She felt herself moving but, couldn't see. Her fingers clasped against the palm but, there was no feeling yet. All time passed in an instant, or perhaps it had been forever. It was all dark and she could hear the doctors' voice. His words gargled as if he was underwater or she was. The previous model had failed, beaten by ADUM. Everytime the good doctor upgraded and enhanced a newer model. She still remembers being caught by her sister and the other one chasing after their target. 'Emma, that's who caught me' she remembered'. Though the traveling had been in bits and pieces, her own blade had pierced one of her cores, and her eyes had been cracked. "Remember your name" the doctor said "Cassandra" was her response. She heard her name but, couldn't feel her mouth move. Maybe her face sensors were not online yet, or perhaps the doctor had disconnected them. "Doctor I still can't see", "one moment". A bright light of the whitest white and that is all she could see, no doubt the first sight for a newborn babe escaping the womb. All of a sudden her vision came on and she saw the doctor standing over top of her, smiling, like every time he had put her in a new model. "This model is the newest version, one I have recently finished. You have been offline for a week, Mary's body will be done within a couple of days, so please take your time and adjust to the changes." "What sort of changes?" "Well you no longer have a face, just a shield. I have upgraded your cores to 8 and you have a spare hard drive. The armor has been infused with point zero five percent tungsten, with ninety five percent titanium and four point zero five percent aluminum, to cut as much weight as possible. Your blades have remained the same, there is a spare pistol in your right thigh. Your cooling system now doubles as a heating system, so extreme temperature of any degree is no longer an issue, at the request of your father." "Very good doctor, thank you, let me know when Mary has awakened." The mono tone in her voice made her sound depressed, even to herself. "Of course, your father wishes to see you, before you do anything else." "Do you know what he wants?" "He is meeting with Markus and wishes you to be there." She solemnly got up off the operating table, didn't even look at her new body in the mirror like she normally would, and walked out of the door.
She climbed stairs and passed color coded floors and walls. Her mind made her think of what her father wanted her for. A meeting with Markus, he was a skilled negotiator, other than that he wasn't well liked among her father's council. Perhaps he had finally done something, or made a promise he couldn't deliver on. It probably didn't matter, at least not to her. She kept failing her father, her sisters, and all those that looked up to her, even Cpt. Rigne. Who she felt some affection for, more akin to friendship, which it wouldn't matter. It was clear Miranda had feelings for him, and clearly he felt it back. It didn't matter though, she wanted a friend, and he was there for her, when he wasn't sent out to clean up someone else's mess. A slight sting of mental pain made her think back to the night and her fight with ADUM. Rigne would probably be sent to clean up her mess as well, though hers is more of a failure than an actual mess. How could a prototype defeat her so easily? Was it in fact the Red Wolf in there too? Maybe he did succeed in trapping a god in a circuit board, maybe she would ask him.
The door was tan, the usual meeting room on the fourth floor, and she could hear Gen. Toha speaking. Opening the door, all talking stopped and looked at her. "Welcome Cassandra", Moto was the first to give a greeting, and he seemed rather relieved. Then something she did not expect, A figure who sat a head taller than all of then in a dark blue tattered robe with a skull of a buck. "She is not one of you", its voice was slow and ghostly, if she had skin no doubt her bones would have shaken at the sound. "She is my daughter, and the head of my security, I wish her to be here." "When did such a girl reach such a lofty position?" Markus stared at her with his thin snake like grin. "Does it matter, may we continue? Next to me dear." He was very warm with his words, calm, he was acting strange. Nevertheless she did as he said. Sitting next to him she noticed his head was on fire, well as close to it and not catch flame. New sensors, she smiled on the inside. Gen. Toha continued his rant of some god or another, something about an army. She focused on the creature, it didn't move or breathe. It was sometime until she heard it speak but, no one seemed to notice. "What are you? Your soul remains, yet your flesh is gone. No matter, I will find the secret to your life, and end it mortal scum." Her fists pounded the table, making fist sized holes through the table. She nearly stood, had Moto not put his own hand on her fist. "Cassandra, there is no need to over react, what Markus suggested is totally feasible." "Yes my dear, what is the lives of a few rebels really worth to you", there it was again, his snake like grin. "Please calm down daughter" "...ok father". Her fists relinquished but Moto's hand remained, and Markus went on his rant of killing citizens branded traitor, somehow still smiling like a snake. She felt it, gripping their hands palm to palm to feel it better. There it was, he wasn't calm at all, his pulse was racing. Had he not been so in charge of his faculties he might be shaking in fear. " Thank you Markus, prepare your ceremony, we will attend at the appointed hour." That grin, she wanted to rip it off his face and choke him with it, nevertheless, at least he was taking, whatever it was with him. "Mr. President, I would like to be the first to...." "Gen. I believe Markus will need some assistance, the knowledge he does not possess, you can give him." The Gen. only nodded and gave a faint smile and left the room. "What was that father?" "A relic we need to bury"
The day was hot, even for the grassy plains as they walked through. The boy must be exhausted, still they had to keep moving. No doubt more would be sent after them 'If only he was a robot like you' the Red Wolf said in his head. 'Android' Adum corrected him, 'still though he is going to need food and water soon'. 'There is a village not to far from here'. Adum removed his hat and put it on the boy's head "For the sun, it'll help" "Thanks, my name is Mykel by the way". "Adum" It seemed to help, yet he was still walking too slow, had to pick up the pace. "We shouldn't be out here come nightfall, the wilds are a dangerous place for children come dark". "Oh, thanks mom, can I hear another story before bed?" Adum grinned, yet shook the thought of how hungry the boy must be. It had been several days since he had eaten, and nearly half a day since the last stream. "We'll get you some food at the next town, and a proper bed tonight but, only if you hurry". He seemed to pick up the pace after that and they reached the town of Willow Springs an hour before dark. Once the boy had been fed and seen to bed, Adum decided to have a look around. People seemed to notice him, or at least it seemed that way. A stare and a glance here and there as he wondered around the small town. He soon found a weapons shop and wondered inside. It was old, with creaky wood floors and an abundance of guns, swords, knives, bullets, and some explosives. He didn't plan on buying anything, so he wondered to the cashier desk to ask a few questions. Before he even had a moment to speak "Oh, hello there stranger names James but you can call me J if ya like". "Anyone ever buy the unusual things?" "Only collectors, or adventurers". Puzzled he decided to ask further, "And what sort are those?" "Well truthful, just bounty hunters. Matter O'fact, few was in here about an hour ago, bought quite the arsenal". "Say where they were headed?" "Said they were collecting a bounty then headed south, maybe to Haeven". "What kind of bounty is in this town?" "Some boy government was after, mayhap he was abducted, real deal is the fella he's traveling with. Folks say he kilt bunch O'people, then went in hiding. Truth be told, I'd rather avoid people like that." He thought for a minute, then chose to go back to the room. Maybe no one knew, better safe than sorry. "Thank you for the talk James" as he hastily walked out of the shop and back to the motel room. His pace was swift and he was almost there when he heard Mykel yell, not words, just a very loud noise. He wasn't far now, he switched his night vision on and he could see them struggle. He hoped he was fast enough. The boy was struggling with his captors, even managed to knock one of them down. His feet moved faster, as fast as they could move. One of them pointed a gun at his head, The Red Wolf became angry and his legs moved faster. Nearly within hearing range, Mykel had managed to get a grenade and his eyes showed nothing but white light. His hand raised to shield from the light as his feet, too fast to stop it, stepped into the blast radius.
The sun shined at high noon when they stepped off the boat on Merc Island. Mya had enjoyed the boy's company. He talked about all sorts of things, things he saw, things he liked. He made her smile, not the laughing sort though, the kind that warmed her soul. She learned He was afraid of the ocean, his favorite food was mostly anything edible or that had bacon in it. He liked when the sun was shining but, not too hot. She didn't really talk about herself, though he didn't really ask her that many questions. They walked hand in hand down the ramp and onto the dock then down to collect her bag. "Say what do you say to getting a room for the night, then maybe we can go get you some new clothes?" "Ok, but when can we go find my brother?" " Well that is going to take a couple of days, we have to resupply, charter a boat..." "But we just got off a boat." " My weapons won't make it past the Port Authority in the Republic, no Merc can bring their weapons there." "Oh, that makes sense, I think" "Plus it's better to sneak into a place, don't you think?" He gave her a grin and it made her bag just that much lighter. The motel was a little run down but the beds were soft, and that is what mattered. After getting their room the two headed to the market district. His new clothes consisted of a Dark Red leather overcoat, white shirt, and blue jeans with a hat for the sun and some new shoes. After that they headed off to find a weapons merchant. They marveled at the different guns and swords and explosives. After a while Mya purchased some ammunition for her Barrett and gun cleaning supplies. Soon the midday sun turned to dusk and they returned the nearly run down motel with soft beds. "I don't know about you kid but, I'm starving right now and could use a nice juicy double bacon cheeseburger." "I can do one better, I could eat two". "You're on, I know just the spot. It was out of the way and in the more run down side of town. Still it was nicer on the inside with small wooden tables with cloths, many lights hanging from the roof and a slight breeze from the tropical night. They got their food and enjoyed every bite, nine cheeseburgers between them and nearly all of them gone. As they both relaxed and let their food digest several ruffians walked in and started to harass the waiter. Not wanting any trouble Mya motioned for Alex to move toward the door. "Hey sweetheart, why you leaving so soon" "Got stuff to do, enjoy your night gentlemen." One grabbed her by the arm "I'll let you know when you can leave". Her elbow found his gut with a thrust, and an upward motion found his chin. Though it didn't have the effect she wanted, he only became angry. Her sword pulled from it's scabbard did, as it sliced through his arm and thigh leaving him with only half the limbs he had a few seconds ago and writhing on the ground in pain. The rest of them pull out guns and pointed them at her "Oh damn" she said before taking off in a sprint but, they gave chase. Bullet fire chased their heels before Alex stopped and refused to run, " Mom always taught me to never run from your problems" "Yeah well, this really isn't the time". Their pursuers quickly caught up and surrounded them. "Now which of you wants to die first, maybe the little brat?" The barrel fell to his head and his little eyes stared down it. "Give it your best shot" he said without even sounding afraid. The goon simply laughed and pulled the trigger, Mya became blinded by a flash of light and she raised her arm to shield her eyes. It didn't really help so she looked up and noticed the beam going far into the sky, now the light had become less bright and she could see Alex, his body radiating a pale white light. She rushed over beside him and threw her arms around him but he didn't budge. "There" he said pointing off into the distance, and she could see it, another beam of light pointing toward the sky. "That is where Mykel is", the light soon faded and he was regular Alex again. She looked around for the goons but, they were nowhere to be found, it didn't matter though, they didn't matter. " As soon as we can, we will find him, I promise". He smiled and collapsed into her arms.