//4-HN: Broken/EMPATHY

5-AE was able to provide a temporary fix for 4-HN's arm using parts from around the bunker. There were a lot of unusually high quality pieces just left scattered about on shelves or in drawers.

4-HN flinched. 5-AE was welding the replacement joint into his shoulder.

"Your movement makes this much more difficult. Stay still," she said. He flinched again. 5-AE paused.

"Does it hurt?"

4-HN wasn't expecting this question. Usually, 5-AE only asked things about others if there was some form of information to be gained or an objective to accomplish by doing so.

"No," he said, flinching again.

"I'll be more gentle," she determined. "If you keep moving, it will only set back the repair process." That was more like her.

When she finished, it was already almost noon. 'We need to get moving,' 4-HN thought. EDGE wouldn't take long to find this hiding spot.

5-AE raised the trap door, earning a few strange looks from passersby. "Are you ready?" she asked. 4-HN sighed and nodded. 5-AE was incredibly intelligent, but was a bit lacking in terms of common sense.

As they walked through the streets, 4-HN realized that they were in an entirely different area than the brightly lit, upbeat streets they were used to. That was where all of the larger corporations were--he had never had any reason to come to the slums of District 5. By contrast, the streets had countless cracks in them, and shattered windows from recent burglary weren't an uncommon sight. Clouds of smog hung over the rooftops like a toxic blanket. Despite appearances, however, both areas of the district shared one thing: they were dangerous places to be. Very few places in the modern world could be considered "safe". Not one of them was in District 5.

These streets, however, weren't worth the attention of a large company such as EDGE, so their chances of being found there were less than if they had decided to return to the wealthy area of the city. As they walked around the slums, 4-HN noticed very quickly how different the demographic was. There were people in ragged clothing lining the sidewalks, keeping their heads down and avoiding eye contact with anyone around them. There were occasional gangs lounging around in alleyways, brandishing low-quality plasma weapons at anyone who walked passed, laughing as they scampered away, shouting jeers as they ran.

It was pitiful, 4-HN thought. He then was reminded of the casino members who would force people to participate, then steal their money, killing them and tossing them aside if they didn't have any. These places were very different, but this lawless world functioned the same, no matter how much money you had. The strong preyed on the weak. The weak kept their heads down, hoping only that the strong didn't choose them to prey upon.

4-HN and 5-AE now passed a group of men who seemed to believe they belonged to the "strong" category. They had electric bats and rocks in their hands, and were seemingly beating something behind a row of buildings. 4-HN decided to ignore it and keep walking, but was stopped by a desperate voice.

"Please!" A female android, from the sound of it. Laughter rose from the gang members, then the sounds of impact and screams resumed. 4-HN turned. He wasn't under EDGE's influence anymore. Maybe he could try helping someone instead of killing. Would that make him happy? He wouldn't know - he never was able to feel that way before.

"Helping her will draw unwanted attention. There will be no benefit in getting involved," 5-AE whispered, realizing his intent. "In fact, she seems to be a somewhat well-made android. If we wait a little longer, we may be able to salvage some parts and fully repair your shoulder."

4-HN shook his head. He wanted to try doing something good for once. He wasn't doing it to be moral or to try to be a hero. He wasn't any different from when he was at EDGE. He simply wanted to find something that made him happy. He walked towards the group of gangsters.

"Do you not think that's enough?" he asked cooly.

Their attention now turned to him. "Looks like you're not from around here," a scrawny man said, eyeing the formal looking clothing that 5-AE and 4-HN wore. He looked to be about in his mid forties, and was carrying a simple revolver. He grinned, raising the gun. "If you want to go back to whatever fancy place you two came from, leave the clothes here." He paused. "The girl, too," he added, his grin widening.

The man looked surprised. "You good, boy? Your eyes are...red."