Chapter 5
Three days ago.
Alley was walking the halls of the association when she heard her name called. "Alley Brawler!"
She turned and saw Genos approach. He was stunned at first to her growth, yet quickly got back to the matter at hand. "Miss Brawler, my deepest condolences for your loss. Your father was the best sparring partner my master could ever ask for. Your mother was a kind and very caring woman."
"Thank you Genos," she turned to leave.
Genos however grabbed her arm rather abruptly, yet gently. "I want you to come with me." He said. "I have someone for you to meet."
She paused, Genos gave her but a nod as she accepted to go with him. But first, she informed her brother about leaving the building. She promised to keep in contact with them. Pac merely tapped the middle of his forehead. She nodded and went with Genos.
The moment they walked out, two drones appeared. One picked up Genos, the other offered her a seat. The moment she sat down, a seat belt came around her and the drone took off! "Where are we going?"
"To see my creator. You claimed you wished to meet him. I explained to Dr. Kuseno about your interest in robotics and me. He has since taken an interest in you. From what I understand, he maybe looking for an apprentice."
She was surprised to the notion, being able to learn from a creative genius was something she could only imagine!
The flight took some time, but they landed in a strange place. A forest of all areas with a massive lab in the middle of it all. She was unbuckled as Genos was released from the drone. "This way, please."
Alley followed him into the lab, there she saw this far older man with a strange haircut. He turned and smiled. "Genos? Is this the one you spoke of?"
"Indeed, Dr. Kuseno. This is Alley Brawler. Daughter of Melee Brawler and the human monster Garou."
He paused. "Is she really? I never would have thought…" but he saw the black scales on her arm. She wore a tube top that covered her chest, yet exposed the scales on her stomach that went up her arms in an strange arch to her shoulders.
Alley wasn't the least bit ashamed of the scales, in fact. She rather liked them. "Despite what you have heard of my family, my father has changed his ways… at least… he did until Metal Knight killed him and my mother."
Dr. Kuseno gasped. "My child, I am so sorry!"
"It's okay, we're slowly moving on." She began to look around the lab, the equipment was a little old, but manageable. Best of all, nothing appeared to have been made by Metal Knight! "I love your lab!"
"Why, thank you. If you have ideas of building something, please feel free!"
She jumped at the chance. Alley found a table with all sorts of circuits, wires, screws and microchips. Instantly she jumped right into it, her hands moved quickly, the parts picked up and used until a small device was made in her hands. No bigger than a small pack of gum. Dr. Kuseno was stunned. "What did you make? That only took you 10 minutes!"
She tossed it over to the Doctor. "It's for Genos," she said. "I have a great distrust of Metal Knight right now, and knowing his skills I worry for the day he may try and use Genos against his will. That there is a disrupter. If implanted into Genos I hope that it will keep him safe from anyone who may try and hack into his body."
There was a stunned look on his face. Genos was taken aback. "I never considered the idea of someone reprograming me… Doctor…"
"I must admit, I had made something for you for that, but I don't know if it is as good as the one Alley made for you."
"Is there a way to test them to be sure?" she asked. "Do you keep old parts of Genos around here? An exoskeleton or two?"
Inspiration hit Dr. Kuseno. He pulled out two of Genos's old exoskeletons, each one possible of movement and components that would mimic Genos. He implanted his own device in one, and then Alley's in the other. From there, he took out a computer and began the test. With a line of code, he set it into the robots. "I placed a simple hacking code to make the robots move. If they move, they have been hacked into. If not, the block works."
They watched as the code was entered. One robot began to twitch and squirm oddly until it began moving, walking on its own. The other… remained still. Dr. Kuseno then upped the code to more complex and difficulty. One blocking the program was still working, the other sadly failed. "Which is which?" Alley asked.
The good doctor sighed. "Yours is the one that worked," he said, but shook his head to it all. "How did you build something like that so fast and so efficiently?"
Alley didn't quite know. "Sometimes, when I really get into something… I just become so obsessed with learning it. I found books, websites and others places to just take it all in. I want to help as much as I can with Genos, he is remarkable." She explained.
But there was one other thing. "Doctor… how good are you at reverse engineering?" she asked.
He appeared interested in her question. "Do you have something that needs to be broken apart?"
"Yeah, a massive tin can. But, more importantly…" she reached into her pocket and pulled out a chrome looking screw. "I want to make a new kind of metal. I want to use it for Genos… but I cannot make it at the association. I am being spied upon constantly."
"Spied upon?" asked Genos.
"I will explain everything later, but please understand why I want keep this a secret. For the one who spies on me, is doing the same to my brothers, I don't ever want him gaining what I am trying to make."
Dr. Kuseno nodded. "I understand your concern, it is why I am here and out of the public eye. Very well, Miss Brawler. Let me show you what I know, and let's see what we can make in a few days. I need to upgrade Genos, perhaps you would assist me?"
Her eyes widened, she nodded with great excitement.
#
In three days, she was able to make many tools, devices and items of great interest, many things that will go unnoticed to whoever is spying on her. She created a small computer that appears nothing more than a music device; the gum she is chewing isn't really gum, and little handheld devices that fits in her pockets. She assisted in the upgrades to Genos, many things the good Doctor himself never thought possible. She explained to him her plan of making a new exoskeleton for him out of the metal she wants to forge. It will make him more resilient to attacks and becoming destroyed in battle. "I want to make that for him, and I plan on updating his weapons too the moment I think of something."
"You are quite something young one. You know, I am getting older. I won't be around to repair Genos forever…"
Alley nodded. "I hope you are around a lot longer, I want to learn so much from you."
Dr. Kuseno smiled. "Then learn from me. I want to know if something were to happen to me, Genos still has someone who can help him and repair him when needed. Would you be interested?"
Alley was stunned. "We just met, you know who my father is and yet… you would trust me to look after Genos?" she asked.
He laughed. "You made that device for him, it worked! It's in him now. I can't imagine anyone else looking out for him like you." Alley accepted full heartedly.
Alley however paused, she stared off to her right for a moment. "I will have to come back another time, my brothers are calling me home." She said.
He appeared confused. "You're brothers are calling you? You don't have a phone!"
"No, one is telepathic, so he calls me that way."
Genos reappeared, his upgrades became fully installed and he was ready to return to Saitama. "Thank you Doctor, thank you Alley for your help."
"My pleasure as always Genos."
"Thank you for bringing me with you. I do appreciate it!" said Alley.
The drone took her back to the association, Genos went back to city Z. Alley walked back into the Association, not before popping a strip of 'gum' into her mouth. She walked about like nothing out of the ordinary, when Metal Knight showed up, she began sticking her gum to the robot. He would see her stick one piece on the outside of the robot, but made certain to sneak another under the metal whenever possible.
When he left, she merely smirked.
