A/N: EDIT: Well, that's a fair bit of flame spam...just wanted to write something happy T_T
Added some content too, not that anyone noticed...
I don't expect this to be terribly popular, but a request is a request...
This...was a particularly difficult one to fulfill, seeing as a I couldn't get my hands on a copy of the game, I held back on it for awhile. Still, said requester was insistent on this being a new story, rather than me adding to the "Not Scared" bit I have going.
EDIT: I've since seen a play-through of the game -courtesy of 'ol Markiplier~!- so I figured I'd give it a shot.
As ever, the Embers rule persists. If folks don't like this? Poof! Gone! To the void it goes. So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter! Really, they do! That's no joke. I don't have days off anymore -two jobs will do that to you- and I'm working myself to the bone.
Take the Girl is is coming along nicely, it just needs more time. Same for Embers of Hope.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes, one and all.
One final warning. Massive spoilers for Security Breach follow herein.
Now then...away we go!
"You know, everyone loses once in a while."
Stop calling me that! I'm not a loser! I'm the best!"
~?
Not My Security Breach (Definitely Is!)
Can a machine feel pain?
Do circuits and wires have nerve endings?
It it possible for a creature of steel to posses a soul?
Mankind has often debated such; scholars have argued since the inception of machines themselves. Prove it, they say. How can one prove that something, made by human hands, has a spark? That bit of awareness that goes beyond mere consciousness and becomes sentient thought? In hindsight, I suppose it depends on the universe you're in. I've met mechs with more personality than most men. Sure, some were dumb as bricks, but others...yikes. Right clever bastards they were.
Taking it from a wandering god, sometimes sentience isn't a good thing.
And here we have this little gem. A blast from the past.
Or is it the future? Hmm. Timeline isn't quite clear.
Hmm? What's that?
Not My Security Breach, is it?
I disagree! I'll be the only one doing the breaching here! CHARGE!
(.0.0.0.)
She couldn't see.
Why couldn't she see?
Her whole world had gone dark. Why? Was it her fault?
She didn't know, didn't understand, couldn't comprehend it. None of it. Any of it. Left alone in the dark with nothing but her remaining senses to guide her as she stumbled along, trying not to sob out of sheer frustration. She failed. Of course she had. She was a loser after all. Not a winner. Never a winner, no matter what she might wish otherwise. Why was she like this? Her hair was ruined, her body mangled, and her poof face...her face...HER FACE...!
"Wow. He really did a number on you, didn't he?"
Noise! She dove at it, only to miss and carom off a nearby walls.
"Your poor thing." a faint voice tutted somewhere behind her. "I don't even know who you are and I still wanna give ya a hug."
There! Sound to her left! She lunged!
"Stop that, will you? I'm trying to have a civilized discussion with ya!
Pivoting in place, Roxanne rounded on the speaker with a snarl.
Boop. A hand swatted her on the snout. She felt it. She shouldn't be able to feel anything. And yet she felt the impact.
.
..
...that wasn't right, was it?
"Poor little wolf." the voice came back again. "Left alone to rot int he dark. Life's not fair, is it? You didn't ask to be this way; to have someone hack into your mainframe, have your personality twisted like this."
Had she? No! Don't get distracted. She lunged and the hand came up again. This time she was ready. Her jaws closed around it and bit it clean off.
"Really?" a sigh trickled into her ears. "I liked that arm."
"GIVE ME BACK MY EYES!"
"Don't have 'em." the unseen stranger tutted in the dark. "Still, since you asked so nicely. Here. Lets reset the clock. Wipe the slate clean...and start over."
Keen ears caught the snapping of fingers.
Roxanne clearly heard the noise that followed; to her it sounded like the deep gong of an old grandfather clock. She'd never heard the noise before, yet it resonated with her all the same. A sudden sense of vertigo hit her and she blinked.
.
..
...wait.
She'd blinked just now! She could see!"
"Tada!" Through blurry vision she beheld a young human perched on her dresser -why were they in her room?!- crouched low and grinning from ear to ear. Bright blue eyes sparkled with mirth, framed by wild whiskered cheeks and tawny blond hair. It was only the crimson horns jutting from his skull that hinted at something more. Weird outfit, though. Who wore a coat of many colors like that? This guy wasn't an animatronic. Not like her. But not human, either.
More than that, her t
"What did you do...?"
"Disabled that pesky hacking and returned your software to its base settings." he plonked down on the edge with a shrug. "Only took a touch to do it. Now lets sit down and talk this out like adults, eh?
Roxy swiped at him.
"Aha!" he danced out of reach, prancing like Sun for a moment. "None of that! Y'see, I've decided." his head tilted, regarding her as one might a fine jewel. "I'm going to fix this place. Starting with you." a finger flitted out, startling her. "You say you're the best? Better than all the rest? Well! Here's a chance to prove it. You have six hours."
"Wait! I don't get it! Who're you?!"
...if its names you're after, Naruto will do. Hold still will ya?"
That lone finger flicked her forehead. She heard the bell tone again.
This time, it was her legs that betrayed her. Knees buckled and she hit the cold carpet. Wait. How could she feel? Her skin was metal. She couldn't feel...
Oh.
Ohh.
Ohhh.
Golden eyes flitted down. Saw her hands. Human hands. She curled them into fists and winced in pain as sharpened nails bit into her palms. Weak human hands. Wide golden eyes looked down. Bulged.
"And there we go." the stranger swung a mirror before her. "Whaddya think?"
She tried to speak, but managed only a weak whimper.
Because she saw herself.
A pair of dark lupine ears twitched atop her head. Her hair was...well...the same, and her tail was still there...but still! Human face! Human eyes! Human nose! Human body! She clutched at herself, found the lack of her armor there, and trembled all the more. Her arms flailed, to no avail. Human skin. Not a stitch of metal nor wires to be seen.
She didn't like this. Not one bit! "Who?! What?! When?! Where?! Why?!"
"You forgot how." the blond stranger laughed. He threw his coat at her and she failed anew before poking her head out of hit.
"Why are you covering me up?!"
"Its called modesty. Guess I'll have to teach ya that, too...
She tried to stand. Tried to lunge, but her new muscles failed her.
"Careful now," her -guest?- chortled. "It takes some getting used to. You're still plenty strong, but its kinda different when you've got a body of flesh and bone...
Roxy sniffled once. This couldn't be happening. "Change me back!"
"Nope!" Still smiling, he plonked down beside her. "Lets talk about your issues...
Panic bleated in her heart. She stamped down on it. "Issues?! What issues?! I don't have any issues...
Naruto patted her head. "You really do. So go on. Let it all out. I like to think I'm a pretty decent therapist these days.
Roxy blinked. "...what's a therapist?"
Naruto palmed his facen and blew out a long, harsh breath.
"Yeeeaaah I can see we're gonna have to start with the basics here...
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the taste. Well? Should this be a story? Yay or Nay! Speak up!
As ever, the Embers rule persists. If folks don't like this? Poof! Gone! To the void it goes. So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter! Really, they do! That's no joke. I don't have days off anymore -two jobs will do that to you- and I'm working myself to the bone.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
(Previews)
"Pizza?!"
Beware the beak!
"OW! Not the face! Why is it always the face?!"
"I can feel things! I can taste things! Mmmph! Food! So good! Wait!" She paused. "Everyone still loves me, right?"
"Well," a faint voice echoed at her flank, "I suppose that's subjective. But really, what is love?"
Roxy winged a pizza box at him.
Gregory blinked. "What...is going on?"
Freddy shrugged.
"Lets rock!"
Personaly, I'd rather race, but have it your own way...
"Bad bunny. Now scoot. Before I tan your hide...
"Now, then...lets...cause...some chaos!
R&R~!