Recharging your Realium Reserves

[Empathy]

The night was young. Drössel strolled casually through jump city's rooftops. Her steps were a precise sequence of struts. The robot's hands counterbalanced the movement, occasionally sweeping back her red cape. The wind tonight was mild, even this high above the street. Continue north. Your destination will be on your right. Drössel turned off the overlay, letting the instructions fade. Her electric blue eyes blinked a moment, adjusting to the strong light of the full moon.

A few moments later, the medic dropped down, jumping from one fire escape to another to land with a crouch on the pavement. The cape entangled the white robot, making her vacillate before she struck with one super-fast arm movement. Stnading up, she quickly took in the surounding. It was late enough that she did not detect any human presence. To her right, a few cars sparsely populated a parking area. In front of her was a commercial area, closed for the night. Turning her head left, the robot princess faced the entrance to a garden. It was small, one of many across the city.

The titan moved closer to the garden wall with large, confident strides. Looking up, she then crouched again before launching into the air. Her metallic legs bounced off the wall once before she reached the top a few meters higher. Perched on top of the brick wall, her eyes rested for a moment on a dark shape in the center of the garden. It was a large, looming grey tree. Drössel glanced down. A second later she landed with a muted bamf on the soft grass. Kneeling down, the robot's fingers brushed against the area she just damaged. Her hands shone. The grass lifted back up, as if revitalized. It seemed like it had grown a few millimiters. The robot tilted her head, looking at the result for a moment before standing up. She then cautiously approached the old tree.

It is hurt. Drössel touched the ancient tree. Her eyes took in the grey bark. Then, her hands started glowing again. The tree at first didn't give any sign of life. But progressively, a visible energy traversed it, starting from the point of contact with the Medic's palms. It regained some color. After a few seconds, branches started moving, growing and straightening out. A minute later and leaves appeared , further improving the trees green, lush ambiance. As she continued her process, Princess Drössel started circling around the trunk, glowing fingers tracing the ridges of the old wooden structure.

[Deleted]

Slipping confidently from streetlight to shade, a large red fox trotted his bold way across residential lawns. Cyrus still found the mere experience of walking on all fours exhilarating in and of itself. At the moment, he had no other objective than to enjoy the night. The stench of motor emissions had died down with the traffic, although it was still palpable to his sensitive nose. Thus he kept as far from it as possible.

He skirted around a large fluffy cat, the two nightly predators eyeing each other warily. By now he had had numerous encounters -- with cats, raccoons, and another urban fox -- but there was food aplenty in the city. So as long as he respected their personal space, they respected his.

Fences and walls proved no barrier to his perambulation either. Most he could jump over; chain link he could climb if need be. However, coming to a wall that was solid stone and over ten feet in height, he had to take a moment. Then he jumped onto a car. He heard a metallic scrape, his ears coming erect. The sound only whetted his appetite to see what the wall heard, and he jumped to the top of it just as Drössel thumped to earth on the other side of the enclosure.

Cyrus trotted along the wall, shifting his field of vision so that he could see the strange gleaming creature unobstructed by the tree. He smelt only machinery, so he guessed it was a robot. It looked nothing like the Sladebots that constantly threatened the city, however. In fact, judging by the exaggerated hips, it was meant to be feminine. Watching her rise from her knees -- Was she doing something to the grass? -- he felt h had seen her before. On television. One of the Titans, maybe?

His eyes lit up with wonder as he saw energy flow through the tree. Needing to communicate, he jumped atop one of the pillars that were spaced regularly along the wall. Assured that it was wide enough to accomodate him, he sat on his haunches and began to enlarge to his true size.

[Empathy]

Realium level: 14.5 percent. Thelium level: 85.5 percent. The robot moved in circles around the trees. Her glowing fingers kept close contact with it as she continued her dance. The bark pulsed, seemingly breathing in the entropic energy. The leaves grew denser at its crown. Each one of the green heart-shapes gained in size as well, as if remembering their ancient glory. Princess Drössel paused for a moment, taking in the majestic arbol. She didn't have a mouth, and the tree didn't speak either. Surrounding oxygen levels rising. CO2 is being absorbed. Medic tilted her head. Her eyes blinked a few times, switching colors in the process.

Biomarkers detected. Drössel turned around with a a flick of her cape. The royal garb grazed the tree trunk. Electric blue eyes switched to red, then yellow as the Titan looked around the moonlit garden. Her eyes stopped -red and piercing- as she took in an unusual shape. Turning off her entropic accelerator, she lifted a finger in the direction of the beastly figure.

@{Newcomer}
What brings you here? Who are you?

She leaned forward, curious. The Titan was still pointing at the beast. Her eyes shifted to yellow, then back to the blue.

@{Maybe human?}
You seem hungry. Though otherwise in perfect health.

Drössel looked around, breaking up the communication in the process. She then walked over to another, smaller tree. It was still taller than her: she needed to lift her arm high up to reach even the lowest branch. Drössel's hands started glowing again, making the branch quiver with entropy. A few seconds later, Medic threw an apple in the direction of the red shape.

[Deleted]

He watched her eyes change colour, fascinated. The tip of his tail twitched, the movement almost lost in the thick fur. He grinnd a little as she pointed at him -- but then something unexpected happened.

There was a voice in his head.

Startled, he bent his head down, scratching at his ear with his hind leg as though the voice were an itch he wished to expunge. Then he shook his head, thinking over the actual meaning of the words. He was interrupted as the voice spoke a second time. Again he shook his head. Is this what telepathy feels like?

"Thank you," he replied, ironic, to her concern for his health. He watched her move to another tree. "I am a werefox -- the Werefox -- and I need no reason to roam my city. What about -" Seeing the apple flying towards him, he broke off, to pluck it out of the air with his jaws. His fangs just broke its skin, and he reflexively licked at the juice.

He sprang off the pillar, landing with a soft thump on the grass within the wall. Then he reared up, shifting to his bipedal form. Taking the apple in his hand, he addressed the robot again.

"Mmm, thank you, but I did not come for presents. Now who are you, and what are you doing here?"

[Empathy]

Medic tilted her head as the fox-man introduced himself. Her eyes at this point had returned to their normal blue. After the apple was thrown, the robot fell silent, content with observing the strange new subject. With one of her usual swift motions, she swung her cape around with her left arm. Her right hand then rocketed up to rest right under the robot's chin. Drössel was putting on her thinker's pose. When her nightly encounter responded with his own question, she sent the message:

@{The Werefox}
"I am Princess Drössel von Flügel, fifth of the name."

The white robot straightened up, lifter her chin and assumed the Wonder Woman pose as she announced her title. She stated with the same confident tone:

@{The Werefox}
"And I am healing a tree."
The little robot was physically less imposing than the big bad wolf zoomorph, but Drössel kept her pose. Her optics shifted a few times in color. The right hand moved up again to stroke her chin in slow, careful motions.

@{The Werefox}
"Your hormonal mix is difficult to read. Are you still hungry? I cannot tell if you are human or not."

His name was reminiscent of werewolfs, which definitely classified as humans. But Drössel wouldn't be able to tell unless he shifted to an actual human shape, or she was allowed to touch the fox-man.

[Deleted]

As she introduced herself, he took in her movements, the abruptness contrasting with what was, presumably, meant to be a regal pose. There was something cute about her, as well as uncanny. The lack of a mouth, particularly. It made her look as if she'd come from a horror show. Werefox felt oddly sorry for her. How does it go -- "I have no mouth, and I must scream"? But being a robot it probably didn't bother her.

He found her statements just as odd, if funnier. Leaning against the wall, he held the apple up, idly rubbing his thumb over the surface. He smiled down at her, chuckling slightly at her last comment.

"No, Your Highness, I am not human. You must not know humans well to mistake me for one of them. But don't worry, I forgive you." He held up the apple. "I haven't eaten this yet. And it is not your concern to feed me." He flicked his ears back as he opened his mouth a bit wider, showing off his teeth to the 'bot. "I can take care of myself.

"So, Your Highness, what are you the Princess of? And why would a royal robot be… healing trees… in our city in the middle of the night?" He tilted his head.

[Empathy]

Drössel tilted her head to the side as the zoomorph refused to be classified as human. That made the robot cycle through her eye colors again.

@{Werefox}
"Your physiology has some common points with humans."

The statement was made casually, although it held deeper meaning to Drössel. But before she could expand on her point, the foxman asked his question. The robot complied with a clap of her hands.

@{Werefox}
"I was named princess by the Namer, after the Oracle predicted my future rule over the humans of Earth."

Drössel used a hand motion to accentuate each of the two AIs' names as she explained her origin story.

@{Werefox}
"And I healed the tree because I felt like it."

The robot clenched her fist as she said this.

@{Werefox}
"It is strictly speaking not one of my subjects, but I felt like it would increase the overall happiness of my patients. And I needed to recharge my Realium reserves."

The medic had used her stasis power for twenty-four hours during an extremely complicated surgery. And there were no other subjects to unleash her stored-up entropy on.

@{Werefox}
"How do you feel about trees, as compared to humans?"

[Deleted]

He wondered if the shifting eye colours indicated some sort of scan. It made him wonder what sort of information she was getting on him. Whatever it was, she apparently was confused.

"Really," he replied drily to her continued insistence that he looked human. "So do you."

He shifted the apple to his right hand, and began eating it. The names meant nothing to him. However, he did snort with laughter when she claimed that she was destined to rule the world, almost choking on the juice. He swallowed, and took a few deep breaths. Her next statement was also obscure, although he gathered that healing things actually recharged her. Finally, he laughed at her question.

"I'm not a tree, either, if that's what you mean." He took another bite of the apple, savouring it this time. When he finished, he continued. "Mmm… Trees are fine enough. They're a lot less trouble than humans. But then, humans do have freedom, something trees sorely lack."

He licked at the apple, pondering the strange robot. She had mentioned several things now that puzzled him, such as "patients". But he decided to pursue his first topic.

"You have not answered my question. What are you the Princess of, now? You cannot be royalty without a realm."

[Empathy]

The fox's reply did nothing to quell Drössel's rising itch. She felt through her core that this were-person was potentially human. The robot now felt a distinct urge to move forward and touch the person. She took a few steps in towards Werefox as the discussion turned to trees. Her hair perked up a bit at the mention of the words 'human' and 'freedom'.

@{Werefox}
"Well trees function on a different timescale than humans. Maybe, to them, humans aren't quite as free as they think."

Drössel leaned forward as she made the statement. This made her gain another few feet, edging closer to the fox-man. His last question took her aback however. Her upper body tilted backward in response.

@{Werefox}
"Me?"

Her hand went to her chest. Blue optics stared at the fox.

@{Werefox}
"Isn't a potential female future ruler called a princess? My expected queendom will cover all of humanity. All of them are my subjects, patients and I am their intended caregiver."

The second hand came to he chest, joining with the first one in a symbol of prayer.

@{Werefox}
"If you wish, you may think of me as the princess of healing."

She then regained her bold step forward.

@{Werefox}
"What about yourself? What is your title, and what do you aspire to?"

[Deleted]

He did note her advance, but was not troubled by it. In his eyes, she was small and fragile. And he would bet that whatever powers she possessed, he was immune to. She might have just been curious, as she was obviously ignorant of the world.

"Poor little robot." He took another bite of the apple, this time suppressing his laughter at her extravagant naïveté. Until he finished the fruit, that is. Tossing the core aside, he licked all the juice from his hands and muzzle. Then he chuckled darkly, his own glowing eyes filled with burning scorn and pity.

"I have no title, nor do I want one. They are for those who seek power over others. What I desire is freedom." Suddenly he had pushed away from the wall and was looming over the "princess".

"Ah, little robot, you know nothing. Not even the meaning of the words you speak." He levelled his right forefinger at her, stepping forward himself. "You, a princess?" He laughed again. "No. A princess does not mean a potential female ruler; otherwise all girls would be called that. A princess is a woman of royal blood. A woman who -- according to her belief -- has a right to rule. Someone who simply claims power is not a princess, she is a usurper. A tyrant, little robot. And even humans hate a tyrant."

[Empathy]

Drössel froze as the foxman took a darker turn. His tone, the glowing eyes and his chuckle made the robot alert. She straightened her body, eyes cycling quickly through her sensors again. They remained then on blue, where she could analyze his hormonal levels.

@{Werefox}
"You are very confident."

The message was broken as her eyes followed the fruit core for a blink. They then fixed on the fox. Drössel listened with interest before responding.

@{Werefox}
"Freedom is good. I think it is an important component of my patients' happiness and well-being."

The large zoomorph was now towering over the little robot. Her head was tilted up, still locked into those of the orange beast. A speech ensued, which left the robot wordless for the period. The foxman thrust forward his finger, pointing at the robot. Her reaction was to grab said finger, her curious core getting the better of the princess. A stream of data then crossed her internal mind before landing encrypted into her secondary core. After a brief pause, she appraised the tall figure and said,

@{Werefox}
"Oh, I don't plan to be a tyrant. Really, I don't plan to be anything but a medic. Other people much smarter than I am predicted my future rule. The empathic's core's main belief is that, if healed and nurtured, humans will choose one of them as their caregiver."

She let go of the Fox's finger, then took a step back.

@{Werefox}
"Whether it be in several decades, centuries or millenia."

It did not matter to the little robot.

[Deleted]

Werefox blinked as she grabbed his finger. Reflexively he started to jerk it away, but stopped himself, since the action wasn't harmful. In fact nothing seemed to happen at all, and after a while she let go. He stared at her curiously.

"What was that for?"

He flexed his hand, then lifted it to his muzzle and swiftly licked it. Then he shrugged. His grin returned as she explained further her confused notion of her future.

"Oh, so you're going to be elected queen. And you were told this by another robot?" He laughed and stepped forward again. "I don't think it's a question of intelligence. It's a question of knowledge. Obviously neither you nor your 'empathic core' understands human nature."[/color]

He came still closer and suddenly sank to his haunches, putting his muzzle in Drossel's face.

"Human beings do not want to be nurtured. And they have never made a man a king for being a good physician. Or woman."[/color] He tilted his head. "But, if that does not matter to you…"

[Empathy]

@{Werefox}
"I downloaded your DNA."

The robot answered helpfully. She then tucked her hands to the side and froze. The procedure took a few seconds, after which Drössel announced in a telepathic whisper.

@{Werefox}
"I saved and encrypted it for future reference. Do not worry, your medical data is strictly confidential."

The little robot lifted her hand, pointing in turn at the big fox and herself.

@{Werefox}
"It shall remain between you, my subject, and me, your Medic."

The werefox laughed and spoke again. Drössel scratched her head thinking about her response.

@{Werefox}
"I was told by an Artificial Intelligence. The Oracle has no body, and some version of her lives in the sea of AIs that is the consortium. She probably is part of the empathic faction. You seem to side with one of the other cores. Or do your beliefs clash with your knowledge?"

But the fox was not finished with his earlier point, and dropped down to Drössel's level to continue driving his main point.

@{Werefox}
"I apologize for interrupting you earlier. I did not realize you were not finished."

The robot mimicked Fox's head-tilt. She waited a moment, just to make sure the other person had finished his point. Then she answered:

@{Werefox}
"The only thing that matters to me is my own core. The unwavering need to heal and prevent hurt to my subjects."

She kept her eyes interlocked with those of the zoomorph. At this distance, she was less concerned about physical statistics. The little robot was trying to grasp the fox's emotional state.

@{Werefox}
"How about you, my patient? Have you found who you are? Does anything hurt anywhere else?"

Both her palms lifted to her heart. Healing these kinds of things was harder.

[Deleted]

Werefox exhaled with a slight sound of disgust. Permission should be asked before sampling someone's DNA. It didn't really bother him, though, since he couldn't care less what she knew about him. It was what she said next that made him snarl and growl in warning.

"Never. Call me. Your subject. Again." The words hissed through his teeth. Ears flattened and eyes burning even more fiercely, he was quite terrifying, and he would hardly have to move to snap her face off. "Nor am I your 'patient'. You are not my physician, and you do not have any right to my medical information."

He silently let his mouth gape for a few moments, in order to display his teeth, shining in the mingled light of their eyes.

"Do you understand, little robot?"

[Empathy]

Drössel's left leg moved a step back as the giant fox snarled at her. The anger level spiked, and the little robot remained silent for a while. Blue light gleamed against the zoomorph's teeth as he yelled at Medic. Finally, when he asked his last question, the robot answered,

@{Werefox}
"But what if you are hurt?"

Drössel's healing was unconditional. She couldn't stop herself. The little robot's eyes carried a pained, confused expression.

@{Werefox}
"My core won't allow that."

She pointed towards her chest again.