"Jeb, can you hand me the mercury canister?" I asked as I dropped my wrench. It clanged on the marble surface of the work room and I shivered. The ringing echoed through the halls and I glanced over to Jeb and shrugged my shoulder as if in a pathetic apology. Of course this is while he was trying to cover his mouth yet failing in vain attempts to hide his laughter. His whole body was shaking as his eyes were flickering with amusement.
                I glanced around the mansion's viewing room and sighed before pulling back my silver hair into a makeshift ponytail that probably looked as if a toddler did it but I can't help it. I had to chew the inside of my lip ring to stop my hands from grabbing the closest vase and running away. With that I could sell off my servitude, as well as Jeb's, and we can live a long happy life. Even from a young age, I learned that stealing was wrong, this is while Jeb and I were being stolen from our parents but the irony can add only so much salt to a wound.
                Jeb shuffled over to me and sat cross-legged, his dark brown hair came down in ruffles as he rested his head on my shoulder while staring at the bright green circuit board ahead of us. He's still learning to read it and I couldn't have been prouder. I rustled his hair which made the nine-year old scrunch his nose up and pout teasingly.
                He dropped a cool cylindrical object in my hand and I grinned at him. The final missing piece of the puzzle. "What is this?" He asked as I grabbed the soldering iron. My boss is so cheap that he left me a sliver of an old, wrinkled purple sponge that was meant to cool off the iron and to wipe off the collected metal. I groaned inwardly but forced a grand smile.
                "What is what?" I asked as I leaned closer to the board ahead of us.
                He glanced to me for a prolonged second and I could feel his light brown eyes trace my face for some sort of sign of something. I guess he didn't see it as he looked back down to the board. "That."
                He pointed to white lettering and a metal piece on the electrical schematic board. I glanced to his tan face and had to stop myself from wondering where we turned out so different. Maybe because I'm old enough to be the slave to work in the factories- let out on special occasions to grand clients who need something repaired.
                If today was normal, I would be inside of a smoky room with a large machine that is attached to a large blade. The large blade swings down and cuts sodium, a soft metal. I simply swung the blade by its large red lever. If my fingers get in the way then what a shame, I've lost my fingers. It's not like I can pay for any sort of replacements. It's not like I bought the metal that pierced my face- that's just my boss sticking needles into my face as a vain attempt to make me look more like a cyborg as I go to his cyborg patients. Once I get back to the factory, the metal pieces will be ripped right back out leaving the tiny holes.
                "That's a resistor." I answered while gently detaching the wiring to the panels of controls on the sheet of plastic and taking out the green board. "Do you mind asking the Sir if there is any water where we can wet this?" I held up the tattered purple sponge.
                It took a lot in me to have Jeb run off and do the errand. He grabbed it from my hand and ran off, I couldn't help but watch him go. He looks pure human. No metal running his blood cold. A real life human. We are so hard to come-by nowadays as people are buying metal transplants and babies are born with problems so they are made cyborgs before they even have a choice. Plus, the ones that are left tend to be shipped off until they finally turn into a cyborg of sorts. Sir better not do anything to Jeb.
                I hooked up the soldering iron to the wall of outlets on the side of the viewing room and waited for the iron to get hot. It is the only personal item I am allowed to have; I've had it since I was young. The side leaning up to the hook where it holds the scalding hot metal is starting to melt and curve simply due to the heat radiating off the silver coated mess. I sometime want to clean it; it hasn't had a good cleaning in forever.
                "Look what Sir gave me!" Jeb exclaimed as he bolted back inside. I turned around slightly to see his silhouette burst through the huge white double doors.
                "What did Sir give you?" I played along. It's not like I'm going to tell him to get on with it because I want to get back to the factory so we don't have to face the boss' wrath. Instead, I'll make sure that he can go outside for a while as I fix up the old television screen, circuit board, and wiring. These are hard to come by ever since the monitor walls and projection reflections, my hands are merely shaking at the sight of the ancient treasure.
                Jeb held out his hands as if he was holding a frog in there, scared it would leap out and hop away. I peered in and gasped, my sharp intake of breath could be heard throughout the room but Sir gave me a wet sponge. I had to take a deep breath as I gently pried it out of Jeb's hands and pressed it into the empty space. It fit like a glove. I ha- I can't accept this. Boss will see it on the bill. I took a deep breath and glanced to Jeb, he seemed to excited and innocent over the small gesture, no way am I going to take that away from him. The poor boy has seen far too much.
                "Would you like to go out in the courtyard as I finish this up? I promise that I won't take too long." I smiled, he nodded before running off through the doors. I grabbed the soldering iron and pressed it against the wet sponge satisfied to hear the sizzle of water meeting the equivalent of fire.
                Just to check, I ripped off my glove and glanced down to my left hand which was a pure layer of burns and scars. I took a another deep breath before pressing the iron against it. I peeled it off of my skin that scarred a new tissue and I winced. The boss was the first one to teach me to do that and everyone else went along with it. You can look at anyone in the factory and see that they're scarred from experiments as well. We are experiments. Nothing more, nothing less. Well the whole being less isn't that far off. I quickly threw the glove back on and looked around.
                The old mercury canister was lying in my tool box as I held the center of the top of the new canister within the white circular outline on the green board. I firmly pressed my gloved finger to the canister and ran the soldering iron along the rims, melting the metal on to the board. I can't tell the material of this board, it's too old to be able to tell right off the bat but if I could really get my hands on it... Like that would ever happen. I sighed as I wiped the soldering iron on the sponge, the excess metal that was on the tip of the iron rubbed off and solidified on the sponge but I was too busy staring at the panel.
                Having a human touch something is so horrid that we are required to wear gloves on the job. My fingers itched to rip the seams of the gloves and to brush my fingers along the buttons. My calloused finger pads taking in any new feeling. Maybe it has a whole new texture. I weakly smiled before getting back to work. I glanced to the board and weakly smiled as a large R captured my eye, I wonder how it caught Jeb's. Perhaps it was the fact that they looked like tiny beads.
                "Beautious,' I mumbled to myself before grabbing the different colored wires. Everything had a slot, it wasn't the most impressive wiring I've ever seen. It wasn't as intricate as everything was labeled and color coded, just waiting for me to connect it all together. The translucent coverings over the ends slid into the holes with ease like a perfect key to the perfect lock.
                I wiped away a slight layer of sweat from my brow and crouched on my knees to look at it in a different perspective. It seems good- good enough to connect it all back together again like Humpty Dumpty. Except this time, it's fun and we get to use screws.
    I started piecing the sheets of plastic together and when I got to the screen, I stared at my silhouette reflection in the glass. Ah, the dielectric material looks so smooth, my fingers want to brush over it but alas no. My touch is equivalent to a beating. I don't think Jeb could handle me getting another beating without imploding. I glanced behind me as if expecting him to be there but he was still gone.
The plasma display hooked back into the sides perfectly and I tipped the screen side over to make sure it was secure. Thank goodness it was. I flipped it back over and lined the screw holes together. My hands flopped like a fish out of water behind me as I tried to grab my bag of screws without losing my grip on the perfectly aligned television panels. My hands gripped around the microfiber bag only to hear the screws slip out and clang against the pristine white marble. Shoot.
I growled and gently set down the television and scavenged for the scattered screws. They were all over the place and I had to fold my thin fiberglass and synthetic fiber shirt so I could carry all of my screws. Wait- these aren't mine. Mine are the Frearson V Recess- the ones that the boss supplies me. I narrowed my eyes and sat back down once all the screws were folded into the fabric of my shirt.
I crossed my legs in front of me and went through the screws, there are oval trims and undercuts as well as square countersunks, hexagons, and fillisters. My worn down cloth gloves picked them up and examined them. They'll work with the slots but I don't have the correct screwdrivers. I sighed before grabbing my tin, crudely painted red box of tools. As they slid around in the box, the metal clanged together. I unlocked the box and sorted through my box. I have more frearson bits that are a bit dull- I also have an ice pick just in case. You never know what kind of junk can get into ancient electronics.
I had enough fillisters for the sides so why not. I ran a hand over the top of my hair to flatten the hairs that fell loose while I was scavenging. I used my frearson bit and perfectly aligned the holes once more before screwing it in. Once all the sides were bolted together, I stood up and took my gloves off. I wiped my hands on my plaid patterned shirt and dropped my screw drivers and the excess screws into my box. Now I have to plug it back into the transparent wall, which is easy since the wires are already connected to the decibels. I just have to connect the television, grab Jeb, and then go. No harm, no foul.
I put my gloves back on and hauled the television up. It was large and heavy but had a hatch to lock on when it hit the wall which helped. Once the click rang through the room, I started hooking up the wires and flipped the generator switch on the outlet wall. I unplugged my soldering iron and let it cool as I marveled the sight.
The glass plates on the screen began to change colors and images showed up pixelated. I gasped and quickly shut it off and bundled everything up. My heart was pounding as I ran out the doors of the viewing room down the hall to find Jeb. He was in the courtyard with a man- Sir. Oh no. My heart raced even more as I opened the door to go outside, Jeb looked mortified while the man looked smug. If he hurt my brother in any way...
"Why, why, why, Miss Evans I presume?" The man purred. On his walking stick was a diamond and even I could see the latch from where the top separated to hold a dagger or something beneath it. I held my hand out as a peace offering while keeping my eyes on Jeb. His skin has paled and he looked sick. No. No. No. I promised I'd protect him.
"Yes, Sir," I mumbled while trying to slowly make my way over to Jeb. I guess I wasn't as discreet as I thought because he stepped in front of me.
"You do understand that being on the Master's ground is unpermitted." He raised his chin and his dark eyes twinkled as if seeing me cowering gave him more power.
"Yes sir, but he is only a boy of nine summers. Two giant moons." I whimpered in a plea.
"Are you his mother?"
"No, but I am his only family," I answered while keeping my eyes calmly locked on Jeb. His eyes were starting to tear up and glass tears started to amplify his speckled freckles. His lips curled in anticipation as he knew what to expect next while I was going to be that defiant sister. I know what's going to happen- I'm just going to have to prevent it as much as I can. Sir's eyes followed my face as if searching for something but I gave him nothing. I glanced over to Jeb who gave me a pleading look to let this go. "Sir, I am the one who told him to go to the courtyard. Please, make me your slave instead."
Sir's eyes looked at me before weakly smiling, "It is only a small price to pay. He will stay here, I will take care of him and treat him like my own. My wife and I always wanted children and you can come by whenever. Night or day." He turned around and knelt down to Jeb before resting his hand on my brother's frail shoulder. "Would you like to stay here?" Sir's eyes flickered to me. "Instead of your sister?"
Jeb glanced up at me and nodded bravely. My little brother. My little soldier. I sucked in my breath and nodded. I can't complain. Sir's metal arms and ears glinted in the sun and I bowed. "Of course sir, I fixed your television and feel free to bill the Boss for the sponge." It's okay, with Jeb gone it's not like I can eat anyways.
Sir waved his arm as if he didn't care. I gave Jeb a slight wave, wanting to do nothing more but to hug him. We both mouthed apologies to each other and sweet nothings as we backed away from each other.
I left the house without my brother.
---
    "We can make due without him. It's not like we had any use for a boy who couldn't read blueprints." The black figure behind the mask spoke. For safety reasons, the boss couldn't show his face in fear of revolution.
    "He was dyslexic," I mumbled while fiddling with my fingers.
    "Go back to work!" He announced and I walked away silently.
    The same wooden, lead paint covered handle was chipping beneath my fingers as I swung it down and the large blade sliced through the block of sodium before going on to the next station. The blade was so close to my body that I shivered, but I was waiting for Hill to come. I asked to borrow her Plasma Screen Chip and I gave her my only emerald chip left. So I better receive.
    Speak of the devil, she slipped past me and something cold slipped into my pocket. I grinned at myself before looking down. The shopping center was open through the glass panel and I searched through the resistors. I glanced down to Hill's account- I did give her an emerald chip. I bought a couple ¼ Carbon Watt resistors and weakly smiled. For Jeb.