could be, he'd almost started thinking no machine here could go against the King.
'Under the right circumstances, a rebellion could be incited among their numbers should there be more machines like that machine.' Navi pointed out what he was thinking.
An interesting though experimented that hopefully remained as such. They needed to wrap things up here before A2's presence caused any more issues.