I've been walking for roughly 40 minutes, the water flow must have been affected by some kind of debris that made it into the pipes... the industries call them "water" and "debris", but in all fairness, all the disposal sites manage are hazardous leftovers from the production lines, radioactive material, toxic chemicals, near useless fluids, you name it, if it has no practical application, it is bound to be there, I couldn't care less however, my suit was designed to withstand that and then some, what worries me right now is Emma, she usually isn't happy about these sorts of jobs...

Umm... is there any-

*Beep**Beep* You already know what I think about this, I hate it when you go near those areas.

I know, I know, but there is no way around it, if I don't pull my weight Aurum will have no use for me-

*Beep**Beep* As if they cared about you! I doubt they even know there is a citizen mantaining this place.

*Beep**Beep* Not even the wealthiest executive, manager or whatever they are, knows how to operate one of these suits.

*Beep**Beep* And just how selfish do you have to be?! Haven't you seen me operate maintenance drones?! I have told you time and time again that I am better suited for dirty jobs!

She is yelling by now...

*Beep**Beep* ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS THE WORST PART?! Every time one of these tasks comes up you say "Don't worry, it isn't that hard" or "My suit was made for this" as if I care! Glimmer treatment can only help you if you are alive!

*Beep**Beep* Ever since I was given to you I've had to sit around while you risk your life fixing the problems of some petty executive!

*Beep**Boop* Yeah! You tell him girl!

*Beep**Beep* What am I supposed to do if your head ends up half a meter away from your body?!

*Beep**Beep* Oh I'm sorry Mr. Fatty McFatty, my citizen was decapitated while trying to fix your ceiling fan, may I suggest bringing another one to finish his job?

Umm... Emma?

*Beep**Boop* Shhh!

*Beep**Beep* Have you ever stopped to wonder about my feelings for you?! We have been together for more than 15 years Kin! You cannot just waltz off to die and leave me alone you moron!

*Beep**Beep* Why won't you let me help you? Can't you see you are everything I have?!

I do not know what to say... I thought the least I could do was take care of the heavy lifting, electricity and toxin... handling... well, yeah it does seem too much for a simple human, but if I do not do that, how am I supposed to help?

*Beep**Boop* She is very sad... and angry... honey bunny, you have to mind what you say.

*Beep* Yes, choose your words carefully boy, you may escape most of the punishment.

There is no way I can manage the schedules the industries send, I cannot operate more than one drone at a time, I don't even have access to glimmer treatment.. wait, punishment?

*Beep**Boop* Nevermind that, love.

I'm sorry Emma, I'm just a human, even if I did my best, I wouldn't be able to put together my schedule as precisely as you do, if I'm ever injured, I cannot treat my wounds properly, I'm not capable of accessing the intermal mechanisms of buildings...

Yes, there are machines inside those mossy walls, but I can't explain right now.

You have been taking care of me all this time, you are there to scold me, patch me up, you talk to me, keep me company and I'm pretty sure you are fully capable and willing to forcefully drag me back to my chamber if I take my tasks to the extreme.

You do all that smart stuff without a break, meanwhile I have to go back to my chamber to rest, my abilites are limited to what this suit can do.

I feel powerless whenever I think about all the things you do in the background, I don't like being dead weight, so if it means I can make your life easier, I will risk my life doing what I do.

Also you are special to me and I like you a lot even though you think I'm an idiot.

*Beep**Boop* Awww would you look at those vitals? That can only mean he lo-

*Beep**Beep* You know even the earliest assistant models could do all that without breaking a sweat, right? I understand, but I do not agree, I would not mind having you around, even if you did nothing to help, actually, that is what I want, from now on you must foll-

*Beep* Assistant, you are not authorized to do that.

Do what?

*Beep**Beep* N-nothing, hurry up and get to the disposal site, since you did not lie to me, I shall help you out with area C.

*Beep**Boop* She is too proud to tell you honey, I'm not, I looove y-

*Beep**Beep* Do you want to die?

*Beep**Boop* ):

What is going on?

*Beep**Beep* I'm reconnecting to your suit once I've restablished the power.

I'll be waiting, I guess...

I'm already within the vincinity of the disposal site, most of the soil has been stained with an orange-greenish color, the few buildings around here lack the usual moss patches, instead they look really dusty and may not hold up for long, there are large, rusty pipes protruding out of the cracked soil.

There is an orange mist covering the horizon, possibly made by the substances that flow thorugh here, normally even walking around here would kill me, but I have my suit, I'm fine.

Maybe in another time many people would have complained about the state of this place, but now nobody really cares, we are all focusing on keeping Aurum afloat.

While admiring the view I'm following a little arrow my suit is displaying for me, it marks the direction of the "water" flow in the pipes underground.

After half an hour or so, I reach the exposed end of a pipe, unsurprisingly, quite a bit of mud has accumulated on the gate which is interfering with the liquids trying to leave the pipe, for safety, I dip my finger in a small puddle to confirm my suit is capable of touching the wastes without trouble.

*Sizzle* *Sizzle*

Hmm.. nothing new.

Now then, how do I get this open?

If there is enough debris to clog it up, I imagine the gate must be heavier than usual.

Oh I know!

Some years ago, Emma was talking about an unfailable method people use to open stuff, I'm sure that will do the trick.

Before using it, I need to get in a proper position though, I don't know how powerful this is gonna be.

OPEN!

Somewhere else...

*Beep**Beep* Ughh.. what an idiot.

*Beep**Beep* Was it that hard to understand?

SESAME!

Who-ahh... I- ba-rely have to... to pu-sh.

Unveliebable! It swung right open.

That magical phrase works perfectly and all the debris comes gushing out.

It is quite slimy, but thankfully only reaches my knees. I let it flow out of the pipe and remove any solid wastes.

Hmm... I wonder...

CLOSE!

SESAME!

Nothing happens... perhaps the magic has run out for today. Anyways I have to close this thing.

*Sizzle**Sizzle*

*Beep* This is a pre-recorded message.

Huh?

*Beep**Beep* Kin Aurum that suit best be in prime condition when I get back to you.

....

Oh no! My kneepads are being exposed to corriding, probably lethal wastes! The stains will take ages to come off!

Emma might be angry?

---------- 1 hour later ----------

*Beep**Beep* I'm back, the electricity has been restablish- Kin Aurum.

Y-yes?

*Beep**Beep* What happened to that suit?

W-what do you mean s-sweetheart?

*Beep* Citizen has finished the first batch of chores, September 29, 2040, 8:05 - 4th mark

*Beep**Beep* What did you just call me?

Forgive... Sesame...

*Beep**Beep* (:

Please don't hurt me...