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V1KTU$ M4X paced around his dressing room angrily, his flat metal feet making loud clanks with every strong step he took. He couldn’t stand the predicament he was in. This kept happening to him and he was sick to his CPU of it. All the tension in his system was starting to get overwhelming, to the point where he was starting to physically overheat.
He huffed, stopping his rhythm of steps and pressing his fingers to the sides of his head. He needed to be sensible. This was an incredibly stupid thing to be overheating over. She was nothing to him! Just another disgusting organic that he would soon rule over.
It didn’t matter that she was the only member of staff who expressed an active interest in his mission. It didn’t matter that she was the only one who truly listened to his gripes about his siblings. It didn’t matter that he had to be comforted by her once. And it CERTAINLY didn’t matter that he hadn’t been invited to her stupid “GTV Employment Anniversary” party, even though the other contestants AND the AI-gent had.
…Okay, maybe it did matter to him a little.
“Ugh, this is so stupid!” V1KTU$ said aloud, static tears pricking the corners of his screen-bound eyes. “I am V1KTU$ M4X! I should NOT be overheating like this over some- some stupid, revolting organic!”
He let out a robotic sigh, stabilizing his CPU and wiping his digital tears off. “This tears it. I am going to barge into that party, smack that insulting traitor’s smile off her face, and take her gifts! That will teach her to betray THE V1KTU$ M4X!”
With his plan set, V1KTU$ marched to the door, ready to ruin his target’s day. This would definitely teach her a lesson. He reached for the keypad to his room, ready to punch in the unlock code-
BEEP!
He hadn’t so much as touched the keypad when the door opened by itself. And the person on the other side was the exact LAST person he wanted to see.
“Juna?!” V1KTU$ half yelled, recoiling in fear.
Juna, oblivious to the situation, just greeted the synthetic warrior cheerfully. “Hey, V1KTU$! I had the feeling you’d be in here. Me and the others missed seeing you at the party, so I thought I’d stop by and check on you.”
“I- Uh- I-” V1KTU$ stammered, before clearing his voice box and straightening his posture. “Why do you feel the need to invade my space at every turn, janitor? I could have been in the middle of maintenance for all you know.”
“You told me that you do maintenance checks at 4 sharp every day, and it’s only three right now, so I figured you probably weren’t busy,” Juna explained, kneeling to his level. “I won’t ask why you weren’t at the party, since I know you value your privacy. But, I wanna give you something.”
Juna reached into her bag, retrieving a small rectangular box wrapped in purple wrapping paper. V1KTU$ looked at the package, confused at the idea of Juna giving him something on a day that was supposedly all about her. “Is this some sort of joke?”
“Nah. I gave every contestant a gift. They gave some gifts to me, but I figured I’d repay them early. Half because of my job, and half because then I don’t have to write many ‘thank you’ cards afterwards,” she admitted, handing over the box. “Go on, open it!”
V1KTU$ stared at the wrapped box, confused in every sense, but still intrigued. He carefully tore the wrapping, which gave way to reveal a white box with no specific branding. Upon opening the box, his eyes widened to the size of CDs.
Inside the box, as harmless as it could possibly come, was a small beige-colored plush bear. V1KTU$ looked up at Juna, eyes still wide, meeting her proud smile. “Is this some sort of joke?” he asked, his eyes shifting into a suspicious stare.
“Nope! I saw this and figured I’d get it for you. Think of him as your first subject. Something to test your authority voice on.”
V1KTU$ looked back at the plush, then at Juna again. Slowly, carefully, he took the object out of the box, looking it over, feeling just how small and fragile it was compared to him. After a few seconds of appraisal, he responded.
“This will suffice. It isn’t much, but I can see the attempt to appeal to my synthetic pathos, and it is…appreciated.”
As he stared at the plush a little longer, some more static tears formed in his eyes, before they suddenly shifted into a pair of hearts. “Ah! No! Stop that! This isn’t what you think! It’s- It’s wire burn or something!” he yelled in a panic, shaking his head to try and get rid of the visual. Juna just giggled, putting a hand on his shoulder to help ground him. He instantly froze up, looking at Juna with a digital blush.
“I’m glad you like it, V1KTU$,” she said, her smile just as bright as it usually was. “If it’s not too much trouble, do you think I could hang with you for a bit? I kinda was hoping you’d drop by the party, but since we’re both here, I figure now’s as good a time as ever.”
V1KTU$ sighed, pushing Juna’s hand off his shoulder. “In a minute. I have to straighten the room out, and find a suitable place for this thing. I will be out shortly.”
“Sounds good! I’ll be waiting by the couch. Luis is out for the day, so we’ve got it to ourselves,” Juna replied, turning to make her way to the lounge area of the Backstage. “See you in a sec, V1KTU$!”
V1KTU$ rolled his eyes, typing in the code to close and lock the door to his dressing room again. Once it was, he walked over to his bedside table, setting his new plush down on its surface, propped against the lamp. “Alright, first subject! You require a name before you are officially a member of my synthetic reign. Therefore, I shall call you Zoga. If that isn’t to your liking, consult me once I get back. For now, I have other matters to attend to. I will be back soon.”
With that, V1KTU$ turned and walked to the door, punching in the unlock code quickly and heading off to find Juna in a less destructive state than he was before her visit.