BEN's pov
It wasn't so long ago…
But he had no idea…
When he-Jadsable, was it?-destroyed my cartridge, I was already on the internet. Scratch that. I can't be ON the internet. It is far too vast and complex, even then, to act as a vessel the way the cartridge does. But I was still able to communicate through it and control it on his computer.
And when he destroyed the cartridge…
It did not break my connection with the internet.
I could draw power from the internet to restore myself. This beat at my connection, but I had no other choice. The ashes, scattered in the wind, regrouped, rejoined. Some had fallen in a river, and so they could not rise to join, as they were heavy with water. The others joined them instead.
Finally, I was completely healed. I had luck on my side with the healing of my vessel. My connection, sawed and hammered at by my drawing power from the internet, broke only moments after I became whole again.
My vessel became caught on a fallen log not long after that. I went into a type of sleep that my mind put itself into, to maintain whatever sanity I had left. I was still aware of my surroundings, but did not fully comprehend them. I would only be pulled out if there was something going on.
I could feel the vibrations I the river caused by the approach of the two humans. This did not pull me out; they could be gone soon. I was vaguely aware of the log moving as the smaller of the two walked along it, and could hear murmurs of their conversations, muffled and distorted by the water.
I began to shake off sleep when the human picked me up. I was not immediately jolted awake; the process took time. I could feel the warmth from its hands, hear the conversation between that and the other. The one who held me had a higher voice, I determined that it was female, and the other male, but this held no weight on me. I was still in a haze.
I felt the interior of the cartridge dried by cloth. I registered it, then thought no more of it.
By time we reached what the humans referred to as "the car", I was aware enough to wonder-and care- where I was being taken.
I was rather annoyed as we, as the humans said, "drove home", as the humans had music blaring at a very loud volume. They added to it by inaccurately shouting along with the words.
Finally, the torture ended. The "car" ceased moving, and warm hands lifted me from where I was.
"Don't forget the cartridge on the seat" I heard the deep-voiced human advise.
"I've already got it" replied the higher-voiced human. Her voice was so close I could determine she was the one holding me.
I heard footsteps, and something that sounded like a door opening, and then closing. I felt myself being lifted-stairs, maybe? Then I was set down gently on something flat.
The noises of the humans ceased. I was alone.
But I knew not for long.
I did not sleep.
