An unexpeted meeting (Sharaku)

It was around 7 A.M.

The sun began illuminating the small shack through the windows, bringing with it that odd feeling of tranquility through its pale, soft light. One such gentle ray danced over to Charles's eye and he quickly turned around. Everything was silent. Jack was still asleep. He took a good look at the room. His vision was still fuzzy, but he managed to somewhat ease the problem. Next, he had to test out his motoric functions.

...

The fingers seemed to move properly and so did his limbs. He lacked strenght though and his balance was still off, but he at least enabled himself to walk. What he did was that he managed to surpress the 'virus' with several programs he installed during the restoration. However, they wouldn't last long. He had to use this time to reach his apartment, from which he'd be able to perform several new tests.

Charles picked up his scarf from below Jack's blanket, tied it around his neck, pulled out a gray cap from his jacket's pocket and left out. The sun was blistering, such were the winter mornings, but it didn't bother him. He barely saw as far as his hands would reach... the rest was still coated in static. It was tough navigating the city without his eyesight, but, luckily, there weren't many people up at this hour, safe for those going to work and whatnot, so he had no problems even while stuttering around in the state he was in. That was, until he felt something pushing against his left shoulder, in the opposite direction. Charles had just collided with someone.

He felt his shoulder rubbing against the other person's as he slid down, falling to the floor. Something popped and the jacket was pulled off his left arm, revealing a t-shirt beneath it along with a part of his mechanical arm. Did he? His jacket must've ben unbuttoned, holding onto his body with only several buttons. And they were the clicky kind, not too adept at holding themselves connected.

Charles landed on his knees and his right hand with a sound too solid to be made by a human striking concrete like that. Unable to get up immediately, he instinctively tried covering up his arm. He pulled the jacket back up and buttoned it up, correctly this time. But has the damage been done already?

'Did he notice?' The thought blazed through Charles's mind as he raised his head. From the tone of the man's voice, he was able to deduce he was somewhat confused... Anyhow, Charles could not quite make out what was happening, but the man he bumped into seemed to be giving him a hand. Reluctantly, he accepted it. "I'm alright."

Now that he was back on his shaky legs, Charles could see the face of the man he bumped into, as well as his posture and expression, but, most importantly, the eyes. Their eyes met, exchanging a slight twinkle in that rushed moment. There was something, though... something else. As if reacting to the man's very presence, Charles suddenly felt a surge in his head as everything went to static, followed by a muffled voice that appeared to be grumbling inside his mind. The static went to black...

What would've been visible to the man from al of this were the changes in Charles's face. His eyes and expression would darken for a moment, then appear fully devoid of any emotion, real or fake. He would fall backwards, a clicking sound coming from his head, grabbing a stance with his left foot, using it as an axis around which he would spin, sending off a powerful kick towards the man. He would miss, though, slamming the leg straight into a nearby street sign. A loud bang would be heard as the two objects collided. Luckily, no one was nearby as this transpired.

Charles regained conciousness as his leg struck the pole, bending it upon impact. The leg, however, did not go unscatched. In fact, that was what even brought him back in the first place. Something snapped inside the metallic frame and when Charles tried stepping with his right foot, he realized it wouldn't hold. He found himself on the floor once again...

Another wave of the same sensation as before washed over Charles as he heard the other guy speak.

'He's in the way, crucsh him! Smash him! Break him!'

"No!" He shouted, trying to block off the thoughts. They hurt. For whatever reason, this guy caused some sort of an reaction in Charles, slightly similiar to that he sometimes got when Jack would've gotten too annoying, but stronger. But how exactly and why? What was the true nature of this voice? He could feel the barriers loosening up again as the 'virus' became more malevolent again. He was going to lose control again soon... He had to get away while he still could.

Charles would try getting up again. The right leg wasn't supporting him all too well after he damaged it right now, but he could still use it to an extent as the upper parts were still functioning. He would launch himself in a sprint through the vacant street, too bewildered to do anything else. He ran aimlessly around the neighbourhood, trying his best to somehow orientate himself to his apartment building. Which turns did he take? He recorded the way from school to his building previously, so he only needed to count his steps and turns to find his way home, but he lost count when he lost control, so he was pretty much lost right now... Plus, he was starting to lose the feel coming from his limbs. He had to hurry, just which way?

Atleast he got away from the other guy though

Charles flinched. That sensation began growing in him again. Did that mean he was following him? Ugh! If he gets another such outburst and someone sees it... He turned around, looking for anything... Bingo! A narrow backstreet between two apartment buildings! He could hide there if he moves quickly enough and then perform another reboot to supress back the 'virus' and make it hom without a hitch.

Charles took a sharp turn, practically throwing himself into the street. He was losing control... his limbs began to shake violently as he made his way to a big green dumpster, next to some metal fire escape stairs leading down from the building. The backstreet was full of litter and junk. It wasn't anything special though, but the spot behind the dumpster was ideal for hiding, as long as the chaser wouldn't see him hide there, that is. But it would be okay in here. Nobody would probably notice if anything were to happen...

Anyhow, Charles sat down with his back against the far side of the big dumpster, next to the stairs. He closed his eyes, as the static clouding them made his eyesight poor, and listened (there was static there too, but it wasn't as prominent, besids, it'd be easier to just listen than to peek out behind the dumpster every once in a while) for any signs of the man arriving...

Footsteps! He was coming, bringing with himself the vile thoughts now buzzing through Charles's mind. 'He's here, haha. And he does have one! But he's useless on this side, they all are. We can take him! And then I'll...'

Reality seemed to have broken around Charles as he was pulled backwards. The static dissapeared from his sight and ears. He couldn't se what was going on, but he still somehow knew, even though his motions weren't his anymore...

Charles would've waited until the man would dare venture forth into the alley before jumping out from behind the dumpster with an satisified look on his face, like a cougar jumping its prey. Using his left foot as a pole again, he would swing the broken one around, this time aiming directly at the man. He would've, in the process, stroke the handle bar of the stairs behind him, blasting it into the wall. His leg would further sucumb to damage. Also, there would now be a gaping spiky pole sticking out of the stairs. His leg would've been to short to reach the man, though, and he would lose his balance, falling down so that the pole would pierce him below his left shoulder. It would easily penetrate the outer shell and Charles would've been pierced straight through, all while his conciousness would drift even further than this semi-state and into the plane of existance where that star sweatered girl resided...

"..." The girl just wouldn't stop talking. Jeez, she was even worse than Jack... He would at least react to other people, unlike her, who pretty much ignored all of Charles's attempts at speaking up by owerflowing him with more and more of her chit-chat.

"And that's why I couldn't get a dog! You see, Cha-chan, my papa was..." What was she even talking about? She's pretty much been blabbering about stupidities and jumping around ever since Charles arrived to the hall, which appeared unchanged from the last time. Charles has had enough of that. She could adore him as much as she wanted (for whatever reason), but he still needed some answers, so he grabbed her wrist (gently), stopping her mid-sentence. She turned to him with a rather confused look on her face, which then transformed into two deep red stains which appeared on her cheeks. "Cha-chan?" She asked and he sighed.

"My apologies for interrupting you, but..."

"Cha-chan! What have you done to yourself!" She broke out of his grip and jumped at him. "Cha-chan! You should've been more careful!" She reprimanded his like a mother would as she put a hand on his chest, below the left shoulder. There was apparently nothing there, but she could still see something.

"What are you talking about?" Charles asked her, now confused himself.

She muffled. "There's a hole right here, can't you see!" She pointed at the same spot. "And your leg doesn't seem to be in good shape!" She now pointed at his right leg.

"..."

"You're so reckless, Cha-chan! And what's this? Nononono!" She froze as she gazed into his eyes. She violently began shaking her head around. She seemed worried.

"Wha-"

"Good thing I can fix that!" She pouted, bumping his forehead with her index finger. A relaxing wave of warmth passed through his entire body as he stood there, bedazzled by all that's been happening so quickly.

"What did you do?"

"Oh, that." She smiled almost awkwardly, scratching her head. "Well, I can only stop it temporarily... you'll have to overcome it yourself some day." She shrugged. "I can also tell you where to get yourself fixed up in case you get hurt like you did today. I'll always be here to help ya, okay! I'll never ever leave you! Never ever! Everevernever!"

He grimaced. "..." Though it was good news she would be able to give some useful info to him, even if she was imaginary.

"Haha, Cha-chan! As blunt as always ~" She noticed the change in his expression. Sighing, she turned around, her blonde hair flowing behind her as if she was in the water. "Cha-chan?" She began in a serious tone which caught him off guard.

"Yes?"

"You will... try and remember me, won't you?"

"Do I have a choice?"

She smiled, watching him over her shoulder. "Hey, are you awake?" Those words weren't the ones her lips formed. The voice was coming from behind him. He turned around as he felt everything fade into white once again, the same way as the last time...

Charles woke up in the some dirty back alley. Some unknown man was leaning over him, watching from above. He noticed something before that, though. Yeah, the static was gone. He could see and hear everything clearly. Did that girl do that? Huh, what was that in his shoulder? And in the same spot she pointed at! How did that happen? And why was this guy not surprised?

"..." His left hand wouldn't budge. Shit, this must've damaged some nerve connection or something, or perhaps a motor... Unable to use his left hand, he raised himself up with the help of his right. He locked his gaze at the man in front of him, frowning. "Idntify yourself." He commanded, raising himself in a standing position. Whoever this man was, he might have been a threat. Furthermore, he seemed unfazed by the fact Charles wasn't human...

So he gets paid, huh. What was this with Charles attacking him twice? It would've explained the damage. Perhaps this man named Sharaku tailed him down through  the city until he finally got to him in this alley. If that was the truth,  he had won, seeing as Charles would be unable to fight now.

"How do you know what I am? Who sent you? How did I get here?" He would keep the fresh and sharp questions coming, oblivious to the fact this man has announced his displeasement with the treatment. "If you dny cooperation, I'll have to resort to force." He had to remain wary while searching for anwsers, so he took an awkward stance with his legs (best he could do at the time), prepairing himself to strike at any given moment. Whatever this was about and whoever Sharaku was, Charles would fight for himself until the end, even if he was broken.

The expression, the position he took... He said he knew another android like him (which Charles didn't really care about, to be frank)? Sharaku seemed serious enough, but what he said made no sense to Charles at that point. There was no way he would've risked revealing his identity in public unless it was explicitly necessary. That being said, he was suspicious. And then there was also the fact Charles couldn't remember how he got here in the first place, nor did he have any recollection of these attacks he apparently committed.

Charles would lower his stance. Combat was too risky. Instead, he chose to pry some information out of Sharaku. "If what you say is true," He would frown, sending a message that he didn't really trust him yet. "then I should apologise. Though, I still have doubts. If I really have attacked you, why would I do it in public?" The only rational explanation he could conjure was mentioned before; Sharaku assaulted him and he defended. He wasn't to be trusted, not yet, but he was the only one who could give Charles some answers.