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It was supposed to be a wondrous occasion, there was supposed to be the sounds of chipper chatter and casual laughter in the air along with the elegant sounds of the orchestra playing all of the classics. Music from several eras spanning the time of Beethoven all the way up to the current melodic masters of the time. The chandeliers were supposed to be casting a warm yellow glow over the dancing figures of all the attendees of what was supposed to be another glorious gala. After all, that's what the Elliotts were known for, that's what each drone was trained for preparing and setting up. Ensuring that each table was prepped, every bit of silverware set just right, Each table cloth set neatly atop each table that said silverware was resting upon. The scent of many delicacies made by the mansion chefs were what should have filled the air. It was nearing the time for what should have been the Elliotts hosting another toast praising JCJenson, their technology, their corporate might.
Yet the only thing filling J's audio receptors was the ghastly sound of tormented screams, the manic laughter of her fellow drones as they hunted down and slaughtered each and every human that was inside of this mansion. Like a pack of starving wolves that had managed to break into an unguarded sheep's pen. With no livestock guardian dogs there to defend them. Their pleads for mercy all went ignored, unheeded, and all J could do was stand there by the door that she had locked and watch. A manic grin spread forcefully on her face as a white X took over the entirety of her visor. She didn't want this, sure, the Elliotts and most of their compatriots treated drones like things that were lesser than them. But they were still the proprietors of JCJenson! They were the reason J was here in the first place, they were the reason that Tessa.... oh god Tessa, how she regretted helping Tessa break free from those chains.
J's fingers twitch as she looks around the ballroom that the gala was being held within, frantically trying to spot that lovely raven hair that she was in charge of brushing each morning. But whatever took over her body, whatever was controlling her kept her rooted in place, frozen and unable to seek out Tessa. She grit her teeth so tight that the sound reverberated through her steel skull, it wasn't a pleasant feeling nor was it a pleasant sound. But what was worse.... what made what would be J's stomach churn was the pained cry of a familiar girl that rang out through the ballroom. Followed by the mechanical giggling of a certain yellow eyed beast drone. "Oh J, come over here." that voice called out to J.
Her body began to move, heavy metal feet thumping against the tile floor of the ballroom, an occasional thuwap sound coming from her steps when she walked through the random puddle of blood. She didn't want to go, she didn't want to see, but something was forcing her to. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't fight against it, she desperately tried to tense her body but nothing happened. She just kept lurching forward towards the sound of pained cries and amused hums.
"Here J, I'm sure you'd like to be the one to do this. thoughtful tone, seeing as you and Tessa were close to each other." the thing that called itself Cyn said as it stared at J. Its large scythe-like claw moving to let go of the flailing human girl beneath it. J wanted so badly to protest, but she was unable to respond on her own, unable to even let out a whimper of dismay. Tessa Elliott, J's closest friend stared up at J with those beautiful evergreen eyes. Pleading with J to help her. "J-Jaybird, what is she talking about?" Tessa's voice shakily croaks out as she stares at J timidly. A dark laugh that came from J's vocal synths yet wasn't hers came from her. "Sorry boss, but I'm putting in my notice... I'm sorry it had to be like this though." J wanted to tear up, she wanted to tear her vocal synth straight from her throat. She didn't mean that, she didn't want this, like a puppet on strings a strange fleshy claw forms on her left hand and she slowly, dauntingly raised her hand.
The creature Cyn laughs maliciously as it watches J bring her hand down in one swift motion, and before Tessa could even reply she was on the floor. Slumped over, she gasps out desperately but is unable to speak, her eyes cloud as she tears up and locks eyes with J. Confusion and hurt, that's all that was in Tessa's eyes, even in a situation like this she could never bring herself to hate her beloved mechanical companions. The beast Cyn lets out a satisfied hum before speaking in that loathsome mechanical voice "pleased tone, well done J... You've always been the best pet... the most loyal employee." it praised before going to slink off to ensure that all of the humans in the mansion were snuffed out. Leaving J alone with what once was the girl she served.
Finally, after that monster Cyn left J was able to regain a modicum of control back over herself, finally her true emotions spill over. She tears up as she chokes back a sob. J fell to her knees as she reached out for Tessa, hesitating as her hands trembled while she gently ran a hand through Tessa's hair. J slowly moves to rest Tessa's head in her lap, digital tears rolling down her visor in a perpetual loop. "I'm s-so sorry Boss... no, Tessa... I'm so sorry, I couldn't.... I didn't want to.. I s-swear, I c-couldn't control myself.. I-I don't know what happened. I'msorryI'msorryI-"
J's eyes shoot open as she feels herself falling, pain shooting through her body as she fell deep below the surface... It took her a moment to process what was going on. When she finally remembered her body collided with the ground, causing a plume of snow to erupt upwards around her. Ah, that's right, she was on Copper-9, fighting V, and that damned toaster. What does it matter, by the looks of things they have won. It seems that she was wrong about the winning side after all, a soft giggle escapes her that slowly escalates into despaired laughter that fills the air around her. "I betrayed them and for what?! I stuck with that.... that thing for nothing?! Why couldn't I have... Wh-why didn't I?.." Her tone was bitter as she tears up and stares up at the hole she fell from. There's nothing left here, there's no one here for her. The one thing she had left, even if it was just a literal husk... was now gone, so why even stay? Slowly, she pulls her battered body up and begins to hobble out of where she had crashed into. It's time to leave this accursed place once and for all, who would stop her?