4th January

The last touched to a tight business suit, trailering with my tail. The custom shape of my face cover is comfortable for my abnormal snout. I must have walked out of a Saturday morning kids cartoon. A creature in a black suit, white collar and red tie. A helmet sort of deal that was polarized to prevent glare. Plenty of fancy gadgets to keep many seeming I was machine. I am complete with sound effects in how my involuntary voice accents. Or I am a back room dj with a helmet to hid my face.

My watch buzzing at the last call reminder for this court order. A last pose at the mirror and straight through on queue to follow automated machines around me. I catch the bus and stood in the middle of the machine designation. My reflex and sense of balance never needing to hold onto railing. I stepped off at the main station, hands held at my back to remind myself that this isn't the time to be nosing about the street vendors. I do constantly peer around at the people whom are on thier commute to work, that seems unchanged to how things were with just humans bumbling about.

I eased past the main roads, stairs up to a stunning stone building with many flags arranged at the roof. Reminders of worlds beyond earth and some were locally owned government bodies of their own. The twist of fame hang stale, drama politicians in speaking to the governor openly in front of a camrea crew. A new campaign to gain public backing that lesser freedom was to be given on ai born lives. I took one step onwards closer to the doors when a sharp eye reporter turns attention to me. A photo taken on the good side of me including my arm of many logos. The dared to tap the camrea crews attention away from the two boring men and swing right over at me. I took pause of staring at them back, my sort of internal debate of if it were wise.

"You are not the normal spokesperson for the machines. Do you have any sort of words towards your feelings, if any, about this court battle?" I give a full turn and a pose of giving a suitable answer. I gave a sway to instantly take control of the audio for their ear peice and the camrea.

"I may not have any comments to share about this on going court case and I most certainly do have many emotions towards such things. But it's more important that I should state that I feel welcomed back. It has been quiet a while since my feet have brushed this soil, I sorted had missed it while I was away." I gave pose of acting lightly stiff and with playing to a image of what they assume of machines, "To see a city stood where once there was... well less then nice looking abandoned city dome. I feel honored towards all whom made this happen, I know exactly how things used to be and how harsh it has been to crawl back to this stage of political dramas. But..." I change pose again softly, "It doesn't seem all that long ago when things were grim. We should be celebrating and be grateful for what we have taken back from the ashes."

The utter disbelief and stunned silence. The reporter is quickly on her case to ask more questions. I simple give a thinking pose once more to how stuttered she is towards me. I look to my watch smoothly and do them the favour of ending the footage. I gave a light nod on my leave, striding faster than the crew could. I was right through the doors as secuirty pushes them away. The other two gave their impressions in passing me by, also then stopped by secuirty in allowing me ahead of them.

"Hey Suzanne!" I shouted across from the other side of the security barrier. I stride right past it all with no metal seemingly detected on my way past. I link my arm around shoulders the assistant assigned on catching me up to speed with laws today, "The filming crew were lovely folks. Best see what they do with such little words." I leaned in sharing what sort of things she was browsing through, "Nah man. You want this little bit evidence for the case." I typed into search as it showed no results, "Very interesting... must be a national secret then. That is rather stupid." I tried a dictionary search now, "That's been erased too." I stop leaning on them and crack knuckles, "Well then... they are really going to love me in a most hating ways possible." The assistant was to confused from that, "Whose in court other then the normal suspects?" I pulled up the guest list and read through, snicker a little and highlighted some names, "Honestly. Idiots."

"Lady Kate, this isn't a place for such rude wording." I am reminded.

"To late for that. They already spat the first mistakes." I gave them a copy of the stolen footage I pilfered from those reporters, "They spoke publicly. So it's far use." They sighed annoyed with me.

The room was as the old court systems were. Gallows of the public. Several benches of a jury. Judge seats. The two sides and the key witnesses platform. There is a vip gallows that are a sort of stadium above the public but not over shadowing the members of the justice system. There is plenty proceeding that were to be followed, that of course was having the a filming crew to record the case. The allowing of live streaming was started when making it to the physical locations not possible; erased history it seems now.

"Before we can continue this debate of discussions, we have a new..." They pause a while and whispered to someone. They nod in confirmation, "We welcome back a member of the machines and creatures alliance. Our second in name earth ambassador for Earth, Doctor Kathrine." There is direction of the camreas on me before I was even seated. I had to curl my tail to my lap in order to be somewhat comfortable. I give my gesture of greeting accordingly after, "As it's custom - we are to bring forward the evidence that is accumulated this far." They have the nearest screens showing some poor digital touch jobs, I could not help but have a gesture in asking Suzanne if this was for real. That confirmed nod and my sigh of disappointment at them all.

"Then I take it you wish to come forward with some sort of new evidence that would prove things otherwise."

"Actually. I am instead going to throw a text book at you all and you come back to me." I voice my anger at them, "This isn't court case. This is childish and beyond decorm of what you lot should be. In fact I would like to sue on behalf of machine in calling this unsavory slander. Believe me when I came forwards this morning, I was expecting honest hard evidence and actual details proper analysis of items." I stood with this, "Tell me straight that you ate not actually suing any machine with was is clearly photo shop butchery. This is utter butchery of what technology could do for you. Even a child could do better then this."

The room is utterly stunned at me. Suzanne taps my shoulders in making sure I have copies of this art... I peer better at it.

"What is this? Stealing joke memes off the internet from 2020? What poor taste in graphics?" I gave them back, "I am being up most serious with you lot. This isn't the court case I had planned."

"Someone with common sense!" Someone exclaims in glee from the gallows. The public in utter throw into this now - everyone in distained taste towards those whom were in utter confidence that they were going to win this case.

"The defense has way of proving such ruling that this case should be forgotten." The judge shouts over all and the room is silence.

"It is rather rude to ask a woman her age." I slammed at the banister, "But if you must know, there was better programming that would make fake evidence look so real that they had to make another professional program to disbelieve it." I posed hand in aggravated waves, "This here is a joke. A poor in satires that it can't even be British humor."

"The term photoshop is indeed in the dictionary and proves exactly word to word of lady Kate's point." A lawyer whom was meant to be against pitched a point, "But there is a real case here. It just the current evidence should be thrown out the window."

"That there is a well paid lawyer whom has a clue." I stated to Suzanne, "Hire him when you can." She nods. The lawyer instantly changed seats over at my side. A man knows a sinking ship when he sees one.

"This current pointing time should be considered a sort of introduction to the real case that is about to happen. This pass week passes as case closed if the current accusing side is lacking anything else." The seats of pale men nods and the hammer falls.

"Then I wish to also step down my case about slander. There isn't any point of emptying such small pockets." That is also hammered on agreeing. I give a last pose, "However the orginal case about drawing a line of what is sentient thinking and what is a base follower of questions is more then welcomed to be a open case. There is argument for and against. A few centuries of research and data. The many studies papers within the scientific community." The hammer is hovered yet not slammed on this as this was the original argument of the case, "We shall wait for whomever wishes to stand forwards, welcoming the public to such debate. There was once a law but for sure it has been outdated practice. It's about time such revisions. To judge what is a life and what is simply a empty one."

"That is compelling." The judge looking around for any takers. There are none for now, "Then it is left with no final answer." He slams the hammer, "Dismissed."

"Outstanding." My assistant mutters, "You swept away the case before it could continue. Even the way you worded it, you could have been talking about flesh types."

"It is part of my counter arguments." I shurg, "I have been also baffled for years at what is that thin line. Even my own self could be questioned on such accounts of judgment." The assistant tilted, "You're too innocent, I see." I pat shoulder, "Innocence." I moved right up to the railing and jumped over it. I lean astounding perfectly to whom I was interested in, "Mr Calton. You are a smart man." I put a hand to his tiny shoulder, "You have the common sense this public needs. Someone with understanding mannerisms and can see past bold lies. You knew it the second you took part of this case. Well, your track record goes further. No?" He too speak less by my hieght and sudden appearance, "You are more then welcome to sue me anytime on such outdated laws. I do believe that you really could make for a great business rival. In court at least." I let him be and straighten my tie, "A bright man needs a good team. That's my best advice."

"Lady Kate!" Suzanne hissed at me and I our lightly, "Mother would not allow for such acts like jumping from heights."

"No... she would not. I will be more considerate. " I wave took my leave through the public doors. The crowds parted way for me.

"Lady Kate!" I took pause with this being, "I wish to speak to you when you have the chance." I peer about my timetable in arguement reality and back to this asker, "May I have a private interview?" I study her and look about her style... a learning journalist. I turn to her and with my nod.

"Not all my answers are nice and there is sometimes you should leave questions unanswered. I make one of very few being on this earth that knew things before the ashes. Considered that wisely." She wrote that all down, "Very neat hand writing... ambidextrous." I noted and she paused with looking to me, "A private interview about business would have to be booked month in advance. I do however like private personal ones during lunch breaks . Those aren't always planned or booked timing." She continued writing a lot more and I lightly gesture such snicker, "You are a brave little thing. It reminds me of my own folks. The best of luck landing a free lancing job. Journalist have it tough, between civilian and professional." She nods lightly, "I will give you a call later or something. That's for a private personal interview. You will make those other reporters miles about you green in envy." I smile toothless, "I and two other folks hold the whims of the dark market. That isn't any power that the machines of the earth have hold on." She is also pale. I made sure she is seated before I go. Pat her head gentle on my leave.

"Your in a court house." Someone shouted with pointing at me, "What makes you the owner of the dark market?"

"I am whom made it legal binding, the very reason anyone knows how to trade in the dark market at all is due to a trade I made with visitors from space. My stake in such market was held when it was made by my words. Are you questioning me on if I really do own a empty metal space box? You might also wish to add a broken space engine compartment too." The blinking of eyes and the sudden jolts of more questions. I give that lass another check, she is fine. I leave promptly on this.

"Lady Kate!" A message runner to pass me mail. I picked them up and have them seated on my arm. My hand and tail browsing the mail. Tucked into a pocket. I did put them down eventually with having a more serious look to a very off letter. Red stained papers in a black envelope. I had to be sure this wasn't a trick of my mind. A formal invitation to a dinner party with other space ambassadors. The location wasn't stated. I smell the paper... its clue enough.

"My lady..." I tuck this letter away in scratching a little at prolonged thought. I tilt with giving my team the undivided attention needed. My focus is make the team know what they need to get done. I did take notice of little things around but pose indifferent. Even if was tune out the argument reality, those phantoms will still hang there. Waiting for me. Sent away and leaving the court house. Slipping around to more private place. I took seat at a restaurant, letting my mind wonder into such meeting.

"Kate Nicks, the real deal. What brought you here?"

"Here as in on earth or here in this atmosphere of mind crossing? You all came to me frist. Or rather, you been expecting the ambassador for parasite types that had made itself a life along a planet called earth. That mind is gone." Stood in my own mental image of whom I am inside. It wipes away that filter that hide what they were, or rather how they veiw themselves mentally. They each ad something about them that I lacked. They seem so real where I was simply a fading blur that couldn't hold such images for long.

"And so that of the elite has become a weakness. It's down to us to finish that elite mission and take your life too."

"Unlike our common enemy. I can not pass on or make more of myself. Does that not change anything?"

"We will still hunt you down and ensure such guarantees."

"I look forward to cooking you." I stepped forwards tracing each of them, measuring and painting what they actually looked like in my mind. They all shivered and one slapped my hand - so to speak. It only made them easier to paint for me, "If you leave me alone, I will never harm you. You bring harm to my family, my home or myself... I will hunt you to the end of time and stew you into a large baked pie. Thus completing what I lack of being something like you." I sigh, "Playing into what the enemy wants you to do. The nut case has been after my DNA for years. It be wise to use me as more a bait, if nothing else of good will come with us."

"Primitive."

"Sometimes that's exactly what things are." I broke down this entire meeting with cutting all the connections. No longer will I will be welcoming them into a open mind space near me.

I have long finished my three meals, finished drawing the sketches of these new threats and lazed almost comfortable. The book away into my breast pocket, a pay of my final bill and leave indifferent with how the atmosphere is around me. I came right up to my team whom all posed mad at me for taking to long. I was far quicker at catching up then they assumed. Pulling forwards what was maybe to be set up in the next week or two.

The projects in getting signal towers above the clouds was coming along smoothly. Staging the final land deed purchases, land survey and last checks by corresponding communities. There was always to be environmental issues and hazards.