I'm not getting a huge number of reviews for this story and I do understand why. This is a small fandom for a cartoon that ended years ago. It just isn't going to get the traffic that other fandoms might. So I understand why I only get a few people reading this story. It also makes me appreciate everyone who does take the time to review. So thanks to those who are reading this story; I hope you're enjoying it and will continue to read.
And for those who hope that things will improve for our protagonists in the near future, I'm sorry to say things will get worse before they get better.
Three days. It had been three days since anyone had seen the robot ranger.
The first day, no one was too worried about his absence. There were a couple of theories floating around that varied from the believable one of him getting involved in a high-stakes round of gambling somewhere to the insane one of him getting a date. The only one who expressed anything resembling true concern for his absence was Booster. Lightyear was disappointed at what he considered a blatant disregard for the importance of the job and Nova acted like she didn't care while possibly showing some uncertainty about the situation. It was only as the day drew to a close that someone grew concerned enough to try remotely activating his emergency tracking beacon. But when the LGMs tried it, they couldn't detect a signal.
The second day was the start of the search. His teammates tried to track his last known movements and then extended their efforts to other places XR regularly visited. They even poked around the few casinos in the neighboring sector that admitted robot gamblers. As the hours continued to pass without any clues towards where he was or what happened to the robot ranger, some of the other Space Rangers were pulled from light duty to aid in the search. By the time the second day came to an end, they'd investigated several planets to varying degrees and there was a slight undercurrent of worry in Star Command. The news even trickled down to the bureaucratic levels of the space station, resulting in XL being frantic and nearly racing out to help look for his "little brother." They'd at least managed to talk him down to just making copies of "missing" posters instead, keeping the prototype occupied and busy.
By the third day since XR's disappearance, Lightyear was about two steps away from taking his ship to Planet Z and interrogating Zurg about the robot's absence. And if there was even a shred of evidence that he knew anything about the missing ranger, Commander Nebula would be happy to order everyone possible to join him in that attack.
But there was nothing. Not even a hint of what happened to XR. And no matter what flaws he might have, XR wouldn't stay away for so long without a word to someone. Even if the tracker was damaged by accident and he was fine, he would have been back by now. Someone or something was responsible. He had to be in trouble. One of their own was missing and none of the Space Rangers could find him.
Nebula tried to distract himself by working on the mountain of paperwork that his desk, XL, and Lana Celeste had been urging him to complete for weeks. Normally it was mind-numbingly boring, but today it wasn't enough to keep his thoughts from wandering. Even with his ability to survive blasters, explosions, and physical impacts and be rebuilt with few problems, there were still plenty of ways for XR to get in trouble.
Some planets didn't have any rights or protections for robots of any level of sentience, which Nebula didn't normally worry or care about. On those planets, there were people who would capture and tear apart random robots for spare parts. And the only possible crime they could be charged with was vandalism and maybe theft. Of course the charge for assaulting a Space Ranger was the same throughout the Galactic Alliance, regardless of whether they were organic or a robot. That might discourage at least the more minor criminals, but only if they were aware of XR's status.
Then there were those who might have a more personal reason to target the robot ranger. Team Lightyear had foiled a lot of people. From Zurg to Torque, there were plenty of past foes who would be happy to attack any member of that team that they might encounter. Or they might try to hack into his head for information. There were plenty of possibilities.
Nebula groaned tiredly as he rubbed his temple. He would never admit it to anyone and would deny it to his dying day, but he was honestly worried about XR. He'd never been fond of robots and the disaster of the first robot ranger attempt only strengthened his resolve that servos and circuits could never match up with real people. They couldn't be a Space Ranger because they couldn't do what a real Ranger could. They couldn't go past their limits to help someone, they couldn't make the hard decisions when backed against the wall, and they couldn't put their heart and soul into the job. And then XR was created and decided to mess with his decades-old mindset.
He wasn't always happy with XR's annoyingly enthusiastic behavior, the way he instantly and unwavering declared Nebula his father. He was too eager and hyper in his pursuit of parental affection from someone who just didn't initially want anything to do with him. It grated the man's nerves. And when he wasn't going overboard with his attempts to win over someone who was well-known not to like or trust machines, there were other flaws in the robot ranger that were definitely not what the LGMs programmed originally. Nebula was going to strangle whoever taught him to gamble someday.
But over time, XR repeatedly proved himself to be just as worthy of being a Space Ranger as anyone alive. And Nebula found himself feeling proud of the robot just as he would any Space Ranger. Or perhaps proud for more personal reasons.
But now XR was missing. He was missing and could be any sort of trouble. And while a couple of years ago Nebula would have wrote the whole thing off as a failed experiment and accepted the lost investment in the project, he now couldn't help worrying about the robot ranger. He didn't know who or what was responsible for XR's disappearance or what kind of condition he'd end up in. At least when the Raenoks had a hold of him and everyone else, they knew where to look. Not knowing was frustrating.
"Delivery, Commander," announced Ed, the courier who tended to deliver to Star Command.
Distractedly signing the offered clipboard, Nebula said, "Fine. Thanks."
The package was set on his desk and the courier left with a friendly and cheerful smile. Briefly Nebula considered just ignoring the small, wrapped object in favor of more important things. But until they found a clue about XR's location, there was only so much he could do. And the paperwork couldn't hold his attention. Perhaps the surprise delivery would work better at taking his mind off the situation.
Pulling off the brown paper and opening the box, Nebula frowned thoughtfully at the contents. There was a disk inside and a folded-up letter. Curious, the commander picked up the piece of paper.
The first thing he noticed about the letter was the style of the writing. Rather than a straightforward printed message, the writing was an elegant, fancy, cursive style that would suggest it was done by hand and yet there was an uniformity to the letters that couldn't be achieved naturally. The next thing he noticed was the actual message.
Here is an educational gift for Star Command. I highly recommend that the enclosed recording be viewed as soon as possible by the following individuals: Commander Nebula, Ranger Buzz Lightyear and his team, Ranger Ty Parsec, and the robot XL. I am quite certain you will find the recording very informative.
The letter was unsigned and Nebula's instincts warned him that something was wrong. There was no good reason why anyone would send a recording to those specific people. They were all involved in Star Command and were at least semi-connected to Buzz, but there wasn't much when it came to major connections between them. No single mission connected them all. Well, no mission except the one where Parsec was taken captive, Planet Z was taken over by an outside force, and everyone at Star Command was temporarily turned into wirewolves. He didn't know if the package was related to that particular mission, but it still left Nebula with a sense of unease.
He could watch it. He could watch the recording first and see what was on it. He was on the list of people intended to watch it after all.
Nebula considered it, but ultimately rejected the idea. It would save everyone time to watch it all at once rather than play the recording repeatedly. And something in his gut didn't want to see it alone. It wouldn't take much effort to get everyone together in a short amount of time. XL was already at the station a few floors down, Parsec was due back from a scouting mission, and what remained of Lightyear's team could be called in. They needed a break from their search, even if it was only for a moment. He should call them in at least long enough to deal with the delivered recording.
That didn't change the feeling of uneasy concern and suspicion that gnawed at the back of his mind and deep within his gut. He didn't go into the field as much as he did in the past, but his Ranger Instincts were just as keen as ever. And they warned that he would not like what he would see on that recording.
Nos-4-A2 waited for his prey to walk by as he lurked on a ledge above the streets. So far the Fixer's list of targets was serving him well. The disappearances had raised no alarm among the citizens of Tradeworld. And while most of the lifeless shells were left for the Fixer, he'd carried a few back to his lair. It never hurt to keep a few potential mindless slaves in case of an emergency. Besides, he could admit it. The energy vampire was a bit of a hoarder.
The robot, a simple Construction-Bot with minimal contact with people outside of his job, was stomping down the deserted street. Only the faintest traces of the setting sun were still visible and the street lights were slowly flickering on. That cast long and misshapen shadows across the landscape. The only thing that would be better would to have a dramatic storm. There was nothing like setting the mood.
He watched the Construction-Bot slow down, the faint and subtle frequency from Nos-4-A2 invoking a sense of unexplainable dread in him. The target robot, named BLD-3R according to the Fixer, was looking towards the dark shadows with his glowing blue eyes. His blocky and bulky figure would be enough to discourage most people from bothering the Construction-Bot. There were few things he would fear, the orange behemoth a force to be reckoned with. That did not stop the robot from growing nervous.
The hunger wasn't what compelled Nos-4-A2 to glide after the robot, only letting BLD-3R catch faint glimpses and vague impressions of the predator. Even taking his time with the Little One, he could still drain enough to satisfy his appetite for the most part. No, this was something else. Something he couldn't risk enjoying with the Little One, trapped and bolted in place to prevent problems. This was something he missed.
The thrill of the hunt.
"Hello?" called the Construction-Bot. "Who's there?"
Nos-4-A2 grinned, gliding to his next perch. The bulky robot turned, trying to see the terrifying creature he kept catching small glimpses in the darkness. But he could never get a real look at what was stalking him. The nervous unease was practically palpable. The energy vampire knew it was time for the next step.
He dropped down directly in front of the robot, shrieking at his target with his fangs and claws exposed. Dread turned to true fear as BLD-3R stumbled back. Even with the size difference, the roles of predator and prey were perfectly clear. The Construction-Bots were programmed to be hard-working, tough, stubborn, and usually a little grumpy when something interfered, but he was still capable of fear for his life. Even if he was unable to explain how he knew of the level of danger.
"What are you?" asked BLD-3R, backing away from the energy vampire.
"Your demise," Nos-4-A2 said as he launched himself towards the robot.
But even with fear gripping his thoughts, his prey wasn't ready to surrender to the inevitable. Arms, built for bending and shaping metal, lashed out and managed to knock Nos-4-A2 aside. The impact sent him crashing into a dumpster, causing more damage to his pride than anything. But BLD-3R was running, so he flung himself into the air and took chase.
The Construction-Bot was trapped on the ground, so Nos-4-A2 was faster. He soared and banked, clawing at BLD-3R and shrieking. He didn't kill the robot. Not yet. He herded it. He directed his prey where he wanted, savoring the hunt. He had the power to control the large robot. He had the power to manipulate him where he wished. The chase was thrilling, the anticipation and desire for his prey building. Nos-4-A2's circuits were practically buzzing with excitement.
"Leave me alone," shouted the Construction-Bot.
BLD-3R activated the welder built into his hand, waving the intense flame defensively even as he continued to run. The energy vampire easily avoided the minor threat, swooping alongside the robot and forcing his prey to turn down an alley. Specifically, he forced the frightened robot down a dead-end alleyway.
As lovely as the chase might be, Nos-4-A2 knew all good things must come to an end. His scared and panicking prey was trapped. That left only one option. The energy vampire bared his fangs at the Construction-Bot, his appetite strengthened by the clear dread and the excitement from a proper hunt.
Seeing there was nowhere left to run, BLD-3R yelled, "Help. Someone help."
Red eyes glowing, Nos-4-A2 caught his gaze. While weaker and far more temporary than the effect a proper bite could achieve, he could still compel limited obedience from a robot with the nearly-hypnotic light from his larger eye. He rarely bothered since it was more effective to sink his fangs into his prey and have more complete control. But with a larger and stronger robot, he knew it was best to take a few precautions to prevent injury. At least until he could get close enough.
"Resist me not, my delectable morsel," he ordered in a hypnotic and soothing voice. "Do not fight your Dark Master's will. Nos-4-A2 compels you to obey. Do not struggle or move. Remain still and resist me not."
The hold on his prey was not perfect, but it was enough for the moment. BLD-3R couldn't move. The only downside was that his actions calmed the robot as a side-effect. The calm obedience was not as exciting as terror, but he could enjoy the latter when he returned to the Little One. There was no need to be greedy.
Floating closer to the unmoving Construction-Bot, Nos-4-A2 extended his senses as he searched for where the energy was the closest to the surface. The robot was designed with thick metal and he didn't want to dull his fangs more quickly than necessary. A few wires near the neck joints quickly proved to be the ideal spot.
"Lovely," he said quietly.
He lunged, grabbing the Construction-Bot's shoulders and burying his fangs into his prey.
Energy Drain In Progress.
BLD-3R's pain overcame part of the weak compulsion, the fear returning and the robot starting to struggle clumsily. The signals of desperate prey thrilled him just as the chase did. Nos-4-A2 appetite was stoked as his excitement reignited and grew. Programming took over and he didn't even try to slow down. He ripped out the power, pulling every joule from the large robot as quickly as possible. It was invigorating. A few seconds later and BLD-3R collapsed to the ground, empty and lifeless.
Power Levels At 94 Percent.
Enjoying the last shiver of pleasure he gained from the Construction-Bot's death, Nos-4-A2 tried to collect his thoughts and brush any remaining rubbish from his tumble into the dumpster. While he was very skilled at planning, it always took a moment for him to properly focus after an especially thrilling experience.
He knew he would need to take care of a few things. He would need to contact the Fixer so he could pick up the new "merchandise" before someone found the body. There were a few more Space Rangers on the planet in the last couple of days than usual, but none of them seemed to know what was actually happening. Still, it wouldn't be helpful if one of them stumbled on the empty, powerless robot and started to ask too many questions. Hopefully the Fixer would be swift to handle the body. And once that call was dealt with, Nos-4-A2 could return to his lair.
He couldn't leave the Little One alone for too long, after all.
Ty Parsec knew from years of experience that being summoned by the commander tended to be either really good or really bad. He wasn't as high-profile of a ranger as Buzz, so he didn't interact with Commander Nebula in person as often as he did. The circumstances he did so were almost always serious. And since his last mission went off without any problems, he couldn't help wondering what the commander wanted.
It could be an attempt to assign him a partner. Before, Ty worked a guard detail that required minimal personnel, making use of Security-bots as his backup. And more recently, there were only a handful of Space Rangers who were comfortable working alongside him. The "wirewolf" incident made some people twitchy. It certainly made the Security-bots less eager to work with him. But outside of the safest and lowest-risk missions, everyone needed a partner and many were working on teams in the last couple of years. The commander was bound to address the issue eventually.
That thought trailed off as he stepped into the conference room and saw the rest of the occupants. The gathering was too odd for the purpose of discussing a future partner.
In addition to the serious, mustached, peg-legged Commander Nebula pacing around the room, there was another human Space Ranger sitting at the table. At one point, the sight would have provoked Ty to roll his eyes and mutter sarcastically. Their past interactions, where the man continued to rescue Ty on practically every mission regardless of the necessity, left him unhappy and frustrated. But they'd managed to improve their relationship and he could now admit that Buzz Lightyear was a true friend. Though it wouldn't kill the man to take the hood of his spacesuit off occasionally.
Next to him was Mira Nova. The Tangean looked tired. Actually, all of the team looked rather tired. Based on what Ty knew of the current situation, he didn't blame them for looking a little ragged.
On the other side was Booster, the young Jo-Adian rookie who seemed to have issues with understanding sarcasm. Large, broad, and red-scaled, Booster didn't just look tired. He seemed to completely worried sick. Ty felt the urge to pat his shoulder and say everything would be all right. There was just something about the rookie that produced that reaction in those around him.
As Ty took an empty seat, he noticed a final member of Star Command waiting anxiously. A tiny red robot head on a mobile fax/photocopier machine body, XL certainly looked less impressive than the first time Ty met him.
"Hey," called XL, "you're that wirewolf guy."
"And you're the genius who teamed up with someone who saw you as an entrée," he said dryly. "Are we here to exchange fond memories or is there another purpose for us being here?"
"Yes, there is. We received a package a short time ago, addressed specifically to everyone in his room," said Nebula, ending any further conversation off-topic. "In the delivered package was a recording and a message for us to view it as soon as possible, but without explaining who sent it or what the recording is about. Even I don't know what it'll show us."
"Do you think it has anything to do with XR? Maybe it'll tell us where to find him," Booster said.
Gently, Mira said, "Don't get your hopes up. It might have nothing to do with him."
"Though the timing is suspicious," said Buzz as he narrowed his eyes.
Nodding, Nebula said, "It certainly is rather oddly timed. I thought it would be wise to handle this quickly."
"Then perhaps we should start the recording, Commander," said Ty.
Nebula reached for the remote with a nod. A screen rose into view and he handed a disk to Ty to insert into the system. They waited as the commander moved into his seat, settling into a good position to watch and observe. Then they started the recording.
The instant the image appeared on screen, Ty flung himself out of his chair and stumbled back while he cursed, "Sweet Mother of Venus!"
The reactions of the others was similarly intense. XL screamed. Booster and Mira gasped in shock. Nebula slammed his hand against the table hard enough to rattle it, throwing himself to his feet. Buzz's eyes narrowed further into a suspicious glare. It was clear his mind was turning over the implications of what he was seeing and did not like the possibilities.
Regardless of the fact Ty saw him die on Planet Z (though his memories from his time as a wirewolf were scattered and foggy), Nos-4-A2 was taking up most of the screen. The energy vampire, the one who nearly ruined Ty's life, was alive and whole. He was back and even taunting Star Command by sending a recording of his survival.
"Hello, Rangers," greeted Nos-4-A2, the voice smooth and malicious as it came through the speakers. "I'm certain you'll be surprised in a few days when this package arrives. It seems that the news of my demise may not have been quite accurate. But hopefully all those I invited are present for this particular lesson."
"He has way too much ego," muttered Mira, glaring at the screen. "Sending a recording to brag about being back? He's definitely Zurg's creation."
"Now, it seems to me that our biggest problems in the past encounters were underestimating each other and a lack of understanding," Nos-4-A2 continued. "My first confrontation with Star Command was ruined because Zurg provided plenty of information on Lightyear and very little on the others, so I was caught unaware that the commander was so technophobic."
"I dislike and distrust technology," Nebula said, crossing his arms. "I don't fear it."
Since it was a recording, his correction didn't matter. The Nos-4-A2 from a few days ago simply kept talking to the camera, clearly enjoying the sound of his voice.
"If I had known that and if I had paid closer attention to my hold on XR, the strange Little One with such a knotted mess of programming, then I would have won that day. But while I tried to learn from past encounters, you still don't seem to understand. You don't recognize just how dangerous and cruel I can truly be, especially to those who choose to hinder me." Pausing briefly as he tapped his chin with a claw thoughtfully, Nos-4-A2 corrected, "Well, Parsec might understand. He knows how easily I can destroy a life. Isn't that right, my pet?"
Ty glared at the screen. He could admit it. The energy vampire truly messed up his life. It wasn't just the initial event where he attacked those around him and could have done far worse if Buzz and his teammates hadn't restored him. He was nearly forced to leave the Space Rangers just in case the transformation could be repeated. He hated what happened. He would certainly never underestimate Nos-4-A2 again. He would also never let that energy vampire escape custody again.
"Just because I don't go for the wide-spread destruction and enslavement option in most cases is no reason to dismiss the level of threat I represent. I just have a preference for more personalized and small-scale plans of actions," he continued. "I've been wondering why you would give Zurg so much credit while seeing so little of my potential and I believe I have figured out the answer. You don't understand. You are ignorant when it comes to robots. And without the proper knowledge and understanding, how can you appreciate my skills? How can you truly realize what it is like to suffer my displeasure? That's why I've decided to provide a lesson on the topic of robots so that you can appreciate my talents and actions properly."
With that vaguely ominous remark, Nos-4-A2 reached over and picked up the camera. The view on the screen wobbled and blurred as the camera moved. Ty caught sight of the corner of a table, the dimly-lit room's overhead light source, and the energy vampire's cape, but he couldn't make out any further details. He certainly couldn't see anything that would provide a location of where the robot was filming from. This out-of-focus movement continued for a few moments until the camera settled as he sat it on a steady surface, leaving a close-up view of Nos-4-A2's face across the entire screen.
"Now let's get started with the basics," he said. "Commander, since you probably have the least knowledge when it comes to robots, you should pay especially close attention. Perhaps you should even take notes."
Judging by the expression on Nebula's face in response, Ty thought that Nos-4-A2 was extremely lucky. If the commander was a few decades younger, he'd be hunting down that energy vampire personally for that condescending tone.
"Lesson one," Nos-4-A2 said as he pulled away from the camera, "if a robot is advanced enough to have an actual artificial intelligence, then they can experience fear. The more advanced the robot, the more afraid they can become. And I can make them afraid. I don't even have to try very hard. And just as they can experience fear, they can also experience pain. There are differences between organics and robots. Only more complicated and well-programmed robots have a full array of intense emotional reactions to stimuli. And pain can come from very different sources in regards to organics and robots. But lesson one is that if a robot is even as smart as one of Zurg's Hornets, they can feel fear and they can certainly feel pain. Some are just more susceptible than others."
With that, Nos-4-A2 moved to the side and gave the first clear view of what was behind him. And if the reaction to the energy vampire appearing on screen was intense, what they saw now was even worse.
Everyone in the conference room, in voices that ranged from horror to surprise to dread, shouted in unison, "XR!"
The small robot ranger was strapped to an inclined table, his limbs clearly cuffed and… was that metal bolts through his arms? Ty wasn't certain, but it certainly looked like it. His eyes were dark and he didn't seem to be moving. While difficult to spot, there seemed to be a pair of tiny holes in his body. There were also some dark smears, possibly oil stains, that made the man uneasy.
After everyone searched for XR, they'd finally been handed a clue about what happened to him. And it was worse than they'd imagined. The robot ranger was in the clutches of the energy vampire. And even worse, the recording was from days ago. There was no way to know what had happened in the time since it was recorded and when they received it. Ty couldn't even imagine what was going through the minds of Team Lightyear.
"Not good," muttered XL anxiously. "Definitely not good."
"Is he…?" Booster asked hesitantly, his voice wavering.
"Don't worry, my dear Rangers," said Nos-4-A2, floating back into view beside XR's still shape. "He still has some power. I just drained enough to keep him quiet and unaware for a little while. I wouldn't want to risk losing the Little One just yet."
"This isn't part of some diabolical scheme against the galaxy," Buzz said, a slight edge to his voice. "This is something else. This is personal. This is simply about revenge."
Nos-4-A2 continued, "And that brings us to lesson two. I think this is probably the biggest misconception that organics seem to have about robots. We may be durable, repairable, and able to withstand destruction that would leave organics smeared across the landscape. My return is certainly proof of that. But we are not entirely invulnerable to consequences. Robots can die. I should know. I've killed plenty in the time I've been online." The energy vampire looked at XR with a mock pitying expression. "The Little One may be designed specifically to endure explosive and aggressive damage as part of his job, but there is a limit. There are a few ways to seriously hurt or even destroy him beyond any hope of recovery. And I just so happen to know exactly how to do so."
He reached towards the small robot and opened the clear helmet. Then he grabbed the yellow head and did something, causing a small green computer chip to slide out of the top. Nos-4-A2 touched it gently with his claw.
"Such a small component, hidden in the most durable part of his entire body. His artificial intelligence chip. His most basic programming, all of his experiences that he used to learn and grow, every memory of his existence, and his entire personality. All of it stored on one little chip," said Nos-4-A2, thoughtfully. "I could destroy every other piece of the Little One's body and Star Command could still bring him back. But one deep scratch across the surface of the microchip… Or a little pressure, just enough to snap it in half… It would be so easy to permanently destroy him. So easy to kill him."
He traced his claw along the edges, as if he was contemplating such an action. Mira and Buzz looked like they wanted to charge straight through the screen after the energy vampire. Booster was gripping XL desperately like he was a stuffed animal, hugging him close while looking like he was on the verge of tears. Nebula looked… Ty wasn't certain what the commander was feeling and he was a little scared to ask.
"But that would be too simple, destroying his artificial intelligence chip while he's not awake," he said before causing the microchip to retract back into XR's head. Once he'd set the clear helmet back in place, Nos-4-A2 continued, "Another method to destroy him permanently would be to drain him completely of energy and wait. The information will begin to corrupt and become erased if he goes without power for too long and he doesn't undergo a proper shutdown sequence. That will work on any robot, though the lengths of time required to make sure nothing is recoverable varies. And perhaps in some circumstances, those plucky little LGMs of yours might be able to undo some of the damage. But I wouldn't count on it."
The energy vampire moved off-screen for a moment before returning with a charger unit in his claws. He looked towards the camera, returning to his lecturing voice.
"Lesson three, the main ways to cause pain to a robot aren't always impressive. He built to be destroyed in battle regularly, after all. It certainly hurts him, but it would be a quick pain. Something mostly on the surface and perhaps even ignorable to an extent. What I'm discussing is something far more intense and entertaining."
"Did he say 'entertaining'?" asked Mira, sounding disgusted.
"He likes to play with his food," Ty said, hating the energy vampire more with every second.
"Naturally, I'm an expert when it comes to the pain of having the power drained out of a robot. Intense pain through every circuit and wire. Pain that they can't block out or lessen. And if I take my time, if I don't have to rush my meal, they will get to feel the pain until their energy gets too low. I'm not even sure if organics have an equivalent to the experience, though the lack of strength, exhaustion, and inability to think as it continues seems relatively similar to severe loss of blood. Of course, some of my victims are better expressing their suffering than others. Once again, the more advanced robots have better reactions."
"And he does that every single time he attacks another robot," said Nebula in a rather tense voice. "He knowingly, happily, subjects his victims to that level of pain."
"But restoring energy can also hurt," he continued, holding up the charger unit as a demonstration. "If their power is low enough, the abrupt jolt of energy to their systems can be extremely unpleasant. For most, it is a small price to pay to stay online. For my victims? It is a way to keep them from escaping me into death until I'm finished with them."
Ty knew what Nos-4-A2 was planning to do before the recording was over. It was perfectly clear what he had in mind. Buzz probably knew and Mira might have guessed. Booster was likely hoping against it and who could tell what XL was thinking. But Nebula definitely knew. The commander was too old and experienced to deny what the energy vampire was working his way up towards.
"Finally, taking the oil out of an engine or motor is a surefire way to cause pain. It'll start out as merely unpleasant, but as the parts continue to grind against each other… Well, the motor will suffer some damage and start to overheat. And then the damaged parts will grind against each other worse, causing more problems and so on until something is destroyed. Doesn't that sound lovely?" said Nos-4-A2. "And in regards to my final lesson, this is what happens to those who cause problems for me. Watch and learn."
With that statement, he applied the charger unit to the restrained robot. Almost at once, XR jolted online with a yelp. As Nos-4-A2 pulled away with his equipment, the smaller robot blinked back into a confused awareness. He didn't seem to have his thoughts completely sorted as he muttered a complaint and started to look around blearily. He tugged at his restraints, still seeming confused. Then concern began to edge into his features. But it was easy to see the moment that realization settled in, panic taking over his face.
"No, no, no, no, no. Not him. This can't be happening. He was destroyed. I saw him. He can't be back."
And with a smooth and cruel voice, Nos-4-A2 said, "And yet here I am, my Little One."
From there, Ty couldn't help watching in helpless frustration as the energy vampire taunted the trapped robot ranger. XR tried to joke or reason, but his sheer terror at being in the presence of Nos-4-A2 was clear. He knew exactly how dangerous the energy vampire was. And it scared him to death, even if he was trying to hide it a little. Even as Nos-4-A2 discussed past encounters and threats of how he'd intended once intended to drain XR twice in a row and leaning over him, the smaller robot kept talking.
"Draining you twice just isn't enough," said Nos-4-A2 finally. "No, my Little One, your pain will not end that quickly. And luckily for you, I've been practicing. Why do you think my lairs always have those powerless robots stashed around? I needed to keep them somewhere I wouldn't be interrupted. I once kept a robot from permanently going offline for about two days by being careful." Tilting his head thoughtfully, he said, "I wonder how long you'll last."
At that point, there was the sound of drilling fangs. And mere seconds later, the most pained and terrified screams rang out.
"Turn it off," said Nebula. Then, in a louder and tight voice, he said, "Someone turn it off now."
Ty fumbled for the remote, managing to hit the right button before they had to listen to any more of the tortured screaming. He felt himself shudder slightly at what he seen, what had happened days ago. There was nothing he could say in that moment.
Mira looked sick. Buzz looked angry. Booster was crying and hugging the shivering XL. And Nebula…
Nebula looked pale, shaken, and completely furious. His hands were in fists and he was staring at the floor.
After several moments of silence, Nebula said slowly, "I don't care how you do it. I don't care what it takes. XR will be found and Nos-4-A2 will pay for his actions."
Anyone who wishes to put a stake through Nos-4-A2's servo pump is welcome to form an angry mob. He's definitely not a romantic-genre vampire. He's a horror-genre vampire and he lives up to that status.
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