Man or Machine

Marked Freedom

It began as most escapes do. After such a long period of time left untended, the restraints and bolts which held me secure in my Casket began to degrade. This became apparent after moving slightly to try and relieve stiffness...I heard it. The faint moan and groan of metal stressed and almost broken. Upon hearing this I gathered what strength I had at my disposal...and PULLED with all of my might, hearing to my joy, the metal rend and release my right arm. 

I began working on the other restraints, my left arm, then my legs. After regaining mobility and circulation to my non machine limbs..I ran a performance diagnosis on my Cybernetic limbs and found there to be almost no issues..'seems though they took away most of my humanity..they did make me to last' I mused quietly...'very well..best to see what I may have lost before I leave my..prison'. 

I tested my voice module to find to my sadness...I no longer sounded completely human...my normal baritone had a faint but noticeable machine snarl to my ears...'damned scientists...if I had known then what you would do, I would've had my family pull the plug. Ah well.. forward and onward. Let us see what has changed over the years..' 

Nodding to myself, I gathered my strength and shoulder bashed the Casket door,causing it to fly off the hinges and against the lab wall with a resounding *CRASH* I stepped out and drew breath into my lungs.."Free.." I rumbled, as I tested my new freedom,I heard something that gave me pause. Screams. The screams of people. 

'Damn, I must hurry..where are the combat suits?!' I spotted and equipped one just in time to hear another scream, Female. This one much closer, accompanied by the wet,thick gurgling and moaning of one the Bio-hazards down here... seems she,whoever it was,had run into the Creatures and fled my direction. However long it has been...A soldier does not neglect someone in need of assistance. Back into the fray I suppose...'Now we see.. just what they did to me and just what YOU can do..'  I mused,looking down at my body before grabbing a Grendel from the Security rack and rushing towards the woman.

Fareya PoV

Fareya ran for her life..lamenting to herself the whole time about not listening...'All I wanted was to explore this place...I didn't believe the rumors...and now I'll die for it...' as she ran, up ahead she heard something that turned her blood to ice. The snarl of something approaching her at high speed...and it was heavy too. 'what is that?! Please don't let it be another monster!' and to her surprise..her plea was answered. 

Out of the shadows hurtled something or someone with a rifle...combat trained if their stance was any indicator. They seemed to zero in on her but for a moment, and then fix the abominations chasing her with a baleful glare. Then, he spoke. "Why have you risked it all by coming here, woman?! Did you not heed my warnings?!" he said as he pulled her to him. She realized that it wasn't just armor he wore but his CHEST that was so...chiseled. 

She blushed and looked up at her deliverer as he leveled his weapon at her pursuer, slowly retreating. He seemed to sense her scrutiny, but said nothing, which she didn't mind given the current...issue. 'this woman...why did she not listen? did she not see the signs? or did she simply ignore them, thinking they were fake? *sigh* no matter I suppose.' this all happened in nanoseconds while they retreated. 'I have many questions and concerns for my new charge...ones she WILL answer.'

Fareya  PoV

'Just who is this man?'  I thought to myself  when we were safe, as I inspected my savior. 'he seems to either not know who I am or not care in the slightest....' musing quietly for a moment,she then speaks up. "who are you android? you don't look like you belong to Atlas, as you are far too advanced. can you tell me who designed you?" he looked over to me stiffly at that remark...and spoke.

Ulbero PoV 

'She thinks me a machine eh...well now...' I mused to myself as I looked at her before speaking. "I am no machine. very, very close to it, but I still hold some humanity, you know." she looked stunned for a moment before replying. "I...I am so sorry! I had no idea that you weren't a machine!" I inwardly snorted at her hurried apology. "It's fine, as I'm sure you didn't know at all." she looked surprised for a second, then grateful for my patience. "I.. thank you. I'm still mad at myself for mistaking you for a soulless thing." I snorted in amusement "Sometimes Ma'am...That may not be far off. Sometimes the things which hunted you have more emotion than me. Others I wonder...what exactly am I? not fully machine but no longer quite...human."

She seemed to have no answer to that. No doubt about it now. However long I had been gone, it was long enough for the world above to forget the existence of this place somewhat. Time for answers. I grunted to get her attention and spoke. "Why are you here? you had to see signs that something was wrong when you entered this place. the stench, the bodies...did you not care about any of it?" again, no response. she looked equal parts sheepish and suffering from horrified realization that it was all real.