Blood, Sweat, and Gears (Skeith x Kolath)

[Skeith Takahata II]

The mission had been simple. A gang of disgruntled factory workers had risen up in arms, seizing control of one of Dynamax's top manufacturing facilities. The mission was to terminate rebelling employees, destroy exposed prototypes, and collect research data. Hostages were not part of the equation.

The execution, was complicated. For security specialist; Sybil Hatchet, 18, her first concern rested with the hostages. A big mistake. The mission took a sudden turn for the worst when a prototype weapon was brought online and unleashed on the young soldier. Most of the hostages perished, and Sybil was left on death's door.

Four years had past since then, and Sybil had been rebuilt. More machine than flesh. The artificial blood that pumped through her body to fuel the machinery, had drained most of her body's pigment, causing a pale complexion and silver hair. She had found her foothold into the mercenary business. Recruiting a partner, in a young and especially brilliant, tech expert. They had been operating out the back of a nondescript white semi-truck. The trailer having been reconfigured into an impressive mobile Head Quarters.

Sybil laid her head back against the ergonomic surgery table. Their last mission had left her cybernetics damaged and in need of repair. She groaned softly, as she adjusted. The silvery fluid that had replaced her blood seeping from some of the exposed wounds. Her internal machinery would normally take care of itself, but an EMP had knocked her nano-machines out of whack and she was still waiting on their system to reboot.

Her gold eyes moved about the trailer, her vision cutting to static from time to time. "I think I need to upgrade my systems, maybe my armor as well..." She groaned quietly. "Is there anything we can do about that right now? How's our money looking?"

 

[Kolath]

Constance sighed looking over the state of her partner and co-leader of their mercenary group, not that it was more than the two of them anyway but still. Sitting beside the table she pulled out a scanner and taking her friends hand opened the access port. Connecting the scanner she let it do its work as she leaned forward looking down at her friend with her emerald green eyes. "Been better, this last mission will help, but with your repairs…" she paused looking at the display and sighed. "We will make about twenty-five thousand credits."

Standing she moved over to her work station picking up her tools and gathering a few replacement parts she needed. Taking a careful steadying breath she came back over, taking the zipper between Sybil's breasts she pulled it down opening the front of the suit she was in. Doing that was always the hardest thing Constance had to do.

Back when Sybil had come to her in post masters collage for cybernetic surgery, Constance for the first time in her life was presented with a body that aroused her. She was fifteen at the time and already was pushing the fields of cybernetic study and was on the leading edge of its research. She had worked on everything from male to female, animal to human, and everything in between, and never had she felt the way she did when she first caught sight of the beautiful cyborg. Constance had never said anything, but when Sybil had asked her to come and work with her, to be her partner and mechanic the word yes couldn't fly off her tongue fast enough.

That was two years ago now, and still the sight of Sybil naked or otherwise always sent a shiver down Constance's spine. Clearing her throat she reached out rubbing a finger over an invisible line in Sybil's stomach. A small patch pulled back flipping open revealing a sleek interior of crystal based micro-processors and nano-fiber conduits.

Leaning over the opening her long copper red hair brushed lightly over Sybil's exposed skin as Constance went to work resetting some of the systems. Constance avoided most augmentation like the plague feeling that changes like this were only there for reconstruction. The only exception she had made for herself was her eyes, they had been improved with the ability to zoom down to the microbial scale or up to the horizon away where the curve of the earth stopped vision from being possible. It proved a great benefit when doing surgical work as most of the work that needed done was near the microbe level.

Leaning back she sighed looking up at her friend, "There reset your sight program, should've taken the glitch out. Then let me see that bullet hole." Pointing to Sybil's shoulder where a stain showed on the shoulder of her suit.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Sybil sighed when she heard Constance's estimation of their profit. "25,000?" She closed her eyes as she shook her head slightly. "We'll make it last. We always do." She said in subtle dismay. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry. If I hadn't been so careless, we'd have made out with more money." Though there wasn't much she could've done, but hindsight always kicked her in the ass.

Sybil had no reservations about being naked around other women. So when the zipper was pulled down, she reacted as though it was no big deal. Though she chuckled softly as she felt Constance's hair brush against her skin. "That tickles..." She said, trying not to squirm as the girl worked. She opened her eyes when she heard that her vision problem should've been corrected. It took a couple moments for the HUD to register and flicker into her field of vision, but as soon as it came online, she smiled. "That's much better."

She sat up slowly, pulling the top of her combat suit free of her body so that the wound would be exposed, setting it on the ground near the table. A light groan escaped her lips as she pealed the fabric away from the wound. She shivered lightly, as the cool air met her fully exposed torso. "It's always so chilly in here..." She muttered as she laid back down.

 

[Kolath]

Constance leaned over her friend once more her long hair brushing over the tops of Sybil's breasts. "It's not chilly, your sensors are off again." She smirked as she fished the bullet out of the skeletal supports. "I honestly think you keep knocking them out of alignment just to make me adjust them again." The small tool she was using latched onto the last fragment of the bullet pulling it from the hole. The next was a small scalpel cutting the hole slightly larger, She was looking for any damage down to the super structure or circuitry.

Pulling taking a gold wire coil out she treaded it into the hole, before sending a flash of heat through it. The gold patch repaired the connections in the circuitry allowing full functions again. "There that should fix the stiffness, though you have some scoring on the articulator joint, I should really get a replacement for that." She bit her lip as she took up the skin patch placing it over the gaping hole. "Just rather expensive." Sybil knew the price of them as well as Constance and knew that with everything else the needed it would really run them tight if they bought it and probably would keep them through.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Sybil shook her head. "I can deal with some malfunctioning parts until we're in a more stable financial situation." She responded. She knew exactly how expensive replacement cybernetics could be. "It's more important that we make sure we can afford to put food on the table." She groaned quietly as she sat up slowly, pulling her suit's top back onto her torso, zipping it back up. "Thanks, I feel much better." She looked out at their HQ for a few moments before sighing quietly.

"I pulled you away from what could have been a truly successful career as a surgeon, to live out of this shack as a mercenary." She shook her head before looking over at Constance. "I'm sorry. You deserve better than struggling from meal to meal with someone like me." She slowly climbed down from the surgical bench and walked further down the trailer, pausing in front of a wall of weapons and a map of the city. "If you ever decide you've had enough of patching me up, and want to pursue a more successful career, I'll understand."

 

[Kolath]

Constance was so glad when all that beautiful flesh was hidden from her sight, allowing the tech to think a little clearer. Though at the same time she wanted more, wanted to see it more, wanted…she stopped herself from going down that line of thought. That wasn't what Sybil was looking for in a partner anyway, so she shouldn't dream about it. Focusing on the words her partner was saying Constance finally stood and walked over to Sybil as she stood in front of the weapons.

He smaller frame came up behind Sybil and gently pressed forward her arms warping around the taller woman's waist. "Hey, don't talk like that. If I had wanted to have that life I never would have come with you." She shivered at the thought of being stuck in that life, patching up wealthy businessmen and helping stuck up ladies keep their youthful body till they were more machine then human. That wasn't what she wanted, she wanted to push boundaries and work with someone that really cared, and here she was. She stepped around Sybil looking up into her partners eyes, "So no more talk about me leaving. You are stuck with me, whether you like it or not." She smirked showing some of her perfect white teeth.

Behind her a light started to blink softly marking a new mission for mercenaries had come available on the net.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Sybil smiled when she felt Constance's arms around her waist. It was a damn shame she felt guilty moving on the younger woman. She deeply enjoyed their brief moments of physical contact. She sighed when the woman insisted that she was staying, for better or worse. "Alright, fair enough." She said quietly, as she placed her hand on her shoulder.

She couldn't help but return the woman's smile. Her lips parted to speak, but her eyes were drawn to the blinking light. "Looks like there's a job up." The very idea, made her shake her head. They'd just finished patching her up from a job, another one so soon... She was tired. Still, they needed the money. They had to eat, and Sybil needed proper repairs. She moved to where a seat was located, bringing the information up on the screen. Her eyes scanning it briefly. "Looks like a hostage situation. They need someone unrelated to move in, so that the company doesn't get caught up in it. Looks like the client is..."

She fell silent as she read the name in her head. 'Dynamax' on the screen, the same company she had worked for at the time of her accident. The mission was nigh identical too, though this time, hostages were a priority. She knew how little Dynamax cared about their workforce. So whoever the hostages were, it was likely a board member, or a lead researcher. She wasn't interested in digging up the past, but work was work, and it was more important to make sure that Constance and herself could get by, than it was for Sybil to hide behind her insecurities.

 

[Kolath]

Constance saw Sybil's eyes drifting behind her and turned when her friend moved over to her console. Moving to her own screen Constance pulled the job up seeing the same thing that Sybil did. Looking over at her friend she got a worried look flash over her face. It was true they needed the money and the job paid really well. However this was digging up a lot of pain for Sybil, or sure could be.

Standing she came over gently placing her hand on the other woman's shoulder looking over it too the screen. It wasn't that Sybil's screen was any better but she thought her friend might need some support.

"No names are listed in the hostages, so it might not be anyone important." She frowned at the need for hostages alive. "Someone's son you think? Or do you think they just don't want anyone to know?" Constance could read between the lines as well as Sybil, hell Sybil had taught her how to. The two of them didn't need shared thought upgrades, they damn near did it naturally.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Sybil breathed out a quiet sigh, before straightening her body. Her gaze narrowing. "It doesn't matter." She said as she shook her head. She clicked an icon to accept the mission, bringing up a more detailed map of the facility. "We're mercenaries, it doesn't matter what the task is, or who's signing the checks, as long as they continue to do so." Sybil's colder persona that she dawned was one meant for missions and clients, though one she frequently visited to conceal her real feelings. She rose to her feet and walked to her weapon rack, collecting the necessary gear for the mission.

She pulled a low hanging leather duster on over her body suit, placing weapons in the necessary locations. She drew in a long breath before approaching the front of the trailer. "Let's get the truck to the mission site. The client will be waiting." She wasn't anticipating a warm reunion with her former employers, but she knew to keep it brief and professional.

 

[Kolath]

Constance watched Sybil as she stepped away from the computer, she recognized the look and the stiffness trying to hide what she didn't want to be seen. Sighing softly Constance moved to the front of the trailer and through the door that led into the forward compartment. She brushed her hair back from one of the few cyber connections she had at the base of her skull on one side. Slipping the connection port from the cab into that port she synced up with the vehicle and had it running just a Sybil came up and joined her at the door.

Looking back over her shoulder she started them off toward the location of the job. "Sybil…I hate for you to go into this one alone. Are you sure you don't want me to take the second set of weapons and join you?"

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

As Sybil took her seat beside Constance she gave a quiet sigh. "I won't force you to do anything dangerous. The last time I took a mission like this, I went in human and I came back out a machine. I wouldn't want that fate for you." She gave the young girl a concerned look before she continued. "We're partners, I'm not going to stop you from coming in if that's what you want. I would just hate to see you get hurt."

She turned her gaze to her window, not wanting to venture further into her reasoning. If something were to happen to Constance, even if it weren't fatal, Sybil would never be able to forgive herself. She pulled Constance into this life, which made any injury, any night spent cold or hungry, and any discomfort Sybil's fault.

 

[Kolath]

The neural connection that she had with the vehicle made it so that not all her attention had to be focused on the path in front of them. Constance turned looking at Sybil feeling scared for her partner, not wanting to lose her. She reached out gently taking Sybil's hand as they went across the town quickly covering the miles needed. "I don't want to lose you Sybil." She blushed biting her lip but refusing to turn away.

She sighed coming to a decision as they were pulling up to the site of the job. "I would probably put you in more danger if I came with you. I will be here with the drones backing you up as always." She stood unhooking the connection to the truck as she set the lock down mode. Facing Sybil she looked into the taller woman's eyes wanting to say something more wanting to do something more. "Be safe, if you need me you know I will be right there." She brushed a hand over her friends cheek, "You aren't alone this time."

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Hearing Constance's words, Sybil offered a faint smile. "Don't you worry about me." Feeling Constance's warm hand at her cheek broadened her smile slightly. Sybil's flesh was naturally cool to the touch, due to the fact that her interior was mostly artificial muscle and metal. That being said, the warmth of another felt more exaggerated. "I'll be fine as long as I have you looking after me." Telescoping metal emerged from the base of her neck, deploying metal shielding that covered the top half of her face. As the display came online inside, the outside seemed to possess glowing red veins, undoubtedly the vision sensors or the shielding.

She climbed out of the truck and began approaching the building. She touched the side of her neck as she approached the building, connecting her internal communicator to the truck. "Testing comms... Do you read me, Constance?"

The flashing lights of sirens illuminated the street as her feet fell silently against the concrete. "Hatchet?" She paused at the sound of a male's voice. She rotated to face the source, a faint smile forming on her lips.

"Anderson. It's been a while." The well dressed man was her former superior, prior to her accident, and subsequent quitting of the company. "What's the situation?" She asked as she crossed her arms.

"There was a group of school children being given a tour of the building. The CEO's grandson was among them. He wants an outside agent to move in, so the company can keep it's hands clean. Dead kids look bad to share holders, and the CEO would have my hide if his grandson was killed."

"Kids? Jesus Christ... And the Terrorists? Have they made any demands?" She probed further.

"Only that we keep our distance. They're in the manager's office, hold up there good and tight." Anderson replied quickly.

"Understood. It'll be over soon." She turned and continued towards the building. She touched her neck again as she approached. "I trust you got all that, right?" She said pausing in front of the door. "I'm going in through the roof to evade tripping the door alarms. Can you get me a map?"

 

[Kolath]

As soon as Sybil was walking out of the trailer Constance was moving into her Enhanced Tactical Armament (ETA) chair. Like the truck that they used it connected to the one cybernetic implant that Constance had. The port connected at the base of her skull allow direct neural connection to all the drones. From the outside it looked like the trailer literally came alive as hundreds of different drones split off from the main house.

Constance acknowledged the comms check already sending some of the drones out into different tasks. Already knowing her partners plan before it was even told. There were just so many basics that always happened that Constance didn't need to be told them anymore. She laughed softly at the memory of her first time out with Sybil, she knew nothing about what needed done, only how to do it.

By the time Sybil checked back in with her after hearing the situation Constance already had over half the drones in position or almost so. "Roger on that beautiful, roof entrance confirmed. Give me a moment I will have the ascension drone ready for you to use." The small drone shot to the top of the tall building attaching itself to a secure wall before firing a heavy cable back into the ground. Combined with Sybil's own ascension implants it would take her to the top of the roof in under ten seconds.

"I already have control of water, power, and the net mask drones are just about finished deploying. We will be able to totally cut them off by the time you are on the roof." Throwing a switch she brought up a display on her side hacking a map of the area, in moments it was sent to Sybil. "And there is your map hun, were do you want the tactical support drones?"

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Sybil took hold of the cable the ascension drone dropped, attaching it to her own implant. "Have the support drones watch obvious exits. With kids on the line, I don't want to let any of these assholes escape." She flew up the cable with significant speed, disconnecting at the last second to allow her own momentum to launch her past the threshold of the roof. She landed in a kneeling position, touching the base of her neck again. "Did you set their security feed on a loop? It would sure make my job easier if I didn't have to dodge security cameras."

The white haired cyborg approached the roof entrance, kneeling beside it. It was a simple sunroof. She drew a knife from her belt, flipping it upside down in her hand. She always preferred blades. She sent a charge threw her left hand, temporarily sealing her fingers to the glass, the knife cutting an entry hole large enough for her to drop through. She leaped through the hole, her hud doing a quick thermal scan of the area as she landed. The contact was noiseless as her sonic dampeners did their job. She curled her fingers tightly around the knife. Kids made this personal, she was angry and part of her was looking forward to encountering the terrorists.

 

[Kolath]

Constance gasped softly watching her partner shot up over the roof at such a high rate of speed. She didn't let it slow her down as her fingers flew over the keys keeping up with the needed changes for the infiltration. "You know I hate it when you do that. I am some day going to have to replace those leg servos if you keep it up." Not that she minded too much but at least this was one way that Constance could tell Sybil just how much she cared, even if she couldn't really admit what she wanted too.

Just as the opening was finished the last key strokes were entered and the cameras went onto the continuous loop. There was no break in the feed no glitch on the screen, it was a smooth shift that no one could have noticed leaving the terrorists totally blind. "Done, you are clear." Not that Sybil had slowed down at all still it was best to let her know what was going on.

Constance jumped suddenly in the chair crying out in pain. "Damn it…" the neural connection to the chair had sent some feed back through to her. Reaching back Constance pressed a subcutaneous switch that set up more dampening, granted it slowed her reaction times a little but it would keep her from any brain damage. "Sybil they have a tech in there with them. He is trying to hack the system right now. They know that someone is out here to stop them, don't know if they know you are there or not."

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Sybil began moving down the hall towards where she believed the hostages were being held. That is, until she heard Constance's cry. "A tech? If it gets to dangerous disconnect from their systems. I can handle a little combat if it's necessary." Her fingers curled around her knife, as she pressed against the wall, leaning out around the corner. "I don't think they're aware of me, yet. But if they've found you, they'll start sweeping for me soon enough." She breathed out quietly before moving around the corner and running down the hall.

She switched her HUD to it's biosensor display, outlining living targets even through walls. It would enable her to move through the building quickly, while avoiding opposition. She had to work quickly, the longer Constance stayed in the system, she feared the more dangerous it would become for her. "I'm moving for the children now. Once they're clear, I'm going to mop up the terrorists."

 

[Kolath]

Constance gave Sybil a look that clearly said that she would do that when pigs flew. "Yeah I'm not leaving you high and dry Sybil. Just get in there and let me worry about the tech." setting up the firewall parameter she locked the tech out for a few moments allowing Constance to dig into the internal sensors a little more. "I have the kids, they are one level below you, main conference room. I don't see any guards in the room with them."

Throwing a few more command lines into the computer she reorganized the drones to a different configuration. "I have a egress drone on the north side windows ready to deploy a way for the kids out. And your former partner you talked to earlier already knows about ….AAAAAHHH!!! …." She screamed again as another pulse of pain ripped through her spine. Fortunately her hand was already moving or it would have caused serious damage. With a simple key stroke she blocked the spike coming through the connection. "Damn…that rat bastard, that piece of shit is using a neural spike…no one uses those anymore." Realizing how that must have sounded over the mic she added, "I'm fine not many would know what to do about them but I'm fine, just get those kids out of there."

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Sybil knew that Constance was going to continue helping her. Part of her hated the girl's level of loyalty. But that stubborn dedication was part of what made her so special. When she heard her explanation of the children's location she gave a relieved sigh. At least they were nearby and safe. She continued running, quickly headed for the stairs only to vault over the railing to make the trip down quicker.

She paused as she started drawing closer. Her fingers once more tightening around her knife. "Constance. You know how I operate. The children are priority one. No matter what happens when I go into that room, your first priority is getting the children to safety." She wrapped her free hand around the door handle. Drawing in a deep breath. Her scanner, tuned for detecting life signs, detected only the children. This was too easy. That scared her. "Do you understand me? Get the children clear before you come for me."

She swiftly opened the door, though she wasn't prepared for what followed. The door was connected to a wire trap, rigged to charges that through her back twenty feet from the door. Her comm system quickly sent a high pitched ring through her own ears, and undoubtedly Constance's. The room, though still intact, was occupied by cyborgs, with guns trained on her, and knives on the children. Cyborgs? Of course, that's why she couldn't see them with the bio-sensor. She didn't give off life signs either. She slowly pushed herself up off the ground, some white artificial blood leaking from points of damage caused by shrapnel. "I was careless. Her hand fell beneath her coat, wrapping around the handle of her high frequency blade. She pulled the katana-like weapon free of her coat, splitting it with the blade, allowing it to fall from her body, revealing her self deploying combat armor. "Alright then gentlemen, let's see if you can dance."

 

[Kolath]

Constance was getting pissed at this damn tech, he wasn't trying to overwrite some of her programs, or break out of the barriers that she had placed up. This bastard was coming for her, he was attacking her directly trying to wipe out her connection at least, her mental abilities at most. That was just rude, he would have to be dealt with. She started furiously working to circumvent his power using every trick she knew with one hand. All the time with the other she was getting the needed support into position for Sybil.

When she heard that they were cyborgs Constance cursed softly pulling up the drones setting three of them outside the windows below the terrorists field of vision. "Sybil, with the kids…and you still in there I can't help much with them." It didn't help that this tech was still trying to undermine her commands at every turn. "If you get the kids free send them out the north window, or if you have to throw them that way I will make sure they are fine."

Turning her attention back to the tech in her system, both her hands shifted over to the counter keys. "Alright you now it's time for you to squirm." The key strokes began sending command line after command line out teaching this tech what it really meant to be a master tech specialist.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Sybil's lips spread into a smirk. "Understood." She eyed the men with knives trained on the children, even if she could get past the guns, those men could still kill the children. Even so, would they risk their bargaining chip? What was their game, ransom? She stepped forward, her hand tightening on the blade. Her walk was slow, but confident. She knew the risk she was taking with every step. The enemies quickly stiffened, training their guns on her once more.

She paused, though her gaze was cruel and vicious, the visor prevented it from being viewed. "The children, or your lives. Choose." Hearing no response, she stepped forward once more. "You had your chance. This ends now." Without hesitation the men opened fire, but Sybil was ready. From various pores all over her body, smoke poured out, filling the room with a dense fog. She leaped forward, every motion claiming another life as the blade cleanly and swiftly brought her enemies low.

She paused for only a moment before leaping from the smoke, she drove her foot into the first man's face, the skull quickly shattering under the force of the cyborg's assault. Her free hand grabbed a child and flung him through the window. She landed, allowing the now headless opponent to fall behind her, with a brief spin, she through her combat knife through the next target, quickly leaping onto his body before it fell, collecting her knife and jumping at the next. Soldier after soldier fell, as child after child was flung to safety through the window.

 

[Kolath]

Constance tuned out what was going on over the head set focusing on the mission that she had set for herself. She had never liked the sounds of battle that Sybil lived in during times like these. The sounds of breaking skulls, or that sword that Constance had made Sybil going through someone's body. They tended to make Constance sick, the one time she had listened, it had been three days later before she was sure that she wasn't going to throw up again.

Her mind was instead focusing on having the needed rescue drones where they were needed to catch the children. Having given Sybil the option of throwing the children Constance knew that would be her choice. With one hand she focused on the tech that was trying to hack her system, and the other she moved the drones. Breaking the ballistic glass allowing the children through to safety. The drones were there when the first child came out the window gently catching it in air and flying back over to safety with the security group. There was always a pair of drones waiting for the child as it came out of the window and was then carried to safety.

The other side of her brain and body worked around through the firewalls of the hacker moving quickly through what she found to be easy defenses. There was no way that the tech that had sent those spike through her system had set this defense up, it was to… "oh fuck." She whispered as she realized just what was going on. Her whole attention shifted to the drones quickly slamming in the line of command codes. The drones would continue no matter what happened to her, taking up a hover and retrieve for any child coming out of the window.

She felt the first twinge of the attack racing through her body. She didn't have a lot of time, keying her comm to record for Sybil to hear after the job was done. "Sybil…I'm sorry, I screwed up big." By digging into the firewalls she had exposed more of her mind and matrix to the tech allowing him to trap her there. He wasn't able to get by her firewalls but enough of her mind had slipped out on the attack that she could easily be mentally crippled if not killed. "The defenses will stay up, and the kids will be fine, till you unplug me…I wish…" her back arched as the attack ripped into the exposed part of her mind and transferred into her body. The pain ripped through her but she refused to scream, she didn't want Sybil to hear that, she wasn't able to shut off the record as blackness washed over her. The last thought going through her mind of how she wished she had told Sybil how she really felt.

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

As the screams of pain fell silent and the last drops of blood pooled on the floor, the cybernetic swordsman returned her blade to it's scabbard. Her HUD split, revealing her face once again. Her eyes flashed an amber hue for a moment before returning to normal. She gave a sigh as the she took in the silence for a moment. The children were safe, and the terrorists were neutralized.

She exited the building through the front door, her old supervisor stopping her for only a moment to provide her with a credit chit. She gave him a silent nod before approaching the truck. She climbed in moving to approach Constance's console. "Constance, looks like it was a success, we might even have enough cash to... Constance?" She approached where the woman was seated, the recorded message playing as she reached out to touch her.

Her eyes widened as she approached the console, panicking as she tried to figure out what she was supposed to do. Should she unplug her or would that kill her? The only solution she could think of was to take the woman to a hospital. Anything related to technology or cybernetics was Constance's field. Sybil didn't know the first thing about what to do in this kind of situation.

She quickly moved to the driver's seat, getting the vehicle started and speeding off towards the nearest hospital. "God damn it... You stupid girl... Why didn't you back out when I told you..." Sybil masked her fear with anger as she drove, blinking away at the tears forming at the corner of her eyes. "I tried to warn you... To pull out if it was getting to dangerous... Why didn't you... Why?"

When she reached the hospital she was quick to lead an emergency team to Constance's console, allowing them to move her to where they could do their work. Sybil followed them, from quite a distance, even in the room where they'd brought her to lay, Sybil remained in a chair on the opposite side of the room, lacking the courage to even look at the face of her potentially dying companion.

 

[Kolath]

The emergency team was at a loss, they had never seen anything like this before. Every cybernetic circuit in Constance's body had been fried. It had come close to frying out her brain entirely, had any of her bodily functions been linked to any circuitry at all she would not have lived. However Constance had always felt that too much cyber-augmentation made you lazy and cut into your humanity to some degree. It wasn't evil by any means, and since meeting Sybil she had come to understand that perhaps she had not thought it through totally. To save your life was one thing, but to willingly replace your body or let a machine control your thoughts and actions to some degree was just scary to her. That fear it seemed to have saved her life this day.

The doctors couldn't explain what had happened but they could fix it. Shortly after being brought to the hospital Constance was in cybernetic surgery. There wasn't a choice, even if she didn't depend on the implants to live, her brain had started using the implants as part of itself. Some of her higher functions were tied to their presence and working condition.

The hours would pass as the doctors carefully removed implants that were never meant to be removed. They replaced them with identical circuits hoping to reduce the recovery time needed to adjust to what had happened. It was nearly a full twenty four hours after having arrived that Constance opened her eyes again.

She blinked looking around seeing little more than a wash of colors that were slowly settling into shapes. She opened her mouth to speak but found that the words didn't form right. The surprise at being alive still was slowly setting in and she lay back on the reclined bed turning her head to look around seeing where she was and who was with her as the shapes and colors slowly settled into shapes she recognized.

She was in a hospital, well was only obvious considering what had happened to her. Those spikes would have killed anyone…then why was she alive? Her eyes turned and saw the shape of someone sitting in a chair. Without knowing why she smiled and the shape defined itself more, her mouth opened again and the word finally organized correctly. "Sssybil…you’re here."

 

[Skeith Takahata II]

Hearing Constance's voice, however faint it was, brought Sybil back to reality. She rose from the chair moving hurriedly to Constance's side. Her hand wrapping loosely around Constance's own. "Of course I'm here." She said quickly, her eyes tearing slightly. "I had to be here to chastise you myself. You stupid, stupid girl." She said quietly as she pulled the young woman into a tight hug. "Don't you dare scare me like that again."

The cyborg blinked away her tears as she held the woman close. "Listen..." She said quietly as she pulled away. "For now I want you to focus on recovering your strength. When you're well enough, I want to talk to you about something, very important." She gave the woman a concerned glance before placing her hand against her cheek. "I'm so, so very glad your safe."