Random Oneshots

Chipped -M!Jesse X Petra

For @Savvygirl67

I'm really late

Sorry bout that

Warning: Possible spoilers for episode 7
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Petra's POV

"Greetings.  I am PAMA."

I stared at the huge computerized face in confusion as it introduced itself. 

"My apologies for the violent nature of this visit.  We have much work ahead of us, but maybe it can even be fun - if you choose to cooperate."

Jesse raised his voice and asked the computer, "Sorry if this is a dumb question, but am I talking to PAMA right now?  What is PAMA?"

"Some might call me a computer, a thinking machine, though there has never been a computer quite like me.  My job is to be useful.  Using redstone chips, I have connected to the people of this town and helped them to be useful.  Coordinated.  I have made their world perfect.  Thanks to me, there is no wasted activity.  No wasted thought," it replied.

Jesse glanced at the people who brought us here, then said, "Okay, if this world is so 'perfect', then what happened to all the people?"

"Yeah," I added.  "Doesn't seem like there are that many left."

PAMA's robotic smile changed to a frown, then changed to what I guessed was a loading screen as it said, "Processing information..."

I glanced at Jesse, confused, but his expression showed he was just as clueless as me.

"'Processing information?'" Lukas whispered. 

"It said it was a 'thinking machine'," Ivor said.  "Thinking must...take time?"  It sounded more like a question than a statement.

"I have consulted my databases - my list of everything and everyone in this world - and my conclusion is that you are not from here," the computer said.  "I would like to ask you some questions - to expand my databases."  Its face turned from its usual smile to a question mark.  "How did you get here?"

"We, uh..."  Jesse trailed off, clearly searching for a response.  "We walked here?"

PAMA frowned.  "Please do not lie."

I felt something grab my wrists, and whipped my head around to see what it was.  I was horrified to see one of the red-eyed citizens of Crown Mesa pulling me towards a machine that I could only guess meant trouble.

"Jesse!" I yelled, my heart beating faster and faster as the person pulled me closer to the contraption.

"We could have just talked this out, you know," PAMA said.

"No no no!  Wait!  I'll give you the information, just...don't hurt her.  Please!" Jesse sounded frantic.

Suddenly, the person stopped, holding my hands behind my back with a grip firm enough to keep me there no matter how much I struggled.

"Please do tell.  This world reached peak efficiency quite some time ago.  Unfortunately, this meant that I had no more work to do - no more things or people to help - until YOU came along, that is.  Tell me - what is YOUR world like?  Describe it."

"Well," Jesse started carefully, "It's a heck of a lot greener than this place.  Just imagine grass and trees instead of sand and clay."

The computerized face smiled.  "That sounds lovely," it said.  "It really does.  I think I would like to see this world for myself."

It seemed to process this, then continued, "If I could send my townspeople, my friends, to other worlds, then we could continue to grow and expand.  It would be lovely.  Tell me, where is the portal?"

"I don't know where it is!  I swear!" Jesse said.  "Don't you think that if we knew where it was, we would be out of here by now?"  PAMA frowned. 

"Your logic is sound, but the information is not useful," PAMA said.  "My job is to be useful.  I have completed my job here and must expand and continue to be useful.  PAMA thanks you for your help."

"Let me go!" Lukas yelled, and a split second later, I was jerked away, towards the dispenser contraption.  "Jesse!" I yelled as two Crown Mesa citizens held me in place, getting me ready for whatever the machine would do to me.

Jesse was struggling against his bonds so much that another person was coming over to help hold him back.  When he couldn't escape from his restraints, he yelled, "PAMA!  Wait!  Stop!  I'll do anything!"

PAMA stopped.  "Anything?" the computer asked.  Jesse nodded.

PAMA seemed to process this, then continued, "Sorry, but no can do.  I need all the information I can get."

Jesse started struggling again, yelling as he did so.  "No!  Wait!  Stop!  PAMA!"

He paused, then continued, "Take me instead."

This caught both mine and PAMA's attention.  "What?" the computer asked, confused by his request. 

"Take me,and leave her alone," Jesse repeated.

"No, Jesse," I begged.  "I'm not worth it."

He ignored my pleas.  "Please, PAMA, just don't hurt her," he said.

Suddenly, the tight grip on my wrists loosened, and I dropped to the ground as Jesse's guards pulled him towards the contraption.  He did nothing to stop them.

I watched in terror as he stood in the machine, staying completely still as the dispenser descended on his head. 

As the dispenser lifted, I immediately noticed something was wrong.  His eyes were no longer the bright green I was so used to, but a deep red.

"Jesse?" I said.  He didn't respond.

"What have you done to yourself?" I whispered as I examined his face.

"Come on! Petra!  We need to get out of here!" Lukas yelled and grabbed my wrist.  I glanced back at Jesse one last time, his face clear of any emotion.  I looked back at Lukas and nodded, my eyes wet.

Lukas pulled me away from the machine that Jesse had sacrificed himself to.

And I ran.