"It's me, Sylus. We met at Mechmar after the metal-muncher incident."
He blinked at me doubtfully and began to smirk. "Oh yeah?"503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhz6051MOK
I pulled down my bandana to prove. His eyes widened for a moment of surprise, but he rapidly gathered himself and glared at me angrily. "You! Why are you here?" He hissed sharply.
Suddenly Buzzer flew up to James' face with an angered expression and gave a long series of short "peep" and "buzz". It looks like he is standing up for me. "Buzzer, calm down." I grabbed him at one of his legs and held him gently but firm in my hands while he struggled to free himself. My, he's pretty taken and loyal. I looked up to James with a nervous smile. "Sorry." I cleared my throat to answer his question. "I was searching for some scraps from the depot above to fix my machine, and Buzzer found the door coincidentally." While I explained, James rapidly covered his machine with a huge cloth. "What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Nothing."
I squinted my eyes while eyeing him and the covered machine behind him.
"Nothing of your concern. Best I show you out before further metal-munchers find this place." He pushes me by the shoulder towards the door.
"But that human-like machine looks more than nothing to me. What purpose or function will it serve? Is it your own invention or for charity?" I asked while trying to dodge his firm pushes.
James laughed wryly. "Some charity, indeed. Now get out!" He pushed me, and I managed to dodge half of it and started to lose my footing. Desperately I began grip after objects near me to avoid the fall. Before I knew what I had done, my hand gripped onto the large cloth hiding James' latest work and pulled it off.
Dust stirred the air; the thud of my landing echoed the walls. Buzzer shoved some folds of the cloth off me, and I looked up to the machine. It was held up by the back of the neck and hung relaxed before me. This machine looked very human-like; its gears and cogs mainly were covered by finely polished metal with elaborate twirling ornaments. Its irises were filled with the clearest gem, and the hands looked perfect. James clearly invested a lot of passion and detail in this machine. This is definitely no work worthy of charity. I found myself gapping in amazement at his invention.503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNAaUSKc4n
James grabbed me by the collar and pulled me up to my feet as I wanted to stand up. "What have you done!" He hissed furiously.503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Nw18CuQWB
"I can ask you the same about your fascinating work. What is it?"
He sighed through his teeth and lets go of me. "I'll tell you if you swear by your soul not to tell anyone else of this and leave me alone."503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsqhhWFikQ
"I swear." I held up my hand as a gesture.
James exhales sharply while running with a hand over his short hair and walks over to the machine. "A machine in human form is called a humaton. No one has ever managed to build one that looks like one and has similar functions. I call the humaton Zyra." James pauses. "I bought the best products money can buy for all her parts; the hands and head were the trickiest part to build and connect." He holds up a hand of hers. "Her purpose will be like any other maid in an upper-class household, one that doesn't age or needs a salary and can work without needing to rest."
I inspected closer his work and how the hand was built together, multiple round-shaped joints were connected, and I saw a few wires beneath the small round bent metal plates. "What are the wires for?"
"To move and feel, equivalent to our nervous system."
I blinked at him, surprised. "To feel?"
"Yes, how can a good maid know what is warm or cold, soft or hard?"
"And it works?"
"I haven't activated her yet. Still need to finish her right foot." He paused. "The nervous system is a closed system, so it needs to be connected and well protected."
As my eyes fell down, I noticed the right foot sort of open with many loose wires and missing small metal plates along with a thick book open, revealing a picture of the human nervous system. That explained much, but I have a hunch that he is holding something from me. "But why out of all places are you building your machine here? To avoid prying eyes?"
James crossed his arms and glared at me sternly. "Why else?"
"But you're rich! You can get a workshop anywhere you like. For instance, the light here is poor; why not have your workshop somewhere in the heights?" I remarked. The heights are the tall towers and buildings of Leahstra where the rich class houses.
"Why does that bother you? An inventor as yourself should know that." James gave a brief smirk. "You build and create where you feel comfortable." He sighed and walked up to me. "I'll show you out, but if you utter one word to anyone, you're dead. Got that?" James glared down at me.
"You have my word sworn upon my soul," I assured uneasy from his threatening glance. James' behaviour confirmed my feelings. He is hiding something, something that is connected with his humaton. Quickly he led me out without any trouble from the guards, and an idea passed my mind. "I'll take your secret to my grave if you allow me to visit the depot whenever I like to collect scraps of metal."
He sighed, annoyed but composed a smirk quickly. "As long you hold to your word, Sylus. You're not so clumsy after all." He walked off and gestured a salute with two fingers from his brow with his right hand. "Hopefully, we meet again, not too soon."
I watched how he vanished into the thick morning fog, returning to his workshop. Buzzer crawled upon my shoulder and gave a questionable 'peep', looking up to me with his large blue beady eyes.
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