Free time following favors

The chance of going to a normal shop and picking up supplies has been a welcoming experience. Being able to eat at ah table in a restaurant. Just to be normal and go look at museums and galleries. It something I can appreciate while looking human enough to fool folks. Yet when I am relaxing it happens to be when the most changes I notice of myself.

Take for example signal from phone and similar inferred frequencies. I can see them like other light types. I can hear further then a normal person such the staff in the kitchen of the restaurant talking as they worked. The fool whom dropped a pan and was quietly told off. Behind three wall that were sound proofed for customer enjoyment of the ambience of soft music at the front. The most annoying part about myself is my changing height, always ducking at doors on the way in and struggling to reach to handle sometimes on my way out.

Either way, being abe to enjoy this at all has been a real treat. My brother has gone off to hang around Lucas Mulberry which is that military Purple fella. Those two have a history. Both know each others personalities very well. The Spider drone has been on security of the van and the van was parked in the machines storage hanger which should be renamed as the ai village. It isn't hard for me to return to.

I tried the city walks both with and without argument reality. It seems that people were finally painting grey away in areas. These place are the most crime ridden yet are the most colourful. Graffiti art that was a protest to the newest complaints about the divide of above and bellow. It was interesting to look at even if it was political art.

"Excuse me." I was stood in the way of shop window, while admiring the painting. This was a patron either annoyed of me for being in the way or wants to ask about how my hair changes colour. I silently step to the side but I did continue looking at the art. This person was smartly dress and linked arms with a robotic assistant. The two would continue the conversation, ignoring me as I them. It is assistant was watching me while the fella looked at the window items. I felt I have stared at the art long enough look to the window of items too. Mostly plastic painted miniature figures, not reallyy sort of thing. These were semi-expensive models several types of armies for table top war game. This was adapted as a humanoid versus monsters version with modern weapons. This was also the mass produced public version as the rich higher types have actually robotic versions for higher money.

"It feels like there is a lot of parts to such war missing." I sigh at knowing first hand that those idealistic wars with these models will never compare to the truth. The fella whom heard me wanted to say something but I had already turned away. In my step away, I could hear him talking to the robot about figuring our how to contact me.

The assistant replied, "She isn't human nor did she live in the city. She is a visitor from beyond the dome walls. Contact with the Lady of the wasteland will be difficult. You're very lucky to seen her without her full suit."

I made my turn around to a machine cut through, a pathway for assistant types to return to the hangers from. It so happened to be a short cut around to another craft art shop. I have been buying small amounts of carving toolkits and other perfect for fiddling project tools. Things that suited to help my brother do his repairs or something for me to do during long trips. I don't worry about carrying anything with one of my smaller crate attached to me. Feels more like weightless metal backpack.

"We don't sale to..." I blink with annoyance at the cashier, which will they call me this time. To young? A machine? This cashier shuffles nervous and started scanning through my items. I pay the normal way with was scanning my hand over the signal reader. They bow at my leave. I guess maybe it was due to my human appearance that this time I was being almost reprimanded. The sign did have a no human entry. Yet I did needed the speicalist tools here.

I got quiet far through near a market trade Square. By now, I was actually a little tired from all the walking I had been doing. Putting my small crate down as seat, and taking out a bottled drink. I didn't really care about my location of stop. I watched the world go by, many types of machine models with the secuirty values. It would only be the ai to stop and stare at me strangely as they pass by.

"Kate, what are you doing in this district?" I was perplexed with the manners of the city watch. Yet that cross of arms and impatient foot tap, I smile.

"Oh come on. I picked up a few handy dandy tools. Whats wrong with that? All the walking around I did to find a 7.5 screw head set. Not to mention that annoyance of the kinetic spring absorbers." I stayed seated, "I take it that the network is upset or something." He sighed and lowered to my eye view.

"This area has quiet a lot of anti-machine types going around busting windows. You could get mistaken as one." I pout in seeing the point of why sitting here would upset folks. I borrowed his shoulder to stand and clap with the crate to climb back on my back. He stands to, inspecting my look.

"The crate helps." Lucas nodded, "You should head back. Its quiet late now."

"Well you better stay safe too, boys. I do worry that I have to fix your scraps on these days." I pat shoulders and ignored the others of this little team. I only really stopped to one of them whom had a remote access signal to them, it was something that a peered darkly about.

"Since a normal human would be allow access, we had him remote access." I look to my brother.

"I just hope you not getting into to much danger. Its worrying enough from what Phoenix left us." My brother tilts, "I guess you didn't really talk to them before she integrated." I think on this, "We worry about it later. You are busy. I will not nose in your privacy." I give wave and leave them. I looked about the shops on their corner. Considered the closing hour and simply turn down the access they came from which was the hanger with our van. I waltz in with waving to several on my way. There is some whom never leave this hanger, it was them that I had to find the newer model tool kits for. I gladly was back to my van with a few emergency cases sitting around.

"Lady Nick, you are safe." Soon surrounded by them.

"Of course I am. I am very good at what I do." I study how each was, the wounds they have.

Robots my not have flesh and blood. Yet in my way of seeing them, they might as well be. I got on with doing with what I could. I have no spare limbs that would be compatible for them. Even as I worked on them, my mind wonders if there was more I could be doing to help my brother. How I can reflect at how protective I am of him as he is of me. I wondered about the strangers we came with or what this network mother was like really.

A few scrapped arms, a busted eye lense and many with the secuirty crystal torn out. All signs of humans whom steal worth from any machine that looks easy to pry from. All of these folks were scared, whom feared me at first as well. The more I worked gentle with them, the easier they were to let me. Didn't trust me to talk to me. They all muttered in code, trying to prevent me knowing they talked about humans.

"Why do you always help others? What if they hurt you in pay back for your help?" I was fixing the left eye. I had several emotions pass before I answered.

"I forgive. Even if it cost me my life. Its my life and my chooses. I don't want to regerts left when there little time to do them." I hold they face in my hands, "Artificial or not. You all have a unknown purpose of being here. Your actions can always cascade to others. Sometimes in unforseen outcomes we never could have predicted. If we can protect each other, hate or not. Things will be better." I pet them and let go, "Something small will often be the loudest voice of change."

"Very poetic but we not going to pay you for helping us." I smile with looking at this assistant.

"That doesn't matter. I didn't do this to be thanked or paid." I pick up only my tools, go to my van, "If you made of flesh and blood and said that. I still would reply the same." I knock at my van door, it opens with the spider drone dancing about happy to see me. I picked it up with petting it, "I know my little friend. The child can be so silly." I slide myself in and pat for my crate to hop in, "We are not stealing. Come on." The crate shuffles a leg, another limb hands back something. It pouts with going back in. I knock the side and the van closes up.

"Welcome back! We heard that there was a scuffle out there." The parasite whom we been teaching basic education have really matured. They talk often in debate about news articles. Being in the city means they been remote accessing part borrowing drone bodies for their own city tour. The personalities have really shined through and all of them want to follow laws properly. It's been helpful to have them remote moving the spider and hover drones while we haven't needed them. They been extra security eyes for those whom attempted to enter the van for any reason.

"Sis, could you do me a important favor?" I jolted with hearing this, I reminded myself that my brother is currently away and can internally call me if he is far away.

"What can I do for you brother? Is it safe?" He took a long time to reply, "I will help regardless. I am sure wouldn't be caught. You already seen that I can get around the place with hardly anyone knowing it."

"True... but I need you to take something for me underground. You will want to bring one the little pets with. We already talked about which would make a food pet to the mother network." I looked at the parasite in question. I gave my gesture of allowing it to hide in clothes. I pondered what outfits to bring with. Need in to blend in but practical for the climbing, "I should have been the one to deliver. It is highly important not to do anything stupid." He muttered softly of the annoyance it would be for a fleshed person to cause upset among the machine lower sanctuary.

"It will be fine brother. I might be able to do some awkward repairs on my way. I am sure it would make everything comfortable." I put on the new tool belts I just bought and hang all the possibility things. It was final that I had to wear my full hazmat suit - cleaning with extra care for all the seams, "You have the item I got to deliever?"

"Yes... and use all my access codes. Don't take the van." I snicker with him assuming that. He muttered about a bunch of things that could be ran into and some folks that will not accept me as I am.

"Well I am on my way." I open the back of the van, "You children are to stay safe in here while I am away. No over snacking." I pointing towards the few parasite folks whom over eat, "I don't want to see sick across the floor when I get back." I can hear that him snicker. Doors of the van locked closed with me out. I give a stretch and leaned into a four point walk, my arms and legs adjusted to accommodate the balance. I sit with being sure the van locked and no one around here had any funny ideas, "You over at the auto-body fitters at turn?" Knowing his on call still.

"You will see me on my way back to the van." I hop to the wall and crawl that the way back out of here. Soon gentle holding the ceiling pipes and wiring down the corridor. A lot of injured folks, my brother although a bit scuffed in that body was fine. I purr aright above him, seeing that he was tracking me. If I hung from my feet only, I can reach around him and lift him up. Not wise to do that so I played with poking him. He ended the call with looking right up. He sighed darkly, "Do you forget to be normal on purpose or is this your new normal?" I poke the nose area in a purr, "Take this with care."

He posed a metal cuboid shape to me, the copper colour with vein like circuits. 100 by 180 by 90 centimetres. It was sort of a small shoe box with loose weight inside. It was best to place such item in my front shirt then any pocket. To valuable to be put in a toolbelt. I leaned back up to the pipes with sorting it. He was talking to the folks freaking about me being on the ceiling. All coded language stuff, something a long the lines of 'What is she really? A human would normally be so strong enough to do that. Is she really going to be fine with the radiation that it gives off?' He does his best but it isn't a straight answers. I pat his head.

"We are heading off. Say bye to Tulip." He looks up at me and I tilt, "It said to watch Bones from eating to much, to stop not answering questions with questions and" I tilt with listening, "I am not saying that out loud. Sheesh." The parasite wiggles to veiw with a tail waved. Some pointing, "No funny business." I repeat.

"Tulip will be perfectly happy. See you in the digital space." It nods certain and hides again. I give wave and adjusted back to travelling with all my limbs working hard. He shook a little worried, watching me leave out the building by flipping around onto the roof, a perfect swing of force that slide me a little on a solar panel. I triple checked all the things, including the important item. A sigh of relief that the weight if this item doesn't rip my clothing. More layers, over it to hold even tighter.

"If I want to go to the city network machine sanctuary then I must take a code pass with a machine service lift to the underground. I then take the underground tube train to the plaza... a area that connects most underground vaults together." I hunched as I am on this roof, thinking to loud about the journey a normal machine takes. This rant was to off set anyone whom was following me. Already did I detect that some did, on hearing me. Most moved off to likely ambush me on route. I smirk and stood straight. Hop down to ground level. I fixed my way of walking to a mockery of my brother, taking a walk through to the human district.

I tapped the colouring of my hazmat to alter, looking as I am famed. I play nose among the shops and stalls. Bought an apple and ate it. Took a human bus to the centre of this dome city. This was a far safer route then letting myself be ambushed in machine territory. I am still followed onto the same bus. Getting off the same stop, mixing crowds and taking a machine cut through into a human residence area. Many apparment blocks stack for miles. This cut through is for house servants to skip past humans.

The layout of the human only areas is like a series of circles webbed with straight roads into the centre of the city. The core of dome cities is the courts house, homes of government officials and maybe royalty. The next circle is human housing (apartments). The next is shops. the next few were mixes of housing, shops and manufacturing. The nearest to the outer walls is the solar generator and fruit harvest which I escaped through before. This layout usage wasn't like this when I was woke up. Every row circle was its own back then. On top of this is the human access elevator to the underground. Only some small amounts of machines knew it. Humans have the rumors, but was never declared.

It was my trade with someone in remote pilot of a hover drone that whom told me about this being real. Someone whom has invited me to the underground for research study. Likely another like me whom was iced - I couldn't say for sure. I do know this same being has trust with the plague creatures, which was why I knew it was accurate information.

The court house is the largest tower and the deepest foundation. The roof of the centre tower allows maintenance on the sheilding that the dome is famed for. It is tower that is the filters air ventilation system for the underground city vault. The large always moving rotating doors let in and out the general public with court matters through. The entrance I used was the machine scanner, although it is for machines mostly it is the VIP and disabled entry into this building.

"Madam Nick we weren't expecting you this evening." Reception into the court house has been having a lot of emails from me. Mostly updates of my sales and updates of my personal health. This lot are freaked out when I explained myself to the right folks about my ID and true age. So being in the court house makes them scared - qualified to run for mayor if I dared.

"Settle down Steven." Desk brass on shows the workers name, I pointed to it as he sweated on the spot, "I am not here for anything serious. I was making a deliver trip up stairs with a client." I leaned at the desk, "No need to call me through. They said just avoid your desk on the way past. I couldn't be so rude to not sign my visit in." The black suit nods a lot and we go through the basic standard of rules. A obligation on his part to ensure that any fault of my doing can lead to prosecution and exile. I signed in with Jackle's access codes and filled out a machine version of agreement. I pat the worker on the head on my way alone to the elevator. I scan the codes, it takes me down on level. This wasn't into the underground but the entrance to it was through here. There is a public entrance and exit for underground dwellers on this level. This is the vaults Court house too.

"Pardon me, but should you be here?" A member of security stopped me at the exit. I took off my helemt.

"I am sorry. I just had to be triple sure to not be caught by any nasty radiation." This is normal for underground folks to be paranoid. They all wear sleek versions of hazmat suits, reassuring themselves to walk the surface safe. All underwater dwellers were pale skin and pale hair.

"I see. Sorry for making you take it off here." I put my helmet back on. Bow lightly and be on my way. I made sure to act as natural as I can, then took a sharp turn onto a thin shaft of dirt and mud.

This is a smugglers bypass used to evade security underground. All metal floor ways are pressure sensored or camera servalaince. The smugglers routes has a pay toll in the middle of the cut, which isn't a problem for me. I am still not inside the vault and I will not be until I can find the machines deliveries elevator. I not going to use the platform convayer as intend. I don't need to pick up a service order in being able to ride it down.

"I doubt that Jackle is going to make this delivery on time. His ever doing as the mother tells." I manage to trick a machine check point to accept me as Jackle. I can feel the turn of heads when I did, "I will be damned. He managed to get this far." I avoided all of them from touching me. I gave no reaction to the warmth around here raising, in a glance it was the radiation I was feeling. I cross my arms when waiting for the raising belt to lift up, stepping on and tapping my foot impatiently. The crowd watching all tilted on confusion to why I did this. I was out of veiw at somepoint of the lift up.

This was my chance to slip the unguarded section of the shaft. This elevator was designed for machine. There isn't safety rails or fresh air to breath. This is the exhaust waste area from all this stale air from underground going up. It was the the air duct that I aimed to fall through, faster travel to the core network this way. The exit of this air duct was some cleaners closest storage. It is full of uniforms and perfect to bend in among humans. I took a bucket and mop with me, you never know when props come in handy.

"Perfect. At least someone isn't off shift." I walked into someone whom seems like the area manager, "There is vomit." They take pause about how I seemed to have a bucket already, "You must have seen my message. Its the Governors elevator. Here." Gave me a card, "Dont do anything stupid." I bow and silently count my blessing. The tip off about the janitor storage drop was really worth the exchange. The things you get to code trade when on the dark market. The guy was very happy to seem me off with this key card. Just to be nice for taking his idiot choose. I did fill the bucket with a little water to take the VIP shaft down. No one is at all questioned me since.

"Very good. Some poor sap to make sure I make it." The ai cuts in front of me, "Pardon me mister. You could allow me to do your job for you if you let me." I see they also have a strange box, "Oh this isn't any human business."

"I can do this myself. You best take the normal route down tin can. I have a job to do and no metal but is taking it from me." I show the secuirty the clearance card and the wave me quickly. I do this favour as asked. Mopping the entrance into the elevator. step on... slyly hand the mop and knock the close door. Waved my Brother scan code bypass. On the luxurious way down I finished mopping up. Found that this elevator was already equipped with storage cupboards for its own clean supply. So now I cleaned every possible touched surface. Sparkling clean when the doors open at the machine gathering. The supply cabinet in this elevator seems convenient to be normal. I step off with bucket, mop and janitor uniform. Posed as a confused human pondering what level this was and if the floor existed. It was mostly to crowd watch and to seek where next to go, because at this point was all a maze that has traffic laws.

"Wow, an actual lost human." Some poor sucker to show me the way.

"Well actually I am in disguise." Using my brother's voice and now I cross my arms. I tap my foot annoyed in a set rhythm, "Its been a while since I been last down here. My sister is nagging my ear off about being safe." I sigh annoyed, "Fear that mother code doesn't have my core for being late."

"Seriously Jackle. You managed to trick humans into thinking your one." They punch my arm and I do flinch, "If is mothers delivery then you have to use the main avenue." I rolled my hand at acting like I knew that.

"Avoiding the idiots and hoping for anything faster. I just want this done quick."

"You could try the human act and nearly be beheaded with the safety lock." Pointed to a yellow paint area, "Any flesh types would die to the radiation."

"I don't have a problem with that." I spoke in my voice, "Thanks for the tip." Poke the nose with actual money transfer, "Later stranger." A playful alter completely leaving the machine to freeze on the spot. I leave the bucket and mop with them too, "You OK Tulip?" The wiggle around my hair under my helmet, "Alright."

"What the." I made a maintenance machine stop frozen on my way, "human, this is a radiation zone. You..." I walk short of a platform, cutting at a drop into a bright area. Above has a rail track above for maintenance to ride. I leap and adjusted myself, climbing indifferent with the track way. All sorts of codes being shouted. I hook my feet around, judge my directions. I find myself impress that this radiation to generate power is the underground heating system. All sorts of air ducts to choose from.

"Human I insist that you must stop this." the Maintenance guy again, on the track behind.

"Which one was to mother again?" Speaking as Jackle. The guy is taken back and posed a limb out. I swing to use this limb to aim myself down the correct one. Sliding down further. The end was fast approaching with a mesh stop, easily busted my foot through and ridden the meshing to the floor. Not a at all graceful, but no injuries. I dust off, removed the disguise. Even removed my helmet, giving a warm smile to this area. I focus with digital sight, among other ai whom were standing around baffled at some leader board of trackers. I remembered to remove the item from my shirt. This updates the leader board instantly showing that I was within the winning circle first. A code message caught my hearing, only for me to walk through all these ghost Images. Poke my brother's image on the nose. I send my image to him.

"I don't even want to ask how but how?" I smile at him.

"It was fun. A lot of fun. You would have been scared of the dark." He looks at the floor, "Anyways delivery." I knock the images arm and walked up to the platform right on what seems a stage, "Dont mind me breaking the rules. I just had to met you at somepoint. Seriously all this time, it seemed so rude of me." I chat with the pale image, a vague soft image. Despite it being a image, I attempted a warm hug, "I am so sorry for being a nuisance." The age hugs back and with pull to feel my ghost image face. I smile with leaning onto the palm.

"You aren't Jackle." She inspecting me with even stealing my biological data,

"You're his pet." It is a confused tone then a happy or sad one. A lot of looking through me and wondering how I am not dead to any radiation poisoning.

"I guess I am." I showed this block, "Anyways this was what you asked for. A little game for you."

The image posed with where it will be placed, I do the honors. Watching the mechanical parts moving. Busting open the content. I sit watching it because it was pretty. Watching the inner contents reacting with the core metals through the veiwing glass - placed as such to see stop any bad reactions. The stones within the copper boxes are air reactant. The more pure the materials is from air seep the better this chemical reaction is within this machine. Once the reaction between the chemicals within have fully finished the left over stone core is dropped to my hands.

This is a database core, a blank one with no data. It must have been filled with data before, now it was empty. This was the official process that ai can't live without and how useless data is thrown away. I am sure all that information erased is now being taken in by the mother network. Very interesting how this is a recycled sustainable radiation energy.

"Now, traditionally that core is put into the one whom delivers it." The network ghost poses concern.

"Oh... thats fine. Here." I stand with letting the nanotechnology within me be aware of this core. I left it to them to contorl my actions of how they wished to place this palm size core through me. This choose was to have it placed where my heart should be, doing a iron man pacemaker trick. I stood so calm as it passed through my skin, no pain with local anaesthetic. As witness to the rest whom are here, a lot of them were perplexed if I was really not Jackle, "See." I show the ghost whom stepped back. I made sure the new hole is closed against and that I zip up my suit closed again.

"Wow..." Some other machine in close second to place their box in the next available opening. They scanned every inch of me, tilted as most do but was brave to go to punch me. As such, I catch that punch and prevent them from moving me so easy. They freak out and backed off.

"So here is the underground map through both as a human and machine navigation." I passed over a data pack in digital format. I quiet easily received but prevented any further actions. I don't open that data nor do I allow it to have any access. Locked for the time being. The tilts of confused crowd continues.

"Sis, this way." I trot my way down the stairs, helmet to hand, "The mainframe interface is over that way. Tulip would live there." I nod with inspecting his sense of direction. The folks I am going to walk past to reach the mainframe. Every digital ghost image I had so far walked near moves away, since I rudly walked through them before. The signal interference is apparently annoying to the lower types - their coded words, not mine.

"Kate." I turn back to my brother, "Remember that I warned you." About upsetting the mainframe, it be something to do with the core database maybe. I will also talk it that lies will be taken hard. I see that he stays behind from this point on. Staying to watch from a distance. I give my little wave before heading forwards alone in a area that lacked machines or ghost's. A perfect line of them with my brother watching my back from there. A nervous pose of not just cross arms, held chin and foot tapping. He was genuinely worried deep in how he showed his eyes, a very human way of concern.

Most Machines do no show emotion either because of not understanding that emotion or having no reference how to show it properly. Jackle has plenty of experience with many emotions because of me or our work together. Making him one them most human acting ai. He wasn't like that back before. I have changed him, and maybe for how he trusts me too. This was what was on my thoughts much more then anything else. Not so prepared for what I was welcomed into.