Read Binary Cycle - (Part 1: Disruption) for Free Online Page B

chaotic and dangerous world to live in.
    ∞
    “Skyia.” 
    MiLO’s metallic voice drifted into her dreams, disturbing her thoughts and pulling her back into a painful reality.
    When she opened her eyes she was lying on a table in MiLO’s workshop, a small chamber adjoining the living room. 
    A mechanical hand held a long cylindrical device which emanated a pulsing, green light. He passed it slowly over each of her limbs and over her torso. The searing pain in her bones dissipated and she felt the tension leave her body wherever the device passed. 
    In a few minutes MiLO had finished the light-surgery and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, even though robots could not sigh.
    “There, that should do it,” MiLO said as he turned off the device and set it aside. “You’re incredibly lucky, Skyia. If you hadn’t landed on the bamboo table, there would have been nothing to break your fall.”
    Skyia hesitantly pushed herself up into a seated position on the table and quickly discovered that the pain was all but gone. She hopped off onto the floor, leaned down and threw her arms around the small robot.
    “Thank you so much, MiLO. You saved my life.”
    Lights winked in waves across his front panel. “Not at all, Skyia. My job is to assist and protect the Signal Keepers. I’m only doing my duty to the Tower.”
    Skyia gave half a frown and slapped his metal frame playfully. “Oh, I see. Just doing your job, eh?” She crossed her arms in front of her. “You’re always so formal. Should I start calling you by your full name then, Mr. Multi-intelligent Life-form Operations droid?”
    MiLO beeped, not understanding her sarcasm. In response he simply wheeled off into the kitchen. He came back out bearing a tray of delicious snacks and a large pot of refreshingly cold tea.
    “Ooohh thanks!” Skyia eyed the tray greedily. It had been hours since she’d last eaten. She reached for one of the star-fruits which were laid out on the titanium plate.
    MiLO scanned her again as she nibbled the sweet fruit, savoring its tangy flavors.
    “You
did
get a sunburn.” MiLO said. A shutter raised up on his metallic body and he removed a small tube which he held up in front of Skyia.
    “Honestly, no. Don’t fuss so much, MiLO dear. After my fall, you’re worried about a little sunburn?”
    “I most certainly am. What’s the point of saving you if you’re going to die of skin cancer?” 
    With a slight whirring sound he extended his arm closer to Skyia. She reluctantly took the tube, squeezed the clear liquid into her palm and rubbed the stuff over her sunburn. Wherever she applied the salve, her ruddy skin became smooth and icy, the coolness refreshing and welcome.
    “Ok, so maybe I got a little burnt,” she admitted. “I’m sorry MiLO, but it’s so nice up there. I love Evening and can’t bear the thought of the suns disappearing soon. How long will the Day last, again?”
    A few beeps while MiLO calculated. “At our latitude the suns will sink below the horizon in exactly seventeen days, nine hours, thirty two minutes and...forty eight seconds.”
    She shook her head. “Show off.”
    “Perhaps it would be prudent to take a holo-pic of the sunset when it’s at its most glorious?” he suggested.
    Skyia smiled. “You know I would, but we don’t have a holo-camera anymore, remember?” Her face reddened as she recalled the day she’d accidentally dropped it over the edge of the terrace. She had been leaning over the edge taking pictures of a nest of cliff sparrows when the camera slipped out of her hands. At least it hadn’t been her that had tumbled down that time. Not even MiLO’s sophisticated medicinal treatments could have saved her from a fifty-meter drop.
    MiLO twirled on his wheels and headed into the living room.
    “Where are you going so fast? You’re taking the tea with you and I haven’t had any yet.”
    “Please follow me, Skyia, I want to show you something.”
    She smiled—this was as subtle