Chapter 03

›Shiro‹

Sal did not know what it was that made her feel the way she felt today. It wasn't like she hadn't been treated like that before. They had always been assholes. Maybe it was just a little too much at once this time. Maybe she had swallowed it down too often. She tensely prepared the second latte in the little kitchen, planning to vanish back into the basement as quickly as possible. Every person she heard passing by in the hallway, made her heart speed up. Finally done, she pulled a napkin out of the drawer, when she heard the sound of crumpling paper behind her. Her hand started to shake a little.

»You must be missing us. Since you're up here so often.«

The familiar voice got Sal short-winded.

»Or are you running from what's down there?«

»...«

Closing her eyes for a few seconds, trying to calm down, Sal then slowly turned around.

»Why don't you mind your own business?«

Pence stood in the door, blocking it completely.

»What was that?«

He tilted his head sideways and stretched his neck forward menacingly.

»Get out of the way.« Sal almost whispered.

Frowning even more, he then stepped towards her. One step. Two steps. Forcing her against the cupboards.

»... and what... if I don't...?«

Again, her ability to breathe malfunctioned. Every muscle in her body tensed as he slowly leaned in on her.

»... you little brat...«

Cooped up and out of options once more, she just closed her eyes, waiting for whatever he was about to do to her.

»You are going to... GRAH...!«

Struck by the sudden yell, Sal's eyes flipped open. Pence' whole figure was cramping and twitching weirdly, eventually causing him to lose his stance. He tumbled to the ground, right before her feet. As he went down, he opened up the view on what was behind him. Silent, almost like a ghost, there was a drone hovering in midair, it's red glowing eye focusing on it's target. On Pence. Half-paralyzed, he was fumbling on his back until getting a hold on something.

»...G-GIAH...!«

Sal was staring down, as he jerked some kind of projectile out of his shoulder blade. It was a small, square-shaped piece of metal with four little claw-like extensions. Has he gotten an electric shock from that thing? As she looked up, Sal noticed that two of the drone's arms were open. They did not contain any rockets though. Did this one have another arsenal? The tumbling Pence fought to get back on his feet.

»God... damn it!«

As if he had heard him, his buddy Waters appeared in the door.

»Jeff...?«

Instantly, the drone swung around now facing the second guy.

»Woah!« Waters backed away, hands up, but the machine followed.

»What the hell is going on?!«

Meanwhile Pence used his chance to sneak through the door, limping into the aisle. Quickly noticing that, the drone changed it's priority again, turning his direction. Sal stepped forward to peak into the hallway. She saw Pence looking over his shoulder, where a red laser beam was now aiming for his butt.

»Oh...! N-no...! No!«

About to completely freak out, he tried to get away. A second later though, he was hit by what looked like a dart.

»HOH!«

He almost jumped from the pain, twitching and then falling again. Sal thought, that he looked like an anesthetized animal. Maybe a monkey.

»Jeff...!«

The panicked Waters came running, grabbing his friend under the arms. Keeping an eye on the floating device, he then pulled Pence into the nearest room, a storage, and threw the door shut.

»...«

Silence followed, making the scene even stranger. Sal held her breath, as she realized that the drone was now focusing her. A shiver ran down her spine. Then however, it closed it's arms, looking almost like a perfect egg again. A few awkward seconds passed, before Sal turned her head around. Slowly, she finally grabbed the latte she had made.

»...«

Cautious and very carefully, she slipped through the door, past the drone. For a moment, she looked into it's glowing lens while walking. Then she turned away, moving on like everything was normal. Somehow that whole situation seemed surreal to her. Like a fever dream. On her way to the elevator, she had a weird feeling and then noticed, that the drone was following her. Like in slow-motion, she pressed the button, looking at the white, hovering machine. Had the doctor sent it after her? Who else should have done it. But why? All the way back to the lab, she was pondering. And all the way, the drone flew two meters behind her. When she finally came back, Doctor Robotnik was very busy tinkering on something on a long table in the middle of the room. He had a nipper in his hand, strenuously bowing some kind of wiring into shape. He didn't look up from his work, though he had obviously noticed Sal's return.

»Took you long enough.«

Hesitantly, she walked up to the table, placing the glass on it safely.

»... sorry.«

Robotnik's eyes followed her, as she returned to her desk. Breathing in and out a few times, she sat down and opened her laptop once more, to check for actual emails. She only made a few clicks, stopping, when she noticed something in the corner of her eye.

»...«

It was still still there.

»... uh...«

Confused, she turned around to where the doctor was fumbling with his project.

»... Doctor...?«

»... hm?«

»Your... drone is... following me... still.«

»Positive.«

Sal raised a brow, staring at his back until he turned around, looking like someone that has to explain to a child.

»Look, I don't know what was holding you up, but if I had to guess, I'd say it involved a certain amount of imbecile retards.«

»...« Sal swallowed, looking down as if being caught.

»Since I don't have time for immature bullshit like that and I like my lattes to get to me quick and hot...«

At that, he pointed to the drone that was now smoothly landing on Sal's table.

»... as long as you work for me... this badnik... is working for you.«

In an instant, she looked up, eyes wide open.

»You mean... just... for me? Really?«

An excited sparkle appeared in her eyes which seemed to irritate the doctor. He frowned a bit, clearing his throat, as if to explain himself.

»It's job is, to make sure you do your job efficiently!«

Sal had already turned around, patting the drone like some kind of dog.

»So cool...!«

Robotnik made an almost disgusted face at that. Like she forgot something, the young woman then swung back around, slapping her hands together and bowing a bit, before looking at him with big eyes.

»Thank you so much!«

Visibly baffled, Robotnik seemed to be searching for a tough response. Luckily for him, Sal quickly turned back around to sit down on her chair, admiring her new friend.

»Hm... what shall I call you...?«

Robotnik just stood there, in obvious disbelief.

»Oh! How about... Shiro!«

»Shiro?«

»Yeah, because it is white.« Sal looked at the doctor, happily.

»I know what that means. It's just... ah forget it.«

He waved his hand, and turned back to his work. Sal's whole mood had changed at once. She felt like she had gotten the best Christmas present of her life or something. The drone was taking up half of her desk now, but she didn't care. Pushing her laptop a little further to the right, she got back to her mails.

When Sal made her way through the empty hallways the next morning, Shiro was hovering closely behind her. It had actually followed her home when she left the lab in the evening. The doctor hadn't said a word or even looked, so she took it as it was. The fact that it was there, actually made her feel so much safer. In here. On the street. Everywhere. The doctor had no idea what favor he had done her with that. Or did he? Not as early as yesterday, she reached the lab. This time, where was no music or light show. In fact, it was very quiet. As soon as she stepped in, Shiro flew past her, to land on her desk again with a dull sound.

»SAL?!«

She flinched, from the sudden shout from around the corner.

»Y-yes...!«

Nervously, she rushed into the other room. How did he even notice her now? The room was empty. Quickly making it through the next door, she finally found Robotnik. In the rather small room, he stood at a high table, with his hands inside a drone. The walls were covered with hundreds of tools, cables and other things, Sal couldn't name.

»You are late!«

He barked, grimacing, as he looked up at her. Really? She had actually been trying to avoid disturbing his dance show again.

»And where's my latte?!«

Damn it. She had been so deep in her thoughts that she had not stopped by the kitchen.

»I... I will get you one...«

»Not now! Get over here!«

Slightly intimidated, Sal walked around the table until she stood next to him. With a questioning face, she squinted up. The insides of the drone made unpleasant sounds as he kept on fumbling with something in there.

»I need... a... third hand...«

»...«

Looking from him to the machine and then back up to him, she obviously didn't understand.

»You heard me, get your hand in there!«

The two stared at each other for a weird moment. The doctor glared and Sal looked just blank. She swallowed, before hesitantly reaching out and slowly sticking her hand into the open drone. Without any idea what to even do or look for, actually afraid of messing something up. With three arms in there, neither her or him could possibly see anything.

»Okay, can you find the board I am holding in place?«

»...ehm...«

Sal moved, blindly trying to navigate. Somewhere on the right, she touched his wrist.

»The other hand.«

»O-oh... okay...«

Finally finding his right hand, she carefully slid down, along his fingers, while giving him an asking look. His eyes moved her way just for a slip second. Almost shyly.

»Good, hold that down.«

Sal pressed onto the metal, while Robotnik went on with whatever he was doing.

»Is that a drone from yesterday?«

»... one of them... yes.«

Highly concentrated, he turned his head to look a display, while adjusting something close to Sal's fingers.

»I decided... to give it a little... update.«

»Something new?«

»It'll be a prototype, yes.«

»Oohh...«

Sal was unable to tell what he was doing and being that close to him made her weirdly uneasy. She could hear him breathe through his nose in a slightly stressed way, making her hope he wasn't getting angry. If only she had not forgotten the coffee. Maybe that would have helped.

»Is that... number three?«

The silence was just too awkward. With a raised eyebrow, looking kind of surprised, the doctor turned his head to her.

»... it is.«

They looked at each other for a few seconds, until Sal realized he was waiting for some kind of explanation.

»I, uhm... I noticed that... scratch... at the side...«

»...huh.«

He nodded a little, still staring at her.

»I'm excited to see what that update is. Your drones... are really... impressive to me... I mean...«

Sal cleared her throat, trying to find some words.

»They are... actually... so cool. I mean I... really love Shiro!«

Noticing how stupid that all sounded, she blinked nervously. The doctor however, seemed to be searching her face, only interrupted when something appeared in the door frame.

»Good morning!«

Instantly Sal and Robotnik turned their heads to the door, where a young man in a lab coat was waving his hand. When he saw the two, his eyes widened.

»Oh.«

»Urk... what do you want...?« The doctor grumbled, rolling his eyes.

The dark-blonde guy ignored the question, fixating on Sal instead. He slowly made his way around the table, finally placing his elbow onto it.

»Hi. I'm Doctor McCoy. « He said in a low voice.

Unable to give him her hand, she just nodded.

»Sal. Hi...«

Again, she heard Robotnik's disgruntled respiration.

»I asked you a question, Dr. Dipshit!«

Jumping a bit, McCoy reached into his inside pocket, pulling out a folder.

»I got the results of the endurance test you ordered.«

He waved it in the air, smiling.

»Fine, leave it on the table and get lost!«

Sal watched him do as he was told, wondering if there was anyone out there that Dr. Robotnik didn't loathe.

»So... Sal... I guess you are Agent Stone's substitute.«

Dr. McCoy squinted at her, while putting down his folder.

»It was a pleasure to meet you. If you ever feel like... chatting...«

At that, he leaned towards her, winking meaningfully.

»L705.«

»...« Sal just stared back.

Straightening his coat, he gave her a final smile.

»Shove off!«

At that, something inside the drone snapped, painfully pinching Sal's finger.

»Ouch!«

In a reflex she pulled her hand back out, looking at her index finger. A tiny cut was just starting to bleed.

»...«

»...«

McCoy stood there like frozen, while Robotnik's eyes moved from Sal's finger to the young man. His chin trembled with growing anger while his own hands slowly left the insides of the machine.

»That's it.«

Robotnik almost leaped at McCoy, grabbing him by the back of his neck, before he could even try to react.

»Woah! Hey...!«

Sal watched, like it was a movie scene, as the doctor forcefully pushed the other doctor ahead of him and out of the room. Once they were out of sight, all she heard was McCoy's stumbling feet, his unpleasant groaning and Robotnik growling some harsh accusations while escorting him out of the lab. It almost sounded to Sal, as if he had actually thrown him into the hallway. That was only what she imagined though. Great, she thought. Now he was angry. From the start he had been sassy and relentless. But she had not yet witnessed him actually mad. Since his normal mode already was a challenge to deal with, the idea of him in bad temper somewhat frightened her. When his steps could be heard coming closer again, Sal swallowed. As he entered the room, he still mumbled into his beard while energetically stomping around the table. She flinched a bit, when Robotnik purposefully approached to grab her by the wrist and pull her out of the room with him. Sal followed confused and silently, until they stopped at the very end of the narrow passage between the laboratories. Her arm felt limp as a doll's as he moved her hand under the faucet of the rectangular metal-sink in front of them. The following ice cold water was quickly washing away the bit of blood.

»...«

While that happened, Robotnik hat already opened a small box at his eye level with his other hand. Without wasting any time he then moved on to patching her up with a band aid. Sal watched quietly, as he worked on her finger like he did on his machinery. He had the exact same expression. Extremely concentrated and slightly manic. So this was how it felt being the drone? It was a weird thought, but Sal was actually surprised about how gentle his touch was. He did it slowly and very carefully. It almost felt good. Thinking that, Sal felt her cheeks heat up.

»I'm... I'm really sorry I... let go earlier.«

Robotnik turned his head, raising an eye brow. Then he looked back at her index finger and mumbled lowly.

»... all McCoy's fault...«

»...«

When he finally finished his operation, he let go of her hand and Sal looked at the ridiculously neat band aid. After all, she could have helped herself with only an information about where to find this box. And it didn't seem like him to even care, but standing there, he looked like he was waiting for something. Technically he had caused the injury, with or without Dr. McCoy's help. Could he actually feel a little guilty? Did he just try to make up for it? In his own weird, low-key way? It was hard to imagine. But doing a thing like that was probably far easier for him, than saying something like ›sorry‹. Sal gave him a soft smile.

»Thank you. You didn't have to.«

»Infections can kill you.«

Providing that important knowledge with a meaningful face, he then set off to get back to work.

»Since I made sure you won't lose the finger... let's get this over with, shall we?«

A little baffled, Sal then nodded and rushed after him.

It had taken hours to finish the drone's upgrade and Sal's finger wasn't actually needed that often. She had stayed at the doctor's side none the less, watching him work, asking an unqualified question every now and then. Surprisingly for her, he had not sent her away. Maybe because he had been so deeply focused. Or did he actually enjoy her fascinated interest in his creations? He had a fairly large ego after all. Even though he had pointed out how his perfect drones don't need any praise, Sal had a feeling that he actually did. Even if he'd never admit. As she was laying on her bed at home, she was musing about him. As tired as she was, the thoughts wouldn't let her rest for some reason. Stretching out her left arm, she grabbed for something on her bedside table. Unbeknownst, she had taken Agent Stone's notebook with her when she left the lab earlier. Of course she wouldn't keep it. Only borrow it for some time. Sal looked at the worn binding for a moment, wondering what things it had seen so far. Then she put her finger between the pages to open a random one, finding a side note and just began reading out loud.

»In case of a critical blackout: how to activate the emergency generator.«

Sal frowned, wondering if this was written here because Robotnik had told Stone about it, or because that actually happened before. Boring, she thought, turning a few pages.

»Always make sure the labels in the truck's fuse box are intact. Bottom one = Self destruct!«

Self destruct?! Seriously? And which ›truck‹? A little perplexed, she went on.

»Don't stand in the doctor's way.«

Well... considering how energetically he walks, that could be suicide mission indeed.

»If his mustache looks asymmetrical, don't say anything.«

Raising a brow, Sal imagined how doing so must have put Stone in a precarious situation. It even made her chuckle a bit. She was also wondering what that guy was doing now. Did he

actually use the time to recover from all this stress or was he going crazy, thinking the doctor could go on a rampage by now? After all he must expect one of Wesley's men to be doing his job right now. The poor guy. She should really try her best for his sake. As she let her thumb glide over the slightly yellowish paper in search for something else, she noticed that there was something off. One of the pages stood out because the lower corner was folded in. Opening it up, she found all the space on this page filled. It was clearly Agent Stone's handwriting, but every row looked a little different. As if it had been written with different pens, in different situations, with different amounts of time at hand. The top line simply read ›Dr. Robotnik‹. Below that was what looked like a list of short facts. As if he had written down everything that he had picked up randomly. Someone really did his homework. Now that was interesting. Again, Sal started to read, this time though, almost whispering for some reason.

»5 PhDs.«

Five... that was impressive. Yet not really surprising to her. It was not hard to see that he was without a doubt a genius.

»Has a thing for music.«

Yeah she had witnessed that. For a second she considered adding ›and dancing‹ to the note. But there really wasn't any free space for that anyway. Plus, her eyes had moved on already.

»First name is Ivo«

Sal tilted her head a notch.

»Ivo.«

How odd. Did that fit him? Did that actually sound... cute to her?

»Ivo...«

Still mumbling his name, she read on.

»Orphan.«

Not far from that a crooked blue note said ›bullied?‹

Sal's stomach twisted in a weird way. The feeling she had in that elevator reappeared. Then her head turned to a little stool in the corner of the bedroom, where Shiro was resting in stand-by mode.

»...«

Could he know? Had he seen her though? A part of her doubted that. But what if so? Was that the reason why the drone had appeared and chased away Pence and Waters? Was he really capable of feeling into her like that? And would he even care? He clearly hated those guys and had given an explanation to Shiro's purpose. But...

Before she could finish her thought, the sound of her ringing cellphone made her flinch. Completely confused, she threw Stone's the notebook to the side and rolled over to the bedside table. The display just said ›private number‹. Hesitantly and unsure, she picked up.

»... hello?«

»Sal. We got a mission.«

His voice gave the doctor away.

»A... a mission...? Wait, what...?«

»Pack some things. We'll pick you up in half an hour.«

Sal was just breathing in to ask about a hundred questions, when Robotnik hung up.