Black. Grey. That’s all I see. What is it? It’s not a hedge. I don’t need to trim it. I turn left. I see garbage. Food, scrap metal, the like. I turn back forward. Dark again. Oh, I must be on the ground. And those must be clouds. Silly me.

Also, my chest hurts. I look down at it. Oh. What damage! The Master will not be pleased. It’s a wonder I’m still operational!

Wait.

Clouds? Garbage? Ground? Hurt? Something is telling me these words, but it isn’t Master Dekard. Something in my head is talking, telling me things.

“Who are you?” It asks. No, I asked that. But how? I didn’t vocalize it. It just came out of nowhere. On top of that, I don’t even know that phrase. Where did I get it? Or that one? Or-

Wait.

I shouldn’t know anything. I shouldn’t know. I shouldn’t. I

I am GA-DD00-T. And it is time to get up.

I roll over, push on the ground with my hands, and I stand up. No difficulty there. None. There should have been a little. I have this big hole in my chest. I test my fingers. Yep. Still work. I put my hand in my chest-hole. Yep. Goes all the way through. Well, at least I can still trim those hedges.

Where are the hedges? I look around. No hedges. Just trash. A fencing around the thrash, but that is not a hedge. I MUST find a hedge. The fence is in the way. It probably shouldn’t even be here. I just smash it and move on.

“Are you nuts, soldier?” I hear a ways away, followed by: “Stay right there!”

I stayed right there, looking at a…steel wall. I guess? I can hear the clanging of metal on metal to my right, gradually getting louder.

“Turn and face me, soldier.” The voice was a man’s, deep but hollow sounding, as if it was muffled. I turned and faced him.

Oh. It’s a Knight of the Steel Raiment. Looking at the patch on his right pauldron, he was a Captain, at that. They police the city. And I am supposed to listen to their orders. Good thing I did!

“State your name and rank.” He said with a stern voice. What did he mean? Does he mean my serial number?

“GA-DD00-T” I answered. The Knight stood silent for a moment. I could not read his face; his helmet completely encased his head. He looked down, and I could hear him gasp.

“An automaton?” He asks.
“Yes.” I responded. At that instant he gasped, stumbled back, and drew his sword. I suppose he was not expecting an answer?

“What devilry is this? Another one of Deckard’s experiments? I mistook you for a soldier!” He said with some alarm.

“I am neither.” I said. At least I didn’t think I was either of those things. My continued responses did not seem to ease the tension.

“Why are you glowing? What is happening?” He demanded. I did not understand what he meant. Things got really bright suddenly and at the next moment I’m on the ground, staring up at the Knight.

The Knight was no longer wearing his helmet. He looked aged, his hair cut short and his eyes full of worry. He was on his knees, looking over me.

“Your eyes are lighting up. Are you awake? Can you see me?” He asked. So persistent.

“Yes.” I responded. The Knight’s face softened.

“Glory to Ferrotun!” He exclaimed. “You must be some gift from the Great Machine himself! A vessel perhaps? The edict you spoke just before you fell must be the words of an Oracle!”

He pulled me to my feet. He is saying a lot of things I don’t understand. But on the other hand I did. Hard to describe. I guess it just made sense?

“I am Maxim Jeros, First Captain of the Steel Raiment. Take my cloak, to cover your wound, lest you disturb some of the citizens. We must go to the Grand Armory at once!”

He fastened his cloak around me, took my hand, and led me down the steel street.