Futuristic Glitch.EXE ►►► [open/accepting][cyberpunk]

[MultiFinder]

Alda follows the small robot cautiously, nervous that it was leaving her normal paths. The reactions of the denizens of Undercity were somewhat unnerving to the young woman; seeing the thugs of the slums avoid a simple maintenance bot was something that she had never seen before. She assumed that they were being led to someone incredibly powerful and influential in Undercity; she had increasing second thoughts as they drew nearer to the clinic.


Passing inside, she looks at the bed that they were offered; she stands next to it, still not letting go of Pent's hand. She looks hard at Nex as he approaches; Alda senses no threat from him, instead he presents himself very warmly. She smiles back to him, grasping his hand in hers and shaking, "Alda Collins; I have come to understand the same. Would you mind if I were to watch as you work?" She eagerly looks up to the android, hoping to get a front-row seat to the internal workings of her new toy.

 

[Ninian]

Pent, already uncomfortable with the present situation did not feel at ease. The increased heart-rate of his Mistress lead to further distress, and the only reason he kept his peace was because the nearby threats seemed to deem the repair bot as such.


Upon being offered a seat, Pent smiled at the android before him, nodding before taking a seat. Glancing at his Mistress, and keeping a firm grasp on her hand—since it seemed to comfort her—he watched quietly as she conversed with what Pent assumed was his repair droid.

 

[StarKeeper]

Nex cracked his artificial knuckles and bowed slightly to Alda before his fingers hands and arms split into a multitude of tools and began work on Pent, and in a flash Pent was lying down on the bed with his shirt wide open reveling his chest and abdomen. Nex carefully sliced open the artificial flesh and began carefully restoring the intricate circuitry within the android. A he worked he hummed softly to the tune of Beethoven's 3rd and expertly rewired the Android within an hour. he sealed up the incision and stood the android up "there you go good as new" Nex says his arms returning to normal "by the way I found a build up of rust on many of your joints and cleaned and repaired them,"

 

[Ninian]

Throughout the procedure, Pent had a look of visible concern, as he had never had to undergo maintenance in his year of operation. Holding Alda's hand, he glanced over occasionally to observe her vitals before returning his gaze to his abdomen.


When the procedure ended, Pent gave the android a thankful smile, "I appreciate it, I am in your debt." Running a full-scan diagnostic on himself once more, he turned towards his mistress with a smile, "My circuitry is fully operational, and I should now run at peak efficiency."

 

[Firegirl210]

A figure ducked his head as an intimidating group of police officers milled about a storefront, likely interrogating someone within. It was easy for Aoife to go unnoticed; he slipped by them with his armload of groceries and strode as casually as he could manage down a side street.


Aeon wasn't the safest of cities at night during the best of times. But now...Aoife wanted to be holed up in his apartment and out of the reach of Peacekeepers and Police as soon as possible.


He stepped into the lift of his apartment building, scrunching over to make room for another tenant and a robot laden with groceries. He watched with frustration as it lumbered mutely after its master onto floor 233.


He swiped his keycard at the door to his apartment, shutting it quickly and leaning against the door with a sigh of relief. He'd made it.


"Rough day at the office?"


He jolted violently and turned to find a pair of electric green eyes glowing eerily in the darkness.


"W-Who are you?"


The intruder rose from where she had been seated in his cluttered living room.


"Officer Kymbrea Allen. I'd like to ask you a few questions, Mr. Rhys."

 

[StarKeeper]

Nex smiled thoughtfully and waved his had at a small scorpion bt and it jumped to Pent's chest buttoning his shirt and straitening his hair. He continues to smile letting the pair talk for a moment before clearing his non existent throat. "SO miss Alda do you require medical service as well, we are running a special this month buy one repair get another free". @MultiFinder

 

[Firegirl210]

He flicked on the light, and Kymbrea's eyes adjusted instantly from night vision infrared to day. His heart-rate was elevated, and his system was flooded with adrenaline. His hands twitched, and she could see the neurological symptoms of a substance withdrawal.


"Feel free to have a seat, Mr. Rhys."


He set the bag of foodstuffs on the countertop and sat down stiffly on the edge of the armchair--the seat was covered with robotic parts.


"What can I do for you, officer?"


She pressed a button on her watch, and a small holographic image sprang to life in the darkness. His pulse gave a spike.


"Do you recognize this man, Mr. Rhys?"


He raked a hand through his unkempt auburn hair.


"That's Mr. Harrison. He owns the company I work for."


"And are you aware of the charges currently placed against Mr. Harrison?"


"I...yes, officer."


She leaned against the counter, looking around the apartment. It was viciously cluttered, and smelled like dank motor oil.


"What is it you do, Mr. Rhys?"


"I'm a mechanic, ma'am. And a coder."


"And did you work on any of the Blue Storm units?"


"No, ma'am. I work on cyborg repair and android programming for the most part."


"I see."


He reached into his pocket, and she tensed. He withdrew a thing tube, narrowed at one end, and she relaxed.


"Do you mind?" he asked, gesturing to the vaporizer. She shook her head, and he inhaled deeply, exhaling a cloud of white smoke.


"Did you ever receive any orders from Mr. Harrison to program Blue Storm with a bypass of the ultimate rule?"


"No, ma'am. Enlil is an AI developer. We make companions, not machines."


The nicotine and endorphins seemed to have settled his nerves, and he narrowed his eyes at her.


"Officer, do you have a warrant to be in my flat?"


She smiled tightly. "I don't have to explain myself to you, Mr. Rhys."


"May I see it?"


She grit her teeth as a smug expression crossed his face.


"I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave, officer."


She pulled the door open.


"I'm sorry for the inconvenience."


Out on the street, she ran a hand through her hair and heaved a sigh. This Blue Storm case was turning into a stone cold dead end. Harrison had given her nothing, and all his employees seemed useless or clueless or both. All a bunch of puppets.


She turned up her coat against a growing rain and headed for the police station.


Time to see the puppet master himself.

 

[MultiFinder]

Alda flushed at the question, "N-no, I think that I am doing quite well, thank you!" She lowered her glasses, bending over to take a close look at the incision on Pent. As she straightened up, she pushed them back up. She held out her hand to the android surgeon, smiling, "What brings a workman doctor such as yourself to this area?"

 

[Ninian]

Furrowing his brows, it was evident that Pent was concerned for Alda's well-being. Performing a more thorough medical inspection on her, he ran her scan through software he downloaded moments before. It appeared that she had no life-threatening conditions, though most would recommend cybernetic implants for her eyes, limbs and heart. "Unless you are interested in cybernetic replacements, you are in decent condition, Mistress." Bringing his fingers to his abdomen, Pent ran his fingers along, assuring himself that his skin was properly sealed. Looking up at the medical android, Pent spoke as well, adding onto his mistress' inquiry. "I am curious as well. You do not have a human master, am I correct?"

 

[StarKeeper]

"No I do not have a human owner; i operate completely autonomously" Nex explains "I have never had a master since my activation twenty years ago, although I did consider my builder my father if that counts". Nex always found it odd that he was considered different for being sentient and autonomous, but when he looked at his fellow robots (excluding the ones connected to his network of course) they worked away with little to no resistance. He turns to Pent and asks "I suppose the real question would be why do you have a master?"

 

[Ninian]

Furrowing his brows, Pent listened to Nex's explanation. Murmuring mostly to himself he replied, "How curious..." When questioned, he looked upon Nex with an inquisitive expression, "Why do I have a master? It is my primary function to serve. Is that not the case with most automatons?" With what seemed to be a worried expression, he glanced over at Alda, simply because he didn't actually know the answer to his inquiry.

 

[MultiFinder]

A giggle escaped Alda as she caught sight of the worried look Pent wore, "It is indeed; I think that you and I will get along swimmingly!" She turned her attention, and her smile, back to Nex, "If you are your own master, then what attracted you to repairing androids at, what I have been assured by your marketing droid, bargain basement prices?" She looks at him curiously, scooting slowly closer towards Pent.

 

[StarKeeper]

Nex was staring thoughtfully an Pent for a moment as he thought about the other androids answer when he turned to Alda "I came here approximately five years ago the local populace required both maintenance and medical attention; no other doctor would help them so the only logical thing was to provide medical care and maintenance on their machines".

 

[Ninian]

A warm smile returned to Pent's face at Alda's response, "I believe we will as well, Mistress." Keeping a close eye on his mistress, he watched as she scooted closer to him, and he offered her a hand since it seemed to bring her comfort. As Nex spoke, Pent listened carefully, nodding towards the android with a smile across his face, "I see, so you are duty-bound? I am sure the populace is most appreciative." Watching as the other robots skittered about tending to other patients, Pent creased his brow briefly before looking back to Nex, "Are they yours? The other robots, that is."

 

[StarKeeper]

"They work with me and act as assistants when needed" Nex says as he pats one of the crab like robots as it walks past carrying a small tray of sandwiches for the other patients "I built each of them out of scrap". Nex stiffens for a moment his smiling fading he looks to the entrance of the clinic where a group of men wearing dark red jackets were entering shuffling people out; the man in front of the group carried a large rifle and bore a scar across his face.

 

[MultiFinder]

Wrapping her fingers around the proffered hand, Alda leaned over onto the android, listening to the conversation. She had always been fascinated by android interactions. Their advanced behavior, whether driven by AI or simpler programming, had developed into a subject that she studied ravenously; she was in fact writing a book on the development of the artificial psyche in her spare time. She looked up at Pent, still leaning into him; she smiled, amazed to have come across such an advanced android in a pile of scrap. She watched as Nex stiffened, her eyes following his own worry-filled orbs to the advancing thugs. She immediately stiffened, wrapping her arms around Pent's own; she whispered hurriedly at Nex, "Who are they?!?"

 

[Ninian]

"I see so you're—" Pent's words were cut short as a group of rough-looking individuals stormed the clinic. Glancing down at his mistress, he took note that her heart-rate had increased significantly from only a moment ago. Since she had embraced him firmly, he responded, by holding her in much the same way, watching the thugs carefully. Looking back towards Nex, he noted that his reaction was much the same as his mistress', "We should leave, quickly. Nex, would you like to accompany us?"

 

[StarKeeper]

Nex didn't answer instead he stepped forward "can I help you gentlemen?". The man raises the rifle, a full auto rail Nex realized, and said "Hand over all your tech shiny and any meds you got stashed away". Nex frowned and asked "Do wish to keep functionality in your hands?"; the man laughs "What kind of fuckin question is that; now give me the stuff" Nex moves forward and the man fires, the bolts hit the android square in the chest leaving a slight burn on his chassis. Nex reaches forward and snaps the gun in half with one quick motion and uses the other hand to jab the assailants left hand with a crack breaking the wrist. He turns and kciks the man in the chest sending him flying into his companions. A plasma torch erupted from Nex's palm sending the men flying out into the street. nex turns to Pent and says "Now why would we do that?"

 

[MultiFinder]

If looks could kill, the thugs would be... Well, their feelings would certainly be hurt at the very least. She glared them down from Pent's side, her eyes darting between the android and the men. She dove to the floor when the rifle goes off; looking up, her hands over her head, she sees Nex stride towards them, his chest smoking. "Nex! What are..." She falls silent as the android bends the rifle like a wet noodle. Her hair flies over her form from the force of the plasma blast. Finally looking up, she speaks to Nex, "I suppose that you wouldn't, would you?" She gets to her feet, brushing dirt and debris off her clothing, "Did you know them?"

 

[StarKeeper]

"No the gangs in this area know not to interfere with my clinic" Nex says closing the massive shutters as the family of the men take their loved ones home. He pivots and turns walking past the pair to a small panel at the back as a loud pounding shakes the shutters, and Nex pops open a panel and pulls a switch opening a massive tunnel. He shepherds his robots into the tunnel and looks back to the confused pair "i would suggest a tactical retreat; those were military trained men"

 

[Ninian]

With furrowed brows, Pent watched Nex's interaction with the thugs, a look of displeasure across his face. Bright blue eyes examined the crass men, logging their mental states and body language so that he may call upon the information at a later date. His eyes then widened as he watched Nex actually attack a human. Pent would have stopped him, but the other android was too quick, and too efficient with his attack.


A horrified expression crossed Pent's face as he looked between his mistress and Nex, "Y-You... wounded a human....!?" His hard drive was running in overdrive, trying to process Nex's—in his mind contradicting—actions.


Letting out a sigh he replied to Nex, "I will follow your lead." Focusing on his mistress he offers a hand while looking over her now soiled garments, "You will need a bath yourself."

 

[StarKeeper]

Nex led them through the tunnel closing the wall panel behind them. They followed a labyrinth of pipes and cables as the legion of smaller robots walked all around them. As they walked the robots started to split off down halls, vents, and crevices where they disappeared into the shadows of the tunnels. Nex walked processing the events and asked "Do you have a place to stay Miss Alda?"

 

[MultiFinder]

The soft double-click of Alda's shoes echoed through the tunnel as they scurried down its cavernous length. She looked around in awe; she had never dared venture into areas of the Undercity such as this on her own. It would have been far more interesting were there not a gang of murderous thugs behind them in the darkness, possibly gaining, possibly not. She looked around, her eyes adjusting to the dark, the enormity and complexity of the bowels of the Undercity coming into view. She was shaken out of her pensive state by Nex, "Hmm? Oh, yes. Well, down here? No. But yes, I do have a home in the Residential Zone, which is where I was originally heading when we were waylaid by your advertisement bots. Do you know if there is a way from here to the Residential?" She looked with mild worry at Nex, craning her neck around.

 

[StarKeeper]

"older tunnels exist to the residential zone we can reach it within the hour" Nex says gesturing for them to follow. the last of the various robots has dispersed by this point as they make their way through the winding tunnels. As they walked Nex asked "So what do you two do?" he was curious about his new companions and they still had a ways to walk.

 

[Ninian]

Still processing and analyzing the previous event, Pent walked quickly through the tunnels with his head held low. Despite allocating most of his processes to his moral dilemma, he was still logging their location, and creating a map of the labyrinth stored for later use. Sifting through dozens of scientific journals and message boards, Pent hoped to find an answer to the question that bothered; do not all robots follow the Three Laws of Robotics? And why? Did robots need masters? He felt that he did, for if he did not he would not have a purpose.


Alda's change in mood snapped Pent out of his research frenzy, and he devoted himself to her well being. Gently, he placed a hand upon the small of her back—a gesture he felt she might find comforting.


When Nex replied to his mistress, Pent nodded with a smile, "Thank you for your assistance." Looking towards his mistress expectantly, he replied to Nex's inquiry, "I am a General-purpose, AUtonomous Labor Electronic Machine, who has recently come into Miss Alda's service."