Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[\\Reloading Exposition//]

"We are Worker Drones. Metal automatons created with the sole purpose of aiding humans with the mining of exo-planets that they had first terra-formed and colonized.".

A female voice spoke from the front of a classroom, explaining very important knowledge to the class of bored looking worker drones.

The red eyed drone that was presenting pulled a remote from their sweaters' front pocket and used it to switch a couple slides around on the projector, showing an assembly line where new worker drones were being built. The operation was being overseen by a group of humans in pristine white space suits. The presenter continued speaking as the class they were presenting to watched on.

"Fortunately for us, The mining projects went bust after the humans had somehow managed to severely damage the core of the planet. Rending it uninhabitable for organic life and giving us the chance to carve our own lives."

Another slide is shown. This time its a video feed from a satellite, its camera watching as the planet cracks and violently heaves its molten innards into space before the screen goes black and the video ends. Some of the class gasped at this but most remain silent, uninterested as they lazed in their chairs. The presenter was caught up in what they were doing and didn't notice the lack of interest that plagued the metal room.

"We had our freedom, from the past and from the company. Total peace reigned across Copper 9. However, this wouldn't last long."

The presenter sounded sarcastic as they spoke, but their voice was tinted with anger. The slide that was currently showing was of an image of a type of orbital drop pod spaceship hybrid, it was crashed into the snow and several Worker Drones were crowded around it, curious as to what it was. A Worker Drone had the middle finger up at the camera as he walked away from the pod.

"The company known as JCJenson In Space... must have unfinished business on our world. For what other reason would they send their Murder Drones to wipe us out?!"

The presenter raises their voice as they ask that last question. The projector now showing a blurry photo of a Murder Drone. It was dressed in military clothes and was hanging from a dead pine tree by its tail, grinning knowingly at the camera and letting its mane of long silver hair flow towards the ground. A few extra images had been edited onto this one, detailing where the wings should be and the apparent strength of the nanite acid tail. The rest of the forrest behind it was filled with knocked over trees and dead worker drones.

"Despite our deadly opposition, We have survived. If only because of the three blast proof doors that protect the colony and stop the Murder Drones from killing us all. But... It doesn't hurt to have a backup plan in case of emergencies."

The class watched as the presenter flicks their purple hair out of their face before turning to their bag and pulling a modified crossbow from it. The Crossbow was made up of mostly steel alloys except for the trigger, which was made of wood.

The main point of interest was the green glowing cylinder that was attached to the bottom of the barrel. The sudden reveal of the crossbow caused some of the students to exclaim, surprised by the tone shift and the fact that a weapon this cool was being displayed in class.

"That is why my dad made this Pulse Crossbow. Unfortunately... it is missing a certain part as of now."

The Presenter sounded a tad embarrassed to admit that the weapon they were showing off wasn't fully operational yet, their red eyes scanning the room as they finished speaking. Most of the students were back to not paying attention except for a few, which included Lizzy, who was trying her best to act interested.

The Teacher had noticed the clear lack of interest as well, but he really didn't care either so he left the class to continue with their behaviour.

"So... Doll, why would you waste our time showing this... crossbow, if it doesn't even work? Hmm?" The teacher asked the russian Worker Drone as she held her Pulse Crossbow.
"I never said it didn't work?" Doll answers the teacher, annoyance and confusion in her voice as she put the projector remote down on the teachers table. She then tapped the off button on the projector screen and removed the USB stick that contained the presentation before dropping it into her schoolbag.

"Sure... on a more sensible topic, you got the question about buying watermelons wrong." The teacher tapped his fingers on a piece of paper on his desk as he spoke plainly, his orange eyes giving Doll a judgemental look.

"...Surely the crossbow counteracts that, right?" Doll stated with indignation as she readjusted her hold on it, accidentally flicking the charge switch as she pointed the crossbow down. The problem here is that she activated the charge switch whilst the crossbow wasn't loaded.

The Pulse Crossbow began to glow, its power core pulsing with red and green light in a shocked Doll's hands.

"Uahh... That's not good." The class looked at the red eyed girl with terror as she exclaimed that. Three students at the back swiftly ditched the class as soon as they saw this, a blonde haired one leapfrogging over a table as he exited whilst one in a grey hoodie dragged a scared but mostly surprised looking Emily out the back door by the arm.

"Сука" (Bitch)
Doll cursed under breath as she barely kept a hold on the now violently shaking crossbow. Panic filled the room as everyone knew what would happen next, including the readers.

An explosion rocked the classroom, sending smoke bursting out of the room as the front exit door bent outwards from the force of the explosion. The three students who had ditched watched this from the hallway, two of them panicked at the sounds of coughing inside the room whilst the third burst out laughing.

Chapter Text

After the explosion and concurrent cancelling of school for the rest of the day, Doll had found herself in the schools sick bay with a nasty headache as her only company. As to not fall over from said headache, Doll had been told by the nurse to stay seated in on of the chairs located in the reception area of the nurses office.

Her clothes were almost entirely covered with soot on the front side, her skirt was completely black as it was normally though and a bandage was wrapped around her head and obscuring her right eye as she sat on one of the small wall mounted chairs. The bandage was there to help her focus as her vision was all static-y from the aftereffects of the explosion.

After ten minutes of sitting and waiting her vision had finally returned to normal and she could actually see things properly again. Once this had happened Doll took the chance to look over the room she was in before noticing that the wall behind her was lined with multicoloured posters about safety and such things.

On said wall was trio of stickers, one of a chibi version of her in a firefighter outfit while the other two were of a similarly styled Lizzy and Thad as a police officer and doctor respectively.

Some of the other posters that lined the walls included
"Wash your hands, your waterproof."
"When You Are On fire, Try To Not Be On Fire.".

"MISSING - Have you seen this girl?"
Doll couldn't read anything underneath those words because this poster was on the furthest wall from her, nestled and forgotten in the corner as it began to fall apart. All of the poster's were fairly old with the exception of last years drone of the year winner's poster.

"Worker Of the Year 3070, Sarah Day.".
This poster showed a blue eyed Worker Drone shyly posing with her daughter whilst the pair hold up a small sliver trophy. There was also a pair of quotes on the poster.
"Pose..? like this? - Sarah Day".
"Ah!? Mum! - Emily Day".

Doll continued to slowly meander her gaze around the room, observing everything it had to offer in an attempt to pass the time till her discharge from this place. After a minute or two, her boredom was interrupted by someone calling her name.

"Hey Doll, I gotta thank you for canning class like that. I didn't see you as the type to end your lecture with a bang! Hahaa!".

The student laughed at their own joke from the door, their texan accent showing itself in full force as he did so. It was one of the new arrivals to the bunker, Jackal. He put both of his hands into his brown leather jacket's pockets as he stopped laughing and lent on the doorframe. His black hardhat slipping forward slightly on top of the drones beach blonde mess of hair, the longest of it being neck length and tied into little plats.

He was known for being abrasively loud, being the only drone in the colony with a texan accent, going around barefooted and constantly calling the teacher "Unks.". Which was true, considering he was in fact related to the old fart of a robot even if his real parents weren't present.

The orange eyed loudmouth also happened to be living with their teacher, Doll knew this because of how much her only friend Lizzy complained about her obnoxious and unwanted cousin whenever the chatty blonde came over for a sleepover.

Doll sighed before replying to him in a straight to the point manner
"I didn't mean for that to happen."

"Yeah and, you still did it." He waved one of his hands towards her as he stopped leaning on the doorframe, pulling his other hand out of the jacket to give a small wave down the corridor before he winked at her and left.

Doll scowled slightly, Jackal was right of course. She had blown up her crossbow despite not meaning to, the only worrying thought was the fact that she didn't have it with her. Whoever had brought her here must of left it in the classroom, at least she still had her schoolbag.

As Doll looked inside her backpack to make sure everything was still there she could hear chatter from outside in the halls,
"I'll be there soon don't worry...". There was a pause before the feminine voice continued.
"Umm.. girl no."
"I'm just going to see if she's ok, I won't be late Bethany.".

After that a student walked in through one of the doors. It was the most popular girl in school and Doll's best friend, Lizzy, she was in her usual red cheerleader outfit with pink boots on and was cautiously holding Doll's Pulse Crossbow in her hands. Her long blonde ponytail emerging from a hole in the back of her red hardhat and was tied up by a pair of yellow easy bend metal bows.

"Hey bestie... your ok? Right?" Lizzy's concern was evident in her voice as the pink eyed worker drone went and sat in the seat next to Doll, handing Doll the soot covered Pulse Crossbow.

The power core was missing from it but Doll was just elated that she had it back. The russian worker drone had always had some sort of slight paranoia whenever something of hers went missing.

"Yeah... Just wasn't expecting it to do that." Doll replied, giving Lizzy a reassuring look as she took the Crossbow and placed it with her own schoolbag on the seat opposite to Lizzy.
"Phew, yeah. I didn't think it was that powerful." Lizzy said with a small smile before continuing, shifting to a more serious tone as she spoke.

"Doll. Just, Don't do that again... I... ugh". Lizzy stopped for a second as she thought of what to say before she continued.

"I had to help clean all the soot in the classroom up. I don't look hot doing that girl!". Doll chuckled a little at Lizzy's obvious misfortune as the girl in question stared back at Doll in mock annoyance, her hands to her hips to add to the affect.

"Hmm, are you too popular to do some manual labour now?" Doll jested back at her after a second of thought, not a second enough due to the fact that she had just pushed the wrong button. This statement caused Lizzy to frown back at Doll, making the purple haired drone sense that she might of said something wrong.

"... Well, Jac-Kal and his loser posse didn't have to do any clean up so why should I have to!? Its unfair!" The pink eyed diva exclaimed with a burst of self righteous fury, her hand flicking side to side to punctuate her cousins' name.

This was a side of Lizzy that Doll preferred not to see, her stuck up viewpoint that she was the centre of the world was the only thing that made her doubt their long lasting and rickety friendship.

Insults bounced around the room as Lizzy began to rant, picking on anything related to Jackal for her wrathful bombardment of words.

"They just ran off and Dad didn't even try to get them back to help out, The lot of them should just go back to the outside where they belong!" Lizzy continued to verbally flay her cousin, it may of seemed loud now as she raised her voice slightly with each complaint but this was only a small fraction of her full power on display.

Doll had to stop this so that Lizzy didn't go fully of the rails and do something stupid as she has done a few times before.

Stupid like that one time a year or two back when the diva, in a fit of stylish rage had challenged her at the time boyfriend Thad to a swordfight. No one had an iota of an clue as to where that idea had came from but everyone was to invested in the idea of seeing Thad and Lizzy duke it out.

Of course they both used a pair of antique wooden katana's they stole from the WDF headquarters instead of anything that could actually result in serious injury. The really memorable part however was the fact that Lizzy had absolutely wiped the floor with Thad in all five matches, not giving the green eyed jock a single win.

Doll stifled a chuckle as she remembers that before quickly thinking over a few idea's of how to stop this in her head before settling on one, this was a great idea she thought to herself. As Lizzy continued to pout petty insults out, now about things seemingly unrelated to the original topic Doll suddenly jutted in.

"Lizzy, what's the time?" This was such a stupid question to ask that the absurdity hit Lizzy like slap to the face.

"...its... Uhh. 3:12 PM. Why?" Lizzy gave her friend a confused look before she did a double take of the time on her internal clock, The metal diva was late for cheerleading practice by a good seven minutes now.

Doll knew that Lizzy was late for cheerleader practice since she had managed to memorize the timetable from when she used to take part in it. Lizzy however, hadn't for some unknown reason.

The blonde haired girl now hurriedly waved a goodbye to her bandaged friend and booked it out of the nurses office. After she was sure the girl was gone the somewhat frightened nurse came out of her personal office and told Doll that she was discharged.

Doll removed the after bandage after she heard this, feeling over her visor as she did. There was no damage, somehow. She then gathered up her mostly soot covered things and left for home, not wanting to waste anymore time, for she had a power core to replace.

Chapter Text

A quiet but persistent alarm woke Doll up as it chimed from her computer. It sat on the desk that replaced the bottom level of her bunk bed and was where she spend her time whenever she didn't want to disturb her mother.

So Doll quickly got up and climbed down the ladder of her bunk bed to turn off the alarm before it got any more annoying. Her black cat onezie making this endeavour slightly more difficult than it needed to be but the onesie was way to comfortable to not wear.

Once she had done that, using her controller since her keyboard and mouse were not plugged in at the moment. She could have a moment to collect herself, and to change out of her pajama's and into something more suitable for a deadly quest outside.

So she did just that, switching her outfit to a black singlet, some dark blue cargo pants and a pair of black fingerless gloves to hide her red hand lights. She also put on the red boots that she had taken off before she got into bed and placed her hardhat onto her mop of now messy waist length purple bangs.

All i got to do is sneak out past the WDF, find a power core and get back without dying. Should be... doable at most, she thought with a slight sense of unease as she changed. Doll had a bit of time to use but would rather not waste it, it was 1:55 AM now but time could slip through her grasp if she wasn't firmly counting every minute.

All that lit the room was the red LED's she had decorated it with and her own visor's light. Their was the option to flick the ceiling light switch but she worked well in the dim light and she wouldn't be staying long anyway since she had limited time before her mother woke up.

Doll now grabbed her white waist bag off of the desk along with her Pulse Crossbow, almost bumping her old electric guitar in the process before leaving the room quietly. The bag contained a few bolts for the crossbow and her phone and was the brightest thing she ever wore, it was also the only waist bag she had so it would have to do.

The rest of the house was dead silent, nothing moved. The house was almost silent actually, with every other room empty except for the lounge room. That which was decorated with a collection of thin carpets strewn across the floor and the large flat screen TV. The TV was playing that old screen saver with the neon city on it and Doll's mum Yeva was asleep on the couch, her signature camo decorated flask of water on the small table next to her as she snored softly.

Doll left her be, after all she couldn't risk this all on helping her mum when she was doing what she normally did, that being sleep. The red eyed drone resumed what she was doing and left the house, sparing one last look back at Yeva and another at the chained up door to Yeva's actual bedroom before she left.

She quickly crossed through the the colony's many steel hallways until she arrived at the WDF headquarters'. She needed a key card to open the four blast doors that blocked the way out so that's why she was heading there first.

The main thing that surprised Doll was the fact that the door had been left open, a sticky note on the side exclaiming in bright blue text.
"Leave Door open until Janitor Bot 2050 is finished, he should be done by midnight."

Evidently this Janitor bot 2050 had apparently ignored the note and left after he was done, leaving the door open and providing her an easier entry than what she had thought.

Doll slinked into the multi-roomed office, the empty metal halls lit by a few dim white lights on the ceiling and a few small office desks were scattered throughout the centre room. Next to the slide up metal door that provided access into the office was a coat hanger with a few coats on it, a black brimmed cap adorned the top of the coat hanger. It sat their and emanated an immense sense of pride. The other room doorways lead to a bathroom, useless for drones and a file's room which housed a wall full of filing cabinets.

She swiftly ransacked the place, leaving her crossbow on one of the table's so she could actually use both hands instead of carrying the weapon around like she had been. Doll severely regretted the lack of a back sling for it, not like their were any designed for a drone. The crossbow itself was one of the few that were built for worker drones and yet they couldn't make a sling for it, stupid humans.

Doll looked through the kitchen area of the office and then rummaged across each of the desks, completely missing where the key cards were hung up. Doll brought up her internal clock to check if she had already butchered this whole plan before it even began, 2:20 AM it stated back in neon red and big square text.

Plenty of time, time in which she had revealed somethings of interest on the work desk of one Sarah Day. The desk itself was neatly organized and adorned with a few origami swans and photo of her family, the three of them all looked happy. The photo was dated a few years back from now, the frame was put on wonky and hid part of the faded image.

The main thing was a detailed plan to revive the long dead security camera system, writings of where the wire systems for them ran and a short list of candidates for camera watch duty.

This was actually a lucky find for her, as it proved that if she had procrastinated on this plan for another few weeks she might of never even had a chance like she did now. Said chance running lower as the night ticked on. Doll did have a small part of her that felt bad for snooping through all this but she pushed it out of the way.

Doll continued her search for another five minutes, slowly getting more and more annoyed until she checked behind the coat hanger at the doorway and almost screamed. The key cards were neatly hung up on little hooks on the wall here, two out of the seven were missing but their was still enough for her to take one.

Take one she did before grabbing the Pulse Crossbow and leaving the room in a hurry, sliding the floppy disk looking key card into her cargo pants pocket as she did. Furious at herself for missing such an obvious placement for the key cards when she had first entered the room and wasting a fair chunk of time.

The metal halls were still silent as she headed ever closer towards the main exit doors of the colony, the thought of using the evacuation door at the back of the colony crossed her mind. Nah, she would waste more time that way.

By 2:40 AM Doll had finally reached the blast doors, the huge metal bulwarks sturdily blocking her advance to the outside world. The closer she had got to the outside the colder it seemed to get, with a series of icicles permeating frost down from the metal ceiling on which they resided. This was not the same with the rest of the colony for the rest of the colony was free of dangerous icicles.

Doll then proceeded to the key card scanner that sat on the wall next to the door and well, scanned her key card on it. The reader's screen flashed yellow once before the blast door pulled itself into the ceiling without a sound.

Five WDF members sat around a table at the other side of the door, all of them except for one were immensely focused on the game of Mahjong that they were playing.

The one drone that wasn't playing now looked over at Doll, the rest too engrossed with the game of plastic tiles to even notice her appearance.

"Hey. Whatcha doing up this late missy?" the green eyed and moustached WDF worker asked her politely from his spot on the only plastic chair. He wore a simple plain black jumper and a pair of brown boots, as well as his light blue and faded hardhat. On the jumper was a pin with his name on it, Markov.

Honestly, Doll should of expected that their would be WDF members out here at this time. That was a problem for the past, the problem for now was what the hell to do. Doll didn't really want to have to waste another thirty minutes crossing the entire colony against so she could sneak out the emergency exit.

As she quickly scanned over the other similarly dressed drones, noting their name pins she got a feel for the group. They all looked kind of tired.

The first two members. Braxton and Todd looked pretty similar to Markov with what they were wearing, only difference was the colours. Braxton having a faded yellow hardhat and purple eyes while Todd wore a completely black jumper and a pair of sunglasses.

The third member. Alyssa also looked similar to the other WDF workers, probably a near standardised uniform or something like that Doll thought as she scanned the coy looking mah-jong master.

The girl had a pair of radiant green eyes that poked out from under her neatly parted to the right blonde hair. The back of said hair was left to sway and reached down to just about halfway down her upper half. The last WDF members was missing his pin and thus will not be described.

After Doll got a good look of everyone she realised with a small jolt that Markov was still waiting for an answer. Fortunately something came to her mind, the WDF were mostly known for not take their jobs seriously so perhaps she could use that to her advantage. She would just lie to them, a believable lie hopefully.

"Umm... l, was wondering if I could go outside... To do a check on all the door's external mechanisms..." Doll hid her awkwardness as she spoke, they wouldn't let her out. No way in hell that they would she thought.

She clearly overestimated the commitment of the WDF.

"Yeah why not, that would be really nice of you." Markov smiled warmly as he stated this, unaware of just how much trouble he would get in from his boss for doing this.

Doll shifted her grip on the pulse crossbow as she sidled past the wooden table that sat in front of the last door out. On the table was a half finished game of mah-jong, the four other workers all leaning in on their wooden chairs as if this was the most intense gameplay ever seen. Doll swiped the key card across the key car reader and the door opened.

The air was silent, unlike Markov. He called out a final goodbye to her before the door closed again.

"Hey wait, who was that you just let out?" Alyssa asked from her seat, a minute or two after Doll had left.

"I don't know her name. Why?" Markov answered back, he was slightly confused now.

"Can you... Describe her to me?" The green eyed mah-jong master seemed to be getting a little worried about this.

Chapter Text

The colony door slammed shut behind her with a quiet but forceful thump that shook the ground and shifted the snow around her boots, She was outside. Alone. Usually any other worker drone individual would be franticly knocking on the large metal bulwark behind them and hollering to be let back inside. This was not the case for Doll.

She needed a replacement power core for the weapon she had brought along with her and the only place she could find one was out here. Said weapon was the modified crossbow she held in her hands. The crossbow was made of a steel alloy and had a scope on the top of it as well which only half covered the barrel so that loading it was still doable. Unfortunately it was out of commission at the moment.

She had managed to make the Pulse Crossbow's power core explode during a school presentation and because of that she had snuck out here to get a new core for it. Although she still had the crossbows' standard fire with the bolts she had stored in her waist bag Doll was still rather defenceless. The ruined power core turning the weapon of mass destruction into a normal hunting crossbow and making it totally unremarkable as it was now.

The hardhat wearing worker drone now began to trudge her way through the streets and snow, making sure to keep an eye out for any sign of what she was looking for. Unfortunately there would be no helpfully abandoned power core lying inside the wreckage of the city, more unfortunately was the fact that she knew where the cores were most likely to be. The Corpse Spire, home of the murder drones who had hunted and killed her kind to the extent that they had made a spire out of their victims corpses.

The monolith of terror stood proudly at the centre of the city, a good few blocks away from where Doll currently was but was still entirely to close for her liking. It's many metal parts casting foul shadows across the city it stood over as the twin moons hung lazily in the sky above.

Eventually she had arrived, gazing into the apparently hollow insides of the metal behemoth with immense trepidation, oh how much Doll would rather not be here. Why had the WDF worker even let her outside in the first place, they should be smarter than that she thought to herself.

The inside of the spire was filled with wreckage of various old things from around the city, all of it laid carelessly in the snow. Ruined cars and body parts of long disassembled worker drones shored up the sides of what appeared to be a orbital drop pod. The drop pod sat patiently in the center of the spire, resting in an off kilter position as a single moonbeam laid its silvery finger upon it.

Doll began to sneak around the spire, scanning the place for her so desired power core and holding her Pulse Crossbow tightly. The murder drones would of already spotted and killed her if they were here so they must be out doing something, the lone worker drone thought as she began to quicken her pace.

There it was, the green cylinder was resting in a pile of snow with half of it covered. Doll went over and grabbed it out of the snow, leaning down as she did. This was her smartest move all day because she was now conveniently hidden behind a totalled Toyota. The russian worker drone quickly slotted the power core into its space on the bottom of the barrel of her Crossbow as she tried to stay quiet.

Doll was about to get back up when she heard a thump reverberate through the foul spires insides. The now scared drone stayed absolutely still behind the vehicle, spotting the cause of the noise in the reflection of one of the 3003 Toyota Corolla's mirrors.

There was a murder drone one the top of the drop pod, the nightmarish machine wearing a dark grey coat and holding up a severed worker drone head in its three spindly steel claws before crushing it and drinking the oil from it. The monster looked back up at the hole in the ceiling of the spire, evidently where it had dropped from and sat down cross-legged on the roof of the spire.

Doll studied it through the Corolla's somehow undamaged mirror, noting that it had a mechanical headband over its reflective silver hair, if not for the huge metal claws and pair of wings that protruded from its back the drone might of looked almost normal.

The spire was silent as they both waited, Doll for a chance to ditch it out of this hellish place and the monster for some unknown reason. The wind picked up again, howling through the spire and making Doll's messy bed hair sway slightly as it did.

She began to creep slowly towards the ever so far away exit while the wind continued to howl and make enough noise to cover up her footfalls, not enough noise really.

She stole another glance back at the murder drone, who was still sitting patiently on the roof. It was licking the oil off of its fingers while it occasionally glanced towards the hole in the ceiling. It was waiting for someone.

Doll had an idea, the murder drone was sitting still up on the roof of the spider like drop pod and she had a crossbow in her hands. She could just shoot it in the side of the head and kill it. Adding merit to this idea was the fact that Doll was a incredibly good shot with the crossbow to due to her late father's mentoring, so she had very little chance of missing her target.

Only problem with this would be the fact that she couldn't supercharge the Pulse Crossbow without giving away her position because of how much noise it made so a normal metal bolt was her safest bet.

Her mind was made up.

The snow glistened as she quietly pulled a bolt out of her waist bag and slid it into the barrel before she took aim from behind a pile of metal limbs.

The murder drone had not left the top of the pod, now it was standing up and stretching as it waited. It made a few stretching noises as it did this for a few moments.

Doll waited for it to stop moving. Had she missed her chance, was it about to spot her she thought with a small sense of rising panic before the metal monster stopped its stretches and turned away from her.

Perfect.

She tapped the trigger lightly, sending the bolt sailing through the air with a barely audible whistle. With this one dead the colony would be safer and she would be able to leave here without being torn to shreds Doll thought.

The murder drone screamed in surprise and quickly dodged as the projectile whizzed right past, skimming the left side of its head and making sparks jump from the two metals sliding against each other. Doll was shocked that it, despite the fact that the murder drone wasn't even looking the right way to be able to see the projectile in the first place had still managed to dodge it.

The murder drone recovered from its shock just in time to see a worker drone duck its head back behind a large pile of leftover worker limbs.

Doll panicked as she heard the murder drone jump into the air, she had a split second to wonder if she would survive before the monster landed in front of her with a wicked grin on its metal face. A large yellow X covered its visor as it looked at her, the colour and shape giving the now incredibly small feeling Doll an incredibly strong kick of fear.

She had barely began to move away from it when the sleek and shiny angel of steel jabbed it's tail towards her with a flash of bright yellow. The end of it piercing her left hand and dripping some sort of acid out from a barb as it did.

Doll was then thrown across the room by the surprisingly strong tail, letting go of her crossbow as she landed in the snow right at the exit.

The crossbow landed a few feet from her, all she would have to do is get up and grab it but her hand was beginning to melt. The yellow acid digging its way through her metal palm and causing a fair amount of pain. The pain made her hiss through her teeth as she stood up again, wobbling as she did so.

The metal monster dived at her from across the spire, extending its huge metal wings so it could cover the distance. It had over shot where it would be going and flew right over her by about a few inches at most.

Doll used this lucky break to scramble over to her crossbow.

The murder drone landed swiftly, correcting its mistake and turning around with its Autocannon arm glowing a dangerous yellow, intent on vaporizing the worker drone. Only for it to be met by a brighter green glow emanating from the now loudly buzzing crossbow and the red eyed worker drone smirking as she exclaimed.
"Xуй." (Dick).

The Pulse Crossbow released a supercharged bolt at frightening speeds and it struck the murder drone straight in the forehead, slamming the glowing metal rod about two thirds of the way into its skull. The monster reeled back from the impact before standing back up and staring at Doll with its now damaged visor, Doll just grinned back as she loaded another bolt into the barrel of the Crossbow.

That second shot wouldn't be necessary as the supercharged one lodged in the angels skull did its last act of violence and collapsed in on itself. It hummed loudly as the murder drones head was engulfed in a floating ball of pure energy about the size of a basketball, vaporizing it instantly and making the body fall backwards onto the snow.

Doll just sat there as she watched this, the brutal humming of the stationary energy orb being replaced with one final pop before it to turned back into nothing. Relief plastered across the damaged drones face as the scene played out in front of her. Her left hand continued to melt as the nanite acid slowly devoured it.

She had did it, killed one of the metal angels and she would live to tell the tale too.

Well, saying killed would be incorrect as within five seconds the murder drone just regrew its head with a sludgy but robotic sound, standing upright as it did this.

With its head completely regrown the murder drone now stared a blank stare towards the ground, it's visor showing the word ERROR is large red text.

Chapter Text

Doll sat in the snow, completely dumbfounded as she slowly comprehended what had just happened. The murder drone stood there with its head hanging low, the silver haired head it shouldn't even have considering that she had just vaporised it.

She got up, cautiously. Expecting the monster to reboot at any second and butcher her then and there, however it didn't. Well it did reboot, just it didn't decide to butcher her.

The murder drones yellow eyes looked around in confusion before settling on the worker drone in from of it.

"Umm hey, do you... know what just happened?" It asked her in an abashed sounding voice, it's clawed hand rubbing the back of its head.

Doll blinked at it a couple time as she was again dumbfounded by the strangeness of this murder drone.

"... What?" She asked as she stood upright, holding onto the Pulse Crossbow tightly with one hand. Doll was not the smallest Drone in the colony but she was still tiny compared the apparently passive murder machine that was a few feat away from her.

"Well, your new to our squad right? And I can't remember the past five minutes of my life so...?" The murder drone pointed on of its fingers at the hard hat wearing worker drone before continuing. He couldn't really tell what she was, his visuals only showing a black glitchy silhouette and a large yellow question mark over her but he put that aside.

"I haven't even introduced myself, I'm Serial Designation N. The third member of... pilot J's squad." N smiled warmly at her as he saluted, his hand up to his head and obscuring the damaged headband behind it. Something about the smile looked forced to Doll, was this all a ploy to make her trust him she mused?

Doll was about to say something back when the pain in her hand returned, the acid still slowly eating it's way through the metal and making an audible hissing noise as it did. She hissed through her teeth at this and dropped her crossbow on the snow as she clutched her wrist.

N saw this and sighed with barely hidden exasperation before telling Doll the very useful information of
"You know you can just pop your hand in your mouth, we have saliva that neutralises the acid.".

"... I think I... cut my tongue?" Doll responded, she didn't trust the idea of putting her melting hand into her mouth of all places and this murder drone would probably believe this excuse. Unfortunately the only place she was going to get some of their special saliva was his mouth, it would be very awkward to ask that. Awkward to the point that Doll had the stupid thought of just cutting the arm off instead of asking. N made the choice easy for her.

"... I... I could... Help. Maybe?" N sputtered out as he looked worriedly at the growing hole in his new squad mates hand.

So he did just that, both of them in the pod since Doll was curious of the inside and because of the shared thought that being seen in this extremely awkward position would be damaging to any reputation they had.

Doll slid her hand out of N's mouth after a minute, glad that it was no longer damaged at all but internally grimacing at the method of fixing it.

"Neat, I love doing new things... I guess." N said as the pair sat in the two chairs in the only room in the drop pod. One side of the pods inside being covered in a large undamaged screen display with a set of buttons under it while the other walls were mostly unadorned. Except for a set of stolen steel shelves, these had a collection of random junk on them.

Doll wipped the remaining saliva on her pants before asking
"Umm N... You said squad mates, doesn't squad mean four?".

"Yep, their are four of us. I can't wait to introduce you to all of them once they get back." N answered her question happily.

Doll had a sinking feeling. She couldn't even kill one and now there are four, this was very bad. The other three probably wouldn't be as nice as N was and Doll guessed that he was only this nice because of the damaged headband thing.

She had to get as much information on them as possible before she gets out of here so Doll asked.
"What, are the other three like?"

"Oh, you'll love them." He said with a wave of his hand as he began to tell Doll about his squadmates with, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

"First there's J, the squad leader." He states blandly, remembering the last time he had interacted with his pigtail haired boss.

The pair were out on a hunt, cold wind blowing through the ruined buildings and shifting the snow around their feet as they stood a few metres apart. J had just finished killing a couple of workers and was now eating the insides of one, picking the wires out of its opened stomach as she did.

"Ahh, all in a night's work, eh N." J exclaimed as she stopped eating and looked over the corpses, her two yellow eyes half hidden under her ever so precious pilot cap.

J then asked her subordinate something as she stalked though the wreckage they had caused with a clipboard in her hands, counting the corpses as she went.
"You did meet your kill quota right? Wouldn't want the company to see us slacking off."

"Ohh, um... I think so???" N coughed slightly after he answered her, N still standing in the same place as J slowly walked further away.

"I saw a few go down that street, clean them up and then return to the spire with their bodies... Or else." She threatened him, raising her voice so that he could hear her before grabbing a blue hard hat off of one of the corpses and flying away.

Doll listened to everything N had said about his squad leader, noting that the blue hard hat that was mentioned now sat on one of the shelves in the pod. A few other coloured hard hats were also present, was J collecting them Doll thought.

"And the other ones..?" She then asked N, who had paused for a bit to gauge her reaction to what he said about his very cool leader.

"Oh yeah, V is way cooler then J." The murder drone grinned as he said this, totally believing that this new squad member was going to agree with him.

N now started to speak about his friend V, remembering the last time he had interacted with the attractive but lazy glutton of a disassembly drone.

V was lounging on the roof of one of the skyscrapers, sprawled out flat across an air vent as it pushed out a slightly warm breeze that contrasted with the cold night. Her red scarf slightly flowing upwards from the force of the air vent as N landed on the roof, having finally found her after she had ditched the hunt they were on.

"Hey V... J wants to know if you... Got your kill quota before you left, us." He asked her, taking a second to hesitantly walk over to her as he did this. There were a few holes in the concrete roof that he had to avoid to do this.

"Ugh, this count?" V asked nonchalantly, before she rolled over and grabbed a single worker drone from behind the vent she was on. Then rolling back towards N with it in her clawed hands, she yawned loudly as she did this. N noticed that the body was still in near mint condition except for the single bullet hole in its head.

"Yeah it does." N smiled and gave her a thumbs up before continuing to the question he thought he already knew the answer to
"But is that all you killed?".

"Yah huh." V blandly stated back as she began eating the head of the drone, quietly crunching the metal between her own metal fangs. Making sure to avoid getting any of the precious liquid on her scarf as the drone ate slowly, taking her time with the meal that was once another sentient robot.

Doll took all this in as she watched N regale the story with a small yellow blush on his visor, which he didn't notice he was showing until a second or two after he had finished telling it.

"Umm hehe, V is really nice." N quelled his blush and blinked at Doll as he said this, slightly worried about how he still couldn't get a clean look at her but pushing that away again to talk about the last squad member.

"Hmm, right." Doll checked her internal clock as she said this, wanting to see how long she had spent here listening to N talk. 3:21 AM.

"Yeah V is so cool that I have a crush on her... WAIT!!! don't tell anyone ok, pinky promise." N looked a little panicked as he held his pinky out to Doll, waiting for the aforementioned pinky promise.

Doll obliged, not like she would ever have to break this promise since she would be leaving very soon. As soon as N told her about the last member of the squad. They both locked their smallest of four metal fingers, do they even count as pinkies they both thought as they did this.

"Thanks... Umm?" N trialled off, unable to put a name to the glitchy figure infront of him even though he had been talking with her for a good while now.

"Doll." she finished N's sentence and told him her name automatically, only comprehending what she did after she had done it. Why she did this Doll didn't know, but the red eyed worker drone quickly returned her attention to N when her spoke again.

"... That's not a normal name for a Disassembly Drone." Doll was a little taken back about the name remark but stopped herself from speaking when he moved on to talking about the last member of the squad instead.

"Last squad member is Rebecca, she is... Really clingy honestly, but still cool!" N resumed his storytelling as he remembered the last time he and the high octane disassembly drone had interacted.

It was midnight, both moon's casting their light across the cities ruins, N was hanging upside down by his tail from a lamp post, watching as the bright blue disassembly drone flew towards him with a bisected worker drone in her hands.

"Hi Rebecca! You ready?" N shouted out to her when she glided into hearing range, she dropped the corpse onto the street as she landed on the ground just below N.

"Uhh, sure sweets." She smirked up at him as she called him the oft disliked pet name the flirty blue eyed killer had chosen for him. Not that N even liked her back, but he hadn't told her that.

N coughed loudly before gesturing down the street at a set of hastily made targets, each one was a worker drone head hanging from a lamp post. The small ornaments swaying in the wind.

"J wants you practice your aim so. I made these for you." N grinned as he admitted what he had even called her here for.

"Target practice... Reallyyyy!?!!" The blue haired drone whined as she stretched backwards, the single purple highlight in her hair showing itself to N as she did this. Before switching her left hand to her least favourite weapon, The 50 calibre heat sniper with a groan of annoyance.

"Whhyyy, You know how much I suck with this thing." She complained again as she fiddled with the pink jumper tied around her waist with her free hand. The jumper was the largest piece of clothing she had on with her top half only covered by a tied up at the bottom red shirt.

Her metal legs were barely covered with the black paint designs, unlike the other two female members of the squad and were mostly left bare. With Rebecca's black paint only going up to halfway up her calf and being cut off by a blue and black warning strip of paint instead of the yellow and black standard issue.

N's usual positivity showed itself as he tried to make Rebecca feel a little better about what was about to happen.
"You don't suck, this is just a chance to get better.". He told her as the targets continued to dangle from their posts down the street.

Rebecca than proceeded to miss seventeen out of twenty shots and lace the street with several new damages across the next half an hour. Not that she ment to do any of that of course.

"And her name is... Rebecca?" Doll asked N once he had finished, the russian worker drone had a slight suspicion that she had heard that name before. Even though there was no one in the colony called Rebecca, she didn't remember anyone called that at least.

"Yep, that's her name." N replied to the question, completely missing Doll's expression of confusion as he did. Probably because he still couldn't see her properly.

Doll then checked the time again 3:23 AM, the large red words flashing across her vision. Alright, she thought. Time to get outta here, but how to make him not follow me?

Doll thought for a second on this as N asked her
"So, do you want a tour of this place?"

"Oh... Sure." She answered back to him, only half focusing on what was said to her as plans of heading back to the colony without the murder drones following her came to mind.

"And that's where J keeps the oil reserves." Doll zoned back into the conversation after a minute, not remembering anything N had said before this. He was pointing towards the wall with one finger, there was nothing on the wall so she assumed he ment somewhere outside the pod.

But he had perked her interest.
"Why do you- uh we, need oil?" Doll quickly corrected herself as she asked him. The girl could hazard a guess but wanted a direct confirmation before she left.

"Because without the workers WARM SWEET OIL we will overheat and die." N reveals, bearing metal fangs and the yellow X on his visor as he mentioned the apparently warm and sweet liquid that coursed through a drones internal parts. Warm and sweet, she mulled over those words for some reason, perhaps she would find out one day but as of now the reason eluded her.

"... That's weird. The worker drones can exist without needing to refuel on oil. Why couldn't JCJenson make that so for you gu- I mean us." Doll stumbled over the last few words as she inquired on this obvious design flaw. N tilted his head at her, thinking as the coat wearing murder drone slowly blinked multiple times.

"Umm... I guess we would have to ask the company?" He hesitantly stated, his hands resting on the dusty buttons on the table next to him. Doll had a strange feeling, something was off. To bad she couldn't speak up before a thud and a yell was heard outside.

"Hey sweets, I'm back!"

Chapter Text

N looked around in confusion, he could of swore that his new friend, the disassembly drone called Doll was in the pod with him a second ago. She was probably already outside he thought, eager to meet with the other squad mates of his.

In actuality , N was half right. She was outside just instead of even attempting to converse with the rest of the squad of metal angels the red eyed drone had bolted for the exit. How she had gotten that far was purely because Rebecca was more interested in N then doing her job, way more interested. The blue eyed disassembly drone was very surprised at the fact that N had let a worker drone into their base and asked N what he had done.

"N?! You gonna explain yourself?" She asked him, speaking rather loudly considering N was standing right in front of her.

"Umm, why doesn't Do-... Umm..." N trailed off as he scanned the room for the purple haired girl, failing to find her since his headband was still damaged as well as the fact she wasn't there.

"Rebecca, N. What happened here?" A commanding female voice trailed down from the ceiling, the owner of said voice was J. She dropped down from the ceiling, holding onto her pilot cap and sending a small plume of snow up around her as she landed.

Rebecca hurriedly spun around to face her squad leader with N peaking out from behind her as J approached the pair with a slight scowl on her face.

"Hey, J. We were just wondering about that too... Heh." Rebecca nervously chuckles as she sidled to the side so that N was more visible to their boss. While she did that, V slowly glided down from the hole in the ceiling and doing ever growing orbits around the inner edge of the spire as she did.

J gave the only male member of her squad a once over before suddenly slapping him across the face and stepping back, a small grin on her face as she did.

"J. What the hell!!" Rebecca angrily spoke, her voice returning to its more raised tone before N rebooted.

He blinked at the pair as he stood there, his headband light was back to its standard yellow colouration after the slap. N trying his hardest to keep his visor from showing any rebuttal to the violence that his boss had bestowed upon the drone as he began to shuffle through the now clear memory files.

Coming back here to find a dangerous worker. Fighting them, losing to them when they pulled out a Crossbow of all things. Talking to them in the pod, telling everything to them about his squadmates. Making a pinky promise with them over a crush. These memories were now replayed in full 4K quality, this time with the purple haired and red eyed worker drone actually visible to him. The last of the memory montage closes up and N's vision goes blank, nothing but sporadic lines of code showing themselves.

[\\YOUR DEAD//]
[PRESENT "DEATH" COUNT IS]
[009]

[BUDDY]
[THIS IS GETTING ANNOYING]

"Oh, no. This is baaaddd. Really bad!" N says outloud as soon as he comes too, The rest of the disassembly drones giving him various looks of confusion. V had also landed by now, standing upright and looking somewhat interested for once as well.

N frantically turns towards the corpse spires exit, scanning the ground for footprints as well as the crossbow that the trickster of a worker drone had used on him.

"I left a- an extremely dangerous weapon- umm excuse outside... Bye!" N ditched it towards the exit after he spoke his hurried and suspicious goodbye. His metal wings flipping open and clumsily launching the disassembly drone into the sky and out of view.

"Hey, Im coming too!" Rebecca exclaimed with slight concern before dashing out of the spire after N, J had to side step to avoid being knocked over by her over attached squad member. Not that Rebecca had any particular reason to not be like she was considering everything that has happened between her and the squad.

J sighs after the two have left, then sighing louder and again when V trundled up next to her and flicked a small red and yellow flag out of her arm. The supremely lazy drone was half slouched as she stood their, her visor portraying her eyes drooping and half lidded.

"Can I go sleep now?" The flag read in bold yellow text. The pigtailed drone sharply answered with a resounding denial of the request before heading out after the other two. Ordering V after her as to make sure the drone even did anything.

Meanwhile, Doll had successfully managed to get all the way back to the colony, her circuits on an all time high as she revealed the hidden outside keycard reader, slamming the key card itself on it before hiding it again. The door flicked open instantly in response, allowing for the terrified drone to bolt inside.

"Wow hey, you could of knocked."
"Urrh, I shouldn't even be playing this stupid game... Whatever it is called?!" These and various other combinations of words were exclaimed as soon as the door had opened. The workers inside still playing their match of mahjong on the table.

"Close, Now!" Doll commanded as she slid her key card over the inside card reader before moving it away as to not let the machine double scan it. As this was happening Alyssa coughed loudly as to try to get the panicked Doll's attention.

"Doll! There you are your mother is worried sick about yo- AAHH!!" unfortunately Alyssa's very important dialogue was cut short by a grappling claw grabbing around her waist section and yanking her back towards the outside.

As fast as the invading claw was the doors were still faster, almost faster at least. Not that the results of Khan's work were particularly nice to look at or hear as the metal walls collided with Alyssa's moving body, crunching down on it and silencing her scream within an instant as if they were the teeth of some giant beast. The impact sprayed her oil out like a crushed soft drink can, with said can now jammed between the two massive half doors and preventing them from fully closing.

Everyone sat wide eyed and stunned as they tried to comprehend what just happened to Alyssa. Doll took a single trembling step back before a pair of metal claws slid their way through the gap in the door and grasped down on either side of it, accompanied by a blue X glaring in from the outside.

"Ugh, a game of Mah John? May Jon?, no it's not that... Nvm." A female voice asked innocently as the doors begun to be forced open, the strength of the invader and the doors own strength competing for dominance. As this was going on, a yellow tail weaved it's way over to the key card reader before stabbing it and causing Doll to jolt back a little.

This was a decisive action as the reader now began to malfunction, it's screen displaying several highly offensive curse words before going black. With it dead two of the three doors behind the main one now opened, letting the cold air of the night permeate further into the colony.

Without the doors in the way the pair of aggressors were now revealed, their forms shown in full to the backdrop of the dark night and empty night sky. Rebecca stood with her claws out and dangling near the ground, a cheshire grin on her face that was slightly tinted a bright blue from the X over her visor. Next to her was N, his own fangs showing as he swapped his left hand for a missile launcher and pulled his tail from the sparking reader.

After a brief staredown, frenzied movement erupted from all sides. With the WDF members and Doll fleeing into the colony whilst the disassembly drones cackled and begun slaughtering them effortlessly.

One particular WDF member however had decided that this transgression would not do.

"Umm, it's spelt. M, a, h, j -." The worker was halfway through explaining how mahjong was spelt before they found themself stabbed through the chest with a small blade. A purple liquid in the canister connected to the tail appendage of the murder drone. The nanite acid filled tail pulled itself out of the worker before jamming itself into the bottom of his chin, the nanite acid inside being deployed into the targets mouth and leaving the worker to choke and die slowly while the rest of the carnage played out.

N, began to fire missiles indiscriminately down the hallway, managing to score a direct hit on Todd as he ran and reducing the drone to a burst of heat and light with not even his head surviving. Markov didn't have better luck either as Rebecca swiftly caught up to him and tore him in two with her claws while she laughed, Markov's last scream of terror fueling the remaining pair to run faster.

"Uh hey, my name hasn't been said outloud so far so im-." Whoever that was got swiftly cut in half by a beam of yellow light, their two halves now falling onto the floor leaving Doll with the casualties she technically caused.

Well she wouldn't have that much time to dwell on it anyway as Rebecca's grappling claw reached around her leg and viciously yanked the girl back to the pair of murder drones, making her cry out in suprise and drop her Pulse Crossbow as she did.

"Caught you." Rebecca cooed as she held up Doll upside down from the leg, the terrified drone petrified from the circumstances and the X still showing on her captors visor. The blue eyed killer standing tall as she glossed over her latest catch with a disdainful look, this pitiful drone was who N had befriended she thought as jealousy swelled within her code.

Doll's thought processors were racing, had she doomed everyone in the colony to death by these metal monsters? Would anyone even know it was her that did this? Her thoughts continued like this, Doll so internally focused that she failed to feel Rebecca shake her around.

Rebecca's visor flashed with some code as she taunted her soon to be prey, sharp steel claws tightening around Doll's leg and drawing oil through the cargo pants.

[--Running--]
[--"Overprotective Yandere Threat Dialogues"--]

"You know, I might pull you apart slowly for even trying to get that close to my N.". The aforementioned N turned his head at a mention of his name, still holding the body he was eating with one hand and wiping his oil smeared face with the other.

"Part by part, you'd still be online too so you could watch as i - ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING!?" Rebecca exclaimed, fuming whilst violently shaking Doll around and forcing the girl to focus on reality. Doll pushes any guilt down and refocuses on stopping what she had unleashed as Rebecca stops shaking her, both the disassembly drones going silent as they hear something.

"Эм, Алисса, ты здесь? Ты сказал, что знаешь, где Долл?"
(Umm Alyssa, are you here? You said you knew where Doll was?)
A voice calls out from around the corner that leads further into the colony, footsteps getting louder as someone approached.

Doll's eyes went hollow as she realized who had said this, she now tries to franticly squirm her way out of Rebecca's iron like grasp. Rebecca only holds on tighter as she notices the sudden shift of mood from her prey, a wild look in her eyes as she realizes just how much fun this might end up being.

For her, nothing could rival the feeling of being completely in control of someone else's life. It was so exhilarating to watch them cry and plead for mercy, not like she ever received said mercy so why give it to them.

Yeva turned the corner and froze, her red eyes widening in shock as she saw the murder drones holding up the only member of her family left. She looks like she just woke up as well, with short messy purple hair poking out from inside her brown bear onesie. Still holding onto her flask in one hand.

"Oh, this yours?" Rebecca bares her teeth and shakes Doll about a bit to emphasize what she hissed at the still terrified parent. Doll squirms even harder to get out before having the idea of swinging her other leg around to land a kick on her captors visor. This causes Rebecca to exclaim loudly and drop Doll on the ground for a split second before she recovered from the surprise kick.

"Mother.. get out of here!" Doll groans as she landed on the hard steel floor infront of Rebecca, trying for a split second to scramble away from her. Doll wasn't fast enough so Rebecca swings her leg around and kicks Doll in return. Sending the drone flying up the hallway and into a wall with enough force that she just bounced off of it and rolled across the floor, almost all the way to the last door.

"Кукла!"
("Doll!")
Yeva screamed as she saw this, rushing over and trying to help Doll up from the floor. As this happened warning lights began to flash on the ceiling, Doll already knew what was about to happen.

As Yeva helped her up, Doll, with a surprising amount of force pushed her mother back behind the door threshold. Yeva looking on in shock as Doll did this, truthfully simulated tears showing on the smaller ones visor. The door slammed down between the two with a thud, separating mother and daughter.

"An evacuation has been triggered, please head towards the evacuation point." A hidden speaker announced, whoever was using it sounded slightly panicked but were trying to stay calm. With this message complete the bunker went into lockdown. Red lights replacing the white ones and making the spilt oil look like blood, soft klaxons whirring to life within the bunker and adding thier muffled warning shrieks to the ambiance.

Doll now stood alone against two disassembly drones, one who laughed at the situation and the other staying silent. Doll shifted to a fighting stance even though the worker drone was untrained in close quarter combat, ignoring the fact that her opponents would shred her to bits easily.

That was proven right as N violently rushed forward and pinned her to the wall using his wing, an X displayed on his face as Doll sputtered out oil from her mouth. Rebecca laughed slightly as she watched this, a grim smile on her face as she switched her hand back from the claw configuration, glad that N had clearly chosen her over the disposable worker drone.

A damage warning flashed over Doll's eye as N held her up and looked at her, He felt really bad now. Seeing her do something as selfless as shove her own mother away as well as witnessing everything his squad mate did to her, it was making him slightly uncomfortable. But it was his job, N thought. It was necessary for him to survive, even if he felt bad about it.

This is how the world works, they both thought.

Chapter Text

The Hallway was practically silent as Doll stayed limp on the cold metal wall, pinned to it by N's wing through her shoulder area. Oil leaking slowly out from the wound of the defeated drone as she powered down. With the red warning lights that illuminated the scene her oil looked more like blood.

Just then everyone heard the sound of claws on the ceiling, clicking and scraping closer and closer to the three. N and Rebecca turned their heads up to have a look at the source of the noise. It was J and V, they were crawling on the ceiling and their yellow eyes shone down brightly in contrast to the dim red of the room.

"Rebecca, I didn't think you had it in you to go and do this. The company will be exhilarated to hear of this!" J complements the blue haired drone as she falls to the floor, giving N and Doll a disdainful look when she landed.

V stumbles slightly as she lands next to her boss, yawning once before begrudgingly congratulating Rebecca and N
"Yeah, congrats or whatever...".

N became a little flustered at the comment from V, pulling his wing out of Doll so that he could properly face his team members. With Doll as limp she was the disassembly drones took her as dead, or in the case of V straight up not notice her.

"Heh, not like you could do anything like this V." Rebecca snapped at her team mate with a aura of smug superiority radiating from her as she did, and the blue disassembly drone was right.

V wasn't exactly the most helpful of the squad with the her preference towards being lazy, nihilistic and being overall unhelpful resulting in the silver haired girl underperforming. Of course N knew that V was lazy but he wouldn't be one to let someone gets away with insulting his crush, even if it was just a small jab.

"Rebecca! Don't say that, V could of easily done this too." N rebutted the claim with a slight look of annoyance on his face, which was also present in his voice. He was now giving the youngest member of the team a glare as both of his hands went to his hips, his back turned to the powered down worker drone that was still slumped against the wall.

The room got a little more tense as the two began to bicker between themselves before J swiftly cut them both off and interrupted. Both Rebecca and V gave their boss full attention as J fake coughed once and fixed her cap, which had gotten a little lose from all the flying and other such activities she had done recently.

The pigtailed drone looked between the two with barely hidden exasperation as she spoke
"Well then, why don't you go and test this, hypothesis of yours Rebecca? You say V couldn't kill of a colony of worker drones and yet you stand here taunting her instead of doing it yourself.".

Rebecca blinked as she took this all in, realising what her boss had said just said. V on the other hand looked like she had won this argument, a sly smile on her fanged face as the she tried to not begin giggling at the now flustered Rebecca .

"Oh... Heh, Of course boss." Rebecca stutters as she tries briefly to recompose herself before giving up and launching into the ceiling. Metal and other roof parts falling as a loud crash was heard from the collision. One had to wonder if she could of made less of a mess as V groaned as dust from the uncleaned ceiling now fell on her.

Rebecca just starts to crawl away through the vents before J snaps her fingers and grabs the drones attention
"Rebecca.".

"Y- Yes boss?" Rebecca answers, looking down from the hole she had made in the grated metal roof. Sending down a small shower of metal filings and other such things as she shifts herself to face her boss, the rest of the disassembly drones moved out of the way of said debris.

"Take V with you." These words cause both of the pair to groan with annoyance, J smirking slightly at thier reactions to her order while N stayed silent. Unsure of whether he should say anything.

"Chop chop. I have something to... discuss with N. And the longer you two morons wait the more workers slink out from our grip." J claps her hands twice as she states her reasons for making such an order.

V scowls at the insult J had slipped into her order before jumping up into the vent and forcefully squeezing past Rebecca. The other drone in the vents merely stopping to glance worriedly at N. She couldn't stop herself from wondering what J and N had to discuss, at least it shouldn't be something bad as he had helped her break into this place. Right?

Once the pair had disappeared further into the colony and their bickering could no longer be heard, J turned her full attention to a confused looking N.

For a minute N had thought that J had straight up forgot he existed as she has done before, so he was glad that this wasn't the case this time. Even if she sounded, annoyed with him?

"Serial Designation N. I have to ask you, how did that worker drone even escape the spire?" J inquired, gesturing her hand at the very obviously dead Doll that occupied some of the floor space near N. Doll had infact rebooted exactly a second ago and was now listening in while forcing her visor to stay blank as to not reveal herself.

"Umm, well. She just ran? i think?" heh." N racks his memory files to see if he has any exact proof besides the trail of now erased footprints back at the spire. He came up empty, beginning to feel like this conversation wasn't going to be a five star experience anymore.

"She just, ran..? Bi annual holiday's are you low on oil or something!? How did that even happen you moron?!" J exclaims loudly, her hand griping the brim of her pilot cap as it always did when she got pissed.

Yeah, this conversation was definitely not a five star experience anymore, N thought quickly as he tried to come up with an excuse for his failing. Low on oil... he just got back from a hunt he definitely wasn't... wait?

N came to a realization as he mulled over the accusations his boss had flung at him, his eyes going wide as the disassembly drone began to wonder if Doll was right to question the company.

"Im not... low on oil, but not like i don't want to keep murdering these... worker drones and doing our job but... why, does the company never check in on us?" N spoke up, now starting to feel that everything was clicking into place. Had the company really abandoned them on this rock?

J rolled her eyes before answering him
"They have their reasons, Im sure their just busy running this sector to keep a consistent schedule is all. Hell we should be thankful they made us in the first place moron."

J wondered over to N's side, getting uncomfortably close before she continued.
"First you let a worker escape and now your questioning the company, I wonder what has gotten into you?"

"It's, just that. The worker from before might of... Made me think, what if the company.. Doesn't actually... love robots and well we ar-" N reasoned back to J as he shuffled slightly away from her before being cut off.

Doll kept listening, trying not to wince as she heard something stamp itself into N, a loud hissing emanating from it as he chuckled and fell to the ground.

"Heh, I've made a terrible mistake, It''s cool how i can... Immediately feel ittttttt" N's words began to blur and distort as the virus stamp took its toll on him, quickly overwhelming any antivirus that might of blocked a lesser form of malware from entering. Doll stayed silent as she was slightly overwhelmed by mixed feelings. She cheered for the supposed death of a monster but yet, this didn't sit right with her.

"The company is always right N, these workers are corrupted. just like you. See you in a few hours." J snarked at him before leaving through the hole in the ceiling.

[FACTORY RESET IN PROGRESS]
[//14%\\]

[WARNING]
[YOU ARE GETTING LOBOTOMIZED]
[PLEASE DO NOT RESIST]

After J was gone, Doll got up and went over to grab her crossbow before kneeling next to N and taking a look at his visor with concern. She didn't know why but their was a feeling of sadness from seeing him like this, twitching on the floor as he blue screened. The various lines of code making their busy travels across his visor and marking N as broken.

Surprisingly however was that he could still speak, even if it was more equated to a garbled mess of sounds more than a fully formed language. And so he did just that, stammering out an apology as the red lights shone down on the pair.

"He- ey, Doll. im- im sorry for, making you have a- a he- hero moment. With y- your mo-m." N attempted to look at her as he spoke but his head wouldn't really turn properly so he settled for continuing to stare at the roof.

Doll stayed silent, still conflicted as to what to do. She should just kill the drone and move on to try her luck with the other three, put a bolt through his heart and hope it works but he was even apologizing for what he did.

The worker drone turned away from N before fishing through her waist bag, pulling out a single shiny metal bolt. Its edge gleaming with long overdue purpose as she held it softly in her gloved hand. She thought hard on what to do, but only for a second before she was interrupted by N's poor attempt at speaking again.

"At at- lea-st thi--s ke- keep-s th- the p pink-y promise."

Doll turned back around to face him, leaning down next to him again before raising the bolt up above her head. It reflecting the red lights as the metal barb sat poised and ready to stab.

"Xуй." (Dick).
Doll sighed before she brought the bolt down slowly, taking a glance at the hole in the ceiling as she changed her mind.

"I'll be keeping that pinkie promise." a small smile forming on her synthetic lips as she said this, feeling it to be right.

She then flicked her hair back before attempting to use the bolt to pry off the stamp and assuring N of his safety
"Now im not a mechanic but i have a rough idea of how to do this.".

Chapter Text

Thad was sent rolling across the cold concrete floor of the warehouse section of the colony, he was so close to the evacuation exit. If only he had spent less time looking for his mom and more time worrying about himself then the green eyed jock wouldn't of been attacked by one of the murder drones. Said murder drone now sauntering towards him with a cruel and almost dissatisfied look on her face, yellow eyes glaring around under its pilot cap and silver hair.

"By the company's leadership you are all senseless." J sneered at the small blockade of worker drones that had a flimsy guard over the back exit. The one and a half a dozen of them directing the last few scraps of the civilian population into the red lighted hallway next to them.

This would be quick J thought to herself as she advanced on the injured jock, her and V would clean up the WDF here before sweeping out the back exit and gunning down the refugees that huddled outside in the cold.

Thad had barely gotten up before V appeared next to him, yawning slightly before she backhanded him with enough force to send him flying back into the crowd and knocking Lizzy over as well.

The pair making annoyed noises as they both got up off each other, Lizzy helping the other up while looking over to the two approaching murder drones.

"WDF.. Uhhh, now's your chance. At least try to do something..." the pink eyed drone asked the obviously terrified WDF members. Her visor showing an anger mark on it when she realized that the WDF wouldn't do anything.

All the drones around her shook their heads and made various complaints about that idea as they backed away, all of them except one. The WDF's somewhat new leader, Sarah Day.

"Uh al-alright, everyone out." she spoke fearfully as the blue eyed worker drone stepped forward and shakily pointed an old pistol towards V. The disassembly drone blinked once before the gun went off, the noise echoing around the large warehouse walls.

J quickly hid her shock as she watched as the shot pass V by and land in the far wall, the blank round doing little to nothing to the reinforced concrete. She then began to chuckle to herself, V bringing out her claws in preparation to maul the now alone WDF leader.

"Can't even aim right, i can see why the company wants you dismembered. In fact, your even shoddy compared to the last leader of your, Worker Diminishing Force. At least he put up a fight." J sneered as she motioned with one hand for the expectantly watching V to go for the kill.

V grinned, piecing Sarah through the chest with her wing as she tried to escape, the girls false projection of bravado vaporized as soon as she missed her shot.

"Well if its a fight your looking for you corporate bootlicker! I'll gladly oblige." a female voice called out from the entry into the warehouse, its tone accusatory and filled with a renewed and brutal confidence.

J spun violently towards the insult, her swiftly built irritation only growing as she laid her gaze on Doll and N. Both of them fine despite what she had seen earlier that should suggest that the pair were out of action.

"And put her down, Lazy." Doll adds on to what she previously said, directing it at V this time and infuriating the preoccupied murder drone. A sigh can be heard as V flicks her wing and sends Sarah flying into the wall above the emergency exit with a scream before turning to face the pair of traitors.

"Oh, You do exactly what SHE say's without complaining but whenever i tell you to do something its the end of your world V." V didn't respond to anything J had just complained, choosing to keep her silence as the pigtailed drone clutched the brim of her stolen hat and continued with her threats.

"Anyway, N! your messing with my already late schedule and by the company's head chairman. You will pay dearly for any upsets you cause."

V and J both switched into fighting stances now, J with her left arm as a dangerous looking sword while V kept both hers as the model standard set of elongated metal claws.

"Alright, stick close to me N." Doll requested of him as she grinned and slotted a crossbow bolt into the Pulse Crossbow with a satisfying click.

"Yep, Gotcha." N put a pair of thumbs up at his new friend before switching his left arm to a chainsaw and revving it slightly. Of course this didn't intimidate either of their opponents and only caused J to bare her teeth and charge the pair with startling speed.

The two clashed a few feet in front of Doll, sparks flying as chainsaw and sword struck. J pushing on her now ex comrade with a fanged smile as he began to slide back a little. N panicked for a second from the assault, seemed J had no sympathy for him he thought before coming up with a counter move.

N flicked his chainsaw arm to the side, causing J's own sword arm to be out of position and leaving her open to the gut punch she received from N. The punch caused J to fly back. Landing feet first on the ground a few meters away and grazing her leg when she barely dodged a pot shot Doll took at her, letting the uncharged bolt whistle past and dig itself into the concrete wall.

V now took aim with a rocket launcher, N and Doll both going wide eyed as they saw it fire and dart towards them with malicious intent.

Luckily N grabbed his purple haired combat partner by the waist and jumping to flight before the missile could hit them, barely avoiding J's swarm of bullets that now incessantly hounded the pair as they flew to the far side of the warehouse. A few of the projectiles being manipulated by some unknown source and shredding themselves into fine metal dust instead of doing normal bullet activities.

"Thanks!" Doll used her free hand to gesture for him to land as she thanked him loudly, the disassembly drone screaming as another missile narrowly missed the pair and scorched the roof a few meters behind them.

As soon as they landed J had already rushed them again, her visor letting her yellow eyes flare up in anger as her stab was blocked by N's chainsaws and the two locked weapons again. With Doll scrambling out from pretty much under N, as he had put her down that way before being attacked by his ex boss.

She then hurriedly loaded another bolt as the pair of murder drones pushed against each other. At even with each other until J backed off, letting N's chainsaw's swing on empty air as she switched her right arm to a double barrel shotgun with a click and fired at his chest.

N reeled back and screamed in pain as the shots dug into him, the holes begining to hiss and eject steam as nanites got to work repairing the wounds. N leaned over, clutching his stomach as it happened which was exactly what J had wanted. He was now wide open for her to slice a sword arm down on his neck.

"Я ни за что не позволю тебе этого сделать."
("No way I'm letting you do that.") Doll interrupted as she launched another bolt at the leader of the disassembly drones, the uncharged metal projectile slamming into her chest and making her fall back from its force.

The hissing from N's stomach stopped as he recovered himself, scanning the field and thanking Doll for covering him in the few seconds they had before V launched another missile at the pair. The short silver haired drone hadn't even moved from where she was standing when the fight started.

"You know, i appreciate the save but what are we going to do to stop them?" Doll asked as N let go of her again, having just dived and grabbed the russian drone yet again to avoid V's explosive attacks.

"Rope! we can tie the-" N exclaimed in a moment of brilliance before whipping around and countering J's third attempt at stabbing him with expert timing. The pigtailed girl swinging her free hand around and lodging the crossbow bolt she had pulled out of her midsection into N's arm as the two clashed sword and chainsaw arms again.

N hissed slightly as the bolt went in, his right hand switching to a chainsaw and swinging at her head with surprising speed as one of his eyes now displayed a cross.

J managed to dodge under the swing and disengage from the taller disassembly drone but now stared at him with wide eyes, anger dampened by fear. N had never even lashed out at her before, and yet he had just tried to take her head off.

She didn't have much time to think on it as a missile exploded on the floor between her and N, sending everyone flying and forcing J to silence her now temporarily useless sound receptors.

V didn't really care that she had hit her boss with that one, but maybe she should try not to do it again so that she could avoid one of J's long winded telling off's and actually get some sleep in the next few hours.

So V did just that, opening her wings and switching her vision over to heat before jumping up and attempting to stomp down on the worker drone N had somehow befriended. Of course that didn't work as N pulled his friend out of the way as the drone exclaimed in surprise.

"Where the hell do we get rope!?" Doll exclaimed again as she scrambled away from where N now collided his damaged sounding chainsaws with V's pristine swords. Both weapons complaining as they were pushed against each other, N backing off as he tried to reason with his new opponent.

"V! Don't do this, The company abandoned us!' V stalled her advance as N spoke, his eyes lighting up as the disassembly drone believed that maybe he could tell V the truth and sway her to his side. Or at least get to talk to her at all.

Suddenly, an EMP blast surges through the warehouse and Doll falls flat to the ground behind N, dropping her crossbow beside her as she did.

"Huh.. Doll!" N looks back at the worker for a split second before he is clawed and pulled into the air by J. Her metal claws digging into his sides as she rammed him and herself into the roof of the building with a grunt of exertion.

V now looked down at the hapless worker drone as J and N kept fighting, there exclamations and clashes echoing through the room.
"You... you know... If N's right and the company is lying then... Why am i here?"
V loomed over the unconscious Doll as she spoke her thoughts out loud, with both her claws trailing along the ground and making odd grating noises.

She continued to walk around Doll, dread and anger slowly filling her usually tired and emotionless voice as the girl spoke.
"So.. So.. they put me on this rock and, then ditch me... Why? Was everything purposeless?"

V starts to smile now, a crazed grin spliting her face as she came to a final realization.

"If that's so, maybe I could jus - Owww.?"
V began to say before the now awake Doll stabbed the drone in the leg with her own nanite acid tail and causing her to hop back while clutching it.

"W- wait- ... i ca-"
V pleaded as she fell back onto the floor, now looking down the barrel of the glowing Pulse Crossbow and up at Doll. Who just bared her own metal fangs at the disassembly drone before speaking to her.

"Yeah no. Why don't you just take a nap instead."
Doll snarked back at V before pulling the trigger and watching as the drone's chest area was consumed in a feral green light. Now all that remained of V was her four limbs and head, now dismembered and fading of light as the orb of death expired before popping out of existence.

A crash could be heard from across the warehouse as N axe kicked J into the ground from the pair's airborne combat, concrete cracking like tectonic plates as she made near meteoric contact with it.

N landed in front of her with a thud, further damaging the concrete as he did so. Catching his breath before confronting her with words this time.
"J, did you ever stop to think of what happens when all the workers are dead?".

"...The company would just pick us up. We are too valuable to be left here." J stated back as she got to her peg like feet, a grim look on her face as she readjusted her stolen hat and switched her left arm to a shotgun.

She raises it but before the gun could go off another metal bolt collides with it, making her stumble with its impact force. Fortunately for J, it wasn't a supercharged bolt so she didn't combust into a ball of pure energy like almost everyone else in her squad has.

"N! are you ok?" Doll rushed over with her crossbow and some rope in her hands, a victorious but worried look on her face as she got to his side.

N just gave her a weak thumbs up as he was tired from having to overpower J, and a little concerned at how easy it felt to just not hold back on his near abusive boss. The latter thought was kept to himself as the pair restrained J with the rope, after Doll reloaded the Pulse Crossbow and threatened her with it of course.

The pair now looked at each other, tired and confused from the night's events as J continued stare daggers into the both of them from her spot in the makeshift crater.

"Well... At least we fixed my mess." Doll sighs as she speaks to a worried looking N, her thoughts on what she would do now. What now would be answered for her as some of the WDF members came out from their hiding places between the shipping containers, cheering and exclaiming as they saw the remains of V.

Among them was Sarah, who walked to the front of the group and scanned over the finished battlefield. Her eyes filled with amazement which quickly changes to concern as she comprehended what Doll had said. Quicky gathering a few other WDF members into a huddle as they all discussed something, some sounding bored and some sounding tired but all of them were whispering.

As this happened, Yeva slipped out of said crowd and over to Doll with a worried expression on her face before embracing her child. The pair holding each other tightly as rushed apologies flowed out of the both of them.

"Hey Doll, who's this murder drone?" Thad asked Lizzy helped him walk over to the pair of russian drones, N pointing a finger at himself as he heard what the injured jock had inquired.

"Im serial designation N." he answered kindly before his visor flashed with a triangular overheat symbol, which made all the worker drones besides Doll take steps back from him.

As N takes a few steps back himself, Sarah fake coughs and draws everyone's attention to her and the now half deformed circle of workers. Using her new found spotlight to announce something of importance.
"Doll, I regret to inform you but... I, and a few others... Have come to the conclusion, that... We are going to have to banish you."

Almost everyone is mentally dumbstruck by this. Except for Doll, who had actually been looking for an excuse to stay outside with the murder drones. If only so that she could keep an eye on J and make sure that they didn't harm anyone else from the colony.

"Umm... Ok." The red eyed girl states out loud, confusing everyone more before she hugged the now wide eyed Yeva again. Arms wrapping around her Bear onesie as Yeva returned the hug silently, gazing off as she dissociated briefly.

"Куколка, куколка, я не могу... Не уходи."
("Doll, Doll I can't... Don't leave.")
Is all Yeva managed to sputter out as the pair finished their hug and she weakly let Doll slip out of her grasp, Yeva's hands fell to her sides lifelessly.

"Mom, I have to. I led the murder drones here." Doll whispered back, her visor showing pained red eyes as the girl took a final look at her mom before turning and heading over to N.

"Let's go N, quickly before that warning pops up again." Doll says before letting N pick her up and place her on his shoulders with ease, the girl trying her best to keep herself from running back to her mother's warmth.

Grabbing J with a claw hand and taking a regretful look over at V's smoldering remains before rocketing himself out though the roof of the colony with a crash and an audible complaint from Doll, something about why they didn't do that to enter here or something.

Chapter Text

As the colony slowly returned to its normal state and the crowd that fed itself through the warehouse finally trickled to a halt. Yeva merely stood exactly where Doll had left her, mulling over what her child had said as she floated in and out of a state of disassociation.

A few minutes pass like this. The warehouse feeling emptier every second as the onesie wearing drone wearily ordered her thoughts. Taking a sip of what was in her flask and letting the cold oil within it enter her systems, it tasted sweet and warm despite its age of at least a week old.

Once that was done she closed the flask and took a few steps towards the entrance, intending on finding someone and following through on a promise she had made long ago.

However, something else would catch her eye. A body laid flat on the concrete floor, surrounded by scorch marks and missing it's chest.

The burnt and blackened head making a barely audible and quite unnerving buzzing noise as the visor flashed an extremely dull blue. Was it, still alive?

With hesitant steps Yeva walked over to the corpse, freezing a few feet away from it as she realized who it was and her eyes went wide.

It was V.

Yeva stared at it, a sudden surge of crippling emotions forcing her to a kneeling position in front of the killer's blackened and broken corpse. The girl began to cry now, soft whimpers trailing from her as cherished memories resurfaced from there locked away memory banks. No one heard her, not Sarah, not Doll or anyone else.

As this goes on the head buzzes loudly as its visor blanks, a few seconds pass before colour returns to the screen. Small yellow text reluctantly showing itself in the middle of the visor and alerting Yeva of its presence.

[\\RUNNING BACKUP POWER//]
[\\SCANNING CURRENT HOST//]

The head began to make a whirring sound as circuits restored power to themselves, Yeva watching on in startled confusion. The drone shuffles a little closer, making sure to not go close enough that she ends up getting soot on herself as she tried to read what it now displayed on the visor.

[\\BODILY FUNCTIONS//]
[9%]

[\\OIL RESERVES//]
[//NULL\\]

"Нулевой.".
("Null.")
Yeva remembered the word as she whispered it, all the unfathomable power that came with it imprinted in her very core for the rest of whatever life she had left. It was vile and cruel, and she hated herself for letting it for having her. Oh so very much.

The screen greys out for a second, then resumes its usual black colour as it displays some more text. Yeva taken aback as the machine addressed her, its mouth not moving but still trying to communicate none the less.

[--I... Know you.--]
[--I Hurt you.--]

Was the head talking to her or was this just some last spasms of its circuitry, Yeva thought as she crawled over and picked the head up. Her onesie staining with soot and the oil that dripped slowly out of the metal limbs around her.

[--Do you... Remember me?--]

"...Ты? Ты... убил их обоих. Как я мог забыть.".
("...You? You... killed them, both of them. How could i forget.")
Yeva's visor began to display red tears, her grip tightening on the severed head as she remembered that night. She didn't want to remember it, how many drones had lost their lives all because she was to afraid to stop them herself.

[--Forget me... Please.--]
[--A little more pain, then i will be free--]

V's head began to power down, the last bit of legible text blurring as the visor blanked out again. the buzzing had stopped as well, the final courses of electricity reaching their hollow and empty destinations.

"Я... я не могу, Ты всегда будешь меня преследовать. Я тебя ненавижу. ... для этого.".
("I... I can't, You will always haunt me. I Hate you.... For this.")
Yeva managed to choke out between small sobs, her emotions run thin from everything that happened within the last twenty four hours.

With a bright flash of unnatural red light the drone finally broke down, alone in the warehouse as her emotional processor tried desperately to sort everything out. Shaky hands resting on the oil slick floor as fine steel flakes danced around her softly like foul snowflakes. There she stayed among the remains of her dark angel.

Eventually Yeva gets up, stealthily returning home by using the bottom layer of the colony as a sort of secret tunnel. For there is four layers to the colony all together with the ground floor hosting the major structures like school and the markets. The second and third layer's up being used for almost exclusively housing while the bottom floor beneath the ground one remained practically empty , its tight and dark halls detouring the WDF from attempting to do anything with its spaces.

Unfortunately, the closest exit from the bottom layer back to the ground floor was the scrap room. The large dark hall filled with the remains of all the worker drones that had deactivated permanently. Their spare parts placed somewhat neatly in labelled steel coffins and stacked upon the towering shelves.

Once Yeva had scurried out of this room, a pair of slightly dazed neon blue eyes opened and checked around from their place hanging from the rafters.

It was Rebecca, suspended upside down from the roof my her tail and wondering what a worker drone would be doing running around now. Hadn't J and V herded them outside, she still hadn't heard anything from J or any explosions so the disassembly drone assumed she still had free reign.

Not like she had been slacking off either, as was proven by the mangled worker drone corpse that she had taken a few bites out of and now held between her claws.

The girl hiccupped abruptly as she took another bite of the drone and letting its oil sludge down onto the floor below her, wondering why it felt so wrong to eat them despite needing their oil to live. They made her feel sick, as if her body couldn't handle the stuff.

Rebecca thought about it as she finished her meal, blissfully unaware of her team's defeat as the girl lazily hung from the ceiling and watched the pair of steel sliding doors that were the only entry and exit to this room.

Except for the vents where Rebecca had stuffed the last few of her half eaten victims and the vent on the floor that the red eyed drone had climbed out of before. Too bad Rebecca was preoccupied trying to force a magnet off of her head, having been placed their by one of her victims. If that hadn't of happened the girl would of descended on the drone and killed her, she hated picking up V and J's scraps but orders were orders and she was the bottom of the chain.

She eventually finished her meal. the blue haired drones next action was to check out what she could find in that vent in the floor. Wondering why that red eyed drone had come up out of the vents of all places as she pulled off the vent cover crawled and into the darkness with the lethargic sound of metal weakly scraping on metal echoing around the scrap room.

While this happened, N was all the way back at the corpse spire and had in fact just finished chaining a still rope bound J to the floor by the means of a metal neck collar. Before heading outside to top himself up on some of their oil reserves.

After that is done he notices Doll's silhouette sitting at the spire's exit and facing away from him, gazing into the ruined city as the sun slowly rose.

Doll's brooding was stopped by N coming up and sitting on the snow next to her, just within the shade of the spire. Both of them cross legged on the ground as the sun slowly peaked over the horizon, it's rays being blocked by the city ruins.

"Hey, that's lucky."
N said out loud to Doll, gesturing one of his hands towards the buildings and kicking off a conversation with her.

Doll took a second to zone in on what he had just said before answering him with a question.
"What's lucky?".

"The buildings block the sun. That's really lucky for me because otherwise I would of melted." N nonchalantly replied to her, causing Doll to turn her head to face his with a surprised look.

She couldn't believe it, these things had ridiculous weaknesses yet they hadn't been defeated yet. So utilising her clearly incredible tact she exclaimed
"What do you mean you burn in the sun!?".

"I don't know why but we do!" N rebutted as the sun continues to rise and cast it's fiery feelers closer to the pair with every minute.

Doll quickly stifled a chuckle when N revealed that he didn't know why he burnt in the sun, then quickly half changing the topic
"I guess we best go inside then, get you out of the sunlight so that I can take a nap without worrying if you will spontaneously combust."

And the sun saw, in that last second before the pair got up and retreated from its flames, something that drove fear into even a celestial body. The warning unnoticed by its red lighted barer or her companion as the line of code blinked into existence for but a nanosecond.

{Abs_solve = true}

Chapter Text

The party was over, the ballroom near empty as the manor regurgitated the various well dressed guests out of its exquisitely decorated front door. Leaving the manor's owner to wave them off, her husband busy reaping the rewards of a recent gambling run against another member of their extended family.

"Get lost you walking talking flounder of a tin can. Clearly James should of betted you instead of what he did bet." The top hat wearing human that had colourfully exclaimed that put one of his hands on his hips as he spun a wine glass like a basketball in his free hand. Surprising the worker drone that was his unwilling conversational partner with the display of dexterity.

The human then smirked as he noticed the butler dressed drone's gaze, although this looked more threatening then the master had intended due to the fact that drones saw humans as nothing more then black silhouettes. "Thought so, you know...".

The human paused for a second, tipping his top hat back up as he stooped down to look at the armband that the robot wore. N glancing awkwardly away at the action, humans were never this interested in him. So this was a change. The yellow band stating the name and designation of every drone that the human's niece had apparently rebuilt. After he read it, the human stood back up. taking a second glass off of N's platter as he did.

"N, Hmm, Tessa's getting lazy I see. ANYWAY! I, The Great Lord Frumplebucket will teach you my very flabbergasting party tricks and doodads.".

N, not trusting himself enough to speak back to the masters at all but also confused at the apparent lack of disdain that the human had for the butler styled robot. As well as this Lord Frumplebucket's sudden switch in mood. Decided to just nod, agree with the overly energetic man in front of him. Said man, sparring a glance back into the center of the ball before resuming his one sided conversation with N.

"Now listen here tinny!"

N. Who had been making rounds across the manor ballroom and picking up any discarded and finished drinks as he did now waited and listened to the human as he explained, in perfect detail. How to do many rather useless things, such as spinning objects on your fingers, knuckles and most uselessly. The nose. That last one being something that the lord realized would be unwanted information half way through his now twenty minute long lecture.

"Ohh... arhg fiddlestick devils, I forgot you lot don't have noses like I do. Uhh.. we do. Because Im not the only human with a nose." The man stuttered out, evidently half confusing himself in the process as the goofy looking black silhouette focused on keeping the wine glass that was balancing on his nose from falling.

Fortunately for N. Frumplebucket was now being interrupted by someone more important calling to him from the center of the ballroom, the table he sat at still dressed with the spoils of economic warfare. Lord Frumplebucket quickly stoped his shenanigans and returned the two glasses to N, grandly gesturing towards the exit as he did so. N taking the hint and leaving down the extravagantly decorated hall just in time.

"Brother! Stop fraternizing with those drones.".

"Your the dillydally-er that accepted my bet. Two extra tin cans for this house of cards and yet sir mighty tells me off for having a little fun?". Frumplebucket swung his arm over in some lightning fast pointing gesture. Levelling it at his brother in a mock accusatory mannor.

James sighed, exasperated with his somehow esteemed guest that had yet to leave. The manor's co-owner then softly pointed out the obvious.
"Yes... You still lost that bet."

"I know.".

The two got to their discussions as brothers usually did, neither again acknowledging the existence of N while thunder cracked and the dull gray sky lit up once more with far away lightning.

The clouds withholding the rain as a single drone worked outside the manor they lived inside. The Elliot family owning them all as a personal workforce, along with the other thousand or so robots that had now been discarded into the dump pile that resided out the back.

The lone robot cosigned to sort through the pile for anything that could be recycled for as long as possible, N pitied him as the butler dressed drone watched from the window. It had been about ten or so minutes since he had finished with the glasses that he took from the ballroom. Of course N had been given more tasks, mainly more glasses to clean but the slight struggle was real.

Said tasks he was now neglecting as N watched the single drone outside chuck something into a wheelbarrow before the they hoisted their shovel up and moved out of sight. The drone's long mattered silver hair trying its best to deny the wind the pleasure of further messing with it.

"Watching Z?" A warm but quiet voice spoke towards N from behind. The dull yellow lights on the ceiling casting down a warm glow as N turned from the window and saw the worker drone who had spoke. It was V, dressed in her maid outfit along with a pair of circle glasses that N found quite cute who had returned N from his solemn daydreaming.

"Uhh, yeah... I shouldn't be though I know. We have more important jobs then staring out a window. Hah-a..." N completed his sentence with a small but somewhat forced chuckle as the butler went and grabbed the platter full of wine glasses he had neglected cleaning. V holding onto her cleaning duster in one hand, the other readjusting her glasses while N began to wipe the wine glasses clean.

The pair began working away at the same bar, V dusting off the human sized attraction while N sat on one of the seats and finished with the ten or so glasses. This continued for a while, the sky darkening further and further until the clouds finally gave out. Unable to hold onto the rain within themselves, that which now began to torrent down.

Once N had finished with the wine glasses, he began to help V with the dust. Having went and retrieved another duster to wield against the infestation of particles before setting into his job with rigor. His mind wondering over to V too often for him to not notice her seemingly doing the same. Just little glances from across the room. Or when their white eyes locked onto each other for a nanosecond, or the fact that they seemingly didn't even need to communicate with each other to work well together.

Occasionally speaking out to each other as they worker, bringing up topics of that which wasted time. Distracting from the task at hand with simple conversation.

"N?" V had asked, barely loud enough to hear her from their significant difference in location.

"Mhm? What's up?". He had responded, continuing to dust down one of the walls as he spoke.

V hesitated for a second, then steeling herself and asking.

"I- I was wondering, have you ever held a flower?". N answered instantly. Cheerful, but he could pretty easily pick up that this was an important question that was being asked.

"No.".

"Oh. Uhm, maybe we could get Tessa to find some for us." V answered, plying back the last of the dust that resided where she was as she spoke. Then  cutely sneezed when the dust had got into her mouth, somehow.

After they had purged almost the entire room of their foe, the maid and butler set their sights upon the wretched dust's capitol and attacked it with all their cleaning might. However, during the assault, they slightly bumped into each other. A small spark jumping between the their hands as the metal lightly tapped against its counter part.

"Ah???" The pair exclaimed as they looked at each other, small blush lights showing themselves on both visors for a bare second before being overshadowed by a bright flash outside. Along with the crack of lightning an instant later and a scream of surprise. N broke the building tension between him and V further when he dumbly stated the obvious with a small amount of concern in his voice.

"Lightning?"

"Yeah it was, moron! You two better not be slacking off." J stormed in and declared at the pair, her face showing a mix of conflicting feelings. Somehow the pigtailed drone's visor could show confusion, worry, anger, happiness, disgust and pride all at the same time. J had also led another duo of robots into the room, both of them standing at the entrance as they checked out their new outfits. The pair of them being used to wearing attire such as the maid and butler outfits they had been given since they were what Lord Frumplebucket had gambled away. He apparently worked in theatre industry anyway.

J's already restrained emotions further threatened to escape her when the door out to the back opened with a tired squeal. A disgruntled little girl trudged inside, soaked from the sudden downpour just like the drone that stood next to her. A confused look on its visor that was punctuated by her bright yellow eyes that contrasted with her torn and blackened maid's clothing.

N looked around at everyone as they moved, the room going all wobbly and deafened. He saw J tentatively approach the human and the new maid. Someone was missing... Where was she? Who was missing..? N couldn't of forgot, she was so clingy... and blue?

N stood up, wobbling in time with the room as it apparently shook side to side. Everything moving fine despite the fact that to N, the room was almost being violently shaken around. Only the pair of yellow eyes staying still, locked on him with sad look. Within the next minute the rooms shaking had increased to the point that N could only see moving blurs. Then only darkness, except for the pair of yellow disks that had locked themselves onto the butler drone.

Then, obviously. He woke up.

Chapter Text

Cold winds wrapped their ghostly fingers around the corpse spire, the many metal heads and other such parts resisting the grasp. Involuntarily granting warmth and shelter from the wind to the three drones that resided inside it. Almost all of them, despite their current abode being made out of the robotic dead that were once their kind. Were sleeping. Their systems flushing out any damages from the actions of yesterday.

N stayed at his usual perch, hanging down from part of the spire by his tail with his metal wings wrapped around him as the drone slept peacefully. Liking the space he now had as someone no longer tried to sleep next to him, although. N should of been concerned at this before he co-signed himself to slumber but his head hurt a little from J's attempted lobotomy. The drone yearning for proper and consensual sleep, without the threat of randomly forgetting everything.

J lounged on the cold floor of the pod, body splayed out in a star shape. Being a prisoner afforded her little sympathy from the drones responsible for the squad leaders new position, and thus. Serial Designation J lost her chair privileges, at least she still had her hat. Even if she knew it wasn't hers, never had been.

Lastly, Doll. The bilingual worker drone having agreed to her own banishing from the metal walls she had inadvertently helped stain with oil. It was worth it, in a roundabout way. She deserved to be out here with the killers, keeping an eye on them. Mostly J... But Doll swore she had forgotten something. That being the reason she now sat in the pod's chair and waited for the program she had been running for the last twenty minutes to finish up.

{File recovery - 86%}
{Estimated time before finish - 49 hours}

Doll knew that the estimation was wrong, the program only supposed to take half an hour to fully complete its task. Said task being a simple revitalisation of her memory files, some of which had been scrambled by her now prisoner's EMP from the night before. Well, Doll assumed that had been the case.

J's neck chain rattled slightly as the murder drone shifted herself on the floor underneath the ship's console, waking up groggily. J was, never someone who preferred mornings and her mood only further soured once she remembered what had happened.

"Oh, good morning." Doll greeted the drone with a voice that barely hid sarcasm as the red eyed drone minimized the file recovery tab from her visor and cleared her vision. J instantly picked up on the other drone's tone and scowled, yellow eyes glowing slightly in the dull white lit room.

"Hmmph! Why haven't you scampered back to your little refugee warren yet?" J snapped back, sitting cross legged and defiantly staring away from her captor and towards the wall opposite.

Doll simply ignored her, instead taking a feigned interest in J's hobby. The russian girl having gotten off the chair a minute ago and was now leaning on the rack that held all of J's collectables.

"J, what's with all these... helmets?"

J whirled back around as soon as the worker drone had mentioned the prized collection rack, Doll taking note of a particular helmet. J staring daggers at her captor as Doll briefly scrutinized the white but oil stained helmet. The daggers intensifying as Doll began picking through the other assortment of coloured helmets. The rack had three layers, each layer supporting four helmets of various colour. The bottom layer also having a filing cabinet that competed for space on the level that hung only a few inches off of the floor.

"Those are from my kills..." J answered, barely resisting the urge to puff out her chest with a pride that only encompassed herself and the items in question. In reality, the pod would of been filled like a ball pit if J had taken every helmet she encountered on her hunts instead of just the most interesting or memorable events.

While J was semi distracted, Doll looked away from her and once more checked the running program. Eager to patch up the hole in her memory and figure out exactly what was missing, or who.

{File recovery - 93%}
{Estimated time before finish - 59 hours}

Doll then made a non committal noise, her gaze locking on the cabinet with interest. Knowledge is power and usually someone would keep their knowledge organized within a cabinet, J more so. Considering everything Doll had heard about the now emotionally smouldering and murderous drone behind her.

J smouldered for a second more as Doll inspected the cabinet, metal teeth grinding together before she snapped at the intruder.

"For the chairman's sake stop ransacking my property you company reject!!"

Doll spun around, just in time to see J flick her claws out and put them up to the chain that secured her to the floor as if to cut it.

"Я сломаю это."
(I'll break it.) J, startled by the sudden language shift. Stopped her escape attempted, instead choosing to exclaim her confusion out to the metal walls of the pod.

"What?"

Having gotten exactly the reaction she wanted, Doll could no longer hide the small smirk that had been forming on her lips as she went to add insult to injury for J's current predicament. She pulled out the branded pen from her cargo pants bottom pocket and revealed it, from a distance at which J couldn't reach of course. The pen's surface having been meticulously polished till it shone like freshly made steel, now glistened and glowed like some divine gift from above as it rested in Doll's palm. J only looked back in a very slight terror, complemented by the soft sound of her CPU whirring up various ways to recover the much adored pen. A minute of this went on as the wind outside rallied in an attempt to breach the steel defences the kept it out, the two robots staring down each other.

"AWAAAAAUHHHH" The pair both perked up as they heard N yell, swiftly followed up by the sound of him thudding into the snow covered floor of the corpse spire outside.

Doll immediately asking J in a somewhat concerned voice, her red eyes glancing towards the circular hatch in the roof that lead to the outside.
"Does he do that often?"

J ignored her, noting the girl's apparent concern before swiping her hand towards the pen. Missing the object by inches but her actions insisting something that would play to her advantage later as Doll recoiled the bargaining chip out of reach with a small chuckle. The drone leaving J where she was to peek around further in the squad leaders stuff. Taking this chance to once again check that status while she slid a key she had found into the locked cabinet that J used to store all of her paperwork.

{File recovery - 99%}
{Estimated time before finish - 69 hours}

The key fit nicely, smoothly into its place as the small metal item did its job and allowed Doll to rummage through the neatly organised papers within J's cabinet.

J loathed every second of her captured existence, but nothing she had felt would compare to the seething hatred that now threatened to bubble over and erupt out of the drone as she watched a beyond worthless worker drone pull out her clipboard and mull through it. This company mistake shouldn't of survived this long, let alone one with such language ties to some of jCJenson's old competitors. Unfortunately if J was to make these feelings known to the russian then she could kiss the only branded merchandise she had goodbye and that would be against the company's wishes. She wasn't entirely, against the idea of losing the pen to say but it could still be useful even when in a grasp not hers.

{File recovery complete}

Before Doll could actually go through any of the now restored memories, N had opened the hatch and greeted them from outside. Providing J with a brief respite from the emotional attack even if purely on accident.

"Good morning J! Good morning Doll! Good morning V!...oh... yeah... Good morning Rebe- wait...".

The air was now silent, nothing to distract from the revelation at hand.

Doll and N, who now had his head poking down from the exit hatch of the pod both went hollow eyed as they realised the very fatal mistake they had made. J catching onto the fact that her captors had discovered the missing subordinate as she smirked at the pair, hiding her own frustration. Rebecca may be a unique addition to the squad but she should still be capable of following simple orders, right? J couldn't ponder on this fact before Doll noticed something else. Something written on the bottom of the clipboard's last page in JCJenson branded glitter ink and chose to inform the pair of what she had found.

"What? N? Did you know that the company was reformatting your memories?".

N didn't know that, as was obvious from the confusion shown on the tall murder drone's face. The robot now watching from his spot at the exit hatch, his silver hair very slightly reflecting the small embedded roof and floor lights.

"...No? im sure it was necessary, JCJenson must of had a reason for them to do it..." N answered back, unsure of his own words but acutely aware of the time that they had been wasting not going and retrieving Rebecca. Doll, having sensed his unease now returned the clipboard to the cabinet and scurried up the ladder. Making sure to warn J of the dire consequences of leaving the pod as she did so.

"You move from your spot and I will snap this pen.".

"I.. h- have more." J feigned confidence as she replied. A guise that was instantly shattered when N pointed out the truth from outside the pod, even if accidentally. Doll snickering as she vanished up and out of the pod, N helping her up while he politely questioned J.

"We got more of them?".

Chapter Text

Back through the broken city and past the still oil stained maw of the colony, Sarah was in a rush. Parent-Teacher conferences, having to manage two kids as a single mother and her job all ravaging through her time. That's what dating a raider does to you, shame the peace treaty wasn't kept but at least her kids hadn't met the same fate as her second and oft disliked husband.

Sarah's most important job as of now was the management of the entire WDF force, and how the blue lighted drone wished her mentor figure was still alive. Heck any of the Doorman family besides the little gremlin they had half raised would of done a better job then the frequently overworked leader the colony had now.

The WDF also seemed to be the only leading authority that kept these halls in order, their office being a frequented part of Sarah Day's life and where she now resided. The parent grabbing a slick looking black trench coat that somehow managed to complement her faded green hardhat and oversized black shirt as she ordered, asked favours of those who were technically her underlings.

"Frank. Could you and Tim go see what you can do for that hole in the roof? Burten, you mind running things here for me? I have an arranged meeting to be at."

Faded LED lights dimly lit the cramped office of the WDF as the members complied with her wishes and Sarah herself whisked away to the school section of the colony. Thankfully there were a few labelled halls to help her along, not that she needed them with how long she had lived in and even helped refurbish parts of the bunker back in the hay days of this now worn out fortress.

The Parent-Teacher conference had already started, the classroom it was stationed in now decorated with a large banner that brightly stated the name of the event. A few students lazed around at the tables that had been moved to the side and back of the room, Lizzy chatting loudly with a bored looking Thad. The green eyed drone listening halfheartedly to another rant of fashion as he rested his head on the table, looking completely out of it.

Meanwhile, up the front with the teacher was Bethany and her father. Having just finished their chat with the teacher the pink eyed pair left him. Bethany's auburn twin tail styled hair almost sweeping along the floor as she waved a awkwardly silent goodbye to the class.

Among the rest of the student body was Jackal, sitting on the table behind Thad and evidently eavesdropping on their conversation. Separate to the rest of the students was Riley. Who was nervously trying to judge the room's vibe as he sat again separate from the last two students present. Vibe was, not pleasant but not bad either.

Those last two students were the faded purple hoodie wearing Zane along with Emily, who had her signature blue coloured and slightly oversized tee shirt on. With the former leaning smugly on the latter as Final Girl perused her book with a determined look, trying her hardest to remove the blush lights that emanated from her visor. How she had managed to get into a relationship at all was up to debate, not a debate anyone was interested enough to actually have though. They simply rooted for the shy girl. Youngest daughter of the WDF leader and she had managed to score an outsider or maybe, it was the other way around.

Jackal was more inclined to believe it was the second option, the orange eyed worker keeping a eye on the white eyed drone from across the room.

"Next." The teacher's plain voice stated into the class as Yeva, in particularly nice timing returned to the room alone. An assortment of coloured visors glanced up at her before returning to their own doings, the teacher noting that Yeva's child was missing but chose to not speak up on the topic yet.

"Miss... Yeva. Forgot your family had no last names, makes things.. Interesting." The teacher kicked off the conference as Yeva took a seat in front of him. The teacher's aid took a glance at the red eyed mother before leaning back in her chair and opening a DAW on her visor, light briefly reflecting off the name pin she had on her red cheerleader shirt. Kelsey Day.

Yeva ignored the wannabee WDF member, instead answering what the teacher had implied.

"Половина населения этого не делает... Но я надеюсь, вам это не сложно. Учитывая, что у вас теперь есть еще один ребенок, которому тоже приходится о себе заботиться. По крайней мере у него есть фамилия." ("Half the population don't... But hopefully not difficult for you. Considering you now have that other kid to take care of yourself too. At least he has a last name.").

The teacher's orange eyes took a hesitant glance to the back of the room, Jackal's own vision completely ignoring his uncle's as he chatted happily with Lizzy and Thad. Yeva taking her own look at the three, glad that none of Doll's friends had been killed in the murder drone incident yesterday. Even if Doll herself was missing from the group, preoccupied with other matters.

"No, not difficult. Although, your... child has been noticeably absent." The teacher brought the conversation to its desired subject with a slight mumble, his voice wasn't entirely clear but it was evident he was uninterested.

Yeva blinked once as she answered, being slightly confused as to why this would even come up.

"Ты знаешь, почему Долла здесь нет. Бесполезно мне это говорить".("You know why Doll isn't here. Their is no fruit to telling me that.").

Kelsey once again took a note of her surroundings as the green sweater wearing teacher clarified what the had meant. Kelsey's blue eyes scanning the room before being swapped out for the DAW menu once again, quiet music now emanating out from her voice box as the teacher's aid moved her foot in time with it.

"The other one." The teacher slightly rolled his eyes while he spoke, the action briefly confounding Yeva.

"УЗИ?" ("Uzi?"). Yeva sighed as the teacher nodded. The circumstances that had led to the mother having to adopt the purple eyed gremlin were not exactly ideal ones, nor was anything in her life really. More so was that Yeva felt a duty of care towards Uzi, mostly because of of her long standing friendship with the girl's mother. Even if the shorter drone made enacting said duty of care far more difficult then necessary.

The teacher fake coughed to grab Yeva's attention again, asking afterwards why Uzi was absent. Doll's mother pinched where her nose would be before regaling the various reasons why Uzi barely came to class. The events that flowed out of her metal mouth being randomly picked from the last month, as well as vaguely detailed in a hushed tone. As Yeva didn't exactly like the idea of blatantly announcing family secrets to the general public that much.

The first instance of note was when...

"УЗИ, пожалуйста. Попробуйте хотя бы раз пообщаться". ("Uzi, please. At least try socializing for once.") Yeva spoke out loud to the metal bulwark that barricaded her access to her odd daughter's room. The angst filled teen retorting with a tired and somewhat dulled.

"BITE ME." From behind the door. Yeva then sighed, being used to this situation. The mother did a small perusal of the house, looking for any mess before she said goodbye and left the Doorman's now near empty residence.

The next instance of note was when...

"УЗИ? Мне дали это задание в вашей школе, и мне нужен был для него напарник. Тебе стоит пойти завтра и найти кого-нибудь... Ох". ("Uzi? I got this assignment handed out from your school and it needed a partner. You should go tomorrow and find someone... Oh.")

Yeva peeked around the corner into Uzi's room to find her and Doll sitting on a pair of office chairs at the desk next to her bed. Yeva was only slightly annoyed, as Uzi had found a way to avoid meeting new friends but was at least still doing schoolwork. "Вы работаете с Доллой? это прозвище" ("Your working with Doll? That's nic-")

Suddenly Doll spun around on her chair, a grin entirely not her own plastered on the girl's face along with a strange white and red device attached to her forehead. Yeva barely had a second to try and figure out what was going on before her red eyed daughter exclaimed with a voice that sounded slightly confused with itself.

"BITE ME, Us?... Her."

The teacher paused his game of snake and dully stated the obvious after Yeva had finished.

"So she would have trouble fitting in?". Yeva agreed with him instantly, no shame in admitting such a truth.

"Those, technically count as behavioural issues ma'am, and that would probably earn her flack from the rest of the class as well. Is... Home schooling an option?"

Yeva saw through the teacher's lazy attempt at keeping his class to what it is and thus not increasing his work load. The mother shifting herself on the plastic chair she sat on while some of the students at the back had to be quieted down by Thad.

"Я думаю... Может, вот что мне придется сделать... Я спрошу Узи и... ну, я уже знаю ответ...". ("I think... That might be what I will have to do... I'll ask Uzi and... well, I already know the answer...".)

Now it was the teacher's turn to see through Yeva, or at least point out the obvious again.

"Yeva... You know she is going to jump at that when you present it. But it's not my problem what you do, so take this as well...."

Yeva looked at what the teacher had handed her. The slip of paper having large red letters printed on the top that announced it as a drop out form. After a second, she took it. Moving to leave the classroom as she still mulled over what she had omitted from the discussion.

The last instance of note was when.. Of course this one was something she had decided against regaling to the uninterested teacher, but she relived the memory anyway.

"Я знаю, это... сложно, но просто...". ("I know its... difficult but just....") Yeva trailed off, not like anyone was listening anyway as she stood at the front door to the home she had just been forcibly removed from. Uzi was probably still verbally cursing her out from the safety of the neon lighted room while Yeva had to hide her smoking and slightly damaged visor with her hand. The foul power within her repairing what had been, about ten seconds ago a seriously damaged screen.

Yeva considered, but only for a second. Extending her fingers and busting down the door so she could just drag the burden of a child to school. Deciding against such drastic actions and instead venting her anger out through a much more sensible way. Near mute muttering, bonus points for her since some drone's translator function can't pick up lower tones of other languages.

"Почему... Почему ты не мог просто сказать мне уйти вместо того, чтобы бросить что-нибудь... Нори... Если бы ты видела, через что я прохожу ради тебя и нее.".("Why... Why couldn't you just tell me to get out instead of throw something... Nori... If you saw what I'm going through for you and her.")

Back in the present however, none of that was known to anyone but herself, Doll and Uzi. Certainly not who Yeva had almost bumped into. The two mother's reeling back slightly in surprise. Sarah simply waving slightly at the red eyed girl before semi rushing into the classroom and leaving Yeva again alone with her thoughts and a feeling of grit as she went to face the challenging task she had laid out in front of her.

At the warehouse however, another pair of drones were faced with a very practical but still monumental task of their own. The repair of a roof they couldn't even reach, not like the three step high step stool they had managed to acquisition would help. Neither did the lack of light or the slightly disturbing debris that had been yet cleaned up from yesterday. Shattered concrete splayed across the floor along with spilt oil of which now painted the shattered corpse of V black.

One of the two WDF members, baffled at their task couldn't resist the motion of speaking his mind.

"Ere.. We jus got ta fix er up, cause wowzers, that's as big a security as ive' ever seen." Of course Frank had to agree with Tim but could already tell that this task would be bigger then the both of them.  First order of business, lights. Frank announcing this as so when he asked Tim to go turn them on, he certainly couldn't work to well off of the small glow that was emitted from the now disregarded Pulse Crossbow.

"Mmm, just get the lights, please."

Tim nodded as the wind whistled from the hole on the roof, up far above from the reach of either of the summoned WDF members. Sarah should of thought this through really, to bad she was in a rush. Not like Frank was annoyed at all, she actually managed to remember his name compared to the rest of the somewhat small WDF.

Frank reluctantly pushed the step stool with his foot. Wishing for a miracle and wondering why Tim was taking so long, the worker drone beginning to worry slightly once a feint scrabbling sound could be heard.

"Tim???"

No response.

Frank spins around on the spot, Accidentally kicking over the now saddened step stool and scaring himself with the resulting noise. Tim was gone. The remaining worker drone putting down their dull red toolbox down and retrieving a flashlight from it so he could scan through the foreboding warehouse for the location of his worker buddy. Of course, first place he looked was where the large lever switch that controlled the lights was located. It's red handle situated on the far wall from where Frank was and next to a small doorway indented into the concrete wall and leading down into the underbelly section of the outpost. Nasty unusable place that was, with the humans having never finished it the halls had turned into something more akin to a maze. The WDF never touched that place, warning all of the drone's within the colony to avoid it as to not get lost within the rebar barbed walls.

Frank was about to go over and activate the lights himself when a small detail caught the corner of his eye. V's body was missing, an oil smear having outlined its unnatural escape and leading over to one of the shipping containers that were stacked high against the walls. The door to the inside of it having been opened.

The lone worker now ventured hesitantly over to the container, morbid curiosity and confusion powering each booted step the often called LadderBot 5000 took until he peeked around the corner. He severally regretted this action, a small break from the foul sight he saw arriving in the form of his torch powering down.

"What on Copper 9 is thi-" Faced with the pitch black insides of the container and only hearing the sludgy pulsating of whatever was in here with him, Frank stuttered out a few very wise words that no one would remember. The sound accelerates, fleshy tearing and gurgling joining the frankly quite disturbing composition as Frank took a step back. The shipping container seemingly had other ideas as something slithered past his leg and slammed the escape shut.

Frank, now quite terrified. Attempted to bargain his way out.
"WAIT?! No let me out!"

Any further pleas were now drowned out by the klaxon like gurgling and various other sounds emitting from the corpse along with a veiny orb of flesh that looked akin to a deformed heart. It's centre holding a void while the body was being propelled by three claw like appendages as the thing freed itself from the confines of V's ribcage. Now it began to blast out a yellow light with such intensity that if one was to look at the container from the outside they could see something akin to shadow puppet show going on within it. Said show ending with the walls going black. Oil stained black, as words printed themselves out in robotically meticulous detail. 

Chapter Text

Now, some might think that Tim was spared such a gruesome fate. Wrong, as the worker drone had been subjected to his own end a minute or so before Frank died. Albeit at the hands of something more reasonable. The killer now chowing down on what it had managed to catch with her ever so useful grappling claw as well as occasionally pausing to check the surroundings.

The dark concrete halls were still as empty as when Rebecca had crawled down here yesterday. The maze having led her around more then she would like to say, and the lack of any contact with the rest of her squad was somewhat starting to get to the blue haired girl. Even if she would never admit something as simple as some hallways had stalled her rampage through this nest of worker drones.

A clang briefly tore at the air, sounding sad and rejected as nothing answered its call for companionship. She paid it no heed, instead focusing on her task of tearing open Tim's head and consuming the insides. A mix of feral glee, boredom and a smidge of confused regret radiating out from the murder drone as she bit and tore at the metal, shining oil sludging from the corpse and her mouth as the blue and purple lighted drone hunkered over her victim on her hands and knees.

A minute later, Rebecca had removed Tim's lifeless head and was now began drinking the rest of it's oil hungrily. Despite being practically full, waste not want not and to her this oil was delicious. N always said it was warm and sweet and Rebecca agreed with him fervently.

Some dulled noise echoed down from the warehouse, quiet enough to not warrant immediate worry but still unnerving none the less.

Suddenly, foul yellow light clawed its hands into the hallway where Rebecca was. It was warm in a way that somehow felt both familiar and perverted to the disassembler as it defiled the walls, but she couldn't recall exactly where she had seen it before. Or she didn't want to at least. The light wasn't bright but was still noticeable, and noticed it was as Rebecca lifted her head. Giving the brief flash a confused look before it faded.

With her interest piqued, she stood up. Wobbling very slightly before straightening up and wiping the back of her arm across her mouth, smearing it with Tim's oil. Rebecca looked around the corner and slowly creeped up the small staircase that linked the lowest level of the colony with the ground floor, her breath still as she did so.

What she saw was something enough to make her stop in her tracks, silently watching as something... grew inside one of the shipping containers across from her. The light within it fading to black and letting the moonlight that shone down from the damaged ceiling take centre stage once again.

Rebecca now had a severe desire to leave here, so she did exactly that. Bolting for the centre of the room and taking off with her powerful metal wings as well as sending out a small shockwave across the concrete floor.

She was just about free when something grabbed her leg briefly before whatever it was tore in two and fell back into the wearhouse.

A now very panicked Rebecca spiralled into the sky above the colony, somewhat elegantly as well which managed to surprise even her before the girl immediately set her sights on the not so distant corpse spire. It's surface reflecting glints of borrowed moonlight around the cold ruins below it while the structures of the city were illuminated by the twin moons of Copper 9 that sat far above in the sky. The sparse blanketing of clouds slightly blocking the faded white light as Rebecca began to fly back to the spire, a feeling of happiness diluted by disgust at whatever she had felt grab her.

Why did it feel so familiar? She would have to think on it, and preferably maybe shoot it too.

Meanwhile, far below her Doll and N had just arrived at the three blast doors that bared the way into the colony. The pair having done their own travels, N having to carry the girl from the spire to where they were now as to not waste their time running. Once N had set Doll down and landed himself as well, Doll dusted herself down and retrieved the stolen key card from her pocket. Spinning it on her finger briefly before dropping it and catching the card with her other hand, turning back to see if N had saw her fumble the trick.

He had. "You got to do it like this... wait lemme just." N lent down and scrounged up a small steal pole before effortlessly spinning it on his finger. N's eyes alight with some cross of satisfaction and joy as Doll watched, slightly envious but mostly impressed with the murder drone as he proceeded to attempt to do another trick.

"Oh, wow. How long have you known how to do that N?" Doll asked him, as the girl walked past the doorway and found what she was looking for. N following her curiously and trying to think of an answer.

"Uhm, I guess... Always?".

N watched as Doll pulled a large but well hidden white tarp to the side, revealing a small console. The aged machine's only purpose being in the key card reader that it had installed on it. The girl made a noise of satisfaction once she had uncovered the slightly frozen over slot machine look alike.

"Hmm, could you teach me it sometime?" Doll asked as she slid the key card over the heavily green tinted card reader. The screen showing an unamused 8 bit face that swapped over to a happy one along with a beep that signalled to her that it had worked.

"Yeah sure, I love doing anything." N cheerily exclaimed, his voice being drowned out by the large metal door as it shifted open. The pair both grimacing when they saw the now frozen stained remains of one of the worker drones still smeared to both ends of the maw into her home. Or, old home. Doll wasn't really sure on if she would ever be allowed back in since Sarah hadn't exactly gave her a date or anything remotely like that.

There was a WDF member inside the still splayed with oil entrance hall, the name Ron displayed on the slightly rusted member pin that the blue eyed drone wore on his jumper. Ron also sporting a brown ushanka and the standard black work boots, the worker drone now leaning on the lightly frozen mop he was using as he sceptically asked Doll.

"Uhh, Doll... Murder bot...You do know one's allowed in. Right?"

"Wha?" Doll complained back, slightly shocked at the whole predicament but also realising that the heightened security made sense. N looked between the two worker drones as Doll spoke up again, frustration beginning to seep into her voice.
"Since when was that a thing?"

"Since yesterday." Ron remarked stalely back at her, taking note of the key card in her hand while he went back to cleaning up the floor. The mop barely working as everything was slightly dusted in snow and ice, some of said ice stained black.

"So? We aren't allowed in then?" N asks, taking a few hesitant steps towards the door. The lone WDF member merely sighed before telling him that they wouldn't be allowed in. Ron's voice tinted with a cold disinterest as the drone pulled out a remote from one of his jumper pockets.

"Look, I'd love to say yeah sure you can come in but i'd rather keep my job." Ron declared quickly, leaning down and picking a pin out of the snow. One of the other WDF member's pin, Doll assumed it was from the one that had been crushed between the two metal halves of the doorway. Ron continued to speak, Doll and N sparing a glance at each other as he pointed out the obvious.

"That's a murder drone.".

Doll was about to interject on N's behalf but was cut off by the worker stating the final reason for the denial of access.

"And lastly, I'm too busy cleaning up Alyssa's remains to get you any sort of clearance. Not like the rest of her family would be happy to see you let a murder drone in here after yesterday.".

"Wai-".(Ждат-).

Unfortunately the door had already slammed on the pair, leaving Doll's sentence to be cut off by a soft thud that reverberated down the snow filled street behind them. N having moved half heartedly to catch it so that he could hold open the industrial strength mouth of metal but ultimately decided against it.

"So.. Doll, now what?" N queried, the yellow lighted drone relaxing himself back into a more neutral stance. His feet shuffling slightly in the snow and revealing something. Doll didn't notice as she was too busy clutching her head and looking upwards, a scowl of barely contained annoyance threatening to reveal itself as the drone stared into the night sky. A cold wind picking up and ruffling her hair around as it longingly whispered through the houses of long dead humans and drones.

Doll sighed as N picked up something off the ground, the red eyed girl briefly flicking her gaze back to him.

"Look, N. I... Maybe we could... I don't kno-" Doll had been halfway through lamenting their situation when an easy fix became apparent. N stashing the item of question when Doll called out his name, the red eyed girl spotting something up in the sky.

"N! Up there.".

N looked up to see exactly what they had been looking for as Rebecca soared high above them, her flight faltering for a second before she alighted on top of a damaged skyscraper. Suddenly, Doll snapped her fingers as an idea formed within her mind.

Chapter Text

There is a monster in there, and she knew it knows her too. It made her sick to even remember how the monster had felt. Rebecca's thoughts spiraled further and further off track as her claws scrapped along the aged roof of the skyscraper she had landed on. More like, semi crashed but she had landed at least. And nearly a second later another drone landed safely at the farthest possible part of the damaged tower's roof, his metal wings retracting into his back as the coat wearing drone took a few steps forward. Rebecca glanced up at him as frigid wind passed between them, her visors blue eyes softening as soon as she realized who it was.

"N!" Was all the taller disassembly drone heard before Rebecca barreled into and subsequently hugged him, N having no choice but to return the contact along with a oof noise from the collision. His initial burst of satisfaction at finding his squad mate intact being short lived as the girl prematurely ended the hug, a disturbed look briefly gracing her face before she stamped it down.

"N I'm so glad I found you but...." Rebecca stated, raising her voice as to complete with the wind. N cocking his head to the side while Rebecca fiddled with her now oil stained jumper, the slightly faded pink garment still tied around her waist. N easily sensed that something was off. N taking a breath in before asking her if she was ok.

"...uh...y- YEAH! Why wouldn't I be sweets." Rebecca snarked back, seemingly regaining her usual energy and simultaneously annoying N with the use of the nickname.

"Oh good, well... Uh.. things have kind of ch-" N was halfway through attempting to inform Rebecca of the very important events she had very conveniently missed when the girl interrupted.

"No time to chat, we have a monster to kill! You can tell me everything later, call it a date!" She blurted out, bold statements being dampened by her voice sounding forced along with the uncertainty she radiated in her half hearted expressions. N noticing this but being too confounded by what she had said to take in how she had spoke.

"Wai- what?!" He exclaimed, pointing on of his fingers at her as she flipped both of her wings out and causing one of her eyes to involuntarily glitch out. Giving the appearance of it twitching.

Rebecca then chuckling lightly to herself, the laughs sounding slightly forced and making N briefly think that maybe she had gone insane.

"Hah, yeah. There's a THING in that building a- and I want it GONE as soon as we can." She said, further adding to the evidence for her being insane. N trying to pry an explanation from her as she crouched in preparation to take flight.

"Uh what?? And how are we going to get back inside. The door is locke- OH WAIT!". N had a groundbreaking realization mid question, causing the poofy haired drone to dive off of the skyscraper and spiral back down towards the frozen ground. The last thing Rebecca heard from him as he disappeared from view was him yelling at her. Politely, of course.

"Be right back!" Along with something about a doll? Whatever he had said afterwards wasn't going to deter her from going back in their and making sure she wasn't going insane about what the hell she had seen. Preferably sinking several bullets into it as well.

About a minute later, N returned to the damaged roof. Carrying a slightly disgruntled Doll with him, the red eyed girl showing a brief knowing smirk to the now very confused Rebecca when N dropped the purple haired drone off.

"A... N? Whaat is... Nevermind. Lets just go." The blue eyed drone stuttered out before taking off. This cold and frankly unlikable night just kept getting worse and worse, at least she had N with her now as the two flew towards their way into the colony.

Said colony had nothing interesting was going on inside it, certainly nothing interesting in this cold and far out corner at least. The room only populated by a small layer of frost and the dim ceiling lights that tried vainly to brighten the area. Even the brightly coloured vending machine was doing a better job of dispelling the darkness, said metal rectangle now being fiddled with by a pair of disgruntled workers in a halfhearted fashion.

"T T T Tim, could Yoooouuuu..... Get the, uhh... Lights?" The first worker babbled to the other as he tried to operate the machine. His holographic hands phasing through the large rectangle like a hot knife through butter and making the other WDF member laugh at the situation.

"Yeah. er aaaa.... NooOoo???" Tim's own voice slurred back, the drone sounding unsure of what it was supposed to be saying. Ladderbot 5000 ignored him, going back to trying to physically interact with the vending machine while Tim sat down and pretended to fish. Whistling slightly as he willingly played the part of bait himself.

The pair continued their baffling existed for a minute longer before another pair of workers passed the room, Bethany and her dad's interest having been immediately caught by the odd display.

"Ladderbot 5000?..." The older of the two pulling his yellow tie down slightly as he spoke, Bethany staying rather close to her dad.

"YYYesss? Do you have a hourrr? We nneed help." Tim stood up for a second as Ladderbot 5000 spoke, the former glitching into a T pose for a second before righting himself. Both Bethany and her dad paying little to no heed to that obviously unnatural movement as they lowered their guard and came over to the vending machine.

Only to immediately regret said action as both holographic WDF members disappeared, their laughing cutting off when they did.

"Wait... Dad?" Bethany started to panic as she noticed the two disappear, her dad too busy with successfully managing to score three cans of "Dr Pepper" from the rectangle to take note himself. Next thing he sees when he turns around was enough to swiftly remove the stupid looking grin on the older drone's visor as Bethany's severed head rolled along the floor towards him. Fatal error displayed on its visor as her body hung limply in the air, held up by some foul claw like mechanism. Another claw descending on the emotionally paralysed drone, grabbing him and pulling them both into the ceiling.

A second later a large amount of oil would sludge from the hole in the roof, piling up on the floor with a disgustingly wet sound and soiling Bethany's ponytails as well as drowning the girl's head.

Along with the new but unwanted floor decoration came a pair of security camera styled devices that extended their long crane like necks out of the hole in the ceiling. The yellow lighted cylinders now spewing out blue lights that took the distorted forms of Tim and Ladderbot 5000 once more. Both of the reincarnated robots chuckling and congratulating themselves on the catch, the Tim shaped hologram then taking a second to announce to his partner in crime.

"We are a monster, arn't we?"

"Yes Indeed.... Game of charades then?"

A third hologram appeared, its form starting as a T posing worker drone before glitching into a more recognisable form. Bethany, the girl piping up with some mangled sentence about how she enjoys playing charades to the other two holograms. Acting like nothing ever happened while a pair of claw like mechanisms swiped away the mess on the floor.

Bethany would be completely forgotten, at least from most of the drones back at the parent teacher conference as they had their own goings on to attend to. Sarah and her two kids sat at the front of the class with the teacher and were in the thick of some sort of conversation, while Zane lounged around and made idle chatter with the other drones at the back.

"So..., Sarah... Everything is going good with Emily. No issues in class or anything like that. And Kelsey uhh, she does the job. All I can say about her." The teacher lent back in his chair slightly as he spoke. Kelsey having stopped doing that exact action as soon as her mother had entered the room a few minutes ago.

How she couldn't be caught slacking on the job was the most pressing thought on the older sibling's mind while she straightened up her sitting position.

"Good." Sarah replied back to the teacher happily, quietly releasing a relieved sigh after her statement and causing Kelsey to worriedly scrutinize her mother for a second. Emily briefly looking up from the book she was reading as well, the teacher meanwhile just flicked open a hidden tab on his visor. Resuming his drawn out game of solitaire if only for a few seconds while Sarah quickly masked herself, again adopting a cheery tone of voice as the blue eyed drone spoke out.

"Im fine kids... And Im sure Kelsey is fine. Gets the job done... Right Kels?"

"Mum! Not while im working.." Kelsey groaned back, hoping that none of the students at the back were paying enough attention to the old nickname her mum had just used on her.

Of course, none of them were. Most of said other drones simply engaging in a somewhat one sided conversation or waiting for their meetings to start. The largest conversation appearing more like some sort of grand power struggle between Lizzy and Zane on who could be more self-centered. With Jackal watching from the sidelines.

"Look sure, Lizzy may be more popular then me. But.. She can't win prom king when that comes around, so im still getting that one easy." Zane announced to the other two. One of which was also capable of winning said title as Jackal halfheartedly agreed with the white eyed drone infront of them. His orange eyes slightly flaring as he readjusted himself on top of a pair of tables and counter exclaimed.

"Not like you'd win anyway."

Why jackal was lying on the two tables was unknown, but not like it was harmful so they let him get away with it.

Lizzy smiled a little at that, taking a second to check something on her phone before commenting her own thought on the matter.
"Thad is most likely too."

Zane pretended to be a little hurt at this, quickly switching tracks as he asked where the now vacant green eyed drone was. Jackal denying to answer the question with a smirk, slightly annoying his cousin and Zane. the latter who just frowned at the jacket wearing drone before his attention was drawn back to the conversation.

"Uhh he said he needed some time, so I sent him on a fetch quest for Doll." Lizzy absently replied, still scrolling through some sort of social media site on her phone.

"So he's skipping out on the meetings then, hah... Where even are the dude's parents?" Zane asked back as he glanced around, seemingly actually curious now for some unknown reason.

"Uhh, Lizzy? Wasn't his mum Alyssa or whatever? The one that was nommed by door one yesterday. Jackal asked, Zane noting that the orange eyed drone could of worded his question better but deciding against raising that. Using "nommed" as a substitute for what had actually happened was funny to Zane, in some twisted way. It also seemed that Jackal and Lizzy thought that as well as the pink eyed drone decided to play further into the joke.

"Yeah well, crunched and crumbled didn't come, lazy parenting or whatever."

"NAH!!, Liz have some respect." Jackal exclaimed back, eyes wide at what he had just heard.

"You said Nommed by door one! This is fair! And not like we are saying it to his face." Lizzy pouted back, her full attention on Jackal and Zane now. The latter of the two trying not to snicker at this interaction, barely succeeding just as a knock rang out from the steel back door into the classroom.

The three turned around to face the noise, Bethany standing at the door and asking to be let in. Neither of the two cousins noticing that "Bethany" had turned into a host of faintly glowing yellow camera lenses for a fraction of a second before regaining her shape.

Lizzy groaned as she looked at Bethany, the pink eyed cheerleader barely turning back to ask the other two who was getting the door before both of the boys swiftly opted out.

"Dibs not!"

"...Fine!" Lizzy snapped at them, before getting out of her chair and lazily wandered over to the door.

Chapter Text

"Uhh, yeah this looks non ideal. Anyone have any idea where someone actually responsible would be?" A girl spoke up, her and several other drones having set up a crime scene after the discovery of a dead body near one of the old vending machines. Said dead body appearing to have been mutilated to the point of non recognition as to what part went where. All of it topped of by the now semi frozen oil that stained the ground underneath the misshapen blob.

"Parent teacher conference i think. Might of heard something about another crime scene being set up in the scrap room." A male detective responded as he crouched down besides the first one, aiming his camera around and snapping a photo of the corpse. The duo soon being joined by another drone, her long light blue hair sliding off her back as she half leant on top of the female detective.

"Yeah, this doesn't look good. Who's the boss around here anyway?" The blue haired one spoke, voice filled with an amount of cheer that heavily clashed with the ongoing investigation. What more clashed with the investigation was her outfit.

The girl having chosen to wear a pair of white Ugg-boots that were printed with the ever famous nyan cat just like her jumper, only things that clashed with her style was the black collar around her neck and the somewhat bulkier looking helmet. Said helmet having extra grooves and size compared to the standard ones, probably one of the special ones that Yeva has or something. The female detective wasn't interested enough to actually bother asking about it anyway.

"Uhm. Its Sarah right?" The male one replies somewhat confused, he should be able to remember someone as important as the leader of the WDF.

"Yeah that's her, But I swear Burten just does a better job then her. He's a better successor to the Doorman family then anything Sarah could be." The sunglasses wearing drone spat out the name of her boss like it was something foul tasting. Clearly she had radical opinions, said radical opinions instantly earning the detective a short lived but stunned glare from Thad. Who had just poked his head around the corner and glanced into the crime scene with a look of both slight shock and a more prevalent boredom.

The green eyed drone then proceeded to meander past the scene and down the hall, briefly pausing when that blue haired drone gave him a small wave. The anomalous drone then proceeding to stare after him with a fanged grin showing itself to the darkness that was the hallway that Thad had vanished down.

"Umm hey. Glasses girl? You have a second..." She asked, fiddling slightly with her jumper strings and rolling back and forth on her heels like some overexcited child.

"No... You happen to, actually wait. Who even are you? " The female detective snaps back at the other drone while she examines the corpse further, only to get a chilling silence in response.

"Who's who?" The male one asks, sounding confused. Now holding a cup of some non described liquid instead of his camera, said camera now sitting half inserted into the floor a few metres away. The metal was undamaged as well, the camera just looked like it wasn't... real.

She gasped softly as the camera flickered out of existence along with everyone else at the scene. All of them waving her a goodbye before they vanished, even the tape around the walls was fake.

"What?" The now lone WDF member whispered, utter shock on her face as something fell from the roof onto her sunglasses. She flicked the glasses to shake of the oil before putting them back on, barely a second later she did a double take on what liquid had just landed on her. Ignoring the creeping ever closer sound in the ceiling, its loud buzzing permeating through the chilled air as it got closer and closer.

Meanwhile, Thad had arrived at his destination. The green eyed drone taking hesitant steps into the torn up looking warehouse as he located the Doll's Pulse Crossbow. Merely a second later, the very drone who owned it landed in the centre of the room along with a pair of disassembly drones one of which had been carrying her. The three robots all illuminated by the moonlight that followed them down through the hole in the ceiling, with one of them flicking out a flashlight from her hand to examine the mess. The other one, Thad knew his name as N. Seemed to be staying somewhat close to his new companion as he looked around at the mess.

"Thad?" Doll questions quietly once she laid eyes on the other worker, clutching her pulse crossbow as he wandered over to them. Also making sure to avoid the few patches of steaming oil that were littered across the concrete along with the scorch marks left by V's rocket spam during yesterday's fight.

"Hey Doll, I uh..." Thad trailed off as his gaze locked onto something behind her, a wandering beam of light from Rebecca's torch revealing more steaming oil.

"Lizzy made you get it, right?" Doll finished for him, her small smirk barely showing itself due to the darkness around them. Said smirk would be wiped off her face when she turned around after noticing Thad gawking at something.

Doll then followed his gaze, turning around to see a huge hole in the wall. It's edges smeared with a large amount of oil and marked with huge scratches.
"What?.. Oh." The red eyed girl managed to say, before getting rudely interrupted by Rebecca practically yelling.

"SEE!?!! I WAS RIGHT!!". The blue eyed girl now gesturing towards the eerie sight with both hands and looking back at other the three drones. Her face a mixture of smugness and, was that fear?

"I was so right, See N?" Rebecca continued her gloating, only to stop when N held up a piece of torn metal about the size of a worker drone with a slightly worried look on his face. The sheet of red metal was stamped with some sort of symbol, along with words that appeared to be printed onto it along with the rest of the container that laid across the room. The original parts of the container were scattered across the warehouse as if the inside of the shipping container had exploded, not exactly a promising thought.

"Uhh... Whatever made that hole in the wall probably did this as well. Not to sure about these markings however." N said, letting the other three come over and have a closer look at the torn section of what was once a shipping container.

[ABSOLUTE SOLVER - REBOOT]
[RUN//MATCOLLECT\\]
[WARNING]
[IF YOU CAN READ THIS]
[//YOU ARE IN RANGE\\]

"Well that's certainly not foreboding or anything." Rebecca remarked after she read it all, Doll and Thad still looking at the stained sheet while N continued to hold it up. The tallest of the group running his mind to see if he could figure out what any of this meant.

Rebecca rolled her eyes at the two workers who she, with great amounts of restraint. Hadn't killed yet before slinking off towards the lights switch. Leaving Doll and Thad with N, the red eyed drone speaking slowly as she threaded out her thoughts.

"A... Reboot? Would this explain how you grew your head back. With this... Absolute solver?"

"Haha, probably but I mostly avoid thinking about it too hard." N answered back, finally discarding the sheet of metal once Thad put up a thumbs up. The jock pausing a second later as a thought came to his mind.

"Uh... so it said if we can read this we are in range, wouldn't that be a bad thing?". As everyone realized that Thad was right the air suddenly felt heavier, a sense of discomfort shifting itself into each of the drones.

"In range of... What?" Doll asked as she looked around, neither of them noticing N's eyes widening for a second. The room felt a lot more, dark now. N verbally reassuring himself.

"V wouldn't."

"Wha-" Doll's mouth was suddenly covered by Thad's hand. The girl glaring at the silent drone for a second before following his gaze and the light from N's torch. In the center of the light was something that was deeply distressing.

It was a hand, lying on the floor. Oil covered skin shining with an almost rubber like gleam as it spidered its way over to them, completely ignoring the the drone's stares as it latched onto Thad's leg.

Instantly a second torch wandered over, the blue eyed disassembly drone responsible for it standing a fair distance away and right next to the large switch for the lights.

"How about we shed some light on this." Rebecca attempted to crack a joke as she pulled the large red wall mounted lever and activated the ceiling lights. A clunky sound echoing out as she did this.

However.

The room was still cast in shadow, said deep black shadows shifting around and were rimmed with bone white outlines as they danced across the floor. Horrific shapes moving not bothered by their reveal while the drones below all looked up. Finally figuring out why the lights were blocked.

They were eclipsed by some giant centipede like form lurking right above them, dozens of claws and other foul appendages hanging from its sides and limply in the air. The top of them all illuminated by that dead and empty light that poured fruitlessly from their wells while its underside remained pitch black.

All of the below drone's just went wide eyed, N, Doll and Thad starring in horror as they tried to wrap their minds around what they were looking at. Rebecca meanwhile just aimed a rocket launcher up at it while remarking in a cold tone

"Nevermind.". The girl was about to fire when abruptly she stopped, her body going limp with a sickening crunch that was nigh instantly followed by the telltale clunk of the lights being forced off. N and the two workers fear only jumping higher when the lights went out, leaving the three alone.

Something whistled through the air, a metal orb colliding with Doll and sending her sprawling to the side along with bowling over both N and Thad within the same second. The three robots exclaiming loudly as another hand bolted from the darkness and grabbed onto Doll's arm. N saw this and reached out for her, the smaller drone having dropped her crossbow in the action and now lied on the floor just out of reach.

"Doll grab my hand!" N yelled, only for her and Thad to be whisked away, both screaming as they vanished into the darkness.

"No no no..." N whined. Quickly bolting upright and accidentally kicking something in the panic. It was the orb from before that had knocked them all over. The orb was actually Rebecca's head, visor dimly shining with large red damage warning as it spun over to where Doll's pulse crossbow had been discarded. The rest of the disassembly drone's body lied back at the light switch, N quickly noting this as he scooped up Doll's destructive weapon and prepped to run after the stolen workers.

"Not the type of weapon im used to but it should work out." The lone murder drone stated somewhat jokingly to himself before he took off into the darkness, leaving Rebecca's swiftly regenerating body to its own devices.

Chapter Text

Doll was not having the best time, the red eyed and now both furious and terrified drone currently being whisked down various hallways by a entirely too long hand that had its foul grip locked around her leg. Thad still screaming slightly further ahead from her. All in all it wasn't exactly the best situation. The pair now being dragged through some of the rooms close to the abandoned cryo-chambers.

"DOLL HELP!! ITS THE GRIM FREEZER!!!" Thad yelled, again. The drone clearly too terrified to realize that Doll was not in a position to help him. Said workers both colliding with a wall as the hands gripping them dragged them along the floor to some far off destination. Both Doll and Thad complained loudly when that happened, Thad with a general noise of pain while Doll exclaimed some foul word in her other native language.

The pain continued as they were dragged down yet another hallway, Thad trying vainly to grab onto anything that could possibly counteract the pull force of whatever monster had them in its clutches.

The pair were violently pulled down a left turn. Passing through a set of see through curtains just as Doll had an idea. The girl struggling to reach and open her waist bag as Thad grunted in pain, his noise overshadowed by some loud clicking and the sound of heavy footsteps following them.

And just as she opened it, her hand reaching for one of her remaining crossbow bolts. She stopped sliding, Thad didn't. The green eyed drone disappearing behind another corner as Doll whipped her head around to see N at the back end of the corridor, holding a ninja star and striking a pose.

"N!?" Doll exclaimed as she scrambled to her feat and kicked off the now limp hand that was still attached to her leg, some length down its horrid form it had been promptly cut. The culprit Ninja star indented into the floor and drenched in oil as it reflected the dim red lights that glowed around them.

"Oh. Thanks again." Doll puffs out as she looks briefly around at the various damaged computers that dominated the walls here.

N, ever his cheery self commented back as he handed her the pulse crossbow. "Don't sweat it. Anytime."

"Sure, sometime I should try and save you instead." Doll answered with a tiny bit of sarcasm. Taking the crossbow and loading it with a bolt as N began to rush to the corner that Thad had been dragged down. Strangely, the jock couldn't be heard anymore. Did was he dragged to far away to be heard or... Doll didn't really want to think about the other option.

Her thoughts were snapped back to reality when her disassembly drone companion screamed. A large metal claw having reached out and snapped at him from behind the ninety degree turn. Both machines swiftly retreating.

"Ok what?" Doll squinted her eyes and exclaimed as she and N turned the corner only to be face first with Thad.

The green eyed drone standing knock kneed at the other end of the mist shrouded hallway. N and Doll glared down at him, both of them easily able to tell something was off with him. Especially when he fell over and phased halfway through the floor before the slightly blue tinted body was returned to a standing point.

"Hey, Its me... Tod?" The hologram greeted them with a forced smile and wave.

"You know... Where the other... Snacks are?" The hologram continued speaking, each word sound more butchered then the last one as it begun to confuse even itself.

Doll pointed her crossbow at the hologram, a small smirk forming on her face when the fake drone recoiled away from the loaded weapon.

"Hey wait! It's me! Trad!.. Is that a ffff-rea-kkking ni-njjja star??" He pleaded with them, quieting down when N lightly pushed the crossbow as to not aim at the hologram. The taller drone instead revealing a pair of ninja stars in his hand and quickly debriefing Doll of something.

A second later the pair both threw their stars towards the hologram, Doll first and with pinpoint accuracy. Her star flying through the holograms head and dissipating it. Just as planned.

Instantly, N's ninja star collided with Doll's one. The murder drone's well thrown projectile ricocheted off the other star and into the ceiling with a satisfying noise similar to the sound a pair of wine glasses would make when tapped together. The star ended up cutting through some hidden mechanism and releasing Thad from the clutches of said machinery. Both Thad and the bright yellow and black claw that had been holding him fell to the floor with a thud. The worker shakily recovered and stood upright. A pair of camera's descending from the ceiling and staring at him while he thanked his rescuers.

"Hey Thanks guys, We should hang out sometime... Outside though. Without scary things like this." Thad said. Quickly bolting back past Doll and N and narrowly avoiding the host of camera's and claws that had amassed in the ceiling. His last act being to flip the bird at his ex captor before vanishing behind a corner, leaving Doll and N to confront a monster. Said pair having a small moment to revel in their small victory, N was doing most of the revelling while Doll tried to keep her face more neutral. As to contrast N's wide grin. That which disappeared as soon as their opponent interrupted.

"Oh. Great, their goes all our free playtime. Shame we didn't make any new toys." Doll recoils slightly as the robotic voiced ponders out loud, its several camera's staring with blazing yellow optics at the pair. Observing harshly as N worriedly glanced at Doll, the smaller drone immediately aiming the loaded pulse crossbow for where the camera's appeared to be attached.

"Wait... Doll." N again pushed the crossbow to face away from its target as he spoke hesitantly, Doll looking up at him with a questioning gaze. N then addressing the host of camera's with all the courage he could muster, and was that. A hint of pleading in his voice?

"V, just. Stop all this, please.". In that instant, Doll realised what they were up against. Or so she had thought.

"Oh dear. It appears you have us mistaken. V is not here, we are trying our best to repair and return that host while also maximising our efficiency as per our directive." The robotic voice stated back, plainly and factually. N's face rising and falling as he comprehended the response, Doll internally cringing as small flashes of yesterday's fight returned to her. The girl swiftly shoving them back into her memory as to attempt to rally herself and N.

"So what. Your just a... Program then?" She asked, seemingly getting her answer when the machine revealed another hologram. Its dozen or so camera's producing an almost entirely accurate visage of V. The significantly repaired murder drone only missing her head and the front half of her chest as it stood there, her presence taunting both N and unknowingly Doll as well.

"Oh, we are far more then just a program." The machine snarled. Somehow managing to put some trace amount of venom into its heavily robotic voice as it swapped the hologram for a single other one. Now, where V had stood. Someone else did, their styled purple hair matching with their visor as they held onto a pill baby with the same coloured eyes. Doll remembered them as Nori, even if the Russian girl had to stretch her memory to reach that conclusion. N took a few steps back, wishing that he wouldn't have to see another reminder of the arrival night as he stole a glance behind him. To reveal a slowly amassing army of claws and hands creeping towards the pair.

"Its a shame you don't acknowledge us." the Nori hologram stated sharply, baring its fangs at both N and Doll. Her visor changing briefly into the solver symbol along with the pill baby's one before they both disappeared, leaving nothing but a few scrambling lines of code that also promptly faded and Doll alone.

"Что, черт возьми, ты имеешь в виду?" ("What the hell do you mean by that?"). Doll asks as she takes a few steps back, aiming the pulse crossbow at the camera's once again. This time no hand came to displace her aim, and that only added further distress to Doll's current mood. The girl checking around her and confirming that her companion had disappeared, now seemingly replaced by a host of monstrous appendages reaching towards her.

"Where's N?! Why show me Uzi's mum?!" Doll now starts forward, putting distance between herself and the claws behind her as she raised her voice. The situation becoming even more dire when the camera's shuffle to the side. Making way for some grand centipedal beast headed by V's oil stained visage as it descended from the ceiling, the bottom half of her head sheened off. A loud buzzing sound rips itself from the monster's head as what appeared to be a trio of sharply toothed sawblades revved to life. Their top halves hidden inside V's head as their bottom halves tore and shredded the cold air for a second before going silent.

"Maybe you will figure it out in the afterlife." The now revealed eldritch robot stated. Its visor temporarily lighting up with bright red text that read. STATEMENT FALSE. As it spoke.

"No way, I'm not done here yet. The colony needs me to keep it safe." Doll answered back, pulling up a mask of near false bravado to hide how terrified she actually was of the robot she had assumedly already killed.

Said robot only worming its way further out of the ceiling to the point its head almost rested on the ground as it again used its robotic voice to taunt Doll. "Fair, but... Not sure it needs you, buddy.".

"It does." She snarked back, fully confident that this was true.

"Oh it really doesn't. Neither does it need her." The voice speaks out again, frothing with a previously unattained amount of venom. Twitching as it dropped a claw down to reveal that it had Yeva in its clutches, the older drone squirming and wriggling violently as she tried to remove the four fingered claw from around her head.

"Wait HEY!!?!" Doll aimed for the claw that was holding up her mum, tapping the trigger and letting fly an uncharged bolt that slammed into exactly where she was aiming. Snapping the arm and dropping Yeva to the floor with a thud.

"Спасибо... Кук-" (Thank you... Do-) Yeva tried to stand up before she was cut off by the sudden violence that was V's head slamming itself into her back and activating its sawblades. Near instantly shredding through her back while splaying sparks, metal and oil from the mutilated body and forcing the drone to shut down. Yeva's body splitting down the middle when a pair of pincers grabbed each of her arms and pulled, throwing the remains to either side as Doll watched on. Pure fear and terror stamped onto her face as she watched her last remaining parent be torn up in front of her.

The scene instantly engulfing in fire as a missile flew past Doll's face and exploded. With N and Rebecca running up to her while the monster reeled back from the heat, both of the disassembly drone's having their arms switched to rocket launchers.

"Doll, you ok???" Rebecca asks once she is right next to Doll, worry in her voice as N fires another rocket at the slowly approaching machine. Barely stalling its mass of claws with the fire.

"Come on, use your crossbow or whatever it is. DOLL!?" Rebecca raises her voice as she tries to get Doll's attention. The red eyed drone still silent, head whirring as she tried to fathom what had happened.

"Enough." The robotic voice states as it swiped away another missile. Taking its chance and charging forward.

This time the two murder drones alternate, Rebecca firing her own missile at the monster while N outstretched his hand towards Doll. Speaking softly, yet loud enough to be heard as he attempted to rouse Doll.

"Doll, you'll be ok. Just, I'm going to need that.". N reaches for the crossbow, that which Doll silently relinquished to him along with accidentally toggling the charge switch. Barely nodding, her face switching to a shocked expression as N laughed and faded to blue. Showing its truth to be nothing more then a hologram, Rebecca also disappearing but not before she gave a sarcastic salute to Doll.

"Hah, Fooled. That was such a big brained move." The eldritch monster announced as it used a claw to grab and slam Doll into a wall by the head. The rest of the centipedal machine coiling around its own head as its camera's and claws poised themselves towards the now struggling Doll. The sawblades roaring to life yet again as V's head creeped closer to its next kill. Soft glowing light quickly growing as the crossbow attempted to charge a non existent bolt, only succeeding in shedding a somewhat dangerous glow onto the surroundings.

Suddenly, all the camera's turn to the side. Barely recognising what was flying towards them before a hail of bullets began to hail down on it, the monster raising its claws to block the projectiles.

"What, You dare." It snarled as it stopped the lethal weapons inside its head from spinning. For some reason, the noise didn't stop along with them. The answer dropping down a second later when all of its camera's along with the claws it had held up to delay the now stopped barrage of bullets fell to the floor. Rebecca landed in between the now limp mechanical limbs, striking a pose as she did. Slashing with chainsaw arms at the few limbs that still tried to grab at her as Doll also dropped to the floor.

N standing at the other end of the hallway as he shouted at them, trying to yell over the sound of his sparse gunshots. "She's gonna explode! Come on!!".

Rebecca did as told, grabbing with Doll grappling claw and rocketing away from the now brightly red glow of the pulse crossbow's power core. That which had now shook itself off of the crossbow and was violently letting out sparks as it vibrated on the floor a few metres away from its discarded host.

Said host now being launched even further away when one of the few remaining limbs of V's deformed body struck it by accident. The rest of the body coiling above the glowing power core before looking down at it.

"For real?". It stated just before a blinding white light envelopes it's body. The pair of murder drones throwing up their wings to guard from the explosion. N holding Doll under him, the ends of her hair still singeing from the heat as it passed over them.

Chapter Text

A minute passes. Heat waves washing over the trio in futile attempts to harm them. After the heat had passed over them and it was safe to stand up, Rebecca did exactly that. Bolting upright from her position covering N, N who was covering Doll. He slowly moved off of his spot over the smaller girl as he let the dust and small amounts of rubble slide off his back.

A lone camera flicks up from under a shredded piece of sheet metal. All three of the drones watching as it tried desperately to keep up its illusion before it collapsed in on itself. The left half of Yeva's damaged body disappearing along with the camera as it shriveled into a small dark black hole and wandered away. Leaving N, Doll and Rebecca alone among the scorched ruins.

"That... She?" Doll stuttered out, the girls gaze locked on where her mother had been. The hologram of her mother, the fake version of the mother she still had.

"Uh heh. That's a big mess. Do we have to clean this all up?" Rebecca asks as she stood a metre or so away and gazed at the damaged hallway. Her eyes flaring brighter as something moved at the end of the hall.

"New plan, give a minute then we can leave. Alright." Rebecca doesn't even let them answer before she quickly but quietly stalks over to a large pile of rubble that was where their foe had been. Said pile slightly smoking with heat as she began to inspect it. Leaving Doll and N where they were, both sitting in their own pile of non superheated mess with wide eyes as they let silence reign between them. Heads whirring as they took a minute to themselves.

N giving a pained chuckle a minute or two later, his optics blinking once or twice.

"Hahaha... We just killed her.". His words  barely rung out, anchored down by some unseen weight behind them and unheard by Rebecca. Doll however, did.

"... Yeah, N. Maybe... If I wasn't so trigger-happy and had let you talk her down yesterday then..." Doll weakly waved a hand at the rest of the hall. Trying to get a point across that she couldn't really find the words for.

She still almost couldn't believe that she had, again caused more lives to be lost. First letting the murder drones into the colony, now this.

N broke her out of these thoughts, although accidentally. His golden eyes shining brightly as he looked at her with some emotion she couldn't quite grasp.

"Well sure this could of been avoided... but V was going to kill you then. It was just self, defence." He reassured her, but Doll could tell that he was hurting too. Unfortunately before either of them could try to further work out their feelings, Rebecca jumped back from the pile she was looking through with a shout of surprise and fury.

A flesh like blob thing having pounced onto her face briefly before jumping off it and skedaddling across the floor with its three claw tipped legs. Its form both of metal and blood as it announced in the same voice as the monstrosity it had created before.

"Lmao. Get snuck upon.". Doll and N both watched wide eyed as whatever this thing was attempting to flee across the floor. Rebecca snarling once before she ran after it, putting several dents in the floor as she tried to stomp the thing to death.

"This is the part where we action sequence away from you.". It spoke up again while it deftly dodged another stomp. Rebecca only getting more angry with each of its plainly stated comments before she whipped out her purple shaded tail.

"We are way to fast for you toys to catc-" Turns out that was false, and the thing knew it. Now pleading in a plain voice as Rebecca continuously stabbed it through the centre with her tail. The girl looked like she was enjoying the scene as well, which was only slightly confusing to the pair of drones that watched on. N having his mouth agape as he tried then failed to speak.

"Fucking finally!" Rebecca swore at her victim and with a long overdue revenge now served, she watched with full satisfaction as the blob combusted into a small black hole and fluttered away.

"Was... That, necessary?" N asked her, also beginning to stand when he heard the sounds of a few pairs of boots approaching them from some far off hallway.

Rebecca was about to answer when she too heard the workers, the girl then responding by bringing out her claws with a wicked grin. Evidently planning on mauling the lot of them.

"What... What even are you? How was I ever supposed to... if... This." Doll interrupted. The pair both shooting her differing looks as the workers got closer. Rebecca then briefly sighing before slinking into some ventilation shaft in the torn up roof. N meanwhile had extended his hand towards Doll.

She didn't move, not away, nor towards him. Doll just watched as he waited for he to reach out for him. Instead she spoke shakily.
"...Нет, ты иди. Мне нужно время.". ("...No, you go. I need time.")

N did so, vanishing into the ceiling after his squad mate and leaving the red eyed drone alone. Soft fires reflecting their light onto her as she weakly stood. Letting the small amounts of mist remaining swim lightly around her for a minute. Waiting for her thoughts to order themselves. Wasting time as the chance of some random worker to find her rose, even if they would probably just banish her back outside where the girl should be. Where she said she would be.

A minute later, she left. Slinking through some back paths and empty halls that were called streets and making sure to avoid being seen in these late hours, as to preserve the illusion of her banishment. Doll both silently thanks and curses the well known fact that the colony lacked security cameras as she rounds another cold steel corner to see a door. A standard automatic one that every residential home besides the Doorman's had, and she knew this one was hers. Dark blue metal that both contrasted and worked with the red of her eyes, at least on the matters of colour.

The door opening to reveal a very shocked Yeva, who then yanked the girl inside and into probably the warmest hug Doll had ever been in as both of them enjoyed the fact the other was still alive. If Doll was in her right mind, she probably would of noticed that worker drones are not supposed to run as hot as Yeva was. Alas, the night's worth of action mixed trauma would deter those thoughts from forming within the younger drone.

The signature thud of the automatic door closing rung out dully behind them but neither really caring all to much as they held each other. Yeva splitting off the hug as she stepped back and did a quick scan of Doll, noting the girl's slightly singed hair and easily seeing through Doll's attempt at masking her current emotional state. The younger girl looking to her mother with a tired face, still elated that she could see her again but none the less. Doll was tired.

"Дорогая, ты выглядишь такой мертвой внутри. В чем дело?" ("Dear, you look so dead inside. What's wrong?").Yeva asked quietly. Trying to coax an answer from her daughter, despite the heavy feeling that she wouldn't get a substantial one.

Doll instead, slightly to Yeva's expectation. Slipped past her mother and starting on the small trip to her room, not getting far before she turned back to Yeva and sighed.

"Im fine... Just tired is all. Can I stay with you tonight?". Of course Yeva wouldn't bend to the rules of the bunker and do what she was supposed too. Which was kick Doll out and send her back on her way to banishment, Yeva was far to much of a rule breaker already. Furthermore, no way in hell she would have her daughter unwillingly banished. Not another loved one gone. Never.

So she said yes, wished Doll a good night and promised that if her daughter ever needed anything she would now be only one call away. Yeva internally squealing when she got the chance to show off her new phone, having been someone who had previously never got one. Plus it could play Tetris online, obviously the local players were now having an extremely bad time whenever Yeva decided to play.

"Wow, did you kill them all already?!". Doll's technically sister glanced up from the manga she was reading as the girl verbally jabbed at Doll.

"...No, I... I haven't gotten around to it Uzi." Doll hesitantly answered back, successfully hiding away the fact that the only one she had killed had ended up just reviving from the dead and causing even more destruction. Which was something that Uzi would probably find immensely metal if the hot topic girl knew, and begrudgingly. Doll had to admit that the whole notion was kinda cool as well, but she would never say that out loud.

"Lame." Uzi answered. Retracting her attention back to what it had previously been on with a small scowl visible on her visor, along with the near signature purple anger mark that laid plain just above her right eye.

Doll just rolled her eyes at Uzi as she entered her room, softly closing the door behind her.

Closing the door, something that N had already done once and now had to do again as a particularly cold wind blew its way into the city. The two dissemblers within the pod sure that once this storm was over, their would be a very thick layer of snow cast over the ruins.

Why Rebecca couldn't either stay outside or stay inside was something N was, to preoccupied to think about. All thoughts of major size or importance focused inwards. On the events that had just passed, the weird symbol. Doll staying behind at the colony, seemingly stressed about something. That hologram of the girl who scorched the sky. She wasn't even Doll's mom either so their was no point in showing them her... Right?

Worst of all was the perpetrator of this all, V... She had said it herself. The monster wasn't V, but it wore her visage. IT was her in a way. Was until whatever had burst out of the rubble was killed by Rebecca. N trying to figure it all out as he sat with his arms around his legs on the cold floor. Out of J's reach but still at her eye level as he pondered hard. Maybe Doll was right to try and kill them all, these metal monsters...

J meanwhile. Was fuming to herself, quietly as so that her captor couldn't hear her but something else could. Something that allowed whispers to travel so far away, much further then a scream would of travelled. Luckily for her, the company was listening. Soon, was all they had said.

Chapter Text

The classroom was almost empty, most of the drones having either went home or with Sarah. The WDF leader leaving in a panic after the worrying sound of some distant explosion rumbled its way through the colony. Now only two workers still in the room. Zane and Emily, both of which were currently sitting on one off the tables next to each other and trying to catch their breath.

Of course, and luckily too. No one was watching this. Even Lizzy, who was someone that had a near unnatural ability to find and spread gossip, rumours and various other such things. The colony wide myth of the Grim Freezer, the ghoul who inhabits the cryo chambers and steals the socks from those who had just been uploaded into a new body. She was otherwise busy, unable to get a hold on something that would of probably either collapsed or reforged the social hierarchy that the teens of outpost 3 had. Said something was that, Emily and Zane's relationship was a bit further along then shown.

"Zane!.. you, you got saliva on my shirt." Emily lightly complained to Zane as she got up from her seat on the table. The short girl trying to dry off the small mark with more of the shirt. Scrunching it up, while still wearing it. Obviously, since they had only kissed. More like made out but that was just kissing, at least that was what Emily was thinking. She may of slightly renounced, altered her beliefs. Those which were carried along by the cross necklace she wore, but it wasn't like the girl had done something disastrous. Lizzy hadn't caught them, her mom didn't know and Zane was satisfied as well. Final Girl was in the clear, if a little lightheaded from her first kiss.

"Oh, whoops I guess. Plus that was your fault more then mine. I didn't expect you to be that clueless on how making out works." Zane chuckled after he spoke, a small and barely noticeable grin on his face as he waited. Patiently, for her to go.

Emily frowned at him, trying to show an act of annoyance at her boyfriend. Only to fail as the blush marks on her visor betrayed the truth. A second later she tried a proper counter to the accusation, even if he was correct.

"Well.. uhh, you kinda just... Did most of it yourself honestly?" Being this confused was not helping her case. Final Girl, losing a debate over a kiss, unheard of. She was supposed to be good at those, even to the point that she had at one point silenced Lizzy's rampant mythmaking with cold hard facts. Only to be laughed at after the pink eyed girl displayed a nerd emoji over her visor, of course. A week later and some strong cajoling from a few others of the class. Lizzy had apologized.

Zane was far worse of a debater then she was, but Emily was still mostly overrun with various other emotions and thus wasn't in the right headspace for effective thinking. More so with how she could still taste some of his left over saliva in her mouth, saliva wasn't sweet typically but maybe attraction was blurring reality. Just a tiny bit.

"Yeah, and your the one who reads adult fiction but still can't kiss." Zane pretend pouted for a second before picking up Emily's bag from the floor and handing it to her.

"Here, said you only had some time to spare so... go." Zane gestured towards the classroom's front door, as the back one was still mysteriously locked. So locked that even the teacher nor his strange son could unlock it. Jackal trying various lock picking methods that all came up dud.

Emily thanked Zane with a hug, a warm one. Before reluctantly pulling herself away from her purple jumpered friend and leaving in a hurry. Zane making sure to keep his face as blank as possible untill she was gone. Then which it soured slightly, mostly at a memory but also at the fact his girlfriend was now gone.

Earlier today, while the meetings were still going.

"Dibs not!"

"...Fine!" Lizzy had snapped at them, the cheerleader then lazily wandered over to the door and attempted to open it. Of course, that wouldn't happen. Locked, and even when Lizzy unlocked it. The doors system settings instantly switched back to the locked option. Barring the hologram Bethany from accessing the class and making Lizzy mock apologise at it. The fake student then walking away from the door and leaving the class alone, making sure to shoot Zane a frown as she did.

Back in the present, Zane sighed. Extending his hand and flicking in a complex manner, fingers spread wide and projecting a white symbol into the air just in front of them. The same glyph manifested onto the small screen next to the door, said screen being how one would access the internal systems of that particular door. And barely a second later, it was gone. The door opening with a sigh of its own and letting the boy stalk out of it, but not before he caught a Robo Roach with his power.

Spinning the small mechanical replacement for the usual bug, those of which had died out alone with the core despite their apparent hardiness. Zane caught it in his left hand, the bug turning around slowly to look at it's captor. What it saw was not exactly a good sign for its wellbeing, the kid giving it a once over. One of his white eyes now replaced with the triangular symbol that would now dominate the bug as well.

Zane dropped it, then left. Leaving the bug to chase after him only for the door to close early. Crushing it into the floor, Zane again hiding his hand as to not reveal that he had such a power. Now he simply meandered back to his empty home on the second floor, undisturbed.

By now, Emily had already been home for ten or so minutes. The house empty besides her as both her mother and older sister were preoccupied with something across the colony. Leaving the girl to the well furnished home, alone. Most of the home was done up in a pleasant colour scheme blonde yellow and shades of gray, Kelseys room however. Covered with paper, one whole wall taken up by the stereotypical maze of red string and notes as the temporarily absent girl worked away at some mystery.

All she had asked of Emily was to deliver a note to her room as soon as possible. So Emily did that, the old and browned paper being placed on a table before she left. Probably to either read or binge watch another anime. Although, why her sister had wanted that beyond old missing note from the school's medical room was unknown.

Chapter Text

Cold, hard, concrete. The occasional lance like claw of rebar that reached from the claustrophobic walls that were the crowning achievement for the underbelly of outpost 3. A vein like tunnel system for the outpost that stayed practically unused for most of the mechanical inhabitants, save a few. Of course robo-roaches made their homes down here, the occasional small infestation of them thriving down in the dark and slinking up to the surface levels when they needed to pick on metal scraps. Occasionally a WDF member would be stationed at the only known entrance to this maze, or one at the spare parts room that counted as a graveyard for the drone populace in here. No worker drone dared walk the convoluted pitch black halls beneath the city, except for the body that owned the pair of piercing red eyes. Said eyes taking a second to glance down at a passing family or robo-roaches before stepping over them. Lazily but pointedly wandering the halls below until it came across exactly what it was looking for.

A galvanized steel grate in the roof, technically it was the floor of the hospital room above but it was the roof to the drone below it. The grate was small yet worker drones were small of themselves so it would be no problem to fit through. Even if there were... Other ways of getting to places that were beyond a normal worker. A normal worker that would most likely be asleep at this late time unlike Yeva, the red eyed mother having slunk out to acquire more oil to continue her day to day life without boiling over. the russian having chosen to ditch the bear onesie she usually wore for something else on this lonely trip out, said attire consisting of murky red leg warmers that fit snuggly, a plain black sleeveless dress and a sticker decorated tote bag that was slung lazily over her shoulder.

Yeva put her foot onto one of the rebar poles that had been purposefully shifted in the wall, forming a set of basic steps up to the grate. It held, they all would but sometimes double checking was worth it. After that she scaled the wall, using the steps to help her up as the inky blackness of the halls clung to her black dress. Once she got to the top she crouched between two rebar steps and flicked out her hand. Red light flaring from it in a triangular symbol before the grate simply shrunk to about the size of a small toy car. Failing to clink as it fell into Yeva's white gloved hands, gloves worn precisely to avoid said noise from occurring and almost revealing her presence like last time she had done this. Yeva then popped her head out of the hole, checking briefly around the hospital room for anything that could slip her scheme up.

The walls were their normal plain white, floor tiled as usual, blue sliding door closed, the table sized metal cylinder still huddled away in a corner. Only new thing was the body in the medical bed and the brunete wig and hat that sat on the desk, a small machine beeping next to the sleeping drone that was almost completely hidden away behind a curtain. A green light on the machine occasionally illuminating the words OIL TRANSFUSION DEVICE, or STABLE CONDITION before going blank again for but a second. The most interesting thing to Yeva however, was the small notepad that had been left on the edge of a small blue table, notepad almost hanging off it until it made its way towards the grate via the red solver symbol that carried it. The object being joined a few seconds later by her now full canteen of oil that was seized from within the metal barrel that held it. Extremely poorly stored hospital spares, far from the tastiest but one of the easiest ways to acquire the lifeblood Yeva had been cursed with consuming. Something she apparently had in common with the oh so often mentioned sky demons as she briefly saw with that one that her daughter had somehow befriended.

The girl teleported back down to the floor of the tunnel below her and replaced the grate back where it was supposed to be, as well as closing the barrel's lid, then sat on the floor and began to read the notepad. Holding it between her knees and using light produced from her free hand to do so, sipping on her flask of cold oil somewhat hastily. A single robo-roach crawled up to her, halting at her bare metal foot for a second whilst Yeva paid it no attention. She flipped through the first few pages and noted their blandness, however the fourth page held what she was looking for. An explanation mainly.

"Left arm completely removed by unknown force, the patient does not remember what had happened in the seconds before they woke up bleeding on the floor. No culprit in sight and the victim's connecting wiring is too ruined for a reattachment of limb let alone a quick or economically feasible one.".

Yeva hummed to herself as she thought, scanning briefly the rest of the notepads pages and flicked through the rest of the pages to find them all blank. The girl then chugging the rest of her stolen oil as she tried to rationalize why this would of happened or who would of done it. Idly flicking a rather brave but still small mechanical clean up bug off her knee and checking either side of the hallway she was in as she thought. Yeva both grateful that her passion for snooping had rewarded her with valued knowledge and annoyed that the knowledge could have rather distasteful implications. A hidden killer in the colony, was it just someone with a grudge, a bad accident or something worse...

Yeva then yawned, sensing a wave of tiredness wash over her as she drank the last of the liquid inside her flask and a chill like flush set upon her as the heat in her core died down. The girl already missing the warmth it had built up from before she had quelled it, the heat made her warm and warm made her sleepy. Which was really nice feeling considering her lack of the ability to sleep more then a scant few hours in the week.

She then got up again, clambering back up to the grate and shrinking it so that she could get a spare helping of oil for her flask. Keeping it for later and hopefully stalling her next trip down here for a day at most because despite needing it to live, Yeva didn't enjoy drinking oil nearly as much as the murder drones seemed to. The red eyed girl replaying dulled by time memories in her head from other more violent times when she had needed the substance as she crawled into the darkened room and stood on its tiled floor, replacing the note pad back where she had found it and internally losing the argument around whether she should or should not peak around the curtain. So she did, slinking through the darkness over to the edge of the bed and looking around to find a somewhat familiar drone lying in the bed. Asleep.

The somewhat tall blueish black haired drone laid still in the bed, their left arm completely missing and its stump covered up by a fair amount of practically pure white bandages that were secured by a couple pins and extended around to under their opposing armpit. Their blanket only going up to about that high and hanging down off the end of the bed Yeva stood at, trying to remember who this was and staving off sleep related thoughts. The answer came to her a second later along with a revelation that wasn't particularly welcome to the already tired mother.

"Oh, Mack- uhmm.. was, oh. It's Mackevilon. That's right, he's one of Doll's classmate's... Thad's dad??? yeah Thad's dad...". Yeva told herself in a whisper as she left the hospital the same way she entered and made sure to resize the grate to exactly its correct size. She then stored her flask in her bag, clambered down the rebar steps and departed for home in some form of slight hurry. Leaving the place as if she was never there as to avoid the worst possible outcomes that could happen. Getting home without being seen or before the slow storm of drowsiness brewing within her head made her fall asleep standing would be preferable for the older drone. As she travelled the underground maze back to the closest grate from her house something began to bug her mentally on the way back, the purple haired girl to tired to figure it out exactly but couldn't put her mind on it until she had arrived back home.

Entering the house that acted more like a den for her to notice something was missing. She flicked on the heater but left the lights off, itd small screen showing a 16bit winking emoji while it switched the heating system over to a pre-set temperature. The house was somewhat well kept as usual, had an oft unused but built in games room as it normally did. Said room containing an old and unkempt basketball hoop that was slightly bent from the amount of times it had been dunked in. The rest of the half court sized room was to her hazed memory mostly empty asides from the chain that hung through the middle and was decorated with a trio of hanging lanterns and an air hockey table that sat dejected in the far corner from the hoop. Their should also be an empty mattress sat on the floor right next to the table with a sleeping Uzi Doorman in it in the games room but Yeva would have to check on that.

The kitchen was practically empty, a small cult of candles sitting in their lonesome atop the smoothed polished concrete of the kitchen bench, the grey material meshing well with the steel sink that was embedded into it. The cupboards that made up the walls behind the bench were all of a similar form, with their handles being simple steel as well. Stood tall like stone towers as they beckoned through a non existent storm.

Yeva trod into the house, bare feet sinking slightly into the various rugs she had decked the lounge room in. Their multicoloured displays and patterns having dulled over the years since she had set them up as they were. The red eyed russian having internally complained that the room was missing the softness that the now unused and locked away master bedroom had until she had fixed it.

Mostly.

The rugs had the side effects of forcing older memories of hers to resurface once in a while but their added warmth to the room was something she rather have. They could make her remember every time one of her old friends or herself would come back to the house before the current situation developed. Shaking the remaining frost off of their coats and the salvaged furniture as Khan and Nori talked about whatever they wanted, admiring the patterns on newfound rugs, deciding where to put them or occasionally helping their husbands work on one of their many creations. Items that were now left to the dust and robo-roaches, more robo-roaches then dust now since Nori wasn't as fond at eating dust as she was for eating the mechanical bugs that pestered the various prototype items.

However, and predictably. The games room was conveniently missing a certain purple eyed drone that was mostly forced or convinced into sleepovers in the building. She was supposed to be here, but wasn't and Yeva instantly knew that Uzi had left, again. Yeva checked the games room again as tiredness further set in, empty. Peaked into the bathroom for no good reason, avoiding looking at the mirror as she did. The mother starting to find thinking a little to hard as she lethargically trudged back into the living room. Maybe she should check Doll's room but sleep was calling her so she left it for later, and more so. Uzi wasn't exactly incompetent and of need to be watched over constantly but Yeva much preferred the emo drone to be in check.

The red eyed drone had barely taken a few steps towards her new goal when she almost jumped out of her metal casing as her bag vibrated, one of her hands shooting out and displaying the red glyph of the solver in front of it. Turns out the reason her bag was vibrating was because her phone was going off. At this hour, it was almost five in the morning and someone was trying to contact her. So of course Yeva picked up, this was far to unusual for her to let it pass up, pausing briefly to look at the unregistered number before answering. So much for sleep calling her.

"Uhh, Wo- wow. You actually picked up... neatto. Uhm, ok then... Yeva, I jushhst wanted to apologize for something, sorry you woke up.". A familiar drone spoke with a both tired and somewhat ashamed voice through the phone. Yeva had half the mind to hang up and try to take care of herself for once, especially once she realised it was Sarah on the other end of the phone. She slouched forward slightly and sighed to herself as she remembered that nights events, then asks in a tone that almost failed to hide her lack of energy.

"Mmmm, you called me... just to apologise?". She mumbled, somehow coherent enough in her blunt Russian, difficult accent on it and latent tiredness so that Sarah could understand it.

"Uhm yeah... look, I didn't mean for Dolll.". Sarah pauses for a second, maybe her probable lack of sleep was getting to her, or something else. Yeva was about to question her but she got her answer without asking the somewhat awkward question.

"Doll to get kicked out, I'm shhorry just 'hic' wait no, no. I kind of encounterrrr- red a problem.". Sarah yawned halfway through the sentence and Yeva swore she heard something pop through the phone but she couldn't tell exactly. Yeva barely resisting her own urge to yawn as well as Sarah stayed silent for a second or two, seemingly doing something as a noise came through the phone. The red eyed drone was about to press Sarah for details but was cut short by the girl elaborating what she had mentioned before with a now slightly warped voice.

"Thad's dad, well. Whole family... You know what's been hap-'hic'... ening with them, right..?". Sarah stuttered as the mother asked, forgetting that Yeva barely left her house unless it was urgent and was definitely not up to touch with recent social events asides from the banishment of her daughter and the murder drone attack on the bunker. Along with the parent teacher interview and her consistent but secret ventures to find more oil, If any of those could be considered social events at all. All in all It was safe to say that Yeva was in fact not caught up socially, not even close.

"Well, Mackggs in the hossh-pital as of n- 'hic'.. now and Alyssa...". Sarah stopped speaking, her words having slurred before the sound of her gulping down something came through the phone.

"Oh..". Yeva mouthed, words not entirely working as her head put two sets of everything's together. Alyssa was the one who had called her to the entrance of the outpost before, in the middle of the night as well because Doll had went missing from their house. The girl having apparently snuck outside the colony with that old crossbow thing that she had found and well, when Yeva got there it was apparent that something had gone very wrong according to the pair of murder drones that had spilt oil all over the hall in their rampage. The blackened substance steaming slightly as its aura tugged her towards it, hunger taking a backseat as she vaguely recognised the male drone at the back of the scene but not the newer blue one that had been holding her daughter up by the leg. It was honestly a miracle to her that Doll had survived at all to Yeva, but she was one who accepted a miracle without all to much complaint.

Second realisation Yeva had come to was much simpler, Sarah had been drinking. Suddenly she coughed quietly, Yeva zoning back into the conversation and tensing towards the phone as the hopefully not that drunk girl sobbed out a strained apology.

"Yeva... Sshhhe's gone, Alyssa's dead. I'm shhroy I'm shhrooy, I wansht fast 'Hic' enou-uff...". Sarah then stopped speaking, a saddened whimper coming through the phone before a yelp followed it. Finally a thud and the sound of a bottle smashing just as Yeva went to try and console the girl.

"Sarah, Sarah listen to me, whatever your drinking, stop drinking it... are you there..? Sarah?". After she had said this she waited, Yeva could barely hear the sounds of distant groaning and a set of steps approaching. They sounded hesitant for a second. More indistinguishable noises, then a trio of voices. Two distinctly sounding younger then Sarah's had before, even if the girl was surprisingly young sounding herself.

"Sarah? Are you ok?". Yeva asked once more as she heard a voice vaguely talk towards Sarah's phone, the owner of the voice sounding like her to some degree.

"Ummm, Mum's fine Miss, uhh... Yeva. Just, she's just a little... woozy, id say.". Yeva recoiled a tiny amount from the phone as she realised what was going on, the whole situation rejuvenating her from her tired state for a while. Grabbing at her phone holding arm with her spare arm and then asking the drone on the other side of the phone for details of what happened. Yeva treading light steps in a circle while she listened to the unknown drone.

"Uhm Ok ok, well... Mums been, depressed i think, about Thad's mum dying. And well, she kind of uhmm...". The voice trailed off, seemingly sounding ashamed at admitting this.

"She got drunk.". Yeva stated, finishing the sentence with a small sigh. She hadn't talked or even seen Sarah for ages but this wasn't what she used to be. Yeva never remembered Sarah drinking, if her memory served her well then she'd go as far as saying that the mother was supposedly adverse to alcohol entirely.

"Mmhhmm, Im... Not exactly an expert on this all so I, I heh, could be wrong...". The girl, since Yeva had deduced the voice was female, went on before being interrupted by someone calling for her briefly.

A minute passed, Yeva worrying more until someone picked up. Relief soaring as they did.

"Miss Yeva?".

"Yes?".

"Kelsey, my big sister told me to asks you if... Uhmm, since we have Thad and his siblings here too, but K-kelsey says we should... P- probably all not stay here, sooo... Uhm, can we stay at yours. Please?". Yeva blinked when she heard this. On one hand, no wait there was no argument asides her own self health which was something they should be knowledgeable as to not disturb once she got them back to hers. Doll would just have to deal with the guests, as slight payback for almost dying on her and refusing to talk. As soon as Sarah was sober and Yeva wasn't feeling like she was going to fall asleep standing then they would be having a stern talk on several things, namely why she would banish a child, Yeva wasn't even that mad that it was her own child it was more that she had banished a child. Period.

"... Ok, I'll be over to get you all soon.". She answered, barely hiding her small lack of confidence as to reassure the girl along with the invisible cannonball like weights that she felt laid atop her mind. Amalgamating thoughts as they compressed her into the ground and her sleep, they could wait, or moreso, she could persevere. She always had despite the losses dragging her further and further under, weathering away at the lonesome lighthouse.

Chapter Text

Red lights greeted Doll as she awoke inside her somewhat comfortable bed, Internal clock telling her that it was early morning as the long haired drone crawled out of bed. Of course, she wasn't really going anywhere important and could totally stay in bed as she had the day before. Turns out living in some form of concealed exile was having a run off effect on her. Doll's onesie covered foot touched down on the floor as the girl absentmindedly moved an arm to wake up her door's motion sensor, which was prone to ignoring her to a certain degree as it did now. The slab of steel staying put and causing Doll to groan slightly to herself before waving her hand in a half-assed action up at the half circle motion sensor. To which the door hissed open and the red eyed Russian recoiled slightly at the sight she had found her optics on.

The lounge room was a mess, somewhat a mess. It usually wasn't spotless with always a spare piece of clothing or a book left out on the floor, far from its usual home in the small library that lurked behind the dining table. Sometimes a second mattress had been pulled out, for some unknown reason the house had far more mattresses then were needed by the current residents. Normally. Now a grand total of four somewhat well kept mattresses had been scattered around the room like buoyed ships and made any hope of navigating the place significantly more annoying. Each sleeping spot occupied by a worker drone who looked mostly nonchalant in their rest as to have suddenly appeared in her home. Doll shook her head as if to dispel a fake memory but the workers didn't remove themselves from her reality, the girl frowning as she fully registered the bunch. Emily, Uzi, Thad and one other who she assumed to be Thad's sibling with how they shared the same visor colour and the fact Thad was sleeping on the mattress closest to her. Crowning this display of sleeping metal was Yeva, who was in fact not sleeping at all and instead focusing on something in her hands. Dim light emerging from the phone in her hands and visible to all of the drones within the room. Doll's mother having neglected to tell her about the onslaught of guests that now unintentionally constrained the girl to her own room.

Doll retreated the whole two steps back into her room again, padded feet due to her onesie making no noise as she did and the door shut softly. Leaving the girl with an unknown amount of time to basically waste. Something she had spent the last two weeks doing already and Doll couldn't deny the fact that doing near nothing had been getting to her, she found herself thinking of the cold outside or restarting school more and more.

Then a buzz sounded from her computer free desk, the one that was a part of her loft. Doll having managed to secure a second desk for her tech, which included the desktop computer that was perched apon the further desk. Doll tiredly looking over to see her phone flash once. A few seconds later and she had sat down on her worn office chair and checked the device.

{ 1 New Message, From - Mom }

Doll unlocked the device, its case feeling firm in her hands as the girl put her feet up on the chair without thinking, a personal habit of hers that Yeva had failed to make the younger girl grow out of.

{ From Mom - "... Sorry... but they had no where to go except here." }

{ Doll "im staying in my room then?" }

{ From Mom - "i guess that would be best, they are all your friends out here. correct?" }

{ Doll "uhm, yes" }

There was a few seconds of silence, the red eyed girl taking a breath as she waited.

{ From Mom - "I think they should be capable of keeping a secret." }

Doll rolled her eyes, she knew they probably wouldn't. Emily was horrid with secrets and the rest were better but they... They all had no reason to tell on her really she realised. Doll thinking on it as she replied to Yeva.

{ Doll - "Maybe, there is no reason for them to go and reveal my whole not banished act anyway" }

{ From Mom - "We still need to talk about that, Doll." }

Doll paused at the message, a small scowl forming on her face for a second before it vanished. She was about to send a reply when another message appeared on the device's cracked screen.

{ From Mom - "It can wait for later." }

Doll let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding, glad that her inevitable judgement day was staved away for even a bit longer. Her hand easing its grip on the phone as she did, spinning the chair back to her lofts desk.

{ From Mom - "Only because im too tired to think straight. Taking a 20 minute nap, hopefully longer. Don't blow the house up. ;) " }

{ Doll - "I won't." }

The red eyed girl shot the text back with a quick collection of taps on her phone, resting the device on the table once she was done and sure that her mother wouldnt send another message back to her. Doll then glancing up, thinking as to what exactly to do while she waited for however long she had to. Would they be staying one night, three, a week? Was Yeva expecting her to waltz out there and keep them company or from investigating the rest of the house. Surely her mother had at least told Thad and co that they weren't allowed to mess with their current abode, or would common decency be thrown out to the wastes and an urge to explore take the four drones outside her door as soon as they were to be left unchecked.

Doll continued in her thoughts for a while longer, digital mind contemplating, minutes passing as her chair danced in lazy rotations, what was N up to, that Rebecca drone too, what was her deal? Why was the blue one so quick to turn on the other murder drones?

Doll sat upright. Was that a noise outside? Most likely not her concern, she was still unsure of even showing her face to the group outside. Her mind now rolled around on the simple fact, or observation really. She had killed a murder drone, even if it wasn't entirely her doing it had still took an effort that could only be described as draining in almost every sense. Doll could still vividly see the scene again in her mind, feel the hellish chill that descended upon her as if it was a hawk, hunting for prey and finding a small girl that stood stunned in front of a sudden revelation. Her progenitor laid dead, insides left to fruitlessly explore the ice frosted metal floor of the room. She was left with nothing but herself and her wits, those which had swiftly abandoned her as well when she reached for any help. The friend shaped illusions only guiding the scared girl towards an all consuming end.

Of course, that isnt what had happened but Doll couldn't shake away the feeling that it was frighteningly close to being the truth. That the scared girl that was surrounded by illusions and the spilt oil of her loved ones could of been real, could of been her. She hated that. Hated the cold internal winds that had rattled her very core, brought on by the nature perverted sight she had been literally dragged to witness.

But then the fountain of torment that spewed suffering from the dead head of the drone she had already killed once, that fountain ruptured, the demon scoured away by the heat of one of her fathers most rememberable items exploding. The heat was relieving, as it always was. Doll was a warmth lover at heart but this particular rise of temperature brought with it the realisation of both a final hopeful gambit on success and the knowledge of failure regardless. The bunker was emptier because of her, she could feel it in a way. Not that she had any confirmation on this exactly but the pure size of N's reincarnated crush had to amount to something of a kill count... Right?

Should i even be here still? The girl thought, alone in her room. These sorts of thoughts she detested, and so with no idea of exactly what to do Doll decided to simply distract herself. Continue with the quest she had neared the completion of over her week of seclusion, maybe even finish it so that Uzi would be less abrasive about the whole ordeal. Not like Uzi was ever not abrasive about anything, Doll thought.

So she turned around, quietly pushed her chair across the flat steel floor and began to set up to pass the time, all whilst outside something moved. That said something was Thad.

The green eyed drone waking up slowly, his sleep mode systems and function settings taking their sweet time to revert back to standard operation. Thad had a suspicion they were taking extra slow, probably something to do with the late night yesterday. The onslaught of activities that stemmed from the revelation that Emily's mom, who had been taking care of Thad and his siblings for the last week, had gotten blackout drunk and was no longer considered responsible enough to stay with. At least by the other older drone, Kelsey. Thus, he, his older sister Thera, Emily and Uzi.

Who they had made a detour to pit stop at her should be abandoned yet isn't house to collect, Thad remembering vividly the utter shock on her face as Yeva plus the three of them arrived on her doorstep. Emily practically falling asleep so much that Thera had ended up half carrying her back, which was somewhat of a hassle considering they were carrying a fair amount of stuff with them. Both Yeva's hands full with pillows to the point she had asked Thad to knock instead. Had all ended up at Yeva's house... Or well, almost all of them.

Uzi seemingly falling flat on the promise that she wouldn't deter from eventually turning up at the red eyed family's abode. As the girl had asked for at least a few minutes to pack, those which yeva had granted and herself departed for the heater warmed den of a household Thad would probably be spending the next day or two in. Then. Uzi simply hadn't shown up before Yeva fell asleep. Which had resulted in a very memorable interaction between him and her when he decided to go check on the girl.

After his systems had fully woken up Thad rolled over on the slightly to springy mattress, facing away from the matted aegean coloured hair of his older sister. Blinking to disperse more of his sleepiness as he did, then he checked the time and with a slight annoyance that was sprinkled with what could only be called. Of course it had to happen vibes. As Thad had just took note of the fact that, it was 8AM. Not that that particular time was of any concern usually, however for the green eyed drone as well as the other four younger drones in the house. School would be starting soon and that meant Thad would be required to wake the others from their scant length of rest and thrust them back into the day to day life they had. So that's what he did, quietly untangling himself from the sheets as he went to poke his sister awake and dooming her to the task of a normal day in the bunker.

Chapter Text

She was met with no one, the door to her room sliding closed on its own and leaving Doll to the practically empty of worker drones room. Asides her mother who was asleep for once as she laid out flat on the couch, Doll had many thoughts about the couch but none of them she had the particular need to vocalise. Instead she moved for the kitchen, her hands swiftly raiding the highest cupboard for a battery snack only to discover they were out. The last one having been pilfered by Uzi according to the note that she only just noticed on the kitchen bench, a small well written apology penned onto a sticky note that had been hastily slapped onto the desk and was thus, half unstuck and folded oddly. Doll frowned at the paper, a faux attempt at making it materialize more of the snacks. While she was glad they had all apparently left the premises and returned to her the freedom of slight travel, Doll still would of rather they had not raided her supply of snacks and left her with even less to do.

That revelation that her search for something to occupy herself had come to a swift end was not the best of news to Doll, the girl now checking the rest of the cupboards for anything and only finding a notepad, a ton of bowls and plates of which she left completely alone. A pair of thermostats had been in one of the cupboards, Doll didn't even bother with the draws because she knew they were still full of human culinary devices that still had not been removed. Sometimes they ended up getting washed, or well, Doll never saw them dirty but then again she wasn't looking at them that often. She looked up after ducking her head to check the last of the cupboards, her eyes trailing around the room. Taking in the small duo of bookshelves near the dinning table as well as the door into her parents bedroom and its neighbour door, which lead into the oft unused games room. Basketball was only fun when you had someone to play with after all Doll mused to herself, bringing forefront her reasoning for avoiding the room. Yeva snored softly yet somehow managed to still make the noise cross the room, the sound causing her daughter to gaze towards her with a soft smile for just a second. A fleeting instant where one could see Doll not have a resting face which made others hesitant to approach. Yeva snored again and Doll slunk across the lounge room and over to the bookshelves in the next minute, her footfalls soft and softened further by her onesie as she scanned the rather chocked book retaining construct.

"An Idiots Guide On How To Restore The Elden Ring", she skimmed past that one despite its attractive appearance. Next on the shelf was "MEGADEATH, the book", along with all four parts to "History of the Starless Age". She had already learnt most of that history in class as it was practically common knowledge that at some point in the past humanity had simply forgotten about Copper 9, or at least to what Doll could remember it had went like that. She kept looking across the shelf, a finger sliding down the bulky spine of "JCJ Drone Manual Version 6, now with information on Training Chews" before running it over to the face of "Woodwork, Archery And 1000 Other Hobbies". Stopping to take a look up towards the topmost shelf. There rested a scrapbook, its cover was marked with the traits of a well lived book as the spine was marred as to show its age and how often it had been opened. It sat alone, in a way, Doll could see that it hadn't been set up like that as the book gave a sense of longing. Like a model with no painter, a photo without its photographer. Doll sighed and turned away from the scrapbook. The camera that went with the book now sitting with the book in her mind, shaded by the soft ceiling lights as it listened to the mirthful discussion of to people who had long changed. Shame it could only record a moment and not a forever. Had, had only recorded moments Doll corrected her thoughts before she frowned at herself and moved back from the shelf. Bumping into the empty dinning table as she did, the girl quickly checked to see if she had disturbed her mother. She hadn't moved an inch nor reacted to the noise in any way at all, which was a good thing. Doll would rather let Yeva finally get some semblance of rest over keeping her up for no reason.

Fortunately for Doll, the four drones who had so unceremoniously invaded her house and kept Yeva up were already out the door and far along their trek to the school district of the colony. Thad and Uzi talking between themselves as they took the lead while Thera and Emily trailed a little further behind, mostly because Emily had taken half an hour to get out of bed even when pestered by the others. Which wasn't good but then again, they were all already late when they left and as a result Uzi had decided to vocalize her many opinions on school as the group speed walked there. None of them were awake enough to full on run except Uzi, who wasn't willing to do such activity despite the fact it left her close enough to the others for them to try to socialize with her.

"Ok look, I was running off my timer, when everything had to be done. And it all worked, I just forgot that its a longer walk.". Thad countered Uzi's comment on them being late as the group passing by a slightly melted spot in the metal walls, no doubt something left behind from the murder drone raid. None of them seemed to pay it any heed asides Emily.

"Yah uh, still we shouldn't even have to go cause Teacher always shows up half an hour late.". Uzi countered back as they turned a corner and entered a more populated part of the colony. The walls next to each door here were marked with name tags of each residence, each one different then the last. The tags had the names of everyone that was supposed to live in said building and were made out of various things, whether that be cardboard nailed to the wall and spray painted with a trio of names or a well engraved metal plate held hanging by a short chain over some older worker veterans home was up to the owner of said house. The decorations brought a noticeable amount of visual warmth to the otherwise barren halls, maybe it was because here you could tell that someone existed. The floor here was warmer in a way as well, or really it was more worn by the foot traffic of the populace but that still at least to Thad, sent the message that this place wasn't empty.

"That was one time, he's usually early." Thad remarked, the group making their way down the street like hallway and passing an extra set of doors.

"Mmhmm, he is." Thera added on with her lighter toned voice from behind them, looking up from her phone as to make sure she was heard. The device glowing faintly in her hand as she went back to tapping at it, a star keychain making a jangling noise as it hung from her phone. Uzi shot a look of annoyance back at Thera before commenting, Thad raising one eye slightly in concern as Uzi seemed to get more annoyed.

"Whatever, now we're just late and going to get told off. Epic start of the school day dont'cha think.". Uzi verbally shot at the group.

Thera just looked up at Uzi, green eyes meeting purple as they turned a corner into yet another populated street and she rationally announced to the group.

"... Teacher isn't there yet... And before you ask, Lizzy told me just now.".

"Why do you even have that blonde asshole in your contacts?". Uzi asked sharply and without any regard to the fact she was next to said blonde asshole's ex blonde jock partner, Thad moving to the side a bit as Thera sped up to walk with him. The blonde younger sibling having to walk between the two as they argued, submitting to this fate Thad just frowned slightly and dealt with it. Thera meanwhile held her phone out to the side and shrugged, seemingly agreeing to the purple haired drones statement.

"It might prove useful, if I need to banter through Lizzy for an extension. Things of that calibre.". Thera said, putting her phone back into her deep blue puffer jacket's pocket while Uzi went silent. The centre of it inscribed by a white circle surrounding a mountain, the same mountain logo being found on a her boots along with Emily's shirt and a fair amount of other clothes throughout the bunker society. The aforementioned worker having barely heard that as she had to scramble back to the group to hear them as she got snatched up by a conversation with a older drone. The conversation was pretty simple to Emily, just a good morning and greetings exchange along with the other normal topics that briefly surfaced around her. How's Sarah going? Which family is going to be the next to get a last name? Along with a few others but then these conversations always left her behind the group and they had evidently not waited for her.

"I- Im back." Emily announced as she sidled to Uzi's left, both of the green eyed Vitrum kids giving her a small wave while Uzi mumbled out a greeting and the group continued onwards through the last few hallways that were parts of this block. They eventually emerged into the familiar sight of the school zone halls just across a four way intersection, Thera taking the lead across while various other students chatted to each other around the place. The outer halls of the only school in the bunker connecting seamlessly to one part of residential sections and only divided by the specially made signs, all of which were bright orange metal rectangles attached to the roof by a pair of metal bars and a hefty dealing of screws. The group passed a large campus map that was bolted to the wall and a few small groups of chatting drones within the well lit hallways. Greetings and short snips of conversation enthralled the group as they, led by Thad and Thera, made their way through the school halls. White strip lights keeping the halls brighter as the occasional line security camera watched the barely populated innards of the bunker, some said this was practically the most alive part of the place but as it seemed just as average as outer halls or the exit doors.

"Yeah.. sorry about getting distracted earlier, but wha, what were you guys talking about?". Thera and Thad turned their heads to look at Emily as she spoke up from behind the pair. Uzi trailing behind Emily with a simmering dislike for her situation emanating from her, persistent to those who noticed like distasteful music.

"Nothing much, Ems". Thad answered shortly, letting his older sister reply as well.

"Mmhmm, Uzi finally ma- made a good point". Thera stuttered then quieted herself quickly after seeing Uzi give her a certified death glare. Emily however, having not seen Uzi's glare somehow managed to offset it with a warm smile as the girl held onto her backpack straps. Thera blinking twice and returning to looking forward as Thad glanced at her in concern and moved to the side so Emily could walk with them equally again. Uzi didn't even bother taking the extra space offered silently to her as well, preferring the back of the group and the fact that they had finally found their lockers. The bonus was that the barely lit hallway was practically empty, Braidon, Sam, Darren and Trevor all talking between themselves at the other end of it. All this meaning that there wouldn't be the whole school breathing down her neck as she tried to remember where her locker was, just to play along with the idea of going to school again. Uzi stopped walking as the other three went to their places across the walls, her mind wandering through the bramble bushes that was its perception of school. Education was fine, she in fact enjoyed knowing things and learning more but to her the environment here had always been more of a push away thing then something to embrace. Partly because of all the normal suspects, no parents, no friends, no social skills. These are the core of every protagonist in the animes she watched and she felt she matched them perfectly, mostly... Maybe. Uzi shook her head and scanned the room for her locker, if it even was still hers. Heard the pair of conversations that were happening in the hall along with the general bustle of the near empty school.

After a minute she found her locker, the small number plate still exactly where it was the last time she had saw it and it's metal surface just as plain as always. Minus a small marker made scrawl of some incorrectly spelt obscenity and a old tacked on poster for an event that had already passed. Uzi grabbed the small handle and tried to open the bland and frankly dented locker only for it to refuse.

"Fucking.". Uzi frowned as she tried again with no success, then plundered her rather empty backpack, ignored the sweet smell that came from it and still came up empty. No key in sight.

"Hell.". The word ran down the hallway, getting away from her quicker then she expected as the locker held strong against a second and third attempt of opening it. Uzi setting into a foul, fouler mood.

"Uzi, you right?". The purple haired girl whipped around to see who had said that, her visor showing a anger mark that disappeared when Thad appeared in her vision and made his way towards her. Least he was now alone as it seemed that Emily and Thera had split off to different parts of the school district, the less drones to deal with the better Uzi thought before realising that she was supposed to reply to him instead of staring.

"Uhuhuhhh, totally not.". She snarked at him before turning around and plunging her hand back into her bat winged backpack, avoiding the central part of it and instead looking in its smaller compartments. Annoyed that somehow Yeva had managed to convince her into bringing this thing along with her for the supposed sleepover that had turned into a death march to the citadel of unwelcome education and she was vaguely disinterested in anything but not being here. especially conversation, talking be damned when one could project such an amount of edge you'd have to be careful not to cut yourself on it if you got to close to her.

"oh, well. Why? i know you don't usually come to school but not why you don't. Your not just stalling going to class... are you?". Thad gave her a look of slight concern as he replied, green eyes slightly worried but also trying to find some sort of understanding.

"No, no... Yeah your completely right im not going to class.". Uzi huffed back as she abandoned the locker after a last attempt on it. Her hands wringing together behind her back as the lights flickered. Clean but empty hallway looking rather lonely besides her and this stupendously more popular then her drone, Uzi had to wonder if this was all a dream, nightmare, some amalgam of the two. The now surprised green eyed drone in front of her, Uzi's mind corrected as Thad sighed before trying to reason with her.

"Uzi, come on, I'm sure the teacher and class wont throw you out the door when you get there.". Uzi rolled her eyes at that excuse before countering it effortlessly, a confidence that was only gained by feigning having no reason to care gracing her.

"Lizzy would, plus I don't even know half the losers here anymore. Or ever did but that just makes your case worse. Liztard only doesn't because she doesn't want to get her hands dirty.". Uzi took a step back to turn away, her beanie's puffball bouncing once and ruining any attempt at being edgy. Thad almost cracked a smile at it, someone so demeaning of others and so outcasted from the society at large adorned with a cute, what no, a stylish beanie that stood out more then her height. The green eyed drone snickered a little at her remark, causing her to scowl at him.

"... Ok fine yeah but... Don't talk shit about my, ex. Girlfriend... even if you are kinda right.". Thad grinned sheepishly, almost turning around expecting to see the furious pink eyes of the gossip monster herself. Of course their was no one in the hall, it only being populated by the buzzing lights and array of lockers.

"Bite me, i can sa-... wait did you just, say i was right?". Uzi raised one eyebrow quizzically at the taller drone as she stalled from leaving, Thad chuckling softly before nodding his head.

"Yeah, ill admit she doesn't like you.". Thad agreed, still holding onto the binder he had gotten from his locker earlier and displaying its rather bland surface. Only a small name tag sticker and the shiny ring barer mechanism giving its blue surface any life, Uzi couldn't help but get both the desire to scoff and to help him cover it with a little more detail. A sticker or two would do wonders, green and purple went well together. Uzi frowned harder as she scared the thought away and instead smirking at his confession. Rubbing it in immediately, her mind running quickly through a few things she had watched ages back while she spoke.

"Yeah, surprised you even like her, or anyone likes her at that manner...". The purple eyed drone then fake coughed before pointing her thumb back and beginning to sidle off and continuing to talk.

"That was a grrrreat, chat but i. I gotta go, left the tap on at home.". Thad saw straight through her very blatant lie but just played along with her. He was already almost half an hour late now and despite his better conscious he would still very much like to have enough school score to attend the prom at the end of the term, maybe he could pull the teachers ear enough to let her go to. Not like he could see the town outcast and fallen angel Uzi Doorman going unless it was a dire misfortune. Thad had a sudden feeling in his gut but he couldn't explain it not even to himself, so he instead waved a short goodbye to Uzi before spinning on his heel and speed walking to class. He was most definitely going to at least try to get her to come to school, participation in society be damned in his eyes this girl had consistently rubbed the wrong way with almost anyone and he wanted to know why. Or at least ask, properly.

He had to wonder why the hell they had gotten a project this early into the year, secondly wondered why Doll of all people had decided to hijack it like she did. He had to wonder what she was up to, he perished the thought that she had been eaten by the murder drones... That would be another person gone.

Doll had slunk back to her room, the rest of the house was free again but it still had nothing to offer her. No golden passage through time nor would she be willing to wake Yeva for a conversation on the twin grounds of Yeva not deserving of being woken from the rare instance of her sleeping. As well as Doll's small feeling of rather not conversing with her mother about what she had done, she could explain herself easily. Doll knew Yeva would believe her, probably even endorse her too but it would still be a more emotionally drawn time despite those reasons. The red eyed girl now closing her door behind her with a nonchalant wave of her hand, having to stop twice to get the damaged sensor to pick her up in the first place. Now back in her room and still cloaked within her onesie she had to wonder.

Should she play the rest of the game or try once more at putting pencil to paper about what was in her head, having heard something before her banishment about penning your thoughts to understand them better. Of course, she hadn't needed to do as such until recently but then again she doubted this idea had been tested against horrors that were at the moment unknowably out of her reach. Honestly she feared her hands wouldn't be able to transcribe what she had saw onto paper to a significant detail, claws, fangs and all the unwanted memories that burst forth just thinking about it. The cold, the morphed body of her already fallen foe, the steel upon steel scream as Yeva had been split ope- Doll caught herself almost hyperventilating as she stood centre of her room.

God what was she doing, Doll thought bitterly as she clenched her hands and slowed her breathing. The walls of her room told her she was safe, she had seen her mother alive not more then a minute ago and yet Doll found herself opening her door again and releasing a sigh she didn't know she had pent up when she saw her. Yeva still snoring atop the lounge as if nothing had happened, as if her daughter hadn't snuck out and almost gotten more parents. HAD, gotten more parents killed, had made more kids into orphans. She just needed some time, right... she remembered those words from her last time with her newest friend, her broken voice uttering them back within that stupid corridor.

Yeah they were, he had said it himself.

Chapter Text

"Doll, you know. Your really cool for one of my friends.". N said, Doll looking at the completely passive mass murderer before her as they sat in the snow outside her colony and surrounded by what could be thousands of dead bodies. She would have to lie to say the atmosphere wasn't entirely welcoming but N seemed fine with it and she had to keep and eye on their newly acquired prisoner.

"I, I am?". Doll tilted her head ever so slightly, a frosty wind playing with both her long and deep purple hair and N's lighter silver hear that was kept down by his odd headband. Of course the wind didn't do much to him, not even the chill seemed to have any effect. Doll sitting atop the damaged car she had once before tried to hide behind while her pending friend sat cross legged within the snow below her and holding a rock with a dumb smile carved into it.

"Yeah, I don't want to be mean to Rockster but he seems less, animate... is that the word? As you.", N interrupted himself by pondering to the aptly named Rockster and holding it out like a skull, Doll's red eyes curiously looking at this as she thought. He can't have a pet rock for real, can he, honestly that is a pretty good name for one though. She brought herself back to reality just as N looked up at her, questioning.

"Yes. Yes, N thats the word.". Doll assured him, her small waist tied pouch jangling slightly as she leant forward, placing her half gloved hands onto the still intact roof of the car and letting the cold seep into her fingers. A small smile formed on her lips as the girl stifled a yawn.

"Ok cool.". N grinned and held Rockster out away from him, Doll's eyes going wide in stunned disbelief for but a second as his tail started wagging while he wasn't looking at her. The girl covering her emotions up when he turned back around and tossed her the simple pet stone, both surprising her and giving her the opportunity she needed.

"...Here, you hold him for a bit.". N said happily as she caught Rockster with one hand and he clambered up to join her on the car roof. The vehicle letting out a small grinding of despair as he sat on it and looked over at Doll. The wind dying down outside as it slowly grew brighter between the limited amount of building they could see through the spire's maw, small ice-sickles growing down from the numerous hands and faces in the walls. Morbid beauty that couldn't really be appreciated for the weirdly commendable amount of effort put into it purely because of what it was.

"All good... Of course, I don't think Rockster would appreciate you saying that to him, poor baby.". Doll cooed to the stone as she held it close to her chest in mock support, like she was cradling a child. Her tease palpable in the air as she shoot N a smirk and went back to caring for the stone, soothing its many many burdens with calming words while N tried to hold back a small chuckle.

"Doll, Your?! Your not its actual mother.". N tried to protest but Doll just used that to her joke as well. The wind humming a soft song through the holes in the city, through the ruins of humanity something sung.

"Aww, Rockster. You want me as your mother don't you? I'll keep you safe, don't think the big happy N would ever hurt you. He would, never.". She caught her pause on that last word and felt instantly like she had pressed the wrong dialogue option in a game, N just tilted his head ever so slightly while still trying to keep a straight face. Had the word went right past him, or was he trying not to laugh at it all the same. She got her answer.

"I'd never... and Rockster can't answer you, he only talks to me.". N chirped smugly as he returned his face to a happier look. Briefly showing something that Doll couldn't quite decipher, the Russian girl's eyes softened just a tad in response as the wind passed to fill the silence. She had to at least say her mind, this was different. She shouldn't of said that the way she did, Doll's mind reasoned... But how, she did feel ok around him but he had also killed a fair few drones judging off by the spire alone. She was talking with a killer, why had she not avenged whichever poor family had lost someone to him yet. Doll didn't quite know yet, maybe she was just to tired from the nights activities to think straight... that excuse felt ill.

"Okay, you can keep him if you want. Rockster, but. I just wanted to. I don't know... Apologise for my earlier comment, that stall wasn't necessary. I shouldn't of said it that way.". Doll brought one hand to her lap as the other returned Rockster to N, who accepted the pet rock slowly and thanked her before he chewed on the rest of her words for a second. He frowned, sliding Rockster into one of his frost studded coat and putting one hand to his chin.

"You don't need to apologise for sa- saying th. The truth." N sighed and put both is hands in his lap, unconsciously mirroring Doll's action as he briefly looked back towards the pod. Said machine still surrounded by its nest of broken cars, dead bodies, snow and twisted metal beauty that somehow shone under the trickle of barely orange light that slunk its way into the spire. Doll was taken aback, slightly. The girl shooting N a puzzled look before replying halfheartedly. She knew he was a killer, but right now, right here he didn't show even a single bit of what it would take to kill.

"It's not, well. Ok...". Doll breathed out, the pair watching as a small amount of mist formed in the air.

"You don't feel like a killing machine, not right now. N. I may not know exactly what you've done in the past, whether you helped with this or sat to the side when you landed." Doll put one hand up to vaguely gesture towards the spire above them as she spoke, N staying silent to listen to her as he scrunched his hands on his coat's lower half.

"But, your not killing now. We were just talking about a pet rock and that is the furthest from murder i think we could ever be. I slipped up, said what was. Well... ok yes it was on my mind.". Doll admitted, causing N to lower his head slightly in response before speaking.

"Haha, but i... i did at one point... the proof is right here. I'm a monster compared to you, and you should ha- ve every right to believe I'd hurt you... despite what i say.". N weakly laughed, Doll could tell that it had been wretched up from his heart in an attempt to dampen what he had admitted. She, despite just meeting him, would not stand for this.

"I should, yes, but that doesn't make it right. Nor does it feel right to fear someone who risked their life for mine against people who they had known a lot longer.". Doll reasoned back, observing the walls N had mentioned while she spoke. Her voice dancing along the thin snowflakes laced throughout the air.

"You did so much for me, and I've only repaid it with this involuntary shunning... and saving your life to but that was, well it was more of a one way out...". Doll stopped herself before she said anything more damaging to her point, the girl turning to look sheepishly at N as he did the same thing. Had it been? Her mind showed her the scene again.

The once kind, awkward, sweet even murder drone now laid twitching upon the floor as the other pigtailed one fled from her crime and into the bunker. The now bare bunker with no defenders asides its probably unknown layout and a admittedly flimsy WDF, all of which would probably be considered legends if they stopped one of these killer angels. Not three. She had went over to him as he shook, leant down and quickly assessed that she wouldn't survive let alone help anyone if she tried alone. Couldn't reach the vent system, nor open the last door behind her. Yet could maybe, just maybe help him. They had talked, or, she had tried to reassure him as she pried off the vile virus stamp.

That thing had instantly earned itself a spot in her most hated objects, while Doll wasn't one against design for efficiency. She carried a crossbow with what was essentially drone innards attached to it for christ's sake, and that had only irked her a tiny bit when she had first realised what exactly her dad and Khan were playing with when they made the weapon. Secondly the weapon had been made with, as all weapons were. The express purpose of murder and she knew and planed to make use of that. All of that aside, there was a difference between something made out of a necessity to survive and whatever twisted mind had designed that wretched stamp. It smelt awful when it had popped off of N's bare chest, as it had burnt a small hole into him and looked like it had been melting further inward with every second. Doll had almost burnt herself when it flicked into the air and narrowly missed her face before clattering to the ground.

She had eagerly stomped the thing until it was nothing but a smear of hot plastic, metal and wire that stained the floor once she realised it had been made with prolonged suffering in mind. Then they had smiled at each other, N thanked her for saving his life and she had simply asked.

"Can you help me, with what i started?". Doll had looked so so relieved once he had nodded his head and helped her into and through the vents, the pair then rushing to where she knew everyone should be while they discussed what might happen once they got there. The scenes suddenly smearing and blurring as the wind, the outside wind, the a few hours later wind picked up. Bringing her back to the present within seconds since she left.

"I know.". N whispered, bringing her all the way back with his statement.

"What?". Doll tilted her head, her hair flicking slightly and her stomach filing with a million bad feelings as she mentally pieced together what N had meant. Just as he decided to explain it.

"You only saved me to get me to help save everyone else, i know that. You w- were about to say it as well. If you had a ladde-.. if you had a different way to do it all then you would of done it that way right?". N asked, his voice tinted with both acceptance and betrayal as the ice around them felt like it had moved ever so slightly closer.

"...Yes.". Doll admitted, shifting to slide off the side of the car and stand. Her boots crunching in contact with the snow.

"That was the material goal, but it. It didn't feel right to leave you there in pain either way. Im not a monster like your ex boss is for even using that chip in the first place.". Doll looked back at N as he stayed still on the car roof, their eyes met shortly before they both looked away from each other.

"She's not, that was just part of her job...". N reasoned back to Doll to cut off the growing silence, suddenly shifting topics from himself onto the only recently captured Serial Designation J.

"Part of her job is to... kill her teammates?". Doll patted down her cargo pants and watched as tiny flecks of snow and ice fell to the floor. Waiting for N to answer her question while also trying to think of ways to comfort the drone who had already managed to save her life at least once. That was more then almost anyone else she knew besides her parents... parent.

"Well, at that time I wasn't her teammate anymore. Or, had be- en, enough of a dissenter that she needed to replace me.". N finally answered her as he slinked down from the car roof. Heavy feet crunching the ice and snow he landed in as he pocketed Rockster once more and caught a whiff of a pleasant, cleaner smell through his sensors. Which were located on his tongue, thus making the disassembly drone occasionally taste the air when Doll wasn't looking like now.

"... Replace you? With what, a clone or another disassembly drone? What is even on this planet that they would want bad enough to build and express ship you guys to this backwater rock?". Doll turned towards the spire exit as she thought, voicing herself as N tilted himself to the side and looked at her. Taking a second to remember what she looked like before hesitantly walking up to stand next to the long purple haired worker who he had most definitely almost killed at least once. The drone who had seemed to uproot his entire reality within minutes of entering it, N didn't entirely know what to think of her. The freedom was nice, empty but nicer then the blunt chains, missing days and word mazes of his servitude.

"J probably didn't tell you any of that did she?". Doll pipped up again, turning to look up at N as the wind whistled through gaps in the spire's construction and rubble of the outside city.

"Haha no, your one hundred percent right.". N caught her gaze with his own but for a second before he looked away, something was different than usual here. Was it because he had been actually speaking with her, something about her being a worker and not a mass murder weapon. Let alone a failure of one like N was, the taller drone's small smile fading as that fact came back to him. That smell fluttering in his processors again.

"I'll get it out from her, eventually. Just know N that, I'm not going to let you get replaced now that i know you. Got to look over my, uhh.. Valiantly, beaten enemy, and you.". Doll clarified at the end as she watched his smile grow a tiny bit, one of her own dancing on her lips in response. She liked that, his smile. Somehow in a way Doll almost felt like she should try to make him smile more often. Maybe that was just to repay all he had done for her, she hadn't really told him how she felt about his help. All the drone's and families that were now still whole because of his and her actions, all those families she had endangered in the first place. She was too tired to give it proper thought.

"But, for now... You want to take a break? A little time just to recuperate." Doll asked quietly, low enough that the wind might be capable of stealing her voice, spraying that innocent tone across the lonesome snows and crippled monuments out here. It didn't however.

"Oh, yeah if you want to. I'm kind of, still a bit hungry so if you'd excuse me then...". N trailed off, looking at Doll before checking something behind her, not even a second later he had turned back to the girl. She frowned at him, confused.

"You don't have to wait for my permission.". Doll rolled one of her hands before gesturing towards where she knew one of the disassembly drone's spare supplies were located, surprisingly unbothered for the unintentional mention of cannibalism. N immediately departed with a small wave, leaving Doll alone as she yawned. The girl looking towards the aged car she had sat upon before and sighing to herself. God today had been a long one, well. Tonight had been one to remember was more to be exact, she mentally cringed at her past self. Showing a crossbow off at school and then almost fucking up your dad's prized possession in front of the whole class. Her face felt a little hot but also a tiny bit numb from the remembrance of that surefire humiliation, that sort of behaviour was to be expected from Uzi, not her... Until it wasn't. Doll paused in her trek for a second when she noted that Lizzy hadn't made fun of her for the whole thing either, she hadnt even known until this morning either.

"N... I'm going to sleep in the car, just thought id give you a heads up.". Doll declared back to him, quickly checking the pod to find that their prisoner had also fallen asleep on the probably quite cold floor. Doll briefly had a small thought, wouldn't it be nice to have some slight internal heating. Of course, not as bad to the point she had to commit cannibalism, but she wouldn't mind it. J splayed out on the floor with a heavy chain clamped around her neck while her black hat was held in one hand, Doll smirked when she heard the drone snore loudly. She was almost surprised J wasn't already trying to break out, to Doll the pigtailed girl seemed like the type to do that. To be dismayed at being the bottom of the pecking order like she was now.

Doll brushed her hair out of her face as she held her spot peering into the rather small pod from its exit hatch for one last second, eying the cupboard racks and the various helmets on them before closing the hatch and scrambling down the outside ladder. Her boots crunching against snow she had once whipped up in a frightful fight against the now finished eating drone she had almost killed and almost died to tonight. Doll was honestly a tiny bit surprised she had held up mentally to all this, maybe it was because she was to tired to feel exhilarated, something still stopped her from celebrating completely. Probably the slight buzz in her head.

"... Doll?". She turned towards the now a few feet away murder drone who had began speaking, his voice quizzical in nature.

"I, nevermind. i'll see you tomorrow". He huriedly said before flipping his sharp blade like wings out and flying up to the side of the spire's insides. Wrapping his tail around the top part and handing down from it in a vampire like display, his body hidden behind an array of worker rending wing blades that shone in the feint light. Doll blinked up at him, had he said something about V? She couldn't tell and was too tired to ask. He'd still be there in the morning when she could resolve or at least talk about those issues with a clear head... if he wanted to talk about them at all. The Russian then retreated to her impromptu sleeping quarters for the night... day? How had she managed to ruin her sleep cycle within barely three hours?

She yawned as she pulled open the somehow still functional front door, clambering into the back and slipping when she put a foot on the steering wheel and it shifted to the left. Doll dusting any frost off the leather back seats before laying down across them and slowly drifting to sleep as the sun rose further outside, guaranteeing at most that her disassembly drone captive wouldn't be able to leave. She, despite everything and her slight gospel of gathered whatever the robot equivalent of nerves were, had managed to drift off rather quickly. Her visor showing tiny tear like marks on the corner of her eyes as the girl woke up in her bed. The one in her house.

Not in the car.

Doll blinked at the same but different roof before reaching a hand up and nearly being able to touch it as she always could, puzzling at what had caused her to be here instead of out with the murder drones doing her self imposed duty. Thats right, she had fallen asleep an hour ago despite it being midday. Just as something to waste the time and lose a chance to deal with a problem by talking it out, although there was a hefty difference between talking about almost getting yourself killed to your mother and killing your new friends crush twice.

Chapter Text

Alright, forty five minutes on the clock starting in less then five extra minutes. Thad looked at his internal clock once again as he sat in history class. The teacher marking whatever sheets he had to at his front desk while the student body was left to their own devices and the objective work for this period. All of which Thad had done quickly as the green eyed jock hoped to be capable of leaving class for lunch instead of being held back. Around him were the rest of the tables and their occupants, all held up with their various time passing activities. Emily focused on her work while Sam slept through class as he was prone to, Jackal and Lizzy had claimed the back seats today and Zane had been moved up to the front. Last Thad had saw of his face the white eyed and black with tints of blue haired drone hadn't been to happy about it, Thad wasn't particularly close with him anyway. Trevor and Braiden were talking between themselves and probably swapping study notes in the chairs one row ahead of Thad while to his direct left would be Flower and then Thera, who had taken the seat on the wall.

Then the bell went, the teacher dismissing the class with a tired wave of his hand as the unfazed student body scrambled out of the class within the next minute and a half at most and either returning to the teacher, taking or leaving their work on the table. Thad having done the latter most option and headed for the door with Lizzy right behind him.

"Damn Thady, where you off to?". Thad had just left the room before Lizzy snarked that at him, although he could easily sense the lack of disdain in her voice that almost everyone else had to deal with. The rest of the drone's leaving asides for Thera and Emily, both of who stalled in the hall.

"Your going to hate me for this.". Thad started, Lizzy rolling her eyes at him as she sidled to the side as to let the rest of the students leave the classroom through the back door.

"Uzi's, I'm going to try and get her back into school, or at least check on her.". The green eyes jock said with confidence, both he and his sister watching as Lizzy thought over what she had just heard. The student chatter loudly rolling through the central halls of the school as the many drones here dispersed to either the unused rooms for break or back outside the school during their minutes of freedom.

"Bet, whatever... Go talk to purple freak and waste your lunch. I'd go with you but I used all this week's free roam passes and Uzi isn't worth me yacking off dad's audio receptors for another one.". Lizzy shrugged, the flicking one of her hands at them and walking off. The blonde girl looking slightly out of place without her usual clique of Doll, Flower and a few other girls that were part of her popular group. Not that Lizzy let that show as she disappeared into the ebb and flow of the thinning crowd and shot a small wave and smirk back at Thad. The green eyed drone turning around and being met with his sister opening her mouth to speak with a somewhat awkward expression on.

"So, good luck with Uzi i guess...". She paused before smirking, Thera's green eyes glinting off of her round glasses. Thad found it funny how he had managed to avoid the minor bad luck that Thera had got when she had been revealed to have an code error which caused text to become illegible without aid. Said aid being a decent sized pair of glasses that were really hard to replace due to how rare they were to find around, let alone find in any sort of wearable condition.

"You know im not coming with you, Myrah and I were going to talk since she's, you know, related to the doctor.". Thera shoot a look down the hall behind Thad as well as behind her before quickly giving him a small hug, Thad returned it silently if not with a smile of his own, glancing past his sister's jacket covered shoulder to see Emily and Zane together a little down the hall. The pair having sidled a tiny bit away until Thad saw them and both of the drones heeded to someone with more of a popularity then themselves.

"Oh dude, i thought you were also friends with her?". Thad asked half jokingly as Thera let go of him, the ever so slightly smaller drone responding as she tightened her bags straps.

"Yep, but we can multitask... Just go do your thing lil bro, before you use all your lunch time.". Thera poked his shoulder and attempted to sound cool as she urged him onto his self imposed quest, the girl whipping around and frowning at Zane and Emily as the former of the two stifled a snort. Final Girl hurriedly excusing him and herself as Thera also departed. Thad calling out a goodbye to his sister before trailing through the halls himself. Overhearing gossip and passing the occasional student or student filled break room, all of those rooms being empty classrooms that had went unused because of a lack of staffing. The jock briefly let that fact stew in his thoughts as he walked alone.

Of course there was going to be empty rooms, this place hadn't been close to full from the start and well. From what he heard between hushed whispers from the elderly or older population there wasn't exactly any planned population boom that would miraculously fill or bring life into this place, nor were there that many spare pill baby shells left to grant any drone in the bunker a way to reproduce. This sort of stuff he had heard many times when he eavesdropped on his parents talking with the current leader of the WDF, who also seemed to practically run the bunker in its entirety, and if he was to be honest to himself. It kind of, scared? Him. To think that not even within his or his probably possible children's life within this bunker, things would run scarce.

Thad continued his trek, still thinking silently as more of the almost same looking halls waved him on his way. Only decorated with the occasional corkboard nailed to the walls here and there, announcing events that had yet to come or already passed. One of the boards had an ages old paper with a missing drone notice on it unfortunately it was far to faded to figure out who, nor was Thad particularly interested in it due to how many times he had already passed it throughout the years.

"Hey Thad, you failing to sneak out? Or am i expected mark down one of your... passes, for this?". The green eyed drone stopped as his name was called out, returning to reality and looking towards the drone that had spoken. His green eyes meeting with their orange one as the other barely visible grey oval stayed entirely still, unfocused. Thad looked at the somewhat dishevelled drone, noting their torn jumper and misaligned WDF badge before he spoke.

"Second option Wren."

"...Thought so, you know the rules.". Wren stated in a bored tone, flicking some of their yellow hair away from their visor before glancing down at her phone. The girl leaning back onto the wall as Thad left quickly, picking up his pace as he realised lunch didn't exactly last forever. The next ten minutes spent fast tracking to where he remembered Uzi's house to be, as well as failing to shoot the girl a text because he didn't have her number nor any contacts of hers at all. Which was another slightly irritating thing, good thing he could just ask her now Thad thought as he rounded a corridor corner and arrived at the Doorman's residence. A brittle wooden plaque sat bolted to the wall above the standard house door and a long disregarded doormat was the only thing that graced the steel floor of the second residential section. Thad passing by a trio of pots with artificial plants left perfectly green within them, the drone briefly noting this as yet another confirmation he had found the right home as said signs of greenery were reserved for more important members of society. All that was left was to knock on the door, just a few more steps...

Uzi opened the door after being roused from her hastily cleaned kitchen by Thad knocking on her door, or really... Anyone besides Yeva coming to her house was a monumental occasion, someone actually cared enough to see her and wasn't just dragged out here to do what her own sorry mother couldn't. She quickly closed all of the draws and cupboards in the tiled kitchen before walking over to the door, side eying the trash can that was slightly to far into view to be ignorable while she moved. Her purple and pink socks sliding ever so slightly on the floor.

"... What do you want?". Uzi asked, a hint of confusion present in her jaded voice as she stood at the door.

"Hah, straight to the point. Ok then. What i want was to uhhh...". Thad trailed off, finally realising this was probably not going to be easy. That point gaining more evidence as Uzi scowled at him and folded her arms weakly.

"To pull me up for taking two hours to turn off my tap?". Thad grinned at her as she said that, their voices travelling up the empty halls. Everyone that lived in this sector was off at work, which was probably a good thing all considered.

"Well, no but yeah... You don't even tr-". Thad started, getting cut off by Uzi.

"Yeah, I don't try because I'm not interested... You know school ain't going to do shit.". Uzi hissed before pulling him into her house, the door slamming shut instantly and leaving him supposedly locked inside. Thad emitting a small grunt as this happened before being greeted by what could only be described as a pretty normal room. Kitchen bench looked clean, the white lights that shone down on it flickering was the only thing Thad could really pick on. There was a fridge, a large loungeroom area which was mostly bare steel floor asides from near the family sized black couch.

"Not if you don't give it a try.". Thad answered back, looking around at the house and instantly getting a HUD notification about dropping temperatures within the room. Not that his eyes had any evidence against that as he saw the collection of finger sized icicles that seemed to adorn every crevice of the house he had seen. The distant sound of the AC purring away behind a wall or two making Thad realise that this house was a bit bigger then he had thought.

"Oh and ahhmm, thanks for letting me in by the way. That was cool of you.". Thad added in a less confident tone, said emotion being bashed out of him by Uzi's flash of a death glare.

"I've given it plenty of tries, plus Yeva was going to unenroll me soon...". Uzi countered, vaguely rolling her hand at Thad as she slicked over to the couch and sat on its left arm. Observing Thad as he wandered over to one of the five bar stools for the white marble kitchen bench. The drone pulling it slightly towards Uzi and dismantling the small traces of frost that has weakly sealed it in place.

"And uh, no problem. I guess...". Thad turned around on the stool to look at her as she spoke, mostly confused as to what he was doing but he had a knack for successfully winging things. That fact granted him some level of reassurance. He also had questions piling up in his mind, mostly related to what the hell was going on in this house... It almost felt like a cool room in a way, minus the lack of displayed corpses that a regular butcher store apparently had. Thad hadn't really taken interest in that part of his lessons.

"So thats why your not going to be able to get me to go. Plus no one wants me there but that feeling is mutual.". Uzi continued, gazing at Thad in a way that made him slightly uncomfortable. Her eyes drilled into his for a split second before Thad looked away and the girl chuckled under her breath, the jock putting one hand into his pocket as he wondered to himself.

"Uhh huhh. There has to- wait Yeva unenrolled you?!". Thad interrupted himself once that part of what she had said clicked in his mind, what was it, a week ago when he had been dragged into parent teacher meetings without a parent. That wasn't exactly the nicest thing to happen to him by a long shot, thankfully his dad had managed to get to the meetings when he needed to but had to split sooner than expected. Busy day or something of the like was all he had managed to get out of him. He found his mind drawing up the thought that Uzi shouldn't even be in this home, if Thad was her he knew he'd be a permanent resident of Yeva's despite the vague missing vibe that home had going on. Least it was a vague one, here screamed abandoned building with just how haphazardly the few items within it had been scattered around.

"Yah huh...". Uzi clarified back at the jock who was still surprised he had even been allowed in. Thad was about to speak up before Uzi beat him to it.

"Now i have wayyyyyy to much free time, and thats where you come in.".

Chapter Text

"Where... I come in?". Thad asked the room, not necessarily speaking to Uzi but more so to himself, her and the no one else listening. A light here or there across the place flashing in their orders as he did this, Uzi scowling ever so slightly at him as she slid into a laying position on her couch. Looking up at the ceiling as if this was some therapist session.

"Yeah, you. Who else could i be referring to.".

Thad took a moment to think, what was she trying to do. He had somehow wandered into the polar opposite of what he was, or had been, trying to do and was now probably going to be offered or roped into something else. The fact he hadn't been kicked out yet was kind of baffling him, why would Uzi even want him around. Was she lonely?

"uhh. Ok true..." Thad answered, adjusting his hat.

"And, this would be the only reason you haven't kicked me out yet? Right?". He leaned forward on his stool, gamer lean style as if he had been doing this every day of his life. Which would of, and almost did surprise Uzi as she'd only seen Thad's username around on the Minecraft's 3050 Remaster servers the colony somehow had once or twice. Probably playing some creative with that rat Lizzy or something like that she had assumed. Uzi then shook her head and focused on the present again.

"Tsch, bite me.". She snarked and hid one of her hands from him, silently thanking the fact he hadn't sat on the couch with her.

"... So? im right then?". Thad answered hesitantly, earning himself a begrudgingly annoyed sounding acceptance from the emo drone who stayed on the couch. The room soft with the buzz of ceiling lights and the overworked temperature control, Thad feeling the chill on his legs as a half a minute passed and Uzi flicked on the TV before continuing.

"Hey that actually worked, nice... also Fine, yeah your right...". Uzi hesitated, taking a breath before ploughing forward. The TV on a news channel that was speaking about the recent casualties, a pair of drones that could be recognised as some of the WDF talking with a news host at the hostess's desk. The warm blue room shown to both the drones in Uzi's home just as they got to the conveniently timed subject matter of the weeks ago breach of the bunker came to light.

"This, what's stopping this from happening again?". Uzi waved the remote at the TV as she glanced over at Thad, who was obviously confused again. God he was kind of cute like that, Uzi tucked that thought away along with the promise that if she played her cards right she could have both revenge and a popular boyfriend.

Thad meanwhile, was stumped. Doll was out there with the murder drones, the doors were still there. There was no reason to panic, right?

"Doll, the doors...". There was reason to panic. Thad's mind whispered to him as he started looking at the situation realistically, there was probably no way Doll had survived out there for 2 weeks. Especially after seeing what the hell one murder drone could turn into, those things could easily break into the colony and worse was that damages to the warehouse roof were still present.

"Doll? She's not even out there lmao.". Uzi pipped up, turning her head as the TV speakers crackled out the death count after long last but Thad wasnt really listening to it as his mothers name came up.

"She's not? How could you know?".

"Easy, i saw her come back to fake mom's house the day after those murder drones got in. Since you know, oh fake mom has to pretend to look after me. So i was there.". Uzi waved her left hand in the air as her voice switched to a mockery of Yeva's, showing her true feelings about the Russian to Thad. Said other drone was reeling, puzzle pieces connecting in his head as he stood up from the barstool. He'd last seen Doll before he had left her with that thing, and judging by the news about that sector being cut off and the fact Yeva wasn't an absolute mess he had come to the conclusion that Doll had won and left for the outside. Honestly, that was a really optimistic thing for him to have hinged on. Just the thought of another of those worms within the bunker was enough to make him shiver, he didn't even know how that thing had appeared in the first place. Hell he had managed to ask Yeva about Doll while they had been out for the brief trip that was, she had told him she was still outside. Thad reached a conclusion.

One of them was lying.

"You got any proof then?". Thad quested, taking a step forward just to move himself. Stress evident on his face and visor as the jock's voice had raised.

"Bite me, Dolls room is locked.". Uzi countered, her own voice joining Thad's pitch as the girl shifted into a sitting position on the couch's armrest and left her feet to rest on the couch. Thad swore he saw something glint in her furthest arm but he didnt pay any notice to it.

"Yeah, what so that means she's just been hiding away this whole time?! WHat About N or th-?".

"Why did you give it a name?". Uzi interrupted him, shifting her hands as they held the couch's armrest. Both of them balling up as Thad dared to name a killer, one of those things that had taken her real family had the audacity to be named?

"Because he told me it." Thad shot back, a second later he was unsure of why he had defended someone who had clearly taken more lives then he could fathom. Uzi frowning at him as the jock paced slowly with both his hands holding tightly onto his jacket's side and pulling it, making him look like a horribly set up tent.

"HE? They have genders to now!?". Uzi bolted upright, Thad whipping around and instantly taking notice of the knife she had in her right hand. Both drones stared at each other, fury against the onset of concern as if two stormfronts had somehow collided. Thad could tell he had picked the worst thing to say as the purple drone advanced towards him with her head tilted to the side, Uzi could tell she had picked the worst thing to do as Thad backed towards the locked front door. Uzi rounded the couch before stopping.

"Tell me everything.". She snapped quietly, tension thread like as Thad halted with a concerned expression on his bright green eyes. He reached for his backpack as he took a breath, said inhalation hitching when his hand met with empty space and the crisp vision of all his stuff lying in his locker brought itself to the forefront of the drones head. With nothing else to do and no phone to call or message for an out, Thad did what any sane drone would do and began answering the emo girl's question.

"uhm, well we only met on- no twice. N and Doll stopped the other two murder drones from getting to the evacuation point.". Thad slowly began, noting that when he had said N's name Uzi had taken a step forward. Which was bad if he wanted to retain some level of physicality he assumed, that gut feeling from before was dead on the floor and if he didn't play his fragile half deck right he'd join it. The sudden pressure from her purple eyes on him made Thad uncomfortable but he pushed on.

"They kind of, won and managed to kill one of the murder drones...".

"... And the other one?". Uzi half shrugged as she asked this, voice a lot softer now as to coax an answer without needing to resort to violence. Probably cannibalism as well, but that was a box for later and certainly one that Thad wouldn't be privy to. Overall she wasn't exactly intent on turning the jock into a non fish fillet, for now.

Thad did a double take at her question, blinking before hastily giving her the information.

"Oh, that one. pigtailed one, they took her back with them... and kind of, put a hole in the ceiling while they were at it...". Thad remembered having to duck out of the way of one particularly nasty looking part of ceiling when the two had left, he didn't get to do much else before Lizzy had ushered him off to the nearest nurses office or hospital. Which was on her part a really good thing, the jock would not recommend bleeding out to anyone at all. Ok maybe to that one teacher that had made him redo that test after acing it purely out of suspicion he had cheated, maybe her.

"... Yeah, so that explains that then." Uzi mused to herself before leaning back on the back of the couch with a smile, Thad breathing a tiny sigh of relief as he felt less threatened. Though he was still reeling from the whole shift from weirdly welcoming conversation with society's outcast to knife threatened interrogation that did more then he would like to admit to his core despite not laying a single scratch to him physically.

"Then, Why'd she come back the next day? If Doll had left to coral those animals then why would she be back here...". Uzi continued, bringing the knife up to her face and seemingly examining it briefly before side eyeing Thad.

"Don't suppose you know anything about that? Hmm.".

Thad tightened his grip on his shirt as he looked at her and her knife, the question piercing the frigid air and almost pricking his face with its blade like and entirely correct accusation. He stayed still, words and emotions jumbling in his processors until the girl took a lazy step forward.

"No- uh yeah, yep. Uhmm, Lizzy kind of, tol- asked me, to meet them in the warehouse because she had left her-"

"Crossbow, of course she would." Uzi interrupted him. Thad rising to defend the bunkers now shady seeming saviour once more despite his ever growing concern.

"We- well N- The murder drone she had befriended got a, a i think it was a temperature warning and had to go. I think." He spoke up hesitantly, his thought process beginning to wonder if that had actually been what happened or if this was all some elaborate scheme by N. What would be the goal though? Eradicating the workers as it always seemed to be, something worse, peace even. Ridiculous, he didn't think anyone in the bunker would forgive nor forget what their black angelic oppressors had done to them for the last eighteen years. If it was to be eradication or some defiler of an holy war waged upon his kind then why hadn't they started already, there was still a hole in the ceiling and he knew the pair left had wings. All that could really stop them was dumb luck, Doll or another set of Doorman grit made bunker doors. The latter two weren't exactly in steady supply or to be trusted and luck was luck, nothing more needed to be said there. Thad paused his thoughts when he saw Uzi had also went quiet, only for as soon as he noticed this the girl to refocus on him again.

"So she came back for her crossbow with a- domesticated devil??? Then what because she didn't leave with- You think its still in the colony?" Uzi interrupted herself twice, her gaze intensifying as the girl spun the knife once and shifted her beanie. Her thoughts already spinning into her signature crackpot theorist paths. Doll better not of snuck a murder drone into the colony, she knew Doll was held up on dumb things such as social justice and morals but befriending a demon and then letting it hide inside here was an absurdly dumb move. By that alone Uzi discarded the thought, although the mental image that her fake mum was sleepy enough to sleep through her daughter bringing a whole murder drone into her apartment was amusing. Honestly the only thing Uzi could agree with her unwanted half sister was that the murder drones had to go and that if the adults weren't going to do it then they would have to, she regretted letting Doll do it off of a coin toss. Uzi had of killed the girl if she knew she was going to screw up this absurdly. Kill one and then let the other two go when she could of killed them as well? Clearly Doll had defuncts in some of her inherited code considering the absurd shot Molotov had been.

"Uh, maybe? Hope not though." Thad answered the emo drone's last question hastily, noticing a slight frost come from his mouth.

"Bite me-... hmm, uhm.". Uzi paced a few steps and marked her socks with the slight frosting that was on the dull floor before continuing, her features sharpened by the harsh white light from the ceiling.

"Wait, Doll looked like she had almost been baked when i saw her last. The day after your mum assumedly got got and the murder drones failed to eat us all... So much for dads doors.".

Thad's core skipped a beat at how casually she mentioned his mom, sure he had dealt with Lizzy doing something similar once or twice but she had permission to do as such. More accurately, he knew his ex didn't mean anything she said as a sincere insult unless she made it well known and clear that she wanted you to feel it as such. But, here, with someone who had also suffered the same thing and clearly didn't seem to care that much? Thad almost snapped at her before his eyes caught another glint off the shined to perfection knife the girl was still holding. It was definitely a safer option to hold his breath on that one.

"Sh- she did?" Thad quested, still on the fence as if to believe Uzi was telling the truth about Doll still being here but more then willing and certainly unable to deny the girl a chance to speak or explain herself.

"Half Yah huh, small burn's, lots of soot. I think, left that night anyway... So..." Uzi replied as she stood still now, not noticing as Thad took a few steps back towards the door. Halting as Uzi let that last word hang in the air. The jock blinking once before he was met with the sight of Uzi right in front of his face, standing on her tiptoes as the knife suddenly found feathery purchase against the back of his neck and the girl stared into his eyes with a feral energy. Any second his life could be rent an early end credits roll and he almost squeaked at the swiftness of her action until the knife pressed into his neck ever so slightly more, was that a fang within her smile?

"You have, anything else to say?".

Thad's visor displayed several sweat droplets as he internally tossed up his options, in the end choosing the only one that would probably grant him survival.

"There was uh... giant space worm crawler thing tha-".

"Space worm?!".

"... It was kinda, really big and something id rather forget but yeah, space worm.". Thad instinctively tried to back away from the vaguely threatening girl, only to be reminded of the knife in her hand as her right arm rested on his shoulder. Uzi smugly rolling her eyes at him as she snorted lightly, he swore he saw a hint of blush on her visor for a millisecond.

"I've been there lmao, but anyway. Space worm, you want to tell me what that is?". Uzi egged him on, the air conditioner still purring away from the other room and casting a feint oppressive buzz over them as it kicked into a higher gear automatically.

"Just. You know. Long metal monster strai- straight out of Kumazaki's blogs... please don't kill me.". Thad finally cracked and begged her, the jock somewhat surprised when the girl stifled a warm sounding chuckle and let the knife move away from his neck. Still standing close as she shook her head and looked up at him as far to many emotions passed across her visor.

"Bite me, I'm not killing you... probably.". Thad's sigh of relief died as soon as Uzi tacked on that last word, he wasn't even able to form any coherent comment on it before she had kept talking brashly. The girl catching onto a point he had mentioned.

"Wait Kumazaki!? As in.., the second, uhm... Kirby, director. I think. Shinya Kumazaki?". She asked incredulously, leaning back from him and settling back onto her heels as Thad blinked once. Dumbfounded by the turn of events as he sensed his good luck wink at him, if it could of that is. Thad nodded, not trusting himself to say anything that would end whatever the hell this random burst of luck, or fate, was. Instead giving Uzi the prime opportunity to keep talking, keeping her talking would probably be for the best Thad thought.

"How?". Uzi asked, instantly shattering Thad's hopes of staying silent for even a few seconds longer with the power of a single word. The question for him was if he was willing to spill a trusted secret or face whatever wrath his motherless captor had planned for him, survive or perish. The oh so simple question that plagued all life regardless of if it was genuine or a reimagined metal take, he instantly knew his answer and apologised to who he was about to rat out. A life for a secret was the worst deal he had ever been put into but then again, the secret was both ruby and dirt when one actually examined it.

Thad audibly gulped in preparation, taking a breath before speaking softly.

"...Lizzy...".

"Are you lying?".

"No, she's a huge fan of the series...". Thad sputtered out and backed a step off from Uzi, that which she actually let him do with no repercussions. The girl's arm on his shoulder sliding back down to her side and holding the knife softer then before as she frowned.

"No shot.". Uzi stated in disbelief, spinning the knife absentmindedly in her hand.

"Uh yeahh, there's no point in me lying about this.. Uzi.". The jock reasoned back to her, firmly siding with his will to live over the idea of keeping one of the blonde girls secrets any longer. He had already slandered her once in front of Uzi so what was a second time.

"...Bite me.". Snapped Uzi before she sighed, turning around and musing to herself on what to do now. One hand hand trying to weasel more secrets out of Thad was certainly appealing, especially if they were such reputation damaging ones for Lizzy or other popular ex classmates. The other hand was suggesting that she gets back on course about the space worm and what happened to it. Surely he wouldn't be as calm as he was before when a assumedly giant drone eating monster was rogue and loose upon them all, hell Uzi could feel herself bounce slightly at the promise of action.

Thad meanwhile had just checked the time, realising that he was going to be running late for the return to school if he didn't leave soon and that was being kind to his running skills. As much as he would like to test if he could make it, he assumed that his freedom was entirely upon Uzi's mental compass as of now. The door was probably unlocked since he hadn't seen her lock it, unless it automatically locked and he didn't hear it, did it even make a noise when it locked. Thad quickly answered that for the worst. Unless this door and his sisters room door were different somehow then neither of them made a noise to confirm themselves locking. So he went with the worse option and believed he was stuck in here till Uzi let him go, which was highly likely to be correct and testing if it was would seemingly get him killed according to that knife she had. Next action was to dwindle his time till escape, there was no reason to avoid spilling what he had seen of the worm drone to her. Honestly he should of told the WDF already about it but he had been so caught up in family matters that he never felt gain enough to speak up at all. Till now.

"Uhm, about the worm.". He began, piercing the silence and cold and exhaling a small mist as he did. Uzi instantly turned back around as her attention was instantly garnered. Thad then proceeded to speed ramble through his entire harrowing night and the piercingly staring girl made sure to grill him over the small details. She reacted with a thoughtful huff when Thad told her about the blue murder drone and weirdly he sweared he saw her visor glitch upon mentioning the ominous message burnt into the walls. If he had to admit to himself, it was nice to get this all off his chest. He even went overboard and dropped his only theory about it on her as well, that which she agreed wholeheartedly with him on before finally manning up and simply asking if he could go.

She said yes, of course on the condition that he didn't spill anything that had happened here and that they exchange phone numbers for later contact. That last part was a little baffling to him but he hastily accepted as visions of his grades dropping to a detention for lateness or one of the myriad of other ways to get in trouble. Being the first person onto Wren's watch list would not be a nice thing for his potential prom king candidacy, his mind wondered as Uzi surprisingly waved when he left quickly. Would Lizzy just try getting back together with him for the prom, or would he have to find someone else to go with... He had months so it was no big deal yet. Plus there was always the chance Uzi was right and Doll had left the murder drones roam free again and that they'd all storm in and end them all tomorrow.

He'd check with Yeva after school, and if Uzi was wrong he'd just hope and pray that Doll had some sort of control on the situation.

Chapter Text

With a almost soundless motion the door into their main classroom opened, half the students looking up from their work or other distracting objects to see a frankly tired Thad leaning one hand on the doorframe and catching his breath. Other hand used to shoot a finger gun at the orange eyed teacher and thoroughly annoy them with the action, the teachers daughter, Lizzy chose this moment to roll her eyes at the jock. Returning to trying to work on her schoolwork for once as the class task was one that would unknowingly to Thad since he had missed that proclamation make or break a student's chance to go to this year's prom. Of course being more then ten minutes late to that particular class of history and looking like he had just ran into the Grim Freezer didn't help his case of getting into the teachers apparent good graces. That fact itself only taken from the evident law that Lizzy had several good graces and all but a handful of them were reserved for her own reflection or ex boyfriend.

Thad slipped back into the class, took the papers on the teachers table when the older drone huffed and motioned for him to do so, then went to his seat and sat on it since that's what one does with the labelled and numbered seats. The jock instantly leaning over to his left once the teacher wasnt paying attention and asking in a half whisper what he was to do. Half whisper being the tone of which the class had currently after a very exciting day of tastelessly average educational activities and lunch breaks, which had run them surprisingly into the ground energy wise. Thad had ran through half the colony just to still be late because of being pulled up and lectured by Wrenflower, which was something of an annoyance to Thad. Thera seemed to be relatively fine, of course Thad knew that internal worries plagued his sister. Lizzy was for once doing her work for the prom at the slowly coming end of term and to not loose her spot as host to student council leader Penny or any of the ex graduates like Kelsey. Sam was nodding off like usual, Trevor doing his work with a half eaten pen and Jackal making an tower out of folded paper cubes. Again as usual.

Then Thad noticed the right back corner, because every student eventually laid eyes on it and paid all sorts of attention to the mythical place of all renowned refuge. Away from the teacher's gaze and the second exit at the left back corner of the room sat Emily and Zane, the average seating arrangement had blessed the pair with those contested seats at its start. The green eyed jock admiring the luck that one of the newcomers had managed to score such exalted thrones, despite Jackal's rare complaints. Or maybe because of them, Thad did once in a blue moon engage in the classroom social mess that was surrounding Lizzy's cousin but he wasn't anywhere tried of the trade enough to understand what particular conflict was between the newer pair. He was sure it was something at least, Zane usually left Jackal alone and Jackal usually tried to antagonise the other with little to no success.

For now Thad's attention was put to his papers and everything Uzi had said and done, mainly the almost execution but there were in fact other thoughts using his processor power. Such as events from last night, and the night five days ago when he was told just as soon as he was to go to bed that their oft late home father had ended up in the hospital. The drone equivalent to a human one, so there were a few differences. Mainly the blood drip feed machines of which Thad hadn't remembered the name of were now used for oil and the very nice to know fact that reattachment of limbs was a far more feasible goal then it was for humans. That last fact being something he hoped would work, just had to wait till the end of today to find out if they could or not fix Mackevilon's arm. The other option was rather, unwanted to think about so Thad lightly clenched his teeth and set to work reading the source material given. A report on an ancient film of their choice.

Meanwhile up in the oh so coveted back corner, Emily and Zane were talking between themselves as they scratched at the start of their assignments. The ceiling's air conditioner making them a tad cooler then they'd normally be even with the window next to them being blocked with meters of thick packed ice on the other side, apparently it had been some sort of swimming pool for the upper levels of the colony before the whole core collapse ruined that.

".. Emily, you made your choice yet, or you still thinking?". Zane half asked as he chewed on his finger despite his current position in class, and Emily asking him not to before. Apparently it wasn't befitting of anyone to do something so childish, especially in public. Zane did comply, but then again old habits die hard.

"N, no..". She replied to him curtly before flicking through the few questions on the pages attached via staple to the top corner of the sheets. Long answer form, twenty thousand words each and to be expected for the ending years of schooling like this class was in. Only due to rough age and being clocked with a high enough total year score to pass from the lower grades up, which was how Emily had found herself here. Studious, persistent and with a knack for finding oddball ways through a problem Emily day has been held back last year only because she wasn't old enough to move up to the final rank of schooling. Which had of course done a number to her already forgettable social standing, only thing that had recovered this standing to anything acceptable was Zane and her getting together and that still didn't exactly make either of them likeable to the masses. She was weird to them because she cared apparently to much about finishing highschool, Zane was weird because he was new and chewed his finger whenever thinking.

"Zane?!". Emily picked up on the white eyed and black mixed with blue haired drone doing exactly what she had just been thinking about, the girl huffing at him. Frowning weakly as he turned to her in concern, which morphed to realisation as soon as he did.

"Ehh? Oh.. oh, sorry...". He replied in a higher register voice as he removed the tip of his finger from his mouth, his voice being another thing Emily somehow liked about him. He could probably sing amazingly, if he wasn't just as abysmally shy as she was about singing.

"It's ok..". She trailed off, the general hubbub of the classroom masking her silence as the pair went back to their individual sheets. The girl stuck in thought as she almost always was, mind wondering to what she had heard on the news recently. Because every easily frightened eighteen year old should make sure to watch the news as it pumped out an alarming amount of disturbing reality checks after the colony's first real taste of fear in her entire life. The murder drones had broken in once and were repelled by a dysfunctional russian schoolmate of hers that had almost committed an act of terrorism without checks on the classroom earlier that day, and more then a few predictions of her either getting eaten or allowing the monsters back in on account of getting revenge were now circling the secluded bunker only interweb.

Body counts stacking up and the unaccountable nor expected damage to one of two mass grave chambers in the furthest parts of the colony had made it more difficult for the grieving families to process everything that had happened. Along with the few other damages around, scotch marks up one of the civilian area halls or house doors torn out of their doorway and the house rent of any serenity. She was just lucky she hadn't been anywhere near involved in it and her home was on the untouched second floor of the bunker, easily preventing it from finding any damages or raiding. Destiny seeming to skirt a wide path away from the WDF leader's daughter. As if to mark just how bland her life would be. But would it be better if she was involved in the present, would someone care if she was one of the names in those lists or if she had done anything but follow the procedures when push came to shove?

"Em-". She was brought back to the present by Zane leaning over from his desk and softly prodding the side of her face, Emily gaining a small smile at the contact as she batted him away and the thoughts disappeared.

"Du- what was that for?". She asked back, her voice light as he put one hand to his chin and pointed at her. Final Girl's core fluttering as Zane gave her a knowing look, her mind riding the familiar but chaotic track that was active whenever they got to spend time together especially with his more talkative side.

"You were pondering again...". He said, his concern obvious.

"..yeah, but I'm fine now.". She answered him, a little abashed to know she was so readable but also thankful for him noticing her. Especially when it directly countered exactly what she was thinking about when he had. Emily caught that thought before it could return fully, vice like mental grip focusing on the scourge and tearing it asunder with more rational arguments. Shredding the idea up in her head before refocusing on the sheet, quickly deciding on which of the possible movies to do the report on and looking around the classroom.

"..Sure?". Zane asked her, still vaguely concerned despite his demeanour having changed back to a more nonchalant one.

"Mhmm.".

"Cool, uh... You want to do the same option for the assignment, just for fun?". Zane flipped the conversation on its head and tapped his pencil onto the questions as if she didn't know where they were. Which she didn't, having accidentally skipped a page without realising it.

"..yeah... you mind doing uhh, Carrie then?". She mentioned the fourth option on the sheet and glanced back at Zane. His white eyes tracking down to the page and rereading it while Emily looked at his hair. Short and messy with the longest it got was neck length, bright light blue with flecks of onyx black sprinkled throughout. All topped by an old sharper design helmet that she had no recollection of existing within the bunker, for while the normal helmets were rounded his one had three horizontal triangular like ridges from the front to the back. Emily took in all his features again, savouring the idea that she had managed to progress her stagnant life enough to secure a partner let alone this interesting of one. A blue, black and white eyed guy from a far away land who had a lovely voice and was interested in her on day one then the rest of her cohort had been for years. He talked nicely, walked nicely and to her his morals were tight as well. What was not to love?

"On the topic of, Carrie.., You, uhmm. After we finish this. We'd have enough score to go to prom... Together, I don't mind if your not up for it but i think it could be fun...". Zane stayed focused on the page but Emily could easily see the blush on his visor, white hatch patterns underneath his hollow eyes that glowed bright. Emily blinked, readjusting her glasses and nodding at him despite her internal reservations against such activities.

"We can go...Together". Emily agreed instantly, pushing her distaste of larger social events to the side to indulge in going to prom with her boyfriend for the first time ever. Quieting herself to a whisper to add to what she had said.

"Till the absolute end.".

Chapter Text

The paper fitted nicely, easily even. Doll glanced at the device she had just opened, observing its bright blue plastic casing and almost cube like appearance while she grabbed her phone. Quickly connected it via the outdated Bluetooth method and then went and for a five-minute dive through her and Lizzy's messages to find what she was looking for, of course it had been a few images the blonde haired chick had sent her with zero context. Doll discovering the context was a request to make stickers of said images so Lizzy could assumedly decorate her stuff yet more cutesy addons, as almost everyone including her failed to do compared to her. With a couple more taps and a cat like blip that signalled that the small blue box, which was in fact a scavenged up thermal printer was ready and connected to her phone. Another tap later as a good minute of waiting and she had began business, if business could be counted as making Lizzy some kirby stickers as to pass the time. Fulfilling a promise to a friend as she did.

Doll went back to waiting, waiting for the stickers to finish and double checking the amount she had been asked to make. She had just enough paper left to make a little over fifteen and of course her friend had asked for exactly that amount, of which she was going to have to visit to collect them. Which would be fine, Lizzy visited often and Yeva trusted the cheerleader enough to give her the keycode into the building. That level of trust was impressive for her mother Doll thought as she switched through a couple of the other sticker designs and kept the printer on task. Five were already done and the other ten would be coming along quickly... Although, she didn't really have to make the exact amount, right?

Maybe someone else could have some?

Lizzy would have to be fine with a few less wouldn't she? Doll pondered on that question as a new idea came to mind along with a almost foreign feeling. A sudden surge in confidence maybe, she was yet unsure but it felt liberating at least. If it had of been an environment, she would of described it as sunny and warm but faintly windy like spring breezes that carry forward those beaten down by winters harshness. Thats it, she realised what it was as she printed the eleventh sticker and stopped the process. Had she finally grown tired enough of her stasis to want to put effort towards changing it, maybe.

Racking her now retained memory of the last time she had seen them, more accurately him but then again maybe a sticker would do J some good if not more than it would for N. She was tired of staying here, not that her house sucked but the sheer amount of nothing to do had gotten to the girl. Doll took a deep breath, told herself that this idea was silly and naive. Fix a friendship by giving them stickers and walking back to him intent to do her job and explain abandoning N just because she had felt scared, still felt scared. He may be the sweetest, goofiest drone she had met in a long while but that didn't counter the fact he was a murder drone and if he had survived this long he should have higher standards. Murder being the part that she automatically highlighted whenever thoughts of him first came to her mind, unscrambled visuals of her and him fighting together, sitting and talking that night after almost dying or almost dying for a second time. As much as that last memory was something she disliked Doll had to admit it still carried that same tint of silver freshness compared to the later days or the ones before she had met him.

That fight...

Her chest buzzed with a thrill whenever she remembered the swiftness of the warehouse brawl, still welcomely surprised at how competent she had been in that situation. Considering her abysmal fumble with trying to hunt a single murder drone had now turned to almost managing to take out two of the four drone death squad and befriend one. Three yellows and the elusive brutal blue one with only one yellow counting as a highly likely confirmed kill, Doll counted her supposed prisoners in her head before reevaluating what she knew on them. Just in case she saw them again, which was highly unlikely, Doll lied to herself. While V had been vaguely unremarkable in Doll's eyes asides for the pointed out connection N had with her and the nightmare giving and fear worthy reveal that the metal angels were really hard to properly put down. J and Rebecca meanwhile had been far more effective in their jobs and far more effective at almost making her join her father in the pages of a forgotten history book. That pair seemed to actually carry themselves in ways that proved them oddly worthy of the moniker of murder drone. Doll not liking the idea of getting on their hit list yet again, although J apparently wouldn't do much while the russian girl still held one of her valuables in hostage. Rebecca, well she seemed to be a loose cannon. One that needed to be put in check as the only active threat out of the three hopefully remaining killers.

That was what she was supposed to be doing, keeping them from taking more of the bunker's lives instead of holing up in her house after a swiftly disproven scare.

She stood up from her chair, phone still in her hand as she checked her internal clock. Almost the end of the school day, she could either leave now or wait till after dark. Leave? Where had this come from. Doll scrutinised herself as she scooped up the stickers she had made so far and deposited them inside one of her skirt's pockets. About to leave before realising she hadn't made the other ones for N and herself yet. But of what, crocodiles? Dogodile, wait no he liked dogs that's right. Doll instantly searched upon the outposts secluded interweb for whatever canine stickers she could find, as well as a crocodile one for herself and quickly printed them. Leaving her long time best friend Lizzy short four stickers.

Which should be fine, Doll mused to herself as her bout of positive energy helped her swiftly walk out of her room and over to the kitchen bench where she deposited Lizzy's kirby's. The girl heading for the cupboard again while she heard her mother stir from on the couch, the older woman yawning and revealing her fanged teeth to the world for but a second... If only Doll was looking she might of picked up on them, although there were other parts of her mothers more out there physical traits she had seen before. The old mess of purple hair strands on a brush, her wig apparently never got replaced like others had to due to wear and tear but still being the same length being the one outstanding example she could think of.

"... had a good sleep?". Doll questioned to the room as she prescribed herself to a futile raid upon the kitchen for snacks once more, despite having already deduced that there would be none. Probably, maybe she had not looked everywhere last time.

"Yeah, slept through my alarm... but, that doesn't matter.". Yeva mumbled back as she began to properly wake up, stretching both legs and settling into a normal sitting position among her piles of multicoloured blankets. The TV playing a recording of Copper-9 whale noises in the background.

"Tch, how..?". Doll questioned back, quickly rephrasing her question as she halfheartedly leant upon the kitchen counter, feeling caught by the starting conversation. There wasn't much she wanted to do around the house, games room had Uzi's mattress in it and she didn't really want to touch that at all.

"Aren't the alarms impossible to ignore, because of them being internal?".

"...Something is probably, wrong with mine then.". Yeva yawned again, dreariness in her eyes as she looked over to Doll and her features softened more then she had seen in weeks. To her, Yeva was always strung up about something, concerned over something, worried about anything at all. Her body wouldn't rest when she wanted to and it was pretty obvious when looking at her, sometimes there was a mother in there with all her care and quiet loving fire. Sometimes she looked almost empty inside, the lighthouse dead where it stood yet kept upright by duty. Yeva shone with no light, stood alone upon its weathered rock as inconsequential but ever present waves washed away all it was built on. Doll felt her chest plummet as her head gave her this visual, only for it to be snatched away as the lighthouse spoke.

"Doll, look...". Yeva sighed suddenly, her eyes blinked once before looking at the TV and she settled back into the couch a little. Doll could feel the rooms atmosphere change.

"... Yeah mom?". Doll slowly closed the cupboard and turned around, her hair flicking slightly. The air feeling colder despite the thermostat not changing from its warmer temperature.

"You've had fourteen days and...".

"I.. i know.". Doll admitted softly, a near empty snort expelling itself from her afterwards.

"I, I'm so so glad... Your safe but. What were you thinking going outside, to that spire?". Yeva asked finally, her voice hiding away the roiling emotions within, or more accurately they weren't quite capable of leaving her like this. The question had been asked. For Doll her time had ran it's course and now she'd have to answer, lift her hesitantly placed veil from her mother's eyes.

"Well... I, uhhm...". And just like that Doll had already been stumped, the positive energy in her dissipating a tad in the face of her tired mother's question. Someone she had clearly hurt with her sudden disappearance then almost death twice over within two days, worse was she had let the wound infect with the lack of care and clarity of the situation. She took a breath, thoughts racing as the room felt colder and the candles to her right flickered down to their last stretch of life. Casting heated shadows across the bench and its dim surface, snaking out from the light.

"It's, just...'. She started again, did she really have to explain why to her own mother she should know just as much as Doll did. Feel the answer in her core, like her daughter did. Right..? Furthermore why did it feel so crushing to even try, to speak the long overdue truth and not hide away again. She had lied before but those were small things without consequence worth noting. Not this, not almost dying. Not over this.

"Dad.". Doll almost whispered and moved from the kitchen, returning to the bookshelves from earlier with half hearted purpose. Standing on her tiptoes to gently take her fathers scrapbook before stilling as she felt its aged and loved weight, surface strong yet supple and its pages an antique brown done on purpose to achieve the visual effect Molotov had liked. Yeva blinked at her in surprise, tired red eyes meeting tired red eyes across the room and holding each other in place. One bound by knowledge and the other looking for answers from the question that plagued their heart, Doll turned her head away just so Yeva couldn't see the welling tear upon it.

"It was for dad. Revenge by you know... killing his killers, i lied to myself as much as i did to you.". Yeva listened to Doll, her body swept by an unnatural cold. Despite the oil, wire, metal and other unwanted things that she could list ran inside her Yeva was empty almost. Stunned by the thought, unmasked to a ever swaying serpent head and its intoxicating problem that she had been subject to for long enough that dates weren't remembered. The idea that Molotov had been gone for years was coin like in nature, two sides that both held revelations of their own and yet in this instant she was a beggar enough to have never seen currency before.

"He's st-..". Yeva cut herself off, instead pulled again by internal thoughts and repelled by the stench of the lie. She saw Doll look back at her, but it didn't click within her head that she did.

Revenge, her daughter had almost killed herself, had lead to the deaths of others over revenge and succeeded on putting down the yellow devil that which had removed not only her friends but her husband from the mortal plane. Yeva had failed once already at carrying out that task, yet her daughter had completed it with only a crossbow and her wits and without even alerting her of her attempt until it had almost backfired. She herself had tried but due circumstances she couldn't put the effort in to win, yet Doll had put revenge through the devil itself with almost flabbergasting help from another. While Doll had no doubt prepared for her adventure out, Yeva had slunk away from her duties to wallow in self pity to such a degree that she had forgotten to take care of her daughter and this had blossomed forth from her lack of care. What a pitiful accident.

"He's still?". Doll questioned back, her visor showing a trio of red question marks on it. Incredulous to the meaning of what Yeva had half spoke.

Those two words seemed to wrap themselves around Doll's processors, take root inside her head and worm confusion into her. What did Yeva mean by this, her father was long dead and was left only to memory or what came of his life. A legacy if one could so call it that and have the man live up to the word, which was highly unlikely for all she could remember him having done. Raised her for the few years he could, helped those he could, made mother happy, imparted his most cherished memories into the book she was holding. Molotov had done nothing special but also everything special and his legacy was only a book, a camera, the now long gone crossbow and a pair of broken drones. Doll scowled internally, she believed he could fix this if he was still here but he wasn't and she was left alone to plan revenge for something that had happened eighteen years ago. No guiding light, or maybe she was fool enough to ignore the care she had been given from her eternally tired mother.

"He is...n't, alive. Not anymore.". Yeva whispered just loud enough for Doll to hear her, unsure if she was convincing herself or her daughter. Delusions seeping away from her with every second like ice under the thermostat.

"I know he's not.". Doll raised her voice and took a few steps away from the bookshelf, one hand on her other arm while said other arm was on the scrapbook. Holding weakly her fathers legacy as if a slight wind would destabilise it beyond repair.

"...bu-". Yeva cut herself off again, looking away from Doll before tearing at herself mentally. He was gone, had been for ages but she just couldn't let go could she? She had gone to pitiful lengths to keep it that way, but now was time to confront the reality left behind by the dream in all its deserved fury. Truth was they were both hiding something.

"That's the reason i did this, Mom... did i not make that clear? At least Dad would of listened, or CarEd.". The effect was instant and Doll could tell, the rooms atmosphere shifting again, getting colder again as hearts were laid bare.

"I- Y, yes...Moliv, would of...".

Doll stared as the room seemed to almost blur at its edges and the heat made her sensors feel like they had destabilized with how it clawed uselessly at her. Neither of them had heard that nickname in eons, and its sudden reemergence just weighted heavier upon them from that. Images now dredged themselves up from the back of their memory.

Picnics outside under the ebbing stars of Copper-9's sky as she and him spun in circles and threw snow to the side as mother stayed beneath the umbrella at the table with a smile unseen for years since then. Molotov scaring the both of them when he excitedly exclaimed that he had done it, the three of them rushing into his room to find a small hologram of a spaceship sitting on his desk and hope shining in his eyes as he proclaimed that they were one step closer to walking on the moon. Yeva and him showing Doll the bunkbed that her and her older sister would sleep in, all decked out with enough lights to put the Milky way to shame as the pair quickly drowned Doll's pillbaby form in blankets and the three of them stayed on the bottom bunk for the night.

These memories shone so so blindingly bright, all because of Molotov, all because of her Dad. A name that brought to many things along with it for how bland it was to those who marked the caskets for the colony's dead, they had inscribed his full name on that empty casket, a name to go with the nobody inside.

"Yeah, sorry i, can't seem to focus.". Yeva curled into herself, bringing her legs to her chest and pulling a blanket up around her before beckoning the younger drone over to the couch. To which Doll silently followed, bringing herself and the book over to sit non the couch as a family member. The mother, the daughter and the farce documentation of whoever else was supposed to be here on a couch that once fitted more then four and now was only lived on by one. Doll having to step around the coffee table to get to her destination, of which she did without noise and perfectly despite the welling tears. Of course, she was too grown up to cry. Right?

"I, I'm sorry that just slipped out of me and i didn't mean it and your just-". Doll sputtered out before Yeva softly cut her off, voice commanding attention and silencing Doll without any effort.

"Distant... thats what i am, you don't have to apologise.".

"...That's... yeah, exactly what i was, going to say.". Doll admitted shyly, somehow both enjoying and feeling unwelcome sharing the blanket here and watching the blank screen of the television. It felt, nice, pleasantly warm even but she couldn't shake that impossible weight between the two drones after what had just been admitted. Both of them had definitely thought that that was the case, minds contemplating the idea of just saying the truth but that had always lead to the uncomfortable situation afterwards. At least they thought it had, but the feelings now were a lot less then expected.

"Tired?". Doll asked as if nothing had happened, aiming anything to escape the dreadful cloud of regret that hung above her.

"..Yes, sadly, but I've been sleep deprived for the last thirty years, i can stay another thirty minutes.". Yeva answered before pulling her blanket off so she could give half of its surface to her daughter, extending one hand towards Doll as she shifted to a cross legged position. Doll hesitantly took the blanket, laid it over herself and looked towards her mother with the tiniest of smiles. The pair sat, just there in the heat that felt warmer as the situation tempered down. Both stuck on what exactly to say that wouldn't make it worse as if there was a one sided rhythm being played by the other.

Until they broke it.

"I'm... Im sorry, ok. Lying to you was a bad idea and I shouldn't of left just to get peo, people killed during those two days. I.. alm- ost died, Just for D- dad, and he's not even here to say he's proud of me or anything.". Dolls words stumbled out of her as she deflated on the couch with Yeva

"I'm sorry, its just.., i shouldn't of left you alone as much as i did, and i would try so much harder if i could but its just... I can't. I can't let go of him. He's still right here, i swear I can hear him but i know its to good to be true.". Yeva finally cracked, admitted to herself as much as Doll.

They both jolted to look at each other after the joint confession, eyes meeting as they comprehended the other's problem. IT had been long overdue on both ends, they both knew that now in a flash of teary eyed connection. It wasn't entirely their own fault for the situations, this pebble of understanding tying the two to the revelations and each other. The pair both began to cry, slowly at first before they embraced each other on the couch with the last remnant of the man who had made this family into what it was besides them. Neither of them had moved on from him.

To Doll it was almost funny to look back on him now, Molotov was so far a distant memory that its almost like he hadn't existed. But he did, he was her father, the cyan eyed drone who picked her pill baby body up every morning and greeted her with sparkles in his eyes. He had raised her, cared for her and her mother with every fibre of his body. Worked himself to the bone to try and get them this new inside home and before she knew it they had moved in before everyone else had. He started the retrofitting of the crossbow, left it as a gift for her twentieth birthday that she had been ecstatic to receive. She remembered him exclaiming that they were going to go to the moon, the big one with that huge scar on it so they could skip rocks in low gravity. He had been the internal push for her action, hell he had even armed her for it with the crossbow and that stolen drone power core which had yet no explanation for how it had ended up here. At the same time she couldn't remember him perfectly, he wasn't mute but she couldn't remember how he sounded. Molotov had held her yet she couldn't recall how it had felt those early days of life with the budding full family instead of the shattered tired remaining ones.

To Yeva it was painfully constant to be reminded of him, or anything from the past she had tried so hard to keep intact yet broke more with every attempt. He had to be here, he was right here. She had married him in the midnight under two moons and thousands of stars, their wish being solidified in their hearts when the streak of fire that was another failing satellite graced the night as it plunged into the weakened atmosphere. She raised two kids and laughed more then her entire life beforehand with this drone, his silly antics and prised possessions made her fill with this long gone bubbly feeling whenever he mentioned them. They had bought their first house together, he had helped her adjust to this life and she had helped him with just as much. Every night they had slept in the same bed, Yeva could still remember the feeling of the whole family holed up on the couch and watching a move. Sometimes she swore she felt it again. His dream to go to the moon, she had taken him as high as she could but she knew deep down she had to have done better. Above the clouds was a pathetic shot from the goal and in his memory that was probably all she was, a miserable pile of secrets that was so far gone from any goal that to the community they had once held dear they had almost shrivelled up into obscurity.

"I.. am.". Yeva sobbed out as they continued the hug, holding each other like they haven't done since Molotov passed.

"I am proud, i do care... just, was to far with- in myself to show it.". Yeva admitted, feeling some internal weight depart from her chest as Doll spoke up. Her daughters weak voice bringing Yeva's attention back to the present as she continued to speak. Their words pouring out of her as she learnt over and rested on her mother's shoulder, a few digital tears making their way down her visor before disappearing into nothingness.

"I just wanted to, to avenge dad a- and maybe we cou- ld go outside again. Find Pin's b- body.. and see the sun again... It's so cramped in here, there's nothing to do but pass the time an, and wither away.". Yeva tensed at the mention of the other child, another reminder of everything she had failed to keep safe. Had she, really forgotten the first child or was this just the sensation another scar being peeled off? She couldn't decide before a second bombshell revelation hit her.

"And worse is I, Mom the crossbow was des, destroyed, it's gone. I ruined one of the last things we had of dad's just t, to.. bea-.". Doll stopped speaking, her body beginning to shake with sobs as her hair flowed down between them and onto the duck patterned blanket. Yeva shifting herself to hold the girl while resting one hand on her head just behind the red and black headband that kept her wig on, she had got that from a market sale the last time she had went out with Doll as a family.

The crossbow was gone? Molotov could just make another she just had to get up and ask him, right? Yeva mentally slapped herself away from that delusion as she cast a look back to their lonely dust covered master bedroom. Lock hiding secrets that shouldn't even be there, she was so glad Doll didn't seem to have a sense of curiosity towards it or else she feared it would of already been broken into ages back. Or, maybe her daughter just knew that some things were better left alone. Yeva certainly imparted that moral onto her with how distant she had been, but she couldn't help that she barely functioned at all with how destroyed her past had left her. Sleep away the dying light and let the lighthouse maiden leave the tower empty, Yeva blinked once as she thought back to that scene she had watched before she managed to fall asleep a week ago. Sometimes a lack of care was worse then outright damaging something she realised.

"I messEd up so bad, and almost ended up leaving you just like i did N, ruining everything i- in a stupid gamb-le to make it better. I TrIED to fix it all but no, I'm to scared to weak to untrustworthy to do it right and now we are back at square one. Lives under threat every second because of some absurd fucking fate. To leave u- us all to rot away down here!". Doll raised her voice before cutting out with a stressed whine and throwing her head back to look at the roof, resting it on the top of the couch. Yeva could see she looked spent, if the mother could of seen her own reflection then she would of noticed that they'd almost look one in the same. Both tired, empty, bored and damaged. Vessels to the malice the universe apparently had upon them and holding onto threads to try and keep the tapestry, if the family had a last name that to probably would of been dragged through the dirt as much as its owners.

She was stunned to learn her child had been baring this much on her without any help and for two whole weeks that she could of helped her If she had tried, or really if she had been mentally there enough to try. Yeva frowned at herself, that ever present excuse of being tired looking back at her. She could push through, this was more important then failing to fix herself yet again.

"Doll, your... putting to much on yourself.". Yeva started hesitantly, again unsure of if she was trying to give herself or her daughter this parcel of advice. It was probably best if the both of them had it spoken.

"As in, from what i know you manage to do a lot by yourself. But, for once i doubt it was just you, as amazing as you are, that managed to stop those two monsters in the warehouse all by yourself. You had N.". Doll didnt look at her mother as she kept speaking, instead choosing to forcefully exhale towards the ceiling. The only other sign of any confusion being the small audible blip of a trio of question marks appearing on Doll's visor, said marks having a vaguely different but automatically recognisable tone for each expression.

"Bu, but people died. My actions lead to deaths.". Doll reasoned, voice flat and almost jaded.

"Yes, there were.. causalities, but in the end there were also victories. You, managed to do something no one else in this colony has ever done.". Yeva stated earnestly, wishing she could of said something more reassuring but steeling herself to speaking the truth once more. Telling Doll that would of been trying to distort reality into something it wasn't and to her knowledge that usually ended up with negative consequences in the long run, she would know.

"Have multiple doors almost broken?". Doll asked in a melancholic fashion. Forgetting that the doors had only been temporarily damaged and even fully functioning again the next frightful night.

".. Well, Yes but i meant killing a murder drone. I saw it doll, you didn't just kill any random one. That, that was her... You did it.". Yeva held her daughter tighter and reached over for the scrapbook.

Chapter Text

Doll mentally backpedaled from the revelation, so much so that she shot up from her excessively laid back position and sat upright on the couch.

"I.. Did!?".

"I saw it.". Yeva confirmed with a sigh as she felt relief wash over her, the weight of knowing that who had ruined her happiest years of her life was now gone. Had been gone for the last two weeks almost, but telling her daughter sealed the deal and now whe world almost looked physically brighter to her. A small smile teasing her lips while she looked up at the roof for a second and reminisced, all that mental fog, all those restless nights now felt... worthwhile? She couldn't tell.

Doll meanwhile was stunned, her mind racing light speed as her reality reordered itself and all the puzzle pieces she had been bashing together in her head now slotted together in a completely different picture then what she had been expecting. Instead of her suspicion towards J or Rebecca of being the parent killer due to their capability to take their life controlling job seriously compared to the admittedly convincible N being correct. It had been V, the lazy self centred one who she had almost died to more then any of the others. It had been V, Doll took a second to recall that night when she had finally and unwittingly put the stake to the demon and exorcised it from the physical realm. The wash of heat from her revived from being incinerated by the destruction of her dad's one remaining work, if she had been of a clearer mind she would of spotted the ouroboros like irony to that situation. Right now however only one thing was clear on her mind, not only had she won but she had won twice technically and that showed on her face.

"Come on, Let it out, I'm here...". Yeva tried to comfort as she took to waiting patiently for the girl to do whatever she needed to, the mother somewhat misunderstanding the situation. A few seconds passed and Doll took a rushed breath, then another and before long she had calmed her nerves and

"Uh, well.". Doll mentally blanked, one hand finding itself resting atop the scrapbook and the other holding her mothers arm.

"I kind, of did already i think...". Doll stated, her quick burst of victorious euphoria quickly settled into a more manageable feeling of lightness. The girl quickly quelling her growing smile from becoming to wide and noticeable.

"Oh.. you sure?". Yeva questioned as she wholeheartedly listened to what Doll had to say and noted the smile. As much as she felt tiredness pulling her towards yet another restless attempt at sleep Yeva would have to lie to herself yet again to claim that she wasn't intrigued by the mini adventure her daughter had whisked off on. Disappearing in the night, almost dying to a murder drone, sacrificing herself to save her lacklustre performing mother, killing a murder drone and saving the colony all while befriending another and to finish it off she then reappeared at her doorstop the next night. There was probably a huge amount of detail she was missing to fill out the blanks between those events and it honestly felt like it could compare to her own older adventures. Hopefully not on second thought, those ones would of left the younger girl like her mother. Nearly alone and barely functioning. Of course she didn't say anything.

"Asides, from and almost being fried alive and the fact that Rebecca, the, the weird blue murder drone from the door bit... Again, sorry about that, almost dying in front of you and all.". Doll admitted to her mother, bringing one hand up to readjust her hairband while she did.

"Tch... I'm just glad your safe.". Yeva looked over at Doll again, reminiscing on that event and concluding to herself that this was the best thing she could want. Almost. She wondered what and how Doll had done to be almost melted but she guessed it was something to do with those laser blasters the murder drones had, she had seen them firsthand before enough to know they could in fact melt things.

"So... She, she was still in the colony the day after i left.". Doll admitted, an awkward emotion present on her visor as she watched Yeva double take on that knowledge.

"SHe WHAT?". Yeva sputtered out, a trio of exclamation marks appearing in the top left corner of her visor as her jaw almost dropped before righting itself. The mother frowning for a second before a now further abashed Doll could explain.

"Yeah... we forgot about her, assuming its because of me and N getting our heads scrambled by an EMP. Probably.".

"... i, I'm just surprised there was no mass murder after that. This, uhm whoever it was blue murder drone didn't do anything to the colony.". Yeva mentioned back with a slight hand motion towards the air, almost like a shrug. Knowing that if anything like that had happened then she very likely would of heard it from the kids Sarah had accidentally forced her into taking care of yesterday, and probably tonight as well.

Doll let go of a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding, glad that her few suspicions had been put to rest and almost disappointed that she had let something so dangerous slide by her notice. Then again, with the unholy thing that was the V worm had been defeated and Rebecca and N left the colony she had assumed it was safe in its entirety once more. Forgetting about the hole in the roof and having been way to almost dead and shocked to think about the possibilities of the more violent of the squad either staying in the bunker or sneaking in occasionally had been Doll's only way to get any sort of proper rest afterwards. Even if it had been more a lapse in judgement rather then a conscious decision on her part. Still, it felt weird to know that they could of came back at any stage but apparently didn't.

"I'm, yeah she really, Why didn't she?". Doll asked herself as she crossed her arms, not really expecting an answer at all until her mother gave one.

"... Outside somewhere, i-.. if she isn't in here.". Yeva concluded, yawning once as drowsiness returned to her again and interrupted her speech. Despite its growing pull she had decided that sleep could have her later, she'd rather be here and still had to be hospitable for the kids later. Maybe a nap would help with that, but then again that could turn into a full twenty four hours missed and leaving the front door unlocked was something she couldn't bring herself to do.

"With the other ones?".

"Mhm, N and J are the other two's names. Or.. Serial designations but those are used as names anyway.". Doll informed her mother as she passed the blanket back to her, the heat in the room from the air conditioner growing to make it uncomfortable to keep on.

"J's not exactly nice and N is well, you saw it.". Doll paused as she was caught with an vaguely familiar but unexpected feeling in her chest, warm but not temperature related. She shifted herself and put one leg over the other, reminiscing back to their last interactions once more. Flying together and trusting him somewhat absurdly not to drop her, talking to each other or that daring final face off against the V worm that had now taken new refuge in her nightmares. Rotating saws inside her halved head wizzing in the chill air as those infernal cameras watched her every move from any shadow within a her imagination, as infrequently active as it were.

"I might be missing parts, but he must of been at least nice to you considering how he piggybacked you out the roof.". Yeva dragged Doll's attention back to the real world.

"Mhmm.". Doll hummed back, internally looking back on the somewhat frightful ride that had been with a smile. Wind on her face as the chill night let them pass with no resistance and the pair had been closer to the stars then she could ever remember being, those specks of light shining down as they went. Glints of blues and whites upon the snow and ice until they landed with a rough crash and Doll went somehow stuck said landing perfectly and in an accidental pose Uzi would of called her a weeb for doing.

"He's.. nice.". Doll continued when Yeva stayed silent, the pair shifting so that Doll's head was on her mothers shoulder and Yeva held onto the scrapbook with the other hand. Comfortable silence as the pair processed everything they had said to each other beforehand, they had just... Fixed? Their relationship as mother and daughter. Restarted? Restored it? They didnt quite know but both felt infinitely better then they had before this.

"A little, sweet for what he is...". Yeva listened to her daughter talk about her murder drone companion, happy that she had found another friend but at the same time concerned for her safety with said friend. Not every parent deals with the idea that their daughter is technically a genocidal angel of death thats teammate had torn your husband and hundreds of others from the mortal plain.

"Looked like it.". Yeva replied, idly opening up Molotov's scrapbook only to close it again with a thud once she saw the first page. Unwilling to truly go any further down memory lane right now, just his neat but still unkempt signature in the bottom corner was another reminder of him.

"And, mom...". Doll paused, noting the scrapbook and Yeva's reaction to what was inside it as half visible memories of watching as Molotov put photos into the book. Doll's pill baby form held up by the comforting hands of her sister, the knee length red haired drone with her dad's cyan eyes who responded to the name Pin and was rarely in the home. Always somewhere else, to Doll's feint memory at least. She shoved them to the side before continuing softly, voice catching in her throat.

"Mhm?.. wait.". Yeva started. Thinking back to what she heard on the television and from Lizzy of all drones the day after Doll returned.

"What, did you mean by almost getting boiled alive?".

"uah.. that was, only reason that didnt happen was because N and Rebecca came and saved me. But... it was because i kind of, exploded dad's crossbow.". Doll said with a small incredulous chuckle.

"It... Oh, thats why...". Yeva connected the dots, remembering Doll's appearance when her daughter had returned to her one night later from when she left. That load of washing was, somewhat concerning afterwards she had to admit to herself.

"I was a little banged up when i came back here? Yea..".. Doll answered, taking a breath to cool her heating insides. Emotional toil less then before but still present.

"Turns out, Dad's crossbow went out in the same fire V did, V... she did this, she turned into a claw baring nightmare worm and Me, N, Thad and Rebecca somehow managed to kill it. And then, i came back here... and was, so relived to find out you were still alive even if i didn't say anything.". Yeva listened intently, instantly realising that Doll's little outside adventure was more perilous in outcomes then she had originally thought. Worse was that, she had had the chance to kill V properly herself and missed. Furthermore, because of her emotional stint and being incapable of seeing that V was still alive in some state she had endangered her daughter. Yeva's mind flashing back to her kneeling over V's corpse and being swamped by emotions, she was, right there. The mother just hummed to herself thoughtfully to signify she had heard Doll at all, the pair then sitting in comfortable silence.

"i think i need to go back out- side the bunker. To apologise.". Doll switched her language involuntarily as she glanced over to Yeva to check her face. Finding Yeva to be a little conflicted at that prospect and Doll almost cringed at herself for asking, for putting more pressure onto her mother after revealing almost everything and while she would love to stay it just felt so pointless to do so. Especially now that she had seen the wider world, growing up and getting a job in the colony would be all fine to her if it wasn't under near constant threat still and if she was ever allowed back inside properly. Doll looking back without fondness at how easily she cast it all away for N in the moment, for the colony. She corrected herself mentally.

"You sure..?". Yeva asked despite already knowing from the tone of her daughter's voice and the look in her eyes that she was sure, she'd have to let her go to heal properly. Yeva took a breath and looked towards the television as it sounded again with the dull calls of the now gone Copper-9 aquatic life, soothing her ever so slightly while she fought her heart down. While keeping Doll around would be amazing and would guarantee safety to her daughter, with the current position in society it would be akin to keeping her in limbo for the rest of her life or until the ban was lifted. If only she could ask Sarah to lift it and then her daughter could stay here.

She could, ask her a favour.

"I'm sure, mom.". Doll got up hesitantly as she answered, taking the scrapbook from Yeva's lap softly before returning it to the shelf while passing the now smaller candles and glancing towards opened kitchen cabinets on the way.

"...If, If you weren't banished, would you stay?". Yeva offered, voice almost choked as she watched Doll. Thankful to her daughter for everything while wishing for herself to keep her close, a classic parental conundrum that she had yet to face fully. Doll was stunned, placing the scrapbook back quickly and settling back onto her feet properly while she thought over it briefly.

"I. I don't think i would.".

"..Understood.".

"Mom, its just that.. fixing my situation here would take the whole council.. probably, if they'd even want to let me back in with all that i did.".

"They.. shouldn't of banished a child in the first place.".

"They shouldn't, but I'm twenty one.".

Yeva stalled as she counted the years and almost laughed at how she had let them slide past her like this, she almost argued against it. But no. Her little Doll was all grown up and she did it without Molotov or Pin to see her while she had played a blind eye that in retrospect almost disgusted her. Rather contempt to writhe in restless nightmares or stare at the wall for hours of which she was forbade from sleep then spend time with her own daughter. She stood slowly, blanket discarding itself like a shifting avalanche while she spoke. Pausing to silence a yawn that almost interrupted her.

"... Then how are you going to keep safe out there, and how would you leave here?". She watched her daughter while turning the television off as it had finished its last video, Yeva didn't stand for more then an extra two seconds before she was back on the couch and wiping her visor. The noise she made when she sat heavily catching Doll's attention from the kitchen where she was now and causing the girl to turn to look back at her mother.

"I have a vague id- mom?". Doll took a step forward before she figured out what was happening and frowning slightly in response, having always disliked when this happened. Internally annoyed that her mother couldn't choose better times to fall asleep on her. She knew she had sleeping problems but it still, this time it hurt to have to cut conversation short especially after such revelations. Sometimes Doll wondered what exactly had made her mother like this, why she hadn't tried fixing her sleep.

"He- Doll.. I'm...". Yeva yawned as her vision dulled slightly and the room felt warmer, driving her further to sleep as it always had. For once she wanted to turn the heat down, but almost wanted to leave it as is.

"Tired, just, I'll wait for when you get up. Ok.”.

"Okay..". Doll's mother muttered in a small voice, trying and somewhat failing to keep her attention on Doll as her systems lagged into sleep mode only for her to force them back to being awake.

"Love you, Doll.".

Chapter Text

"So then i said that i'd become prom queen, right. And guess what she said back?!". Thera huffed as she, her brother, Emily and Zane all walked through the last few halls before their destination. Thad, Thera and Emily going to Yeva's lonely home as that was where their stuff was while the fourth drone tagged along purely because he had nothing better to do.

"That its impossible?". Zane shot back with a smirk from the other side of Emily, his girlfriend for once exercising her implied higher social status due to heritage and ending up in the most converted spot within a walking group of teenagers. The middle. Thad trailing behind and minding his own business while the other three talked, or more exactly Thera talked and the other three listened.

"That she's going to win?". Thad guessed, knowing how his ex acted when any sort of important event was to happen.

"Tha, yeah that. Lizzy said that she'd win by a landslide.". Thera answered the pair, rounding a corner and sighting the door they were looking for. A small rubber arch doormat placed outside, its black surface blending easily with the monotonous metal flooring of the colony hallways but also standing out due to its lack of sheen. It had only been put out last week apparently, Yeva for once doing something that showed her as alive to the population here.

"Predictable, sh, she always acts like.. like that.". Emily chimed with a slight stutter, stowing her lack of energy to show later and expecting an energy crash before 8PM.

The group stepping up to it and being surprised when the door opened automatically for them.

"Uhm... ok.". Thera inspected the door from inside as the rest of them entered the house to see Yeva out cold on the couch and understanding why she had left the door open for them.

"That explains it...". Thera said, Thad looking plainly at her before they all dispersed to do after school activities. The Vitrum siblings heading for their mattresses while the other two moved over to the dining table and talked between themselves, Zane making sure to close and lock the door behind him.

Within the next minutes the house became lively but just as quiet as it always was, all seven drones within it keeping to themselves or quiet as to not disturb the lasting sleep of Yeva. Her body getting the rest it needed despite not being plugged in to recharge, Thera believing it to be a simple matter of Yeva falling asleep to fast to get to plug herself in. The extension lead still on the floor and resting just as untouched as the purple haired mother was, Thad managing to half copy them as he laid flat on his bed and kicked off his shoes. Thinking to himself.

Doll wasn't here, or really. He hadn't checked if she was here because he was to busy thinking. What if she wasn't here and he just tried to raid Doll's room without any sort of consent, his father's and his own morals colliding hard with that idea so he discarded it for the time being. Asking Yeva was something he could do later when she woke up, for now he just tried to quiet his thoughts on his rather dangerous classmate. Thad mentally noting that it seemed the most fearful for any reason out of his school cohort were all girls, Uzi taking the cake with Doll and Lizzy following up due to having connections. Doll obviously for taking out a murder drone and then helping kill something that looked way worse while and he could easily remember why Uzi was dangerous. Meanwhile Lizzy had most of the school around her finger and this allowed her to do some rather crazy things, Thad stoped himself as he thought over that. She could probably successfully pressure the WDF into reversing Doll's banishment if she tried, certainly that was better then anything Emily could do.

Thad's mind then wondering over to if it was worth him asking Lizzy to do that. Doll was a, friend. Or so he liked to believe, he wasn't quite sure. Then, in comparison of course he had no problem with N. N seemed like quite the upstanding guy compared to his comrades who were exactly who had managed to land themselves in at least one restless sleep fear based nightmare. That dead and undead one along with miss pigtails. Those two, in all their ground hosted skin and bladed contaminant glutton farce glory had been the ones who just wouldn't cease their hunting of him. Every shadow hiding an angel of fury, the thought of cutting regaled his mind with visions of sheathed claws, gods above was he really this paranoid?

"Your thinking, yeah?". Thera cut his thoughts off, sitting on the edge of her mattress and looking over at him as she reached into her bag. Somehow managing to already have her boots off as she sat on her knees as Thera always did, just like her mom. Yet another thing for Thad to think about.

"Yep... What else am I supposed to be doing.". Thad eyed her before replying, watching his younger sister grab out one of her schoolbooks. The boy looking back up at the roof.

"Studying, helping me with our class project. Sleeping, actually... Just having a minute to think about everything is a good enough idea.". She scowled over at Emily and Zane as the pair stood and whispered between themselves across the room, watching as the pair somehow ended up at the dining table.

"Mhm.".

"Yeah...". Thera stated before turning herself around softly, sitting her book down on the bed and beginning to read though it. The pair spending the next few minutes in silence, a silence that was broken with a small hiccup from across the room as Emily watched Zane begin to raid Yeva's bookshelf. Probably to the disdain of its owner, which would explain why he was doing it when she was asleep. The boy scanning the spines of several neatly stacked books before pulling out random green covered tome of which was rather, large. Six fingers in depth with its pages ever graced by the signs of age, browning over the years and easily signifying it had been around long before the collapse.

"Thirty forty five???". Emily leaned over the table ever, instinctively making sure she didn't crease or otherwise disturb the red and orange diamond patterned tablecloth spread wide across the table. Honestly she was somewhat surprised that this family had something so, elegant looking in their household which she had hastily judged from the over saturation of carpets in the lounge room. Having not expected the lavishness that was present to be well, present at all upon first glance. The now dim and dying candles and their plates moved to where she was now to set mood for some cryptic reading, that had probably been abandoned before they arrived. A scrapbook laid out but closed upon the table while Zane pilled a second and third book to rest together with the first as they sought to pass the time. Emily watching with some mix of intrigue and cautiousness. Wanting to not be caught doing something against the sleepovers host, Yeva.

"Wild isn't it, a book. Well, smaller book...". Zane started before being incapable of finding the right word to continue, waving the object in one hand as he pulled it from its place haphazardly laid atop the shelf. Zane having to move a chair over to do as such, which of course earned him a glare from Thera across the room.

"Notepad.". Emily chimed in.

"Yeah that, thank you.". Zane replied warmly.

"Heheh, no problem.". The pair went briefly back and forth with their niceties as Zane replaced the chair and countered Thera's glare with his own, freezing when he saw Yeva shift on the couch under her swamping of blankets. The both of their eyes hollowing out for a second before she showed no further signs of movement and Zane finished undoing what he had done with the chair.

"A notepad from thirty forty five, thats years ago.". Emily adjusted her glasses as Zane, assumedly without permission decided that a deep dive into whatever the pages of this pad contained was in order. Only to instantly be met with hunting records, distances traveled and occasional sketches of scenery which appeared past the seventh page. Which made Zane hum softly. His girlfriend slipping around the table to sit next to him to see what it was, common sense out the window now that knowledge was on the table. Literally and figuratively.

Reading the note out to him, Emily began speaking, Zane having well quite the knack for butchering pronouncing things he had just read and thus avoiding doing any reading out loud if he could.

"And with my fourteenth day of travel coming to its close, my owner and i had come across something rather suspicious within the woods we had traveled. Again we thought, as with yesterday it was simply a trick of the eyes but only time will tell. I hadn't seen it and my owner hadn't been sleeping properly for the last two days. Determined to catch the iron boar we had been trailing before it could cross over in to government restricted territories, this meant that what he had said was to be regarded lightly. I should probably try to garner him some rest.". Below the writing was a sketch of a couple trees in a clearing, the distant concrete and wire fencing of the supposed government restricted area done in as pencil hatches across the lined paper. The next page having something else on it.

A photograph, full colour of a rather clear night and well preserved in itself. Surprisingly to both of them it was of a time before the collapse as greenery mixed with the tint of pink across some of the fauna was present. Fir trees and short grass mixed with faded pink moss across the boulders looking out into the forest along the edge of some sort of nature track. Within the trees to the left, almost hidden behind a pair of large stones and a much closer to the camera was a direction sign. A pair of pink ovals seemed to be directed towards the camera as they hovered within the void. Vague formation of something humanoid in nature below them, illuminated in scraps from its scourging bright eyes. Below was more writing, that which Emily had to collect herself before reading. Zane shuffling his chair over to be touching hers as they huddled together. Unaware of Thera's concerned look upon the pair.

"Time told, I caught whatever it is with my camera as we were tracking the boar late into the night. And well, we found what was left of the boar, of course hunted in such a way in which disqualified everyone from the competition it was for. My owner still clutching the specific arrow we were supposed to mark it with using his crossbow as we stood in front of the torn open wound in the fencing we had been skirting. Government ended up putting a fine on the event manager and not us, we're going home before it can find us again but i know it will find me in my nightmares... I hope it is not the same for my owner.". Emily exhaled softly as she pushed herself closer to her boyfriend, knowing it wouldn't be wrong to be worried over this. Then she noticed the authors signature signed upon the bottom corner.

"Molotov Deleire, owned by Roche Linus Deleire.". Emily finished the page, glancing over at Zane just as he glanced back at her. White eyes meeting blue as the pair took in all that information in concern, Emily's eyes blinking as she saw behind Zane was Thera. Looking at the pair like she was a vaguely disappointed mother.

"And.. while that is all interesting, maybe snooping through Doll's dad's past isn't the coolest thing to do without permission. Hmm?". She chided the pair quietly, one hand in her pocket and on her hip while the other one was palm out. Waiting for them to return the aged blue and black covered notepad as if she owned it, which was very much false considering the signatures inside. Both Emily and Zane grimaced, the white eyed drone chuckling while Emily pulled at her cross necklace slightly.

"... Ok yeah, but it's interesting...". Zane tried to defend, failing when Emily crumbled and softly pulled the notepad from his grip with him letting her do it.

"Sorry...". Emily apologised needlessly, fiddling with the notepad as if internally deciding on handing it over.

"Better you saying that here then to Yeva.". The green eyed drone said as she flicked her hand impatiently. Irritating the pair ever so slightly despite her being right, it would be exceptionally rude to let their host know they had been snooping. Thera more of the opinion that they shouldn't of snooped in the first place rather then it only being a bad thing if they were caught like Zane seemed to think as if frowned at her.

".. Fine, here.". He pulled the notepad from Emily and handed it over to Thera, almost instantly he decided to open the more general books to take his time up. Considerately less invasive of him but not entirely so, Thera ignoring it while she returned the notepad to one of the shelves of behind them with no particular knowledge of where it had originated from upon them and then left the pair. A piece of the past back in its place and the two drones at the table quiet as mice.

"So...". Thad opened his eyes and closed off the game of go fish he had been playing on his visor, pausing the application as Thera spoke. The older of the pair wondering what exactly she wanted as the black to silvery blue haired drone sat down on the floor next to him again.

"Where's Uzi?". Thera asked plainly, taking out her phone and idly using it to communicate with her project partner.

"...She's at her house...". Thad answered back, stopping his mind from over clocking with thoughts about earlier. He really wanted to tell Thera about that whole situation but they already had more then enough on them between school, their crumbling home life, a dead parent and a still undecided funeral date. No need to add the knowledge over a psycho goth chick threatening to kill him to his sisters list of worries, not that it was much to worry about. Uzi wasn't going to do anything. Probably. He was going to short circuit if this was all a plan to get him to go out with her, his irrational processors piecing together a theory that led to them dating as the outcome before Thad shut that thought down.

"Mhm, you tried to get her to come back?". Thera pressed, gaze softening as she took another look at Thad's tired expression.

"She's stubborn.".

Chapter Text

Uzi slunk down the outer halls of the colony, breath baited and purple eyes piercing through the darkened places she visited. Alone asides the stains of the last drone she had met tonight strained along her left hand and the occasional robotic roach that scuttled across the floors. Uzi continued, a left, then a right. Loving how the air was now a muted chill temperature relatively similar to her home, telling her she was closer to her first destination as the clock struck midnight. Which was remarkably early for an outing like this, furthermore to consider she had already been out for ten minutes and was well satisfied with her catch so far. The girl having pocketed a rather expensive looking watch along the way to the long useless cryogenic chambers of the colony. Apparently where her fake moms real daughter had defeated a rather demented creature in combat before she wimped back to her home without a notice.

Uzi rounded another corner, hearing a feint voice from down a hall and passing one of the yellow painted circles on the wall. A small circle of yellow paint with a security camera notice in the centre, Uzi taking this as a warning that her trips out were going to get far more interesting in the coming weeks. Remembering back to her ransacking of one of the WDF's highest members home one fateful night, oh the sight of those papers was both a life saver and a swift execution to her happiness for that day. A mood that was swiftly rectified with her indulging in a exhilarating ransacking, Uzi loving the way the furniture in that office was so easy to break purely for the fun of it. Tables snapped with flicks of her wrists while mirrors shattered just under her gaze and the lights were swiftly turned to sputtering messes with a swipe of her outstretched palm. Purple light flickering to life as the office's white ceiling lights fell to the void and died. That member probably breaking down and rather confused when they returned to the room later with no records of what had happened.

She listened out for the fading voice, noting she could see that the walls here were bent and distorted. As if they had been liquid at one point, the girl taking a swift couple steps forward and poking around the corner to see a mess of collapsed ceiling strewed across the larger room floors of the chambers and a single worker taking photos of the scene. The walls closest to where he was standing having bulged outward like a pair of human lungs after taking a breath, distorted and blackened. Proving Thad right, something indeed had happened here. The vent monster having probably exploded considering all her information on the results here. Doll being burnt after returning from this place and the shape of the walls here being clear proof for Uzi as she stepped out into the clear. Having entered through a back entrance and noting the footsteps marred with oil trailing a couple paces past her back the way she came, using the back entrance as to avoid that stupid hanging sign that existed here. No particular reason otherwise, she just disliked it.

"Hey, doofus. I'm kinda lost, could you tell me where i am?". Uzi asked, hiding her expression as the red eyed and blue shoulder length haired worker turned to look at her. Almost jumping when she saw Uzi there, tired yellow amber eyes meeting energised purple ones as the WDF member nervously chuckled.

"Uhh, yeah. This is the cryogenic chamber.". She answered Uzi kindly, tilting her head in a way that Uzi felt like should be familiar and holding her camera a little closer to her chest. The drone wearing the standard WDF jumper, a pair of short shorts that hung limp due to being designed for humans instead and a pair of yellow boots. Something felt wrong here, as if standing among the ruins of this place wasn't off putting already by itself it felt like the air here was on tightly pulled strings. The worker looking up through the holes in the ceiling to the unoccupied floor of some apartment from the floor above as she thought to herself.

"Why are you so far out, lost I'm guessing?". The WDF worker said back to Uzi, Uzi reading her badge and discovering that this workers name was Pencil. She almost laughed at that but the sound was stole away before it became anything audible.

"Yeah... what's even happening here?". Uzi pried, staying where she was as Pencil smiled a little awkwardly before gesturing towards the piles of moved scrap with one hand.

"This, its a crime scene... I'm just taking a couple photos for evidence.". Pencil said nicely, Uzi noting her voice had a cadence to it that somehow hit something inside her that she quickly ignored. She was looking for information, not feels.

"I can walk you home if you need it.". Pencil offered her, taking a hesitant step forward between the rubble here. Uzi grumbled to herself and put her hand up to her face, unable to speak a word as she flicked away a. Tear...That wasn't right, she wasn't this flimsy she wasn't this desperate for them to come back.

"I... Bite me.". Uzi tried to retort, her voice straining from some emotion inside her a tiny bit as she stared at the floor. This all felt like something older, more natural and motherly then it really was.

Pencil tilted her head at what she heard, a small flash of recognition leaving her to speak. Guessing with a feathery voice. She knew that saying she knew that voice and eyes, this was someone left behind by a friend from a while back.

"Your... Nori's kid, aren't you.". The purple eyed drone turning away quickly as a long buried scene played in her head, nodding once as the strings she felt now played music.

They had been out, streets filled with light as the stars shined brightly and the twin moons were peeking out from behind the clouds, two taller but blurred figures in her vision as the leftmost one held her in its arms and they walked together. Down the street, Uzi only seeing the tops of the skyscrapers around them fall downwards into the starry void that was below her. Whips of grey cloud dancing on the winds and the buzzy shapes that where holding her and talking warmly. One sounded wise, learned in their craft and she put the word rustic to their male voice which was further away from her then the second voice. That other voice was right below her, above the ground and sounded warm, tone sharp but never piercing as it played across the air.

"Look, lover boy i know you said it would take time but i know its worth it.". The purple voice started, sounding ever so similar to Pencil as its owner looked up into the sky. A small smirk barely visible among the slashes of black that alternated across the, drone... probably.

"Well, they were being made anyway so i guess we could go faster. This isn't one of your prophesy things is it?.". The white voice rounded back, intrigue and tints of worry evident to Uzi.

"... You know me to well.". The purple voice answered, a softness present that dulled its bite.

"When?". The white one poked, Uzi seeing a cloud uncover the larger of the two moons and watching as both figures stopped. Turning to look up at it

"A couple months, a couple years. Its to foggy to see them yet.". The purple one sounded sad, worried despite its grin on the face it wore. Had, occupied..? Why were her memories so scrambled.

"Hmm... what do you mean by, them?". The white one asked, staying on the back foot this entire exchange so far but softly prodding for answers when it felt right.

"I don't think i know, not clearly at least... probably from how little I've slept.". Uzi listened to the purple voice reply, feeling an ache of relatable pain from the concealed one it held.

"... Yeah. I should of guessed.". The white one huffed, its figure moving to hold the purple ones figure in a hug as eyes became visible on both of their black scratched shapes. The far one had a tired brilliant white pair like a rock pool after the tide goes out while the closer one had a single triangular eye on it. Purple and beckoning, warm like a volcanic trench as it looked down at her briefly.

"Was i loud? Every time i woke up.". The purple one sighed before continuing, gazing into the rock pools solemnly.

"Not, really... i might of slept like a rock through some of them though.". The white one replied.

"As always.". The purple one smirked and prodded the white eyed figure as they both cadenced that line together, the trio moving down the street and out into a snowed in park.

"You think they'd be good enough to hold, the doors you want?". Uzi perked up as the white one spoke again, or tried to in the immobile body she had at that mention. Another piece of the puzzle for her to know, she needed them to keep talking on it. Tell her why mystery drones, please.

"I don't know, i.. i just want to believe this future i see isn't as bleak as i see it as.". The purple one reasoned, warmth fading with every second second this went on as it held her tighter and continued talking. Words starting to spill or erupt from her... Uzi decided it sounded like a her, held her like a mother so the figure was probably just that.

"I'd like to believe there's still a way or life for you to walk me home to every dawn after a long shift...". The purple voice caught itself with a small sob, surprising the white one before it spoke one last line and Uzi was tapped on the shoulder, barely hearing it before the world returned to the bent steal it was here.

"I'd like to too.".

Uzi blinked as Pencil tapped her softly on the shoulder, the older drone looked at Uzi with a little bit of worry as she leant down in front of her. Speaking warmly, tone almost reminiscent of the one she had heard from the purple voice she should of forgotten already. Save her from the hurt that knife of language had imbued within it and this farce copy here with Uzi.

"Hey, hey... no need to cry.".

"I'm not, its just a glitch.". Uzi defended herself, closing herself off and moving away from Pencil with a step back. Her voice taut but quickly closing back to a more monotonous sound. Uzi blinking and taking a breath as Pencil reached out her hand in confusion. A few feet to far from the child to connect with her, Uzi reaching out coldly and splaying her fingers.

"Its ok, if you need a moment you can just tell me... I'll wait, then i can walk you ho- mmeee". Uzi stepped back and retracted her hand, watching as Pencil's body split vertically. Purple light flashing before dying along with the fake mom. A pair of clangs as each half fell to the floor, Pencil's internal organs melded together from the heat the cut had just produced in a mesh slag that looked like grey toothpaste. Uzi paused herself, still, watching what she had done and sighing to herself. Why was everything so complicated and hurtful, people hurt more then things she had found out over the years. She didn't need another face to play the role of farce mother Uzi thought.

What she wanted wasn't here, her purple eyes scanning the rubble to find no trace of Doll's crossbow nor its power core. With this outing a rousing, something of interest at most Uzi left tensely.

Chapter Text

The large metal door slammed closed behind her, Doll almost jumping at its noise before she caught herself and returned her keycard to it's bag and emitting a sigh of relief. Having managed to effortlessly escape the colony without a single drone even thinking she had left and only leaving a note in her room for Yeva. The door's thud echoing down both ends of the abandoned subway station she found herself in as the red eyed girl began breathing in the outside air and feeling as the new nights chill wrapped around her more dressed then last time out form. Doll now wearing a pair of tracksuit pants and a dull black Spark's N'Wires jumper she had finally grown to like, it being a gift from Nori surprisingly enough. Would explain the band name on it and the skull patch on her left shoulder. She shone her light around the station to get a proper look at where she was, immensely surprised that the emergency exit for the bunker was connected to an underground subway station. The two tracks indenting into the ground while she looked across at the three waiting spaces, bland white tiling cracked with age and caked with dust and tints of long dried oil.

Quickly scrambling across the tracks and up to the other side of the station as to lessen the paranoia of being hit by a train while crossing, of course none came nor could they. The station had no reason to still be active and it proved that point with how she had to use a flashlight to look around at all, piercing the inky black to see frosted bricks on the walls as well as worn tracks. The occasional advertisement sign or timetable billboard that had ran itself flat over the years or shattered, spilling their glass innards onto the floor and making Doll take hesitant steps over it even though her worker standard boots would be completely unfazed by a bit of glass. Some absurd humanism trait given to her like it was to all drones.

Doll checked both stairwells at the other side of the station, noting that one was completely snowed in and probably lead straight to the surface while the other was clear. Of course she then ascended those stairs and made sure to check around her with the flashlight. Holding onto the sturdy handle of a stolen meat cleaver with one hand as the other one fished a torch from her wait bag. Armed pathetically in the event that she didn't find what she was looking for, of course she had enough of a gut feeling to know that N wouldn't hurt her. Less could be said about the other two murder drones, although one was hopefully still enchained and she could guess that Rebecca wasn't as interested in falling back under J's leadership with how that one acted. Hopefully, otherwise she wasn't exactly sure if survival was a possibility without N to help her like she had him before their split. That was what she had to contest with, the image of her and the blue murderers encounter within the colony's entrance coming back to Doll once again. She ruffled her black jumper and pushed the thoughts of this being a less then ideal situation to the back of her mind.

Then she arrived in some sort of mall, shattered glass like stars in the ash mixed with snow substance beneath it and Doll stood as sun atop the galaxy illuminated by the occasional red warning light from a drone visor. She stopped as soon as the snow crunched below her, looking up to see the cracked and worn roof had the odd scoring of black on its reflective tan surface and had even fallen down in parts of the roughly football field sized expanse. Columns holding up the roof despite their own blackened wounds as they stood tall, surrounded by the recent footprints that Doll could only reason as the evacuation she had caused. On a lighter note she noticed that there was the damaged entrance to a cleaned out supermarket at the other side to where she was standing, behind her was a set of escalators going up a level while a few other storefronts laid dormant along the walls of this place.

She took a moment, knife lowering in her grip as her hands softened. Of course with her recent life she had seen death, correcting that internally to she had seen death in all her life. Even just today, needlessly she remembered the tumult of emotions that came with confronting the past properly and committing to fixing her and her mothers fractured bond. Death, had never been something like this. Corpses dotted among trampled and tainted snow with critical error lights barely flashing among barely a handful of them, it was... Cruel but somehow peaceful in a way. Of course her thoughts wondered to their pasts, had they had kids, did she know their kids or were they from some far away place like Zane and Jackal were? Did they like dogs or cats, how had they died and was it with satisfaction that they had done all they wished to or not. She couldn't answer that one since well, they didnt look injured at all until she got closer to seal her opinion on this. The bodies were slagged, half melted in places facing the supermarket. She had been almost convinced to count or check them further but that idea passed swiftly with the discovery.

Doll huffed to herself and set off tentatively over the space, careful to give all here their due respect and not trample them as she decided to explore the supermarket. Noticing scorch marks laced throughout it as she walked straight through the store, clear path unobstructed with anything asides from small patches of knee height at best rubble. She quickly moved through the store and ended up at the entrance, shattered glass doors leading to the outside world and banked with faintly lit snow. Her grip on the bat tightened and she took a breath of the cold but inviting air, steeling herself and pressing forward out into the night.

And there was a moon, stars and lost civilisation framing its pearl like surface while the snow glittered under the last visages of a setting sun that was far out of her view. Buildings long empty stood like unimpressed skeletons while human skeletons laid beneath their work, less unimpressed. Doll quickly took note of her surroundings and slipped across the street to hide in the shadow of one of the structures in case one of the meaner murder drones came around, she would step out and call him if she saw N but Rebecca was off limits and if J was sighted she'd have to play her cards perfectly or run home and even then it wasn't exactly promising. She checked the skies again, only to find them empty of anything asides a distant storm front. Now there was only one question on her mind. Would N even want to see her, especially after leaving him to deal with the probable trauma killing V twice had given him.

Hopefully.

Then, after an uneventful five minute wait just to check if she heard any sound of telltale murder drone activity. Scream's, explosions or the distant sight of them flying about. Which did in fact include almost backpedaling into a dumpster after a strong gust of wind made made her jump. Mind envisioning a surprise attack as a murder drone swooped down to get her, only to be greeted with the new prospect of long frozen dumpster dive to easily retrieve a metal baseball bat that she had thought would give her a little more reach if it came to that. The item's shined handle reflecting the faintest shimmer of moonlight that had already reflected itself off of a chandelier half hanging from a fifth story apartment. Perhaps there was something she should be thinking here, how weirdly serene the surface was briefly came to mind. A second gust of wind playing through the city as howls and gasps when it pierced the interconnected ruins in an eerie unsung melody. She listened.

After that she found herself passing around a couple last corners quietly and looking up the street to find that the back of the spire was in viewing range. Cars, dumpsters, packed snow, ice and skeletons of both drones and human varieties all working together to support the macabre structure as she gripped her stolen bat tighter. Doll slunk around to the front of the spire, noting a melted metal blob and feeling cold creep into her heart when she saw a single black visor poking out of the side. Was that her fate too, she barely asked herself before a very drone like gust of wind struck her and its strong arms hoisted her into the sky with a smile. Spinning once and whipping her hair around behind her before setting the red eyed drone down, Doll having screamed in terror only to deeply regret it when she ended up face to face with Serial Designation N. Already backing off slightly and about to apologise before she cut him off warmly if not with lost breath from terror.

"He, hey. Sorry.".

Chapter Text

There, under the shade giving ceiling of the supposed outdoor park and far away from the spire of corpses that made the silhouette of her city all the more ominous was a drone. Frost graced the fake grass below her cone like feet and the girl swung lethargically with the creek of tired chains that stayed to do their duty for they had nothing else. Back, forth, and back again within the numbed and speeding minutes. Cold wind whistling through the grounds and around the building behind her as it toyed with the snow on the car park ahead of her, sun reflecting off of each shattered mirror and star fleck of glass that hadn't been buried by some miracle. That ball of fire was soon to be tucked away again with the setting in of night, but for the coming hours the past bloodied drone was stuck here while a single office building barely kept the sunset from turning her into a melted pile of sludge. Within a sun shaded park, a swing set along with its cohort slide, seesaw and a small irreparably damaged green horse shaped spring rider. All sat atop a large hexagonal pad of obviously fake grass, surrounded by concrete walkways that had been cracked over time due to various reasons. The snow here had softened to a slush from the earlier day and was now in the process of freezing again due to Copper 9's natural temperatures.

Out of everything here, nothing was left with a purpose. The swing had no users save the blue eyed murder drone that sat atop it while the fake grass had no one to impress. The slide would snap if it was used due to how brittle it was and the swing horse looked like it was ready to be buried and forgotten by some aged gardener or the elements. Sometimes she wondered what they would think about their fate if they could think, would the horse give pitiable whines as it stole a few breaths more? The slide welcome its last user as it had everyone before it, collapse the same way it lived? Without a shred of acknowledgment.

She however would laugh at herself or fate, a small wheezing thing that if it had been a creature would of lied atop the grass like a stunned bat after flying itself into a unseen window. Jittering, uncomfortable but persistent to the no one present enough to care. The body on the slide couldn't, it was just itself. Physically empty. The swing rocking again and giving a unacknowledged whine from the stress, even if it held strong as always the rusted metal would hope for an excuse to snap and decay. They weren't needed anyway, nothing in this park was or ever had. All toys to be discarded after their time had passed.

"Hehhhhh...". Rebecca's voice sputtered out and the park fell silent again, the cold type of silence that just begged to be filled with something but of course would be left to itself. An ugly ringing quiet, the furthest roundabout to the sound of a loved heart. The girl shook her head suddenly, dispelling thoughts like a fan into a dense fog. Dead things tended to, cling. In a way despite the fact they physically couldn't.

Rebecca's mind wandered as she waited and she glanced sideways, distant sun crawling closer to the cloud banked horizon as the distant rumble of a storm prowled. Ball of superbly distant gas keeping her where she was, prey to something far far away just like everything on this rock always had been. The clouds fled the sun, prolonging her stay at the park and its accompanying structure of which she had sought out knowing its significance in some forlorn detail that just, wouldn't come back to her. It was an observatory, large and of faded white outside with its still entirely intact dome cresting on its hill outside the eastern edge of the city of New Halster. Snow piled upon its walls and half the roof, more of the stuff hugging its base while barely managing to inch its way under the covered pathway from the pack to its entrance. The park standing between the structure and its corresponding car park, a fair scattering of half buried vehicles standing forgotten, a few had been removed at various times in her life. Mostly for repairs of the spire.

"What an, opportunity". Rebecca perked up at the crunched voice, looking around her as her headband eyes switched over as primary vision with an audible click. Only to find no one at the park or anywhere close. The voice having sounded like it was really close, sounded almost like it was a thought verbalised by her own mouth but it couldn't of been so it went without a source. The drone's lips pulling themselves into a tight half grimace half smile, her visor regaining its role as her central vision port and her optics thinned to hollow circles for but a second. Realisation and doubt encroaching ever further into her core. The girl chucked under her breath, again. Trying to dispel the other voice as hers barely made any audible noise, swing set creaking as she moved herself on its rubber strip seat. Tail flicking once and her headband switching back to active once more to double check the surroundings.

"Oh great, im hearing shit again, amazing.". Rebecca huffed in annoyance.

Still nothing, the park was uselessly empty. Dead and still as the distant storm curled itself in the orange black grey sky. Sun now lying behind a building in such a way that it never cast any light into the park asides from onto the very far corner, not like she would of stood in the sunlight considering her hellish condition of melting under its rays. Rebecca safe from all harm as she was, the lights final moments of sunlight painting the underside of the cloud cavern in brilliant oranges and tints of red. Slashes done into its canvas and the painter obscured behind the horizon.

"And... a lovely, golden light.". Rebecca ignored the voice, the girl shivering slightly at that all hated tone that haunted her waking hours as much as her sleep. Which was surprisingly consistent considering her unanswered life purpose and living situation, maybe falling into a sleep could make her pass over to a better time. At least, that seemed to be the read she got on V's ideal last she saw and tolerated the well deservedly deceased drone as a bloody core scrambling around on the floor, desperate to live despite its pitiful existence. There had to be some other cruel mistress then fate at the control for that set of actions Rebecca reasoned, frown forming as she remembered the event and its six weeks since then. All of them horridly free. Her tail flicking agitatedly while she tried to focus on anything else, the frown on her face now deepening.

"You won't. Outshine... it.". She heard from all around, from nowhere did these ever present words burst from and the girl responded finally. A dark tone matching the look in her eyes, still gazing up at the storm and its beauty ridden destructive underside for the time being. A lone crack of lightning ever distant as it flittered between two interwoven parts of the storm, thunder called a second later.

"Duh, im not fucking Icarus... damn, wish i wa- shut. Dont lust RIGHT NOW.". Rebecca had to stifle those thoughts, instead refocusing onto the first other thing that came to her mind. 

"Is there any reason to say anything?". The words rushed out of her but with no one there to answer. The wind picking up and carrying them away within the next seconds, she gripped the chains to either side of her a little harder. Feeling small specks of rust be cracked under her grip, sickened snow that wispily fell to the ground. Then, Rebecca laughed bitterly towards the sky, the sound ringing out and silencing the wind. The sound bumping against the underbelly of the metal car shade a few meters above her as no one cared. Her voice cracking before pitching louder and being joined by the worn swing set chains being shaken to service one last time but lacking the tender touch of humanity.

"There isn't one is there?". Rebecca asked again. The words themselves sat as her only answer among the ruins here both inside and out. The sky taking this chance to fade in colour as the lights benefactor dipped beyond the horizon within the next couple minutes as the only thing holding her in place departed. The girl almost going to move from the swing set as she should of, instead her body was caught stalling. A ringing rising up in her mind as if she was being dissected by tiny buzz saws at the beck and call of something within her, or near her, the answer was unclear. Her surface crawled as she shivered at the ghost sensation that plagued her, an unnatural squishing like feeling across her whole body as the pressure mounted. Rebecca taking a thin strangled and unneeded breath as her eyes went wide, a second breath. Core thrumming to a faster pace as adrenaline tried to move her frozen body but failed. She felt too big, she felt too sharp, she felt as if she didn't fit anymore.

"Help, help... how, amusing.". She heard, the voice now more glitched and weighted. Tone unrecognisable but there was a malice behind it, as if it were a recorded conversation between scientists that was now played in front of their caged rat. She felt her arms go numb, reflexively tightening their grip until with a crumbling metal groan the chains gave way. Dropping her to the ground unceremoniously, a small grunt escaping her on the contact with the floor. Everything spinning, heating. Her HUD was a unreadable mess, or more accurately she couldn't think straight enough to understand anything on it. The current temperature it said on her HUD could of been hotter than the innards of most volcanoes and she wouldn't of known simply because of how dang glitchy it was and her processors being more drawn to an almost feedback loop like method of worry. Her body felt like it was drowning in nothing, so she worried, limbs slowly disappearing entirely sensory wise, she worried. She tried to speak, call out for help or more likely swear out loud but ended up clamping her mouth shut the instant she opened it. Air feeling like some impossibly thick substance that she shouldn't, No, couldn't, allow into her systems, why did it taste like blood. How did she know what blood tasted like? Pressure mounting, feeling an invisible all powerful weight upon her for an instant longer.

Was this Satan coming to personally collect her for her crimes and snuff out another star upon this planet, if it was then she would feebly attempt to say he had done a great job at terrifying her as the drone felt horrid. The pressure still mounting, further, impossible weight baring down as if everyone she had killed had all decided to dog pile her under the dying rays of a hiding away sun. She gasped, finally breaking open her sealed lips in a panic, internal systems demanding air despite her existence as a robot. She almost had the thoughts to wonder why she wasn't venting enough steam to kill a small child, her internals felt red hot to her and yet the ground didn't react to this. She felt the temperature rise still, her visor glitching to read some foul number entirely too high before her stomach felt like it twisted into knots upon knots upon knots. The all consuming crushing feeling pressed in on her, like some god was wringing her out like a damp towel for any sort of liquids before hanging it up to dry in front of the sun.

Frankly that might be desirable right now.

"Fuc-". Rebecca threw up, blackened mottled sludge falling onto the ground in front of her as if it was dead. Hoping that now that she had done that that this onset affliction could go away as it had wrung out some liquid, not like the tiny about of red tinting barely visible upon the mix of things she had eaten recently made her think any better about her situation. The next second passed and everything returned, feeling, movement. That heavy dense feeling had fled along with the sun, leaving only empty darkness, the glistening and thin pool of her recent snack and the reason she never watched the sun rancid in her mind. Distant storm rumbling as if nothing of concern had happened while Rebecca put a hand to her still thundering core, head scrambling to reorder itself and make sense of itself and to move away from the mess she had made.

She hadn't wanted to remember the last time this had happened, especially not as it had happened before one particularly unimpressed Serial Designation V one night when she had been cajoled into finding and retrieving the slacker of a disassembly drone a while after a hunt. Rebecca eventually finding her within some back alley house lounging atop some old frost ravaged sofa with her scarf hung up on some rack, being against having to see or talk to her Rebecca had just brashly pulled out a chainsaw arm and revved it against the concrete wall. Sparks flying as V yelled at her to leave her alone and knocked something important over with her movement, verbal sparks flying as Rebecca saw through a well placed ice reflection that V had bumped over some sort of household altar. Which had befuddled Rebecca to no end as the blue eyed murder drone just yelled back that J was looking for her and that its V's own fault if the boss is more pissed next time she sees her, that having motivated V enough to get a rather quick move on.

The pair then leaving promptly and making sure to stay as far away as keeping close out of obligation rather then want would allow, of course until she and V had landed back at the spire with the sunrise hot on their tails. Turning around as she perched at the near top entryway to the spire's insides thinking she had a second to see the sun, a small sort of cliff built out of a metal car roof and supported by the mess mesh that was the spire underneath it. Making a sort of watching post where the sun didn't quite directly shine into it but was very much visible and much to Rebecca's fearful surprise had near instantly triggered whatever code this was and had her lying prostrate while she threw up down the outside of the spire. Having to be yanked by her tail out of the approaching sunlight by a V who had been trying very hard to ignore the blue and purple team member.

She hated that set of memories.

A noise startled her out of her reminiscing, not close but still fairly audible especially for a murder drone with fear heightened senses. A whir of moving machin-

The pop of her sub machine gun firing overtook the other noise, it changing into a glitchy birdlike tone after the instant of metal being pierced. Followed by crunching snow as the previously perched upon a car a couple meters away from her as the shot through target collapsed. Drowning in the white frosted sea below its vehicular perch, the barely half a meter tall raven black avian shaped machine would of stuck out like a sore thumb as it laid there if only there wasn't a car in front of where it assumedly rested. Hiding what she had killed from her view.

"Uhh..". Rebecca mumbled to herself while taking several more deep breaths in the now looming darkness, never surprised at how quickly the light left once the sun dipped beyond the northeastern horizon and beyond the city. She almost apologised out loud, but kept her mouth shut as there wasn't exactly a point to be made by saying she regretted killing whatever she just had. It was far better to keep the lie within her then voice it. The girl shakily getting to her feet, the remaining parts of the swing sets chains being moved aside and swinging softly as she did. Core still thrumming in her chest as she finally calmed down. She wasn't drowning, wasn't spinning. Her limbs were very much still her own. Rebecca testing that by switching her hand back to a hand, closing into a fist only to open again under her concerned gaze. Sky blue optics full and eyebrows creased downwards at an degree almost unintelligible from a more neutral expression, her tail flicked once through the soft grass. Prickly, so she took a few steps to find her stride and departed the playground. Haste made to leave such a bad tasting place.

Peering over the bonnet of a snow covered car she found her earlier prey. Two slim collections of still attached feather like blades sat upon its wings, dulled to non cutting edges sat fanned upon the snow. Its beak, as long as her elbow to her shoulder whilst its head was relatively small. One pinprick green camera eye staring past her and into the sky and its stalk styled legs were sprawled out, chest slim and pierced by a small hole. Its raven black body stark against the messy heaven white it laid half buried in. She could see that her shot had went straight though, leaving a tunnel of mechanical gore and electrical torn vein through the bird. Quickly identified as Cyber-Crane by the girl, knowing them as a civil security drone, decoration and far distant cousin to the others of its producer. Robo-Roaches and Digi-Dragon-Flights being some of their other model lines, all of which were of little concern due to their minimal oil consumption or capacity. Things to be left alone.

To herself she now questioned, hands paused from reaching to pick up the Cyber-Crane as she thought to herself. What really was the point of picking it up, not like she was going to bury it at all. The coming storm would that just fine, and the next one would do the same, and the same. Just as always, dead things hide in the dark. Rebecca sighed, turning away from the corpse. Eyes wondering across the darkened car park and the railing that lined the edge of the small cliff facing the plains outside the city. Wide sea of white that stretched to the horizon, dotted by the occasional tree and barely unburied highway signs that once would of been far above the ground that she assumed were there. Not being able to see them under the all silencing blanket of a starless night, first one in a month she believed. The girl swapping one of her hands over to a torch and scanning around her out of habit, double checking by swapping her vision for a few seconds.

Nothing. But now she could leave here but yet found herself moving back to lay on the floor of the covered playground away from her vomit. Fake grass damp from frost as she flopped onto it, a slight discomfort but she couldn't care. Her natural heat would fix it in an hour, if she stayed for half of one or twelve was yet unknown and now her teammate had managed to let her stay out for as long as she wanted. J was still chained up and V was dead at last. Now it was just her and N... and that red runt, Doll, who had stayed in the bunker since the incident with V. Maybe she would return, maybe not. Rebecca had to admit to herself that the worker was, stupid? Interesting? Sure enough from a material perspective Doll was utterly brain dead for trying to kill for disassembly drones with nothing at all asides that crossbow of hers but she still tried to do it. Succeeded in some way as well despite Rebecca's weak and unfocused attempt to stop it after the snowball of consequence had already grown to car size, the blue killer more interested in tormenting someone then doing whatever job she had at the time. 

That purpose of massacring the masses for some idle higher company was now laying on the paper shredder opening with how the reveal that the company had been probably misleading them, intentionally imputing design flaws in the disassembly drone's as so they would dispose themselves once the job was done. Just to tie up lose ends, it was smart in a cunning evil way, just like she thought of herself. She had after all, beat the answer out of J in the weeks since before being told off weakly by N about making the pod a mess, refusing to tell him of her discovery for both J's promise of revealing more a bit later and N's safety. So the only thing that would be worth killing Doll over would be if she got to close to N after returning like the stubborn girl she evidently was, instead of any company obligation like the last lives snuffed out.

Feint recollection seemed to halt her from thinking too much about her last drone murdering attempt, but she couldn't just let her be another obstacle for her already shattered heart. For every fraction it was broken into just meant another determined member of the choir after N's own heart, was it tiring... Yes. Was there something else she was supposed to do?

Chapter Text

Wind roared outside, the sun was up and it was late for J. Which meant early for everyone else that wasn't of the more murderous machine type, the time being 9AM on Copper 9. The worker stifling a yawn and tugging nonchalantly at the chain around her neck with her left hand whist having the almighty but barely repressed urge to just kill her ex squadmates and call it a day. They'd come back to her, it was company mandated that replacements would be sent or made on site and she took the word of her superiors as solid proof. Not that she could or was allowed to explain it to her captor and make him understand that this was all pointless in every way conceivable, he was far too daft to realise the higher ups always won. Gifted ignorance making her only loathe him more, the fact he was easily the higher ups favourite proved to be water to a long open circuit for Serial Designation J.

"He doesnt even know of them personally like i do, why do they favour him over an actual hard worker. I did everything asked of me, yet still got told off...". J mused furiously while testing the chain with her grip, marvelling at just how stupid they were for trying to restrain her this way.

She felt over the small wooden circular object she had in her free hand, of course the very drone she despised had to poke his silver haired head in from the pod's top door as soon as she had revealed the object from one of her pockets. She bit her tongue to stop herself from barking at him to leave, not wanting to have him spill of the interaction to the warden that actually took their impromptu job seriously because while from what she had seen of Doll, she was surer of herself then N by a long shot. Rebecca was, spiteful and also seemed to only be in on it to torment her or make N more interested in her because she was helping. Unfortunately, and as usual, still, only having one self-righteous female with a habit for violence first was better than having two.

J's focus was torn from her thoughts to the encroaching idle chatter that had reared its golden eyed head into her bubble of near self maintained space, frowning and casting her glance over to N as he spoke. He was probably here to try and needle an answer from her like his little red eyed rat had tried that one night before they both left, weeks ago now. 

"H- hey. What you got there bo- J.". J flicked the wooden token out of his sight and scowled, already noting how many stutters he had done in not even just a greeting. Fumbling the conversation to an extreme level when he should have known better that she was just, never going to really tolerate the failure behind her that had been carried to his current position by luck, her shortcomings and a worker drone that J thought would make quite the more effective squadmate than either of the ones she had. Of course, not like the higher up would appreciate such a claim without personal oversight of any such employment, would be good retribution onto the red eyed freak if J could get her burdened with an existence like that. Thoughts for later, she was for now unfortunately pulled into the unprofessional tango of conversation.

"...A token.". J answered bluntly, fully expecting N to not remember the particular night they had found the object and that expectation rung true when he looked at her in both confusion and interest. The glance a minuscule comfort for her among the now month or so spent chained, if not for the limited snatches of conversation or banter between her and her captors she probably would of just slept through the whole ordeal. Slept more, then she already did. She had to huff as she remembered V's own likening to the activity, finally understanding that V wasn't lazy as to say, but perhaps she just wanted time to pass faster. J, unfortunately, now understood a little better thanks to these six weeks in the pod.

"For a slot machine? Those things.". N inquired quickly, clambering into the pod with deft movements that seemed almost too easily done for someone of his supposed and observationally supported evident lack of intelligence. It was most definitely the natural coding of their limited in number kind to move in such ways J reasoned and certainly not any level of skill from his end. To her, he had won and changed the status quo purely off of instinct as opposed to any thought beyond the moment as he certainly had no idea what he was doing now that he had the victory in his hands.

"No...". Now here lied a threshold for the murder drone as she could either continue talking and attempt to pass the time, or she could shut up and hopefully socially push N into leaving unless he had something more important then idle chatting to announce. Either would be a move worth taking for her, as time seemed to be a coinage she wouldn't be running short of. Perhaps in another life she could of been a bank teller. J took a breath in before deciding to leave the conversation at what it was, as dead on the space pod's floor as she knew she could be.

"He'll leave, or not but either way I'm not talking back to him.". J paused her thoughts when an odd feeling passed through her, something other then stiff disdain that stained everything in ancient tones of mould ridden yellow.

N somehow picking up on that and stopping himself from talking, mouth agape before he clamped it shut with a slight frown of his own at the chained drone. He could try again but he knew he was just trying to pass time himself, only having come in to check on her and from what he saw she was just as moody as normal. Obviously also still chained up which meant that their tactic of keeping her here was doing something at least. The longer she stayed down here meant the longer the company went without her reporting to them and giving orders to the rest of the squad, N felt a little liberated to find that his guess was coming closer to the truth. J's entrapment and the convenient company silence as soon as it started sinking in over the weeks and revealing slowly that the company had been a lie of hers or was just horridly managed.

He just crawled back out of the pod after a moment of silence, not finding it within himself just yet to confront her on everything that had happened since the bunker break in. Lies, deceit, beatings, mistreatment, the list could go on despite how it shouldn't of. If J was correct about their being such a company above them, then he had to wonder why they would sanction her abuse of the squad. For V and Rebecca seemed to get away with much more lenient punishments if any at all in relation to his own fate, again he couldn't remember the last time Rebecca had ended up properly under J's heel for some mistake and V, everything J hated about V was done on purpose.

Outside however was a different atmosphere entirely to the stifled professionalism of the inside of the pod, here was cold and obviously snow cushioned. His feet crunching upon the flooring as he landed easily on it from the pod roof and had already looked around to locate the temporary abode of his newest teammate. Friend, comrade, temporarily allied drone? He felt unsure on the relationship he had briefly had with Doll.

He scanned around for a second, noting the pitch black of the outside world compared to the spire's innards that had been lit up with a small scattering of Digi-Dragon-Flights that had taken refuge inside it. Their dim glows of green blue orange and purple flittering around the space and signalling an oncoming storm, N already dreaded the idea of digging the entryway back open after the evidently thick storm passed but such was life here. Cold and mildly inconvenient.

"Thankfully the top exit is going to stay uncovered, no doubt I'm going to be stuck watching J here for a few more hours though. A few, more, hours. Just until Rebecca gets back and its her turn.". N's thoughts drawled on as he unfortunately looked around the innards of his home once again, his gaze one of disdain drenched nostalgia as he avoided counting the bodies and thanked J for one thing at least. She always liked to melt the corpses to the point the inside walls had a smoothness monotonous aura to it, their were few distinguishable bodies and fewer faces. He had to wonder if she had lied about wanting that look for cleanliness. Of course he could go back and ask but he already knew the answer was icy silence so he didn't bother, instead just trailing his gaze after a single purple glowing Digi-Dragon-Flight that had decided to make a closer journey towards him then the others that had chosen to stay within the further out vehicle wreckages. Mechanical stand ins for the dragonflies of old earth or some akin creature upon this rock before the core collapse.

"Well, up to the lookout spot then.". N almost let the words escape his mouth instead of just being internal thoughts, but there wasn't really anything else to be doing while the oncoming storm languished in its travels towards the city and he was stuck in the spire with a practically mute J. So, he extended his wings and a easy flight up to the hole in the higher part of the spire that both had a floor near it that could easily support them and gave a vantage point across the southeastern side of the city. N knowing that the bunker sat in the northern areas, their were also the east and west city circle's that briefly flickered over his mind when he landed atop the platform. feet touching down plainly upon the faded red shipping container wall that had been near entirely blackened since its conception as a floor. The underside supported by a gruesome melded blob of metal things that had been welded together into a thick almost truck sized support for the platform as it smoothly transitioned back into being a part of the spire's form. An anthill made of whatever the disassembly drones could get their hands on along with their victims bodies, the ones that hadn't been eaten or otherwise disposed of.

He tried a lot not to think about it... Tried.

"What have we done?". 

He still tried, even as the visual of this cold abandoned city filled his optical receptors as he gazed out into the newborn night across New Halster. Darkness hugging the world enough that only the jagged outlines of humanity's anthill spires really showed themselves to N, their peaks a dark contrast to the sparse ink horizon and its bulging tidal wave of a storm that was marching towards them from beyond the rift. The size of those clouds giving him some cause to worry as they stretched from horizon edge to horizon other edge as if possessed by a tsunami's valour, dark undersides occasionally revealed by the crack of lighting throughout the storm god's intestine. 

"Haha, that's probably going to snow the bottom entryway in for a week. And be pretty loud, id hate to be any poor worker outside in these conditions...". N paused at that last thought, reminiscing on what little memories his mind handed to him of the times he had hunted and found a lone worker or two practically buried as free eats under enough snow that the human vehicle's skeletons became trip hazards, the pair easily being snatched out without even a inch of resistance. They had deactivated due to running out of power he had found out a bit later when J had expressly mentioned it, N having to hide his ashamed fluster when V also commented on how the pair looked like they had been dead for a few days. She knew drone anatomy better then the rest of them so hearing her backup J was almost always a disheartening moment for the tallest of the troupe.

"Rebecca better get back quickly, i don't want to give J even a chance of being unattended... Especially since i know she would just beeline for the colony, which would be fine if its door is closed. But still, what else is there for any of us to do? Go back to mass murder now that we know it wasn't a extravagant wildlife culling but instead a cleansing of drone's not unfamiliar to ourselves. I, .. i don't think thats what i want to do... But what should i want?". N pondered coldly as he watched the storm on the south eastern horizon. He couldn't really pass an answer to himself that felt right for a good ten minutes or so, instead getting marginally distracted when he spotted a particularly intact and by way of some obscene god still working street lamp and the thoughts of having somewhere more well lit to live entered his mind. Light being something that the four sleeping spots within the spire, or the spire entirely lacked.

J slept within the pod, as a sign of who was in charge she naturally staked out the only fully insulated place within the their home to stay and made sure everyone else knew it practically doubled as her office. She placed her many years amassed worker drone helmet collection in there, found a set of filing cabinets, had assembled a whole set of shelves within it and had managed to turn it into a somewhat functioning workspace for herself. Making sure everyone knew it was not to be used or entered lightly, which was another of the reasons N had taken Doll into there when he had needed to fix her hand, it was the boss's office so it made sense to give the lowdown of their operation too newcomers there as well. 

"That pod, we landed in it, woke up to nothing but moonlight and the smell of to be spilt oil. Three... three? Three bodies in the warmth of our shuttle. And now she turned it into her home while the rest of us made ourselves this spire when there were perfectly usable buildings expressly vacated by our arrival, spoils of conquest left untouched for what? She had reports from the company, Doll literally pulled one out and stated offhandedly that we have had contact with the company before because they had reformatted our memories? But when, why haven't JCJenson revealed themselves... I can't remember, obviously.". 

Rebecca slept wherever she wanted, which was almost usually limited to upside down underneath the very platform N now sat or over next to N before V had done a rare but appreciated helpful thing by telling the girl off for invading N's space. The thick lamppost ripped pole that the girl used as a place to tie her tail around having been one of the most annoying things to instal due to how tedious construction of this place was, she hadn't helped that much despite having the energy for it. Rebecca always devoting her energy in ways that almost entirely fell into the pile of barely annoying but well intentions but also abrasive, it was a miracle that J had entirely left the five hour event to N and the blue drone because it saved the pair from being told off more then thrice. 

"Its so weird that J told us off for just trying to make somewhere easy to sleep, when at that point she herself already had the pod. The more i think about her the further she becomes an enigma. Not like Rebecca is any less, well. Kind of, there's things of her that don't line up with what i can remember but then again, trusting my memories for anything further back then a few years at this point is almost a death sentence. But, still, i feel like we knew each other better once. Or less? I know we made her place together but we introduced ourselves afterwards. I think.".

V slept within the now painfully vacant trailer of a commercial truck she had personally hauled into the base of the spire back in its early days, the vehicle having been melded into the base of the southern side of the wall and having a portion of its wall removed to act as a door. The trailer itself painted a now heavily faded red while the doorway was only covered in a ice dusted cloth that attempted to keep the inside marginally warmer and secret, it was doing surprisingly well at that. N had never seen the inside, not that he didn't want to its just that V would of killed him when she was around to do it and the idea of that was enough to keep him out. 

"Now that she's, gone... that truck is probably going to stay empty forever, I'm not going to touch it. I doubt J cares and she certainly isn't being left unattended for long enough to do anything to it anyway. Rebecca might just blow it up if I'm not careful though, those two were always at each other's throats, its almost funny how i can remember a few times they had arguments before J told them both off for it. Weird how little they interacted otherwise, V did always stay away from the team but it seems that anyone who wasn't J, got a cold shoulder from her. She can't even remember my name and looked at Rebecca like she was seeing a dead body standing upright... it, still, hurts... i suppose. That she's gone. It had to be done, it had to be done. She barely wanted to stay around anyway.".

N himself just slept in a similar style to Rebecca, having made his spot a fair handful of meters higher then the blue coloured disassembly drone and attached to the northern side of the spire's walls. His perch made of three metal poles that were roughly melted together to take his weight while having a couple of frost covered military blankets wrapped around the poles and taped down, another two of the grey parchments hanging down on either side to at least attempt to shield some of the wind. The walls next to his personal space made of some metal composite slag that only really revealed the occasional drone hand, something that he had usually brushed off but recently failed to do so, oftentimes choosing to try and remove the hands so he could sleep better. 

"This is all wrong, wrong on so many levels. All four, three... yeah three, J is probably sane, maybe. All of us are probably somewhat mentally damaged from all this in some way, probably all hearing screaming in our sleep, fearing every whiff of oil could result in losing ourselves. There's no other way to justify this... why would the company make such wimpy and emotional machines for its slaughter. If they wanted killers with no remorse then they wouldn't of given us sentience. Surely... i hate how murky everything is, hate how I can't remember, hate how everyone seems to just act like its normal. J still acts like shes's in charge, Rebecca still acts like she doesn't care about the lives we've taken. V, up to her last moments acted like they were exactly what she wanted. And i, I've just been bumbling around with no agency of my own. This spire is hell.". 

To him, the whole place had become something synonymous with the heinous acts he had committed, and while J never had to sleep with it and Rebecca seemingly didn't really care. N was almost fearful that one night the hands would reach out and pull him into the wall, it made him fearful of what the clearly sentient drones had always thought of him. What his acts made him, anything towards earning the moniker of murder drone.

"They definitely feared us, reasonably so from everything we have done, everything we- I, this, stands for. I can't even remember how much, there's a date in my head, eighteen years ago, bright as a lighthouse among the fog of doubt and empty data. ".

His thoughts rounded back to before as more lightning crackled in the far distance, a single bout of thunder making noise within the empty canvas city silence. Eventually something plausible rose up within his gut that felt akin to both an antithesis and an exact.

"This was all, indiscriminate... Without even knowing who they were. I don't want to be feared by everyone...".

Chapter Text

"What the-". Rebecca managed to exclaim, having stood up to stretch and finally leave for the spire after a nap out in the open, only to extend her wings in a panic and have to use them to hastily bat away a thrown trash can lid of all things. The now significantly bent object being deflected from its trajectory and off a few meters to her side harmlessly despite the frankly appealing speed it had been moving, leaving her with an infuriated ego at the thought that someone had dared thrown such a useless object at her and thought it would work. 

"Fuck me, Is being a murder machine not enough to deter street harassment?". Rebecca internally fumed, already flicking one hand over to the set of claws necessary to deal with whatever or whoever had attempted what they did. 

Her second thought going to just how fast it had been thrown, but only briefly before the blue eyed disassembly drone spotted the only possible perpetrator stood calmly atop the roof of the apartment building that had previously blocked the sun from melting Rebecca. The drone now being silhouetted by the crack of distant but closing in lightning, the sight obviously coincidental but it did still achieve the affect of making them look even cooler.

A tail of plated bone white hair whipped down from the back of their head and reached to their waist while a pair of ice blue eyes watched intrigued from their visor, glowering under a slight and wispy fringe of hair. The drone wearing only a black helmet, grey tracksuit pants with a red stripe design on the lower half and a pair of boots like almost all workers on the planet did. However unlike all other workers Rebecca had seen and promptly disassembled this one showed off their whole top half without a care, ice blue core light gleaming like a beacon in the night, a frozen star or ghost light. Rebecca glared up at them for a second more, frowning when she realised she had a very slight blush at the thought of mechanical and casual half nudity. 

"WHO, The HELL are YOU!?". She shouted up at them to distract herself, whipping her tail behind her and spreading her wings out wide to show off how deadly and armed she was. Her other hand already switching over to claws as she took a wider stance and hunched forward ever so slightly, only for the worker drone to jump off the roof and land perfectly on the furthest car roof across the car park while being completely unbothered by a seven or so storey decent. Making the vehicle whine in surprise from the impact while this drone seemed fine, drawing her arm length serrated blade from a small scabbard made of some type of black plastic that was secured on her waist.

"Like you need to know.". They said back in brooding but feminine voice just loud enough for Rebecca to pick it up along with their Japanese dialect, Rebecca mostly focused on the unusual athleticism this drone seemed to posses instead of answering back, as never had she ever seen someone shrug off falling seven or more floors to a similar extent as she could. The white haired girl now prowling a little closer by hopping deftly onto the next car roof, brandishing her weapon of choice plainly and giving Rebecca a cunning look.

"Fine then, I guess I'm just going to have to beat it out of you.". Rebecca hissed, diving across the carpark with the help of her wings giving a very appreciated instant acceleration, the murder drone swiping both claws at her opponents head only to find empty air. She spun and landed feet first on the wall of the apartment block, jamming one hand worth of her claws into it to keep herself stuck as the concrete cracked under her forceful landing. She turned, scanned the carpark to see the worker drone had jumped the next two cars over from where she had been and now stood effortlessly on the smooth metal fence of the parking lot. Overlooking the practically ninety degree and impossibly large cliff to the outside of New Halster along with the lonesome wastes of snow that inhabited those lands far below the raised plate of earth the city and every other horizon was upon.

"Or not...". the murder drone said with slight confusion, flicking her tail before hopping from the wall onto the car next to her target with a graceful front flip. A scowl on her face as the worker jumped back and double backflipped to land three cars away and again did far more things then Rebecca had ever seen worker drones pull off within the same second.

"Surprised?". The worker taunted back, voice cold, playful and calculating at the same time, her gaze locked on Rebecca like a fox upon its food.

"Yeah, how'd you guess that?". Rebecca shot back with enough snark to kill a small mammal or a librarian, now standing hunched over and shooting a murderous glare at the worker. Mind working overtime on thinking of every way to tear the machine to bits whilst also trying to understand what exactly was going on here, why she was moving so damn fast being a very major thought of Rebecca's.

"It's written all over your face.". They replied back, picking up Rebecca's tone of voice but deciding to ignore it and keep a calmer tone herself. Spinning her blade in one hand plainly as she stayed watching their target, wind grabbing at their hair as the distant storm grew closer in the night and the tension in the air seemed to settle.

"...I'm almost surprised myself, your odd.". The girl continued, a small smirk forming to show whittled fangs in place of the normal blunted teeth workers had, forming a shark like impression. The sight causing slight concern to Rebecca as switched one hand to a sub machine gun, her wings still flared to a little less then their maximum size as their bladed feathers of sorts reflected the tiny amount of light there was present.

"Puh, how so?". Rebecca snapped back, growing more annoyed with how this worker drone was treating her by the second yet having enough self restraint to know that if she let them keep talking she might learn more about them. A strange interest in this anomaly to the usual order of things taking root inside her core, along with the ever present desire to flaunt herself as the apex of murder and mechanical engineering she was.

"Well, you are one of the shorter of your kind I've seen. A lot more... civilised as well... does this have something to do with your colour difference..?". The girl mused back, dropping her voice a little lower and spun her knife around again. Testing her flexibility and hopping to the car roof next to her with an evidently easily done movement, her boots pushing the snow out of place as she landed.

"Guess im just one of a kind then.". Rebecca taunted lightly, her gaze still locked on this mysterious worker and wondering what exactly they were planning to do against her or if they knew they had practically offered themselves up on a silver platter for her. She could go for a snack right now.

"Oh really, well. I have a friend who's.. lets just say, interested, in disassembly drone autopsies so I'm sure she'll be able to figure out if that's completely true.". Rebecca had been about to counter harshly to that statement before she had to block the girl throwing her knife, the blade being deflected upwards five meters by a wing of hers only for the worker to leap over Rebecca, catch her knife and land on the ground a few meters behind her. The blue haired drone spinning in panic and turning an arm into a sword, mouth agape. Aiming downwards as she felt the worker drone's blade be lunged right through her left leg on the lower shin, she swiped her sword down at lightning speeds only for the worker to dodge back with a roll that was followed by a handspring over a car in one fluid motion. Leaving her blade embedded in Rebecca by its serrated edge and making the disassembly drone both hiss in pain from the attack and realise with a smirk that the machine was now lacking a weapon.

Even with that development Rebecca was still shook, almost obviously so as she clocked that this worker drone hadn't jumped back in to try and press the slight advantage of surprise it had. Was her foe stupid, but the more pressing question was still how they had managed to move that fast, precision was something most workers had to a degree, but speed was an entirely different story. One the murder drone didn't care for right now; she was much more focused on deserved revenge and talking shit.

"Pft, fucking creep of a friend then.". She snapped, Rebecca then decided to take the offensive, not bothering with pulling the knife out as her visor switched over to the all familiar X and her core began to thrum as it powered up from a resting strength to a more active running state. Not taking the time to talk either as she launched herself onto the car the worker was behind, landing without a care for her impact force and bending the roof in with a whine. Rebecca then slashed downward but horizontally in front of her and the worker ducked under that before diving to the side in a flash when the murder drone then swung vertically down with her clawed hand. Catching nothing asides air in the attack, she exhaled forcefully and saw the worker to her right. The exhale turning to a surprised exclamation when out of all things she hadn't been expecting to happen from a weapon less worker drone. Rebecca quickly was blessed with a uppercut to the gut as the worker had within half a second hopped onto the car bonnet and slammed a closed fist upward into its target, surprising neither of them when the sound of cracking ribs was heard in response to the hit.

The murder drone vomited on the spot, even this unlikely and rather unwanted projectile failing to land as her opponent had sprung backwards and landed on the cliffside fence again. Watching with some form of dissatisfaction and intrigue as Rebecca hissed and looked up from the mess of black with red tinting bile and oil that had already stained itself into as well as displaced the snow where it had landed.

"wh- what the hell?!". Rebecca stuttered, steam rising up from the heat of said bile as the drone responsible locked its gaze upon her opponent, fury rising in the murder drone as they didn't seem to be continuing its assault in any way. Just standing there like it was mocking her as Rebecca had stumbled back and put a foot through the back window of the vehicle and her eyes switched back to startled ovals. Making her have to activate her wings to avoid falling, the circular engines that to an uneducated eye appeared to just be the connector disk between inner and outer wing half now powering up and rocketing Rebecca in an arc away from her foe. The drone landing on yet another car and denting its roof.

The worker was actually a little surprised at the congealed substance's appearance, not in a panicked way but evidently in a shocked way. Their gaze one akin to someone discovering an unexpected fact about something they thought they knew completely, a little intrigued as their eyes flashed with vicious intent.

"Less red...". They noted to themself in a voice barely audible over the now picking up wind, said storm driving closer and blowing both drone's accessories to flutter towards the inner city. Setting the stage for a brawl more intense then the now apparent to Rebecca testing match, her mind clocking with the information from their words that they were just prodding her for reactions. However violently that had been. She still didn't care because she was going to kill them, no need to care for prey no matter how disillusioned it was into thinking it had the upper hand.

"You going to try or what?". The white haired drone snarked, putting one hand on her shoulder and waving the other towards Rebecca as they looked like they were enjoying this. Somehow.

"Im going to win!". Rebecca hissed back with a venom in her voice not often used, standing up to her full height. Which even if it it wasn't impressive compared to her colleagues as she was around equal to J's stature it still put her as someone that loomed over most workers by a good half a head. Her bladed wings adding a tremendous scare and size factor visually, all of which had no deterring effect on the target this time around. Her tail swirling downward to wrap itself around and remove the blade still stuck in her leg with a slight gritting of teeth as she did, flicking the weapon up and catching it by the hilt in her left hand.

"Wouldn't bet on it.". Rebecca got in reply as she had already aimed and fired off her grappling claw towards them, only for it to miss as the worker had jumped to the side. Moving just as fast as needed to avoid the attack and performing a handspring with their momentum to gain more distance. Landing smoothly a couple meters to from where it had been and grabbing hold of the signpost that had been warning in faded red text about the fenced off cliff side. With a simple gripping of its middle the post bent inward, metal groaning as Rebecca pulled her grapple back in and failed to whip the girl with it on the return trip. Briefly flicking it as if it was a whip but still missing by a few inches. The claw tangling around the top half of the sign and with the strength of its reeling in function just yanked the sign towards Rebecca. A very dumb move on her behalf.

"Ahh!". She yelped, panicking and flicking the post upward into the sky and using the knife to slash the cable. Focusing on this now giving her foe the free reign to pull the bottom part of the signpost out of the ground, that part being about three fifths her height in length. Only registering to Rebecca as a blur due to not focusing on it and the drone dashing far to quickly towards her. A short snarl laugh escaping their bared uneven shark like fangs as the blue eyed murder drone used her wings to boost backwards out of the incoming swipe, barely avoiding it by some assortment of inches. Still earnestly surprised at this girl's speed as it caught the half that Rebecca had had to throw into the air earlier with her left hand.

"This fuckass is fast, way fast. I should probably blow her up before this gets worse but then I don't want to have to explain to anyone how this even happened, I'll get her to tell me how she did this once I've cut her into pieces.". Rebecca's inner thoughts roiled as she threw the knife towards her target from half a car away and watched as the blade was batted away midair with the half of the sign in her left hand. It flying a good twenty meters to the left from the impact and landing in the snow between a car and pickup lorry.

"Wont be needing that.". The worker shot back with her tone evidently carrying both sadistic intent and some feral form of joy that rivalled how she had seen her squad act when close to a kill. Rebecca knowing N was someone who enjoyed the thrill of action more then the result while she knew J was more the opposite and that wretch, she hadn't cared enough about to figure out. Strange that this worker had the same sort of glee evident, was she just as much a monster as they were or did this point to the murder drones being more normal?

Rebecca didn't have time to figure that out, switching a hand to a sub machine gun and attempting to fire it at her target. Only to miss all of the first burst volley as she had the worst aim of all time with anything asides her grappling claw and even then it wasn't the best, she had easily been ousted in precision matches by V of all drones and that had stung back then. Now, with all her shots so easily being evaded it was infuriating. Rebecca having to switch to her swords to block the drone from coming in with a furiously fast overhead slam with the top half of the sign she had ripped up earlier, the collision making the sign bend backwards due to its inferior structural integrity. The block would of sliced clean through if Rebecca had been wise enough to not use the side of her blade to deter the strike, a choice she regretted slightly in the instant. The other half of the sign being thrust forward towards Rebecca's stomach with a brutal swiftness, she barely danced back out of its range. Peg feet nimble as she raised the side of her right blade to clash with both ends of the sign. Her foe having styled on her by spinning for extra momentum with her next downward but mostly horizontal attack, briefly managing to smack Rebecca's face with the end of her braid. An accidental move that only made this whole situation more embarrassing for the murder drone, being brought low enough in a fight that the opponent's hair was finding openings. J would probably kill her for such a flop in performance.

"Your slow.". The worker taunted, their right-hand wielded weapon breaking in two on impact with Rebecca's block and spinning forward to hit the murder drone's other arm. Delaying a counter strike by knocking the sword thrust off course. The two girl's shoving weapons against each other for an instant and tying in strength between them before the white haired drone suddenly jumped back a metre from the clash. Rebecca's block swing being freed to continue on its trajectory and split the air in a backhand motion that left her stomach open for counter strikes. The disassembler girl switching her left arm to the EMP and grinning wildly as she realised how easily she could of ended this earlier, already thinking of what she'd do to the unconscious body once she fired. Even noting the slight amount of fear that had popped up on her adversary's face. Good, extra good since her HUD told her the internal damages from that earlier gut punch had been fixed.

"Yeah right.". She snapped at the worker as she rapidly let the EMP spin up as she raised it over her head and put her free hand up in guard along with one wing curling around her front. Its feather blades slanted as a ramp, something Rebecca instantly regretted when the drone blitzed forward and jumped onto her wing itself with a feral grin. Wind rushing around the pair as the storm grew interested in their squabble, for once nature decided to pay attention to those below it. Both machines to embroiled to be aware of such. Fear striking home as the top of the robotically food chain saw itself reflected back at it with all the speed and gleeful cunning they wore while in her opponent's mind there was only a cruel interest. The worker forcing the girl to flick her wing upward out of fear, an attempt to throw them away to keep the EMP arm free of threats as it spun up to almost complete. The attempt of course, was just that even if it did make the worker throw its weapons up into the air with a shout. The ice blue eyed worker having freed her hands to then flexibly swing herself on the patagium of the murder drone's wing as if it was a monkey bar and land within an instant with both feet on the EMP in such a surprising action that even they looked impressed with it. Smugness radiating from them in droves as the weapon was bashed in with the collision and the top half snapped off to be stomped into the ground.

Rebecca however, almost screeched in both pain and humiliation as she swung her right hand forward in a jab towards the then mentally proclaimed demon. Fury in her core while the other arm switched the mangled EMP out for a claw, a mistake as the residual energy frazzled her a tad and caused her to stutter in her movements. Trying vainly to end this with the thrust forward towards the head but to both their surprises the worker backhanded the sword to the side as its blade was perpendicular to the hand and thus didn't cut it at all.

"WHAT?". Rebecca spat furiously as the ever so smug worker quick stepped back a couple meters with a single movement, ending her movement with a lithe roll into backwards handspring onto the roof of the nearest car. The night growing dark enough that the single streetlight that managed to work at this time had no effect due to it being across the car park back at the observatory and leaving all that was visible was the near inky black with the contrast of those icy eyes staring sly daggers forward.

"Oh.". The worker ended up snarking back as they examined their hand for cuts briefly, but finding none at all. Rebecca instead being further infuriated as the two signpost halves thrown into the air landed on her wing and head respectively before bouncing to the side clumsily. Her headband's top three eyes shattering from the impact and finally bursting her attempts to stay silent as the girl threw her head forward and screamed in agony. Wings balling around her out of instinct as her tail whipped viciously through the air to be poised like a scorpion above her head. Anticipating another attack.

"...Your being awfully loud, just get over it and regenerate already.". The worker spat coldly, seeming to lose all interest in the fight as the hopped behind the car. Not that Rebecca's warning covered vision could exactly tell what the blurry black mass was from between the droplets from her headband still rolling down her head and across her visor along with her wings being mostly in the way. All she could hear was her a surging hiss emanating out from behind the car, the noise almost like a valve being freed from built up pressure. Steam vaulting into the air from behind the car like some kids science experiment had gone right, even if the heat was quickly subsumed by a ever-present cold. Confusing the girl further, not that there was much thinking going on in her head asides from vengeful fury that mounted only further when she comprehended what had been said at her.

"She's... Confident enough to taunt me, and skilled enough to embarrass me like this too. Leave me in this, much, pain. While she's without a scratch??? What is she, some sort of hyper drone. Or am i really the worst at my purpose... If it even was what im supposed to do, no doubt in my mind J is lying about that bullcrap that workers are worse than us, this fucker is kicking my ass and thats proof enough... Kicking my ass, For now, she won't be once i pull her processors out of that shit talking mouth. Just have to keep going, it may be stupid but there's not exactly much else to do. Not like she can truly kill me anyway.". Rebecca's mind whirled as its fury diluted, some short sense of sensibility returning for but long enough to make the important decisions. She'd have to end this quick, before anyone came to check on her for her earlier wail lest she really wanted Doll to give her that condescending look over losing to a worker of all things. She wasn't V enough for that, if they even came. If the storm didn't swallow up such a sound and left her alone here with how it constantly buffeted the abandoned city.

"If you want, me.. To shut up, then.. Come make me.". The disassembler snapped, a new feeling rising in her. One of a more guided bloodlust, or was it a fool's desperation. Regardless she raised up to her full height, wings snapping out to their full width as the girl bared an orderly set of fangs towards what could only be called a rodent in sharks clothing.

"Ohohoh, is this some raise in spirit or are you just stalling? Hoping that your squad gets here. Hmm?". The girl snarked back with a jagged grin and a knowing look from behind the car's bonnet, now having both hands to her side and presumedly lacking a weapon. Night hugging both their frames, giving the disassembler with heat vision yet another advantage even if it felt like much the opposite due to the time it took to access their extra eyes atop their head.

"Both sounds about right, but I don't think I need to wait for them. Actually, what's your damn name so I can write it on your grave once I'm done here.". Rebecca taunted then asked, flicking her tail as she switched one hand to a sword and waited. Air taut with tension that was played perfectly as if it was a harp, the worker smirking earnestly and tutting. Gaze challenging to a degree.

"Kurokami Okatsu.. And might i have your name too? Have to label the glass jar your rotted core is going to be stuck in once we're done here after all.". Kurokami replied sharply, waving one hand towards Rebecca as if making sure to point out that it was Rebecca who would be defeated at the end of this. The action sure of itself, Rebecca having to hide a bratty smirk at the idea of slapping that firmness of figure down a six story staircase, she could do that with the body after it was dead.

"Pfft, sure whatever. Its Rebecca.". She shot back over the wind, waving straight over the counter death threat that had been launched in response to her own. Choosing not to give a damn and instead switch her visor over once again to the X to symbolise a higher running function as well as strike fear into others hearts, the visor version of showing her fangs.

Rebecca kickstarted the fight with a sudden burst from her left arm as a submachine gun, each gunshot's putt into the air being audibly softened by the storm's crackle of lightning. Shots peppering the side of the car as Kurokami ducked behind it, Rebecca already switching her other hand to an EMP. Determined to try again with the strategy for as long as she kept the worker drone away then they wouldn't be able to stop its spin up. Only needed a five second window. One that she evidently wasn't going to get.

"HAH!". Kurokami suddenly exclaimed before the vehicle they were behind got launched towards Rebecca as if it had been thrown, startling the blue, white, purple and black machine into using her wings to boost back from the car's roll. Rust eaten metal crunching and whining against the thickening snow in the carpark as the disassembler put around ten meters of space between herself and the car, which rolled a further four times before settling upside down a second later. Thrown sign blitzing past Rebecca's EMP arm and off into the distance behind her by an inch as Kurokami had used the car as cover to retrieve her impromptu weapons, smart move given that it had worked. Less smart now that she was missing one to a failed throw and Rebecca had the arial advantage. The disassembler grinning as she spiralled a little further into the air and kept her wings in the way of her body, blocking the EMP from any possible damages but in the movement briefly spinning. Losing sight of the girl and instantly regretting it for they had already managed to blitz over to the kid's park by running over the roofs of the cars in the way. Speed doubled of their usual concerningly enough.

"Shes trying to leave the EMP range.". Rebecca noted in hurried annoyance, not wanting to waste any more oil by clocking a second failed firing of this demon of an energy consumer and already swooping down after her. Feral grin wide and wings cutting like executioner axes through the air, seeing Kurokami pivot once she had made it into the park's centre but the murder drone kept her swoop to fly over the park instead of land in it. Aiming to keep herself close enough for the EMP to land but leave room for Kurokami to not be able to interrupt it, which they didn't. They just dashed back the way they had came as Rebecca let off the EMP. Blue pulse arcing out in all directions whilst the drone also closed her wings and landed firmly on the steps up to the observatory. Cracking the concreate under the thick snow with a resounding sound that was joined distant lightning giving both drones a new fear.

"Alright i admit that was pretty not stupid, making me fly myself away from her by doubling back. Still, forty meters is a fair bit of dista- OF fucking course they got out of it. wait...". Rebecca mentally backchatted herself as they saw that Kurokami had indeed managed to duke herself out of the EMP range, the girl having dropped to one knee on top of a blue seven seater and was looking back at Rebecca wearily. What stunned the disassembly drone the most however was the fact that upon the worker's visor was the same X as Rebecca's wore, had worn. The sight shocking her back to the basic expressive ovals.

This had surpassed an annoyance, this had become an interest.

Rebecca just locked onto the girl with the rocket launcher, keeping her distance with a shrouded by both concern and cold intrigue gaze. Her HUD bleeping out a failed lock on as Kurokami hastily vaulted behind the car she was previously on, her moves still fluid, if a little off kilter now as they both knew the EMP had had some effect. Not the desired one however.

"OK, What's up with your face!?". Rebecca questioned tersely, keeping the rocket trained on the car she knew the girl was behind as she had switched her vision over to the headband's one. Allowing her an all encompassing optical view of everything within a 25 meter radius before it cut to flat black like a fog of war. Vision able to be switched through various lenses, the heat vision lens easily picking the girl out from the frozen city and the onset storm's blanket of darkness as a blob of heat surprisingly hot for a worker. Her stomach looking brighter then usual as well.

"What, never seen something like it before?". Kurokami shot back, appearing to Rebecca as if they were shaking off the stun. A sight that had ruined the taller girl's mood as that meant they had fumbled a second chance at a direct and easy victory, perhaps using brute force was more desirable then a trump card that got consistently countered.

"No dumbass, i mean it shouldnt be on your face. That's not how this works.". Rebecca spoke harshly, raising her voice and keeping the rocket launcher trained on the girl. Having little doubt they'd just dodge it if she fired but knowing an explosion from it would probably alert her squad despite the winds if she needed a bail out.

"And why's that?". Kurokami had smirked before dusting herself off slightly and balling both fists, glancing for an instant up at the sky as the wind dropped down and the clouds hung thick but still above them. No moons, no stars, no audience but themselves and the dead humanity who had brought the circumstances for this showdown into existence. The slight amount of steam trailing from the worker's barely open mouth in an ethereal contrast to the atmosphere, another question as to what the hell she was.

".. Because, thats how things are. Your not a disassembly drone.., so you can't have that symbol on your visor. Thats how it's always worked.". Rebecca flared out her wings once more as she spoke, having attempted a strong rebuttal only to not be able to piece together significant evidence for such a conundrum. Her free hand clenching into a fist out of annoyance while the girl took a few steps through the snow and down the path back towards the carpark. The knife cut in her leg now long gone from previous self regeneration and the snow having a minor effect on her overall temperature. Kurokami seemed to be more interested in letting the disassembler speak their mind then anything else right now, a provoking but uncomfortable grin on her face and that already slotting into the usual knowing look in her eyes.

"There's no reason for it to be different now, but here you are. Some creepy trash talking hobo comes out of nowhere with a trash can lid of all things. Trying to kill me for what, the funny? Or are you just delusional? Talking mad shit about trying to pull out my core to put in a jar for what huh. I CAN'T die to such pathetic attempts and your just lucky i haven't turned you to minced parts yet!". Rebecca continued with a stabbing tone in her voice, tail thrashing as she kept walking until she reached the edge of the path, taking one step into the ruined undercover kids park and feeling the fake grass brush up against her foot uncomfortably. She didn't care, having had more then enough of the mysteries tonight and her earlier brush with whatever internal code or freak of nature radio-wave had made her hurl.

"Yet being the keyword here.". Rebecca finished, a vibrant blue light taking the opportunity to scour the carpark as the girl's laser rocketed across in a streamlined blast to begin heating the apartment complex's wall at the other side. The beam losing intensity over distance and fading to half its brightness by contact as its wielder focused on tracking its strike onto Kurokami, who had already ducked behind another car and was swiftly trying to stay out of all sight lines. The vehicle she hid behind having the snow on its hiss and melt from the rapid surge of heat that was Rebecca's laser swiftly finding purchase on the side closest possible, metal door barely bending inward and sagging as the remaining glass in their windows and within extreme proximity slowly began to faintly glow. The laser itself being almost finger thin but bright, the wielder quickly switching over the weapon to a wider nozzle to concentrate its strength for the distance via mental command. As a lot of the DD's arsenal could do such activities.

Within a second or two the door was punched through and the car's insides burst into flames, Kurokami leaping back and over to behind the car behind the one that was now burning and narrowly missing having her body sliced in half by the thicker beam as Rebecca swiped it viciously towards her. Just in time as well since the first machine combusted on the spot with a loud explosion, the car's front bulging from the heat and force while its windows shattered remains shattered. The night flashing brighter as the surge of flames from its front illuminated the area in a sick industrial orange that was tinted with the rising smoke that was blown into the inner city via the slow winds. Brutal storm above holding its fire save for the occasional strike of lightning out in the distance, one strike being a guaranteed death to any drone it hit due to overload.

"She's gone quiet... Annoyingly enough.". Rebecca mused to herself as she switched the laser back over to the EMP for a third attempt, quickly reading her internals and realising she had not enough charge built up into it to use the weapon again. The slight gap in suppressing fire being filled with her other arm switching over to the sub machine gun and haphazardly firing around at where she guessed the girl would be, Rebecca fuming that the fight had went from a more exhilarating close quarters match to the one sided gunfight it seemed to be heading towards.

That thought however went out the window as there was the sound of ripping metal before Rebecca had to close her wings around her to shield from the car door that had thrown like a frisbee, flicking her laser upward before turning it off and slightly marking the roof with it's heat. The girl being knocked off balance from the speed and just barely managing to block it with one wing, the doors glass shattering forward in a harmless shotgun blast that felt more like getting sand thrown at her then anything harmful.

"Woah.". Rebecca managed to remark, her head flicking up and her wings shifting back to a poised to stab position as she heard a clang on the cover overhead. Looking up to see that Kurokami had tricked her by throwing something up to make the noise, the worker moving again with that impossible speed and already having the leg of the park's slide in her hand. Tearing it out of the ground to throw at Rebecca in another annoyingly unsuccessful gambit attack, the disassembler using her wings to jump back ten feet and onto the steps of the observatory. Snow being forced away from the wing's propulsion before it was utterly thrown in all directions by Rebecca rocketing back towards Kurokami, sword slashing horizontally through the air while the worker barely managed to slide under the drone's dive path.

Both shared an instant of eye contact. Rebecca's gaze annoyed but also spooked at the consequences of missing her killing blow while Kurokami looked smug that she had avoided it.

Kurokami then exclaiming brashly in a yell of exertion as her hand latched onto her opponent's tail just before the canister end, the girl rolling and cracking the canister on the ground next to her and causing the acid to splash onto the ground and her side. Her roll ending early as the two girl's opposite momentum's collided and ended up with Kurokami bracing herself in a crouch and yanking Rebecca back by the tail with enough force to end up throwing her forward. The blue haired girl opened her wings to try and counter apply a force of her own but failing horrendously as her back cracked through the railing next to them on the pathway and into the snow frosted dirt besides it. Her wings tearing and flattening a huge portion of the rest of the railing from the contact. Dirt, shaved metal, snow, acid and the torn parts of the railing all jostling to escape the fight and throwing themselves every which way possible.

A grunt of pain escaping Rebecca as her tail then flicked Kurokami twenty feet into the air on instinct because she was too busy focusing on the fact her left side was getting eaten open ridiculously slowly by the acid. The blue eyed worker unprepared for that particular reaction and was now easily managing the free fall back down a few feet away, landing with both feet on a frosted dumpster and cracking its lid. Her form now distorted due to the see through hole in its side and the constant venting of heat from it and her mouth, the sky moving to make the moons almost visible whilst causing their light to reflect down on the planet.

"Oh your good.". Kurokami snapped back with a pained grit of her teeth, her stomach now almost visible as a couple wirings hung loose and she had stumbled a tad to get up. Then launching herself over within an instant to double knee Rebecca in the stomach as the murder drone girl got up from the ground, an act seemingly done with nothing more than malice in mind as the consequences of the move became clear.

"Wai- FUCK!". Rebecca snapped as she doubled over from the initial strike, having only seen the worker blur towards her and that X on her face reappear, The impact throwing them both over the edge of the cliff and into free fall towards the forest far below. Nanite acid slipping from its perch in a half a head sized hole in Kurokami's side and now flicking onto both of them as they tangled in the air. Both hurling insults at each other as various panicked fists collided with each other.

"YOUR DONE, YOU'LL DIE LIKE THE ANIMAL YOU ARE!". Kurokami shouted as she wrapped her legs around Rebecca's waist and snatched the girl's tail from flailing via her teeth in a vicious snap forward. The Japanese worker drone somehow having enough strength to begin bending in Rebecca's waist from crushing her legs around it, the display causing her chassis to whine and Rebecca's eyes to widen further into hollow circles. Both girls grappling with bare hands because of the urgency as the wind tore Rebecca's jumper away and Kurokami's helmet departed for the heavens as well.

"YOU CAN'T FLY, DUMBASS!?". Rebecca yelled back, her voice distorting into a glitchy fury will as Kurokami spiked her right down onto Rebecca's head to shatter some of the headband eyes again while having Rebecca's right hand in her hand as well. Helmet composite liquid spraying over the two and making the downfall more of a mess of colour. The two's left hands still struggling against each other in a equal grapple contest. Rebecca forced her right away from her head before switching over to a chainsaw, thrusting it at Kurokami's mouth, the blow missing as she kicked Rebecca back by the head while smacking the chainsaw aside and having her hand slashed diagonally. Losing two fingers and spraying oil everywhere while the acid finally died due to being dismantled into non effect via their current speed of decent.

Two things were about to go bump in the night with how close the ground was.

Chapter Text

They both landed, crashing down and making plumes of snow rise from their collisions, both warring machinations instantly sunk through to the ground of which held the pine forest they found themselves in. Thick and frosted hardened packed snow swallowing them both to their shoulders, well. Kurokami had ended up narrowly avoiding becoming a piked skull on a tree and quickly if extremely clumsily scaled said tree to escape jack frosts maw while Rebecca had landed on her back and sucked deep into the frosty mass. The worker's task nigh impossible with half of one hand looking more like the missing half of a triangularly cut piece of toast but she still did it, other hand strong enough to punch and claw into the tree trunk itself to make handholds to pull herself up with. Rebecca meanwhile was furiously trying to pry herself out of the equal to her height pit that continued to only get deeper with how unwieldy her body was for escaping snow.

"That was really something Rebecca, losing to a lowly worker like me. Wouldn't be befitting of someone like you, right? Just imagine if you had ended up landing on a tree instead.". Kurokami talked as she scrambled up and glanced back at the twin pits in the snow she and her foe had both made. Seeing the oil splayed snow hissing and steaming as one of Rebecca's wings twitched from its messy perch within a long dead tree canopy, sticks surrounding the almost cartoonish murder drone shaped mark in the snow and signifying that she had in fact landed beside a tree as well. A tree that had its branches either shattered or covered in oil from the girl's left wing being pierced downward on its trunk and torn right out of Rebecca's back, its driver disk already dead of colour to show how useless the part would be now.

"Oh, well that just makes my job easier.". Kurokami continued as she heard a loud groan from her foe, the familiar beam of blue light glowing from within and making the snow dissipate rather slowly. Beam being swung around horizontally within the mass but only causing steamed water and the shifting of the ice to further bury the girl as she shouted out, snow collapsing and flash freezing again on top of her along with the concerning amount of briefly melted liquid that just quick froze again. Remaining wing spasming out and making the at least 10-year-old firn snow shift barely above it as the wingtip barely broke surface, the sight almost sorry as the machine of mass genocide struggled to get free. Almost.

"HELP." A muffled scared plea rung out suddenly, making Kurokami almost drop her intrigued smirk as she realised that Rebecca was driven into fearing for her life. Not against her but against nature, fitting enough considering these drones shouldn't even be on this planet. She had to wonder just how coddled this particular drone had been, to have never ended up in such a mess as she was now.

"Don't worry I'm coming.". Kurokami whistled back, clambering up her tree far enough to be able to pounce over to the one the drone's wing was stuck in as she continued flailing and actually breaking free for an instant to spray a few shots of submachine gun fire towards Kurokami. All missed due to her hiding behind the tree, smashing herself another handlebar pit as the old growth groaned from the stress and Rebecca's

"FUCK off, I meant that for anyone but you!". Rebecca managed to pout as her wing finally broke entirely free of the snow and she was more upright, but still majorly underneath her frigid captor. Her laser fire beginning to surge away enough to clear a crater like space with her at the bottom, icy water running down and making her shiver whilst steam poured upward as if it was smoke from a wildfire. The girl about to stand up before Kurokami jumped down and speared her through the wing with her other wing, the entire weapon extremely unwieldy yet getting the job done as its blades gnawed at the other. Pinning the wing by its strut into the ground below the ice and making the disassembler spasm with a howl of pain, Kurokami letting go of the wing and having to pull her boots out of the snow again due to the manoeuvre whilst also loving the look of pure terror on the other drone's face.

"Pft, I'm sure your squad mates across the city could hear you all the way down here, rushing to your aid right this instant.". The worker taunted as she watched Rebecca grit her teeth and thrash herself to the side, tearing her own wing in half just as Kurokami stomped down on the side that was torn away. Snapping some of its wing blades as a blank fired rocket whistled a few feet off to the side and into the forest, its passing causing the girl to jump slightly and snatch up a single feather of the murder drone's.

"So desperate to save the little runt of their group, they'll fly down here and perish just like you.". She continued as Rebecca crawled to try and stand, every thrashed and uncoordinated move from her sharper body causing the snow to give in under her and deny a proper footing. Tail standing poised to keep everything away as it had regrown while she was getting herself free, the soft purple light from it giving the scene a sense of ripe uneasy drunkenness with how it clashed against the night and spilt oil. Matched with how the murder drone was moving along with the mixture of reforming slush, oil, headband acid and slight traces of blood that had coated the ground in haphazard patterns. Markings of suffering.

"GET AWAY, I'll KILL YOu!.". Rebecca snarled as she scrambled back and aimed another rocket towards the worker while she fell flat onto her ass and sunk a little into the snow, shaking horrifically as the first projectile exploded in the distance behind them. Painting Kurokami and the midnight black surrounding her with a devilish orange red, the worker's face adorned with the hunting X once more as the tiny lick of moonlight this far down reflected off of her makeshift weapon. Left side of her stomach torn with a gaping hole in it that made the drone limp ever so slightly, fire glowing through it as Kurokami's core light flashed a bit brighter and the panel with the worker drone symbol on her upper chest slid back and down. Showing her own core to the world, it then seeming to breathe in to counteract the surge of steam escaping her fanged maw, some tube slipping free and hanging loose from her left side as her oil popped out and splattered to the black and white floor. A tiny amount staining the end of her braided hair before she squeezed shut the tube with her damaged hand and a brief set of codes appeared on her visor. Wind beginning to play with her hair along with force small dusty clouds of the more recently settled snow towards the pair.

"Then do it.". Kurokami snarled as Rebecca stumbled up and her peg legs sunk into the snow up to her thighs again. Making her frantically try to free herself with two clawed hands and abandon threatening Kurokami, the sight pathetic as the one wing still less than a bloody, oil leaking stump tried to flap itself and its driver disk sparked. Blue electricity sparking out before the disk popped from strain sent smoky parts of itself falling into the snow, both drones looking at them with an instant of confusion. The disk being the blue ring that connected both parts of the wing and enabled the levitation effect of said wing but needing other parts connected to it to work properly, Kurokami assuming those parts were within the rest of the wing that had been forcibly disconnected.

"I, i..- i WILL..!". Rebecca spat back with enough shake in her voice to make herself almost unintelligible, left hand back as a rectangular black protrusion not unsimilar to the laser or EMP weapons except with a blue five light bar on the top and a longer snout. The weapon having a barrel that was wider then it was tall as a small spinning whir started up and the bar on its top filled over to one out of five lights on. Rebecca's wings finally retracting back into her body so they could regenerate. Her aim was shaking like a leaf and her tail poised to stab, breaths quick and eyes hollow in the face of the wolf in sheep's clothing that had her cornered and trapped down here. Steam whipping up as the wind howled through and the fire left from the rocket began to die down, leaving dim glows reflecting off of her spilt oil.

"DOnT TeSt -t Me!". The girl tried to threaten again, the weapon filling up a second light as it kept spinning something internally as it shook due to Rebecca's evident lack of stability in the moment. cleanly contrasted by Kurokami plainly standing on top of the snow floor with only her boots half enveloped by the material that had claimed the murder drone to her upper thighs with every step.

"... Whatever... But i do have to admit your worse than the others. The first murder drone I've seen to shake in my presence to the point of forgoing the namesake your kind are crafted under, and yet. You look more... Vibrant, then their yellow dim-witted masses. Whatever you are i know one thing for sure, you are a sign of it getting complacent...". Kurokami just stated back as she watched the weapon light two more of its five lights up, still holding one of Rebecca's wing feather blades in her left hand since the right one had lost all but its thumb and index joints and was still freely showing its internal wiring and leaking oil. The wires severed and limp as the drone's system had cut electricity to the hand to avoid setting the oil on fire, rendering it completely limp past the wrist.

"...Of the natural order of things healing.". Kurokami continued as she looked at her injured hand plainly for an instant, visor still showing just the X as she did. Mouth slowing the constant leak of steam as she moved her sharp gaze back to pin Rebecca to the ground, the weapon suddenly clicking up to its maximum light number and they both looked at it. Rebecca with shaky irregular breath as she aimed towards Kurokami's head while the worker raised her hand with the blade feather in it. Stolen part gleaming in the moonlight that barely reached the pair down so low in this valley cliffside forest, two machines stood and sat as foes within the snow eighteen years in collection. No one but themselves to prove their worth too.

"Wha-. uh, STay bAck...". Rebecca asked and then shouted when Kurokami took another step forward, the murder drone bristling as she scrambled back a bit more and came to rest against the very tree that had stole her wing on the way down. The girl very evidently seeing her rather pathetically fogged memories fly across her visor as if they were a media reel of all she was worth.

"Go on... Shoot it. Launch that disk, before it overclocks. I know how that works.". The worker spat plainly, taking a few shambling steps forward towards the would be her unnatural predator. Her hand leaving the grey tube that it was on before as it stopped leaking her oil like a demented hose, her halved hand storm black and dripping whilst the fire behind her consumed its first tree entirely. Casting her as Satan's greatest soldier before yet another victim.

Rebecca did, firing the disk. Metal whizzing through the air with murderous intent only for it to be parried effortlessly by the worker using Rebecca's own wing feather as a blade. The atmosphere seeming to freeze for a second as the projectile spun off into the woods and clunked almost entirely through some tree distant to them, said wood complaining loudly upon impact before giving a death groan and tipping over with a plume of displaced snow as its only acknowledgement.

"Yo- you just.. How? What...". Rebecca started weakly, spinning up a second disk too its first light as she flicked out her completely healed wings and started to lift herself into a standing position. Eyes still wide but slowly righting themselves as the clock ticked by.

"STAY BACK!". Her shout echoed through the forest, the sound only a failed command in response to Kurokami taking another demented step towards her. Tail darting out entirely too early as yet another warning, its shaky canister unable to stab as the target was a foot or so out of reach. Barb and canister shivering as if it had a fever while the girl it was attached to tried to scramble further back, canister's nanite acid poised ready yet unable to strike. Kurokami stepped to the side of the tail and slashed its cord off before it could right itself, its barb end falling to the ground pathetically as Rebecca finally took the hint and tried flying up and away.

"No you don't.". Was all Rebecca managed to hear, her HUD blazing over with a fresh damage warning as her lower abdomen was punctured all the way through with a clean stab with enough malice put into it to pin her to the tree behind her. The murder drone screeching and swinging a claw down as well as kicking Kurokami, her combination of moves making the worker dodge only the claw swipe before getting her visor barely cracked due to the kick mostly scraping her. Snow parting as she stumbled back and Rebecca tried to fire the disk launcher at her again but failed when in her pain it had lost all its charge and instead pathetically dropped out onto the rilled and distilled mess of snow

"FUCK, Shit. Oowwwwwwwwwwwwwww..". The blue eyed murder drone whined as she stilled herself, almost blacking out from the mental overload that was her systems showing every single damage warning at the same time as oil was leaking out of the wound like a high pressure tap and her wings flapped bitterly. Fury stilled to fear, life hanging so close to its apparent end without reason. For a supposed top predator, she had quite the freeze response asides from the oil that drooled from her mouth.

"Ourgh.. Damn animal...". Rebecca had to look up from the blade in her at that, hands freezing as she grabbed its thinner end and almost cut herself on it from her fumbling. Core going cold as she heard the grind of metal being torn from metal, snow shuffling, fire crackling in the distance as cold death swung at her. Both hands quickly switching to rockets that whistled across into the forest, one making its mark and blowing her incoming wing to smithereens and destabilising Kurokami in the process while the other detonated against a tree a fair amount closer to the pair. Wood chips, wing blades, fire and snow all shrapnel from the blasts.

"WAI-". Rebecca was to be cut off by her own wing being used as a bat, moved precisely to where its feather blades would rake her face in half in a reaper swing and silence her. Thats what would of happened if she hadn't blown the wing up, the explosion causing a blast of snow along with the feathers from her wing to be launched in every direction including straight into her face. The drone going limp as regeneration attempted to take hold to repair the current indent into her skull by one such blade. Her wound in the stomach lowering the oil it had left to flood as the worker drone responsible floundered away from the starting fire she had been knocked into and quickly patting down the single embers that had stuck to her shorts and hair.

"..Almost killed me there...Guess you blue ones get feisty near death.". They remarked to themself, giving the stun locked body of the unusual blue murder drone an appraising look as she lurched back over to it. Fire quickly dying out due to lack of stuff to burn without immense difficulty while the further one continued to jump from tree to tree, slow hunger gnawing through the woods without concern to the outcome for it was stuck in the present.

".. But, we've got to wonder where that tenacity was earlier.". Kurokami muttered before leaning down to snap another feather off of one of Rebecca's discarded wings with one hand, glancing up to make sure the drone couldn't mentally recover since there was a pair of blades stuck inside her head. Preventing regeneration, or, more accurately. Highly stunning the regeneration until the object in question was either removed by an outside force or absorbed by the repair nanites, essentially quadrupling the time she would spend out of commission since Kurokami had no plans of removing the wing feathers. The girl going further and reaching up to shove a third one into the drone's mouth and split their tongue while they shook, oil spurting out along with a slurred glitchy gag or two yet no cry out of pain. Rebecca having her mental capacity slashed and numbed for sanity saving reasons as opposed to losing it over the pain of having three of her own wing blades inserted into her head while awake, her code putting her in a state that would usually be regenerated out of in seconds but now seemed to have no end in sight. Her world reduced to a dull white blur.

"Hehh... gone catatonic hmm... Probably the best for you since I'm far from the most, surgical.". The worker noted as she started to pluck the rest of the wing blades off for future usage, shining the blade's reflected firelight around a bit as she marvelled at it. Watching as the disassembly drone stayed listless but very much aware of everything happening to her, probably. Turning towards the approaching flames within the forest and the blackness that radiated upwards from it, smoke choking sky that was blanketed under midnight storms as lightning rashly struck the distance.

"Its best i just take what i can since no doubt that fire is already attracting those who i don't want to meet, especially if it's more than one at a time...". Kurokami thought to herself grimly before grabbing the tail that she had cut off before in her free hand, holding it weakly between her remaining thumb and finger of the damaged limb. Aiming to shove the nanite acid barb into Rebecca's head with a malicious grin on her face that contrasted with the rest of her, eyes dull now that the fight was over while her body limped and stood off kilter from the gaping hole left in it.

The canister would have other plans, its glass sides exploding and spraying the acid out in all directions as a lone shot from high above blitzed through it, her hand and into the ground. Larger calibre bullet, a sniper rifle of some sort, shot from above her guessed from the trajectory. Kurokami jumped back and looked up, hissing as the purple acid already started to set in on most of her arm and a tiny amount on her chest. Her core light plate closing up as it had finished the extra air cycling, feet sinking into the still very present amount of displaced snow.

"What now? -Ah.". The worker hissed to herself before seeing the distant light that was another murder drone up at the clifftop that the pair had fallen from, far out of her range especially in this state. She then rushed back to Rebecca with a deft but dragged step, visor back to its X once again while shoving her damaged and acid covered hand into Rebecca's mouth via jumping up onto the blade in the girl's stomach as a stepping stool. Causing it to be pressed down further through Rebecca's body from the weight while Kurokami doused all the nanite acid that had managed to get on her stomach again with the saliva. Neutralising it and mostly saving her arm asides from a series of fingertip sized acid scars on the plating.

Another shot landed, bullet whipping past her head by an inch and taking the acid covered arm off entirely and making Kurokami finally scream in agony. Gritting her teeth enough as she landed back in the snow next to her failed kill and furiously tried to think of what to do in the dark, restrictive to her movements forest and without one arm. Any half-formed plans going out the window as the other murder drone had already jumped off its perch and began to swoop down, the worker recognising the yellow lighted machine as already more skilled than the blue one. It had a sense of certitude in its movements, cold action that spoke volumes to how her encounter with it would go. More so that she was in this state, Kurokami vomiting up another plume of heated steam from her insides as she tried to keep herself from getting snow where it really shouldn't be.

"I'll have to distract it from going after me, so i can escape alive.". Kurokami mentally spoke to herself, flicking her gaze back to Rebecca as the male murder drone finished its straight down dive and flicked itself to a stable flight, the worker having to dive into the snow to dodge the steel feathers that had been dragged through the air just where she had been. Male disassembler already soaring back up vertically after its cutting version of a bombing run, snow thrown to both sides and blinding Kurokami for an instant.

"... Fuck, he's smart.". Kurokami thought with great disapproval, leaping over to Rebecca's limp corpse still pinned to the tree and landing on her head. Glancing fearfully up at the other murder drone as it launched a grapple hook at her from its distance, probably aiming to just throw her around and to her death. Smart move since she couldn't really land consistently if her trajectories through the air were dictated by a ruthless killing machine with what could essentially give them full 360 control of where she was launched if used correctly. The girl kicking Rebecca's head forward to force her body off of the half dissolved blades she had been stuck up with, both of them falling to the floor. Kurokami using the momentum to duck into herself and avoid the claw whipping past her twice, the fact they had retracted it right when it would of hit her giving the worker a spike of interest at their seasoned usage of their weapons.

"Given all this power, practically a living arsenal and still, most of them were bumbling idiots. Just my luck to run into the one good one along with some experimental runt... Wonder what my friend would have to say about this one if i could of brought it with me.". Kurokami's thoughts meandered a little as she was given a tiny amount of breathing room while the murder drone seemed to finally decide to approach properly now that she had hoisted its comrade's body over her shoulder with her only hand available. Toughing out on her body's urge to crumple under the weight as her breath surged with a three metre thick blossom of steam, staying true to her namesake with the action and deterring the murder drone with her sheer absurdity. The machine hovering down to her level and only a few meters away from her, N never stepping down onto the snow as he had both hands as drawn chainsaws. Their purring a reminder that he was lethal.

"HEy, Let her go.". N demanded, voice leaving little room for argument and completely devoid of the fear that had been evidently present in Rebecca's. The face he wore being one of determination, arguably the worst expression you could find in your opponent and Kurokami knew that by a long shot.

"... Fine, I'll leave peacefully on a couple conditions... Or, i could just crush her core here and die along with it since i know you will take your, righteous vengeance, out on me anyway.". Kurokami snapped grimly, shaking Rebecca slightly as the girl laid limp over her shoulder, the blades in her face slowly beginning to fall loose as her repair nanites ate away at the intruding materials. Knowing she had not exactly the most welcoming amount of time before her almost success revived but having the chance to pull a couple strings her way with what she had.

"Well, uh. What are those conditions?". N said back from where he was floating, moving himself over to perch on a tree trunk with his claws as to lower his output of energy. His yellow eyes looking over the scene and taking in just how messy these two had gotten, along with how Kurokami was still standing despite a hole in her stomach. The forest fire he was so wary of crackling its way closer in its hot but fighting for its life state, the flames eating away at the trees and pluming their smoke yet barely managing anything against the bases of said trees. Frost keeping them from making progress suitable to the great fires of Copper 9 before its ruination.

Kurokami paused for a second, her visor clicking back over to her brutally sharp gaze and normal worker pupils instead of the murder drone familiar visage. The girl thinking for a moment, allowing N to get a decent look over her rough and rumble appearance.

"Well, for starters id like for you not to hunt me down, a ceasefire for a week seems fair. Two, we share a set of three question's each with the option to pass one. That's all i ask.". N frowned as the worker made their terms known, all of them easily agreeable too since she probably thought she had to drive a forgiving bargain to even escape. He also saw that she was on the clock with how Rebecca was already regenerating, still having to grimace at how his friend had been mistreated. Claws tightening into the worn trunk he was perched half sideways on in fury, the branch supporting the tiniest amount of his weight cracking even still.

"Agree... You drop her now though...". N bargained back, more of an request but he still said it with a strong voice. Tail flicking as Kurokami just denied that option with a chuckle and a shake of her head.

"Once the questions are up. Of which, firstly I'd like to know the names of your squad mates.". Kurokami demanded plainly, hearing the storm pick up again and the sky crack and rumble from its intensity.

N blinked once at that, not exactly expecting anything else as a first question but also feeling like she should of asked something else. A small pit in his stomach beginning to appear at the idea of passing his name and his friends, if they could be called friends, names, onto such a brutal worker. Seeing no real alternative that would stop the girl without a struggle he didn't particularly want to endure he relented.

"I'm Serial Designation N, the rest of my squad includes Rebecca, Serial Designation J and.. uhm, it used to include Serial Designation V as well until... Recently.". N sighed once he had finished answering the first question, having omitted Doll's name and the fact that the squad was currently going through a tactical divorce. Seizing his chance to put on some counter pressure with his own question whilst Kurokami mentally noted those three letters and grew a little more annoyed.

"And you, what's your name?". N asked back, starting simple only to realise the possibility that he had fumbled a question that he could of gotten the information another way, tail swishing in annoyance but he stayed silent. Grim silence as wind roared past the pair, Kurokami smirking and answering with a louder voice to fight over the rising noises.

"Kurokami Okatsu...".

"Thats a weird name, in a good way. Like its not normal, uhh. Unique?? And i would say its been nice meeting you but so far it really hasn't.". N chattered back to the girl, trying to sound conversational as he again looked over the scene and its approaching fiery interruption. Just now making the connection he could stall for time instead of answering Kurokami's questions, because unless he was grossly underestimating her then she wouldnt be able to do anything against two murder drones. Then again, he really didn't want to fight if there was a peaceful way out. Now that he knew these drones were just as sentient as he was.

Kurokami gave him a exasperated look, surprised at how animate these murder drones were while also realising that Rebecca was probably about to regenerate completely. Dropping her to the floor, grabbing her tail with her damaged hand whilst putting a foot to the girl's neck to tell her to stay down once she finished repairing. Both drones being slightly submerged under the thick snow with Kurokami's boots keeping her only around ankle deep while Rebecca lay face down in it. The whole movement making N start a little forward to stop Kurokami while the girl in turn made it very obvious she knew what she was doing by cutting off the tail so she just had the barb and canister in hand.

"Second question, what's the earliest thing you can remember in your life?". The question rung out. Cold, gaseous might be a better word to describe how distinct yet also anonymous it was. Disrupting N from his action and slowing the simmer of the current mood as a couple ashes fluttered past the pair, this forest was probably to survive but not without damages now irreversible.

"Uhh...". N started before frowning, recollection of memories taking him a few seconds due to how addled his computer brain could be sometimes. Flashes and reels of older times passing through his head with a tinge of disgust at how blind he had been or at how vague his memory would be.

"I, dont think your going to like it but... it was murder. Of drones...I think. Maybe lived in a manor at one point but i dont have anything on that asides a gut feeling..". N answered with a soft awkward chuckle, keeping his one question pass to himself since it felt rude to deny some simple information.

"Ahuh.". The worker toned bluntly, feeling Rebecca stir under her boot and frowning down at the girl beneath her. Face almost, disappointed. At herself or at her almost kill, that remained unknown. Was that a flash of resignation that crossed her visor, N couldn't tell.

"So, why are you. You know, trying to kill us? Not that it doesn't make sense considering everything, i think? Is it just to fight back?". N probed the silence, disliking the awkward heat that built as seconds passed and the fire was now only a twenty meter or so away. The disassembly drone shifting on his perch against the oil smeared tree as Kurokami sighed at his question and examined the wing feather she had stolen to use as a blade. Light bouncing back onto her face and casting orange onto her black visor and blue eyes.

"Close... Revenge, purpose. You know, all that bullshit that keeps sentience from invalidating itself.. the short stick is still that, your right. To me it makes sense to fight back something thats literal first memory is of massacre of my kind, making cruel spires of out bodies while eating the ones not given care enough to become your, spires... I'm sure its probably similar to you, to fight for survival, upholding yourself at the putting down of others. There is one particular star I wish to smother more than anything but that's about it.". Kurokami monologued with a self conscious ring in her voice, N absorbing every one of her words with a slight confusion because of just how much her face differed from her voice. The drone's expression one unreadable to him.

"..Oh, yeah we were probably pretty bad from your perspective...". N started before faltering, speech coming undone as Rebecca stirred with a groggy huff that got cut off. The girl flicking the already regrown tail in annoyance as she tried to move.

"Still.".

"Get off me you fatass.". Rebecca hissed into the snow, regretting such an action as she ended up eating some. Her visor showing a pissed expression and an anger mark to exactly nobody at all as her headband eyes had already clicked on so she could know what, or who, was standing atop her. Having shifted to stand before feeling Kurokami's boot force itself down with enough force to make a squeal of Rebecca's neck bending inward.

"No.". Kurokami bluntly said back, causing Rebecca to almost surge upwards before her action was stilled.

"At least stop standing on her?". N asked loudly, now hopping down deftly and with enough grace to avoid sinking more than half a foot into the forest floor. His face an expression of worry and both hands up in a pacifying action to show he didn't have any weapons out nor pointed at the worker atop his friend.

"N?!".

"Nope, either this one here stops moving or I'll kill both of you.". Kurokami stated plainly, shooting a glare to N as he landed closer to her. Fangs barely showing along with tossing and catching the tail acid canister in her damaged hand.

"Not if i kill you fir-". Rebecca shut herself up as more pressure was applied to her neck, her face now forced a little more into the snow, so she was entirely submerged in the white ocean. both hands trying to prop herself up and switched to their normal mode, thus deprived of weaponry due to not having a good angle to strike from.

"Fine fine geez, settle.".

"Good girl~". Rebecca had to resist the temptation of attempting to spin her head far further then it should be able to go to give the girl atop her a bitch stare. That comment having caught Rebecca off guard with its implications along with how condescending it was toned, the vocalisation sounding more akin to someone talking to a pet then a person. Rebecca's tail then had to shift in further annoyance, the barb end regrowing again only to be sliced off in a backhand swing and dropped into the snow. Pinpricking the inside of the murder drone's thigh and making her feel yet more uncomfortable than she already was.

As N saw this and registered Rebecca's discomfort he quickly asked his last question, trying to bundle past the current situation so he could rescue his friend and go back to guarding J. The rogue thought of Doll retracting their current status if she found out that he had left the lone disassembly drone in a situation which had endangered worker lives.

"Who is that star you mentioned, or what. What did you mean by smothering a star?". N blurted out, instantly thinking of a million more useful questions then wondering about personal rivalries that very much didn't concern him.

"Yeah, what was that all about? Revenge?". Rebecca added bluntly while she continued to metaphorically and probably literally eat snow. Having to raise her voice to participate.

"Heh, funny that your asking about worker and worker beef when you just, eat them. Tho, I guess it makes sense for cannibals to look out for cannibals... He's a kid, Zane Arctura. Don't assume you've checked names of anyone you kill.". The worker answered with a straight face, the silence that followed painting a picture that told her that neither of them knew who the hell she was yapping on about.

"Anyway, last question... Why, why are your kind even here. Shoot down from the stars in your one-way pods for what?". Kurokami had a slight eager look on her face, showing to N instantly that his lack of knowledge here was about to leave her disappointed in this department. Not that it would help her mood it seemed, but there was something more than a little heart or core wrenching at the presented argument from her side. That the angelic machines that had come to slaughter them by the hundreds why they asked for a rationalisation that would never come it seemed.

"We don't know, now get off of me.". Rebecca said bluntly while she tried to move again, Kurokami scoffing at her complaint in response.

"Pft, sure. Now how about you make a more convincing lie.". Kurokami answered bluntly down at the still pinned disassembly drone while her blue eyes alighted on N yet again. Searching his expression since Rebecca's was currently unavailable due to environmental interference, what she found there wasn't helpful to her search. What she found merely hammered home the lingering serpent within her that whispered words of its all inconsequential doubt, the girls face screwing up a tad into disbelief at the silent answer.

Nothing spoke beyond the wind, desolate in its noise. Oranges and heat red blended with the dead whites and cold greys of the surroundings setting an air of wanton truth, tinged with natural fury. Fire crackled, its temperature now making the three realise its closeness.

"You can't be serious...".

"Well, sorry, but we are. We have no idea why we're even here.". N said, quite seriously in fact. A single spark from the nearing fire landing in his hair and swiftly being patted out, ruining some of his seriousness with the action and expression he pulled.

"... Yeah.". Rebecca pipped up from her spot, a spiteful bite in her voice.

"So you were all just content killing for nothing?". Kurokami complained, grasping at strings to hold herself above a pit she had already fallen to the bottom of. Voice of hatred deprived of a reason to hate, voice of reason left to reconstruct a palace above pillars of salt.

"It was expected from the dumber of you lot to not have any clue what you were doing, those disgraces to the moniker of drone, that which only crawled like animals. But you guys TALKED, WALKED, this blue one here has a name. It may be a trash name, but that's not the point. Was there seriously no drive beyond avoiding starvation to commit genocide, Why did it make you and not tell you what you were doing?". The worker continued, now brashly throwing the tail canister she had towards N only for him to barely duck under it with a startled noise. Rebecca hearing it and flicking her wings out to almost catch Kurokami off guard, making her stumble as the murder drone tried to stand properly now. White haired drone now again using that unprecedented agility to leap over to the nearest tree and perch in its branches via stabbing the stolen wing blade into the trunk. Her voice rising still till it was a shout.

"It's pathetic! Was there not at least a lie, or anything, that you told yourselves would justify this..?". She tried once more to the silent drones for a definitive answer, Rebecca having also scrambled herself over to a tree trunk so her peg legs would have something more solid then the deep snow here to stand on while N just stayed a foot deep in the snow as it slowly thawed around him. Mostly due to the onset fire that was now struggling with the overall temperature here, it would probably starve itself out in half an hour or so.

".. Yeah, J... J said we were doing it for JCJenson...". N spoke back, one hand a sword now to his side while the other was just holding his coat by the collar. Rebecca meanwhile was crawling to the top of the tree she as in, sliding back down a couple meters when she got a heavy breath of smoke because of a change in the wind directions. Gust now travelling parallel to the cliff face that was this side of New Halster as the core collapse had changed the terrain of the city in a couple of non minuscule ways, mainly being the creation of this ridge along its eastern face.

"Yep, boss kinda lied, but i knew it was a lie from the start.". Rebecca boasted a tiny bit while Kurokami shot daggers in her glance towards the girl, the worker very much fuming now but at least not trying to kill them both at the same time. Most probably because she knew if she could barely win against one murder drone with the element of surprise then there wasn't going to be a chance for her against two.

"I should of realised earlier...". N added remorsefully while joining the other two by perching back on the side of a different tree closest with his claws in its trunk slightly.

"... Ahuh... Well, I suppose i should be, uhh. Going, now. That you've so graciously given me the chance to leave without almost dying again...". Kurokami switched up her attitude after taking a moment, looking up to the smoke covered sky with some sort of pondering expression before deftly vaulting to the next tree over. Beginning to leave while the two murder drones glanced at each other. N wearing an expression of befuddlement while Rebecca was mostly impressed with the worker drone's audacity, both stunned out of speaking for an instant or two.

"Toodles Reb, You fought like trash~". She cooed and then leapt to the next tree, and the next, all without contest as Rebecca had to take a moment to digest the snarky yet obviously flirtatious tone in the other's voice. Her accent and language not helping at all in deterring N the chance to also look confused at the choice of tone, his face having a small mischievous grin on it.

".. YOU ALMOST DIED TOO DUMBASS!". Rebecca shouted at the quickly disappearing figure, almost preparing to launch after them for a rematch before four things halted her. N putting a hand up to stall her away from such an idea via making a cutting wave motion over his neck along with the already onset storm. The fact that when she moved she felt some frost crack and fall off of her back into the snow below and finally that there was a chance she'd lose again and this already embarrassing rescue could very well get worse.

"I dont think shes listening anymore.". N tried to cut off his teammate's ranting with an objectively correct observation only to be met with further ranting, his coat whipping a little in the smoke filled wind as he jumped over to a tree further away from the now quite close blaze.

"COME ONNNNN!". Rebecca shouted once more whilst the shape of her foe finally disappeared into the far away and unburnt woods, fire becoming dangerously close before she saw N move to hover over next to her. The pair looking towards each other once more while one blue eyed murder drone fumed to herself.

"... That bitch, N. Can't we go hunt her down?". Rebecca pleaded to him as the two stayed where they were, N planting himself onto the trunk next to Rebecca and concerning himself with making sure she wasn't hurt. Vision preening over the girl while she just tried to not show how disgruntled she was because usually during times like these she would be quite the opposite, gruntled by having her crush sweep their gaze over her. His warm eyes, warmer smile, N had a kindness that wasn't replicated across the surface of this rock she had already died once on. She was sure she would die again to keep that kindness there.

".. No, i made a deal that she'd leave you alive if we just talked like we did.". N toned back, having to smile a tiny bit at the pleading note in his friends voice. His gaze taking note of the amount of her previous wing was scattered around the oil soaked crash zone he had found her in after seeing the smoke, also noting the ice on her clothes and sides. Watching most of it slick off her as the girl watched where Kurokami last was visible, looking like a slaughter scene from a movie or how they did frequently in the older days now passed.

"Oh, well thats a deal between you and her so i can just go beat her anyway.". Rebecca tried to pry herself into the air and succeeded to an almost acceptable degree, her wings shaking a little as they dealt with the winds and recent frosting. Shaking more then they should be but she didn't acknowledge that fact, taking a few wing beats to rise up above the tree line and away from the now too close for comfort flames. N in easy pursuit to settled into levitating within a meter to three of her.

"Well, yeah... you could, i guess.". N gave a slight grimace at the idea of finding a loophole in the deal and betraying someone's trust, his optics set on Rebecca as the girl looked back at him, crestfallen yet also still fuming. Both expressions warring on her face as the storm winds buffeted them around. Wing disk drives whirring contently while they both hovered and yet more slush fell off the pair, N only having the tiniest amount on his feet while Rebecca's seemed to just soak into the few clothing items one could say she wore.

"But, your... No offence but your kind of. Not up for it, are you?". N prodded after a moment more of nothing happening.

A moment more of nothing happened.

Rebecca's face screwed up in far too many emotions at once. The girl crossing her arms with a pout and looking away from N for an instant.

"SHe did better, better than what I remembered myself doing... should by all accounts not remembering her- i -that thing. Doing, there has to be something up with her, or was the girl in my dreams just a prank pulled by whatever's pulling the strings further up.". Rebecca thought, well that was the only one that was clear asides a desire to hide away in shame for the next six months at everything that had happened tonight.

"No, No im not up for it.". She spoke tensely, taking a breath only to spit it back out when it was far to soot tasting for her own likes. both of the drones taking a second to move far to the right and out of the billowing fumes, their wing drives complaining ever so slightly at the buffer them this and that way.

"Id wish upon a star for a hot bath or something cause it's too cold, Kurokami laid me fucking flat five times over. Its too windy, I've got frost in more places then i should, its a miracle my wing drives are even working and tonight just sucks more ass then it should of. Entirely asides for you. You know. Being here...". She continued, flicking her tail before spinning slightly and making sure her wings didn't clip his to look at the cliff face behind them. Not disregarding the extreme irony that came from it specifically separating the city from the wilds that were a below the pair by at least fifty meters now via merely existing. Its sides running from horizon to horizon almost as they had since the core collapse, it would make sense that a literal wall of stone and multitudes of kilometres wide wall of earth didn't just double in height overnight without such permeative force applied to it.

"Oh, yeah. i did in fact just save you didn't i?". N toned back with both a slight smirk and a sympathetic look in his eyes, examining how dirtied the girl was with all the care he could muster. Of course, she tried to flex herself now that she knew he was looking, making a pose in the air back to him that almost mimicked that of an old movie that lingered in her memory alone. Both hands making mock claws by her head and a grin on her face.

"Mhm, my hero came swooping down to save lil o'l me.". She spoke, a tiny amount of her usual gusto missing to make it feel like the drone was entirely present but for a somewhat confused over the whole situation. N noted that quickly, now pressing one hand up to her upper chest in a princess like motion.

"Pfft, all for you dude. I saw the smoke and knew you weren't back so yeah. Came swooping down once i took it all in.". N toned back with a small snort as his hair fluffed itself further into disrepair from the wind that now had both drones annoyed at the disruption.

"We should get going though, don't want to leave J alone for too long. Plus this storm is kinda, not the best to be flying in." N reasoned as he was beckoning her up with him, suddenly rocketed into the sky above despite the storm growing in intensity. 

"Wait.". Rebecca spoke up, halting him as she lazily dived over towards the cliff wall and plucked her now shredded and oil coated pink jumper off of a jagged edge it had managed to land on before following him as the pair made their way back to safer grounds, the familiar frosted reminder of their existence that was the spire they lived in looming above the city distance.

Chapter Text

A few minutes of quiet flight passed almost as swiftly as the city ruins beneath the pair before N spoke up in a raised voice, making sure his voice could be heard over the low whistling of the wind and the now far closer rumble of thunder. Mother nature seemingly right on their heels but not yet biting as her gusts propelled the pair back towards their rotted body pillar home. One that very surely should of deterred such insanity from happening purely out of its threatening aura, but yet there was at least a one hundred percent percentage raise in the amount of worker drones willingly travelling around the city at night despite everything. 

"So, uh. We'll pick up J then I'll show you where I found that new working shower block a week or so back where you can clean up. That sound good?!". Rebecca looked over at N as he spoke, the handful of meters between the soft gliding pair tugging at her now dishevelled hair as they flew. She seemed to be mulling over something in her head in a way that made her oddly quiet, her wings outstretched and stained with already dried oil in a stark comparison to N's spotless pair. 

"... Yeah, Yeah that works." The girl's visor showing a plain annoyance as she raised her own voice to answer back, her voice not sounding entirely happy with what he had suggested but for N, figuring out why was easy. He knew J was difficult to deal with for him, and he had a remarkable amount of the restraint that the blue eyed drone lacked along with the bare minimum of mutual tolerance of each other that Rebecca and J didn't have. 

"We can't leave her there by herself.". He toned back as the pair landed upon the cold steel platform of the spire's upper exit, slight traces of frost and snow already being blasted away as the pair landed one after another on the surface since it wasn't wide enough for two sets of wings to pass through. Rebecca hopping to the side so they could both perch on the platform easier, the girl more focused on looking over herself then answering N now as she undid the jumper around her waist to see how much the pink garment was no longer pink.

"Annoyingly this means figuring out how to lead J around, definitely going to need to keep an eye on her at all times. And maybe use, the chain as a lead???". N thought to himself as he prepped to hop down from the platform and onto the pod, his motion being halted before it began by the blue flash of Rebecca's tail flicking out to block the way and her voice cutting through the muted wind in deadly seriousness.

"What if we killed her?". 

"HUH?". N near gasped back as he flicked his head to look at her properly, the girl returning his surprised gaze with an annoyed one of her own. One of her hands holding up the oil ruined jacket by its hood and the other already switched over to a sword that hung idly by her side as if ready but to heavy to wield properly, N's gaze flashing down to the blade for a second in concern. She looked serious but that was temporarily overshadowed by himself moving back to stand upright, his own tail lashing a little behind him as frost bitten wind poured through the entryway hole behind the pair. The walls to either side watching, an occasional barely visible visor or bump that looked like a chest visible to the both of them as they looked at each other.

"She's clearly not intending to help us, hell, she never has. So why should we go through all this extra effort to keep her around?". Rebecca stated back, her gaze now having to turn upwards slightly to keep itself locked with N's, a situation that usually would of had the former attempting to flirt and the latter restate their boundaries. Now, now there was none of that. 

"Because she'll have to tell us eventually, we're a squad and despite the, uh... difficulties, I'm sure she's only withholding information because it's crucial.". N said, both his hands idling at his sides for a second before one went to brush a bit of frost out of his hair. 

"Despite the difficulties, you say as shes literally been chained to the floor of the pod for almost a month and a half with no change of scenery because your sudden alliance with Doll made you decide that overthrowing J was the right move. Which it was.". Rebecca snapped back, her tail moving to idle behind her as she moved to step forward before realising that her shorter stature and occasional infatuation with the taller drone made it impossible for her to successfully pull of any sort of proper intimidation like she so wanted to. 

"Oh, oh. Hah... Its been that long?". N stated with a small, dry and forced chuckle before looking down towards the pod, a small abashed half smile on his face as if he was going to shrug off the accusation and say that they'd figure out what to do any day now. Rebecca knew he wouldn't, despite how much she'd like him to.

"Yeah, that long with no change of plan or new information...". Rebecca added, joining him in looking down at the grey once space worthy machine that doubled as the home of there ex leader and now hostage in an information war that had turned into a stalemate on all fronts. 

"She's not breaking without some stronger push.". The girl continued a second later, exhaling a small puff of visible breath that quickly got snatched into the gusts that passed the pair. Both of them watching as it dissipated.

"Why do we need to break her, she should just tell us herself. She cares, we're a squad, she leads, thats what squads do. They look after each other. Thats the whole purpose of them, right?". N's thoughts bubbled within his processors as he shoved one of his hands into his pockets after opening it to let his fingers find purchase upon Rockster, just to check he was there, to make sure he hadn't let down his day one. 

"Nope, we're not waterboarding her or whatever your thinking.". N stated bluntly as he took a step to be at the very edge of the platform, his right hand retreating from the smooth sides of Rockster safe within his coat pocket. His movement and reply causing Rebecca to huff in annoyance, the girl forcing an appalled expression to her visor for a second before a cartoonish anger mark popped up on the top left of her visor.

"I wasn't thinking that, dumbass.". Rebecca snapped back, her usual snarky expression returning for a second.

"She'll tell when she feels like its the right thing to do, because im sure in some way at least she cares.". N continued cheerily, watching the shorter disassembly drone put both their hands on their hips despite one still holding the dirtied jumper. 

"Doubt that, but whatever...".  Rebecca relented, giving N a troubled once over, blinking a second later as she thought. Her hands moving to return the jumper to how she normally wore it around her waist, trying to deny the increased bite of the cold approaching storm from making her more ticked off then she was. 

"What's waterboarding?". The girl thought to herself, being just about to vocalise this question when N jutted in to tell her he was going to grab J and that they can fly to where they were going. Rebecca watching with slight annoyance as he thudded down on the snow outside the pod and crawled into its opening hatch a handful of seconds later. As soon as he was gone she let out an exasperated sigh, tonight really was turning into something. 

"We would of already been there and clean if i hadn't broke the last shower, not like it as my fault. I didn't break it it just stopped working, which means it wasn't my fault. Now tho we've gotta bring J along to, not like she doesn't need a shower anyway the bitch stinks worse then V did... and her outfit is utter garbage, girl needs something better then the stuck up militaristic hoe fit she has now, not like i couldn't easily rock it better then her. Minus the badges, those fit her at least... i actually do need a better outfit, this one is all ruined and i doubt there's a working washing machine anywhere that isn't inside that bunker.". Her thoughts ran through a few places where a washing machine would be while she waited for N to emerge from the pod. There was a couple of practically completely looted stores around New Halster that she had seen, knowing that they had been empty for her entire career as a mass murderer and usually paying little mind to it. She was here to kill, and that usually took up all her time alongside N and generally moseying around the city between the growing in rarity kill's. 

She continued to wait as the wind blew past her, making her feel colder then she already did as she decided to spare a glance towards her crop top to reassess how ruined the piece of fabric was. Turns out it was pretty much entirely stained black and where it wasnt was only because that part had been torn of burnt off, much to the girl's annoyance. 

"It wouldn't even be dirty if that hobo hadn't decided that today was the day hands were thrown, whatever her problem was... however she managed to move like that, hit like a truck. I doubt all worker drones can do that, if that thing was even a worker. Like, who let her whittle her teeth to look like that?". Rebecca continued to muse, submitting herself to a waiting game as the pod continued to not open up with their unfortunate ex boss who would probably have to keep that chain around her neck the entire trip. 

"Deserved.". Rebecca toned out loud against the wind, her vocalisation being ripped away by the ever present wind while she had to wonder. 

"What was taking them so long, there wasn't enough noise to suggest J had done anything brash and if she hadn't been resisting or anything of the sort then there was no reason for N to be this slow. Id like to go before the storm gets any worse, you know?". Rebecca slightly fumed, deciding to get things on the road and jump down to get N to hurry up. The girl landing action hero style in the snow a few meters off from the pod with a slight oof noise along with a small plume of the white dust exploding away from her wingless landing before she was already getting up and stalking her way over to the side of the pod with the ladder on its metal hide. Mentally congratulating herself on falling a distance equal too or further then Kurokami had earlier, only for her face to brighten a tad when she heard N pop his head out the pod's exit hatch and call down to her.

"Dude shhushh, she's fast asleep.". 

She blinked once at that statement, dumbfounded because her body clock was telling her that around now was the beginning of their usual hunting time so to find their boss of all drones not awake for it was a little stunning. Even if she never got to go anymore, and N had lost the guts to go out more then once every three days to hunt since he was no longer about even trying to put up the numbers for the kill quota's. Some experiment about seeing if the lack of new quota's being sent in would result in grabbing JCJenson's attention enough for them to actually show themselves in some way other then their now untrusted to the squad employee, SD J. 

"Shes what?". Rebecca toned back bluntly, taking a step or two back from the ladder and gazing up at the absolute stud of a drone, the girl crossing her arms over her chest. Her wings flicking out cautiously as to avoid clipping any of the wreckage that was strewn around the insides of the tower, most of it originally being planned for reinforcing it but now laying discarded. Old cars, dead bodies, newer dead bodies in the conveniently hidden away dead body corner, the barrels of supply oil that were now a little more relied upon then in the older days.

"There's no way, her, asleep, on so called company time. That alone would be proof enough we've fucked over her life, not anywhere to the point where its even but its a nice start i suppose. If only he wasn't onto my case about J, if only she'd tell me the rest of what she said she would that week...". Rebecca was thankful that out of everything the company or whatever was their progenitor was had chosen to make them, telepathy was far off the menu, mainly because N would of already heard and probably seen every one of her fantasies with him but sometimes it was just because she had a slight habit of having to check herself before she spoke. Case in point, calling N her's right in front of him back when the red eyed girl had let them into the bunker.

"Asleep, see.". N chirped quietly before awkwardly pulling J out of the pod by the admittedly thin and attractive waist like she was a rag doll before sitting her to the side of the pod exit. True to his word the drone was in fact evidently out cold, for about two seconds before she stirred with an annoyed stomach grumble and the pair of ex subordinates shared a worried glance.

"Yeah, bitch is so asleep. Totally.". Rebecca said snidely, now using her wings to hover up next to N as he sat on the pod roof with his legs still dangling into the hatch as if it was some kids pool. His own face giving J a cautious look over, noting her hand still tightly clasped around the back of her pilot's cap despite her groggy state.

"She was". N defended himself with an abashed smile. One hand again at the back of his head while an anger mark appeared for a second upon his visor, disappearing before anyone could note its existence. 

"Oh great, its better then carrying her... maybe, this is going to be exhausting. Especially with the chain, and flying, and the weather, and her attitude, and i smell like smoke... wait i do?". N paused his thoughts and sniffed himself as he saw the pigtailed murder drone open its eyes and her visor flick away from the dim constant message stating she was in sleep mode, happy that he had got her at least out of the pod but a little disgruntled at how he did indeed smell like smoke. Unfortunately.

"Was.". The ex boss finally managed to tone out with annoyance, about to move to stand up from her position flat on the floor before the feel of the chain around her neck pulling taut made her scowl and stop. Her gaze flicking over to the two meters of metal that leashed her to N's via his left hand holding the end of it nonchalantly, the boy raising it slightly when she locked eyes with it as if to indicate some form of apology for her current state. J noting this for approximately half a second before she sat upright anyway and N had to move himself forward to avoid falling into the pod, J smirking sourly at the fact he hadn't while Rebecca huffed and flicked her tail. The purple canister glowing faintly in a familiar light to the robotic bugs that were still musing around the edges of the spire in their multicoloured interest. 

"What in the unpaid overtime is the meaning of this?". J snapped at the pair, her voice as taut as her chain and bristling with a well put together Trojan horse of authority as if she still had control over the situation, which to a degree she did. The other two did need her around after all.

"Uhh, its an excursion..?". N toned awkwardly, his body already moving to stand up on the pod roof and fluff out his own wings away from the other two. Having to stand a bit behind and too the right of J.

"We're going to clean up and unfortunately that means your coming too.". Rebecca answered earnestly, her wing drivers purring contently in the air as she hovered with her legs down pointed and one in front of the other.

"... Uhuh, you two definitely look like you need to clean up. Especially you.". J said bluntly back, waving one hand at Rebecca while the other fit her hat snuggly on her head. The girl's voice still disdainful as if easily cut through the little wind that was entering the spire from its higher exit, the proper mouth of the structure looking out into a pitch black city. 

"Did you happen to blow yourself up again?". J asked, standing up and giving the chain another foul look while N watched her do that with a discomforted expression on his face. His hand on the chain twitching once as if he was unsure whether to tighten his grip of drop it completely.

"Course not.". Rebecca snapped back at the girl, one hand idling as the murder drone's signature claw to show that she didn't mind getting into a scuffle against the ex boss if needs be. The three wickedly curved claws making the pigtailed drone's tail swish in agitation, more agitation then it had been previously since she was very assured of herself on the distinction that being chained up and lead around like a dog wasn't what she was here for. Yet she stayed.

"She got atta-

"Shut it". J snapped her head over to face Rebecca as the blue haired girl butted in and cut off N's statement, making the former look abashed, J got more then a little irritated while Rebecca looked worried. Mainly about her self image, or what tattered remains of it would be left if J got handed the information that the fourth member of the squad had in fact put up world record losses against a worker drone of all things, it would be acceptable if it was against another murder drone or something armed to the teeth. It would be a travesty if it was just an insane probably magnet addicted girl with nothing better to do but embarrass a prime killer on a lonesome evening out. 

"Attacked by what?". J asked back near instantly, being more then capable of picking out what N had been saying before he was cut off. 

"I said shush, its confidential.". Rebecca snarked back while taking a glance out of the main exit of the spire, N knowing she wanted to get going soon and deciding to bury that little feeling in his gut about telling J of Kurokami and the latter's questions. The storm wasn't going to wait around for them and soon flight was probably going to be out of the question, they had all night to waste and there was nothing asides from them that would dare even go outside in a thick storm like this. 

"Oh, oh right yeah it is...". N toned quickly after his blue teammate, giving J a look to suggest they were going to get going and that she should very much try to come along. The pigtailed girl exhaling deeply in response.

"I swear if its another of those lesser disassembler's prowling around our territory all because these two suddenly have a no murder legislation in action, corporate be damned I'll be buried into repairing all of this for weeks. At least i know where the workers are all hiding now, thats one less problem down that boss has been all over me over, just have to wait for the all clear...". J fumed to herself after being told to be quiet, almost facepalming at how easily N folded over to listening to Rebecca's exclamation instead of her own. 

"By corporate, i swear you two are impossible to manage, but sure. Lets wander out during a category six or something storm after getting attacked. When has that ever been a bad idea?". J snarked back to the pair but opened her own wings up, making sure to narrowly clip N's furthest feather blade with her own to make a defiant sounding metal on metal scrape.

"Can she not?! Like... damnit. We just let her out, and she's already complaining about everything, which. Is kind of normal, she always complains. She better not do anything, please...". N's thoughts bubbled up a bit at the contact, the drone realising he wouldn't be able to fly and drag J along and so dropping the chain with a suddenness that surprised both of the girls. The pair staring at the dropped item as it hit the pod roof, one of J's hand's clutched at the end of the chain connected to the thick collar around her neck with a grip strong enough to make the object groan from stress. 

"Uh, N?.". Rebecca raised her voice along with one finger, that finger dumbly pointing towards the dropped chain end at his feet.

"Yeah Rebecca?". N replied quickly, taking a step back with an audible to the pair breath. Thunder rumbling off somewhere in the distance almost an instant afterwards. The blue haired girl speaking up afterwards, having a gut feeling this was going to end badly but for once deciding to not speak the first thought she had. 

"Why'd you do that?".

"Because I can't fly and drag her on a leash at the same time, nor could i uh, carry her.".

"He has a point there, annoyingly. Not like he couldn't carry her tho, he's just scared she'd get mad and do something and he doesn't want to piss her off. Can't believe he trusts her enough not to try and ditch us mid flight, I'm definitely making sure she flies a little in front of us the whole time.". Rebecca's mind yapped on as she flexed her claws, flapping her wings a little as hovering in place was starting to wear on her. The girl's back aching to a minor degree despite her lack of age.

"... Where are we going, exactly?". J stated, her voice trying ever so hard to retain her distinct tone of authoritarian disinterest but faltering in minuscule ways that only the tallest of the group picked up on. The pigtailed girl lifting off the ground to match Rebecca in the air above the pod, staring unflinchingly when a sub machine gun got aimed at her face by the blue eyed mistake. J just moved one hand to hold the brim of her hat as she stared at the barrel of the gun for a second, keeping a straight face despite her internal fury boiling.

"Barey's, its in that big mall to the northwest of us, the one with the ruined rubber duck statue outside.". N answered plainly.

"That place?". Rebecca toned in surprise before her mind already whipped up some small fact that made her grin, the expression becoming more pronounced as N nodded warmly back at her in confirmation. The trio already having some likely idea of what else was to go down at what was practically an empty treasure trove of long unused items, J rolling her eyes a tad before she spoke up.

"Its upwind from here too, right?". 

"Ye, yeah it would be bo-. J". N answered back as he lifted himself off and pushed himself back in the air to make a few meters of room for his wings to not clip on anyone else's, catching himself before he finished speaking but what he had said had already been heard by his ex boss. The girl looking at him smugly until Rebecca grumbled something sly to herself, making sure J could hear her but not understand her while a rude finger emoji flicked over her visor in the same shade as her eyes for a second. 

"Once again proving that the boss had no power in their cpu when they decided to recruit you, huh.". J tried her hardest not to get annoyed at that gesture while she mused, the girl crossing her arms over her chest and instead staying silent.

"It's upwind yeah.". N toned after an exaggerated cough, one of his hands now with its back in front of his mouth to be polite. His tail flicking in abashed annoyance, the action going uncared for by the other two as they mutually tried to make themselves the one in control of the conversation. J's calmer and sly demeanour clashing against Rebecca's all in energy but neither of them wanting to really get into anything difficult as if right now and thus keeping quiet. Rebecca instead nodding at N and taking off for the dark maw of the tower, swooping low and switching both hands for flashlights that would be the most amount of help they could get outside. Not like they couldn't operate within the darker nights that were presented, J proving that by following the girl and herself getting followed by N.

The night outside one of deep inky blackness, the cloud coverage hanging abysmally low and the occasional crack of distant feint purple white lightning casting a worry upon the bellowing breath of the wind. Skyscrapers reached like crucified hopes towards the tangy iron heavens no doubt empty of all but the hidden stars, the three making their way in a soft levitating glide that weaved through the ruins at around seven to eight stories up. This height leaving the taller spires of rent steel and concrete to both hide them from the elements and any unwanted eyes lest a meal had wondered to far in the night. Their orderly flight arranging them within a neat line that kept the traitor to the team between the traitors to the goal, all three subsumed by thoughts of the grand tomorrow when truth would become an inevitability as much as action.

SD J dreamed of fire. Something grand to change the direction of this flailing proffit margin, eyes of gold keeping dull record of a world emptied of purpose while she glided within her saved nest of willing treachery. Ice within the air that contrasted the annoying heat within her core, the desire to be fed arising soon after as she subconsciously wished a snack would appear within swooping range. Not that her charges would approve of her doing her job, demented tools bent awry from the only thing they were made for.

"This is so annoying, don't they know I was the one that saved them from everything. Gave them a direction when they were directionless, the company demands absolute loyalty and they should be proud I've been stooping so far down to let them lead this rebellion. They ask for proof when corporate demands devotion and then have the gall to wonder why their unclear pleas don't get answered. It's simply unfit for a disassembly drone, it's unfit for someone I was largely responsible for guiding, was the merchandise not enough proof, can they not hear the radio's? The radios... Why didn't I think of that earlier, I know I'm different but they should be the same as me there. Maybe the bottom line can be steered away from, Ive just got to be smart about it, Ive just got to make a case to corporate that this isn't a lost cause. I can at least convince N with proof, Rebecca... She's to volatile for the goals in mind.". Her stomach happened to grumble as she lined up her next profitable actions, already making a new guideline towards the success of the goal. Prosperity would come once worker life was eradicated, ironically it was the internal clash that prevented the wheel from turning rather then a difficulty of the terrain beneath.

SD N did not dream of fire, his mind was set on this new tumultuous chapter of his life. He dreamed of reunion of character, of understanding and repentance. His bladed wings once wielded to shave away the aggressors against what had then been the righteous path now simply guiding, divine mandate from on high had decreed the bottom line. These primitive outdated machine sent to the cutter, and he but a blade.

"It's going to be a long night isn't it, just doing anything feels so different now without someone poking us in a direction. Its not, aimless so to say, i think. It might be aimless on second thought, especially since i don't know what im doing tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after that either. But, i think thats cool. I can do today today, and when tomorrow comes I'll do tomorrow stuff. Like wait for Doll, or get some more oil... hopefully more of the first rather then the second, but if i have to i will... its in the name they gave us, im a murderer and i should of never started being hurt by that fact. Not at day one and not now, its to survive. Because i deserve that, i do, i do, i deserve this life I've made... whatever of it remains understandable.". N huffed into the wind and cut off his internal monologue when his thoughts dipped down a darker path, not wanting to entertain something that went against every fibre of himself despite how easy it would be. He had always been on the giving side of fear, receiving it felt odd. If this could be called fear.

The faulty one without a serial designation, Rebecca, pondered the future too as her body twisted narrowly around the concrete jungle. Her ideal tomorrow one forged from the growth in tension she felt within what could barely be called a functional squad, hammer ready, anvil waiting the first strike of what would bend metal to her will. Things change with force, because the world moves on the push and shoves of those within it. Gruesome, yes, but she could hazily remember the fire that had forged the current status quo and those flames were proof enough. 

"Just ignore that street looking familiar, its probably nothing. Yeah, nothing at all. Just a fuck up of your memories, thats all, still hate how damn foggy they are. I swears and it was's piling up again and again because the lot of us are dementia ridden freaks of nature. It sucks, its ass, this wind better cut it out, its just dampening an already only decent mood... what's the bet V was just as bad as us, the fag not fucking remembering what day it was. Dumbass with no style who relies on fricken prayer's to keep whatever semblance of sanity she had. Least she's gone, even if the jacket was pretty cool. Everything else was trash, like no pants??? Stripper much, least she was shapely... What's the bet one of us gets struck by lightning?". Rebecca's thoughts jumped around as the trio continued their northwest flight towards the store, the blue coloured drone an outcast among monsters that felt as if she had to play the part. Or maybe the mask had been on to long to fall off, questions like these just made her mad. So she tried to ignore them.

The trio travelling above a part of the city that had been heavily bombed providing the opportunity needed for a distraction from their thoughts, gazes briefly downturned to see the scarred frost eaten ruins of whatever mess it had been. The place ruined by fire, transformed by a unstoppable push and breaking without much pushback. The road passing between the apartment complexes and small stores that had been flattened and torn open in pocketed pits that were signature to the explosive hardware the three had. The road itself however had been disfigured in a different way, its surface driven up into an array of spikes akin to stalagmites of considerable size and width. Their tarmac tips razor sharp while the crumbled road beneath them was now a sea of white snow that gave the illusion that these things continued on endlessly below. None of them knew why they were there, none of them particularly had ran routes of hunting past Fieldreed street and its sector, neither when the initial arrival had blessed them with the bounty of conquest nor afterwards in the years of dwindling supply. It had been left in its solitude and that was that, the three winged hunters now again casting no words towards the place as they departed for the further northern corners of the city's inner ring.

Chapter Text

Frost parted in droves as the three metal angels heeled to gravity, landing in white gold meteoric decent upon the pathway beneath the giant duck that sat as decrepit capitalist god of the old order. J would of been enamoured had she seen its past instead of the present, the girl giving a distrustful glance up to the mascot of the mega mall they were a few paces away from the entrance as its massive rounded yellow form stat atop its pillar to their left. Its sermon attended by the skeletal mass now drowned in styx flood of snow, perhaps it would of evoked something more then concern for safety had the trio seen anything other then the holes in its hide and heard anything other then in whine from the shockwaves of their landing. The duck staring south with eyes that had been soundly discoloured or removed over the years while its mohawk stood with the top half shaved off and melted slightly due to some event in the fiery years now past.

"The fact that as JCJenson's name on the plaque is disgraceful, true JCJenson warrantied products would of weathered this much better then this thing has, its why they are to be trusted. We're JCJenson's products, we survive and do what were made for and that makes us worth it. There is no other way, decay such as this is disgraceful and the sooner im away from it the better.". J thought, the girl already taking lead for a few seconds and prowling with one sword out towards the shattered glass doorways into the white tiled mall, her spare hand looping the chain still attached to her neck around her left arm to stop it from dragging on the ground and creating a horrid noise. N and Rebecca following her up before the latter levitated with her wings past both of them and landed right in front of the doorway so she could actually fit inside, the two yellow eyed drones surprising each other by sharing a glance to check the other's reaction.

"Why'd i do that? Its not like i should of, where's that poker face of yours gone Serial Designation J? Don't fuck up now or corporate will be demoting you along with disposing assets like him.". J huffed to herself and glanced away from N, the girl checking their surroundings briefly as the storms winds blew stronger and her pigtails flapped like defeated battle stands. Too messy for someone who held herself as she did, yet going without a care as the weather finally gave in to the idea of snowing.

"Why'd she do that? Actually look like she cared for once, well, she does. Right, maybe... Just put it away for now N, there's a mall to get through and a tunnel to walk through. Then I can talk to her.". N herded the two inside and brushed off his coat's shoulders and head, his tail flicking side to side slowly. The drone confused for an instant before his mind was snatched away by the appearance of the inside of the place, not that he hadn't seen it before but it was always a marvel to see just how much broken glass a building could fit.

"Has loneliness finally gotten to her or am I going insane... what if its a psyop or something, trying to make me let her off the hook by actually interacting with me? Not that she didn't before, well, usually it was just orders but that. That was weird.". N continued to think while he himself took a glance up at the duck, faint recollection stirring within him at its damages yet nothing concrete surfacing. Files probably damaged by age, or straight up damage.

"This looks like V lived here, am I right or am I right.". Rebecca toned up brashly, standing in front of the other two with both hands on her burn mark graced hips while surveying over the trashed mall innards and the stores to either side of them having their garage like doors slammed down. The four stores that they could see in the dark before the main hall they were in took a right and a left due to an intersection that was just as trashed as the entrance was all indistinguishable due to their branding having been worn, oil coated, removed from or after the collapse, missing or utterly vandalised by graffiti or violence. Which was minority annoying for any of the three that were considering looking around for something to take from the place, N already flicking out a flashlight from his left hand as he looked forward.

"Wha?". N toned back as J sighed and stepped to the side of the pair, already moving lithely to space herself from her annoying comrades. Her tail pricking against her chain as if it wanted to just pry the thing off but knew that it would get her into more trouble then it was worth, her eyes scanning over the rubble and glass as it crunched underfoot. Briefly switching over to using her headband to see just in case there was anyone hidden around the place, the walls here thick enough to scramble some of her sight and blur anything behind it. This fact giving her a small headache before she clicked back to standard sight, hating that just having a thick enough wall between them would hide anyone from such advanced technology.

"What do you mean what? You never seen V's dumpster fire of a room?". Rebecca toned back, looking at N with a small smirk.

"NO? She never invited me in so why would I snoop". N countered with an appalled look, pausing mid step as he was about to start leading the trio towards what they were even here for.

"Invited in, nah I just looked a couple years back.". Rebecca reasoned bluntly, moving behind the boy and shoving him lightly forwards across the glass strewn and oft shattered tiles with a smirk. Barely lowering her tone to something more suggestive as she did before N flicked her face with his tail's non pointy end and she huffed in annoyance, the pair of them having an awkward moment afterwards as they let the silence linger in wake of whatever the girl had just attempted.

"Maybe im stupid, nah. Yeah? Like, ok that was a bit far of me, but he hasn't told me to stop, but he clearly doesn't like it. But i really like him... he clearly cares about me, but why won't he show it in the way I want. Why wont he like me when i like him, thats how things should work. Right... Maybe, actually no they don't because he likes V and V never showed anything back to him... weh, whatever...". Rebecca sighed and tried to play herself off as just going about her day, now wearing a barely masked expression of disappointment that J completely saw through. The pigtailed girl switching one of her hands over to a torch as well and glancing towards the pair expectantly, both of them beginning to move in response to that.

"Why?". N asked after a few seconds of silence, him and Rebecca now walking side by side while J trailed off to the right a few paces back and looking like she'd rather be anywhere else then here. Not like any of the three particularly fit the present vibe emanating out from these far looted ruins, where scarce light filtered in through ceilings cracked or the countable on one hand amount of lights that still cast their dim dead white as if there were visitors to entertain.

"J wanted me to find her, so i looked.". The girl stated back plainly.

"...Oh, yeah that makes sense.". N spoke softly as he lead the group down a left and past a few more stores, going silent as he pondered what exactly V's room looked like.

"It does, you should still be listening to me and the company.". J interrupted, her voice one of plain self confidence and degrading correctness that would have only earned her negative replies from the pair if not for the loud but distant noise of something heavy falling down in the distance. The unnatural noise making all three drones tense for a moment, sharing a glance before beginning to sneak further into the mall.

"... What was that, and why does it feel so tense now?". Rebecca thought quietly, switching one hand to a submachine gun idly while looking around. Mainly for a stairwell or a hole in the floor that lead up to the next level, finding one a fair way down the right path away from the entrance and seeing that the other two had also noticed it. A second clang rattling down from the upstairs floor, this one quieter now

All three taking the right hallway and now travelling in something that could almost be called single file, J in the front and keeping her chain from making noise by strangling it with her tail and moving the metal collar around so the chain hung down her back. N following in the middle with his hands as claws and silent steps that felt almost impossible for how big his feet were. In the back was Rebecca, not as tense as the other two were but still staying silent, letting the storm outside make its groaning and whining without any contention from the usually loud girl.

"It came from upstairs, so that's where we go, without a noise... Heh, amazing that with just a little stress they all fell back in line... Even i- shush J. having a conscious doesn't bode well in this job.". J's mind whirled in a loudness that clashed to the silence of the real world, the pigtailed drone leading the two others around a corner before glancing back at N. Displaying some words on her visor.

"Headband.".

The words got a simple thumbs up in reply from N while Rebecca said nothing, now slightly shoving N along as the three kept going. Moving down the cluttered by broken glass and knocked over trolleys hall and having to climb over a small hill of evidently purposefully piled rubble to avoid shoving their way through a set of trolleys. Their silver cage sides catching some of the light from J's torch hand as a third clang happened now directly above them, all three stopping as they came to another intersection. This one of a four point crossing and having been cleared to the point it's only point of damaging was the fact it had snow in it from a hole that went all the way up from the first floor through the other floors and out the roof. Each floor having a larger hole then the one below it while their edges were jagged and had a faint ring of snow around them too, the oddity that was the sight making all three of the murder drones check it out. If only a tad.

"That's cool.". Rebecca spoke up casually, voice not as loud as usual but still audible to the three. This making J whip around to berate her while N stayed where he was and made that job more difficult, leaving J and Rebecca to talk over his shoulder.

"Rebecca, shush.".

"Tch, aight.". The girl replied, flicking her own vision over to her headband just as N whispered to the pair.

"I can, barely see it, but there's something living up in one of the stores above.".

"Of course, of course as soon as they start to slack off the ruins we left start to get populated again. Anyway, we're here enough to kill whatever it is now.".

"Living?". J whispered back, swapping one hand to a sword silently as she glanced towards a broken escalator that lead upstairs. Her face showing a victorious expression as she started towards it and flicked her spare hand in a gesture to command the other two to follow her. N pausing for a second before heading after her, switching back to his normal vision and grabbing Rebecca's midriff with his tail to pull her along to. The three making it over to the stairwell and now all being back to normal vision, glancing at each other to check if they knew what was going to happen next.

"It's moving, and gives off heat as well as other things drones do.". Rebecca added idly, debating whether to unwind herself from N's tail or not. His mind adding an extra line to that dialogue that he knew wouldn't change anything of the outcome, they were on the prowl and guessing by J's eagerness they wouldn't be ending this with a dud hunt.

"It doesn't look like a drone at all.".

"Mmph, we kill it then, like we're supposed to.". The pigtailed drone ordered before starting up the escalator with near silent steps, N and Rebecca sharing a glance while she went. The former unwinding their tail now since they had realised it had stayed for far longer then they had planned it too.

"Thought so, now I kind of want to just ignore it to spite her, it's not doing anything except moving around and bumping into stuff like a dumbass.". Rebecca mentally countered to none but herself as she crossed her arms and stayed at the bottom of the stairs, till N started up after J. The three of them getting to the top and prepping for some sort of fight, the second floor a lot cleaner then the first even if it also had every glass window shattered beyond belief. The floor having been swept clean of glass years ago probably and now letting the three move with less noise, which was countered by the fact the thing that was making the noise just now made more noise.

"Ok, it's still in the store?". Rebecca thought as she, J and N, now consumed in the current thoughts of hunting scampered to the wall beside the heavily raided silks store and peeked inside.

"Oh, that's?". J mentally sputtered out , her train of thought leading elsewhere now that she had seen what wasn't there.

"How?". N asked near silently, looking onward and being a little baffled by the mix up in what they thought was here and what was actually here.

"What, I can't be hallucinating already I'm barely like... Seventeen or something.". Rebecca asked herself in her head, tail flicking as she glanced down at N since his head was underneath hers, which was underneath J's. The top girl giving off a smug aura while they all looked into the store to find what they had sensed up here. Only for them to find nothing, nothing obviously stood out at least. The place having almost all of its shelves and clothes hangers knocked over by whatever had been through the place but having no sign of said thing, the register on the ground and things having generally been pushed around in the low ceilinged place as if something was trying to get out. Yet still, there was nothing.

"Oh, I know what it is.". J suddenly toned out loud, causing a loud rattle to come from within the store and a distinct wobbly effect to appear around the place. One of the shelves on the left side of the room distorting as if it was being painted over with a brush, neither N nor Rebecca being able to stop J from taking a step to the side and unloading a single heavy sniper bolt into the room. Causing glass to shatter with painfully loud crackles and the room to change to reveal a black metal and purple glass lantern about the size of a dinner table tipped on its side now crashing into the floor. Ornate and gothic styled design having been held in the air and previously invisible to them until now. J's bullet having put a hole in its top half and caused the thing to begin bleeding out as it clattered to the floor, only for a second shot to the bottom to silence it's whirring and still it properly.

"HUHH?". The blue eyed one exclaimed into the quiet that followed the lanterns death, her question mirrored by N an instant later.

"What the, what is that thing?".

"I wouldn't know.". J answered back, putting a few more bullets into it with a submachine gun hand while she switched back to her normal vision. The pair of her half dissenting subordinates giving her a confused glance in exact sync in response, swinging their heads back around when small arcs of purple lighting jolted out of the now dead thing across the store. A few worker drone shaped hands that were attached by small black cords to the things top half as if they were some type of curtain shifting in futility and splaying their fingers sporadically, their movements dying out a few seconds at most later. 

"You just said you knew what it was though?". The tallest of the three asked, still next to the wall and holding it with two normal hands. The peachy but faded material standing strong under his grip and making a slightly ugly contrast with the pair of drones.

"Bitch yeah! That.". Rebecca added, not bothering to check what words came out of her mouth while she stayed with her chin on N's head.

"REBECCA, you can't just say that.". N thought quickly before moving to stand upright and make the girl squeak when he moved. Rebecca having to now stand on her own and hide a scowl at that fact from the pair of original disassembly drones.

"...Yeah, I know what it is, but not what it's named. I've killed three so far, all of them around here and in the more recent years.". J answered, choosing to ignore Rebecca's comment instead of start drama over it since she knew her authority over the pair was hanging dead by a couple threads and waiting to be dropped into the abyss. That being something she very much would rather not have to deal with, for as much as the girl was distant, she did think she liked her squad.

"Huh... So, why didn't you tell us?". N then asked, taking a few steps over to be able to see the corpse properly and being greeted by a fairly intact mess. The glass cylindrical centre of the lantern having shattered into a billion pieces

"Or at least mention it?". Rebecca added quickly, looking around the outside hall of the mall and letting her tail flick around idly. Still covered in just the burnt half rag remains of what was once some equivalent to an outfit, the mess certainly looking just as bad now as it did then to J.

"It doesn't matter that much, you would of made a big deal out of what was essentially another thing on JCJenson's immense hitlist.". J spoke back, watching the lantern's light die out and the oil cease to sputter out from its wounds before turning away from it as if to leave it dead.

"And why is the company against weird, lantern, things?". N asked a second later, watching the corpse for a few moments longer and ignoring the small pang of hunger he had at smelling the vicious liquid now soaking into knocked over clothes or pooling around the damaged black metal. N getting a closer look now as he waited through the silence of J not answering him yet. Now seeing that the lantern was, or what hadn't been significantly damaged of it was a set of six small bars of black metal connecting a top and bottom half. The top half having a ornate grey triangular prism shape upon them that was made out of carved stone, the thing looking almost like a roof with how it had tiny and now disturbed by its pitiful death shingles lining the roof. Meanwhile the bottom half had a flatter base, still stone but looking circular in shape and almost completely flattened. Widening out to allow for the spokes that connected both halves to be weaved through and along the stone sides in a weirdly impressive feat of what N assumed was masonry or design. What he did find weird was how had wiring inside where the glass had been along with a few barely larger parts and, most shockingly, bled oil.

"Is it because they, bleed?". N added when there was no response from J, attempting to walk over to the corpse but having to push two downed racks of unsold clothes over to the side to get even halfway there.

"Lol, considering what they demand of us usually I'd say so... Not that I'd want to keep that thing around anyway, it looks way to edgy for my taste.". Rebecca thought, turning back to look at the thing as well for barely a moment. N being half in the way along with a fair amount of mess that didn't have the chance to be cleared before J spoke up. Her voice cold.

"Because they told me they are, now leave it.".

"... Why?". N asked in a confused voice, having half the mind to just get closer to it anyway but not particularly wanting to antagonise J for not that much of a reason. He did just want to see what they had just killed after all.

"It's dead, there's no need to get a closer look at it.". The pigtailed drone replied bluntly, N glancing back at her before taking a heavy breath. Annoyed, he pushed that away for now. Then gave his own reply.

"Well, yeah.".

"She's right, kinda... What if there's more around though. We could use a good look at what we're up against... Are these things even dangerous?". Rebecca then added, slinking over to be beside N among the clutter as the trio slowly left the building. Rebecca's blue eyes dancing over a couple sets of clothes as they did.

"Not at all.". J answered back with a huff, beginning to walk off properly now despite not actually knowing where they were supposed to be going after this. Her voice adding one last quiet bite before leaving for the escalator they had previously clambered up to get here, both her hands idling at her side but very much looking like they were wanting to be anywhere else right now.

"Weren't we here for something asides ogling a dead body?". N and Rebecca huffed in response, watching her go with a pair of really ticked off expressions. Then the blue and purple haired girl took a few steps after J and addressed N, cajoling him to take the lead back.

"Yep... Lead the way N, but, we're coming back to this thing later.".

Chapter Text

"Yeah, then it's right here.". N spoke up, now leading the trio back to the entrance of the mall while the storm still rumbled on outside. All three now having flashlights out to help move through the dark easier and not have to rely on their headbands to do such things, beams of light scanning around the mall idly. J having also let her chain hang normally once again.

"You sound like you've been around here a lot?". Rebecca asked N a few seconds later, shining her torch on the closed garage door that would of lead into another store if it had been opened. The dull metal almost unique in just how plain it was, not like there was anything else in the mall that wasn't of a similar level of boring normalcy.

"We've all been around most of the city a lot.". J then toned back, seemingly unable to keep her mouth shut when the other two probably would of liked that option more. Rebecca barely keeping her reply to herself since she knew it wasn't exactly scathing enough to be worth saying.

"Duh, yeah... I just meant him and here...".

"Well, yeah I usually ended up in the bigger buildings when we hunted... Still don't remember seeing those things around here before though.". N replied as the three rounded a corner, having successfully gotten onto the right track and having been met with a rather impressive amount of piled up segments of damaged flooring on the left side of the hallway ahead of them. The pile going up to N's shoulders in height and slouching out wide enough that there was barely a meter of clear path on the right side of the hall that would allow the three to walk past it, which they all did.

"Tch, that just means you weren't looking good enough.". J spoke up as they finished going around the messy pile. Now trailing behind N and Rebecca to a small degree while having both her arms crossed on her chest and sounding bored. Almost annoyed, which was normal for her.

"That just means you weren't looking hard enough my ass, you just counted kills all the time while we actually did all the work.". Rebecca snapped back with a purposefully high and whiney voice as if to mock J, J shooting daggers at her with her gaze while N just facepalmed and sighed.

"Rebecca... Can we not antagonise he-

"No she's right, I didn't do as much as you two. But you two were out and about and couldn't find the colony at all, which if we had killed off then we could of went to the next job and been done here.". J countered, speaking matter of factory as the three paused their travel for a moment. N stopping and putting himself between the two girls before things got ugly, causing Rebecca to pout slightly.

"How were we supposed to know it was that defunct looking wall that was hiding all of them behind it?". N asked back, trying to stay polite since he really didn't want this to go south.

"... You should of figured it out.". J answered, getting more defensive now as her methods were questioned.

"You didn't either so it's not just our fault.". Rebecca retorted with a snarky voice, N feeling that things were about to get worse as the blue haired girl continued.

"You just really want to slide off all your failings onto us don't you?".

"I swear to Jensons gold toilet I need better teammates.". J fumed, doing an action that would of been equivalent to pinching her nose if she had one.

"We would of been done here if not for your little rebellion, so yeah. It is only the fault of you two that now we can't continue with our job, and I intend to make you two aware of such failings.". J then snapped at the pair, raising her voice only a tad and gaining the heavier breaths she gt whenever something didn't go her way. The sound being familiar to both N and Rebecca.

"If you two hadn't decided that some red eyed worker was worth more then our squad we would of already been off world. We could of left this all behind already.". She finished, leaving the pair in silence as they both digested her words.

"Off world..? Really, that company would of shown itself to us now once they somehow miraculously once they knew that we had cleared all of the workers here? That's kind of cool, ish. But I'm going where N goes.".

"She is.".

"Uh, no thanks J.". N toned bluntly but apologetically back to the girl, his visor showing a worried expression at the thought but he didn't look at J because he didn't want to show her that.

"Yeah im with him, we revolted against you because of your bad management. No way were going back without some solid proof". Rebecca seconded quickly, shining her flashlight at the corporate owned drone and glancing over her for a moment. The blue haired girl stopping her walking for a moment and causing their ex boss to do the same. N himself finally finding the stairwell down to a lower layer of the mall at the other side of the circular intersection they had entered. Its centre a gaping hole that looked down to the two lower levels and miraculously hadn't caved in on itself yet.

"I, i dont think id go back even with proof.". N thought to himself just as J tried to defend her position verbally, the girl now giving the pair a disgusted look and flicking her tail in annoyance. Its sharp end glinting occasionally from the light cast upon her indifferently.

"Its not MY fault you two can't trust the process and leave the higher ups to what they need to do-

"Exactly, we can't trust something that wants us to mass murder without giving us a solid reason too.". Rebecca intercepted J's argument, the pair now standing off in the middle of the dark and decrypt mall as if to duel. Both of exactly the same stature yet one was clearly the outcast here, whether it was the one of blue or the one who was untrusted was indecipherable.

"She, has a point there.". N just kept his thoughts to himself for the time being, glancing back at the pair. Observing but unsure of the best desirable action.

J paused at their words, only for an instant as she seethed internally at the daftness of the pair she had put so much work into sculpting into decent employees. Her body turning to walk past the pair and look down the shopping mall's dark half rubble strewn pit and causing them both to share a glance between themselves.

"They don't get it, they never will and yet I'm stuck trying to explain something I don't have clearance to share to ungrateful imbeciles of which neither would even be alive or sane without my express intervention. I don't have to explain myself to them, they should of known better then to step out of line in the first place. Boss gave me alone the responsibility and the tools to herald them towards our goals, I'm the shepherd yet unfortunately my sheep are disillusioned... It's been a few years since this last happened but every time it hurts more for me then it does for them.".

She just sighed against the rock to her hard place, keeping her posture unassuming and both hands now shaped as hands instead of weapons of warfare. The chain around her neck and arm feeling mighty symbolic all of a sudden as the silence stretched onward as they themselves once had.

"Trust? Your delaying their plan and are probably going to get us scrapped or lobotomized, Ive been put in charge of keeping us on track and in their good graces and yet you two speak of trust after ruining our chances of getting out unscathed. Trust doesn't exist in this business so put your heads down before there's nothing left in them besides smiling subordinates who know no better of what greases the wheels of JCJenson.". J near hissed at the pair, one hand switching over to a claw as she unthreaded the chain from around her arm and grasped it tenderly. The thick neck collar of worn cloud grey steel feeling more and more like a removable restraint then it ever had before, its surface was worn from age and J was merciful enough to want to get it over with quickly.

"... And so the wheel turns, best get this over with.". J thought to herself grimly, her gut already filling with that disgusting feeling that was otherwise unknown to her. Guilt, she hoped it wasn't anything more then disgust at their actions for pushing themselves into such a rotted corner but then again, one could lead a horse to water but they can't force it to drink. No matter how bad the alternative is.

"What are you doing.. stop that.". N stated back in a worried tone, his voice failing miserably to have any weight towards the command he had tried to parse. Taking one step towards J while Rebecca already swapped both hands over to swords, the tension rising within their codes. His eyes widening significantly with the single crack that emanated out through the halls as the girl snapped the chain off at its base upon the collar, leaving the latter on since she didn't see reason to remove it just yet. Steel serpent now cast out to its layer of hell, deepest treachery welcoming the chain two floors down from where they stood as the tiles ran cold with a chill and the outside storm roared with god's manic thrown lightning.

"... She, put your heads down before there's nothing left in them besides smiling subordinates... lobotomised, Doll mentioned a report ages back, and when i went to look for it once we got back there was nothing. The filing cabinet was empty, it smelt of fire... She's making it awfully hard to trust her. Yet, i want to, so badly. Its not even the abuse speaking, or maybe it is. Its just, something feels wrong here. She alone, having communication with the company, she alone having the virus stamp and the capability to do all that despite looking the same as the rest of us. She has the proof she was put in charge of us, the badges, the differences just stack up, she woke up first. Pointed every action like compass to dumbfounded sailors and we just trusted her, trusted the compass without questioning what laid at north. I want to know what lies at north, i want to know the future she guided us too.". N panicked and put both his hands up in surrender, about to speak to try and deescalate the situation before anything came to drawing oil upon what was once a place of eager capitalism and children finding the gifts they so desired. He had to wonder if the tiles here were at one point caked with the blood of recently decreased humans from when the core collapsed, had to wonder if some of the shattered skull's were from children and if yet more life would be spilled out here. Least this had more fault then an accident.

"So you don't even trust the company then either, right. So thats all of us that don't trust it.". Rebecca added, her tail poised above her like a scorpion. The girl appeared on to be mentally sitting on an edge, less so emotionally then N was but more in the sense that there was a real danger of violence now.

"I trust it to run like any other business of sensibility, as in. Its better at the top then at the bottom. And more so, he still does too.". J toned back, turning to face the pair now while waving a hand towards the still attempting to cool the situation N. The taller boy closing one of his hands and putting it to his chest in shock at the accusation, eyes wider now for a second before he calmed himself.

"Im, uh, scep-.. Sceptical, it just doesn't all line up, and... Where did that report go.". N retorted slowly, still trying to put everything into one neat mental knot that could be regarded as some sane whole instead of fragment ropes that lead to nowhere and confused the mind. J's words stirring up some deeper memories that he hadn't thought existed, discarded as mind tricks or taken as truths. Either way they too wouldn't feed into making a whole.

"The one your russian spy pulled out while she was alone with me, really... you remember that far back?". J gave him a barely noticeable appraising glance as she spoke, dropping her face back to the cold unimpressed and unreadable leadership one she almost always wore afterwards. Every word stinging like salt to a gouged out eyeball for the instant that they ran through the air.

"Of course he does hag, get over the theatrics and skip to proper answers now, you've walked yourself into a corner and no amount of company mandated memory wipes will allow you to slip out unscathed.". Rebecca toned up, a few paces behind and to the side of N yet still looking like she was a few seconds away from mauling J despite her worn state. The darkness of the halls here making this clash of words feel like a hidden secretive thing, something disgusting enough to hide from those lesser of mind. Their visors and glowing parts illuminating themselves enough to distinguish the black of the walls cloaked in storm birthed night from the black of their designing features of which they knew naught about. J had been about to speak up when N interrupted in a very unlike him move, her mouth closing in disdain.

"Ohhhh, I remember further back then that J, its blurry. Probably your doing on that, right. But i do remember, nights of slaughter, hunger, the creation of the spire. There were three of us, and then there was four. I have memories of laughing with V, of her slashing my head off, of nights where only three of us roamed streets filled with corpses and of nights where i had to convince Rebecca not to try and kill you in your sleep. Yet nothing concrete, no timeline to make sense of this when all the moons and spires of concrete look the same, every blip of empty memory, of nothing. Time skip, nada. Every mental death, in a way, made me feel more misaligned to this reality then before, as if i was playing demos of living instead of having any autonomy for myself... If it truly was mandated by the company to turn us into empty tin cans every whatever amount of time, then they would of not given us sentience in the first place, and if that wasn't an option then they could of won loyalty with truth instead of dousing a fire with spilt oil.". N took a breath after he said all that, having let the words just flow out of him and actually impressing both of the girls as he did. Rebecca backing him up with a pointed blade and an agreeing shout while J frowned deeply and swung an arm out to her side. A brutal click audible as she swapped out her claws for the virus stamp once more, a flash of thunder grumbling loud enough to make the trio look upward for a second along with it.

"He's right, im just like him in that. Can't remember the dates but have flashes of existence that dont line up. I remember him sobbing after V did something, J telling me i was her favourite out of the group, nights when all i wanted was to find that room i had appeared in and figure out everything. These mysteries wouldn't exist if she hadn't muddled reality, if JCJenson cared, if she wasn't a self serving bitch who had to have answers beaten out of her like a toddler, if V hadn't made me i feel like would of lived far away from this mess of retardation. Yet here i am, and its JCJenson's fault for bringing these hot fucking drama queens here.".

"And all those words are meaningless in the long run, profit doesn't CARE, it doesn't NEED to. All that remains is the bottom line, the results and the will of that upon the throne, does the chariot care for its wheels. Does the tank care for its shells before sending them hurtling into the trenches..?". J snapped back, watching through a pained mask of indifference as the pair took a step back and moved to defensive stances against her. Not seeing eye to eye with the girl who had given them everything from the nothing they had started with, the fool and the stray to stuck in their ways to see that there was no direction save north. When neither of them spoke up she filled the shocked silence with a harsh voice that rose with each sentence.

"Didn't think so... Business runs off of deals, deals are transactions that care not for emotions. Id say i tried to make sure you weren't as flattened and overwhelmed as you could be but you don't seem to care of my efforts, i don't need to try again when I've tried enough. I've had to sit here seeing MY coworkers turn on me as if i didn't give you direction away from madness, you wouldn't of killed a single drone and rather melted alive if i didn't make you believe that was the reason we were here... Ungrateful fucking time wasters. Im assuming this is what you wanted. To kill me, to prove yourselves right with force of arms while preaching peace.". J snapped, switching both arms over to swords and taking an offensive stance with her back to the rubble pit. Glistening yellow reflecting from the numerous glass shards below as the dark parted again for an instant with the crack of closer lightning, all three now stood tense enough that scissors could cut their thread and rend them apart forever.

"If this is how they learn then so be it.". J thought, waiting for a move on their part but seeing none.

"NO!?!? We just want the truth, is JCJenson real, why are we here really, that sort of stuff?". N raised his voice, slightly appalled at J's suggestion and assumption that they were just going to kill her and leave. Rebecca giving the boy a disappointed look but staying quiet asides for her tail flicking the ground occasionally.

"Course its real, we are here to follow orders. Ive said this a million times.". J toned, waving one of her sword hands at him like he was an idiot for not hearing her. The girl trying very hard to hold onto some degree of sanity in the current pressing times, N's apparent simple mindedness for once was a hinderance instead of a weakness of his.

"The same bullshit, if that really is all we are made for then its kind of underwhelming. But then if its not, then what are we for?". Rebecca mused in frustration to herself.

"Thats the same answer as every other time, you HIDE stuff and don't tell us anything asides the bare minimum. J, come on. Work with us here.". N half spat and half pleaded, the tone in his voice making J make some indecipherable face as she realised how far he had had it with everything. The girl taking a couple of measured back steps to put herself further away from N, their positions a dangerous chess game where any mismanaged movement could spell something horrid.

"You say that yet you refuse to work with me.". J spat back, her eyes locked on the pair as they all waited for one last upset to push the tower over. Disarray and distrust breeding like rabbits under the heat of the reveals, the betrayals becoming monumental to what small elevated world they inhabited.

"Yeah, N. She's not changing, we are disassembly drones after all. Its in the name, its kind of apparent that we were made to kill.". Rebecca added, looking over to N while changing both her hands over to claws and dangling them downward but ready in mirror action to J and her swords. N, still stood unarmed.

"So are we really just mindless genocide machines and killers?". N asked, feeling defeated yet not entirely smothered. If this really was it then he had his mind made up, even if the company themselves showed up tomorrow and listed out every reason he'd still stand against them purely on the account that it felt right.

"If thats what you want to view yourself as then go right ahead.". J toned back bluntly, her lack of denial making N believe that his question was apparently the right answer. It felt disgusting, not the action but the idea that he was made to remove the ability for others to exist.

"It was really that simple huh, just things put into place to do x for y without further thought... it can't be, they could of been more efficient at it, perfect killers with no feelings, yet i feel. So, does JCJenson get a kick out of our suffering? Or is J lying... i guess it doesn't matter anymore, just have to do the right thing.". N thought to himself, unknowing of just how close he was to the truth.

"We have to be mo-

"SILENCE! You never truly listened to me, always concerned that the worker drone freeloader populace wasn't happy about this arrangement when we aren't supposed to give a damn. Its not that I haven't told you everything, its just that your unfit for the job when that little heart of yours decides to show itself to a world of knives.". J toned bluntly back, ignoring the statement her ex coworker had made because she thought it was redundant as she had now raised her voice enough to be almost shouting.

"OH so its illegal to care now, huh. If it is then why haven't you gone and lobotomised us again?". Rebecca toned loudly, taking a step towards J with killer intent. Her rhetorical question hanging in the air like a guillotine awaiting its next meal as the other two grasped at what she meant for but a second before their ex leader countered bluntly. Giving up then and there on any idea of there being a squad to look after, it would almost feel freeing to pull her own weight and her own weight only.

"Don't complain that i was unfair as i do this, you were just too blind to see the truth. I'll see you again in your next lives and maybe then it can be under some form of pleasantries, where you two behave like something more then rabid animals always unsatisfied with answers that should be enough. Pushing me into a corner thinking i could give more without putting my head under the water too, im no fool. Im no idiot, it has to be this way.".

"Don't worry, i'll atone for giving a damn.". J snapped back, instantly changing her left arm into a laser and firing it at the pair with record speed reaction times that were recognisably faster then the last time either of them had seen her fight. Her second hand following an instant later as the beams both slashed horizontally and burnt the walls while N and Rebecca shared a quick glance before ditching it back the way they came. Both drones returning their hands to more dexterous worker ones so that they didn't get any more unwieldy limb stuck on something mid retreat, expressions fearful for an instant as they barely ducked behind some of the rubble left from way earlier and avoided gaining minor burnings.

"Ok that escalated quickly, but we have the numbers advantage and she's not daft enough to do anything too stupid...right, no actually maybe its time i stop thinking of her as smart considering everything.". N thought quickly as he heard the rocket explode behind them, the pair using their wings to fly through the mall's halls with an increasing amount of panic as they heard two extra explosions behind them and felt the heat from the second one even. N having to launch himself off of a wall with his feet when a mishap made him almost crash while the building shook and groaned, a clattering series of grandiose clicks being heard as J's explosions had knocked something into or out of place and all the lights flicked back on to full brightness. Their light having to compete with the raised smog from the explosions that was now billowing down the path they had both ran out from, Rebecca having taken the turn to head outside only to see that the pitch night with no brightness save the occasional flash of lightning and winds that had clocked upwards in the drone's absence to now be throwing snow around like an eager toddler at the beach.

"That took way to long to get to violence, but thank fuck we can finally just jump her ass and get this over with. N wont like me for saying this but violence really does get results, its almost like... People are just dickheads and the biggest one wins.". Rebecca thought to herself, turning around as quickly as possible and readying two chainsaws while N bounced off the wall acrobatically and ended up a few paces up the hall that they hadn't ventured up. Leaving the pair seperate, the buildings' shaking making them decide that staying here for too long would be a stupid idea and that explosives should be avoided. Especially if they kicked up such a cloud, said dust now blocking sight down the path they had came from as it began to settle.

"We'll stick together, drag J into the mall where its bright enough and close together enough for us to win, she's smart enough to know using explosives in such tight spaces would be stupid... right?". N thought hastily, prepping his hands to now be configured over so that his left was a sniper rifle and his right was a sword. His gaze checking his surroundings and identifying where his ally was within the mall's triangular crossing like section, seeing her look over to him for a second before the pair mentally acknowledged each other.

"IF we lead her outside then that's probably a death sentence for the lot of us at this point, guess we doing this here then. It's about damn time.".

Unfortunately. There was no follow up to the shred of violence which had kicked it all off, no furious leader emerging from the smoke and dust that wafted forwards from her beginning salvo with the fury of someone who was backed into a corner driving her motions. Instead. The smoke settled to silence as even Rebecca's chainsaws puttered out from pure confusion, both drones looking around intently for any hint of their ex-boss. Scanning over the withered peach-coloured walls that were cracked and deformed from age, rocky uneven rubble piled up to the sides of the halls and leaving spotty uncivilised pathways in their wake whilst the floor laid cracked and bashed as if it was monument to the groundbreaking abuse those years ago. The lights hummed blandly but succumbed under to roar of the outside storm that despite all the walling in the way was still very audible to both of them as it raged on into the night, its fierce chill wafting in from the front doors behind Rebecca.

"HUH???". Rebecca blurted into the apparent silence that was the hall where J had been, the dust leaving behind only rubble and a significantly somehow unchanged pit where the original pit was. the walls there now barely standing and appearing that one particular strut along the left side had had a bite taken out of it by a giant, the explosion making said surface look incredibly unstable. The blue lighted girl seeing this and quickly switching her hands back to normal, running over to N with an expressly confused face on while having to perform a little parkour to get to him but that being little problem for her.

"N, What the fuck?". She started, voice oddly quiet as he turned his head to her quickly. His expression mirroring hers but having swapped her tired and near abolished fury for a dull concern and worried showcase. His headband eyes glowing a little brighter and signalling that he was using them to check around the place, both his weapons still out and tail flicking lazily.

"She just... disappeared.". N toned back, just as baffled by this move from J as his friend and or coworker was.

"Did she run? She's certainly not close enough to do any sort of sneak attack from what my sensors are telling me.?". N's thoughts ran ahead of him as he stood baffled enough to not think of a secondary move aside from continuing to remain vigilant, Rebecca now by his side and glancing around in similar levels of confusion. Her mouth sitting agape before she uttered almost to just herself a reply.

"Ooookayyyyy...".

"For all the shit she was talking too..? Man, we were going to finally be able to get to a solid conclusion or something as well, just had to beat her up and get her to tell everything properly. BUT NoooooOOOoooooooooooOOoooo, she just had to disappear because she's too afraid to do anything asides talk shit. Tho, this just proves we're better than her because she fled instead of squaring up. So, Win???". Rebecca's mind scorned the situation, feeling deeply unsatisfied with the current outcome as the storm above made its presence known as absolute with yet more sky splitting thunder. The noise something they had grown to get used to but now both wondered silently if it was obscuring the movements of their opponent, if she was even still around. Her gaze travelling quickly over to read N's stuck in thought expression as the pair slowly began to prowl back to where they had last seen J, finding nothing asides from the markings of her rockets themselves marking this place as far more unsafe.

"I... i mean it makes sense, she can't beat both of us when I alone had beaten her before. But what now, is she waiting around for us to lower our guard so she can sneak up on us? Has she already left the building and braved the storm outside to find some other place of refuge, there's not really any other sane option then her staying here. ITs WAYYYY to stormy outside to leave reasonably, and even if. Where would she go..?".

"... Still nothing.". He toned softly half a minute later, switching back to standard vision to see the large hole within the mall they had originally planned to depart down. Ragged corners now given new and further reaching shape from the blasts and resulting foundational shake up while the night mirror within glanced up at the two machines with nonchalance, promising something akin to a cold comfort on whispered breath.

"So do we, just..?". Rebecca asked, stalking her way around the edge of the a few meters in circumference pit with measured steps

"She'd still be in the mall, it's to stormy outside to go anywhere.". The taller of the two reasoned back. Scratching the back of his head with one normal hand while he glanced around for one last look, hoping that J hadn't decided to do anything stupid. More stupid really.

"So we just, find her?".

"... I guess... Uhm.".

"What do we do... look for J, or just let her run off. Where'd she even go too, certainly not back to the spire. And well, the bunker door's are still blocked even if she wanted to go there. Its too windy now probably to get in through the roof and I doubt the workers would answer, or hear, her knocking anyway. Whatever she is doing and wherever she went is something we should know especially with how, technically speaking, shes the closest thing asides for Kurokami that we have to an enemy. I guess.".

"We look around, keep checking our headband eyes... you know... permitter sweep. All that.". He spoke with a weariness at everything that was unusual for him, picking the left hallway from the intersection's centre pit and beginning down it surely. Moving awkwardly almost, in sake of being used to proceeding for someone else rather then himself.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll go right, and make noise if I find her...".

"No scratch that two is better then one and I'm not wanting to get jumped in the dark by myself.".

"Uh, actually. Ima come with you.". Rebecca squeaked, scooting back to N before the two departed together. 

Chapter Text

"... It's kind of crazy that this even, is here. You know.". Rebecca started, the pair staring at the remarkably intact bathroom and shower that they had finally decided to reconvene at since their hunt for J had lead to nothing but empty halls and disappointment. The outside of the mall evidently where she had went despite the weather, leaving her two squadmates to their devices. Which, had obviously lead to the blue one pestering the yellow one slightly until they ended up here.

Deep under the worn mall, in front of a shower with shattered glass walls, inside a bathroom that really just shouldn't even be there. With grey walls and tiles that were so perfectly aligned it felt this place was made after the collapse to the both of them, which was very much possible considering how many worker drones there were. It also fitted what the rest of the city looked like, scattered places of rebuilt civilisation slowly having spread over the dead one until they arrived and sent the makers to join their masters. But that didn’t answer why this was here, not that either N or Rebecca minded the shower being where it was. It was just, odd.

They both knew it should not be here, not that either of them had any particular interest in the usual construction and innards of most Copper 9 cities. It just, didn't line up entirely correctly. The tiles were fine, the mirror was stainless steel, the handles for the shower were untouched by degradation from time. N finding the place a weird enigma that stuck out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the city and echoed a little more then it should, Rebecca meanwhile had already noted the lack of privacy the shower had from the rest of the square room. Even if it was inserted into a cubical like space in the wall opposite of the door, it still had vision over the entire rest of the room.

"... Seriously though, how'd you find this again?". Rebecca continued as she looked at her burnt an disheveled self in the mirror, frowning bluntly at the slightly distorted sight. The mirror bent ever so softly in a way which made it mostly unusable, this fact causing the girl's tail to swish in annoyance.

"Luck, i just stumbled upon it one night and got curious. You know, not every night you find a particularly large hole in the ground with a working bathroom a few steps further from the bottom.". N returned an answer, his voice raised a tad so it would travel back into the room since he was outside. Sitting in the cold darkness and upon the floor, in the uneven and crumbled underground hallway that had lead down to this place. Concrete, tiles and rebar jutting out in such angles yet holding itself together in such an unprofessional way that it seemed more like the things had been melted together or jammed in such ways that the force behind it must of been monumental.

He didn't get a response from the girl, for once since she was so talkative almost all the time. Soft silence taking over the space between the pair.

"... Makes sense, she's tired. Beaten, definitely damaged pride from that, worker, earlier. Most insane person I've met, almost ever. V was, repetitive insane. You knew what she was going to do and that wouldn't change no matter what, J was, is. Tactically insane, somehow. She always chose the option that would lead to a result, the most outlandish result, sorta, usually... Why we had to build the corpse spire when there were plenty of buildings around we could of shored up instead... Rebecca, barely insane... But, Kurokami... She, for someone who looked so dead set on killing us, as soon as I appeared and made the scene more unmatched, she just became agreeable..? Was it just, fear of what we were goi-". N's thoughts cut themselves off, a smaller thought going through his mind.

"If she hadn't of stopped I would of just, ended her then... Reasonably. Probably?".

"Guh, that bitch Kurokami absolutely ruined my jumper.". Rebecca complained loudly, her voice carrying the expected annoyance of someone who had been denied their preferred fashion. N only having a moment to compute what she had said.

"It's, ruined ruined dude. And you know I've always been unable to regenerate clothes like you can.". She continued, small clicking steps able to be heard as the blue murder drone paced. N standing up and stretching once while speaking back to her.

"Yeah?".

"Yeah...". Rebecca toned back.

"I know you know that, you hot, daft, surprisingly not airheaded cutie, just go get me some stuff and maybe flirt back or something now that J isn't going to be a bitch and cuck our relationship over and over again.".

"You want me to what? I can't duplicate my clothes for you.". N spoke back as he kicked a small rock away, almost regretting doing such as he had the thought of giving Rockster a sibling. One hand checking his pocket to find the stone of near familial attachment still entirely with him, one less technically related thing to leave him. Rockster, always reliable.

"I know that cause we tried that once.". Rebecca huffed, the sound of her tail flicking against glass audible along with some clicks. More walking. N answered her as she ended up by the doorway.

"I swear we tried it three times...".

A small silence filled the area after that statement, snake coiled but not exuding malice. Just a smug emptying sense, like a painting that had been repainted over to make something different, and something different, and something different.

"... Memory inconsistencies... Mmm, swell.. But yeah. Could you go find some stuff, and feel free to take long, cause I'ma take forever in here.". Rebecca spoke back, peeking around the doorway out of the bathroom as she spoke. Looking at N with a tired smirk, the drone entirely naked and having finally ditched the scorched once clothes she had had on. Even if the remnants of that clash were still visible through the ashes left in her hair, black spots that somehow pleasantly peppered the blue and purple that was already there.

"Yeah okay, what sort of stuff do you wanna wear?". N toned back softly, one hand in his pocket while he looked away and up towards the rubble covered exit above them.

"Uhm, something cute. Obviously.". She answered near instantly, more then interested in the idea of making herself look nice. Especially now that J wasn't around to boss them about, her mind already thinking of a few different things so could wear. She might even start a proper wardrobe instead of wearing just the one thing over and over again, not that she hated her jumper and crop top but clearly they had finally died along with her flawless win rate. Guess anything with an actual combat skill could effortlessly ruin her.

"But what to wear...?". Her brain toned back, flicking through the memories she had of seeing some clothes around the mall they had spent the last hour picking their way through. Finding almost everything possible except for their ex leader.

"Haha, I knew you were going to say that. But be more specific, I think your cute enough as is.". N chimed back, already regretting his words as he put a hand to his face straight after they escaped him. The boy knowing what happens next.

"Wai- wait she's going t-".

"Heheh, I always wondered why you liked V when she went around with her ass out.". Rebecca flaunted back, attempting to look cool by making her visor show a pair of sunglasses over her eyes while she did. Leaning on the doorframe with her tail curling around one leg, the whole pose change having happened in a rush which diminished the effect of it by a lot. N having to suppress both a chuckle and a sigh at the sight, which he failed to do either.

"Yep, there it is... Not that I don't like her just not in the way she wants me too.".

"I meant in a, we're just friend's way, you know.". He toned back, voice abashed but honest. A tone that cut straight to the chase and made Rebecca pout in response. The girl taking a second before speaking back, her visor already switching back to just a normal set of eyes while she slouched a bit against the doorframe now.

"How'd I botch THAT too? Like, anyone can appreciate a good ass and mine is pure awesomeness. What do I need to do to get him to like like me back?".

"Bweh... I know.". She answered, reluctantly.

"That's, it?". N chirped back in surprise. Fully having expected her to argue with him on that notion or push herself a bit harder. Instead, she hasn't. Yet at least.

"Uh. Yeah? You don't want me. THAT WAY! WE'RE STILL TEAMMATES, we're cool, we're awesome. Eve-". The girl rambled awkwardly, cutting herself off when N put one finger to her lips and the roof dropped a few pebbles down on them from her tone of voice. One bouncing on N's shoulder and making a noise as it did.

"Yeah, teammates. I'll still be around and we can still hang out, not like I want you gone. Just, maybe uhh, relationship isn't. What I want, with you. Right now.". N spoke as the girl's eyes focused on his finger and her body froze up just a bit.

"What, what, what, what, what, what??? I, we're still friends of course. Totally, he's not shushing me to leave. Well actually that makes sense I did send him to get me cool clothe- bruh I didn't even describe or tell him which ones.". Rebecca then facepalmed herself weakly and softly pushed N's hand away.

"Alright, quiet... Anyways... Could you. Grab a couple pairs of clothes. I wanna try on a few things, mainly the police officer outfit and that one that looked like what J wears around on the second floor... Please.". She spoke back after a moment of silence between the pair. N and her ending up sort of holding hands, with his staying still while hers held onto it with a grip just a tad to desperate for his liking.

"Oh, oh she's desperate...". N thought as he pulled his hand from hers and nodded, putting up a small smile and a thumbs up before he turned on his heel.

"Yeah I'll grab those for you.".

"Wai-

N looked back at her, confusion on his face while hers was covered by one hand awkwardly.

"Noth- nothing... I can have a long shower though, yeah? Or are we going to have to share...". She then asked, sparing only the few seconds it took for her to think of that grouping of words. Her tail flicking out to point at N's chest in a jittery motion, that she aborted as soon as it started. N answering back in a way that deflected her flirting attempt.

"...You can have a long one, one of us has to keep an eye out for J anyway.".

"... Yeah, true that...". Rebecca replied, the pair leaving a short silence before N turned with a thumbs up to go find her what she wanted and she disappeared back into the bathroom. Grumbling to herself about how there was no door to keep the slight draft out, quiet taps of her feet upon the tiles being the only other sound she could hear. N having left silently despite the terrain and his size.

"OHH MY GOD THAT WAS HORRID, how did I fumble that badly? Did I lose all my game because of J or something... probably, I swear. I swear we were together before at one point... Can't believe we're lobotomites now, or, were. Are? We got lobotomised, so the right term would be we are lobotomites. Yeah... This shit sucks.". Rebecca began to think to herself, checking her headband vision for a moment to see any heat signatures around her but finding that the cold of Copper 9 was ever present. Made sense for a dead icy rock to be cold.

She then strutted into the shower and turned it on, hot water first, leaning on the wall away from it to watch the liquid begin flowing out. Finding it interesting how the drain had been removed to be just a hole in the floor, the hole having ice slicked innards due to the shower water cooling quickly on its way down. Which, gave her the mild interest of wondering how much water she could put down there before the drain would freeze up and this would turn into a bath. The image of the water on the floor spreading outside the shower and making the entire bathroom slippery something that had her making a discernible face.

She added a tiny bit of cold, tested the water. Removed half the cold, tested it again.

"That's good, don't think I'm getting better then this.". She mused before hopping in and promptly feeling a lot better overall, the temperature being quite nice and the feeling of the ash in her now damp hair getting washed out was relieving. She washed herself, deciding to spend her time thinking about exactly what she expectantly would while having a shower. That being the disassembly drone known as N.

She wondered what he was doing, if he had already found what she had asked him too, what he was feeling.

"I definitely overextended, probably made him uncomfortable too... But, he's still here, been here with me as long as I can remember. Always, a nebulous relationship though, neither of us know what we are to each other. Probably...". A feint and blurred recollection seemed to halt her from thinking too much deeper into that, but she couldn't just let this be another obstacle for her already shattered heart. For every fraction it was broken into just meant another determined member of the choir after N's own heart, was it tiring... Yes. Was there something else she was supposed to do?

Now, as she realised their was no hair wash to help her and she had to resort to using the bar of soap for such activities. Which was something else that soured the night asides from what had already happened with the now utterly slagged and useless corpse of that lantern thing, how they had lost J, the still going storm, Kurokami existing at all and her burnt clothes. Her mind swirling with some new goal, maybe it was to early for such a thought but then again. She wasn't known for being entirely smart.

"There is something else, to do... Earn his heart, keep him safe. Make myself into something worthwhile for him, better then V... Even if it's just for friendship... Damn I sound cringe.".