The Golden Rule

Jaia-Asumoto would sit up slowly, long ebony hair touching the water at their tips. She would turn her head gently, but make sure her elbow obstructed any view of her breasts. She would nod softly, and look up at the sky. He was right...and she hadn't noticed. So peaceful...and she had somehow forgotten peace. She had abandoned her code for a moment and nearly lost everything she had left, "It is...I didn't notice.."

[Richard_Hell ] After a long day of hard work and and duty....good or bad...i just look up into the night....and I forget all that is on my mind....

Richard_Hell removes his helmet slowly and holds it in his arm "I am Richard Hell....CHampion to BloodMoon."

Jaia-Asumoto would smile softly and nod. She would think on what he had said, and would say it out loud...somehow unaware that she was doing so, "Duty...I wish I knew what that meant." would turn her back just a little and stare at the ground by the edge of the hot spring. She would hear his name and nod in respect in his general direction...before hearing the name BloodMoon. She would spin her head around quickly and frown, "You do not refer to the Blood Moon Assasins?" her brown eyes suddenly became cold, but also startled at the mention of the name...especially now, when she was so unprepared.

Cannon appears, very abruptly as is his family's habit, and nowhere in particular yet close enough to those he knows to be 'in' on things again. He looks just a tiny bit annoyed, and immediately looks around for Flash.

Richard_Hell laughs "No....i've heard of them ...I mean Bryan Knight also known as BloodMoon

Flash_Guardian seems to find his way here somehow, a battle still raging inside him after the earlier events in the pub. He can smell a rather pungeant aroma wafting along on the breeze, the air carrying a sense of heat and humidity. Curious, Flash makes his way upwind, quickly coming in sight of the steamy wind's origin ... a hot springs, which seems to be occupied at the moment. He doesn't seem to recognize either of the figures at his current distance, so he simply stands there for a time, wondering if it would be rude of him to intrude upon their privacy.

BenjaminBlue steadily follows behind Flash, whether he would be seen or not being of any concern to him. One hand would be perched thoughtfully under his chin as was his usual fashion while his metallic digits would be wrapped around the strap of his laphap. It had not done him well to see Flash's pleasant and calm demeanor spoiled by the idiocies of humanity's flaws. As he continued onward, both hand would move to the strap over his shoulder as he pulled his ornate harp into his grasp. After strumming once, then twice across its golden strings, Blue's digits would move almost spiderlike across the strands to produce an eerie but soothing melodie that reminded him of the wonders of a winter landscape.

Richard_Hell keeps his eyes at the reflections within the water....trying to be respectful of the girl's nudity

Cannon 's screen has some ugly lump of background from another window stuck in the middle of it for some reason, and he can't see all the text he needs to without selecting it. That ever happen to anyone else?.... Its really really annoying. -_-;

Flash_Guardian spots something nearby, behind a bush, but before he has time to inspect it, Cannon appears abruptly, evidently having followed him here. And apparently others had followed him as well, namely his priestly friend. Flash simply stands, turning to face away from the pair in the hot springs in order to await their approach. Seeing Blue and hearing his music, he begins to calm somewhat ... though perhaps distancing himself from the Pub has more to do with that at the moment.

Jaia-Asumoto 's resolve would soften lightly but there was still a hint of steel behind her eyes as she would slowly stand, completly bare as she moved to pick up her kimono quickly enough so that she did not shame herself in his presence. She had not anticipated company. She would step out of the water and wrap the kimono of the bright sky blue around her body. She would move to rinse her long black hair out before looking at Richard, "Well met, Richard. But your freind...BloodMoon. He carries a dishonoured name." she would not mention her reasons behind the loathing she had for that name, or those who dwelt under it. She would simply look down at the water, her own reflection staring back up at her. She would be drawn suddenly to the sound of a harp, playing at a distance. She would look up and see Flash in the distane. She would strain her eyes to see him, and would move her left hand gently to show her recognition of him. She would see Cannon not too far away and would close her eyes slowly, bowing her head. It --

Cannon walks over to Flash once he has been spotted, and stops right in front of the man. "You said we needed to talk. You said it might take a minute. Its taken a minute. You seem troubled, and at least part of it is directed at me. Lets talk then."

Cannon 's player glances at his watch and realises he only has a quarter hour left until he has a lecture.... which will last an hour. Typical.

Jaia-Asumoto -- looked as if she had been followed. Sighing apologeticly, she would look up at Richard and smile softly, "Forgive me, if I seemed a little...hostile. I would explain but my reasons are my own."

Richard_Hell nods...."You have good reason to hate BloodMoon he is a very vicious creature...maybe that to even rival the Assassins.

Flash_Guardian nods to Cannon. "Right, then," he says, quickly seating himself nearby against a tree. This wasn't going to be easy. "Let's talk." An inviting glance is given to the man behind the harp. "Blue, your opinions here would be appreciated by me, if you feel you have anything to say." Flash stares down at the ground, trying to pose his question quickly. "Cannon ... yesterday, with the dove ... why did you do that? Why did you ..." Flash shakes his head, his difficulty on the topic clearly showing as he continues to look down and away. "Why did you kill that dove?" he manages to say, his eyes at last moving up to look into Cannon's face, judging him.

Pratz idly wanders down the path towards the hot springs, humming to himself.

Richard_Hell looks up at the girl...."I didn't catch your name."

Flash_Guardian unfortunately has turned his back on Jaia out of respect for her and the stranger's privacy, and didn't see her greeting, as much as he would have liked to. No worries, though. Flash isn't going anywhere just yet.

Cannon answers simply: "I was feeling boredom, and I sought to relieve myself of it. Since I managed to make a leaf into a vaguely pigeon shape, I wondered also by curiosity if I could make a pigeon into a leaf shape. It wasn't precisely as successful as it should have been, but it was adequate enough to be identifiable as such by an average person with an imagination, yes?"

BenjaminBlue approaches the pair, still running his velvety hands acroos his instrument as he speak in key with his melody. ~ A chat, a talk, an exchange of words to know thine friend through thick and thin and back again would lead to words exchanged but words not taken in. ~ " Blue takes a deep breath and continues with another verse as he replies. " My opinion is as follows. ~ The life of any creature should have the right to stay alive, to flourish in happiness or fultilely strive. A life ended prematurely and without forethought in mind, would lead to a man to which I would ne'er be kind. ~ Cannon is a different case I understand though... "

Pratz wanders up about the time Cannon anwsers, hands clapsed behind his back as he walks, then blinks.

Jaia-Asumoto would feel her eyes fall at the mere mention of the Assasins openly. She would shake her head, and then do the most unexpected thing. She would growl underneath her breath and shake her head vigorously. She would look up at Richard and felt herself breathing hard. It was obvious she loathed the term Blood Moon...but mention the Assasins, and her samurai restraint on her anger was lost. "I am Jaia Asumoto...last of the Asumoto clan. I have a score to settle with every last member, and ex-member of the Blood Moon Assasins...and I will finish them!" she finished this almost in an enraged scream..but kept her voice down out of respect for Flash. Her Ki would burn uncontrolled for the first time in her life...but she would cover it up with pure complacency..and finish in a tone of pure calm and tranquility...a dramatic change, but she was samurai..and as such it was possible, "I am honoured to meet you Richard-san."

Richard_Hell gives his polite bow "And it is an honor to meet such a beautiful worrior like yourself."

Flash_Guardian cannot keep his eyes on Cannon, looking away in horror ... but just then, he can't help but hear a familiar voice shouting, whirling to look in Jaia's direction for a moment, at last recognizing her and her belongings. Truly the situation in the hot springs was more than it seemed. He could deal with it in a moment, though, as he redirects his attention to Cannon ... or Cannon's feet in any case. As diplomatic as he may be, he seems to have trouble looking people in the eye whom he has a problem with. "Cannon," he says, shaking his head disapprovingly. "You don't do things like that. There's no excuse for killing some poor creature just on a whim, let alone out of boredom!" Flash's anger rises in his voice, and his fists clench, though thankfully the ire in his eyes is directed down and away for Cannon's benefit. "I don't think I want you helping me to build my dojo anymore," he concludes. "My dojo will not be built by hands stained with innocent blood."

Jaia-Asumoto would return the bow with the customary bow of a samurai warrior. Her English was fluent with no error, but still accented with that of her Japanese ancestry. She would look back into the water, allowing her emotions to rise, and subside like tides, her spirtual Ki rising and falling in time with it...so eratic that anyone who could sense her Ki, would feel the change in her. She was becoming...angrier, less restrained. Her kind and gentle demeanour no longer constituded her entire being. She would smile, allowing that part of her being to show, however for her guest's sake. "I thank you for the compliment. Forgive me if I appear rude...but I have been..." a tone of gentle malice could be detected as an under-tone as she would continue, "a little disposed, for the past few days."

Cannon very slowly quirks a brow and tilts his head. "Innocent blood? I would require further discussion of this matter, but I am due back at the lab for maintenance and upgrade purposes in 3 minutes. I must leave, and will return, but I am disappointed if this is your decision. I hope some understanding can be brought about here."

Cannon nods his head, or rather he lowers it and lets it stay lowered. He clearly doesn't understand the meaning behind Flash's anger. If that isn't innocence, what is? There is a slight flicker this time as he vanishes, a hint of green around the edges of the vision, and he is gone again.

Flash_Guardian nods to Cannon solemnly. He at least seems to understand, which was a start. "Perhaps," he says, looking away as Cannon vanishes.

[Richard_Hell ] I do not know what your pain is...but do not let anger take over....it can only lead into chaos and darkness...trust me on this...i know all to well.

Pratz nods at Flash and Benjamin. "Hello again."

Flash_Guardian shudders in reaction to Jaia's rising anger, looking over in her direction with concern. "Excuse me, Blue," he says, rising from his seat. Nothing there to hold him back now as he quickly makes his way over to her, calling to her from a short distance away. "Jaia?" He leaves his words at that, preferring to let Jaia speak as she will.

BenjaminBlue withdraws himself from the company of Flash and Cannon by simply moving to the side of the hotspring while his fingers dance across his golden strings. He would look longingly to the sky as he continued his next verse of this tragic tale. " ~ An innocent's hands stained with innocent blood, the hands of one who can not understand that the practicalities of social graces which others must demand, shall not be put to Earth in need of work or chores in service of this man to which many people would adore. O heavy day... ~"

Jaia-Asumoto for once she would herself robbed of words. She had known what he had said to be true. Her anger was blinding her, corrupting her, turning her into a Samurai, which would oppose what Bushido taught. She would shame her master. Her sensei. She would shame those she had trained with, those who had trained under her. But...most were already dead. The reason why she loathed the mention of the Blood Moon. It had taken this obvious statement to think harder on what this meant for her. A samurai, losing her way...or having already lost her way. She would look up at him and speak plainly, "I lost the lives of everything and everyone I ever loved. Their honour is spat on because of my mistake. If anger is what it takes to redeem their honour, then anger will have to be my recourse..." eventually, she would look down and sigh, "..I know the cost." for a moment, she felt empty at this revelation, somehow caught again on the emptiness she had felt. She was pulled back into reality by a voice she knew well, calling --

Jaia-Asumoto -- her name. She would look up and suddenly feel ashamed that she had spoken those words. She would look at Richard and smile gently, "Please...excuse me. I have a long overdue meeting with a freind. I hope one day, Richard-san...that we meet under fairer circumstances than my wallowing in self pity." she would look up to Flash and nod slowly, calling back, "Flash..."

[Richard_Hell ] Just remember...once you enter darkness....you can never leave....it will never let you go....never

Richard_Hell stands and begins to walk away

Jaia-Asumoto would smile gently, and nod, "Thank you, Richard. I will remember that.." and she knew she would...Perhaps one day, it would be her only saviour.

BenjaminBlue gradually turned his attention to Pratz. " Good evening again," his said in a soft but hollow voice with a final strum of his harp. " What could compel you to follow us this horrid night? Perhaps another man who need his blood to be spilled? If so, then we harbor no interest in such deeds. Rest is what we wish. "

Flash_Guardian now stares at Jaia ... just stares with his mouth slightly open. Jaia's wanderings about his island ... her silence and reflection from the previous days ... her recent troubled emotions that perhaps only he had been able to notice in her ... all of that was now explained at last. Flash seems more horrified about her recent past rather than her uncharacteristic emotional outburst. Slowly he makes his way over to Jaia's side, respect showing clearly on his face, wishing to show her that he understands. "Jaia ... I'm so sorry."

Pratz holds up his hands. "Whoa, hold it. It's not like I enjoy fighting or anything. I'd rather sleep my days away. I just wanted to be around some decent people and relax, myself. Events tended to outpace me and I have a really weak spot about Kali. "

Stephany slowly enters the area of the hotsprings. There were a few familiar voices.

BenjaminBlue throws his harp back around his slender shoulders and dons a small smirk as he listens. " I would hope that our events would not continue to outpace you. We move with little haste or energy for now. Perhaps you would rest yourself and your doubts for a spell as you relax and indulge in a moment of peace. " Blue glances past Pratz to notice the feline maiden from the other day. She seemed rather nice company to be around as opposed to the ruufians jsut before. " Let us all just rest and be at peace... " he said with a full breath, removing his hat to lie down.

Pratz nods. "Sounds... fine by me. The resting bit, at least."

Kalakr would enter behind Stephany, he was very sure that he did not hear him. Slowly he puts a gentle hand on her shoulder, and gives her a small smile.

Jaia-Asumoto 's face was restored to its ice cold calm...the control having seized control of her in Flash's presence because she would no longer tolerate her weaknesses...her own insecurity. She would nod as he spoke, and state quietly with as little emotion as she could...although the way she spoke did leave traces of humiliation in it's wake. She had shamed herself in front of him. She had beaten him in combat, and yet she could not compose herself. She felt herself punish herself inside, quietly. "You were not meant to know. No one was. Not until I had done my duty..." looking down, her brown eyes merely fixing on the ground, "Its been awhile Flash...I did not want to burden you. I won't burden you with details, as something might come up and I won't be able to finish." so calm...so emotionally opaque that it seemed as if she had broken herself, and turned into something the gentle Jaia would have never predicted, "I...am grateful for your compassion. But I am shamed to accept any apology. It was my fault..Not yours"

Stephany jumps at the touch of Kalakr. She turns around and looks at him. She looks at him shyly and her tail wraps around her leg.

Richard_Hell turns to look atht eh people near the spring

Richard_Hell looks at them as thoughts rush through his mind ......

BenjaminBlue would be staring with quiet intensity towards the dotted sidereal heavens with both arm placed behind his head. Many thoughts would run through his mind as well. These people reminded him of many things. So many stories. All of these story would seek to tell themselves once more through the placement and images that the stars produced. It reminded him eternally how life was and always would be. It made him think a great deal about what was ahead for him, and was he had left behind. All things left behind...

Flash_Guardian cocks an ear behind him to listen in on Blue's words for a moment. '... just rest and be at peace.' Sounds like a wonderful idea, and some hot springs seemed just the thing. Try as she might to hide her emotions now, her secret was out, and Flash suspected that even the calm granted to a martial artist could not overcome such grief as Jaia may or may not be feeling now. At her words, Flash decides to use less apology and a bit more compassion. "Whether or not I was supposed to, I know now, it seems," he states, using a bit of the same calm that Jaia reserves now for herself. "It must be horrible for you ... I must confess, I can't imagine," he says sadly. "I ... was never a part of anything larger as perhaps you were. Well, nothing like ..." Flash ceases there, shaking his head. "Maybe Blue's right. A bit of peace and quiet could do us all some good. You must be getting cold after being in the springs ... would you care to return?" Flash offers with an inviting and outstretched hand.

Jaia-Asumoto would look up at the rise where Blue rested and would smile lightly before looking back at Flash, "Blue is wiser than many samurai I have known. He is a good man.." she knew that Flash's logic had compromised her mask of complete control. She would take his hand, as offered and he would find that she was a little taller, and her muscles had grown. Had he been to the dojo, he would find that she had not wasted anytime in helping. But she had done that, as she had felt she owed him something for staying on his island for so long. She turned her head to face the hot spring. She would smile softly and nod, the hot water appearing more inviting as the chilly breeze whiped through her kimono, causing her to shiver involuntarily, "I will have to tell you, won't I?" sighing softly she would nod, "It is inevitable. I am glad that you did not hear it from any idle gossip." she would hold his hand and smile, a little warmer now, "I would appreciate your company."

Flash_Guardian nods in agreement, taking Jaia's hand and smiling. "Blue is indeed wise. He reminds me of someone I once knew and respected very much, and I have told him so. Flash will indeed be pleasantly surprised upon returning to his island later. For now, he looks to Jaia's face happily, giving her hand a quick squeeze before releasing it. "Modesty first," he tells her, glancing back towards the spring. "We'll both need to strip down a bit before getting in there ... at least I know I will. If you'd like, I would happily shield you from sight while you change and step in ... I'll follow you shortly."

Pratz sits off the path a bit beside Ben and brushes at his pants a bit.

BenjaminBlue compliment would gloss only for a moment over his face, averting his fixed gaze from the sky only for a moment before returning to their original position. It wasn't his place to ask of things that did not concern him unless it would be found that his council would be relevant, or so were his thoughts now. Pride would cause him to act against the will of Heaven itself, brashly and inconsiderately. " The path to heaven is littered with prideful men who boast of their greatness... Only the humble man can proceed without the distractions of an ego that would rival those who are truly righteous... Proceed without fault and without weakness... " he whispered to himself without consciously recognizing the fact that he spoke aloud. With that said, Blue tilted himself forward and looked to his feather cap for a moment or so, soon running one finger up and down the bright blue feather afixed to it. " Very well then. I would not wish to intrude. Shall I take my leave? "

Flash_Guardian adds, in response to Jaia's last statements, with slight somberness, "I should tell you, though ... emotions have never shamed me. I would not have you hide your own in the name of respect. Sometimes emotions can be more dangerous if kept in rather than released."

Pratz stands and heads out.

Jaia-Asumoto would nod slowly, and listen closely to what he said about her emotions. He would feel the tension slowly edging out of her as she moved toward the hot spring, holding his hand and would stop if he did. Her hair was still damp from her last visit to the steaming waters of the spring. As she approached the water's edge she would stop, and turn to look up at Flash, "Do not fear for my modesty. I trained without clothing to remove any fear of myself, should I be taken unaware. I was attacked in my bath once...and I had to defend myself without clothing, so I am sure...that this case there will be no shame on my part." she would slowly let go of his hand, and undo the sash of her kimono. She would let it slip down to pool around her ankles before she stepped into the scolding water of the pool. She would take a deep breath as her skin had to re-adjust to the temperature. Now Flash could see her as very few ever did. For her size, her breasts were rather full, and fit well with her form. She looked different --

Jaia-Asumoto -- in a kimono, merely because it maintained the well being of her muscle groups and this was usually tight around her body. She would swim to the edge of the wall, allowing the steam to fill her senses...as she waited for Flash to enter as well.

Stephany sighs softly.

Flash_Guardian humbly averts his gaze as Jaia undresses, a slight blush rising in his cheeks. Modesty or no, he would no sooner disrespect Jaia as he would his beloved. He waits until Jaia seems to have settled into the water before at last turning to look into the hot springs, the bubbling water doing much to distort Jaia's now naked form. A nervous glance to his surroundings is given before Flash himself begins to strip down, a process that is a bit more involved than simply undoing a belt, unfortunately. First come the golden bracers, followed by the boots, next the cape, then his karate vest, all tossed aside. Then, at last, his pants and undergarments are removed with some difficulty, a red flush growing in Flash's cheeks ... apparently he isn't quite so comfortable with nudity as he quickly slips into the water, crying out from temperature shock and wincing. "Yaeah!!"

Jaia-Asumoto ran her hands through the water slowly taking in as much moisture as she could. She would lift both hands back and run her fingers through her long ebony hair, wetting it lightly before turning around in surprise, hearing Flash. She would shake her head softly at the temperature shock. Too fast. Hoping he would adjust quickly enough, she would swim over to the further edge of the hotspring and lean back against the wall, putting enough distance for modesty's sake, but close enough for them to hear each other clearly. "Are you alright, Flash?"

BenjaminBlue simply remain by the side of the hot spring, placing most of his weight upon his metallic hand as he just lies there. Perhaps a dip would sound rather refreshing, as a turning point from this evening's events. Blue would happen to glance towards the steamy pool of water as Flashed jumped in, taking note of both bare forms. As if it couldn't be helped, Blue eyes stood fixed on Jaia's figure for almost a full ten seconds. I couldn't be clear what he was thinking really. Not a hint of emotion could be seen. After shaking himself from his daze, Blue would run his right hand down his face and let out a slight chuckles as he did. "Strange that I ask if I could join a pair which rank so highly within my eyes. Perhaps foolish even!" he said in a cheerful tone with a wide smile to the pair. With a twist and a click, Ben removed his empty silver gauntlet and set it aside as not to get it wet. "The best way to approach any situation is to ease yourself into it whenever possible ~c~

BenjaminBlue ~ most definitely in your case Sir Flash," he joked. Blue bent forward and undid his shoes with careful care before pulling the second glove off with his teeth. The rest would prove difficult, so for now, he simply dipped his feet in the waters and breathed a happy sigh. "Very nice... Very nice indeed..."

Flash_Guardian appears quite different also, without all of his outer decorum ... his body bears fine muscle tone in many places, though his form is lean. His arms, legs, and torso bear a dusting of light brown hair common to the male gender. His other masculine traits are no less ... appealing. He appears somehow ... smaller ... without his clothing. Perhaps vulnerable is a better word. And indeed few are privelege to see Flash as he is now. He is nothing if not loyal to his beloved, whose pendant he still wears even now in the hot springs, the amethyst crystal hanging at the center of his well formed and slightly hairy chest, suspended by a fine silver chain. Flash simply stares with wide eyes back at Jaia, speaking in a high, fast voice. "Yes, I'm quite alright," he fibs slightly.

Flash_Guardian simply grins at Blue, eyes narrowed slightly. "You are always welcome in my presence, Blue," Flash informs the man. A rather long glance is given to Blue's staring, and a slightly sad glance given to Blue's hand, though he says nothing.

Jaia-Asumoto smirks gently and shakes her head lightly at the high, fast voice which gave away his attempt to cover up the fact he wasn't exactly over the shock. She would kneel a little into the water, so that the surface would cover her chest. She would see the pendant around Flash's neck. She would smile ruefully, as it reminded her of one she had given to Diana before returning to the Asumoto temple, only to be informed a week later that she had been killed. An uneven breath followed this memory as her thoughts turned to Desiree. Seven days running...How she missed her! She would hold her nose and close her eyes tight, as she went underneath the surface only to re-emerge seconds later. Looking up at Blue, she would smile. Now that was one indvidual she would have liked to have had as a freind during the days of the Asumoto's reign. A shame...those days were dead and gone, so quickly.

Cannon reappears with a flicker and a hint of green light around the edges. His demeanour seems if anything a little more sparky. He glances at his hands momentarily after appearing, then announces: "Someone, please throw something at me, as hard as you can."

Cannon almost smiles as he says: "Even better, if anyone has a firearm or projectile-launcher of some sort? I am eager to test the modifications!"

Flash_Guardian notices Jaia's glance at his pendant, smiling for some reason as she does so. He brings his hand up to clasp the crystal for a moment, eyes closed and smiling as only one who is in love can. This calm is jarred by Cannon's sudden reappearance. No matter how many times one witnesses such, the abruptness is difficult to get used to. "Good gosh, Cannon ... what?" Flash blinks, uncertain if he has heard Cannon correctly or not.

Cannon looks to Flash. "I'm asking someone to shoot me, or at least throw something. I cannot be assured that the upgrades are working correctly unless something comes at me at reasonably high velocity."

Jaia-Asumoto would look up from the hot spring and gasp at Cannon's sudden arrival. She would kneel down into the water a little more, the modesty kicking in hard at this point. She would tilt her head lightly, looking at Flash and then back at Cannon, unsure of what to make of the situation. She would back herself against the wall, making sure she was neck deep in the steaming hot water.

BenjaminBlue kicked his feet in the water, rocking slightly from side to side the way a child would on a lazy summer day. Although he did splash a bit, it wouldn't be enough to cause much if any discomfort to the others anyway. Blue looked anxiously back and forth between Flash and Jaia, folding his hand within the other sleeve as his eyes wandered. They would eventually leave his company for a moment and glance towards the night sky, his head tilted all the way back so that he could see the entire expanse. "~ Warm waters, beautiful sights, friendly company, a night without frights, I'm impressed! To turn this quarrelsome night to one of joy and utter delight, I truly count myself as truly blessed. ~" he recited happily.

Cannon starts, slowly but surely, to get the feeling that nobody friendly is going to do this favour for him. Just a little, the sparkiness of his mood seems to be fading. Either he will have to go off and find someone willing to shoot him with some sort of firearm, or leave it untested. Leaving a patch untested is rarely an option though. There has to be some benefit to be running on the 1.2.2 system now!

Flash_Guardian grumbles lightly. "Sorry, Blue ... you spoke too soon." Flash seems to ponder for a moment, then pulls himself up out of the bubbling water slightly, a hand reaching underneath his oddly shaped red cape for something, perhaps the only thing he can think of. A thought occurs to him suddenly, and he stops, looking suddenly fearful ... and then frustrated. "Dangit, Cannon," Flash says, disgruntled, sliding back down into his place in the water. "I don't have anything to throw at you that isn't magical." Flash seems to pout slightly ... perhaps it was a bit childish, but somehow throwing something at Cannon would have made him feel better about the man, at least in part.

BenjaminBlue had a distinct fear that attacking Cannon would seal his doom and end his life as he knew it. With all the displays of what he was made of, nothing short of a miracle would convince him to try and harm Cannon. Ben looked back to Cannon with an uneasy face and a sheepish smile. He opened his mouth a couple times to try and speak, but nothing came out. In truth, he didn't really want to respond to such a request. Now, he would simply sit idly and disregard anything that might try to impede itself on his evening.

Cannon will just have to find something else already moving to test the new functions. Chances are what he has in mind will not please Flash too greatly, though at least this time it doesn't involve killing anything. Cannon leaps upward, going into 'hover mode' some distance up in the air, and looks around for birds. Birds have to keep moving to fly, right?

Jaia-Asumoto would simply watch this exchange quietly, doing nothing but examine the relations between the three. She had never recalled doing such things with her samurai. It was training all the time, or spending time with their families. She would close her eyes and sigh gently. Those were good memories. If only she could erase the bad ones. Perhaps then she could find peace. She knew that eventually she would have to stand at full height, and leave her breasts exposed if she was to wring her hair out. She would swallow deeply, and remain with her neck just above surface level trying to find several alternatives to what appeared to be inevitable.

Flash_Guardian simply shakes his head, looking back to Jaia with a straight face once more ... then reaches out to quickly grab a small stone which rests at the side of the hot springs, whipping it as hard as he can in Cannon's direction, all without looking away from the woman. Flash's aim while blind is fairly accurate, surprisingly enough. "Sorry about that," he apologizes to Jaia. "I believe you were going to speak of something, Jaia?"

Cannon eventually finds some sort of bird. Black in colour. Its precise species doesn't concern him in the slightest, as it appears to be flying this way. Unfortunately it spots him and tries to avoid him, but he shifts to intercept, positioning himself right in front of the bird in the air and raising one hand. It stops. Thats it, in its entirety. The bird comes to a complete stop in the air. It tries to flap its wings, though the movements seem to be slow in motion, incredibly sluggish. It doesn't even fall, as apparently the kinetic force it had been exerting has been sapped from it, and even the effects of gravity on it are being drained right out from under it by the moment. Satisfied that things are working, Cannon backs off. The instant result is that the terrified and confused bird falls downward. This one doesn't die though, and manages to right itself and fly off before it hits the ground, still rather confused though. As the bioweapon returns to the ground, he seems satisfied. "Test complete."

Cannon wasn't paying attention to Flash past the point where he had decided to focus on the bird. Ironically, the result is that while the bird came to a stop, the stone pelted him in the back. It didn't seem to phase him too greatly though, as he had asked for it, and hadn't really specified when . . . .It was his own fault! ^_^;;;

Cannon does learn something from the experience. "Hmmm. Version 1.2.2 allows for voluntary and instantaneous removal of kinetic and gravitational force from targets. There is however no involuntary defence of the same manner to undetected attacks. Modifications may have to be made. Test data being transferred back to lab now. . . . . . (you could just imagine his eyes turning into little hourglasses at this point)... Transfer complete."

Flash_Guardian hears a soft noise up above, that of stone impacting with flesh. A subtle smirk lines his face now. Whether his actions were childish or not, he feels better.

Jaia-Asumoto would watch the stone strike Cannon square in the back. She would smirk, and restrain her laughter as she shook her head lightly. She would sigh, knowing she would have to stand before her hair became too split at the end. She would stand up in the water, bringing her arm across to cover the better part of her breasts as she quickly moved to wring her hair out, drying it gently before sinking back into the water. She would shake her head gently and smile, "Sad stories call for sad times. It can wait..." her bronze complexion seemed far more vibrant in the heat of the water. She would look up suddenly, narrow brown eyes focusing on the newcomer. She would nod in acceptance, and look to the others for their approval or otherwise. Her english was always spoken fluently, but with her Japanese accent still thick in it. (( Thought she would mention that...^_^;))

BenjaminBlue finds his attention pulled to Cannon's antics, unable to pull himself away as he watched him torment and scare the poor bird as it tried its best to fly to safety. His face carried little colour as he tilted his head left and right, up and down to keep track of this wonder of a person. If anybody had not been distracted by memories, irritation, or testing, somebody would have noticed a subtle amber glow shine over his eyes for only a second before dissapearing. His gaze lowers as Cannon descends to the ground, him not looking impressed in the least. It wasn't a mean or spiteful, more of an aloof and snobbish look. Ben turned to once side and cracked his neck as he spotted his silver gauntlet. Blue quietly looked towards his shining metal glove for a period before pulling his feet out of the waters to retrieve and reattatch his gauntlet.

Cannon turns and looks back to Flash with a slightly more distinct half-smile. "Thankyou for your contribution Flash. . . . . . So may we talk further about the point you seemed agitated about earlier?"

Flash_Guardian watches Jaia rise from the water, though he looks away quickly once he realizes what he is doing, wishing to stay polite. He frowns as the chance to hear what happened to Jaia in greater detail is lost, but perhaps now was not the time after all. He nods to the newcomer also, giving a friendly smile and a shrug. "Nobody owns these hot springs, so far as I know. Help yourself." He then turns to regard Cannon once more, a plain look on his face as he tries to hide his earlier smile. "Perhaps another time, Cannon ... I'm taking a break from building the dojo today anyway. There's too much else going on lately that I've been missing out on. If it's alright with you, would you mind waiting until tomorrow?"

Cannon frowns just a little. Is that the hint of a childish pout you detect? "I just wanted to know what was wrong with pigeon origami, and what about blood makes it innocent."

BenjaminBlue a firm twist and a snap of metal against metal, his left hand was reattatched. Blue allowed his fingers to flex before taking hold of his shoes. " ~ Through the dreams of a child, a world of illusion and fantasy, we fall, we fall, we fall... Out to the open world, where other like us wander, we call, we call, we call... Can our voices be heard? Will they hear our plea? With any luck, they are deaf and we are blind. How can we see? ~ "

Cannon has a very abstract concept of religion of course. He couldn't be agnostic, let alone athiest, if he tried. . . . that being because his mother is a deity. Needless to say though, because he was brought up in a restricted environment by a goddess of technology who only went so far as to give him a guidebook as far as social faux-pas situations are concerned, he doesn't really have the slightest idea of what is and is not acceptable in modern society.

Flash_Guardian just sighs, eyes rolling in a rather pained expression. "Maybe one of you two can explain the concept of respect for other living beings to him?" he asks, begging for one of his friends' assistance. As if to distance himself from the matter further, Flash takes a deep breath and plunges his head under the water.

Jaia-Asumoto could sense the disappointment in Flash, but knew his logic would prevail. Reasoning with one's self always had that affect. Save, for herself...which was something she did not understand. There was so much she did not know or understand. Her...samurai of the Asumoto clan. Head sensei and guardian of the temple and village of Asumoto. Custodian of the Asumoto clan..and she still understood little. Even after watching it all burn down around her...she did not understand. She had become unbalanced in the water. She would look up at Cannon and state simply, "When I draw my blade...it is a last resort. To live one's life. To look at the life of another. To see what life really is through the eyes of one alive. Life in every breath. That is Bushido." she would silence herself now, having recited a passage of her teachings. Perhaps it was the explanation Flash required. Perhaps not. She did not know, but she folded her arms around her chest patiently, allowing the heated water to soak into her skin.

Cannon keys on a certain word in that sentence. With a slight command to the air before him (or rather tracing patterns with his finger), he 'summons' his Beginners Guide to Socialising, flicks through to the index and looks up the word 'Respect'.

Cannon doesn't particularly understand what Jaia is trying to say, though he acknowledges her by making eye-contact as she does so, before looking back to his book.

Cannon finds a reference: "Respect: To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem. . . . . Regard: To hold in esteem or respect . . . . Esteem: To regard with respect . . . . . . . -_-;;;"

BenjaminBlue begins to tie his shoes and continues. " ~ To keep yourself within good standing with live your life with pleasant times, one must listen to a teacher. Perhaps a moral man who speaks in rhymes. ~ " Blue picked up his feathered cap and dust whatever dirt he could off become setting it upon his brow. Blue would casually glance about the hot springs to each and every person with an unblinking gaze. After taking notice of all who was still here, Blue pushed himself against a raised portion of earth and leaned back.

Cannon closes the book. Stupid, useless book which fails to explain the problem. It vanishes away. "Perhaps I should just ask mother instead. She knows most things, even though she forgot what it meant to be naturally created long ago. She must have the answer."

Cannon stands bolt-upright, his eyes staring straight ahead and flickering slightly. If anyone recognises the look, its the same as you get on the faces of people in the street when they're talking on a mobile phone: completely oblivious to the world around them.

Flash_Guardian at last bobs up above the surface once more, hearing Cannon's non-understanding as he shakes his head slightly, sending bits of water flying out from his hair, now much less spiky and a bit more droopy, like the leaves of a wilted plant. He sighs, wiping the water from his face and doing his best to explain. "Respecting others involves treating them as you yourself would wish to be treated, Cannon," he says. "It's something we call 'The Golden Rule.' Show kindness to other people, and they will show kindness to you as well. The same can be applied to any other living thing, provided one makes the necessary changes for each individual species." A good explanation, Flash thinks. Start simple, then get more technical.

Cannon frowns a little... like someone being talked at from the outside while talking to someone via a mobile phone... at which point the person on the other end would usually ask: 'Who is that talking in the background?' or something to that extent. Its amazing how far the comparison goes, except Cannon's mother at least knows who is talking on the other end, and why, so she doesn't ask. Eventually the transmission appears to stop, and Cannon seems vaguely stuck halfway between understanding and persisting puzzlement.

[Cannon ] "You say treat others as I would wish to be treated, yet I am considerably more advanced than a pigeon, and I could intercept a cutting beam to the neural cortex. Mother also says that my reassembling pigeons in such a manner is equivalent to someone coming into the lab and cutting cables, yet I still fail to understand as cables can be replaced almost instantaneously in most cases and rarely result in significant loss of data any more. That is unless she refers to vital power cables. Are pigeons of equivalent worth to Gaia as main power cables?"

BenjaminBlue pulls his hat over his eyes and continues. " ~ A set of standards of what to follow, the Golden Rule, the path to social grace, your only tool. A man who sit bare in the waters, perhaps your school, should you choose not to listen, you'd be a fool. ~ "

Cannon half-answers his own question. "Gaia, as I am aware, receives most power through photosynthesis from solar energy, collected at around 10% efficiency by plants. These are then consumed by herbivorous creatures with a likewise 10% efficiency. This implies that pigeons can only be at most 1% efficient energy converters, thus cannot be a power supply of any kind. Their value is puzzling then."

Cannon looks to Flash. "My natural impedance of Gaia's existence is not at acceptably low levels?"

Flash_Guardian shoots the priestly poet a highly amused look before returning his attention back to Cannon. "I think your mother has the right idea, Cannon. The birds of the air, the beasts of the land, the fish in the sea ... they all have something of immeasurable worth. To Gaia, and to us. Unfortunately, just what that valuable essence is has evaded the categorization of even the most astute scientist, the brightest mathmeticians, and even a some of the more brilliant philosophers." Flash instead decides to redirect his efforts to his earlier example of the golden rule, as it seems an undefinable concept may prove problematic for Cannon. "I did mention that necessary changes need to be made to the golden rule for each species in question. Why don't we try a few trial scenarios, Cannon?" Flash suggests.

Cannon tilts his head, looking at Flash like a confused child might. He seems incredibly confused. "The mention of life keeps arising. It is worth noting however that there are micro-organisms all around us, some granted life and some killed simply by our very presence here. If this life is what is valued, then isn't everyone and everything guilty of removing it?"

Cannon thinks this over carefully. "Am I not alive because there is only one of me and I cannot self-replicate?"

Chibi_Kivisto wasn't even surprised anymore, that he was once more lost, and at a place he never remembered being before. This was just all too common with him. Hugging his spirit guide, which he had finally found, he'd glance about the springs. What was this place? Looked like some giant was cooking a stew or something.... Of course he didn't mind that this place was hot. Better than being cold out there, now that winter was coming.

BenjaminBlue nudges his hat with his thumb as he peers from the cover of its shadow with one eye. These trial scenarios for Cannon might quell a certain question within his complicated mind. Many a man had tried to turn a pauper into a prince before, but how would Flash go about doing that? It was a positively alluring concept to him. Blue simply watched from the cover and shade of his cap with one attentive eye and a hidden smug smile.

Cannon isn't a pauper seeking to be a prince. He is an 'android' seeking to understand 'human emotions'. Get your storylines right! =P ....

Flash_Guardian holds up his hands in surrender at Cannon's mention of micro-organisms. "Sorry, Cannon," Flash says. "We're only human, and can only control so much of what we do. And I am not disputing the fact that you are alive ... that much is evident, and you have already expressed as much. But we digress from the point I'm trying to make," Flash says, steering the conversation back. "Here's an example for you. You're a battery, right? To you, energy of various kinds is much like food. You like getting food, right?"

BenjaminBlue is in fairyland. Read the sign Cannon! So there... Bleh!

Chibi_Kivisto just starts chuckling at all of this.

Flash_Guardian sees another being approach from the distance, giving him a watchful eye from his seat within the heated waters, his clothing piled at the edges of the spring beside him.

Cannon 's eyes flicker momentarily. "I do not eat food. I intake energy directly in pure form, and do not need to undergo inefficient conversion processes. I do it because I was designed to do it. I am uncertain whether I 'like' it or not."

Chibi_Kivisto could hear others here. Moving closer, he'd nearly fall into the hot water they were in, catching his balance and stepping back from the edge. He could make them out through all the steam coming up from the hot water. Hey! They were at that stream place that one time. He had seen them there. He'd give a smile, unhooking one hand from about Fluffy to wave at them, holding onto the spirit guide with one arm before he returns to hugging it tightly with both arms. "Hello."

Flash_Guardian frowns at this, asking the next logical question. "What about during the construction of the dojo? You expended a great deal of energy as part of the process. When your energy is low, how does that make you feel? Tired? Hungry?" As the young boy nears the spring, Flash looks up at him, thinking he recognizes him. "Hi," Flash greets the boy politely, eyes furrowing as he tries to remember him. "Have we met? Someplace earlier?"

BenjaminBlue 's Blue's one eye swiftly travels from the the first pair to the second pair, analyzing them for a moment. A velvety hand would rise and wave to them. " Many blessings upon thee friends... Come and join us. The springs are very welcoming within this chilled night air. "

Cannon answers this question a little more directly, though not much more. "The amount of energy I expended in past construction steps on the dojo is relatively minor compared to my full capacity, and still minor relative to my internal energy levels at the time. It did however bring my energy levels down below the quotient needed for the day, thus detecting that my energy reserves were below the required level, I went to recharge from the solar energy which is constantly bombarding this planet."

[Cannon ] "Once levels were returned to a suitable high with expendable excess beyond the daily required quotient, I ceased my charging."

Flash_Guardian ponders, his mind trying to keep in time with Cannon's answers and find a way to steer Cannon towards a logical point. "So which is better, in your opinion? Having lots of energy, or suffering from an extreme lack of energy, even to the point where it is debilitating?"

Chibi_Kivisto would smile at the two that had addressed him, looking to Flash first. After all, he had spoken to him first hadn't he? "Your Glyniss's friends. I saw you at her place near the stream." He'd look to the spring in which they were in, and wondered if he should get in. He might as well. It couldn't be that bad could it? Setting Fluffy on top of his head, he'd climb down to sit in the hot water, not even bothering to take off his clothing. He'd....rather not. He'd be quite a sight, since only his head was visible above the water, and fluffy atop his head. Kind of amusing isn't it? Well maybe not, but he'd probably laugh a bit at it.

Cannon knows this one. Yes he does: "It is better to have lots of energy. Mother punishes me if I do not perform my intended function, and I do get a feeling of anxiety if I believe I will not aquire the necessary energy quotient for the day. Punishment is not an enjoyable experience."

Flash_Guardian chuckles lightly at Chibi's rather comical perch in the water. "That's right! I thought I remembered seeing you there. That was when we planted the tree there after the fight." Flash nods now, remembering. "So what brings you out here?" he asks curiously.

[Cannon ] "I do not know what it feels like for energy levels to be so low as to be debilitating, but I imagine it would not be pleasant, and punishment would be worse."

Chibi_Kivisto nodded his head, grinning once more to Flash. Now he remembered. They had been messing with the tree, and had been talking about....well about Cannon if he could recall. Were they always talking about him? It seemed so. "I'm here because here is where I walked too. I got lost again. But its ok, cause at least I met some friends. That tree's spirit was very happy that you planted it there."

BenjaminBlue averts his gaze from the group and hides his face under the shadow of his feathered cap once more, silently thinking about all the different concepts and standards by which people decide to live by. Polythesiusm, Monotheism, the Principle of Polarity, Elementals, Science, Unitartian Universinalism, and many, many more. I suppose it did really have to do with moral conduct or the golden rule, but somehow that subject had managed to sneak into his mind. All the answers were there. It was just a matter of chooing what you believe he would suppose. Blue rubbed the bottom of his scruffy chin with the back of his finger and dropped his hand to his side, relaxing in his seat once more.

Flash_Guardian laughs a little at Cannon's explanation, seeming rather happy to have found a common point at last. "I'm sure she only does it because she cares for your well-being, Cannon," he explains, trying to use terms that have already been defined. "You are very valuable to her, I would assume - which is why she wants to see you well. Now that we've discussed this, let's try to apply the golden rule I mentioned earlier. Now remember, food for you is energy. Food for us humans and animals is different, usually fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc., depending upon the creature in question." Flash coughs, shifting his weight in the pool as he ponders. "Here's a scenario for you: let's say you found a dog while you were wandering about, perhaps walking or gliding through a forest for some reason. Your analysis of the dog's condition tells you that the dog is suffering a lack of nourishment, or food - it's hungry. Based on the golden rule, what should you do?"

Chibi_Kivisto would just sit back, smiling as he relaxes, watching the two have their conversation. Reaching up out of the water, he'd poke Fluffy between the eyes, his head tilting slightly. He's talking with his spirit guide. But that doesn't really require spoken words. They have a link when they're this close together that allows telepathy, though he doesn't have it otherwise.

Cannon considers this very very carefully. "Treat it as I would wish to be treated? Then I should infuse the dog with my excess energy? . . . . . Unfortunately, I understand that dogs have a low energy capacity, and would probably instantly combust, which would negate its 'life'. The remaining energy would also dissipate to the surroundings. The situation isn't quite comparable. Sorry."

Flash_Guardian gives the boy a rather surprised sort of smile. "Really? It likes its new home, you say?" Flash tilts his head to the side, chuckling. "Glad to hear it. I suppose I should have asked it before I pulled it from the hills where it was before ... but I guess it's all for the best." Flash's forehead wrinkles now as another question pops into his head, looking back to the boy. "So how are you able to understand tree spirits?"

Cannon pauses thoughtfully for a moment. "Dogs cannot live in a gaseous state, can they? ..... I should not test this, should I?"

Cannon holds up one hand. "Wait, I should be able to resolve this problem. The purpose is to re-energise the dog without destroying it in the process, right? Could this be done by giving the dog 'food' and wrapping it in a thermal-resistance coating so that the very minimum of energy escaped as latent heat to the environment in the process?"

Flash_Guardian holds up a finger to Cannon before restating his point. "Context, Cannon. Context. Dogs don't eat energy, they eat meat. You do have the right idea, though. If you were low on energy, you would want someone to 'feed' you what you 'eat' ... energy of some kind." Flash leaves it at that for a moment, seeing if that helps Cannon to understand.

Flash_Guardian nods and breaks into a grin, clapping softly. "Very good, Cannon. Now you see how the golden rule must be adjusted ... it involves thinking about what the other creature would want based on what you would want under similar circumstances. After all, we look at others and their lives as they relate to our own by nature."

Cannon thinks this over. "Dogs are carnivores, and being as faunal energy retention is more effective than floral energy retention, less conversion matter is required, the dog would require a mass less than or equal to its own bodyweight in pre-made 'meat'. The dog could be fed another dog. Your standard means of preventing excessive energy loss is a 'blanket' or clothing, right? So the dog should be wrapped in a blanket, though not enough to cut off aerobic access as that would negate its life."

Flash_Guardian feels like a greek philosopher debating with others at a public bath. ^_^

Chibi_Kivisto would nod his head to Flash, smiling as he breaks the conversation off with his spirit guide. Then came the question. How was he able to understand tree spirits? "I don't know. It could be lots of things. Theres lots of things I don't know why I can do them. Or how. Like...how is it I have a spirit guide? How is it I can pull a sword from the back of my neck." WHAP! His hands would come closing about his mouth. To late though. He's a bit to eager to talk it seems, and wasn't thinking right, and said something he wasn't sure he should have.

Cannon is correcting this process by trial and improvement all the time. He isn't just some synthetic robot afterall. He can self-progress. "Dogs do not conventionally eat each other though, as this would be detrimental to the progression of the species, which appears in part to be the purpose behind reproduction, hence the dog would have to eat something else, ideally a herbivore since they breed in large numbers to compensate for being eaten by carnivores. . . . . Perhaps a sheep? What kind of dog are you suggesting here?"

[Cannon ] "A rabbit or hare might be adequate in bodymass to feed a small dog, while a much larger dog could require something up to the size of a goat perhaps. This is merely theorising though. I have never observed dogs eating in situe ."

Cannon stops, a look of alarm coming over his face. "Wait. This 'golden rule'? Does it apply to dogs as well? Is it alright for the dog to be killing another animal to consume its flesh if it is aware that the other animal would not be trying to consume it in return due to dietary restrictions?"

Flash_Guardian nods to Cannon, waving his hand to dismiss the matter. "I think you have the right idea, Cannon. To conclude things, yes ... the golden rule states that you should probably feed the dog some meat so that it won't be hungry and low on energy anymore. The blanket would certainly help, too. As for the dog having to kill another animal, I'm afraid that's an unavoidable consequence of life as a dog, or any other predator. Perhaps not the most desirable way to get food, but completely unavoidable, I'm afraid. Now if it's alright with you, I'd like to pose a different scenario." Flash takes a deep breath, the hot springs having relaxed him greatly at this point. He ponders his words carefully.

Cannon gets the look of sudden inspiration. "Unless of course the dog was consuming the flesh of an animal that died simply because it expired or self-terminated."

Cannon stops, shutting up immediately and looking at Flash intently. He doesn't fully understand the point of all this, but he is playing along anyway.

Flash_Guardian spares a curious glance to the boy. "Well, my, my. Aren't we suspicious all of a sudden?" That said, Flash simply laughs and shrugs. "I guess if you aren't sure how you do what you do, that's good enough for me."

Chibi_Kivisto paled slightly, fidgeting around a bit as he lets his hands fall from clasping over his mouth. He's glad he doesn't press any further than that. So for now he'd look back up...err...or in the direction of his spirit guide, starting back up the conversation with it.

Flash_Guardian poses the next scenario, raising a hand up out of the water and gesturing for emphasis. "Okay, Cannon. This one will be a sort of counter-example. You've come upon a different animal this time ... a mouse, let's say. It's perfectly healthy and happy where it is at the moment, and doesn't seem to be frightened of you in the slightest. What sort of treatment could you give this mouse that would go against the golden rule?"

Cannon tilts his head slightly to one side. "In absolute opposition to the rule? In which manner should I interpret that?"

Flash_Guardian looks sidelong to the seemingly distracted boy, curious. "A sword out of your neck, huh? Wow. I'd like to see that sometime." Flash simply shakes his head, imagining the possibilities.

Flash_Guardian looks plainly back at Cannon. "Start with yourself. What sort of treatment would you not wish to recieve from others? What actions would you dislike if they were performed on you?" Flash ponders for a moment, remembering something from earlier. "Punishment?"

Chibi_Kivisto would glance to Flash again, frowning slightly as he shakes his head. "I...only use it in emergencies...." It was true. He hadn't used it much over the year. Only once in fact. That had been when he was almost eaten by lion like creatures at his treehouse.

Cannon thinks about this very carefully. "If the golden rule is that I must treat others as I wish to be treated, then should its opposite be that I must wish to be treated as I am treating others? Or should it be that I treat others as I do not wish to be treated? Or perhaps its that I should treat the mouse as the mouse wishes me to treat it? Does not compute. Testing."

Cannon blinks a few times, looking Flash in the eyes. He doesn't like that idea. "Punishment? I cannot perform Punishment. I can only receive it."

Flash_Guardian raises his hands in surrender, not pressing the matter at all. "Alright, alright. I was just curious, that's all."

Cannon thinks closely about this. "What treatment I would not wish to receive from others? Do you mean that if the mouse were to somehow communicate to me that it required energy that I would refrain from complying? In this case, not feeding the perfectly healthy and happy mouse?"

Chibi_Kivisto would move towards the edge of the water, reaching up to grasp the edge and pull himself up out of the water. "I need to get going. Take care." He'd give a smile, and a wave to the two before walking off, soaking wet. His player has a class soon, and he needs to get going. Cya.

Flash_Guardian nods a little, though an iffy look is on his face. "That's a start ... but I'm sure you could come up with some actions that the mouse really wouldn't like you to do to it. Example: if you were suddenly denied the use of your right arm for some reason, perhaps because someone else removed it somehow, would you like that? Would you be in better condition, or in worse condition?"

Cannon tries to think of other ways he would not want mice to treat him, and nothing particularly comes to mind that would evoke anything but indifference from him for the most part. "I could interfere with the mouse's creative endeavours by blocking its attempts to build a nest, putting part of myself in the way in a manner that the shearing motion of the mouse trying to put a blade of grass into place could cut my finger and cause it to bleed on the mouse's nest? That isn't comparable either, as the precision required for a mouse to cut me with a blade of grass would be likely beyond logical probability, AND my blood is not haemoglobin based like the mouse's blood, nor of the same temperature, and would cause the nest to combust rather than merely discolouring it. Thus I cannot compare this situation to a matter of mice interfering with my creative endeavours and discolouring things by getting harmed in the process."

Cannon considers the arm question. "It would require an expense of energy of not inconsiderable value to repair the damage and replace my right arm, but it would not likely evoke any particular emotional response, as far as I know."

Cannon gets that curious look about him for a few moments that cannot possibly bode well, rather like when Glyniss had made that 'just a scratch' comment. At this point, Cannon picks up a nearby rock, and using a focused heat beam cuts a razor-sharp edge to it. Then he extends his right arm, and holding the rock in his left, prepares for incision.

Flash_Guardian seems to overlook most of Cannon's reasoning, possibly because it doesn't reflect the point Flash is trying to make, or it just plain goes over his head. At Cannon's last statement, he nods, restating his last pair of questions. "But you would not have the use of your right arm ... you would have less functionality, and would ... NO!" Flash reaches out to try and hold Cannon back from actually cutting his own arm off. "We're doing this hypothetically, Cannon. There's no need for that."

Cannon stops, just as he was about to hack his arm off. He looks in puzzlement at Flash again. "I wished to see if it evoked an emotional response. I do not appear to have the same innate counter-mechanisms against partial self-destruction that other lifeforms have. "

Flash_Guardian sighs, trying to think of a good reason for Cannon not to cut his own arm off. "What about your mother?" Flash asks. "Would she approve of you damaging yourself like that?" A rather desperate grasp for a reason, but perhaps a sound one.

Cannon shakes his head. "She would not approve nor disapprove provided I returned myself to full functionality and aquired the desired energy quotient by the end of the day. She is more aware of my regenerative capabilities than even I myself am, as she created me to very exact specification, and is responsible for the improvement of my programming."

[Cannon ] "She would only disapprove if she believed I would be doing irreparable harm to myself, or that such harm might come to me, at which point it is likely she would retrieve me instantly to the lab and either modify my programming to compensate for the potential hazard . . . or restrict me as Ariadne was restricted. I do not want to be restricted."

Cannon glances downward with a slight frown. "Ariadne's situation is unfortunate. Mother has not bothered in a long while trying to modify her so she may return to this world. Perhaps some day I will have to help her myself, provided Mother has no objections. Ariadne expresses displeasure sometimes at being confined to the lab, though Mother insists its for her own good."

Flash_Guardian sighs. "Perhaps this isn't the best example. Something more extreme, perhaps. And let's please try and stick to hypothetical scenarios if we can?" Flash requests, looking rather uneasy. "I would have to get into trouble with your mother for convincing you to ... I don't know, do something irreversible." Flash blinks at the mention of a new name. "Ariadne ..." The name bears some familiarity, for some reason.

Cannon notices the tone of Flash's voice, looking him in the eyes. "She is my elder sister. I have mentioned her before."

[Cannon ] "I don't believe it is a breach of any vital information to tell you this. When Mother was first experimenting with a self-made superior organic body, the prototype for my own design which later became freeware, and similar to the version I gave to Triad...... When my mother was still testing out that organic body design herself, she ended up 'getting involved' with another resident of this place, the Keep. The result is that she got pregnant, and that was my sister. As it happens though, mother's organic body had lost some reproductive functionality from her tampering with the genome. As a result, Ariadne had to be removed from her body past a certain stage and allowed to grow in the prototype organic generation tube. It wasn't set to her particular type though, so Ariadne had to be infused with numerous synthetic components in order to survive. She prospered reasonably well, and Mother initially let her come here. Certain threats however presented themselves that Ariadne was not equipped to handle...."

Flash_Guardian files the information away for another conversation at a later time, nodding interestedly. "Right. I must admit that I would be curious to meet Ariadne myself at some point, if that would be allowed. Anyway, we've digressed yet again." Flash seems unwavering about this topic. His mindset shifts as he decides to take a more direct approach. "Alright ... I admit that I was rather trying to skirt around the point I've been trying to make to you." Flash looks Cannon right in the eyes at this point, emphasizing the criticalness of this next question, though Flash's face bears a neutral expression. "I want you to remember now what happened yesterday, what you did to the dove. What does the golden rule tell you about the interactions between you and the dove?"

[Cannon ] "... As a result, Mother brought her back to the lab and restricted her access to other dimensions. Thus far she has been unwilling to alter Ariadne's design in order to allow her access once more to the outside world, and does not consider it high priority to do so. So it is that my sister merely helps around the lab, and acts as Mother's representative to the few visitors we get. She is not entirely happy with this role though. I sympathise with that, though I do not fully understand it. She was at least partially natural in her creation, so she has naturally aquired emotions unlike my own, which were programmed."

Cannon nods, reverting his mind to the purpose that Flash wanted it to attend to. He instantly comes to a stop point though. "I discovered that the dove can be folded into an approximate representation of a shape naturally found in nearby leaves. It required the nullification of the dove's life to do so however. I do not imagine that a dove could fold me into a leaf shape, even if it nullified my life."

Flash_Guardian shakes his head. "I'm not questioning the ability of the dove to do so. The point remains, if the dove was able to fold you into a leaf shape and negate your life, would that be desirable or undesirable for you?" Flash seems to hang on Cannon's response, hoping to make him see.

[Cannon ] "Actions I can perform upon a dove are not equal to actions a dove can perform upon me. I have very little objection to the majority of actions that a dove can perform upon me, and it would be pointless for me to perform any such actions in return upon a dove."

Cannon considers this. "If a dove could fold me into a leaf shape without negating my life, I would not object. If a dove could however negate my life by any means, then Mother would realise and recall me instantly to the lab for an emergency upgrade to render me immune to life-negation by leaf-folding from doves." . . . . By this point, even Cannon seems to be smirking a little at the absurdity of the concept of a dove managing to destroy him by folding him into a leaf shape. Its almost beyond mental simulation!

[Cannon ] "It is undesirable for me to be destroyed as I am of value to Mother. It would be considerably more undesirable for her. I am unique, and my creation required considerably more energy, time and resources than that of a dove. Doves can self-replicate besides."

[Cannon ] "Male Dove + Female Dove = Lots of Doves."

[Cannon ] "As mother might infer: the loss of one is not a tragedy as there are many backups present."

Cannon gets another thought. "Mother should probably make more of my design to ensure that if I am destroyed that it does not set her back considerably. I wonder why she does not."

Flash_Guardian visibly slumps, his chin dropping to the bubbling surface of the water as his eyes close disappointedly. "You are very fortunate, Cannon," Flash says in a somber tone. "Not all of us have mothers like yours. The dove certainly didn't. Otherwise it would still be alive. And in spite of what your mother may think, not all doves are alike. Each one is different, and cannot be exactly duplicated once it is lost or destroyed." Flash stops to think for a moment, shaking his head. How on earth was he able to speak of doves as if they were mere objects? Perhaps Cannon was starting to rub off on him a little. A dangerous notion. "In any case, you would agree that your destruction is not something that you would desire? After all, the possibility is there ... if it weren't, then your mother would have no need to worry."

Cannon considers this and nods to the last statement at least. Theres no question that presently his destruction would not be desirable in the slightest. He has a slight problem with the dove thing though. "It is true that there are differences in the full genome of each member of a species, and that includes doves, but in the vast majority of cases those individual differences don't confer any significant advantage over the average dove, as is relatively clear. I believe that destroying a dove which had randomly generated a mutation which inferred an advantage over the rest of the species in general would not be desirable, as it would be directly interfering with Gaia's intents for the doves as a whole. Theoretically though, if I were to remove a less able member of the species, then the loss would not be detrimental to the species as a whole, nor to Gaia's particular plans for them, would it?"

Roko walked in into the hot springs, and got changed then walked into then spring. Roko felt so relaxed she sighed "This is the life...." She said to herself.

Cannon should not be encouraged in this direction. Once he starts talking about matters concerning natural selection, articifial selection, genetic reprogramming or just genetics in general... he can go on for a LONG while about it.

Flash_Guardian verbally pulls Cannon back to the point. "Right! Since you would not wish another to destroy you, it follows by the golden rule that others would not wish to be destroyed by you." A woman quickly finds her way into the hot springs next to Flash, causing him to blink at her once or twice. A nod of greeting is given before returning his attention to Cannon, wishing to finish his point before starting another conversation. "So perhaps at this point, I can restate the golden rule in a clearer fashion. 'Treat others as they would wish to be treated. Do not treat them as they would not wish to be treated.'" Flash seems fairly satisfied with this now, sitting back a bit and relaxing, quite bare in the steaming waters of the hot springs as he is. "Do you understand now?"

Flash_Guardian now looks over to the newcomer, grinning rather embarrasedly as he crosses his legs beneath the water. "Uhhh ... hi?"

Roko looks at him forgeting that this part of the spring was man's she around then to the men, and blushes deep red " Uh I'm so sorry I'll go."

Cannon shakes his head. ".... The dove did not wish to be destroyed? I am not convinced even that it ever became aware of its own destruction. The method I used ensured it was very sudden, and removed its life at the core. Is it not also relevant that the probably of a dove being able to destroy me is inversely proportional to the probability that I should fail to destroy a dove if I set out to do so. It is negligable. . . . . . I fail to see why this 'golden rule' should apply to the situation, as it seems very ambiguous in nature. It is also a point of note that my primary requirement on this world in the form it often comes would negate the life of most organisms. While even a moderately small portion of energy could negate the life of a dove, which may be detrimental to it as a lifeform, the same amount would be beneficial to me. In essence, if the method I used to negate the dove's life was used on me, it would be beneficial to me rather than harmful, which is what I want."

[Cannon ] "... Thus what I did conforms to the 'golden rule'. Does it not?"

Flash_Guardian waves a hand to Roko, grinning and shaking his head. "Don't bother, I should be going soon anyway. After I leave, the pool will be empty and yours for the taking."

Cannon is probably the only one not in the spring. It doesn't make any difference to him though. Just hope that he doesn't get thirsty.

Roko looks at him even though she as her swimsuit on. "Oh uh...ok " and she went back in the spring.

Flash_Guardian shakes his head. "Again, Cannon ... context. What is good for you isn't good for everyone else, necessarily. And I can tell you for a fact that no living thing normally wishes for its own destruction. Not usually, anyway. The dove did not wish to be killed, but you killed it anyway ... that goes against the golden rule." Flash ponders for a moment. "You seem to be looking at the processes involved, Cannon, rather than the end result. Firing an energy beam in itself is difficult to describe as a positive or negative act. Cutting or shaping wood into boards is a constructive act, something that most would see as a positive or beneficial act. Killing a bird is what most would call a negative act, especially if such a death was unnecessary."

Cannon gives Flash a somewhat dryly bemused look. "Were you aware when you seemed so pleased about my cutting the wood how many 'lives' were potentially negated in the process? That includes the lives of the trees involved, as well as those which were using said trees for shelter. Was that necessary or not?"

Cannon just lowers his head at this point. Trying to work this out appears to be causing undue confusion for both people involved. "I do not understand the concept of morals, and as it happens I don't view the prospect of trying to as particularly desirable. It is a complex thing that lacks in reason much of the time. I do however get the feeling that you do not approve of me destroying living organisms in your presence, thus I will attempt to keep said events unknown to you if I perform them at all, for your peace of mind. That is to say I will not kill things in your presence if it makes you uneasy. Would that satisfy your personal concern with such matters Flash?"

Flash_Guardian raises a finger to Cannon, opening his mouth to speak ... and then pauses. A long and awkward silence passes as Flash seems to reflect. At length, a pained expression passes over Flash's face, and he nods slowly. "True. I would have to agree with you, there. Those trees probably did not wish to be sliced up into boards like that. And the animals who made their homes inside probably aren't too happy about it either." Flash blinks ... then chuckles ... then breaks into a big smile and laughs, shaking his head. "See, Cannon? Now you're starting to think along the lines of the golden rule!" Flash seems pleased by that much, at least.

Cannon seems to go well on guard when Flash raises a finger, visably moving to a defensive posture. In his case, pointing a finger at something typically means that some sort of destructive process is about to be enacted on it.

Roko just looks at two talking moving her side to side as the two talk to each other.

Cannon does seem just a little stressed though. "When you take a step forward on the ground, you are responsible for at least thousands of life-negations, apparently without realising it. When I step, that number is typically much greater as the soles of my feet often emit a lot of heat when I am transporting myself. These lives negated are of microscopic organisms, but by the principles set forward, if one is to compare the existence of a pigeon to mine, then you should also compare the existence of every single one of those micro-organisms to that of the pigeon."

Flash_Guardian withdraws his finger, sighs, and shakes his head, though he seems satisfied. "I won't lie to you, Cannon. Social graces aren't the easiest subject to grasp. Even I don't have all the answers for you. But the golden rule is a fairly good place to start, I should think." Flash shrugs. "I'll let you think more about it on your own." With that, Flash closes his eyes, concentrating for a moment. There is an audible sort of pop as Flash disappears from the springs, reappearing in a crouch moments later next to his pile of clothing, scooping it up to cover himself with. "As for your proposal, I suppose that will have to do," Flash agrees. "Just do your best to avoid doing irreparable harm to other creatures, alright? Their mothers won't be very happy with you if you do." A respectful nod is given to Roko from the nearly naked Flash, smiling pleasantly. "Nice to meet you, miss." With that, Flash wraps his red cape about his lower half and begins to walk away.

Cannon remains where he is. Trying to justify to him why he shouldn't kill things full stop seems to be a futile endeavour, but at least he can compromise.

Flash_Guardian calls back to Cannon in response to his last comment. "I only said you had to try your best, Cannon. There are some things that a person just can't help. I won't hold any wide-scale microbe genocide against you, alright? In all things, balance." And with that, Flash is gone.

Roko says "You know he's right." as she stares at the spot where flash was. "His very right."