"Well… it's not so bad Jon."

Ponch and Jon were out practicing their flying, trying out new gear that had been developed for them by Lance.

"Having hands is kind of useful ya know?" Ponch landed, walking around a bit. "And for me, I don't need to hop to get around on the ground anymore."

"Yeah no more creating mini earthquakes." Jon smirked as he too came in for a landing stretching a bit. "It's been odd though."

"How's the family?"

"Adjusting, Abigail doing fine still stumbling… The kids… They're running circles around her… Probably how young they are that their change was the easiest."

"Just glad to see them as themselves again." Ponch frowned a little. "They were so sick during the war."

Jon frowned. "Yeah… They were so listless… We were so worried… But after… They just perked back up and were themselves again in no time. They still wrestle and play rough of course… And they've been driving their mother crazy trying to eat as many sweets as they can get."

"Ah the food craze… can't blame them." Ponch sat down, looking at the highway down below. "So odd to see people like huminids running at speeds like cars… then I remember that's what they are."

Jon sat beside him following his gaze. "Yeah and you'd think the punks would cut it out with their antics but nooope. Still need a visit from Mr. Psycho." He elbowed Ponch a bit with a smirk.

Ponch chuckled.

"It puts them in their place… plus…" Ponch eyes the grappling claws that were on Jon's wrists. "They got those to be scared of now."

Jon grinned holding them up. "Oh yeah, they better be glad if I don't catch them. Cause these suckers ain't for show."

"I swear the forklifts are kind of our saviors right now. They figured everything out so quickly, and got a thing to replace your hoists… it's incredible."

"Yeah…" Jon chuckled. "I remember when I showed them to Mel and Hunter they started whining cause they wanted mini grapplers too. They lost their hoists with the change… Hunter wasn't too upset about it but… You remember Mel's favorite game of playing "drag the brother" around."

"Well, she has hands to do that, so she can't complain too much…" Ponch chuckled. "Yeah it's sad to see some things go… but we're adapting is the important thing. We didn't let this thing make us fall over completely… Tumbles, yes, but we're all working together to be strong as ever."

"Yeah… And it's been nice not feeling so sluggish anymore… Even I was starting to feel sick when it finally happened."

"Guess whatever was happening was getting to all of us… I still don't completely understand what happened… I just know whatever did was killing all of us machines…"

"And now we're something else…. Mechanids…" Jon murmured the word still feeling foreign. "Hard to stop referring to myself as a machine…"

"I feel ya… not to mention I can't help but stop in my tracks when I see my reflection."

"... Anymore than you used to?"

"Oh har de har har." Ponch shoved him a little. "You're just jealous of my new looks."

Jon smirked shoving him back. "I'm just fine thanks! I've gotten plenty of radio numbers too you know!"

"Oh ho ho ho." Ponch raised his eyebrows. "Someone's been busy~"

Jon laughed. "Like you haven't!?"

"Guilty as charged." Ponch grinned. "Just looking for the right girl."

"Yeah one to help pass down your insanity." Jon smirked.

"And reason it's crucial you have kids too so you can balance it out."

"Oh I plan to one day… Just need to find the right gal…"

"I'm sure you will. Good looks and good heart go far with the ladies."

"Sure does… Now… I have a question for you my friend…"

"Fire away, partner."

"... You were the one who took that chocolate cake from the breakroom weren't you?"

Ponch grinned.

"For good reasons." He got up, going over to some equipment they had set on the side, picking up a box. He walked back over to Jon, opening to show the aforementioned cake. "We've been working hard, I think we earned this."

Jon chuckled. "I think so too. Let's dig in… To a new life!"

"To a new life!"

They enjoyed their cake and talked…. Until Jon saw a car mechanid go way past the speed limit knocking a few of his fellow mechanids over. "... Partner? I think we got us a runner."

"Duty calls." Ponch got up, taking the skies. "Let's go!"

Jon chased after him. "Right!"

I can get used to this definitely… Even if punks never change… We'd be out of a job if they did.