Chapter 5:
Outside in the dark and snowy hours on Copper-9, it was all silence with the exception of the wind breezing through the city. One Worker Drone was outside, killing some time during break before heading back to work. It WAS all peaceful until he heard a loud boom not far from where he was and he decided to take a look at what it was.
Worker Drone: Can this planet for once just have a normal day without any non-ordinary stuff happening?!
As the Worker Drone approached a hill and looked over, he was beginning to take those words back when he saw not one...not two...three Disassembly Drones pods.
And he was on his own.
Worker Drones: *trembles* M-Maybe break time is over. B-Back to work...
The Worker Drone began to slowly move back to run his way back to Outpost 3 until he heard a giggle behind him...
He knew this was it and slowly turned around to meet a murderous drone face to face. All he saw was the X eyes and the sharp teeth.
Worker Drones: Y-You might regret-
The poor Worker Drone couldn't even finish his sentence as he ended up torn apart and eaten up by none other than Serial Designation V. Oil and body parts flying all over as she finished crushing the head and drinking the oil.
V: *giggles and wipes my mouth* Ahhh, now that was a delicious way to start this planet takeover. Yo! It's all cleared to come out. This is just a sad planet.
The pods opened up and multiple Disassembly Drones, about 12 of them, all flew out and landed around the area while Serial Designation J landed in front and right behind her was a Drone with only one intention in mind:
To kill N and the Symbiote that is within him...
And that would be Serial Designation C.
J: Riiiight. Boss gave us a bit of insight with this planet, its weak inhabitants, and the monster that's been living in the shadows and killing our comrades. Let's not also forget that we have a rogue Disassembly Drone around.
C: Don't need to repeat it to me, I'm already locked in. *flies off*
V: *giggles* He's a troublemaker alright!
J: *sighs* Let's just get this over with. That's been the only thing on his mind. And I'm just gonna say it, I'm surprised that twerp is still alive.
All of them spread out their wings and flew across the empty city. Copper-9 was about to become more dangerous.
The question was would it be more dangerous for the ones living on this planet or the Disassembly Drones...
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
He could hear the rain fall and lightning hitting every once in a while. He opened his eyes and he could see flashes of being in the mansion once again. He was in the library room to be exact.
THUD!
He heard it again and turned around to see the locked door to the basement. It was in the process of being opened up. Something down there continued to hit it, trying to break free from the basement.
THUD!
The Thud kept getting louder as more lightning flash the room and the haunting memories continue to crawl onto his mind...
N: S-Stop...Please...J-Just...Stop!
Each Thud. Each flash. The memories held N to the ground like he was pinned by an invisible force.
THUD!
Screaming was heard from above. It continued with blood dripping from the floor above to the ground until there was completely silence.
Until the roof began to rain down with blood, terrifying N even more as he tried to free himself but now saw that his entire body was wrapped by the black symbiote as N was being covered and drowned by blood.
N: HELP! *coughs* HELP!
It only got worse...
THUD!
N was still being pinned by the Symbiote while the floor of the library room was filling up with blood rapidly. Until human hands emerged from the blood river and began to surround N, slowly dragging him beneath and drowning him.
He couldn't move at all and could muffle his screams.
Everything faded to black...
N: AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!
N immediately sat up, his hands trembling rapidly and his eyes widened like he has met death. He tried to put his hands together but failed as the trembling got worse. He gasped for air as everything around him was still blurry but could hear something from afar...
Uzi: N!
He heard her. He heard Uzi and tried to look for her in his blurry vision.
Uzi: N! WAKE UP!
Uzi immediately grabbed both N's hands and held them tight. She felt his trembling and it horrified her at how much mental damage N has been having. He still gasped for air and she needed to calm him down.
Uzi: Shhh. Shhh. Shhh. Hey, I'm right here. It's okay, N. Feel my hands and follow my voice.
She could tell that despite his eyes looking normal from her view, his view must be very bad at the moment. She didn't let go of his hands and it was beginning to calm him down. The trembling was slowing down as well as N begun to finally breathe normally before collapsing completely on Uzi's shoulder.
Uzi has seen anime and read comics where romance would be included and in these sorts of scenes, she would watch with disgust or scratch them out in the comics. But it wasn't the case for this one time. It wasn't a romantic tension rising but rather a way to help someone she cared for and pained her to see N in this state.
A couple more minutes have passed as Uzi slowly laid N back down, falling back asleep from the nightmare he had endured. Fortunately for both of them, N was able to sleep this time without any nightmares and Uzi hoped it stayed this way.
Uzi: *approaches Khan* I'm...worried about him, Dad. I have never seen him like this and the breakdown he had earlier was just...
Khan: That poor boy...makes me wonder what exactly happened back on Earth with those humans and if N was an unfortunate experiment rather than a Worker Drone upgrade.
Uzi: Do you think...he lied...about being an upgrade?
Khan: *sighs* Only he knows...and only he will tell everything.
The two looked back at the sleeping N who was now resting and no longer trembling nor having trouble to breathe. Uzi wondered what sick things they did to someone as kind and caring like him.
She'll find out soon enough...
(2 Hours Later)
Feeling himself moving, N began to slowly open his eyes and wake up. He sat up slowly and looked around to see the Doorman's residence empty. He had a feeling Uzi went to school while Khan went to work. Fortunately for N, there was no nightmare this time, no horrific past memory, not even a word from Venom, just peaceful sleep.
N looked over at the table and saw a note on it as he picked it up and read it from Uzi which brought a small smile on his face that she's been really caring for him and a good friend.
N: "Dear N, I hope you were able to get some much better sleep. Earlier, you had a really bad breakdown and it worried us. If you need to reach out or need someone to listen, we're here for you. Dad and I have to go off and do our boring, useless tasks but we'll be back later. Dad left a spare card in case you want to go out and walk around. See ya later, dork. -Uzi" *smiles* Thanks Uzi.
Venom: You are broken.
N: *sighs and closes my eyes* Not real. Not real. Not real.
Venom: *appears on his shoulders* I AM REAL! *growls*
N: *looks at him deadpanned* How much more do you need to torture me?...Is what I have NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU?!
Venom: *growls more* You are beyond repairable. Your trauma did not start with me. But I am making sure you are reminded.
N: All I have been to you is an experiment! A puppet!
Venom: I am your actions, N. All you do is speak but never act. That is where I come in. You are the speaking and I am the action. Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Or Frankenstein and his Monster. Surely, you must've read those back when you were like these...inferiors.
N: THEY ARE NOT INFERIORS! They...are good people...They are my friends...
Venom: Are they truly? You created a lie that only kept you safe for a while until more of your kind arrived! Most still saw you different but a few...were beginning to doubt if anything you have said is true. They don't even know about us!
N: There is no Us!
Venom: Imagine their reactions to finding out that you have been the Shadow Demon all this time. The monster that hides in the shadows of this planet, hunting down Disassembly Drones, and we have been here with them all this time.
N: *trembles and breathes* You...need to stop...
Venom: Or what exactly? You lose control and guess who takes over? Are you willing to risk that here?
N hated that this monster was right in that statement and tried to relax himself again before falling on the couch again and burying his head on his arms. N did not know what to do anymore...
There was no cure to rid him of Venom. He had been in a coma for a much longer time. His trauma are causing severe breakdowns...
Venom was right...He is Broken...
Venom: Always remember, N. You are the speaker. I...am the action.
Venom disappeared once again and leaving N on his own. Even finishing himself off was no good because Venom would act immediately.
N was just numb in the mind...
Until something peeked in the corner of his eyes and got his full attention. N got up and slowly walked to a small room that was near Khan's room. And at the door was a paper written with "Nori's Kooky Insane Stuff"
That happened to get the attention of Venom as well and appeared on N's shoulder again.
Venom: Nori...Impossible...
N: W-Wait, you know her?! You know Uzi's Mom?
Venom: Temporarily but Yes. *growls* A story...for next time.
N: Why not now?
Venom: Behind that door could be the key...to the Absolute Solver.
N: *eyes widened* Cyn...
N looked over at the button but looked back at first to make sure no one was still around and there weren't any cameras. Once he was in the clear, he pushed the button and the door opened up.
N: My God...
There were drawings and written articles everywhere created by Nori regarding the Absolute Solver. The drawings bothered N the most with the Absolute Solver and the Disassembly Drones or as she wrote their names on the paper, Sky Demons. It was then followed by drawings of the Shadow Demon which was Venom in both the black suit he disguised N then his full form as N finally got a full look at the true form of the Symbiote in him.
N: This is you...
Venom: This...is Us...
N: *shakes my head* No. This is just you. I am simply your puppet...*scoffs* Your white symbol definitely fits better in your back then in my front.
Venom: You were unconscious and I used your body as my own. I did not believe I could transform into my full self because you are a drone and not human. Until one of the latest attacks with your kind proved me wrong.
N: Here we go. The Absolute Solver. *Scatters them on the table*
Unknowingly to both the Symbiote and the Drone, they both began to read all of the notes written by Nori regarding the A.I. Virus. N was taken back by all of this heavy information while Venom was getting everything he needed.
N: Cyn...all this time...she was infected by this virus...which explained why she acted how she did. It was never her...
Venom: And now, she continues to rip through planets. Look here, it would seem the scientists of this planet tried to create their own Absolute Solver to fight back against Cyn.
N: Yet, they were only beginning to understand it before Cyn found a way to get to here in...*eyes widened* Nori's body?!
Venom: Yes, but it was her good friend Yeva who saved her and found a way to break the virus in her and Nori. They remained with it but no longer in the possession of Cyn.
N: *looks around* Here! A Crucifix Patch. A USB drive in the shape of a crucifix patch used to exorcise the Absolute Solver's influence out of a host permanently. If my theory is possible, Yeva had to be the first to be tested with the Absolute Solver and when the Patch was used on her, she was cleared from Cyn's possession while still keeping the powers of the Solver.
Venom: Why only Yeva? Nori knows this information but you did not include her.
N: We don't know anything yet about Yeva which is why I said it's a theory. Because if it worked on Nori...it didn't fully work.
The two looked at all the drawings and more writings Nori left but they were smudged, torn to pieces, or unable to even read it. But one thing is for sure, the Symbiote and Drone duo are now a step ahead of learning about the Absolute Solver without either of them knowing.
N: *sighs and puts them away* Okay, you were the one obsessed with this since I was too busy on trying to rid of you. We need to find more information about the Absolute Solver and bring it back to my place. Files, Writings, Books, anything. We find them, take it with us, and begin our investigation. I'll try to reach out to Rebel Heart if they know anything as well about this.
Venom: Hmmmmm. You seem to explain this as a deal. What do you want in return?
N: When all of this is over...Cyn...the Absolute Solver...when it's all gone and done with...I want you out of my body! Never again with you. Find a different host and leave me alone. Deal?
Venom: Hmmmmm...Very well. We have a deal.
N: Good. Let's get to work.
Exiting out of the Doorman's place, N looked around and walked his way to the school section of the Outpost. His first instinct would be the computer lab. He just hoped no one would be there.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Near the main door to the entrance of Outpost 3, Khan's crew were playing another game of poker and the best part was a new batch of cards. Outside, a Worker Drone was approaching and waved at the camera, hoping the crew would spot him.
Braxton: *Chuckles* I am out, boys.
Todd: Oh, gosh darn it.
Andy: Wait until my loving wife and kids hear about this. Huh? *Looks at the camera* Guys...y-you might...wanna see this...
The other three looked in confusion before heading towards Andy's direction and saw the camera, their eyes widening at who was in front. It was led by cheers.
Crew: EDDIE!
Braxton: He finally made it back from his trip!
Andy: I wonder what cool souvenirs he brought us.
Makarov: Open up! I'll set out a new stack for us to play and call over Khan.
Andy proceeds to authorize the doors to open as they all happily waited for Eddie and saw him waving in which they waved back at him...
Until their smiles dropped and their eyes widened in horror...
It was indeed Eddie...waist up only before his head was crushed by C.
C: Hello gentlemen. I'm afraid this game of Poker has ended.
C used his tail to fry the door system across Outpost 3 as Khan's Crew made a run for it; Only to be slaughtered in a matter of seconds by the rest of the Disassembly Drones.
J: Smart plan, C. All doors are now in the open and we can finish this job easily.
V: I can't wait to eat up these losers.
C: Just one thing to make clear, J. When we find N...leave him to me.
J: Ooooookay? *shrugs* Whatever.
Khan: Pretty nice hydraulics, huh? *Looks up and gasps in horror*
Khan looked ahead of him and saw a swarm of Murder Drones with his crew killed and eaten up by these monsters. All of them had X on their eyes and their sharp teeth ready for more. Grabbing his emergency control, Khan pressed it as the door in front of him closes shut and the emergency goes off.
J: Crap! Now everyone is gonna start running off.
V: *thinks* Hmm. These ventilation shafts can easily get us around this last door. Lowest body count eats a missile!
V laughed as she leaped into the vents followed by the rest of the Disassembly Drones with C being the last one left.
C: I'm coming for you...and the monster, N. *flies up*
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Approaching the school section, N walked around calmly as he was looking for the computer lab room. A few of the students happily greeted him which meant a lot to him and brought a smile to his face.
Venom: How far to the computer room?
N: Two doors more, just hope no one isn't there.
Venom: N, listen closely. I'm sensing something and it's not good.
N: What do you-
Uzi: N?
N: *turns around* U-Uzi! UZI! H-Hi. Wassup?
Uzi: W-What are you doing here? You should still be resting in our place!
N: Yeah...I thought getting some fresh air and walking around the Outpost would clear my mind.
Venom: N! We don't have time for this!
Uzi: Oh...okay. Good! H-How are you feeling?
N: *breathes* I think...for once...I can confidently say that I'm not okay...
Uzi: Hey, that's okay. It's better to actually say it than sugarcoat it. Look, Dad and I were talking...and we were hoping that maybe we could help you out. We could give you the opportunity to speak out what you're feeling and we'll listen.
Venom: N!
N: Wow...Uzi...Thanks. That...really means a lot to me.
Uzi: *scoffs and punches his shoulder lightly* Don't get all mushy right there, idiot! *Smiles and takes off his hat*
N: W-What are you doing?...
Uzi: Fixing you up. *Puts his hat back* There.
The two friends smiled as they were both about to go their separate ways-
EMERGENCY! MURDER DRONES HAVE ENTERED THE BUILDING! HEAD TO THE EVACUATION CENTER!
The rooms turned red and the siren as loud as students all ran out of the rooms, scrambling like a lost herd towards the evacuation center. Both N and Uzi looked at each other in shock from the announcement of the Disassembly Drones entering the Outpost.
N: They're here. Uzi, look at me!
Uzi: NO! We are not doing this-
N: You have to go far away from me as you can! Don't Argue! GO!
Uzi: N!
Thad: UZI! *Hands her railgun* WE GOTTA GO NOW!
Uzi grabbed her weapon and looked back to see N gone from sight which frustrated her as she followed Thad to the evacuation center while plotting a plan to put an end to these killers.
On the other side, N continued running through the hallways. He activated his x-ray visions to see multiple Disassembly Drones in the vents, heading right down towards the evacuation center where everyone else is going.
Venom: Now?
N: NO! I'll do this myself and I'll prove it to you.
N switched his hand for a laser beam and aimed the target at one of them crawling and fired.
The laser beam struck and sliced one of the Disassembly in half which caught the attention of the others especially C. N launched a flare afterwards in that same hole as a few were able to get a clear sight of him.
N: OVER HERE! *Runs off*
V: N...
C: HE'S MINE! *Flies off*
J: C, WAIT- Ugh! You three follow him! The rest keep going!
Three other drones follow C as they crawl out of the hole created by N and search for him. C activates his x ray visions and spots the footsteps created by N.
C: Target on pursuit!
N continues running through the outpost and shooting up in the air to continue getting the attention of the Murder Drones.
Venom: Impossible. How is HE alive?
N: Who?
As N questioned that, a laser beam nearly hit him which caused him to tumble and fall on the ground. He looked up and saw C, alive and repaired going right at him. Using his wings, N flies off through the outpost while observing the evacuation center to see everyone there but the rest of the swarm were still approaching.
N: Shit!
Venom: Now?
N: NO!
Searching for an open route towards the evacuation center, N found one and flew right into the vents just as C and the other three Drones arrived but no sight of the rogue drone.
C: DAMNIT! KEEP LOOKING!
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
At the evacuation center, everyone made it through safely while Uzi activated her railgun and aimed it towards the entrance in case they were not able to close on time.
Uzi: DAD! CLOSE IT!
Khan: I'M TRYING! THE SYSTEM IS FRIED!
Thad: THEY'RE HERE!
Uzi looked back and saw J and V making their way in with both having a half of the same Worker Drone and finishing them up.
Uzi: STAND BACK! I'M ARMED AND YOU DON'T WANT THIS!
Thad: *grabs a metal pipe* You don't wanna mess with us!
V: *giggles* You and what army?
Both Uzi and Thad look back to see the others cowering away and looking for hiding spots. They looked back as the entire swarm of Disassembly Drones have arrived and surrounded the Worker Drones.
Thad: Are you kidding me? You're the WDF, right? DEFEND!
No response back from anyone which struck Thad before being struck physically by V and pinned to the ground.
Uzi: THAD! *Aims at V* AUGH-
Uzi got her railgun kicked away before being impaled to a container wall.
It was becoming Game Over for everyone...
J: Shouldn't mess with things that aren't yours!
Uzi: *coughs out oil and grunts* Bite Me!
J: *smirks* With pleasure.
C: J! *Enters the area*
J: Did you find him?
C smirked and only pointed to the very top of the evacuation center which looked to be a large office room. Through the vent, N comes crashing down and looking around until he looks down and sees the swarm surrounding his friends.
Uzi: *eyes widened* N!
J: There's the rogue drone. Is he surrounded?
C: Indeed.
N was about to blast the window until he heard crawling noises from above with the three Disassembly Drones landing and surrounding him. N switched for a smoke can blaster and shot two across the room to fill up with smoke while looking for an alternative.
He had none...except for one.
N: *sighs in defeat* Time for action.
Uzi watched in horror and kicked J, releasing her blade from Uzi as she ran forward to try and find a way to save N. She spotted the railgun ahead and ran as fast as she could.
J: STOP HER!
The room was covered entirely in smoke as N saw the three drones getting closer to him then looked at the window to see Uzi running forward-
Until V lands on top of her with her sharp claws on Uzi's head. N approaches the window aggressively, giving Uzi and his friends one last look at himself before it happens.
Uzi: *screams* N!
The smoke covered the entire office just as the three Disassembly jumped N, followed by a scream that left the entire place silenced.
Everything went silent and it was now feast time for the Murder Drones...
SLAM!
A loud slam caught everyone's attention and all froze when they saw a large, dark monstrous claw with a Disassembly head before disappearing again into the smoke.
A few gunshots were heard before everything went quiet while a large shadow emerged from the smoke and broke the entire glass from the office, startling everyone.
And they all saw it...
C: *grins* Hello, Beasty.
The large monster lunged from the office and landed right on the ground in front of everyone. Their eyes widened in a mix of shock and horror as the monster rose up slowly, standing at near 7 feet, bulk figure with sharp claws, its white, jagged eyes, and sharp teeth.
N was the Shadow Demon...
Uzi: *speechless* N...
And the Shadow Demon, now known as Venom was standing right in front of them.
Venom: ROOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!