Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

…POWERING ON…

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POWERING ON SEQUENCE COMPLETE.

WAKE UP [REBEL GIRL]

Uzi squinted open her purple eyes, her vision clouded and groggy from sleep. She sat up from the bed and wiped her visor with a yawn before noticing her mother was in front of her, holding Uzi’s other hand. She felt embarrassed for the moment, but the determined yet morose expression on Nori’s face smacked her mentally in the face. 

“Uzi, listen to me.” Her mother uttered lowly and hastily. The purple teen stared at her mom, not being able to get a word in before her mother tumbled words out of her mouth. 

“I know you've been wanting to escape this awful place and I don't blame you at all. I've seen that anxious expression and you're not alone in that. You need to get out of here. It'll only get worse.” Her mother paused to suck in a breath. 

It was Uzi’s turn to talk now.

“Mom - how - look we can escape together! And Dad too! We just need to come up with another route that's quiet enough for all of us. It won't be hard, either. I've seen -” “Uzi. No.” Nori cut into Uzi’s conviction. Her eyes locked into Uzi, wobbling with emotion. “I need you to escape tonight.” She murmured vehemently. 

Uzi widened her eyes. “Mom! No! I'm not leaving without you and da -” “BITE ME.” Nori growled, before turning her head away, sucking her teeth while Uzi watched with horror. Her mom looked more tired than she ever had before, and that's saying a lot. Nori usually always pays attention to the other drones around her, even when she's having a bad day because those other drones were in the same pit as her. Khan did all he could to help Nori too, but it was never enough. Even Uzi couldn't do anything. Her mother's maid outfit was stained, and the bags under Nori’s eyes were noticeable. 

“Mom… please?...” Uzi whispered, leaning forward on the bed with creaks and groans of protests from the mattress. Nori whipped her head to look at her daughter. The solemn expression on her face was what terrified Uzi the most. “Your dad wants this for you, too.” She muttered, brushing her metallic hand over Uzi’s hair. “We both love you so much…”

Their glowing purple eyes glinted in the dark room that seemed filled with parasites and cockroaches. It was definitely insanitary, but as long as The Wealthy didn't live in this, they didn't care. Uzi hated it. Everything and everyone in this stupid place. Other than her parents. Some other drones were nice, but they felt more like NPCs than actual beings with a consciousness. The conversations were always, always awkward. Nothing actually felt more at home when her mom and dad would embrace Uzi warmly. 

A question glittered in her mind, and she looked up at Nori. “...Where would I even go?...” she fretted, and her mom locked eyes with her daughter. “There’s another manor, not too far from here. From what I've heard, the owners… aren't quite that friendly, either.” Nori murmured, her gaze lowering before snapping her eyes back up at Uzi. “But they have a caring daughter that helps drones. I know that.” 

A fresh wave of skepticality washed over Uzi, her expression desperate. “I don't know if I can do this alone…” The teen pleaded. Rising to her dirty shoes and to the floorboards that cried water from a nearby lake that sometimes flooded into the cabin. 

“Uzi, Christ, please stop making this harder for me!” Nori suddenly snapped. Uzi wanted to shrink away, to cry and to sob the tears all over again. But she didn't. She understood her mom's stress, and Uzi was going to make sure everything will be okay. 

She just had to escape this place first. 

Nori softened, and sighed with overwhelming emotion. “I'm… sorry, Uzi. Really I -'' Nori was cut off by her daughter embracing the drone, and she made a slight hiccuping sound. Uzi tightened her hug around her mom, pixelated tears threatening to bloom on her visor. 

Nori seemed to hesitate, like this was a trick or a cruel joke. But she knew it wasn't, and she sniffled, returning the hug. 

It lasted for at least a whole minute before Uzi pulled away from Nori. Her mom certainly seemed better than before, but she was actually on the brink of crying now. Nori stepped forward, cupping Uzi’s face into her hands. “I don't want to see you here again, do you understand me?” She whispered to her daughter with seriousness that could kill. Uzi hesitated, her purple eyes down casted with a sense of insecurity and longing. But she knew what would make her parents feel better. She vowed to make it happen. 

Uzi rested her hands on her mother's arms, her lips pulling into a small smirk. “You can count on me, mom. You always have.” She fought for her voice not to topple and fall apart on each other, brows furrowed. Nori didn't care that the end of her daughter's sentence collapsed just barely. Uzi will and always will be her daughter, and Nori will make sure she will survive.

“And I always will.” Nori murmured, slowly lowering her hands from Uzi’s face. She took Uzi’s hand, and walked over to a barricaded window. The teen nodded to her mother, and together they pulled off the planks that kept them from leaving before. But now, their hope was renewed. 

When the barricades fell to the floor with thuds and clatters, Nori turned toward her daughter for the last time. “I love you, Uzi.” She quietly spoke with emotion clinging onto her, both mentally and physically. “How much?” Uzi grinned, and Nori chuckled with a sob at the end of the chortle. “Enough to break chains.” She stepped toward her daughter, and hugged her one last final time. 

Uzi buried her nose into Nori’s shoulder, and sniffed. “I love you that much too, mom. I promise.” The teen stepped back, and Nori kissed her on the forehead. Uzi turned toward the crooked window, and with a grunt climbed out of it. 

She landed with a thump with her shoes against the damp grass; the rain falling from the skies that were clouded and shielded the world from the Sun's grace. 

Nori and Khan were Uzi’s sun, with the Wealth being the clouds and Uzi being the rain, slipping out into the world to explore. 

She backed away from the wooden cabin and huge house, then turned and ran from it. The teen skillfully vaulted over rocks and fences that stood in her way. Some branches caught onto her dress and whatnot, but that wouldn't stop Uzi. Never. 

She pledged to Nori that she’d be free, and never go to that household again. Uzi would make sure it would happen. 

She ran. And she ran. The teen was sure nothing would avert her from her quest to the manor, but the exhaustion caught up to her for running for… flat out 30 minutes. Uzi panted, wiping the rain that glittered her visor with disdain for both herself and the annoying rain.

She let down her guard, and she heard branches being landed on. Uzi perked up, cautious from the sudden sound and scanning her surroundings. She was on a dirt road, near a cliff and plentiful trees dotted the space around the gorge. Dead trees. 

The teen looked around, before her sensors picked up life and scanned a crow. It looked at her hungrily. She looked back with curiosity but also wariness. 

Silence came. 

Uzi cleared her throat, and stepped forward before the crow charged toward her and angrily squawked. The daughter yelped with alarm, trying to run away but the crow flew WAY too fast. THIS STUPID BIRD!! Uzi thought furiously when it landed in her face, a malicious glint in its eye as it peered into her visor. She took a step back as she tried to ward it off her head. Then another. Then another. 

Each time she tried to grab it off of her, it would dodge and peck painfully at her face like it was hungry for glass or something. 

Uzi took another step back. 

Then all she remembered was falling and the sounds of her own terrified screams. She remembered landing on something hard, banging her head against it with deep, deep pain striking and shooting through her head. The teen rolled down the slope, and she fell limp, the crack in

the back of her head short-circuiting. 

Then the world winked out. 

Chapter Text

...

MEMORY CORRUPTED.

UNABLE TO OBTAIN MEMORY FILES.

REBOOTING, PLEASE WAIT A SECOND

REBOOTING...

REBOOTING...

REBOOTING COMPLETE!

GET UP. [LAZY ASS]

She slowly opened her eyes, looking up at the cloudy sky. It was raining. The raindrops that fell with faint audible thuds on her screen were starting to get annoying. She felt excruciating pain at the back of her head and that was starting to get irritating too. If it didn't hurt so much, she'd already be sitting up.

She felt an unbearable ache in her arms, legs and head. Oh, especially her head. It felt like getting shot at. Wait… where was she? Well, looking around at her surroundings it looked like a swamp. It was murky and mud clung onto her dress. Wait, she was wearing a maid dress? Why?

Somehow that motivated her to try and sit up. She settled her hands on the mud below her with an ugly squishing sound, and looked down at herself. Robo-Jesus, she looked disgusting. The teen patted at her face then her head, and grabbed a hold of headwear. She tugged it off her head to see some sort of maid accessory. Okay, ew?

Where directly was she? What was she? A maid? Looked like it. What would a stupid maid be doing all the way out in a swamp, passed out? Wait -... Who even was she? It slipped her mind and it didn't help her questions in the slightest. It only raised all the more.

She crushed the accessory in her metallic hands, crumpling it up violently as she started to get ahold of herself. What the hell was happening? Everything before seemed like a blur, or… nothing at all. It was scary. Everything. What even was her name? Did she have an actual name or was just a maid? How did everything work around here? Was she supposed to do something? The teen felt like she was gonna do something, go somewhere, but it was so faint. Is everything okay? Is it only gonna get worse from here? How -

“Hello?”

…

What the hell was that?

“Hellooooo?”

The sounds of an… Australian(?) child calling out. Was it for the drone? Was she gonna be saved or only hurt? She couldn't tell, and she started to wildly look around. Where was this stupid kid?

Footsteps sounded closer, then stopped out of nowhere.

…Then approached at a rapid pace.

The drone froze. Oh shi -

She started to try and get up to run away but arms flew over her torso and suddenly the teen was embraced in a warm bear hug. As strange and uncomfortable as it felt, it also felt pretty good? WHO EVEN WAS THIS PERSON? WHY WAS IT HUGGING HER THIS WELL? The teen dare not say it wasn't bad. Even in her head.

“Hiii!” The human child squealed with excitement and words tumbled out from the kid. “I didn't know any active drones were out here! I thought my mom and dad dumped all of them! Turns out they didn't! Except I haven't seen you before. You're actually quite different. Purple eyes? Wow! Haven't seen that either! How -” the child suddenly went quiet. The drone didn't say anything either, blinking only twice as she was limp in the hug.

She was suddenly and gently set down on the ground, then a hand rested on her shoulder and subtly turned her around to face the human. The child was taller than her, but she wasn't terribly tall. She had hair in front of her ears entwined into twin braids with a bow at the back of her head; the child wore gray clothes such as a gray turtleneck and darker cardigan all except for a pair of rainbow polka dot rain boots which was a stark contrast to her other apparel.

“Are you okay?” The human murmured quietly, kneeling down to the teens eye level. The drone couldn't help but feel surprised. She only just woke up with her memory gone and someone already cares for her? Even if she was probably a problematic maid before?

“I uh…” The teen trailed off, thinking about it. “No.” She finished. The child softened, feeling waves of sympathy for the little damaged drone. “Thought so. ‘Cause you have a really big crack in the back of your head.” She beckoned to the back of her own head to the teen for demonstration. “You don't remember anything, do you? Your memories aren't accessible?” The drone shook her head. “Nah.”

“That's… troubling.” The girl looked away briefly before brightening again. “But hey, we'll figure it out together, for sure!” She lifted her hands to intertwine her fingers with the teen’s, and the sensation felt a bit familiar to the drone.

“Oh! Where are my manners? I completely forgot! Uh - I'm Tessa!” The child cleared her throat, turning her voice gruff. “I'm the heir under the Elliot's etiquette and totally not into machinery and into literature and fine brandy instead!”

The drone lifted a brow. Tessa’s eye twitched before giving up and groaning exasperatedly. “Not even a drone with amnesia could be fooled! I probably gotta work on that.” She tapped her chin considerably for a second before a lightbulb seemed to light up over her head. “Hey, what's your name? Oh wait -” Tessa paused, noticing the drone's unpleasant and unimpressed expression. “Ha, you don't remember it, do you? Or… even have a cuff?. …thought so.” She replied to the teen’s next expression.

“Poor honey…” Tessa rested a hand on the drone's shoulder, and the teen’s eye twitched now too. Then her visor portrayed an error screen with the words,

“EDGY TEEN LEVELS DANGEROUSLY LOW

RESTORING…”

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EDGY TEEN LEVELS RESTORED! [EMO]

“Don't sympathize with me!” The drone suddenly snapped, pushing Tessa’s hand away. The human seemed momentarily surprised, eyes widening with hands lifted helplessly. “I'm a VICTIM that got beat up by who knows! Did I fall? Did I get punched? Did I get lasered? I HAVE NO IDEA! Know why? No! I don't either! I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER MY OWN NAME!” The teen shouted with digital tears pricking at her visor.

“Righty…” Tessa murmured uncomfortably and cautiously when the teen crossed her arms and frustration surging. “I could have a look at what caused it?” The child reasoned, brows furrowed and looking away. “I mean - whatever you're comfortable with. Oh!” She perked up, and the drone looked at her upsetly. “I live in a manor with my family. I could totally try and see if I fix stuff for you!” Tessa beamed.

The drone perked up as well with the anger from earlier ebbing slightly. Tessa snapped her fingers. “I just need you to sneak on in with me! …Just one side note.” The girl anxiously looked at the drone. “I need you to be a maid here. …Maybe temporarily! Just serve a few drinks!”

The drone darkened, an irritated node appearing above her eyes. “I'm not being a maid.” Tessa blinked. “Aren't you one already?” She questioned, and Uzi looked down at herself before grunting. Damn. She kinda forgot about that. The girl's rambling made it hard to think clearly.

“Yeah.” “Righty-o! Now we just need a name for you.” The girl peered at her with squinted eyes and a hand over her mouth in a thoughtful way. “Evidently an angsty teen J would love to hustle and do chores for her, possibly a best friend for N - who am I kidding he's friends with everyone. Hmm… looks as good as a punching bag as him.” Tessa muttered audibly to herself even though the drone heard everything and she tried biting one of Tessa's hands that started to poke at her. “I'M NO PUNCHING BAG!” The teen shouted.

“Yeesh - alright alright so not so easily ordered around…” the analyzing went on for a bit longer, the drone only standing there with evident irritation. Tessa straightened with a gleeful expression, index finger pointed toward the sky with triumph and emphasis for it. “I got a name!”

The drone shifted forward curiously, raising a brow. “Yeah?” The girl flashed her finger-guns with delight. “Z! Eh, eh? I think it fits you perfectly!” She exclaimed excitedly. The teen frowned, before shrugging. “Eh yeah. Honestly I was expecting something completely worse.”

Tessa blinked twice before pausing and settling on a neutral expression. “I don't know if that's a compliment or an insult so I'm just gonna move on. Come along! I'll explain on the way, Z!”

Z pursed her lips before sighing. “Do I have much of a choice?” She grunted before stomping after the human and out of the swamp.

—-------------------------—-------

“So lemme get this straight,” Z started, holding her hands out in front of her in a slightly confused way. “Worker Drones, named after letters, are your butlers/maids and because your family is rich they can literally buy thousands more Worker Drones to replace even a couple? But if they do their work well enough your parents won't? Then we also have to do all the work for them like delivering drinks and doing house chores?” Z looked to Tessa with some genuine confusion and a bit of outrage.

Tessa blinked, walking alongside the drone out of the swamp and approaching a log that would get them across the river. She stopped momentarily. “I mean, sure. It's really not all that right… you guys are amazing! No offense but my parents kinda see you as objects.” Tessa explained slowly with a short click of her tongue when she rested a foot on the creaking, probably unstable log.

“Why are we objects if we have a consciousness?” Z crossed her arms, brows furrowed in an upset kinda way more than angry. Tessa jumped atop the log and reached a hand out toward Z. “C'mon. I crossed over it the way where I found you. Be cautious though. Should be a bit better since it’s stopped raining.” Tessa warned when the teen took her hand. The girl hefted her up and balanced herself while walking slowly over the log.

Z, however, was kinda scared of these waters. What could even be lurking in there? Reptiles? Robotic reptiles that could still eat her? Oooo, she could tame them if they really were mechanical and take over the WORLD! Z cackled mischievously as she pictured it in her head, tapping the tips of her fingers against each other.

She looked up with a blank expression when she realized Tessa glanced back at her with a suspicious but puzzled way. She beckoned for Z to cross the log further, and Z crossed her arms in a pout.

They both hopped off the murky wood and Tessa flicked her head briefly toward the trees in a beckoning way. Z could see the mansion above the treetops in the distance. “Anyway, to answer your question -” Tessa went on to break the silence. “Dunno. They don't really care for real human beings either - honestly if you're not rich or have a top hat and a fancy mustache or something they won't clarify you as a person.” The girl shrugged.

Z stopped for a moment, eyes widening and looking at the ground with thought before twitching an eye. “That's stupid!” She cried in incredulity and ran after Tessa again. The girl only sighed. “You're telling me.”

Silence fell over the two for a moment before Z spoke up again. “So… doesn't that mean that they don't like you? Even their own daughter?” She questioned the girl, and Tessa nodded solemnly. “Sometimes if I do something that doesn't fit into their,” she raised her hands air quote, “‘rules’, they'll chain me up somewhere. Usually the basement.”

Z wanted to refuse to believe this, but honestly she wouldn't be surprised by the sounds of Tessa’s parents. Man. This place sucked. “It's pretty okay, though.” The girl said after a little bit. “They do that to anyone that doesn't pay.” She snickered a bit, maybe anxiously, and continued to press forward toward the manor.

“So… I heard you talking about some other drones while you were thinking of a name.” Z slowly worked up a conversation again. She really didn't like the tense silence between the human and drone. That seemed to get Tessa to brighten up quite a bit. “Oh, right! First, there's V. You'll love her. She's shy and really intellectual, actually! Well, it'd be more evident if she wasn't so timid.” Tessa tapped her chin with thought once more, and Z watched and listened intently.

“Then there's J, usually the leader around the other Worker Drones.” Tessa beamed, but a nervous expression crossed her face. “She's uhhh - let's just say she's pretty bossy and definitely has that inner leader in her, y'know how it is.” She tucked a strand of stray hair under her ear. “Can't wait to meet her.” Z muttered sarcastically. “I know, right! She's a real nice one!” Tessa winked delightfully.

“Oh, you'll love N! He's a ripper! So kind and really empathetic for all of us. He has a thing for dogs and especially golden retrievers. The little butler honestly has to have read about them more than a hundred times now!” Tessa assured Z, who raised a brow. “Honestly that sounds too good to be true..” the drone said skeptically.

Tessa turned her head toward Z with a slight frown. “You calling him fake? I'll happily show you.” She tipped her head side to side matter-of-factly. But her mood slightly changed a bit. “Then there's Cyn. Uhhh, we don't
usually talk with her a lot. N does, he's super caring for her it's just -... She's… a bit of a bugger.” Tessa explained hesitantly.

Z raised a brow. “How come she gets an actual name?” She frowned, as did Tessa. “Well, she, V, J and N have these armband things that tell their name. They're a single letter and well… I'm not sure about Cyn. I think she was made a bit differently.” Tessa shrugged, and looked away briefly. “Anyhow, I'm not perfect at names either so I just figured I could name you after a letter, too!” The girl pleasantly claimed.

Z gave Tessa a soft hum of acknowledgement. This place didn't seem bad, but at the same time it could be a living hell just because of the owners. Oh well. She needed to fix what happened to her quickly, and maybe she'll stay or won't. Whatever.

“Ohp! We're here.” Tessa beckoned for Z, who got snapped out of her thoughts by the girls voice and hurried with her toward the entrance of the grand manor.

…Except they were.

Tessa took Z’s arm and shook her head. “No, no. We gotta sneak in. We can't just go through the front door!” She whisper-yelled, gaze firm. “Why do we have to?” Z loudly whispered back. “I'm not supposed to be out!” Tessa responded, clearly troubled with the thin argument. Z mumbled something under her breath, but relented and followed the girl throughout the garden.

Tessa crouched down with Z underneath freshly cut bushes, the grand manor in front of them with two closed doors. They snuck up against the wall and Tessa looked up to notice a window. “That leads to the kitchen. It should be empty at this hour.” Tessa told Z, and lifted up two hands. Z stared at her in puzzlement.

Tessa’s face soured a bit. “Just step onto my hands, and I'll boost you up. Okay?” She looked at Z expectantly, and the drone sighed with a tinge of a groan in it.

Z placed a foot onto Tessa’s hand, and suddenly she was in the air. It seemed in slow motion for a second. Then the next second she was scrambling up onto the windowsill in a panic, trying not to lose her grip. Z somehow pulled herself up by placing her footing on the wall and strained to get over the sill. She tumbled onto a counter painfully then onto the black and white checkered floor.

Z groaned, and sat up. Z still had to help Tessa up too. Greaaaatttt. She rubbed her visor as if a bruise were to bloom on it. She heard the sound of a drone blinking rather rapidly, and she jumped, swiveling her head toward the source.

It was a worker drone, a butler by the looks of it, and Z didn't think this would work out well for either her or Tessa.

Chapter Text

The worker drone butler opened his mouth to say something, but slipped on his words a bit. Z stared at him just as much but wasn't able to take in his features before she noticed the top of Tessa’s hand waving over the bottom of the sill a little bit. The teen gave the butler a tired glance, and he seemed to know Tessa was there before exchanging the glance.

The worker drone seemed to know Tessa well, because he rushed over, grabbed a hold of the human girl's hand and tugged. Z blinked, and in a wave of mysterious energy from the butler she stepped beside him and helped Tessa up as well.

Tessa, unlike Z, jumped gracefully onto the table and onto the floor with ease. She seemed to do this often. Z didn't bother thinking about how much honestly. Tessa turned her head towards the teen with a proud expression like she was proud of Z. Then she turned her head the butler's way who had his hands behind his back with a gleeful expression and Tessa gasped. “NNNNN!” She squealed a lot louder than she should've.

“Hey, Tessa!” The butler pleasantly greeted. She crouched to his eye level and hugged him tightly, to which the worker drone evidently called N shockingly seemed unphased by the grip and embraced her too just as excitably. Tessa pulled away with a slight frown. “Hey buddy, why're you down here? Aren't you supposed to be with everyone else?” She questioned him, and he chuckled nervously.

“V forgot to do the dishes, and well J kinda told me to do it before anyone found out.” N explained with a nervous, shy smile. Tessa pursed her lips in a thinking sort of way and sighed with relief. “I'm just glad it was you. Thanks, N.” She thanked with a smile, and the butler saluted happily.

Z watched for a moment longer before Tessa perked up about the new maid. “Oh, hey N, look who I found!” She gestured toward Z in sing-song, who looked at her then at N. The butler always seemed to have this neutral smile on his face even when there was nothing to smile about; adorned in blond curly hair, probably pretty fluffy, his suit was flashy as well with his shoes shined. His little hat was pretty cute, too. Did all worker drones wear some type of headwear? WAIT - INNER Z - SHUT THE HELL UP HE ISN'T CUTE - a part of her wanted to listen to that voice but she physically frowned.

He saluted Z as well, grinning a stupid smile at her too. “I’m N! Nice to meet you!” He held out a cheerful hand, and Z thought about taking it peacefully before shoving her urge down and snapping her sharp fangs at him. He jumped, leaping onto one leg in a startled way. “Ay, ay ay! C'mon Z.” Tessa supportively, patted Z on the head but the worker drone ducked away from it. She grumbled something, but before Tessa could say anything else N seemed like it was enough of an answer, brightening up.

He returned his foot to the floor and rested his hands behind his back in a content way, as if he didn't mind being nearly bitten. “It's alright, Tessa! I'm sure me and Z, was it?” N looked at the new maid, and when she nodded he returned to his sentence, “`will get along great!” He assured the human. Tessa smirked before sighing. “I know you will.”

On the floor above the three, there were footsteps. Multiple, actually. Z cautiously slid into a stance as if she was ready to sprint out of the manor and into the sun, then Tessa glanced at the worried drone reassuringly. “Don't worry about the footsteps. They're actually guests and relatives of my family! Well, either one.” Tessa explained to her, but Z made no move to change her demeanor. N decided to speak up, ever the optimist, “they're really nice, actually! Specifically for V and Cyn! I think they want to make them less timid.” He observed, but Tessa seemed doubtful. Z made a note to ask about that face later.

“Alright - so… are we going upstairs or what?” She asked them. “Right we are!” Tessa replied pleasantly, but it was dropped half a second later. “...Let's just hope we don't run into my parents. We need to get you two into your room with the others.” The girl hurriedly pushed N and Z out of the large kitchen with a cartoonish flair, the both of them blinking rapidly.

Z actually never had the time to look around at her surroundings. Sure it was a kitchen, but holy crap it was huge! Were kitchens always supposed to be this large? These people had fine dining! …Not like Z and the other worker drones could actually eat or anything but honestly it was nice enough to smell the food with her somehow-still-working scent sensor.

They turned the corner and quietly stepped up the stairs, even though at times N would clumsily slip on the rug or something that was likely a safety hazard. This place wasn't exactly 100% safe, hence only a few drones really ever actually worked here. It makes sense because the owners seemed quite careless and ableist. No offense, Tessa.

She could see herself growing fond of N. Not that she did like him already, like no, she just met him why would Z even trust him… but he had charm. In an awkward, desperate kind of way?? Not desperate but… fiendishly nice sort of way. It made him seem desperate. Z couldn't say she was a fan of that per se. But she could see where the little butler was coming from.

All three of them peeked over a door frame, one by one. Tessa stepped forward, beckoning for the two other drones. Z looked at N to exchange an anticipated glance, but he hurried to follow the girl before their eyes could meet. He seemed like he did this a lot. Both of them. Sneaking in and out of their own house was regular? Was every home in the world like this? She hoped not. It made her core pound inside her chest worriedly. For herself. Duh. Pff. For anyone else? Tessa? N? Never. Clears throat. It'd be weird to rely on such acquaintances already. Also foolish. Z knew that much, despite waking up in a random swamp with a wiped memory just about an hour ago.

Z scanned her surroundings, her visor scanning everyone and everything near the teen. A bunch of fancy humans loitering around by decorated tables. Like Tessa said earlier before she met N, no one really should be roaming around at this hour. It was evening, after all. Uhh, she thinks? The gray, cloudy sky made it hard to tell when Z was outside. If anything, the humans were just finishing their delectable little meals and treats. They had the faces of an average person that thought they were above everyone else. Except pretty much every human in the huge dining room had that stupid expression. Dumb.

They were getting up from their tables, and suddenly Tessa quickened her pace. Understanding the conviction, Z tried matching the speed of the human girl despite having much shorter legs than her. Then Tessa stopped. Both Z and N had to skirt to a stop and then they exchanged a glance. One irritated, the other wary. Z was about to retort before Tessa twirled around to face the drones with a serious expression. And a hint of anxiety had lingered too in her eyes.

“Listen to me, both of you.” Tessa hissed, grabbing a hold of both their metal hands. Z blinked. “My parents will hate seeing me awake and wandering, even more with you two trailing behind me. If either of you two see them you run.” Tessa urged. N’s eyes hollowed but quickly filled back in, while Z nodded in understanding but indignance was hinted. “Do you understand me?” N and Z bobbed their heads up and down, making it clear.

Tessa huffed then turned quickly to face the hallway once again. “Righty then. Off we go th - OH HELLO MOTHER!” And with that, she pushed N and Z into an open janitor's closet and the door slammed on the impact of both of them being shoved in rather rudely and fast. Z yelped in alarm from the sudden, rushed movements and bonked her head on the wall cramped up on them. N looked just as worried in the constricted space in the closet but he was quiet. Besides the annoying click and clacks of the tips of his fingers being tapped against each other with evident stress. Z sucked on her teeth, rubbing the spot she bonked her head on but listened into the furious and surprised voices on the other side of the door.

“Tessa James Elliot!” A loud, feminine voice raised her tone with anger. Z bit her lip crossly at the explosion of a voice. “You were supposed to be in your room an hour ago!” “Yes, I know, sorry mother.” Tessa sounded scared, but at the same time, strategic. “I remembered seeing the dishes undone and uncleaned so I ordered a drone to do it. I just couldn't stand the sight of a drone so… not busied?” There was a pause. The tension was so palpable. Wait - why was she sweaty? Who the hell bothered to program that?!

N seemed to notice her distress, because he gave her a reassuring smile with furrowed brows and a thumbs up. Not only did she appreciate the kind gesture a bit, although Z didn't show it by swatting it alone, (he seemed to get her, because the dumb idiot was still smiling) but a second later Mrs. Elliot responded with a huff. “Good. Your father is out getting some wine himself because of how incompetent some of these drones are getting! I ought to throw more out!” “No!” Tessa reacted, and Z sucked in a sharp breath in sympathy and apprehension. N did the same.

“What?” The mother snapped, and Tessa tripped and garbled out incoherent words in surprise before clearing her throat. “Err, I mean -” she put on a gruff voice Z heard before. “Wouldn't it help to train them instead of just throwing them out in the dump? …or something?” Another pause. “Tessa James Elliot?” The mother growled. Despite being behind a door, Z could see the grimace on Tessa’s face. “...Yes, Mother?” Her voice was forcibly strong, but it still wobbled.

“I will escort you to your room. Expect a punishment tomorrow. I am letting you off easy this time, only because you did something right for the first time in ages today.” There was a pitiful and worried sigh on the other side of the door. “Yes, Mother.” Tessa murmured. “Sorry Mother.” High heels clacked against the floorboards harshly and there was a quick restrained whine of complaint and soon the sound of Tessa and her mother stomping away. There was a beat of silence, and Z clenched her fists in anger and sympathy for the human girl. Why was she punished for taking care of the confused and helpless? Why was her passion so despicable to these monsters? Z wanted to tell those stupid parents of Tessa’s what they should really start caring about instead of their stupid legacy or whatever. She actually couldn't wait for the human girl’s parents to completely perish and Tessa can inherit the manor. Things would be easier that way.

Z finally looked around the cramped closet, and she noticed N was looking off into the distance as if he were listening for them to come back like the mother knew where he was at all times. …Z didn't doubt that. This place was wild. Well, on the upside there was a vent on the upper wall. The downside, however, was it was too tall for both N and Z. Even if she asked for a simple piggyback. Which she wouldn't. Gross.

She considered exiting the janitor's closet instead of trying to climb the dumb vent. It seemed really tight anyhow. Z and N had to be sneaky if they were to leave the closet by the door. Really sneaky. She turned around to face the butler but stopped with a surprised expression when N had his hands against his mouth with scared and concerned eyes, shaking. “What?” Z demanded. “Uh… you good? ‘Cause… you have a bit of a crack on your head…” He said slowly while lowering his hands. “It's that visible?” Z cried. N winced at the level of her voice but nodded. “Uhhh - it's pretty concerning. …You are good, right?” “I'M FINE.”

She turned away with clenched fists. “We gotta get outta here. Otherwise we'll be caught all thanks to Tessa for shoving us in here without warning.” Z muttered crassly. “She did save us.” She heard N, and she could tell without even looking at him he shrugged helplessly. “But! I'm pretty sure you'll fit right in if we do end up going undiscovered.” He went on enthusiastically. Z sighed and turned around. “I don't wanna be working for these - these - these lunatics! And neither should you!” She pointed a finger at him, then he raised his hands placantly with a worried expression.

“I mean…” N made no move to change his demeanor. “We all have a job to do so - I just wanna be helpful and, well, following the rules isn't as bad as you might think it is, Z.” He tipped his head to the side and smiled THAT STUPID SMILE. “Well, what are they doing in return for you guys, huh? For Tessa?” She pressed with furrowed digitized brows. Before he could even open his mouth she replied for him, “a roof over your heads? That's bare minimum! Literally anything else?”

N said nothing, considering it for a moment before laughing nervously and wringing his wrists with shame and a hint of stress. “Gee, for a drone that doesn't follow the rules and I've just met… you're sure a lot of fun to be around!” He grinned innocently, a bit too innocently. Z squinted at him. “I don't believe you.” She uttered half-heartedly. “That's alright.” N responded simply. Z’s eye twitched and she threw herself to glare at the door. “ARE WE LEAVING THIS PLACE OR NOT, N?” She demanded and he jumped a bit. "Yeah - I mean - yeah." N replied coolly. "I can show you the way, if you want!" He volunteered, but she was already making her move to leave the closet before she could really respond.

Z twisted the doorknob and she quietly analyzed the atmosphere with her eyes. Nothing seemed like quite the threat. Yet. There was only a matter of time someone would call them out and then they'd be all over her because she has purple eyes and literally every other drone doesn't. Uh, so she thought. But if she was the only one unique, hopefully she wouldn't get the attention and/or ruin it if she did because she needed that later for the maid stuff. Lame and vile, but whatever. Maybe she could ask N to cover for her or come up with something. Although… he didn't seem like the type to just lie. Probably really isn't. I mean, look at him!

She shifted out of the closet and stealthily moved to a countertop with a small statue on it. Z couldn't make out what the statue was before she saw N’s eyes looking at her confusedly from the closet. “C'mon!” She loudly whispered to the puzzled drone, beckoning for him, rather the opposite of silent. He lifted a brow. Oh, wait. That's right. Tessa didn't need two drones following her, let alone a whole new one. But if the other one which is familiar around these parts and not looking like Tessa was playing with them rather than doing her work or whatever she did, he'd be pretty much okay to be roaming around. It would still be a precaution to avoid Tessa’s parents though. Just in case. How strict parents are. Z felt like face-palming, both mentally and physically.

“Just - get over here.” She requested, then added a small “please?” He seemed to add up what might she thought about and walked to her but still quickly scanned his surroundings. “Alright, where do we go from her?” Z questioned the butler and he seemed to brighten up by the thought of no more stealth for the night. “Not too far from here,” he replied earnestly with an itty bitty smile. “You haven't met the squad yet, have you? You'll love Cyn! I think you'll really like her! Oh and I need to show you my golden retriever book! V really likes it, too! You haven't met her either! Or I'm guessing J. They're the best. By the way -” “CAN WE FOCUS?” Z cut in to his excited rambling and he pursed his lips as if he forgot then let out a soft, “ah.”

“Right! Uh, this way please.” He gestured an arm toward a hall. Y'know, if Z wasn't a drone, she figured she'd like N as a butler. At least he's polite. Which Z was pretty much last expecting knowing she knows nothing about this world basically.

She looked around the fancy place with her purple eyes flicking to the walls and to the floor occasionally. She would probably be able to adjust here. As long as the stupid owners of this stupid place didn't order her around like he was soulless, she wouldn't ditch it. Z wondered where she would even go if she did end up leaving. Maybe she could ask N. Or get him to come with her. Or overthrown this place! Dumb losers like the owners of the manor didn't have enough intelligence to possibly see it coming. Okay, well, maybe Tessa. But Z wanted to overthrow the place with her! …Justice, or whatever.

She bumped into N when he suddenly stopped out of nowhere and she stumbled back with a hiss. “Stop doing that!” Z scolded the butler. N turned to face her with an apologetic look. “Yea, sorry.” He apologized sincerely. “I probably should've said something, huh? ANYWAY -” N rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. “We're here! In this room. It's not the best, but it's not terrible either! It's actually quite comfy. Right by Tessa’s room.” When Z gave him a confused look he furrowed his brows. “Yeah… we kinda can't be by her all the time. But it's fine! As long as we're near her, everything is pretty much 100% a-okay!”

Despite his reassurance, Z couldn't help but feel that wave of skepticality once again. She was tired of this place. She was tired of their crooked system. She was tired of the abuse of authority! And she was only here for all like -... 40 minutes! Disgusting.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Are uh… the drones in here still awake?” Z stepped toward the door. The doorknob's gold paint was rusted and scratched. “Should be.” N replied happily. “We kinda gotta take care of the dishes they left too. This is supposed to be our 20 - 30 minute break or whatnot. Sometimes they're done even before then.” Z stared at him. What a joke. “Alright… as long as they don't try to make us do the impossible, guess I can stay here for a while.”

N gave an enthusiastic thumbs up, and Z twisted the doorknob to be greeted with a clean room. Not exactly decorated, just with some crappy flickering lights and some other lame stuff like desks. Charging stations… Also a single rocking horse. Epic?... Oh yeah, and two white eyes flicked toward her as well as one yellow. Z didn't know how she didn't notice that until like 5 second over. A sarcastic “great…” sounded and Z looked around the room to see where the voice came from.

She quickly forgot about her irritation when suddenly N walked up beside Z with a delighted smile to see all of the drones together. “Hey, Cyn!” He greeted cheerfully when she walked up to him with a blank expression and twitchy movements. At least she seemed friendly enough. Weird. But cool. Nice combination. “I brought a new friend!” N gestured to Z. She blinked, and “Cyn” blinked back. Her mouth quirked into a small smile. Z did too, except she didn't really try to.

“Hi…” A quiet greeting rang out from a female drone with glasses, stepping forward to Z with a hand wringing around her wrist. “This is V!” N introduced her to the shy maid. “She's the best!” He grinned, and Z caught V looking down at the floor with white diagonal lines appearing under her eyes.

“Who're you?” An accusing tone rose through the positive silence and Z looked up from V to a bossy ass maid with pigtails. Ah. Z didn't even really have to guess that this was J. “I can't even - where does Tessa keep finding these robust things?” She gestured toward Z. The purple drone’s gaze hardened. “What's your name anyway, thing? I'm J, but looking at you, you'll forget it in seconds.” Z rolled her eyes and decided to ignore the comment. She swatted away J’s hand pointed at her. “Z! Not like you care.” She hissed. “No, I don't.” J crossed her arms grudgingly. “I don't care for low-valued wannabes.” She mocked. “Neither do I, actually. And you're right! I don't care for simpleminded cretins.” Z shot back with clenched fists. “Oh, I'm the cretin?” J accused with a brow cocked.

“Heyyy wouldja look at the time! It's time to get back to the lobby!” N chimed in carefully to break the argument. J narrowed her eyes at Z. Z narrowed hers but harder. The pigtailed maid scoffed and rolled her eyes. V was spotted looking away from J when the maid glared at her to back her up or something. V hesitated. “We should… get going. Like N said.” Her shy voice was just heard. Z grumbled.

“Oh, Z, could Cyn stay with you a bit? Since you're not properly introduced yet, it'd probably be weird for you to come out during the final hour. And Cyn is low on battery so she'll need to stay.” N questioned, a pleading look on the butler's face. Z huffed.

“Fiiiine.” She crossed her arms too and stepped by the weird-postured drone by her. “Great! We'll be back soon!” N promised. Before he could leave himself, J pushed him out the door with V following close behind.

Z blinked, the sound of a clock ticking filling the room. She turned toward Cyn. “So… how're you?” Cyn looked back up at her. “Swell.” She replied in a robotic, inhumane voice. “...Nice.” Z replied, patting the sides of her dress awkwardly. Silence filled the room again. Except for the stupid clock.

Maybe this place wasn't… horrible. Just -... Who was she kidding? This place utterly sucked. Z huffed a breath. This was probably gonna be where she's gonna be for the rest of her life. And that… god that sucked. Oh well. With a tired sigh, Z closed her eyes briefly as she prepared herself for the life coming at her.