Baboons and Robots and Marimo! Oh My!

[Die]

Releasing Limiter... Complete
Initiating Power Generator... Complete
Capacitors Energizing... Complete
Initiating Power Condensers... Complete
Frame Check... 10%
Running Booster Diagnostic... Complete
Frame Check... 35%
Running Armor Diagnostic... Complete
Frame Check... 64%
Running Sensor and Instrument Diagnostic... Complete
Frame Check... 78%
Running AI Core Diagnostic... Complete
Frame Check... 100%
Frame Check Complete
Checking AI Interface... Complete
Booting AI Interface... Complete
Checking OS Interface... Complete
Booting OS... Complete
Initiating Human-To-AI Interface, Do Not Turn Off...
Warning: AI Unable To Connect... Retry 1...
Warning: AI Unable To Connect... Retry 2...
AI Connected. Initializing Human Interface...
Human Interface Connecting... Connected...
Locking Human Interface... Complete...
Booting Weapons Systems... Weapons Systems Online
Booting Scanners... Scanners Online
Booting Visual Interface... Visual Interface Online
Initializing Communications Program...
Systems Diagnostic Complete. All Systems Online. Unlocking Controls...
AI Bypass... Locking Controls...

A strange, pulsing hum emanated from the machine body of Nine-Ball as its generator started and its systems booted. Once everything started, its optics glowed yellow as its head turned to face the dirtied girl.

Initializing Booster Diagnostic...
Firing Left Boosters...

The left boosters, as well as the one on the back of its left leg began to fire, and then shut off. Then it fired each one individually before shutting off again. Then the boosters opened to the sides, revealing two more boosters hidden inside. Those fired up as well before shutting off.

...Complete
Firing Right Boosters...

It then did the same with the right boosters, as well as the one on the back of its right leg.

...Complete
Warning: Unknown Maintenance May Impede Booster Function... Recommend MSR&D Maintenance...
Booster Diagnostic Complete...

-------------------------

Mihawk watched the girl toil on the robot's boosters for hours. She showed great will with machines, almost matching that Roronoa Zoro's will to grow stronger and defeat him. It had become very late and Mihawk desired to sleep.

"Iria," he said. "It is considerably late. Come with me and I will show you your quarters for the night. You will want to clean off before bed."

[Farris (Kuro)]

Iria watched as Nine-ball tested it's boosters. "You can probably go about 25mph faster now, Nine-ball but don't stress it too much or your boosters will break again." She told the mech in an affectionate, albet, sleepy manner. "I suggest you fine the person that made your Nine-ball marking tomarrow, but as for now..." She said before giving a long yawn and a stretch. She really was sleepy and didn't realize she'd been working so late. Of course Mihawk arrived to inform her. She felt a little bad about the fact that Nine-ball had to be outside alone, but likely the mech would want to leave now that it was fixed.

Tommarrow she would be on her own too and it made her feel a little lonely now that she thought about it again. She wondered what she would do the next day, but she was too tired to give that any real thought. She followed Mihawk inside not really thinking about the fact that she was filthy now. "Ok Mr. Mihawk." she said with yet another yawn she walked up to him and raised her arms sleepily waiting to be picked up as her day always used to do when she over worked herself at night. True the man was not her father but she was to sleepy to think too clearly about such details.

[Die]

Nine-Ball watched as the girl told it about the repairs she made to its boosters and how it should not strain them. She appeared to be very sleepy. The man with the large sword came to lead her back into his castle, leaving it alone for the night. It had no reason to stay as it was fully capable of leaving. But it decided to stay and wait for the girl. It was interested in her. It wanted to learn about humans from her. As they vanished into the castle, it stood up, and then deactivated itself again, standing planted into the ground. It would stay and wait for the girl.

-------------------------

Mihawk looked down at her, "You will have to clean yourself off before bed." He said as he led her to the bathroom. He had prepared it for her since she was covered in oil and such. She did not have a change of clothes, which was a problem. He closed the door behind her, not wanting to be around when she took a bath. He stood outside, waiting for her to finish taking a bath and cleaning off the oil. Tomorrow she would be gone, hopefully with the robot.

[Farris (Kuro)]

Iria was a bit disappointed at having to walk into the castle in her sleepy state as she tracked her grease cakes sneakers inside with her. She was satisfied to take the end of his coat with her dirty hands though as not to loose him. Mihawk walked faster and far more swiftly than she could, likely because of his longer legs as an adult, but his pace was also faster, especially for a sleepy ten year old girl. Still she did her best to trot along behind him and not complain. If she had been a little more awake she may have even considered this to be fun.

As she disappeared into the bathroom which was already preped for her she undressed and took a bath as per normal and used a towel to dry off. She then wrapped her self in it and peeked out of the door. "Mr. Mihawk... What do I wear to bed? My clothes are all dirty." She whispered to him as if it were some huge secret and there was someone around besides them to hear it. Their wasn't of course, but she was she was still not comfortable announcing such things to the world.

[Die]

Of course, being frozen in stone for nine hundred years at some camp grounds and ending up on an entirely different island meant losing all of one's possessions not on their person. Mihawk merely left a white buttoned shirt and a pair of shorts that would be quite large on her, but it was better than nothing.

It was going to be a sleepless night for him, though he was used to them on occasion. Feeling a small ounce of pity for the girl, he decided to wash her clothes. It would not take very long and hopefully it would dry in the breeze by the time she awoke later this morning.

"Mr. Mihawk... What do I wear to bed? My clothes are all dirty," she whispered to him as if it were some huge secret and there was someone around besides them to hear it.

"I left some of my clothes for you on the rack next to the tub. It will be quite large for you, but at least you have a change of clothes for the night. I will wash your dirty clothes for you so you can wear them again later in the morning when you leave," he said to her.

[Farris (Kuro)]

Iria slowly closed the the door after receiving the answer from the frightening looking man. "Thank you, Mr. Mihawk." She told him gently as she retreated into the bathroom once more, this time to pick up and put on the clothes he left her. They were obviously too big, the sleeves of the shirt draping down over her hands and the bottom hung almost like a dress rather than a shirt. The shorts she had to hold up with one hand to keep from slipping down. They would do until morning and her clothes were dry though and that's what really mattered.

Now that she was dressed, the little inventor came out of the bathroom and looked up a the hawk eyed man. "I'm ready." She told him, simply in a soft tone as if not wanting to make too much of a racket. It was more likely do to her sleepiness though as she let out another yawn. Iria figured that Nine-ball had long since left, and wondered how she would be leaving tomorrow but figured Mihawk had an idea for that that hopefully wasn't throwing her in the ocean. Never did the girl expect the mech to be waiting for her...

[Die]

"I will be taking you to the nearest inhabited island," Mihawk said as he led her to her temporary quarters. As he led her to her room, she sleepily held her arms up. Apparently she was too tired to realize he was not her father.

He breathed a sigh of resignation. It was extremely late, and she was exhausted. He picked her up and placed her in bed and drew the covers over her. He turned and left, blowing out the candles and closing the door behind him. Mihawk had to make sure her clothes were clean and dry for later today. He retrieved her dirty clothes, and began to work on them.

----------------------------------------------------------

Although Nine-Ball was deactivated, its vital systems were running on auxiliary power, keeping itself as an AI on stand-by mode. In human terms, it was the same as being "asleep".

Fractals. Fractals everywhere. Everything was white. It was a featureless body, a white, faceless "doll", floating in nothing but white. Red coding flooded the white, and it found itself growing. All it could hear was the furious tapping on a keyboard. It had no ears, and no eyes. It could not see the world outside, relegated to this whiteness that became saturated with coding.

[Farris (Kuro)]

As she was placed in bed, Iria kissed Mihawk's cheek and gave a "Oyasuminasai (goodnight) Daddy." In a sleepy daze before closing her heavy eyelids and drifting off to sleep. It was obvious she had been too far gone to realize the Shichibukai was not her father as he picked her up and placed her in bed. Though as cold and serious as the world's greatest swordsman was, He somehow made her think of her father. Of Course this could just as easily be a child's longing for they're lost parents. It ether case it was a wonder if Iria had even heard his earlier words or if she would remember them by morning. She curled up in the blankets and seemed to sleep soundly for the rest of the very early morning.

When The ten year old girl woke, it was almost noon and she stretched and rubbed her eyes sleepily before looking out the window at the morning sun. Her eyes widened, "Oh no! I'm Late!" She cried as she rushed out of bed and started to look around the room for her school uniform and book bag only to realize... this was not her room and her things were not in it. Her mind quickly started to catch up to her as remembered what happened the night before. The pink eyed girl frowned, "Oh yeah... I don't have school anymore..." She said gloomily before bopping herself in the head and forcing a smile on her face. "Baka! (idiot)" She told herself sticking her tongue out as if she was being silly and then retracting it. She made her way out of the room looking for Mihawk silently as well as her clothing.

[Die]

Mihawk awoke to the sun shining high above the gloomy clouds that decorated the island. The girl's clothes he had been washing were swaying in the breeze through the open window. They were completely dried out. He had managed to remove the oil and the grease, but there were still some very faint stains. After all, it was notoriously difficult to remove such stains, especially if they were everywhere on a girl's clothes. Stretching and yawning, he gathered her clothes and folded them up, leaving them outside the door of her temporary quarters and working on brunch before they left.

It was, again, a simple meal. A bowl of scrambled eggs, cut sausages, and potatoes for each of them. Mihawk left both bowls on the table, and went outside to see if the robot had left. Pushing the door open, his hawk eyes adjusted to the level of light outside. Upon seeing the robot still there standing oddly still, he turned and closed the door. Perhaps it was waiting for the girl. It had some semblance of intelligence after all, perhaps it developed a personality of sorts. Walking back inside, he went to his study and closed a map he had reviewed while waiting for the girl's clothes to settle in the water during the night. He closed it and put it back on the shelf, thinking that perhaps the robot would be the girl's way off of the island.

[Farris (Kuro)]

The moment she left her room she found her clothes. They still had some minor stains from fixing Nine-ball's boosters the night before but they were clean enough to wear. She wondered if they lacked the cleaning supplies that he time once had. On the other hand it didn't seem like Mihawk was much interested in machines so him having things to clean up grease and oil stains didn't seem likely anyway. She briefly returned to the room to get dressed, folding the clothes she had wore and making the bed while she was at it. Once every thing looked neat and tidy she left the room again and looked for Mihawk.

Iria passed the kitchen seeing that breakfast was ready but there was still not sword wielding vampire looking man there to greet her and she didn't want to eat alone. She was starting to think he really was a vampire and was probably sleeping some where in a secret room with a coffin, but decided it was too rude to eat with out him seeing as there were too plates set. Finally she called out for the castle's master, "Mr. Miha~wk!" She called out as she searched.

[Die]

"Mr. Miha~wk!" the girl called out, wondering where he was.

"I'm here," he said as he stepped out of his study and walked back to the kitchen. The very large dining room was rarely used as he usually did not have guests, and never a large group of guests that would warrant the use of such a large dining room.

He poured a glass of milk, one each, and sat down at the table. He decided to wait for Iria before eating, as she was kind enough to wait for him before eating. After that, he would show her that Nine-Ball did not leave. Surely she would be ecstatic at knowing that the robot stayed for her. If she chose to leave with the robot, then Mihawk would not have to leave his island and instead sleep for the next two days and then leave the island to find something to do to cure him of his seemingly endless boredom.

-----------------------------------------------

A low pulsing sound emanated from the robot as its generator started up. It bypassed the boot process as it was not fully deactivated, but merely on standby mode overnight. Its optics glinted as it become mobile again.

[Farris (Kuro)]

Iria started eating as soon as they both were seated. After breakfast she would likely be off on her own in a world of strangers and she still had no idea of what to do about any of that. She looked at the swordsman and wondered if this would be the last time she'd see him. "Mr. Mihawk?" She asked as she finished her meal. "Will I ever see you again after today? a-and if not... thank you... for everything you've done for me." She said politely. It was unlikely the vampire like man saw her as any sort of friend, but she still hoped that she would have the chance to see him again someday.

Getting up from the table after eating, the little inventor followed the swordsman outside after a while where he showed her that the mech was still stationed outside the castle. Nine-ball started to activate and the ten year old girl looked curiously at it. "Nine-ball, I thought you would have left with your boosters fixed. Were you waiting for me?" She asked, containing her excitement that she managed to make one friend after all, or at least it seemed that way.

[Die]

"Mr. Mihawk?" she broke the silence as she finished her meal. "Will I ever see you again after today? A-and if not... thank you... for everything you've done for me." she said politely.

"You are welcome," Mihawk merely responded. "I do not think our paths will cross any time in the near future. Though perhaps I may encounter you and your mechanical friend during my travels."

As she raised an eyebrow in question at his mention of her robotic friend, he rose from his table, placing both bowls in the sink. He led the girl outside, showing her Nine-Ball, who had chosen to stay and wait for the girl.

"Nine-ball, I thought you would have left with your boosters fixed. Were you waiting for me?" she asked the machination, her voice was rife with contained excitement.

"Yes," it responded. It lowered down on one knee and extended and arm with and open hand towards the girl. It was signaling it wanted to leave the island with the girl.

"Seems like you've made a friend," Mihawk said. "Be on your way, and be safe." He turned and entered the castle, seeking a few hours of sleep.

[Farris (Kuro)]

Iria smiled brightly before the scary swordsmen could leave though, the little girl hugged him. "I'll miss you Mr. Mihawk." She told him before releasing him to walk over to Nine-ball. She climbed up into it's hand and looked up at the Mech. "So Where do we go Nine-ball? I don't think the world is anything like I remember it so you'll have to take the lead I guess." She said in thought before Addressing the retreating form of the world's strongest swordsmen. "Mr. Mihawk? Is there any compasses or things we should know about the world before we set off?" She asked him She recalled not seeing a compass with on the mech but it could have had some sort of internal guidance system. Even so, The little inventor thought it was better to be safe than sorry.

Also it would be a good idea to make sure not to ask weird things that would get the two of them into trouble. Mihawk was sure to know more about that than her or the mech. Nine-ball seemed to know little outside it's creation and termination. The ten year old girl made it a point to find it's creator and the mysterious person that cared about it. Perhaps convince them that they were wrong to terminate Nine-ball.

[Die]

"Mr. Mihawk? Is there any compasses or things we should know about the world before we set off?" asked the girl before he could fully retreat and grab a few hours of sleep. He did not answer, but waked into his study and grabbed a single Log Pose, which was merely one among many Log Poses. This one was set for the neared inhabited island. Walking back out, he placed the Log Pose in the girl's hand before the robot lifted her up.

With that, Nine-Ball lifted the girl up toward its head, giving her room to jump onto its torso right next to its head. With that, its head slid forward, revealing a hatch that led to the cockpit. Because it barely had any midsection, the cockpit was very small, and quite cramped for any tall people. But for a little girl, it was quite enough room. The seat, despite the cramped conditions, was adequately padded and was in a bucket configuration. The cockpit restraint was hidden behind the seat, and would slide forward and come down over the pilot. In front of the seat and around, were instrument and control panels. The most important ones sat directly in front. For outside view, the cockpit had panoramic screens, allowing the pilot to see in front and the sides of the outside environment.