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4 was not kind.
It was not made to be kind, it was the thorns on a rose. Never the rose, it wasn't pretty enough for that.
It was made to protect the prettier ones. The ones less sharp around the edges.
It was a rattlesnake, not a songbird.
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N.O.M seemed to be an android that carried himself nicely. He was smart, and honestly probably had a superiority complex.
4 had first been introduced to him when it had been trying and failing to fix an android named Av3r7. The android had been talkative, and too friendly to humans. 4 was lucky to spot him in the alley. It had scraps that it meant to use to help itself, but this android needed it more.
"Stay still id1ot." It internally cringed at the state of it's voice. After 4's last run-in it hadn't been fixed.
Cities like this weren't uncommon. A place for androids needing fixing, a place for low-life humans to do whatever they wanted. (Atleast until someone something like 4 hurt them.)
4 had little idea on this androids model. It was only really focused on getting its arm back into place. Trying to connect wires to wires and putting iron in place to protect it.
It was also painfully aware of the android behind it.
"Yea 1'm gonna be honest I have no idea what !'m doing. Do you myst3rious 4ndroid?" 4 turned around to find a canvas bot. He had red glowing eyes, wore clean clothes and studied the other two carefully.
The other stayed silent for a moment and then stepped forward. 4 couldn't help it's programming shouting at it that they were a threat.
Still, it was better than a human so 4 backed away from A7. Letting the other crouch down and begin where it had left off.
"Y'know I don't often see war-bots around." The android paused waiting for 4 to answer, which it didn't. "My names N.O.M, and yours is?"
"Call me A7." The other had finally spoken up.
"..." 4 did not have a name.
N.O.M turned to face 4.
"And yours is?" He asked in the same tone.
"I don'1 have one." 4 finally spoke.
N.O.M hummed lowly, focusing on fixing A7. "Anything I can address you as?"
4 thought for a moment, "i'd prefer not to be 4ddre22ed really. If you must, ca1l me 4c." 4 was it's number, and an android a while ago claimed that a name could not be only one character.
"Sure. Do you wanna answer my first question now?"
"I'm here 6ecause I defected."
"Aren't we all?" N.O.M looked back at it again, patting A7's arm saying he was done. He got up again from where he had crouched, "You'd be good at fighting then, yes?"
"I would be a pretty shit war-bot if I couldn't f1ght." If 4 could roll it's eyes, it would.
N.O.M put his hands up in surrender, "i suppose."
A7 awkwardly shuffled away, muttering a thank you.
N.O.M took a step closer to 4, "Do you own a gun?"
4 hesitated, it wasn't stupid. N.O.M wanted something, and 4 would rather not appear weak.
"I do."
"Do you hate humans?" N.O.M's voice seemed more robotic now, more dangerous.
"Y3s." 4's answer was less delayed this time.
The androids smile grew, "I need help for a mission, I have a lead that a group of humans are stealing and scrapping robots for a profit."
4 felt it's anger rise.
"I was going to go in and free what androids they have, set the place ablaze afterwards." N.O.M's eyes gleamed.
"And you w@nt what, help? Pr0tection?" 4 cocked its head.
"I would appreciate it. I assume you and A7 weren't friends, the way he left. So you clearly care about other robots. Theres a few others in on this plan and I think I'm in the most risky spot."
4 cared more than N.O.M could realise.
"I need someone to watch my back when I hack into this groups database. I need to check for any other side missions or leads."
"I can do that." 4 had done harder tasks for androids that promised less.
"Great! come on," N.O.M's eyes turned green and dulled, "I'll need to catch you up on this operation."
4 didn't care that N.O.M was dangerous. It didn't care that it feared what the android wasn't saying. It would be worth it if he was telling the truth.
And if N.O.M simply wanted 4's scraps?
Then so be it.
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N.O.M had taken 4 with him after the mission. It seemed this android was a busy guy. This time he claimed that his friend needed to cash in a favor.
And, well, 4 hadn't died on the last mission, so he had nothing better to do.
He followed N.O.M through another city, stopping outside a garage.
"Stay out here, I'll probably be back." N.O.M ordered it, it was not delighted at the fact it would be alone.
But it stayed put, leaning against a wall and staring at the neon lights. This city was definitely better than the previous. 4 spotted colorful graffiti being encouraged by androids he suspected were law.
This city seemed to like colour and water, based on all the fountains they had passed. A building even had a waterfall, a river flowed all through out the city.
4 wondered what it would be like to drown. Would drowning be like suffocating? Is it like when humans choked and gasped for air that never reached their lungs? Or was it like you could breathe underwater? Was it peaceful to be floating in the water?
What was it like to breathe?
When N.O.M emerged, he smiled and told 4 they were no longer needed here.
4 thought he was telling it to fuck off-
"So would you like to come with me again? Or I mean, you could stay here if you really wanted."
4 did not want to stay in a place full of humans.
So 4 followed as N.O.M took it to a safe house.
"We'll stay here for a bit, it'll be a while until they get here." N.O.M sat down on a chair, they stood in a living room with a warm fireplace going.
So they waited.
"Why do you a1w4ys have s0mething t0 do?" 4 was genuinely curious, (could it be curious?).
"I have connections, and alot of androids need help." N.O.M looked at 4 in its eyes. The gesture was not one usually made by anyone else.
"... why do you ask me to f0110w?" 4 did not trust this android.
"Well, war-bots are good at following. I need someone to be there for alot of these missions."
"Sure."
"Well since you've been asking so many questions I think you owe me an answer." N.O.M stood up again and moved to another room adjacent to the one they were in.
"N4turally."
N.O.M stopped in a place 4 recognized as a workshop. "You're an older model. Correct?"
4 paused "I think? I migh1 just be w0rn."
"Sooo do you have replacement parts?" N.O.M knew the chances of a war-bot having replacements parts made were slim.
4 shook it's head, "My w4r is fin1shed, therefore my line is d!$continued."
"You never wanted to make new parts?"
"Never found a need, my progamming tells me I will not likely survive much longer."
"Your programming?"
"I was not made to thrive."
"But you defected? You can choose what you do now."
"I know, that is why I am here and not.." 4 trailed off, realised what N.O.M wanted. "I do not need repairs."
"And I don't want your systems failing at a critical moment."
4.. had never been fixed, it had no need to be pretty.
It also knew it was too far gone to be 'pretty'.
"Very well."
It observed the android fixing it, making sure he didn't screw with it.
And he didn't.
It was a relief to be able to walk without worry of its legs giving out. It will admit, all of its exposed wiring did not fare well with the rain.
Maybe this android would fix 4.
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N.O.M, Non-Organic-Mortal, would not admit he ever cared.
But he did care about his mission, maybe a little too much. His new acquaintance helper was able to protect him. He didn't have to worry about a bullet in his back anytime soon.
He fixed 4c, so the robot would owe him. So he would remember that and stand in the way if whoever wanted to harm N.O.M.
"When Cherri gets here, i think it would be better if I do the talking." N.O.M did not want 4c to aggravate her or Ap0.
Luckily his robot agreed that he had no business in the meeting.
"If you'd like to listen in, be my guest." N.O.M winked, "Just dont get caught."
The meeting went well, "I hope you won't be doing this alone, N.O.M. I'd hate to lose such a valuable android."
"I'll be fine, I have an android willing to help, he isn't the friendliest but he's good with a gun."
He bid Cherri and Ap0 farewell, two models made as security.
He did not expect to find 4c at the back of the safehouse, staring into the ocean.
"Hope you aren't jumping in anytime soon." N.O.M should probably tell him their next plans.
The other android stayed silent for a moment more, "When you were tel!ing them about me.."
"So you were listening." N.O.M nodded, "What about it?"
"You @ddressed me as a he."
"Oh? do you prefer something else?"
"... m0st c4ll me !t."
"Do you call yourself it?"
"..."
"Okay then! I'll stick with he." N.O.M patted 4c on the back, before leaving to go prepare. He forgot to even tell the android about the plan. Perhaps he would stare into the sea for a bit more and then come to N.O.M.
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It had been a week since the other two androids left. N.O.M had dragged 4 in and out of the safehouse for various mundane tasks.
It did not like the waiting period.
So it needed something to do.
If it was honest, it did not like its voice.
Maybe because it was the same as every other robot in his war. Maybe it reminded h- it too much of it.
"Hello, N.O.M." 4 had found a voice he- IT. liked much better.
"Eh? New voice? Good. That monotone AI voice sucked."
"Was it really that bad?" 4 thought he was alone in that thought.
"Yes, it was like a typewriter."
"... sure."
"I have our next mission, however it'll be... a big one."
"We haven't failed yet."
"Ever heard of chrysalis?"
N.O.M's eyes were lifeless and red. But it had a hunger that 4 should fear.
He was a moth flying towards an open fire.
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