( By the time Enker reaches said edge of the hole the constant explosions had made, he's already been worn down by a thousand cuts. So many little hits had piled up, breaching even his reinforced armor, without him noticing until it was far too late. )

Perhaps I was, but... still.

( He lets out a quiet sigh from his vents, expression not changing much except for his slightly tired optics. ) No matter if it does or not, it's besides the point.

It matters much less to me now than it used to. ( He’s lying, but he hopes Maxwell doesn’t pick up on that. )

Ah, it’s nothing, really. There are robots out there who are far more heroic than myself. ( Enker tries to be noble /now,/ but he surely wasn’t back then. He’s just making up for his actions now. ) I appreciate the compliment, though, so thank you.

( Enker gazes away, somewhat flustered. ) I… learned these things from my partner. I wouldn’t have any idea of what to say otherwise…

Not anymore, no. When I was created, the only thing I cared about was my purpose. Thankfully, I found a better one, and left my creator.

No, not exactly. I was built to hunt down and destroy one specific robot. ( He takes the time to sit down on a fallen log. ) My creator… despised him, for defeating all of his other creations. I was built to be an exact counter to that robot’s abilities.

Hm, I suppose not. ( Despite the uncomfortable feeling, Enker appreciates the other's willingness to answer, as it helps him feel more familiar. ) I have asked many questions, so it's only fair that you do the same.

Ah. I-I'm sorry to hear you're... afflicted with such a condition. ( The sight will stick in his mind for a while. ) And... my apologies for being so nosy.

... I understand. I know how that feels, Darma. I just hope that you will take care to make sure you do not overexert yourself in helping others.

( That's much more unsettling than the flowers. ) You mentioned before that you were friends with this 'darkness'. Is that why your hands are...?

I-I see. It was impressive either way. ( Still very unsettling, but… yes, impressive. He can read the room, so he doesn’t want to dig further. )

… The way those roses were given life again, for a brief moment… was that your doing? ( He still feels uneasy about it, but it’s going to eat at him if he doesn’t find out. )

( He’s taken aback for a moment. ) I have never seen… magic… like you just exhibited. Naturally, I would have a lot on my mind afterwards…

You and me both, Darma. I empathize with that sentiment... so much. ( He would never complain about his combat abilities; but falling short in comforting others, not to mention being afraid of his own original directive, really sets him back in his own eyes. )

I understand. I hope that continues to be the case, then. ( It's obvious that he has so many questions, but he doesn't want to pry... )

( Do /not/ question it, Enker. Do not make the same mistake twice. ) I... see. Then you have nothing to worry about.

I understand. However, with that sentiment, I am concerned that you are still wandering about so late at night...

Ah, no, that's not my intention. It's simply the way I'm used to speaking. ( He steps back again, signaling that he does not want any kind of trouble. Who knows what he can do with that book. )

I don't tend to run into those with magical abilities, either, so I suppose this creates an even matchup.

You'd be surprised. However... I've done extensive searching tonight, and I doubt anyone's here, other than you and I.

Right now, I am looking for suspicious robots who are looking to cause trouble in this area. I didn’t expect to find a human out here this late.

Yes. A Robot Master specialized for combat specifically. Though I do not prefer to fight unless I need to. ( A slight beat, then… ) … You can simply call me Enker.

( His hand hovers near his side, just in case. ) … My name is Enker, RKN-001. I hope that answers your question.

As do I. They believe they are a danger just by existing… I couldn’t convince them otherwise. ( He sighs deeply, still clearly affected by that conversation. ) But there is nothing we can do, at the moment. Forcing change will only make it worse. At least we know where they are.

( He stiffens up again, standing up straight. He’s thankful the chill has faded, but he never lets his guard down. ) … I regularly patrol this area. I’d like to ask the same of you. ( He’s a bit too startled to give out his name right away. )

( Oh. The sudden chill gives him pause; he bristles and shrinks back a bit. He really doesn't like that. ) ... N-No, you're mistaken. ( He figured that making himself known would make the strange feeling stop, but he regrets saying /anything/ as soon as the words come out. )

( Enker's ability to silently watch is one of his most utilized skills. He takes a glance at the page, but he can't make sense of it. ) ( The flower's sudden revival startles him out of trying, and the uneasy feeling starts to get worse. How did he...? )

( Enker has the advantage of being able to see a bit better in total darkness. That, however, does not calm his nerves upon noticing the man. ) ( Something was very /off/ about him. Enker says nothing, but his wary optics are visible in the pitch blackness as the other passes by... )

I am an old friend of theirs, and yes, they did tell me your name. ( His expression slowly softens, into something only described as 'bittersweet'. ) I had asked Maestro why they had gone missing, and... they informed me of the events involving Ra Moon.

Darma? ( His brows raise. He doesn’t ask because he dislikes the name; more because it’s yet another familiar name. So he hadn’t misheard earlier. ) … Are you, by chance, acquainted with a robot named Maestro?

( It was a strange way of wording it. But that's how he sees all these possibilities; just one of many paths to take. ) I appreciate the compliment. I try to be practical. My name is Enker. Might I ask yours?

I understand that. Heroism is... a never-ending career path. ( He's dabbled in it before. He wouldn't call protecting his family at all costs 'heroism,' but... ) When it becomes too quiet, and too uneventful, it is hard not to become restless. But you should cherish this time while it lasts.

No, I was merely passing by when I heard your musings. You needn't be alarmed. I felt I needed to offer a bit of my own perspective, that is all. ( That, and... he'd heard a familiar name in there. He jumps down, landing sturdily on the ground. )

... I think you will come to miss the peace when it passes you by. ( Where the hell did he come from? He's standing rather imposingly on top of a tree branch. )

ㅤ 「 Be safe, Enker. 」 ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤThey watch him go. Desperately do they want to run to him, to find that age old comfort in his arms. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤBut they don't. ( ..I love you. ) ㅤ

( Enker is almost tempted to say something more, but once they make it clear they want to be left alone, he just nods. ) I won’t cross that boundary, then. I hope that you find peace, Maestro… and that we will speak again sometime soon. ( He forces himself to turn and head back into the woods. )

You are correct, to an extent. I am a mechanical being known as a Robot Master. ( He's a bit taken aback that he's traveled far enough, to places where robots are hardly heard of...! ) You may simply call me Enker. My serial number is more of an identifier than anything else.

( The golden-armored Robot Master has ventured farther than he ever has before; this he knows for sure, upon stumbling into territory that isn’t even documented in his internal map. ) ( Before he can examine his surroundings further, though, the stern voice stops him in his tracks. )

Maestro… ( Another soft sigh. ) … I know the feeling well. I try to stay far from Dr. Wily’s regime, yet it haunts me. I fear harming those I trust, including Mega Man. But they trust /me./ I must put my trust in them, if nothing else.

// stolen, but 👉👈

( He frowns, gazing away again upon seeing that he isn’t helping Maestro’s mood. ) Your concern and care for your loved ones is yours. If you cannot trust yourself to protect all others, then… the ones you care for would still be a reasonable start. But isolating yourself isn’t the answer.

/You/ do not have ulterior motives behind it, unlike Ra Moon, as far as I know. You would not forcefully control other robots to complete that task... right?

Not /intentionally,/ though, correct? You cannot be held at fault for something outside of your control; and certainly something you weren't aware of.

But you /are/ different than that. You would never harm anyone undeserving… that I know for myself. Your origins do not define who you are now, Maestro. ( Enker can say this from experience. He hopes that helps a little. )

( Enker listens quietly, and thinks deeply over what to say. What a horrific situation… ) I see. I-I am so very sorry to hear that happened to you. ( He inhales through his vents, taking a deep “breath”. ) I empathize with that, to an extent…

ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ[ TEMP PINNED. ] ㅤ