THE TALES FROM COPPER 9! Volume 1 (Murder Drones)

A Disassembler's Diet - Chapter 012

"You have got to be kidding me right now!!"

N: "Sorry Nick, but I can't go outside and do anything, you'll have to find and kill a drone, in order to get V some fuel to cool her."

"Can't I just make a substitute coolant? Osiris, you can do that right?"

Osiris: "Yes, sir, but doing so would take time and resources that we don't currently have."

"So, the only way to get some fuel for V, is by killing a drone, or finding some other source of freshly pumped oil?"

N: "....Yes."

I yelled angrily, before kicking the wall of the cargo bay. I can't kill an innocent person, Man or Machine!

N: "Sorry Nick, but it's the only way I know of to cool us down!"

"Fine, do you know of anywhere I can find some fresh drones?"

N: "Since I, and all my other teammates, can't and couldn't go in the sunlight, no, I don't know of any frequent drone locations that drones use in the daytime."

"Uh.....  ...Osiris! You've been surveying the surrounding area ever since we crashed, can't you find a place where I can find some unsuspecting drones?"

Osiris then pulled up a map, showing the locations of major drone installations, colonies, my ship, and the Spire.

Osiris: "Drones have been continuously moving throughout routes to these locations from the colonies, the drones have recently started moving more on these routes, more directly from each location since the daytime is safer. I believe that intercepting smaller groups of drones on the routes will have the greatest potential for success."

"So, small groups of high frequency means greater potential for success?"

Osiris: "In short, yes."

"Got it. Don't worry V, I'll get some oil to cool you down soon."

V grumbled as she laid down on a bench in the middle of the cargo bay.

Okay, now to find the food.

#3: Okay! The cargo's secure! Head off!"

I overlooked a large platform, which was constantly sending out transports, seemingly a provisions port between the colonies. In the middle of the platform stood 7 drones, 4 of which were loading up the transports, 2 were inspecting the trucks and setting navigation, while the seventh was conducting all the operations.

#2: "Hey, [         ], what's that?"

The drone then pointed up to where he saw me standing, however, I had quickly relocated to the other side.

#5: What do you mean? Nobody's there."

#2: What? I swear I saw something."

#5: Quick tip, don't eat faulty batteries, they play hell with your internal functions."

#2: Yeah, mind covering for me while I take a quick smoke?"

#5: Sure thing [         ]."

(Perfect, I can take this drone, and nobody will ever know, besides, sounds like he's the drone equivalent of an alcoholic.)

I jumped down onto him, ripped out his voice-box, and snapped his neck, making him go limp. I then hung the body over my shoulder, and jumped back up to observe. Nobody seemed to pay any mention to his disappearance, and I left with the body in hand.