My days had become restless. My eyes were full of light and energy, as was my body. My feet ran faster, my heart raced healthier, my chest was full and my mind free. The hunting of glitches became a side task that I could run through with ease as I focused on my main goal of each day. The glitches I faced were looking back at me with much more life than I originally gave them credit for. I could see the companion pets in them. I could see sentience. Each day was like the last; I would go to work early in the morning, finish my tasks as fast as possible, then spend the rest of the day and night taking care of the companion pets with Emma.

The days had practically merged together as I found solace in something stable and new. This was a fresh experience, wringing my body from its oily undertones and drying it back to life. I felt new. I felt free.

My mouth would often smile. It hasn't done that in truth for quite some time. I love the feeling of it, the joy that came with it, the warmth.

I wanted nothing more than to continue this warmth throughout my days, yet I could only feel it in the lab. Outside of the lab I was colder. I could still feel the warmth from my Centridom's gaze, especially as I laid in my bed with me at night, circling around itself to get comfortable. I couldn't understand it. Perhaps it was the glitches. They were always so sweet and cuddly. Not the humanoid ones, however. They were more like people than anything. Honestly it was scary to think about.

No, it was something else. The glitches were a big part of this feeling, and the lab had nothing to do with it.

Oh..Oh no..

I had realized my mistake. I was not ready for this kind of thing. I was not expecting a feeling of this sorts to make its way into my life. People had always told me what it was like, that one day I would feel it, but I didn't think they were serious.

Some people go their entire lives without this, so why couldn't I? This pounding in my chest, this sweat from my hands and neck. My mouth became dry and my kness shaky.

Was this love?

Falling for a person takes great amounts of strength to endure. I've seen companions in love with one another and it just looks exhausting.

I was right about that one.

I can't be. I won't be! I refuse to feel this. I refuse to admit I can feel this. It's more human than I can take. It's sickening. If it's so awful then why is it so warm? Such a happy place?

I've been around her too long, that's all. My body was attached, but I was not, that must be it. A physical reaction to friendship. I hadn't had a truly good friend before so my body is mistaking this closeness with affection.

Gah!

I can't take this. I need a distraction.

I need a fight.

—

The T-Rex shot at me with its lasers, missing just barely as I flew around in on my hoverboard. I'd gotten some extra points and decided to splurge a little. The speed I was going at seemed to be just enough to evade the beast's aim. To be fair, its eyes were so far apart, I could barely call this a fair fight.

Bam!
A beam hit my board, throwing me off balance. As I tried to restabilize myself, I began to see smoke coming from my board. Just great. I tried to steer away from any trees or powerlines, barely missing each one. I was losing control, and fast. One last option.

As I lunged off of the now flying death machine, it went off and exploded as it smashed into a tree. Good thing it's respawnable.

ROAAAARRR!
But I'm not.

I manuevered out of the dinosaur's path as it tried to snatch me in its large maw. It smashed into the ground, picking up some dirt as it lifted its mighty head.

The laser on its shoulder pointed it at me as the beast and I made eye contact. I summoned my shield just in time as the beam bounced off of it, hitting a nearby tree.

Scrambling to my feet, I felt the ground shake as the monster roared again, frustrated at my lack of defeat.

" Alright big guy, I don't wanna hurt ya. Just let me bonk your head real quick so I can get you back to HQ."

It roared again.

" Okay, not much of a conversationalist."

I dodged as its tail hit the ground I stood on. It wasn't playing around anymore. Not that it was before, but you get the idea. Another smash and another dodge later, we seemed to be at a standstill. I was too fast for it, but it was too big for me. We both seemed to know this, as we stared into each others eyes.

" Draw?" I asked. It squinted at me, then relaxed. It turned and began to walk away, its large feet creating small craters in the ground.

Now's my chance. I was always a good liar. My gauntlet glowed as it created a small ball-like capsule from that popular game. I threw it as good as my little man arms could, bonking the rex on the tail. It was just enough as the ball opened, showering the monster in a light, turning it into light, then sucking it in and closing, falling to the ground. It shook for a second, then a click was heard.

" Man I love these things."

I picked up the ball, then looked around at the damage. What a mess. I went through, using plixels to clean everything up and set it back to the way it was. As I was finishing up, I made my way to the last tree. My Centridom was still trapped in the monster's spit. It seemed to have a good hold on her. This stuff could probably be used for some wicked glue. I pulled her out, cleaned the spit up, and headed out.

" Alright, Centi. I think that was a job well done, don't you?" Centi cooed, nuzzling into me. I had to push her off, though, as her nuzzling was pushing my hands off of the steering wheel. The tech vans had auto pilot, but I like to feel the car, feel the control in my hands.I looked at the capsule on the dashboard. It rocked slightly with the movement of the car. Another one that's gonna be reused. Possibly made into a companion pet, maybe just broken down into data to be used for other things. Things like a hoverboard, or a van..

I shook it off, I needed to stay focused.

Back in the lab, Emma greeted me from onto of a flying eyeball glitch.

" I see the capture went well?" She inquired. " Yeah, a bit of trouble, but not too much." I answered. " We came to an agreement near the end, though. Made it a whole lot easier. Wish he woulda done that from the start." I tossed the capsule up and let it fall back into my hand.

" Well, Tyrrano are known for their stubborn, yet fair behavior." She giggled as she took the capsule from me. "I take it you liked this new toy?"

" Oh, uh yeah. It was a lot easier to just catch the thing rather than, uh, beat it at a fight." I flexed my arm to prove my point. " I would be chasing it for the whole day if it wasn't for that." I cleared my throat, feeling dry. Dammit.

" Yeah, I bet." She walked over to her computer.

" So, uh, anything you need help with today?" I rocked onto my toes and back to my heels a bit, swaying.

" Nope, I'm almost finished for the day, so you can just head out if you want."

" Oh, well uh, since you're not doing anything soon, you wanna head out together? Grab some dinner? I'm starved after chasing that dino through the woods. Nothin' big, of course, just to hang." I bit at my tongue.

" Oh, no thanks I already ate. You go on ahead though." Her eyes were fixed to the screen as she worked. Her focus never broke. It was almost inhuman.

" Oh, right right. Yeah, okay. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?" My tongue felt more pressure from my teeth as I clenched. The dullness of the bones were thanked in that moment.

" Oh yeah, mhm."

Silence followed her reply, if you could call it that. I could say I was irritated, but that would be incorrect. I was ashamed. I was infuriated. Not at her inability to look at me, I understood this concentration, I lived it. I was to blame. I was trying to be something I'm not. I should know better. I should be better. I wanted something I knew I could not have. My body craves it, my brain doesn't. Why is this so painful?

The blood.

I coughed as I choked on my iron rich spit, trying to breathe. This seemed to catch her attention.

" Are you alright?" Her eyes did not move.

I caught my breath for a reply, " Yeah," then I coughed some more. My throat was now clear, and so was my mind. My teeth were stained red with the blood. I bit too hard.

My unconcious efforts made me conscious once more. I thank my body for that harsh awakening.

I centered myself as I made sure my throat was clear. My eyes then began to wander the screen Emma was so focused on. There was a list of all of the glitches she had in her custody. All of the creatures she was in charge of. There were so many different kinds. I hadn't seen this list in my 3 weeks of coming here. I couldn't imagine how large her collection was. I never dared to ask.

No. It's not her collection. It's theirs. She doesn't control how many of them are sent to her, they do. How many more could there have been if they weren't broken down to become something else? Recycled.

It's sick.

" There are so many." The words left my mind before I could stop them.

" Yep, and more to come."

" How do they choose which ones will remain themselves?"

" I don't know. Maybe it's based on hostility and ability to change the code."

" There should be more in here. Glitches are caught everday, sometimes dozens. They shouldn't be changed like that. Not that many. They wouldn't all be that bad, would they?"

Emma sighed, her eyes falling for the first time since getting on the computer. " They don't see them the way we do. They only see them as code they can either use, or recycle. I don't control that."

" Have you tried showing them? I was once like that, now I know what they are. If you can change me, you can change them, I'm sure of it."

Emma closed her eyes for a bit, putting her hands on her head. When she spoke, it was solemn. " I have. They refuse to listen. I don't want it to be this way, but I can't change it. At least in this chair I have some sort of power over this. I'm not completely powerless in showing someone, at least one person, that glitches are not just code. At least I did with you." She looked at me with this sort of defeat in her eyes.

My blood ran faster, filling my mouth as my teeth gnawed into my tongue, further and further they dug.

" That's..That's bullshit."
" Excuse me?" She was taken aback by my response.

" It's bullshit! They should listen. I looked that dinosaur in the eyes and saw a glimpse, no no, a huge chunk of life in there. He heard me. He understood me. Something that can look me in the eyes and show me some life should have the chance to live it."

My anger boiled, I felt my nails in my palms as my fists clenched tighter and tighter. The face I saw was one of pain and defeat. I wanted to fix that.

" Trust me, I've already tried. At least here I can show the Techs that truth. For the most part, at least."

" That's not enough. I swear to you, I swear to them," I pointed at the screen, " That I can and will prove that these creatures are worth saving. They're not just monsters, they're intelligent beings. I can show them. I just need a chance. An audience with those high up assholes who think they can throw life around like this."

" Okay, okay, calm down." Emma stood up, her hands up towards me, trying to keep me together. " You can try. I won't guarantee it'll work, just from experience, but if you can get something to show them the truth, I could get you an audience."

My ears perked along with my interest. " What, really? You're on my side on this?"

" If you can do more than what I could, then yes. Only, though, if you can have some good solid proof that won't make them think they wasted their time. It'll only make things harder."

My blood slowed as a smile crept up. Suddenly, my energy came back, but in a more controlled, solid way. " Yes, yes I can do that. I just gotta get a glitch to bring back, easy, I do that everyday." I began to walk out, a bit more pep in my step.

" Lucas, just don't be stupid and bring back a killer robot or something. Just because you relate to it doesn't mean others will."

" I will forget you said that!"