Chap 4.


Awakenings


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Cybernetics™ regrets to inform you that you can no longer purchase the PK447 model.

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A note by Clarissa K. Klark.

Four days in this facility and I've been blasted from ear to ear with information.. Bloodyhell, I wish they'd slow down a bit, there's so much already to process that everything they've been telling me of late just goes right on over my head.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Hey guess what? We made it out of the jungle and back to civilization! Woohoo!

Well no, not really woohoo. Everyone's going CRAZY. And I -really- mean crazy.. There's people running through the streets screaming, things being smashed and broken, people shooting at each other, even pokemon going psycho and attacking people for no reason what so ever. It's like pandamonia out there.. it's just freaky.

I am so glad that we didn't spend more than a day and a half in all that shit.. A week walking through forest then a day through farmlands then into suberbia. I don't know if suberbia is worse or better than the city. In the city it's more consistant it's just a buzz in the background now with the occasional loud explosion, where as in the suberbia it happened suddenly and only now and then. People and pokemon suddenly appearing from nowhere or blasting us for coming too close to them without realising. I can't help but be grateful of 'Bur and Sulpher, they kept me from being blasted so many times I couldn't possibly count it.

Those two nights in suberbia and the city were just pure hell, there was always someone on guard and you kept waking up suddenly to either a loud explosion or gun fire. I can honestly say I hated it.

You know what the shittiest thing is? The Demons aren't even in this area yet, they're still three citys over, both southernly and easterly. It's just lame, why the hell are all the people freaking like this already? It's not like as if looting and shooting anything that moves is REALLY going to help you or anyone else. Like duh.

Oh I don't know.. People are just stupid I guess, they don't know what's good for them and all that sort of thing, it's just really annoying. Where I was living, my home and all, none of this happened. People just up and left, or disappeared suddenly. There was only ever one explosion and that one flooded the sky with dust for a couple of days, but still, there weren't any little explosions or people trying to kill each other.. It's just so strange for it to be happening like this here.

Well, enough with all that freakyness.

There's a lot more interesting freakiness than that that I've got to say.

Like first of all! Guess what those things were that attacked us at that strange old place were? And what the place even was!

I bet you couldn't guess!

Nah, I didn think you could..

Well for starters, those things that attacked us -were- Demons. Yep those stupidly strong flying rocks were Demons. But they're another kind of them, a variation per say. You know I didn't even realise there were variations, I just figured there were those dead things on bat wings and that was it. But nope, I was wrong there's a whole heap of different ones and they come in all different rankings, meaning there's some that are really strong and others that are really weak and everything inbetween. I'm still rather undecided if that's a good or a bad point. But anyways, my point is that those rocks are a variation of Demons, Gargoyles to be exact. Now I'm sure like me you just thought gargoyles were those ugly looking statues positioned on REALLY old buildings or the things those weird excentric types collect who just like novelty stuff. Nope, we're both wrong. Well, they -are- usually positioned on really old buildings but that's because generally they're -really- old themselves so they can't help it. Anyways. These Gargoyles act much like gargoyles are supposedly supposed to act. They guard stuff, or look over it, warding off bad spirits and evil doers and that sort of thing. Which I must say sounded really strange to me seeing as they're DEMONS and all but whatever. Anyway, they guard stuff, protecting whatever they've been Bound to (Bound is like uh, well it's pretty much what it says but it's more solid, like it's almost impossible for them to break the Bond without breaking themselves) like buildings or sacred spots, things like that. They're supposed to keep anything from destroying or damaging what they're bound to. THAT's why they attacked David when he tried to attach a transmitter to the stone, they didn't exactly appreciate someone defacing what they were guarding over. So yeah, that was actually his fault and we can put all the blame on him.

Hey sue me if I'm smiling, that guy still gives me the creeps.

Anyway, Gargoyles aren't really that bad I've found out. They're pretty brainless, witless, braindead, etc. They can think and all, obviously, or they wouldn't of been so damned fast with their attacks, but they haven't got brains for what you'd call 'intelligent' conversation. They're slow witted and or just generally really slow. Or at least they supposedly are. Those things seemed pretty smart to me, but of course I didn't sit down and play chess with them.

You know, if it wasn't for us, these guys here wouldn't of even know that Gargoyles really existed, cause there'd been no proof to their knowledge of anyone ever even finding one before, at least not living ones like we did. Of course that could be because anyone walking around there and touching and moving stuff like these scientist types seem to do probably would of agravated the Gargoyles and they'd of killed them. But they seem to be overlooking that somewhat.

Anyway, that's enough about the Gargoyles.. I still haven't said what that place was.

It was a Blood Temple.

Sounds neat doesn't it?

Well it's actually exceedingly gross and morbid and reminds me of stuff I didn't really pay attention to in some of my history classes, like about the first people and how they worshipped their gods and how -exactly- they tried to gain favour with their gods. Except it seems that much worse because it was all Pokemon. They did it to themselves and each other.. it's just gross.

Blood Temples aren't even supposed to exist, much like Demons I guess.. Gargoyles too, heh. But Blood Temples are that more unlikely because from what I've picked up there's basically nothing known about that period in time. It's like from ages ago, even further back than all this stuff with the five people/pokemon/morphs thing. Like I mean, millenia further back than that.. and now that's just disturbing. It can't help but make you feel somewhat insignificant in comparison for the entire human race compared to pokemon. It's just well, bleah.

Anyway, Blood Temples aren't supposed to exist because the only ever known references to them is a stone tablet depicting the image of some sort of temple draped in red and a whole heap of scriptures beneath that was supposedly found then lost and an old childrens tale that was supposedly passed from a Pokemon to a human back in the, quote, ''early days''. And that was only a passing reference. Like, the main character, some pokemon of some kind (it changes depending who's telling the story) is doing it's quest and all that and it stops over in a Blood Temple for one night because of like weariness and stuff. But it doesn't last the entire night because of the deranged Pokemon living within the Blood Temple discover the sleeping Pokemon and attempt to sacrifice him to the gods. Of course there's a bloody battle and he gets away and continues the rest of his quest (of which he is sucsessful in completeing of course) with no other mention of Blood Temples or anything else along those lines. The only reason they even believe that story is so old and that it coensides with the whole 'Blood Temples Theology' is because it's a story told right through history, just in so many slight variations it's mind-boggoling.

Anyways, supposedly a Blood Temple was supposed to of been made by the servants of the Gods so that they could see that the Gods were being justly respected. Meaning sacrifices be made in the name of the Gods as offerings for everything the Gods supposedly gave them. Just like humans used to do so long ago, when we were all uncivilized and all that. It's creepy, picturing Pokemon killing each other to appease something they can't even see.. Though supposedly Pokemon Gods walk among us like any other Pokemon, they're just so rare no one ever sees them.. or something like that. I'm not totally sure, Sulpher wasn't as specific on the point as I had hoped he would be.

There's only one more point on that subject, at least that I can remember right now, that's worth mentioning. Seeing as we were the first people to ever get to the Blood Temple and come back alive and all, we're supposed to be able to name the discovery.. Or something like that. Of course, not all of us, just the person who discovered it. Now that has been some very amusing arguments between David and Sulpher, both arguing against each other over -who- exactly should name the place officially or what to call it officially or whatever. David thinks he should be the one because he was the first one to set foot in the place, where as Sulpher thinks he should because he knew what the place was first. Then goes into a round-a-bout argument about David saying Sulpher doesn't know anything, he's not a scientist or a archeologist or anything and wouldn't have a clue what to do in relation to a find like the Blood Temple. And then Sulpher retaliates with the fact that David almost got us all killed and that if he ever went back there he'd probably never come back again, just because he has no common sense and'd probably trip every trap set down in those stones. It really is very funny to watch them fight it out, even if it don't sound it. David almost always loses his cool first and makes trite remarks to Sulpher that he deflects like annoying flies. It's only when Sulpher loses his cool as well that they both end up red-faced and storming off into opposite directions so as not to speak to each other for the next couple of hours.

You'd think with all the noise those two make that we'd be found here, ah well, it's probably better that nothing notices, especially over all that noise out there. Those crazy people would probably have a field day smashing and blasting stuff in here if they ever got the chance.

Anyway, there's other stuff been said as well, as those are only like, well, pretty much two or three things that have been discussed since we first got here.

One of the other main topics are just how far the Demons have gotten through Kanto already and what exactly it is they're destroyed or done.. at least they've tried to get as complete reports as possible on those matters. I haven't really hung around the main rooms to do with that stuff. It's like when I was sitting infront of the tv trying to listen for voices and hearing people scream instead except a hundred fold. They've got so many stations and streams coming in that it's just disturbing, it blurs all together and becomes distorted and if you're in there for too long you get used to it.. At least that's what Sulpher's said. It thoroughly creeps him out, he comes out of those rooms and his eyes are glazed, like as if he's in a waking nightmare or something. It usually takes him a little while to snap out of it but even for an hour or more afterwards he'll be somewhat distant. I've never asked why he acts like that, I don't want to know. It's my own choice that I don't go into those rooms often, at least, if I can't help it. They don't stop me, not that they really could if I wanted, too many of them are paying attention to what they're doing to notice anyone else.

Anyway, enough of that. That's all depressing and ick, no one wants to hear about all that.

Ah crud, I forgot to say where we even are.

We're in Viridian City, or at least what's left of it. Heh.

We're in this huge underground complex, it was supposedly abonded at least a century ago. Some sort of secret organization built it for some reason and someone discovered it by accident one day and well, that person told another person and they told another and etc etc. Someone who's part of the AAT (Attack And Terminate, hehe. That's not actually what it's called, but it's one of the lines they use to communicate with each other and it just stuck) found out about it from so and so person and so they set off to find this place.. of which of course they did. And thusly set up one of their main basecamps here. Of course it's not really a proper military instilation or anything, all the stuff here is waaaay outdated, everything down to the hand computers and software, but it works and alot of it -has- been suped up for more effeciant use. The place is also pretty dark and dank, it's not the happiest place to be living in and I'm pretty sure that was intentional.. All the bare metal walls and everything and long long corridors that seem to go on forever and lead nowhere, it's like a maze when you first get in. But it's supposed to be better looking than when the first group found it, I keep hearing different stories about that but all of them say things like a whole level of the place's floors was litered with bodies and there was blood all over the walls and gross stuff like that. But eh, I've seen no sign of anything like that in the four days I've been here, even with equiring others and everything.

Enquiring others about anything has been annoyingly difficult in too many respects. The people here are from EVERYWHERE and I'm certain at least half of them don't speak the same dialect as me let alone language, either that or I've had someone following me around so I keep asking the same person different questions with the same result.. Now that'd be lame.

That's not the worst part though, there's also anthros EVERYWHERE as well.. And me, being from my posh family and all and living in a district that was pretty low on the whole morph population scale that's scarey. I keep seeing fury, scaled and whatever else they come in bodies, heads and hands. It's hell when walking down a dark corridor and suddenly something large and shadowy steps out of a doorway covered in spikes and with glitering canines.. I don't know how many times I've been scared shitless like that. Of course most of them are gracious and have manners.. At least to a decent degree. Then there's others that are just plain rude, arragont or arseholes in general. I've learnt that morphs can have as many different personalites as humans. It's somewhat annoying. They're also definately not all the same, that's for sure.. and not just in appearance.

And last of all we actually have the worst. There's almost as many POKEMON as anthros OR people in this place and I'm continually having to look down to make sure I'm not about to step on anyone in any busy traffic areas. They -really- don't appreciate being stepped on and I think I've been shocked three times, paralyzed twice and seriously burned two going on three times. Honestly, not enjoyable experiences. At least with some of them you -can- see them coming.. But then alot of those also take up all the hall space, thusly leaving no room to pass them without being squished, oh so enjoyable. Pokemon aren't just bad because it's near impossible to understand them but also because they're so bloody jumpy here. They're way too alert and weary, jumping at the slightest unusual disturbance. I know there's at least six people/anthros/pokemon alike that have had to be healed because of a Pokemon being startled and attacking without thinking. Also alot of them also aren't very patient when you can't understand what they mean, storming off and muttering in their own little languages..

Though I must say, I'm doing better than I would of had I not had those conversations with Sulpher before we got here.. At least I know what some of them are and what they can do, of course not so well that I've moved out of all situations I should of. Again more enjoyable experieces. Sulpher also did teach me a -few- sayings.. or at least things to say. Of course they're in Umbreon and not every Pokemon understands it and my accent is atrocious according to the few anthros who have heard me speak and knew what I was saying, or just wanted to bluntly state as such to me.

I also know a couple of phrases when they're spoken to me.. Of course nearly half of these are just general guesses to what they mean not specifics and come from grumpy Pokemon glaring at me and muttering something distasteful. I think I know at least four different insults. Hell if I could say them myself though.

It's not been so exceedingly bad though, I've had some help.

But first the other main topic, and this is the one I've sat in on the most.. Mostly as it actually has something to do with me as well.

It actually took me ages before I totally realised they were actually talking about -me- but that's not really a surprise, they kept using terms and names for things and people and such that I'd never heard of before. It was strange when I finally realised and things started to click.. at least a little. Things still don't make too much sense but at least they do a little more than they used to. I've got a clearer idea of what my purpose is.. well no, that's not true, I still only have a vague idea for that. But I know what we have to go looking for and who.

There's five like I knew already, but I didn't know why five, now I do. It seems that when all the magic and stuff used to go on in the past there was this one place where a city was built, (which of course is lost forever, but that's typical isn't it,) and inside the city were five different fractions made to divide up the magic and the learnings and such. And seeing as each fraction wasn't supposed to associate with another there were pretty much five distinct types of magic but altogether they made up the whole of magic. Sooo.. to have all the aspects of magic we need to find one person or pokemon or morph that coencides with each of the fractions. Of course we can't find just any old pokemon or morph or person, that's just stupid. It has to be five specific ones, possesors of certain souls that I've been told should still be around -somewhere-. That whole 'somewhere' aspect ain't reasuring but I've decided not to really dwell on it, the fact the informants haven't really expanded on the subject is even less encouraging. Anyways, these certain souls should still be around because they were special or something. Each of them was the strongest one ever under their fraction and had the best abilities in every aspect of their own type of magic. And because of some legend or other they're supposed to still be bound to earth, reborn continuously through time in different forms to keep them here, each living a new life with each new body they get and never remembering what they once were but still holding within their soul all the power of those important lives. Having an ability to call back on what they once knew as an instinct when the need applies.

According to most of them here alot of souls take on another form or body after their old one dies and begin new lives as different people or things. I've never really thought about that sort of thing but I guess it works and I really don't feel like arguing it much, especially when I don't exactly have anything to argue.

Anyway, most of the talk has been about the different fractions and what exactly makes them different, at least as far as they know. Of which honestly, isn't very much.

They know what the five groups were divided under though, The Moon, The Sun, Fire, Cold and Life.. I think that's it at least. Each was supposedly lorded over by some big honcho, they're undecided if it was gods, pokemon who thought they were gods or something else I've forgotten right now but there's quite a few arguments over the whole thing

Well anyway, we know what we're supposed to look for, now we just have to find the other four and right at the moment they're trying to decide -how- exactly they're going to do that because there's one lil problem that they could be pretty much -anywhere- and it'd really be that much more helpful if we knew where specifically and if they were very close. We're the ones who are going to have to go out and find them. Yes, me and the army guy and Sue and the nerd and the two morphs, mostly because it's unlikely they'd have time to come back here if here is even still here by the time they found everyone. Real optomistic ain't it? Anyway, we get to go on a witch hunt, hehe.

Now I said four before, no, that wasn't me forgetting how to count, we already know who one of them is.. Sulphur!

It was pretty much an educated guess already by some of the others but what he did back at the Blood Temple pretty much decided it for everyone. He did magic with that big blast thing. Sulphur's one of the five beings we have to find to get rid of the Demons and stop the destruction of everything and stuff.

Now of course he argued against this profusely, he couldn't accept all that heaped on him suddenly. Though personally I think he had an idea of it already, even if he wouldn't admit it to himself. He didn't seem to argue as much or as hard as he had with other things before finally accepting it, plus, he doesn't take every single chance he can get to disprove it like most other stuff he'll argue about.

Now, I can understand why he wouldn't want all that on him, personally I'd be shit scared.. Though I think I should be myself, problem there being I'm still completely confused on the whole aspect of ME in all of this.. I can understand finding these five magic types and having them help us fight the Demons and destroy them or whatever. But me, I'm something else, I'm not supposed to know magic or anything, it's just something about me in particular that's special and they -think- it'll be needed.. How, why, when, where, anything.. I don't know. And yes, I can honestly admit that's pissed me off seriously more than one time and made me storm out of a room as no one will explain to me in terms I'll understand what's going on in relation to me.. Maybe I'll find out later or something.

Oh blah, I guess it doesn't matter so much right now. There's one more thing that's happened here that I just HAVE to mention because it's the reason this whole thing has sounded somewhere more cheery than it really should of, especially initially with all the bad stuff and everything. There's been one really great, cool, absolutely fantastic thing that happened just before we came in here.

I got a Cybernetic.

Sighned: Clarissa K. Klark.


Some days before


It hadn't been so hard to follow while still within the forest. Even in those strange wide open areas that came after the forests disappeared, the grass had still be quite long enough to hide him. Also there had been metal contraptions left all over the place within those grassy fields, he couldn't remember ever seeing things like them before, but they did bring up visions and blurred memories of other things, strange creatures with metal components much like himself.

It had given him pause.. his mind skipping over those few last memories. He had nothing more than blurred half images of anything before appearing within the forest. A face, a feeling of comfort, a place, warmth and happiness.. Then shadows and darkness, pain and flashes of red and glaring lights. He could neither remember his arrival in the forest or how he'd got there, just the times afterwards and even the beginning ones of those were jarred and jumbled.

With all his memories scrambled he appreciated his first full real ones.

His first sight of the wilds and all it's inhabitants. More importantly his first sight of the Pikachu groups, something so harmonious and feeling so right. He had sat watching them for what seemed like years before he had gained the courage enough within himself to slip out from his cover towards them. Of course, they're run off at the first sight of him. Such a strange creature as he was unknown in these lands

But right then he was ignoring all that, trying to keep all his attention to the group of creatures he was following, especially the female one. Under no circumstance did he wish to lose them. Something about them was important, he could feel it inside, even if he couldn't explain it to himself.

The change of scenerey into the place with large structures in rows, surrounded by blockages of different kinds brought a mixture of eases and difficulties. The new surfaces and textures took time to become accustomed to, so did the shapes of things and how exactly he could move around them. He couldn't remember anything ever being so.. so, well, symetrical, at least, nothing so big and so often found. But there were more metallic things and new kinds of hidey-holes that he'd never had before that did make it easier in other respects.

Then there was also the humans and both their pokemon and wilds.. He had never known that wilds would come into this sort of land, not as far as he remembered.. The wilds from his 'home' would never of been able to survive in such a place.. so different from the forest. But he was starting to realise, see how things could work, how one could manage to survive in a place such as this. A strange place if ever he saw one, though not as much as the next.

A structure unlike anything he'd seen before.. He'd had to stop a good distance away from the group, namely because there was so little space to hide his form that wouldn't give him away. So he waited and watched to see what would happen with those he was following before deciding exactly what it was he was going to do.

They entered the structure after mutterings and mumblings, two of the humans arguing between themselves over what exactly it was they should do. It didn't last long and they were once more lost to his vision and he was forced to move, follow and see where it was they had gone. Keeping to shadows and places with less direct sunlight to he raced after.

He entered, the first building he had ever entered.. or was it? For a moment he froze just inside the entry way, thoughts and hints of memories buzzing around inside his head. A warm gentle feeling that made him wish he knew more, that threatened to pull him away to places unknown.. It was so tempting, but no, the girl, he had to get to the girl. It was important beyond anything else he'd ever been sure of in his entire life.

He shook himself, reorganised his thoughts and followed the sounds of voices, he must not lose the group and the girl.

For three hours did he sit and watch, eyes unmoving upon his goal, ignoring all that was around him. Had he allowed himself, his mind would of wondered to all that was around him, collections of things unknown, unthought of, so amazing that he could of spent a lifetime looking at them without ever fully understanding everything he saw. It was an amazing place but all that he had eyes for was the girl, below and resting soundly within the company of the others within her group. He wished he understood this pull, this drive to be around her, to be near.. to be with her. But he did not, so he sat, in the shadows, hidden and watching, waiting for what he knew not.

A movement, his eyes finally left the girl to see what was happening. He edged closer to the ledge, looking down to see what was going on. The group seemed to of not noticed, but he had.. There down below were two figures and four by their feet moving around the edges, between columns and rows, just out of view of those watching. He didn't like the look of this. He'd seen similar things already, both humans and other pokemon, mad and violent attack for no reason, three times had he nearly rushed to the girl's side to protect her. But each time he had stayed his run, seeing those around her come forth and protect her, protect each other just like a family pack though none was related by blood, he could scent that. He had watched as they drove of numbers he thought not possible with minimal injury. He had seen even those seeming not to get along work together and solve their problems to help each other within this group, making them always able to come the best off.

Now he watched not so certain things would work so well this time. Those two of the group watching did not seem to notice those hovering around the edge, those watching and waiting much like himself. But those others he could tell were not so peaceful, they were not merely here to watch.

He must warn the group, he had to tell them that something was coming, that others were watching and they were in danger. But his caution, something inbuilt into him since that day he arrived in the forest and first watched those wild Pikachu held him still. He could not show himself, they may run or attack and he wished neither. Instead he had to think, to do something that would not disclose his position but that would give warning to the group below that they were being watched. So he looked around, using all his sensors.. and found what he needed.

Moments later and he was perched high, even higher than he had been before, atop some skeleton of a monstrous beast long dead and looking down at those below, both the group and those who had now crept closer. Watching his step he walked along the bones, grateful of the wires and bolts around him that hid his small reflective shines and blended them with their own. At the right spot he stopped, looked down and seeing the look out still having no clue as to what was around him he sparked, the gratings upon each of his cheeks letting off a small discharge that shot out small iron bolts in four directions, two either side of where his face pointed. He watched one decend, falling towards one of the shadowed figures and bounce off a shelf near to it's head, at the same time the other three bolts landed with loud clatters upon the marble based floor. The head jerked to the side and the other shadows stiffened where they stood, tense and unmoving. Both look outs moved at the same moment, one awakening the others with a shout while the other searched out the sounds.

Soon conflict unfolded, but not as bad had the shadows gotten through to those sleeping. This time they were scared off, driven away by angry bellows from the giant and shadow blasts from the black furred member of the group. He heard two yelps as one of the fleeing pokemon gained a last incentive to move faster away as he watched the humans gather below. He smiled to himself, his cheek gratings sparking slightly in pleasure as they were prone to do.

From below he heard sounds, the furred figure was coming towards the others, tossing a small shiny item between his hands as he talked to the others. Suddenly one of the humans looked up, straight to where he was, he froze, unmoving, even so far as unbreathing as he waited for them to look away.. they couldn't possibly know he was there, he had done nothing to give himself away. Slowly the head turned away as the black one continued to make noises and looked around. A figure broke off from the group and started to look around, glancing back to the others to get their barings every so often until they had gone to each of the places where one of the iron bolts had fallen. Coming to the group again they all started to talk and he decided to take this moment to move from his perch. It was not the best or safest one for him to be in, he needed better cover before those below figured he was up here and started searching from the higher level he was at.

His thoughts elsewhere as he decended he did not notice the group disband, going about different things in different directions at the same time. It wasn't until he stood once more upon solid ground near the edge to where he had originally sat himself to watch that he realised the group was no longer where he had left them. For a moment he panicked, his mind racing over different possibilities as his body froze in indecision. Where had they gone? After all this time had he lost the girl? He can't of!

Just as he had managed to reorganise his thoughts again in a manner that allowed him to move he felt a presence behind him. Once more he froze but did not remain unmoving. Someone picked him up!

Being turned over and around he found himself face to face with one of the humans from the group he had been following. He couldn't move, his circuitry was freezing up as his mind reeled in fear until suddenly he blacked out.

Voices, sounds jumbled as he slowly came back online, his sensors scrambled and making no sense until they gradually managed to harmonise themselves allowing him to think clearly with the right inputs. He looked around, staying off confusion so as not to freeze up again and giving himself only a simple feedback to his mind, allowing him to gain his barings slowly and easily in a manner he could understand and that wouldn't overload his awakening systems and mind.

He was being caried with both care and a gentleness unknown. He heard voices talking, words scarmbled and jumbled that he couldn't understand.

"I don't know why you're carrying that thing, it's old and broken and you couldn't possibly find any of the necessary parts you'll need to fix it. It's an outmoded piece of junk that's probably not even good enough to be a toaster."

"Of course it can't be a toaster, it's an electric element not a fire one."

"Whatever."

He blinked twice as he scanned around, moving slightly and causing that who was holding him to gasp and turn him around so they could see him better. It was a moment before he could sort himself out, he'd nearly overloaded his systems again in shock. It was the girl! She was holding him! She who he'd been following, watching for so long, so uncertain of himself of what to do and now she held him within her arms.

"You're not broken are you? You're just a little old and your systems aren't quite what they used to be. It's not your fault someone's just left you behind because they thought you weren't as flashy as the newer models is it? I know you're not an outmoded piece junk, you're very special, I can feel it." And she hugged him, once more he was forced to reorganise his cirtcuits so as not to blow anything as joy filled his entire being.

Hints of memories, feelings unknown flooded his mind, hinting at times past. Times when a feeling like this had been everyday, when someone had cared about him, had wanted him by their side no matter what.. And then they faded, but still he felt that warm glow within him. A feeling unlike any he could remember having since that first day in the forest.

She had accepted him, claimed him as her own and now he was hers, to obey anything she wished or commanded.

He would follow her to the ends of the earth.

Once more he had a master


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Cybernetics™ would like to remind you that there is still time to purchase the latest upgrades for your Cybernetic™ .

Click.


6 Months Previously


A Note by Jamie S.

Strange things are happening. Not that I've been hearing too much about them with my mind on the Grande Tournament SX and all, but you can't help but notice it. People keep whispering, say things in hushed tones when they think other people aren't watching. It's not normal.

Yesterday I heard a group of lower rankers going on about how the Servan Gulf is filled with Magikarp, that they're swarming so much that they can't even send boats through becauce the stupid steel scaled fish are just about a solid wall. Now that's unnatural, even I know that Magikarp breed by the millions but things eat those eggs, that's why we aren't overrun by them.

Then there was a week ago during one of the perliminary rounds when the sky filled with the cries of birds and suddenly this giant mass of flying black appeared out of nowhere, all the Cybernetics in the centre went haywire as they went over. Now that was a hectic time, with all those high powered machines going rogue there were people rushing everywhere making every effort to keep out of the way or trying to shut down the different Cybernetics before they did countless amounts of damage to both the centre and themselves. They'd had to cut the preliminary short because of that and it took three days before it could start again. There had been an uproar over that but nothing could really be done about it, with more than half the contestants out of commision what kind of competition would it of been? Not that the sponsors cared, they just wanted to hear that their money wasn't being wasted. But the organisers smoothed all that over. Me, I was lucky, my ARC unit fared quite well, I was able to shut it down almost immediately as I'd been working on him anyway.

That's not all of it, I know it's not. There's so many strange things going on I don't think I could ever find them all out and they're really effecting my game. My last match was riddled with faults on my behalf and I nearly lost out to a Chipper, which would of been the worst possible blow to my reputation, especially as he was a beginner at that. Thinking that just having the right programming is gonna get you through the game is stupid, Chippers are some of the worst contestants there are. They know nothing of the machinery, just the circuitry they mess with. Idiots.

But I pulled through, putting on a good and leaving the majority of the crowd thinking I'd just been messing around, that I'd had it on the ball the entire time. Of course a couple of people knew otherwise and I nearly punched the lights out of Gregory Sanders as I left the arena at the comments he said. Of course that would of been bad form and I would of been disqualified from the competition for unruley behaviour, but damn that guy knows how to push my buttons sometimes. The snide little ass.

My ARC unit is pretty much fine, I just had to do a little rewiring and replace two shoulder panels which are some of the things I always have on stand by so he's not really gonna look any worse for wear after that.

It's not just the strange things that are happening that have been bothering me. I still haven't seen Sean since our last encounter. Which is unusual, after such a match we usually catch up, at least at some point. And I'd really wanted to discuss his new Cybernetic. I wanted to know what it was just incase someone else came out with one, which so far no one has, thank the gods. I don't think I'd be able to stand up against those things if they entered the competition circuit, even after analysing everything I could remember about the battle afterwards I still can't find a way of myself suceeding with my ARC unit without a hell of alot of luck, or magic, heh. The thing was stronger than anything else I've ever seen before or seen since.

I've tried to contact Sean, even to go and see him but he's never available. I even went so far as to go to his house and his own private pent house in Neon City but he wasn't there at either of them. I'd been so angry after trying to call him for five hours afterwards that I'd nearly convinced myself that I didn't want to see him anyway. But of course I couldn't do that, he'd been my best friend for too long, my friend for longer. Even if we hadn't seen as much of each other over these past couple of years I still consider him my best friend and it's going to take an awful lot to change that.

I'm really worried, even just a simple message would be appreciated, even just one passed from someone to me. Not that that would be ideal and would be more than a little impersonal but I'd still like it better than knowing nothing at all. Even if I ask his father's company they wont answer me, they give me really vague or useless answers. If I didn't know better I'd say they didn't know themselves.

I just wish I'd hear something..

.. Oh well, I've got the next match in an hour, I better finish setting up my ARC unit.

Sighned: Jamie


CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK! BzzzzzzzT! CHVVV! Ptt! Ptt!

"Ah shit!"

Jamie rushed to the other side of his ARC unit, having to go right around it as it was neither laying or standing straight enough to go over or under. "What now?" he grumbled as he looked at his Cybernetic. Thing's just weren't working like they were supposed to. He'd just finished with all this side, he'd made sure everything was in place, that all was running smoothly and now another one of the circuits had blown, frying three wires and causing his ARC unit to start gouging out the floor tiles below it's feet with it's RazorClaws. He got out three Scats and went about rewiring and rerouting various pathways until the ARC unit stopped digging into the floor with it's left forpaw and then went onto stopping the rear one.

"What is up with you? You're not usually this much of a hassle.. and it's not like as if it was much of a bingle what that H1T0P4xxR managed to land on you, not past the surface armour anyway.. And you were working in perfect condition before that." Jamie put his hands on his hips as he looked at his Cybernetic contemplating what could possible be wrong with it as it's eyes, missing the spark of life stared blankly forwards. He sighed and turned around to pick up his tools and head back to it's other side to finish fixing what he'd been doing before being interrupted when he heard a scraping on the ground. Quickly he turned but nothing was different. His eyes scanned the empty room around him, no one else was in there, not that anyone else should of been. All the higher ranking competitors got private rooms so they could work on their Cybernetics in private so they didn't have to worry about people spying or finding out what exactly it was they were installing within their models. That would of detracted too much of the experience if everyone knew what everyone was using, that was part of the enjoyment, not know what exactly your opponet was going to do or use.

Again he turned to get his things but this time there was no sound and as he walked around his ARC, he shook his head muttering to himself, "Hearing things.. " As his eyes returned to the side of his Cybernetic they widened in surprise as another scraping sound was heard and before him he saw his ARC unit begin to move, turning to face the southern wall. He stood stock still, eyes wide open before he slammed them shut, counted to three before opening them again, "I'm just imagining things.." But when he opened his eyes the ARC unit was two feet away from him facing a different direction, though still in the original position he'd shut it down in.

Slowly, carefully he walked up to and around his unit, "You know I hate it when you do that.. It's not right. It makes me think those people are right that there's something wrong with you, even if I like to think of it as 'different'." The unit continued to not move, just staring blankly forwards, unhearing of his words, not that he really expected it to.. not really.

"BZZZT! BZZZT! Ptt! Ptt! Bzzzzzzzzzzt- This is breaking news from the Channel 4-6 news room..."

Jamie jumped as he turned around, looking at the wide screen television placed upon the left wall that had suddenly lost it's usual display screen to be replaced with a worried looking woman sitting at a desk with words scrolling below. "What the?"

"It has just been confirmed that Alto Mare has been attacked by unknown sources, please stand by for a few moments as we get the live feed.." The woman turned her head off to the side, whispering something the microphone didn't pick up. Jamie frowned as he watched, turning to his ARC unit then to the tv screen, what was going on?

An image flashed upon the screen, it looked like the ocean.. but different, there was something wrong, it wasn't the right colour and there seemed to be too many unmoving whitecaps. Jamie frowned still further as he walked closer to the screen, trying to pick up the details in the picture, not hearing the voices coming from the television as he watched. Even those few that he heard he would not be able to recollect later. He continued to watch, mouth coming agape as he suddenly realised what he saw. It was the ruins of a city, a city renowned for it's watery walkways and streets, a place he'd been but a month ago. Now it seemed nothing but a watery puddle, a newly formored crator in the land nearby that had a neatly cut out cresent shape, marking where the grande city had once been apart of the island. "I.. I could of been there.." He stammered as he sat back, not even thinking and fell to the floor, landing hard upon his backside but not even realising as he continued to stare at the image unhearing. It changed back to the woman behind the desk, the still streaming image held over her shoulder as she looked to the side viewing it herself. The woman seemed frozen, unable to find words with which to speak.

There was the sounds of scraping and a flare of red light behind Jamie, finally he snapped out of his stupor and turned his head slowly to see what was going on. He was on his feet in moments, rushing to his ARC unit which had suddenly come to life, it's eyes blazing with red light and a low growl reverberating through it's chest and into the floor below it's feet. It's claws were retracting and coming forth repeatedly, as if it were kneeding the tiles it stood upon and that was the scraping sounds he'd heard, the tiles were being gouged again but this time with more force and he could see the curls growing below those long RazorClaws. The fur and plates along the crest of his ARC unit's spine were raised and if Jamie didn't know better he'd think the ARC unit was about to attack. He started to make soothing noises, attempting to calm it down as he moved around to get into a position to shut his unit down.. not that he knew how it had managed to get online on it's own. But that wasn't as an unsual occurance as it might of been for other Cybernetic trainers. Jamie's ARC unit had a tendency to come online for no reason, though never had it been openly agressive upon doing so.

A screech and a loud crash behind him made Jamie turn his head just in time to see a very large, very angry looking Cybernetic come crashing through his room wall and come charging towards him. He would of screamed but for the fact he didn't have the time, instead he gasped as quick as a flash his own ARC unit whirled and barreled into the oncoming NQ40, sending it careening into the opposite wall it had come through. As Jamie pulled his senses together he heard screaming again, this time from the wall the two Cybernetics were fighting against, he could see why. As the NQ40 got it's feet back under itself and started shoving his own ARC away the wall behind them began to crumble. A third Cybernetic was ramming against the wall, it's eyes blazing with a feral green light that didn't seem natural. The NQ40 finally grabbed ahold of the ARC unit and tossed it aside, using it's considerable strength to displace the equally sized opponet just in time to move aside as the third unit came crashing through the wall behind it with a ear shattering roar. Jamie had to move back, the NK6-2 was on a rampage, it was pulling off chunks of the wall as using them as throwing disks, attacking the ARC unit and surrounding furniture with equal indifference, only the NQ40 stood ungrazed by the NK6-2's assult. Jamie knew why, certain units, certain types of Cybernetics had a kinship that couldn't be taken out of them, something to do with the Pokemon they were based off. And when those same certain Cybernetics went haywire they revereted to a basic programming and they listened to it. This was what was happening, the NK6-2 had heard the NQ40 as it attacked his ARC and had come to help the NQ40 as it's basic programing told it to do. Well actually, it's basic programming was probably quite different to that, but it was that extra stuff, the unprogramable that was telling it what to do and both the NK6-2 and the NQ40 were about to start pounding into his ARC unit with the fury and uncontrollability of haywire Cybernetics.

He shouted as a large piece of wall came careening towards his ARC's head, but it wasn't needed, his ARC was already on it's feet, weary of the two other Cybernetics before it and weary of more appearing as the two other units roared in usion, calling for gods knew what. The ARC unit didn't allow time for the NK6-2 to start gathering more wall to throw as it unleashed a stream of flames into it's face then to the wall nearest it in a diagonal slash. It's roars cut short turned into screams of outrage and pain, but blinded it thrashed unknowing of where it striked. The ARC took this time to pounce upon the NQ40 again, aiming for it's exposed throat gear and wiring as it's head upturned and continued to roar. A glancing blow and the ARC was unable to get the grip it had intended with it's vice-like teeth upon the NQ40's throat, but still it held on and ripped it's neck back and forth as the NQ40 began to pound on it with it's thunderous fists.

The first thing the head saw as it peered through the right wall was an ARC unit being pounded by it's NQ40 unit as the NQ40's throat was being ripped out by the ARC unit. The head screamed again and came racing through the hole in the wall and towards the fighting Cybernetics, screaming orders and curses at the same time. The words only stopped as the figure was toppled to the ground from a running tackle from Jamie as the NK6-2 finally gained it's vision back again or at least sensors enough to start attacking once more with precision, this time with barbed spikes that sprayed outwards from it in an arc. The female figure had nearly been skewered by one of the flying spikes though she hadn't realised it. Jamie was holding her pinned to the ground and it was a moment or two before her breath was back and she was screaming again. Jamie slapped her, hard. "Shut up you idiot. They've gone haywire, commands aren't going to work and they're down to basic programming. And screaming at ME sure as hell isn't going to help you." She stopped and looked up at him fire in her eyes that quickly turned to fear as something came crashing down towards them from above. Jamie seeing the fear in her eyes rolled them both to the side just in time to miss being squashed by his ARC unit that had finally been thrown from the NQ40 as the NK6-2 helped dislodge the attached Cybernetic.

Still rolling Jamie and the girl didn't stop until they hit a table, wanting to be out of the danger zone, at least as much as possible, before getting up. "ARC! You need to shut them down! It Doesn't Matter HOW!" The girl now beside him sneered, "I thought you said they'd gone haywire and they wont listen." He glared at her, "My ARC's not like you're mindless NQ40 Girl." She huffed and ducked down as once more the ARC unit leaped into the fray, "You better be repaying me for all the damages you cause," he didn't even bother commenting.

The NQ40 was having trouble focusing, alot of it's wiring had come loose from it's neck and it's eyes kept flickering, it's entire sensory array was fraying and it had stepped back from the battle somewhat to allow the NK6-2 to doll out most of the damage, at least until it could get itself together again. Which was fairly unlikely, a couple of good hits was going to take it out, if not remove it's head if aimed right. But Jamie didn't want to have to pay for an entirely new unit for this girl so he cried out to his ARC not to destroy the other units, just put them out.

The ARC was squaring off against the NK6-2, who's owner still hadn't shown themselves, the ARC was more visibly damaged but the NK6-2's face seemed half melted from the last attack the ARC had placed upon it. Again the ARC powered up flames, sending them spewing forth at the other Cybernetic. This time though the NK6-2 was prepared and it's arms came up infront of it's head, the armoured plating sending the flames in all directions but the one intended. The armour melted somewhat but the NK6-2 itself was undamaged and even as the flames continued to spew forth it turned to the side, swinging it's bulk around and thrashing out with it's spiked tail. The ARC didn't have the time to dodge, busy with it's own attack it took the full brunt of the swipe, flying now into the rubble of the other wall. As the NK6-2 finished turning full circle it came straight at the ARC unit bellowing in fury and head down to skewer it with it's protuding horn.

Jamie didn't close his eyes, he never did in battles, he watched with wide eyes and the knowledge that his ARC would get up and move out of the way in time of the oncoming charge despite being somewhat dazed. "Come on ARC.."

For a moment the ARC seemingly went offline, it's red eyes fading to the empty black nothingness before they blazed back into life. With a roar of it's own the ARC unit got itself onto it's feet just as the NK6-2 was upon it, and using the NK6-2's head as a springboard the ARC jumped upon the other Cybernetic's back, it's RazorClaws fully extending to gain purchase among the plated steel spike armour. There was another loud crash as the NK6-2, unable to stop it's full body charge crashed into the wall and continued into the next room, taking the ARC unit still attached to it's back with it.

Jamie was just about to run after them but the girl grabbed his arm, holding him back as more roaring and sounds of crashing could be heard within the next room. "Let go of me," he was about to swing around and make her let go when she grabbed him more forcefully and pulled him bodily away from the wall. It was lucky she did, with a bellow that shook the crumbling walls and destruction around them both the ARC and NK6-2 came flying through the hole in the wall, making it sizeably larger as they did. They rolled for a couple of meters, lashing out in all directions as both tried to lay blows upon the other. The NK6-2's heavily armoured body making it hard for the ARC's ViceJaws and RazorClaws to gain purchase and the NK6-2 was finding it hard to make full force blows upon the ARC with it's HammerFists and SpearPPTail or even grab ahold with it's own ViceJaws as the ARC always seemed able to twist just that little bit to keep anything from doing sizeable damage.

Jamie and the girl were forced to move further away, stopped only by the southern wall as the NK6-2 finally was able to throw the ARC unit off of itself. It wasn't the right move though as the ARC had had two of it's RazorClaws well purchesed below the rims of the NK6-2's chest plating and tore it loose as it was thrown back leaving circuitry and flesh exposed to attack. A glint shone in the ARC's eyes as it tossed the plating aside and crouched ready to pounce once more upon the bellowing NK6-2. The ARC's programming was driving him, that and something else, mixed together the two sources brought on a bloodlust seen very few times by even the most experienced Cybernetic knowledgables. The NK6-2 was showing it's rage, bellowing and thrashing indifferent to anything but it's pain. As it's eyes glowed with that eerie green colour the air started to prickle, raising the hairs along both the girl and Jamie's skin. The ARC didn't seem to notice, all attention upon the NK6-2 that once more was readying to charge, this time though the ARC wasn't just going to be on the defensive, it was going to get the NK6-2 first.

The NK6-2 charged, so did the ARC. There wasn't really that much room for either to last long without contact and quick did it come. As the NK6-2 came upon the ARC the ARC rolled to the side (crashing through a table with no notice), swiveled upon the ground and lashed out with it's RazorClaws to the NK6-2's right leg as it charged past. Front paws gripping from the front the ARC unit kicked with it's full force using it's rear legs at the NK6-2 toppling it over as it spun around unbalanced. Now thrown to the ground the ARC leaped to it's feet once more and fell upon the partially dazed NK6-2, RazorClaws and ViceGrip rendering the NK6-2 into sparking circuitry and flowing red liquid as the ARC tore into the exposed section of the NK6-2's chest. Armour plating and wiring was thrown aside as the ARC tore more panels off the still thrashing NK6-2 to expose more of the internal circuitry to render.

The air continued to prickle as the NK6-2's thrashing died away, the force of blows weakening until the ARC didn't even bother moving aside, allowing the weak hits to make contact and do little more than slight dents and grazings upon it's hide. It was just as the ARC exposed another underpanel that it came, the prickling exposed it's source as the ARC was blasted off the now ruined NK6-2 and into the corner closest to the door. The walls and roof shuddered for a moment but nothing more.

The NQ40 stepped forwards, it's head lolling on it's neck and sparks fluttering around it's ChargeBlasterX-2 and up along it's arm. Jamie looked to the girl beside him, "You put an ElectricLash input on a NQ40? Are you an IDIOT?" The girl just stared blankly, mouth slight agape as from her NQ40's ChargeBlaster arm three streams of whipping electricty stuck out in all directions, spiralling three times as they came together once more and surged towards the sizzling ARC unit still piled against the wall. Jamie looked back to his ARC and shouted, "ARC! SHALD!" That blaze reappeared in the ARC's eyes, three sets of panels along it's side lit up, red lights flashing in time with a glow that pulsed upon it's cross chestplate.

The electricty struck, whipping out and around from where it should of made contact with the ARC but instead came upon the high powered Shald shielding. Both Jamie and the girl were forced to duck as strands of electricty streamed in all directions, the NQ40 wasn't letting up on it's attack, the blast just kept issuing forth from it's ChargeBlaster, making it surge and spark as more energy was pushed into the attack. "This is why you don't put an ElectricLash in a NQ40, they don't know how to balance it, it's going to overload," Jamie hissed at the girl as he continued to watch from where they were ducked behind a crushed table and parts of thrown wall from earlier. He was right, the pulsing of the electricty was becoming more erratic, creating surges that echoed back up the NQ40's arm, causing sparks to dance between it's plating and along it's circuitry exposed at it's neck.

The attack wasn't doing so well for the ARC either, it couldn't keep the Shald up indefinately. The Shald required extreme amounts of power and energy that were taken from everywhere else to keep it maintained, it was supposed to only be used in quick bursts to deflect short burst attacks of varying strength as it paralyzed the user during those short turns.

This was going to be a waiting game of who fried first, either the ARC was going to shut down from over expenditure of power or the NQ40 was going to fry itself by overloading the ChargeBlaster it was using for the ElectricLash. Jamie was hoping it would be the NQ40 first, at least then he wouldn't have to spend anywhere near as much time repairing his ARC and also, he wouldn't have to replace the stupid NQ40 as it would of blown itself and it would be the girl's fault.

Then something happened that Jamie really hadn't expected, his ARC moved, it slowly started working it's way forwards, towards the oncoming blast of the NQ40. Now this shouldn't of been possible and Jamie's mouth gaped open as he watched. The air around the ARC was rippling with a hint of firey red

as it moved, the Shald was still keeping up beyond all measure. Both Jamie and the girl watched amazed as the ARC continued forwards, becoming increasingly faster as it got closer to the NQ40 which as the ARC approached was pressing more power and energy into the ChargeBlaster, causing the stream to become more of a torrent of crackling electricty that continued to rebound off the Shald. It was as the ARC came so close to the NQ40 that it was forced to step back so it still had room to continue the blast without it backlashing upon itself that the NQ40 began to shudder, it's ChargeBlaster arm smoking and sparking internally and creating an unnatural whirling rattling sound that just didn't sound right. The ARC's eyes were solid red glows as it gained further ground, the NQ40 still attempting to move backwards and lash the ARC with electricty even as it began to short circuit itself, the charge coming from the NQ40's arm becoming so strong that it overflowed the rim of the blaster, smoke billowing up around it. Then it spluttered, the electricty stopping for an instant before surging forwards again, it repeated again, twice more and then the ChargeBlaster fully overloaded, exploding in a rain of sparks and metal shrapnel in all directions. The explosion blasted off most of the NQ40's arm and left side as well as most of what was left holding the NQ40's head in place leaving it dangling on it's right side from nothing more than it's spinal cord, circuits and red liquid lashing, sparking and splurting in all directions. The NQ40 remained standing for less than a minute before it toppled over with a loud crash, followed soon after by another as the ARC toppled to the ground beside it drained of all sources of energy, the strange rippling red glow disappearing in the same instant as it went offline.

Jamie ran to his ARC as it fell over, determinded to assess how much damage his Cybernetic had taken during that battle. The girl took a moment, shaking off her shock before rushing over to her own. As a sizzle and spark was heard Jamie looked up and over to the girl who was attempting to get up close to her NQ40, "Don't!" The girl whirled around on him, "What?" and was forced to duck as another smaller explosion made the various crushed and fallen things upon the ground shudder. "That. It's going to keep doing that for a little while, you should keep back until you can get someone go in there safely and disconnect the electric drive otherwise you're just going to get fried." The girl crossed her arms and frowned as she moved over closer to Jamie and his ARC, continually looking back at her NQ40, "Hmpf. Not much point in getting it fixed now, it's ruined.. You owe me a new NQ40."

Jamie looked up from his ARC, "Bull. Your NQ40 blew itself up because of your inabilities to even put your Cybernetic together properlly. That-" he waved at the still sparking and frizzing NQ40, "-would of happened anyway even if it hadn't come rampaging into MY room to ATTACK my ARC. It just would of happened later." She glared at him, "How do you know? Who do you think you are? You don't know everything there is to know about Cybernetics!" Jamie rolled his eyes and looked back at his ARC, moving closer and being careful not to touch the unit as the air around it was wavering with the heat being emitted, "I know because I have common sense and I've seen that happen before. Idiots think that if you just put a powerful weapon on any ol' Cybernetic it'll work. That it doesn't matter about all the packaging that tells you WHAT you can combine together, no THEY'RE smarter than the company that creates the things, they figure you just do this and that, switch these wires and all is good. It's not, there's certain things you can't do, even the most experienced of us know that." Still examing his unit he didn't even bother looking at the fuming girl.

Finally Jamie stood up straight again and looked at the girl who seemed to be thinking her own thoughts as she looked at her trashed Cybernetic. Jamie reached out to pat the side of his ARC and smiled grimly, "Well it's not as bad as it could of been, but we aren't going to be doing that battle now are we? Doubt we'll even be in commission for the next couple of days." He sighed, scratching his head and thinking.

"You noticed the NK6-2's owner hasn't shown up, what do you think happened to them?" Jamie turned to the girl who'd spoken as she looked at the NK6-2 which surprisingly wasn't completely offline, it was gurgling and making slight gasping noises barely heard as red liquid continued to flow out around it from it's shredded chest. "I don't know.." He started to approach the fallen NK6-2 as the girl went to the hole in the wall she hadn't come through and looked into the next room. Jamie couldn't help but be impressed by the NK6-2, it was still holding on despite missing most of it's internal anything from both it's near empty chest and stomach cavaties. "You must of been a good fighter.. I wish we'd met under better circumstances." He reached down to get to the NK6-2's control panel and shut it down, there wasn't any point in letting it linger on like this. As his fingers brushed the panel there was a rush of air and suddenly he'd been pinned to the ground, his head nearly smashed into the tiles below him and he was facing the enormous head of the fallen NK6-2, it's green eye still glowing eerily if faintly at him. "What the?" He tried to pull himself up, or at least out from under the NK6-2's heavy arm but it was holding him down, that green glow following his movement as he struggled to get free. Fear gripped him, this thing was still online and it had already gone haywire, it could very possibly kill him, with very very little effort. He froze as he looked into that eye staring back at him. There was something wild, terrible, alive in that eye, something more than a machine stared back at him in that moment before it faded away. The green disappearing into the oblivion of it's empty black sockets.

For long moments Jamie lay there staring at the empty eyes of the offline Cybernetic, something running down his spine that he couldn't name.

It wasn't until he heard a shout from the next room that he even realised he'd been staring like that and with some effort he shoved the NK6-2's arm off of himself enough to slide away out of it's grasp. Up again he looked around for a moment, avoiding the NK6-2's blank stare before moving off to where he'd heard the voice. "What?"

As he ducked under part of the crumbling wall he saw the girl crouched beside a fallen table to the side of the room with someone laying akwardly next to her. "They're hurt, I don't know what to do," she looked at him worried and Jamie quickly rushed over beside her to see who the person was. He knew who it was and as Jamie sat down next to the girl he spoke to the body, "Hey Cos, it's me Jamie, can you hear me?" There was a groan from the body and it shuddered slightly before the eyes blinked a couple of times and looked blarily around. "Oww.. gods my head hurts.. Jamie that you?" Attempting to sit up Cos very quickly gave up on the idea. "Yeah it's me Cos, you feeling ok? You've got a wonderful bloody bump on the back of your head." The young man reached back and touched among his shaggy red hair and frowned, "So that's what's making that hurt.." and he groaned again as he moved in a way he shouldn't of.

Jamie looked to the girl, "Could you go get someone? I'm not exactly an expert in these matters." "Unlike in Cybernetics huh?" He glared at her, "Just go get someone girl." She rolled her eyes and got up heading for the door around the destruction of what was in the room, though not nearly as bad as Jamie's it seemed to of gotten it's fair share, "It's Britney and fine, I'll go get someone, but I don't know how long I'll be. With all the noise our Cybernetics were making you'd think someone would of come along, I bet ours weren't the only ones that went haywire," and with that she was gone out the door and into the corridor.

Jamie looked at Cos as he helped him sit up, "Man my head hurts.. " "What happened?" Cos turned his head to Jamie and winced, a hand going to his head, "I don't know, one moment I was recalibrating my NK's SPC-K2 drive and the next it'd come online -nearly damned well tore my hand off it did- and I'd been thrown backwards, then there was nothing." "That's it?" Cos went to nod his head but thought better of it as he looked around his room, "Yeah, that was it.. What happened to my room? Where's my NK6-2?" Jamie heh'd, "Well your NK6-2 came bellowing through my wall after a NQ40 came through my other wall and they both started ripping into my ARC." Cos cringed, "Is my NK even repairable?" Jamie shrugged, "I don't know, it was still going despite missing most of it's internals until only a couple of minutes ago.. That thing had a good drive on it, most models would of given out long before that." Cos nodded and took a moment to steady himself again afterwards, "For the condition I got it in and the fact it was still running I knew it had a good drive, that's why I brought it for this competition, I was hoping to use it in the tournament. That and it's a bloody good model even if it's not that recent, it doesn't have any of the problems you usally find in the NK series." "Aside from the wild drive it would seem." "Yeah well, everyone knows you can't do anything about that, you just work it best you can and hope you got the right programing when those times come."

Both of them sat there discussing what had happened until Britney came back fifteen minutes later, "Gods, what an idiot.." "That's what I said."

"I'm back!" A head poked around the doorway, disappeared again then once more appeared followed by another, "This is Jova, he's one of the resident medics. Sorry we took so long, it's like half the Cybernetics in the entire place went in some way haywire, worse were those waiting out in the holdings. Thirty-seven Cybernetics went off at once and the destruction down at the arena is amazing, people everywhere are hurt." She continued going on like this as the medic checked out Cos and determined he had a mild concussion and that if he had any problems to call someone or goto the medical centre to get it checked out, then left.

"So does anyone actually know what caused it or what?" Britney finally stopped as someone actually managed to get something inbetween what she was saying, "Well.. no, but it all happened around the same time and-" "So you don't know, you can stop now." Britney huffed but did none the less. For a moment there was akward silence and Britney looked back to Jamie's room, "You know I really should contact home and get my other Cybernetic brought in," she shot a glare at Jamie, "My NQ40 sure isn't going to be working again.." She made an over the top sigh and waved a hand in the air, "At least I'll have another week to get everything ready," and she was walking away, back to her room, going through the holes in the walls to do so. Before she was completely gone a head popped back into view, "And you owe me a new Cybernetic Jamie"

Jamie sighed. "You think she'll be ok?" Cos said as he watched after her. "Personally I don't care, but probably yeah, her NQ40 is in my room with your NK6-2 and my ARC, and it doesn't exactly sound like she has another Cybernetic in her room." "Does this mean you're gonna pay to replace my NK then too?" Jamie shot a glare at Cos who just laughed, even if he did cut it short as it sent his head spinning, "Joking, joking man, I gotta see if I can salvage my NK first, though I doubt I'll be entering this competition." Jamie raised a brow, "What, you don't have a backup? That's not like you." Cos was getting himself up and walking over to where the hole in the wall was, "Yeah well, I wasn't expecting anything like this to happen was I? That NK is strong and should of been all I needed to get through this competition. I've been putting all my work into it, didn't seem much point to split my time and get two half assed Cybernetics instead of one really good ones." "My, you're starting to see it my way," Jamie laughed and Cos managed a smile himself, though it didn't last long as he peered into Jamie's room and saw the destruction there.

"Gods, your ARC did all this?"

Jamie came up beside the hole as Cos eased himself around the jagged edges closest to himself and around the rubble upon the floor to get to his NK6-2, looking over at the NQ40 and around the room at the same time. "It really tore into my NK's insides didn't it? There's like nothing there.." Jamie watched Cos start to pick over the internals scattered around the room, discarding most of them as useless but keeping a few that could be used again. "It only stopped because the NQ40 blasted it. I don't think you'd of had anything left at all, not even a shell if it'd been able to keep going." Cos turned around on Jamie shocked, "Gods. I've heard that's what happens in those underground tournaments, but I thought all sanctioned Cybernetics had fail safes to stop them going feral like that, even when they go haywire.. You sure your ARC is going to be ok to use still? If you were anyone else I'd say they'd never let you use that unit again, but then you're Jamie aren't you?" His eyes drifted to the battered and dented ARC unit unmoving to the center of the room and shuddered. Jamie shrugged and keeping a wide berth around the still sparking NQ40 started helping Cos pick up bits of his NK6-2's innards.

As the hour wore on they'd collected most of what was still useable, creating two piles away from the rubble containing all the parts that had once been apart of the NK6-2 and even a few that'd been part of the NQ40. Red liquid covered a good portion of the unusable parts, as it was highly corrosive and once it had had come into contact alot of Cybernetic parts would no longer work. The red liquid itself was a part of every Cybernetic, though it did sometimes come in different colours depending on the unit, it was a fluid that helped things function when properlly used. It required a sizeable bit of maintenance but if one didn't look after it, their Cybernetic was prone to break down more often for silly little reasons. So aside from giving the impression of blood during some of the more violent battles it also worked somewhat like a life fluid that kept the machines going. The resemblence in use and view to human blood did have an unnerving quality that did leave some Cybernetic users more comfortable with smaller units that didn't tend to use as much, at least until they were comfortable with handling the stuff.

During this time Jamie had also taken the opportunity to switch off and disconnect the electric drive in the NQ40 as it kept sparking in ways that made neither Jamie or Cos comfortable with being even in the same room with it. There had still been a likliness it could of further exploded, spraying the room with further shrapnel and neither of them really wanted that to happen.

Neither of them saw Britney again though they did hear her a couple of times before the sound of a door slamming and then there was no more sounds from her room. For a while they'd also allowed the tv to keep going in the background, Jamie had been surprised that it had survived the barrage of everything, but only a small portion of the picture had been disrupted and they could see the images clearly but for that one spot. The sound wasn't quite as good though, Cos has disconnected three of the speakers as the crackle and popping sounds had just irritated both of them, leaving just the two closest to the screen still working. Neither of them really paid much attention to the screen, not even the words that came from it. The same thing was being repeated over and over; Alto Mare had been destroyed and they didn't know how, not really that interesting after you heard it the first half a dozen times.

Though neither knew it at the time, this was only the first of many interruptions, when live television feeds would overide everything else and the world would learn of what was going on..

This was to be the last of the Cybernetic Tournaments.


Master Rugia isn't as I had expected..

My Brother says all is fine, that Master Rugia has only to settle..

Then things will be as they should be.

I fear my Brother has hold of my life


That's it!

Chapter four done after what, at least a year and a half! Though I think it's closer to two.. oh well. Done now! ;

Somewhat more violent there than anything else so far wasn it? I think I did an ok job of the battle, ah well. Hope you enjoyed! Most likely it wont be so long between this and the next chapter as I've written half of it already, so woo!