Ketty's eyes shot open to blackness broken only by a light rustling that brought every sense into keen awareness. Below her heightened senses, a throbbing pain that was the loss of her parents goaded her like a malignant tooth ache. Yet the sound was out of place, like the rustling of leaves in an autumn breeze, except she was in her room. She looked to the nightstand out of habit, but there was no power, no light, and no clock. She scanned the room and Bromide's protective shadow emerged from the abyss as her eyes adjusted, yet he was frozen in time, like every joint had been welded tight.

"Bromide?" There was no answer. The rustling was more distinct now, outside her door. She reached for the case of weapons, drawing out the Ion knife with her left hand and feeling the brace of blasters still strapped to her chest. She was surprised she had slept this way, but her survival instincts were in full force.

The light hum of pure energy sprang to life at the end of the blade, a blue flame of intensity that would severe anything that got in its way. She could see the remnants of her life around the room. There were pictures, jewelry, clothes strewn in careless heaps, and the familiar smell of her perfume. She pushed it aside as a scent riveted her attention. Musty wet straw is what crossed her mind as she entered the hall outside her room. The blue glow cast a hazy glow down the stairs, then a blurred streak that woke some hidden presence inside her.

Genetic conditioning had many benefits, weeding out unwanted qualities in humans, yet every benefit came with a price. There were tradeoffs to be made with genetics, many of which remained unknown till later. But Ketty was pure in that sense, un-tampered genes meant she had other hidden qualities that were a mystery even to her. Perhaps it was her intense robot training, or the heightened urgency to survive, but she felt in tune with her surroundings.

She sensed it coming before a noise or motion, instinctively taking action. Stepping into the hall, she pushed her body against the far wall and brought up her sword just as it flashed by. She fell over backwards and extended her hand as a slight burning erupted from her right shoulder. Whatever it was moved fast, far beyond human capabilities, faster than a bot. She heard the squeak as her blade raked flesh of some kind. Then there was fluttering down the stairs and the door banged open.

She groped for the fusion torch in her pocket far too late. It landed in the hall and lit up like a miniature sun. The first thing she saw was crimson on her shoulder. She had seen blood before, but never this much. Then Bromide was there, administering first aid from some hidden recess, but he seemed a bit disturbed.

Yet her blade reeked of burnt flesh and she could see the charred green making little pools on the carpet.

"I came as soon as I could. My internal clock has lost three minutes indicating I will have to run a diagnostic."

As smart as he was, she realized he didn't know why she was hurt. "Something attacked me, but I didn't get a look at it."

"My sensors show no such record."

"You were stunned. We have to leave, now."

"Very well, the rest of the crew has just reported in on the short range network. They will be ready shortly. Can you stand?"

"I'm fine, let's go." The spray on bandage was flexible with antibiotics and pain meds built in, but the three precise cuts had her wondering. Were they claw marks, or some type of triple bladed knife? Bromide was efficient and the other bots were already on the trail leading into the foothills. When she came out of the house there was a low hiss to the west where trees and brush were singed from the drive of a spaceship. She saw it rise just above the tree line, a dark bulbous shadow that disappeared in an instant. Dam that was fast. It gave her an uneasy feeling, as if some sinister force or alien species was behind her parent's death. She couldn't help wonder if there were other survivors, or had looting already begun in a post-apocalyptic scenario. She was living in the hundred and twelfth century for Deity's sake, what the heck was going on? All she knew was she had to see if there were other survivors and then get to Outpost Iridani 876.

It was five miles on foot so Ketty had her bots pack all the gear on the gravity sled. By dawn they crested the last hill above the Salazar estate.

"Set up camp here, Boondock and I will check it out," said Ketty.
"That may not be a good idea," insisted Bromide. She saw he could present a problem when it came to covert operations.

"Stay here and watch the gear, Bromide," she said more sternly. He dropped his head, staring at the ground in mock rejection. Was that a programmed response, she wondered? All her bots had been evolving rapidly in the art of mimicking human emotion, but she could swear she had hurt his feelings. Boondock, on the other hand, was a master at human emotion, if not socially awkward.

"Should we belly crawl?" he asked.

"No, keep your sensors up. Do you remember the three minute black out last night? Did you feel anything before it happened?"

"Just a warm recharging feeling, like my Collapse-core was getting a retrofit."
"Scream if you feel it again."

"Yes, Mistress." Then as an afterthought he said, "I have heard them talking to me in my sleep. They keep probing my sintered brain to find a weakness, but I'm too smart for them."

"Who, Boondock? Who is talking to you?

"The bird men who brought the orange cloud." He left her standing there wondering if her bot needed to be put down. The landscape was a desolate wasteland of orange powder that erupted with every step. It was in her eyes and ears and chaffed between her legs. She felt it gritting in her teeth, a sore reminder there wasn't much hope. The barn was desolate, quiet except a few birds chirping. She never imagined life could be so surreal.

"Go," she ordered. Boondock belly crawled anyway, reaching the door and slipping inside. Ketty's neural network inside her head was devoid of the normal chatter from the Galactic web, but she had a good signal from Boondock. She slung her dad's rifle over her shoulder and ran to the barn. Inside, the massive star ship floated a foot off the ground, the first shred of proof that human technology could survive. She ducked as a bird fluttered for the rafters, the only sound besides Boondock crawling up the stairs. He motioned for her to come up on the scaffolding. Everything was exactly like it was the night of the party, except the lack of people and the orange silt covering everything.

"Hello?" There was no reply, yet Ketty thought about her brother, and the spaceship before her that seemed unharmed. "Boondock, get Bromide in here while I check out the house. But keep your eyes peeled for anything suspicious."

"Yes, mistress, but it would not be beneficial for me to peel my eyes."

"Just get Bromide and search this ship!" She climbed the scaffolding and went out on the deck as she had done at the party. When she came outside, the sun lanced the roof of the barn where she stood, six stories off the ground. It would be easy to end it now, not even Bromide was fast enough to save her. She remained calm and let the sun soak into her skin. In the summer she used to let that warmth flood her with a confidence all was right with the world, but now the feeling was gone. Sweat beaded on her forehead and stung her eyes, reminding her she was at least still alive. She had to keep moving or succumb to the nagging depression that threatened her. It was a mile to the house and she set out on foot, determined to find some form of motorized transportation. She sprinted up the trial, catching glimpses of the mansion, but as she approached, she could see a fire had consumed the structure. Normally, a fire would have been quickly extinguished by the house monitor and grounds keeping robots, but when she reached the yard, it was as if she stepped into a war zone.

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