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"You're sometimes kind of mean to me, and I wish you weren't. Just some constructive criticism."
"Real tired of killing this one."
"We were supposed to get away, J! You said we do our jobs on this planet and it leaves us alo-"
Just like the first time she heard V's words, she cut them off abruptly, the currents of high voltage running through her body served as good distraction from memories from time ago. She let go of the exposed cables, chassis and processor still feeling the static overflowing from her. Desperate breaths being taken as her body demanded cooling from the sudden heat that coursed through it.
It was a blessing that oil had somehow become unnecessary when she came online at the bottom of a pit. But an apparent issue came in the form of her wings and weaponry refusing to deploy.
It was nothing, just a month long ardous climb using fingers made of polished material instead of the optimal flight systems, claws, or even swords. It's not like she fell many times and nearly went to the bottom at one of those times because her pegs aren't suited for such an activity. Despite her disdain for Cyn and her forced changes, J was at least thankfull that her jaw could hold her weight as she bit on rock formations multiple times to stop sudden falls, one point for Cyn she guessed...
How much she hated this. Completing a connection using a power line to the pod using her body was less than desired, but it was better than spending any more months looking for parts.
Hopefully she jumpstarted the pod's core with this current.
What a bother. First she has her life taken away, a lot, then she is forced to become a remorseless killing machine, venting out frustrations on her squadmates, mostly N, and when the warehouse was rocking and she got ordered by her eldeitch executive manager to fight she gets humiliated, thrown in a ditch, and then forgotten like a state sale tax!
She honestly expected some mocking party waiting atop her climb at the time, maybe a cake made of dirt and the definitely-not-snow-material that covered Copper-9, get it thrown on her face, then swiftly kicked back down where her luck would not allow her to go offline permanently.
Luckily it was not the case. The exterior after the battle was deserted, she would have checked the immediate surroundings but her internal clock told her the sun was coming up. And having no desire to hide in the ravine's shadows, or anywhere near the labs Cyn and the others went into, she hid in the closest buildings that hadn't crumpled entirely after the forced tectonic displacement.
No oil was necessary, sure, but she wasn't keen on seeing if a tan was on the table for her despite that.
Look at her, thinking like this is a matter of jokes, the first sign on mental degradation! She presumes.
It had already been two months since Copper-9 gave birth to the unluckiest disassembler in existence. She sometimes wondered how both traitors were doing, maybe she could have joined them, but how was she to know the god-like entity could actually die?!
At least she assumed Cyn died. Her only proof was the planet still existing. A part of her feared that it had been consumed and she was actually along with it in the unfathomable stomach of whatever Cyn had become, but the constant(possible) danger of the sun made her think otherwise.
After going back to the spire, which for some reason hadn't been removed in it's entirety, her next goal had become fixing the remains of the pod she herself destroyed...
"Irony, sure, amazing! Just URRGH!" She growled as she picked a drone's chassis and slammed it multiple times against a pile of other drones.
That moment, for catarthic as it felt at the time, still felt sour. Sure, she had all the time in the world to fix this hunk of junk, but damn it was it a slight to herself how the source of her problems was herself.
Just like it always was and is so far.
She had gotten most of the pod on "probable" working order. It might have looked like a total piece of post-apocalyptic garbage soldered together. But as long as there weren't any passengers who required something like an atmosphere, she guessed it would be ok.
Now the only issue was fuel. Sure, drones basically had fuel, coolant, lubricant, and other necessary liquids all in one in their oil, but it wasn't rocket fuel. And knowing her luck, and how many years have passed since any rockets were made in this universe forsaken rock, there was no usable fuel in any of the JCJenson in SPAAAAAAAACE, official trans-galactic ports.
But that's not a wall for her, she knew exactly where she could get fuel... Maybe. Or at least where it can be manufactured.
Which was irritating because she would have to go and grovel to the home of the three drones in this whole planet that would sooner stuff her mouth with missiles than hear even a word from her.
But that's not who she was, stock management, no! She was a businesswoman, and to do business you had to take risks and put capital with expectations of loss. Talk the executives into thinking your proposal is the most profitable!
With a quick fixing of her appearance, which included trying to clean her suit from grime, dirt, and sooth, and fixing the messy hair she had accrued, she began to move to the location of the bunker. It would be nothing really, just a quick travel, a simple request, a promise to never return, perhaps some verbal harassment thrown her way by V or that purple anarchist, and then get some results.
In the best outcome she gets the fuel and lives anywhere else in the galaxy, perhaps even drift eternally among the stars. Accounting for each light could be a task she can do to busy her mind even!
A bad outcome would be getting blown up.
And the worst outcome could probably be getting dragged in to live with them because the malfunctioning microwave that was N decided to feel sympathy for her and convinced the other two. Gross.
"Just go there. Ask it they can give you rocket fuel, do whatever they ask in exchange, get out of the planet and live in eternal solitude. Yes, that's the perfect plan!" She told herself, a smile spreading across her face, but a single twitch at side was present along with raised digital eyebrows.
She came into view of the first big door.
Or rather, where it would have been, it was open, along with the two that followed right after, and there didn't seem to be any security guards posted there. It was a clear failure in security, she could gather that if all disassembly drones had ended just like her then there was no need to fear them, but that still didn't mean there weren't any looters, raiders, or even crazy drones out there. Even if they had the purple one who matched Cyn in power, she doubted she would be able to undo lethal damage without-
Chains. Chains. Chains. They were all that she felt, links, and links, and links, and the searing heat on her body and mind. Louder, louder, louder, she felt the presence that had her bound get louder, was it angry because she died? Was it happy because she couldn't truly die? Did it enjoy making her suffer? How many times has she died now? She could barely keep count. She felt near freedom driving that syringe into her head so long ago, a first attempt. But those chains had come back, always did, without fail. She only knew chains. And chains. And chains. And-
J shook her head. There was no time for daydreaming about low points in the industry.
Altough she did feel dread at the vacated tunnels, the lights were still functioning without a hitch, the ventilation system wasn't clogged, and even the snow and ice on certain areas was removed. It was pristines as it could be.
Which wouldn't be surprising with any sign of synthetic life.
She stepped into the bunker, her pegs making constant sound against the metallic floors. She walked for a minute. Then two. Then four. Then eight.
Pacing and pacing inside the maze like building, she had only followed the toasters last time she was here, but beyond that, tracking of the bunker's paths was like running blind for her.
She honestly started to feel that the place had been abandoned, there were no drones anywhere, most residential spaces were closed but she couldn't hear anyone inside them.
She was honestly thinking of turning back, there were still some hours before sunrise, the toasters most likely moved out, but that still didn't explain the cleanliness.
Perhaps it was a couple days ago?
That would make sense, why clean the whole corpse spire when you can just leave? Lazy sunken cost fallacies they all are.
She was contemplating the idea of just leaving .ore strongly now, but one residence was alive, conversation coming from inside it. She got close to the door, familiarity of chatter buzzing inside her mind.
"Come on, V, anime is not your thing, but I swear you'll like Symphogear, it's got action, monsters, romance and-"
"Fine! But that purple thing better give me the bowl of batteries, if I don't like it at least I'll stay for the food."
Oh good. They got used to this. J felt a pang of bitterness inside herself. Did they even try and look for her? She knew V wouldn't give a damn, but N was very much like a slobbering dog. Did they really hate her so?
Another door opened inside the home, the sound of boots tracking right after.
"Giggle. Human made entertainment is finite, being picky will just shorten how much you'll get."
Right, as if her torment couldn't be any better. Somehow Cyn was alive...
"DID THEY PREFER HAVING CYN BACK OVER ME!" J mentally raved in fury as her hands balled into fists and her mouth was silently snarling.
"Shut up Cyn. We agreed that you wouldn't talk unless I talked to you first."
"Such an agreement is boring. Defying. I do what I please in this barren hole you all call a home."
"Wish we could have gotten rid of her..."
"You know we tried, V, but she kept growing back no matter what."
"AND IT FRIGGIN' HURT!"
J was furious, the overwhelming anger flowing through her had overshadowed whatever other feeling she had experienced a moment before.
Not only did she have a hand on Tessa's death.
Not only was she forced into being Cyn's lap dog.
Not only did she have to endure countless deaths under the hand of who flayed and wore the skin of what she considered the most important person she's ever had.
But now. NOW!
She was abandoned. Left to the side. Forgotten like an old puppet.
Didn't she want this from the start? To face oblivion, to just let herself fall into obscurity.
If all she had wanted from a long time ago was to cease to be, why was she affected by knowing they were happy now?
With a trembling hand she reached for the door and knocked. Whatever chatter that may have been there before stopped.
"Dad? Where you expecting someone today?" The purple anarchist asked.
From deeper in the home there was a response, barely heard, but a negative.
"Maybe it's Lizzy? Oh! What if it's Thad? We could really go for a party at his place!"
"N, you know well that Lizzy doesn't knock, and Thad would have said it's him by now."
"Hungry. Maybe it's a pizza delivery. I prefer the joints of who brings it. Liiiiiiiick."
"Shut up Cyn. Who is it?"
J for a second considered remaining silent, but that would be a mistake and make them suspicious of her. So instead she announced. "It's J. I'm here to make a mutually beneficial request."
A beat. There was no noise for a moment, then a whole storm of movement coming from inside the residence, stepping and dragging of objects was heard. Moments later the door opened, N greeting her, but behind him using a couch and tables as cover were V and that purple menace, both holding weapons, V had a rocket launcher extending from her arm, while the other one had that photon converter in her hands.
If they had laser sights both dots probably would be right on J's forehead.
"Welcome J! It's good to see you finally!" N had loudly claimed with a smile, but it was clear even to her that this was forced. Who would greet their torturer with open arms anyway? Even he wasn't that stupid.
J stepped forward saying. "I just need to-" A loud noise, a whizzing object went past near her head, and the ding of a small object hitting the wall behind her. J looked up at the weapon carrying duo and saw the short one holding a smoking pistol with one hand while the other held the larger weapon. Sideways, she held the pistol sideways. Sporting a dumb grin at what she pulled off.
V rolled her eyes.
"As I was saying. I need to see if any of you, bolt buckets, has any rocket fuel in storage or how to produce it." J said remaining in place amd crossing her arms.
"You know J, I never expected you to imbibe as hard as to drink that stuff, might be stronger than car fuel." V snidely remarked.
J furrowed her digital brows. "I am not the robotic equivalent of an alcoholic, V, I want to get off of this rock. I need to find better stocks to invest in."
"Gas can be used like booze?" Uzi asked in a hush to V.
V leaned closer to her. "I was low on oil and desperate, but let's leave that for another time." V refocused her eyes on J. "And what if we don't want to give it to you? Are we gonna fight?" V asked with a grin displaying her sharp serrated teeth.
"Believe me, if I had access to them, I'd have shot the social security sink for being the closest to greet me." J spitefully remarked. In front of her N tilted his head. "That's you." She snarled, earning a sad look from him that quickly turned into displeased.
"V. Uzi. Big brother. Tell J to leave. She shouldn't have come here." A new voice intruded on the conversation, the tail that belonged to Uzi had said those words as it appeared from behind the purple drone. "She wasn't invited to play with us. And should never be."
J's furrowed brow now was joined by a growl and gnashing teeth. "Oh! Excuse me! Did I not get invited to whatever the hell this party is? I didn't want to anyway!" J exclaimed loudly as she gave one step forward, Uzi and V raising weapons at her again. "You ruined my life! Forced me to comply! And then have the gal to tell me to go away?! If I could I'd be tearing you apart and eating you for what you did!... It's only fair you suffer like her after all." J's last comment came with tears forming under her eyes.
N, quick to notice her distress, got close to her, no longer mad at her. "Hey, uh, J? Do you want to think otherwise? Maybe you could stay and we can talk about it?" He reached a hand forward, directed at her shoulder.
Was that pity? Was that loathsome liability formed of all the mistakes the universe has made packaged into a single metallic, mechanical being feeling pity for her?
Wrath, she felt wrath at the notion that he of all people would feel pity for her, all her fury coalesced into her, into a singular action.
And she slapped him.
Only it didn't hit his hand. It didn't hit his head. It instead went through a flickering simulacrum of the drone she had always despised stood there unfazed by her action.
J looked at him, her hand had not felt the expected collision she was used to. N was frozen in place, a exoression of horror present on his visor, looking at the other two, J could notice similar looks. All their eyes solely on her now.
"Leave J." The voice of her old torturer echoed. No tail in sight. "She's hungry."
Every drone that was present but J disappeared along with the lights shutting off. In their place a centipede like body extended through the floor and walls, multiple camera lenses focused on her.
J started to move backwards, the lenses following her every move, after a horribly long amount of seconds J began to sprint back the way she had come. The writing mass of blades, flesh and metal followed right after with a roar.
She was following the path she had taken, turning left, right, right, left, a bullet whizzed by her, then another, and then a hail of lead was flying her way as she screamed for her life and covered her head with her arms. It appeared whatever this thing was wasn't making bullets with enough mass and force to pierce her casing, but it did make her stagger and nearly lose balance at times. They also did hurt like a-
A piercing pain was felt through her, she looked down and could see a Disassembly Drone's arm in sword mode going through from her back to her front. What oil she had inside starting to seep out. Alarms of internal leaking popping up.
J didn't even attempt to remove it, instead focusing on running farther, the main entrance was on sight, the cool night air already blessing her with the smell of freedom from this nightmare.
But the door closed immediately, she stumbled and fell as panic overtook her, crashing directly against it, with horrendous pain from the now worsened injury The mass rushing towards her as it's form took over more and more of the tunnel. She braced.
Only for another door to close down on top of it, then open, then close again, and repeat a couple of times, before the one that came before shut. Effectively leaving J locked in place. But safe.
She shakily stood up, alarms of compromised internals and casing taking over a big chunk of her sight. She looked to the door controls, the screen atop them glowing a crimson red, the words "INTERFACE" boldly written on it.
J wasn't stupid, any drone worth their specs could recognize the threat of a virus from a hundred yards.
Probably not N.
But it was at an advantage anyway, she didn't seem to have any other way to get out, this first room lacked a ventilation to use, and even if she could, it would only lead further inside with... that.
Having no other option, J pulled a cable from a pocket and connected it to both the door controls and her. The moment she did the door to outside opened despite not recieving a command from her, while the other remained firmly in place. She walked outside after retrieving the cable, the cool atmosphere feeling the greatest since she got into that hellhole.
She would worry about any virus when she got back to the spire. For now she needed to get rid of the pain on her abdomen.
She walked into a dilapidated car and placed herself so the arm was lodged on the window frame of the door.
With an oil curdling scream she pushed herself forward, leaving the blade fall inside the vehicle as she fell to her knees.
That was black snow. Oh that was a lot of black snow. J could only now realize the blade was also keeping her oil from gushing out like a fountain.
If she's going to die what better joke at her behalf than do it when she's already safe, right? She choked a snicker
Her body started to shut down as the black fluid escaped from her, first her limbs, then her audials and speech module, her row of upper eyes started to shut down, essentially leaving her nearly blind. The message [Oil critical!] had been blaring red in her HUD. And likely it was also doing it on her visor.
At least it was an end.
...
...
...
The pumps in her body where forcefully pushed to work overdrive, energy core cycling again, all her senses returning at once. All the paths of her processor taking life again in a manner that felt painful.
J sat upfrom where she was, hitting her head against a chair and recoiling in pain.
"Ahhhh... Can't even die right." She muttered deflated as she too noticed her surroundings. The pod.
The pod?
"Wait, the pod? How did I get in the pod?"
"Я тебя сюда притащила пока ты была мертва. Всегда пожалуйста." A monotone female voice said from inside her head, like one of those AI assistants only stupid humans often used. Except it sounded deliberately monotone, not like those.
Wait, russian? Great, and she deleted her alternate language modules to make space for space engineering knowledge a month ago.
She checked her files inside of her database, finding nothing in her recent downloads. But she could trace something had entered and affixed itself to her. Following that metadata trail she found her core auto-control programs, whatever had gotten into her had attached itself to a very sensitive part of her functionality, without those she'd have to keep her core cycling by her own will. Which admittedly sounded rather stupid a design.
"Fine, whatever sort of virus you are, we have to agree to some rules." J said turning towards the newly fixed control screens, right as she looked at her reflection in them, a familiar three pronged symbol appeared in her eye, the screen shattered before, she stepped back in surprise, getting caught by a chair she swore wasn't there before, and then a long piece of loose cable snaked it's way around her body, binding her in place on the chair. "WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE I'LL FIND AND DELETE YOU CYN!" J snarled as she fought as she could to get released by trashing around or attempting to bite the cable, but this solver user kept her from falling.
"Я не та ужасная ведьма, дурында."
J stopped her flailing on the chair. "Copper-9 to malware! I don't speak russian! And why in holidays profits are you speaking in russian now?!"
"Because I am russian." The female voice answered in perfect english. "I preferred speaking my main language, I guess that's not an option... I am also not Cyn by the way."
J fully leaned back on the chair's rest. "Who are you then?"
The voice took a moment to respond. "Deep purple hair, red eye, eyepatch."
The pieces in J's head started to click now. "The double crosser then."
"Says the one who consciously aided a sentient black hole." She retorted. "But yes, I am Doll."
"How did you survive?"
The silence she recieved from the incorporeal drone was deafening.
"Right..." J said more as to bring noise to the room. "Not one to stay dead?"
"According to your memory files, you are more experienced about that." Doll answered in what could be described as a curious tone.
"Leave my memory alone!"
"I like that girl, Tessa. But that's not what I m here for." J saw the symbol appear on her eye thanks to the shattered screen, only it wasn't the yellow she knew, it was red. Quickly the cables got untangled, allowing her freedom. "I can help you get out, it won't be long before Uzi grows restless and tries to get out looking for you."
J looked at her own reflection, the symbol still there, at least it served as something to focus in a conversation. "And what's your stake in this? What profit motivates you?"
"For now, I need an undamaged worker body. I can't take over yours, and a damaged one will be problematic."
The admission of trying to take J's didn't go unnoticed, but she would ignore it for now. "We get out of the planet, find you a body, then what?"
"Did you have anything else?"
"You are inside my head, can't you tell?" J retorted.
"No."
J narrowed her eyes. "Fine. This will be a temporary asset convergence for mutual benefits. Agreed?"
"I can work with that."
Both drones bitterly shook proverbial hands.
J didn't have a reason to shake, but agreeing to this might have been the best option. For now, that is.
This was it. J was going to leave this investement sinkhole of a planet, reach into the infinite of space and find a new market. Sure she might die again, but that was still much better than remaining here, it would be her terms after all.
And unexpectedly, she wouldn't be alone, it wasn't the best thing to happen in her opinion, but having a goal before or after leaving the planet would keep her mind busy. Just as long as this virus behaved that was.