Echo

Orders: Gather artifacts and people of Ashari. Figure out how Kiqueo generates their magic. Get as many Kiqueans to Paegor and to Sanctuary to save them from the world's ending. *Delete All* CONFIRM DELETE: Yes

Personal Log:   I've never been frightened... until today. Jaxion came back from the mountains and reported that ahead of us lies an area that seems to instantly corrode and rust metal. To say that I cannot survive very long in a place such as that is an understatement. Most of the vital pieces that make up my body are metal. My brain is literally microchips and processors, though some of the processors are organic in nature, not all are. So this place we are going frightens me. Do I tell the others?   Not Jaxion, he still thinks of me as an asset. Lux, as well as most of the others, would understand in theory, but I think would miss the point of what I mean. My feelings are not exactly the same, or maybe they are, but not processed the same way. I am still processing emotions and what they mean to me. Imagine giving a newborn all the knowledge in the greatest library and ask them categorize what makes them happy, sad, afraid, or mad. Without experiences nothing goes into the afraid column. If you told me a week ago that this place existed, I would be intrigued, would logically know it could destroy most of me, but without having other experiences that have threatened or hurt you before, without the threat of being thrown into it, it's not logical to be afraid of it. Having now experienced both of those realities, I understand what fear is and how to process it.   So do I tell anyone? No, at least not yet. This balm we received from the Dragonborn eases the fear a bit. Makes me feel brave like the heroes in the western shows. Which I feel like I understand in a different light more today than I did yesterday. We can throw that in the happy bucket.

Dr. Topip,   I sit here reflecting on today's events. A food eating contest, scorpion wrangling, and a shootout at the O.K. Corral. Let me reassure you that I am ok. It was an interesting day with a lot of firsts for me, which is no surprise really. First of Gambit really wanted to eat bee farts beef hearts, so we went to a festival that had a contest to see who could tolerate the hottest food. Obviously I could not enter, but I observed and learned that people will cause themselves incredible pain and suffering just to win a contest that really didn't have much for a prize other than hubris essentially. Although the little one named Xhoya seemed to not be much bothered by even the hottest things she had to eat. It was an interesting event, but I did not learn much from it.   Next, Jaxion wanted to hunt. So we went to a place that had a contest that paid you money for each scorpion you captured. They were not giant scorpions like it seemed like we'd be hunting, but rather just felt more like wrangling sheep. I was ill suited for the task and do not feel like I contributed much. Jaxion seemed to enjoy himself though and that seemed to infuriate the scorpions. While most of us caused them to scatter, they attacked Jaxion with fervor. Kiíellièn seemed to have the ability to speak to them and get them to follow her like a farm dog wrangles sheep. It was fascinating to watch. I learned much more from this task and even caught a few myself.   After that some individuals rushed Jaxion and implored him for information on their family members stationed at Scorpion Point. They had received no contact from them for days and were worried something had happened to them. Jaxion talked to his superiors and was ordered to investigate. So off we went, only to find the road to Scorpion Point damaged and the roads impassable by vehicles. Luckily Gidget had transportation that didn't rely on wheels. It used mechanical legs. I was incredibly impressed and studied the machine as we went along.   We made it to Scorpion Point to find that the walls had been breached by something with artillery. We hastened inside to find smoke pouring from an opening. We went inside and found patrolling robots that attacked us. I was able to get several good shots in to help take down two droids. Gidget disappeared in the process and something took her to a teleportation portal where she fell unconscious from an attack from another robot. Jaxion sprang into action to help her while I used some magic to help protect him. With their help and some help from Lux we took down the robot that attacked Gidget. The ghost person that took Gidget wasn't seen again after this. I did some quick scans of the robots and found something interesting (see attached).   We helped a few military personnel out and proceeded to face another robot with artillery that was trying to bust down a door that was barricaded by the rest of the military personnel. I made an error at this point I learned a lot from. I did not position myself well and underestimated the robot. The wound I received is healed now and a lesson was learned. My compatriots were able to take down the robot even without my help and Kiíellièn was able to heal me. We ended up saving quite a few military personnel but not all, as some were deceased when we arrived.   I inspected the robots and found something interesting. Most of the metals were from this area, so whoever made them isn't far. I also found an image (see attached). We think it belongs to a group called the Deremitru. They seemed to be searching for an entrance to something under Scorpion Point. A giant machine of some kind possibly. I think we are going to investigate further. There were some classified files at Scorpion Point that I was unable to access. Any information or theories you could provide would be most useful.   Attachments: 1. Scans of all three types of robots. 2. Image of symbol on robot that is assumed belonging to the Deremitru. 3. Video logs from Scorpion Point that I downloaded. 4. Personnel list of who survived and are deceased.

Loss. It's an incalculable feeling. I didn't lose anything permanently. In fact I did more gaining since we left Alcyon than losing. You left to confront a rogue General of the BRN and lure the Gazelle away from us. You left Jaxion and Lux in my care, though you'd say the other way around. You gave me a gift I was not expecting. You removed the inhibitor chip that was used to prohibit me from doing things I wanted. Things like changing my code, altering my physical characteristics, or killing the president of the BRN. As a test I altered a bit of code that I've been trying to alter for months unsuccessfully that stopped me from intentionally letting myself get damaged for any reason. The heroes in my western shows constantly put themselves in positions where they could get damaged so they could save people. I am now free to do that.   Even though that gives me great happiness. I still feel the loss of you leaving. Knowing you could be in danger and I would not be there to help is frustrating. I understand and agree with why you left, but that fleeting feeling that it could be the last time I see you in person as you walked through that portal is haunting.. ..and sad.   Jaxion has made a couple new friends. He seemed very frustrated and abrasive towards the elf named The Gambit, and the feline named Silas. I have learned that his is how Jaxion treats his friends so I made assumptions they are now too. The Gambit explained that he brought us all together to stop the Gazelle and keep it from getting more or those magic cubes. That it integrates with the cubes to become stronger. There are two other cubes like the one you have in your possession. One it has already integrated with, the other is in Monokomanika.   The Gambit, odd first name, is an interesting elf who works for Works for the APO and is next in line for Vox Ultima. He said we can stop using his first name and just call him Gambit. Apparently these other friends of his survived a run in with the Gazelle as well. Besides the feline Silas, who is with the Blackaxle Cartel, there is a very small Drow named Xhoya who can apparently withstand substances in her mouth that would put most people in a hospital. There is a female elf named Kiíellièn who carries a large backpack even indoors for unknown reasons. And lastly is a female Eladrin named Gidget that I think shares a vocation with us. She seems to have taken an interest in me and has quite interesting gadgets about her.   Now we make plans on how to stop the Gazelle from getting the other two cubes. Do not worry, I will keep Lux safe. Hope you are doing well. And I can't put enough emphasis on this, thank you!

I find myself coming back to the same theme the past few days. Chaos is winning. First a train was nearly derailed in a vain effort to capture me like I was some sort of tech they could control. Then an airship was brought down, killing several people, for unknown reasons. Now a highly advanced robot brings down skyscrapers, killing thousands, with barely a thought. Just to get a magic cube they sold or gave to someone else for another unknown reason.   Regardless of the reasons, there were 37 better ways someone with that power could have had found and attempted to retrieve the cube from us. Instead they chose an incredibly chaotic path that resulted in the death of thousands. I feel confident in my decision to not just hand it over and save most of those people though. I made a calculated decision that if we handed over the cube, there was a 95% chance that even more individuals would perish because of it. Also a 20% chance that if we handed the cube over the robot would have killed us and as many individuals as it could on the way out anyways. My decisions were logical, his were not. Yet still I feel like he won.   The Dr. seems just as troubled by this as I do. He stares at the cube as we ride. It might be best to investigate the cube's affect on him once we get to our destination. Jaxion is also bothered by todays events exponentially more than the events on the train. I think he feels the same as I do, that even though we still retain the cube and are all still functioning, we still lost. Lux is somber but still in better spirits than the rest of us. I'm not sure if they are seeing this as an opportunity and gains resolve from these events? Or something else. I calculate about a 10% chance Lux is secretly a highly trained spy.   The rest of my thoughts on today will be encrypted as they contain sensitive data on my analysis of the subject.

This is a new experience. I'm exhilarated, fascinated, and feel good about my deeds today. I also feel sorrow, disgust, and ashamed of my deeds today. I literally blasted an individuals head open today. Three individuals took over the train and caused it to run too fast and shoot past our destination. Between that and the railcars heating up it could have killed everyone on board. We managed to reverse the environmental controls and force our way into the next car. The Tiefling that later introduced himself as Jaxion almost flew out the open railcar door as well as a few passengers. Once Jaxion was back inside I managed to mend a door back in place to keep anyone else from flying out as long as they stayed strapped in. I injured the unhinged individual that seemed delighted that he was inflicting mental and physical anguish on the passengers of this railcar.   With the help of Jaxion and Lux, we chased the individual to the outside of the the engine car where another individual was waiting. Lux was hurt but we managed to eliminate the unhinged individual. The other had a jetpack and tried to fly off, but Jaxion grabbed him and threw him to the ground. On his way down I shot him right in the face, exploding most of his head. My first kill. I'm equally exhilarated and disgusted. Did this individual deserve to be killed? He had intent to kill us. He broke laws and if not stopped could have killed everyone on the train. I broke no laws killing him and he would have rotted in a prison or been executed for his crimes anyways. Things to ponder in the days ahead.   There was another individual in the engine compartment. He seemed to be their leader. He instantly reminded me of the villains from the western shows. Maybe that is why I acted quickly and my aim was true. I jumped into the car with Jaxion and unloaded a shot right in his chest. Jaxion looked sturdier than me so I protected myself from harm, only to find out they were after me and didn't want to kill me. I also didn't realize that one round would instantly down Jaxion. It was a powerful weapon so maybe my assessment wasn't incorrect and it was just bad luck. Will need further data. Lux came in and healed Jaxion while my second shot struck true again. This time moving my protection to Lux so he had to focus on me. To my surprise, and his it seems, Lux had another trick up her sleeve and deal the final blow.   All in all my aim was above standards today and my strategy flawless. Individuals thanked me and Dr. Topip praised me, but I still feel a bit conflicted. Am I a hero?

It's been a year of learning beyond basic functions. One year today I've been self aware. I've never left Dr. Topips workshop in that time, until today. I find myself on a magnetic train. Dr. Topip still tweaking various mechanical pieces and code in preparation for tomorrow's "tests". I've been studying his work and have started some tinkering and maintaining of myself, myself. That sounds odd even to me but here we are. I sit here on this train contemplating the individual I just met. Lux is an interesting individual. The conversation between Lux and Topip leads me to believe they are a changeling. They have the ability to change into whatever they want on a whim. My programming prevents me from doing this too much...   I have not told Dr. Topip I have started tinkering and learning how I work. I am not sure of how he would react. I don't want him to put a function in place to try and stop me from doing it. I like the ability to be myself. Dr. Topip and I have had discussions on me being self aware, but I don't think he quite gets it. He still puts blocks up to prevent me from being completely free of his influence. Most I don't mind, I do not want to murder people without justification or disobey laws. I understand some things are just for my protection and don't generally want to do anything to harm myself, but I have thought of 346 scenarios in the last 60 seconds that would be beneficial for everyone if I could break some of my programming. Other things just prevent me from being... me.   Like these intruders that I detected that are trying to take over this train. Dr. Topip told me to power down into sentry mode and not leave this room or do anything but sit here. I want to go help. I want to be like the heroes in the western movies I enjoy watching. They aren't after glory or the thrill. They uphold law and justice. They reign in chaos and anarchy. They make the world a better place for everyone. My ambitions match theirs and I find myself enjoying mimicking them.   The train is starting to go faster. This situation is getting worse. I need to attempt to break this programming. Oh wait, another individual is here and has roused Dr. Topip. Thank goodness.  

Echo gained sentience on 30 Dromstrath 9997 at 09:42. His first thoughts that he considers his own were the thought that he was different than everyone else, than everything else. That he was no longer a tool for someone to use.

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