Chapter Text
As the sun sets and the dark colors take the skies. The family was at the dining table as Fern with Ivan's help passed out breakfast readying for a day of chores. The doorbell rang as Zenya stood. Placing the finished plates onto the side table she fluttered her wavy curled bangs into place again. "I'll get it. You all finish up" she said, giving a smile to her family and kids living the calm life she always wanted.
She opened the door cautiously but fully the moment she saw a murder drone with a periwinkle dress and double bun black hair before her. "Sher what a pleasant surprise right after sunset nevertheless. Would you like to join us? I have a bit of leftover from breakfast?" She offered a soft smile on her face and spoke volumes about how the day was going so far.
Smaller drone frowned slightly nervously "I'm sorry to just pop up without informing you. But something came up recently"
A smaller murder drone stood there at the door with a wide smile on her face. Zenya's brows lowered as the smile was strained and guilty with sweat drops on her visor. "What's got you all frazzled?"
Sher stood tall despite her being way shorter than Zenya's bigger and taller build. "Well, we need to inform you of something urgent" Floral leader and mother of the home brow arched as she crossed her arms and leaned on the doorway frame. Catching the 'we' part out loud and clear. Sher put her hands behind her back nervously "Well we 'Both' need help with" she took a big step to the side on the porch. Revealing Deek with his hands in his pockets.
Zenya took a deep breath calming herself as she looked at the dinner table just past the archway. The others looked at her for who was coming into their home. Her eyes locked with Ajax, and her eyes flickered to the company stepping aside as they came in with her welcoming hand.
Ajax's smile dropped as he took a step back with his hand out tapping on Geje's shoulder before leaving it protectively in front of her to take. ORayla was confused looking up to her uncle who was suddenly fully on guard so quickly. Geje looked beyond his hand and her eyes hollowed for a second before turning into a glare not showing him any fear. She stayed seated as her brother stood guard.
Zenya looked at Ajax not budging on his stance accepting his glare as Deek glared at the girl. Geje continued to eat, giving him side glares but not letting him ruin her morning. "Let's go into the ballroom, we'll talk in the conference room off to the side of it, Ivan with me, Fern love, could you get more oil tea ready for us four" she patted the back of Fern then gave her warm smile. Letting Ivan and Zenya pass through to the grand unused ballroom.
Ivan got the doors for three before himself as the old study still looked the same as it did before. The pictures and paintings were gone. Sher pulled up a chair on a big oval table. It had different star maps inside the custom that the family kept polished after returning home to its glory. Zenya pulled up the mother's office main chair. Sat with Ivan pulling one for himself and the other two without much effort to grab all the chairs from the side. He waved for Deek to sit and with a giggle from Sher, she sat down near Ivan.
Fern came in with a pattern of placing a coaster before the warm oil-flavored tea mugs. She placed Zenya down. The leader and mother of the home.took her hand for a moment before letting her leave and watch over the others. Zea took a long sip calming herself before folding her hands under her chin. "Now, What is happening out there on your side?" She asked with her professional face on display. Ivan leaned onto the table with his upper hands leaving his lower folded on his lap, he removed his cap placed beside him on the table.
Deek looked to sher before leaning on the table taking his role. "Cut to the chase knowing you're not one for rambling. Hunters that have been down low for quite some time. Now they are becoming frequent. We've had them handled even getting gallons of oil from a few foolish to camp near Maxine's colony or outer area. Now things have become worse" he said, taking a long sip "They have been turning our territory into a big trap everywhere we go. After long scouting around the mountains, we found the source, where all these hunters and poachers were coming from. Seems like the leader sees herself as a Queen. We haven't got a name yet but she is forced to be reckoned with" He took a longer sip as Sher looked down onto her cup in her reflection. Looking genuinely shaken up.
"Look, this is all truly troubling. I am sorry but I have a family now a kid, I can't just risk ORayla or Geje's lives for a fight that's not my problem anymore" Zenya argued about to end the meeting right here and there. Even if the news intrigued her and the desire to get back at them was there. Knowing through the doors her family stood safe and healthy made any of interest die and be overridden to be here with them.
Deek stood knowing she was about to decline and not hear more of what they had to say. "Zenya we wouldn't have come here without worry of your family being the reason," he said being considerate of what life she had now away from it. Deek cleared his throat finishing the cup as Zenya stared at him awaiting his true purpose of informing her and coming to her knowing what he had caused for part of her family. "The leader of this Queen figure they all mentioned. We both unfortunately got approached by her recently. She wore our parts and knows how to use them. We came here after because she didn't attack us but simply asked for Zenya, by name and for your whereabouts. Even mentioned ORayla between her ramblings to herself. Not only that but that doctor, Hans, is working under her leadership. He was there at that camp she was at!" Zenya's hands dropped as her eyes hollowed even Ivan stood going up beside Zenya seeing her full body tense up staring at Deek's cold stare.
Sher got up visibly still shaken from the encounter they spoke of. Looking away from Ivan looked concerned by the news and his sister's trauma responses. He watched her join Deek's side. "Hendrick orphanage has had a few children gone missing when they traversed a new shelter to collect things from the storage from there, all of them records having minor or big defects. We're really worried about Zenya. They are looking for you and they seem to know everyone here by name… I understand your mother now but she-"
Zenya shook the table a bit letting go of her grip and looked at them both seriously as she stood. Ivan put his hands to her back feeling her insides tremble a bit but stable herself regardless. "We'll need to have a leader meeting between Sig and Maxine. If their camps spread they eventually will be on Sig territory if not already. We can form groups to scout and set up traps for them before they can set up camp any further than Maxine's territory. Knowing Irmoncores has much weaponry and traps in storage that have been needing hood use" she said with a slight smile as she surprised all three of the room with her acceptance of what was to come.
Ivan came over "Were doing this then?" He asked, seeing that leader's stoic expression on her face and coming back after these few years.
She looked at him and put a hand to his back "If they are looking for us it would be a matter of time before they do. It's best to finish where we left things and keep our home off the radar for all of our sakes" answering big questions. "Like I said there's leftover breakfast, go ahead take a plate. I need to talk to the kids and the rest about this. I'll talk to Sig later when he's awake" she declared with her hands on her hips as she left, taking her tea cup and finishing it.
Ivan stayed behind as sher hugged his side and he rubbed the smaller drone's back. Finally showing her real shaken-up emotions.
Zenay went into the kitchen where Fern was waiting. She smiled a bit worried then a lot more seeing her face fully as Zenya wiped her curly bang back with shaky breaths. She leaned over the counter, her hands covering her face as her tail curled around her leg twitching in frustration.
"We're going into a war…" she said through her teeth feeling Fern's hug tighten greatly. The green-haired drone eyes hollowed hearing the line. "They found the leader of the hunters. She wants to meet me and knows about ORayla. Which is not too surprising knowing the fucked up Doctor got away is one of her lackeys…"
Zenya looked at her, the stress clear in the limes around her hollowed eyes. "I don't want to do this Fern, but I can't risk being a coward and losing everything we have here. More will die if we don't help'' conflict and fear were clear on her face as she knew what the hunters were capable of and what couldn't be avoided was to come.
Fern cupped her cheek, rubbing her casing and bringing her back to reality. "Then we'll be careful. Get the kids ready and trained and work together. We'll be fighting for our peace and freedom… I hate to call it a war Zea, but you are right, it truly is one. We get our revenge on that damn drone that tortured you and ORayla years ago. End this suffering and fear we all had since they took you" she brushed Zenya's hair back into place "We'll do it together" she said as Ze ya smiled kissed her forehead and held Fern close. The other hugged her back.
Zenya hugs ORayla worried. "Things came up we need to do, I need to train you for it Starlight. I can't leave you or Geje here alone anymore" she declared, scaring both of them with the seriousness in her tone. "Come to the meeting room. I'll fill you all in. This is serious and I do apologize Geje but Deek has to stay here for a day or two in the guest room. We can get one other side room into a room for him and Sher. He will not go near you" G was glaring already even Ajax but he sighed seeing his sister's face he let it go. Fern and the girls joined him in the meeting living room ready for the big news.
Zenya was tense as Deek stood tall with his neutral grumpy face full on. One was ready to take the fight while the other was hesitant but the need to protect her family made her raise her head with him. "We don't have great news, The hunters have gotten worse and have a leader that knows of mine and my Ray's name due to the doctor Hans being part of this female drones group" Zenya announced as the home became tense by the name. ORayla started fidgeting but kept her eyes on her mother.
"War has been waged at this point. We all have to stand together or she will keep spreading, taking defective drones and hunting us all down, '' Deek continued as the silence was beyond tense in the room as all glowing eyes stared at the two.
Ajax stood "Hold your horses! Are you saying we're going into another fight!? Scratch that shit a WAR!?" He walked up to his sister looking at her reaction waiting for her to decline or straight out say he misspoke in the hope they would join. He only got an apologetic serious face that stayed on her face. She pulled her brother into a hug.
"We are… She is looking for me and Ray. We can't wait and let them find our home…" Ajax's anger slowly dissolved upon hearing that bit personally from her. He hugged her back as he rubbed her back knowing wah his sister held him and spoke. She truly didn't want this but had no choice.
He knew her better than most ever since they were first awoken in their worker drone forms freshly off the assembly line. Before color and personalities, even names were given or set for them. "Okay Zenya, we'll kill the fuckers and get that happy ending we all want to keep. Nobody fucks with my sister or anyone here gets away with it" he said seriously as she smiled before looking at her nervous daughter that seemed to have stared at the floor for longer than she should be.
She rubbed Ajax's head "We'll Damn straight end this" she agreed with a grin before passing by him. He looked worried for a split moment before relaxing seeing going up to Ray.
Zenya bent down and hugged her daughter tightly. Ray came back to herself as she hugged her mother back. "We're starting training tomorrow. I need you to be a brave little girl for me, I don't want to bring you into this but I can't risk you being left here alone or anywhere unable to defend yourself"
"Okay mama," she said, giving her mother the most confident look she could muster even with a nervous wrinkle line by her lilac eyes.