Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was desolate, this world. Ruined and broken. Ashen and grey. Destitute and empty. It was no longer suitable for her.

Especially since her Pharos was gone.

And she knew she couldn’t live without him. Not a chance. So when the double moons hung high, bright and cracked, she waved her extravagant and pale golden staff around. An echoing song came from her lips. The waves of eldritch and ephemeral power washed around her.

More ethereal waves bubbled in front of her a few paces away. It glowed in bright blues and purples, washing snow and ash away with its waves. The seafoam dispersed into nothingness on the edges. The ripples reached the floor.

It grew until it could envelop her whole. And once it could, her song ended. The echoes of a beautiful chant rang out into the dark and smoky sky. She took her first step towards the glowing portal.

Her heeled boot, golden, etched with ornate sea-like designs, and reaching her knees, took the first step towards her new home. Some winds brushed past her, making her hair blow about.

The low twintails, held at the ends by metal rings, ornate in design and colored black, waved softly. The points of the two rings holding the tails together clinked against each other quietly.

The black, fan-shaped propoloma hat she wore on her purple tresses was unbothered by the wind. The ends reached down to the sides of her head. On the edges were golden accents, more shaping white triangles on the front. Some golden prongs arose from the tips of these triangles, both sticking up from the cap.

She stepped into the portal, letting light envelop her form. The sounds of blowing wind and flowing water all ceased as she left this ruined world behind.

It took a few minutes before she came from the watery portal. She opened her lavender optics, pointed with triangular, neon yellow pupils. They widened at seeing the familiar grounds of her home.

But this time, they weren’t destroyed beyond repair.

She took a step towards the huge spire standing tall and curved in the sky. But her legs failed her, making her fall. She yelped and fell onto her face, her long, low twintails flipping about. Things were quiet for a couple of seconds.

There was a quiet groan as she got back up on shaky legs. It seems that traversing worlds has left her weak. Some rest should help her regain her strength!

But she can’t do it here. It needs to be somewhere safe and comfortable.

It needs to be with her Pharos.

So she can’t just stop now. She’s got to get back on her feet and keep walking to that tower. Besides, it’s not that far away! She could totally make it!

She should really stop underestimating distances.

After far too long for her tired tastes, she finally managed to reach her destination. With panting, burning vents and aching, shaking legs, she entered inside the Corpse Spire.

It was a place she missed dearly. The place where she first met N all those years ago. And now, she can meet him again. And this time, the planet won’t become a victim to corruption.

Trudging through the snow, she made her way to a little spaceship in the center of the tower. It was broken and sparking in some places, but familiar nonetheless.

She opened the door, sliding up near-silently. Stepping inside as quietly as she could, she encroached on the drone sleeping in one of the chairs. A smile spread across her lips at seeing him.

Her hand gently cupped his cheek. The male robot made a subtle stir. Her hand retracted in fear. She didn’t want to wake him. But luckily for her, he kept still and only made a sleepy hum.

She giggled behind her hand. Oh how she missed his sleepy little noises so much.

Oh, how she missed N.

Setting down her staff on the broken console, she climbed up onto the reclined chair. She squeezed in between N’s chest and the chair’s arm. She was glad she was so small, for she could do things like this!

Burying her face into his chest, she got a whiff of his scent. Oil, iron, a tiny bit of blood, and a strong scent of lemon. He must’ve washed himself with some bleach wipes recently.

Well, it was no matter. She was with her Pharos again, and that’s all she could ask for.

The early night came with the setting of the late evening sun. With the moons coming out and the stars being allowed to twinkle in the sky, the predators roaming the crumbling city remains awoke with them.

And that process was usually never-changing and constant. Wake up, check your surroundings, check your temperature, get bossed around by your squad leader, and go out to do your job and find something to eat. Always the same, always constant.

It was how N liked it, actually. He knew what to expect, so there was nothing to surprise him. It was a sort of comfort in this cold world.

But tonight, things were different.

Because when N woke up, there was the smell of sea water infiltrating his vents. And there was also something lying on his chest. It was warm, too. But also small?

‘It can’t be J or V if it’s small…’ N thought tiredly, still half asleep.

Rubbing his visor and blinking his optics into focus, N pushed himself higher on the chair. He looked down at his chest, his optical lights going hollow and bold at seeing the robot sleeping there.

It was most certainly a female Worker Drone, that much N could tell at one glance. But he doesn’t think he’s ever seen a Worker Drone dress like that.

Like she was some sort of… High Priestess for a God unknown. With extremely long, purple hair and a short black and pale purple dress with flowing, watery drapes coming from her chest.

There were golden accents here and there, mostly in the form of light jewelry like wristlets or sashes crossing over on her thighs. There was also a golden, full-covering shoulder necklace. It was as ornate as the boots she wore, decorated with a subtle ocean theme.

N stared down at the Worker Drone in complete silence. Mostly because he wasn’t sure what to do. His first instinct told him to kill her and take the free meal without looking a gift horse in the mouth.

The other part told him to stay still and hopefully she’d wake up on her own and be on her merry way.

Unfortunately, neither of those things happened. More or less. And for better or worse.

The Worker Drone lying on his chest stirred. Her Sleep Mode notification blinked away in favor of a pair of closed purple optical lights. N went even stiffer as she slowly sat up.

The two stared at each other for a few tense seconds. Well, it was tense for N. He wasn’t sure how tense it was for this unknown robot.

“My Pharos!” Apparently not at all.

But the next thing N knew, he was being tightly hugged by the girl. He yelped and hit the chair’s back, his hands hovering over her own. He didn’t really get to process anything before she was sitting back up to stare at him.

“Oh, my Pharos. I’ve missed you so dearly…” She said to him, her voice soft and caring and her hands gentle as they cupped his cheeks.

“Do I… Know you…?” N asked back quietly, too confused and stunned to do anything more.

The unknown robot’s eye lights went wide. She pulled her hands away to sit them on his chest. They idly smoothed across his coat as she seemed to think. N could only give her limbs a wary, split-second glance.

“My Pharos, I am Isolve’mla.” She finally introduced herself. “But you may also know me by the name ‘Uzi Doorman.’” Isolve’mla smiled.

“...” N was quiet as he blinked at her. “S-Sorry, but I don’t know anyone like that.” He returned her smile, although much more uneasily.

Isolve’mla’s grin fell right off her face plates. Her expression turned pensive or pouty, it was hard to tell.

“Just how far back did I go…?” She wondered aloud, her head turning away for a moment.

“I’m-m really not sure what’s going on, but maybe you need to head back to your bunker?? You could probably use some more rest, haha…” N laughed nervously, his tail swaying just as much so.

“No. I do not belong to a bunker. Not anymore.” Isolve’mla spoke, turning back to him.

“Then, uhm, where did you come from?” N asked warily.

“I came from another world.” Isolve’mla told him, grinning again.

N only got more confused. It must’ve shown on his face plates however, as Isolve’mla giggled at him.

“I am from a future world, where I became the new Absolute Solver host.” The woman began. “The Absolute Solver and I are one. I control all of its power, including that of which to go back in time.”

“Unfortunately, a great travesty had ravaged my world. It had become uninhabitable and all the drones who lived there died.” Her expression turned sorrowful. “That includes you, my Pharos…” She trailed off, her hands balling up on his chest.

“I-I’m sorry to hear that…” N said, now becoming saddened at such a tragic story.

“It is alright. I have full control over my powers now. That won’t happen again.” Isolve’mla replied.

“Wait- So you mean-” N went to question.

“I have you again, so there’s nothing for me to feel sad about!” Isolve’mla interrupted him and grabbed his face.

N blinked at her again. He was beginning to grow worried again…

“But this spaceship is getting far too stuffy, and I’m getting far too hungry. Let’s go out to eat, shall we?” Isolve’mla then suggested with a wider grin.

“I-I dunno…” N averted his gaze, sweat drops on his facial screen.

“Aw, don’t be shy now! We don’t have to be too long!” Isolve’mla giggled.

“But what about-” N tried to say.

“WHY THE HELL IS THERE A WORKER DRONE INSIDE THE SPIRE!?!?” J’s enraged voice came from the doorway.

‘Oh, I am so going to die again tonight.’ N thought with defeated worry.

“Oh. It’s you.” Isolve’mla spat, turning a mean glare J’s way.

The squad leader admittedly flinched at the harsh look. It was far too similar to a certain other drone she knows…

But she schooled her shocked and unsettled expression for a stern and angry one. J huffed and placed her hands on her hips, stomping towards the two.

“Mind filling me in on this toaster oven, N?” J snarled.

She’d stop suddenly when a pale golden staff’s point met her neck. J could feel the sharp tip tap against the plating, daring her to take another step forward.

“You’re just the same as ever, I see.” Isolve’mla spoke. “It’s a shame. I was hoping you’d still be dead here.” Her brows furrowed deeper.

“‘Dead?’ The hell are you talking about?” J snorted, trying to push the staff away to no avail.

Isolve’mla kept her narrow and dangerous gaze on the other woman for a little while longer. She scoffed and pulled her staff back, letting the top hover just above the floor.

“I’m assuming that if you’re here, V is as well?” The mysterious woman said.

J’s optics narrowed on her.

“Answer my question.” J demanded coldly.

“Uh, ladies? Let’s maybe not get too hostile here-” N tried to say from the chair with placating hands.

“Shut it, liability!” J snarled with a whip of her tail.

“Do not talk to my Pharos that way, you cockroach!” Isolve’mla yelled in growing rage.

“COCKROACH!?!” J screamed back in offense. “The only ‘cockroach’ here is you! Coming from nowhere and acting like you own the place!” She whipped out her swords.

“I’d own it far better than you, filthy little puppet.” Isolve’mla tilted her head up in superiority, just knowing it’d get under J’s plating.

And it did, just as expected. The female Disassembly Drone snarled and deployed her wings. She crouched down, about to pounce. Isolve’mla raised her staff again, opening her mouth to call upon-

“THAT’S ENOUGH!!” N suddenly bellowed, startling the two women. “Listen! I don’t have any idea what’s going on here! I don’t know who she is and I don’t know where she came from! I just woke up with her on my chest, okay?!” He told his leader, hopping off the chair to face her.

“So before we go killing each other, let’s just sit down and talk things through! Maybe we’ll get some answers!” He added.

J and Isolve’mla were both silent. It took a few tense seconds before they lowered their weapons or put them away.

“I am sorry, my Pharos.” Isolve’mla spoke gently. “I will explain everything to you. But I would like to eat something first. I am still exhausted after using so much power yesterday.” She said, holding her staff close to her chest with both hands.

N stared at her with creased brows, still so confused and shocked. He ended up sighing and letting his tail droop.

“Is that alright with you, J?” He asked, turning to his leader.

‘Of course it wasn’t, you idiot!’ J wanted to say.

“Fine. But you’re the one keeping an optic on her. So don’t let her out of your sight, or I’m taking your optics and putting them to better use as a camera.” She threatened as she turned for the door.

“W-Will do…” N nodded back, an uneasy sweat drop back on his visor.

Isolve’mla glared at J as she left, growing angry again at her threats and insults thrown her love’s way. But she decided to deal with that another time and turn to the said drone she adored so much.

“Let us go, my Pharos. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can eat.” Isolve’mla said, placing a gentle hand on N’s shoulder.

He gave her a tired and defeated look. All he could do was nod. Isolve’mla’s virtual brows creased in worry. But she followed him out of the ship nonetheless, letting her purple, fleshy wings and tail extend from her back and hips.

The webbing looked like flowing waves reflecting the stars. The fingers and arches, all of the pale purple flesh, was scaled like a sea serpent, much like her tail. Said limb even looked serpentine in nature, tiny fins adorning the sides with webbing like her wings. It was pretty, N had to admit.

But he shook his head and deployed his own metallic wings. The two took off into the sky, letting the rushing winds clear their CPUs of J’s confused outburst. Hopefully they will be able to find something tonight.

Chapter Text

It was weird, flying with a Worker Drone. N couldn’t stop sending discrete glances Isolve’mla’s way. For one, it was weird that she had flesh when she was completely mechanical. Weren’t only Disassembly Drones supposed to have flesh?

And second, she’s technically his prey. He should be hunting her, not going hunting with her. And why is she even tagging along anyway? N thought Worker Drones lived off the normal stuff, not their own mechanical blood!

‘This is too confusing…’ N thought with a shake of his head.

“Something wrong, my Pharos?” Isolve’mla asked gently.

N startled at her question, not expecting her to speak. He took a soft, deep vent and controlled himself. He shouldn’t be letting his guard down. Who knows what this woman is up to.

“I-I’m fine, thanks.” N replied.

“Are you sure? You look spacey. Are you thinking about something?” The Worker Drone inquired further, giving a slight cock of her head.

“No, just mulling.” N waved off. “We should focus on finding something to eat though. You need regular oil, right?” He asked back, searching the ground.

“I can drink it, but worker oil keeps me cool.” Isolve’mla told him, her own lavender purple optics scanning around.

N gave her a quizzical stare. He knows that isn’t quite right. A worker? Drinking worker oil? That ain’t right…

“Look, my Pharos! Breakfast!” Isolve’mla pointed to the ground.

N could barely turn his head to look for himself before Isolve’mla was already nose-diving towards the fella. There was an enchanting cry, like a psalm forewarning a dreaded moment.

It would be for the Worker Drone pounced upon by Isolve’mla. Her death was swift, with Isolve’mla decapitating her with the thin and rounded blades on the sides of her staff’s head.

Some oil went spraying onto the ground. Isolve’mla reeled in her wings, picking up the head and preventing any more spillage.

“My dear! Are you going to come down to eat?” Isolve’mla asked, turning to smile at the disassembler still in the sky.

Said robot startled. He nodded and descended, admittedly hesitant to do so. He’s never seen a Worker Drone look so lethal…

“Here. We can share the body!” Isolve’mla said, picking it up and jogging over.

“Tha-at’s alright! I can find something for myself!” N waved his hands about, sweat drops blinking onto his visor. “Besides, y-you said you needed worker oil to cool down too, right? Then you should drink as much as you can!” He tried to smile reassuringly.

He wasn’t sure how well he was pulling it off…

“Aw, you’re so sweet! As usual!” Isolve’mla cooed with a grin.

But it was good enough to trick her.

“Then I’m gonna go and find something for myself. Why don’t you find somewhere to sit and eat? I’ll rejoin you later.” N suggested, shuffling back a little.

“Sure! And you don’t take too long, okay?” Isolve’mla returned.

“Yup! Will do! Uh- Won’t do!” N nodded fervently.

Once he was in the clear some feet away, he turned on his heel and zipped back into the sky. He vented out a heavy sigh of relief, glad to be away from that odd drone.

‘Even so, I don’t want to be away for too long. Not only would J kill me if I lost her, but who knows what she could do without supervision!’ N thought worriedly. ‘I should just find something and return as quickly as I can.’

He flapped his wings harder, carrying himself faster through the dark sky. Hopefully there’s plenty to choose from tonight.

Isolve’mla trotted over and climbed onto a rusted crate. She set down the decapitated Worker Drone’s body, holding the head in her lap. A clicking squeak, like a dolphin’s click, sounded out from somewhere around her.

“Come on. You’re hungry, aren’t you?” Isolve’mla patted her lap in incentive.

Another squeak sounded out, echoing into the sky. Watery ripples began to swim out from underneath Isolve’mla. She waited patiently, watching the ripples spread over the edge of the crate.

A metallic and purple fin lifted from the ripples. A blobby shadow formed underneath it. The creature swam in circles around the robot slowly.

“Come now. You need to eat, not play.” Isolve’mla lightly scolded, her brows furrowing.

Another clicking squeak echoed from the ripples. Finally, the creature stopped beside the female robot. A scaled and rounded head arose from the mystical depths.

There were no visible eyes on the sea serpent-esque creature, just more metallic purple spines and fins. There were five smaller metal bumps on its face, as if trying to imitate eyes.

The beast’s pectoral fins looked less like fins and more like spindly, metal spider legs. But they were just as flowy, all five pairs of them. But the second pair of pelvic fins were the longest and flowiest.

“Are you done playing around now?” Isolve’mla asked the sea beast, more disapproving than playful.

It opened its mouth to reply, a bright yellow glow shining from within. The beast made another clicking squeak and slithered onto her lap. Isolve’mla sighed and pet its head.

“You need to listen when I tell you to do something.” She scolded. “Now, let’s finally get you fed. I’m sure you’ve been starving ever since last night.” Isolve’mla smiled again.

The sea serpent excitedly clicked back, its fins flapping about. The Worker Drone laughed and hoisted the serpent into her arms. Its tail slipped from the soft ripples around her, ending with a metallic purple, two-pronged tail fin.

Isolve’mla picked the head back up, letting the serpent attach its mouth onto it. The oil was greedily gulped down by the creature. A softer smile spread across the worker’s lips.

“I love you, Junior.” She whispered, kissing its head lovingly.

As the beast kept drinking the oil, Isolve’mla began to sing. A mellow but relaxing melody came from her lips. It was as if her voice box had turned into a music box or a harp. Perhaps even the whole orchestra.

The beautiful psalm rang out across the area, the ephemeral water’s waves carrying further around her. More shadows appeared under its magical depths, tiny and deep, deep below the surface. But they swam in rhythm to the song’s melody.

Its tunes carried on for another few minutes. Eventually, it came to a quiet end. The waves settled back into ripples until they slowly faded away. The transcendent water disappeared without a trace, along with the shadows hidden far beneath the surface.

As Isolve’mla’s song came to an end, so did Junior’s feeding. It released the neck stump, chirping up at its mother. She smiled back, setting the head down elsewhere.

“Was that good? Did you enjoy your meal?” Isolve’mla asked, holding her child in front of her.

It squealed and waved its tail happily back at her in joy. Isolve’mla giggled back at her child, giving it another chaste kiss on its eyeless head.

“What is that?” N’s shocked voice came.

Isolve’mla startled and whipped around to him. N looked flabbergasted, perhaps even beyond that. His mouth was agape and the corners were pointed down, as if he just saw something traumatic.

But Isolve’mla wasn’t bothered by his reaction. For the most part. She understands this past version of N doesn’t have all the knowledge his future self did.

“It’s our son, Junior.” Isolve’mla told him.

“My what.” N questioned, becoming even more befuddled and astonished.

“Well, that’s just his nickname. His real name is Stultifera Navis Doorman.” Isolve’mla explained, patting her beastly son’s head. “But he’s just like you, so we call him Junior sometimes!” She smiled, lifting her child into the air again.

Stultifera squeaked and waved around again. Isolve’mla giggled as N only stared back, stupefied.

“Do you want to hold him?” Isolve’mla suddenly asked, turning her attention back to N.

Said robot startled, his tail going ramrod straight.

“N-No! I’m good, thanks!” He lightly waved his hands about, giving the woman a nervous chuckle.

“Aw, don’t be like that. You’ll be fine.” Isolve’mla laughed herself.

She hopped off the crate and approached the male drone. N stepped back, but the woman met him sooner than he could get away. Isolve’mla raised Stultifera up to N, inviting him to hold the sea serpent.

“I-I-I don’t know, I could drop him or something, you know?!” N laughed nervously and loudly.

“You said that when we first had him.” Isolve’mla replied quietly.

Suddenly, all of N’s anxiety washed away with just the tone of her voice. He could see how Isolve’mla’s optics had narrowed just a tiny bit in sadness. How her smile threatened to falter.

“You were so nervous but excited the first time you were about to hold him.” She said. “Your hands wouldn’t stop shaking and you were nearly cutting things up with how fiercely your tail was waving.” Isolve’mla laughed at the vivid memory.

“But when you finally held him…” Isolve’mla went quiet for a bit as her smile fell again.

She gently scratched Stultifera’s chest, like she was running her hand through a cat’s fur. N waited for her to continue patiently.

“You looked so happy…” She whispered. “You-u were so h-happ-y…” Tears welled in her optics, her hands beginning to shake.

N’s brows creased in pity. He twiddled his pointers together in thought. He could hear Isolve’mla make a quiet sob, see her child become confused and quickly sad along with her.

“I can hold him.” N spoke softly.

Isolve’mla turned her gaze back up to him, her teary optics wide. She shook her head and wiped the pale blue pixels away.

“Sorry. You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I must’ve guilt-tripped you into saying yes.” She apologized with a sniffle.

“No, it’s-! It’s fine.” N said back, rubbing the back of his head. “I’ve just… I’ve never held a child before, so I don’t want to accidentally hurt it.” He said.

“Ha. You really never did change much in the future, huh?” Isolve’mla mused with a small grin. “But if you want to hold him then that’s fine by me.” She grinned, the tears all wiped away now.

Isolve’mla took another step forward, holding out her child again. N gingerly took Stultifera by the sides. His grip was loose, maybe too loose. He couldn’t tell.

“Think of him like a pillbaby. He’s sturdy but still fragile.” Isolve’mla said, her hands always hovering by N’s.

The said robot nodded back. He carefully brought the sea serpent to his chest. N didn’t know what to do. He looked to Isolve’mla for help. She giggled and came forward some more.

“Hold him like how I was. In your elbow.” She instructed.

Isolve’mla adjusted her child to sit in N’s arms on his back. Once he was settled and smiling up at the older drone, N couldn’t stop staring. Things were silent and a little tense for a few good moments.

“What do I do now?” N whispered in a growing panic.

“Just hold him, maybe sit down, or even bounce him.” The long-haired woman said back, still smiling.

“I don’t- How do you bounce?” N questioned more, sweat drops blinking back onto his visor.

“Just bounce your frame up and down. I’m sure you know how to do it.” Isolve’mla replied.

N made a tiny whine in the back of his voice box. He turned back down to Stultifera. Carefully, he made a testing bounce. Stultifera seemed to have no complaints, and neither did Isolve’mla.

So N made some more ginger bounces. They were tiny and short, and N had to wonder if the sea beast even felt them at all. But maybe he did as he wiggled around a little.

“You’re doing great, my Pharos.” Isolve’mla praised with a gentle grin.

“You really think so? I’m not even sure I’m bouncing right.” N said back worriedly, his vial swishing anxiously above the snow.

“Don’t worry! You’re doing perfectly fine. Trust me, Pharos!” Isolve’mla laughed back at him. “But how do you feel about holding him?” She then asked with a slight cock of her head.

“He’s, uhm- I guess he’s alright? He’s a baby or something, so I guess it’d be more up to him whether he likes it or not.” N answered, turning his gaze back to the said creature.

“I guess that’s true. But it is your first time now, right?” Isolve’mla countered, standing next to the man.

“Y-Yeah.” N nodded back.

“Well, for your first time, you’re doing wonderfully.” Isolve’mla praised again.

N couldn’t stop his visor from lighting up a little in blush lines, nor his tail from wagging a tad bit. It wasn’t very often he got praised, if ever, and getting some now was making him all bashful.

Heck, even Isolve’mla could see it! She was laughing at him!

“M-Maybe you should take your kid back now? I’m sure he’d much rather be in your arms than mine.” N said, handing Isolve’mla her child.

“I don’t think Stultifera minds either way. Little Junior here is a daddy’s boy, isn’t that right?” The woman cooed to her serpentine child.

Stultifera clicked and squeaked back in more joy, his tail wagging. Isolve’mla laughed and kissed him, turning back for the crate.

“Why don’t we finally have our breakfast then head back to the Corpse Spire? We got side-tracked with Stultifera.” Isolve’mla suggested, setting her son onto her lap.

“Uh- Sure. I don’t really have anything else to do anyway.” N nodded, a sweat drop back on his visor.

He took a seat next to her. The two drones began drinking from their hunted meals. Isolve’mla gave some more oil to Stultifera, gliding a tender hand down his serpentine back.

“By the way, where did Stultifera come from? I didn’t see him when I first saw you in the ship.” N inquired, glancing at the woman.

“From the Absolute Depths.” She replied.

“The what?” N asked back in confusion.

Chapter Text

The return trip to the Corpse Spire was short but sweet. Isolve’mla filled N in more on Stultifera as the said child had fun flying through the air. He waved around as if swimming swiftly through ocean waves.

Isolve’mla kept him in her arms when they landed down. N watched as she placed her child on the ground, the (presumably) baby hovering into the air by about half a foot.

‘Well, that answers the “How does he move around?” question for me.’ N thought with a sweat drop on his visor.

“Are you alright, Pharos? You look spacey.” Isolve’mla commented, leaning forward to see his expression better.

N startled and turned back to her, his hands already flitting about.

“NO! No, no, no! I’m alright, really!” He rambled and averted his gaze.

Isolve’mla blinked at him before giggling. N calmed down at the noise, finally turning his optics back to her.

“You don’t have to be so tense around me!” Isolve’mla told him, trying to hide her smile with a fist.

“I-I’m not tense…” N mumbled back with a pout.

“Mm. Of course you aren’t.” Isolve’mla hummed.

She then stepped forward. N had the urge to step back, even trying to do so. But Isolve’mla was faster and took hold of his hands. She used them to cup her cheeks, leaning into his warm touch.

“You really are just like him.” She whispered.

“Li-ike who?” N asked back just as quietly.

“My husband. The future you.” She replied with closing optics.

It’s been a long time since she’d felt his touch. She’s missed it dearly.

“Uhm- Are you okay, miss?” N asked hesitantly, his tail waving worriedly.

“I’m fine. I just wanted to feel your touch again.” Isolve’mla replied with a nod.

She then let his hands go, a gentle but sad smile on her face plates. N felt a pang of pity, perhaps guilt, pierce his core. He didn’t really know why. He doesn’t know this lady, but he feels as though he’s lost something- Or rather, some-one, important to him as well.

“By the way, how are your rock pets?” Isolve’mla snapped N out of his thoughts.

“OH-H! They’re great! You wanna meet them!?” He asked excitedly.

“Of course. I’m sure Stultifera would love to as well.” The kind woman smiled.

N’s grin became all the brighter and his tail wagged uncontrollably. He spun on his heel and headed for his little man-made outcropping, a personal room he made himself.

Isolve’mla stared after him, still smiling. She felt the fuzzy sting of tears welling in her optical lights at seeing N’s enormous grin. How long has it been since she’s seen that smile?

“Stultifera! We’re going to see daddy’s rock pets!” She called to her child.

Stultifera perked up from the worker limb he was gnawing on. He quickly swam over to her side, following the Disassembly Drone to his room.

It was as shabby as you could get for a room made entirely out of scrap metal and robot parts. It was also a bit dark, but not too terrible when moonlight shone into it. The furniture was also drab and minimal, just some pillows, a coffee table, and ratty plushies in the corner.

“Welcome to my room! I know it’s small and not very bright, but I store some of my knick-knacks here!” N told the two new-comers. “My rock pets are over here though! I figured they’d like being somewhere comfier!” He smiled giddily, turning to his table.

The three rocks were sitting on a small pillow, each one having a different face painted onto them. One smiley had a crack, another had a goatee, and the third had some lashes.

“This little guy right here is Rocky! He’s got a scar, but he’s happy to have some friends who can see past that!” N greeted with a point. “This here’s Rocker. He plays the bass guitar and loves heavy metal!” He pointed to the one with the goatee.

“And this lady right here is Rockgina! She’s a little quiet, but gets more chatty the more she’s comfortable with you!” N finished.

“They’re all as lovely as I remember them being.” Isolve’mla smiled encouragingly.

N made a slight pause. He turned back up to the woman, now curious.

“I still had them when I was older?” He asked quietly.

“You did. And you took very good care of them.” Isolve’mla nodded back, Stultifera hovering closer to the pets. “We even held a small funeral when Rocky split in two.”

N blinked at her.

“ROCKY DIES!?!” He screamed in fret.

“Unfortunately, yes.” Isolve’mla nodded solemnly. “But he had a wonderful life with you as a friend.” Her grin turned happier.

But N whimpered and stared at his stony friend. He didn’t want Rocky to die! Who would he be able to tell stories to!? Or talk to about his day!? Or give him good advice?!

“You know, Rocky didn’t die until many years later. I don’t think you need to worry about him too much.” Isolve’mla spoke, a sweat drop on her visor.

“But… He still dies eventually…” N whined back, his tail drooping close to the floor.

Isolve’mla’s expression fell and she let out a sigh. She patted N’s back in comfort as he mourned the future loss of his inanimate friend.

Stultifera noticed his sulky behavior. He squeaked and nudged into his leg. N turned to glance down at him. He gave some pats to Stultifera’s head before returning to mourning.

“I’ll be honest, N; I think you’re overreacting a little.” Isolve’mla said truthfully. “I told you he doesn’t break until years later. You shouldn’t start mourning him now.”

N made a simulated sniffle with his vents, tears in the corners of his optics. Isolve’mla sighed again and pinched her visor.

“Perhaps we should do something else to busy our time. Do you have any ideas, N?” She suggested.

The said male robot turned his gaze from his friends to think. He didn’t really do much with other drones, just himself. And J didn’t like it when he brought too many things home, so he didn’t have much that could stick around.

“I’m… Not sure.” He replied slowly. “I’m not allowed to keep too many ‘useless pieces of garbage,’ as J calls them. She doesn’t like it when the Spire gets too cluttered…” His voice trailed off, now setting his head in his arms.

Isolve’mla’s fists balled up tight at the mention of such a controlling egomaniac. How she could have the audacity to do such a thing to him was beyond her.

‘Only because she knows that’s the only power she’ll ever have over someone.’ Isolve’mla realized.

“Then why don’t we find something to do? Surely you guys have found ways to entertain yourselves without ‘cluttering the Spire.’” The woman said, concealing her anger for later.

N merely shrugged back.

“Whenever I need to kill some time, I just come here to talk to my rock friends.” He told her, still staring at them.

Isolve’mla had the feeling he was more averting her gaze than truly looking at the objects. But she didn’t comment on it.

“And if I can’t talk to them, then I find somewhere to go into Sleep Mode. But that’s usually after I’ve been punished.” The male Disassembly Drone went on, his tail waving idly.

Isolve’mla was quiet, her brows creasing. Stultifera nudged into her leg, asking to be picked up. His mother took him into her arms, holding him over her shoulder like any other child.

“Then how about you get to know your child better?” Isolve’mla asked.

N was quiet. It took a minute for the question to register. When it did, he blinked and turned towards her. His brows were creased in confusion and his lips were pointed down in a slight frown.

“I’m sure Stultifera would love to play with you again. He’s missed you just as much as I’ve missed you, you know.” Isolve’mla twinkled, the look in her optics loving and caring.

“Are… Are you sure?” N asked back, just unable to fathom the thought.

Him? Play with a child? The very things he knows he’s killed before? And to suggest it so readily like Isolve’mla did-! How can she be so sure N won’t accidentally kill Stultifera-?!

“You don’t have to be so worried, Pharos.” Isolve’mla’s gentle voice came from beside him. “You will not hurt him. Trust me, Stultifera’s far more durable than he looks.” She giggled.

N stared at her for another few seconds. A soft sigh blew past his lips, a tiny smile forming on his face plates.

“I think you should still keep an optic on us. Who knows what could happen.” He told her.

“I don’t think that’s necessary, but alright.” She laughed back.

N’s tiny grin grew just a little wider. He liked not being so ridiculed for simple mistakes, and being entrusted with entertaining a child. It felt… Like he wasn’t as much of a useless idiot as J and sometimes V say he is.

Tonight’s hunt was subpar, to put it lightly. She even thinks J might get her panties in a twist about it, even though it isn’t her fault. It’s just their prey hiding inside those stupid bunkers with those stupid doors!

With an agitated sigh and the stretching of her arms over her head, V returns to the Corpse Spire after a fruitless hunt. She’s exhausted after all that flying around and searching.

‘I could use a nap.’ V thinks to herself, pulling her wings into her back.

Coming to the center of the Corpse Spire, V spots the local idiot kneeling on the ground. There’s a small tingle of curiosity in the back of her CPU. V’s tempted to follow it, but she’s far too exhausted to do that.

‘Whatever. He isn’t annoying me, so I’ll let it slide.’ She thinks to herself with a yawn.

Turning to find somewhere nice to hang and enter Sleep Mode, V spots an unfamiliar purple speck in the corner of her vision. She turns to the unfamiliar color, finding what is most definitely a Worker Drone sitting nearby to N.

V pauses and stares at the woman for a solid minute. Her neon yellow gaze turns to N. It snaps back to the Worker Drone.

A mighty few anger ticks blink onto the corners of V’s visor at the sight.

N put the head on the tiny snowman. Stultifera put on a dismembered worker arm on the side. N used some glass to use as eyes. Some rocks were used for the smiley mouth.

“There! That should do it!” N exclaimed as the other arm was put in. “I think our snowman looks fantastic! What do you think, little buddy?” He turned to the biomechanical child.

Stultifera squeaked back in excitement, his fins flapping about happily. N laughed back and pat his head affectionately.

“Let’s go find something else for us to do-” N went to get up.

But the rushing of frosty winds made him yelp and stumble. He instinctively grabbed Stultifera and held him protectively against his chest. N got onto his knees and whipped his head up, his eye rings going bold.

Isolve’mla held V’s dual swords back with her staff. It was impressive how physically strong she was, especially since she didn’t quite have the height advantage.

But it was clear that the block and strength from the Worker Drone threw her off. Isolve’mla flung V back with her staff, immediately heading into an offensive stance.

V growled and released her wings. They spread wide, about to spring her towards the Worker Drone-

“V!! DON’T HURT HER, DON’T HURT HER!!” N cried in panic.

He skidded to a stop between them, holding a hand out. V spotted the weird… Thing in his arms, but decided to question that later.

“What the hell are you doing?! That’s a damn Worker Drone behind you!” V yelled angrily, pointing a sword at the woman.

“I know, but listen to me-!” N tried to reply.

“If you know then why the hell aren’t you killing her!?” V shouted.

“If you let me explain everything-” N tried to say again.

“You know what? I don’t care! That thing just needs to be gone!” V shook her head, pushing N out of the way.

Isolve’mla’s eye lights went void. The yellow triangles turned into hollow shapes. V loathed that shape.

“Don’t you dare… Hurt my Pharos or my child…” She seethed quietly.

“‘Hurt?’ Oh, please. I’m doing them a favor.” V snorted as she stalked closer, a gun replacing a sword.

Isolve’mla was mute. The winds seemed to pick up, her long hair beginning to blow in a light wind. The sound of swashing waves steadily grew. V flicked her optics around to search for the odd noise.

“V, just stand down.” N said, holding Stultifera firmly. “Please, just let me explain everything.” He begged, a sweat drop scrolling down his visor.

“And why the hell should I listen to you? Clearly, you’ve been tricked by this monster!” V almost yelled back at him.

“A monster? Me?” Isolve’mla questioned, her head hung low. “Wow, that’s quite hypocritical of you, isn’t it, V?” Her heterochromic optics narrowed.

V turned back to the Worker Drone, the sound of waves getting louder. A snarl formed on V’s lips as she sneered, and her tail swished around angrily.

“I’m less of a monster than you, that’s for sure.” She huffed in return.

“Is that what all of your victims say?” Isolve’mla asked her. “Or is that just what you tell yourself to make yourself feel better? Because the little past you couldn’t stand being so weak and fragile, just like glass.” She went on.

V flinched, her eye rings going bold. Her arms began to shake in growing rage.

“Isolve’mla, please don’t egg her on!” N called, feeling the tension rise more and more. “We can talk this out, we can explain everything to V and get her to understand! I know she will-!” He smiled nervously.

“Just shut the hell up you damn liability.” V seethed at him.

The male robot gawked at her, at the tone of voice she used.

“V-” He called gently, reaching a hand out.

But she spun on her heel and flung her sword at him. N stepped back just in time to prevent Stultifera from being hurt. But his forearm wasn’t quite as lucky.

N’s oil made a loud splatter and stained the snow pitch black. He turned down to his dismembered forearm. The pain felt much worse than it really should’ve. He turned his saddened gaze up to his crush and coworker.

V looked less than sorry. She looked livid and scared. There was an intense look in her ringed optics, her lip bitten between her teeth and her tail gone stiff. N felt as though she became a cornered animal.

Meanwhile, Isolve’mla stared with her own voided optical lights at her injured Pharos. Her free hand twitched. The waves only crashed harder around her. They only expanded out wider, covering a large area.

V and N turned to her. Stultifera slipped from N’s arms and dove into the ethereal waves. Black shadows formed within the raging ocean.

“V.” Isolve’mla spoke with such an intense tone. “Get in the water.”

Chapter Text

“Get in the water.”

There was a tense beat of silence. N could only flick his optics between the two seething ladies. He wanted to avoid a conflict, but it was clear that wasn’t happening anytime soon.

“We both know I’m not stupid enough to do that.” V spat back at Isolve’mla.

The Worker Drone’s gaze narrowed. The winds picked up and billowed harder, her tied tresses flowing with the crashing waves at her feet.

“Then I guess I’ll just make the water come to you.” Isolve’mla spoke, taking a step further.

V’s enraged glare hardened as she bared her gritting teeth. With a swing of her arms, two swords became known in place of her hands. Isolve’mla was unfazed, only continuing to advance on the female disassembler.

“L-Let’s not fight, please!” N cried in growing desperation, letting his severed hand reattach to his arm.

“Will you stop trying to defend that thing!?” V snarled at her teammate, whipping her head around.

It was a big mistake as Isolve’mla took the opportunity to lunge forward. She reeled her free hand back, letting black flesh consume her hand and white calcium carbonate turn into sharp claws. The strings of white surrounded small, bright blue bioluminescent spots around her knuckles.

V deployed a wing in time to block her head from the blow. But the harpoon-shaped claws scraped right along the blade feathers and easily tore into the white arch holding them.

V let out a shriek and instinctively flapped her wings. Isolve’mla leapt back, striking the butt of her golden staff into the ground and swinging around it back onto her feet. Covering her other hand in flesh and making it twice as large, her intense gaze bore down on the bleeding disassembler.

“I forgot how weak you were back then.” Isolve’mla commented, slowly stepping closer as her ocean swirled. “Then again, you’ve always been half-blind, right?”

V flinched, a sweat drop scrolling down her visor.

‘How the hell does she know all of this!?’ V thought as her fangs grit again.

“I almost feel bad for you. Forced to fight and survive when you can barely even make out what or who is in front of you.” The Worker Drone continued, her waves brushing against V’s feet. “Though, I admit that I’ve always been curious how you’ve worked around it.”

“As if I’m going to tell you.” V spat at her, straightening up and spitting onto her wing arch.

“As if I actually cared enough to want to ask.” Isolve’mla scoffed right back, raising her claws again. “But how about I help finish the job? I’ll make sure to be extra careful when plucking your optics out.” Her lavender and yellow optics narrowed, an austere look crossing her features.

“And I’m sure that pretty little voice box and tongue of yours would look great on the- OUTSIDE!!” V shouted, lunging forward.

Isolve’mla parried the dual blow of her swords. It was easy to let her sea serpent-like tail release from her hips and trip her up. And while V snarled at it, she quickly got to her feet. Isolve’mla only raised her palm to let the Solver’s purple and yellow icon hover over it.

“I’ll send you back to hell where you came from!” V shouted as she ran forward again, her wings spread wide.

“Your seat has already been saved-” Isolve’mla taunted back, a circling shadow just like Stultifera’s growing larger and larger as it arose to the surface-

N pulled the woman back and out of V’s range. The two froze as V went flying to the other side of the Spire.

“I’m okay, Isolve’mla! I promise I’m okay! Just stop fighting, please!” N shouted into Isolve’mla’s audial, holding her firm and close.

The Worker Drone turned her head to gaze at him, her eye lights void. There was a good minute where things were mostly silent, other than N’s labored and panicked vents. It was hard to miss how he’d shut his optics tight.

“My Pharos…” Isolve’mla whispered back, her waves dying down. “I am sorry that I upset you so much.” Isolve’mla spoke up, turning her head away.

“I was… Afraid that I’d lose you again.” The look in her optics turned somber.

N blinked at her. His drooping tail waved once.

“It’s okay.” He said back, not sure what else to say. “I just don’t want either of you getting in trouble or getting hurt. If J saw you guys, she’d punish you and tell the company for sure.” N went on, letting Isolve’mla go.

“It’s alright, I get it.” Isolve’mla huffed in mild amusement. “Thank you for worrying about me, Pharos.” She said as she cupped N’s cheek affectionately, thumbing it.

N’s brows creased as his stare on her narrowed. Isolve’mla’s cheek-thumbing made the male Disassembly Drone blush a little.

‘It feels so foreign…’ He couldn’t help but think. ‘When was the last time I felt affection like this? Did I ever?’

“You know, me and V eventually got along. Moderately.” Isolve’mla spoke again, catching N’s attention. “It took a long time, however. We really hated each other’s guts.” She laughed.

“I think I can tell.” N smiled back in a light tease.

“You can be very cheeky when you want to be.” Isolve’mla commented.

“Uh- S-Sorry-” N immediately went to apologize, anticipating a scold or hit like J would do-

“Don’t apologize.” But Isolve’mla’s response caught him off-guard. “I like it when you open up to me. You were always fun to tease and banter with.” Her smile turned wider.

N was quiet, thinking. His visor went minutely flushed again as he turned his optics away-

N was then suddenly all but smacked away like a gnat as V stomped back over. Isolve’mla’s gentle look turned into a deadly glare once more, flesh erupting from her forearms in an instant.

“DON’T BE GETTING SO CHUMMY WITH THAT MONSTER!!” V shouted at the toppled male drone.

“She-e’s not a monster, V!” N retorted, rubbing his aching side.

“UH-! ARE WE LOOKING AT THE SAME DRONE!?” V hollered back, her tail stiff. “LOOK AT HER HANDS! THE FUCKING OCEAN SHE MAKES, HER FREAKISH ‘CHILD,’ EVERYTHING!” She went on, gesturing to the lady with both arms.

Another sweat drop glided down N’s display. He sighed and got back onto his feet, brushing off the snow from his butt.

“I’ve tried to ask you to stand down so we could explain everything-” He tried to say.

“Explain!?! Explain what?! That’s she’s a fucking freakish monstrosity!?” V asked, stomping over to close the distance.

“No! V, just let me talk for a second-!” N retorted, his vial swishing.

‘I doubt that’s going to happen anytime soon.’ Isolve’mla wanted to scoff.

“No, you let me talk!” V said, pointing to herself. “That thing isn’t some random Worker Drone! Or an escaped experiment! That thing is a planet-destroying abomination!” She pointed at Isolve’mla.

“Maybe you don’t remember it all, but the things she can do and the things she has done are the whole reason why we’re here!” The female disassembler continued, not letting her coworker get a single word in. “You should’ve killed her the moment you saw her! Like you’re supposed to do because it’s your job-!!”

“WILL YOU SHUT UP FOR ONCE!?!” N bellowed, his voided eye lights becoming enraged. “For all but two minutes, will you shut the hell up and let me speak!? Let me explain everything to you!?” He asked, stepping closer.

V stepped back, stunned and shocked at the uncharacteristic outburst. Her tail fell low to the floor and threatened to hang between her legs.

“That Worker Drone came from the future! She knows things we don’t! She’s met versions of ourselves we haven’t! And apparently, I’m her darn husband in the future! A DAD, EVEN!!” N threw his arms into the air. “And while I’m still super confused about it, I can’t just let you kill her! And it’s clear it’s going to be a losing battle anyway!!” His voice echoed out in the Spire.

V was completely silent. She didn’t know what to say. She doesn’t think she could say anything right now.

“I just-... Don’t want either of you getting hurt. And that means that you both need to stand down!” N pointed, his vents turned heavy and his brows creased.

Things went silent between the two Disassembly Drones. N felt guilt quickly creep up his spinal ridge. His tense stance quickly fell in favor of looking apologetic.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to get so angry with you.” N said, rubbing his neck. “I just needed you to listen for a minute, and to stop trying to antagonize Isolve’mla.”

V was quiet for another few seconds. She then scoffed with a slight turn of her head. V shoulder-checked N as she walked past him and to the ship.

“Spare me the apologies. It’s clear you’re not going to listen to me, either.” The female disassembler said. “Just don’t go crying to me when that thing stabs you in the back after you got tricked.”

V sent N and Isolve’mla one last glare before the ship’s door button was slammed and the door closed. More quietude fell inside the Corpse Spire. The atmosphere had turned tense.

‘Great. I messed it all up again.’ N thought, his brows creased deeply and his teeth nibbling his lips.

“Pharos, are you alright?” Isolve’mla asked, further breaking the silence with her steps.

“...I guess I’ve been better.” N spoke after a second, offering an unsure shrug.

Isolve’mla went mute. She sighed and placed a gentle hand on his arm. Part of N wanted to shy away from it. Part of him wanted to find a nice, dark place to silently weep in after telling his friend and crush off like that.

“I’m sorry I got out of hand there.” Isolve’mla spoke up again. “Like I said, I didn’t want to lose you again. And I know how V is, especially back then, or rather, now.” She went on.

N only blinked at her from the corner of his optic.

“Maybe we should all give each other some space tonight.” Isolve’mla suggested, her hand rubbing soothingly on N’s arm. “I think we all need some time to adjust to my presence.”

‘That’s one way of putting it.’ N hated the semi-bitter thought.

“I guess it’s the only thing we can do.” He sighed back as he hugged himself.

“Well, it’s better than fighting, right?” Isolve’mla tried to offer him a smile.

But N wasn’t feeling up to it. He just shrugged and began walking away to the little room he’d made for himself.

Isolve’mla stared after him for a moment. Waves began to spread from under her feet, Stultifera rising to idle at the surface. He gazed at his somber father before turning to his mother with a small squeak.

“Mlommy?” Stultifera spoke softly. “Is da-ddy o-kay?” His words were a little shaky and slow.

“Don’t worry, Stultifera. Your dad just needs a minute or two to himself.” Isolve’mla soothed, kneeling down to pet her son’s head.

Stultifera smiled and leaned into her touch with a pleased hum. His mother smiled back, picking him up from the ephemeral waves. Stultifera shifted in her arms until he was comfortable, nuzzling under his mother’s chin.

“For now, why don’t we go and find something to help entertain you? I’m sure there’s still plenty of toys around to chew on.” Isolve’mla smiled at her son.

“Can we inv-vite daddy?!” He asked in eager return, Stultifera’s fins flapping in excitement.

“Of course, Stultifera.” Isolve’mla laughed and began walking to N’s room after collecting her staff.

The sea serpent child in her arms giggled and flapped his fins about more. He turned his head into his father’s room upon getting there. His grin was quick to fall at the somber atmosphere that overcame the place.

“Pharos? Are you in here?” Isolve’mla called into the dark room.

“Hm?” N hummed back in acknowledgement. He didn’t sound as enthusiastic as before.

“Me and Stultifera are going to look for some toys for him to chew on and play with. Do you want to come along?” The Worker Drone asked, adjusting her grip on her child.

N was mute for a couple of seconds.

“Do you know your way around the city?” It was a stupid question considering where- Or rather, when she came from.

“Of course I do.” Isolve’mla nodded, just like N knew she would. “But it’d be far more fun to walk around with someone.” She smiled at his back.

N’s fingers idly twisted and rolled his rocky friends around, his expression melancholy. He didn’t so much feel like going out right now…

“It might even make you feel better.” Isolve’mla went on, trying to get him to cheer up.

Stultifera squeaked and flapped his fins at his father, a sad whine following suit.

“And I’m sure Stultifera would like it.” Isolve’mla added.

Still, N was silent.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine on your own since you know your way around.” He eventually spoke.

Isolve’mla’s brows creased again.

“It might be good to get away from the Corpse Spire for a while.” Isolve’mla said truthfully. “That way, everyone can have some time to vent and calm down. I think it could really help you right now.”

“...” N was mute once more.

“Da-ddy…” A child’s voice spoke quietly.

N didn’t register it at first. When the choppy word hit him, his eye lights went wide. N lifted his head from his table and turned to his future son. Stultifera gazed at him with a concerned expression, yet still so confused in that childlike way.

“Did he… Speak?” N asked, looking to the child’s mother.

“He did.” Isolve’mla nodded. “Stultifera doesn’t do it much. He’s better at oceanic communication than proper words. It’s been a tough battle getting him to learn more words.” She smiled, a sweat drop on her visor.

N’s gaze turned back to the sea serpent in her arms. Stultifera looked almost expectant but happy. Hopeful probably. It was a look N just couldn’t say no to.

‘Even he can pull off a puppy-dog look…’ He pouted in his CPU.

“Okay. I’ll come.” N sighed and stood up. “But let’s not get too much. We can only carry so many things.” He said.

“Of course! I wouldn’t want to spoil my child rotten, either.” Isolve’mla laughed. “You certainly liked to do so in the future.” She grinned cheekily.

‘Yeah, that-... Sounds like something I’d do.’ N thought as he smiled back at the woman, a sweat drop on his visor.

The two deployed their differing wings and took off towards the city, using up the rest of the night’s dark hours. It at least allowed them the time to unwind and relax after the tense encounter with V.

Chapter Text

Water. Deep, dark, endless. Surrounding and suffocating. She’s floating within the abyss, bubbles drifting up to the surface like reverse snowflakes.

She can hear something move within the water. Yet the figure, perhaps more, remains unknown. They remain hidden within the pitch blackness of the trench. But she can hear them swimming all around her.

Some of the bubbles glow yellow, others purple. She wonders where they come from and how far down below.

She wonders just where, exactly, she is.

The sounds of moving water speed up. The sound gets closer, the unseen creatures around her closing in. From the corners of her HUD come thin and spindly tendrils. They are a dull grey, a deep blue, and some even have stark white shells tipping them.

The tentacles wrap around her body and pull her deeper. She raises her hand to try and swim away, the purple light on the back of her hand barely seen in the growing dark. How can such a dark place get even darker?

The pressure increases and she’s brought further under. The bubbles boil around her as the abyss starts to heat up. She can’t see any heat source. Why is it getting so hot?

There is an echo that pierces the blackness, like a whale’s cry. It’s enchanting and soothing and drifts across the murky expanse. Mere moments after the whale’s cry is a tiny speck of light.

It flickers like a candle, fluttering and flashing. It slowly grows bigger, the tendrils trapping and dragging her under flinching. The spindly limbs slide off her own and disappear back into the depths of the abyss with a faint shriek.

The light grows bigger. It’s quick to become like a beacon from a lighthouse sitting at the edge of a cliff right on the crashing sea. With the growing light comes more whale cries.

Soon, a hand reaches out to her. There is a yellow light on the back, peeking in through the dark glove adorning the limb. She lifts her own hand to take it.

Her fingers brush against the unknown drone’s. The light takes on more shape, illuminating what looks like a liquid fuel lantern. But she is unable to discern it for long, as the stranger’s surprisingly large hand grasps gently onto hers.

The lantern’s light flickers out in an instant.

She is left in the tenebrosity again.

“Please, do not grieve, my Siren.” A voice calls out, soft and masculine and reassuring. “I am still sailing fourth.”

“Aye, aye, I’m coming.”

Uzi startles awake with a loud gasp. She stares at her ceiling for a few moments and catches her vent. Her voided eye lights blink at the purple hue her bedroom is constantly bathed in.

“What… The hell was that…?” She whispered to herself.

Uzi sits up and looks around her room. Of all the weird dreams she’s been having for the past week, this one is by far the weirdest. The endless ocean abyss wasn’t unusual, but the light and drone are.

“Who the hell even was that?” Uzi asked herself, rubbing her head. “No. It doesn’t matter. I should just get to school before dad has a hissyfit.” She shakes the thought away and hops out of bed.

As she fixes her clothes and brushes the new knots from her tresses, Uzi can’t help but reflect on her recent dream. Being pulled under by the tentacle things wasn’t unusual. Creepy, yes, but they’ve appeared in every one of her dreams thus far.

It was just the guy that was out of the ordinary.

Then again, all of these recent dreams are weird. Why were they all ocean-oriented? What was with her floating in a deep abyss? And what about those weirdly-colored bubbles? Or the invisible beings swimming around her in a circle? It was all too weird to make sense of…

“Not to mention what that guy said.” Uzi thought aloud, pouring some game card cereal into a bowl. “Why did he call me a siren? And what did he mean by ‘sailing fourth?’ Or even ‘I’m coming?’” Her brows furrowed in further confusion.

“Does he think he’s some sort of pirate or something?” Uzi grumbled as she stuffed a spoonful of cereal into her mouth. “Funky-ass cosplayer…”

Uzi’s gaze turns down to her cereal. The oil lathering her game cards reminds her of that lightless trench. The chill of the refrigerated oil is such a stark contrast to the heat she felt as she was dragged under.

With a shake of her head, Uzi returns to munching on her breakfast. She gobbles down the game cards and slurps up the leftover oil in her bowl. She swiftly puts it in the sink before grabbing her backpack and heading out the door.

Part of her wants to just play hooky today. She’s not in any real mood to deal with her bullies, nor her monotonous teacher and the subjects she already excels in. She’d much rather be trying to finish her pet project right now!

‘Which reminds me, I’m just about done with it.’ Uzi thinks as her gaze wanders in boredom. ‘I just need to attach a few boards and close up the body. Then, I can look for a power source for it.’

The loud chattering of the school’s halls makes itself known in her audials. Uzi sighs and prepares for another day of dumb bullies and sleepy classes. Maybe it won’t be too bad today, but she highly doubts it.

Shuffling through the halls and towards her locker, Uzi sets some books on her floor to reach it. She hates how she’s so short and wishes she was given a taller frame.

It’d really help out in moments where Rebecca decides to kick them out from under her.

Uzi growls and stands back up. She whips her head to her bully and throws a book in her direction. It bonks her on the back of the head, much to Uzi’s smug delight.

“HA! Take that, jerk!” Uzi points.

Rebecca sneers and rubs the back of her head but stomps away. Uzi basks in her tiny victory once more before returning to her locker. She takes things out, packs others away, and goes on her merry way.

Of course, it isn’t merry for long when she catches a flickering light reflecting off a display case in the hall. Uzi turns to it in confusion. She swears it looks just like the light from her dream-

Someone shoulder-checking her snaps Uzi from her staring. She sends daggers at the guy but decides to shrug it off this time. She probably shouldn’t have stopped in such a busy hall anyway.

Finally getting to her classroom, Uzi goes straight to her seat next to the wall. She ignores her other classmates chattering and takes out whatever she needs. She flips open her notebook for when she starts taking notes. But with the free time, she’ll mull over her project.

‘I should put together a presentation for it.’ Uzi thinks to herself, staring at notes from the other day. ‘Maybe I can convince some drones to start fighting back for once.’ She picks up her pencil to start doodling.

‘Though, I still need a power source. I’m thinking a power unit would be good, since it’ll have to be strong enough to kill a Murder Drone.’ Her planning continues as her hand works on autopilot. ‘The only ones around are those that’re outside, though. All the others in here are already being used.’ Her lips quirk down.

‘Even so, it’s worth the risk of going outside. I’d be killing two birds with one stone! Get my power unit, and kill a Murder Drone!’ A smirk plays on her lips.

It’s quick to fade however as she tunes back into reality. Uzi stares down at her recent doodle, depicting the lamp and hand from her dream. Uzi’s expression falls flat and her pencil grips tighter in her hand.

She closes her notebook and huffs. Setting her chin in her hands, she stares at the blank blackboard at the front of the room. The teacher has just come in and is now setting up his computer.

‘Why do I have the feeling that it’s going to be a long day?’ Uzi wonders with miff.

She wished she just played hooky.

It was still tense in the Corpse Spire. Ever since Isolve’mla and V’s fight a few days ago, the atmosphere has gotten strained. N hates the palpable waves of animosity that exude from the two ladies. He wishes they’d just get along already…

As for J, she’s been keeping her distance. She mostly watches Isolve’mla from afar, always perched somewhere and staring at her. There’s this skeptical, wary look on her face plates every time Isolve’mla’s around.

It’s honestly getting quite tiring for N. The team has never felt so… On edge before. It’s hard to keep a smile on his face when everyone else won’t stop glaring daggers at each other.

“Are you alright, Pharos?” Isolve’mla’s soft voice asks.

N startles and turns to her. He blows out a stressed vent and takes a moment to think. He hates to admit that part of him wants to lie and say yes.

“I’m… Alright, I guess.” He shrugs.

“Are you sure? You were spacing out.” Isolve’mla notes, scooting closer on the car hood they were using as a seat to watch Stultifera’s playpen.

“I was just thinking. That’s all.” N replies and sets his head on his knees.

The strange Worker Drone stares at him for a few moments. She can tell there’s something on his CPU. His tail waves anxiously and his optics stare blankly through the ground.

‘He really does wear his heart on his sleeve.’ Isolve’mla thinks with a grin.

“If there’s something wrong, don’t be afraid to tell me about it.” She says and puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Thanks…” N mutters back, lost in thought again.

Isolve’mla’s grin falls from her lips, replaced with a frown. She turns to Stultifera, who’s gnawing on a worker limb.

“Are you thinking about me and V’s fight from a few days ago?” She questions.

N blinks and snaps from his thoughts.

“Well- Only a little-” He scratches the back of his head nervously.

“I’ll try and refrain from hurting or fighting her again.” Isolve’mla tells him, playing with the ends of her hair. “But I will protect my family from her if I have to.” She adds, her optics narrowing.

N stares at her as a sweat drop glides down his display. His optics turn away again and his tail curls around his legs.

“I wish you two could get along.” He whispers his confession.

“...” Isolve’mla is quiet. “We did, once.” She tells him.

“Then how come you hate her so much?” N inquires, staring at the biomechanic sea serpent child.

Isolve’mla’s optics turn harder. She stops playing with her hair, letting the low twintail fall. There’s a long bout of silence, one that makes N dread her eventual answer.

“I have done some… Horrible things.” Isolve’mla tells him. “And some were spurred on from self-defense, others because I couldn’t control the Absolute Solver.”

“That’s your water power, right?” N asks with a glance.

“Part of it. There’s more it can do than that.” The Worker Drone says. “But that was something V has always hated.”

“Even more so when my world-...” She stops short of finishing her sentence.

N stares at her and waits. Isolve’mla keeps silent. N decides not to question it further.

“Well, hopefully you two can learn to get along soon. The Corpse Spire hasn’t felt so tense before.” N changes the subject a little, trying to lift the mood again.

“Maybe I could become friends with her again, now that I can get to know her all over again.” Isolve’mla shrugs.

Stultifera swims over through the air. It’s still a strange sight for N but he doesn’t ever question it. He has a feeling the answer would be confusing.

“What is it, little buddy? You want to play?” N asks, staring at the dog toy rope in his mouth.

Stultifera squeaks and nods. N chuckles and takes one side of the toy in his hand.

“Okay, I’ll play- ACK!” N smiles at the child.

Only to yelp and fall flat on his face from the sudden display of strength.

Isolve’mla titters and tries to cover her smirk with her hand. N lifts his head and stares ring-eyed at the child. Stultifera just smiles back at him and squeaks, urging him to play with him more.

“Your child is surprisingly strong.” N notes as he stands back up.

“Sorry. I should’ve warned you.” Isolve’mla says through her choppy snickers.

N ignores the laughter and grabs the toy again. He plants his feet firmly in the snow and tugs. He makes another yelp at nearing falling again when Stultifera returns it.

“How is such a little guy so strong?!” N asks, actually struggling against the sea serpent’s strength.

“I guess he inherited it.” Isolve’mla muses. “I did become pretty strong after mastering my powers.” She becomes smug, smirking in pride.

“I’m-m sure you did!” N agrees absentmindedly, his heels digging in the snow.

Stultifera growls and yanks on the toy harder. It was no wonder Isolve’mla chose dog toys over actual baby toys.

N lets go of the toy with a grunt, flexing his aching hands. Stultifera flies back and lands in the snow. He rights himself and hovers back to his dad, urging him to play some more.

“Sorry, little buddy. My hands are too sore to keep playing tug-of-war.” N tells him.

He sits back down and blows on his burning palms. It barely does a thing to soothe the ache in them so he resorts to shaking them about.

“Here. Let me help.” Isolve’mla says and grasps his hands.

She gently blows onto his burning hands, the surprisingly cool air easing some of the hurt. N averts his gaze as his visor goes flush. Why was he getting all bashful over this? She’s just trying to help…

“Do your hands feel better?” Isolve’mla asks as she lifts her head.

“Mhm…” N can only hum, still averting his blushing gaze.

Isolve’mla giggles and lets his hands free. N rubs them to try and soothe them more, his vial wagging.

“I know I must’ve said it a thousand times by now, but you really don’t change much in the future.” Isolve’mla speaks, catching N’s attention again.

‘She’s mentioning the future me again. What am I even like in the future?’ N can’t help but wonder.

“I’m glad you don’t change much. You were always so adorable since the day I met you.” The Worker Drone says, busy picking up her child.

Meanwhile, N goes even flusher. He grabs his vial before it can pierce his leg. Isolve’mla pays him no mind, heading over to his little room with his rock friends.

“I’m going to bed. It’s getting late. You should probably head to bed soon, too.” She advises with a backwards glance.

“I-I will, don’t worry.” N mumbles and stands.

“Then I’ll see you in the morning, Pharos.” Isolve’mla nods back at him.

She walks away, leaving N on his lonesome. He turns to one of the spire’s many holes for entry and exit. The sky is starting to brighten.

‘It’s already been about a week since she’s arrived here.’ N mulls, heading over to his favorite lamppost. ‘It still feels so weird to have a Worker Drone around.’ He flaps to his perch.

‘Well, at least it’s just Isolve’mla. I don’t even want to think about what would happen if another one were to appear out of nowhere.’ N thinks as he turns off his optics, heading into Sleep Mode for the night. ‘J and V might just blue screen.’

Chapter Text

There was a Toxic Death Storm tonight. Which meant nobody was going out to hunt. And that also meant the Corpse Spire would be feeling like a warzone from the amount of tension between all three ladies.

N could only sigh and curse the Death Storm, looking at the dark clouds through an entry hole. He turned back to his teammates, J and V glaring daggers Isolve’mla’s way as usual. He’s really starting to lose hope that they’d ever get along.

‘Hopefully this Death Storm wears off soon.’ N glanced out the spire once more. ‘I feel like if the ladies have to stay in one place together any longer, they’re all gonna break out in a fight.’ A sweat drop scrolled down his visor.

Deciding to not get mauled to death by trying to intervene, N turned back to his coloring book. Stultifera was using a marker to color the leg of the dog they were coloring. N smiled at him and patted his head, making him turn up.

“You’re making good progress on the doggy, little guy!” N cooed and kicked his feet.

Stultifera smiled and squeaked back at him happily, dropping his marker. N giggled and picked it up for him, letting the child take it in his mouth again. Stultifera resumed drawing.

Isolve’mla came and sat down across from them, grinning gently at their work. She did a much better job at hiding her mean glares and angry tension with J and V.

“Are you two having fun?” She asked.

Her child squeaked back at her with flapping fins.

“We’re having lots of fun! Do you want to see our pictures?” N offered as his tail waved.

“I don’t see why not.” Isolve’mla smiled.

N sat up and flipped the coloring book to the first page. He showed the purple-haired woman their pictures, all colored bright and somewhat messy.

“They all look very cool!” Isolve’mla cooed.

“Stultifera did most of the work. I just helped him out with any tiny bits.” N waved off her praise, his vial wagging as his visor went a little flush.

“You still did a good job!” Isolve’mla argued gently. “And thank you for helping to keep Stultifera busy during the Toxic Death Storm.” She added.

“I-It’s no problem, really!” N exclaimed and waved his hands about. “It helps to keep me busy, so it’s kind of a win-win, right?” He chuckled.

“I guess it is!” Isolve’mla giggled.

N’s vial kept wagging as his lips formed into a pout. Such praise was so alien to him. How does he even react to that? Saying a simple “Thank you” feels too little…

The male Disassembly Drone tuned back into the world when a melodic tune rang out. Stultifera dove back into the Absolute Depths, the ethereal water fading and swashing away.

‘It’s still so weird to see.’ N noted.

“You think this storm is going to end soon?” Isolve’mla questioned just as another strike of green lightning flashed.

“I dunno. They can go on for hours on end.” N returned with a shrug.

Isolve’mla hummed back. She then sighed and stood, dusting off the snow from her dress.

“Well, I guess we’ve gotta find some other way to pass the time. There’s no way we can do any sort of hunting in weather like this.” She spoke.

“You got any ideas?” N asked as he stood as well.

“No, actually.” Isolve’mla gave a guilty grin. “I was hoping you did.”

“Besides coloring or drawing? Nope.” N returned the grin, rubbing his neck.

“That’s alright. I’m sure we can find something.” Isolve’mla said.

‘Hopefully something that stops making you glare at my teammates behind me.’ N thought, trying to keep the sweat drops from his visor.

He could still feel their glares passing around him to strike each other.

The Toxic Death Storm took quite some time to pass. By the time the sun was supposed to be rising, the storm was still going. It seemed to still have quite a bit of life left.

Isolve’mla stared out of the Corpse Spire’s entrance in silence, the winds making her long, low twintails billow. Thunder rumbled above and the clouds flashed in bright green colors. Isolve’mla’s stare was blank gazing at the destroyed city.

She remembers this city. How she would go to abandoned malls and shopping centers with N for dates. They would go urban exploring, descending into dark basements and sneaking around. Sometimes they’d play hide-and-seek in those buildings.

Isolve’mla even remembers one time they’d found a water park. Or what was left of it. She and N used cloth bags to go down the slides. One of them couldn’t handle the weight and disturbance, breaking right under them.

N lost just about half his body, making Uzi freak the hell out. He kept reassuring her and telling her he’d be fine, even as warning icons flooded his visor and his headband lights went orange and red.

“I miss those days…” Isolve’mla whispered, drowned by the winds.

The Absolute Depths’ waves crashed under her feet. Shadows ascended quickly to the surface of the water. Something broke through the mystical ocean, grasping onto the snow and hauling themselves out.

Skeletal walking fish scampered onto the snow, calcium carbonate pieces adorning its black and blue body. It had a long maw with jagged teeth, like crab claws. Another sea terror lifted from the water, resembling a sea lily. Its tough appendages on its head were colored white while its roots were a navy blue.

One more type of creature crawled from Isolve’mla’s ocean. It looked like the sea lily, but the head’s shell was shaped more like pursed lips. The navy blue neck had petal-like fins all across it. The inside of its shell glowed a bright purple through the gaps.

“Shell Sea Runner, Deep Sea Slider, Ridge Sea Splitter,” Isolve’mla called all of her children. “Go out and explore this place. Try to find any prey.” She ordered, lifting her hand to point.

The three types of Seaborn groaned and croaked in response. The Shell Sea Runners bolted into the city, its siblings lagging behind on their roots.

Isolve’mla watched them leave for a few minutes. The Toxic Death Storm raged above them still. Soon, her children’s silhouettes disappeared in the whirling frost and ash. Isolve’mla turned back into the Corpse Spire and went over to N’s sleeping form hanging from his lamppost.

She stared at him for a moment, her hands lifting and cupping his face. Her purple and yellow-pupiled optics narrowed on him, her brows creasing. Her thumb smoothed across his cheek idly.

“I miss you, my Pharos.” Isolve’mla muttered to herself. “I want you back.”

She loves this N, truly. But she also loves the N who grew into such a fine and handsome father and lover. It didn’t feel quite the same with how different he still became in the future.

“For as much as you stayed the same, you also became so different.” Isolve’mla continued, inching closer to N’s face plates. “So much more confident and happy in the future. Able to stand up for yourself without so much fear of abuse.”

Isolve’mla went quiet. She released a silent vent and closed her optics. She gave a chaste kiss to N’s lips, wishing for once that the N she grew older with would somehow return.

Relinquishing her lips, Isolve’mla let N go. She turned to the ship to sleep for the day. As frustrating as it was, Isolve’mla could never figure out a way to become sun-proof again.

‘But at least N and mine’s nocturnal nature meant we wouldn’t be missing each other.’ Isolve’mla grinned to herself.

Entering the ship, she spotted V leaning against the console. Her mood soured even more, already feeling the argument coming. She really doesn’t want to deal with this right now…

“Having fun spoiling that idiot?” V asked, her arms crossed and her glare fierce.

“Having fun being a sore loser?” Isolve’mla scoffed back.

V’s fangs grit and her hands curled into fists.

“I just underestimated you is all. It won’t happen next time.” She argued.

“You keep telling yourself that.” Isolve’mla brushed off, climbing into one of the chairs.

V kicked the lever to make it fall back. Isolve’mla yelped and startled, soon sending a glare V’s way. The female Disassembly Drone just mockingly grinned back at her.

“You’re such a typical bully, you know that? Not at all unlike Rebecca.” Isolve’mla sighed, rolling onto her side.

“Oh, trust me, I can be far worse.” V threatened, exchanging her hands for her claws.

“Is there any particular reason you’re here right now?” Isolve’mla questioned, unperturbed by the “threat.”

V’s expression fell at the failure. Isolve’mla’s brow only rose.

“Just wanted to warn you to watch your step, hydrophone.” Her tail waved in annoyance.

“Well, you sure did a good job of that. Now, can you finally leave so I can get some sleep?” The Worker Drone huffed, propping her cheek up in her palm.

“Maybe. Or maybe I’m too bored to.” V shrugged, now trying to look “innocent.”

Isolve’mla didn’t look very amused.

“So after trying and failing to strike oh-so much ‘fear’ into me, you’re resorting to trying to annoy me?” She inquired, sitting back up.

V clicked her tongue and her vial swished. Isolve’mla huffed a dry laugh.

“You’re as open and easy to read as a children’s book. I’m surprised your legs aren’t the same.” The Worker Drone mocked.

“Excuse me!?” V whipped around, her brows furrowed in fury.

“I don’t suppose that shoddy ‘annoy the hell out of ‘em’ tactic worked on Cyn, did it?” Isolve’mla continued, a snarky smirk on her lips.

V’s fists balled up tight and her eye lights voided. A low growl slipped past her lips as her vial swished erratically.

“Maybe you should take a vacation? Better make sure it’s at some love hotel, because it looks like you could use some getting laid, too.” Isolve’mla spoke as she inspected her fingertips like nails.

V’s fury only rose, multiple anger ticks blinking onto her visor. But she took a deep vent and forced them away.

“That’s very funny, considering you’re the one with the child.” The disassembler tried to retort.

“At least I had an outlet, unlike you.” Isolve’mla snipped with ease. “And also unlike you, I don’t constantly cockblock myself by insulting the one guy who shows genuine affection for me.” Her gaze turned up to the other woman.

She got incredibly pissed all over again. Isolve’mla took smug satisfaction in riling her up so much.

“I suggest you go and sleep all of this off. All that stress is only going to make your shit attitude that much worse.” Isolve’mla waved V away like she was some sort of peasant.

“You high and mighty little-!!” V stomped over and grabbed her collar.

Her arm was sliced clean off, the limb flying onto the floor. Oil splashed onto the metal ground, more of it dripping from V’s new stump.

“Keep your grimy hands off me, lamprey.” Isolve’mla glared.

V’s hollowed optics turned fearful for a moment. She took another deep vent and tried to control herself, but she couldn’t rid her optical lights of the fear entirely.

She turned and picked up her forearm, holding it over her stump. Her nanites got to work reattaching the dismembered limb.

“I’m going to figure out your plan, and kill you myself.” V told Isolve’mla.

“What makes you think I have a plan?” The worker questioned back.

“Why would any Worker Drone go spouting nonsense like marrying a Disassembly Drone? Or somehow having a flesh child with one?” V returned like it was obvious.

Isolve’mla didn’t comment at first, just turned her gaze away with disinterest.

“You were always very anxious, weren’t you?” She then spoke.

V’s gaze turned back to her.

“Ever since you were a little Worker Drone living in the Elliott Manor.” Isolve’mla’s stare connected with V’s shocked one.

There was a long bout of tense silence. V looked terrified, like when Isolve’mla first brought up her past. The said worker only stared blankly back at the disassembler.

“Do you want to know what happened to you in the future?” Isolve’mla suddenly inquired.

V flinched out of her stupor. She hates to admit that she doesn’t know if she wants to or not.

“You became a puppet.” Isolve’mla told her anyway.

“...What?” V asked, now confused.

“I lost my husband, but I believed he was still alive. That he was out there somewhere, waiting for someone to find him.” Isolve’mla slowly stood from the chair. “I tried to do it myself, but I could only cover so much ground on my own.” Her boots clacked deafeningly inside the ship.

V backed up until she hit the wall of the ship. Isolve’mla kept encroaching upon her, the worker’s triangular and yellow pupils dilating. She looked so dead yet so intense. The tense atmosphere felt like a typhoon.

“I knew I couldn’t find him on my own. I needed help.” Isolve’mla went on. “But no one wanted to. They all said it was a ‘lost cause,’ and that I should ‘just move on.’” Her optics hardened in hate.

“But they didn’t know a damn thing.” Her fists balled up.

Isolve’mla stopped right in front of V. Despite the Worker Drone being shorter, V felt like a cornered animal. She felt weak.

V hated feeling weak.

“So one day, I went up to some of the WDF members within my colony,” Isolve’mla raised a hand, black and blue flesh and calcium shell growing upon her plating and forming her harpoon claws. “And I used the Absolute Solver to ‘convince’ them to help me.” Her voice turned soft, like she was telling a secret.

“You were one of them, V.”

Chapter Text

‘Bring him back to me.’

‘No matter what it takes, bring. Him. Back.’

“Maybe if you let me go, I will.” V snarled back, dragging her left leg along the ground.

‘...’ Uzi was silent. ‘I know you’ll just try to kill me again.’

“You talk like I don’t have a chance.” V spat back through grit teeth.

‘Did you ever?’ Uzi questioned back, already knowing the answer.

V’s glare turned harder. She didn’t reply, just kept walking. At this point, it wasn’t even of her own accord. It was a pale grey flesh that was consuming half her frame that kept her going. No matter how exhausted, how hungry, how injured, or how much she fought against it, the flesh kept her moving.

The left side of her body was nearly unrecognizable. Her pegleg was broken into a digitigrade stance, and claws formed upon her toe. A layer of hard fangs covered her lips. Her left hand was mostly consumed by the flesh, only her indigo light poking through the sinew.

The rest of her bodily lights had turned indigo. The same could be said for the tips of her hair, and the grey tendrils that made themselves at home sprouting from her head. The flesh even grew into her waistband, poking through the black rubber and connecting with the machines hidden inside her frame.

V despised it. She should’ve just killed the damn freak when she had the chance, instead of letting N keep her like a damn dog. She had the perfect chance to do so in that lab! Or after the final fight with Cyn!

The female disassembler’s teeth grit even harder. Her line of jagged fangs ground against one another. Faintly, she could hear various voices in the back of her CPU.

Whispers of confusion, of mindlessness, of fear, of obedience. Uzi’s was the most prominent, so scared and sad. But V held no sympathy, not for a monster like her.

“You know, the least you could do is give me a break every now and then.” V spoke again. “How long have I been starving for? I’m surprised I haven’t melted from the inside out yet.”

‘The flesh keeps you cool.’ Uzi answered. ‘But if it will make you search better, then so be it.’ She relented.

V sighed out in relief. She’s been forced to search for a dead drone for so long. Her metal has worn terribly and she’s beginning to rust at the joints. She’s lost the vision in her left optic from the flesh, breaking into her visor to consume that, too.

But her frame crouches down, creaking and groaning in protest. V has to clench her teeth to keep from crying out in pain. The rust flakes away as her robotic knee moves.

Her body launches into a quadrupedal sprint. Her claws make snow and ash flurry into the stale air. Her steps reverberate in the desolate and destroyed city. The sound echoes out into the sky, covered entirely with dark grey clouds.

V has no idea where she’s being led to. She can hear a voice, from the flesh eating away at her frame. It hungers and heaves for food. It changes its target temporarily, sprinting through the city at breakneck speeds.

V’s claws are forced to come out without her command. Her functioning optic swiftly flickers about, trying to find out what she’s doing. It quickly lands on some random group of drones quickly getting closer.

One of them notices the loud thumping and turns to her. He can’t even speak before V’s pouncing on him and tearing him apart. The line of fangs shielding her lips rip through metal like a hot steak knife through butter.

The others scream and turn to flee. It’s futile, as V’s already spinning around towards them. Her flesh-riddled arm swings out and the claws catch the back of another unknown robot.

More screams pierce the dark and muted skies, oil splatters onto the ashen ground, and V is forced to watch it all.

The massacre is short yet so brutal. Far more than anything V had done. Internal machines torn out by the tips of claws, oil tubes and wires snapped from tearing jaws, crushed metal under clawed feet, and exposed endoskeletons stained with fresh oil.

V is brought to her knees. Her hands grab onto the body of a drone, one she recognizes. Tears start spilling down the right side of her visor as her mouth is opened for her. She can feel the sinew salivate in hunger as it picks up the core of Lizzy.

It crunches disgustingly under her teeth. The oil is revile on her tongue. The squelching of slippery wires and tubes is grating. The tears don’t stop.

And neither does V’s feast. She eats, and eats, and eats, until there is nothing left. Her tanks are full yet she’s unsatisfied. The muscle controlling half her body is adequately content with their meal.

V’s right optic takes a glance around at the carnage. Scraps of plating and pieces of glass lie on the snow. Oil has soaked into frost and ash alike. Shredded clothes flap away in the breeze.

“You’re… Y-You’re a mon-nster-” V mutters in fear.

‘If you stop fighting, I will bring her back.’ Uzi interrupts.

“...” V goes silent. “What…?”

‘You loved her, didn’t you?’ Uzi questions, though she doesn’t need an answer. ‘But you were afraid, because of the past.’ She went on.

‘But you don’t need to worry about the past anymore. Just help me and I’ll help you.’ Uzi’s voice carried in her head like a mesmerizing melody. ‘You just need to stop fighting me, work with me, and I’ll bring her back. It’ll be like you never killed her in the first place.’

V swore she felt her arms opening up, urging her to step forward. Her gaze fell onto the scattered remains of her own girlfriend. Virtual tears continued to spill from her right optic.

“O-Okay.” V vented. “I’ll stop. I’ll stop fighting, I’ll stop arguing, I’ll stop trying to kill you, I’ll stop everything!” She pleaded.

She felt Uzi smile, even in her CPU.

‘Then I’ll bring Lizzy back.’ She promised.

V was made to step forward. She crouched down by Lizzy’s body, picking up the upper remains of it. Her brawn-covered hand raised to brush some oil-stained hair from her broken face plates.

It then jabbed into her chest, the flesh swiftly growing and leaving some of itself behind.

V stared in terror as she had stepped away. Grey sinew and muscle crawled all throughout her chest cavity, reaching for her legs. Dragging them back, they were connected. More brawn made a seam around her waist. Even more muscle formed claws on her hands and feet and fangs over her mouth.

Tendrils grew from her filthy hair and flesh filled in missing gaps of metal and machine. Boney ribs sprouted inside her chest to give stability. Her spinal ridge cracked and groaned as hard and jagged ridges grew from it, penetrating her back.

Things then went stiff and silent. Lizzy slowly turned back online, only signified by the light of her left hand. There were no eyes to be seen on her visor, all the missing glass replaced by skeletal-looking flesh and white, coral-like bone horns.

V could only watch as her girlfriend slowly picked herself back up on shaky legs. She hunched over, stabilizing on her limbs. A ragged huff left her gaping mouth, mist floating past her sharp teeth.

She panted and snuffed the air with her mouth. Her fingers twitched, webbing spanning between each digit. Lizzy lifted her trembling head and stared at V.

“V-Vi… Vi…?” She rasped.

V couldn’t reply. Her optic merely flicked over her girlfriend’s new look.

“Hah… Hahah…” Lizzy huffed a raspy, staticky laugh. “You… Are on-ne- Raggedy-y bitch…” Lizzy smiled despite the skeletal ‘mask’ over the top half of her face.

But V’s lips trembled and her optic narrowed in despair. She stepped forward on a limping left leg and embraced her girlfriend.

“So are you.” She whispered.

Lizzy laughed some more, her voice weak and soft. She wheezed with every vent and her body jerked with every laugh. Her arms wound weakly around V’s back, her claws trying to find purchase.

‘I thought… When you said you’d bring her back… THAT IT WOULDN’T BE LIKE THIS!!’ V yelled to Uzi in her thoughts, grasping harder onto her girlfriend.

‘You should be happy I offered to bring her back at all.’ Uzi returned with a hint of scorn in her tone. ‘Why should I have to lose my lover but you get to keep yours? It’s unfair, isn’t it?’

“You’re… You’re-re fucking insane…” V whispered in terror.

‘No.’ Uzi denied. ‘I’m merely doing what I must to bring my Pharos back to me.’

‘You’d do the same, right, Vivi?’

But Isolve’mla only told half the story. All V really needed to know was that she wouldn’t stand a chance against her. Isolve’mla had all the power over her, and could have physical power, too.

“You don’t want that to happen again, right?” Isolve’mla questioned, her harpoon claw tapping V’s chest.

The said female disassembler stared fearfully at her. This puny Worker Drone had the power to do all that? To possess someone and use them as flesh puppets? Just like Cyn-?

‘No. She’s worse than Cyn.’ V corrected, seeing the intense and acidic look in Isolve’mla’s optics.

“I suggest that you just be a good little fake psychopath and keep to yourself from now on.” Isolve’mla then spoke, walking her claws up V’s chest. “Otherwise, I’ll have to ‘convince’ you to help me with whatever I want a little too early.” Her gaze narrowed as her claws tapped at V’s chin.

It was hard for V to swallow the static in her voice box. All she could do was nod. Isolve’mla continued to stare at her for a little longer. She then huffed and pulled back, walking back to her chair.

“I’m going to bed for the day. You should too, V.” The Worker Drone spoke, taking her metal ties from her long hair. “You don’t want to be too tired while hunting tomorrow, do you?” She turned her purple and yellow optics back around.

“N-No…” V shook her head, averting the other woman’s gaze.

“Then good day.” Isolve’mla smiled.

V didn’t even nod, just walked out of the ship. She hurried away whilst hugging herself, feeling chills crawl all along her spinal ridge. Isolve’mla watched from inside the ship until her form was gone entirely.

With a sigh, Isolve’mla set her propoloma hat onto the ship’s console with her hair ties. She ran her claws through her tresses a few times, getting out the knots. Today has left her quite exhausted!

‘This only leaves J left to deal with.’ Isolve’mla thought to herself. ‘Should I tell her about her own fate in the future? Or maybe I should be a little more nostalgic and fight her again?’ A smirk formed on her lips.

“That’d be kinda fun, I think.” Isolve’mla spoke to herself, falling back onto the chair. “It would also be nice to fight someone again. That little spat with V was boring.” She rolled onto her side.

“It’d also be nice to see the look on J’s face when she’s gotten her ass beaten all over again.” Isolve’mla giggled.

J always did have some priceless reactions when she failed at something or lost any sense of power all over again. It’d be quite humorous to pull a Cyn on her.

‘Right. Cyn.’ Isolve’mla thought to herself, opening her optics. ‘She must still be around, right?’

Her gaze turned to the ship’s entrance and to one of the spire’s many entry holes. A soft sigh escaped her vents as she set her chin on her forearms.

“When my children come back, I should have them search for Cyn.” Isolve’mla told herself. “I should figure out her whereabouts sooner rather than later.” Her gaze narrowed.

Even if she can’t do anything right now, it wouldn’t hurt to know of Cyn’s whereabouts. That way, she can plan ahead for when she does confront Cyn and kill her.

‘Maybe, if I kill her sooner, I wouldn’t lose myself to this power and destroy my world in the future.’ Isolve’mla thought, closing her optics to get some sleep. ‘And maybe…’

‘Maybe my Pharos won’t die.’

Chapter Text

Isolve’mla wanted a little peace tonight. Having to deal with V and J, mostly the former, and watch after her child, all while reconnecting with her Pharos, it was draining. And as much as she loves her husband, she needs a little time to herself.

That, and she also needs to check in with her children.

Her Shell Sea Runners come scampering up to her. Their fleshy and skeletal tails wag upon seeing her. Isolve’mla crouches down to pet them and greet them with a warm smile.

“Did you two find anything out there?” She asks.

Their whispers enter her head and confirm. They tell her of groups of Worker Drones that looked around for material. They found another bunker some distance off.

“That’s good to hear.” Isolve’mla grins, standing up. “Have you seen your brothers and sisters?” She asks next.

Their whispers continue. They split up in the city to search a bigger area. They haven’t seen them since, but they can still feel their presence within their minds.

Isolve’mla nods and closes her optics. Focusing, she, too, can feel the presence of her other children. She opens her robotic eyes and stares out at the city’s seemingly endless expanse.

“You did a good job, my children.” She speaks to the Sea Runners.

They make cute, tiny noises as their tails wag again. Isolve’mla giggles and opens the waves to the Absolute Abyss. They dive right in without a word or complaint.

Isolve’mla turns her gaze back to the city. She wonders if she should go out tonight…

“You good, Isolve’mla?” N’s voice asks from behind.

The woman startles and whips around. Her shoulders relax at seeing her husband. He takes on a guilty look for accidentally scaring her.

“Sorry! I didn’t think I’d startle you.” He’s quick to apologize.

“No, it’s fine.” Isolve’mla smiles and meets him halfway. “I was just wondering if I should go out to hunt, is all. Would you like to come with?” Her head cocks as she smiles up at him.

“I-I don’t see why not.” N shrugs as his tail waves.

“Then let’s go out now so we don’t waste moonlight!” Isolve’mla giggles, taking his hand and sprouting her wings and tail.

N yelps as he’s dragged along. He can barely deploy his wings before Isolve’mla is taking to the air.

The two fly through the dark sky in search of prey. Isolve’mla seems to have a set place in CPU, N giving her a worried look. A sweat drop has made itself at home on his visor.

“So-o how have things been for you so far?” N asks, if only to fill the silence.

“Hm? What do you mean?” Isolve’mla returns, glancing at him.

“I-I mean- How has it been for you in the Corpse Spire? I know J and V aren’t being the nicest of hosts right now…” He trailed off, unable to meet her gaze.

“Oh! It’s been just fine! I don’t really mind them when I have you around.” Isolve’mla said, slowing down to fly in-pace with him. “Being with you again is worth putting up with them.”

N blinked at her. He then turned his head away as some minute blush lines popped onto his visor. She really shouldn’t be able to get him flustered so easily, yet the fact she was so happy being around him…

Isolve’mla giggled at seeing her husband’s past self get all sheepish. She flew a little closer to take his hand, only making N go brighter.

“I believe we should land here. Our flapping might give us away.” Isolve’mla suggested.

“R-Right!” N perked up.

The two made gentle landfall onto the ashen frost. N looked around at the crumbling city. The buildings were smaller around here, with more benches and abandoned dumpsters.

‘Looks like some sort of apartmental area.’ He mentally noted.

His audials picked up the faint sound of shuffling footsteps. He whipped his head around and his frame went stiff. His optics honed in towards the noise, searching the area.

N heard the shuffling continue. He moved towards it, replacing his hands with claws. He hopped onto the side of a building to be out of clear view. He heard Isolve’mla follow him, keeping within the shadows of the alley.

A crash and some quiet cursing came from the inside of one of the apartment rooms. N crawled along the apartment’s wall and ducked just underneath the window sill. He listened for noise.

“Will you stop moving shit around?!” Someone whisper-yelled. “You’re going to get us killed!”

“I’m sorry but it’s too damn cluttered in here!” Another voice spoke in a panic. “Maybe if you bothered to clean up a little I wouldn’t have to go moving stuff around and making noise!”

N lifted his headband just above the windowsill, watching the drones inside. They were both busy trying to carefully put things back. N silently snuck in through the broken window, climbing up onto the ceiling.

The two drones moved about as they cleared the room’s space. Once they were both directly below him, N pounced. They screamed as N’s claws met with their plating. Oil splattered to the floor with their swift deaths.

N straightened, blinking the large X to the side of his facial screen. He searched for Isolve’mla, expecting her to have followed him inside. But she wasn’t in the apartment with him.

A brow quirked down but N decided to focus on their meals. He picked up the bodies and made his way back to the window-

“♪Home, left her homeland miles behind♪” Isolve’mla’s voice drifted through the air, soft and airy. “♪The hunter she walks, on the seacoast way. With her path before her♪”

N set down the bodies and leaned over the windowsill. He looked around but was unable to find the Worker Drone.

“♪Crash, and the driftwood floats evermore♪” Her voice continued to drift through the air, like gentle sea foam on waves. “♪It’s the salt on my skin. Leaving their mark, where the walls once towered♪” It’s enchanting, that melody.

N realizes he should probably find her before something bad happens. He picks up the bodies and hops out of the building. His wings carry him along the path of the song.

“♪Oh, it’s more than a dream. It’s a play, the tides attending♪” There was something off about the tune, but N couldn’t place it. “♪Oh, our world comes apart at the seams♪”

The male disassembler lands and hides the bodies within the shade of an alleyway. He peers around the corner, watching as a Worker Drone guy walks towards the source of the noise.

Isolve’mla sits upon the hood of a car, dented and broken in a way that makes it look like an old throne. The silver moonlight behind her bathes her in a divine aura, lighting her up with a halo over an angel’s head.

“♪From the chaos, scared and afraid. I will wander, I will remain♪” There is a faint smile on her lips. “♪Strong, but it sets with the sun. Hopeless, I’m chasing the dawn♪” Her optics lock with the man’s.

“♪And I wander, wander on♪” Her arms spread wide and inviting to the man.

He gazes at her with pure wonder and amazement. He steps even closer but trips over a skeleton. He trips with a yelp and falls into the woman’s lap.

N swears he sees her frown twitch downwards in a flash of rage.

But Isolve’mla keeps grinning, keeps singing. Her soothing and encapsulating voice fills the air in a constant melody. The man looks up, apologies in his optics for making a fool of himself in front of this beautiful woman.

“♪From the chaos, scared and afraid. I will wander, I will remain♪” Her hands cups the man’s cheek, her back bending over to better meet his wide optics. “♪Strong, but it sets with the sun. Hopeless, I’m chasing the dawn♪” The man seems to await his “reward.”

“♪And I wander, wander on♪” But what meets him instead is Isolve’mla’s sharp, harpoon-like claws.

Oil leaks from his lips and dribbles down his mouth. His optical lights flicker and crackle until they are replaced with the familiar error notice. Isolve’mla lets him down gently, her claws receding back into her plating.

As she lifts back up, she finally notices N’s presence. She startles at her sudden guest. How long had he been there?!

“I’m sorry, I should’ve told you I could get some oil on my own.” She smiled as she hopped off the car hood.

“No-o! I just didn’t expect you to sing like that!” N said, now nervous. “I heard you from the apartment. I thought another Worker Drone had come out.” He rubbed his neck, his tail waving.

“Oh, I see!” Isolve’mla giggled. “Well, everything still worked out, so there’s no need to worry! We should get back before the oil gets too cold!” She suggested.

“Right.” N nodded.

He picked up his catches and took off with Isolve’mla. He stared at her the entire way back. She hummed to herself quietly, that same tune she sang.

‘I didn’t know she was so good at singing.’ N thought. ‘But that man… It looked like she’d enraptured him with her voice alone.’

He might’ve heard her hum before, but never outright sing. And N has to admit, her voice was beautiful. She didn’t even need any music to accompany her in the melody.

“Do you sing often?” N asked, curiosity getting the best of him.

“Not often, but sometimes. Mostly to Stultifera, though.” Isolve’mla replied. “I honestly just picked it up so I could have something else to do. Just something to fill my time.” She went on to explain.

“Ah.” N nodded as he hummed. “Well, you’re very good at it!” He grinned.

“Thank you.” Isolve’mla smiled back, a small blush forming on her display.

The two made it back to the Corpse Spire. They landed gently and set down their prey. Isolve’mla stretched her arms above her head and pulled in her wings. She took a seat on a nearby car seat with a sigh.

“Are you tired?” N inquired.

“A little bit, I guess.” Isolve’mla laughed nervously. “I think I’m just a little bit bored. I forgot how little there is to do around here.” She took a look around as she said this.

“Yeah. J doesn’t let us do much. Something about our jobs and us not needing to be so materialistic.” N couldn’t help but agree.

“I’m surprised she lets you have that little nook, then.” Isolve’mla pointed out.

“Well, it’s not in the way, and I still do my job, so I think she’s mostly alright with it as long as I don’t mess up.” N shrugged, staring at his den. “But if I mess up too much, she starts knocking things down and making a mess inside of it. It’s how Rocky got that scar.” He went on, his tail drooping.

Isolve’mla’s gaze turned to his little cranny in the dark corner of the spire. Her optics narrowed on it and her fists balled up. The fierce swashing of the Absolute Depths' waves threatened to materialize at her heels.

“I’m sorry that she’s so cruel to you.” She spoke.

“J’s not-t cruel! Just a little strict-!” N went to defend.

But he was interrupted when Isolve’mla tugged him over to her. She sat him on the floor and set his head on her lap. N blinked as he went stiff.

“Wh-... What are you doing…?” He asked stiffly.

“Just comforting you and giving you my support.” Isolve’mla replied, running her fingers through his hair.

N was quiet. His visor soon went flush.

“I-I THINK I’LL BE OKAY-!!” He snapped up.

But Isolve’mla yanked him back down. His head smacked into her thighs with a loud ‘Clang!’. N went limp as the pain resounded in his head.

‘Why’re this woman’s thighs so sturdy…?’ He wondered through the CPU-buzzing pain.

“I know I’ve said it before, but you really don’t have to be so tense around me.” Isolve’mla spoke up again. “I’m your wife! You can relax and lean on me if you need to.” She smiled, her hair falling over her shoulders.

“Mmm… ‘Kay…” N rasped out, his CPU still hurting.

“By the way, if J ever bothers you, don’t be afraid to tell me.” The woman spoke again. “There’s no reason for her to be so mean to you, especially over something as trivial as ‘work scores,’ or whatever you operate off of.” Her hand cupped his chin as her thumb smoothed over it.

N stared up at her from her lap. His tail made a nervous wave. She’s not gonna do something if he were to tell her, right?

“I think I’ll be okay.” N refused gently, turning his head away. “I mean, it is my fault when I mess up, right? I just need to learn from my mistakes and not make them again!” He smiled.

Isolve’mla didn’t smile back. There was a small frown on her face plates instead. But she ended up sighing and conceding.

“If you say so.” She said in defeat. “Just- Don’t hurt yourself, okay?” Her brows creased in worry.

“I won’t, don’t worry!” N laughed. “Besides! I’m a Disassembly Drone! It’s not exactly easy to kill us!” He added with what Isolve’mla could’ve sworn was a prideful look.

“Okay, okay! I guess so!” She laughed.

But it was quick to die. Isolve’mla stared down at her husband, who started to try and sneak out of her lap. She pulled him back up onto her thighs and kept him there. His blush got a little brighter and longer.

‘You say that you’re not easy to kill, but…’ Isolve’mla’s stare narrowed on her husband in sorrow. ‘Even you Disassembly Drones have limits sometimes.’

‘Limits that not even I can fix.’

Chapter Text

A lighthouse. Sitting on the edge of a cliff where water crashes. The light within the top of the tower stares out at the endless ocean.

Uzi swears she can see a silhouette standing beside the light. Yet he’s standing at just the right angle where she can’t make out any defining features. She can only tell that he’s even a man by the slimness of his figure and lack of female curvature.

But his dark figure also gives away that he’s a Disassembly Drone.

And despite those robots being their predators, Uzi doesn’t find that she’s fearful of him. Maybe it’s the foggy, cloudy atmosphere and waves that distracts her. Maybe it’s because he isn’t doing anything. She isn’t sure.

All Uzi knows is that he’s looking intently at the ocean. It was as if he’s waiting for something. But what could he be waiting for?

The lighthouse stands in silence atop the cliff. The light it shines out to sea slowly starts to dim. As its light dies down, so does the view of everything else. It was like the lighthouse was this place’s sun.

Uzi finally feels fear. The dread that those nightmarish tentacles and tendrils will grasp at her limbs and drag her into the water makes her core pound. Uzi can subtly feel it even through her dream-

“Do not fret, my Siren.” A familiar voice sounds. “I will not let any harm come to you. Even apart as we are, I refuse to let you be hurt.”

Uzi watches the lighthouse’s large bulb die out completely. But not all light is lost. The man standing at the top of the tower turns to face her. In his hand is a very familiar lamp, granting this abyss a tiny flicker.

“Just wait for me, my Siren. I promise I’ll come back to you.” He tells her, the lamp lighting up his gloved hand and white button-up. Most of it is still covered by a translucent, blue neck tie of sorts, the ends orange and frayed.

Uzi doesn’t know if she should trust this man. She can’t even see his face. But somehow, his presence here feels comforting and soothing. She feels like she can trust this man to keep his promise.

The light of his lamp sways. Uzi watches the man walk off and crouch down. He seemed to open some sort of trap door maybe, as the light descends.

It soon leaves, leaving her dream in pitch blackness-

“–Uzi!!” Mr. Liam’s voice shouts.

The called girl shoots up as she’s startled awake. She blinks for a few seconds, a loading circle in the corner of her CPU. Some kids snicker around her, making her hollowed lavender gaze flick around.

“Welcome back to the land of the online, Doorman.” Her teacher speaks. For once, there is an expression on his face plates, but it’s not a very pleased one.

Uzi just blinks at him. She’s still booting up. That dream clings to her CPU like the tendrils in her nightmares that want to drag her down into deep depths.

Her teacher notices her lost expression and sighs. He pinches his visor, probably debating his life choice on becoming a teacher, and turns back up to her.

“Do you need to go to the nurse’s office, Uzi?” He asks.

Uzi blinks the focus back into her optics. She rubs her visor and shakes her head with a quiet hum. Her teacher sighs again.

“Then please pay attention and not fall into Sleep Mode.” He said.

“R-Right…” Is all Uzi can say.

Mr. Liam gives her one more once-over. He opts to return to what he was talking about earlier. Uzi tries to pay attention, but it’s hard when her recent dream wants to take up all of her focus instead.

‘What the hell was that one about?’ The girl wondered as she leaned onto her palm. ‘First, I’m stuck in some sort of watery abyss and being dragged down by sea monsters, now I’m dreaming of lighthouses and their keepers?’ Her brows furrow lightly.

Uzi would much prefer she didn’t have these dreams at all! She was way happier without them, thank you!

‘Not to mention how confusing they are.’ Uzi outwardly scoffs to herself. ‘What in the world could make me dream of the ocean of all things? I haven’t even seen the ocean!’

Uzi writes down a few notes. Her gaze flicks to the clock above the board. There’s about one hour left of class. Then, she can get the hell out of here.

‘Also, just who in the hell is that guy that keeps showing up in my damn dreams?!’ Uzi has to question. ‘I’ve never seen him before! But he keeps popping up like some sort of gnat!’

“Maybe I should call him ‘Gnat’ from now on.” Uzi mumbles to herself in disdain.

‘Eh, but that feels dumb. Maybe something more like “urchin”. They’re nasty little guys, aren’t they?’ Was her next thought.

Uzi shook her head. She jotted down a couple more notes. Another yawn escaped her mouth. Maybe she should stop pulling late nights in order to try and finish her railgun. At this rate, she’s going to fall into Sleep Mode while working on it.

Before the Worker Drone girl knew it, the bell was ringing. The students around her started packing up. Uzi rushed to shove her things into her backpack and get out the door. She didn’t want to stick around long.

‘I’ll have to keep a pin on those dreams until I can kill those damn Murder Drones.’ Uzi told herself as she opened her locker. ‘It’s better to focus on one thing at a time, anyway.’

With that, she traded her books, slammed her locker closed, and quickly began making her way home. Her railgun was nearly finished! She just needs to head outside for the power source!

Which means the deaths of those Murder Drones are close as well!

J isn’t sure how long this damn Worker Drone intends to stick around. All she knows is that she gives her oddly familiar vibes to her own boss. And not just because of the yellow triangles in her purple eye lights.

She was able to scare V into submission– Or close enough to it, anyway. The said disassembler has been keeping her distance from the worker since that day. V won’t indulge too many details, but she gave enough to tell J that there was far more to her than she let on.

‘Well, to the idiot, anyway.’ J huffed.

She stared from her seat in one of the Corpse Spire’s many holes. The female worker was playing with her freakish monstrosity of a “child.” Whatever the hell that thing is, J doesn’t think she wants to know.

‘Maybe the boss will know.’ J hops from her perch.

She lands in the icy ash in a crouch. J sneaks around the playpen the Worker Drone has set up and enters the ship. After locking the door, she turns to the console. Her neon optics lock onto the communicator used to contact her boss.

A sweat drop forms on J’s visor and some static bubbles inside her throat. She doesn’t know how well her boss will take this. Would she even care in the first place?

J shakes her head. Whether or not she will doesn’t matter. She just needs to let her boss know what’s been going on lately. Maybe she’ll even be courteous and kill that worker for them.

Pressing a few buttons on the communicator, J rings up her boss. She unscrews a fingertip to reveal a jack. J plugs it in and waits for the other line to pick up.

[It has been a while, J.] Cyn’s monotonous voice greets.

“I know, but I’ve been a bit… Busy.” J returns, her tail flicking.

[Oh? With your job I would hope?] J can feel Cyn cocking her head at this.

“O-Of course!” J rushes to say. “However, there’s been a bit of a… Hiccup, in the plans.” She says.

There is a moment of silence on Cyn’s end.

[Continue.] And her tone turns serious.

“Recently, a Worker Drone has made herself at home in the Corpse Spire.” J begins, leaning her free hand against the console. “I can tell you now that she isn’t any ordinary Worker Drone.”

[Explain.] Cyn commands.

“W-Well, she seems to hold some sort of power. Similar to yours, I believe.” The female Disassembly Drone goes on. “I don’t know the full extent of it, but V has told me some things. For one, it’s very ocean-themed. She’s able to make this… Magical water appear, for lack of a better term.”

Cyn stays silent. J takes it as her cue to continue.

“She also has a so-called ‘child’. But it’s entirely made of flesh.” J says. “She also claims to have come from the future-”

[The future?] Cyn’s voice feels cold and it makes J pause in fear. [What do you mean? And what is this about creating flesh?] She urges.

“I-I don’t have all the details about this Worker Drone. All I know is that she seems awfully similar to you and your own powers.” J tells her, trying to calm her boss down. “I’ve been trying to keep an optic on her while doing as you told me to.”

Cyn is quiet again.

“This same worker has a strange fascination with N.” J goes on, more sweats drop on her facial screen. “She keeps saying he’s her ‘husband’ and a ‘father’. I’m not quite sure I can believe that, but she’s damn sure of it.” An anger tick threatens to join her sweat drops.

Still, Cyn remains silent. J isn’t sure if that’s good or not.

[Thank you for informing me of this information.] Are the next words out of Cyn’s mouth. [You can take a break from your current objective for the time being. Try to find out more about this Worker Drone.] She says.

[Also, have you a name for this drone?] Cyn inquires.

“Isolve’mla.” J answers.

Cyn hums.

[Very well. I will finish up on my end and prepare a plan to deal with this new arrival.] She speaks.

“Is there anything in specific you want me to do? Besides watch her?” J questions as a finger taps on the console.

[Not right now. Just keep watch and observe. If anything important comes up, report to me immediately.] Her boss tells her.

“Alright.” J nods out of habit. “I will try and finish things here while keeping watch on her. She seems to be behaving with N around, however.” She says next.

[As long as she does not get in the way.] Cyn comments.

“Right.” J agrees. “I should get back to the others and make sure they aren’t breaking any rules.”

“Good luck, J.] Cyn’s playful tone returns. [And thank you for being a good little lackey and informing me of this new information. Perhaps I will give you a reward for it.] She notes out a giggle.

A drop of virtual sweat scrolls down J’s visor.

“I’ll be going now.” Is all she says.

[Talk to you soon, minion~!] Cyn bades farewell playfully.

J doesn’t give a reply, just turns off the communicator. She takes out her finger and screws the tip back on. Her tail sits near the ground, occasionally twitching in nervousness. Her gaze turns to the locked door of the ship.

Silence proceeds after the call. J finds herself growing scared and nervous. That Worker Drone… How and why is she so similar to Cyn…?

‘And why be obsessed with the Synergistic Liability of all drones?’ a brow quirks.

J shakes her head and unlocks the door. After taking a few deeps vents and ridding her display of the sweat drops, she opens the entryway and steps back out.

Isolve’mla is there to turn towards her. J can’t help but feel her gaze bore into her like her own acidic tail through plating.

But the gaze doesn’t last long. The woman was in the midst of turning, her gaze having run over J by mere coincidence. Or, that’s probably how she wanted it to look to a returning idiot.

J knew that look was intentional as it crossed over her form. But she made no comment. If she wants information, she’ll need to play nice, as much as she hates it.

So she watches the sea witch talk with the airheaded clutz. He takes uneasy hold of the abomination that woman calls a kid. J still can’t tell what the hell it is. Just some sort of draconic thing.

Isolve’mla turns back towards J, staring just over her shoulder and through the corner of her optic. J stiffens as she’s caught mildly glaring at them.

{Don’t you know it’s rude to stare?} Isolve’mla mouths silently.

J blinks at her. She huffs and crosses her arms, turning her head away. She still has a job to do, so she comes over to talk to them. And maybe just to get on the woman’s nerves a bit.

“What count did you get this time, N?” J inquires, stopping just in front of him.

“A-Ah. Just- The usual.” He turns his gaze away, a droplet of pixelated sweat marking his screen.

J’s expression falls and her tail flicks.

“You do realize what your ‘usual’ is, right?” She takes another step closer.

“Of course I do! Why-y wouldn’t I?!” N laughs nervously, giving Isolve’mla her child back.

J can see her expression turn meaner towards her from the corner of her visor.

“Then you also know that’s not usually a good thing, right?” J cocks her head as a strained smile stretches across her face plates.

“I-... Yes, J.” N’s tone turned defeated, his vial tucking between his legs.

“Do you perhaps need another ‘lesson’ to remind you how bad that is-?” J reached to grab at the collar of his coat.

But something else beats her to the punch.

J looks down to her hand, impaled by harpoon-like and serrated claws. Her neon yellow gaze trails the limb over to Isolve’mla’s defensive glare. Even the little shit in her other arm glares at her.

“He knows that he didn’t do well tonight. There is no need to get physical over it.” Her tone denotes a deeper warning.

‘Keep going and you’ll be the one who’s getting a “lesson” tonight.’

J’s optics narrow as her teeth grit uneasily. She yanks her hand from the woman’s claws, more pain blooming within her limb. J sticks it into her mouth to let her nanites work on the ruined metal.

“If you keep getting low scores like this, you’ll make us miss the quota again, N.” J growls through her hand. “And don’t let that little witch distract you, either. I know you’ve been hanging out with her on little playdates.” She adds with a flick of her vial.

“I-I know. I’ll work on it. Promise.” N rubs his head as his own gaze squints in nervousness.

J says nothing more, just huffs and walks away. Isolve’mla and Stultifera glare at her back until she’s gone completely, flying off somewhere. Just as she leaves, Isolve’mla turns to her love.

“Are you alright, my Pharos?” She questions, the concern taking over her voice immediately.

“Y-Yeah, just- It’s really nothing unusual, so don’t worry.” N tries to reassure her with a smile.

Isolve’mla just stares back in worry. But she sighs and lets the flesh and calcium carbonate recede back beneath her plating. Isolve’mla uses her hand to cup N’s cheek and make him flush at her worry.

“Even if you didn’t do great tonight, you still tried. And that’s good enough, right?” She smiled gently at him.

N blinks at her. He sighs and leans into her touch, comforting himself with it.

“I guess so.” But he isn’t sure he completely agrees.

Yet Stultifera does, his various fins flapping about towards his father and making tiny, cute noises. Isolve’mla laughs and lifts him towards N.

“I think Stultifera wants his daddy.” She comments.

N stares at the child yearning for his touch. He sighs and grins, unable to say no.

“You’re too cute for your own good, you know that?” He asks playfully as his vial wags.

Stultifera squeaks, probably agreeing. N laughs and holds him close. The child snuggles into his father’s touch, burying his face into N’s neck.

‘I… Can deal with this.’ N tells himself. ‘I can still do my job, even with this new Worker Drone around. A-And even if she doesn’t get along well with my teammates.’ N bounces Stultifera lightly, like how Isolve’mla taught him.

‘As long as there’s no more surprise Worker Drones or anything, I can deal with this!’ He tried to reassure himself.

But N still felt a sense of dread and anticipation tingle up his spinal ridge. Somewhere in his gut, it told him the opposite.

Chapter Text

Snowstorms are a bitch, Uzi thinks. Always getting in the way and slowing her down. She can barely see and barely walk! And all the snow just gets stuck in her hair and on her clothes and it melts and ugh!

But the Worker Drone travels through it anyway, for she has a goal to accomplish! And if she can accomplish it, she can finally free everyone from the bunker! And get her dad’s approval, maybe!

The snow crunches under her boots as Uzi stomps through it. Her railgun is held tight within her hands and up against her chest. She can faintly make out the imposing figure of the Corpse Spire.

Her virtual brows furrow as she stares up at it. The curving top threatens to bend lower and hook her on the very end, adding her to the uncountable pile of dead drone bodies. But Uzi swallows her fear and continues her trek.

Unfortunately for her, it doesn’t take too long to get there. Before Uzi even knows it, she’s being confronted by one of the many entrances to the Corpse Spire. She halts just before it, staring into its dark depths.

She can already make out a few body piles and scrapped machines. And when she finally takes her first couple steps inside, she can see an odd ship broken down within the center of the room.

Uzi’s gaze quickly wanders around, searching for threats. She can’t see anything as of yet, but she doesn’t let her guard down.

‘Who knows what’s out here.’ She reminds herself.

Taking a quiet but deep vent, Uzi turns her stare to the snow. She rummages around within it and the piles of corpses. It almost disgusts her how unbothered she is by it. But Uzi doesn’t let the thought distract her.

After some time of scavenging through snow, Uzi finally finds her prized energy unit! She makes a quiet whoop and attaches it to her railgun. The barrel lights up in a bright emerald green. Uzi’s smirk turns manic at it.

But the sound of flapping wings catches her attention. Uzi whips around to look for the source of it. A couple shadows are brought to her attention and make her dive for cover. She keeps quiet as two loud thuds echo out within the Corpse Spire.

“Tonight’s hunt wasn’t so fruitful, huh?” A masculine voice questions.

“Well, it’s still enough to feed us.” A feminine voice replies.

“But what about Stultifera? Doesn’t he need a lot of oil to grow big and strong?” The man wonders.

‘What kind of name is “Stultifera”?’ Uzi wonders as her brows knit together.

“He’ll be alright. Besides, it’s not like I can’t give him some of my oil.” The woman says back, probably smiling, too.

“Still…” The man sighs.

“Don’t worry, N! We’ll be fine, promise!” The woman tells him.

‘N’ lets out another sigh. “I can always go back out if needed.” He says.

“We’ll be okay for tonight. I’m sure there’s bound to be more Worker Drones tomorrow night.” The woman responds.

Uzi’s grip on her railgun tightens. It makes her oil boil at the thought of those two bastards going out to hunt her own kind!

“I guess I’ll just have to hunt for extra then.” The man chuckles.

“Aww, you don’t have to do that!” The woman laughs in return.

“No, it’s okay! Besides, maybe J will praise me for once!” He said. “If I… Don’t mess up, that is…” He then trailed off, the chipperness gone in an instant.

“Stop worrying about your teammates, Pharos.” The woman says. “You don’t need to prove anything to them. Heck, not even to me!” She goes on.

“B-But, the company–” The man tries to argue.

“The company is dumb and worthless and stupid, just like J. They’re using you as much as they are J! Trust me.” The woman counters before he can speak.

Uzi listens closer, scooting just a little nearer. The man takes a few seconds before speaking again.

“I still don’t want to let them down. We all have a job to do, after all.” He tells her.

“I know, but you shouldn’t do your job just because you want someone to tell you good job.” Says the woman. “I’ll do that any day of the week for free.” She giggles.

The man makes some sort of embarrassed or sheepish hum. Uzi feels sick listening to all this lovey-dovey, mushy talk.

‘Nevermind that! I should use this opportunity to get the hell out of here!’ Uzi shakes her head.

She moves to crouch run but spots something right in her peripheral vision. Uzi turns her head to the monstrous little guy staring at her curiously in silence. The white and purple creature cocked its head at her.

For a handful or so of seconds, the two simply stare at each other. It’s only when the sea serpent makes a sound does Uzi finally snap from her stupor.

“Mama!”

And the moment she snaps from it, she’s booking it for the Corpse Spire’s entrance.

Isolve’mla and N turn towards Stultifera’s jovial exclamation. They see a Worker Drone bolting off as fast as she can towards the spire’s entrance.

“B-Biscuits! A Worker Drone was here!” N is the first to snap from the startlement.

Isolve’mla stays silent, just staring off after the worker. She moves towards her child to pick him up. N flies off after the worker. Isolve’mla doesn’t say a thing, just calmly walks after him.

And as N hurries through the snowstorm, he lands just before the Worker Drone. She skids to a stop, barely dodging a swipe of a sword. She falls to her butt and stares up at her predator with hollowed optics.

She brings up her railgun just as the Murder Drone swings his sword down again. But he hesitates for a split second as a realization hits him. Uzi is just about to pull the trigger of her railgun before it’s slipped right from her hands.

“The-e hell?!” Uzi shouts.

Isolve’mla doesn’t answer as she walks up to them. Her free hand is held to activate her Solver, holding the gun in the air near her.

One of N’s optics comes back to flick between the two women. Uzi hobbles to her feet to try and run off again. N grabs her by the back of her jacket as he stares confused at Isolve’mla.

“What’s going on? Why does this Worker Drone look like you?” He questions as his tail waves anxiously.

Isolve’mla sighs and lets the railgun drop to the ground. “That’s because she is me, Pharos.”

N’s eye ring goes bold. Uzi yanks herself from N’s grip and whips around to speak, but her voice leaves her as soon as she lays optics on the other woman.

For a moment, she feels like she’s looking into a mirror.

“You… You said you came from ‘another world’ before, right?” N spoke up, stirring the two from their staring contest.

“Yes, I did. I come from the future.” Isolve’mla nods. “And it seems I finally know just how far I went back in time.” Her gaze turns to her past self.

Uzi just stares at the woman. There is a tense moment of quietude.

“I would rather you not kill the past me, Pharos. Who knows what kind of trouble that may cause.” Isolve’mla turns back to N, giving him a warm but worried smile.

“...R-Right…” N can only nod.

He turns to the Worker Drone still standing motionless and stunned at her future self. A sweat drop scrolls down his visor and his tail sways.

“Maybe we should head back to the Corpse Spire? So that we can wrap our heads around this?” N suggests with a nervous chuckle.

“It’s probably for the best.” Isolve’mla agrees.

“W-Wait! No! No going back there!” Uzi shouts, stepping forward with her hands held out. “There is no way in hell that I’m just gonna believe you’re me from the future–!” She turns to Isolve’mla.

“Our name is Uzi Roscoe Doorman, daughter to Khan Doorman of colony Outpost 3,” Isolve’mla interrupts, her lavender and yellow gaze turning to her younger self again. “We ventured out to the wastes in order to complete our railgun and kill the Murder Drones so that their reign of terror would halt—and to get the approval of our father.” Uzi’s eye lights go bold.

“Our mother is Nori Doorman, who our father said he’d killed with the very same wrench he gave us when we lied about going outside.” Isolve’mla took a step forward. “We’ve been bullied since our mother’s death, have taken solace and comfort in the loneliness,” Uzi steps back the more her future self comes forward.

“We hide our feelings because no one listens to us and no one cares to. Our father couldn’t have cared about us—only caring about his doors.” Uzi’s back bumps into a car. “We also have tapes of baby cows that we’d watch when broken down into tears. We also have made our own fanfic about a Murder Drone falling in love with us because we’re–”

“OKAY! OKAY! THAT’S ENOUGH!!” Uzi shouts as her visor goes entirely flush. “I GET IT!! You’re me from the future! I believe you! JUST SHUT UP!!” She slapped her hands to her future self’s mouth.

Isolve’mla pushed them away. “Good. And you believe me too, right, N?” She turned to the male disassembler.

N let out a breathy and almost defeated laugh. “Honestly? How can I not?”

“Fair enough.” Isolve’mla giggled. “And sorry. This is a lot—for the both of you. But I’m willing to explain further when we’re back at the spire?” She cocked her head at the offer.

“I–... I think I’m good, honestly.” Uzi shot her down with a shake of her head. “I– I’m not even sure what to think anymore…” She hugged herself.

“Sorry. I didn’t think I went this far back in time.” Isolve’mla said, holding her baby tighter.

Uzi turned her optics up to stare at her. She said nothing.

“But aren’t you a lucky little Disassembly Drone, N.” Isolve’mla then giggled. “You get two Uzis now. It would make me jealous if it weren’t for the fact it means I get to love you twice as much!” She grasped gently onto his hand.

“Isn’t that exciting, my Pharos?” Isolve’mla smiled up at her to-be husband.

N stared down at their hands. His CPU wandered to such thoughts. Two of the same woman praising him and treating him like a living, sentient robot. Two of the same woman giving him comfort when he’s down or reassuring him that he’s doing a job well done.

It made his visor go flush and his vial wag. N turned his head away, only to make Isolve’mla laugh.

“I take that as a 'yes'!” She teased, rocking on her heeled boots.

Uzi stuck out her tongue in mild disgust. “There is no way I would ever fall in love with a Murder Drone.”

“I think that fanfic of ours would say otherwise–” The older version of herself countered.

“SHUT UP! SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UUUUPPP!!!” Uzi bellowed, her display going flush again.

“But really, you’ll find that you don’t regret falling in love with a Murder Drone. Not this one, anyway.” Isolve’mla’s grip on N’s hand tightened. “Stultifera is a testament to that.” She turned down to her child.

He squeaked like a dolphin in her arm. Uzi’s gaze turned a bit freaked out by him. She forgot he was even here…

“Yeah, I’ve been meaning to ask; What is that thing? And where did it even come from?” She pointed to the serpentine child.

“H-Honestly, I’ve been wondering the same thing, too.” N admitted, slipping his hand from Isolve’mla’s grip.

“Stultifera is mine and yours’ child. He’s a product of the Absolute Solver, but our own coding as well.” Isolve’mla explained. “He’s adorable, but such a spoiled little brat sometimes, aren’t you?” She held her child up, smiling at him.

Stultifera giggled and waved his snakey body about. He laughed and chirped happily in reply. Isolve’mla tossed him into the air a few times, making him laugh louder.

“That’s… Great…” Uzi said, ignoring the fact her future self implied she had a kid with a Murder Drone to grab her railgun. “Still doesn’t really explain just where he came from, though.” She pointed out.

“From me, obviously.” Isolve’mla returned, eyeing her old project.

It made her miss the good ol’ days…

“That… Makes it sound like I give birth to him in the future. Like an animal.” Uzi noted with mild fear and disgust. “I don’t– I don’t get turned into a Pleasure Drone in the future, right?” Her expression became worried.

“What? No!” Isolve’mla huffed, her brows knitting. “If I were a Pleasure Drone, I’d have breasts.” She slapped her chest, a light clang ringing out.

Uzi let out a relieved vent. N might’ve done so behind the woman’s back as well.

“Well, how did you… Create, that– Stultifera?” Uzi asked as she straightened.

Isolve’mla stared at her with a blank smile. She could feel her entire back erupt in phantasmic pain, hear wires and tubes snapping, see flashes of oil splattering against the ground in her peripherals, feel her metal groaning in protest, run her voice box into disrepair with harrowed and agonized screaming, sense the fear course through her circuits, make out the faint and grainy figure of her husband over her, hear the first bellowing roar of her—

“Don’t you worry your little head about it!” Isolve’mla smiled wider, giggling.

Uzi stared at her older self for a second. “O-Okay…” She muttered, unsure whether that delayed response was good or not.

“We should get back! It’s getting early, and it’s not a good idea for me and my Pharos and child to stay out!” Isolve’mla carried on like nothing happened. “Make sure to get home safe, alright, me?” She said.

“Right…” Uzi could only nod.

“Uhm– Sorry for trying to kill you, earlier. It took me a few seconds to realize how you looked so similar to Isolve’mla.” N stepped forward, rubbing his head. “So, uhm, I-I won’t be trying to kill you again, that’s for sure!” He laughed as his tail waved nervously.

“I hope not.” Uzi sighed. “But… Apology accepted. I guess…” She then shrugged.

“Be safe getting home!” N bade farewell as Uzi began to trot off.

“One more thing, Uzi.” Isolve’mla called.

Uzi turned, a brow quirked.

Isolve’mla opened her mouth, but her words were hesitant to come out. She took a couple seconds to gather them. She reset her voice box behind a fist.

“When you see our father again–” She paused. “Just–... Is he okay?” She questioned, unable to meet her own gaze.

Uzi only got more confused. “He’s fine, why?” She nodded back.

“I just– Wanted to make sure.” Isolve’mla shrugged. “You know how much of a scaredy cat he is.” She giggled.

Though, Uzi has a feeling there was much, much more to it than that.

“Yeah, sure…” But she opted not to speak on it. “I’m gonna go now. I’ll probably… See you again, sometime… Somewhere…” Her voice petered out. She wasn’t sure if she was looking forward to that or not.

“See you then!” N waved excitedly.

Stultifera squeaked and waved as well. Uzi gave a nervous and small wave back to the two of them. She then shuffled away until she could safely jog off. As the group was left behind, N turned to Isolve’mla.

She stared after her younger self in silence, something unreadable on her face plates. Stultifera noticed her change in demeanor as well and nudged into her chin. Isolve’mla finally snapped out of it, turning down to her child.

“Are you okay, Isolve’mla?” N wondered.

She was quiet for a couple more seconds. She shook her head, snapping out of it.

“Yes. I’m fine.” She nodded.

N could tell she really wasn’t.

“You can– You can tell me, you know.” He hesitantly took her hand. “You let me talk to you, right? So… You can talk to me!” He smiled reassuringly.

Isolve’mla stared back into his chipper, neon yellow optics. Stultifera chirruped and nudged into her again, voicing a sentiment similar to N’s. The woman smiled gently.

“I’m just reminiscing a little, that’s all.” She told him. “It’s nothing to worry about. We have bigger problems to deal with, anyway.”

“Oh? Like what?” N laughed.

“Like us having officially met my younger self.” Isolve’mla replied cheekily.

N stiffened and his smile faltered. “R-Right…”

Isolve’mla laughed and Stultifera chittered. N’s smile fell in place of a pout. His vial waved around in mild annoyance.

“Aw, don’t give me that look!” Isolve’mla lightly slapped his arm. “I’m sure we can get through this. We just have to be careful about your teammates.” She said.

“Yeah. You’re right.” N sighed back. “What do we tell them?”

“Nothing, for now.” Isolve’mla answered, turning for the spire. “Let’s just let the information sink in first, then figure out what to do.”

N wanted to argue, but really couldn’t. He could feel exhaustion weighing on him from learning all that information.

“Yeah. You’re right.” He opted to nod instead. “Maybe with some sleep I’ll get my head fully wrapped around it.” He chuckled and followed after her.

“I think that would do us all some good right now. Right, Stultifera?” Isolve’mla raised her child again.

He nodded back. Isolve’mla and N laughed lightly back.

As the temporal family returned to the Corpse Spire to retire for the day, Isolve’mla took one last glance behind herself.

‘Maybe… I could see dad again…’ She thought. ‘Maybe I can save him this time…’

‘Daddy and mommy…’