Subi: Oo... ... ...

Anonymous: You aren't over there plotting again, are you? (suspicious look)

Subi: oo; Who me?

Anonymous: No, I'm talking to your dog... Of course you!

Subi: >O You leave my dachshund out of this! Of course I'm plotting!

Anonymous: X-x; Okay then...

13. Repairs

After the whole ordeal was over, I was dragged over and forced to listen at a raving Shiori lecture me. I was weary, I felt like every single emotion mixed together, and I was zoning out a minute later. Why did I bring that little mech back anyway…? Better yet, why couldn't I kill him? "Karahrr!" the femmebot snapped me out of my thoughts. "Are you even listening?" I blinked, the room coming back into focus.

"Um…not particularly." Giving an awkward laugh. "I sort of had tendencies to not pay attention even when he.." I froze temporarily at what I was saying. "Karahrr!" Glaviin barked; I jumped at his voice. "Did you even hear me?" He wanted me to be there, but I couldn't…I shook my head clear of the thoughts and panging guilt. Now feeling downcast at the moment, I apologized. "…Sorry about that; what were you talking about again?" To avoid me spacing out again, she got straight to the point.

"You handed them a Decepticon in the middle of a battle. Why?"

"I was just cleaning up the field!" I tried as an excuse, unable to explain why in the first place. Shiori and the others in the room glanced at each other.

"Are you sure you aren't damaged in any way from the battle? Other than superficially..." Red Alert inquired carefully. Shiori sent him a look, and he quickly fell silent. At around that moment, a massive headache started to build and I winced.

"Can… I get back to you on that one?" I replied uncertainly, squinting for the moment and hoping that was enough to drive it away; no such luck. A small screen formed that said 'Error report: memory file error reported and recorded'. I sighed and turned back to them once more. "Apparently, there's some sort of error with my memory files…"

"Memory error?" a black Autobot asked skeptically.

"Jo, shut the slag up," Rachele, a mostly grey and blue Femme growled. "It's a wonder we haven't kicked you out yet."

"Both of you be quiet!" Shiori snapped, and everyone was instantly silent. Shiori turned back to Karahrr and knelt beside the night-black cat mech. I looked up, feeling my optics sliding in and out of focus from systems attempting to go into core shut-down. "Karahrr, we can put you into a temporary suspended stasis that can allow us to fix your memory systems. Do you want us to try to fix your memory from lapsing out?" She suggested, putting one arm under my neck and gently petting my sleek head. I nodded and whispered "That would be kind of you..." I felt someone open a heavily armored panel in my armor, faintly heard Shiori's voice telling them what to do; Then everything went dark...

"That's…Karahrr? But how?" The twins gaped at their friend's much different, black form still being repaired. Shiori had kicked everyone except Red Alert, the twins, and myself out two hours earlier for some reason, and was single-handedly repairing the black cat mech's systems by herself now.

"Can you explain it to them, Star? I have to see what Red wants." She asked as she headed over to the fuming medic, who was irritated at the fact Shiori wouldn't let him anywhere near Karahrr's systems with a tool in hand. I twitched in annoyance. Picking up a data pad off the table behind me, I looked up the archived information and began in monotone:

"There were several ways the 'cat demon' race was created before the process was perfected. At first, it began with large amounts of undiluted cat DNA directly infused into the body. Soon after this was used though, most of the subjects' genetic material became unstable, and few survived the treatment. Those that did survive were more cat-like than human, so the project was scrapped. It is believed that though the project was officially terminated, it was still occurring underground with corrupt scientists." I paused, letting the two soak in the information. With Tayyon's nod of understanding, I continued.

"Karahrr's condition, known as 'mech-mode', was induced by a different technique." I added, then shut off the screen, and cast my mind around to find the memory of an explanation given to me earlier. "Another study started a few years later, this time using nano-technology to forcibly bond and attach the feline attributes. The offspring obtained a result of the DNA splicing and nanobot's programming meshed together; the makings of a mech code reacting to the cat's enhanced 'fight or flight' nerve reactions which were much more abundant than in humans." A look of utter confusion crossed their faces. I clarified, "So basically, when these chemicals were invoked, the nano-technology in the system would combine and temporarily alter the cat demon with the use of the iron in their blood into a mech. This causes iron deficiencies in some that are capable of mech-mode. The power from this form was supplied by the DNA's extra stored metabolism that would deplete once changed back to normal. Also, if needed, energy is drawn from the environment, which is essential to return unless an imbalance is wanted to happen. The drawbacks weaken and fade over use and time, but not completely.

This left the community of cat demons feared and shunned from society. Bending under the pressure of protests, fights, and losing their positions, the government leaders agreed to stop this and develop a safer way for the process. That continued on for a year, until it was deemed illegal and they were marked a separate species due to the fact that the traits could be passed on to their children."

"But what about our elemental abilities, Star Convoy?" Tarron asked, his water staff in hand. I hunted through the data pad for another data entry.

"All animals have a connection to nature. Cats were considered good luck with sailors because they grew fidgety before a storm was to arrive. In fact, cats are very sensitive to electricity in the air. This attuned feeling of the environment and the elements was also carried forth. What element that could be controlled mainly and how strong it could be controlled depended on the hormones and chemicals in the brain that a personality was made of. Someone of impatient nature for example, might be a fire main type," I sighed; slightly winded from all the explanations I'd given. "That answer your questions?" They looked over from Karahrr to me to Shiori, mouth agape.

"Yeah…I think we got it," they said in unison.

"Good," I muttered, and after carefully making sure there wasn't any tools in the way, I pulled myself back onto the tabletop to watch Shiori finish repairing the black cat mech... ... ...

Subi: ... She did most of this! (points at Anonymous and runs)

Anonymous: Eh? Oo? Hey! Wait a minute! Where are you going?.!... -.-; goody... Please let us know what you thought of the chapter. Constructive criticism is appreciated... Pardon me... >> SUBI! GET BACK HERE, YOU FLUFFY FOX! (chases after Subi)

Subi: (yells) ITS "FURRY"!.!.!.!

Shiori: It's Fluzzy, now be quiet and work on the next chapter!

Subi: O.o How'd you get in here?

Anonymous: X-x; good question...