[PQ] ghosts in the machine

kaimana

how beautiful the leaves grow old

The familiar faces gather around, and you eave to each from your position on a rock, greeting the men - and their companions - brightly. It's nice that these three are here, because they all (except maybe Jigano) have been very good about helping you gain knowledge so far (especially Sunjata).

But it's the conpanions you're more interested in. "Astra! Haai! Isuma!" you call brightly, slipping off your stone and kneeling on the ground, hands outstretched in anticipation of their arrival for scratches. "Are you ready to learn stuff? For science?"

There is a pulse of magic and you stand up, hands and body still available for attention but your bright eyes now moving between the men. "Thanks for comin! We're doin' experiments to learn about companion bonds today! To start I went ahead an' increased the sentience of your companions." Indeed, the three men will find that the level of communication coming from their companion bonds has improved dramatically, to the point where they can now speak in clearly comprehensible sentences- for a little while, at least.

"Oia'll explain what we'd like you to do first."

how full of light and color are their last days