"Hello Miss,I'm here to notify you and your neighbors that the building will be torn down within the hour. Please vacate the premises at once,or serious injury and death will occur." The Inspector said,extending a bright red note to her.
Sapphire takes the note and closes the door....
And leans on it before sliding down..
"Sapphire? Are you okay..?" 10XT asked.
She remained unresponsive.
"Sapph-"
"NO I'M NOT OKAY!! Im..im...Just thinking,okay,Blue?" Sapphire said,extending the note to him.
10XT takes the note with a soft nod,reading it;
>>>MANDATORY NOTICE OF FROSTEVES CONSTRUCTION COMPANY<<<
DUE TO SEVERAL PUBLIC COMPLAINTS AND NEIGHBORING OFFENDERS OF CRIME,THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN CONDEMNED BY FROSTEVES CONSTRUCTION COMPANY,AS WELL AS FERRIS CITY CODE COMPLIANCE. PLEASE HAVE ALL RESIDENTS EVACUATE THE PREMISES ASAP. BY THE TIME THIS NOTICE IS RECEIVED YOU WILL HAVE 1 HOUR TO EVACUATE BEFORE DESTRUCTION BEGINS,REGARDLESS OF PRESENCE OF INHABITANTS.
10XT growls gently,crushing the note in his hand. "Don't let it get to you. I don't want you to become a piece of modern art over an apartment." Sapphire said.
"Noted.." 10XT growls softly.
"So what's the plan?" He questions.
"Pack up,hope we can find a less conspicuous building. Only take the essentials. I can worry about a wardrobe when I have time." Sapphire said,as she gets up. "Well,you heard the man,one hour. Pack up as much of the cyberbay as you can." She said.
10XT nods gently,and begins packing up various important cybernetics needs.
As time wound down to the mere minutes,10XT,Sapphire,and the rest of the building's residents were all leaving,carrying varying degrees of luggage. 10XT had his public skin on,overlaid in his hoodie and a pair of black jeans. Sapphire and 10XT turn back to the building,watching workers begin to place charges at the base of the building,and vacating themselves.
"Hey Blue." Sapphire said.
"Hmm?" 10XT responded.
"You ever had something torn out from under you..? Just taken without any kind of remorse or assistance?"
"Im not sure...but the feeling is definitely familiar..." 10XT said,a sour attitude lacing his tone.
"Get used to that...Its life here in Ferris City." Sapphire said.
After a few affirmative hollers that the premises was clear of personnel,multiple blasts rang out,the bottom floor spat dust,rubble and any degree of debris, the building began to fall to its knees,collapsing to the dirt and falling apart..
A small rock bounced toward 10XT,hitting his leg. He picks the rock up,and scans it. It was from their apartment,as it was a piece of the medbay. 10XT nudges her,"I guess the building wanted to say goodbye." He said,as he extended the rock to her.
"But it's a rock..."
"Not any rock. Structural details show this belonged to the apartment we were in." 10XT explains.
She gingerly takes it into her hand...
As the crowd departed,they remained.
"That friend you remind me of,he gave that apartment to me a long time ago. Ive loved,laughed,slept in that apartment,had so many fond memories.." Sapphire said,as she weeped sorrowful tears as if she had lost a dear friend.
10XT settled a hand on her shoulder,"Lets make better ones. Besides,you don't have a doomsday clock to worry about." He said.
"I suppose you have a point..." Sapphire said as she picked up her luggage,"So,where to?" She asked,seeming to try to stay strong.
"Anywhere but here." He said,beginning to lead her around the city. Many places were much too expensive for their tastes...
"Ughhh my feet are killing me...Why are we house shopping on foot?" Sapphire asked,as they approach a cheap looking apartment building. "Because we have no vehicle. And we need to save every last cent we have to make sure we can remotely sleep in a bed and not on the street."
"Yet another point to the Cyborg.." Sapphire said as she walks in with him.
This apartment was surprisingly cheap. "Only $1000 a month? Bills and all?" Sapphire asked.
"Bills and all. What do you say?" The Housing manager asked.
"We'll take it." Sapphire said.
"Great! Since you seem like nice folks you can have the penthouse for a unit price. Sound good?"
"No shit? Alright!" Sapphire said with a grin.
They were at the end of the hall,and open the door to a closet sized room. " 'Penthouse',eh?" 10XT asked sarcastically.
Sapphire chuckles nervously.
as they fit in,and got their luggage settled,it was an awkwardly tight space,but they would have to manage.
"This is nice." Sapphire said as she laid back.
"Certainly beats the streets..." 10XT agrees,as he pulls a dreamjack from the wall,"Im going to get some rest." He said.
"You do that...Im not long for sleep myself." Sapphire sighs.
10XT gets into a comfortable position,and gently sighs as he links the jack in.
Battery Death in..
5D:00H:00M
--Lower Center Brain Hemisphere--
(Conscience) >>Stable<<
--Lower Left Brain Hemisphere--
(Intelligence) >>Stable<<
--Lower Right Brain Hemisphere--
(Personality) !!>>69% STABLE<
--Upper Left Brain Hemisphere--
(Reasoning) >>Stable<<
--Upper Right Brain Hemisphere--
(Emotion) !!>>50% STABLE<
--DreamJack Detected,entering standby....--
He falls into sleep....
And for what only felt brief,he was awoken to the sound of a knock. The machine grunts groggily,the closet's light was on,Sapphire was missing,possibly going to the bathroom..
He warily looks around,and the knock emits again. He gets up and opens it to a large machine,that grabs him by the neck. "What....Are...you?" It asked.
10XT couldn't speak through the large machine's tight grip,getting tighter,metal began to crumple. "Actually...I think I know....." It said as it brought him close.
It's mask opens,revealing someone resembling his skin,grey and clammy,eyes replaced for Augmented optics. "You're me."
10XT yells softly as he woke,startling Sapphire.
"Whaaa...? Da fuck dude? Dont you know what time it is...?" Sapphire asked groggily.
"S-sorry..." 10XT said quietly...
It felt as if his heart,or whatever he had for a heart,was pounding out of his chest,frantically almost. Who was that..? Why did he look like that..? Why did he SAY that?!
10XT checks his battery life
4D:23H:59M
"Damn..." He gently grunts.
He remains awake for now...