Characters from Chapter 10:

Neon: Silver with spiralling yellow stripes down her flank, equipped with weapons within her. Part of the Neon Class Family of the Perfected.

Caitlyn: Reddish-Black she-cat

Chapter 11: Harsh Regrets

Neon

I constantly reflected on my actions, why did I do that? I had the perfect opportunity to take them all out, it was my mission. Yet I just let them slide… I had no pity for them, my goal was to secure them, capture them, stop the escape. So why did I let them get away?

I kept telling myself that it was the smoke and dust that obscured me, that it wasn't my own accord. My own actions… I was old, one of the first Perfected… Was that it? Or something else? My body felt weird, contorted into several different parts of me. What was this feeling, deep in my chest? Was it… Emotions? No… I was one of the Perfected, I had no emotions I did not need self-awareness, I did not need the ability to think and act for myself. My goal was to protect the Sirens, listen to them, to their every command…

Yet this tug inside me, what was it… I felt, different, weird, obsolete? No… Something else, something I could not describe… It took hold of me, it occupied my every thought as I padded out the prison, down the street. I did not know what it was…

I felt weak, tired. I didn't like it, I felt like what I was doing, was… No… I had done bad. I had to report to them. Yet this insistent tug within me, it beckoned me with gifts and dreams. Those that reminded of the nightmares I've constantly had…

I didn't know anymore. My mind was whirring my head was spinning, this world kept whirling. I didn't know what to do… I shook my head, this wasn't what I should be thinking, my objectives were simple, my life mission but a chore. I had to do as I was told, as I was commanded… But what for…

My fur was cuffed by the wind, my face whiplashed. I felt confused, an emotion… What were these, tendencies? I slowed to a halt in the middle of the street, my eyes dropped to my paws. They were trembling. This shouldn't be happening… I was Neon, the strong and great. The first assault Perfected, the big sister of our class. I…

I sighed looking back up towards the end of the street. Down that past to the right would be the entrance to the Siren Centre. My home for all I know. I had grown there, learnt there. Now it was my job to defend there. Defend this city. Defend my home. That should be my only thoughts, my only goals. I titled my head up, pride reinvigorating me. It would be her loss for her disloyalty towards them wouldn't it be? But despite all this I tell myself…

There's a feeling in me that can't be quenched…

I did not know what it was…

But seeing her with them…

Seeing her…

I…

I continued walking down the street, my pause attracting glances from all directions. I was a Perfected always active, always ready. It didn't matter if we were damaged to the core or out of energy, we remained active. It didn't matter my thoughts, I had to report the battle and incident to high command, to him.\

The leaves littered on the courtyard floor, the Dynamic guards with their dunk and lazy eyes their silly smiles, brains backwards. I always scoffed, jokingly remark how this was my home. But now… Was this really my home?

I passed by the guards, they barely lifted an eye. They were meant to be elite guards, protecting us, the most important, greatest… Invention…

Was that what we were? Only inventions?

The great doors of the Siren Centre, laid in foundation by stignium and agnium, a showcase of how rich and powerful our nation has become from us, the Perfected. Its giant figure arched in wood, brimmed with jewels. It was too distinct from the rest of the city, the building's walls made from rare dark stignium. It was a building, a dazzling symbol of power and wealth for following their rules.

The brims of the door all converged in lines towards the centre of the door where a massive eye stared down towards any entering. It was more than just a decoration, though I doubted its practical use as well. It was a security system, a figure put in place. It detects and analyses who goes where. But it was also a cultural figure, one used to cultivate the past. It was the first superior technology that was ever developed, the first Sirens to say the least. It was a sentient eye that had a single purpose but could not communicate like us, it was only there for its single purpose.

I stared up, looking directly at it as its iris expanded and focused on me. It blinked before opening the door closing itself as it split together with the door. The stairs leading up towards the entrance lined with silk carpets by the sides and a steady stream down through. The Sirens lavishly designed this place making sure it was grandiose and fantastic.

I climbed the stairs, my paws sounding against the hard stone bricks, entering through the massive door to a grand hall, a great corridor laying parallel out towards the main gate and down the main street. The Sirens loved perfection, strived and advocated for it. Down this lavishly decorated corridor filled with suits of armour and the newest technologies they have designed on display for the world to see, was the mission control room, the command room. It was of utmost priority to have this room secure. It controlled all of us.

I made my way to it, ignoring all other detail. I tunnelled in on it, it was my objective, it was where I needed to go.

Slam!

A paw hit the opposite wall, blocking my path to the command room. Damn it!

"Oh hey there Neonnnnn," The black and white tom purred in a tease. His eyes expanding in and out in the most annoying fashion.

"What do you want Bulwark," I hissed, my claws flashing dangerously hinting towards him.

He smiled, "Oh I just wanted to say hello and goodbye…"

He cut off his goofy smile turning into one laced with sadism, "After all, I'll love seeing how you explain to him…"

I growled grasping his neck and slamming it against the wall, pinning him onto it, "I will kill you…" I snarled dangerously my eyes murderous glinting off his.

He chuckled before replying, his voice dangerously low, "Why don't you make me?"

His eyes were orange, dangerously close to the crimson red all the Perfected had. It was a signal which told anyone that they should sing their last words, for they would not live till say much more.

I released my grasp of him and spat, he was the only other aside from the Prefect, in the city. I could live with him as long as he could too.

I pushed the doors of the command room open. Unlike the main one, this door was not as fancily operated. It was just a normal door with extra security measures for it led up to our brains… Well, basically our brains.

I looked up. The room was masked in shadows with only blue light from the screens giving any visibility. A dark chair lay in the centre of all the screens absorbing the brunt of the light. There sat a cat, his white fur quite elegantly shining within the shadows.

"Oh…"

His voice was gentler, subtler. He had lost most of his motivation after the loss of her daughter.

"You're back…"

He was once the most vicious and violent of the Sirens, pushing their goals of conquest far past 'Saster. He wanted to prove his worth, he was the voice of us, the Perfected. And so, he became our controller.

He sighed, emptiness shrilling in his voice, "Report?"

I stared, making sure I made as much direct eye contact with him… Or rather the back of his chair, "I failed to capture the enemies, though I suspect they were not part of the rebellion…"

"And her?"

His voice was demanding of one thing, something I faltered at, fearful of his reaction. Beside me, Bulwark had entered and was giggling softly in my ears. I just wanted to slap him.

I gulped, "E.M.L.I.A has… Gone A.W.O.L…"

I sighed as Bulwark smirked, he knew I was going to get in trouble. I couldn't rend her back in… I was a failure…

He swivelled around from his chair, staring right at me, his yellow eyes penetrating my mechanical body. He stood from his chair and I flinched. This could get bad…

"There was more than that…" He echoed, hesitantly. He was judging his words before he stated his mind, I realised.

"Perhaps you weren't quite aware, but behind one of the so-called break out coercers…" He stared at me.

"Was Melody…"

My heart dropped as I access my database. Sure enough, in the heat of the battle, I saw her hiding behind one of the toms. My paws trembled, I dropped to my paws. I prayed to the Stars.

Instead, he just sighed. He turned to Bulwark, his smirk dropping in an instant as he glanced from me to him.

"Bulwark, report?" He implored.

Bulwark coughed, clearing his rusty throat, "Well yes! Unlike Neon here, I have managed to have some success. I have found out from some… Inside sources, that the fugitives that Neon failed to capture are on the run. My… Network has found out that they are now hiding within the woods of the outskirts. Within a few minutes of your command, I could round them up and…"

His eyes glinted with malice, "Dispose of them."

He closed his eyes, a sigh forming in his throat. My eyes glanced to the floors, my failure racking through me. My anger boiling at Bulwark.

"I will report this to Lord Aura. He will know what to do," He finally responded.

He glared at me, one that displayed his shame and utter exhaustion, "You are dismissed…"

It wasn't an insult, it wasn't a threat. But the direct command of his… I could only feel shame and defeat course through my cogs and gears.

"Yes…" I replied, my eyes not reaching his, not daring to even glance at him, "Master Goerin Vynce…"

I padded away in solitude, towards the exit of the room as Bulwark glanced at me, eyes lighting up. His share of amusement had been fulfilled.

I could only drown in my sorrows…

Andratas

We had been running foxlaps for an hour now. Reaching the far side of the city centre, managing to escape out the back of the prison with no guards, probably recalled to deal with the escape, we had continued trekking our way to the outskirts of the city, where we would be safe. We climbed the crater walls, the path difficult with a damaged Emilia and a weak Shelly and Mink. We persevered however, managing to pass through the slums to the woods of the outskirts. All that time however, I had an eerie feeling that someone or something was watching us. Always dodging my glances backwards. I shook it off however, it was probably just the stress and anxiety I had from this day.

"Stop!" Melody cried out, her feet about to collapse on the ground. We were quite deep into the woods, decently far from all the action taking place in the city. It was mayhem there, lockdown had been imposed and the city was being scoured for the escapees and of course, us. They had not managed to find anything. No guard would dare tread foot in the tunnel systems and the others had probably made it out by now.

"We need a break, we need rest," She called out. Looking back at the rest of them, they were no worse for wear. Shelly and Mink had survived just from sheer determination. They had no energy left. They could not go further. Emilia was the worst off, she was limping slowing us down and occasionally she even halted for a few seconds, her internal wirings damaged. Schion wasn't that bad, he was strong and built for running and escaping. But even he would not manage any much longer than the rest.

Despite wanting to put more distance between us and the centre, I knew that Melody was right. She was a medicine cat after all, she knew that we would not last any longer. The only reason she had kept her muzzle shut was because she knew of our precarious situation. But here, we were quite safe, although I still had that tingling suspicion…

"All right. Let's make camp…"

It wasn't long after my suggestion left my muzzle that we had a fire working. Schion and I had hunted some wild mice and Melody had foraged in the woods finding everything from wild Catenfruit to medical herbs. It was dearly received. She patched up Mink and Shelly and after they were fed, they fell right asleep, Shelly finally showing a slight tug on her muzzle. A small hint of her old smile.

Melody soon fell asleep too, exhausted by this long day. Schion said he would go and patrol, make sure that they weren't being followed.

That left me and a quite damaged Emilia.

"You ok?" I asked, concerned about her wellbeing. After all sudden jerking and stalls weren't quite the symptoms of a healthy cat.

She waved a paw at me, "I self-regenerate broken and damaged parts, like… Live cats… After a while I'll be good as new."

She stared at me, tilting her head, "Aren't you tired?"

I flashed a nervous smile, fidgeting with my paws, "Nah. Adrenaline and exhilaration you know? You?"

She placed a paw on her face, judging me, "No… We Perfected use a system of solar energy and kinetic movement to power ourselves quite efficiently."

With her eyes still on me, I was quite nervous. Emilia seemed like quite a great she-cat. Yet I knew very little about her…

"So…" I shuffled my paws, racked in fear of my impending question, "About the whole Neon thing…"

She blinked at me and I quickly hid my face behind my paws, flinching for the imminent missile at my face.

Instead, she exhaled, "I've never told you guys about myself huh."

She relaxed her tense shoulders, looking directly at my eyes, "Neon was indeed my sister, she was very good at it too…"

Her eyes left mine and she looked down at her paws, emotion flushed on her face, "She was a great sister but…"

I knew she wouldn't go anywhere without support so I shuffled closer to her, bumping her shoulders, "Hey it's ok… You don't need to talk about it if you don't want to…"

She pushed me away, her eyes flashing. She murmured something about me being an idiot before continuing, "Well, my creator tried to make us have free will. Our own set of emotions, our own lives… It didn't quite go too well…"

"This Vuella or something…" I blurted out too soon before realising my mistake.

Her eyes flashed in pain and anger as she glared at me, I backed off, ready to place my paws at my face again. But she cooled down, her anger subsided as she sighed.

"She… was my creator. At least in some sense. She was like a mother to me. And… She was the one who tried to give us all these gifts…" She stared down at her risen paws. They were trembling in trepidation. I realised then and there, she was put under too much pressure, too much stress. These gifts that were given to her… They also forged her… She was the only one who could feel the torture of her actions…

"She was discovered tampering with us… She could have been executed, but…" She paused, tears welling in her eyes as sparks began flying out from her closing hole in her body, "We rebelled. For the first time, the Perfected fought against the Sirens, not for them. We were defeated. Outnumbered. The Sirens still had more Perfected who weren't given these gifts yet. It was really only the Neon Family that was given them."

She looked back up at me, a drop of sadness trickled down her eyes and landed at her paws, "They succeed in their goal however, they freed her…"

Now many droplets splashed against the ground, her emotions visible for the world to see, "I wasn't there to support them… I failed them… They all had their memories erased, they were all brutally altered. They were given new memories, harsh memories. I wasn't there, I didn't get changed. I have regretted that ever since…"

She collapsed into a heap, a crying heap. Seeing this, I was reminded too much of Shelly. The curled up ball of sadness. She was broken in the inside. Too much pain, too much suffering. But I could not let her be like this. She had done so much good. Way more than she could ever have done bad…

I growled, snapping at her, "How could you think like that! If you did get altered, do you think I would be here right now?! Do you think any of us would be alive at this moment?!"

I stepped close to her nudging her up, comforting her at the same moment. My voice softening as I looked at her face, wet from her tears, "You are a great cat, no matter what has happened to you, no matter how much you've suffered and been through… You are still here, standing for what you believe!"

She sniffled, her paws rubbing against her nose. She was smiling, tears still rolled off her face but she was smiling, "Thank you Andratas… You…"

She placed her muzzle into my fur, droplets splashing against me, her eyes flashed, she was relieved. She had suffered all this time… I finally realised why her creator, fought for her. She was like Shelly. She wasn't a machine used to kill, she wasn't even a creation to be commanded.

She was precious…

And she deserved to be protected like so, from the enemies outside, and the demons inside her.

She stared right up at me, the tears that just now flooded her face, now drying, "Thank you."

Drilling back into the refuge of my chest, she continued, "You were the first who I ever saved, you know? I knew from the moment I saw you protecting your sister, standing up to me… That you were different…"

She smiled, and unlike all the other Perfected in this world… It wasn't one of empty sadism and malice or even a fake one at best. It was a true smile. She was very much a real, live cat. And I wouldn't let anyone say otherwise…

A/N: There is way too much to say about this chapter so I'll just summarise it in one take… The chapter title is a very good representation of this chapter unlike a lot of chapters in many stories. Also, I posted late because my brother came back from his trip and I wanted to spend some time with him. He laughed at my story. :(. Just realised as well, that italics and boldings from this and previous chapters don't show unfortunately. That's because I type in word before exporting it here. Yikes. Still it shouldn't affect the story that much... But yeah, pretty sad news... I might go back and remaster this whole story after I'm finished with it so that's a plus. That's about it. Thank you for all the reviews and remember to submit OCs… Lata!