Chapter 1: Light

SR-053 looked over the factory where he and his brothers were once born. The order had come in just the other day. They were being replaced with some new automated drones called 'pantheons', apparently due to supposed 'defects' that plagued the entire line.

Production had been halted overnight in an incredibly rushed manner, and he could still see some unfinished brethren on the line. Power had simply been cut off to the factory... and it had been his duty as the Senior to watch the line grind to a painful halt. He'd watched those working leave, all of them forbidden from removing the components that still waited on the machinery for proper assembly. He sighed slightly, placing a hand on the shoulder of his youngest brother.

SR-403 had been the lucky one, awakening to the world only moments before the assembly line had finally stilled... The young reploid looked up at him, his wide and innocent blue-gray eyes seeming curious and fearful all at once.

All of this. The end of a line, because they wanted unfeeling machines in their place... The entire line, deemed defective and removed from their positions in the city as its policing force. He guessed they were lucky that the powers that be had not deigned to label them maverick- likely in gratitude for the service they'd provided for so long. At least that was the reason he assumed... That was the only possible light he could see in this right now.

There had been a time, 053 remembered, when thinking for oneself was something a mass-produced model reploid could take pride in. All of the SR series looked roughly the same, with minimal variation between the lot of them to help the Neo Arcadian people easily pick them out on the crowded streets. Typically they had blue-black hair with gray to dark blue-gray eyes. His hair was a less common shade of blackish brown. His eyes were brown as well, which oddly enough had only ever occurred in command models both before and after him... So with all of them but the command models being virtually identical, having a mind of your own was something to be happy about...

People had always smiled at them, happy to see their friendly and familiar faces...

Never again...

The two left, 403 following his elder brother as best as his new legs could let him. He hung onto his belt loop as they walked, having trouble keeping up. 053 put a hand behind the boy's back to keep him steady and slowed down slightly.

Frowning, he walked along the streets. They were heading to the barracks where he and his brothers stayed when off duty. He looked around, seeing the humans bustling about without a care. The reploids among them could easily be picked out- generally they walked with a more reserved and meek posture... He paused a while, seeing that none of his brothers were on patrol. This he expected; they were no longer under the employ of Neo Arcadia, so why would any of them be on patrol?

Strange though, that there were none of the new drones out either...

"It's not safe for you!"

"Hm?" he asked, looking toward the sound of the voice. Was someone in trouble, or... "!" A sudden flash of bright pink light caught him off guard and he staggered back, shielding his eyes. "The heck?" he asked, looking again.

A cyber elf... Cute... "Hello there; are you lost?" he asked, relaxing. Cyber elves were harmless for the most part, and this one seemed friendly. "Dim the light a little, okay? You nearly blinded me." he said. The little elf peeped happily, circling his head like an excited and playful puppy.

403 stared up at it wide-eyed, reaching his free hand up as if trying to grasp it.

A young girl ran up a few moments later, puffing for breath. "Hah... thank goodness you stopped, I was... oh?" she asked, noticing them. "Oh h-hello officers!" she said, recognizing their uniforms it seemed. "Um, I'm sorry if we interrupted your duties just now. My friend got away for a few moments and was excited to see you. We were enjoying a walk together and we noticed there weren't many guards around today. Please don't be cross with her if she's bothering you; it's my fault for not keeping an eye on her," she said quickly, like she might have offended them.

He looked at the girl, smiling faintly from a moment. "It's all right. I was just giving my little brother here a tour of the city... You weren't interrupting, and we're not cross with either of you," he said. "To be honest I'm not surprised you were unaware of the recent changing of guard. My brethren and I are no longer to police these streets."

"Thank you. I was worried you might have been busy and didn't want to be troubled," the girl said, smiling lightly. Her smile faltered though after a moment. "... I haven't heard anything about Neo Arcadia changing our current security forces though. If you're not going to police the streets any longer, who will? The Guardians?"

He shook his head. "Some new type of drone they're calling 'pantheons'. I was honestly expecting them to have a few out already, to gauge public reaction..." he said, looking around. "Not the case though, it seems."

"Pantheons...?" the child asked seeming to recognize the term.

He nodded. "Supposed to be more efficient... Our factory was shut down last night without any warning... Cut off directly from the power grid," he said. 403's hand clenched his pants-leg slightly, and he winced. The boy had woken to the faces of all those who could've been his younger brothers... They would never be able to look upon the world, and knowing that pained the boy just as greatly as it did him.

"I see," she said, looking at them sadly. "I'm sorry to hear that, and that you and your brethren will no longer be patrolling our streets. It was very safe with your line watching out for us." She stared up at him, blue eyes wide with concern. "Will you be okay though? I mean, what with the current energy crisis. Shutting down factories is one thing, but you're out a job now..." she said. The Cyber Elf cooed, sounding a little sad as it picked up on the girl's emotions and fluttered back over to her.

He nodded. "We'll find a way to keep going..." he said, smiling in a halfhearted attempt to make the girl feel better.. "I thank you for the concern however, Miss..." he said, turning and beginning to lead his younger brother away.

After a moment he paused. If these pantheons were supposed to be guarding the streets, they were failing, miserably at that... Even if he was out of a job, he couldn't let a child- human or reploid- walk around alone on the streets and be in good conscience. "Miss?" he asked, looking back at her. "Would you like us to walk with you?"

She nodded gratefully and set off to follow after the pair. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble then I'd like that very much, please. I'm afraid I may have wandered a little further than normal today..."

He grinned warmly, offering a hand for her to take once she was close enough. "And where would the little lady like to go?" he asked in a pleasant and sincere tone. She was a good kid, and seemed to really care about the Cyber Elf that followed her around. That was a rare sight these days... what with how Cyber Elves were for the most part viewed as tools, despite having minds and feelings of their own.

She smiled and took his hand, glancing to her Cyber Elf, who had perched on he shoulder and was grinning merrily. "I'd like to go to the energy research center, please. I don't usually go too far, but I'm afraid I've quite forgotten the way I came as I was talking to my friend earlier. We were trying to decide on a name for her before we found you..." she said.

He nodded. "Alright... I know the way," he said, leading them along. He glanced down, seeing she was looking at his little brother. The boy was staring at her from the other side of him, but had yet to speak. It made sense to him, but he was aware the girl may have thought it strange. "Sorry if he doesn't say anything, it's normal for us to just listen for the first few weeks. I was the same way..." he explained. "He was the last one of us made... Right before the factory quit. So he's a lot like a newborn baby, really."

She nodded in understanding now that she knew why the younger reploid was so quiet. "I see. I'm sorry, I didn't know..." she replied softly, looking away guiltily.

He chuckled. "It's okay... I can't expect people to know. We're mass production models anyway, so people don't think about these things, even though we grow and learn just like humans and custom models..." He paused a moment in his speaking. "I think... it wasn't just energy they wanted to limit, but that's just me talking," he said quietly. In a more somber tone.

They walked in silence a while before the girl spoke again. "It's just not fair," she said softly. "I know you think and feel just like we humans do, even if we're different in other ways. It's just... strange, how you're all being pulled out of security when you do a great job at it already. The energy crisis hasn't gotten that bad yet, I'm sure..."

He glanced down at the little girl. She seemed upset, possibly at what they'd discussed. He squeezed her hand lightly. "Hey, don't you worry one little bit about us, okay? Everything will turn out just fine..." He looked ahead with a grin. "And in any case, we're here."

"I hope so. It wouldn't be right if anything bad happened to you..." she said, smiling softly before looking at the gates of the facility. He grinned as she let go of his hand. Her parents were scientists probably. Lucky them, for having such a sweet little girl. "Thank you so much for guiding me back, Mister. It was really nice to meet you and your brother. My friend seems to like you both a lot too," she said as the little cyber elf fluttered off her shoulder. The digital being drew close to the pair much like she'd done earlier, glowing warm pink with happiness.

"You're very welcome," he said and smiled, holding a hand up for the little cyber elf to land on if she wished. "She's a peaceful one, isn't she...? Nurse-type?" he asked as the little elf perched on his open palm and fluttered her little pink wings. Like a little butterfly... Although they weren't really 'solid', the living beings of data still emitted a certain warmth and could be felt easily enough if touched. He smiled, feeling that warmth now.

"Yes, she's a Nurse-type elf. She's only a few days old, which was why I took her out so she could learn more about the world and grow, but she still has a long way to go before she fully matures and develops her full potential..." she replied.

He glanced at her as she said this. Even though she spoke of the young Elf's 'potential', he could tell by her expression she hoped she'd never have to use her. Of course she didn't... To use a cyber elf, even for the most basic of things, meant their death, and he could never imagine this little one wanting any being to die.

Another light in this increasingly bleak home of his.

He looked back to the elf, seeing the small shock of blonde 'hair' on her head and wide blue eyes. He nodded, smiling. "You two kinda look alike," he said. "Anyway... We should be on our way. It was nice meeting you two..."

Smiling widely, the girl spread her arms and hugged him as best she could. It took him a moment to register the contact, and he'd flinched slightly from it. The human girl came to just above his waist, pressing her cheek against his stomach, but she quickly broke off and waved to the pair as she made for the facility doors. "It was nice to meet you too, Mister! Thanks again for everything, and I hope to see you both again one day! Take care!" she called, as the cyber elf fluttered on after her.

He waved politely as she left, waiting until she was safely inside before turning and beginning to lead his little brother home to meet the rest of their 'family'. "Cute kid..." he said softly, looking down at 403. He'd start talking in time, and right now time was all 053 had. "Hey, kiddo?" he said softly. "I know we just met today... but I want you to know. You need anything, and I'll be there for you. Okay? That's what big brothers do..."

403 looked up at him, eyes curious.

He smiled, picking the boy up in his arms. "Promise you... I'm going to be the best big brother to you that I can. Okay?" he asked, carrying him along. It was an exciting prospect, actually... He'd never really been able to bond in a familial sense to any of his other brothers, mainly because they'd all been working... But maybe that could change.

Nonetheless, he had now given his word, and he had every intent to keep it...