Murder Drones: Born from ashes

Chapter 3 : Deviance

Uzi sat on a bar stool. It has been days since the network went down. Most of the trading was done between the closest settlements. Trading was now riskier than ever, not knowing if a town was overtaken or not was like walking in the dark. Yellow construction lights stood against the ceiling of the concrete ceiling, acting as indoor lighting. Worker Drones sat around bone white folding tables, their plastic exteriors and rusted metal frames stressing from decades of use. Some drones were trading stimulation drives.

Stimulants were classified as small viruses and gave them a short reprieve from their dreary reality. Laughter and chatter filled the air. Uzi stared into the cup of jet black oil, but couldn't bear to look at the purple dots that reflected from the liquid so she wistfully looked around the room to hide from her reflection. Small bulbs hung lazily above her. And to her left, Thad sat a few seats away.

Uzi retreated into her mind. If it was before the attack, they would have warmed up to each other. Maybe Vivian would be prodding her on to further things...if she were still alive. Thad wasn't the same anymore, no one was. The older patrons now wore different parts. The signs of the attack still lingered in the inhabitants of the bunker.

A hand fell on Uzi's shoulders, she jumped and spun around. In front of her was an old friend, a tall drone wearing a worn out leather trench coat with a white army cap, obscuring his face except for the faint white glow.

"Don't scare me like that!" Uzi said.

The tall drone chuckled, barely containing his inquisitive glee, "Is that all you have to say to your friend? It's me! Nermel!"

Uzi's frustrated expression went into a slightly cheery one "I already know, just don't do that again okay? Why are you here? Wasn't your group meant to have left by now?"

"Yeah oil, chilled." Nermel told the bartender before turning back to Uzi "There's been a delay, we're making a new route because Rubid took up a job for the mercs, they need more oil." He explained.

The bartender came back with a metal cup, Nermel took a sip, still smiling. The drone was the kind who stayed positive despite everything around him, it was the one thing that kept him going. Uzi hesitated for a moment before she spoke.

"Can I come?" she asked.

Nermel's smile and confidence were swept in the wind of the sudden change in the conversation. 

"Uhhh... listen, it's pretty messy right now, it's a minefield out there. Not trying to say anything, but I don't think you can handle yourself." Nermel said, Uzi frowning.

"Hey, I need to get out there. I have something that needs repair. Besides, I survived a close encounter with an MD! I think I can take it." She reasoned. Nermel maintained his cold stare.

"You don't have to tell me the story, Disassembly Drones are evil, one day they'll kill you and another day they won't. I'm not going to let you risk your life over some broken tool." Nermel said referencing the Javelin rocket launcher she kept in her room. Nermel walked out the door without paying and Uzi noticed the time, it was time to leave. She slid her arm over a scanner, the machine accepted the payment with a beep.

The streets were more alive than usual, shelled out vans and tents sat against abandoned buildings as side shops. The adult Worker Drones dominated the streets. Thousands of people were exchanging homemade goods and weapons. Uzi slipped around the corner and approached her door. She slowly opened the door. The light behind her shot a ray through the dark room. The door silently closed behind the drone, she slowly crept through the room. From the darkness, a metal table and a chair, tool boxes and papers littered the floor. Against the wall was an outlet with a cable, the place where she rested. Uzi took a bag off the chair and began packing tools.

She was ready, all she needed was the suitcase...*click*. The lights came on. Khan stood in the doorway, a large metal suitcase rested in his hand, digital bags under his eyes.

"Going somewhere?" her Dad groggily asked.

"Hey that's mine!" Uzi exclaimed. The drone reached for the rusted suitcase, but Khan moved it away.

"No, it's 2 AM kid." he said as he popped open the case. "Insurgent tech? Kid, you shouldn't be playing with stuff like this-"

Uzi cut her father off "I'm older now! If you think you can still control me, you can bite me!". The tension built up.

"I don't want to risk another life. Just stay for a bit longer and you won't regret it." Khan said.

"And what? Wait for another MD to crawl in here and kill us all? The doors couldn't save us back then and it didn't save Mom!" Uzi screamed.

Khan's rage began to reach his bursting point. "Don't talk about her..." he muttered. "Why? Because you feel guilty about killing her?!" Uzi shouted.

The room fell silent. Khan looked at Uzi. The daughter he once had was gone.

"Get out!" Khan yelled. Uzi stomped out of the room and snatched the briefcase from her Dad. The door slammed behind her. Khan remained standing in the doorway of her daughter's room. A tear went down his visor. He slowly lowered and sat onto the cold floor, leaning against the door frame. The dreadful realization hit him as he wasn't able to save anyone he loved.