Everyone is outside watching Zack and Cleo play their game of badminton while Tete is still in the house, performing V's operation. She watches as Tete installs a new core, made out of the Tete-tron's broken body. Tete stops and wipes the sweat off his head.
Tete: We're nearly there, V.
V: I am grateful for your act to restore me. Soon I shall be able to function once more.
Tete: Sure. I must say, I've never come across technology so advanced in all my days as an inventor.
V: And I have never come across a planet so primitive. There is little to no technology however you are able to thrive regardless.
Tete: Just because we're not robots like you doesn't mean we're helpless.
V: That was not my intention to assume so.
Tete: Hmm. Are you sure?
V: Are you suggesting that I am refusing to specify the truth, also known as lying?
Tete: Uh... Yes.
V brings out her cannon arm and aims it at him.
V: I shall be forced to terminate.
Tete gasps.
Tete: You are fitted with your own weapons system! I've always wondered how you manage to endure such a change!
V: It is a simple transformation regarding the disproportion of my limb. The energy utilized to create the blasts is made from superheated plasma. Allow me to demonstrate.
Tete: Uh, n-no, that's more than okay! I believe you! Just... Let me finish my procedure so you can move again!
V: Affirmative.
Tete uncovers V's chest cavity and continues to operate on her new core. While doing so, V looks out the window and sees the other children playing. She sees Zack and smiles.
V: I am most grateful to Zack. He has made my life far more exhilarating. If it were not for him, I would be stuck on my old planet, suffering the wraths of boredom.
Tete: Well, would you like to go back? Don't you have any parents that'd miss you?
V: My father and mother. Indeed. However, it would seem as though we are stranded on this planet, with no means of escape. If such an outcome is to occur, I must come to the realization that I will never see my family again.
Tete frowns for her.
Tete: That's most unfortunate. I'm sorry.
V: Do not fret. Us guard-bots know we are expendable, therfore we are taught not to be too attached to one another. Besides, I will not be alone, amongst all of you.
Tete has no idea how to respond, so he just keeps working.
V: You call yourself an inventor.
Tete nods.
V: Indeed. Your skills are more than adequate.
Tete smiles.
Tete: I appreciate that.
Tete forgets about the procedure and keeps staring into V's eyes, realizing she is far more than a regular robot. She can understand and convey emotions. She can perform actions without being told to do so. And, to him, that red and blue bow on her head adds to his admiration of her.
V, not understanding what Tete is doing, tilts her head.
V: Why do you observe me in such a silent manner?
Tete clears his throat and immediately goes back to the operation.
Tete: I-it's nothing. Anyway, you should be up and running shortly. Just a few more minutes.
V: Excellent.
Tete thinks to himself just how excellent it really is.
----
Admiral: YOU USELESS DISGRACES!
Ove snarls as she blasts Cyphid and Rough-Pound in the chest with her pistol, sending them on their knees.
Cyphid: A-Admiral, listen, please!
Admiral: Shut up! Now, you listen to me! I give you the most simplest of tasks and, somehow, you still manage to screw it up?!
Slee-Kor is in the throne room as well.
Slee-Kor: How undeniably tragic...
Admiral: That crystal is the one chance I have at making history and it's in the hands of that brat, who's also missing!
Slee-Kor: Not to mention, Grabblenacht is missing too... This will surely cause disruption amongst the ranks...
Rough-Pound: L-listen, Admiral, it was all ma fault! Ah sent the kid after da crystal! It was da only way!
Admiral: The only way...
She SLAMS her foot against Rough-Pound's face, sending him on his back.
Admiral: ...is MY way!
Everyone is silent as Ove holds the blaster against his face.
Cyphid: W-wait! We can find them! A-all of them! We'll find that boy and return with the crystal, honest!
She turns to him.
Admiral: Explain yourself, now.
Cyphid turns to Slee-Kor.
Cyphid: Sleek, you have the ability to monitor the location of all the Overlord soldiers, don't you?
Slee-Kor shrugs.
Slee-Kor: Maybe...
Cyphid: If we find out his location, we can just type in the coordinates, activate a portal, and come back with our needed products. (to the Admiral) And we'll never have to speak of this again.
Ove chuckles, but not in a kind way.
Admiral: I should hope so. Because if, by some twisted miracle, you should fail this mission... I'll bondage you and hurt you in ways you can't imagine... And I'll enjoy every suffering second... Understood...?
Cyphid and Rough-Pound nod.
Cyphid and Rough-Pound: Y-yes, Admiral!
Admiral: Be gone from me.
The two scatter out of the throne room and Slee-Kor has to ask.
Slee-Kor: And Grabblenacht...? Should he not return, what will that mean for the title of first lieutenant...?
Admiral: The position is yours.
Slee-Kor nods.
Slee-Kor: Yes, Admiral.
He goes to leave, but the Admiral yanks him by the back of his cloak.
Admiral: I meant, now.
Slee-Kor: A-Admiral, I am the communications chief... It would not be wise for me to abandon my post so suddenly...
Admiral: And who are you to question me?
Slee-Kor doesn't respond.
Admiral: Stay. I need you here. And you wouldn't want to defy your admiral, would you?
Slee-Kor feels his back twitching.
Slee-Kor: As you command, Admiral...
----
YOU ARE READING
The Telerin Force: Beginning
Science Fiction11-year-old Zack belonged to an organization known as Eyezakorp, run by Admiral Ove, a cruel monarch who wants to enslave the universe by creating her new army, the Soldiers of the Shadows. But after crash-landing on an unknown planet and meeting a...
