Chapter 4:
Inside the factory, a small drone flies in and searches around the factory turned slaughterhouse. About two hours have passed since the roar of the Shadow Demon was heard all over Copper-9. Fear with a hint of hope hit the Worker Drones in Outpost 3 which led for Khan to risk it and go out to search for Uzi. Fortunately, he did not have to search long when Uzi was found making her way back but he knew she was left startled...
He brought her in to calm herself which lasted about 40 minutes before she slowly began to explain what happened, the fleet of Disassembly Drones that were hiding, the Shadow Demon returning and slaughtering them all, and N...
The screams of N haunted Uzi as she begged her father to search the factory for any hopes that N was still okay. Thus, the drone that was hovering inside and so far, it was all horror when the Worker Drones saw all the bodies of the Disassembly Drones, ripped, crushed, drained, you name it.
Khan: My God...
Makarov: The Shadow Demon returns after nearly a year...and with a hungry appetite. This wasn't just a provoked attack; it was a trap for them...
Uzi: Please tell me that you see any traces of N!
Makarov: It's...It's impossible Uzi. All those bodies on the ground plus their fluids scattered around. N could be there piled up or not even there. This is the best we can do but...at least we know those monsters are still out there and they have their own demon to fight.
Uzi: *looks down* This is all my fault...
Khan: Now Uzi-
Uzi: NO DAD! IT'S REALLY MY FAULT! I'm...I'm the reason N is probably dead...I became reckless, he tried to warn me and I didn't listen...*tears up* Now he's gone...
Before Khan could say anything else, Uzi ran off. He could only watch in pain to see his daughter this distraught all because of that boy. He only hoped for the miracle that N was still out there.
Khan: You better be alive and come back soon, boy.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
The chilly wind picked up and snow was beginning to fall once again. He felt the cold. But he also saw nothing else but darkness. All he could remember was his life nearly finished until it all faded black.
N: *gasps loudly* UZI!
N gasped for air as he tried to calm himself down and looked around to find that he wasn't in the factory...
Nor Outpost 3...
Nor his home...
He looked around to what it looked like a dark alleyway. He checked himself to see that he was alive and fully healed. Everything was still intact except for one thing...
The watch.
N: I...I did it again...*looks down in shame* I let it get control...
N closed his eyes filled with guilt, fear, and rage until he heard something right next to him.
?: N.
N slowly opened his eyes and looked up in horror to see what was right in front of him.
The Monster inside him...
Only its head was fully visible while it looked like the rest was black goo spewing from N's shoulder. N was terrified at the sight of the monster with its large white, jagged eyes and razor-sharp teeth.
It was finally time that the Symbiote and the Drone finally meet.
N: You...You!...What the hell are you?...
Venom: I am Venom...and You...are mine.
N: You're the monster that's been inside me...making my life a living hell...and making me eat hearts of Disassembly Drones!
Venom: Fuel in the tank. Listen closely, N; You did not find me. I find You. Think of yourself as my ride.
N: No...I have been trying to rid of you from my body. Every remedy to find the right cure...to rid of YOU!
Venom: Is that what you believe?
N: *eyes widened* W-What do you mean?...
Venom: Your stupid cures don't work on me. They only serve as boosts but they are nothing to rid of me from you.
N: *shakes my head and pants* N-No! You're LYING!
Venom: You succeeded in keeping me dormant but I still felt your experiments and they mean nothing of me. They're more like protein snacks.
N felt his entire mind shatter to a million pieces...
All of that knowledge and hard work trying to create the perfect cure...
For nothing...
Venom: However...You have begun to focus on the right subject. The Absolute Solver.
N: *looks up* Is that why we crashed here 3 Years Ago?
Venom: We did not crash here 3 years ago. You woke up 3 years ago.
N: *eyes widened in horror* N-No...H-How long...
Venom: We crashed on this planet 7 years ago. You were in a dormant state for 4 years while I hunted and gathered information I needed.
N thought he knew everything since crashing here and now he was wrong once again...
He was not one to be filled with so much anger but in these few minutes, this monster did the unthinkable. Activating one of his hands into a chainsaw, N tried to slice Venom but it only kept going through like nothing
N: GET OFF ME YOU PARASITE?!
Venom: PARASITE?!
One word triggered Venom as he launched N to the wall and kept him glued there. N struggled and even tried to open his wings but they were a part of Venom, holding the Drone.
Venom: One, Don't ever call me a PARASITE?! Two, you should thank me.
N: *struggles* Why would I ever thank you?...
Venom: I am the reason you survive on many different occasions: The escape from Earth, Crashing to Copper-9, all those incidents with your kind. I am also the reason all of your memories are back in your head.
N: You...have given me so many sleepless nights!...Why would I want any of this? I AM BETTER OFF DEAD!
Venom: You are only stronger if you know everything. You are not complete without me. All those years of trying to find cures and trying to live a life in this planet, I helped you. And in return, you give in to me when it comes to fighting other drones and eating out their hearts.
N could only look down as he gave up completely and Venom released him before disappearing from N's sight. The drone could only fall to his knees and just let all of that frustration and pain get to him...
Until he switched one of his hands for a gun, tried to aim it at his heart, and Fired!
But he did not feel anything go through him and looked down to see his other hand now Venom's hand, stopping the blast from killing N as he lifted his arm to look at how deadly yet large Venom's hand was.
N: *eyes widened* Uzi!
Spreading out his wings, N flies off from the cave and back to Outpost 3. He needed to see if the others especially Uzi were still okay. He also felt the need to apologize to her for the lashing out he gave to her.
Venom: You shouldn't focus on her or those other empty drones. You need to focus on the Absolute Solver.
N: I know what it is! But unlike you, I have those who care for me and I care for them. You! You are just a demon inside me. *sighs* The Absolute Solver had a host back on Earth and she went by the name of Cyn.
Venom: You know her?
N: I did...She...was practically my little sister...or so I thought...Anyways, she's the one behind the upgrading of Worker Drones to Disassembly Drones, the one responsible for the extinction of humanity and the destruction of Earth.
Venom: That's...impossible.
N: I thought you were the know-it-all monster.
Venom: Hmmm. Something isn't right.
N: Me.
Venom: You will not stop, will you? I. AM. A. PART. OF. YOU.
N: AND I DON'T CARE! YOU THINK I WANTED THIS? TO BE TORTURED SO MANY TIMES BY CYN AND BY YOU? YOU TWO ARE COMPLETELY THE SAME! MONSTERS! PARASITES!
Venom: You can try to kill yourself as many times as you like, find your so-called cures to rid of me, it will never happen. And I am not the puppet in this, you are.
N simply ignored Venom and continued to fly back to Outpost 3, no longer wanting to think about Venom, the Absolute Solver, anything.
He was tired...
He was done...
N wanted No More...
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
She was alone in her room. Curled up on her bed. Her mind still back at the factory incident with N, the Murder Drones, and the Shadow Demon. She couldn't get N off her mind and it made her sick...
She wished she could have done it better...
Or at least listened to him...
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Khan: UZI! Are you in there? You need to come down QUICK!
Uzi was close to ignoring her father's call but the way he spoke sounded urgent and that gave her a glimmer of hope. She got off her bed immediately and ran towards the door, following her father to the entrance of Outpost 3
Uzi: Is it actually him?
Khan: We are positive!
The two made it to the entrance as Khan's crew looked at him, waiting for the go ahead which he gives as the doors slowly opened up.
And standing on the other side of the door was a weak and tired N.
Uzi froze completely as her emotions ran wild through her mind to see N still alive and okay. The crew cheered on to see N alive as he slowly made his way in, greeted by handshakes and pats on the back.
Khan: N! Welcome back, my boy.
N: Thanks, Boss...
N looked ahead and saw a nervous Uzi who had a mixed reaction of seeing a ghost and seeing a longtime friend. Before N could say anything or wave at her, Uzi sped right to him and hugged him tightly. N could only look at her and saw the amount of pain, guilt, and fear she had on her shoulder from last night's incident. And he returned the hug to her which relaxed Uzi a bit.
Uzi: I'm okay, Uzi...I'm okay...
He was not okay entirely...
But for this moment, it was a rare time he thought he was okay.
A few minutes have passed as the Doormans brought N to their place. It was too snowy, windy, and dark for him to return to his place especially in his state.
N: *takes off my hat* I'm deeply sorry for intruding your place, Mr. Doorman.
Khan: Nonsense, N. Apologies if the place is a bit messy. A busy man and a reckless daughter never leave a house perfectly clean.
Uzi: REALLY DAD?!
Khan: Make yourself at home. I'll freshen up some drinks.
N sat down on the couch and looked around the place. Despite Outposts being the same structure, N noticed the Worker Drones make their places look different.
N: You got yourself a nice place, Uzi.
Uzi: Ehhh. My place is usually my room, this is more of my dad's thing. *Looks at him* How are you feeling?
Well, the fact that the monster inside him is also a living being by the name of Venom, all that hard work to find cures were for nothing, he is also struck with trauma of what happened in the past with Cyn, the extinction of Earth- Oh! And he can't forget that he's actually been in a coma for 4 years which meant he was stuck on this planet for 7 FREAKING YEARS!
N: I'll...be fine...
Uzi: Hey...Look...I'm not gonna...I won't sugarcoat this, okay! I'm...really sorry for what happened yesterday...
N: I-It's no biggie-
Uzi: No biggie?! N, I'm the reason you almost got killed! It was either your killer drones or that Shadow Demon. All because of a stupid piece for my former awesome railgun. I couldn't sleep at all last night...thinking about you...hoping you were okay...
N: Well...I'm here...alive *looks down* And I'm sorry...for lashing out to you...I just wanted to keep you safe and away from the danger. Couldn't...bear losing you.
Uzi: *blushes softly and gently punch his shoulder* E-eWWW! D-Don't blurt out stuff like that!
N: *rubs my shoulder and chuckles* S-Sorry.
A few minutes of awkward silence until Khan approached the two with drinks as the three sat in the living room with all eyes on N as he quietly took his drink. Khan and Uzi could tell by his movements and looking down that this boy was beyond 100%...
As for N, if only he could tell them the full truth...
Khan: N, what exactly happened last night with my daughter?
Uzi: JUST LIKE THAT?!
Khan: AHEM! If you don't mind of course.
Uzi: DAD?!
N: N-No, it's fine Uzi. *breathes* Once the Disassembly Drones chased us into the factory. I showed Uzi a hidden exit which she could take and return here to you guys while I caused a distraction. While I was able to hold them off for a little bit, the more they appeared, the more I was being overwhelmed...
Uzi: But...I heard your scream...and...that's when I heard the monster...
N: A-Ah! T-That...yeah!...*looks down* I...screamed because they tore one of my wings off...it hurt like no other...and I really thought I was going to die... And I...
N felt himself stop as he couldn't have the courage to explain everything and his hands began to tremble which Uzi noticed then grabbed his hand as comfort. He slowly looked over at her as Uzi returned a comforting look which helped him a bit.
N: *breathes* Everything was fading black...until I heard firing...and screaming...Last thing I heard before I fell unconscious...was the roar of the Shadow Demon...
N couldn't tell them the full truth as scenarios came to his head, ones that he did not want to think about it. So, he told them the truth in a different perspective.
N: Next thing I know, I wake up...I was no longer in the factory...nor here...nor my home...but some kind of cave...
Uzi: *eyes widened* Y-You don't mean...
N: And when I gained full conscious, I looked over and I saw it...staring right back at me...the Shadow Demon...
Both father and daughter felt that heavy information crash past them and they could only look at each other in concern.
Khan: It...didn't follow you back...did it?
N: Surprisingly...No. It only stared at me...while it was eating the core of the Disassembly Drones. I slowly...and carefully made my way out as it continued watching me before I made my leave. I flew as fast as I could, trying to forget my encounter...and that's where I landed here...
N put his hands together which continued trembling, worrying Uzi and Khan about what N went through. What the kind Disassembly drone needed was rest and perhaps a day off tomorrow.
Khan: N, the best option I can give you from this is to get some sleep. I'll give you another day off and I'll also notify the teacher.
N only nodded as Uzi brought in a spare blanket for him as he quietly took it and wrapped himself in it.
Khan: Now, if you need anything at all, just feel free to knock on our doors okay?
N: T-Thank you...
Khan bid goodnight and parted to his room, leaving Uzi with N in the living room. Despite being wrapped in the blanket, Uzi could still see N trembling which was worrying her a lot. She understood that only he truly knows what he saw and went through.
Uzi: Hey...is there anything you wanna share or at least I can do to help?...
N: *breathes and holds myself* There are aspects...of my personality that I can't control...
Uzi: *pats him* I...figured...Being a Disassembly Drone, an outcast to them as well, and well...everything you've went through with us...
N: And when I lose control...it's very hard to be around me...
Uzi: Not for me, N. You are here. You are safe. You got us. But most importantly, you need rest.
N only nodded before hiding under the blanket again as Uzi didn't want to leave him but she knew that he needed rest. She entered her room but left the door open to keep a close eye on N.
N on the other hand, continued trembling and struggling to sleep as he felt and heard the whispers of the Symbiote.
Venom: You can't keep going like this, N. You will eventually give in.
N: *mumbles quietly* I...would rather suffer...then to be a monster...
Venom: You must become one. For what will come.
N didn't want to think about that or Venom or anything else...
He just wanted sleep...
And unfortunately, he won't get that peaceful sleep...for a very long time...
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Not far from reaching Copper-9, 3 more Disassembly Drones pods were flying towards the planet. All given direct orders by the "Boss" to eliminate Worker Drones and to eliminate the Shadow Demon.
All three pods were watching the recorded POVs of each Disassembly Drones that were killed by the Shadow Demon in the factory slaughter alongside the sighting of N.
J: Worker Drones, a Rogue of our own, and that monster. Boss better have some sort of pay raise for all this work.
V: I'm just hungry to eat those pesky drones.
J: Don't we all, V. I'd say it's about time they send the best of the best.
V had that grim look on her face ready to kill those Worker Drones but the moment J went back to work, V switched her expression from grim to concern as she saw the footage of N.
Her memories striking back to the moment the Shadow Demon was holding him hostage and used him against her. She wasn't going to let that happen again.
J: *approaches a sleeping Disassembly and pokes him* Yo, we're about to land! Thought you want to see this.
The Disassembly Drone that accompany V and J was woken up and stretched for a moment before landing down, looking at all the footage of what has occurred throughout each failed invasion on Copper-9.
J: This planet has two birds we kill with one stone. Serial Designation N and the monster that's been killing all our partners. Which one you wanna go for first?
C: Oh you don't know do you? *Looks at them and smirks* N and the Shadow Demon; They are one in the same
V: N is also that...Parasite?!
C: Sure is. After all, he's gonna pay for almost killing me. *Licks my lips*