Chapter Text
"Damn, this tight dress..." Uzi gritted between her fangs, tugging at the black fabric squeezing her torso. "This is a graduation ceremony, not a beauty pageant. Right, Mom?"
"Hey, kiddo, it wasn't my first choice either." Nori's voice called from below, skittering up Uzi's arm to have a seat on her shoulder. "I had to wear this suffocating outfit for countless fancy human events back when I was serving under them. Then I wore it for my wedding, and I would probably be wearing it again today if I still had my old body. You're the next best thing, hun. I think you can last a few hours till you get your diploma."
Uzi simply rolled her eyes, not offering anymore gripes as her mother reached to place her graduation cap snugly over her purple hair. The sassy core that housed her mother's code was as snippy with her comebacks as her own self, which admittedly made their back and forth conversations quite entertaining. Uzi figured she may as well be grateful her high school graduation could be celebrated alongside her mother at all. It had been a couple years since discovering the parental figure she had believed to be deceased all her life had been living underneath the planet. Studying and investigating the caverns of Cabin Fever Labs, she had missed most of her daughter's life until their reunion during the fight against Cyn.
It had taken some getting used to for Uzi to put up with a second parent, but deep within her core she was grateful to finally have her mother back in her life. It was as if a piece of her that had long been missing was finally placed back where it belonged, and she had her family once again. Nori wasn't the only addition to her "family", however, as the events of Cyn's attempted takeover of the planet also brought N into her life. A Disassembly Drone, originally the avid murderer of her kind, was now one of the drones she loved the most in her life.
If someone had told me I'd be standing here prepping for my high school graduation with my "not dead mom" and dating a Murder Drone I would have told them they were insane... Uzi thought to herself, unable to suppress a grin of amusement and gratification.
She could maintain her edgy persona all she wanted, but even she could not deny how happy she truly was that her life had come to this point. Her future was never exactly something she had ever extensively planned for, nor expected to turn out actually in her favor. Yet, here she was with her mother by her side, in love, and prepping for the next big step for her future.
"What's that smile?" Nori's question broke into her thoughts, observing the curious expression of her mom's singular eye. "Thinking about your boyfriend?" She teased in a cutesy tone, pressing her claws to her face to mimic swooning.
"Ew, gross! No!" Uzi whined, pushing a hand in her mom's face lightly. "I'm just... glad you're here, I don't know..." She muttered, smoothing back the hair that had fallen in front of her face.
Nori's joking look softened, seeming to understand completely what Uzi was trying to convey despite her closeted way of expressing herself. Most likely, it was because Nori was equally as tentative and reserved.
"Me too, babe." Nori replied, reaching a claw to brush Uzi's purple locks. "Ungodly uncomfortableness aside, when you were a baby I... sorta always wished I would get the chance to see you in this dress. Though, I had pictured you wearing it at your wedding first."
"Blegh! Nice moment ruined, Mom." Uzi stuck out her tongue, cringing at the mention of marriage.
"Oh, grow up." Nori scoffed, rolling her own singular pupil. "You're my daughter, I'm allowed to muse about your future. Though, never expected my potential son-in-law to be the same sort of drone that almost did me and the rest of us Worker Drones in."
"Mom!" Uzi screeched, the screen of her facial plate filling with blush lines. She physically recoiled this time, almost knocking her Mom from her shoulder where she was perched. "What is wrong with you? M-me and N aren't... I mean, we're not going to... shut up!"
Uzi crossed her arms and turned her head as far away from her mother's gaze as possible. Great, now her head was filled with ridiculous thoughts of marrying N. Ugh, why did Nori have to be so embarrassing? It seemed like only yesterday she was giving her shit for even dating a "Murder" Drone in the first place, but now she was talking weddings? Like she would ever want to spend the rest of her existence with someone who cared for her, loved her, and gave her life so much joy... disgusting.
"You're crazy. Marriage is the last thing on my mind, and it always will be." Uzi declared, holding her chin high. "So can we focus on just prettying me up for this dumb graduation ceremony now?"
"Alright, brat." Nori shrugged, shuffling off her shoulder to hop upon the dresser beside them. "God, you're dramatic."
"Yeah, and who do you think I got that from?" Uzi retorted, gazing down at her mom with a frown.
The pair glared at one another briefly, their expressions lightening after only a few seconds more of harsh scrutiny. Uzi's lips formed a small smile, then Nori's pupil constricted to reveal her own humor. Uzi squeezed her arms sheepishly, noticing Nori was also timidly gazing around. Finally, the pair gave in and reached for one another to embrace the other lightly.
"I'm proud of you, Uzi." Nori spoke first, "Hope you know that."
"Yeah, yeah... I do." Uzi replied, grateful her mom could not see the tears brimming at the edge of her pupils.
"Happy Graduation day, ladies!" A cheery voice announced, the door to Uzi's room swinging open as N burst into the space with a wide smile upon his face. "Are we ready to say "sayonara" to grueling homework forever-?"
N's voice cut off as he caught sight of Uzi and Nori's tender hug, pulling his palms to his chin as he grinned at them sweetly. "Awww, are you two having a nice little mother- daughter bonding moment?"
"Yes, we were!" Uzi yelled, letting go of Nori as blush lines scattered across her cheeks. "Until you burst in unannounced!"
"Yeah! Have you not learned to knock by now, idiot?" Nori added, seeming just as flustered as she scurried up to N's feet to point an accusing claw up at him.
N was not the least bit phased by their scornful words, however, as his optics had focused solely on Uzi. He blinked twice, taking time to process her fully before tiny blush lines appeared on his own face.
"Wow, Uzi. You look beautiful." N complimented, his smile wide and genuine.
Uzi's annoyed expression quickly dissipated, now replaced by bashfulness as she walked up to stand in front of N. "Dude... not in front of my mom..." She whispered, glancing down at Nori swiftly before returning her gaze to N's admiring optics.
"But you really do." He cooed, arms outstretched with the intention of scooping her into his hold.
"Nuh uh uh." Uzi leaned away, placing a hand on N's cheek to keep him from getting any closer. "N, stop!"
"Well," Nori coughed, fixing her cap upon her head and scuttling towards the open door. "I'll just go see if your father is ready, and scold him for letting lover boy in here... I'll leave you two be."
Uzi watched her mom enter the doorway, grasping the door with a claw to close it until she paused. Nori gazed back at her with a knowing look that made Uzi want to sink into the floor, completely embarrassed by the entire situation. Once the door was shut, she stood back to stare up at N with brows furrowed.
"You're so embarrassing sometimes..." She groaned, then let her focus slide down the black suit he had adorned over his figure. As much as she wished she could remain angry with him for barging in and interrupting her moment alone with her mom, her immediate adoration for him trumped all other feelings of animosity.
"Sorry." N rubbed the back of his hair with visible shame, but perked up once he caught on to her continuous staring. "What is it?"
Crap, how long was I staring...
Uzi snapped back to N's face, a few nervous beads of sweat digitized on her brow. "Oh! Uh, nothing... I mean, you just look beautiful- er, handsome too. I don't know..." She spluttered, wishing she could snap her fingers to make her solver powers cave herself in at that moment.
N, however, just smiled sweetly and took a timid step toward her. This time, he outstretched a hand in her direction and waited for her to react. Uzi gave him a soft grin back; they did not always need words. Taking his hand, she let herself fall into a hug as she pressed her cheek against his chest. His free hand came to rest around her waist, and she could feel him bend just enough to let his chin rest atop her graduation cap.
In their close embrace, she could hear the steady hum of his machinery beneath his metallic body. There was the steady beat of his core from within, pulsing warmth throughout his being she desperately wanted to soak into. Everything about this drone was so comforting, so perfect. And he was her's...
"I can't believe we've made it this far." N's quiet voice stated, his vocals vibrating beneath her.
"What? You didn't think we'd survive high school?" Uzi leaned back to gaze up at him playfully.
"No, silly. I mean... after everything we went through a few years ago, it's just almost unbelievable to be standing here about to do something so... greatly normal? Does that make sense?" N tilted his head as he tried to explain himself, grinning nervously once he paused for her response.
"Yeah." Uzi nodded then closed her eyes, memories of the past flashing before her.
She saw N's dripping fangs as he scrambled to attack her. She saw his precious smile for the first time again. She heard his sweet voice and awkward mannerisms. How they worked together to defeat V and J.
Then images of her people being attacked flashed before her. The blast of her railgun. V, J, Doll, Tessa, sentinels, monsters, her own monstrous reflection.
Screams. Oil splattering the ground, all over her friends, trickling down her fingers... Cyn's voice filling her processors.
Then she saw N again. His kind eyes and reassuring looks igniting hope and love within her core. Anytime he laughed, held her hand, hugged her, reassured her he wanted to be with her.
She saw it all. Even the past few years of mundane life filled with friend hangouts, boring school work and classes, dates with N, moments with her family. She had risked her life to be able to live this comfortably, and so had N. And here they were...
In a split second all those memories had played out before her once more, and when she opened her eyes she knew N would only guess she must have been blinking.
"Normal stuff can be impressive too." She shrugged, reaching up to lay her hands over his shoulders. "Though we're as far from normal as they get."
"I'll say." N giggled, his shoulders bouncing. "But that's why I love us."
"I... love us too..." Uzi mumbled, still shy about being more outspoken of her love. Her break in their eye contact revealed this fact, but luckily N changed the subject before her shyness got any worse.
"What were you and your mom talking about anyway that got the two of you to hug like that?" N prodded, genuine curiosity lining his tone.
"Oh, well..." Uzi began, but then trailed off.
There was no way in hell she would admit to N that there had been any discussion of her marrying him.
"She was just saying she was proud of me." Uzi finally answered; after all it was part of the truth. "Just mushy parent stuff like that."
"Well, she should be proud!" N agreed, grinning a toothy grin. "We're moving onto our next big steps in life! After today, we have a whole new future ahead of us to look forward to."
"Haha, right..." Uzi chuckled, her enthusiasm dwindling as she processed his last few sentences.
Our future? What exactly did that entail? Uzi wasn't quite sure what she was meant to do now that her education was complete. Originally, she had put all her time and planning into developing methods of which to take out Murder Drones. She had never even considered any other potential lines of work or positions she could fill in the bunker community. She had sought after the approval of her father and people adamantly for so long that now that she had it... She wasn't quite sure what to do with herself.
And even more disconcerting, she had no idea what to expect of her and N's relationship.
She loved him, a lot. That much she knew. She wanted him to be a part of her life forever. But... marriage? It was too much, right? They had been dating for a while now, grown closer, formed a life in the bunkers and beyond. A life without N seemed unimaginable to her at this point, and she knew he probably felt the same about her. But would getting married really be the right thing for them to do?
Just thinking about the prospect made her want to combust.
"You good, Uzi?" N's voice cut through her ponderings.
Uzi's eyes constricted, shocked she had let herself get so lost in deep thought once more. Gazing up, she stared at N's concerned expression. A tiny frown and worried eyes; did he have to be so cute?
There was no doubt... No matter how she felt about marriage, she knew exactly how she felt about N.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." She reassured him, reaching to grab his cheeks. "Just a lot on my mind..."
In a moment unlike her, she pulled him in to bring their lips together. She could not deny the contact of their kisses ignited electrical sparks of pure elation throughout her circuits. Physical intimacy was always hard for her to initiate, but it did not stop her from seeking it out. After all, she wanted to make sure N truly knew how much she adored him. And after the morning's reflections with her mom, her gratefulness for his presence in her life was definitely swarming through her processors.
Pulling away after just a brief moment of contact, she observed his wide-eyed gaze full of delight and enamored glee. He was adorable, but she had pushed her limits of affection as far as she could go. She let her hands fall to his chest, chin tilted downward out of embarrassment.
"Well," N began, bringing his hands down to place them atop hers. "You can always tell me anything, you know? I am a boyfriend who listens!" N declared, leaning forward to nuzzle her face with his own.
"I know, I know." Uzi snorted, letting a snicker escape as she pushed him away gently with her own facial plate. "And I'll tell you if there's anything to tell... But, don't you have a Valedictorian speech to prepare for? I think that should be your first priority today."
"Don't worry, I've been practicing it all morning!" N announced, puffing out his chest with pride. "I am ready to command my subjects!" He declared in a deep, mocking, authoritative voice.
"I can see that." Uzi raised a playful brow, unable to find his silly humor endearing.
N may have started High School late, but it had not taken him long to secure his place as top student. He was eager to learn, kind to all the teachers, and went above and beyond for all his assignments. Now, he was set to address the entire graduating class during their ceremony. Uzi was both proud and dumbfounded by his quick rise to glory. Was there anything this oddly sweet ex-Disassembly Drone could not do?
"Well, I look forward to hearing the advice you have to offer all of us. And those chumps better listen or I'll blast them all the way back to Freshman year..." Uzi growled, baring her teeth at the idea of anyone even daring to scoff at her boyfriend.
"Let's hope it won't come to that." N chuckled, letting their hands intertwine and fall to rest between their bodies. "I can give you a snippet of it right now if you'd like."
"Let me hear it." Uzi coaxed, curious to know what contents would be a part of such an important speech.
N cleared his vocal cords, then straightened up dramatically. "And though we stand here today facing an end. We begin a path anew. Together. As one..."
"Wow." Uzi hummed, "Cheesy."
"You didn't let me finish." N protested, then opened his mouth to continue. "Upon a new planet, old, but birthed anew. Originally molded by fear and war, now shaped by love. And there's no greater love than what I feel to be standing here today. Amongst you all... and with the drone I love the most."
"Ew, you sicko!" Uzi whined, releasing one of his hands to push his chest. "You can't say you love me in front of everyone like that!"
"Watch me." N cooed, wrapping his now free hand around her waist to spin her around.
"Nnnnn!" Uzi cried, half laughing and half slapping his back with little effort to unhand her. "If you do that I will fly up onto the stage and behead you myself!"
"You wouldn't dare harm the class Valedictorian on graduation day! 'Tis blasphemy!" N rebuked, laughing playfully as he continued to spin them in a circle.
"I'm serious!" She chortled, knowing very well that claim was false. "Put me down!"
"Nooo." N disobeyed, pressing his forehead to hers as the pair continued to turn around and around in a fit of playful laughter.
Just then the door to her room opened, revealing Khan with Nori in hand standing with a delighted gaze.
"Dad!" Uzi shrieked, immediately letting go of N as the two fell apart.
"I told you that you should have knocked." Nori scolded her husband, but her pleased expression gave away what Uzi knew she was thinking deep down.
See? You two would be a perfect married couple.
"Oh, but I couldn't wait a moment longer to see my beautiful baby girl and her dapper boyfriend all dressed in their graduation attire." He sniffled, tilting his head as a digital tear rolled down his cheek.
"Hey, kids. Don't forget your gowns." Nori called, tossing two black articles of clothings through the doorway that N caught and held to his chest.
"BOTH OF YOU, OUT!" Uzi demanded, sprouting her wings and tail as she used them to shove them out of the doorway and slam the door closed.
She placed her hands on the door as if willing it to stay shut, then let out an exasperated sigh. Was everyone going to be extra annoying today? Guess this is just how graduations went. That, and her parents just seemed to be gifted tormentors.
"Easy." N spoke softly from behind, his hand coming to rest on her back. "They're just excited. And so am I! We should head to the school, it's about time to leave anyway."
Uzi focused her senses on N's hand along her back, honing in on the gentleness of his digits as she let her anger slip away. Her wings retracted and her tail soon followed. It was too early to be getting this riled up, she still had a whole ceremony to sit through as well as an after party.
"Okay." She gave in, gazing up at him with a small smile. Then, she gazed down at the gowns, her grin dwindling. "So even after putting on this tight as hell dress... it's going to be covered up under our gowns anyway? Ugh, I'm going to get my Mom, I swear..."
Uzi sighed, little energy to care and fume anymore. She took her gown from N and buttoned it up, an annoyed coil forming above her brow as it covered her entire fancy dress. However, the slide of N's arm over her shoulders relaxed her animosity and made her look up into his kind eyes.
"Hey, you still look beautiful to me." N reassured her.
"Thanks..." Uzi blushed, sighing vocally to release her tension. "Your speech is going to be great, by the way."
N lit up at her praise, grinning wildly and blushing with delight. "Thanks, Uzi."
"Now, c'mon." She announced, reaching to take his hand in hers once more. "Let's get this over with so we can be done attending this education prison for good."
"Not unless you get a job as a teacher someday." N pointed out, a jesting nature to his comment.
"N, I think I'd rather die."
And she meant it.
"Now, please welcome to the stand your class Valedictorian : N!" The principal announced, stepping away from the podium as he gestured to the students behind him.
"Good luck." Uzi whispered to N who sat beside her, patting his back encouragingly.
"Knock 'em dead." V added on his other side, a mischievous smirk on her face. Knowing her, Uzi wouldn't be surprised if she actually secretly wanted N to commit a real slaughter.
N kicked his feet with excitement, springing from his seat and giving them both an ecstatic look as he rushed over to the podium. Uzi felt a warmth in her core bloom as she watched her boyfriend stand so merrily before the student body and attendees. She honestly had never felt such a swell of pride for anything in her life before. This was a big moment for N, and she was beyond elated to be able to witness it.
Even V seemed rather supportive of her lifelong friend, leaning back casually in her chair and clapping with a touched look on her face. Though, she quickly hid it when she noticed Uzi staring. Uzi grinned with amusement, quickly returning her full attention to N as he readied himself to address the crowds.
"Oh, wow. Hello!" N began, seeming a little anxious now that he was the center of attention.
"I just wanna start this off by saying congratulations to everyone! Not just the students, but the faculty and family here with us today too. Because we've accomplished something incredible. Yes, all the students here have succeeded in completing their basic educations. But, we've all managed to persevere through the unimaginable... The end of the world."
"Not only did you all survive the original extinction of all human life upon Copper 9, but you survived the extinction of your own kind brought on by... well, my kind. Which is another reason I'm honored to be giving this speech to you all. I like to think of it as a sign of just how far we've come, and how far we've grown. We're a new society now, one both Worker drones and Disassembly Drones. And yet, me and V aren't Disassembly Drones anymore. We're just... drones now."
N paused, his eyes landing on Uzi and grinning nervously. Uzi could tell right away what he was trying to communicate to her : he was warning her that the part of the speech he had incorporated her into was coming up. It would be humiliating, but Uzi decided sitting through it would be best. After all, it was sweet of N to acknowledge his love for her in such an important speech. She just wished it didn't have to be in front of her friends and family.
She rolled her eyes playfully, leaning back in her chair and giving him a nod to continue.
"And though we stand here today facing an end. We begin a path anew. Together. As one..." N continued, smile rising as he repeated the words Uzi had previewed earlier. "Upon a new planet, old, but birthed anew. Originally molded by fear and war, now shaped by love. And there's no greater love than what I feel to be standing here today. Amongst you all... and with the drone I love the most."
A chorus of "aws" sounded off around the auditorium, making Uzi groan and pull her cap over her eyes. Her face was burning so much the fans under her metal exterior kicked on to attempt to cool her off. She felt V nudge her in the shoulder, and peaked to see her raising her eyebrows at her teasingly.
"That drone is smitten for you." V stated the obvious, leaning her cheek on her palm. "Aren't you lucky?" She mocked, poking fun at how embarrassed she was.
"Bite me, V..." Uzi mumbled, glaring daggers at the petty drone who loved to get on her nerves for fun.
"Nah," V turned away from her slitted eyes, closing her own and resting her arms behind her head casually. "That's clearly N's job."
"Oh you little..." Uzi's tail shot from her back, the jaws of the little monster at the end biting V's neck in retaliation.
"Ah!" V gasped quietly, then quickly responded with sharp, blade-like, claws around her own neck. "I swear to God, I will-"
The pair paused their fight, realizing then N was staring at them with wide, worried, eyes pleading for them to stop. Uzi and V locked blazing eyes for a brief second before recoiling their bodily weapons and sitting correctly in their chairs. It would be selfish to start a fight in the middle of N's personal speech; Uzi would feel more shame in causing such a disturbance than any public declaration of love anyway.
N smiled with relief once they settled down, then faced the crowd once more.
"And so I reach the part of my speech where I wish you all luck, strength, and happiness in the futures we now forge. It's time to find our new ways of life! No more hiding, no more fear, just a bright future ahead! We already have outposts and small communities formed right outside the doors you all used to hide behind, so who knows what the future holds. All I know is that I believe we all have the knowledge and passion to pursue it."
N's gaze fell on Uzi as he spoke the last few sentences, his eyes full of deep appreciation as well as gratitude.
"We have the choice now. We get to choose who we want to be and what we want to do. And I think that's the greatest accomplishment of all."
Uzi's face softened, knowing exactly what N was referring to. If she had not run into him that day she snuck out of the bunker, none of this would have been possible. N wouldn't be free of Cyn's control, nor would V. They would still be scouring the planet for Worker Drones to murder, an order given to them against their wills.
Because of her they now had new friends, a new life, and even new love...
"I for one am beyond excited to begin this next chapter of my new life. I've already looked into a ton of different jobs and positions where I can put my skills to use! And I know every single one of you will find your purpose too. We got this!"
There was a pause so N could let the student body and attendees clap, proudly observing everyone who was giving his speech such a positive response.
Uzi clapped as enthusiastically as she could until N's gaze passed over her. Then, her applause gradually faded, and she felt herself sinking into her chair. There was an invisible feeling as if a weight was pulling her downward; a pit in her core heavy and downcasting. Something about what N had spoken about had scratched an itch in her mind, and not a good one.
He mused of finding jobs and discovering their futures, but Uzi had no clue as to what she wanted out of her life. Any original "plans" or "paths" she ever could have taken had been snuffed out alongside Cyn's defeat. She had honestly... sort of wanted to become a defender, a hero to her people against the dreaded Murder Drones.
While she was technically now renowned for her defeat of Cyn, a part of her still felt aimless. Shouldn't having the title of "hero" be enough? Shouldn't she be grateful to be alive, be a hero amongst her community, and have a loving boyfriend and family? Was she selfish?
She sure was beginning to feel like it as her spirits became more and more dampened. The cheers faded around her till there was a deafening silence all around her. All except for the echo of a familiar, robotic, spine crawling voice ringing in her ear.
"Never satisfied. Right, Uzi?"
"Huh!?" Uzi's head whipped around, eyes darting around for the source of the voice. But, the only thing beside her was V who was now giving her a confused look.
"I... didn't say anything." V responded, her yellow eyes studying her. "You... good?"
"Yeah..." Uzi shook her head, trying to clear her hearing processors of the lingering ring of the voice that had spoken so clearly to her. "Just zoned out a bit there. My bad."
V squinted, skeptical but a trace of real worry within her slitted eyes. Uzi desperately wanted her to look away. As if her fears for the future weren't already infesting themselves within her mind, she did not need V's suspicious glare weighing her down too. Thankfully, N's return to his seat beside her gave her an excuse to look anywhere else. Though, Uzi's guilt continued to spike as she realized she had completely missed the end of his speech.
"So, how'd I do?" N asked, tugging at the collar of his gown. "I feel like I may have talked too much, haha. I've never had to talk in front of so many people before."
"It was great, N." Uzi quickly replied, wanting to reassure him as much as possible. "Lot better than anything else any of these other bags of bolts in our class could have done."
"Aw. Thanks, gorgeous." N blushed, his voice tender and thankful.
Uzi smiled and nodded, finding herself slowly gazing back into nothingness as her mind began to fog once more with nagging fears. She almost didn't even process N's shoulder bumping her own, whipping around to stare up at him with a wide stare.
"What?"
"No playful punch for using such a mushy nickname in public?" N questioned, his tone lighthearted but edged with real concern.
Uzi gazed away, ashamed he seemed to catch onto her unusual behavior so easily. Well, he was her boyfriend. If any drone alive knew her better than anyone, it was N. Perhaps she should try to explain to him what was bothering her. But as she opened her mouth to speak, she was not able to get another word out as she was interrupted by the school principal speaking once more.
"And that concludes our speech part of the ceremony! It's time to finally hand out these diplomas you all worked so hard for. Students, line up and when your name is called please step onto the stage to receive your diploma."
"C'mon, you two." V ushered, knocking both their caps with her palm as she passed. "Sooner this is over the better. I'm tired of sitting."
Uzi let out a digital sigh, straightening her cap as well as her smile. There was no point in being such a downer during what was supposed to be a happy moment for them all. Whatever she was dealing with, it could wait till the end of the ceremony. That was the least she could do rather than dump all her stupid problems onto everyone else. For all she knew, these feelings would dissipate by the time the after party rolled around.
However, as she walked the stage, held her diploma in hand, and sat back down in her chair she still felt a lingering dread deep within her core. Even as they all tossed their caps into the air in an eruption of cheers, she could barely join in their triumphant yells once her hat was thrown upwards.
It wasn't until the auditorium had been filtered out and replaced with party paraphernalia did she finally start to try and take her mind off the seemingly never ending dismay. She found herself standing off to the side with a cup of coolant in hand, sipping on the antifreeze as she let it soothe her mind. It wasn't a permanent solution, but it mellowed out her inner workings enough to slow down the perpetual worries.
She lazily glanced over at N, who was conversing with students and a few adults in the middle of the dance floor. She watched him spark conversations and laughters a plenty, secretly envious of his ability to light up a room. Whatever N decided to do with his life, he was going to be able to achieve it. He was dedicated, extremely likable, and a hard worker.
Even V, who was standing hip to hip with Lizzy and Thad as the three gossiped amongst one another, seemed as though she was going to find a place for herself within the community.
Uzi glanced down into the liquid of her cup, catching the rippled reflection of her own self. Her glowing half and half eyes stared back at her, flickering across the surface like glitching LEDS. She was unsure if it was a trick of the light, but she swore at one point the only color visible within her distorted pupils was a glaring, yellow, stare.
Uzi swirled the cup around to break the reflection, then gulped down the remainder of the liquids till it was empty. Crushing it in her hand, she expertly tossed it over to the trashcan near the end of the snack table. It hit the lip of the can, then bounced inside with a clang.
"Nice." She smirked.
"Awesome throw!" N's voice added.
Uzi's eyes flitted over to N, or rather, up to N who was standing before her now. She had not even seen him approach in the last few seconds, she truly must be completely out of it.
"Glad I still have coordination even with a bit of that fun juice in me." Uzi stated, gesturing towards the bowl of coolant behind her.
"Is it yummy?" N asked, looking curiously into the thick liquid.
"You really haven't had antifreeze yet?" Uzi asked, leaning her arms against the table.
"I always wanted my first time drinking it to be at a special occasion." N explained, taking a cup and grabbing the ladle in the bowl to give himself a hefty scoop. "I'd say graduation is as special of an occasion as any."
"Hell yeah, Baby." Uzi grinned, giving him a pat on the back. "Cheers."
N took an experimental sip from the cup, then his eyes sparkled brightly. "Oooh..."
"Uh oh." Uzi giggled, "My boyfriend is about to become an alcoholic."
"No!" N protested, sticking out his tongue at her. "It just tasted a lot better than I expected... and it feels tingly."
"Give it a few more sips and you'll be the tingly one here soon." Uzi joked, watching N with a tender gaze as he continued to gulp down his drink.
She was grateful he was having such a great day, and now a great night. It's all she really could have asked for. Well, maybe she would have preferred today could have been better on her end too... But, whatever.
"Hey, Uzi?" N spoke softly, setting down his empty cup once he was done.
"Hm?" Uzi hummed.
"You've been... quiet today. Is everything alright?" N asked, fidgeting with his fingers as he probed her for the truth.
Uzi hesitated, trying to gather what exactly she should reveal. Was she feeling okay? No. She was feeling rather anxious, actually. Fretting over a future she had no clear sight of made for some pretty anxiety inducing stuff. Not only that, but wondering the outcome of her and N's relationship only added onto the pile of uncertainty beginning to stack upon her shoulders.
How long could she keep in such feelings? Especially from N, the one drone she was supposed to share anything with.
"It's... complicated." She muttered, smoothing back one of her bangs and looking away.
N frowned, eyes leaving her to travel over the dance floor. A slower song was echoing throughout the auditorium, and many of the students were keeping to their own private groups. N lowered a hand to her own, opening it invitingly as he awaited her attention.
"Want to dance?" He asked, his gaze full of ardor.
Uzi normally would be completely against such a flashy show of affection in public such as slow dancing, but at that moment she wanted to do anything to take her mind off her woes. She nodded, sliding her palm into N's without resistance. Their fingers intertwined, and N pulled her gently out to the middle of the floor. They stood close together, Uzi's chest resting against N's torso as he wrapped an arm around her waist. She did the same, their other hands resting on one another's shoulders as they began to dance in a languid circle.
"Mind if I ask what's so complicated?" N probed once again a few moments into their spin.
"I thought you wanted to dance, not talk." Uzi rebuked.
"Uzi." N's hand rose to trail his fingers through a few strands of her hair worriedly. "I can tell something is bothering you... I don't mean to be a worry wart, especially at such a fun party. But... I just care about how you're feeling."
"I know..." Uzi muttered, almost melting into his soft touch that threatened to make her spill her guts. "I guess I'm just... a little afraid..."
"Afraid of what?" N asked, tilting his head with curiosity.
"I don't know... afraid of our futures, or something..." Uzi shrugged, pinching the fabric of N's suit apprehensively.
"What's there to be afraid of?" N questioned, giving her a comforting smile. "We're done with school, we have no more humans or "absolute solver issues" threatening us anymore, and... we have each other." N pressed a little closer when he mentioned the two of them. "We can face anything together, right?"
The press of N's body into her own ignited sparks of both deep yearning as well as aversion. It pained her that a part of her hidden frets were being influenced by the fate of their relationship. How was she supposed to admit that to N?
Especially while he was looking at her with such deep fondness in his sweet, yellow, eyes full of adoration for her. Rocking her to and fro across the dance floor, leading her in a slow rhythm alongside the saccharine music flowing from the speakers. There was deep comfort in his hold, and a reassurance in his loving gaze that for a split moment truly made her believe everything would be alright... As long as she had him.
Her lips rose slightly, then she let her eyes close. Her head went slack, and her cheek pressed against his chest. Her arms slid around him, hugging him until all she could feel was his warm presence all around her. She wanted to drown every sense out with his aura, and for a brief moment let herself slip into momentary bliss.
And as he embraced her in return, resting his cheek atop her hair and nuzzling her gently... She for one second forgot everything that was causing her misery. There was nothing but the steady pulse of his core, the slow pace of their feet, and monotone music flowing all around them.
"You're so good to me, N..." Uzi whispered, her face pressed into the fabric of his suit.
"I always try to be, Uzi." N replied softly, "I love you, after all."
"I love you too..." Uzi responded, clutching him a little bit tighter. "Do you ever wish... moments like this could last forever?"
"Moments like this are forever, Uzi. At least, every moment I'm with you always feels that way." N replied, most likely unaware of how smooth he was with such a response.
"Corny... but I'll allow it." Uzi huffed a brief laugh, then let her gaze rise shyly to meet his own. "But would you really want this... us... forever?" She tested, her core pounding as the timid questions slipped out.
"Of course I do." N replied, not an ounce of uncertainty in his reply. He let himself lean lower so his face was closer to her own. "I would choose us no matter what."
Several rows of blush lined her cheeks, but a persistent determination to keep pressing kept her from giving into the desire to run and hide.
"Me too..." She squeezed his arms, eyes falling once more as she readied herself to ask the question that had been on her mind all evening. "N... do you think you would ever... I mean, it's dumb and totally unnecessary and totally not a requirement for... us as a couple. But-" She paused to stop herself from rambling, then faced him with a wavering gaze. "Would you ever want to marr-"
"Uzi! N! V!"
Uzi's head whipped around to face the direction of the shouts, feeling a burning rage boil beneath her metal exterior as her dad came running up to them with Nori upon his shoulder.
"I SWEAR TO GOD." Uzi screeched, stomping up to them and immediately sprouting her wings and tail. "UNLESS SOMEONE IS DYING I'M NOT INTERESTED IN-"
"Uzi," Before she could even finish her ranting, Khan cut her off. "Drones are dying."
"What?" Uzi stopped in her tracks, taking in his words as N and V joined her sides.
"Come see." Nori ushered, waving a claw for them to follow. "You'll have to hear it for yourself."
"Hear?" N asked, looking as confused as Uzi was.
"And see." Khan added, then began to run back towards the exit doors.
"Can't have one night of peace, can we?" V sighed, "Though, I'm intrigued by this dying business. Let's go check it out."
The trio ran after Uzi's parents, flying part of the way as they were led out of the school and towards the exit of the bunker. As the doors parted, they were greeted by a stormy night. A flash of lightning illuminated their destination ahead, a recently finished communications tower installed by the WDF. Its purpose was to scan the planet as well as beyond to pick up signals or readings that may be transmitted from other surviving drones. Or potentially, lingering humans if there were any still hiding out in space.
And from the looks of it, it had managed to accomplish what it was built to do.
"Your mother and I had left the party to, er... Come check on the doors of the new communications tower! When, well, we actually received a real message." Khan explained as they entered a room full of monitors.
Uzi scanned the screens with intrigue, having never been inside the building since its completion it was captivating just how much was going on. Radars beeped, scanners buzzed, and several monitors had Worker Drones keen on spotting signs of new transmissions. One screen in particular was lit with a bright, red, flashing alarm signifying something important had been found.
"We came to get you all as soon as we watched it ourselves." Nori informed them, hopping off Khan's shoulder and landing on the keyboard below the monitor.
"Why do you need us to see it specifically?" V asked, crossing her arms and leaning on her hip. "I get we're kinda the main characters of most of these things and all, but..."
"Trust me, primadonna. This concerns you. All of you." Nori asserted, then reached to tap a key that began to load the transmission. "Just watch."
Uzi, N, and V all took a few more steps forward. With their optics wide with anticipation, they collectively watched as a grainy video began to play.
"This is transmission attempt number... nine, I think?" A female voice began, the body of a Worker Drone coming into frame. The video constantly glitched and the quality was less than ideal, but Uzi could make out a young adult with curly blue hair and glasses.
"My name is Tsu, serial number 0732. Originally part of "PAC Upsilon". This is a signal of distress to any other drone led communities out there that are able to receive it."
A loud crash made the Worker Drone named Tsu pause, the lights around her flickering until all was still again. However, shrill screams and distant bellows could be heard in the background as the message kept playing.
"We are in desperate need of an SOS. For months we have been battling a... monster unlike any Murder Drone we've ever faced!"
Another sudden crash could be heard, and an alarm blaring "Breach, Breach, Breach" began to sound off all around the drone. She leaned the camera downward as if trying to block out the alarm to continue speaking.
"It's so many of them. So many... fused and piled together into some... beast. We can't fight it. We were trained for combat, but never anything like this!"
A clang of metal sounded off camera, and Tsu's eyes shriveled to horrified slits.
"Please! If this message is able to reach anyone willing to help, please come now! We are at coordinates forty degrees north..." Tsu listened off the coordinates, her voice slowly turning to a whimper. As terrified as she was, she listed every number until their location had been revealed. All the while she backed away from an unknown shadow that was falling over her with each passing second.
"It's broken through! This is the second level until it hits the main bunker. If it reaches level three, we're done for! Please, save us! Save our community-" As Tsu screeched her final words, glowing yellow claws crushed her body under a foot large enough to squash two drones.
There was a rumble, then a roar, and then the feed was cut. The last frame nothing but a trickle of dark, black, oil oozing down the lens of the screen.
The entire communications room was silent as the air was filled with the static from the cut feed, every drone's attention fixed on the single monitor that had relayed the message.
Uzi exchanged a wide eyed glance with N, then V. Their expressions matched her own, if not even more alarmed than she seemed to feel.
"We traced the coordinates to an old military facility on the coast about a hundred miles east of us" Nori began to explain, tapping a bunch of keys on the keyboard to pull up a map with a pinpoint of the bunker.
"Looking into the name of the place, it seems it used to be a warehouse and training facility for humans. And, for drones as well." Khan added on, sitting in the chair in front of the monitor to pull up info about PAC Upsilon.
"A bunker of that size needed to hold all sorts of weapons and military machinery needed for combat. I'm not surprised Worker Drones were able to turn it into a community with protection like that." Nori stated, turning back towards the trio as she spoke.
"But... if they have all of those weapons to defend themselves then what kind of monster have they been facing that can go up against everything they must have?" N questioned, scanning the others as if he hoped they had an explanation.
Uzi could not offer one, and only stared up at N with a look of distress.
"She said it was Murder Drones... fused together?" V repeated, stepping up to the monitor and rewinding the last few frames of the video : the giant, glowing, claws. "No Disassembly Drone was ever built of that caliber... Do you think it's Cyn?"
"That's impossible." N cut in, instinctively laying a protective hand across Uzi. "Uzi defeated Cyn, we both saw it."
"Well then do you have any brighter ideas of what that-" V tapped a finger against the screen to emphasize the giant claws. "-could possibly be? What other things are capable of turning drones into monsters?"
"Well... maybe J?" N suggested quietly.
"J? Ha! Good one, N." V rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and leaning up against the control panels behind her. "Since when would J ever be capable of pulling something this advanced off by herself? Plus, as far as we know she's left the planet by now. Last we heard and saw of her she was rebuilding one of those broken down spaceships."
"But we also know she was the only other Disassembly Drone on the planet. At least, alive." N pondered, tapping his chin quizzically.
"There is one other possibility." Nori chimed in, waiting until she had their attentions to begin speaking again. "I've both done enough research and have partaken in enough experimentation to know plenty about drones and what makes them tick. Especially you Disassembly Drones."
Nori hopped over to a group of buttons and began to type, bringing up anatomical displays of Disassembly Drone bodies. "You were all byproducts of improper disposal, and thanks to Cyn's solver influence you all possess living cores made of both flesh and machine. Your wings, tails, and other modifications are mechanical now, but you all started off with the same fleshy parts Uzi is able to sprout herself. Even without your robot bodies this core can live on its own; prime example being me."
Nori waved a claw over herself, then clicked to pull up new images and writings regarding cores. "A core can return to its host, even if fully ripped from it. But what we don't know is what can happen if, let's say, a core tries to find a new host. Or in this case, join together to form... one singular host together."
"Is that even possible?" V questioned, her famous skepticism lining her tone.
"The fact you exist, puppy dog, my daughter, myself, and every other Disassembly Drone including Cyn ever lived proves anything is possible. We may very well be facing something we've never encountered before." Nori concluded, turning back to minimize all of her research to show the location of the distressed bunker once more.
"Facing?" V echoed, leaning forward and squinting her eyes. "You aren't seriously thinking of venturing out and trying to destroy whatever that thing is, do you?"
"But, V-" N stepped forward, waving a hand towards the monitor. "They asked for our help! Pleaded! Aren't we the only drones capable of possibly helping?"
"Why should it be our responsibility to help them at all?" V countered, "Just cause we're also "Murder Drones". Cause we defeated Cyn, does that automatically make it our duty? To defend drones everywhere against threats relating to Cyn's leftover messes? That's not fair, N. We never asked to be this way."
"Regardless of Cyn's control, we are still the reason this planet and all the Worker Drones living upon it have suffered so much. You may not agree, but I think it's our responsibility to try and make things right. It's the least we can do." N protested, resilience making his usual friendly tone resolute and determined. "Don't you think so, Uzi?"
All eyes turned towards Uzi, who had been silent the entire conversation. She blinked, optics darting from N, V, her parents, and then the claws on the monitor. She took a few gradual steps closer, looking over the beastly appendage closely while lost in deep thought.
There were drones in need of saving; a monster on the loose. And not just any monster, a monster potentially made up of the same beings she once so passionately wanted to destroy. Was it horrible? Yes. Was it possibly life threatening? Based on the transmission footage, most definitely. But... It was an opportunity. A chance to partake in what she was extremely good at... fighting and violence.
After an entire day worrying what she was going to make of her future, this couldn't be a coincidence. This was destiny! This was her chance to prove to herself she was still worth something in this new chapter of her life.
A wild grin began to spread across her face, and a low chuckle slowly started to build in her throat.
"Uzi?" N's voice called from behind, sounding equally confused as he was concerned.
"There's a beast on the loose? Attacking drones? And it might be incredibly dangerous? And poses a threat to all our lives?" She stated the obvious, laughing again as she turned with arms outstretched with maniacal glee. "This is great!"
"You'll have to explain yourself, hun." Nori spoke up, her singular eye scanning the room of shocked looking faces upon all the drones within earshot. "Cause right now you sound like a psychopath."
"Well, obviously drones getting killed isn't great. But, the fact there's other communities out there is! We've always been so isolated out here by ourselves, if we were to team up with others it would make our community stronger! Help us prosper and stuff." Uzi explained, not entirely enthusiastic about the statistical side of her reasons to take on the call to action. "Also, if there's a threat as great as what they described and what we saw, taking it out is the only logical action. The last thing we need is something corrupted mutating into something like Cyn again."
Uzi turned towards V, grinning a sharp toothed smirk her way as she approached her. "C'mon, V. You're telling me you don't want an opportunity to fight and kill and eat for a change? I know you've been feeling antsy ever since the WDF made you take that vow to no longer senselessly kill students anymore."
V opened her mouth to protest, then shut it as she pondered the idea. Then she nodded her head, confirming she did find the prospect tempting.
Uzi then turned to N, who looked visibly tense. Uzi softened her gaze, taking his hands in her own as she addressed him now. "You're right, N. We should take responsibility. After all, you're the ones with all this advanced tech, fighting skills, and knowledge of the planet. And with my solver powers? We can take down anything. Together, right?" She prompted, calling back to their last conversation.
N immediately lit up, tail springing upward as if newfound courage had been pumped into his veins. "Heck yeah!"
"But, Uzi-" Khan spoke up, his expression filled with the doubt of a caring father. "Just the three of you venturing off to an unknown facility full of unknown drones and unknown doors... I don't think you should all go alone..."
"Well..." Uzi paused to think, then came to a conclusion she wasn't entirely psyched about. But, it was probably the right step to take. "That's why you should come with us! And Mom!"
"Huh?" Khan sounded caught off guard, glancing over at Nori before back to his daughter with even more reluctance. "Me?"
"Yeah!" Uzi nodded, walking up to throw an arm around Khan's shoulders. "We'll need your technological know-how, and Mom's own solver powers. Plus, there might be new kinds of doors we've never encountered before. We'll need your expertise."
In a flash Khan's eyes widened with heightened interest. He took on a determined expression, setting his hands on his hips as he fumed with pride.
"Then you can count me in!" Khan announced, pulling out his wrench and spinning it in a circle. "I gotta say, helping defeat that Cyn girl was quite fun. I think I'd love getting my hands dirty again."
"That was pretty hot." Nori commented, climbing up onto Khan's arm and sliding a claw under his chin gingerly. "You can count me in too, kiddo."
Uzi had to hold back a gag in response to her parent's cringeworthy flirting, but quickly recovered as she turned to face the whole room. Sprouting her wings and tail, she flew up to perch upon the chair so she had a higher ground.
"Then it's settled! We're going to travel to PAC Upsilon, find that monster, and kick its ass!" Uzi declared, pumping her fist in the air with energetic valor. "OH, and rescue all those poor drones under attack too."
"WOO YEAH!" N cheered, clapping his hands enthusiastically once Uzi's rousing speech was finished. "Tell 'em, babe!"
"Ah, what the hell." V shrugged, "I can't let you idiots run off and get killed without me. What fun would that be?" Though her expression didn't reveal it, her eager body language did. Uzi could tell she was just as excited as the others.
All the Worke Drones around the room began to clap and cheer alongside her friends and family, making Uzi grin with satisfaction. She stood tall atop the swiveling chair, using her wings and tail to keep her balance as she became the highest thing in the room.
Yes! This is exactly what she needed! She didn't need to worry about marriage, or a job, or junk like that. Sure, perhaps this would only be a temporary distraction... but she would be able to kick butt and cause mayhem. She could be a hero again. Not just for her peers, but for other drones who maybe knew nothing about her.
I can do this. This is what I'm good at. This is what I am meant to do.