Murder Drones: New Models

RCNC9 — Uzi’s Office N and Uzi were cleaning up after their rather active “break.” Once the Disassembly Drone finished the last touches, he noticed Uzi standing silently by the window, staring outside. N: All right. I’m heading out. Uzi: Wait. N: Hm? Uzi: Honestly… I don’t want to work. turns around with a smile Let’s take a walk in the park? opens the window It’s such a warm, lovely evening. N: *chuckles* Well, I guess if we stay a little longer, nothing will happen to the core. He picked up the Worker Drone onto his shoulders and flew out through the window. --- Khan’s Office Khan sat slumped over paperwork, lazily signing yet another document. Suddenly the door burst open, and a furious Disassembly Drone stood in the doorway. V: Get up and follow me! Khan: Oh! V! What are you—? V: Your daughter is being assaulted! Khan: WHAT?!!! BY WHO?!!! V: N! Khan: Eh… what? But he’s her— V: If they’re forcing each other, then he’s a terrible husband! Khan: THAT LITTLE—!!! I’LL RIP HIS—!!! --- Uzi’s Office The door slammed open and Khan and V stormed inside. Khan: N, YOU—! …Where are they?! The room was empty, and only the breeze from the open window gently stirred the curtains. --- Bamboo Sector Night had fallen, and only the houses of the small village glowed with warm lights. --- Virginia’s House Virginia: Here, take this towel and go to the bath like you wanted. J: Thank you. Virginia: Hm. Never thought one of the First Three would be bathing in my bathroom. J: shocked What do you mean? Virginia: I’ve known you since the day you first arrived on this planet. J: What?! Virginia: I was out exploring with other Worker Drones, scouting new territory to settle. Then a space capsule crashed from the sky at high speed. When we approached, three yellow crosses lit up in the darkness of the cabin and you attacked our group leader. Those were your first kills. You didn’t get all of us back then. J: *lowers her head* Virginia: Amazing. So many years have passed, and I still recognized you by silhouette. I must’ve been so terrified that the image of your trio burned itself into my mind. J: quietly I… I’m sorry. If we had known the entire Frost Era was one big setup… we would’ve never killed anyone without reason. Virginia: places a hand on J’s shoulder I don’t blame you. You had no choice. Now go on—take your bath. J: smiles faintly All right. --- Meanwhile, Izun and Benji returned home since it was already dark. Benji quickly led the purple Drone up to the attic—his “secret base,” as he called it. --- Attic Benji: Careful. The floorboards here are flimsy. Izun: Okay. So what did you want to show me? Benji: Just some trinkets left from my parents. Izun: Where are they? Benji: grows sad My mom… I don’t know where she is. And my dad… *tears well up* He was killed. Izun: Huh?! Killed?! By who?! Benji: That beast! points at a photo of the predator, riddled with holes and torn in places That monster took my father! Izun: Oh! Sorry! I didn’t mean to bring up old wounds… Benji: It’s fine. One day I’ll kill it with my own hands. Izun: But tomorrow Aunt J is going to deal with it. Benji: Honestly… smirks I hope she fails. Izun: No way! She’s insanely strong! She’ll do it! The boys burst into laughter, but eventually silence returned. Izun: So… don’t you want to tell me what happened to them? Benji: Eh… fine. It happened a few years ago when I was four or five, but I remember it like last week. We lived here in Grandma Virginia’s house—me, Dad, Mom, and Grandma. One evening, an old friend of my parents suddenly visited. At the end she claimed that while my father was with us, she had a son from him. Despite Dad’s explanations, Mom wouldn’t listen. She left me with Grandma temporarily and went to find a place to live in some city. She said she’d come back for me. Dad fell into depression… And around that time, the bermecad appeared. When it attacked the village again, Dad… sacrificed himself and… Well, you get it. Wait—are you crying?! Izun: tears streaming This is awful! I’m so sorry! I could say my life wasn’t easy either, but at least no one died, and my dad doesn’t have some old friend claiming he has a secret son! Well… he does have an old friend—Aunt J and some other Disassembly Drone— but your situation is way worse! --- Bathroom J entered the bathroom, already prepared for her. Judging by the steam, the water was hot, and the white foam practically invited her to sink into it. She closed the door, left her clothes on the chair, armed herself with a bottle of Freezer so she wouldn’t melt, and sat in the bath. Meanwhile, outside the window, two Worker Drones were sneaking around. Drone #1: Quiet, will you! Drone #2: This is the window. They propped up a log and peeked inside. Drone #1: Whoa, there she is! Drone #2: Damn, she looks even better than we thought. But that white foam is blocking the view too much. Drone #1: Tch! That old lady planned this. She made the bath like this on purpose. But it’s fine—the foam will settle eventually, and we’ll get the full view. Drone #2: excited Can’t wait! J, meanwhile, lay relaxing in the bath with her display turned off, unaware of the watchers outside. --- Attic Benji: And you know what’s the funniest part? Izun: curious What?! Tell me! Benji: That “friend” lied about having a son! Can you believe it?! Izun: jumps up How could she?! stomps the floor hard Benji: Izun, calm down! I told you the floor is flimsy. Izun: Sorry! But I have a LOT of negative emotions about this! stomps again The floorboard cracked, Izun’s leg fell through, and the surrounding boards began to splinter. Izun: shocked Oh crap. --- Bathroom The foam in the bath was slowly dissolving, leaving the water clear. The peeping Workers were sweating in anticipation— but sudden noises from the ceiling made J activate her display, and the voyeurs ducked out of sight. J: What the…? She saw the ceiling above her cracking. Before she could react, a large chunk broke off— and something big fell straight into the bathtub, splashing water everywhere. J: WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! ***INTERESTING FACT: The names of all animals on Copper‑9 are formed in a specific way. Let’s break it down using the example of a cat. Since the animals of Copper‑9 were frozen during the Frost Era, they managed to survive and continue living after the planet was restored. First, we take the English name of the animal — in our case, “Cat”, pronounced “Kæt.” Next, to show that this creature comes from an exoplanet with no breathable atmosphere, we add “Mecha.” Finally, we take the last syllable of the animal’s Russian name of this animal Combine all parts together, and we get: Cat of Copper‑9 → “Cat‑mecha‑ka.” Thus, the Copper‑9 cat is called “Catmechaka.”*** J pulled her legs close and stared in shock at the spot where bubbles were rising. From the water, Izun burst upward. Because his purple hair had become darker, heavy, and plastered to his display, he couldn’t see anything. Izun: Ah! Damn! Where am I?! J: WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, YOU IDIOT?!!!!!! Izun: trying to push the hair off his display Huh? Aunt J? You— J: I’M NOT YOUR AUNT! AND— leans in and covers his display with her hands DON’T MOVE YOUR HAIR UNTIL YOU’RE OUT! Outside the window, the two Worker Drones started losing their minds. Drone #1: tears of jealousy Why him and not me?!!!! Drone #2: Quiet, you idiot! J seemed to notice movement by the window. J: Izun, get out and check behind the house. And don’t open your eyes until you’re outside! Izun: Okay. He carefully climbed out of the bathtub and, without moving the wet hair from his display, left the room. Virginia: What was that noise? Izun: wiping himself Oh, nothing. Remembering J’s request, he went outside and circled the house— and saw two Worker Drones peeking into the bathroom window. He was small, but even he understood what they were doing. Izun: display covered in purple embarrassment lines Hey! What are you two doing?! The two Drones fell off the log they were standing on. Drone #1: Huh? You’re that purple runt. Izun: Do you know that peeping is NOT allowed?! Drone #1: Oh come on. Easy for you to say now. When you’re 13–15, you’ll think differently. Izun: Wait—you’re 13? I thought you were adults. Drone #1: We ARE adults! Drone #2: Let’s just leave. Izun: Yeah, you better. Otherwise I’ll tell Aunt J. insane stare And trust me—she’ll find Worker Drones like you VERY fast… The two Drones turned pale with terror, apologized, and ran for their lives. Izun: laughs I didn’t even know my acting skills were THAT good. --- RCNC9 — Uzi’s Office N flew in through the window with Uzi on his back. N: That was a great walk. Uzi: Agreed! Though… I miss having Izun around. But overall, it was nice. N: Don’t worry, J won’t let anything happen to him… probably. But we’ll still be there for him. Khan: from the darkness I’m not sure you’ll be with us anymore. Uzi: Dad?! What are you— sees V next to him Oh… I see. Khan: N. I trusted you with my daughter. I allowed you two to be together. You swore loyalty at the wedding. And now— clenches fists You dare lay your hands on her…?! Uzi: confused N? What is he talking about? N: shrugs helplessly Khan: Uzi, step away from him. Before I kick him out, I’m going to punish him properly. pulls a rope from behind his back Uzi: What is going on?! V: Uzi, listen to your father and step aside. Unless you want to stay with someone who abuses you! Uzi: What?! You’re seriously going to tie him up with a rope? Khan: I know a rope won’t hold him. But who said this is an ordinary rope? With a swift motion, the old Drone threw the rope at N. It wrapped tightly around him instantly. N fell to the floor and tried to break free— but to his shock, he couldn’t move a single limb. It felt like he was shut down, but still conscious. N: This is Ootsuri Copper?! Khan: Bingo. Uzi: That’s enough. unties N and throws the rope out the window What the hell is going on?! V: We’re trying to help you! Uzi: You’re confusing “help” with “creating problems.” N: Uzi, I think I know what they mean. Uzi: All right… N leaned in and whispered into Uzi’s audio receptor. Uzi: surprised Oh! I see. Okay, everyone sit down. We’re talking this out. Khan: tries to speak Uzi: I SAID CALMLY. Understood? Everyone slowly sat on the two couches. Khan: Uzi, listen to your father and come here. Uzi: Dad! I’m not a kid! I’m 29! Khan: …Fair enough. N: All right, V, Mr. Khan. I’ll explain everything. Khan: crosses arms Go on. I’m listening. V: And I’m VERY interested to hear what’s going on between you and J. N began his explanation. --- Morning — Bamboo Sector Izun, J, Virginia, and Benji walked to the village center, where the locals gathered to send J off toward the monster’s cave. Izun: Aunt J… J: silently smacks him on the head Izun: Ow!… Can I go with you? J: Absolutely not. You’re too small and too weak. Izun: But you said I’m as strong as an adult Worker Drone! J: And as you can see from the locals here— that level wasn’t enough to drive the beast away. Izun: sad After everyone wished her luck and told her where the creature lived, J spread her wings and flew deep into the bamboo forest. Izun: Damn. Benji, can you believe it? She refused to take me! Benji: If I were her, I wouldn’t take you either. You’re strong, but still tiny. Izun: You’re tiny too, but you still want to kill it. Benji: Yeah, but I’ll do it when I grow up. Izun: Fine… Benji: Now we just wait for her to fail, come back, and then we’ll drink tea. Izun: Ehhh—she’ll succeed! Benji: I don’t believe it. Izun: Fine! I’ll go after her, and when she defeats it, I’ll bring you one of the bermecad’s teeth! Benji: I don’t know… Izun: Then wait here! The purple Drone sprinted forward at full speed. Benji: STOOOP!!! But Izun didn’t hear him and soon disappeared into the bamboo thicket.