Awake again

'Providing care is at the heart of what we do. All lives we look after are important. Please report any whom wake or are having any difficulty to the nearest staff.'

The poster to my left at the wall was slightly fades with age. I am in a suspended fluid tank. If I focused, I had access into the staff computer across from me. Old system with just notes about each patient along the ward. Contact details for when someone is assumed dead. My file was a speicalist tagged with, 'only report if patient wakes. Do not ever assume they are dead. This patient has a pacemaker which is faulty. They have a lower blood pressure as a result which is detected as death.' A wonderful excuse.

I haven't seen anyone since I woke up. I can't move with being strapped to the suspension tank in some fashion, only that I can turn my head. I could always just try to send my digital ghost. Maybe attempt a signal to call my brother. WiFi?

Ugh, this is so annoying. I am starving. If I can't call someone for help. I might as well look for something to do. I try bending my hand around and with a claw to cut the leather straps. This frees my hand to release my other. Getting there. Now I have my hands I can feel around this tank bed for a release emergency. I can't find one. What a stupid hospital this is?

"I doubt there is any changes today." I heard muffled. I sink my claw away and started tapping at the glass. These two folks were taking forever to get their buts to that computer. Annoying was that they ignored my knocking.

'Turn around and bloody open this tank. I been trying to leave for about 12 hours.' I had sent to the screen. Finally they turned to face me. I give a wave and knock.

"Holy crap. The corpse isn't dead." They took out the phone and run out the room. The coworker checked my notes.

"Faulty pacemaker. Your a lucky lass, they don't do those anymore." This guy stares at me, "Like the little computer trick you did. Clearly your a machine in human skin." I growled and they backed off.

"I am one the test subjects you heard about in you history books. Moron. Of course I have a pacemaker and some electronic replacements. I lost my arms more birthdays you have lived to count." I punched the front of the glass. It hurt a ton but I felt better. Door fly from the far end, a ring of voices following commands.

There is now a whole team here releasing the fluids through a drain system. They unbolt me off the wall. I was helped down onto a wheelchair, wrapped in towels. They ask me basic things to check my eyes and unblock my nose. Remove the tube through my mouth and down my throat a little, which was how I was breathing oxygen. I gasp with being able to breathe for myself.

"Its a pleasure to met you madam Kate Nicks. You be glad to know that your brother is on his way to collect you. For the time being, let's get you washed and changed into clothes. Collect your belongings that you had with admission." This assistant gave a sharp dark look to the guy bad mouthing me before and alone wheels me off down the way. This female voice was another machine ai in a crafted body, "Its your brother whom has been working real hard to have you properly looked after." I can recognize his hand work when it talks to me, in this case literally. The AI within isn't his making but the hands gripping the handles of the wheel chair. Totally. I realize that I only really been nodding or shake my head in answer to questions. When I spoke through the water earlier the guy didn't react to my threat.

"How long have I been sleeping for?" I asked. We crossed four doors and arrived at a shower room. So I had to speak like ai do, "How long have I been out of it?" I made the lady jolt in shock to hear my code. I tilt with being sure I knew I asked.

"Only about 3 months. He said you been for out longer before coming to our care. So I couldn't tell you." I am sure as he became busy trading and building bodies of machines. The less he could be able to care for me. I can't be mad at him.

I do my best with standing on my own, washing off properly. I took stop at looking at how my skin just peels off in on go. Surface layer, not my deep skin. I had some help with my back and feet. All my hair fell yet a new amount was ready underneath. Just one layer and yet I am even younger looking in the mirror.

"OK. I was told not to report about your conditions to the humans... I can assume that this was due to the whole being a ice box researcher." She helps me dry.

"I was. Then one day the surface city thought there was no need of us mutants. They temporarily let us live some peace and then tried to kill us. You can guess the political backfire that caused. I ran away out the city that day. I considered it when I was free from the ice." I made a strange hum following my codes, "I adapted to the outside of the city. This is the result of my adapted journey." She nods along with my words.

"That's reasonable. I going to have to fetch you clothing and clean up in here. Please stay wrapped up here." I nod and she left. I felt my tummy growl. I could hear through the door onto the corridor just outside. She is delayed with some men in her way. I stand and wrapped myself decently. A spare towel used to mop up the shed of skin to a pile. She was still arguing with the men.

Nothing violent I hope. My concern gets the better of me, poking my nose at the door. She has clothing in her hands at least. The closest with more of it was slam closed by them trying to get her to hurt them. I hold my towel tightly with going onto the corridor.

"Hey!" The one guy pushed her to the side, "Let's see if you bleed. Then we know you not a machine."

I palm my face with just how cliché the two jerks were. He doesn't even get close enough to me when he was pulled backwards. I don't really recognize this new machine but that foot tap and on arm cross at the chest. I smile at him, maybe a little purr in my throat. He sorts the two humans with clear explanation of why he was about to raise a complaint from hell. The two bow and the lass sighed glad that she wasn't alone. She turns to me and shoos me back into the shower room. Helps me dress nicely in some very expensive looking clothes. Soft shoes that lace up the legs in a ribbon. Helps style my hair.

"Thank you." I tell her, admiring her wonderful work with my hair.

"No seriously, I should be thanking you and you brother. From your influence and his actions, you have changed things for machines. It is no secret to us that you two are strictly tasked with important above most of us. Not that this is reflected in how normal humans will view it." I twirled on the spot, "very pretty." I directed about the pile at the drain, "oh you really should leave me to do my job." I waved my hand side to side.

I go back out the room, peer to my brother in his new shape. It was thinner limbs and artistic torso, modules that act as internal organs were visible and almost touchable. The hands is his best work being practical and adjusted with minor moves. The head was densely weighed with a copper plate. This plate has working eye lids and a prototype mouth peice. He doesn't look like how he is in a digital world. Maybe it was a practical body for making the other bodies of machines.

I have no fear of him, right to hug around him this time. I pat his head and step to twirl in the dress. I hum in letting him know I am struggling to use my voice.

"I know about your voice. You keep looking younger each time you alter in sleep." I hummed agreeing, "I am glad that your well again. Now let us get going before you eat someone live." I purr and bump my but to the shower room door. I give a bow of thanks to the lass. She stands surprised. Bowing back. I wave and hop right to my brother's side.

"Its quiet a thin shape you have. Are you OK in that body?" I tilt with looking to his face. He was lost in his own thoughts, "I know it was you the second you arrived." He shook a moment and peers at me. I smile with some worry, "I have taken to long to recover again. I do hope we can still do what is right. Hope that we can still save people."

"You haven't changed." He pats my head and I purr lightly. We make stop to the front desk, collecting a box of my tool belts. I scanned everything, nothing missing. I picked up this box myself, nod to desk checkers with being happy.

"Let me." My brother taking the box, I pout, "They don't like humans doing dirty work." I take the box myself again.

"Then they will change by lead of example. Lazy asses they are." I made sure to hold it without his help.

"She is from the surface. She has a whole humans can prove the do the jobs better then machines." He complained at the desk, "I have sent a formal complaint about two male workers whom I caught in the corridor about to punch my sister and her helper. It was me whom pulled one of them by the clothes away from my sister. One them said something like 'let us see if your really human by making you bleed.' of which I felt my action necessary to prevent them."

I walked around the waiting room looking at the posters for beavement consultations and 'let them enjoy their last days in relaxation'. This is a hospice for the dying, as such the folks in here wear black. Visitors to see to talk to the dying a last time. It wasn't a sad atmosphere, more like it was refuge and peaceful. No fear. Sure sad but sad that is short cut with being able to see those folks smile properly. The only gloom is the clothing worn in respect of the one whom died.

"Why are you wearing white? Only those whom came here ill do." A child... a teenager who sits oddly on the chair. They look more pained and shocked from recent news then the atmosphere gives. I know I can't reply. I scuff their hair and smile. I twirled which rattled a few items in my box. I look to how my brother waves me over at the door to leave. I poke the kids nose. They force a smile, I stopped them by covering it. No one likes a forced expression. I point to their heart and turn away. They felt they chest looking for any reason why I did that.

"What sort of food did you want?" I carry my tools happily, "Did you want to go back to the surface?"

"Depends on you. I don't want you to loose anything you built for yourself." He picked me up and I guess this was compromise. I insisted on carrying my box. He also has a easier time evading human traffic by taking smuggler routes and machine paths.

He was to impatient for the elevators so he platform jumps them to be faster. I held the top of the box closed as we free fall to ground floor. He took a second with scanning the area, I leaned closer and looking around like he is. He takes a few steps walking paces, with adjusting how he was holding me. He was paying mind to details like how my dress hung around my legs and that he checked himself for anything. I wonder of our appearance has became significant to the folks around the underground, maybe there is more to his crafting work then I assumed before.

"I guess we didn't have to worry about our appearance when we lived on the move. We cared about clean trades or not scaring customers. Now we're in a population area, I guess we have to look the part." He peers at me strangely, "Or was that promotion by her this significant to be this way?"

"Its more that we now repsent this world as a whole then just this city." I nod softly with understanding.

"That doesn't change who I am though. You do realize that? You letting this change to fast." I pat his face, "I will at least not let you down." I purr lightly, "Now, where is some tasty food or something? I could as a joke ate your arm." He shook at how bad that sounded but smile continually at him which was hint enough. He takes us towards the executive elevator. The guy I left the mop with is gone. I tap about with fishing in the box, took out the card. Directed it to be handed to the secuirty at the doors. Jackle passes it over.

"She is crafty at blending in with crowds. My apologies if this has caused any upset." He steps us onto the open elevator. I hop off his grasp, being able to stand for myself. I waved as the doors close on the secuirty guy whom was utterly mortified. I put the box down and used the time to Ramage the elevators storages, find a snack in a compartment. Jackle was lost in his thoughts again. I put a cover over my box to sit on it. I tossed away my rubbish in a bin in the cleaners cabinet.

We passed the floor I entered the underground. We are heading into the courts offices. I turned on argument reality, I pinched the panels his was reading. Looks like a dispute between some folks. A visitor stole a car and was speeding after another pair of visitors. Sounds like a chase, breaking our laws in order to prevent or stop the two run aways. Nothing to out of normal.

"I had sold a machine to runaways request. This is why I am part of this case." I nod with understanding, "Its a sensitive matter between our visitors. The specifications were not to the customers request, as I did know it was the same way that poison made things."

"You did the right thing to bring them here. They can't leave without us. Their original ships are busted pieces in mindless radiation zones. They need our craft to fix one the ships." He seems relieved that I took interest on this topic and that I agreed to his actions, "We have to be aware of their hidden weapons. They my think they were smug to pass humans with them. I should check." He sighed and nods.

The doors opened with someone else entering. Jackle stands to my side. I picked up my box and stand again. I fix my dress. He scoops me up again. We both read the information of the case.

"Mr Jackle, I don't normally see you with anyone." The guy is human, with a lot of poor fat diet issues, "My name is..." I flutter at this guy to shut up. Jackle posed this guy to stand back from the doors opening. No surprises that on arrival someone is flying into here. I hop on down and jumped. I tackled the cause of the commotion. I pulled arms behind the back and sit on the guy.

"What the hell are you?" I glared at the fool. That struggled in my tighter grasp.

"We best not harm the being, sister. His got to be conscious to answer questions." I get off them and forced them to stand. I pick pocket them, throwing it towards my brother. Whom is quick to box it all. I pushed the fool and sigh. I stare at the next two. Hand out, posed with curl of my fingers wanting all their stuff.

"Daylight robbery." The guy is caught by machine security.

"Lady Kate Nick isn't someone to joke with. She a serious lady." A guard stuttering in panic, "You must comply with her. She is Jackle's sister."

"The one whom made that hazmat suit? It hangs in his garage." I pick pocket the next one since they are to distracted. One stops me from taking a necklance. I stare at how they panic about that. I let it go.

"No weapons. Humans may not know your technological but don't assume we don't." My brother taking the last person's stuff. I prevent him taking the necklaces.

"Breathing equipment. Its linked to their throats." I coded and he nods understanding. I stand back with looking them over. The guy I tackled before. I waved to him. I pop his shoulder back in. Pat his head. I twirl back to my brother.

"Everyone take your seats." I take the box back from him and we walked together into the court stands. Everyone has a name place. I don't. So I just followed him and sit with him. He didn't mind. Others did. I play about with light humming to prefect where my pitch should be, trying to warm my vocal cords to speak clearly. He shush me. All the information panels in arugment reality was put away.

"Ambassadors Jackle and now Lady Kate Nicks is next to speak."

"I am mostly the one to talk as my sister has been in sleep all this time. She only joined this case today." Jackle makes clear to the records, "Her normal voice is unusable at this point of time. I doubt there will be many questions for her to answer." I pose with listening around, I always gave direct look to whom is speaking. The questions from the prosecution were standard such as time place and why. A little background about why we are good at repairs and custom products. The defence however was interested in painting me out as some secret thread puller. Since I knew what the technology just as good as my brother. But I seem human then machine.

"If I may?" I borrowed my brother's vocal compacity. Yet it is very clearly my voice. I pose my hand out with waiting to be notice.

"Yes, you may. Its the defense questioning your history after all."

"I thank you for this chance." I give a light bow, "Just so it maybe clear to all. I am a infected. I am unable to pass my illness to others as I am. I have been in hibernation during the time of these events. But my history with this city and this country is personal. I was born before the nuclear fallout. I know that past more then any other person here. I know technology at its golden age. I am a researcher whom continues my studies into how best to make conditions stable outside of the dome cities. I have qualifications as a emergency surgeon. I continue to best improve the lives I meet. We have been out there in waste lands. We fought the mindless. So when someone is questioning my knowledge. They don't know the blood I held to be alive. After all, it is survival of the fittest when you leave these lawful shields."

"We fully understand now. You have no baring to this case."

"I am just here to support my hard working brother. He has been with me through many years. He knows just as well as I do. What best avoid when faced with something that doesn't make sense." I give nod that I was finished. The defence snarls.

"Pardon but what did you mean by 'something that doesn't make sense'? " Prosecution asked.

"The clients custom order. I was unable to complete it to how they wished it. I was unable to tell them since they stole it out my garage. They stole several tools. Nothing I couldn't replace but it was a hindrance. The way it was designed was not for my small workshop space to make." He speaks normally now and I nod agreeing.

"You failed to make it?" The cleints on the defence side growled.

"Stop. This isn't the time to be making outbursts." The other sitting them down. The defence questions smoothed into how events went.

"I was mostly distracted when building the piece. I had several messages about my sisters improving condition. I left my workshop in this form when I had news to fetch her. I had my security drones witness the rest of what happened. My maintenance spider prevented them stealing my sisters hazmat. This is where the blood came from, that prosecution was able to collect as evidence. Due to my unique program and process, I am able to fend for myself against any flesh. You could say I am have military pass codes. This is that allowance needed for my spider to defend my sister's belongings. That hazmat is not replaceable, we built it. It not on any market."

"The injury to the accused will be a penalty fine however this is offset against the stolen tools from your workshop. There is no need for separate case in that matter."

"So you're workshop is currently watched by your systems?"

"Yes. This body may not have return but I have digitally jumped to inspect the property. I am aware of several detectives are standing there right now. Ready with a live feed. If I didn't want them there, I would have shooed them out." The court is satisfied with moving to the case with the detectives showing trace of what could have happened. I was distracted with my box moving. I used my foot to block it from moving. The growl of the accused about how I prevented them.

"Its exactly how I remembered it. I came in last and tried to capture these two. I knew they were up to no good. I may have trashed the place but I wanted to stop them from stealing. The issue was that I knew they would try to steal and with my skills I worked oyt they go after the machines planetary ambassadors. I tried to send a message ahead about this but its seems caught on a bad day. What the two of them were doing before I arrived, I haven't any clue."

"Thanks to the nature of machines being able to retain video recording. We have evidence from another three sources. We have the owner permission to used this footage." The three detectives show the two hover drones and the spider as claimed.

"One more." My brother made several jump, "The windscreen of the van is also able to read heat signtures." This data was accessed. I could watch the tethering of the devices taking small file data packages. A sort of simplify process that is filtered out of human sight. I adjusted my foot with moving my box of things, making more annoyed growling from the accused folks of this trial.

The rest of the room was doing some geometry work with the footage, rewatching the events. They allow my brother and I to go to a different seat among the court. I made sure to take the box with me as my brother carries me to our other seat. A spare chair was finally offered for me but I was comfortable as I am. The box sits on the spare chair, my feet resting the top to prevent it opening.

"The jury will have 2 days to discuss the outcomes of the events. It is clear that individual cases is better to judge them assume the three as one group. This current case will continue after 2 days. Those of this case are released until proven guiltily." Most of the gallery whom cared for this case leaves, as we did to. Box to hand, while I am seated on my brother's arm. He is much bigger or that I shrunk unconsciously to suit him.

"Lord and Lady, am glad nothing bad came to either of you." So many fans now yet in looking closer, few reporters for news websites too. My brother waved a hand with sent static to ruin video or photos. I tilt in just staring at them all, pondering the deal here. Was our mission set by the network this big to many? It has been quite secret. My brother was the sort to avoid detection and fan. I am certain that I make no difference in not seeking fame. Fame was just a business tool, not anything else.

"May I please have my ID back?" The guy whom chased the two robbers.

"We will discuss things away from prying eyes and more importantly make sure no more potential problems arise." My brother stared at the little two, "If you wish to leave this worlds orbit, then you should have just asked us. We aren't so closely tied down to the city life. Your luck that we are still here."

I hug the box and let my brother do what he wants. I know that my internal nanotech was likely updating him on my condition. He didn't need me to bother him so much when the system does so already.

"You would happen to want anything in particular?" My brother eyeing me.

"I don't mind being cheap. From whole pizzas to a pot of stew. I can cook it if I was really was being delicate. Yet I don't need to be. The only oddity I craven is metal again. I ponder if this was a nutritional problem." I pulled open a interface with data about what parts of my body was showing for any deficiencies.

"Well I am glad things having changed." He scruffs my head, "We will have guests." I nod. Yet I am still running some checks through the nanotechnology. A new tab caught my eye as the miniatures bots have their own maintenance records. I see that the problem lies with them, which explains the craving of metal. Several wanted some exact compounds that weren't human safe. I show this to him and he read through it. Gives a nod and closed the distracting panel. I turned off my arguement reality, as it can give me a headache if I am in access so long.

For most of the walk, followed by the three whom want their stuff back. It was my brother engaged with double conversation. He has some of him talking through the spider and his part attention to the three nagging on walk. We entered the ally through to the storage apartments with Lucas Mulberry leaned at the door. I waved with a smile. Lucas was more free acting since I last seen him. The change of laws about ai equality has really allowed the more softer body language to be practiced more. Many machines getting a hang on how they wish to be regardless of human views.

"Welcome back." Mr Mulberry tipped a hat that wasn't there, "Them detectives are waiting for you."

"You're looking healthy, Lucas. You're shoulders are more active." I coded to speak instead of my brother being distracted, "We know about the detectives. Its been another stressful day for my brother." I may not speak put the words but I mouthed them as I coded. Trying to be sync with finding my voice again.

"Kate, your whole again. Looking younger again." Lucas took pause with tapping himself and with looking into a bag hung at his shoulder, "Some letters came. They don't seem to have any written I could make out." I take them.

"Are you joining us?" I asked.

"If you say I can."

"I am sure my brother would like the help. Bot in fighting but with words."

"I am glad you haven't changed much." Lucas nodded. All of us heading to the area I knew the van was parked before. There is a new structure around.

The three humans all turned to us when walking in. I hop down off my brother. I quiet happily carry the box harmlessly to the van back. Back door opens at my unlock gesture, put down for now. I did fish out some important things to be returned to our inhuman folks. None of the weapons given back. The whole lot of the men jibber on about things. I focused with some brewing tea. My good brother having some food stuff on reach for me. A pan out over a camping cooker.

"She's so independent. You worry so much." Lucas jabbing my brother.

"Well depending on the cell changes, I can temporarily loose my memories. Sometimes to many hibernations when the body is altering changes can be to much for the brain to comprehend, thus its where we get the mindless from." I explained with using a hoverdrone for my voice, "My brother's worry for me is valid. This time was a trigger by my contact with something within the city. This could have been my immunity mirroring the locals. This process has taken away a lot of things. I must be more careful."

"Oh." A few them were perplexed on my words.

"What are you cooking?" A inhuman asks.

"Stew." I purr and this shuffled the humans away.

"Her condition has meant that she isn't as human anymore. Due to our work outside, cross contamination of DNA has resulted to her picking up traits. The full composition is not for you to know. What you do want to know is that she is only mentally human. All of her actions will have human reasons. When she isn't acting human, its often a defensive activity." My brother tilts, "It's a dry read but our research into the alterations affect that you humans call the transformation plague is public accessible. It is the hottest topic in the science and medical spheres... across this world and beyond."

"Your research?"

"Yes. Both of us worked on it. Our catalog of creatures in the condition and not infected versions is extensive. We are the leading health care professionals of a whole studies that normal humans haven't learnt yet. Our visitors here." I directed about the three from the court, "Are not humans. If they were injured, it would be my duty and my brother's care to look after them." The three detectives give some long pause to take in a lot if this. Letting them judge things for themselves, not unheard of that visitors from space have been increasing in city domes.

Tea is being offered, I don't care for any reactions I get when I offered to my brother and Lucas. I sit with food and drink, half listening to them. My hand had directed some of the van's plating to block the back door from being opened. I act innocent with sipping my spoon full of stew. The culprit pulled away and seated again.

"I nearly lost my hand."

"If I wasn't expecting it, I would be sewing your stomach." I sigh in my hum, "Weapons are not to be on person within city limits. You need permission and approval by higher to be allowed travel even travel with any. Let alone carry. You dont need weapons to kill anyone. So why have them at all? Weapons are for outside only. Where it is life or death."