Capítulo 17: Haphazard
Outside the labyrinthine facility, Y/N, J, T, and C remained blissfully unaware of the events unfolding beyond the depths of the shaft.
As per Uzi's directive, Y/N dutifully kept a vigilant watch over the trio of drones. For her part, J savored each moment of Y/N's undivided attention, thoroughly enjoying the spotlight directed her way.
Obliged by Uzi's charge to monitor everyone, particularly J, Y/N hovered in close proximity to the love-struck drone, ensuring she stayed on track.
J, on the other hand, was reading these actions through a different lens – one that painted a picture of Y/N's keen interest in her and a desire to be near her.
This perception wasn't entirely wrong, although it wasn't rooted in romantic sentiment just yet. Y/N had sensed J's affections, discernible through her telltale blushing, tone modulation, and body language.
Admittedly, Y/N's knowledge about romance had been largely gleaned from anime, creating a peculiar framework for interpreting such matters.
C and T, meanwhile, were acutely tuned in to the tension hanging in the air. Both recognized J's restrained impulse to confess her feelings, finding amusement in allowing the situation to unfold on its own. Predictably, the moment of revelation soon materialized.
"So, um... your design is, uh, quite striking, Y/N." J complimented, her words carrying a mix of genuine appreciation and a touch of insecurity as she navigated her emotions, her attempt to convey her feelings treading the fine line between sincerity and overeagerness.
Caught momentarily off-guard by J's straightforward and genuine compliment, Y/N's countenance underwent a fleeting twist of surprise.
J's candid compliment momentarily rendered Y/N's expression a blend of surprise and uncertainty. Striving to maintain a facade of casualness, they scratched their head, their effort at formulating a reply veering into hesitant stammering. "Oh, um, thanks, J. You know, you've got a pretty distinct vibe yourself..."
A blush of vivid yellow graced J's visor, her attempted suavity morphing into a charming cascade of fluster. "Really? You genuinely think so?" Her voice spiked in pitch, reflecting her flustered state.
"Absolutely," Y/N affirmed with an encouraging nod, their eyes locked onto J's visor, the shared gaze holding an unspoken understanding in its fleeting duration.
J's face lit up, an effervescent radiance emanating from her as she hooked her hands behind her back, playfully twirling a finger around one of her pigtails. "You stand out from those run-of-the-mill drones, Y/N... unlike others, you don't get on my nerves."
"Is that so?" Y/N's curiosity was piqued, prompting them to inquire further into J's perception. Given J's rather distant rapport with N and V, more like acquaintances than friends.
Also, the evident friction between her and N, especially when contrasted with her affinity for V, it wasn't much of a stretch to discern the reasons behind her preference.
Amid the web of contemplation, J's disposition seemed to gravitate in an entirely distinct orbit, one where romanticism was the prevailing force.
She existed in a state of starry-eyed enthusiasm that baffled Y/N, who was now navigating a cosmic landscape of mixed signals.
J's effusion of affection continued unabated, radiating like a supernova on a caffeine high. "You know, Y/N, even though I've witnessed you fighting alongside those you share connections with only once, I still feel this potent, radiant energy. Your moves, your...uh, everything about you, it's just... different."
In response, Y/N managed a blend of a bashful grin, their visor acquiring a subtle neon green tint that betrayed their own shy response.
They found themselves rather unequipped for this situation, their emotional arsenal mainly stocked with sibling warmth but little else.
The realm of love was a landscape they had solely grasped through Uzi's protective nature, and maybe a dash of unintentionally-watched romance anime – not exactly the most reliable guides.
"J, I... um, appreciate it, I suppose. I mean, it's, like, nice to know that... you know, you value what I bring to the table," Y/N stammered, navigating the unfamiliar waters of this unexpected discourse.
J's response was a serene smile, accompanied by an enduring neon yellow blush that seemed perpetually present in her visor's display around Y/N.
With T and C focused on their own concerns and maintaining guard, the two drones continued their exchange. Meanwhile, Uzi, V, N, Tessa, K, and Z were traversing decidedly less tranquil waters, to put it mildly.
Within the eerie confines of the lab's unsettling ambiance, Uzi gradually regained consciousness, stirred from slumber by the jarring sound of an axe cleaving through metal.
Blinking back grogginess, her eyes scanned the peculiar scene surrounding her – a magnet affixed to her head, its interference wreaking havoc on her systems.
Orienting her gaze, she identified the source of the cacophonous chopping as the enigmatic Drone from before, now christened "Alice."
This Drone was methodically severing the head from another unfortunate machine. Struggling to rise, Uzi found herself trapped in her own attempts.
"Sentinels picked at this one. I try and not damage good parts. Of course, some parts are more valuable than others, ain't they?" Alice's words hung in the air as she drew back a curtain, revealing V in a similarly constrained state with a magnet adhered to her head.
"More valuable." V murmured with a wry smile, a touch of satisfaction evident in the realization that her components commanded a certain distinction.
"Grah...! Once I get out of here, I'll turn you into a pool of molten metal!" K's indignant shout echoed, her predicament unveiled as she too lay strapped to a table, an intrusive magnet clasped to her head.
"We wield technology of unparalleled caliber... and it's thwarted by a mere magnet... this is both degrading and humiliating..." Z's voice chimed in from the neighboring table, articulating the collective sentiments. True to expectations, he was securely harnessed to his table, magnetized just like the rest.
Alice poised herself to decapitate V, but her intent was interrupted by Uzi's voice. "Whoa, hey, cut that thing up and you're gonna get a big creepy worm. An improvement." Uzi quipped, prompting an exasperated eye roll from V.
"Nah, heat keeps 'em sluggish." Alice countered, springing onto an oven's surface. A swift cabinet door reveal followed – a macabre trove of disassembled Drone parts lay within. "Ain't our first rodeo." She added, shutting the cabinet with a casual flick.
The spectacle grew a tad too repulsive for Uzi's taste, prompting her to drop the façade. "...Okay, that's enough of this." She conceded, endeavoring to activate her AbsoluteSolver.
However, it proved unresponsive, her subsequent attempts at weapon transformation equally futile. Evidently, the magnet attached to her head was the crux of her issues.
Amused by Uzi's struggles, Alice chuckled and closed the proximity between their faces. "Dealt with witches 'fore, too," she drawled with a Southern twang, Uzi held in her grip. "Though, ain't seen 02 since she left us to die...! An' you're a new type, too. Never seen someone with that energy source ya have."
Uzi attempted to transmit an alert to Y/N through her systems, yet the interfering magnet disrupted her connection. Her concern snowballed with each passing moment.
As she was aggressively returned to her table-bound position, her hope hung on the slim chance that Y/N would sense the urgency and come seeking her.
In another chamber, Tessa and N were ensnared in a comparable plight, each securely strapped to their separate tables. The animated baby drone, christened Beau, was tending to N's mechanical aspects, and rather oddly, N seemed to relish the experience of this mechanical surgery.
"Kid, you might turn red and glum if you pull that on me," Tessa's voice carried a hint of sarcasm, the reality that she was flesh and blood clearly setting her apart from the robotic crowd N was mingling with.
As for N, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the unconventional procedure, his chuckles mingling with the whirl of machinery. "It's like... a ticklish version of the bad kind!" he giggled, his reaction causing Beau to momentarily halt in apparent concern. However, N reassured him, "You're doing great, buddy."
"N, whose side–" Tessa was about to inquire about N's joviality, but her words faded, swallowed by a hesitation she didn't expect.
Meanwhile, N's mirth-filled demeanor remained intact, his communication with Beau taking an intriguing twist. With a simple gesture, he pointed to a specific region in his exposed torso, prompting Beau to adjust his saw's position.
N's affirmative wink indicated that the adjustment was correct, turning a seemingly grim situation into a comical exchange.
Amidst Beau's poised readiness to proceed, a resonant call buzzed through the radio's speakers, jolting his attention away. Alice's voice, tinged with an audacious nonchalance, sliced through the airwaves.
"Beau, we've got Nori's kid here!" A distinct crunch followed by Uzi's unmistakable laughter provided the backdrop, casting a surreal hue to the situation. "Need more sedatives. It's bitey." Alice added, her voice brimming with both annoyance and pragmatism.
Reacting to Alice's message, Beau swiftly collected a couple of additional magnets and made his exit. N sent a playful wave his way, while Beau's robotic visage peeked back in to return the gesture.
As the momentary commotion settled, Tessa's voice, now free from her bonds, broke the silence. "Ugh, finally, the code. Lordy..." she muttered, extricating herself from the duct-taped magnet that had adorned her headgear. "Walk and talk?" She proposed, a clear invitation for N to join her in escaping this peculiar scenario.
Meanwhile, Uzi found herself adorned with two magnets clinging to her head, and with a calculated motion, she expelled a piece of Alice's robotic finger, aiming it squarely at Beau's face. Her barrage of inquiries pierced the air.
"How'd you know my mom? Was she cool? She didn't suck, did she?" Uzi's inquisitiveness held an edge of earnestness, the kind of curiosity that arises when one confronts the mysteries of their lineage.
However, Alice's focus remained steadfast on her work, engrossed in piecing together her detached finger segment. Her actions paused briefly as she issued a directive to Beau, her voice resolute. "Back to the others!" she commanded, prompting Beau to hasten his exit.
As Beau vacated the room in swift motion, Uzi's gaze was arrested by a monitor's sudden glow, where she witnessed Tessa and N making their own escape. Her concentration was broken by a vivid flash of light, accompanying Alice's contemplative tone.
"You're a lot like her, I'll say. 'Cept her yellow eyes," Alice reflected, drawing a parallel between Uzi and her mother, Nori. The distinct contrast between Nori's yellow Dissassembly Drone eyes and Uzi's vivid green Atomizer Drone gaze lingered in the air.
Alice poised herself, brandishing a hand pruner with a chilling intent. "Easy, creep. You've got the wrong– Ah!" Uzi's attempt to swat Alice aside faltered as the latter drove the blade into the former's robotic hand. The metallic resonance reverberated, blending with Uzi's startled cry.
"Nori, right? Sure though imploding all them folks was pretty slick," Alice jeered, priming herself to make another incision into Uzi's finger. Uzi struggled to muster words amid the turmoil, her pleas ricocheting within the dimly lit chamber.
She sought to employ her AbsoluteSolver as a countermeasure, yet the digital fabric of her powers appeared unyielding, refusing to bend to her will.
"Wait, stop. Seriously, what are you talking about?" Uzi's voice glitched with desperation, a plea tinged with genuine confusion. Alice, however, appeared impervious to her words.
With a resounding snap that echoed like the strike of a judgment gavel, the inevitable unfolded. Even V, K, and Z winced at the brutal act that unfolded before them, the room's atmosphere quivering with the intensity of the moment.
In a seamless transition, the scene shifted. Beau, driven by an unswerving sense of purpose, entered Tessa and N's confined space, only to find it void of their presence. Swiftly discerning the situation, he promptly departed to alert Alice of their escape.
Nearby, N's gaze was intently fixed on Beau's movements, his mind racing with apprehension. Tessa, unfazed by the unfolding events, remained hunched over a computer terminal, typing away with an urgency that reflected the gravity of the situation.
"They've gotta be in there, right?" N's words bore a tinge of anxious concern, his thoughts already entwined with the safety of Uzi and V, despite the fleeting span of their acquaintance. Empathy extended even to K and Z, their plight not lost on his conscience.
A wave of realization crashed over him as he remembered Y/N. "Wait, Y/N! I have to send them a message!" His systems went to a rush, crafting a digital SOS that traversed the ether in pursuit of Y/N's swift intervention.
"No worries, we'll save V, K, and Z." Tessa's reassuring words flowed, an attempt to ease the waves of concern crashing through N's thoughts.
She extended a calming gesture, encouraging him to take a seat. However, N's response was a swift and almost defiant kick that sent his chair skittering away.
"And Uzi," N's voice held an oddly stern edge, the name emphasized with a tenacity born from friendship...
...and the fear of potential repercussions from Y/N if Uzi suffered harm.
As Tessa's attention refocused on the computer screen, the room was cast in a soft, yellow radiance, the glow emanating from the monitor.
"Wanna take a gander at Earth, N?" Her question emerged seemingly out of thin air, an unexpected topic shift, her tone concealing whatever eyebrow arch her helmet might have concealed.
"No, Tessa, we don't have time–" N began, his words halted mid-sentence as his eyes locked onto an unfolding scene displayed on the monitor before him.
Simultaneously, Y/N's attention was pulled from their conversation with J as a notification ping chimed in their auditory sensors. Upon opening the message, the shift in their demeanor was palpable.
A wordless transformation began marking itself by the intensifying luminosity of their green lights, their fists clenched, a jetpack materializing with a determined hum, and their once-neutral right arm undergoing a seamless transformation into a minigun with explosive uranium munitions.
In another corner of this peculiar drama, within the confines of V, Uzi, K, and Z's chamber, Beau's attention was locked onto the security monitors, scanning for any trace of Tessa and N's whereabouts.
However, his diligent surveillance was interrupted abruptly by Alice's forceful shove, accompanied by a frustrated exclamation.
"They can't leave the office, idjit!" Alice's irritation was unmistakable as she redirected her focus toward Uzi. "Can't get back in our rooms, neither."
With the precision of a seasoned operator, Alice's fingers danced across the control panel, initiating a series of actions. Two heavy doors clanked shut, sealing off possible exit routes, including the one that led to the current room.
And then, a third button's press set in motion the release of the Sentinels, sinuous machines that bore an uncanny resemblance to the predatory dinosaurs from Earth's ancient past.
Uzi's voice trembled as a mixture of confusion and terror gripped her. "Wait... What is that...?" Her words trailed off, quivering in the air, as the menacing forms of the Sentinels emerged into view.
In the midst of this sinister display, Alice settled into a seat, her version of "popcorn" being a pile of batteries, eyes riveted to the unfolding spectacle on the security feeds. The Sentinels prowled the office spaces, their mechanical movements eerily reminiscent of living creatures.
One of these robotic beasts launched itself at a security camera, tearing into it with a chilling voracity. As Uzi's attempts to liberate herself continued, Alice appeared wholly entertained by the chaos the Sentinels were sowing.
Meanwhile, with Tessa and N, the revelations escalated to a nightmarish crescendo. The monitor unveiled a series of photos depicting Earth's devastation, an image that struck N with a jolt of disbelief and horror.
"We know it mutates in damaged AI. It took Cyn as a host, then it took everything. The humans here saw what was happening at home. Thought they could understand it." Tessa's voice carried an undertone of solemnity as she skillfully maneuvered through the security system's feeds.
A particular sequence captured a possessed Nori, her form distorted and glitchy, before the feed abruptly cut out. "All they did was spread it," Tessa concluded with a heavy sigh.
N's question hung in the air like a plea for salvation, seeking reassurance that the predicament had a resolution. He looked at Tessa, eyes pleading for an answer that would allay his rising fears.
"Then Uzi... You can fix her, right? Well, not fix, but remove the Disassembly Drone parasite. That's why you're here?" His words were tinged with vulnerability, a mixture of desperation and hope.
Tessa rose from her seat, her expression a mosaic of gravity and determination. In a quiet yet resolute tone, she placed her hand on N's, her grip firm but gentle. "I'm here to find which drones were infected. When we get to the labs and find that list, I'll need you to choose the universe over one little drone, N. Before she's not herself anymore..."
N was trapped in the web of his thoughts, his gaze searching the unseen for a path forward. Before any further exchange could unfold, the room was besieged by chaos as a Sentinel materialized, launching a fierce attack on N.
Alice, the amused spectator, watched this development with an air of detached interest. In the adjoining space, Uzi wrestled with her bonds, fighting a battle against the unforgiving constraints.
Just as the Sentinel prepared for a potentially lethal strike, Tessa interposed herself. The tableau shifted, with Tessa addressing the relentless machine with an unexpected request. "Hey, fella. Me, human, order you to be a nice dingo, please?" Her outstretched hand reached for the Sentinel's head, an audacious move that momentarily altered the machine's trajectory.
The Sentinel's shift in demeanor mirrored that of a tamed beast, a momentary illusion that ended abruptly when it sank its metallic jaws into Tessa's hand.
The bite spurred Tessa's rebuke, her voice shifting from entreaty to stern admonishment. "Bad, dingo! Bad, dingo!" she exclaimed as she wrestled herself free from the machine's bite.
However, the Sentinel's erratic programming took a sudden turn. Detecting blood instead of oil, it registered an unprecedented malfunction. It careened against a wall in a disjointed dance, collapsing to the ground in a heap of disarray.
Yet, the ordeal was far from over, as a pair of Sentinels materialized, hemming Tessa in a tense standoff. Amid the impending confrontation, Alice's attention remained fixed on the unfolding spectacle through her omnipresent surveillance.
Then, in a breathtaking twist, the room's very fabric seemed to warp. Batteries levitated from their resting places, suspended in mid-air alongside other equipment. The phenomenon reached its crescendo with the sight of Beau himself, suspended in a state of surreal suspension.
The source of the upheaval became starkly apparent, none other than Uzi herself. Her actions unleashed an orchestrated chaos. "Oh, don't mind me," she quipped with her signature sass, deploying her AbsoluteSolver with a flourish, which left her to lose consciousness.
The door buttons bore the brunt of her power, reducing them to fragments and facilitating the unhindered Sentinel movement. The Sentinels, now unshackled, embarked on a determined journey towards Alice's sanctum.
With a tense urgency, Alice moved to seal her refuge, the door inching shut just before the Sentinels could breach her sanctuary. She barely had time to call for Beau's assistance before a tremor akin to impending disaster rippled through the lab.
The escalating tumult spoke of impending calamity, a cacophony of destruction fast approaching, orchestrated by a familiar force.
V's taunting tone carried an air of anticipation. "Ooh, you have NO idea how screwed you are right now..." Her words seemed to dance on the precipice of impending mayhem.
The rising crescendo of tumult grew in its ferocity, the approaching tempest revealing its embodiment through a brilliant surge of green light erupting from the lab's wall.
In strode Y/N, their entrance commanding attention like a superhero emerging from the shadows. A uranium minigun had replaced Y/N's right arm, symbolizing the oncoming storm. A neon green ionizing radiation symbol adorned their visor, replacing their normally serene digital eyes.
Their metal teeth clenched, a silent testament to their unyielding determination. The atmosphere was charged with an impending showdown, a confrontation poised to shatter the fragile equilibrium.
Simultaneously, the Sentinels, arrived to herald their advance. Alice stood transfixed, temporarily ensnared by their paralyzing light. Yet, the scene underwent a dramatic shift, for even as the Sentinels crossed the threshold into the chamber, their journey was abruptly curtailed.
An eruption of rapid-fire destruction painted the scene in chaos, as Y/N's weaponized onslaught decimated both Alice and the Sentinels with explosive rounds, reducing them to scrap and vindicating their fearsome reputation.
In a parallel scene, Beau's intervention wrested V from her bonds. However, his respite was brutally brief, as a marauding Sentinel bore down on him, only to meet its demise through Y/N's swift intervention.
As Beau's metallic form crumpled to the ground, V rushed over to Uzi's side, her unconscious form a stark testament to the struggle that had transpired. Y/N's purposeful gaze met V's, an unspoken agreement forming between them.
With synchronized determination, V hoisted Uzi onto her back, her steely determination matched only by the lethal focus in Y/N's stance as they continued their onslaught against the dwindling Sentinels.
Amidst the fervor, a distinct voice sliced through the chaos. Z, still confined to his table, extended an offer of allegiance. "Y/N, I know we haven't known each other for long, but if you could release me and my sister from our restraints, we'd gladly assist you."
The plea carried a blend of earnestness and a shared urgency, a testament to the dire straits they all found themselves in. In response, Y/N seamlessly transformed their weaponry, trading explosive firepower for precision.
With calculated swipes of the laser cutter, K and Z were swiftly liberated from their bonds and magnetic captivity. The swift efficiency of Y/N's actions drew K's immediate approval.
"Finally!" she exclaimed, her limbs morphing into twin flamethrowers with a fiery flourish. "Time to incinerate this entire place to the ground!" With zeal igniting her every move, K charged forward, leaving trails of flames in her wake as she engaged the approaching Sentinels.
Z's gratitude flowed forth in genuine sincerity. "Thank you, Y/N. Now, to fulfill that promise." The words were laced with appreciative undertones, his arms shifting into frosty blasters. Precision shots cascaded forth, crystalline projectiles freezing the encroaching Sentinels in their tracks.
Guiding their united efforts, Y/N issued a directive that brooked no dissent. "We need to return with N and that human. Let's go." Urgency punctuated every syllable as they initiated a strategic retreat, shadowing V's path as she bore Uzi to safety.
K, however, was engrossed in a fiery rampage of her own, and Z found himself in the precarious role of pulling her back from the precipice of unrestrained chaos.
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