The drunkards hesitated at Joey's suggestion. The bushy moustache was really not about to cross that line, he was ready to do little crimes but outright killing someone for booze money did not at all sit right with him. He spared a glance to his right and noticed the folds on his balding friend's forehead and sighed, at least knowing he was not the only sane man around.
"Dunno bout all that mate...we not done go and off a man just for some spare change Joey!" Baldie declared, glancing at his moustached friend for support.
"Y'e right pal! Besides, we got the wallet and phone aye? No need to off the poor lad! He done nothin' to us!" Bushy moustache chipped in.
"Y'all fools, not just change! We taking 'bout a big one! This here gon fetch us 90 grand minimum!" Joey was getting desperate, he needed his friends to be on board.
He did not want to bear the guilt of taking a man's life alone. At least, if shared amongst three, it wouldn't weigh as much on his conscience, right? But the two were not ready to part with their morals.
"Nah Joey, this ain't right, we not with you this time," baldie tapped at the patch of his balding scalp.
"Yeah! This gon' have the fuzz in our tails Joey," twisting his moustache absentmindedly, he and baldie took a step back, distancing themselves from the influence of their insane friend.
"Nah I get it. Y'all a pair of pansies!" Joey exclaimed as he fished a folding knife from his pocket, "I ain't buying nun of you no beer when I get me bucks!"
Walking over to the unconcerned man, Joey flipped the knife open.
{WARNING! Danger approaching! Malicious intent registered, Host adviced to flee.}
Taking a knee beside Jacob, Joey used the tool to rip the old fabric along to his abnomen. He placed his arm on Jacob's thin torso; his ribs were visible. Joey raised the hand holding the knife and made a small prayer of forgiveness as he prepared to plunge the blade into Jacob's heart for a swifter death.
{Host unresponsive! Calculating options! Ding! Overwriting command: Self preservation mode activated!}
As Joey's weapon began to descend, he felt a scorching from his palm where he was making contact with the smaller man's chest.
"Urgh! The freaking 'el!" Joey retracted his hand instinctively when the heat became unbearable, he leapt back when he thought that the man he was to kill had awoke and somehow was attacking him.
The duo rushed over to see what caused their fellow to react as such. Despite his heartless suggestion, they would help ward off the dying man if he started to fight back before passing on! But, this was not what they expected to witness. With gaping mouths and bulging eyes, the trio sobbered up as they stared at the still unresponsive man.
Jacob's skin was scorching, now turning from a golden brown to that of copper! Steam was pouring out of his body in waves, incinerating the trash bags he lay on. The heat scalded the trio and without waiting further instructions, they fled, screaming slurs at their pain.
{Danger neutralized, cooling Host's temperatures!} The voice announced.
In the next couple of minute's, Jacob's skin tone dimmed to a brown shade, his hair was now dry, releasing small clouds of steam. Jacob's skin was receding into his flesh, and his lips became chapped. The clothes he had on were reduced to tatters, churned all over; his shoes were melted off.
Dawn arrived with the breeze of the sea. Birds were chirping louder than usual...and strangely closer too. Jacob's eyes stirred behind his eyelids. He snapped them open and looked around, the horizon was yellow, rays of the sun seeped into the alley as he dispersed the remnants of sleep.
He rose to a seating position as he tapped at the ground for his phone. Jacob yawned. He was surprisingly feeling refreshed; the sensation so foreign, he thought he had slept for a week. Memories of his previous activities were still foggy; seemed he wasn't fully awake. Nothing a little splash of cold water could not fix!
With that in mind, Jacob abruptly rose; not his brightest idea, the edges of his sight blinked and multicolored stars occupied his field of vision. He felt lightheaded and spread his arms to stabilize himself, but that was not enough. He fell right back on his bum against the hard ground.
"Whoa! Ok, so no sudden movements...got it," he whispered and waited for the galaxy to leave his eyes.
A slight ache began at the front of his head. Jacob hissed as he massaged his scalp. Surprised, he now felt the whole of his head with both hands. No way! His pristine hair! It was...it was...dry! Bringing a bundle of his once beautiful jet black hair down to his face, Jacob almost shed tears.
They were now drained, each strand weak enough that the morning breeze could uproot them from his scalp without issue. Suddenly, he remembered about the call yesterday! Jacob rose without warning, seemingly forgetting his previous fall. And it happened again.
He slumped forward, gaining speed towards the ground. Luckily-or not as much- his fall was cushioned, and he did not fall head fast on solid ground, no, rather, he avoided harm by having his face embraced in trash; diapers and other cooling organic wastes.
That woke him up! He now became alert of his surroundings as his brain rebooted, refreshing his memories of prior events. Well, he could only recall speaking to the Lawyer before losing contact with the world. He now took notice of his situation, his clothes were basically burnt rags. 'Did I walk through a burning house or something?' He mused. Also, his phone is gone. Sighing, Jacob slumps down beside the molten garbage; the pungent ordor did not bother him as much, after all, this wouldn't be the first time he had slept outside.
{Host is adviced to Hydrate.}
An automatic voice caressed the walls of his mind. Jacob was surprised at first, but then calmed down after thinking it through. This was not new to him, as he occasionally housed multiple thoughts in his mind in various voices. The only difference being, this felt alien, like he now had a roommate and was no longer the only tenant.
'And who might this be?' He used this mind's voice, excitement, rather than anxiety, building in the depths of his belly.
Thinking about it, having a thought express individuality was stroking more of his curiosity rarher than of paranoia. Instead of entertaining existential crises, Jacob would by contrast, welcome the change as 'a little bit of salting' unto his monotonous life.
{Host is applauded for maintaining his calm in such foreign a situation.}
'In other words, I am a freak, yeah?' Jacob chuckled.
{Your Will is above average, take pride in your potential. As adviced earlier, fluid intake is mandatory as the Host's body is heavily dehydrated!}The voice warned.
"Well, I would do that, but I lose balance every time I get to my feet! And my head feels like a ballon!" Jacob complained as he leaned into the wall behind him.
{That is of little concern!}
As if in cue, a turquoise light glowed a few feet before Jacob's face. It began to fade in the next second and an object took its place; phasing into reality in a gathering of greenish specs of light. And voila! A half litre bottle of clear water materialized before his eyes.
Jacob gulped and rubbed his eyes, yet, the bottle was still there, suspended in air at arm's reach. Jacob outstretched his hand and grabbed the water; it was heavy as expected, and felt real to the touch. Uncorking the container, he proceeded to gulp down the liquid. That was water alright. Not waiting further invitation, Jacob downed the liquid with the passion of a parched snake. Once done, another bottle materialized before him, and he absorbed that too, and then another.
After his spree, Jacob had quenched his thirst with 2 litres(0.44 gallons) of unbranded witch craft water. He burped and pat his bulging belly. His headache was receding, and his bladder was straining.
"Phew, that hit the spot," he whistled while trying to get to his feet. He had molten cloth all over him, Jacob would preferably be at home before the sun totally ascended and the men in blue start asking questions he had no answers to. As he began his journey (his place was not that far) while using the alley walls for support, the mechanical voice struck a conversation.
{As Host is in a functioning state, would you like to proceed with the integration? Currently at 80%}
[Yes] [No]
'So I only have 20% say in this?' Why even ask when the bulk of the decision was already made? Jacob massaged his temples at the audacity.
"Well, proceed," he relayed.
{Affirmative! 82%...85%...87%...}
The voice continued as Jacob made his way towards his shared Unit. He chuckled absentmindedly as he felt the automatic voice count off inside his mind. It reminded him of computers and the AIs. Oh well, at least his life was no longer bland!