The Wandering 'jack
First off, this is my first story on Fanfiction, so... Hi! :D Second, I apologise if any facts are somewhat off, my knowledge of the Iron Kingdoms is mediocre at best ^.^
Part 1: Awakening
At first, there was only darkness and the feeling of being man handled. It was uncomfortable and unpleasant most of the time until the man handling stopped. Then it became agony when something started drilling and slicing into it. This carried on for as long as it could remember and it was a long time before the pain and man-handling stopped. Eventually, sounds reached its mechanical ears, sounds of shouting people, grinding of machinery and the stomping of some colossal machines in the distance. Several days went on and eventually, it was gifted with sight.
The 'jack really wished it had never been given sight. It's first memories with its sight was a man with a thick beard staring into its face with an impressive array of tools at his side. The man had laughed, striking the 'jack's shoulder hard and shouting "Look 'ere lads! We got it working! The 'Jack is movin' again! You alright there Stompy?".
Stompy... The 'Jack slowly nods, the name ringing some kind of bell in its helmet. It looked around to see its surroundings. It was in a cubicle of sorts, chains binding its arms and legs to the floor. It had arms and legs? When did that happen? Stompy gave a tug on the chains with its various limbs, seeing what would happen. Nothing did and it only prompted a loud laugh from the Bearded Man. There were some sounds that drifted into the cubicle, sounds of work and stomping. Sounds of a factory. Stompy gradually became aware of the heat and the rumble coming from its chest. It looked down, seeing that there was a fire where it's stomach should be. It began to flail and pull on the chains, letting out a loud roar that could only be described as a loud hiss of steam escaping from servos in its neck. The Bearded Man quickly tried to soothe the troubled 'jack and managed to lock eyes with it.
"I've been doing this job for thirteen years Stompy... The fire in your chest is meant to be there. Stop panicking. You are a Labourjack. In three days, you're getting shipped out of here. All we have left to do is put some "clothes" on you.". The Bearded Man chuckled and slapped the 'jack on the cheek jokingly.
Stompy slowly nodded, looking down to watch the fire burning it it. The heat felt good. It felt like... it was part of the 'jack and the 'jack was part of the fire.
Male. The 'jack decided it was male. He had no idea why. It just seemed the correct thing to be at this moment. He started to flex out the rest of his mechanical limbs, feeling the gears grind in his shoulders, the steam flow through his pipes like blood and pistons hiss like his voice.
The Bearded Man watched on like a proud father, sitting down to light a small pipe that was emblazoned with a golden swan. The Man picked up a notebook and jotted something down before simply watching the newly born Labourjack come to terms with what it was. Curious things 'jacks. They always seemed so human sometimes. Strange.
He'd never seen a Labourjack afraid of its own furnace.