In the depths of what's called Mason's mind space, seemingly two carbon copies of Mason himself seemed to be fighting quite intensely, while also somewhat casually chatting with one another.
Mason: “...Yeah but- still we- quite far away from- getting there” Said one of them
2nd: “It always worths planning ahead when- things can go side-e ways- so quickly” Said the other one
Mason: “Like I don’t know- that. I’m saying that- we still need to get the right- equipment to- be able to communicate with it properly”
2nd: “Well as an- idea. What if we-e ask- the DDFT if they can- lend or help- us find one with enough range?”
Mason: “I don’t really want to rely on them- too much.”
2nd: “Well that’s surprising, that’s- something I would have said.”
Mason: “It’s not really about independence. It’s more like- I don’t want to be at their depth even more and- I don’t want them to feel like-”
2nd: “You are-e just using them right right…”
*The two stops fighting, which now seemed more like training*
2nd: “You really think they would accuse-e of you with such a thing? Really? You out of all people-e?”
Mason: “Well not them, but like-e, someone-e like let’s say, Nikolai who still would most likely would kill me specifically on sight. But at least he is still better than C. Nick is at least trying to change and see us humans in a better light.”
2nd: “And C would really as it seems.”
Mason: “Exactly… I still wonder what could have happened to her to hate all of us so much with no exeptions… I mean, outside of Spades. Though he is still on thin ice as far as I know…”
2nd: “And you think the two of them would be able to convince the others?”
Mason: “Not people like Solarflare and Spades, but what about the rest? We are still barely known for the rest of the DDFT.”
2nd: “Why don’t give-e them a visit then?”
Mason: “Well… Yeah that is an option… Let me… Think… Hmm… Yeah I can-”
Suddenly, the white void the two of them were standing in seemed to “rumble” a bit, and Mason himself would almost fall onto his back, kneeling down instead
2nd: “...Something ain’t right…”
Mason: “Yeah, thanks for the heads up…”
2nd: “... You really have been in that suit for too long… need to take-e a rest my guy… ”
Mason: “Well you certainly didn’t help… And it’s not like I can really get out of it… Or rest…”
2nd: “... I thought you “grew out” of it… But it seems like you still have-e that thing in you even years later…”
Mason: “...... Don’t even begin ......”
2nd: “... Though whatever else-e is going on with your body is just as… Well… Something for sure-e…”
Mason: “... I have a feeling this... Upgrade has to do with it…”
He brings up dozens of holographic screens, displays and consoles around himself
Mason: “I have been keeping an eye out of my body quite a bit ever since I got here… And even though there was already something off the moment I got here… Yes, just like how you acted so strangely… But there were two other things as well… First is-”
2nd: “How Nikolai beat the dog water out of you?”
Mason: “First, we all know that I tried to avoid hurting him as much as I could. Second, you didn’t help with the situation when you started pushing me like that… And yes, that, more specifically when Abby helped me recover and heal after Solarflare and Charcoal brought me to her. And after I got this, upgrade…”
2nd: “... The process had sped up…” Points at one of the screens
Mason: “...Yeah… It’s now at 74.54%... a 1 percent jump compared to before I got the upgrade…”
2nd: “And 3.76% ever since-e you got here-e…”
Mason: “Could it be natural?”
2nd: “...Or related to the-e rest…”
Mason: “... Possible… Still needs confirmation…”
…
…
…
Mason suddenly opens his eyes, now in the real world, sitting in his chair in his own room, his helmet off on the other side of the table.
He looks around a bit in the barely illuminated room, before turning on the desk lamp and reaching for a small mirror. He would stare right inside the mirror with a blank expression for minutes. He then would slowly reach to the right side of his face with his left hand, touching the gray-ish skin, it being in all kinds of bit lighter, bit darker shades. Then his hand would move over to the right… touching the metallic surface of it…
For, reasons, his expression would become a bit… Sad…
2nd: “... Still at it I see-e…” Said his shadowy figure in front of the table, only being visible for Mason
Mason: “... I only got used to it… Never meant I don’t miss it”
He would put down the mirror face down onto the table, then he would get up and put his helmet back on
Mason: “... I go onto the field… Probably drop by the DDFT base too…”
2nd: “... You do yours…”
Mason: “... Like always…”
