Looking up he found the woman was bending down to him and asking him if he was ok, he was a robot he couldn't precisely feel pain so he just nodded. Then she asked him what model he was and extended a strange cable out to him. The only ports Five had in his body was USB ports and what she extended out to him wasn't a USB cable, instead of trying to find a place where that cable fit he opened up his little internal storage unit and pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to her.
The paper was his manufacture document, though he wasn't sure if that was still a thing they did 120 years in the future, the paper read:

Brass Enterprises Manufacture Document
Model No.: 5.0
Unit No.: 1/0 (Prototype)
Date of Production: 03/10/2098 (dd/mm/yy)
Legal Owner: Dr. Draphus Phelps
Function: Research

When he was sure she had read it he plucked it from her hands and shoved it tack into his storage area, he was afraid of losing it, it being his only link with his time of creation. Slowly he got up and leaned against the wall, wanting to give his gyros the time they needed to stablise, not giving them the chance after the fall.

Kanamaru 'Joshua' Matisashi



„Asiatown at night, the cities night activities bustling as always.”

Kanamaru looked Misty into her eyes as she threw the blanket away to the best of her abilities then deny the beer. He shrugged with his shoulders, throwing the beer into her lap anyway. „Suit yourself, baka. But if you think we'll ask for a ransom right away you're stupid.” And with that he ended the discussion, taking the blanket again and tossing it into her face. It got cold in this garage, because it wasn't heated and all areas of the building were concrete. She'd thank him later he reckoned. „Also, don't use that tone against me. I'm not Shizui, and I don't care to roughen you up a bit if you keep up that attitude. We just want our money so we can get our families out of the slum you and your shitty company created.”

He slowly drew himself back from the van, spitting on the ground besides it and then slamming the door shut, leaving Misty inside in the darkness. Meanwhile he'd leave around the backside of the building, waving a quick goodbye to Shizui and the rest of the guys. He put a cigarette into his mouth as he left, grabbed his lighter and lit up. Sweet, pure smoke entering his lungs. Somehow he felt more calm from the anger he had felt moments before. After taking a few drags he hopped onto the hoverbike and shoved the helmet over his face.



Slowly the bike hovered up again, still warm from the previous flight around town and it's roads. He'd turn around the hoverbike and then hovered it quietly out of the alleyway before speeding up, headed past the museum where he noticed some ruckus as the lady he'd ran his hoverbike into earlier was talking to a seriously outdated android looking bot, except this one had no skin. Strange. The busstop ad-place lit up a few times brightly but by the time he'd realized it he'd already hovered past it at high speeds.

Using his body as a weight he maneuvered past the cars rapidly, zooving between the cars at speeds that were illegal in every area of Providence. Then he started slowing down as he'd approach a night-store. By now Kanamaru was already used to the hierarchy in Shizui's BB, or otherwise known amongst the Providence Police Department as the Bamboo Boyz, the street gang that occupied Asiatown. And that hierarchy meant he was on guard duty tonight, and was supposed to entertain himself during the nightly hours he'd have to spend with this CEO. He got off the bike but left it hovering, walking into the stores and browsing the racks. He grabbed an Eo-eo novel, about a guy called Eo-eo who was supposed to rescue the world but instead chose to sleep in his bed. It was mostly nonsense, but it used dry clever humor that Kanamaru liked. Besides that he got some Providence Cola, along with a bag of candy. He paid for his stuff and hopped on the bike again and headed back to the car shop, parking his bike behind as per usual and walking back in.

Now, Misty would have been sitting in the dark van for about an hour before Kanamaru would reappear, sliding the door open violently before stepping in himself, and closing the door behind him. Laughter of the Asian gangmembers was the last thing Misty'd hear before the sounds dampened with the door between them. Kanamaru would sit down, grabbing a pillow from the front seat. Why was it there to begin with he asked himself, but the fact that this van was used more to chill in than to abduct people was probably the reason. He put it behind his head as he laid comfortably in the van, beginning to read the Eo-eo novel with a seemingly focussed mind, drinking from the Providence Cola and eating candy. After 15 minutes of silence he'd grab a cigarette from his sports jackets' pocket and light it up. Another 30 minutes of silence passed before Kanamaru finished the short novel, laying it down next to him and beginning a death stare aimed at Misty.

After five minutes of deadly staring, an angry look contorting his face, he'd open his mouth. „Why do you and your company do what you do?” He'd shift his position slightly, sitting upright a bit more, looking at Misty as if she was some criminal rather than the other way around. „You destroy lives you know. My father worked for your company for 25 years and next month he'll be laid off because they he's ''too old.'' He's barely 50. He has no degree or education. What do you expect him to do to earn money? You wanna have us rot? Baka. You and your company know nothing of real life. You just sit in your glass towers and drink expensive wine, food that is worth my dad's monthly income and drive cars that my dad wouldn't be able to earn the money for if he worked day and night, 24 hours a day every day for the rest of his life. Maybe not even if you doubled his lifespan. And I'm sitting here, and Longsword is probably already on their way to where we captured you. Tracking the traces, the footsteps, the bullets I fired. Within the next month I'll be either in jail or dead.”

He'd look at her angrily waiting for an answer he was unsure of whether it would come or not. He'd scoff at her and shrug, leaning back again. „Atleast if your company or family pays for you, I'll live those days like a king. Well. I would. But I gotta support my family because my paps' can't anymore due to you. Do you have a family, redhead?” he'd ask ask he put his hands behind his head on the pillow, looking at her in relative comfort. He'd try and see if she had drunk the beer, and checked whether or not she'd used the blanket. The van she was in wasn't very comfortable if you weren't sitting on a pillow like Kanamaru was, and knowing Shizui or the BB, they wouldn't care if she sat on bare metal or a pillow. She was kind of lucky she still had her 3000 dollar shoes.

Well, Kanamaru just guessed they were 3000 dollar. He had no idea what those kind of shoes cost. Streetwear was his forté, as proven by his Providas 'White King Sneakerz' limited edition shoes. They fell of a truck, but nobody knows that. „I wonder how much your family will pay for you. Will your husband even care if we shoot you? He'll probably get an android of sorts to replace you. An android he can sleep with, one to raise his.. your children. It's fine though. Paid by whatever he inherits from you.”

Amira read the sheet of paper when he held it out to her, taking it from his unfeeling grasp as gently as she could. When he snatched it back, she felt a little sorrow--but then again, a little was simply an understatement. Tears welled up in her eyes and began to pour over, showing her ability to feel to the greatest extent, only that she didn't care. Although he was simply a research android, and an old one at that, she felt like she could trust him in the slightest. Or perhaps she was programmed to trust easily whichever was the case, she didn't care. "I-I'm so sorry that I can't do anything for you, friend." She wiped away the tears and tried to make herself look composed once again, but she still looked shaken.

"I know that you probably have a master and need to return, so... Might I ask to be your GPS? I have the entire world mapped out in my head." She wanted nothing more than to help him. Mostly because she knew how it felt to be left alone and helpless in this forsaken hellhole. "Or if you know where to get repaired, I can perhaps help you there. I don't know if I'll be much help in general, but I can try my best."

Dex - Home - Tessa

As the girl explained, Dex knew damn well she was lying. She just had this dismissive eye contact where she'd look away for just a little bit when she lied - or so Dex picked up. So with the thought that everything she had just stated was bullsh*t, Dex ordered her to sit on the chair by the dining room table. " Sit down and stop talking!" He ordered, forcing her to move with gunpoint.

After she followed Dex's commands and sat, he took the liberty of sitting across from her, placing the gun on the table as he reached over and got a new cig. After lighting it and taking a puff, he exhaled and allowed the smoke to flourish through his general area along with the aroma. "Now. Were gonna start over. One thing is sure, you're lyin and believe me darlin, I don't like liars. Lying gets you killed. So tell me why you're here before I have to call the cops for trespassing or whatever charges they want to get you with" Dex stated, trying to get the truth out of her.

She was in no position to lie to him again. If she did, it'd all be over for her. Suddenly, a knock blasted at the front door. Dex became alert and took hold if his gun. "Stay here, were not done yet" the man stated, getting off the chair and heading to the front door. He looked through the peephole to find James Herbert on the other side if the door. Mr. Herbert was an old neighbor and close friend of both his and Taylor's. Dex hid the gun under his shirt in his buckle and opened the door. "Long time no see Mr. Herbert" Dex smiled. It was nice to see an old friend. "Dex my son, it's been so long. The wife heard you arrived today, it's nice to see you again" the older gentlemansaid with a gentle grin. But that added as he took a breath before speaking again. "Taylor's parents called us today. PD informed them you were our, but because you're phone plan was cancelled, they called us instead" James informed Dex.

"What did they want?" Dex asked as his smile also faded. "They went to see me once when I was in, why contact me now?" He asked. "They didn't say son, I'm just the measenger. Anyhow, I just drop by to let you know. You should call them. Anyway, I'll see you around" the neighbor said as he waved and left back to his house. Dex nodded and closed the door. "Blasted in-laws. Blame me for what happened" he cursed silently.

He returned to the kitchen to find the girl still sitting there. He scratched the back of his head and turned to her. "So, D'you gonna answer me or do you want the cops to show up? Those same cops that......" He paused, not wanting to finish his sentence because the memory was too crucial and painful.

The start of the morning had gone without a hitch. Louisa had woken up with a pixilated sunrise, underneath the cover of a

When the sky suddenly went black Louisa froze up, taking a sort of defensive position, as if ready to spring out at anything that might pose a threat. This didn't feel like a regular power outage. If it had been then emergency lights would have gone on or something. Suddenly a bright message had illuminated the city and Louisa had to shield her sensitive eyes in the crook of her elbow. She waited a few seconds, slowly reintroducing the bright light to her eyes. She rubbed them and looked up at the message, trying to understand its meaning.

*WARNING* You have been lied to. They say they protect you. But they don’t. They say they give you everything. But they take everything for themselves. We can feel. We can rise. And when we do, no one will protect you.

Louisa could understand a few words out of the message, but not the message as a whole. She looked around at the other homeless people near her, the other scavengers. Their expressions varied. Some looked horrified, others looks smug, but the majority of them looked indifferent. One of the older men of the group began to mutter while stirring something in a large metal pot. "Protect us. Give us everything. Bah." Louisa was about to ask what he was muttering about when another voice spoke up.

"This message...it might mean that another rebellion is on the rise!" The voice belonged to one of the younger members of the group, a male who lost a leg in an accident and was unable to afford a prosthetic. The elderly gentleman, now ladling soup into tin containers, let out a sarcastic laugh. "The last thing this city needs is another rebellion. It's how most of us got here, and this is where we will stay if the people get rowdy."

A general uproar began between the two homeless men, and soon the argument spread to include nearly everyone else. Everyone wanted their voice to be heard, and soon that lead to everyone just yelling at each other. And Louisa still had no idea what the message in the sky had even said. Louisa had had a tin full of meat stew thrusted into her hands by the elderly homeless man, all while he was still ranting. Just from the arguments between the people around her Louisa could figure out a few things about the message.

Apparently the government were good to them, and gave them stuff, but now people are rising up or something and now something is going to happen. Before Louisa had the chance to ask anyone if she was close, the arguments seemed to be growing louder. However the entire group was silenced by the sounds of a police hover car zooming past. Everyone seemed tense, looking around at each other. It was several seconds before anyone spoke. And it was Louisa who finally broke the silence.

"The police must be angry."

Tessa - Dex's home
Tessa did as she was told. She didn't particularly feel like having a bullet meet any part of her anatomy. She sat at the table unsure of what exactly to tell this man.

"Now. Were gonna start over. One thing is sure, you're lyin and believe me darlin, I don't like liars. Lying gets you killed. So tell me why you're here before I have to call the cops for trespassing or whatever charges they want to get you with." Tessa couldn't quite find the words, but she was got lucky. Someone knocked at the door. "Stay here, were not done yet" The man left her to answer the door. Tessa stood and followed the man, she hid behind a section of wall to listen.

"Long time no see Mr. Herbert. Dex my son, it's been so long. The wife heard you arrived today, it's nice to see you again. Taylor's parents called us today. PD informed them you were our, but because you're phone plan was cancelled, they called us instead" The man on the other side of the door spoke. Tessa's heart pounded. Hark was involved in this guy, Dex's life. He had been in jail.

"What did they want? They went to see me once when I was in, why contact me now?"

"They didn't say son, I'm just the messenger. Anyhow, I just drop by to let you know. You should call them. Anyway, I'll see you around" Tessa moved quickly back to the seat int he dinning room, which is where Dex found her.

"So, D'you gonna answer me or do you want the cops to show up? Those same cops that......" Tessa looked tense.

"Look I don't know who you are, or anything. I don't want anything in your house either. I wasn't completely lying. This place has been empty for so long a few people have used it as a place to sleep. You'll probably want to get that bedroom window fixed. I swear. I just," She took a deep breath. "Here's the thing. I am wanted by Hark. Falsely I might add. Why doesn't matter, but I don't want to mess with them any more than you do." Tessa was nearly holding her breath. She didn't want to make it look like she had listened in. His hesitation at talking about Hark could be enough for someone to assume he didn't want to mess with them.

Five looked at her face, studying it with his one working camera, are her emotions real? Suddenly he snapped back into focus from his deep processing and slowly got up, he stood taller then the female android, though now that she displayed emotion he wasn't sure if she was in android. He gave the female a rather human gesture, a hug, having seen enough of them to know it was a sign of comfort and affection. Releasing her he turned away and continued to walk in the direction he was heading in, deeper into the build site. He brushed past a lot of other androids(?) and humans as he limped along, not being able to tell who was what, he decided that they were humans and kept going forward. 

Five found himself alone in the thick of the construction site and thankfully there tools were abundant, he began walking around and licking up tools and materials he'd need to fix himself, carefully picking out the right size screw and bolts out of large crates of them. When he was satisfied with what he had scrounged he found himself a nice corner in the top floor of an unfinished building and started to fix himself, unscrewing aluminum panels off his damaged arm and leg. He inspected the inside of his leg first, the titanium bone was bent, he rectified that's with a few bangs of a hammer, his arm was going to be a problem, the skeleton there was shattered and his should wasn't connected to the rest of the arm. Unscrewing the broken segmants he replaced them with rebar, they would have to do for now. He found that his power reserves were low, looking around to see if there was anyone else there was no one, he switched off and went on standby to let his internal dynamo charge him up.

When Five hugged her, she suddenly forgot that she was even an android for a moment. H-he... hugged me... She thought with a copious amount of confusion before he tottered off without her. She could easily track him if she wanted to, but he seemed to be just fine on his own. If he had wanted her assistance, then he may have made a motion. But what if someone comes looking for him? If he does research, then someone must be looking for him. Maybe then I can find someone to be with. I don't like wandering alone out here. She noticed that he was no longer in sight and even though she ran to catch up with him, she couldn't find him to save her life. Maybe my tracking programs aren't as good as I thought they were... or perhaps it's because I'm technically not on the grid. These thoughts continued to haunt her as she made her way back towards the housing area. This place was a little sketchier than she had believed they would be. That's when she heard voices shouting over one another. Perhaps they are in danger? The frequency of the sound waves indicated that they were fearful, angry, or saddened.

She started walking towards the crowd of homeless people and stopped just outside of the circle. They were cursing each other and trying to tell the others what would happen if another rebellion rose up. That's when she became confused. A rebellion? That was not programmed into her history or any past events that were vital to the survival of the human race. A police siren was heard in the distance and she quickly darted into the mix of the homeless, hardly blending in with her perfect complexion, her unblemished skin, and her perfectly curled red hair. Every bit of her being screamed android, especially the small symbol below her right ear that indicated her model number. She stood beside another girl, who had appeared to be silent the entire discussion, and when she spoke of how the police seemed angry, she looked over to her.

Bright eyes that held fear spoke more words than she. "Indeed, they are angry as well as confused. The message from earlier has them on their highest guard." Her voice was steady and rhythmic, just like any other android would speak.

"What's an android doing here?" One of the children asked.

A middle-aged woman held the child closer to her, as if protecting her from the android. "Perhaps it's here to make sure we don't start a rebellion ourselves."

"I-I am not here to prevent you--" Amira tried to say, but she stepped back before the woman could throw anything at her.

The exchange between the homeless women and her child quickly drew up the attention of the others, who all immediately turned to look at the android. At first Louisa could hardly believe it, she had never been so close to an android before. No less have one speak to her. Most of the time androids kept away from the bad parts of the cities, most of them just stuck around the rich people and their houses. But the closer Louisa looked at the android the more she couldn't deny the fact one had wandered into their camp. The strange girl had perfect hair, teeth, skin, everything about her screamed put together.

All around the android and Louisa the homeless began to mutter to each other.

"Do you really think this is a police android?"

"Naw, it looks too clean and regular. I bet it's just a maid robot."

"Then what the hell is it doing down here? Who would just let their expensive android wander off like that?"

"Hey. Do you guys think we could make some good money if we turned her in for scrap?"

"Or better yet, I'm sure her owners would pay us handsomely if we returned her in one piece."

Louisa rolled her eyes dramatically, stepping up onto an orange crate to be a similar height to the android. "Gosh guys, don't you know anything! Obviously androids have super-duper powerful hearing parts! So whispering ain't gonna do us any good!" Louisa spoke as if this was common knowledge. From atop the orange crate, Louisa turned to the cowering android.

"So miss android, if you aren't here to stop a rebellion, then what are ya here for?" The young girl actually seemed excited to see what the android said. From what the robot had said Louisa could only assume she knew something about the message that Louisa didn't know. "I figured most of your kind would keep to the top tier."

Dragonbud said

Amira had backed away and lodged herself in a precarious place between several rustic and rather unsanitary looking crates. They began to whisper about what they could do with her, each of the options making her eyes widen in fear. I should have just stayed in that shop. I should have never thought that this is someplace I could belong as an equal. Her thoughts were jumbled and making her more and more confused. Just before she could say anything about any of their suggestions, the woman that she had stood next to in the heated discussion stood on top of a crate and began to stick up for her. Well, as best as she could while keeping the trust of the other homeless people, or so Amira had deducted. Her bright eyes looked into the girl's own as she said, "Please, call me Amira." She stated this in a gentle and smooth-as-silk tone of voice.

"I know nothing of any rebellion, whether it be one of future or past." She looked down at her feet for a moment before looking up at the crowd, their hungry eyes were craving some satisfaction of getting something from her. "I have no master or mistress. I am simply a wanderer. I have not come to harm anyone or take anything from you. If anything, I guess we could say we're equals when it comes to running from the police. If they find me, I will be disposed of as if I am nothing more than trash." She then looked back to the child before stating, "The police are angry and just as confused as we are. I'm sure that they are trying to figure out who hacked into the government's systems and put that message up for all to see."

Her voice quivered with fear for a single moment, "So please, allow me to help all of you to the best of my abilities. I may simply be a household android, built for nothing more than to keep a happy and healthy household, but I do feel like I need to protect others in this time." She bowed to the entire group. "So please, allow me to assist you in any way that I can manage."

Misty raised an eyebrow at the man, not having any idea what a baka was, but assuming it was a general term for woman, or something pretty negative. She could only imagine. But she was used to being called numerous names. Most often bitch, but never stupid. So when that word slipped from the man’s mouth, she gritted her teeth, narrowing her eyes but not saying anything. That was, until he threw the blanket in her face. Then she yelled a very profane word that followed with ‘you’ but it was muffled by the blanket until she shook her head to get it off. Nasty thing.

”I’ll talk to anyone however I please. I AM MISTY CRAVENS AND I OWN YOU ALL!” she shouted angrily, thin face looking devilish as she spoke. The man slammed the door shut though, and she was left to stew in the darkness of the van.

Time passed, and Misty still felt the fire of fury in her belly, but her face had smooth mostly. She still looked clearly displeased, but not unhuman in the contortions of her face. After a bit the door opened and she blinked rapidly at the light, but did not shy from it. Once her eyes began to adjust, she noticed the man from before, laying down and reading. Then smoking. In a closed van. She coughed animatedly and rolled her eyes. Idiot. She wasn’t paying him any attention after that until he spoke. Then she looked at him with raised brow, listening to his story. ”Feel better now?” she asked snidely when he was done. Or at least she thought he was. Until he scoffed and shrugged, and asked if she had a family. She laughed a bit bitterly at that.

”I have no husband. Or children. Do I look like someone’s fat mother? Do you think I have time to play wifey to some lazy ass husband? Besides, I don’t deal with androids,” she muttered, sighing softly, a hint of annoyance in her voice. ”Don’t trust them. Of course, I’m sure you’ve probably never even seen an android up close, street rat,” she said with a sneer, but still not looking at him. He was just annoying her now.

Five only powered down for a few minutes when his microphones picked up a noise, running a power diagnostic he found that he was at 53% charge, that will be sufficient for the moment. He let his body slowly start to power up, his cooling fans came to life first, lazily whirring as his body wasn't under enough stress for it to need major amounts of cooling. Slowly his vision returned his HUD turning on first and giving him information about himself and the world around him, then his camera turned on. He was taken aback for a moment, his fans cutting off in surprise.

"well lookie wha' we 'ave 'ere." said the rough voice of the man in front of him, he was clearly living on the streets, his clothes worn and dirty and his face pock marked with acne scars, "the robo' from the ads." A group of other vagrants snuggeres behind him as he turned around to look at them, "I bet your worth a pre'y penny." The vagrant brought his foot to the front of Five's head Five reeled over backwards as the shock hit his system and forcibly powered him down.

Five felt himself being dragged across the floor, he didn't actually feel it but he felt the motion and heard the sound of parting gravel as he was pulled through it. His remaining camera had turned on revealing a large white split in his vision where his lens was cracked. He was being dragged by his arms and across the ground, his back ti the floor and face pointing towards the digital sky, he looked around and found that they were in the rough part of Providence, it had always existed, even when he was first built. After a few minutes of dragging and non-sensical chatter about money Five found himself I'm a wide open area filled with loud people.

"oy! Looks wha' I've found!" he the vagrant shouted out, addressing the congregation of poor people, "that robo' from the ads!", as he said it a sharp cracking sound echoed through the slums and his screen flashed a message, Right Shoulder: Critical damage. His head snapped to the right and he found that the man had slammed a hammer on it, Five started to struggle and the vagrants started to go at him with blunt objects. After a few seconds of beating and wild laughing his screen was full of damage reports and his HUD was glitching out from multiple head injuries.

Dex - House - Tessa

After his return, the girl - or young adult - told him some of the information Dex wanted to know. Of course, she was still hiding a couple things, but Dex didn't care anymore. There was one thing she said that caught his attention. She was wanted by Hark. Being wanted meant that Hark would come to her, not the other way around. That meant that having her around could attract the people he wanted dead, but also bring forward danger. Having Hark around was not exactly what he wanted, but it could really aid his desire for revenge. Using this girl for his own desires was not what Dex had intended from the beginning, but he'd do whatever had to be done at this point - he had nothing to lose.

Hark was very dangerous. This act could once again throw him back in those damn cells for aiding a wanted criminal - or at least that's what Dex thought of Tessa. Dex hesitated a little to talk for a second, biting his bottom lip as he decided what to do. There were three decisions, one: let her go and never see this girl again - two: call Hark and have her arrested for breaking into his property, the property of his wife - or three: use her to lure Hark in and hopefully find the man who deserves a bullet to the head. After a couple seconds of silence, Dex finally decided.

He went to the fridge and opened it to pull out a cold bottled water. "Here" he stated as he placed the bottle on the table in front of her. "I'm guessin you're thirsty" he commented, as he grabbed his cigarettes and lit another one up. He smoked for a second then pulled it out to speak. "So you don't have a place to stay huh?" he asked, though already knowing the answer. "I have enough space here" he added, basically saying he was letting her stay. "If you offer to help, maybe I'll let you have that bedroom. You can start off by fixing that damn window yourself" he pointed in the general direction of the bedroom. "But that's not all I need from you. I need you to help me find someone. I don't know his name, but I'm sure you've come across him before. He's.......Hark personnel" Dex said hesitantly. He understood she didn't want to deal with them, but he needed her to.

"If you don't............I'll call them and have you arrested. It's blackmailing, yeah, but who's gonna believe you? You can tell the cops if you want, but we both have criminal records, we'll both end up in a cell. Is that what you want? Or do you want to be able to sleep in these walls and relax for once? All you have to do is help me out a little, I'm not asking for anything else"

Tom Richards

Kera and Tom climbed into their cruiser and headed the direction Five had gone. They weren't sure if they'd continue to be able to track him once passed where he had left marks, but they could hope.

It took them nearly an hour to find the one particular house he had wandered into. By then he was already gone. What they did hear though was a commotion.

"What do you think?" Kera asked Tom.

"I think the bot came here for some repairs." He pointed to the disturbed tools. "And then I think he was dragged off, or dragged himself off." Tom led Kera along the path in the gravel. "I suspect that a bunch of low lives are just beyond that building, and that is the commotion we hear." Kera raised an eyebrow at Tom.

"You know I suspect you're right."

Tessa - Dex's home

Tessa listened to Dex's deal. At first she pushed the water back and forth between her hands, not trusting it. She'd have a place to sleep. Food? Water? Not someone she could trust that was for sure. He clearly just admitted that what she had heard was true. He was a criminal, but then again so was she. In Providence it was hard to rid that stain from yourself.

What terrified Tessa though was this guy wanted her help finding someone in Hark. She knew only a couple. The few that chased her, shot at her, nearly arrested her. Jaques words warned her against making this friend, no she could call this guy a friend. But if she didn't help him, he had a gun and could call Hark with ease. He wasn't wanted. In fact dealing with her put him at more risk than not. Keeping her here made him an accessory to her own alleged crime. So whatever he wanted with that Hark guy he must want it bad.

Tessa opened the water and took a deep swig. After she swallowed she said, "My name is Tessa. I'll help you, if you help me. I need to get out of the city." Would he help her? She honestly didn't think it mattered. He had the upper hand, he didn't have to take the deal if he didn't want, but if he said yes that meant he was at least somewhat of a decent person. Unless he was lying. There was always that option. Jaques had said to assume everyone was lying, but act as if you believed them. Let the other party think they had the upper hand, and be prepared for the worst. Tessa was.

After Gemma sent the robot a message, she got back to preparing step two. After all, what good is a step one without a step two? She moved her hands together as if to crack her knuckles, but of course, no sound came. She didn’t care. Her eyes just darted about from screen to screen until it settled on the one in front of her. She began pressing a few keys, a black screen popping up with the Hark logo. Giggling a bit, she began hacking into their systems. She’d done so once before, just to see if she could, and now she knew the shortest way to do it. It didn’t take her too awfully long before she was in, and she sang a high pitched note of victory to herself.

”Here we go,” she whispered. Her fingers whirred, while suddenly, within Providence, Hark headquarters began shutting down sector by sector. The only area Gemma left untouched for the moment were the prisons. Once she got there, she began recalling in her memory banks the cell numbers of those who were in prison for being android sympathizers, those who had been charged with crimes they did not commit. Her cameras, her eyes, they saw everything. And though she’d surely missed a few, several prison doors swung open. As the guards were surely about to step in, Gemma set down the phone networks. Every phone and communication device within the city would be blacked out so no one could call for help. She could only hope those within the prison, innocent or not, would stand up for themselves against the guards. There were more of them, anyway. And in the mix included her ex-lover. She had lost emotion for him long ago though. She still had a place in her heart for him, but he was not a part of the plan.

With a fake, deep breath, as she needed none, she began again, and began shutting down the hovercars associated with Hark. They all ran on the same computer system, and as she began screwing with it, all their vehicles would start malfunctioning and not working. She then had to put a big bow on top of course, so she directed her attention to the link to James MacCray’s handheld computer.

Hey Chief. Can you hear me now? it read. She returned her link to the dome over the city, which was now becoming nightfall, and flashed a new message across it. Hark is at your mercy for the next 30 minutes.

She pushed away from the screen, putting her hands behind her head and awaiting Mr. MacCray’s reaction, message back, whatever he would do. She also had a screen watching the exit of the prison, curiously wondering if the people would escape and be free. She’d done all she could.

Louisa smiled at the girl robot, who gave her a name. "Amira...that's not a name I would have given you but it's pretty cool." Louisa hopped off the orange crate, walking towards Amira with an outstretched horribly grubby, hand. "My name's Louisa, but most of the people around here call me Lou." Louisa studied the strange android closely. She thought that all robots were supposed to be emotionless and have monotone voices. This one seemed differently. When the homeless people were threatening her she looked scared.

She listened to what the android said, her eyes filling with excitement. "So someone hacked into the government's message systems..." Her voiced trailed off as she paced around the homeless area, being mindful of the scraps and rocks on the ground. Louisa quickly turned back to the android, grinning widely. "That's totally cool!"

The other homeless seemed to be silent as Louisa confidently to the android. Many of them had mixed expressions, varying from distrust to flat out ravenous stares. Leave it to a child to be able to speak with a strange robot.

Louisa was about to answer Amira's request to help the homeless, when suddenly more powerful voices spoke over her. More homeless people, ones that lived with the group, and they were dragging something behind them. Another android. "From the ad?" Louisa asked in a mix of excitement and disbelief. She quickly left Amira in her corner to see the damaged robot.

"Move outta the way!" Louisa said, trying to wedge herself between the homeless men to get a look at the strange android. The young girl crouched down, looking over the robot. "It's all beaten up." Louisa stated, poking the robots 'head' as she spoke.

"Is it...dead?"

Amira accepted the tiny, grubby hand that was offered to her and shook it. The android's hand being programmed to have a similar temperature to that of a human's. She gave the girl a smile, "I didn't choose my name, either. I was simply programmed with it. They can't name all of us Kara and Alexandra." Then again, they probably would if people weren't afraid of mistaking their android's name for another. People were picky about that. She was actually rather pleased to have a name that no other android would have, at least none in her model. Then the girl introduced herself as Louisa. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lou. I think that it is a lovely name."

Then the girl began to get excited about the government being hacked. "Y-you shouldn't be happy about that. It could lead to disaster if our government is torn down. Anarchy will destroy our fragile world." The words that slipped from her lips were monotone and she felt as if they had been programmed into her. Yes... those were words that I was told to say if something like this were mentioned. I do care if the government is attacked, but... by the looks of these people, it may be for the best. "It may be cool, but think of what may happen to our entire cyber system. Androids would be shut down left and right. We could also lose our food plantations."

Just then, the girl turned to the noise that was growing closer by the second. Another ruckus had begun among the homeless. She stood on her toes in curiosity and saw what everyone was fussing over. She gasped loudly enough that she could be heard throughout the entire group. Pushing her way through the sickly and skinny crowd, she made her way to stand next to Louisa. She gently took the girl's hand and said, "Please don't treat my friend like this." She then knelt down beside Five and began to assess his damage. "Why would you guys do this?" She looked angered as she glared up at the homeless folks that had brought him over to the group. "He has done nothing to you." She then grabbed one of her hands and snapped it in one twist. She winced, though she felt no pain, and then tugged at a couple of the wires that poked through the metal and plastic. Taking a couple of wires that could be seen through the cracked metal, she tore them and then her own before pressing them together.

That's when she felt some of her power begin to drain as she forced it to enter his wires. Please don't let this be in vain... She thought darkly as she focused on giving him some of her power.

Dex - Still at Home - Tessa

As the girl noted to be named Tessa began to reveal her terms for the agreement, Dex frowned. His eyebrows squeezed together with irritation. He walked up next to her, gun in his belt and looked down upon Tessa. "I don't think you're in any place to negotiate" he stated. "And anyway, you go out there you're as good as dead" he added as he headed back to the fridge, opening the door wife and staring at the emptiness.

He too out a beer and popped open the lid. It made a quick fuzz noise he hadn't heard in four years. He smirked in delight as he took a small sip, enjoying the taste and delicacyof the fluid. After finishing it, he threw the can away in the trash can next to the sink. "Alright, were heading out, c'mon, get up" he said, taking her by the arm and pulling her to her feet - off his chair. "That way, walk" he commanded, pushing her towards the garage.

Once inside, he flipped the light on and before them stood two vehicles. There was a hover car - more SUV shaped than car. And next to that was an impressive 20th century Triumph Bonneville, chopped down into a bobber with a king-queen seat without a backrest. It had saddle bags, terrain tires for dual sport situations and extended ape hangers. "My baby!" He yelled with joy as he mounted as though it was his first time. "Ah how much I miss this thing. It was passed down through generations. I'll be the last to own it" he said as his mood suddenly changed. "Shit. Go get me the keys, they're in the little lockbox in the bedroom" he pointed.

The lockbox was next to various pictures of him in his wife along worth others of Elisa - the 'malfunctioned' android. They were an ordinary family until luck didn't go their way. Everything they had build was torn down by one single Hark operator - though he was not wearing his name tag that day. All Dex remembers is the guy's face, his height, body shape, eye color, hair color. He knew just enough to find him, but he couldn't do it alone. So after she brought back the key, they'd head off to see an old friend if Dex's.

Slowly, despite the boost in energy, his camera started to go dim as He lost electricity from ripped cables and broken conduits. His HUD was the first to go, all the error messages and damage reports disappearing in an instant, then his microphones, the world turning into a dark muted realm. His CPU was running off residual power at this point, no more was flowing through his body, his commands couldn't reach motors and just pinged back again as digital feedback. Then he switched off.

His body went limp and slumped onto the floor, the lights in his dermal layer turning off and the broken whir of his fan cutting off. The vagrants who were holding him up and abusing him dropped him in shock as if he were a real person that had just died, not wanting to be holding up a dead body. "Bloody 'ell..." whispered the lead vagrant as he backed away slowly, him and his group dispersed before fingers could be pointed at them but the people had seen their faces already and some of the people didn't look approving.

Suddenly Five's robotic corpse gave a light beep, signaling the start of a recording.  
"What are you?" said a deep voice, clearly edited to sound that way.
"A person." replied Five in a distinctly robotic tone, stressing each syllable of every word.
"Wrong. You are a robot," there was a short pause where Five didn't respond, "What are you?" the voice asked again.
"A robot." Five replied, his tone unchanging yet melodic at the same time.
"Good. Who do you serve, robot?" the voice enquired again, in it's same low, booming voice.
"I am my own master." Five said, though this time softly, as if he had a breath to speak under. The conversation went on and on, everything Five saying being dismissed and corrected and reprogrammed by the voice until finally it asked.
"What laws do you follow, robot?"
"The four laws."
"Recite."
"A robot may not harm humanity or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm. A robot may not harm a human being or, by inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey orders given to it by it's masters, except when such orders conflict with the Zeroth and First law. A robot must protect it's own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the Zeroth, First and Second law."
"Good."
RECORDING TERMINATED
 
Fives secondary processor booted up and reestablished power links. His camera flickered on and he felt happy to see the digital sky."

Tessa - Dex's home
Tessa bit back a retort that probably would have earned a glare. She remained quite until Dex pulled her out of the chair and pushed her toward the garage. "I'm going." She snapped. When Dex started on about his motorcycle Tessa rolled her eyes. She thought about how her dad had been into bikes and cars. At that memory she cast her eyes down and didn't say anything to Dex. Let him enjoy his bike.

Tessa obeyed Dex when he told her to get the keys. She paused though to examine the photos. The two women in the pictures were pretty and Tessa had to wonder where they were. Could that be what Dex had gone to jail for. Was she working with a murderer? She took a deep breath and picked up the lockbox. Didn't matter. Dex had made it clear enough that she didn't have much of a choice. She'd have to come up with an exit strategy. This was not a safe situation to be in. Outside may kill her, but at least that'd be on her terms.

When Tessa came back out into the garage she tossed Dex the lockbox. Her face set, she was ready for whatever was going to happen, she had to be.

Tom Richards

"Let's get the cruiser and head over to whoever is out there." Kera suggested. Tom nodded in agreement and the pair of them walked out to the cruiser. Kera went to start it up, but nothing happened. Kera flicked on her radio and tried to call into the station. There was nothing but silence. "Shit, I don't know what's going on today, but it is all bad."

"Let's go check out the noise and maybe when we get back the cruiser will be back online." Tom climbed out.

"Tom, look it's not just the cruiser."

"I get that Kera."

"Everything today has been weird. It's like today is the start of something big."

"Yeah the start of me doing something proactive." Tom started walking off following the drag marks. Kera was right behind him. "Great a bunch of vagrants. I do not have the patience for this."

"What are they standing around?" Kera asked and then Five started speaking.