Chapter Text
Copper-9 used to be inhabited by humans. But then they made a fatal error when mining too close to the core. The planet retaliated by teaching them a harsh lesson, the core collapsing and blowing a hole right in the side of the planet.
With it, all humans were killed. Radiation filled the area and ash, silicone, and snow settled upon their abandoned cities. The ozone was destroyed and the sun made the planet inhospitable. It was left to rot, abandoned like the crumbling buildings all around.
But the other thing that the humans left behind were their creations: The Worker Drones. Autonomous robots meant for labor and mining. They were just slaves to the humans, mere tools like the pickaxes, drills, flashlights, rails, and other things they used to mine ores from the planet’s flesh.
With humanity having died out from the blast, the Worker Drones were left to pick right up where their organic overlords left off. They used the lingering buildings and machines to create new lives for themselves. They even repurposed the production lines to create pill babies to create families!
Except…
The planet’s resources have become limited.
The core’s collapse and the resulting blast did harsh damage to the machines left behind. While it was easy enough for the Worker Drones to fix it, they didn’t realize the materials they mined from the planet weren’t as plentiful as they used to be.
And they only realized this when it was too late. After decades of use and use and use, the various machines used to make life comfortable fell into disrepair. Most supplies were already used up fixing them before, and now there was little left to salvage.
It made the colonies that had formed go into a panic. It was only made worse when the Apex Drones had emerged from their buried sarcophaguses.
The Apex Drones… Fierce, deadly, calculating, intelligent, swift, animalistic, and utterly terrifying robots that the humans had been working on. They were meant for war, but with no war to fight, they resorted to wanton violence and oil shed.
Like their name suggests, they quickly flew to the top of the food chain and became apex predators. They killed all Worker Drones without mercy, baby, child, adult, it didn’t matter. They only saw them as weak prey, something to quench their thirst for oil.
The Apex Drones, combined with the need for more materials and resources, caused the colonies to turn nomadic. They packed up, loaded cars, collected family and friends, and headed out of their apartment buildings or towns.
Of course, this led to many Worker Drones being plucked off by the Apex Drones. But that wasn’t the only danger, either. The outside at night became freezing. Your wires and circuits could turn into ice chunks if one stayed out too long.
Not to mention that fuel was always at an all-time low, too. There never seemed to be enough for everybody. Many workers died from starvation, left as food for their predators.
And because of the dwindling numbers of the Worker Drones, the fear of falling to the same fate the humans did, they had modified themselves to adapt to the new situation.
They followed their creators, installing machine fabricators in the women and code dispensers in the men.
‘And of course, there weren’t enough women, either.’ Uzi thought to herself with a sigh.
She huddled up further into the blanket her father gave her, keeping warm in the pick-up truck’s covered bed. The night winds blew against the dark fabric keeping Uzi and some of her colonymates sheltered.
‘I wonder how long it’ll be until we reach that facility dad was talking about.’ The young woman wondered in her head. ‘He said that there might be something valuable there. Maybe batteries? Or oil?’
Whatever it was, Uzi doubts it’ll be something to help her get some good sleep. She only does it best when she’s got her dad next to her, able to keep her warm and safe from anyone who’d dare to touch her.
The thought of that happening makes a shiver run down Uzi’s spinal ridge. She can feel the silicone adaptation between her legs, clothed by thick snow pants and woolen underwear. Her father refuses to let her wear anything “too feminine” for fear she may be abducted.
Uzi will never protest such a thing. She knows how “important” women are these days, and how much of a price they fetch to whoever’s the highest bidder. Not only that, but men’s clothes are just warmer and comfier.
Uzi shakes her head to swipe her CPU of the thoughts. She should be getting some sleep right now. Yet here she is, unable to and instead overthinking again.
A soft sigh blows from Uzi’s vents as she sets her chin on her knees. She pulls the blanket tighter around her frame, trying to suck every ounce of warmth out of it. All she achieves is confining herself further.
There’s some soft thumping and the moving of the truck bed that draws Uzi’s attention. She turns to the bed’s entrance, spotting the current lookout team switching groups.
Khan gets his replacement up and out of the truck before sitting next to his daughter. He pulls her into his side, to which Uzi immediately curls up and leans into him. There’s a beat of silence as the two sit there and warm up.
“You should be in Sleep Mode right now.” Khan comments.
“I can’t sleep.” Uzi returns.
“Have you tried?” Her dad asks, flicking his optics to her.
“Of course I have.” Uzi nods. “It’s just hard to sleep without you around.” She adds truthfully.
Khan makes a quiet chuckle and rubs Uzi’s side. She pulls the blanket off and drapes it over the both of them in return.
“Maybe I should take more watch shifts so you can learn to sleep on your own.” He muses.
Uzi replies with a soft, miffed growl. Her father laughs quietly again.
“You know I’m only joking, Uzi.” He whispers.
“I know, but you also take your “jokes” seriously sometimes.” Uzi argues with a pout.
“I do not!” Khan smiles at her.
“Do too!” Uzi counters.
Khan sighs fondly and lets the conversation peter out. He glances at the truck bed’s entrance, covered with cloth flaps to keep the cold and prying optics out. If he listened closely, he could hear some idle chatter from his colony members.
“Just get as much sleep as you can tonight, alright?” Khan says as he turns back to his daughter.
“I know, I’m trying.” Uzi sighs back at him.
She adjusts herself and gets comfy again. Khan keeps her under his arm and against his side. He doesn’t let himself fall into Sleep Mode until he sees the capital words on Uzi’s visor.
The morning is bright and chilly. The winds haven’t stopped but the colony’s trek must continue. There’s mild grumbling about it but no real complaints.
Uzi still feels exhausted. It took far too long for her to fall into Sleep Mode last night, and having meager scraps for breakfast wasn’t keeping her energized. She barely has the energy to hold her crossbow.
‘I wish we could find something to eat soon.’ The young woman thought, her boots trudging through snow. ‘I’d take anything at this point!’
Forgoing the hungry thoughts and emptiness in her tanks, Uzi concentrates on getting through the icy snow. The rumbling of the trucks besides the decently-sized group fills the silence when the wind decides to take a break.
“I wish I could’ve been able to stay on one of the trucks…” Uzi grumbles to herself, eyeing some of the carrying women. “Then again, I’d rather not be burdened with fabricating a child right now, either.” She then mumbles.
Deciding to count her blessings, Uzi turns her gaze back to the drones in front of her. They’re coming upon a large building, possibly a mall. There’s a rush of excitement that fills Uzi at the prospect of being able to scavenge inside it.
Wanting to chance it, the young woman dressed much like a boy trots up to her dad. He takes mild note of her, waiting until she said something first before shutting her down.
“Dad! Can I scavenge-?!”
“No.” Khan replies curtly and with a flat expression.
“You didn’t even let me finish!” Uzi argues.
“And I don’t need to. My answer is still no.” Khan returns, not even sparing her a glance.
Uzi makes a head-rolling groan in response.
“You don’t let me scavenge anywhere! Not even with you!” She argues.
“Because scavenging outings are dangerous, and I don’t want you getting hurt!” Khan argues.
“Dad, just being out here is dangerous! An Apex Drone can still come out of hiding whenever it wants to!” His daughter countered, tightening her hold on her weapon.
“It’s marginally less dangerous than whatever could lie inside abandoned buildings that once had lots of things to pillage.” Her dad continues to shut her down.
Uzi makes another frustrated growl, letting herself lag behind. Khan shakes his head with a minute sigh at her antics.
“I don’t know how you expect me to survive out here if you won’t let me get experience in doing things! Like scavenging buildings!” His daughter ran up to him again. “If I don’t learn what to and not to pick up, how am I gonna be of help to the colony?!”
Uzi knows she’s pulling out every trick from the book, playing every card possible, but she’s desperate to go on her first proper scavenging outing. Uzi really does want to help her colony, but her father always objects by saying “But it’s too dangerous!”
‘As if we aren’t living each day in danger!’ Uzi thinks bitterly.
But her dad gives her a pensive and contemplating stare. His silver optics narrow as he weighs his options and lists the pros and cons. After a few minutes he sighs and hangs his head in defeat.
“Alright, fine. You can go on the scavenging outing in the mall.” He concedes.
“YES!!” Uzi cheers and hops around.
“But!” Khan interrupts sternly. “You mustn’t go running off! And you always need some sort of partner with you at all times! No exceptions and no ifs, ands, or buts about it!” He tells her.
“Yeah, yeah, that’s fine! I get it!” Uzi nods and waves him off.
‘Somehow, I highly doubt that she “gets it.”’ Khan thinks to himself.
“And don’t go causing trouble for the others either, Uzi Doorman.” Khan adds, voice still stern.
“I won’t dad, geez!” Uzi groans again. “Have at least a little faith in me!”
“We’ll see about that.” Khan sighs.
After another short while, the colony finally makes it to the super mall. Groups are made and workers are divided up for certain jobs. Uzi meets up with the guys going into the mall to scavenge and see what they can find.
“Hey, Uzi! Didn’t think you’d be tagging along!” Thad greets jovially, fixing his scarf. “Did you bug your dad to let you join?” He then asked with a cheeky grin.
“Only a little.” Uzi giggled back. “Though, he also wants me to have a partner at my sides at all times. Think you could fill in?” She offered with an “innocent” look.
“Sure! Maybe we’ll find something good!” The jock smiled back at her.
Uzi could feel her visor go a little flush. She shook her head and buried her white face plates in her own thick scarf and the fluff of her thick blue parka.
“By the way, what do you think might be in there? I’m hoping we’ll find some food.” Thad said, turning to look at the large building.
“Honestly same here. We’ve been running off fumes for far too long. I’m surprised we haven’t started hauling the trucks around yet.” The purple-haired robot answered.
“Yeah. I am not looking forward to that.” Thad laughed.
“I don’t think anyone would look forward to something like that.” Uzi laughed too.
“Except for all the manufacturing ladies.” Thad added.
“Yeah! I’m sure they’d love it!” Uzi laughed louder.
Thad joined her in the laughter, only stopping when their outing leader, Mr. Molchalin, called for their attention.
“We’ll be heading inside the mall soon! Make sure all of your weapons are put together and you have all of your ammo! We don’t know what we’ll find in there, so be on the lookout!” He said loudly.
Everyone nodded and gave their agreements. After a quick supplies check and head count, Molchalin led everybody inside the building to scrounge around and see what it had to offer.
Uzi could feel her excitement rise with each step she took towards the place. It took a lot of inner strength to not go bounding off.
“I call dibs on any basketballs we find.” Thad whispered to his friend.
“And I call dibs on any chokers.” Uzi returned with a grin.
“Then I guess I’ll call dibs on any carbon sticks we might find.” Thad smiled in a tease.
“Aww! Asshole!” Uzi gasped with offense. “Fine then! I call dibs on any possible crystalline circuits!” She returned smugly.
“I’ll take that deal!” Thad smiled wider.
The two laughed again, their scavenging group finally making it inside the huge super mall.