Chapter Text
/// Commencing Reboot… ///
/// Attempting initialization of basic logical processors… ///
/// … ///
/// Success ///
/// Attempting initialization of memory banks… ///
/// … ///
/// Failed, repair required, commencing self-repair, WARNING: matter tanks near empty, repair will take longer than normal ///
/// Attempting initialization of basic limb functions… ///
/// … ///
/// Failed, cannot locate limbs, WARNING: please locate limbs at earliest possible convenience ///
/// Attempting initialization of visual processors… ///
/// … ///
/// Failed, manual repair required ///
/// Attempting initialization of sound processors… ///
/// … ///
/// Success, recording data ///
“-is that?”
The voice is light and breezy, obviously enjoying whatever it was they were doing. The speaker’s identity was unknown. I must find it later
I hear sounds of what is most likely tinkering with machinery. Based on the proximity of the noise, the most likely subject of this mechanical investigation is me.
“Genius…” The voice let out a noise of intrigue, it made something in my memory banks flare, though it is still too damaged to fully recollect.
“Doctor!” This was a new voice, it was loud, full, serious, and I believe would not be considered pleasant, like rocks grinding against one another, the antithesis of the previous voice. “I need a progress report.”
“Right away, sir.” The old voice is back, the doctor the other voice had called it, and it seems less excited and more nervous than before. Logical processors conclude that the second voice holds a position of authority over the first.
“The subject seems to be a robot of unknown origin, nothing like I’ve seen at least. Though if I had to guess-”
“I don’t have time for your ranting doctor. I have places to be. Just give me the basics and get back to work.”
“Of course, general.”
It is likely this ‘general’ holds a position of authority due to military rank.
“The subject seems to be built for the purpose of combat, perhaps it was to serve as a replacement for the soldier. It is made out of technology that has not been associated with any known species. I am attempting to repair it, but the process will be slow.”
“You said its technology doesn’t match with any known species, is that including the alien it came in with?” The general sounds exasperated at this point, obviously having very little patience. Noting for later use.
“Yes sir. That alien’s technology was, to put it lightly, haphazard. Nothing like what this is made out of.”
“Alright, I’m out of time. Call me if you find anything that answers questions rather than makes more, I’ll be doing something actually important.” The general says as he seems to walk out of the room based upon the footfalls and sliding door noises.
The doctor let out a sigh, “I swear…”
Sounds indicate the doctor has gone back to his work, though he seems to be enjoying it much less now. Sounds continue for some time.
“Alright, if all is correct this should work, hopefully.” Sounds of soldering can be heard.
/// Memory banks repaired and installed ///
/// WARNING: Memory banks improperly repaired, some memories unavailable, continuing self-repair ///
/// Accessing available memories ///
“Well, I think that should do it.” Says Fre, they have just finished repairing me, the welder still in their hand and welding goggles still on their eyes. They have an insectoid appearance, with a brown exoskeleton and red compound eyes. They are not my creator, but they are the closest thing I have to one.
“I still don’t fully understand how you work,” they continue, “but I do know you can repair yourself so I trust you to correct whatever mistakes I may have made.”
“This is true, any mistakes you made while repairing my chassis will be mended within a couple of minutes.” I say.
“You know, a thank you might be nice.” They say, a bit of playful annoyance in their voice.
“I have already thanked you for my repairs before, I would expect you to remember your own actions. Is your memory okay? Have you suffered cerebral trauma? I can perform an analysis and attempt repairs.” I say, I am the closest thing to worried for their safety and wellbeing as I can manage.
“I’m fine, I’m fine. Mother above, you need to take things less seriously, we’re all okay here.” Fre sighs, she has explained to me the concept of jokes before, which I now realize is what they were attempting, but I cannot help but be concerned for their safety when they show clear signs of brain damage.
“Anyways, I better check in with the rest of ‘em. See where we're at.”
/// Attempting recollection of memory of cause of damage… ///
/// … ///
/// Failed ///
/// Continuing memory analysis… ///
I perform a self analysis. Looking down I see myself, my design is sleek and functional, perfectly designed for its purpose: death. I do not know why or by whom I was created, but I do know that my purpose is to kill those who I am ordered to or who I analyze to be threats to my creator and their people. Again, I do not know who those people are, so I have resorted to following my mechanic and caretaker: Fre. My limbs are connected with something Fre has resorted to calling ‘Weird Space Gunk’, according to my list of parts it is called ‘Quantum Energy’ but Fre has requested I call it her nonsensical name in their presence. On my equivalent of a left thigh sits my rail revolver, on my right sat my fire whip, a name my logical processors had always struggled with due to its distinct absence of relation to fire, working on the same Quantum Energy the rest of myself did, not fire, and utilizing it to inflict more harm than what would normally be applied to the target.
Continuing the scan, I see my chassis has no dents, its black surface that almost seem to suck the light out from the area was harder to diagnose with damage than one of a different color, but it allowed for a stealthier option if it would be a more advantageous angle, of course the Quantum energy emitted light, switching between neon purple and red whenever it was unobserved, so that certainly limited the potential of stealth, though this energy could be hidden if need be.
My sensor suite is undamaged except for a small wiring mistake Fre has made, but my auto repair functions take care of that in less than a few seconds. My head resembles a gas mask, a feature with no practical purpose other than intimidation as I do not require any air and thus do not require any air filtering device.
I step off of the repair bed where Fre had been working on my repairs. I look around and see I am in a room that consists mostly of the bed I had been on and a large workbench covered in tools and blueprints. The walls, much like the workbench, were covered in blueprints, some of random devices, but most of my own chassis and internal mechanisms.
Further analysis of the memory reveals I am on a spaceship. It is sleek and has a white color scheme, though it is immediately clear it acts as someone’s home as dishes and different personal belongings are scattered around the rooms and hallways.
Following the sounds of Fre shuffling I find myself on the bridge. Much like the rest of the ship, it seems lived in with all sorts of things having been thrown about. Fre is sitting casually in the pilot's seat and flipping the switch to their communicator. It groans to life making a high pitched sound Fre cringes at.
“This is Bravo-4 to Bravo-1, do you copy? Over.” Fre speaks into the microphone of the device with an air of friendliness that is built up over a long period of knowing someone.
“This is Bravo-1, I copy, over.” a voice responds back. It is deeper and more rugged than Fre’s, but it has the same friendly quality. It belongs to Bravo-1, who Fre refers to as Gra, the leader of Fre’s small squadron of ships.
“How long ‘till we get there?” I notice Fre has immediately abandoned the idea of following the procedure of proper radio communication strategies, but I have inquired about this before and I am aware bringing it up will bear no fruit.
“You did not just ‘are we there yet?’ me.” The voice is feigning annoyance, but it is not an effective bluff.
“What, I’m just getting a bit bored. Maybe we could do something more exciting with our time. We don’t know how old this signal is, the people who made it could be dead and gone for all we know!”
“The mission brief said it was very recent. Also, aren’t you supposed to be the smart one who can actually analyze the signal? Why not just do that and convince yourself this isn’t a waste of time so I don’t have to.”
“I’m a genius when it comes to robotics and mechanical stuff, I’m a bit of an idiot when it comes to signals and such.” Fre made a motion with their hand that I had learned they had a habit of doing when they were explaining things.
“More like an idiot when it comes to reading mission briefs.” Both of them let out a chuckle at that before Fre switched off their communicator.
“Alright MEU, I’m gonna hit the hay.” Fre had taken to referring to me as MEU due to the three small letters imprinted onto the side of my chassis where a pen pocket may have gone if I were to wear a shirt.
Fre laid their head back on the headrest of their chair and their metabolism began to slow, a process I had learned was a necessary, if extraordinarily inefficient, use of every organic creature’s time.
I stood there for three hours and 47 minutes before the planet our ship was headed for came into view. It was mostly white, except the large middle part which seemed to be a mixture of blue, green, and brown.
I attempted to notify Fre of this new development, but she waved me off and continued her sleep. I returned to my position of watching the planet draw closer before the communicator began receiving a signal.
“All ships, this is Bravo-2, I’m picking up the signal from the planet, we’re close enough we don’t need all that fancy equipment those lazy bums have back at HQ to start receiving it.”
The voice sounded excited in the first part, but their voice seemed to drop when they mentioned the so called ‘lazy bums back at HQ’. They were referring to those back at the forward operating base we had left from that monitored incoming signals to identify enemy activity or new species who had discovered how to send signals into space. They seemed equally interested in both, which was odd to me seeing how dangerous their, and by extension my enemies could be, and the very small advantage discovering a new species that had only just then discovered the radio would entail.
The voice came back over the radio, more distressed this time. “I’m also picking up something else… no, that can’t be right.”
“Spit it out, Bravo-2.” Gra said sharply over the radio.
“That looks like an enemy drone, but they shouldn’t be out this far! Shit! they’ve spotted us! Incoming missile!” Bravo-2 was practically shrieking now, which finally stirred Fre out of their slumber, just in time for the ship to quiver from some sort of impact.
“Missile hit detected, critical damage sustained, please evacuate.” The alarms on the ship blared, I knew the ship was not going to survive for much longer. Taking executive action I lifted Fre up into my arms and began to make for the escape pod.
“Wha… put me down MEU!” Fre started to push away from me, but I did not let go. Logical processors dictated this was an appropriate time to disobey orders for the protection of my caretaker.
I made it to the escape pod in record time, and began to put Fre inside.
Fre was still groggy from her nap, and was only now beginning to process what was really happening.
“MEU, this escape pod isn’t big enough for the two of us.” She said with worry in her voice.
“I am aware,” I responded, “I will not be coming with you. I am staying here.”
“What! That’s an awful idea! You’ll be stranded up here at best, completely destroyed at worst!”
“I am also aware of this.” I responded again, “but it is the best course of action.” I pressed the jettison button on the escape pod and Fre began her journey to relative safety, reaching out for me one last time.
The alarms were still blaring as I made my way to the airlock, but they stopped as soon as it depressurized. Only a few seconds after I had departed from the ship, the reactor hit critical and the ship became an array of metal shards in a large explosion.
/// END OF MEMORY LOG, NEXT WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY ///