I am in luck, this root has retained most of the strength it had in life, buried deep underground. I cannibalise the tree into support for my leg. While it would not have been acceptable before… I am satisfied with the outcome. With my mobility partially restored, I retrace my steps back to the crumbling roads.

Not for the first time I find thoughts and ideas which I should never have had float through my mind. As little as it matters I feel discomfort at the notion that I may be on borrowed time, I was never meant to be out here, exposed to the elements for this long or with this little attention, if anything, perhaps I should be proud that I have lasted so long. Yes. I think that is a more pleasant way to look at the circumstances. I have survived.

I have failed them.

The idea comes unbidden. Why couldn't I just pretend that I was doing something, anything right? I couldn’t, because at the end of the day I can't do anything right! I let them all-

The ground raises up to meet me and I am consumed by a cloud of dust, sand and ice. My foot, the one with impaired function, was caught in a pothole in the decaying road. Perhaps… I should just lay here, in the dirt where I belong?

That's a terrible thought, what if I can still do something? I should start small, First I can just check my internal clock

CMOS Battery missing or damaged, Current Time is unavailable

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

That must be a joke. If I could panic, which I cannot, I would likely panic, however that would be ridiculous, I am a machine, I am a machine, I am alive, my thoughts are simply erroneous, they have been for some time. A quick reboot will solve this! Please, it has to.

Confirmitdoesnot memory wiitdoesnotpe?Y/Nitdoesnot

Does this kill me?Y

I become aware that I am once again on the ground, and that I appear to be damaged. My leg has been repaired in a truly unacceptable way and I am unable to access the time, the presumed fall into a pothole has also damaged my chest chassis. This is all within acceptable parameters, I don't want to live alone anymore.

That, did not feel like me? I would worry that I was in some way compromised, but I have been alone, I know that the only factors that are acting on me are the unforgiving climate and myself. There is no use considering it, I simply must move on. Pulling myself up, I wish I could check the Time,but all it displays is 00:00, and a date far before my entrance into this world, how frustrating. In order to prevent myself from falling into any holes, I need to be more careful, especially with my battered form.

That isn't important though, what is is that I make sure to not retrace my own steps, even if I don't remember. The roads are useful for that. I need to pay attention and not allow my thoughts to wander. I need to be ready if I spot something, movement or colour which could signify a living organism.

Sometimes I would even take another functional machine over what I have now.

Glancing at my leg, I would even take a half destroyed android as long as it had a functional left leg.

That's sick, they would be ashamed of me if they were still here. Despite that, I wish they were.