The negative stamen

Chapter one-a negative code

It had been two months since the adults had started giving me missions to fly In strelitiza. Everytime they did I was assigned a temporary stamen who would die after three rides. One day I was called to doctor franxx's lab. As she walked she thought "I wonder what the doctor wants. I mean he already made me strelitiza" and with the hat through she walked into doctor franxx's office. He spoke "sit down dear. Would you like a lollipop?" I nod and doctor franxx hands her one. "So what did you want doctor?" I say as I put the lollipop in my miuth mouth. "I have someone I'd like you to meet" he replies. Suddenly a boy that looks to be about 14 in age walks out. Doctor franxx speaks "this is my second greatest creation. It is a man made parasite. It's essentially a robot. A dying parasite was found and I gave him new purpose. With the augments I have made to him he'll be able to pilot streletzia as a stamen" I gasp as the lollipop falls out of my mouth "really? So... is he my friend then?" Doctor franxx nods. "Yes I made him both for helping you grow more accustomed to piloting and to keep you company. If you would like some privacy I can step out for a moment. Would you like that?" I nod and with a chuckle he steps out of his office. "So what's your name?" Zero two asks the boy. The boy responds in a somewhat robotic voice although it is still very human "I am code -1. I was made to do the following for you code 002: help you pilot strelitiza and keep you company since you are not allowed to commune with most other parasites. You may ask me any questions you want." Zero two thinks for a moment before asking "can I give you a name?" Code -1 nods. I say"how about minus?" He now named minus nods and says "I find it likable. What else do you wish to ask me zero two?"
"Why do you have horns like me but purple and a mechanical arm like doctor franxx?"
"I was a corpse given purpose by the doctor and some of my body parts had to be replaced along with him giving me a mechanic brain that is a self learning AI. I have purple horns because I was given a dose of klaxasaur blood in order to better assist you. Is there anything else you wish to know?"
"What can your arm do?"
"It can launch a grappling blade out of its palm, I can make a small flame appear out of my index finger and I can do this" he takes his arm and a small compartment in it opens and shows a holographic screen similar to ones that the adults use to tell me what my missions are. "I've been told that you quite enjoy the story "the beast and the prince" when he says that the screen pulls up images from the story. "Do you find this entertaining?" I eagerly nod. After that doctor franxx steps back in and suddenly minus goes over and closes the door for him. "So zero two do you like him?" I nod happily "in that case effective immediately he is now your stamen."
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That night minus went with me to my room and closed the door behind me after I walked in. "So uhhh where are you going to sleep minus?" I asked. "I do not need to sleep zero two. I am an AI after all. Neither do I need to eat. The only thing I require to survive is magma energy" I tilt my head "okay I guess... what are you going to do while I sleep then?" "I wish to learn more about my mechanics and the duty I am required to perform as your companion. One of the things I was told to do is tuck you in at night. Would you find that agreeable?" I go wide eyed and slowly nod. Minus picks me up and I shiver slightly from how cold his mostly mechanical body is. He tucks me in and goes to the corner and sits down begins to mess with wiring in his mechanical arm. With that I fall asleep.
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The next day the adults have me and minus try to pilot streletzia together. It went well and minus helped me climb out of the cockpit since he was bigger and taller. Suddenly an adult spoke up "code 002 please come to the observation deck. Code -1 please climb into the pistil steat of streletzia" I think to myself "why??? He can't pilot with me right?" But I don't bother asking. After all I know I won't get an answer.
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I go wide eyed as minus manages to pilot strelitiza without me in it. The adults seem happy about the too. Doctor franxx walks in as the adults have minus continue to do exercises in streletzia "I told you all that I would make a parasite second only to zero two. It would appear it worked. Code -1 you may return now." Minus then returned to the loading bay and parked the franxx before climbing out. "Zero two, go with minus and go do whatever you wish. You don't have any missions today." Doctor franxx said. So with that I left and picked minus up from the loading bay before heading to go read in the library.
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as we're reading minus begins to act strangely before speaking "zero two will you go get an adult? I need to refill my magma energ-" before he could finish his strange he shut down. I begin to panic a little before thinking to myself "he said to get an adult right?" I went to the libraries desk and found the receptionist who was working there "ma'am can you call doctor franxx? My friend minus needs magma energy" the receptionist called doctor franxx and about 10 minutes later he walked into the library with two adults, one was a guard and the other was a lab assistant. "Zero two go wait in your room. As soon I've had minus refilled he shall join you." I do as told
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about two hours later minus walks into my room "I apologize for not keeping you company zero two. I needed to be refilled with fuel" I shake my head no and say "that's okay! Anyways do you wanna play with me?" I could tell he definitely didn't find playing with dolls enjoyable but to my delight he did it anyways to make me happy. I definitely like having him around!