So updates are going back to just Saturdays because work is getting pretty hectic and I can't find a ton of time during the week. Soooo… yeah. NEW CHAPTER! (INSERT GUITAR SOLO!)

Chapter 4: Fixer Upper

Nickoli continually questioned why he was following this Siren and her friends as they made their way through the stalker tunnel. "Why am I following these three?" Nickoli thought. "I am perfectly happy living in my basement with my stalker. Still, it is nice to actually talk to people for once." Angel spun as she was walking and questioned "So Nickoli, how long have you been living here in the Fridge?" He answered "A little over a year. I ran here after my father used me as a guinea pig."

"That's just… just terrible."

"I know. Can we talk about anything else other than that?"

"I have a question." Justin proclaimed. "Why are we not being attacked by stalkers?" Nickoli answered "Because they recognize me as the leader of the pack since I killed the one that originally led the pack."

"That's pretty cool. So do you have your own stalker army?"

"Not really. They just don't attack me or people around me."

"That's cool."

They made it to the structure where the tunnel started and Nickoli proclaimed "I'll go first and make sure that it's safe." Angel protested "You aren't going up there alone. I'm going with you."

"Yeah, I'm going with no on that one."

She put her hands on her hips and repeated "I'm going with you." Nickoli sighed "Again, it doesn't matter what I say, you're going to do what you want." Angel smirked and replied "Now you're starting to get it. Let's get going!" Nickoli shook his head and thought "Stubborn Siren." He climbed up the ladder and waited for Angel to follow him.

She jumped up the ladder and drew her blade. "Impressive blade. Where did you get it?" Nickoli complimented. "My dad gave it to me and thank you." Angel replied. Nickoli activated his barrels and pointed his arms out in case anything was going to jump them. The two moved out of the structure and observed the deserted area.

Nickoli spotted the area were there the fire guy created the fire wall, but there was no one around. Nickoli lowered his arms and proclaimed "Looks like there's no one left so it's safe." Angel put her blade away and called back "Its safe guys. We can head out." Justin and Patrick emerged from the structure and the group headed for the fast-travel station. As they approached the station, Angel ordered "Justin, you go first so Nickoli can travel after you."

Justin nodded and travelled first, allowing Nickoli to follow after him. Nickoli dropped down and was stuck in awe at the amazing city that was before him. His home planet was almost constantly at war, trying to fight off any corporation that tried to take over. The sky was almost always painted a constant crimson from the amount of blood shed. This city seemed more peaceful and suited for human life than his home.

The lights that bounced off the glass basically stunned him enough to leave him standing and gawking like a moron. He heard Angel exclaim next to him "You might want to close your mouth before a rakk flies into it." Nickoli closed his mouth and turned to Angel, causing his mouth to drop again. The way the light hit her made her look beautiful. "She's gorgeous." Nickoli couldn't help but think.

She reached up and closed his mouth for him, laughing "Come on. Let's get you to a specialist for your arms and spine." She turned to Justin and Patrick and proclaimed "Get Justin to a real doctor. We'll all meet up and talk to someone about those men that we ran into." The two nodded and headed off into the city, probably towards a hospital. "Here, I'll take the lead. Just follow me." Angel exclaimed as she started walking. Nickoli followed her the best he could since he was practically mesmerized by the city.

He followed Angel into a building marked "Research and Development" and they walked past the door. They went down the stairs into a massive room that looked more like a garage than a place for research to occur. Nickoli could see pieces of Hyperion loaders all over the floor to the right and vehicle parts to the right. At the center was a desk with a glowing red light on it. Angel walked up to the desk and pressed the light, making a loud buzzer sound through the garage.

Nickoli looked around and saw some movement in the large pile of loader parts. He saw a robotic arm pop out of the pile and a woman climb out. She had long red hair that was tied back and a pair of goggles sat on her head. She wore a jean jacket with the name "Gaige" printed on the right side and jeans that were covered in oil. Her green eyes sparkled as she greeted "Hey there Angel! Where's your rifle at?"

Angel had a panicked look and replied "It was kinda stolen from me Aunt Gaige." Gaige looked angry and barked "What!? Who stole it?! I'll kill them!" Nickoli was surprised to see an adult act more like a child. "Don't worry Aunt Gaige. We'll find the guys that did. I'm actually here to talk to you about my friend here." Gaige's attitude changed and asked "What about your friend? Who is he?"

"His name is Nickoli. He saved mine, Justin's and Patrick's life and now I owe him a huge favor."

"So what can I do?"

Nickoli lifted the sleeves on his jacket, revealing his robotic forearms and proclaiming "Maybe you can help with this?" Gaige walked over to him and started inspecting his arms. "Here, follow me." She proclaimed after inspecting for a moment. She started walking towards the back and Nickoli and Angel followed her. She took them to the back of the garage where was a massive work bench with tools all over the wall behind it.

She pulled up a seat and proclaimed "Sit and let me get a look at your arms again." Nickoli did as she asked and sat while holding his arms out. She reached to his forearms and detached them from his arms, leaving him with just the metal plates where his metal arms connected. Gaige placed them on the work bench and returned with a different set of robotic arms that looked like hers. "I'm going to take a closer look at you prosthetics." Gaige proclaimed as she attached the new arms. "Probably start from scratch so it might take a bit before I get you your new prosthetics. Is there anything else I can help with?"

Nickoli answered "There is one thing." He turned around and lifted the back, revealing the cybernetic spine he had. He heard Gaige exclaim "I'm not really going to try and tamper with your spine since I could kill you."

"So where can I go about my spine? I get nerve shocks a lot and I would rather not deal with it anymore."

"Head over to the hospital and ask for Dr. Havoc. She's great with neural cybernetics like your case. Tell her that I sent you."

"Thank you. We'll head over there now."

Nickoli and Angel said their goodbyes and headed towards the hospital. As they walked to the hospital, Nickoli thought "She's so nice, helping me get myself in better condition." Nickoli questioned "Hey Angel, can I tell you something?" She stopped and turned to him, proclaiming "Sure, what's up?"

"I just want to say thanks."

"For what?"

"For helping me. I know it sounds strange, but I'm just not used to people helping me out."

Angel smiled and lightly punched his shoulder, exclaiming "Not a problem Nicki. That's what friends are for." Nickoli sighed "Right, friends. It's been a while since I had any."

"Well you don't need to worry since I'm your friend, and so are Justin and Patrick. We'll help you out just like you helped us out."

Nickoli couldn't help but stare at his new Siren friend since she was his first real friend since he ran away from home. That, and he couldn't help but think that she was really pretty. "Of course she's pretty, she's a Siren. They're supposed to be pretty." Nickoli thought. They continued walking until they reached the Crimson City General Hospital. The place seemed like a normal hospital with nurses and patients all around the first floor.

They walked up to the front desk and Angel proclaimed "We're here to see Dr. Havoc." The nurse behind the desk exclaimed without looking away from her computer "Do you have an appointment?"

"We were sent here by Gaige."

"Third floor, left down the hall then take a right and last door on the left."

"Thank you. Let's go Nicki."

Nickoli rolled his eyes and sighed "Don't call me Nicki." They entered the elevator and Angel laughed "But it's my nickname for you." Nickoli chuckled "Well I don't like it." She nudged him with her elbow and giggled "You'll get used to it Nicki." The elevator dung and the two followed the nurse's directions to Dr. Havoc's office.

Angel opened the door and they saw a basic office with a desk near the back wall with a computer on it. A records shelf occupied the left was and a book shelf occupied the right. A woman sat behind the desk and typed away at the computer. She had short brown hair and wore green medical scrubs. "I'm guessing you two are Angel and Nickoli?" She proclaimed as she looked at them with soft brown eyes.

Angel responded "Yes ma'am. Gaige sent us here because…" Dr. Havoc interrupted "I know why you're here. Gaige called and told me. So you have a cybernetic spine?" Nickoli responded "Yes ma'am." Nickoli turned around and lifted the back of his shirt to reveal his spine. "Wow. This is some pretty shitty work." Dr. Havoc exclaimed as she looked over Nickoli's spine. "Whoever did this had no real idea on how to conduct bio cybernetics. It's a miracle you aren't dead."

"I do get nerve shocks every once in a while."

He turned to see Dr. Havoc with a worried face as she questioned "How long has these nerve shocks been happening?" Nickoli responded "For about three or four months." Dr. Havoc immediately pulled out an ECHO device and exclaimed into it "Get the team ready for surgery, NOW!" She put her ECHO down and explained "Look kid, those nerve shocks are your body rejecting the hardware. If that cybernetic spine has replaced your real one, then it is a good chance you could die. So let's get you into surgery now." She started pushing Nickoli out the door and Angel followed, thinking "Am I seriously going to lose my friend already? No, he'll be fine."

They ran into the surgery room and Dr. Havoc had Nickoli lay on the table face down. Four other doctors were practically running around the room to get everything set up. "Hey Angel." Nickoli called to her. She stood next to him and replied "Yes?"

"If something goes wrong, and I don't make it…"

"You can tell me when you get out of here. You're going to be fine, so no worries, got it?"

Nickoli smiled and replied "Got it." Dr. Havoc put a hand on Angel's shoulder and exclaimed "I'm going to have to ask you to step out. We'll give you a call when your boyfriend's done here." Angel felt her cheeks get hot as she exclaimed "He's not my boyfriend. We're friends."

"Right, anyway, you can go."

Angel nodded and exclaimed "I'll see you when you get out." Nickoli simply smiled and waved s she walked out. Angel headed home and thought "Why would she assume we're dating? I mean, it's not like we were acting like a couple… were we? I'm thinking to into it." Angel arrived home and sighed "This is going to be tough to explain to Mom and Dad." She opened the door to find her home empty.

"Mom and Dad are probably out right now." Angel thought as she sat on the couch. "I just hope Nickoli will make it out okay."

BOOM! A little deviation from the original, but I think it's nice. Anyway, review or PM any thoughts on the story or whatever you feel. Suggestions and criticism are welcome. Oh, and 10 D3m0n1c points to metimesthree for the correct answer. Zver means beast in Russian.

-Chief