[attr="class","technoscroll"]
T
he still, shattered pieces of water provided little to his thoughts, more a distraction than anything else. Perhaps it was a reminder of his artificiality, or maybe it was a reminder of The World's own artificiality. It could not be denied, even if every emotion and sensation that he felt were real to him. The World was real, but it was created and developed as a small part of a larger reality, even if it, itself, was 'reality'.
It hurt his head to consider. He was a fighter, not a philosopher.
At the very least, neither could it be denied that the bonds that he'd made thus far were real. It was safe to say that he had made allies, comrades, friends. Nothing could take that away from him but the throes of death. They were like an affirmation that he was just as real.
Even if Aster shot him a look that tried to reassure him, it did little to assuage the worry that crossed his features, but he wouldn't give it a voice. Instead, he rested his hand over his own forearm, running his palm against the broken-up textures that lined it. Taking stray data from this place to conceal the damage was why he had come here the first time around, now that he could recall.
"I see. Time is a difficult thing to conquer, I would imagine... especially when it comes to one's place relative to it. It seems as if it would be something that should come to us naturally, this clarity that you describe." A sigh.
"It may be our unique existences that makes such a thing seemingly onerous to attain. But... such an end does sound quite peaceful." He chuckled, fingers curling into his knuckles.
"Your confidence makes me envious. If you believe that it will be so, then I think that it will occur as you have described." A hand reached out to the water, the dip of a finger breaking the stillness to form a series of rippling, imperfect circles.
The AI allowed his thoughts to overtake him as the question was bounced back toward him. It did bring about a slight bit of jealousy that the other had such a resolute idea for what awaited him. His answer had already exhibited that which he sought from the experience: clarity. But, all Gorre could dredge up from his own mind was...
...confusion. There were clear images of what may come before and what may occur after, but never of the event itself.
"...I do not know. No matter how hard I attempt to concentrate, there is little that comes to mind. There is a feeling within me that brings about the belief that it may not be an 'End' in the traditional sense. I might be set to embark on another journey. Maybe I shall languish in purposelessness. Maybe, what I've thought would be The End may not truly be The End." A palm pressed to his forehead, eye shutting to blank his field of vision, and creating an empty canvas for his thoughts.
"Its pursuit is embedded within me, but the need to protect those I hold dear is stronger. Maybe lingering about humanity has strengthened my own over my nature as an AI. If that is even possible, given what I am." Gorre's frown deepened.
"It is strange that I would say this, knowing that I am nearly able to find out for myself than to simply hypothesize. This does not mean that I'll not make the attempt to reach it. I will see what is in store for me."
