Chapter Text
The room was freezing cold in this January winter…
…Or, well, it was mostly the newly created Queen of Spades who was half naked and shivering. Afraid, and unknowing of what to do, the android cried and wailed in metallic clicks and tunes, in hopes that somebody would hear her. But…nobody came. However, her cries continued, and continued…and continued…for hours on end. The time seemed to never pass, the cold, agonizing. Queen curled up tightly, in an attempt to warm herself up with her own body, but to no avail. Her circuits slowed and her mind fogged…and she went in hibernation.
“It seems that, now that we’ve programmed it with a special, ‘miraculous’ kernel, it is capable of doing things other machines cannot do. Something known as the ‘Internet’ appeared yesterday on the Light World computers, it seems directly tied to Serial Number Q5U4EX7YY2EN9’s simple existence, and it appears to be an advanced version of the still roughened ARPANET. It wasn’t intended to be this way…What did the programmers put in its database?”
One of the many skilled Lightner technicians clicked their pen continuously.
“They did voice that they wanted to make it ‘special’…Was this greatness needed, though? It’s just a Comfort Android.” Another replied. “Its OS was programmed with Nim, at least that’s what I heard.” They added.
“Y’know what they say…humans always enjoy idealizing the creation of artificial souls and life. It was, programmed by humans after all. They all have awakened SOULs, so their emotions are stronger when used into creations and combat.”
“Is it even gonna be considered a queen?”
“That’s the king’s decision, not ours to make.”
The kingdom was awfully silent. Well, it was always silent, but today more than other days. Rouxls Kaard, the newly appointed Duke of Puzzles, was good at everything except puzzles. Fair enough, he had to start somewhere, so King decided to let him take care of the castle while also practicing on his puzzles. He worked hard for the kingdom’s progress, and so far everything seemed to go pretty well! He could negotiate with Lightners just fine, they seemed to like him even. He did hear of a “Rouxls Kaard Fan Club” somewhere ‘round…He took a lot of pride in his work and persona, it was only natural that Lightners would like him, right?
Today, he had nothing to do…However, word around the grapevine is that the robot Lightners were making was finally complete. All he heard was that it was a simple robot. In reality, Rouxls didn’t even quite understand what a “robot”, was. He should go check it out later…
Actually, he should go now. He saw some of the Lightner technicians walk by, so he decided to silently follow them. He wasn’t supposed to, Darkners weren’t allowed in that section of Card Castle…for now, at least. But…aren’t things more exciting, when you don’t have permission?
Suddenly, one of the Lightners turned around, and Rouxls hid behind a wall.
“…waite, I’m a shapeshifter.” He mumbled. He peeked out, looking around. How could he do this?
He spotted a sign near a door.
“Fi…t…uh…” He got out of his hiding spot to look at the sign better. “Fitting room…”
He looked left and right, spotting a Lightner who was just about to turn around, so he barged into the room, closing the door and locking it with the key that was left in its hole. Okay, he was safe now.
“Let’s seeth if I can still do thise…” Slowly, Rouxls’ body decreased in size, now being an average Lightner monster height. He grew a pair of small horns and a long tail, his slimy skin hardening and going from smooth to scaly. He was going for a sort of lizard-like appereance. Now that he changed in form, he searched through the closets for the suits the Lightners wore, and found one which was…fitting, somewhat. Looked a bit tight on the waist. No matter, though. Rouxls stripped himself of his royal suit, and donned the technician suit on, topping it off with a candid labcoat. He hid his royal suit at the best of his abilities, and went out of the room, closing the door behind him. This should work.
“And you are?” A Lightner asked, who was right outside the room. Rouxls yelped.
“U-Uh…I amst!—“ He couldn’t use his accent. God damn it.
“I’m uh…Rhys!” He dissected his actual name a little, and came up with this…name. Jeez…
“You sound like that Duke of Puzzles…” The human pointed out. Oh no.
“Uh, yeah heh! People tell me that a lot…h-heh. B-But I’m here to work, yknow, on that…robot. So I can’t stay here to talk that much.” Rouxls was sweating profusely, hoping this Lightner wouldn’t notice.
“The robot you speak of was completed just today. Who sent you?”
“King sent me!” Rouxls spurted out.
“Oh really? I don’t recall a Rhys being in the academy.”
There was an ACADEMY??
“I’m f-from another academy! Y-You wouldn’t question the King’s choices would you??” Rouxls started going on the defensive side.
“No, I wouldn’t. May I ask you what the Serial Number of the robot you will work on is?” Oh, this worm was just trying to blow Rouxls’ cover now.
“Brooke!” Another Lightner called. “Go back to your work and stop botherin’ the newcomer!”
“Y-You heard ‘em! Go, I need to work too!” And Rouxls finally scurried away. Jeez…
Now to find the robot all the kingdom is talking about…
Should he ask…? He did say he’s a newcomer after all.
“U-Um, excuse me?” He stopped near a Lightner. “Where’s the robot that needs to be worked on? I need to run a few tests…” He tried to sound as professional as possible, and the Lightners seemed to fall for it. Good.
“It’s in the third room on your right. Good luck.”
…’Good luck’?
Was this robot aggressive?
No matter, he had to see it. Making his way to the third door on the right…he twisted the handle open, and went inside.
A completely white room, with just a hospital bed.
On it, a tall woman in azure and white, stripped of any clothing except for a bra and undies. She didn’t move an inch, and was clammed up tightly.
Rouxls didn’t know what to do.
“um…hello?” He called. Nothing. He walked towards the bed, touching the robot. It was freezing cold.
“…hmm…” Rouxls looked around the room for any documents on this machine, and found some attached on the wall. They were some rules for the robot’s correct functioning. One of them specifically caught his eye.
‘Please provide Serial Number Q5U4EX7YY2E9N with warmth, food and battery acid until it’s relased to be autonomous.’
Well, he saw none of that in this room! Quickly, Rouxls went out of the room, now looking in each room for something warm. He spotted a blanket on the bed of an empty room, pulling it out and darting back in the other room. He spread the blanket out on the bed, now rolling the machine inside of it and securing it closed with a few pins he pulled out of the bed, which kept the bed cover on. Now all he had to do was get it something to eat.
Getting out of the room a second time, Rouxls now thought of where to get some food.
In the silence of the hallway, he heard two Lightners speak.
“I’m going to the Cafeteria, it’s been a long day of working on that thing…”
“Yeah, me too dude.”
Right! The Cafeteria! Rouxls smiled, and checked his pockets.
…Shit! He left his money in his suit!
Speaking of, how the hell would he get it back now?? Ah, what a fine mess he was in. All because of his curiosity.
Queen opened her eyes. She was wrapped in something soft and warm, at least her body was going to stabilize now…
She couldn’t really move, but well, better than freezing to death. Curling up a bit more, she remained snug in the rolled blanket, sneezing a few times because of the freezing cold temperature of her body. Her throat hurt like hell, too…
Suddenly, she heard the door open, squirming until the pins snapped off of the blanket and she was relased from her warm prison. She looked at who came in…and cocked her head at the strange Lightner.
“Hi there…” Rouxls smiled, holding a warm croissant with a tissue wrapped around it, and an expensive-looking suit under his arm. “I got you something to eat…” He gave Queen the croissant, and after a small while of staring at it, she meekly gripped it, looking at it, and then back at Rouxls.
“Do you mind if I dress back up here?” He asked. Queen shook her head.
While Rouxls changed and reverted back to his original form, Queen kept looking at the warm grub in her hands. Rouxls took notice of so, and he sat down next to her.
“Aren’t you hungry?” He asked, and she nodded. “Well, then eat that before it gets cold, it’s yours!”
Queen looked back at him, and then took a bite out of the croissant. The LEDs at the side of her head blinked white all the while she ate. Rouxls didn’t know what that exactly meant, but he saw Queen’s face turn from a blank, saddened look to a sweet smile. She leaned into his side, and he complied by caressing her head. He now was the first person to ever give Queen a gesture of affection.
Rouxls lifted his hand away from her head, but Queen grabbed it back and placed it again on her head. She wanted more of his affection, she found it comforting…
Rouxls didn’t know how much time he could stay before a Lightner entered and blew his cover, but he was okay with a scold and being kicked out. He’d do this again anyway, now that he found out of how sweet this robot was.
“…What Is: Your Name?” Queen asked. Rouxls was caught off guard by how gentle her voice is.
“…I’m Royce, but, please call me Rouxls. Rouxls Kaard.” He replied. “What’s yours?”
“I’m Queen, But You Can Also Call Me Katarzyna (Optional)…Can We Be Friends?” She asked, looking up at him.
“…Of course we can be friends.” He replied while he kept caressing her head.
…
“Thank You…”