8th February

Breaking pumps on exiting the radiation power plant is not easy. I had to dig my way through a leaking area to a soil section which ends up into the underground vaults of this city. The place is packed of lost walkways that no one uses anymore. Maze of no one around. Better then the swimming. My joints hurt. The main market underground should be around somewhere. As of so far it is a ghost town as of so far for miles of my vision, with or without arguments reality. Not a lot of humans in the robotic district and only parasite types would share known locations through mind space. They wouldn't have any idea about down here. Star fish has no use of the underground layout which is extensive as other dome or ex-dome habitats. Just about everything is on surface. It leaves what other habitats use all the time to be this isolated tunnel network. This city is as it was before the fallout; before people sheltered underground.

Bringing me to an idea. I could live here. This was an after thought when realizing how lonely I am. I couldn't stand living alone. I was so reliant for a signal or sign of life. Being chased as I am, I was hoping to find them first. The gloom was never brighter or darker. Never changing.

Sounds.

There is a strange sound ahead of me. Alone stood some sort of machine that was long deactivated and left untouched. Lights long gone by now, a lack of life. If it was flesh, it be a corpse. The sound from it was a loose wire swaying, a battery removal. It might as well be that the heart of it was torn, the cause of death and left to rust into floor where it stood. However empty machines make good homes to hide in, even for the strangest of things. It maybe rusted to the spot but it wouldn't be having swaying wires. There has to be breeze for it or something. Perpetual motion is hard to achieve in earth gravity. So what else about this corridor seems wrong? Dimension measurement. The size. The walls don't align. Smell? Not sure. Nothing of scent tells me good or bad. What about the floor? There is a trip wire trap. The old trick in the book to have a string across on sit to the other, when pull should trigger something.

I hop to claw onto the ceiling, twist with using my tail to tip the wire. The wire broken make a long pitched alarm start up, then the eyes began to glow. I duck away with a flash passing by, just enough to have protected my vision. The pitch sounds start changing to a radio frequency. The internal wire that moved was gone. The radio frequency dials in a phone tone, a mechanism dropped both false walls to a corridor of death traps. There is red beams that pin point at the floor. I crawled the ceiling evading that.

I peer about this system, if it was automatic or was someone controlling it with ropes as a distance. It could be this was something defending its home. A about avoided the death traps on this side, so what about the other side? The same layout of false walls, trip wore and the hug wire swaying was on this side now. The 'back' was the front too. So the released false walls has what to them. Laser guides for turret guns. They shoot bullets? No. I leaned and disarmed a turret, lifted by my front. I empty the chambers, glass needles. So it was a sedative knock out job. The liquid on them has long evaporated, so just needles. I put it down laying as if knocked over. I steady on the ceiling, I look to the corridors that was hidden by the fake ones. Wire for the motion attractor was moving here, it seems it was running the length of the next corridor of trap set up. Both directions. Did the people leave navigation marks? Yes, there is a arrow scratched in on the wall.

I ponder if this was made when the radiation killed the city dome here. We know that the power plant leak had killed most of the city above and it was checked to be true for bellow starfish. Maybe this was after the city was expanded, someone choose to hide from the creatures alliance and machines - assuming end if world doom.

I haven't really made sense of the vaults test purpose, most vaults had a method of testing the human condition. The leak of the power plant couldn't be on purpose but maybe the location of this city being beside one was. Testing cancer rates in city population or protection materials. I could be wrong this vault could just be a open public one for just the city above and not have any intent of underground dwelling. The miles of corridor and no relief of basic needs, not a live in vault.

The sounds of someone else triggering the wire traps behind me. Put me back to the ceiling. If someone followed me through swimming, they would have triggered a trap unwittingly. The creator of such traps knew how not to. The swaying wire was cut. The direction I need to go is the direction the end the is still moving is going. I follow on the ceilings grasp. I peer back and around at corridors following the moving wire or the arrows.

The trap nearby behind is set off a second time. The other side of the trip wire Maybe. The echo of shooting for once, but not the turret guns of glass. Bullets. The patter of ricochet bouncing the walls. I scrambled in jumping a gap that wasn't trapped for once. I was clung to a air ventilation, a huge fan that was being pushed by a drip of water on it. The threading wire on it was constantly twisting. Eventually with enough tension to make the fan turn the other direction. A taunting system for the wire traps, very clever. There is no fresh air out the air duct, so it will mean finding another way.

I flatten to the floor, peering about this t junction and why it wasn't protected. Looking for cameras. Looking for life. I lost another potential kidnapper for sure. Smells are any different here, the linger of gun residues is traveling this way.

'Are you safe?' I peer in how my argument reality has suddenly a message on it. I lifted from the floor, have my stuff still clipped on me. My siblings.

'Depends on the intent of the others around this Maze.' I air typed. I peer how the smell draws closer, 'We don't use bullets like I know.'

'The use of bullets is as it would for any threats deemed necessary.' The hovering of them taking forever to continue, 'I will fire one shot. Would you be, able to locate that?'

'Sound echoes but smell clouds.' The echoes of the corridor down where I heard was a single shot. Refreshing the dust of gun follows about an hour later. A say an hour.

'So, there becomes a question of trust. Tell me something we know true.'

'You were around 30 when you joined the ice box program. You seen the advert on your TV when staring at the remains of your living room.' Fine that is decent but it wasn't personal, 'You asked poison about the flavoured cake. It was a gender reveal. It turned into something worse.' Better.

I slowly lifted drop the floor, and walked on fours. I do so at the quietest possible. I softly came to pass another section when the smell hits me hard of the strength of gun fire is strongest. I see they broken the entire trap system. The team of machines all pointed either side of the corridor. I peer at each.

'Still an impatient sort then? Or is it being nervous?' I could tell who got that message with how they lowered their gun.

"You're sister has to be extremely terrifying." Mulberry is the one stood next to me.

"It lumen level 0 for humans. I think we can establish from that she wouldn't be human anymore." Greg, bless the extra armour pads on the chest. His habit of standing relaxed feet in a human way.

"It could be worse."

"Worse you say?" I pondered gently into the conversation, "I can't blame the theories really. I don't make it easier for others." The instant of all of them lowering and looking around, "So there is a way out of this? Not a lot if air movement around these corridors."

"Air sealed for years." Jackel stops scanning about and I lifted to head height, sharing the view. My hand lightly scuffs his head in greeting, "So what exactly were you up to lately other then nearly being assumed a fake?"

"Long boring courts notes and sketches of things. A little investigation on my part for why and what. Did you send you data self here or are you mostly here? I would assume you built yourself in new material or have most of you suspended in a sort of liquid."

"I don't talk about what I am." He sighed at me.

"That seems fair. A good thing I didn't tell that little reporter things. Left her to find things at her own cost."

"So it was you that started her?" They align to start walking out of here and I leaned on him as we walked. Given he is arm resting height.

"She was digging long before I told her anything. I warned her it could cost her more then she would ever imagine and have consequences across the galaxy alliances. I said it in my cryptic uncomfortable way."

He slowly panned at how I am, looking slowly to my height and the soft twisted of checking. Scanning me. He tilted confused at my torso area. I pose his nose.

"Nosy." He had to think about that for while, "The empty shells I carry are important." I stop leaning on him as the team crunched up in defence. I lowered in watching for what. No smells. The other group of folks are wearing sealed suits, the guns lifted but not fire.

"What are a group of machines doing down here in the kill zones?"

"Hey, it's you with the Quartz watch. I worked out the 9 hours thing. That doesn't matter. The watch is correct." They lowered first and the machines follow to next.

"How are you not dead from the execution order and made it here of all places?"

"Rude mister detective. I have business with the city more then you think. Prying into with no warrant. " I stay cloaked as walking on fours, "I have legal obligations to not explain everything. I make ears bleed otherwise."

I whine a little in considering to report something but this isn't the place for it. The whine was also my hand still stinging, the index claw was torn out of joint. It be from the falling and the nonstop action so fair. Taking it easy walking around here has not meant stopping for a sleep. The two teams came forwards together.

"We originally were ordered down here from a higher seated in the human governor office. This place is still being used as the city banking vaults and some private treasury to those officials. The trip traps might have been you."

"There is other things down here then just me. Those you will want to consider protection of the city for." I finally reported.

"We did shot something. A image if you need it." The team sent a digital copy.

"What is that?" The detective asked.

"The pronoun for it isn't not in human vocals. It's is essentially a search and kill trained creature with one tracked mind. Of you had a smell or knew the command whistle, it tucks into sleep as a ball of fluff." I explained, "It wouldn't be the first time I say this. Reminds me of a dog. Considering getting one."

"That thing isn't native."

"No. It was sent down here from orbit. The master can't be far either. Unless... well things aside. They will steal from vaults as they tried before. Best you sort it."

"Oh, so they stolen before?"

"Space orbit station. Vaults 100 through 200... excluding 146. I kept 146 safe." The aggravated sigh of them going further and dome of the machine went back with them.

"146?" Jackle asked.

"Well they don't need to know the exact vault. Only that one was never stolen but the rest were searched and broken into." We came to an area of light. Those left were docking onto a locked platform. I went to a dock spot but I sat down. I ensure the cloak was suitable cover on me and my gifts. Waiting. The detective and the whole gang came back dragging things to a pile. They came onto this docking platform. The humans stood around the centre, bracing each other. The detective was making his notes for sure.

"It has been an long time. It's almost wrong of me to had returned. Not that I returned willingly. Biological speaking I was forced to awaken." I spoke gently in whispers to my brother. I don't know if he was listening. I have a better look at my hands in how badly mangled and cut they were from fighting for air in the swimming. The papers aren't going to be dry to look through.

Several groups of machines and mix teams were adding into the elevator. Docking was getting tighter. I shuffled with sitting at my brother's feet, waiting. I checked the craft of my work as secretly possible. Not a dent or scratch on them. A relief to me. A last group was back, they looked soaking wet. I shuffled smaller.

"The last vault unchecked was the machines one... but it was as unused as always. Empty of content as always." The detective checked the list, "The repairs to the power system was easy fix. Hard to say what happened to it." He was reporting on phone, "Several visitor creatures but looks more a machines related problem. One the ambassadors was found down here. The other machine ambassador was actually sent to find them." The shuffle of nervousness, "No... his sister. His actual sister." The sudden kick and the annoyance of being screamed at, "All do respect. We have no influence over someone with half the dark market shares combined." The harsh hang up. The looking back in the listing and the asking around he does. The jolt of the internal system kicks in and the way closes down boxing us, a mist spray water and disinfectant swirls. every surface touched is dripped of eroding materials and drained. I couldn't prevent the stream of the blood from me. My hands out to the mist, mostly in showing where the cuts had bleed from. The oxidation of my red blood was at least healthy, that much I pondered while staring dazed.

"May I?" My brother peering over me, has a hold of both hands, a better scan and came prepared with something suitable. I whine a lot with the pain that stings the whole length of my arms. I could tell his eyes would wonder at the rest of me, give I am not wearing anything constricting my shape. He be tapping his foot if I wasn't seated on it, given I was bracing on him he was confused on torso lengths. He would seem overwhelmed and list even with how I am. Struggling to see me underneath the creature altered. I slide my hands back to myself with a instinctive notion to guard him from the detective walking closer. Resting both hands on either gift. My tail tangling in extra hold.

"Mr Jack, would we be able to book time to speak with you?" Totally ignoring me for the moment.

"It will be for a while. I am not free for business. I have personal and family matters." A suitable response for a man about to marry.

"Before long most business for a set duration will be attended by me anyway. It is only a short duration in a calendar sense." I spoke slow and yet in eased enough pitch to be kind. It still made the detective shiver, "Best leave the couple to their time off." I muttered lightly. The detective posed in thinking about it.

"I heard rumours but is it true, a wedding?"

"I pity my ally whom took my place as the planner while I was gone. I must call her and help her out." I looked about with turning on the argument reality with checking emails. Nothing to big. Small details asked in messages, "Bless her. She is so honest." I purr, "Yes and that was booked too. very good." I turned that off.

"Sometimes I forget that she was one for small details." My brother sighs about me and the detective had a step back.

"He took after my traits. Why else would we be considered siblings, detective? The poor tin can here is just as sneaky for finer details, don't be fooled. We both must have eyed up your choose of clothing 7 or 8 times." The detective steps back again, "Brown leather shoes with plaid. So British farmer."

"Missing the flat cap." My brother adding and I nod. The detective puts his notes away and braves to return conversation.

"What if it was a case that interrupts any personal plans?"

"If you think I am the cause of the 183 deaths in the past month. I will sue you." I hissed annoyed, "I know who they are. I have an idea of where their from. I know the details. I know my own research is being used against me, as it should for any nonbiased publication."

"Well damn. I wasn't even that far with just three. Clearly you have some sources."

"No. Not attested for any governor body to believe my words. It's not applicable in a court setting." The twisted discomfort of them both, "The case is out of your hands anyways, you are to small. You make for a great character reference, but nothing more then a footnote." The detective was to almost take that in an insult but my brother must had send a message to the detective. The detective stared confused for a long time towards my brother. Simply that followed is denying shake of his head.