Trades of M42 and A5

"Try the engine." I shouted, someone shortly turning the key and that of the motor purring softly. They play up the revs a few times and then turns it all off. I makes last tighten adjustments to whole thing, before closing the panel down. Brother received the digital payment for the fix. I mop up my hands on a rag, putting tools back. The spider putting the tool boxes into the van.

"Amazing. Thank you for helping us." The three whom are taking charge of the vault folks only has one of them that would speak like this. They other two are strictly code based program speaking, "Wow that was expensive."

"Finding vault technology that still is usable isn't cheap. You have more worth in your scrap due to that fact." I walked on back to my own van, box carried at the balance of my hip. I don't stare like they were with me. I ease with leaving them, my brother and the spider drone quick with the last smaller boxes. The ease of unlocking our home at the touch. Clean up with now getting ready for the crowd of other people waiting for us.

"Miss Kate! You are alright." Out with my inventory book, I crossed out all the parts used. Dated those cross outs. I peer up from the book to scan the trade at offer, math out the worth.

"Whats the ask today? I have some new tools, some interesting art bits or just food and drinks. Not just water but fizzy soft drinks and tea. Apple juices, orange juice and mix fruits. Veg too." The appeal of having more varieties is a quick sale for a lot of folks here. They bought up products that I knew they would ask for. No requests for anything different. No weapon restock requests or replacements. Some items of art were sold. A few wood carved rings. In return I gained a ton of potatoes. I was surprised that this was the most common crop they had around here. Potatoes has a lot of uses but I can understand it getting bland after a while. This is a dry area but maybe I caught them during a drought. Storing away the potatoes wasn't hard. Having just got rid of a lot of fresh products like cabbages, tomatoes and carrots to take their place.

"We should drive on soon." A slow down of business on my end with my brother making his last trades with machines folks. The vault folks weren't fully welcomed but they are acting within neutral fencing, "One the folks were interested in finding the remains of was last seen up a junction."

"So whom exactly are we dealing with? I mean whom asked to find these remains of folks." I softly was just talking to him.

"Space network and surface network has been active. The vaults have been opening up too. A new party of race has been in talk with us, that isn't what the parasites call masters. Another whom is against the way the parasites had been used for biological weapon wipe out and enslaving. As a planet, everyone whom thinks lives or breaths is becoming part of a whole government. Leaders are coming forward in one committee and posing talks on behalf of us all. The network that I rely on has a leading ai whom is head of machine rules. She sent me the suggestions of requests. Not exactly commanding." My brother must realize I know him to well for him to hide anything from me. I am glad he can start trusting me more.

"Now I understand. The crash sites you marked on our route. Wanting confirmation of how they are."

"Exactly. The vault folks with us are human thinkers nosing in the business. Sent by highers of their leaders to search with. They have been moving off grid away from network to prevent any public interests. But this has not turned results for them. Sticking to us as we seem to attract attention." I sigh and straighten as another came forwards to trade. My brother's words is a lot of stuff thats above my pay grade to be nosing my personal business with.

"Hello, I trade anything in return of stock I may have. I try to be reasonable within the standard market pricing. I sale rations to weapons. I can look over any injuries if thats what you need." I study how this person held thier left side, "You alright there stranger? Got shot or something?"

"Kate, their heart signitures." I stare through what hoverdrone1 was presenting, "Weapons too."

"I need a ride." I closed my inventory book and be very obvious in my checking them out. They had hold of a weapon, like a knife.

"Another hitcher." Directed about the vault folks, "Ask them for a ride. My van has no space for your weapons, armour and poor excuse of a threat." They peer to the three vault commands whom came forwards. They have two armed guardsmen pointing weapons, "This issue here mate is that this is outside a dome city. There isn't many laws we rely on. Just the basic neutral fencing of strangers. You don't harm us, we don't harm you. You want something. You exchange. You want a ride and some medical care. You offer to protect us as we take you with. If your understanding, maybe I might feed you. Don't exact machine to have rations."

"Fine. If thats how it works around here." empty hands shown, "I don't need any help. I doubt you could."

"Broken fractures across that arm and I can't tell if you dislocated the shoulder joints or that is natural for your race. You seem to have few a floating objects in your torso. Also not sure if that's normal. Either way. That." I directed to the left shoulder, "Is a gun shot at point blank."

"We are as close to a healer as your going to find for now. If your hanging around with us, then we will treat your wounds. Also, we know a parasite type when one like you. We aren't scared of you as normal humans are. Although you will freak the vault techs out." The stranger gives in with sitting down at the floor. Taking off some of the armour. I walked around to their side and do basic checks. Clean the wounds with some supply.

"Another adult staged parasite with own limbs and plenty of stabilized organs. Going by the jaw sizing, your just as old as the first set that started this mess. Not the originals but a generation after them. That generation whom intermixed specie of this planet." Sewn up the hole in the shoulder, "Going by my knowledge. Your DNA is meant to be of what you call a lower footman." They put the armour on and stare at me darkly, "You been infected with Ddc195. Which means. Your not taking commands from space."

"Who are you?" I say nothing, going back around to my trade area. My inventory book back out, listing used things. I turn my attention back with waiting for any final trades. I give my wave to the locals, a way of saying I am heading off. My brother is making his last counts with his side of inventory. Putting away items into boxs and shuffle about. Feed some pet parasites whom have been defrosted and well behaved. A few telling me things to add as entry into my notes about them.

"I might be around here again at somepoint. Its a place I have interest to check up." I tell the local leader I shared drinks with before, "The plague colony has seasonal crops to risk it for. Don't go there thinking of stealing it. You will just be slaughtered." The leader nods in agreeing.

"May the land bless you."

"May the sky bring rain when you need it." I return shoulder pat. Got into my van, lazed comfortable, "Later."

I waved put my window, the van on command moves easing down the M42. It be a long time yet before we would stop to the next trade settlement for long stay trades.

The fields from here did looked worked on recently. Sign of hard work. Weed removed. Wet grounds of plenty turned soils. Leaves of small plants in perfect rows. Fence and wall repairs. I leaned at my window enjoying the veiw, my hand dancing the breeze. My mind replaying some music I would listen to during long drives like this. I missed music enough to go see if we had any music players or computers with music. I was very impressed that my personal stuff was still stored in the van, things from my days as a lab researcher. Old as it may, I transfere the data and had it playing in my ears at low volume. Back to leaning out the window and watching the dawn rise.

The A5 roundabout was where we stopped for now. I went to sleep properly for a while. My brother did some drone flights out in the meantime. He found something to put away that woke me up a moment. I drifted back as he took contorl of driving and some trades. I was back awake for food about dusk, slow driving in a heavy populated caravan route. Reaching stop at what used to be the indoor snow sled. It was called the snow dome. Now it was a building full of a community of machines. This place was where the vault folks was leaving us at. Our extra parasites guy was gone before I was awake, before arriving in Tanworth.

"Bag of shot shells for any fresh mix of vegetables." I was barely ready when I was asked this by a young lady. She look exhausted too. Its not my business. She shows her offer first, I did my calculations. Write my notes and swap the scrap metal bits with vegetables. She perked a smile with the vegetables. She waves as she walked away. I got out the van properly now, the van setting the legs to be a trade table. I put example trades, display only items to show my depth of interest. Marks of pricing.

Not many folks came forwards. When they did they asked for exact items. Some wanted gold at set carts and others asking for trickets. I swapped my display and this moved foot traffic to me very quickly. Sold out on dishes, wood carvings and rings. A lot of luxury items in exchange of other luxury products. The area must be not a human territory. Tinned food was the only food item I had on show at this point. No takers still. The girl at the start was the only one whom asked for food.

"Kate. I am heading inside this snow place." I nod to my brother.

"Come back safe. I will wait for you." He took off after that. I mulled over with tracking inventory since slow business was not offering much else. Spider drone and the swarm of flying nanotechnology makes this process faster. Checking the parasites pets and feeding them. My own food to worry about.

"You're not a machine." The young lady again. I was sticking my fork through slow cooked meat at the time. Lower jaw of the helmet is low for me to eat. She spoke in an annoyed tone, which I did cross as rude to me. I finished what i had in my mouth before I stood properly facing.

"It doesn't matter what I am. I may not totally machine or human. I do have mechanical parts. What about you lass. Your my only customer around this part whom comes for rations. I am not going to pry any personal business as long your not asking them of me." She posed thinking about something and just puts a item down. I picked it up, looks like something that doesn't belong. The composition of the metal isn't normal. I put it down and checking my inventory for anything similar to compare. Spider directed the swarm to scan the items I have in my inventory as comparable reference, "I not going to take away your weapon from you. You need it if your going to survive here." She smiles softly, taking the items back.

"I was thinking that someone you may know might have been in contact with you."

"You're looking for someone. Interesting." I think about this, "You are called an exterminator. Your highers have sent you on a wild goose chase to look for something." I have my own weapon to hand, "What is anything to you?"

"I am looking for someone named Jackle."

"Do mean him harm?"

"No. I want to talk to him. He knows things that you likely don't." I snicker about this person assuming and pose a hand to the building.

"He left into the snow dome but if you want a actual trade item from him. Well. You might as well just wait here." I cooled down. I take seat again and continue eating, "If you upset my brother, I will come after you." She backs off around to walk into the building behind. She kept looking back too.

I cleaned up my own dishes once my meal was finished. The late day has me worry about how long it has been without him. I knew that I had no more customers for today. Many other caravan owners weren't up to trade this bright either. I did however stay awake and active, alert with the area. Looking out for injuried folks or thieves up to no good. Mostly also I was worried for my brother, I feel there was still a connection between us. He was busy but fine. By dusk, I cooked a light meal. Sitting with my driver door opened. Having a drink of some old carbonated drink. Silence. None of the mood for music right now.

"She is very protective of me as I can be with her. We have our personal reasons that is not of your business." He was back with a few others that followed, "So her threat wouldn't be empty one." I closed the door and jumped up to the roof. I sit watching them approaching from the blind side. I had the spider and hoverdrone2 posed at the more open spaces. He connects onto the roof. He opened a bunch of window programs that was slightly blinding me a moment. I turned off argumented sight. A better gaze at our visitors. He turned it back on with wanting me to read something.

'Careful of them. They were whom the network was asking for. It seems its up to us to make sure these folks make it to a city dome. They aren't as dead as they were reported to had been.' I sigh with this and got down. I open up the side door with picking a few snacks. Door closed. Around to the other side toss each person something. Very extreme reflex, looking perplex on what I gave them.

"I don't know if you hungry or not. Since my brother is treating you well, I have no point in being hostile with you. I find most times when someone unknown is asking any names. It is often not good things." I open the van door on this side, seeking filtered water.

"Just get in and we will drive."

"With what stirring wheel?" I ask and I showed the sheer full nature of the van. Just so much of it was used for many items. I watched them look so shocked about how packed it was. Someone opened the driver door and looked about. Took a seat... closed the door behind. They play about a long time. They were soon pulling at the door to open again. Panicking. I closed the side door and give knock at the van, the driver and passenger doors open. The uninvited scrambled out. At the heap on the floor guns pointed at the van.

"Did I forget to mention that my current body is the van?" My brother speaking to them, "Kate, you should get some sleep." I see the real message, 'Don't get injured because of all this.' I smirk lightly and go as he asked. He has got it all in contorl. I go stay in my box for now with watching everything with hoverdrone2.

"How sophisticated. I wasn't expecting this planets technology to be so advance." There is a few whom weren't bothered in the slightest but were impressed little things. Those who felt not at all secure were shivering with pointing their weapons around. None seemed injured much at all. It was deicide that they walked with us. Meaning our next dome was the football stadium for this area. My brother drove slow for the most part to reach around towards the dome city port.

There is several main cities within the UK that have became dome city bubbles. However in order to feed that population, there is import domes or 'ports' that takes trade goods from harvester machines. The rust farmer at the edge of the network is such farmer process machine that feeds the city as well as local caravan communities. I personally have never been inside a port before and several cities are completely locked down due to being self-sustaining. Ports are massively important trade huds of caravan communities. The ports are also where most are smuggled in and out the dome shields. When I was in the city, I had no knowledge about this. They didn't want me to know at the time, for obvious reasons.

"Kate, we will be entering the city grounds by Port. Purple is sorting out the logistics."

"If its what we have to do." I have a sick feeling about this.

I have worry that they will take away most of my items. There is ban of certain items like weapons, which are highly value sale. I have no way of knowing if they will take away the parasites I have in the fish tank. I do at the least have items of normal interest for the city grounds to buy from me. Maybe the luxurious products in consideration for sale here.

"What are you exactly under the suit?" The rude young lady again, her appearance is a disguise. She isn't human or anything of this world, something I have to keep in mine when she acts this rude.

"Its none of your business." Her own buddy is a strong guy, muscular build with darker skin. He could have been mistake as a proffesional wrestler or a typical videogame war avatar, "We seen humans before and we seen those whom became mutated by the parasites. What would be any different seeing this one?"

"She has machine parts, clearly." They both devolved into an arugment. Leaving me alone to stay within the van. The had stopped arguing when what seems the team leader of thier group intervening. They respect or fear this leader. A being whom only has to stare for silence. This leader is a lean middle aged male, he always has arms crossed and almost always is looking around then focused on group topic. It was coming around time to stop for the day which was why my brother is slowing down in the first place.

"Dawn is soon. Its best we camp somewhere near." My brother telling them, "The mindless are active in brighter hours. Its why we move at night."

"That must be due to what it mixed with."

"Plant life here makes energy from solar energy. When a mutant is mixed plant, they are highly dangerous during the light hours. Just not all mutants are mindless. We have been fortunate." The nod of understanding that this was a precaution of survival and not a trick on them. We weren't far from the fencing of the city port. So there is perfect place to stop. We just need to drive slowing for in case of ambush. The increase of eyes and guns pointed around mostly empty buildings that line the street has been helpful. Taking refuge at a driveway plus garage of a abondaned house, its secure enough and a short distance to the port. A lucky find for now.

"You make great judgement to accomidate for us all. I had seen plenty of places where you two could have left us for." The leader pleased with the stay.

"Although you aren't humans. It doesn't mean your not alive. Different worlds have different forms of life. As does the different mediums of atmosphere we survive in." I hop down, with a a few choose foods and a pan. I rummage about for small the cooker too. Not long I was outside the van cooking. The few not on watch took naps or sat near me. This group leader watching my hands.

"How long have you been infected for?" I not at all surprised by his asking.

"Would you murder her if she wasn't human anymore?" My brother being protective, I can see the van limbs unlocking.

"Your not brain washed and neither of your act to know us at all. Not properly."

"Thats accurate at least. Its fine brother. A hunter knows his prey. We aren't exactly hiding the facts." I sigh with considering where to start. Stirring the cooking pot softly, it bubbles away restlessly.

"We have spoken before. I changed skins to establish better cover. You correctly stated me as an exterminator. Yet you don't do anything to suggest your one if them." Ah, his the guy we lost track of when we left the M42 barricade. The shot through the shoulder, "You did correctly look after my injuries."

I lifted a small portion of the stew to the stir spoon, posed in better light. I stir back in. My brother is playing around inside the van.

"In order to prepare for the unknown, our governments scrambled and hide our history. We were afraid of our past being unsavory. To the public, the pretense of machine life was the cover up fear. The truth was our fear of unknown folks like you. Humanity has had ups and downs. Developed slow and with internal issues."

"I suspected that much. But that doesn't matter." I disagree.

"In someway it doesn't but its the context you need to understand how old I am compared to the generations after me." The twist of confused crowd, "I was born before the nuclear fallout. I went to school. I had a normal human life. Not one of scraps and survival. I had a family. A home. But then news of potential unknown came. The first parasites started attacking. I lost my home and family. I didn't know how or why at the time." I take a long pause of dishing out bowls of food. My brother talks of his side of the story of how machines seen it. He explained in vague ways of a global projects to prevent wipe out. A vague brief of what technology was like before.

"To ensure there was skills to protect the future. A sacrifice of many came forwards for a trail to change their body to better adapt a nuclear waste. Folks willingly altered with infections to better survive if things go to wrong. Kate is one them. She is a qualified doctor back then and now."

"So you had a first generation parasite implanted in. You adapted as a result." At least they are enjoying food. I see some are skeptical of it. I would too.

"I am the nanotechnology that prevents her mutations getting out of hand or being a danger. Together we rid of the brain washing device over the parasite whom lived in her. Then it sacrificed itself for her to stay active. So no longer the parasite personality or the contorl over the parasite active."

"But given the age and generation 0f the parasite. My human DNA was altered, I will no longer be human. It took that from me."

"Its a reversible damage and dangerously incomplete. The DNA was unstable. So fragments had been replaced with world equivalents."

"So you're mentally an elder generation whom was iced for centuries. There could be others of your generation that survive with the same ice process. You were a researcher. Someone that seeks a cure for a plague. Your sacrifices lead you to... becoming something else." I removed my helmet entirely. Casual with picking up my bowl and spoon, eating the food as if it was normal. They don't react at all or maybe they had but I can't tell with the illusion of disguise. Some do eventually just continue eating the food. The leader pointed at one them with silence commanding.

"What race were you alter into?"

"The closes clue I have is 'outsider'. I don't know what that means to you." I stir my bowl to cool down a little. Taking another spoonful in the arguing. My brother posed a limb of the van to block someone. The side door of the van opened with the internal limbs posed with picking me up. I stiffen up in not enjoying being handled like this.

"She is of no consideration for you to care. She belongs to this world. It were the parasite that altered her." Brother Jackle getting defensive for my safety, "We have no idea what is going on outside of our solar system or let alone our home planet here." Blocking me from any potential threats.

"Stand down, these two do indeed belong to this planet. That ex-human isn't a risk. I know this from how she has choosen to heal and protect. Those whom have the orginal DNA would not be as selfless." The team standing down, "As for you two. You are our guides. We are not to harm you while you are protecting us."

Someone hissed something in a language beyond me. I also gathered that my brother was perplexed and more worried as a result. Enough to have me in the van and closing the door. He puts me into my box with force and locked the doors. I have one the hover drones active to be my eyes and ears. Watching the team of off world visitors hissing between them. Watching them sort it themselves. Spider packed away pan with no food left in it, It retreats to safety before anyone else realized.

"The DNA of an outsider is actually what the race that controls the parasites are." The leader speaks calm back with me and my brother. Yet aware I was put away, "The fact one was was named outsider is actually the few whom were roits within that race. It placed to turn parasite against the creators of the parasites. The outsider had no regard for other planets while it's goal was to wipe out the race. Anyone of the transformation of an outsider seeks to take command of parasites of the world being used for harvest. The goal to fight back. This process of altering a human like you into an outside has failed for some reason. You humans had came up with a infection to remove the brain washing out of parasites. That in itself is impressive." And also not true. Humans didn't create Ddc195 or any variation. That came with the parasites to begin with, "You maybe behind in medical technology but you are highly advanced in the knowledge. To find ways to fill gaps of your own DNA is also impressive." That was our only option and still is. So we can take credit for that.

"The parasites are controlled by a second implemented brain. The virus that attacks that isn't to our knowledge created by us. But Kate and I aren't knowing of the underground vault governments plans. Nor do we have any way of knowing whose on what side of what wars. We know nothing of the conditions out in space. We know little of the current situation."

"All very fair honest words. You dont lie. If you lied, they wouldn't have like it." So they are testing us.

"It was my race with the help of humans and others that came together in creating a virus for the second brain." Thin guy that doesn't talk much. Wanting credit where its due, "Yet humans advance way of understanding DNA and cell structures was a key part of unlocking how to beat past issues."

"Wasn't it research into animals of other forms of life on this planet at some zoo also part of the break through?" The leader asked.

"Our research?" My brother pondered, "The study into the membranes that can't be scanned like mirror."

"Yes. That was it." The thin guy posed confused, "Your research? It can be you. You would have to be on the other side of the world."

"There is trace scramble technology here. It wouldn't surprise me." The leader smirks now, "The pull of gravity is on our side. What great outcome it is to have the original researchers. It also makes sense to how they had access to different DNA types to fill enough gaps for body stability. Yes, there can't be any doubts. It all makes sense. This is fantastic."

The team being unease for the excitement or fear of having someone like myself and my brother guiding them. Some talked of bone structures theories during a caccon hibernation. Others held weapons. Distrustful of being back stabbed. My brother had me locked in my box for safety, forcing me to just have to sleep. Hang around in a digital ghost, watching the patterns of talking or patrol. Dusk falls ease, my brother had managed to cram in four folks at the front seats. The rest walked or sat on the roof. Leaving this garage to onward to the port hud of trade.

Once into the main parking, all of our extra passengers were released to thier own quarters. Flight from this docking port to the main city was 2 hours. This time is hyperextended for the cleaning procedures. The staff on the transport air craft do not want to fly if any of the city limitations are broken. This list from seed spores, unprotected meats and average radiation level. Sort the same crap that any flight to another country would go through. Presenting all trade goodies to crime background. This screening isn't the same for a machine. The machines of limitations around machine is valued differently. Allowing me excuse from being visible during all checks and not being blood tested. I already know that I am way past the city limitations, as are invited guests (for obvious but different reasons). It is easier that I pretend to be a machine during the whole flight into Hollow Bastian.

I have avoided being x-rays, my blood tested and the vomit test. That's something any airline out the country had never enforce as standard.