A metallic whining sound filled the usually busy halls of Fizzbizz's lab. Without the constant echoes of walking feet allowed the whining to bounce all throughout the lab.
I could hear the whining quite clearly in my "man cave." Only it was less of an actual man cave and more of a cheap imitation of one.
A normal sized television had been set up to allow me to watch whatever I wanted out of the three channels provided by ol' Fizzy himself. A beanbag chair had been set up to the right of my "bed" per my request.
Now I know what you're thinking, but sometimes my wrist gets a little rusty and I need to rest it on the comfy, blue bag of beans. In the last few weeks, the Doc and Fizz allowed me one free hand while Clem and Penny were over.
Speaking of which…
I let out another whimpered whining sound as Clem garbled up the strength of a Grimm (somehow) and threw the beanbag chair at my face.
"Shut up already! Fizz said he would be back with the pizza soon, and why are you whining anyway? You can't even have any you big idiot!" The yelling Faunus girl beneath me proceeded to throw a beaker at me as another low whine began to escape my voice box.
A small ting sounded as the beaker bounced off my head before falling to the metal floor.
A dexterous hand caught it before it could shatter (completely that is), and by dexterous I mean Penny flopping down at the last second to catch it.
That really hurt Clem. I'm going to tell Fizzy on you!
Clem only rolled her eyes at that before a small chuckle escaped us both, and before long we were laughing together. Standing up Penny set the beaker down gently before turning to address us both. A broad smile on her face.
"Friend Clem and Scrap, you two never cease to make me laugh." Clem looked up to the girl in question as she pointed towards me.
"That doesn't bother you sis? Not even the tiniest bit?" When she shook her head Clem seemed to ponder if the girl was right in the head. Penny was a kind girl from the start, and had continued to be so for a while now.
Even I found it strange at times that she seemed to never show any sign of annoyance at Clem and I's antics. All in all, it just made the girl that much sweeter in my opinion.
Grabbing hold of the beanbag I proceeded to place it atop my head before fanning myself.
Clem, could you turn up the AC? I think all this heat is causing a fever and we both know what happens to machines when they overheat…
"The only heat that's going to your head is all that hot air in what you call a brain."
I gasped in pain before clutching at where my heart would normally have been as I cried in pain.
That hurt Clem.
I tried my best at an upset voice, but it was useless with the single modifier on the old voice box Clem had gotten me a while back.
The Doc and Fizz offered to upgrade it for me, but I refused them as I wouldn't be parting with the first gift my friend had given me.
Penny continued to laugh at our antics before her attention had been drawn to the news channel that had been playing in the background.
Both Clem and I regarded the news as well as it went over the fast approaching Vytal Festival. Only a couple of weeks away, Penny grew more and more excited with each passing day.
From what she had told us she would be participating as a competitor representing Atlas (no surprise there). During my observations of myself from the Doc I would bring it up, but he would always get a strange expression on his face.
It was a mixture between longing and some form of nervousness.
I never made mention of them as I saw it as just a father worried about his daughter, but understanding that she was growing up and needed to be free.
The festival is fast approaching Penny. Think you'll be ready?
"Of course she will be. Big sis has some kickass moves that will tear right through anyone she faces up against her! Show him sis!" Trying to sic Penny on me never worked for Clem, but even I eventually grew curious about our friend's fighting ability.
"He'll have to wait until my first fight Clementine, and that will make it all the more 'kick-ass'." Clem frowned at that, but soon turned it around as the doors to my room opened and Fizzbizz walked through juggling a soda, one large pizza pie, and a lot of science materials that I couldn't recognize save for a few textbooks and one microscope.
Hey Fizz. I'd offer you a hand, but I'm a little immobile at the moment. Mind giving me a step-up?
The audible groan of both Faunus and Atlas scientist penetrated the air as Penny (bless her) gave my glorious puns a good laugh.
"Here's your pie! Enjoy." When no one save for Penny (again, bless her) laughed at his pun, Fizz turned around in a huff after giving Penny and Clem the food. When he stalked up the lab's stairs to his small observatory, or as I liked to call it, "Fizzy's Lookout," I saw him starting to sort through the large pile of science materials he had brought along with him.
We were neighbors in a way.
I would sometimes see him stay up in his observatory for a couple days from time to time. One time it was nearly five days that he would stay up there; only coming down to refill his coffee cup, shower, and say hi to me.
Okay maybe that last one I lied about.
It was random when it came to Fizz, but that's what made him unique to me.
I mean ever since I first moved in he seemed to hold some sort of ill will towards me, but I see it as him just being shy. We'll be good friends one day; even if he declines all my sleepover invitations.
Hearing the sound of the door opening again I looked up to see Dr. Polendina strolling in with a skip in his step. That was how he always was whenever Penny was hanging out with Clem and me. He must be one really proud dad, because whenever he thinks I'm not looking I catch him and Fizz talking up in the observatory.
While Fizz talks about Penny's performance and combat capability I always catch the Doc proudly smiling down at her while we hang.
And before you ask: yes I can read lips.
Having a military combat war machine with enhanced tracking and HUD display really makes spying too easy.
"Penny, please be a dear and take Clementine out to Vale for a few hours." With how sweet his tone was he could have even gotten Adam Taurus to do whatever he asked.
…Okay maybe not that sweet.
"Yes father. Come now Clem! A friend of a friend of mine recommended a new bookstore that just opened up. It's called 'From Cover to Back-Cover'." I could tell by the way Clem rolled her eyes that she was thrilled by the idea.
Good idea Penny. Clem told me that she just loves to read. You should take her to as many bookstores as possible. Oh and she likes going to clothing stores to shop for frilly little dresses.
If looks could kill I would have said, "Too late. I'm already dead." So the glare Clem sent my way would have to melt my metal body as she tried franticly telling Penny that it was a joke, but the eager ginger was already carrying Clem against her will towards the door.
Just as the metallic doors shut I saw the fuming little girl mouth the words, 'I'll get you for this.'
I only waved after her with a mental smug look on as both Fizzbizz and Polendina met up at Fizzy's Lookout. They went over any advances in their research, and from the slight scowl on Fizz's brow and even the clear frown on the Doc I knew what that meant.
The Doc pressed a button as a microphone sounded before he spoke to me.
"Testing one, two, three. Scrapheap could you please…" He didn't even have to finish as I silently placed my hand back into the magnetic cuffs that restricted my movement. A slow whirring sound came to life as a waving blue magnetic field surrounded my wrist before locking on place.
"Thank you lad. How are you doing today? Anything different in his actions Dr. Fizz?" His voice was calm as usual as he turned to regard his fellow scientist.
That was another thing that I noticed whenever these two got into the same room with me. They never called each other by the other's first name.
I mean I get being professional and all, but I've found myself asking... well myself if they are doing that on purpose. Could it be that they figured out about my past in the White Fang?
This Paladin still had the Fang's logo plastered right onto it clear as day so that's what I'm going to assume until I gather more information.
It was then that they started their daily procedures on me as metallic arms extended down from atop the ceiling. There were only two in total and each had a multiple of tools that it could cycle through as a scanner of sorts began probing me.
"Nothing new in the Paladin's framework save for a few lingering dents from being in that junkyard for so long." Fizz sneered at that thought as the scanner was placed away and a small torch took its place.
You'd come to love it Fizz. After you get past the smell and abundant of rodents and bugs you grow into it. The garbage that is.
That earned another sneer from Fizz while Doc sent me a short smile before the frown took over once more.
They continued to poke and prod at me for another hour. Asking me questions that I either could or couldn't answer and we were reaching the home stretch.
The thing I hated most.
Both mechanic arms' tools cycled through until each of them carried a very, very large tasers attached to the end.
"Are you ready Scrapheap?" Polendina asked as I spotted Fizz's finger hovering over the button.
Just get it over with Doc.
If they could hear the dread in my voice then they didn't care as both men activated the aura-shock therapy tasers. Everything shook around me, but I guess that the hopes of it being an earthquake were slim to none as my entire body vibrated.
My HUD began glitching as static began entering certain parts of my vision. My arms flailed wildly as the magnetic cuffs held firm, but even then you could hear the sound of metal bending.
I must have been yelling as through the static and glitchy screen of my HUD I saw another small crack appear along the glass that protected both men.
Thanking Monty when it ended I slumped over, utterly put out.
That feeling was worse than anything I had ever felt throughout my life, and I had to endure that utter hell every day. So it came to no surprise to me when the Doc came rushing down as fast as his stubby legs could carry him.
"Are you alright lad?" Fizz followed shortly behind the Doc and added, "And where did it hurt most?"
My left hand gave an 'eh' kind of motion as my right flipped off Fizz, but both scientists began to speak despite the ringing still in my head.
"For weeks now the only reaction we ever get out of him is when we use the shock therapy! It's the only way to show that whatever he is, it's some meld of AI and actual aura based manipulation Dr. Polendina! And you're telling me we need to stop?!" Fizz sounded crankier than usual, and for once I would just like for him to shut the hell up.
"Don't you see Dr. Fizz that it causes him pain?! Clearly each time we do it his vitals grow weaker and weaker. Not to mention the damage to the actual Paladin itself for that matter. We need to find another way." The pleading in his voice must not have reached through to that sack of crap Fizz called a heart.
"The toughest experiments yield the best results Dr. Polendina. And need I remind you that this is my research. The only reason I asked you to partake in it is that I actually value your input, and needed someone's own opinion that I respect." Fizz didn't look down to Polendina as the shorter man brought up another point.
"And need I remind you Dr. Fizz that you are currently harboring stolen Atlas military property that could have you court-martialed. Look, I'm asking you as both a friend and colleague that all you do is find another way of advancing your research. A way that will not leave him in an actual scrapheap." I was still recovering from the shock therapy, but gave a small cheer for Polendina as the scowl returned with a vengeance atop Fizz's brow.
He didn't answer as he silently stormed out of the lab, but just as he reached the door he turned back to Polendina before uttering, "Watch what you say about court-martialing Dr. Polendina. After all, your dear daughter is a part of that same military property that could ignite a conflict with Vale if what she really is was ever found out by the public."
The echo of the metallic door clicking shut sounded out through the empty halls as Polendina turned to me. His deep sigh was a sign that arguments like those happened more often than not, but right now I didn't care about Fizz at all.
"I sincerely apologize for his-" Tired and now worried eyes glanced up towards me as I cut him off.
Don't Doc. I don't care for your apology, and I doubt I'll get one from him either. But I'm glad that we have some time to talk.
"I'm listening lad."
It had been weighing on my mind for a while now, and with the Vytal Festival only weeks away I needed to get this out there.
Look Doc, this has been weighing me down for some time, and I'm not talking about the cuffs. The Vytal Festival is coming up soon and I want to be the one to take Clem there before…
"Before what exactly?" I remained silent as he waited for me to elaborate, but when I didn't he coughed into his hand before asking, "What are you getting at here Scrapheap?"
It took me a few minutes before I let it all out.
I notice that every time that prick and you put me through that "therapy" crap, more glitches start appearing across my screen.
He must have thought about that as well as he didn't seem all that surprised, but he remained quiet to allow me to continue.
I find it harder to move sometimes, but I do my best to hide it from Clem and Penny. I think- no… I know I'm running out of time. I don't know exactly how much longer I have, but I can feel myself slowly slipping out of this body. I think my aura is draining due to that shock treatment, but the thing is…
"You never had any aura to begin with. That can only mean-"
My soul is slipping away from this body.
The Doc went into deep thought at that as he looked to be thinking at a mile a second as he went through what must have been thousands of different theories.
"How is this even possible?"
I don't have all the answers, and I don't care about getting them. I only have one request if you'll grant me it.
It actually surprised me, but more so made me mentally smile as he replied, "You and Clem have been good friends to my daughter as she seems to be opening up much more to others. If this is how I can thank you then what is it you want me to do for you?"
Anything?
He seemed hesitant at first, but that quickly died as his eyes steeled themselves.
"Anything."
… A hammock and a blueberry nightshade.
A questioning brow rose at that answer as he slowly asked, "That's what you want?"
Well the nightshade is more for decoration than anything, and the hammock will allow me to relax easier. Doc, I want you to make me a new body.
What's going on everyone? I'm still working on my other fic at the moment, but thought it was about time to get back to good old Scrapheap. I actually missed writing this fic, but college has recently started to pile up a bit and I just want to watch Youtube and sleep.
But since you've all been so patient I made this chapter longer than previous ones as a thank you for waiting for me. I appreciate all that have favorited and followed so far!
I hope you guys and gals liked this chapter as I'm going to make the shift into the darker part of this fic. Poor Scrapheap and Dr. Polendina. Well again I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and is anyone else excited for RWBY Volume four?
