if (false) { run AbsoluteSolver.exe } Murder Drones x Male Reader

The process of development

"Do you remember what happened next?" "Clear as day."

My phone buzzed. I took a deep breath and prepared for whatever may come next.

"Jack Messorem. Who is this?"

"Ah, Jack. We need you to come in for a meeting."

"A what now?"

"A meeting. To talk about what happened, and what we do next. Bring Tessa."

My eye twitched.

"Why does she need to be involved today?"

"Because, she was there. We need her to tell us what happened."

"She's having memory issues. Not to mention that she-"

"Don't make up excuses. Bring her. You will be collected in fifteen minutes."

He hung up. I sighed and grabbed my coat and gloves, then went to find Tessa.

Jack: Hey Tess.

Tessa: What is it?

Jack: We have a meeting to attend. They asked for us both specifically.

Tessa: Has to do with the gala, right? 

Jack: Yeah. How's your memory. 

Tessa: Returning.

Her voice shook a bit, and her fists clenched. I placed my hand on hers. She sighed and nodded.

Tessa: I'm assuming you haven't cleared out my spare clothes I've ended up leaving here?

Jack: Nope. The guest room is practically yours anyway. 

She went to change, and I sat down. This is going to be both interesting and infuriating. Does anyone know what's truly at stake here? Probably not. The only thing they ever cared about was lining their pockets, taking anything they wanted, doing whatever was necessary to ensure that their mattresses were filled with whatever currency was the heaviest. 

Sure, they might endanger public safety, but what's a few lives compared to the amount of money they earned? A firmware update here, some planned obsolescence there, and the cash flows like water. They don't realize that the pool will eventually dry, or someone will come along and build a dam.

Tessa returned, interrupting my train of thought. In a few moments, there was a honk from outside. I instructed N to contact me if anything happened and walked with Tessa to our means of transportation. 

There was no small talk on the way. Tessa was anxious and fidgety, and I had gone stoic and cold. I had some appearances to keep up. We arrived and were escorted to an inadequately lit room with an egregiously long table. Looked like something out a movie. Or more likely a cartoon.

We were shown seats at the table, and slowly more people filed in, filling the empty seats. Beverages were served by a worker drone, who's eye glitched when it saw me. Clearly someone wasn't listening to the EAS, or using common sense. 

I just readied myself to grab Tessa and get out of here. I also assumed we were being listened to, and maybe it wouldn't try to kill us. Instead, it would let us talk and plan something so it could adapt to it and figure out how to use it against us. I wasn't keen on allowing that.

"Now that we are all here-"

Jack: Before we begin, all forms of artificial intelligence should be removed from the room. You never know what's listening. 

"I assure you that all drones have been checked, and show no signs of corruption."

Jack: If you do not plan to abide by the very simple terms, then I believe our business here is concluded.