What the hell was this? He'd thought it'd been a spar. Stun shots and no lasting harm, but maybe you'd get punched around a bit in close quarters. Safe, even if maybe a Wilybot-leaning sort of safe (Punk could be absolutely brutal, covered in spikes like he was).
There's a brief baring of teeth. "Rather not get sent to the 'bay just for a spar, thanks!"
A dash clears him of the first burst, but the spread? Now that's a bitch.
(A machine with a madman inside, scattered projectiles bounced over the ground-)
There's a hiss, audible when he misses a jump. A stumble, but not for long. It's too busy on the ground. Time to change tactics.
His own buster is charging at his side, now. He jumps - just like any other Wilybot, a leap that a blue bomber wasn't capable of - and in an entirely new trick, there's a click as boots briefly magnetize to the wall. Only briefly; on a dime Quint has used the position as ricochet, to bounce up off it, another jump.
Another aim at Zero. The charge shot sings in not just one burst of blue-white, either: a rapid-fire burst of three rockets out instead, an upgrade for this frame more fitting.
Zero hears the hiss as Quint narrowly evades the shots in a stumble. Good, he's awake.
He chuckles a little inwardly watching him kick from the walls. Atta boy, just like X, this is what I need. He eyes up as the rockets come screeching a burning towards him, a standing roundhouse clips the first with the tip of his toe, sending it screaming into the wall, "REKKYOUDAN!" an orange tinted blade follows up, reflecting the second back at Quint. The third arcs downwards, whistling towards him, the timing window was narrow, Zero leaps back, clearing the impact, but the blast wave propels him backwards, catching a hand and foot on the wall and skidding downwards safely.
You've done it now. That was too close. He's still warming up. You need me. Let me iiiin.
"Shut up! Hnn.." Squinting through the head-ache, he engages dash thrust to propel off the wall, Launching himself at where Quint is going to be after evading his own rocket.
"RAKUHOUHA!!"
Zero's fist strikes the floor in front of his opponent, there's an eruption of blue and white light as energy spheres blast in a dome outwards from the contact point.
It's a split second warning, but it's a warning all the same. The reflected charged shot is a cinch: another ricochet, another scattered flurry of return fire- But then Zero pulls THAT and he's unpleasantly reminded of another mech he's sparred with recently.
It's another jump. Barely. He can feel the heat of one of the spheres lick his boots as he goes, leaving scorches and a flare of pain. Well, there went his hopes of not having to head to medbay after this...
All he's got is his buster, but Zero seems to have almost as much weaponry as- Well, maybe they're all over-achievers.
He lands light, spinning on a dime just as the eruption starts to fade. Another flare of buster fire, but this time it's a scattering flare of distraction, trying to force Zero briefly on the defensive. But instead of continuing to run rings around Zero? He executes a slide practically into the other mech, close quarters in a heartbeat.
Oh, he'll try a buster directly to the chest first off. No stun blasts now, if that's what Zero wanted. But it's not the only plan he's got.
Nnghh, SHUT UP. You're silent for a week and then you choose now? I can do this without you.
The distraction from his dark half, gave way to suprise finding a buster canon slowly heating his ceratanium chest plate as it gathered power.
"Shit! Shitshit." He spat at the raucus giggling in his subconscious. He drops himself to his back "shitshitshit" popping his boot into Quint's stomach as the buster charge screeches louder "shitSHITSHIT" he kicks out sending Quint arcing over him, gripping his buster arm at the elbow, forcing it upwards "SHITSHITSHIT!"
There's a thud, as Quint lands on his back, head side-by-side with Zero's, inverted. Then a loud PPSSSHOOWWWW as the buster releases it's payload.
"SHIIIAAAAGHHH" it's no good, Zero can't push it high enough for a clean miss. The energy blast tears down the front of his chest, shattering his breastplate, taking a small amount of his undersuit along for the ride, the artificial skin down his sternum red raw and burning. Nothing Vital. Shields failing.
"Aghh.. [huff] just ugh, who [huff] the hell are you?. Why do you move like him? Why do you look like him? Why can't I pull data on your MKN file?"
He lay there panting, his chest seething, eyes beginning to water, head ringing.
There's a swear of Quint's own, and a whistle that brings Sakugarne charging over. Even as he gets up, he's reaching for Zero.
"Hey, hey, careful. Fuck, that's why we don't use full power shots in a spar, okay? How bad's the damage?"
Sakugarne whines, and quickly and carefully Quint pulls what appears to be a robot first aid kid out of a compartment on his support unit. It's not a lot but... If he had to, he could do a battlefield patch. It's not like it's the first time.
But, with the burn gel in one hand, he pauses, and he sighs. "...Not even going to ask how you'd know that." Steady hands open the dressing package, focused entirely on that, instead of... Well. Looking at Zero. "My actual number is SVN-001. The MKNs kind of adopted me when I got chucked in with them."
"I.. I just.. I needed to feel..." he lay panting, wincing as Quint presses his chest to inspect the wound. "I've fought through worse, nngh, than this. Novelty kind of wears off dying after the second time."
Feel what? What did I need to feel? Do I even know? Catharsis? What was I thinking? Quint must think I'm a basket case.
'he said, trying to ignore the voices in his head'
"SVN.. it's not in my files. That must mean you came after me, which is impossible. I was the last one. He died before he even finished me. Either that or you're just from somewhere else altogether."
Those aren't the only solutions. Ask him.
"...Quint why do you look like my partner? Like you and him could be brothers?"
The burn gel smears across the bubbling skin, stinging and making him swoon.
"...Buddy, take it from me: you really need some therapy."
His face twists, unhappy, uncomfortable. Zero was going to keep asking, huh. Well. It wasn't like it was a secret any more. Not with the little breakdown he'd had over the private Lightbot channels. But just cause it wasn't a secret...
"Stands for Special Variation Number. Chances are I'm from somewhere else, though. Different dimensions, remember? The timelines are probably different. They probably get... Weird, in comparison. I got yanked in from a future, to kill my past self."
He winces a little. Yeah, Zero would definitely need proper medical attention. "I'm gonna call medbay, okay? We're both going to get really yelled at, hope you know that."
"...But, yeah. My future doesn't even exist any more, if that helps any." His voice struggles, wavering between detachment and a tired acceptance. "It got obliterated when the past changed; Megaman was probably supposed to kill me, no matter what Wily thought. Complete loop, no paradoxes. Now, I just... Exist."
"Hahahaha. Ironic. Another MegaMan, of Course. You're the one I ache to kill, yet the blue loser was supposed to kill you too."
Zero's arm reaches up in an instant, seizing Quint by the throat
"Yet here I am, my fate was sealed. Fated to die, whether he could cure me or it cost him his own life. Saved by the spacebridge. Hahaha. I'm a shadow with no future too."
Zero's face breaks out into a wide grin, teeth grinding wildly, his fingers shaking as his grip tightens.
"You won't be calling anybody until we figure out which one of us still deserves to exist, kindred."
He presses himself up from the floor with his free hand, pushing Quint back onto his knees. His face a wild collage of rage and glee.
"Show me your will to survive. I want to see you struggle."
Quint doesn't understand the sudden switch, but in a way he does all the same: he's seen a system work before, seen different parts of a whole work together. This was different, sudden, wrong, but- In the same breath, Zero had already been demanding more than just a spar, too.
Thank god he doesn't need to breathe.
"I'm not," he gasps, teeth breaking into a snarl of his own, one hand to the one on his throat.
An immediate, instinctive, expected touch, but it might help (he hopes it helps) as distraction all it's own. He's on his knees. Flipping to get a leg between them and kick 'Zero' away would take too long. He's going to have to resort to less used means.
A click, the slide of smooth metal against metal. The kneeling position instead used to push himself up, headbutt his opponent- And with his free hand SHOVE the shaft of a previously collapsed spear against Zero's throat.
Two hands, now. Putting down more pressure. Two could play at the choking game.
"I am not," he hisses again, red flashing behind dark mirrored visor, struggling to force the reploid down and reverse their positions, "Megaman."
Edited (formatting) Date: 2025-03-18 11:27 am (UTC)
The Maverick's view darts sideways at Quint's protesting hand, The headbutt lands home across the front of his helmet and face. There's wet crack, a trickle of oil from Zero's nose, a fracture snakes upward from the brow ridge as the stressed armour begins to buckle from the impact. The pain is exquisite. The thrill overwhelming. His pupils dilate and seem to almost vibrate with excitement behind their crimson glow.
"Hahahha, oh yes, YES!!"
No!
He grips the spear, his hands bearing down in crushing grip on top of Quint's. He engages full strength, or attempts to, the terrified hunter inside him fighting his actions as best he can. There's a grind and a hissing screech as his damaged internal pistons and actuators fight amongst themselves. All he can achieve is to push back and lock static, shaking on quint's attempt to push him flat on his back. The horizontal bar rattling against his Larynx in the struggle
"You're as much MegaMan as I am, Zero, Quint. We're both something more. Killers. Neither of us should exist... Maybe then I should take a different name... something mathematical... a synonym perhaps."
Whatever jab the Maverick was trying to make, whatever psychological attack? Doesn't land. What works on Zero does not work on Quint, all instead single-minded focus. Pushing down, and down, and not giving his opponent any ground. Rock wouldn't be so rough. Rock would have hesitated, and he would have agonized. But not Quintet.
"I'm no Megaman. You're right, that my name is Quint. Special Variation Number double-oh-one, one of the MKNs. You're right. Neither of us should exist."
And then he rears back, all at once. Oh, it's with one last shove, and oh, it's clearly calculated all the same. But he rears back, and stands there, Sakugarne growling and imposing behind his back.
Gesturing with that spear at the Maverick's throat, optics narrowed, he snaps, "But we do. We're both still here. Get it? It's a fucking privilege. Taking a new name is, too."
This reploid, this other Zero- Of course he's a threat. Of course Quint isn't stupid. Giving him an out? Isn't smart.
But Sakugarne and the promise of his super adapter is at his back, and he breathes in, and then out. He's no Megaman, no hero. A killer. But you tried to make the world better anyway, right?
"At least I'm doing something with this second chance. I might be a killer, but at least I can choose when to stop. Can you?"
He can give a mech a name. He knows which one this reploid would want, from him. But it's always going to be heavier than just syllables in the mouth.
He can feel how this teeters. Can he make it mean something?
The grinding and whirring of servos and hiss hydraulics gives way to a dull tangle of clanking, as with Quint's final burst of strength, his endoskeleton gives way. He crumples to the floor, the keen tip of the spear wet at his throat. Quint and Sakugarne looming over him. Stoic. Incorruptible.
Quint was master of his own fate. He was unique. Beautiful
What now? The Maverick ponders. Maybe he did love killing. Maybe he did ache for battle. And as a result, he laid here, broken, toothless motors revving in place to move arms that could no longer respond beyond a strained limp.
He'd stopped killing and fighting by choice once before. Staring into the eyes of Optimus and seeing something there like himself, yet greater. His position now mirrored that. The spear nicking his skin reminds him that his only other option now is to die. Quint had once again offered him a chance at life he didn't deserve.
A fitting end it would be too. Deserved. Honourable. But what a waste of a life that he shouldn't even have. He could be so much more too.
He stares up at Quint, his eyes still smouldering red, but the grin is gone. He looks... sad. Humble. Ashamed even. He spoke softly, his usual manic tones drained of weight, his voice almost a whisper
"...Ok... ...I give."
He struggles to sit, sliding backwards on his thigh. Grinding his abdominals to manage a crunch. Arms limp at his sides unable to push himself up. Auto-repair systems were kicking in now, the adrenaline high fading into the ache of his damaged components.
"Just... ...please give me this. I want to walk to medical under my own steam. My legs are fine, but my torso... just... doesn't have anything to give. Please, help me stand."
Quint sags, just a little. The spear is pulled away, collapsing easily and stuffed away. He's not so ready to let his armour drop, though. He doesn't know this other-Zero well enough for THAT kind of trust, yet. But this was a start.
"Saku, help me get him up."
Hands that could kill so easily now reach for the Maverick gently. An arm around his shoulders, under his own arm. Sakugarne is there on his other side, helping push him up. Take the weight a little.
Honestly, he'd been scared there that the Maverick would've refused. He likes Zero, but even if he did? He'd still neutralize the threat this other self presented. Not killed. But all the same. It's going to be one hell of an awkward discussion with the doctors as it is...
"Okay. I'm going to stay right here on this side, Saku on your other. You feel like you're gonna fall over, let us know. We'll catch you." It was also a perfect range for Sakugarne to bite if he tried anything funny, but Quint figured that was a fair trade off.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stableparadox
no subject
Date: 2025-03-17 11:05 am (UTC)He's pretty sure Zero's going to win. Their experience... Well, Quint wasn't originally built to be a weapon, was he? Even if time changed that, too.
But that doesn't mean he's going to let Zero take it easily.
He gets up a leg between them, lightning fast, and tries to kick the reploid off.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-17 02:41 pm (UTC)"Yeah? What makes you think you aren't fighting for your life right now."
He manages to raise his arms in a crossed guard, intercepting Quint's kick. Still charging. Sending him skidding backwards.
"Stun shots and and interference plays all you got under the hood? No chance. Stop holding back damnit!"
Something about Quint's face was really ticking him off, Stupid handsome familiar asshole, stop toying with me and make this exciting!
He looses a full power shot burst directly on Quint's position, The initial shot scatters and spreads in random pattern.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-17 04:26 pm (UTC)There's a brief baring of teeth. "Rather not get sent to the 'bay just for a spar, thanks!"
A dash clears him of the first burst, but the spread? Now that's a bitch.
(A machine with a madman inside, scattered projectiles bounced over the ground-)
There's a hiss, audible when he misses a jump. A stumble, but not for long. It's too busy on the ground. Time to change tactics.
His own buster is charging at his side, now. He jumps - just like any other Wilybot, a leap that a blue bomber wasn't capable of - and in an entirely new trick, there's a click as boots briefly magnetize to the wall. Only briefly; on a dime Quint has used the position as ricochet, to bounce up off it, another jump.
Another aim at Zero. The charge shot sings in not just one burst of blue-white, either: a rapid-fire burst of three rockets out instead, an upgrade for this frame more fitting.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-17 04:57 pm (UTC)He chuckles a little inwardly watching him kick from the walls. Atta boy, just like X, this is what I need. He eyes up as the rockets come screeching a burning towards him, a standing roundhouse clips the first with the tip of his toe, sending it screaming into the wall, "REKKYOUDAN!" an orange tinted blade follows up, reflecting the second back at Quint. The third arcs downwards, whistling towards him, the timing window was narrow, Zero leaps back, clearing the impact, but the blast wave propels him backwards, catching a hand and foot on the wall and skidding downwards safely.
You've done it now. That was too close. He's still warming up. You need me. Let me iiiin.
"Shut up! Hnn.." Squinting through the head-ache, he engages dash thrust to propel off the wall, Launching himself at where Quint is going to be after evading his own rocket.
"RAKUHOUHA!!"
Zero's fist strikes the floor in front of his opponent, there's an eruption of blue and white light as energy spheres blast in a dome outwards from the contact point.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-17 05:27 pm (UTC)It's a split second warning, but it's a warning all the same. The reflected charged shot is a cinch: another ricochet, another scattered flurry of return fire- But then Zero pulls THAT and he's unpleasantly reminded of another mech he's sparred with recently.
It's another jump. Barely. He can feel the heat of one of the spheres lick his boots as he goes, leaving scorches and a flare of pain. Well, there went his hopes of not having to head to medbay after this...
All he's got is his buster, but Zero seems to have almost as much weaponry as- Well, maybe they're all over-achievers.
He lands light, spinning on a dime just as the eruption starts to fade. Another flare of buster fire, but this time it's a scattering flare of distraction, trying to force Zero briefly on the defensive. But instead of continuing to run rings around Zero? He executes a slide practically into the other mech, close quarters in a heartbeat.
Oh, he'll try a buster directly to the chest first off. No stun blasts now, if that's what Zero wanted. But it's not the only plan he's got.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-17 06:53 pm (UTC)
Nnghh, SHUT UP. You're silent for a week and then you choose now? I can do this without you.He's got a point~
The distraction from his dark half, gave way to suprise finding a buster canon slowly heating his ceratanium chest plate as it gathered power.
"Shit! Shitshit." He spat at the raucus giggling in his subconscious. He drops himself to his back "shitshitshit" popping his boot into Quint's stomach as the buster charge screeches louder "shitSHITSHIT" he kicks out sending Quint arcing over him, gripping his buster arm at the elbow, forcing it upwards "SHITSHITSHIT!"
There's a thud, as Quint lands on his back, head side-by-side with Zero's, inverted. Then a loud PPSSSHOOWWWW as the buster releases it's payload.
"SHIIIAAAAGHHH" it's no good, Zero can't push it high enough for a clean miss. The energy blast tears down the front of his chest, shattering his breastplate, taking a small amount of his undersuit along for the ride, the artificial skin down his sternum red raw and burning. Nothing Vital. Shields failing.
"Aghh.. [huff] just ugh, who [huff] the hell are you?. Why do you move like him? Why do you look like him? Why can't I pull data on your MKN file?"
He lay there panting, his chest seething, eyes beginning to water, head ringing.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-17 08:26 pm (UTC)"Hey, hey, careful. Fuck, that's why we don't use full power shots in a spar, okay? How bad's the damage?"
Sakugarne whines, and quickly and carefully Quint pulls what appears to be a robot first aid kid out of a compartment on his support unit. It's not a lot but... If he had to, he could do a battlefield patch. It's not like it's the first time.
But, with the burn gel in one hand, he pauses, and he sighs. "...Not even going to ask how you'd know that." Steady hands open the dressing package, focused entirely on that, instead of... Well. Looking at Zero. "My actual number is SVN-001. The MKNs kind of adopted me when I got chucked in with them."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-17 09:08 pm (UTC)Feel what? What did I need to feel? Do I even know? Catharsis? What was I thinking? Quint must think I'm a basket case.
'he said, trying to ignore the voices in his head'
"SVN.. it's not in my files. That must mean you came after me, which is impossible. I was the last one. He died before he even finished me. Either that or you're just from somewhere else altogether."Those aren't the only solutions. Ask him.
"...Quint why do you look like my partner? Like you and him could be brothers?"The burn gel smears across the bubbling skin, stinging and making him swoon.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-17 09:38 pm (UTC)His face twists, unhappy, uncomfortable. Zero was going to keep asking, huh. Well. It wasn't like it was a secret any more. Not with the little breakdown he'd had over the private Lightbot channels. But just cause it wasn't a secret...
"Stands for Special Variation Number. Chances are I'm from somewhere else, though. Different dimensions, remember? The timelines are probably different. They probably get... Weird, in comparison. I got yanked in from a future, to kill my past self."
He winces a little. Yeah, Zero would definitely need proper medical attention. "I'm gonna call medbay, okay? We're both going to get really yelled at, hope you know that."
"...But, yeah. My future doesn't even exist any more, if that helps any." His voice struggles, wavering between detachment and a tired acceptance. "It got obliterated when the past changed; Megaman was probably supposed to kill me, no matter what Wily thought. Complete loop, no paradoxes. Now, I just... Exist."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-18 10:59 am (UTC)"Hahahaha. Ironic. Another MegaMan, of Course. You're the one I ache to kill, yet the blue loser was supposed to kill you too."
Zero's arm reaches up in an instant, seizing Quint by the throat"Yet here I am, my fate was sealed. Fated to die, whether he could cure me or it cost him his own life. Saved by the spacebridge. Hahaha. I'm a shadow with no future too."
Zero's face breaks out into a wide grin, teeth grinding wildly, his fingers shaking as his grip tightens."You won't be calling anybody until we figure out which one of us still deserves to exist, kindred."
He presses himself up from the floor with his free hand, pushing Quint back onto his knees. His face a wild collage of rage and glee."Show me your will to survive. I want to see you struggle."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-18 11:24 am (UTC)Quint doesn't understand the sudden switch, but in a way he does all the same: he's seen a system work before, seen different parts of a whole work together. This was different, sudden, wrong, but- In the same breath, Zero had already been demanding more than just a spar, too.
Thank god he doesn't need to breathe.
"I'm not," he gasps, teeth breaking into a snarl of his own, one hand to the one on his throat.
An immediate, instinctive, expected touch, but it might help (he hopes it helps) as distraction all it's own. He's on his knees. Flipping to get a leg between them and kick 'Zero' away would take too long. He's going to have to resort to less used means.
A click, the slide of smooth metal against metal. The kneeling position instead used to push himself up, headbutt his opponent- And with his free hand SHOVE the shaft of a previously collapsed spear against Zero's throat.
Two hands, now. Putting down more pressure. Two could play at the choking game.
"I am not," he hisses again, red flashing behind dark mirrored visor, struggling to force the reploid down and reverse their positions, "Megaman."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-18 12:14 pm (UTC)"Hahahha, oh yes, YES!!"
No!
He grips the spear, his hands bearing down in crushing grip on top of Quint's. He engages full strength, or attempts to, the terrified hunter inside him fighting his actions as best he can. There's a grind and a hissing screech as his damaged internal pistons and actuators fight amongst themselves. All he can achieve is to push back and lock static, shaking on quint's attempt to push him flat on his back. The horizontal bar rattling against his Larynx in the struggle
"You're as much MegaMan as I am, Zero, Quint. We're both something more. Killers. Neither of us should exist... Maybe then I should take a different name... something mathematical... a synonym perhaps."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-18 12:41 pm (UTC)Whatever jab the Maverick was trying to make, whatever psychological attack? Doesn't land. What works on Zero does not work on Quint, all instead single-minded focus. Pushing down, and down, and not giving his opponent any ground. Rock wouldn't be so rough. Rock would have hesitated, and he would have agonized. But not Quintet.
"I'm no Megaman. You're right, that my name is Quint. Special Variation Number double-oh-one, one of the MKNs. You're right. Neither of us should exist."
And then he rears back, all at once. Oh, it's with one last shove, and oh, it's clearly calculated all the same. But he rears back, and stands there, Sakugarne growling and imposing behind his back.
Gesturing with that spear at the Maverick's throat, optics narrowed, he snaps, "But we do. We're both still here. Get it? It's a fucking privilege. Taking a new name is, too."
This reploid, this other Zero- Of course he's a threat. Of course Quint isn't stupid. Giving him an out? Isn't smart.
But Sakugarne and the promise of his super adapter is at his back, and he breathes in, and then out. He's no Megaman, no hero. A killer. But you tried to make the world better anyway, right?
"At least I'm doing something with this second chance. I might be a killer, but at least I can choose when to stop. Can you?"
He can give a mech a name. He knows which one this reploid would want, from him. But it's always going to be heavier than just syllables in the mouth.
He can feel how this teeters. Can he make it mean something?
Hope Defiant, let him make this mean something.no subject
Date: 2025-03-18 01:40 pm (UTC)Quint was master of his own fate. He was unique. Beautiful
What now? The Maverick ponders. Maybe he did love killing. Maybe he did ache for battle. And as a result, he laid here, broken, toothless motors revving in place to move arms that could no longer respond beyond a strained limp.
He'd stopped killing and fighting by choice once before. Staring into the eyes of Optimus and seeing something there like himself, yet greater. His position now mirrored that. The spear nicking his skin reminds him that his only other option now is to die. Quint had once again offered him a chance at life he didn't deserve.
A fitting end it would be too. Deserved. Honourable. But what a waste of a life that he shouldn't even have. He could be so much more too.
He stares up at Quint, his eyes still smouldering red, but the grin is gone. He looks... sad. Humble. Ashamed even. He spoke softly, his usual manic tones drained of weight, his voice almost a whisper
"...Ok... ...I give."
He struggles to sit, sliding backwards on his thigh. Grinding his abdominals to manage a crunch. Arms limp at his sides unable to push himself up. Auto-repair systems were kicking in now, the adrenaline high fading into the ache of his damaged components.
"Just... ...please give me this. I want to walk to medical under my own steam. My legs are fine, but my torso... just... doesn't have anything to give. Please, help me stand."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-18 02:09 pm (UTC)"Saku, help me get him up."
Hands that could kill so easily now reach for the Maverick gently. An arm around his shoulders, under his own arm. Sakugarne is there on his other side, helping push him up. Take the weight a little.
Honestly, he'd been scared there that the Maverick would've refused. He likes Zero, but even if he did? He'd still neutralize the threat this other self presented. Not killed. But all the same. It's going to be one hell of an awkward discussion with the doctors as it is...
"Okay. I'm going to stay right here on this side, Saku on your other. You feel like you're gonna fall over, let us know. We'll catch you." It was also a perfect range for Sakugarne to bite if he tried anything funny, but Quint figured that was a fair trade off.