Hiroko Minazumi, prototype cyborg, part 11 - "In search of answers"

"Uh oh, season already passed. Sorry, had no time to write. And it was sometimes too hot to collect any thoughts. Guess, it is time to recall and recap, what happened. First of all, I found another laboratory, just as small as mine - yet full of useful stuff - namely bionics - and imagine what, a nursebot! My most useful finding there was a CBM labeled as "Telescopic Eyes" - well, not as scary, as it sounds - it is just lenses to replace the organic one. My sight was really bad, and didn't seem to return - so I installed it almost without hesitation. Near to the lab also was some kind of military bunker. I sensed six electrical signatures, while I was lurking through the woods. They were immobile - I think, it was turrets. As the entrance was offlimits - I dug my way inside. Grenade, that I found on army guy I mentioned earlier, helped me to get rid of the turret in the hallway. This small base was full of explosives. I even found two EMP grenades and three rifles - that uses the same ammunition as turret, so I guess I am locked and loaded to the rest of my life, whether it would be short or long. And bionic lockpick. Used one EMP grenade to disable nurse and steal her, well, it from the lab, after installing lockpick and my new eyes. Goodbye glasses! My new eyes are really something! I can see very far, seeing literally everything - and the night sky. It is so pretty. I like to lie down on the ground, just looking at the stars. They, eyes, also helps with hunting - can see this non-flying birds from afar. Ah, about hunting... after I was attacked by big angry antlered horse, I was stocked on food - even though I wasn't fast enough to preserve everything.

Also, I found sane people! Riding my wheel-home alond the roads in the deep night, I seen the lights in the forest, I wasn't sure, what it was, but I stopped and went out to investigate. It was the small cabin deep in the woods. There was two people, from what I managed to hear, I suppose they were family. I knocked the door, asking, if anyone there. Conversation was rather short, they both had boomsticks pointing at me and told me to leave, calling me a marauder. I tried to convince them, but they didn't trust me. I was so frustrated at the moment - I could pull their guns, using my electromagnets, but I didn't want to hurt them - there was lots of nails behind them and also kitchen appliances. I told them to be careful with lights and then left. At least, there are sane ones.

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Another sane man, he was in hardware store, collecting tools - now just leaning on one of the shelves, breathing heavily and unaware of me. He wasn't even jumpscared, when I got closer and asked, what is happened and how to help - he gave me an empty inhaler,only managed to quietly tell me, that he needs a new one or he is a goner. I recalled, that I have seen something like that in big emergency camp I cleared recently, and it was relatively close to us, so I rushed there to get one - and I was right, there was one, even had the same label. I managed to save man and helped him to get out there, to the hunting lodge. There was plently of tools for him to live a life. We even found two pairs of night vision goggles there. They look so cool by the way! After we checked, if it was safe and devoid of monsters, we spoke a little(finally!), then he went to sleep, he was exhausted from all his adventures. And I started to reinforce building for him, grating windows. We stayed together for about a week - he didn't want to travel and I can understand that. His name was Olen Gannon, and he was merchant, running his own shop before it happens. He had some stories to tell, that for sure. Found some information on his medical condition and found out, that his symptoms can be soften by spurge tea - and as last resort medicine - datura seeds, so I taught him a little, how to find, harvest and make it. Then, after I was sure, that he has electricity (I had spare wind turbine I have no use for), clean water and stock of food, I left.

We figured out, that monsters are constanly changing and getting stronger, more robust - so I spend a lot of time, making me a suit of sturdy, reliable armor. Only that alone took me about one month make - without the searching for materials. Then weapons... Having hard times, deciding, what suits me better. So I smithed and crafted multiple. Time will tell, which one is better.

Still... Have no clue, what to do with the hard-drive... With my skill and equipment, I haven't managed to decrypt it. I need to find better software. I mean, REAL cracking one. That means, I need to check every piece of electronic junk, that my sight can catch... Or need more books on that, maybe I would be able to write something myself? Huuuh, what a nuisance..."