29th through 30th January

Week has flown by and already I hate it being locked up like this. It is nice that this as comfortable as home could be - providing that a human could handle this level of comfort. But I have struggles in strange ways that have not helped. I like the preference of a open sky above me then a cave that this is. I would like more room but that would be mean renovations to this floor of this building, in a district where such things aren't possible. I am alone in the long term of these past few days, wishing even the most annoying of clients to stay for a meal. All to aware of being watched by cameras has meant I can't be comfortable in how I appear, restricting myself to human outfits or machine mocks. I can at least walk around without giving someone a heart attack, but that's just about it.

The folks using my identity falsely have also been individually house arrested for other laws they had also used to break under my name. The individual cases happen to be connected gang activity of which I knew who they are. My sketching alone is plenty enough to me to prove this. This isn't the same for courts, not evidence enough for a jury to believe me.

Understanding parasites is not yet exactly in the public main stream, unless provided it was about a machines pet in question.The fact that the parasites are thier hive mind of people. That they are invaders from other worlds. That it is some fault to them for the transmutation that kicked this century into a misery as we know it. Humans were always going to be over cautious when prepared for danger; so the vaults, city domes and nuclear waster were bound to happen regardless. But for it to turn this seriously, going as far to turning research of disease and genetics.

"Kate." The tone was neither a rise or low. In fact it was dull and short lived. I would say it were a machines way of being poker faced. I tilted from my bleek stare from a actual computer, right over in a slow slide to whomever this was. The dream pests, the gang are all gathered in mental images.

"Don't be rude folks. I had been asking for your names for months. So assuming to take mine was always to be met with legal action." They twisted uncomfortable with looking at me, I return stare at the screen. Watching machine local chat rooms for interesting gossips. Nothing stood out to off about it.

"So it seems you're the cause of the break down of our plans."

"Here we assumed you were just a pest." I caught my tail in time, holding it from the force of whiplash, "Some pet to some metal headaches."

"Oh. Headaches is what they are you. Is this a shared assumption by the hive or is this a group cut off whom still think I am the enemy." I hold my tail as it twitched annoyed as my slight snarl is. I peer about some interesting published science that was notified. Dulling myself away from their chatter for a bit and returning. A instinctive snap stare towards a direction.

"Crashing my brother's wedding are you? How rude. My poor Mantis queen has been so diligent as taking my place as the wedding planner. You want to ruin it." I sent a few less then nice feelings. I settled in their reactions. What a innocent look... the pale terror of making life mistakes.

"Wait. You can't be the real human Kate." The pause of someone running through their words in choose carefully. I went back down a little more to let them come to some sort of conclusion - interrupting the thinking isn't smart. I softly scroll the science document down for further reading.

"Transplanting a brain from a host into a body of ours is unheard of. Those whom have accidentally were often unable to cope with the alterations and died from mental illness, not able to cope with the hive. Those like us whom became cut off branches have often always been the children or rebellious fragments." I held my hands closed, tail between and my lower jaw sits at the knuckles. They are sure taking a while to consider this truth. I glance bored to a clock.

Late for once. Or rather, I am late to be picking up a meal order from downstairs. The long coat and suited helmet gear. Brushing past the phantoms whoever other me. A last shift to peer about a mirror, upon staring at these phantoms by the reflection. I could see how they should in thier minds eye. Which... in retrospect made sense. A mirror is how we see ourselves. Such revelations was wrote on a notepad. I flutter a hand snapping away the weak connection between me and them. I turned lights off in habit and locked the door too.

"Some weird habits don't change." one many office assistants. I have a soft purr and give myself a last slight adjustment to mock machine movements. A last straighten of shoulders, putting my best stride forwards. I step gentle with entry into the corridors, hearing the running heaters around this section at least. A hum of energy about the air, warming away the damp and cold of metal. I deliberately took a repeating route, noting the secuirty was still at full attention.

"The last one." A picket watch clicked in sigh with the gentleman leaning a the trays, "The most machine of them." They tilted, "However... You asked the network a off request." I can smell the dead regardless of the plastic wrap. I would also just from peering about the labels this was decent, "Four cases." The backwards sharp twist of the trolley on the elevator platform.

"Mmm... indeed. I see." The stiff pose in thinking about it. The slow tilts of smelling the air and the sharp flick of my tail being caught from breaking something.

"Thank you for not breaking this." The near machine whom always has replace what I break, "Its nice that you pay my wages well and you purchase ahead of time."

"Well, it is nice to not keep smashing things. I can't upset her again. My poor sister has a bad impression of me for it." The muted slide of how that stopped everything. Hearing I actually do speak words, "At least mother is a understanding person. I wouldn't want to upset her." I tilted back to the fella with the pocket watch, "Quartz crystal... very old yet so reliable. I think my grandfather had one too." I pur lightly to such thoughts and at least inspected the nearest able to grap barrel, "What to cook..." Pondering soft at catching my tail, "The time is about 9 hours ahead. Or maybe the year is wrong on it. I couldn't tell you with inspecting it." Lifted softly, "decent." Put down once more.

"Excuse you but what exactly makes you say 9 years?"

"Quartz pocket watches use the magnetic field of the Earth's gravity. The slight difference of the Earth's sway as it travels the sun... and and moons wabbling affect. This causes imperfections of the timing in the reliability. But it take centuries for such notice." I am offered the pocket watch, "I wouldn't dare." I posed open hands, "Something so fragile needs delicate touches." I cross my arms softly, "You wouldn't want to lose time. Not when you rely on it." I peer to the elevator, "I will be taking all 6 barrels. That one smells of beef." I directed about it. The twist of everyone peering at the team working to push it to over the platforms.

"Beef?" The fella with the watch noted again, "What a outdated term."

"A slip of the tongue. Don't mind me." I noticed how the trolley was straining in the weigh. I posed my hand just barely at the barrier of the elevator. The pressure in preventing the tension snapping the frame.

"Mother will be mad if this spills everywhere." I tilted at the sighs the machines share. I sway in debating it. I pose my hand past into the elevator, picked the whole trolley of all five other barrels. I left it myself in no efforts and backed out it.

"I picked the lesser evils. Yes I just technically entered the elevator. How bad am I?" The ones whom know me well shrugged. The some had made the others lower weapons.

"Leave the flesh one to her chooses." The administor huffed, "We can be thankful she's not making this place a mess."

"Since when was that of flesh?" The pocket watch fella is more then freaked out with having a weapon at lift.

"Oh please detective. You're not a stupid man. You know with how the others react, of course I would be the closest one to know Jackle. My sweet brother my doubt me but he learnt that from me... and the years we spent. In his place, I would be doubtful. I was stupid to press a button twice." The shrug I carry with lifting the last barrel above my free shoulder. The trolley tucked under my other arm.

"Leave it to you to be secretive."

"You have no right to use his name that way!" I peer with checking that voice direction. I pur happy that she is here digitally at least.

"Secretive. We haven't had the moment to gal pal since I fell here." I pouted at least, "And I am really sorry about my tail. I am still not used to it." She did hear me and she was considering her word chooses. There was then further reflection of what my tail had anything to do with this moment of heated arguement. I peer to mothers ghost who also was sighing. Indeed my tail just broke a glass vase.

"Thankfully a glass vase is fixable. And getting blood out from the floor would be hard. You have my forgiveness for posing you hands to prevent that." My bowed respect, "Room." I sulk slightly.

"OK. If I have to." I wobbled slowly with the items.

"It better be amazing meal." Mother adds and I perk. A soft smile, "Matured 90 days you know."

"You are the best." I purr, "Best not be eating this alone. Foods for sharing."

"Then you invite these local law enforcement."

"Thats if they wish to. Can't have matured beef go to waste, man." I peer to the rest of the room.

"Would it be safe?"

"You take me for a heathen. Sheesh. So rude. Still invited." I peer to the digital ghost of Freya, "We must also have a drink together and catch up. I am sure I might know some funny story or two. You might even appreciate hearing about the past. How things used to be. There aren't many folks I can talk about old TV movies with." I peer about her uncertainty, "Still unsure of me. I can understand. I wanted to talk about why I ended up in orbit for a short time anyway. It my first time in space would you believe." I pose with thinking about something else, "why is it often the small things." I muttered very off with not bothering about how that sounded.

"What small things?" She asked and I jolted if forgetting a moment. I peer what I may just broken and sigh.

"Its a personal thing. You would know I once had a wife and we had a mix of children from estranged relationships or some we adopted. It's often these small fact that would have made them smile or impressed about me. Yet on further reflection, they are gone. So such small facts wouldn't exactly matter. This is the space age. The stuff we of my century dreamed of doing. Going to space for even just one hour was exclusively for the rich of rich. It would give them such a smile." I flicked an ear in hearing the uncomfortable shuffled feet around me, "Forgive me. I don't mean any harm. I had enough blood shed." Freya does look so very confused. I pouted, "I guess my brother didn't tell you enough about the past as I know it." I pondered with thinking, "I do believe that the network might have proof of that. Yes. But the amount of black tape." I hummed, "The context would make any sense to you machine either. It was off record. Oh well. I will worry about it later. Beef." I renewed my soft wobble strides, "So many beef recipes. I might have to unbury my wife's cook book from the..." My moment of hiss, "Damn cook book is gone." My tail taps thinking, "stew. Maybe." I peer to my likely guests later, "Mmmm... might not. Mushrooms and onions."

"Cooking book... What about this." Mother sent me a digital photo copy of the exact book, "Your brother did it."

"Nosey he was, perfect. Thank you." I was well to happy about cooking. Straight to my room. To fast for them.

"Leave it to you on if you go try her cooking. I am for one very jealous." The disappearing of her presence and the relief of all machines now able to slouch or be less perfect. The noted changes of each individuals change startles the detective. Going by starting at his pocket watch, a sort of letting his mind ponder. Mentally, I removed my parasite image away from those it could affect. The detective is not parasite or substantial to the parasite influence.

"Weren't you both women?" Freya digitally followed my physical self. Had only asked with upon my stop at my door.

"It started being a sort of choose people made. Although the prejudices and assumptions were still sometimes voiced. It wasn't common to be generally around either. Yes there was same sex couples but it wasn't normal for a wife to have a wife. Cohabitation was more normal, less religious. Less glamorous too. We both wanted our dream wedding." Barrels straight through to the freezer or kitchen. A barrel of just 'fluids' was added into the bathroom for later.

"It really is you. You are her." I posed was over the kitchen at this moment. I just fished out the largest pans. The chopping board was being put down. A arkward leaning to stare to her.

"Leave it to me to rant like there is no tomorrow." I flicked my ear into the counter as I was straighten back to see what I was doing at the counter level. partly held it with how that twinged.

"He pouts at the nearest windows all the time. Why does he do that?"

"I stare into blank space when trying to think hard. Or when I am worried about something or someone. Deep down to seek where closest do you feel comfortable is a instinctive thing. He learnt it and has been able to do such notion without prompt. He carries a lot of my humanity." I purred at this fact, "He has always been quiet the thinker. He developed those sorts of things in survival and sort of just has it as one his characteristics. He was always a thinking before acting sort. He would prefer to find much information possible before moving his forward." I leaned to the beef barrel and very happily opened it with care to close it neatly after. I fished about the meat sections and took outa promising bit. Some prep in seasoning and cutting. Foil and oven bake until not raw. I about washed my hands again as she had something else to ask.

"How did you end up in orbit?"

"Well mostly because the network mother. I had all my machine repairs and nanotechnology removed from me. Sealed in a plastic wrap. I don't think I was meant to wake so soon. And... well there was something I was still investigating myself about it. No one seems aware. So take caution." I played about with a few vegetables and pot boil them in the stock, "I was meant to be part of a surprise for you both. Plans change. There is something against the machines, someone not a friend. Ruining things. I don't want you or my brother hurt. Something does seem wrong. Not with me." I peer across the room with looking for phantoms and even checking reflections. In some certainty, "When I fell, the section that came with me was highly valued to thieves. Our vault was safe. The other sectors of vaults were empty. Sign of sabotage. Breaking in. Forced entry. I could tell we were targeted most. They tried us the most." I look back to what I was up to cooking, "I am wary that they came to this surface like I had. They likely haven't half success of stealing."

"How?"

"Woof woof." I grin and she may have understood that if she didn't seem so doubtful of trusting me, "In any case, we do need to go out together sometime. Girl shopping or something. Finally a sister to share my positive thoughts of pretty things. We should have a full day out as just gals. Have fun." I wanted to knock her shoulder but she is a digital ghost. So the gesture seemed lost.

"Would you be inviting others?"

"As to be a women's day out. Maybe inviting our good friend like the mantis queen or someone close freinds of that nature would be nice. I think network mother would be to busy and not one for that. Totally has to be close freinds and family. girls only." She seems at a lost with me, "Never heard of a hen party? Machine whom doesn't internet. You're the crazy one." She smiled now. But it was trying to cover over something else. I pout in how I can read that at least, "Its fine. The bride should be allow to bring whom she chooses. After all, machines have good memories. Humans can drink to forget sometimes. Some concepts are hard to transfer."

"So why exactly are you really inviting the detective around?"

"My genuine answer is that I have been locked here a while. I am lonely. I may hate politics but if it keeps me from being alone." I used my claws to poke at food to check it, "It is about time someone updated me on the whole situation. I have mountains of applications to be reading otherwise." She seems so sudden in surprise, "Are you OK?" I gave her my full attention and she backed a little. Yet as since I was wanting to be sure that she was OK, the claws and manners of trying to not scare her was more obvious. Even holding my tail.

"I am sure we will talk again soon." abruptly gone. I pouted for a while in stance of noticed she was gone. A sad sigh to turn to continue cooking. I peer in how active their signals are with the interface display. They both seem very suddenly busy.

The slightest shuffle at the main door and the assumed soon knock. I layed out my table of clean silverware and general nice plates. I give a little care in the alignments. I put clean jugs of three different drinks. And the main prize put the oven and onto the caster. Utensils to use.

"The does smell delicious." I heard in noting by several. I quickly go sort myself out to a better outfit. My argument reality turned off and out to the side for now. A plain mask instead. Walking on two for now and stride right to the door, opening in greeting. The posed hand of about to knock retract fast.

"Come on in. I don't mind at all." They were staring at me very confused. I flicked a ear in annoyance that it was about me, "Want it cold instead? Loose all the flavours you know." The detective braved in walking past. Looking around the room and values everything he sees. Even with looking at the ceiling. He turns about perplexed. Waved the rest in.

"You keep this place very nicely, Ms Nick." I counted them in and inspect each. The one fella I stopped and stole his cigarettes from his pocket.

"You are to not smoke on my premises. You will have them returned later." Put into a dum waiter. All banned things are but I wasn't confident to take thier weapons from them. I close the door and announced such notion of rules.

"I will not harm you as you me. Normally I take all weapons off you and so on. But this once I will let it slide." I sent a paper of warning about it on the dum waiter too, "Mr Mulberry, I see that you joined us. Would you like to try my cooking today?" He sighed in removing a bit of gear.

"What gave it away."

"Military footing." I muttered at frist and with a proper look at him, "Shouldn't you be dealing with business where I can't. There was meant to be a house inspection at west gate." He crossed his arms at me, "Then you sent our little bar keeper. Poor Greg. The place was infected with bugs. In a human notion that wouldn't be pleasant."

"It was rescheduled." I pose in checking that.

"Indeed." I purr and guide them the dinner room, "Please excuse as comfortable as possible. Have a drink or something. I promise no alcoholic beverages. You are meant to be on duty and all. Sober as brick." Mr Mulberry chuckled at that.

"Kate... or Katherine." The detective asked.

"I choose the name Kate after my first real caccooning." The choking of a drink. I helped them, "Easy there. I do not want to break out the medical supplies." once they were fine. I was the last to have a seat. I posed with accepting the drink from the person next to me. I smell it for a long while and put it down instead of drinking it. I narrow in how stupid of the attempt was. So I look to Mr Mulberry with the notion of asking. He caught on with saying 'Play along'. I peer about the drink another time and have a smell of it once me. Posed with checking the date of the cartin in came from.

"Mmm... Whatever is wrong with my grape juice. Please don't get ill from it." I warned, "Now where was I. Yes. Caccoon. It took several years of researching. It took years of earning trust. My way of medical care is because I dealt with those whom were like me. Altered by the plagues. That of course wasn't the whole truth. Years on, and somethings are coming a light." I played with my glass but in the show I might actually drink it.

"Careful what you say." Mr Mulberry reminds.

"Yes. Black tape never seems to change. I only meant in notion of seeing how things have changed so drastically." I sip the top layer, sedative. Not enough to knock me out but that was a very small sip. The concentration is strong lower the glass. So I act sleepy from just the sip. A slight yond.

"Where was your frist time when you started changing?" I stare at the detective of how stupid that was to ask.

"He means with jack." Mr Mulberry added.

"Oh... that was a libaray." I pondered and tilted with another yond, "You missing a camera drone flyer. I remember something about one."

"Well... its good to know that your memory hasn't changed." I tucked up a lot, making myself small yet comfortable. My tail picked up the drink. I mostly actually spilt it on me then drank it. But the notion that I did was the illusion. It was a strong sedative for sure.

"I..." I act to loss my words for a bit. Not to sure if why. Looking to Mulberry for sure and simply acting to fallen sleep. Easing my breathing patterns according. My ears will always actively flick. Listening for what was happening around me.

"Well I guess we will just have to take her on the chair." Mulberry shurgs, "What a light weight. No wonder her brother said she would be a poor date. Then again it was because of him that she has no immune system as such." The rest of the room suddenly stopped a moment.

"Well then that whole glass would kill her."

"Its more like she spilt it down her. The second sip was likely plenty."