Hey-o everyone, second chapter of Meteor Changes.

For future reference, I apologize for a great lack of quality in these chapters. I know I've probably said it earlier, but meh. Unlike my other stories, the chapters will be short in exchange for me being able to get them done quickly.

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A New Champion

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The following morning…

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Initializing…

Boot-up sequence initiated.

Energy level: 98.3%…98.4%…

Condition of power core: Stable, running at full efficiency.

Running diagnostics check…

Arms: 100%

Legs: 100%

Torso: 100%

Head: 100%

Memory storage condition: 83.7%. Repairs commencing.

No hydraulic leaks detected.

No physical damage detected.

Radiation from core: No detected leaked radiation.

Combat capability: Error.

Weather conditions: Sunny, partial clouds, humidity moderate but decreasing.

…

…

Energy level at max, unit activation initiated.

Audio receptors activated…video receptors activated…

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The machine slowly started up, the areas of yellow dully glowing as it groaned, slowly sitting up as its eyes were closed. The former human-now-machine wasn't aware of his changes, slowly lifting a clawed hand to his head to ease the bit of migraine he had. When he felt his claws on his head, he visibly jolted, now opening his eyes. The simple action surprised him, seeing everything in much clearer form than he ever thought.

"What the...?! Is that–!" he spoke, only to be surprised by the deeper and more mechanical tone of his voice.

When he brought a 'hand' up to his neck, he stopped in an instant, eyes wide at the claws he was looking at. Panic started to set in as he brought his other hand, over, seeing the giant claws on them, flexing them and seeing they were his. After he did so, he started looking over his body, seeing he was no longer human, as well as seeing the indention made on the ground from him being out, as well as his footsteps.

"What the hell happened to me?!" he said aloud, horrified at the fact of him no longer being human in body.

Foreign entity detected.

"Huh?" the machine questioned, having spotted those words, along with a form of arrow pointing him towards it. He followed the arrow, slowly turning around and spotted someone close by.

Scanning…Species: Human. Gender: Female…

"What the?" was his response to seeing the screen suddenly fill with info about his mother, looking at all of it.

"Aleron…?" she quietly asked, slowly approaching him. "Is…that you…?"

She slowly approached the robot that towered over her, no doubt scared but had to know if her son was still in the machine before her.

"M…mom…" Aleron muttered, slowly kneeling down. Though he was in a new body, it functioned almost like a normal human's body, able to move easily though still had the features to worry about.

He watched his mother approach, soon in front of his mechanized head, intimidated about being so close, but was calmed when he did speak out. Slowly, she reached a shaking hand out to him, seeing his 'eyes' blink every so often until she touched the front of his face. It was slightly warm, having been such due to the sun's rays as she started to slowly feel around, taking in what she was seeing and feeling. Aleron didn't move at all, letting her do so in hopes she would be calmed after this.

"Aleron…please tell me…that this is a dream…" she asked of him, tears welling up.

"I…I wish I could… …" he answered, saddened as well.

She continued to feel around, soon reaching the wires reaching from the back of his head to his body, sniffling a bit as she soon embraced him in a hug, crying freely as the tears splattered on the chassis. Aleron was saddened to see her like this, slowly laying a hand on her but being extremely careful, unsure if they were sharp or if he could end up crushing her on accident.

Foreign entities detected.

Those words popped up again, making him slowly lift his head and look around, seeing various other neighbors coming, though some were keeping their distance. He knew they were – without a doubt – nervous or scared of his form, not moving much to show he wasn't hostile. The thought of the police coming also occurred, but figured it was best to try and not do anything that could turn the others on him.

"What is that thing?"

"Is it harmless?"

"Shouldn't we get her away from that…?"

Those were some of the questions asked, while some others started to take pictures. He knew that the press was going to get involved, but didn't care, only wanting others to see he wasn't a monster that they think he is. Looking back to his mom, she had stopped crying, slowly letting go as she looked at him.

"You're…still you?" she asked.

Aleron nodded for his answer, the metal mouth bending slightly at the joint in a small smile.

"Yeah, I'm still me." he spoke as well, shifting to a sitting position.

He looked around, seeing the others closing in slowly. They all stopped when he looked around, in which he stopped before looking back to his mom. The peace lasted as the others came in, inspecting him as well as the rest of his family, as he also wondered what kind of machine he was turned into. The peace was soon interrupted by the short burst of sirens, everyone looking and seeing a cop car at the street, the occupants coming out.

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Aleron's PoV:

Warning; armed threats detected.

'What...?' I thought to myself, looking to the cops.

When I did so, that scanning thing popped up, but it highlighted the pistols the cops had in their holsters, showing all kinds of statistics about them.

Combat level: Low.

I figured that it was thinking I wanted to fight, but I wasn't if I wanted to show I'm innocent. Soon as the cops spotted me, they quickly pulled out their pistols, aiming at me. Gotta love the instinct of them; see something dangerous, pull out a gun.

"What the hell is that…thing…?!" one of the officers yelled out.

A small growl escaped me, tired of being called a thing as I slowly stood up, the people around me backing away.

"I have a name you know." I started, "It's Aleron!"

"How do we know you won't go stir-crazy like all those other freaks?" the other questioned.

I was about to counter but stopped once I realized what they said. "Wait, I'm not the only one?"

"Yeah, haven't you seen the news?" one of the officers answered, slowly relaxing. "Ever since the meteor shower show last night, there has been a non-stop flow of reports and sightings of people mutating with either superpowers or transforming completely."

I looked back to the crater, remembering what had happened last night, when I was close to the meteor, then the pain of the transformation. After I was done, I looked back to the officers.

"So, what will you do now?" I asked them.

"What do you mean?"

"Will you report what you have seen here? Or will you–" I started saying, only to be cut off by a warning coming from up high.

I looked up to where it was going, quickly getting into a defensive stance.

"EVERYBODY! GET TO COVER!" I yelled out, the people staying for a bit before doing as ordered.

Right after everyone got clear, an explosive shell crashed into me, blowing up around me and sent me skidding back. Once I stopped, I lowered my arms, seeing scorch marks on them as well as a hud showing my body, the arms reading numbers on them.

Left arm at 97%. Right arm at 98.2%. The display read.

"Damn, was hoping for that to be a direct head-shot." Someone yelled out, making me look through the cloud of smoke.

A targeting cursor shifted through the smoke, soon locking onto someone hovering in the air.

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Personally, I feel that the ending's lacking a bit, but hey, a cliffhanger's a cliffhanger. *shrug*