Anthrophobia

☠₁☠

Cynthia sat next to Cairo on the porch as the Dogfish waddled onto land. Their inner chambers contained precious oil mined from an underwater pipeline. They had a large oil tank further inland. Cynthia's second project after shutting off the Couriers was finding out how to control the Dogfish. They were zero percent instinctual, fully robotic. It was easy once she found their code in the cluttered USB her father gave her.

"Ready to go back to the mainland?" Cynthia teased.

Cairo shot her a look of annoyance.

"It's been safe for a while now. Most of the Cynoids stay as far away from humans as possible. Ray is just itching to get back. Ivy said that they have an army new recruits that need to be trained," Cynthia said.

Her husband rolled his eyes. "Then let Ray drag his family back to that death sentence. We have everything we need here."

"Ivy was your mentor. I saw you sharpening your axe this morning. You haven't touched it for years," she commented.

"I take it you're going anyways, I'd never let you go alone," he replied.

Three people ran out of the cabin. They were racing to get to the Dogfish first. The boy in the front had dirty blond hair and brown eyes. He was pursued closely by a boy his age with black hair. Third was a younger girl who also had black hair.

"Don't mess with the Dogfish again! Last time you did, it was out of commission for two weeks!" Cairo scolded.

A fourth figure came out of the cabin and bolted after the kids. He had black fur with streaks of silver along his back. His eyes were bright electric blue.

Cynthia sighed in relief. "Obsidian won't let them have too much fun."

The Cynoid was a natural born leader. He was one of the last Cynoids to be born. Cynthia shut off all of the Couriers several months after they arrived on the island.

"Are they trying to ride the Dogfish again?" Loki chuffed.

Cairo crossed his arms. "Your son looks like he has it under control."

Just then, Obsidian tackled Kyle onto the sandy shore.

"His defensive line is weak."

Cynthia and Cairo laughed as Ray exited the cabin.

"How is the plane looking? We won't fall out of the sky, will we?" Rose asked wrapping her arms around Ray's neck.

"She will stay up," Cairo promised. "Although, I don't know if we should even go back."

"A cabin with three bedrooms is too small for two growing boys," Ray replied. "Not to mention all of us made a promise to come back. They will be at each others throats soon if we don't expand."

"Ivy has ten mile surveillance of the forest now. Their numbers increased after they went on recruiting trips. Alpha and Delta are dead now, we are safe," Cynthia murmured.

The kids watched dejected as the Dogfish waded back into the water. It had just dumped its load of oil into the containers and went back for more. Cynthia said that the oil had to be processed first or it wouldn't work for airplane fuel. Obsidian guarded the shore dutifully, eyeing the three kids.

"Neko! Rin!" Cairo called. His son and daughter ran over. Neko was fifteen years old. He had inherited his mother's original hazel eyes. His younger sister Rin was only thirteen. She had her father's dark brown eyes.

"I wonder how Dr. William is holding up," Rose sighed thoughtfully. "I hope he hasn't had to work as much."

"We get to meet the Remnants?" Kyle asked hopefully. "I sick of being on this island. There's nothing to do. I can't wait to try out electric bullets."