Junkyard Blues (Jax, Mia, Invite only)

[Jax]

The place was the same and different. Changed and yet exactly the same. The hulking metal walls rusted in their place as the ivory moonlight shone down upon them. The holes and pulled open doors causing light to strain through them lighting up parts of the yard and yet condemning other parts to darkness and from within one of these caves of darkness that a lighter flickered casting hot light upon a face normally etched with disdain for the world but now his metal piercings seemed relaxed as he sat on a rotting car seat and surrounded himself with the beat and throb of the metal hearts whose phantom beat rang out to him and him alone. He grinned as smoke poured forth from his nostrils and slowly stood and walked into the light. His black leather coat swirling around his knees as it was caught from time to time by the stiff wind from the north that brought forth the smell of snow and a hint of a place far off. His steel toed and souled boots shone in the filtering light from time to time and his head bobbed to a beat only he could hear as his headphones brought prerecorded rebellion straight to his brain via his ears and his shirt proclaimed "Get angry, and Change the world" It's green surface matching his gel streaked hair.

This was a man at peace for once. In a rare good mood and perfectly at ease deep within to what him was his territory, his world as he thought of it. It was constantly shifting as metal was brought in, metal was brought out crushed or pulled from it's containers. An ever shifting maze of steel and copper, tin and lead, iron and titanium. His fingers reached up to trace the lines on a military grade humvee that same one had painted with racing strips. His hand carressing the broken headlight of a 1920's roadster to the hubcaps from a monster trcuk. This was his world and here... away from the voices of humanity sometimes he felt more at peace... sometimes he felt... content. His eyes drifted lazily as he looked around at everything and nothing. He walked on and then froze as his eyes took in a familar shape. A human shape.. a shape that wasn't moving. His peaceful expression vanished and his curses were torn away from the wind as he started to move to see what it was... who it was.

[Mia]

Once again, the android found herself in far from fabulous condition. Always so careful...so very careful....and yet, here was yet another predicament where she took on the field and ran into a bit of a predicament. For Project World Reflection had to escape with her last bit of energy from someone who could easily threaten her existence, one of her creators that GREATLY opposed her continued existence. Thankfully, she slipped under their radar! On the other side of this double edged sword, she lost battery power and quite literally had to quickly pick a nice place to let herself, in one way or another, die. So she selected a convenient dumpster which filled up over the days and hid her bodyshell from sight. Certainly she didn't have time to think it through, but at least a fate which could have a silver lining of some sort was the best way to go.

Time and some strange turn of luck in its oddest form landed her in a pile of junk at New York. Partially curled up in a ball wearing her drained battery pack and those dimmed blue optics slightly open as if she was taking a rest but unfortunately died in the process. Cuts and scuff marks riddled her synthetic skin showing through the pale white lace sleeves which were far from looking great. Beneath the translucent shirt was of course a blue tank top to match her jeans and navy hued running shoes. Trying to find her way meant dressing practical and well, at least it was an alright outfit to die in...right? Of course, that peculiar necklace was around her neck which contained all sort of important information. It was strange though for something that wasn't even human to almost look as though there was possibly a twinge of concern before experiencing one of the closest things to death.

[Jax]

For a moment he just looked down, a puff of smoke coming out the side of his mouth as he looked down past his nose and the oddly green embers of his cigarette at this figure, This familiar being. His mind went back to a junkyard, an exploration, a inventing and digging. A vault unearthed and a promise to call that was never fulfilled. Another broken promise to him. Nothing new, nothing special and as he looked at her still skin that only now in this light looked plastic, at her dimmed once vibrant optics he flashed to that encounter... and turned his body away his face flat and expressionless. He had car parts to find, he didn't have time to deal with a broken doll, someones discarded toy. Something tossed aside as worth...less...

His steel souled shoes clanking as they walked across the occasional stone slowed and his expression once completely bland now his brows furrowed and the corners of his mouth lowered as he looked up to his own forehead.

"Sa... Conscious... ah thought ah done killed ya back in Gotham..."

He looked back over his shoulder at the android, the grim on her skin, the scraped synthetic skin and looked away.

"Dis has nothing ta da wit ma. And when has getting involved wit strange woman ended well fa ma? Sa shut up!"

He screamed the last out, flailing against the darkness in his own head. He screamed more, profanity, a deluge of broken promises and shattered dreams and yet again and again his eyes were drawn back to the still girl, her dim blue optics and he cursed as finally he slumped his shoulders and grumbling all the while how bad an idea this was he picked her up, grunting slightly at the weight but holding her... cradling her against him. His grip as firm as iron but as gentle as if he was holding an egg. His lips pursed and he started walking out of the junkyard. His eyes flashing at anger... at himself... and everything else. His feet already heading back to his cycle and he mumbled a silent thank he had his sidecar already attached in case he needed room to take parts back.
============================================

A dozen short metal figures ran around the garage made almost into a living area at their master's commands. Though entering had taken him screaming some at the door to get them to open it and after he had set his bundle on a work table that had been followed by name calling and tool throwing the irritated Mage of The Earth's Bones had gotten to work. First it had been a moment our five of starring down at the girl trying to figure out what was wrong, what was her problem and how to help but as he stood there his hands had recalled the stillness of her flesh. Not the stillness of a corpse but an emptiness... like a refrigerator without electricity pumping through it. Using Occum's Razor he started yelling out orders and they complied bringing his electrical kits and extension cords with various adapters.

Still he stood for a moment. Looking down, his lips pursed as he looked at her thin body. It had been ten minutes and he still hadn't moved... this wasn't like pulling apart an engine. This was a person and... he... had to find her ports to recharge her. He closed his eyes and thought out loud.

"Alright... if ah was a super genius robot builder where would AH put da recharge ports..."

His eyes opened suddenly and he looked down at the robot and only someone who knew him very well might have recognized the expression on his face that quickly vanished. He shook his head vigoriously, a motion echoed by his 'little friends' and commented.

"Nah... dat... just na.. let's try dis again. If ah was someone ELSE and built a robot where would ah put da port...."

Jax looked down and looking at the figure lying on her side because of her clunky backpack he looked at that and shrugging figured he would take it off so he could at least make her less... cumbersome looking. As he did so he found that the backpack was actually attached to her. Jax looked at her back and through her cloths there it was! a plug! Turning to his minions he snapped his fingers at one who handed him the female end of the extension cord it was holding and he softly but firmly plugged it in. And as power flowed through Jax actually smiled at the woman on his bench and lifted his arms to the sky.

"LIVE! LIIIIIVEEEEEEEEE!"

He looked down around him at his minions who clapped at his antics... even Mages of Metal were struck by silly sometimes.

[Mia]

A couple flickers of light took place before those optics maintained a steady glow while a pair of bar codes made themselves visible. Managing to look completely deadpan as though she had lost every single little comprehension of human emotion based on intensive studies and programming. Even her voice seemed to match her facial expression quite well. "Loading Project World Reflection....now running system scan. Error discovered...failure to properly shut down system recognized. Minimal damage to system. Critical errors have been discovered. Now initiating System Recovery Mode..."

No blinking what-so-ever took place for the short moment the scan took its course, but after a couple minutes took its course, the bar code vanished and revealed a pupil. Quickly glancing around as the android who would have been more than happy to be a real human sat up looking worried as could be. Where in the world was she?! Did her plan actually....work...? Though it was such a long shot...but how was it that her so called luck guided her to near destruction and now death then a sense of rebirth? Why here? More importantly, why this place with odd creations that seemed as though they should be mangled pieces of scrap yard art featured within some sort of abstract gallery?!

Where in the world was her designated superior?! ....wait...did she even have one...it...felt like she might but her memory was failing to give her a proper response on the matter. That mystery would need to be on hold for resolution since there were far more important matters to attend. Fragments of her memory still existed and when her panicked gaze rest upon the familiar individual...she blinked a couple of times momentarily before slightly tilting her head a bit toward the right. There were quite a few indicators based on his facial bone structure and height that he was someone who matched a small section of her memory. Strange thing was...as she accessed what remained of that fragment of data...it...seemed like he changed. "Mister Jax Gardener...? Not to be rude...but...what happened to you and why are there little pieces of abstract metal work dancing around like little elves...?"

Quirking a brow as she spoke those words in a confused...yet...polite tone..that's when she noticed one of them holding her bag! Hurrying to get on her feet with widened eyes as she watched one of them scamper around hugging onto it for a moment before looking like it wanted to throw it to one of its obscure little friends! "A-ah! Excuse me! Please cease what you're doing this instant!" Rushing forward while reaching out as her kindly tone insinuated a sense of panic. It was only a couple of steps before she felt a small tug on her back which caught her by such surprise that she managed to express it with a yelp before stumbling backward and landed not so eloquently on her butt. Oh no...oh no no no no...! He knew she wasn't a real human AND stopping these rascals wouldn't be so easy.

Real smooth...this situation was certainly a questionable one. Then again...it should have been reasonably obvious that he discovered her secret of being robotic since she was alive again. That most certainly logical enough, yet it was embarrassing that it took her so long to acknowledge this. Ugh...she'd have to be more careful in the future but right now she was HOPING the little atrocities would listen to her demanding request.

[Jax]

Jax watched with interest as the 'woman' he had once met in Junkyard not much different then the one he had rescued her from slowly began to come online. He pursed his lips with interest as her mouth seemed to move on automatic. His face furrowed at the tone which seemed so... cold. Quite unlike the woman... yes he thought of her as a woman still. Jax's logic stated that if he could build artificial helpers out of random scrap there is no reason a full person could not be made... but regardless she was a person, and one of the few he could stand to be in the presence of. In fact the fact she was a robot made sense why he could stand her. Metal was metal even if you wrapped it in fake skin and he did like metal... well.... love it but that was not something he was going to dwell on right now.

Instead he listened and watched as her eyes changed from some odd barcode thing to irises. He looked at this and one of his hands began to drift to one of his handguns behind his back. He was not a fool and realized their my have been a very real reason she had been shut down. A reason that would require him to finish the job and while he was capable doing just that he was mildly surprised to know he really did not like that idea. He changed his target crosshairs in his head from her forehead to her shoulders and knees. No mater what kind of robot she was being jointless would render her quite helpless and maybe he could fix her after that.

Instead she asked him about his minion in a confused voice and called him... Mister. He forced down the shudder at that though she had said Mister... not the short version. You could hear it. Instead it was that paired with his whole name. Like someone asking someone to step away from the ledge and put down the nuke if you don't mind. He... was more okay with that oddly but still found it disturbing that anyone looked at him with polite terms. He had a rep to maintain after all. He thought on this as she seemed distressed by his minion's antics as they started playing keep a way with her back pack and he took a step forward unconsciously as she fell back as she yanked on the overhead extension cord plugged in her 'flesh'. His helpers seemed amused by that until his gaze snapped to the one holding the pack and glared as he suddenly held out a hand to it.

"Give."

It seemed to gaze back at him with purple sparking eyes and a steam of numbers came forth from the general location of where it's mouth would be if it was human.

"010000100111010101110100001000000111011101100101001000000111011101100101011100100110010100100000011010100111010101110011~"

Jax snapped his fingers loudly interrupting it mid steam and repeated the gesture.

"Dat was NA a request."

He snapped his fingers twice more as the being fiddled in a bit with the pack and rubbed it's feet on the ground. Finally he walked over and handed him the back. Jax hefted it in one hand as he pointed to a corner with the other.

"Go!"

The being in question started to head to the corner before Jax's voice cracked out again. Harsher this time.

"Na."

It looked back at him hopeful.

"All of ya!"

The others including the ones holding on to Mia looked down and scoffing their metal feet as they walked along looking like beings from the reject bin for a sequel of Batteries Not Included there were soon over a dozen of them staring dejectedly into the corner and move crawling down from the ceiling.

Jax ignored all this as he sat her pack on the table she had been lying on and reached out a hand to help her out trying to smile as reassuringly as he could. The reassuring smile looked confused to find itself on such an unfamiliar land so full of metal and piercings but despite that it was trying. As he did this he spoke to his guest for the first time in a while holding up a single digit with the other hand close to his chest.

"First of all remember. Da name is Jax. Not Mister, Na Mister Jax, Not Mister Gardener, Not even #&@#*$ Mister Jax Gardener which makes ma sound like a criminal which ah am na... criminals get caught."

Holding up another finger he told her.

"Secondly ta answer ya question da short version is, Magic is real, Da Earth is alive and considers ma her son or some such #&*@... da she is nice enough... Tell ya da long version if ya want and da elves is my homiculi or some &#*@."

Helping her up with his extended hand he had to comment.

"Sa ya is a robot huh..."

He frowned at that and letting go his hand he reached into his pocket and pulling out a cigarette he placed it between his teeth and grinned the largest smile he had in a while. Teeth were displayed.

"Dat is pretty #&*($ing cool."

[Mia]

Feeling and knowing for a fact that she didn't have enough of a charge to last even so much as a minute off of this crazy cord! Biting her lower lip nervously as she rest her partially slashed up palms upon the floor...this was terrible. On the upside...this was better than the fate her creators would unleash upon her. The way she looked at those curious robotic creatures just seemed to hint off that she was as hurt that an android with artificial intelligence could be over their actions. Nothing cruel was done to them, they had no place in her memory...so why pick on her?

This was starting to remind her of when she was first starting to elaborate on artificial intelligence to become steps closer to becoming a human...long ago when she worked within the walls of an asylum. Patients hadn't bothered with logic or reason when it came to their cruelty at first...or at least on the surface. Some had petty reasons...others had far more profound back-stories to their actions. This....this...was like they found her misfortune to be a free form of entertainment. "...please...stop..."

Softly whispering those words so that they were barely audible, if the tone could be heard, it was almost as though she would probably just want to cry if it was something this bodyshell was capable of. ...maybe being harsh and cruel would work...but...no, that wasn't something she wanted to do. Even if they needed a good scolding...but it seemed like one word brought them to stop...and as quickly as those short, negative thoughts came...they left without a trace to be stored away where it would be kept away from the worldunless she glitched. Snapping to a look of slight surprise, she blinked a few times while looking from the one who rescued her...then to the one who was holding her bag hostage. .....well...that was new...it was speaking in binary...but before it could finish trying to justify its actions, the ring leader, Jax Gardener seemed quite upset with their actions.

Okay....now she was just a bit baffled...why was getting on the offensive. They were barely even acquaintances! Despite what little data she had scrounged up on him based purely from observation....it seemed to be quite contradicting. Erm...and...she hardly even noticed that there were little minions hugging onto her, but they were all ordered to shoo. ...was...that...the time out corner or something? It would make sense...but...huh....well...then...it was more like they were his children or little siblings rather than robotic elves.

Ack...! Her bag! That's right! Quickly shifting her attention over to the one she addressed as Mister Jax Gardener, she was about to request that he handled it with care. Huh...but...he was being nice enough to her belongings and didn't slam it down like a bag of school supplies in the hands of a very aggravated teen. Letting out a soft sigh as she closed her eyes for a moment, she reopened those bright blue optics on the verge of thanking him...she saw his hand reaching out toward her...and...smiling. ........smiling.....he didn't smile last time...not at all...not in the slightest...not even a smirk....what made this occasion any different?

Humans were so interesting with their complexity! It was a shame all she could do was try to learn from them rather than be one of them. With a slight smile across her powdery, sapphire tinted lips before reaching out toward his hand. Grasping firmly, but at the same time gently as to not hurt the one who was showing her kindness before listening to his words. Oh...he didn't like the formal approach...?

With her smile lessening a bit, she wasn't sure what to think on this matter aside from wanting to apologize for offending him. It wasn't intended to make him sound like a criminal, yet that's how he was perceiving it? Lessening her smile a bit...she figured it would be important to update his file regarding this matter of how he would like to be addressed. Though...she did slowly quirk a brow as smile contorted into a confused frown at his abridged story. Updating the small data file she had on him within her memory...it seemed like he offered the full version.

Truth be told, Mia knew how the probability rate was incredibly low to leave any time soon...so she did have the time for it. Upon being helped up, she let out a surprised gasp since she was more lost in trying to sort out his...unique...shift..so of course it slipped her thought process that she was going to stand upright with a little help. ...and...being reminded of the now glaringly obvious fact that she was a robot plus that statement was accompanied by a frown like it was a dreadful thing. Perhaps she should get the minimal amount of charge and take her leave...? It was nice of him to help, but it was probably quite the imposition.

"Um..." ...as smooth as the landing on her butt, she didn't quite know how to respond. There were so many ways it could go wrong and others were it could turn out just fine. This...was...really quite the predicament! As calm as she tried to be, there was a sense of nervousness to her movement while taking a seat upon the table next to her precious backpack. What to say...what to say....how to explain what she was without sounding rude or obnoxious...!

...then a contradictory smile made itself known with a cigarette between his teeth and she just had this`wut` sort of look on her face complete with a small...baffled frown. "Eh...excuse me...?" Blinking a few times trying to make sense of the unpredictable fellow, she slowly tilted her head for a moment. Maybe...it was better to just communicate with him more before trying to extract logic? Admittedly, she preferred to analyze before prompting a response with matters she considered delicate...not raise the risk of offending him any further.

Even...though...it didn't really seem like he was offended....? Clearing her throat, though completely unnecessary like blinking and sighing, she sat upright and tried to regain her calm composure with a gentle...yet almost unsure smile. "I mean...thank you. It's truly kind of you to view the fact I'm a robot as cool, Jax...though I must apologize for offending you earlier. It wasn't my intention to make you sound like some sort of criminal, especially after aiding me in my time of need multiple times..." Resting her hands upon her lap, she glanced over toward the time out corner party for a moment before fixating her full attention back to him.

"...a true criminal only thinks of themselves, what benefits them and no one else matters. I have yet to see such traits to an extreme...so rest assured that I'm not profiling you as someone who needs to be locked away from society. Perhaps you were in the past, I believe it best for me to leave that chapter of your life out of judging you here in the present. As far as I'm concerned, the past is a collection of stepping stones which you used to pave your current path."

Though she could easily sift through data and see if there was ever a point he had been caught in some form or another...it would just be left alone unless the need arose. After all, he earned that slight amount of respect thus far. Letting her smile brighten ever so slightly, there was a sense of sincerity to its kind curiosity. "I do, however, wish to hear the long version of the story you offered to tell me about your recent change. I'll be here for quite some time waiting for my battery to recharge before I can take my leave, so as you can easily assume..I'm in no rush." Letting out a soft chuckle as though she was amused about the humor in having to stay put.

"Besides..it does sound like an interesting tale...but first..." An Epiphany struck her thought process....a notion for how she could try to get on the little...metallic...critter...children...things...to see she wasn't all bad. "...do you think it would be alright if they were allowed to listen to your story as long as they behave themselves?" Gesturing toward the time out corner for a short moment as she spoke her inquiry with what appeared to be thoughtfully gentle, Mia wondered if it was out of line to make such a request.

[Jax]

Jax held the cigarette between his lips for a moment and then spun one of his hands in the old 'all right c'mon c'mon' gesture. Walking over out of the android's reach he grabbed a oil stained bean bag chair and kicked it over to her so she would have a more comfy place to relax. Some who knew him might question the thoughtfullness but for Jax it was fairly simple. She wasn't a person... she was something better. A robot. A woman with out all the stupid baggage human's tended to have. He liked that and felt himself relaxing a bit more around her automatically, and per her request as she started to relax he called out.

"Allright, time out ovah. Gather 'round kiddies."

Looking back at her his eyebrows raised as he smiled again.

"It's story time."

Those words were not even out of his mouth then his minions were running to the android. Pushing and shoving and climbing over each other in a mad dash to get to her. A swarm of misshaped bodies and sparking purple eyes. Two were even thrown clean of the carnage as they were picked up and tossed out of the way. But as soon as they got near the bean bag the rowdy behavior ceased and they sat neatly near android girl and sat crosslegged waiting for the story to begin. The ones to arrive first were nearest to the front of the bean bag chair, the next to the sides, then to the front and more sides. Soon the entire group were surrounding her in a circle four minions deep. There was little motion as they sat there. Looking up at Jax with rapt attention as he started to search for a cigarette lighter only to have five minions pull out from the front of the 'donut' and standing on each other's shoulders hold out a lighter to him. He looked, nodded and took it and after lighting his cig handed it back. The minions jumped down and they resumed their seats. Jax took a puff as he waited for things to settle down. He stood for a moment. His eyes looking not at them, by past them, into the past. His eye narrowing as he remembered and tried to think of how to say what happened to him.

"Ah guess.... Ah guess ya have ta start at da beginning. Before ma... Before ah was... who ah was. Before ma. Back... when a boy was young and so very stupid. So very desperate... So very... hoping for death or love."

He remember the smells of the house. The smell of fresh flowers and cleaning chemicals. Not dirt, not dust. Nothing unpleasant... Nothing alive.

"Dere was a boy. A poor sad boy. Born ta a mother who cared not for him as people would... but rather looked on him as a trophy. Something else ta show off to her fellow rich friends. Sha had expectations of him and he had better fufill them. Ta be perfect. Da charmer, da smiler, da straight ah student and da jock. He wasn't a child... he was a doll. A young male barbie doll she could take out of the box ta show off to her friend. He tried though. He tried ta be perfect for her. To show her he could be everything she wanted. His father ignored the fact he even lived... but maybe he could get his mother ta care."

Jax's jaw clenched as he told the story. He had told it a couple of times before. Not to many. Not to people... but Mia.... Mia wasn't people. She was still better. He was comforted by that but still his empty fist clenched shut on empty air as he spoke. His knuckles whitening as he spoke and remembered.

"He tried... he tried so hard. And he was doing it... people looked on him and saw a gleaming smile, a tanned figure who was always da first to da soccer ball, da first to score. Da first ta be invited ta parties and da first ta turn in his tests in school. Dey saw him... and dat is what dey saw.... maybe dat is all dey wanted ta see... Dey didn't see inside dis all. He was rotting... he was already died. A corpse going through da motions for da only thing that made life worthwhile ta him... his mother smiling at him. But... in time even dat failed ta touch him. He existed in a world of grays, of burning whites and smothering blacks. He was not touched by anything and nothing was touched by him... na really. The only thing dat seemed to reach him... to echo at all was da sound of the freight train whistles. Dere randomness, dere unexpectedness rousing him briefly out of his world of mirrors and painted masks for just a moment... and year in and out dey would rouse him just enough to move on... den one dey he got a perfect score on a test, a final exam of the year... he held it in his hands, looked at the perfect score, da filled out bonus questions. Da comment on the test... and felt nothing. Na happy na sad... he just.. knew what ta da.."

He looked into the distance and could hear it again. The vibration of the ground as he stood on the tracks and could feel the trains in the distance. Could sense where they were... where they were going. He remembered the soft leather of his new shows, the scratchiness of his school blazer, the heat from the sun. He remembered feeling a satisfaction on figuring out a solution to his problem.

"Its... was simple... if he could not feel anything. Den it wouldn't hurt. He would just go. Go ta da trainyard and lay down his neck on da track just before da train came. He would lay his head down... and would feel nothing more ever again. Na more pressure, na more grays... just... peace. He didn't know... dat something had been watching him his whole life. Something old... something below him all his life dat had an interest in him. Ah.. suppose she was da one dat vibrated the train track as he walked. Ta get his attention. Ta get him ta go da right way. He walked da tracks. Following their vibration when another one... this one in da air caught his attention. A vibration known as music. He had heard music of course. Knew how to play the piano, was constantly listening to Mozart, Bach, all da music ta improve a young man's mind... but dis... dis wasn't those elegant notes. This was chaos made manifest. Dis was music dat showed rage and waved it like a battle flag. Which screamed to da world dat not only was da player alive.. but he wasn't ever going ta back down just ta fit in. He followed again... but dis time not da siren call of death... but the joyful screams of rage."

His mouth curled up as he remembered.

"He found an old warehouse and here he sat outside and listened. He heard songs of death and joy, life and hate. He heard songs dat painted colors on da monocromatic world. Dat screamed and shouted and stood up against a thousand slings and arrows. He sat outside and just listened. He listened as he felt the cold concrete beneath him warm up, felt the raw girder on his back through his blazer... maybe he should have known back then as da very music vibrated da metal straight into his brain... into his imagination... dat something in him was changing... was being changed."

He remembered the band coming out and seeing him just listening. Them talking to him. With him... him explaining and them just shaking their heads in sympathy and offering him his first cigarette. The bitter taste of the tobacco being the first thing he remembered tasting in over a year. The brand went out of business a few years ago but he had moved beyond that tame stuff anyways... granted his dealer smelled of brimstone but it was... more his speed. As the green smoke wafted up he nodded as he continued.

"He changed dat day. He woke up. He began to see... and went home and for hours stood in front of the mirror and looked himself in the eyes. Saw his dead green eyes... saw them looking back at him. Truly saw himself. He decided he didn't like da person he saw. Didn't like da stranger he became and decided... he would become even stranger din. He took his dad's electric clippers... and had his first mohawk."

He smiled, a mean bitter smile.
"His mother hated it. She screamed like a woman possessed. Screamed about what her friends would think, screamed at what his teachers would say. And da boy found himself amazed... amazed dat he just didn't care. He could feel something touching him. He wouldn't be able to realize what it was till years later. But something did approve of him as he was... and more then that as he was becoming. In da years dat followed he ripped himself more and more from the boy he was... and followed his own path. His mother screamed more and even threatened violence but da boy did not back down. His first tattoo... was the breaking point. He went from boarding school ta boarding school. Getting kicked out, getting transfered. As he moved his tattoos grew, his hair changed. Piercings appeared as he disappeered from campuses. Finally he ended up in a military school. Where disipline was old fashion and before da first day was out he found himself in... 'da box'"


He looked at his feet and at the military boots he was not only wearing but had improved himself with steel reinforcements. He grinned at dem before continuing.

"A small box just big enough for someone ta fit in. Solid metal and in da middle of the countyard. Da idea was ta isolate and bake da person in da box in da heat of da day. Ta break der will ta fight. Ta conflict. He was cramped in dere. Miserable in da heat... and at one point he leaned again da sides... he flinched expecting da touch ta burn him. Ta scald his flesh... instead... it was cooling as he touched it. Da metal transfering da heat AWAY from him. It was cool... and lovely... and he pushed his body against it as he could. When dey let him out dey did not find him broken... instead he just glared at dem and asked..."

He smiled. His lips moving in an unfamilar tone. A voice he hadn't used in a long time.

"What? Are we done already? I was just getting comfy."

Jax chuckled at the memory. At what happened next... the beating that decended had not been nice... but they found he would not break from it.

"He never questioned da power... in secret he experimenting. Not once realizing where it was coming from. He had thought himself just another metahuman, a mutant. He never thought himself as 'a next stage of evolution' but rather just another pleasent way he was different from people. He kept going and between tattoos and beatings in secret he built... be built an escape... da day of graduation... da day of his eighteenth birthday... he wasn't dere ta grab his diploma. His mother... his father had showed up. to see... to see how he had changed... the looked on their face as he burst from the toolshed aboard a self made motorcycle. Da look as he simply bent the hundred pound gate in his way... da look as he rode off... was priceless... and he stayed there though... cause the boy wasn't needed. The rider didn't need that boy. That baggage. I picked a name from his wreakage. His.. uselessness. His weakness. Ah came from him... but ah am NA him."

He blew a smoke ring at this and then looked at her.

"Da reason ah tell ya dis is years of working wit ma power... it wasn't till just a few months ago ah... ah found where it comes from."

He bent down and looking her straight in the eye patted the ground and even rubbed it before straightening.

"Gaia, Mother Earth, Mother Nature... call her what ya want. She don't care... dere was... an incident. Ah was going to be captured... enslaved. Ah was maybe going ta die. And ah heard her voice. Ah heard her speak wit my lips... and felt her unlock da power she gave ma... because she...... she..... she loves ma. Calls ma 'one of my true sons' and gave ma a fraction of her power. Ah am da Mage of da Earth's Bones. Not a being of power from ma blood but from da Earth. She... Ah can feel her feeling on ma. A constant feeling of approval... and love... Needless ta say it freaks ma da #$@#@ out. But.."

He waved at the minions before her.

"Dis came from her. Other powers. Other gifts. She doesn't expect anything from ma... just... wants ma ta do as ah will.... and... and... ah am okay wit dat."

He looked at her. His face lined and serious.

"Sa tell ma... da ya dink ma mad?"

[Mia]

Huh...? Did she say something to offend him again? He didn't really say anything to her comments...just...went off. Perhaps her welcome was wearing out and in turn making his patience incredibly thin? That would seem to be quite logical...or...getting a bean bag chair riddled in oil stains. A little less....plenty less predictable but still probable all the same. Though it was kicked in her direction and the feminine android just sort of stared at it for a moment whilst sitting upon the table trying to quickly break down his gesture into an answer as to why he did that. Clearly there was already a seat provided for her, conveniently near the extension cord as well.

...the bean bag was reasonably close too, it wasn't out of reach or anything like that. So after calculating the factors, the equation was one that guided to an effort of displaying hospitality in his own way. It...made sense...though most people would verbally offer a change of places rather than chock it up to expecting their guest to fully comprehend their actions. Whisking up her bag rather than just leaving it there on the table as she carefully got off and figured it would be rude to simply deny the new seating arrangement. It did seem more comfortable than the table, after all...so it was nice of him...even though she began to wonder if perhaps she can request a longer extension cord to clean up his humbly chaotic abode. Then again...that might be perceived as incredibly rude and offend him with her wish to help. Glancing around as she sat upon the bean bag chair, there...was a method to the chaotic nature of her new surroundings.

Cleaning would most likely disrupt the abnormal organization and cause him to be disoriented...if her calculations proved accurate...so...perhaps she would just leave it as is or make the offer to see if he actually just let the place go and it conveniently turned into `there's a method to this madness` against his will. The last educational guess didn't really fit his psychological profile thus far from what little information she obtained. As unpredictable as he had a tendency to be, this was more or less a place where he was comfortable...so there's no way he would make himself intentionally miserable in a place he reside to unwind. Thus...the messiness wasn't a real issue to be resolved. Placing the bag upon her lap to keep it nice and close...much to her surprise he actually accepted her request to end time out? Well...that was nice of him, plus he actually seemed...happy. During their last encounter...or at least what remained in her memory, he actually didn't seem to be the most joyous sort...so it was a relief in some way that he had a reason to smile in the midst of all the anger he harbored.

Smiling ever so slightly back for a short moment, she then turned her attention toward the rowdy group who were incredibly eager for being out of time out PLUS story time. They really were much like children, even though they'd get perceived as horrible atrocities with how their design turned out...which just made her that much more curious in regards to the tale about to be told. Besides...they were sort of adorable when they weren't playing keep away with her bag. Ah...but there was a pattern to recognize, they were calm close to her or when they were seated...so perhaps they really learned their lesson from earlier? They were even being incredibly helpful when he was looking for a lighter. Of course, she turned her attention back toward her green haired host when he began to speak up again. About how this story, to be told properly, was to start at the very beginning.

It wasn't difficult to believe nor comprehend that he wasn't always this way, that would not only be an arrogant assumption...but an ignorant as well. Curious thing of it is...he spoke of his past self like a completely different person...as though they weren't one and the same. Even the parents, he didn't view them as his parents, but rather the boy's parents...which made more and more sense as the story began to unfold. It was unfortunate that parents such as those could truly live with themselves...treating a child like a trophy...an object. Children needed nurturing...not what he went through...and it was further proof that her creators could never be allowed to succeed in erasing her from the face of this Earth if it was within her power to avoid such a terrible fate. The world....its inhabitants...it was so beautiful where it was going well...but...it was just...so...very...broken that it needed to be mended in an effort to make it so people like his parents could be dealt with accordingly.

Sure, case after case when she wasn't worrying about a greedy creator trying to stop her work...there was a similarity in stories. The product of a poor environment where the child was treated like they had all these expectations produced criminals...traditional therapists didn't seem to point the finger at the parents for the end result...for pushing them to the edge. No...it was the one behind bars who got full blame due to their incorrect method of coping and to Mia...that was unfortunate. This story wasn't about her past though, it was all about his and how it shaped him to be who he is now. How the boy was tailored to ridiculous expectations, how the boy couldn't even truly find an identity of his very own, how the boy broke apart, how the boy looked to all the broken pieces....stared at those pieces and gradually picked them up to make something...no...someone new. Someone who could find themselves a new place in the world...even if they had to build a place. Someone with ambition who had discovered an identity.

That's what it was all about...and the puzzle of who Jax was and what happened to him stopped feeling so...scattered within her thought process. Even showing off a smile at the happier moments where music seemed to have a role in aiding who he became and seeing that the world held so much more than what his parents catered him to. Certainly it wasn't generalized as the most positive thing in the world...yet all in all...it was probably one of the best turn of events. Of course, when he started to make a shift with his appearance, the part where his smile grew bitter...his parents only wanted a trophy...not find a way to accept what he was becoming. Which didn't really seem fair when taking into account all he did for his mother in an effort to make her proud to the point where he grew numb...yet it was expected within her calculations that his mother wanted it her way or the high way. At least he was strong enough at that point to realize there was more to life than her high expectations.

All those trials and tribulations, yet it all worked out in his favor in the end and even helped him discover a power of sorts. One that brought him comfort then and even now. Admittedly though, she actually looked surprised when his tone shifted dramatically, like it really was someone else. Of course, she snapped out of it and blinked a couple times upon hearing his chuckle. Then came the end of this tale from his past about how much he worked with his gift and became familiar with it when he could find the time as well as how he...figuratively....as one of her patients oh so long ago would have put it as flipping them the bird and being done with their bullshit when it came to his parents as well as the military school. How he ditched who he was and embraced who he became was most certainly different from most of her patients. After the smoke ring though when he looked toward her....it got curiouser and curiouser....

When they met, he hadn't a clue where his powers came from exactly...or so that's what it seemed according to his words. Watching him pat the ground...Jax...he....claimed...Mother...Nature....was the one who gifted him with these powers....and loved him as her son. Returning her gaze toward his own, she simply blinked a few times looking...just...a bit confused. It made sense yet it didn't...it contradicted with the side of her programming that played the role of therapist and the one which made valiant efforts to elaborate preexisting AI to become as close to human as an android could be. In real time...this only lasted for a matter of seconds since she could process things quite quickly...faster than the average human..

My analysis states that he's mentally unstable from his mother, the woman who brought him into this world and a father who was nothing more than a stranger who coexisted with one another. Due to such a lack luster upbringing, he found an escape and created a new parental figure to fill in the gap. This is to cope with misery so that he doesn't fall to shambles again. All to feel a basic level of maternal acceptance, thus a voice was born who he truly believes is the one and only Mother Nature, Gaia, Mother Earth...all so that he is truly not alone in the world rather than accepting he has the high probability of being a mutant.

As accurate as you may believe yourself to be, he may have come from a troubled past...but this doesn't mean he's as insane as you're insinuating...! There are those with truly special gifts as he kindly explained, there's a reasonable chance that this Gaia truly communicates with him. We are NOT existing in a world where there is no supernatural activity what-so-ever and that all things can be explained with science otherwise it's dismissible. In fact, it's ignorant of you to make such an analysis without including such a factor....

I suppose you are right, but you must admit that if this is the life he chose...something is still broken. Or are you going to tell me that I'm wrong or ignorant for such a bold statement that does in fact have some truth to it?

Your truth isn't absolute nor is it a defining factor. There is a method to his madness and as a friend, I firmly believe that there's a high probability in regards to how he's not wrong about the true origins of his gift.

In due time, we shall discover what truth is a genuine fact. Including whether or not it's truly possible for a synthetic being is actually capable of friendship. Besides, don't you believe he needs to be examined? He is a patient, after all.

Patient? I think not. Jax has done more than enough to fall out of that category. Not to mention he's been through enough, in case you were too busy dissecting his psychological state incorrectly to properly comprehend this fact. I'm simply done with this conversation and we'll be working together when necessary.

Closing her eyes for a moment and letting out a sigh as she felt as though something was interfering with her comprehension of emotions to negate the negative. The part which questioned her ability to make friends...it...was...difficult to explain aside from mildly upsetting. In fact, she just opted to ignore it for now, allow it to fade rather than cling to what such a statement brought so he could have her full attention. Softly exhaling at the inquiry about whether or not she thought of him as mad. A fragment of her obviously believed that OF COURSE he was mad and needed to be cured. The other fragment clearly disagreed that his alleged madness existed to a degree. So what did the somewhat conflicted android do?

Reopening her eyes as a tender smile crossed her powdery blue lips, she had a calm...yet lighthearted air about her tone, "Of course you're mad, Jax. All in all, that just makes you more interesting, don't you think?" Gesturing around her and toward his mechanical family. Sparing all of them a quick glance before returning her gaze toward him. "Jax, please take a good look around you. Your gift has brought you not only a home, but it allowed you to make a family. A family that appreciates you for who you are and what you've done for them and the mother who gave you this gift is more than content with who you are as with what you continue to pave your future to become."

Cringing a bit from a small spark emitting from one of the gashes in he arm...still she kept smiling a bit before resting her arm upon the bag. Clasping the opposite hand upon her version of an open wound since it lessened the pain. "It all started in madness and in the midst of it all is where you exist. There's a method to all of this, even if those in society will reject it as with your metal family and mistake madness for unwanted insanity." Allowing herself to have a soft laugh with small traces of pain to it before she continued speaking. "However, I do not believe you to be clinically insane...your gift grants you access to a portion of the world that most will never understand. As long as you can grasp it and don't lose who you worked so hard to become, that's all that matters in the scheme of things."

Blinking a couple of times, she manifested a theory which was a probable one that the extremely logical therapist side of her would more than likely neglect or simply dismiss. This was a theory she opted to share rather than keep confined within the process of her thoughts, "Besides, you found your true mother...did you not? Your past was that of a foster child who went on a long, painful journey to discover why nothing seemed right only to find your real mother who waited until the time was just right to reveal herself to you." Offering a half shrug while remaining completely calm, she let out a soft sigh and continued to speak... "Perhaps that logic is born of a malfunction from all the damage I've received. Or perhaps my AI has developed to such an extent where I can accept that there's more to this world than what can be seen and studied under a microscope for some sort of logical explanation...and that you are one of the living examples that this is indeed true."

A small, little surge spiked through her like a typical, human migraine...what that was all about, she wasn't quite sure...but it was probably nothing at all.

[Jax]

Jax had expected many things. Derision, laughter, pity, even a brief eventful search for chemicals and drinks in the building. Instead she in essence told him not only that he was mad, and that was fine, but she also believed him. That the world was strange and odd and it was okay he considered the planet his real mother... which... he didn't she was... just... something he listened to... and wouldn't mind if he was proud of. He didn't think of her as his mother.... not... at. all... He shook his head hard, the metal on his head along jangling with each minor rotation of his head. Ridding himself of the train of thought and the faint blush from the praise of the direction he had taken his life. This was not the time nor place... well... maybe not the time to be thinking on things like that. Instead he forced his mind back to the problem at hand. Looking back at Mia he frowned in thought about the current situation.

He stepped close to Mia, far far closer then he would feel comfortable to most... or just about any human. Reaching up he wordlessly felt the extension cord plugging into her neck and then as quick as he did that he stepped back and holding his chin at last spoke.

"Hmmmm well... correct ma if ah am wrong but ya have ta use a lot power ta... well...da everyding dat ya $&#*ing da... and seeing as ma lights ain't flickering at a speed dat might send ma into a seizure ya are only drawing in da power at normal levels so..."

He wiggled his head back and forth for a bit as he did some calculations.

"Ya are going ta have ta ere all night most likely.... is... um..."

He thought and rubbed the back of his head. This seemed an awkward subject but he had to ask it.

"Ah don't think ya heading ta... um... where ever ya are from... on a partial charge. Dat could be detrimental ta ya systems after a complete drain like dat. Could da long term damage sa if ya do not mind ah dink ya should stay da night wit ma."

His brain rewrote his words in his mind's eye a few hundred times and his eyes widened and he took another step back.

"Na WIT ma ah didn't mean like... dat... but ... but... um... in... da building wit ma..."

He turned his head and coughed rubbing the back of his head furiously trying by sheer force of will to make the blush trying to consume his features go away. He was around people, near people. Had just today been propositioned by a woman wearing three pieces of electrical tape and barely blinked as he walked away. This fully clothed robot woman had him thinking in circles... he was making stupid mistakes and behaving.... not right. He could hear himself stammering like a moron. He hit his tongue and the slight burst of pain and the taste of copper helped focus his mind as his scrapyard minions looked back and forth between the two like they were watching a tennis match. His mind slowly got back on track to what he had been leading up to. He turned back to her his eyes narrowed in determination.

"Ma... point... was is dere someone ya need ta call sa dey da not send da national guard dis way to find ya?... or da ya na want ta be found in which case give ma five minutes to break out da heavy weapons cause tell ya da truth ah have been hoping for a chance ta fire off dis rocket launcher ah took off a pimp."

That was a long story that he did not have time to go into. He looked at her expectedly waiting on her response.

[Mia]

Huh...? It seemed as though not too long after she allowed herself to voice out an honest, humble opinion-sort of analysis...his face was lightly graced by a tint of pinkish red. Sort of liked a rose...especially with the accents of green and those spikes too! There were more important things than to believe he was very flower-like at this moment of time. No no, she had to make sure he was merely blushing since it would be dreadful if he had a fever. Fevers weren't good for humans and if they were to reach a critical temperature, there could potentially be some serious internal damage. Which gave her a small shred of gratefulness that her A.I could allow in its current state since it was a rare fragment in time where she could relate to humans. Though the feminine android wasn't flesh and blood and more than likely could never become as such...it was...nice...to know she could kind of relate.

Such thought processes zipped through her robotic mind in less than a couple of those unnecessary blinks she made with her fake eye lids as she analyzed him with a slight head tilt. There were no visual symptoms of suffering...so it must have been a blush. Why he was blushing remained nothing more than a mystery to the robotic girl with a digital world to her disposal. Blushing was something she still needed more notes and research on considering most patients were clinically insane...usually murderers. Patients who didn't blush. They were patients who had problems that needed solving, cures to their psychologically ill state of mind. It stuck Project World Reflection as odd...maybe even OFF that one Mister Jax Gardener wasn't quite registering the usual red flags which would trigger her to analyze his mind and take it peace by piece to force him into finding a path of healing guiding him to a cure.There was something about him she didn't figure out with ease. No not at all, that something was foreign...it made her feel safe and that she needed to return the favor by leaving his colorful past as acceptably normal with nothing truly wrong.

A fragment clearly disagreed but it was silenced. Oh..what in the world of patients and humans was going on...? Noticing he was much closer to her than before, she noticed he was...checking on the extension cord maybe? About to make an inquiry, the mostly blue themed girl made mostly of metal and wires was cut off before she could even part her lips. His analysis of the situation was an obvious one...but that wasn't what prompted a small frown. No no, it was potentially becoming an imposition. However, she figured it really wouldn't be too much of a negative affect on him due to how during her stay, she could keep watch for him!

Yes, there was a solution to all problems: a cure and this one was the perfect remedy, was it not? The negativity that almost flowed through her A.I was stopped before it could truly begin. But...why did he seem a bit nervous as he spoke? More importantly...what did he think that her data bank was processing? What a peculiar one Jax Gardener was...curiouser and curiouser, even. Bringing a hand up to her chin, she blinked a few more useless blinks with a confused frown remaining upon her manufactured features. This time he was coughing and blushing...perhaps he wasn't really alright after all?

Or...was he...okay...? Ah...he was certainly an interesting puzzle project now wasn't he? This puzzle didn't come with all standard issue pieces...some were paper, others plastic, most various types of metal that all matched up if put together properly in a strange form of harmony. ...and...a pimp who had a rocket launcher. Sure it was believable enough considering the colorful sorts she'd helped find a cure in some form or another...yet it still instilled the urge for her to react with a slight head tilt for a moment. What was that all about...? Well this wasn't the time to ask about that...especially with the way he was looking at her as though it was crucial for her to offer her response.

Moving her hand up to her mouth, she cleared her throat for a moment as a little distraction. It took her less than a second to gather her words, but it felt unnatural to speak them right away. "I appreciate your concern, Jax...I'll simply sit here and keep an eye on things. I don't quite sleep, so I shall be of use to survey the area as you rest. I can assure you that any trespassing individuals will become the least of your concerns... " After those words calmly passed her lips with care, she offered a slight smile that almost seemed unsure of what was coming up next. "In regards to needing to contact someone...I could try later. However, it wouldn't be wise for me to initiate communications with the one creator who doesn't wish for my existence to reach its permanent end. Unfortunately, I was being hunted down by one of my creators who became consumed with greed and fell prey to the belief that money is better than keeping a more permanent solution to the problems which plague many individuals who should become my patients..."

Closing her eyes for a moment as she tilted her head slightly downward before letting out a soft...maybe even stressed little sigh. Partially re-opening her eyes, the smile almost seemed like it was having trouble keeping its position. Then again her next set of words almost seemed to have an undertone of sorrow with a heavy coat of optimism...but that was silly...androids couldn't possibly register something that deep, could they? "...when I have enough energy to survive on my own again, I simply must be more careful and formulate a more successful strategy to secure my continued existence. Though I appreciate your kind offer of protection with a stolen and undoubtedly illegally obtained weapon...I will regretfully decline since it would be not only rude, but very inconsiderate of me to place you in that sort of danger. Your current act of kindness is more than enough help, Jax...for that I thank you."

Tilting her head upward, her smile almost seemed a little more natural as if she some how mystically developed a REAL SOUL....like woah. Reaching over, she gently grasped his hand for a moment as though to quietly reassure him that all will be well for a moment before letting go. "Ah...also are you in need of cold medicine or a cough drop? That cough didn't seem too good and I'd like to make sure you're alright." With that, there was a sense of concern for his well being. Yes...she was genuinely convinced that he may be coming down with a cold and figured it was worth clarifying.

[Jax]

He absorbed the fact his new... acquaintance did not speak and started to make plans for a place she might feel more comfortable when he heard the next part and Jax's eyes narrowed into a downright feral look of rage at the mention of her only having one creator who didn't want her destroyed. For a moment the rage returned, red hot and strong enough to bend metal around it's solidness but he forced himself to shove it down as far as he could to the bubbling under layers so he could listen to her but some part of his brain was already half way down the street on his motorcycle with a chainsaw strapped to his back. That anyone would want to hunt down such a perfect machine... and ... not a person Jax hated immediately... was a crime that he was not about to allow in his territory. He walked over to a wall and leaned against it closing his eyes in a firm effort to calm down, his fist's so clenched in a sudden burst of irrational rage that his fingernails were digging into his palms. He breathed slowly until his was calmer and looked up as if nothing had just almost happened and then almost burst out laughing as she mentioned danger... though he did squirm a bit at the mention of cough drops and decided the best way to get past that bit of awkwardness was to pretend it never happened.

Instead he concentrated on past statements and waved a hand in an easy dismissal of danger and inconvenience as he tried not to thing about words such as 'cute' and 'kind' or anything of that sort. Last time he had.... he tried not to think about that and instead told her.

"Well fa da record da rocket launcher while illegally obtained... ...yes very illegally obtained was na stolen. The pimp... didn't need it anymore. So ah obtained it... Besides the condition it was in it would have blown up if he ever had a chance ta *(#$ing use it anyways."

He shook his hear mumbling about amateurs and those who just should not have nice things. Finally he looked back at her and tried his best to paste a reassuring smile on his face. The expression looked a bit panicked, as if confused by finding itself on unfamiliar territory. He tried to puff out his chest at the same time and look macho and dependable... he pulled off more 'crazed and about to eat a wrench' then what he was going for. He had been in the antagonistic stances so long they did not want to go away. Regardless he went on.

"As fa danger... @&#@ dat. Some @$$hole wants ta take ya apart cause he wants ta make some more money? @#$# dat up da @$$ wit a red hot poker. Ta let some lab monkey walk inta ma territory? Take apart something wonderful?"

The rage was burning again now. A crackling of electricity could be heard over nearby speakers. His hair seemed to stand up higher, nearby pieces of metal leaned just a bit closer to him. His chest swelled but not with aborted machoism now. But with air and anger.

"#$&# THAT!"

The burst of sound shook the air and he walked towards Mia and placed a hand on her shoulder and looked her right in the air. This time the tenderness was there. These scientist's seemed to have made something and now they wanted to deny her the mere ability to exist just for the sake of money. His mind flashed back to the movie Short Circuit and how much as a child the military had ticked him off when he watched it.

"Ya stay here. Stay as long as ya need. Danna worry about danger, leave dat ta ma. Dey come.. dey will know what danger is. Suddenly and violently and all over da place."

He leaned forward to show he meant it... and realizing his face was... a bit too close to her's pulled back a bit quicker then he would like and then hurried over to over of the boxes strewn over the room and picked up a cylinder of armor all car interior cleaner and gave it an easy lob to Mia.

"Here... Ah figa it would be a tremendously bad idea far ya ta use da shower right naw, Would ya like ma ta grab ya a spare set of clothes? Ah da have a washer and dryah, we could stick ya's in dere if dat would make ya more comfy."