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Did Mayor Luskey really think he could stop my efforts by firing me? Did he really not think to consider what I do every full moon? Probably not, since he thinks that I'm just spreading misinformation like the beast lover he percieved me to be.
Just a week ago, the bastard had sacked me for my constant refusals to create weapons that would aid in his crusade of murdering Zoanthropes because of his wrongful perception of them.
The thing that he didn't consider was how I would potentially stay in Griffin Rock with my little nebula, Frankie.
Because I was the chief scientist, I could essentially make whatever was possible for me, even without Luskey's request.
That was how I built a makeshift area in the forest that would keep Frankie and I safe. I have a portable stove and oven as part of a kitchen, tents that mimicked bedrooms, all the things that could fit for a forest home.
Why the forest? It's the same reason that I refuse to leave Griffin Rock.
The Burns Family.
They keep the secret that their bots are aliens from another planet, sure, but they have another secret that's a lot more deadly for them in this cruel world; they are Lycanthropes.
Werewolves like them have been sought out for centuries due to the incorrect assumption that they only crave violence.
The truth is, they're like any other wolf; they'll leave you alone if you leave them alone. The only reason why werewolves attack is because hunters attack them.
Every full moon, the Burnses are at risk of being killed by the people that are Zoan Hunters on this island. Around 75% of the town are active hunters while the 25% that aren't are either pro-Zoanthropes like me or are Zoanthropes themselves.
That's why I vowed to protect them. When the full moon rises every month, I release a state-of-the-art robot that can easily distract hunters and steer them off the path of the family. I call my collection the "AutoZoan".
AutoZoans are Zoanthrope-like robots that are able to mimick the powers and behaviors that their real counterparts have. Their purpose is to throw off Zoan Hunters into thinking that their prey is close. The one controlling the AutoZoan will be able to keep the hunters on a wild goose chase (literally, even!) until the sun rises.
My robots are powered by a big battery that lasts for around sixteen hours at a time, which is more than enough for a full moon night in any season.
The AutoZoans' realistic fur and structure has kept Griffin Rock on its toes for many years, and I did it all from my lab up until now, where I'm doing it from my tent.
If it protected other Zoanthropes on this island, it's a big bonus for me. The Burnses would care more for the others than themselves.
I picked the Lycanthrope robot for tonight. It's what I'm used to the most.
I activated the AutoZoan despite the moon not being at its full power. It'll be easier to make sure its controls are working before releasing it into the wild.
After some quick tests like leaping and howling, I was sure that the Lycan robot was ready to roll. Just in time, too, as the skies fully darkened with the sun disappearing for the night.
My daughter called out to me with a nervous tone. "Daddy?"
"Yes, Frankie?"
"Are you sure we'll be able to help the Burnses next month..?"
The question snapped me out of my focused state. I knew that the Blood Moon was next month, so the entire town will be fighting for dear life to kill any and every Zoanthrope they encounter, no matter how much there are.
I gave a reassuring smile to my little genius as I responded. "We'll accompany them during that time to really make sure they don't get hurt if something goes wrong,"
"Do you promise..?" Poor Frankie was just so worried when asking that question. It made me feel so terrible because she has to live with the fear that her best friend along with his family could be killed at any moment.
Having both her and the Burnses be scared was always the reason why I have such a vendetta for Luskey. No one should fear for their life just because of their power.
"I promise to the moon herself, Frankie,"
My girl hugged me tightly as I started to control the Lycan AutoZoan. It lept out of our area and made its way through the forest.
The controls for my robot had buttons and joysticks that were simple enough, like an advanced game controller, but one unique thing about them is that they have a camera screen smack dab in the middle, along with a little map tucked into the corner.
The map just shows where the machine is in the forest at all times for easy navigation while the screen is meant to show you what the AutoZoan sees as it moves around the forest. You decide its next move by looking around the area and using the buttons and joysticks from there. It's very useful, especially with the high film and sound quality.
Sound is what Frankie heard as she grabbed my attention. "I hear a voice! It looks like the hunters are already coming..."
I focused on the camera as I turned it around to see who was talking. Soon enough, there was someone that the AutoZoan could see.
Of course, it was Milo. Milo is one of Luskey's favorite hunters as he has quite the high kill count from his hunting in other areas in Maine. He also is one of the most active Zoan Hunters in his group, not only hunting but also attending meetings and even producing silver ammo.
Now I was hearing him clearly. "Alright, come on out now, you beasts! I ain't playing around tonight!"
I decided to entertain the enthusiastic killer, so I let the AutoZoan growl and run around the area where Milo was.
The hunter pointed his gun straight to where the robot was, and my machine hauled out of there with speed.
"Get back here!"
Bullets were fired from the double-barreled weapon that Milo was holding. Luckily, my robot didn't suffer any damage.
My daughter watched with growing tension as the chase was really starting.
"We can't lose one of our AutoZoans now, Dad..."
"Don't worry, dear. I'll tire out Milo and return the Lycanthrope unharmed from there,"
I continued controling the machine to hide in the foilage of the forest so that the young hunter would have trouble getting through. It was one of the easiest methods of tiring a hunter out, but it was good enough to affect many.
Milo still endured, however. He kept shooting at the AutoZoan with a few close calls here and there. Even I was scared from time to time. Damn, he's extra determined tonight.
As the chase went on, I continued thinking about the Burns Family. I wonder how they're doing now. The wondering turned into sympathy again. They can't keep living in secret like this. Hints have been shown time and time again to their supernatural abilities, such as how Cody healed so fast after a fight at school or how Charlie could hear Luskey's voice from such a far distance talking hogwash about him.
The sympathy turned into anger against that bastard we call our mayor. The town was bad enough for the Zoans with the previous leaders, but the balding demon from Hell made it unlivable for the poor people. I hated him, and I wish him well where he belongs.
"Dad! Focus!"
Again, I snapped out of my thoughts. Even though the AutoZoan was fine, it was dangerous for me to lose my focus on it because of the possibility of being shot.
"I'm sorry! I'm focused now! It must be the stress..."
My sweet daughter nodded with a sad smile. "I know you're stressed about everything... I hate the mayor, too. He's causing suffering for the Zoanthropes,"
Holding Frankie in one arm, I continued fooling Milo with the AutoZoan. He was clearly getting frustrated with the chase and just wanted to get it done and over with.
"Goddammit!" He yelled. "Come out and fight me like a man!"
I wasn't going to have the machine actually fight Milo. I may hate the hunters, but I'm not stupid enough to actually hurt them. Violence is not my thing; bluffing is.
Instead, I made the machine leap through a rocky area in the forest so that the young man would be forced to climb to reach for it.
It seemed, however, that Milo knew his rules of gun safety since he decided to search for an opening where he could fire on the AutoZoan.
At this point, both Frankie and I were sure that Milo would have to call for backup soon. It always happens during a full moon. The problem is that it's only been an hour. It usually takes three before backup is called.
I made the robot leap back down the rocky area to have it disappear from Milo's presence. It seemed to work as his voice was faintly yelling from the camera.
"Dad!" My daughter protested. "Wasn't the plan to lure the hunter?"
The frustration was understandable, but I do everything for a reason. "I've only had one fooled currently, dear. I'll have to go search for a group to fool so I can decrease the chances of the Burnses being found,"
Frankie nodded with a sigh. "True..."
I let the AutoZoan search for a group to lure, scanning around the secret area where the Burnses were hiding in the meantime.
When the camera actually caught them, however, something took me by big surprise. The Rescue Bots were with them!
My girl gasped as well seeing the bots with the Lycanthropes. "No way!"
I let myself smile with this revelation. It looks like things may become easier once the team figures out what to do during the full moon from now on.
However, that moment of ease went away when the audio picked up on multiple voices. I checked the map to see which direction the voices were coming from.
It seemed that they were coming southwest of the area where the Burnses were, so my obvious option was to head in that direction to trick the newfound hunters.
Eventually, I found three killers scouting the area, all wearing the Zoan Hunter suits along with the insignia. It was hard to see who exactly they were due to their masks on their mouths, but when one of them spoke, my daughter gasped with a look of betrayal.
"Mr. Harrison..?"
Oh no... the propaganda had gotten to the poor man! Before this night, Mr. Harrison was on the fence about the whole hunting thing, and he was surrounded by people who wanted him to support the Zoanthropes of Griffin Rock. It seemed that the office worker was so close to being on our side too...
"Hey boys, I think there's a beast here!"
Mr. Harrison turned to the camera on the AutoZoan after saying that, and that was when I had to bring the machine out of the area to enforce another chase away from the Burnses.
The other two hunters were what propelled Mr. Harrison forward despite his limits. Based on that, it really seemed like he was good friends with the two.
Poor Frankie was getting scared as she watched the footage being put out. I quietly soothed my compassionate daughter as I continued leading the group of hunters out of the Burnses' area.
The unknown hunters were speaking to Mr. Harrison at that point. The lean one was pointing right at the AutoZoan.
"It's coming through a path!"
The third, buff hunter was trying to sneak around to try and shoot the machine without it noticing him.
"Dad..." Frankie stammered. "I know we're supposed to lure multiple of them, but how will we escape the hunters when they're surrounding you..?"
"Then we'll have to improvise,"
I made the AutoZoan climb up a tree and let it leap through the branches of the ones near it. It may be unusual behavior, but the hunters won't pay much attention to it due to their perception of the Zoanthropes.
"It's in the trees!" Mr. Harrison shouted. "It's in the goddamn trees!"
The newly recruited killer opened fire upon the branches to try and hit the robot I was controling, but I'm not giving up that easily. If Harrison can play this game, he'll have to face a big fight against us for Zoanthrope rights.
This continued on for a while, and at that point at midnight, my little genius was getting tired despite wanting to continue watching the footage.
"Frankie, dear..." I told her with weary compassion. "You need to sleep,"
My daughter weakly lifted her head up from my shoulder. "I can't... I don't want to sleep until the Burnses are safe for the night..."
"I completely understand, my little nebula, but you're clearly about to pass out,"
Frankie didn't respond as her head tilted down again, so I quickly but gently put her in her tent, tucking her in before kissing her forehead.
My voice was but a whisper to my daughter. "I hope your dreams are nicer than tonight..."
Once I got back out, I had to focus on the AutoZoan again. The group of three hunters were only getting more determined as they chased the machine through the forest.
It was the same for a few more minutes until the three killers encountered a familiar foe...
"Yo!" Milo shouted to the group of hunters. "Y'all are having the same issue?!"
Mr. Harrison nodded. "Yeah, you saw that black-furred Lycan as well?"
"Hell yeah! It must be Jerry. I always suspected him..."
The lean hunter spoke up. "We gotta split up to search for the beast,"
"Are you fuckin' insane?!" The buff hunter shouted at the lean one. "We'll have a higher risk of it killing all of us!"
Milo tried to ease the situation. "Ay, we don't gotta fight. I know it'll be a big risk, but remember what the mayor said,"
"The best way is the hard way," Mr. Harrison replied. "Milo's right. Let's split up, alert some of our other hunters while we're at it,"
Great, more trouble. Not the split up, but more hunters to deal with. At least the Burnses will have even lower chances of being targeted.
Milo and the three hunters split up, with the young blond going straight for the AutoZoan. I had the machine continue jumping from tree to tree as Milo kept shooting at it while talking to his city council-issued com-link.
"Milo here, watch for rustling sounds in the trees! A Lycan beast is leaping through them!"
I'll have to climb down the trees, so I did. It's better to be safe than sorry.
"Wait, it's gone down, nevermind, but keep looking for black fur!"
Shit. He knows what I'm doing. I'll either have to lose him or let him chase me around a bit more.
My decision couldn't be made in time because I encountered a new hunter. Wait... is that the golden insignia?
Oh fuck, it's Mrs. Luskey! Only she and her husband have that patch!
"Everyone, come to my location! I've found the beast!"
Not good. All of the hunters will be after me if I don't lose that woman right here and right now.
Mount Griffin was close, so that was the option that I took to try and evade the mayor's wife. The AutoZoan moved to the start of the path to the mountain.
"It's coming up top to Mount Griffin! Stay sharp!"
The plan that I'm coming up with is that I'll get close to the griffin that rests on top before I let the machine leap down without any of the killers seeing it. The fast climb down will be hard for all of them to catch up with.
Running as fast as it can, the AutoZoan used its incredible strength to get closer and closer to the mountain. It'll take the Zoan Hunters at least two hours to get up to where it was.
If I were on the enemy side, the machine would probably stand no chance, let alone an actual Zoan. Those drones and everything else requested by Mayor Luskey would do so much damage. I'm not a monster, so I never made them.
I let myself be at ease, as it'll be a while before the killers come up to where I am on the mountain.
-----<3-----
Apparently, I was too at ease as I woke up to the shouting of hunters about to reach the top of Mount Griffin. It was three o'clock, so it'll be three hours before the sun rises in the horizon.
But that can't take up my time now. I had to get the hell out of there. I grabbed the controller and made the AutoZoan leap down the mountain.
"It's coming down!" Mrs. Luskey shouted. "Somebody shoot at it!"
Bullets were fired, but they all missed the machine. For such loyal hunters with night vision goggles, some of them have aim so bad they wouldn't be able to hit the broad side of a barn.
I was chuckling, but it's not the right time to get cocky. Escape was essential.
I eventually managed to get the AutoZoan down and tried to get it near the river this time. Its loud flow would mask the sounds of my movement.
Again, I evaded the hunters and waited until they made it to where I was. At that point, it was getting very close to sunrise.
Mrs. Luskey barked out orders again. "Search near the river. The beast could be anywhere!"
This will be complicated... Because the area will be surrounded by hunters, it'll be a pain in the ass to pass through because they'll shoot on sight.
The river may help to mask my movements, though.
I eventually found an opening that may help with my escape from the area, so I quietly took that opportunity to get out with the AutoZoan.
It was hard to not go tense as I controlled the machine, but I was slowly but surely getting out.
A loud, ringing shot was heard from the left side of the camera that made me drop the controller out of fright.
Loud beeps followed from the controller to signify critical damage to the AutoZoan.
"Shit... no!"
I panicked as I tried to get the machine to stand on its four legs again, but it slumped down.
Checking the status of the AutoZoan, it turned out that motors of the robot were significally damaged.
The audio wasn't damaged, though, as I heard Milo. "I got it... I fucking got it!"
The blond hunter whooped as he called on the others to check out his kill.
"Wow, that's a big one there!" Milo gasped. "Sorry Jerry, but it had to be done,"
Mrs. Luskey looked at the AutoZoan with awe, clapping her hands for Milo. "You have once again showed your loyalty to our cause, young man!"
The young killer saluted the mayor's wife while Mr. Harrison seemed to be examining the robot's body.
"Why thank you, Mrs. Luskey. You and your husband has kept us safe for years, so it's our duty to serve you whenever we can and-"
Mr. Harrison spoke up. "Guys... something's off..."
"What?" Milo guffawed. "I literally killed a big beast!"
"It's not a beast..." The office worker whispered. "It's a robot,"
"WHAT?!" Mrs. Luskey shouted. "Are you fucking kidding me?!"
Mr. Harrison scooped up some of the oil from the AutoZoan to prove his point. Everyone was whispering angrily since they were fooled.
All fooled... by me. I guess I really was built to bluff. I smiled weakly with that.
What made it even better was that the first ray of sunshine was hitting the island, so the Zoans are probably turning back to their human forms.
Of course, the hunters are upset by this as Mrs. Luskey was fuming, Milo was raging in a tantrum, and the rest were leaving with disappointment.
I already knew I won that round, but at what cost?
A Lycan AutoZoan, apparently. It's worked for many full moons at this point. I think it's gonna need an update.
-----<3-----
At around nine o'clock, Frankie woke up to me carrying the broken AutoZoan back to our camp. The poor girl was devastated seeing the damage to the machine.
"No... who shot him?!"
"Milo did, but you don't really have to worry, dear," I said the last part with a soft smile to my daughter.
"But Dad... what do we do with the Lycan?"
"I just need to update it, dear. As soon as I get it fixed, updating it will be necessary for it to be prepared for the Blood Moon along with its comrades,"
Frankie looked at the other AutoZoans we had in our collection. She pointed to the bear. "Can I use this once it comes?"
My smile grew wider hearing the request. "Of course, my little protector! We'll have to seriously train you to control it, though,"
"No problem. I think I can be responsible with it," Frankie was smiling as she said that.
I laughed in response. "We'll see about that,"