>>8<< "Friends with Karma" >>8<<

As 10XT walked out into the grass,a feeling began to build in his chest...

A strangely familiar feeling.

It wasn't happiness..

It was freedom.

The world grew bright...

And he toppled backwards onto his back.

//WARNING:CATASTROPHIC SHUTDOWN DETECTED\\

DIAGNOSIS:NEURAL ENERGY RESERVES UNDER USE. MAIN BATTERY HEMORRHAGING POWER. SEEK CYBERMEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.

SYMPTOMS:If Battery Death persists,this will be followed with forced power preservation,failure of equipment and loss of life.

Battery Death in..

3D:24H:30M

[FORCED POWER PRESERVATION MODE ENGAGED]

[BODILY LOCKDOWN WILL CEASE IN...1:00:00]

For now the light in 10XT's eyes had faded to the faintest of glows before settling shut.. "You've gotta be kidding.." Karma mutters. The Panther emits a gentle sound,sniffing at the machine's hand,which remained unresponsive.

"He'll be fine,Panthera. Let's get him home." Karma said as he slowly lifts the limp machine to a stand,displaying much physical strength.

It was a long walk,all the way out to a small compound type place,with tall wire fencing that had tarps tied into place to hide the wonders within. At the gate two heavily armored guards stood..

As Karma approached,the guards looked to the machine in his arms,"Sir...Thats an Augmentee...We cannot treat him.."

"This is not an Augmentee. Let me in." Karma demanded.

Hesitantly the guards open the gate,to reveal a thriving,self sufficient village full of true humans. Children ran about,as Karma carried the machine to the infirmary. Upon arriving,the attending doctor inside looked at the machine,bewildered.

"He's fine..He just needs a bed." Karma said.

The doctor nods,stepping aside to allow Karma to settle the machine in bed. "For now...Keep this man a secret until he wakes." He said.

The doctor nods gently,as Karma left to attend to other business.

After about an hour,10XT slowly began to wake...

>>Checking Battery.....

(50%)

(*1* DAY added to ENERGY RESERVES from unknown source)

///BEGINNING DIAGNOSIS\\\

--Lower Center Brain Hemisphere--

(Conscience) >>Stable<<

--Lower Left Brain Hemisphere--

(Intelligence) >>Stable<<

--Lower Right Brain Hemisphere--

(Personality) !!>>75% STABLE<

--Upper Left Brain Hemisphere--

(Reasoning) !!>>50% STABLE<

--Upper Right Brain Hemisphere--

(Emotion) !!>>50% STABLE<

//WARNING:CORE BATTERY DAMAGE DETECTED\\

Battery Death in..

4D:3H:30M

<>

//WARNING:T.S.C. Is not responsible for damage or death to Bioautonomous Citizens or public workers. Unauthorized tampering may void the User Warranty. Refer to User Manual Page 227 for information.

-----

A bashing headache quickly graced 10XT's sensors,earning a gentle groan.

"At least you woke up..thats something." Karma spoke,spooking the machine only slightly. His panther,for now seemed to be nowhere in sight.

"Ugh...Im already losing count of my near-death experiences with body issues...thanks for the ride." 10XT said.

"You're welcome. But you're not out of the water yet. You have an injury. A bad one. I've consulted my elders,they plan to audience you as soon as you're able. They do not take kindly to strangers,so be sure to communicate your intentions clearly." Karma advises.

10XT nods.

He leaves the infirmary,led by Karma to a large trailer.

As they walked in,darkness enveloped them,in trade for blacklights. In front of them a courtroom type desk built to house a council.

10XT looks up slightly further,to see more masked individuals. Their masks were dark,bearing a neon colored face of a variety of design or emotion.

One of them had only one eye on the forehead...

"Why do you sully our family with your presence,Augmented?" They asked. Their voice was disguised in a deep electronic rumble..

"I need your help,O' great council. I am not of the Augmented world...nor the human one." 10XT explains.

"He isn't trustworthy. He shouldn't have even been brought here..." One of the Council members mutter.

"But he isn't even human. Not of Ferris City nor it's bastardous police system." Another argues..

"Why cant we just kill him and be-"

"SILENCE. Let the machine speak." The Council leader spoke smoothly.

"Now. What help do you even need?" They added.

"I need someone to perform a brutally complex task. One of Cybersurgical requirements. I am currently dying,slowly. If I do not seek capable help,I will surely be lost to the world." 10XT spoke.

"And why come to us? We cannot provide all of your augmented needs. It is suicide to ask for help from us." One female council member spoke.

"Unfortunately,suicide is rather preferable to dying a painful death at the hands of my own battery."

"The boy is bold,despite his state..." Another male mutters...

"What will you give in return,if we are able to assist you? You cannot expect this to be free,of course." The leader asked.

"My loyalty. You will be able to command me at your will,either now,or when it is done. I do not expect anything less of you,Great Council. I only wish to not expire." 10XT said.

Mutters fill the trailer....

"We will help you. On one condition."

"You must kill the leading C.E.O. of the FCPD's military division. A rogue Ghost calling themselves 'Glosys'. They have been a nuisance,an undying one for the past few days. Their machines have been attacking nonstop,and we must vacate further from the city if we fail to do so."

"Agreed." 10XT said,with a gentle nod.

"Karma will take you to our only Cybersurgeon. Do not dare to advertise your presence unless it is to us,Karma or the Surgeon themselves." The Leader said,as the door to the trailer opens.

"Now leave us,Machine. We must deliberate your details."

10XT leaves with Karma as his escort.

"How'd they know what I was..?" 10XT asked,as he looked to Karma. "Its something we like to call soul sight. An ability that acts almost as an X-ray for the aetherial realm." He answers simply.

"We see the soul for what it is,and not what we see in face value. We've come to see Ferris City become a nightmarish amalgamation of nerve themed nightmares,or floating brains..If that puts into perspective of how bad Augmentation is out here." Karma continues.

"Honestly it's a nightmare either way." 10XT gently chuckles,as they headed to another trailer marked with a first aid indicator.

"Why two infirmaries?" 10XT asked as they approach the trailer.

"We still use augments out here,but theyre all old technology. Nobody wants to be technology ridden..especially as technology ridden as you." Karma said,sounding a little sorry for the machine.

As they entered 10XT was practically tackled.

"Holy SHIT Blue you knew about this place?!" Sapphire asked. "No,actually. Karma carried me here." 10XT chuckles softly.

"Awww big bad human has a heart after all." Sapphire teased.

"I take it you know one another?" Karma asked.

"Sort of. Sapphire here scooped me up before the law could. I....kinda owe her a new apartment." 10XT said

"DO NOT. Ive already made it clear that it wasnt your fault." Sapphire stated.

"Whoever's fault it is aside,can you assist 10XT like you usually can?" Karma quickly interacts,trying to keep the objective straight.

"Even better,You can help,Karma. 10XT is a replication of every scientifically known nerve in the human body. We need that 'human' touch in his training."

"Lovely. Babysitting the last thing the council would bother to help normally.."

"I am NOT a child! 4 to 5 days old is NOT young." 10XT growls,earning a snicker out of Sapphire.

"All right,enough with the punching bag. let's see how good you actually are. If I'm correct you're all you're cracked up to be." Karma began,having a slight chuckle to his voice as well.

THIS was going to be fun...