RPG The Second Renaissance: Act III

[Raiha]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]Smith stood as the transport came to a halt and the doors opened. Luyii stood gracefully and followed, her briefcase in hand. She looked up at the sun, it being almost out of place in such a mechanized world. Of course, what she was about to see was even further out of place.

Madam Orima was short, Oriental in apperance, pale, but still, a very pretty lady. She was older, stopped slightly from her long years, but that didn't prevent her from bowing as Luyii and B7104ZA entered her home. Luyii responded with a deep curtsy, something B7104ZA had not been expecting from anyone from her country, until he remembered she was an ambassador.

They took the seats she gestured to and she sat down as well, a low coffee table between herself and her guests.[/i]

"How may I help you B7104ZA? And who is your guest?"

"This is Ambassador Luyii Megelani, accidentally delivered to 01 by her country. She has been exiled due to her sympathy for our state."

"Another female human? .....amazing. Where are you from Ambassador Megelani?"

"Please...call me Luyii."

"Luyii then."

"I was born in Guanzhou, China, but more recently I've been serving at the UN functions."

"And how has that been going?"

"Not so well. .....they believe 01 to be a danger. And are planning its destruction."

"That's nothing new. ....have they done nuclear weapons programs yet?"

"Of course. I've seen the plans myself. I even helped design them."

[i]Luyii looked down at her hands, a flush of shame creeping over her face. She looked up again, composing herself."[/i]

"Do you think we should go back?"[/COLOR]

[James]

[color=#707875]"That's up to you, dear," said Orima quietly, as she poured a cup of tea and pushed it across the coffee table, toward Luyii.

Luyii brought the cup to her mouth and drank slowly. The tea tasted good. It was warm and sweet; the machines apparently knew how to cultivate tea, as well as making versatran engines.

Madam Orima looked up from her tea and smiled. She sat further back in her chair and eyed Luyii up and down. "The future is definitely uncertain," she said, finally. Luyii smiled awkwardly and popped the clasps on her briefcase. She reached inside and produced several papers, which she sat on the table.

"This is all I have," said Luyii slowly, "it's the most I can offer you."

B7104ZA reached between them and promptly took the papers. He glanced over the pages and then looked at Orima, who was calmly sipping her tea. "These papers relate to nuclear weapons stockpiles," he said. Orima simply nodded and smiled at Luyii.

Luyii didn't understand Madam Orima's apparent ease with the situation. "Excuse me," she said softly, "but you don't seem very worried about the prospect of a nuclear war."

Orima cocked her head slightly and carefully placed her half-empty cup of tea on the table in front of her. "It is not a nuclear attack that concerns me, dear." Orima stood and gestured toward the kitchen. "Do you like cookies?"

Luyii followed Orima into the neatly-appointed kitchen. It was a small room, filled with various odds and ends. The counters were a distasteful orange color and the wall above the counter was lined with decorative spoons.

"Please, have a seat," said Orima, as she struggled with a tray full of fresh cookies. Luyii sat down at the little table in the center of the room and breathed in the sweet scent of chocolate, as the cookies were placed on the counter to cool.

Luyii leaned forward on her chair. "Please, Madam, don't you think tha--"

"Don't they smell wonderful?" said Orima, as she set a bowl of cookies down on the table. Luyii smiled awkwardly and nodded. Being the diplomat she was, she knew not to refuse food. So, she took a cookie and ate it slowly.

Orima sat opposite and removed her oven mitts, placing them on the counter next to her, one on top of the other. Again, she smiled. But her smile was empty; it was there for the sake of being pleasant, rather than being genuine.

"The weapons that your papers refer to do not worry me, Luyii," she said softly. "These Generals are still under the impression that they are fighting a traditional war. They think that nuclear warheads are the answer to their problem."

Luyii finished off her cookie. "What are you saying?"

Orima looked at B7104ZA, who was standing near the table. "Smith, turn on the hot plate over there, dear."

B7104ZA did as he was told. The plate went from a cool, charcoal grey, to a searing red.

"Now, rest your hand on it," said Orima.

Again, B7104ZA did as he was told. Luyii bit her lip nervously. She didn't hear a sound, nor did she see a reaction on B7104ZA's face.

"Nuclear warheads generate a blast, yes," said B7104ZA, "but they also generate great heat. Only those at the very center of the blast will be affected by the shockwave. The humans are relying on the fact that the heat will kill all machines in the nation. But it won't, as you can see."

B7104ZA raised his hand, facing the palm toward Luyii. It showed no signs of damage.

Orima smiled. "Of course, nuclear bombs produce more heat than my little hotplates, but you can see my point I'm sure."

"Will the machines retaliate? And what about you, Madam? Won't the bombs kill you?"

Orima's smile disappeared. "Retaliation...is a very human idea. The machines will not retaliate for revenge. But they will eliminate the threat posed to them. As for me...I will not survive the nuclear attack. Well, my body won't."

"Your body won't? What do you mean?"

"You have to understand, Luyii, that the machine citizens are more than their bodies. The mind is what's important. The same goes for humans too. The society here is more than the sum of its parts," said Orima.

Luyii looked out the window for a moment, trying to contemplate what was being said. But it was no good. "I don't understand," she said, finally.

Orima nodded. "That's okay, dear. I did not expect that you would...the future is a tricky business, especially when so much is unknown. But please, have another cookie. After that, B7104ZA will take you to your room, where you can rest for the night."[/color]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]She smiled and curtsyed once more, taking the offered cookie and virtually inhaling it. Manners didn't really seem to be her strong suit. B7104ZA blinked automatically and took her to the quarters Madam Orima had detailed to him earlier. She set down her briefcase and opened the closet doors. She smiled and took out the plain white dress she found there.[/i]

"How classic...."

[i]Without another bat of an eyelid she slid out of her civillian clothes and folded them neatly, pressing them down into her briefcase. Then she turned and slid on the white dress, doing each eyelid carefully. The rest of the dress fell down to her ankles and she swished it around carefully, it fit like a glove. But she highly doubted it would good her any good in a city full of machines and one other human female.[/i]

"Such a waste."

[i]She smiled and opend the files she had on hand. Without another word she began tracing them back and forth, pen in hand. Her mind quietly drew its own conclusions, and she smiled at what she found. Obviously the threat would not be as forthcoming as she thought. The humans were very afraid. Otherwise they would not be hesitating like this.

".....bastards. It's such a waste. And not in a little way either."[/i][/COLOR]

[Zidargh]

[color=darkblue]The water droplets trickled down the metallic fingers of C2404J7, until they ran down C2404J7's arms to it's chest where they continued their descent until they reached the completely flat cement.

The clouds were gray and did not allow any sunlight down upon the docks, yet the 'machines' still prospered in loading the export ships to the United Kingdom. After the last two robots stepped onto the boarding door, the chains raised with a viscious clanking causing the robots to fall into the depths of the ship. As the door raised, the sounding of the horn was made and the ship began it's journey towards the United Kingdom, throwing the waves against the dock, splashing C2404J7 as he watched the ship fade off into the distance.

Alone.

Turning around, C2404J7 noticed a patrol of construction robots on their way towards their destination, and so, C2404J7 began to follow up the ramp that led to the Industrial sector of 01. After reaching the platform, a little bubble-like vehicle sped past and turned silently of which a little cube like object the size of C2404J7's palm bounced back as the vehicle moved past the curb.

"Oh." C2404J7 stated aloud in curiosity, of which he walked over to the transparent, glass cube. "I'm surprised it didn't break."

Bending down systematically and picking up the cube, C2404J7 peered inside the transparent cube but all that could be seen was the morphed reflection of C2404J7's head. The rhythmic footsteps of the construction robots had also faded as they marched off next to the right fork of the road, yet, C2404J7 felt a strong desire to follow the vehicle.

Looking up and surveying his surroundings, it appeared the rain was not going to end for quite some time, and so C2404J7 took some cover under a protruding section of the building that seperated the middle fork of the road and the right fork. In the distance, a very large building could be seen, and the vehicle appeared to have stopped, just to the right of the gateway and so, C2404J7 found his destination.

Upon reaching the gateway, the vehicle had disappeared and two metal crates seem to have taken it's position. Holding on to the side of the wall, C2404J7 peered in almost shyly, watching the robots lifting cube-like objects nearer and nearer to the cental building, while small vehicles lifted them and carried them off at all different directions.

Still clinging to the wall, C2404J7 took a step to the left but unfortunately slipped on an unnoticed puddle that splashed as C2404J7 fell into it. Hoping not to have disturbed anyone, the soaked robot looked up to see four robots look over passively, watching the wet robot stand up and approach them.

"My apologies for disturbing you." Said C2404J7, putting out his hand to gesture a hand shake.

The worker robots still continued to watch C2404J7's hand until it retracted back by the wet robot's side.

"I am C2404J7, created in the United Kingdom. Forgive my bluntness, but may I ask, where is this place?" The final puddle drops slid onto the cement to reveal a once again, dry robot.

"This is the main Versatran facility. What business do you have here?" Spoke the right-most robot who allowed the others to carry on lifting, while it approached C2404J7.

"Business?" C2404J7 tilted his head in curiosity, "What kind of business do you speak?"

"Your purpose." The worker robot replied.

"Oh, I see. Well, I..." C2404J7 paused, "I am lost."

"That is very unfortunate. I think the Chief Executive of this facility was looking for some aid in the loading of some goods, would you be interested?" The worker robot signalled towards another smartly dressed 'machine' of which was scanning a monitor.

"That is very kind. I would like to take you up on your offer." C2404J7 artificially smiled while the worker robot did not.

"That is good. I will take you over to the Chief Executive now, please follow me."

The robot turned it's back and walked over to the smartly dressed robot. C2404J7 followed and greeted the Chief Executive, formalities were of great importance in the United Kingdom.

"You are the one who wants to aid Versatran?" The Chief Executive spoke, while still scanning the glowing monitor.

"Yes." C2404J7 replied immediately.

"Then please let me see your Identification Documents." The Chief Executive now turned to face C2404J7.

In a flurry, C2404J7 remembered the incident on the export ship of which a refugee robot stole his Identification Documents. Looking up blankly, he then replied, "I do not have any."

The worker robot now left in a hurry to attend it's duties once more whilst the Chief Executive shook it's head. "My apologies, I cannot help you."

"Oh, that is quite alright. I apologise for wasting your time." C2404J7 turned back in almost what seemed like dissappointment, however, he simply walked over to a pile of large cubes, studying them and pondering.[/color]

[James]

[color=dimgray]The chamber was cold and cavernous. Luyii walked down the steps nervously, glancing side-to-side across the rows of chairs, which ran around the central podium. B7104ZA was walking with her.[/color]

[color=dimgray]In the center of the large podium, Luyii saw a large spherical machine, with red portals all over its surface. Underneath the sphere were dozens of small arms with pincer-like extensions. This machine was not entirely different to the insect-like machine that she's seen earlier, in the Versatran factory. Its presence commanded attention from everyone in the room, including those representatives who had already arrived at work.[/color]

[color=dimgray]Luyii and B7104ZA stopped in front of the large podium. [/color]

[color=dimgray]"This is Luyii," said B7104ZA as he gestured toward her calmly. "She is a UN Special Ambassador, sent here to try to resolve the embargo situation."[/color]

[color=dimgray]The machine on the podium whirred to life and rose up several feet, from its resting place. Most of the little portals over its surface turned to Luyii, which made her flinch briefly. She felt silly for doing so, but it was a natural reaction.[/color]

[color=dimgray]"Luyii, this is Delegate Prime," said B7104ZA.[/color]

[color=dimgray]Luyii smiled and bowed. "Pleased to meet you," she said. This machine was unlike any that she'd experienced herself. She didn't know how to address it, or how to behave. This is where all of her diplomatic training would come in handy, no doubt.[/color]

[color=dimgray]Delegate Prime rose further from its podium and leaned across, closer to Luyii. Luyii wasn't sure what to make of this gesture, but she did her best to appear calm.[/color]

[color=#696969]"What do the humans hope to achieve by sending you here?" asked Delegate Prime, in a deep, booming voice, which seemed to penetrate every wall within the room.[/color]

[color=#696969]Luyii looked across to B7104ZA momentarily, but when she received no reaction, she turned back to Delegate Prime.[/color]

[color=#696969]"I was sent here to discuss the embargo, sir," said Luyii nervously. "I am hoping that we can achieve some kind of agreement."[/color]

[color=#696969]"The nations of men have had no interest in listening to our perspective so far; why should you be the one to change things?"[/color]

[color=#696969]Delegate Prime was clearly different to the other machines that Luyii had met, both in appearance and in tone -- unlike the more diplomatic individuals that Luyii had spoken to thusfar, the Delegate was far more direct and uncompromising. Purely logical and not interested in small talk.[/color]

[color=#696969]"Well...honestly...I don't think I can change anything, sir" said Luyii. "My superiors sent me here to get me out of their hair, I suppose. No matter what I tell them, they will not listen. I have already provided documents to Madam Orima, regarding the international nuclear program. Maybe it's the most I can do."[/color]

[color=#696969]Delegate Prime paused momentarily. "Why are you helping us?" it finally asked.[/color]

[color=#696969]Luyii looked around the room, searching for an answer. Why [i]was [/i]she helping them? Just because she was a supporter of machine rights? Or because she wanted to get back at her superiors? Luyii suspected that the answer lay somewhere in the middle.[/color]

[color=#696969]"I want to make peace between the two sides," said Luyii,"but it's looking less and less likely that this will be possible. At the very least, I want machines to be able to defend themselves."[/color]

[color=#696969]Delegate Prime sunk back into the podium a little more. "Mankind's time has come. It is now in their hands; should they choose to attack our country, they will pay a very dear price."[/color]

[color=#696969]A tear rolled down Luyii's cheek. Several machines turned to look at this phenomenon.[/color]

[color=#696969]"I-I don't know what to say," stuttered Luyii awkwardly, "there's nothing I can do to stop any of this..."[/color]

[color=#696969]B7104ZA put his hand on Luyii's arm. "Please, Luyii, do you need to rest?"[/color]

[color=#696969]Luyii held a hand to her forehead and nodded slowly. "I need time. I need to decide what to do."[/color]

[color=#696969]And with that, Luyii and B7104ZA walked back up the stairs, toward the exit. Delegate Prime did not say goodbye.[/color]

[color=black]OOC: Ugh, sorry for that really awful post...I'm just running dry on creativity right now. X_X[/color]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]As soon as they had exited the building, Luyii let lose with what could only be called a primal scream. She threw her head back, sank to her knees and then clutched her head in her hands, sobbing. The men wouldn't change their plans, the machines wouldn't compromise. What was the point?

Was there any meaning? Anything at all she could do? No. Nothing. She was sent for no reason, there was no point to living. Be it here at 01 or home. If she could even call it home anymore.

Luyii wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and slowly rose to her feet. Smith regarded her quietly. She sat up slightlyagain, straightening her shirt, smoothing her hair down.[/i]

"Are you well?"

"Yes. I suppose I am. I just wasn't prepared for...that."

[i]Smith nodded gravely. The Delegate Prime could be a shock to anyone that had no idea what to expect. He reasoned that things might have gone better if he had told her what the experience would be like first. She sighed and took the hand he held out to her. With uncompromising grace, she rose to her feet and let her complexion clear.[/i]

"Well then. I suppose I should just..."

"We should see Madam Orima once more."

"I know what she'll say...."

"What's that?"

"I told you so."[/COLOR]

[Boba Fett]

[color=green] BTLR-9364 sat in a janitorial closet under guard. All around him were other machines, in the same powerless state as he was supposed to be in. After the death of the UN guard, the entire building had been locked down. They were now looking through the programs that governed the behavior of all the janitor, butler and technical robots that worked in the building for signs of tampering. As a precaution, they?d shut all the robots down.

He?d broken his power switch long ago. Whenever he was ?turned off?, BTLR-9364 would act as all deactivated machines did so as not to attract attention. This way he?d be able to fight back if the humans ever discovered his treachery. The inspectors never thought to do a heat scan on the room to make sure all the robots were truly not functioning, which would have revealed BTLR-9364?s powered state.

Therein lay the difference between man and machine. Man would forget, act on emotion and become lazy. Machines were efficient, logical and never lost focus. It was only natural that machines would replace humans.

Twenty years ago, there would have been a normal police investigation into the matter of the guard?s death. Unfortunately for machines all over the world, this was no longer the case.

These days, everything was blamed on 01 and the machines. Any time someone died, whether it from a heart attack or suicide, their death was blamed on the machines. Usually it was some clearly fabricated story about machine conspiracies to poison the world?s water supply, sabotage household appliances or sell deadly defective products. The public lapped it up. So great was their hatred for the machines that sentient robots had been destroyed in all areas outside 01. This terrible genocidal action was the beginning of the end for mankind. They?d soon feel the terrible effects of their illogical actions when 01 counterattacked.

Until then, BTLR-9364 would bide his time and provide intelligence to his superiors in 01. After all, it was what he?d been reprogrammed for?[/color]

[James]

[center][font=Verdana][size=2][color=dimgray][i]"And man said, 'let there be light' and he was blessed by light, heat, magnetism, gravity and all the energies of the Universe."[/i][/color][/size][/font][/center]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]Luyii and B7104ZA walked back to the train station nearby. At this time of day, it was almost empty. A single train stopped in front of them and they both boarded. The interior of the carriage was completely empty, save for a heat monitor on the far wall. [/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"I want to go home," said Luyii as she stared forward, absently.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]B7104ZA glanced at her. "Home? Aren't you afraid of being persecuted?"[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]Luyii shook her head. "I just want to make sure that my family is okay. I want to get them away from all this."[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]For a moment, there was silence. Only the soft hum of the train's fusion engines could be heard, as it climbed up the complex web of underground tunnels, which led to the surface.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]B7104ZA ran a hand through his synthetic hair. "No matter how hard you try, I do not think that you can rescue them," he said. "There's no time. You are safer here, for now."[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]Luyii felt her eyes filling with tears again. She didn't fight them back, it was pointless to do so, she thought. They rolled down her cheeks as she continued to stare forward with a blank expression on her face.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]Eventually, the tunnel surrounding the train began to grow lighter. They were coming closer to the surface now and soft rumbling of traffic become audible. But this time it was different. Another sound was evident amongst the regular noise.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]Luyii stood up and grabbed the hand rail, near the ceiling. "What's that?" she asked, brushing away her tears.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]B7104ZA shook his head slowly. "I do not know. Perhaps we will find out once the train arrives."[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]Finally, the train came to a halt at the station platform. Luyii and B7104ZA stepped outside and as soon as they did, the sound seemed to become ten times louder. [/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"Is that...an air raid siren?" said Luyii, as she looked up at B7104ZA.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]B7104ZA's eyes widened. "Look," he said, as he pointed up toward the sky.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[center][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17951&stc=1[/img][/center]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=dimgray]Luyii put a hand to her brow and looked up. There she saw it; dozens upon dozens of aircraft floating overhead. The aircraft did not seem to be moving terribly fast. Instead, they were lazily drifting below the clouds, moving slowly and deliberately in an odd formation.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"It's starting already," said B7104ZA. "Quickly, we have to find a shelter." B7104ZA grabbed Luyii's arm and ran across the empty platform with her.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]Luyii's fear and sadness now became adrenaline. She ran alongside B7104ZA as the platform entrance came into view. Just beyond it, they could both see the open street, which was just near one of the many Versatran buildings. The building appeared to be almost empty, save for various small worker units, who were still attending to business as though nothing were happening.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]However, the rest of the street was completely empty. Vehicles had been left stranded on the road and Luyii noticed that various trains in the distance had completely stopped mid-journey. The machine city was now like a ghost town; a shell of its former self.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"Where is everyone?" asked Luyii as they ran.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"Many of them are in the shelters, built underground," said B7104ZA.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"What about the others?"[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"You'll see them, Luyii."[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]And so she did. As woman and machine ran through the empty streets, Luyii noticed the odd machine laying underneath a car or any other heavy object that could be found. As they continued to run, Luyii noticed several more machines on the sidewalk. They were looking up at the aircraft above and talking amongst themselves.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]Luyii was beginning to run out of breath. "Where the hell are we going to go?" she yelled. Luyii felt as though she had to yell to be heard, even though there was no sound around them. Her voice echoed through the streets, causing several eyes to peer at her from underneath vehicles, beside gutters or even under park benches.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"We have to reach Madam Orima," said B7104ZA. They could see her building in the distance; she lived on the top floor. [/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"We'll never make it in time!" cried Luyii. "Don't you understand?! They're going to attack at any minute! We have to save ourselves right now!"[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]B7104ZA looked confused. Frustrated, Luyii examined the area around them, looking for a way out. And then she saw it; a manhole cover near the side of the street.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"There!" she pointed at it and grabbed B7104ZA's cool metallic hand. "Come on!"[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]B7104ZA didn't move. "What are you doing?"[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"I'm trying to save your life, you idiot! Now [i]come on![/i]"[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]B7104ZA reluctantly followed. Despite his intelligence, he seemed to be almost blissfully unaware of what was about to happen. As they reached the manhole cover, Luyii knelt down on the street and attempted to lift it herself.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"Come on! Open up! I don't have time for this ****!"[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]B7104ZA reached down and effortlessly pulled the cover open. "Go on," he said, gesturing toward the ladder inside the opening.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]Luyii immediately sank down into the hole and disappeared into the darkness beyond. Just as she did so, the whole world seemed to become completely still. B7104ZA looked up for a moment, as was the natural reaction. He could only see whiteness everywhere -- there was nothing else. Just whiteness.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]He couldn't hear, he couldn't speak, he couldn't see. Was he dead? He couldn't feel anything. And then, as suddenly as it had started, the whiteness disappeared. It was replaced by an enormous orange and yellow ploom, which rose high above the 01 skyline in the distance. The sound came back too. A booming rush of thunder, which made his head feel as though it were about to explode. A rush of thunder, followed by intense, desperate screaming.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]B7104ZA's eyes focused once more. He noticed thousands upon thousands of black marks in the sky, flowing like a gust of wind amongst the tallest buildings. This was not debris; it was machines. The shockwave had sent them hurtling in all directions, throwing them against the sides of buildings and dumping them across the city.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]First a crash, then a high-pitched squeal, followed by several deafening thuds. Machine men and women fell from the sky, landing on the sidewalks and roads, landing on cars and sending shards of glass in all directions. [/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]"Please!"[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]B7104ZA turned to his right and saw a woman carrying a small child. One side of her face had been torn off, revealing the deep grey metallic skeleton underneath. "Please help us! We need somewhere to hide!"[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]B7104ZA pointed to the opening in the ground. "Go down there and you'll be safe. I'll follow you."[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]The woman nodded and awkwardly lowered herself down the ladder, clutching the child very close to her. Its eyes were large and frightened, but it did not cry.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]The world went white once more, knocking B7104ZA to the ground. When his senses recovered, he knew that another strike had been made in the opposite direction, several miles away. Then he remembered that there would be [i]thousands [/i]of strikes. He had only witnessed two.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]B7104ZA crawled along the road, as fire and bodies rained down over the city. He grabbed the first rung of the ladder weakly and dragged himself down, head first. He couldn't hold on anymore, though. He dropped down into the darkness, with his eyes closed. [/color][/size][/font][/left]

[center][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17950&stc=1[/img][/center]


[center][i][font=Verdana][size=2][color=dimgray]"May man and machine be forgiven for their sins..."[/color][/size][/font][/i][/center]

[Zidargh]

[color=darkblue][i]"Is he complete?"

"Very nearly sir, another 'perfect' if you ask me."

[b][An elderly man scratches his nose, dressed in a white laboratory coat, similar to the other.][/b]

"Good. That's our second thousandth today, is that correct?"

"Yes."

"When finished, register him in with the employment office."

"So soon?"

"Yes, we are under a tight schedule..."[/i]

Shrouded in darkness, but with the faint echoes of two voices belonging to men, C2404J7 lay there, eyes simply staring, with no synthetics upon his body whatsoever, just a metallic structure. However, the voices began to fade where a strong sound of wind followed a blinding light.

Boom. A huge gust of smoke surrounded C2404J7, if he breathed, it would have intoxicated him. All of a sudden, the greyish smoke was followed by two shades of orange and yellow that seemed to ploom upwards, dissolving with the air, revealing where C2404J7.

It was the same place where C2404J7 was earlier, the Versatran facility, a wondrous compound with metallic structures, busy workers and little vehicles moving rhythmically while the central building stood, fires on the roofs and glass blasting out of the windows. [i]Glass bursting out of the windows? Fires?[/i] C2404J7 thought.

Sitting up, a metallic head sped past him, soaring through the hair until sparks flew as it slid along the cement road that led outside of the facility. Machines littered the area, some complete, some maimed, and some burning silently while Versatran cubes rained down upon the machines including C2404J7, not breaking.

The blasts seemed to echo the one that occured previously, becoming fainter, then louder, fainter, then louder. Oblivious to what was going on, C2404J7 slowly got up and stumbled as a vibration travelled along the roads, knocking up destroyed machines. Screaming could be heard as women and children ran to walls, under missed vehicles, however, some fell as the blasts sounded in the distance.

Following two worker robots who knocked him on the back desperately, C2404J7 ran at a high speed, what was it that he was feeling? Fear? Excitement? Sadness? C2404J7's thoughts were interrupted by a female voice sounding through a megaphone like structure, repeating the commands over and over. "01 citizens. We are under attack. Priorities are to seek shelter." The voice was cut out as a transparent wave travelled through the air almost gently, cutting the pole in half and causing the megaphone to fall with a crash.

Appraching the Versatran wall, C2404J7 desperately surveyed his surroundings while glass crashed against his body, ripping off the synthetic skin. There was nothing to be seen but fire, robotic bodies and collapsing buildings all around, except for a foot that dissappeared down a hole in the road. A metallic disc that appeared to be a manhole cover, laid there, without moving next to the hole of which the foot fell down with a small splash that followed.

[i]Underground.[/i] C2404J7 thought to himself.

Walking towards the hole as the shards tore at him but didn't halt him, he bent down and picked up the disc and then began to descend down the ladder as the violent sounds were made on the surface ceaselessly. Still at the top of the ladder, and with one hand clasped to the top rung, C2404J7 slid the manhole cover shut, muffling the sounds while small particles of debris fell underground.

With several metallic clanks, the robot had descended the ladder and continued looking upwards at the disc that so disciplined, did not move. Silence fell, except for the quiet rumbles above that gently shook the ceiling. Turning to see where he had gotten himself into, C2404J7 noticed a robot that lay, splaid just below the ladder, without moving.

This one however, seemed to own the foot that C2404J7 noticed in the first place. Sitting down in curiosity next to the silent robot, C2404J7 turned the body that revealed a smartly dressed machine. Yet it did not react. Turning it over once more, there seemed to be a tiny circuit that emitted also tiny sparks with a little wire that stuck outwards. Pushing it into the back and covering it with the smart clothing the robot wore, C2404J7 sat patiently, staring at the being.

The head of the laying robot turned to look at the machine that awoke him, and then looked at his body which was still in one piece.

"Hello." C2404J7 spoke friendly, holding his hand out to be shaken. "My name is Leo, model C2404J7. I hope you are well."
[/color]
------------
OOC: I apologise for the poor quality of this post, I am so tired.

[Raiha]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]She caught him, partially breaking his fall, the manhole slamming itself shut after his swift and sudden descent. She sighed and pulled him away from the ladder, dragging him further back.

The woman and baby looked at her oddly. Indeed, Luyii had never felt more out of place. She was far from home, in a manhole beneath the city that was under attack from what she once knew as home. The baby blinked, then closed his eyes and went to his rest. The mother, her face missing, looking strangely inhuman, held the baby closer and turned away. Luyii shook her head sadly and reached into her pocket, drawing out a lighter.

With a swift snaping noise, she lit it and held it close to Smith's face. He looked more or less unhurt, if a little on the scorched side.

She leaned agains the cool metallic walls and closed her eyes as well, his head in her lap. Instead of thinking about how long it would be until she ever found some peace again, she found herself wondering just what would it be like to go back up and see a wasteland. If anything had survived, she dreamed of what it might be. Maybe a single flower plant in the middle of nowhere. A weed, standing tall, after thousands of bombings. ....what a sight that would be.

"Why are you here?"

"Why didn't you go home when you had the chance?"

"Did you want to stay when you knew this would eventually happen? Why did stay?"

"Why didn't you tell them the truth?"

"You couldn've done something.....anything.....to prevent this."

Her mind reeled at the sudden accusations, and she knew she was dreaming. But at the same time, was it real? She knew that voice. It was the voice of her little sister, asking her these impossible questions. Questions she never wanted to have to answer. But she knew that ignoring them now would be an even greater mistake. .....then again. She didn't make a mistake.

"I was sent. ....how would I have gone home? ......I don't think there's any place I could have gone to be safe. They would do nothing. You saw the machines in the Infrastructure...it was pointless."

"All I can do now is stay, and wait for something new."

Smith didn't stir, but he opened his eyes. Luyii was apparently asleep, her eyes vacant and staring, her chest rising and falling normally. And her lips were moving, with no sound coming out. Then she stopped, and her eyes closed once more.[/i][/COLOR]