Chapter 8:
She held a book in her hands, hoping that N was going to love it. There's only one problem, it's a giant mansion and V did not know where N was. She didn't mind the long walk as reading the book about astrology would entertain the both of them.
TRIP! SHATTER!
Before V could even realize, she stumbles and falls to the ground a bit hard. Her glasses fall off and all she could hear were them shattering which pained her. She then heard a small chuckle and could only see a bit clearly while the Worker Drone picked up the book she had.
This would end up being Serial Designation C.
C: Pfft. What is this? A book for dweebs like you and your boyfriend?
V only looked down in sadness, not having the courage she wished to speak against him. C just like J have always their share of trouble across the mansion but there was one difference: J did it to keep the place tight while C did it for fun.
C: What's wrong, V? *stutters* C-Can't speak up? Or you just can't see-
PUNCH!
V was startled hearing a loud clash between metal. She heard something drop before hearing the voice of her best friend who was now there with her.
N: Why don't you pick on someone who's willing to break out of his shell and fight back?
C: *grunts* N...always coming to the rescue of your damsel in distress.
N: Leave now, C. Either I'll report to Tessa or I'll handle you myself.
C only looked at N with disgust and annoyance before slowly getting up, fixing himself, and walking away. N made sure C was gone from sight as he helped out V and picked up her broken glasses and book.
N: You okay, V?
V: *nods* T-Thank you...and I'm sorry...
N: Don't ever apologize, V. It's always C making the trouble and I just hate it when he picks on you. Next time won't be good for him. *Looks at the book and gasps* Astrology! You actually found it!
V: T-Tessa helped me out. It was actually in her parents library shelf.
N: *looks at her and holds her hand* I'll see if Tessa can fix them up. In the meantime, let's go sit down and I'll read us the book together, okay?
V: *blushes softly and nods* Thank you, N. I'd love that.
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She didn't want to admit it nor display in front of him and that purple munchkin...but it hurt V so badly to see N and the state he was in now. Gone was that cheering, kind boy and instead stood a broken man with a demonic parasite latched onto him. Ever since the day that he left planet Earth, she wondered if he was still out there or if he would ever come back. It hurt her every single day thinking about him and the possibility that he was dead.
Seeing him alive...but completely different and broken did not make it any better...
He was the reason all of the other Disassembles were slaughtered and never came back. He was the reason fear actually plagued the drones because of they thought was some sort of unknown demon they have never seen before...
V only continued flying out into the sky, needing a place to stay, and hungry for some Drones.
Until...
WHIP! SLASH!
She couldn't see it on time but V saw something come right at her and send her crashing to the ground. She got back up immediately and scanned what struck her until she heard a growl coming from the dark woods, causing her to activate blades from both hands.
V: N?...I-I thought you were setting me free...W-Was it some lie just to kill me out in the open?! *grunts* No matter! You're dead to me as well!
She readied herself to face off against the monster that N hid but the slow realization came to her that this isn't N...
This was something else...
She released her wings and moved out of the way Fast! As multiple tentacles came out like a whip and slashed multiple trees where V was just standing moments ago. V looked at the tentacles and to her horror, it wasn't like Venom which were black...
These were red...
V: Don't tell me...
That's when she saw it! It came out of the woods in a flash and lunged right at V which she just moved once again and fired multiple missiles to kill it. It caused a massive explosion in the woods while V remained high in the air. She scanned the area to see if it died...
Until she saw it...shielding itself with a familiar logo on its hand...
V: The Absolute Solver...they have it!...
The Symbiote looked up at her and roared a high shriek as wings were slowly growing out from it. V knew she would be dead in seconds and instantly flew off while the Symbiote flew to the sky but couldn't see the Disassembly drone because of the snow storm.
Symbiote Doll: Она вернется. Мы будем наслаждаться ее смертью. (She'll come back. We will enjoy her death.)
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Uzi walked around the place and continued to inspect N's home which she admitted was jealous because he had it to himself. Then again, it bothered her because he had isolated himself because he was one of them and he had a parasite in him. She entered the lab room and saw all the recorded files N had written, some were about the Solver, some were about the garden, but she saw that most of them were involving Venom. Endless efforts to try and cure himself, erasing the creature but just like N, she was gutted to hear that Venom wasn't affected by any of the experiments and just consumed them.
N: Uzi?
Uzi: Coming! *Leaves the room*
Uzi approached to what looked to be the living room and the kitchen. A big room which was convenient to make two important places in one. N approached the table with two bowls and placed them down while Uzi sat down as well and noticed the bowl of batteries which were for her...
And a bowl of chocolate.
Uzi: N? Is...that-
N: Chocolate? Yeah. I know you're probably thinking how can a drone eat chocolate. Well, this is more for Venom but over the years I've grown to like it and enjoy it.
Uzi: But...don't you need like oil? That's what your other freaks seem to go after.
N: I do. However, I've found my own stash of oil from ruined vehicles that were left around Cooper-9. I have multiple containers. That's enough to cover me every year. And of course, like you guys, I do enjoy batteries.
Uzi: Still doesn't explain much about chocolate.
N: *eats some* Mm. From what I can remember, Venom requires a specific compound that helps with strength and energy. What was it again?
Venom: *appears on his shoulder* Phenethylamine. It is also on the brains of humans but with the extinction of them, chocolate is the only source that remains.
N: I was able to plant some Cocoa beans which is actually in a different room because it needs more space. With just between 20-50 cocoa beans inside the pod it grows from, it's enough to make about two chocolate bars a day. One whole chocolate bar is enough to satisfy Venom for the day.
Uzi: Annnd the core of your drones? The ones that look like literal hearts?
Venom: They serve perfectly as extra fuel and adrenaline for the body. Think of it as a drug that doesn't kill you but makes you faster and stronger.
Uzi: That's why every time you have attacked, you always go for their hearts.
Venom: Correct. Plus, I've realized when I faced these drones for the first time that eating their limbs does not kill them.
N: That part is a bit tricky; I'm still trying to get full research on that. The main start would be from Cyn and her use of the Solver. She recreated us with upgraded bodies and features. My theory is that her first try with us, we were destroyed completely. So, for the next step, she focused on a healing factor that would keep us going which I assume is the reason we have cores. Another possible addition to it would be the amount of oil consumed; I've drank oil from containers instead of killing your people so I would not know if it's different for me.
Uzi: I gotta admit, as boring and nerdy you speak sometimes, you got a strong mind N with quite an intelligence.
N: Yeah hehe. Most were from books I've read back on Earth, some were from experience, experiments, and...*sighs* knowledge from Venom.
Venom: I was the reason his mind was beginning to question the Absolute Solver.
Uzi: Which in my opinion, we should get back to that. What are we gonna do? Just wait for it to happen or experiment me or-
N: Waiting for it could be complicated because we don't know if it could activate now or even months. Experimenting would be dangerous if we don't have the right info about it and how it affects your body. Not even we know how Cyn works.
Uzi: Well then, what do we-
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
The three heard a beeping noise coming from the lab room as N made a run for it, believing it was Rebel Heart reaching back to him. He sent them a long explanation regarding what was happened with the incident on Outpost 3 with Venom, the Disassembly Drones, and Absolute Solver. When he logged in, he didn't see a response from his partner but rather...
N: Unknown message? *Opens it and reads it* Uzi...
Uzi: *walks in* What is it?
N: Trouble back at your place...
The email that was sent towards N had an eerie message:
"Yo Uzi. N ! It's Thad! I'm sending you this message to meetup with me outside of Outpost 3. Something feels off back here especially where you and that monster took down the killer drones. Reach out to me when you can and let me know when you're on your way!" -Thad
N: Something tells we missed something during your battle and Venom's.
Uzi: Sooooo we are heading back?
N: Yes, because if we don't or we delay this, who knows what'll happen over there. *Sighs and closes my eyes* Venom...you'll take over. You are faster than me when it comes to flying due to your massive size and the wings expansion. Can you get Uzi there with safety as well?
Venom: I accept your terms.
N: Then let's go! And Uzi...this might give us a lead on the Solver as well.
Uzi thought about it then nodded in agreement as the two drones approached the exit of N's home but as the doors opened, they both gasped at the sight in front of them.
A slightly damaged and exhausted V...
V: N...*collapses*
N: V! *Catches her* W-What happened?!
V: *weakly* A-Another...D-Demon...like you...
N and Uzi's eyes widened in horror as V powered down from exhaustion. N looked right at Venom who also had a shocked expression by V's statement. There was another Symbiote on Copper-9.
Uzi: Now we need to get back home, Now!
N placed V down by the couch and slowly watched as her parts were healing up. The anger was boiling in him once again and the darkness was consuming him. He put in his security code to lock the entrance of his home before taking a deep breath and standing a bit back while Uzi moved back as well.
N brought out his wings as his slowly breathing become aggravated and picked up...
His hands twitching and trembling...
His huffing and puffing turning into growling...
His eyes and mouth slowly being replaced by the white, jagged eyes and monstrous mouth...
As the black goo spewed out from both his back and his chest, his body slowly disappearing into the symbiote as he grew bigger, bulkier, monster like. His droid arms replaced with monster-like arms, his wings now twice the original size and looking like archangel wings. They grew double the size with N being around 5'5 and this behemoth looking to be 10'5...
Gone in the darkness was N and out from the shadows...was Venom.
And a new added feature displayed on his chest of what looked like a white spider merged onto its chest as Venom growled, feeling the freedom then looked over at Uzi.
Uzi: Holy...fucking...shit...
Venom: *reaches my hand out* Hold on tight.
Uzi hesitated at first because Venom's display and aura was just...GOD INTIMIDATING!... But she trusted him because inside the behemoth was the kind soul that was N. She grabbed Venom's hand which he brought her close and disappeared in seconds as they were now in the sky and flying back to Outpost 3.
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Inside Outpost 3 by the emergency shelter area, the cleanup crew were about finished in cleaning up the slaughter that was left at the hands of Venom. They were ready to head off until one of them stepped in a puddle of oil and looked to see the corpse of J.
Frank: Looks like we missed one for the burning.
Tim: Eh, just fix'er up 'cause- whoops. Pretty big security risk in hindsight. Eh, you got this...uhhhh... "LadderBot 5000"?
Frank: *sighs* Please, just leave the light-
As if they just continued to straight up ignore him, the lights off which was unnecessary considering he had to burn the body. Either way, he got to work and turned on his flashlight...
Only to see J's corpse gone.
He looked around, starting to feel a bit terrified by this until he heard something that sounded like flesh. He didn't dare to get close but tried to direct the flashlight where it was and spotted J's corpse...with something from the inside moving. The core activates an alarm as everything brightens up with multiple scans of the Absolute Solver being stamped onto the walls and containers.
Frank had enough and made a run for it, only to be met with a sharp impale through his chest then dragged back to where J was as all that could be heard were the noises of crunching and screaming.
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And unfortunately, no one could hear him scream with the others working across the outpost and a few others...at a parent-teacher conference meeting. Khan happened to be there as well but his thoughts were still on wondering when Uzi would return.
Teacher: Mr. Doorman, your daughter has been absent.
Khan: Yes, on that, "kill all killer drones" with her friend, N, like when I was younger, grounded herself and all that.
Teacher: Speaking on her behavior-
Khan: Of course, of course. Precocious, popular, supernatural understanding of doors. Takes after her old man.
Teacher: Yeah, she has trouble fitting in. We think there might be something damaged with her programming. How is she at home?
Khan: Sorry? I mean she's a little herself, but damaged? I maybe haven't spent much time-
Teacher: Mmmmhm.
Khan was about to throw a fit until the doors slide open with one of Khan's crew member having a concern expression.
Unnamed Worker: Mr. Doorman, sir. There's been an incident.
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Outside by the entrance of Outpost 3, Thad looked around and waited for Uzi and N to make their return and while there's no sign of Murder Drones, his instincts were still on high alert. That was until he heard a boom in the sky followed by a massive crash to the ground near him. He got up and his eyes widened seeing the Shadow Demon now known as Venom standing right in front of him and MY ROBO-GOD! All Thad could think at the moment was the face-to-face size of the behemoth.
Uzi: *gets down from Venom's arms* Thad!
Thad: Zi! Are you alright? That looked quite...heavy.
Uzi: Wish I could say 100% but...that was the fastest flight I have ever been on. *Looks at Venom* You can come out, N.
Venom: Not yet. He will make his return when we enter. Did you already forget that there's another symbiote out here?
Uzi: Oh...right...
Thad: Hang on sec?! W-What do you mean another?
Uzi: *sighs* There's another monster like Venom out there. We don't know anything else other than it attacked another Disassembly and that it has a host like Venom with N.
Thad: Somehow, this planet just seems to get even more crazier by the day. By the way, I got your railgun. *Hands it to Uzi*
Uzi: *sighs in relief* Thanks, Thad.
Thad: The reason I told you guys to come urgently is because after the whole battle that went in the emergency shelter, I went to grab Uzi's railgun and noticed that J's corpse was gone. Next thing I know, it crawled away.
Uzi: *eyes widened* Creepy...
Venom: *growls* This will most likely do with the Solver. We must go in and investigate.
N: We gotta protect Uzi and Thad as well!
Venom: I know. *Looks at them* Let's go.
The three made their way back to the entrance of Outpost 3 as Venom reverted back to N while Uzi and Thad watched on in sheer shock by the transformation of a Drone to the Shadow Demon.
Uzi: You okay?
N: *Nods* I will once we figure out what's going on back there. And if luck is on our side, we might encounter the other Symbiote as well.
The three stood together as the doors opened up, thanks to Thad having a stolen access card which made Uzi feel proud. Just as the doors opened entirely and the trio made their way in. They were stopped by someone standing right in front of them, staring at them with a simple yet creepy smile.
Doll: Здравствуйте, N. (Hello, N.)