md-theotherside

[md-theotherside]

Murder Drones: OtherSide: Episode 2: Access Denied (REWRITE)

Lucky shot up, heart racing. The echoes of phantom screams buzzed in his circuits, crashing against his consciousness like waves on a rocky shore. It was the same nightmare, relentless and cruel. His adoptive mother and uncle haunted him. Their tragic end replayed like a twisted film reel. Each time, the scene morphed into something different. Sometimes, the chaos made a strange sort of sense. Other times, it spiraled into pure madness. But one image remained etched in his mind, vivid and raw.

Metal sentinels with claws like knives ripping into them. A chill crept down his spine. He felt a stinging sensation behind his optical sensors. Digital tears threatened to spill. He swallowed hard, wrestling with the emotions that surged within him. How long could he keep pretending everything was okay? The thought gnawed at him. How long until he shattered under the pressure?

Yesterday lingered in his mind, a heavy fog he couldn't clear. What even happened? All he knew was that it was bad. Really bad. "I should have never plugged that stupid USB into myself," he muttered, frustration seeping into his voice. The words cut deep. He tightened the bolts on his wheels, preparing to rise. But as he stood, a wave of dizziness hit him. Stumbling, he made his way to the bathroom, hoping movement would shake off this strange malaise. But the moment he reached the toilet, his stomach rebelled. He doubled over, the contents of his insides spilling forth. As he glanced up, what he saw sent shockwaves through him. Amidst the pool of oil, there was something more disturbing—a severed hand, a drone's hand, lifeless and mangled.

Startled, he recoiled, heart racing. Was it real? Or was this sickness twisting his reality into a nightmare? With trembling hands, he flushed the toilet, hoping to erase the sight from his mind. Maybe the sickness was distorting his senses, conjuring up hallucinations. But the dread settled in, heavy and unshakeable. But even after the shock and uneasiness, the sickness seemed to fade

Lucky finished cleaning up just as his alarm blared. He hit snooze and made his way to the workshop, eager to wrap up his latest invention: an acid sniper. Suddenly, a thought struck him. He had totally spaced on picking up a quantum stabiliser the day before. That was the whole reason he ventured out. Instead, he got sidetracked by reviving fallen drones scattered about. "Flizzapajimbit!" he muttered, frustration bubbling up. "I'm such an idjit, as my ma would say." With that, he pivoted and headed toward the colony's entrance. But his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, making him lose focus. Distracted, he collided with something hard.

Lucky looked up and felt his screen flush a vibrant green and blue. Standing before him was a fellow worker drone—a female, no less. Her hair shone with the rich hue of a ripe red pear, and her digital eyes sparkled like aged bronze. On her head perched a construction hard hat, while makeshift bull horns jutted out from the front. She wore a pink jumper emblazoned with the colony's symbol, a magenta skirt that swayed with her movements, and black boots laced with bright magenta.

"Rachel?" Lucky's heart skipped a beat. She was his ex-partner, but they remained friends. Still, he couldn't shake the feelings he had for her.

"Oh! Sorry 'bout that, Rachel. Wasn't lookin' where I was goin'," he stammered, his Texas drawl thickening under the embarrassment.

"It's fine, Lucks. I wasn't paying attention either. Have you seen my older sister? She's gone missing..." Rachel's voice dipped, sadness creeping in.

Lucky felt a pang of concern. "Oh... No, I haven't. But if I do find her, I'll give ya a holler," he replied, sincerity lacing his tone.

"Thanks, Lucks. I appreciate it." Rachel's voice held a hint of fluster as she turned to leave.

"Okay, see ya then." Lucky waved as he stepped out through the colony's entrance, the weight of their conversation lingering in the air.

Lucky moved cautiously through the icy wastelands of Copper-9. He kept his distance, making sure K0rra wouldn't spot him. Finding the quantum stabilizer was his main goal. Yet, the aftermath of K0rra's USB lingered in his mind. What had it done to him? He still wasn't clear on that.

As he wandered, something shiny caught his attention. A mirror lay half-buried in the snow. He approached it, curiosity piqued. Lucky glanced at his reflection, searching for any signs of change. Nothing seemed off. That realization hit him with mixed emotions. Could it all just be in his mind?

Suddenly, a strange symbol appeared on his screen. It was bizarre, unlike anything he had ever encountered. It flickered for a moment before shattering the mirror in front of him. Startled, he dropped the mirror. He quickly regained his composure and returned to inspect the damage. The symbol had vanished from his screen, but now the mirror was cracking in an unnatural way.

Then came the unsettling part. A thick, dark substance began to ooze from the cracks. It was a bizarre blend of blood-red and jet black, reminiscent of oil mixed with something far more sinister. The sight sent a chill down his spine.

Terrified, Lucky abandoned the mirror. He had to focus. The quantum stabilizer was out there, and he couldn't let fear derail him. He pressed on, determined to find it before anything else could go wrong.

n a stark contrast to the cold, metal-riddled expanse surrounding Crossdrone Colony, tranquility reigned within its hidden walls. No buzzing machinery or alarming shrieks of peril could be heard here. This place, often referred to as the "Doorman" colony, was a sanctuary for worker drones. It remained a secret, inaccessible to the outside world. Three hefty steel doors stood guard, each one thudding shut like a final curtain. Crossing through them felt like stepping into a different realm, one intentionally isolated from the chaos beyond.

Inside the first door, a small assembly of drones congregated in a dimly lit communal area. The light was steady, casting familiar shadows around the space. A battered metal table took center stage, surrounded by an eclectic assortment of bots perched on crates and salvaged chairs. Among them were two Disassembly Drones, N and V, who appeared out of place. Their normally fierce appearance softened by the room's gentle glow. Some worker drones lounged nearby, their usual work lights extinguished. They were engaged in a card game—a simple round of Go Fish.

Frustration simmered in the air, palpable and thick. What was causing the irritation? It was a unique worker drone—no, a part of one. Its tail, detached from its main body, stood upright. The small round head atop it glowed faintly, just reaching the tabletop. Yet, it was commanding the game with surprising prowess. The tail emitted a series of high-pitched chimes, robotic yet playful. "Giggle, Giggle, Go fish," it chimed, its voice ringing with a childlike charm.

V slammed her hand down on the table, exasperation evident. "UGH! How did you win again? Seriously? You don't even have hands! You must be cheating!"

The tail-head, known as Cyn, rotated slowly to face V, a soft whir emanating from it, almost teasing. "Or maybe you are all just bad at these games of thin paper and cardboard."

The taunt lingered, hanging heavy in the atmosphere. V's mood soured further. Her claws twitched, poised as if ready to strike. She locked eyes on the peculiar head-tail, tension building. Uzi felt the same urge. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation; it was thick enough to cut.

Then, a sharp thud echoed against Door 1. The sound of metal striking metal sliced through the tension. The room froze, whispers of speculation filling the air. The low hum of drones grew louder, a swarm by the echo. Everyone came to a standstill, caught in a web of uncertainty. What was that? Who was outside? No one knew.

Silence reclaimed the space, broken only by the distant murmurs. N, ever the eager one, broke the stillness. "Oh, I'll get it!" Before Uzi could utter a warning, N was already on his way, override key in hand. A quick click, and then a soft swish. Too late. The door slid open.

A wave of relief washed over the group. No sentinels. No ominous disassembly drones. Just worker drones. But that sense of calm didn't last long. Suddenly, the room filled with them—hundreds, maybe even thousands. Each drone looked as if it had just rolled off the assembly line. Flawless. Perfect.

Familiar faces zipped by. Some were like old acquaintances seen in passing—recognizable but distant. Others hit harder. It was like peering into a dark void. Rebecca. Penny. Sam. They appeared right before them, as clear as day, yet it didn't compute. They had been dismantled, obliterated. So how were they here, looking perfectly intact? It felt like a glitch in reality, a riddle with no answer.

But not everyone was present. Doll was missing. Confusion buzzed in the air, mixed with intrigue and a hint of dread. What had happened here? What was real? Those questions loomed heavy while the drones continued to stream in, each one holding a story, yet none dared to share. Then Cyn broke the silence. "What in the absolute fabric? They're dead, confused expression." they said, confusion etched on their face.

V nodded, finally on the same page. "I can't believe it either. How are they alive?" N shrugged, trying to keep calm. "Well, they just walked away. It'd be weird—creepy even—if we just trailed them and started asking questions. Maybe whatever brought them back is still out there."

V frowned. "But why would it do this? What's the point of reviving worker drones? Other than just eating them all over again?"

N shot back, "V! We're not eating them!"

"Why not? We need the oil to survive!" V replied, frustration creeping in.

N sighed, "We have oil reserves back in the colony."

V rolled their eyes. "Oh come on! Where's the fun in that? The bloodshed? The screams of terror?"

Uzi, tired of the back and forth, interrupted, "Can we focus here?" They took a deep breath, trying to regain control of the situation. "So, are we going to figure this out or what?" The group fell silent, the weight of uncertainty hanging in the air. The drones continued to file in, each one a reminder of the chaos that lay ahead.

Lucky was on a mission. He was hunting for the quantum stabiliser to wrap up his acid sniper project. But, man, it wasn't easy. It felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. Frustration crept in. So, he slipped on his frog-themed headphones and cranked up the music to drown out the noise of his thoughts. As he moved, he found himself humming along.

"Five, six, seven, eight, time is just a hoax. In a colored world of characters and family jokes. You must think that you're dreaming. Just tell me what you're scheming" he crooned, lost in his own rhythm.

Then, something caught his eye—something unexpected. It wasn't the quantum stabiliser. No, it was the remains of a disassembly drone lying still. Lucky approached carefully. He noticed right away that it was a male drone, unlike the two females he'd tangled with the day before. The drone's body told a grim tale. It looked like it had starved to death, its head dented and battered.

"Hmm, yer parts could do some good for others," Lucky muttered, pulling out his buzz saw. "Hope ya don't mind." He began to saw off the drone's arms, working methodically despite the gruesome scene. The drone had been lifeless for some time, but the way its head was tilted made it seem like it was judging him, like it was scolding him for his actions.

"Oh, don't look at me like that," he said, shaking his head. "Ain't my fault ya kicked the bucket. Besides, reckon ya've taken out a few innocents yerself. Morality calls this one a draw." He sighed, realizing he was talking to a dead body again.

Then Lucky's gaze shifted. He noticed that the drone's wings were still spread wide open, untouched and in perfect condition. "Well, how 'bout that? Today's my lucky day!" he exclaimed, feeling a rush of excitement.

He gingerly flipped the drone onto its chest and started tugging at the wings. "Come on, you stubborn things! Gimme already!" But just as he yanked, his grip slipped, sending him tumbling backward. He landed next to his buzz saw with a thud. "Oh right," he chuckled to himself, shaking off the fall. Picking up the buzz saw again, he went back to work, cutting away at the drone's wings. They weren't going to take themselves. Luck was on his side today, and he was determined to make the most of it.

Uzi, N, and V set out from the colony with a mission. They wanted to track down whatever or whoever had reactivated the swarm of worker drones that had just streamed into their home. It wasn’t about starting trouble. No, they were merely curious. Understanding the motive behind it could be vital. Plus, those drones could be a huge help to the colony. They trudged back to the icy expanse of Copper-9, scanning the area near the colony's entrance. Disappointment hung in the air as they returned empty-handed. Just as they were about to give up and head back, a voice sliced through the cold silence, bouncing off the shattered buildings around them.

“Dere we go! I found ya.”

The voice had a familiar Texas drawl, but they couldn’t place it. Confusion mixed with caution as they crept toward the sound, weapons drawn. They peered over a pile of debris and spotted the source. It was a worker drone, but not like any they had seen before. This one had wheels instead of feet, which had been ripped away. He sported a purple zipper hoodie and a bizarre bowler hat, complete with rusty pipe antlers. Tools dangled from the antlers, giving him a quirky yet unsettling appearance. The sight reminded them of another drone that had tried to take them out, but the name escaped them.

N, always being N, stepped forward. “Well, hey there, little fella! What’s your name?”

The drone turned at the sound of N’s voice. Panic washed over its face. Without a moment’s hesitation, it skated back, then bolted away, muttering under its breath, “Nope, Nope, Nope, ain’t dying today, thank ya very much.”

N raised an eyebrow. “Did he just—?”

Uzi smirked, “Guess he’s not a fan of friendly introductions.”

V chuckled, “C’mon, let’s not let him get away that easily.”

With a nod, they took off after the frightened drone, ready for whatever came next.

Lucky skated through the chaos, panic fueling his speed. He had to get back to his colony. He had to escape the looming threat of a disassembly drone. Fear twisted in his gut, pushing him faster. He wasn’t even sure where he was heading anymore. Glancing back, he saw them—dark figures barely visible against the horizon. They looked small, but their menace loomed large in his mind. Relief washed over him, but it was short-lived.

Suddenly, a disassembly drone landed right in his path. The ground trembled from the impact. Lucky's heart raced. This one was different. He recognized her instantly. That professional look, the pigtails—one of them was broken—and those piercing yellow eyes. She was the same drone that had tried to take him out the day before, but had collapsed from exhaustion.

“You.” Her voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. “Are you the one that left cans of oil for me yesterday? If so, what would a barely sentient toaster like you want to help me for?”

Lucky’s heart sank. She had insulted him, and he didn’t know how to respond. He hesitated, considering his options.

“Answer or I’ll reduce you to scrap.” Her hand morphed into a gun, a clear threat.

He gulped, feeling the weight of her gaze. “Well, ya looked like you were ‘bout to starve to death. And even though you’re my enemy, I don’t wanna see ya die,” he said, his Texas twang coming through.

There was a moment of silence, tension hanging thick in the air. J studied him, amusement flickering in her yellow eyes. “Interesting. Not many would say that to a disassembly drone. You’re either brave or stupid.”

“Nah, just tryin' to survive,” Lucky replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

J smirked, the gun retracting. “You’re lucky I find your honesty refreshing. But don’t think for a second that this means we’re friends.”

Lucky nodded, relief washing over him again but mixed with caution. He knew better than to trust a disassembly drone.

“Now get moving, toaster,” J ordered. “I have bigger fish to fry, but I’ll keep you in mind.”

With that, she turned and soared into the sky, leaving Lucky to process what had just happened. He wasn’t sure if he had just escaped a near-death experience if she was trying to lead him into a false sense or security.

“Man, that was downright scary,” Lucky muttered, brushing himself off as he got back on his skates. He headed home to his colony, still feeling a bit rattled. He kept his pace steady, gliding southeast for about 2,500 blocks. The sight of his colony on the horizon eased his nerves.

But just as he thought he was in the clear, a familiar voice called out. “Hey there, little fella! What’s got you all the way out here? Why’d you run off?” Lucky turned, recognizing N. This time, N had two companions, V and Uzi. Strangers. His heart raced again.

“Don’t worry, we ain't gonna hurt ya. Promise,” N assured him.

V chimed in, “Yeah, well, I don’t make promises.”

“Not the time for that, V,” N shot back.

Lucky’s digital face twisted from fear to doubt. Trusting them? Not so sure. But he figured if they tried something funny, he could bootloop them quick. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, K0rra swooped in.

She landed between him and the three strangers, her glitchy screen flashing ominously. K0rra hissed and growled, her claws ready to strike. She lunged at him with a wild fury, trying to rip him apart. Lucky skated backward, heart pounding.

K0rra was relentless, closing in fast. In a split second, Lucky turned and unleashed a bright blue light from his screen. It hit K0rra, freezing her in a buffering state. Bootlooped.

Breathing heavily, Lucky dashed into his colony and slammed the door behind him. He took a moment to catch his breath. Just as he settled, a knock echoed through the door. Curious, he peeked through the spyhole. It was the three strangers again.

“Hey, can you let us in? Who are you? What’s this place?” N asked.

“Dis be the Crossdrone Colony. Disassembly drones ain’t welcome here,” Lucky replied, turing around to leave and ready to close the spyhole.

But then Rachel appeared right in front of him. Startled, he jumped. “Sweet robo-jesus, Rachel! Don’t do that!”

“Sorry, Lucks. Who's at the door?” she asked.

“Three strangers. Not lettin' them in,” he said firmly.

“Ugh! Why not?” Uzi’s muffled voice came from the other side of the door.

“Hey! Mind your business. This is a private chat!” Lucky snapped, sighing. He turned to Rachel. “Two of them are disassembly drones. They haven’t tried to kill me yet. At least, one of them promised they wouldn’t.”

“Why not just let them in?” Rachel suggested, her eyes bright with possibility.

“I’d love to keep them safe from the Beckoning Reaper, but rules are rules. No disassembly drones allowed,” Lucky replied, his tone firm.

“But what if we keep an eye on them? Couldn’t that be okay?” Rachel pressed.

Lucky sighed again. “Gott segne dich (Bless ya heart). Fine. But if this goes sideways, it’s on you.”

“Yeah, I know,” Rachel said, determination in her voice.

With a nod, she opened the door, welcoming Uzi, V, and N inside.

“Hello! I’m Rachel, and this is my friend Lucky,” she introduced cheerfully.

“Nice to meet ya, Rachel and Lucky. I’m N,” he replied, his voice warm despite the situation.

“Yeah, cool to meet you or whatever. I’m Uzi,” she added, her casual tone hiding her nerves.

“Hi, I guess... I’m V,” she mumbled grumpily, glancing around.

Suddenly, Uzi’s tail perked up and shot toward Lucky and Rachel. “JUMPSCARE!” a new voice exclaimed, giggling.

“Whoa, what the heck?” Lucky jumped again.

“Hello, I am the solver of the absolute fabric, the void, the exponential end. But you can call me Cyn,” the tail said, grinning widely.

Rachel's eyes widened. “Oh robo-god! Nice to meet you all. Now, c'mon, follow us!” With that, the group stepped deeper into the colony, ready for whatever awaited them.

(3578 Words)

[md-theotherside]

Murder Drones: OtherSide: Episode 4 trailer

[md-theotherside]

[md-theotherside]

Episode 2: Access Denied

Lucky jolted awake. The phantom screams still echoed in his circuits. It was the same nightmare, again. His adoptive mother. His uncle. Their end. He never could help them. The scene always twisted, different fates each time. Sometimes, it made sense. Other times, it was just plain crazy. But one image stuck. It felt too real. Sentinels, metal claws tearing through them. A chilling thought. He felt the prickle behind his optical sensors. Digital tears. He swallowed hard. He tried to lock it down. How long could he keep up this act? How long until he broke? Then there was yesterday. He still couldn't make sense of it. What even happened? He just knew it was bad. Really bad.

"I should have never put that stupid USB into me." He muttered, the words sharp, aimed at himself.

 His alarm blared then. He swiped it off the screen. Time for his workshop business. He pushed off his bed. His apartment felt cold. He left quickly. The street blurred. He was lost in his own head. Too many thoughts. He didn't see the other drone. Thump. He collided hard. A familiar silhouette. Rachel. His ex-partner. Still a good friend. She stood there, a flash of color against the dull morning. Her hair, the shade of a ripe red pear. Digital eyes, the color of old bronze. A construction hard hat sat on her head. Makeshift bull horns jutted from the front. A pink jumper, the colony's symbol stitched on. A magenta skirt. Black boots with bright magenta laces. No mistaking her.

"OH! Sorry 'bout that, Rachel. Wasn't lookin' where I was goin'," Lucky said. His Texas accent always thick when he was flustered.

"It's fine, Lucks," she replied. "Though you might wanna be careful. Some kinda eldritch monster got in. So now I'm hunting it." Her words hit him.

"Oh? How come you're huntin' it?" Lucky asked. Rachel's digital eyes dimmed. She frowned. Her face went grim.

"Cause it killed my older sister..."The words slammed into Lucky. That's what that screaming was. The screaming he'd heard. When he was stuck in that black void. Unable to move. He forced his expression flat. Stayed still.

"Oh... Well, I'm sorry for yer loss," he managed. "Anywho, I'm headin' out of the colony."

"You are?" Rachel tilted her head. "But I thought you went yesterday."

Lucky gulped. He had to keep the story going. He couldn't risk telling her the truth. "Oh, it's just because I forgot to look for a quantum stabilizer yesterday. Need one to finish off ma acid sniper."

Rachel's eyes widened. A small gasp. "Oooohhhh! That weapon you made from a disassembly drone tail! Alright, well, I'll see you later then?"

"Heh, sure. See ya later." Lucky offered a weak smile. He turned. He skated away, leaving the colony behind. Heading back to the harsh, open wastes of Copper-9.

The feeling in his core twisted. He felt even worse than before. He just drifted. Aimless. He was far enough now. K0rra couldn't see him. A cold dread settled in. He started to think. Had he accidentally killed Rachel's elder sister? The possibility clawed at him. He reached into a pocket. Pulled out a small mirror he'd found. He checked his face. Nothing changed. Same old Lucky. Then, a symbol. It flashed across his optical screen. Bright. Blinding. A jolt. The mirror in his hand shattered. Glass splintered. An unseen force had done it. He dropped the broken pieces. Startled. He just kept walking. Through the desolate land. He saw dead worker drones. One after another. He revived them. Just like he had before. He kept moving.

Far from the frozen, metal-scarred wasteland above, quiet reigned. No angry whirring. No metallic shrieks of danger. This peace came from being deep underground. Hidden. The worker drone colony, sometimes called the "Doorman" colony, offered safety. It was a secret bunker, sealed off. Three thick, steel doors stood guard. Each one clanged shut with a final thud. Passing through them felt like entering another world. Or rather, a world carefully kept apart. Behind the third door, a small group had gathered. They were in a common room, the lights dim but steady. A beat-up metal table sat in the center. Around it, a strange mix of bots sat perched on various crates and salvaged chairs. Two Disassembly Drones, N and V, looked out of place. Their usual sharp, dangerous look was dulled by the soft glow of the room. A few worker drones were there too, their regular work lights now off. They were all playing cards. Or trying to. A simple game of Go Fish. Frustration brewed among most of them. The air grew thick with it. Why the annoyance? The source was a unique worker drone. Or rather, a part of one. Its tail, separate from its main body, sat upright. A small, round head and a faint core glowed at its tip. It barely reached the tabletop. Yet, somehow, it was dominating the game.

The tail let out a series of high-pitched chimes. Robotic, yet childish. Its voice followed. "Giggle, Giggle, Go fish."

V slammed her hand onto the table. "UGH!" Her visor flickered brighter. "How did you win again? Seriously? You don't even have hands! You must be cheating!"

The tail-head rotated slowly, facing V. A soft, almost mocking whir came from it. "Or maybe you are all just bad at these games of thin paper and cardboard." It was a simple statement. But it hung in the air, a tiny, digital taunt. And it certainly did not help V's mood.

V's claws twitched. Not just a little, but like she was moments from pouncing. She had her eyes locked on that bizarre head-tail thing. A full-on grapple was about to happen. Uzi felt the same way. Her circuits hummed with the desire to just end it. The air in the room was thick. You could almost feel the weight of it. Then, a sharp thud hit Door 1. Metal on metal. It cut through the tension instantly. The standoff froze.

Whispers followed the thud. A low, buzzing sound. Definitely drones. Lots of them, by the echo. Everyone stopped. No one moved. What was that? Who was outside? No one had a clue. Silence settled back, broken only by those faint voices.

Then N, always N, piped up. "Oh, I'll get it!" Uzi barely started to say "N, wait!" He was already there. Override key in hand. A quick click. A soft swish. Too late. The door slid open.

A sigh of relief passed through the group. No monster. No killer robots. Just... drones. But that relief died fast. What came next was enough to make anyone's optics glitch. Hundreds of them. Maybe thousands. They just stood there. Worker drones. Each one looked like it just came off the factory line. No dents. Not a single scratch. They looked like they'd never been broken down, ever. Some faces felt familiar. Like someone you pass in the hall and vaguely recognize. Others hit harder. Seeing them was like staring at a ghost. Rebecca. Penny. Sam. They were right there, clear as day. But how? They had been mangled. Destroyed. So how were they standing there now, perfectly fine? It made no sense at all. It just didn't compute. A few faces were missing though. No Doll. No Grant.

Uzi mumbled, "Ummm, am I really seeing this or..."

Nori answered, her voice flat, "You are definitely not seeing things." Uzi's mother, Nori, sat on Khan's head. She glared, watching the approaching worker drones walk in. Her eyes narrowed, suspicious of the entire situation.

V stepped forward. "I'm getting answers."

Uzi nodded. "Yeah, fair enough."

V moved then. Fast. She grabbed Rebecca, hauling her back towards the group. "Alright, Rebecca," V demanded. "We want answers. You're going to tell us. How are you alive?! 

We saw you die."

Uzi chimed in, a bit awkward. "Yeah... Sorry about that..."

Rebecca looked scared. She hesitated, but she spoke anyway. She clearly did not want to get damaged again. "Umm, well, I never got a name, but I was – sorry, we were fixed by this random drone." She paused. "He had wheels for feet and wore a bowler hat. One weird drone, for sure. But I'm not complaining. He technically brought us back from the dead."

A sudden, sharp "WHAT?!" ripped through the quiet. V, N, and Uzi shouted it together. Khan's screen flickered with pure shock. Nori, still on top of him, looked just as stunned.

Uzi's voice dropped, barely a whisper. "Is... is he still out there?" she asked, her eyes wide.

Rebecca just shrugged, a small, uncertain movement. "Maybe? I really don't know," she mumbled. Her tone was no help.

V, however, was ready. A wicked grin spread across her face. "Sounds like an outing!" she declared. "We go out there. We find him. We make him talk. Then, we pop his weird little head right off!" Her tail twitched with excitement.

N stepped forward, a clear frown on his face. "V! We are not going to kill him!" His voice was firm. No room for argument.

V let out a dramatic huff. "Hmph! You always ruin my fun, N." she grumbled, crossing her arms.

Uzi cut in, already moving towards the door. "C'mon. Let's just go," she ordered. Time was wasting.

The trio didn't wait around. V, N, and Uzi headed for the door, eager to find answers. Khan called out, "Good luck! Stay safe, you three!" It was his usual dad-like concern.

Nori echoed his words. But she was visibly annoyed. Really annoyed. She couldn't join them. Her new body wasn't ready. She was still just a core. Stuck. While the action was happening.

The cold hit them first. Not just a chill. This was a deep, biting freeze. It went right through their chassis, straight into their core processors. The whole area felt wrong. Different from anything they knew.

It stretched out. A huge, empty space. Just stark, frozen white as far as their optical sensors could see. No sound. Nothing at all. The silence felt heavy. It felt wrong. Usually, even in quiet places, you heard something. Wind might whistle. Maybe a broken building would creak. Here? Just a dead quiet.

N, V, Uzi, and Cyn, who hadn't really chosen to come along, pushed through the stinging air. Every step made a loud crunch. Ice cracked. Packed snow groaned under their weight. The sound felt too loud. It was like shouting into a completely empty room, where your voice just echoed back at you.

This quiet wasn't peaceful. It pressed down on them. An invisible weight. It made every circuit in their bodies feel alert. Then, a small sound. A faint scrape. A slight shuffle. It cut through the total quiet. Just a tiny noise. But it was enough.

Instant reaction. They froze. Their optical sensors locked onto the sound's source. Then they moved. Fast. Like a machine with perfectly timed parts. Uzi's hand shot up. Purple energy sparked at her fingertips. Absolute Solver. Ready to go. N's arms shifted. His hands became sharp points. Blades clicked out. They reflected the dull light. V stood right beside him, doing the same thing. Her claws extended, long and gleaming.

Something appeared. It rolled out from behind a frost-covered rock. It wasn't a Disassembly Drone. It was a Worker Drone. But a strange one. It used wheels instead of legs. A proper bowler hat sat straight on its head. And from the hat, two rusty pipes curved up. They looked like odd antlers. It rolled slowly. The drone hadn't seen them. It didn't glance their way. Its focus was on a small object. The object was clutched in its hands. It pulsed with a faint, steady green light. A quantum stabilizer. It was Lucky.

Lucky mumbled to himself. He seemed totally unaware of anyone else. "Alright, that oughta do the trick just fine," he said. He let out a small sigh of relief. "Well, time to get back to the colony. " He looked around quickly. Still, he didn't see the three drones and a sentient tail standing frozen nearby. "Hooh, boy. Didn't realize I wandered out dis far from the colony, did I?" Lucky chuckled awkwardly. He spun around a little. That's when he caught a glimpse of the three drones watching him. Lucky didn't really know how to feel. Was he spooked? Maybe. Creeped out? Possibly. Cautious and needing to run away? Definitely. So, that's what Lucky did. He spun his wheel-feet. Snow flew up, making a cloud. Like a smoke screen. Just like that, he was gone.

"What the? Where did he go?" Uzi asked.

"Don't know," V replied. "But I think that was our guy. Maybe if we can get a better view, we'll be able to see him."

"Oh, I know a spot!" N chimed in. "Though I don't think anyone's going to like it."

Uzi and V hated the corpse spire. Every twisted beam of metal, every creaking strut, felt wrong. It stood as a grim monument. A reminder of J, or what was left of her, and everything that went down. The air felt heavy up there, charged with dark memories. But they needed to see. A good view was worth the discomfort.

They flew up, the wind whipping around their wings. The spire reached high into the cold air. They landed on its jagged peak, surveying the wasteland below. Silence held the air, broken only by the wind. Then, a voice cut through it. Sharp. Unmistakable.

"What do you bozos want?"

J. She stood there, somehow, arms crossed. Her voice dripped with more snark than usual. She seemed completely unbothered by their presence.

V bristled. Her voice was flat, laced with contempt. "We ain't here for you, J."

No time for pleasantries. V got straight to it. "We're looking for a weirdo worker drone. And we needed the high point to scope things out."

J's eyes narrowed. A smug smirk played on her face. She knew something. "So, one with wheels for feet? And a bowler hat, maybe?"

Uzi blinked. How would J know that? "How would you know?"

J scoffed. "Chased that same one yesterday. Ended up collapsing from exhaustion. And hunger, too." She paused, a flicker of something close to confusion crossing her face. "It was strange. Woke up, and there were cans of oil just sitting there for me. No idea why a barely sentient toaster would do that, but I'm not complaining."

J let out a soft sigh, her gaze drifting out to the horizon. It was a clear sign she was done with the conversation. "Your runaway toaster with wheels is over in that direction." She pointed south-east. "Now leave me be."

She didn't wait for a reply. J launched herself off the spire's edge. She dropped quickly, heading straight for her nearly completed space shuttle.

V and Uzi exchanged a look. An eye-roll, of course. N, though? He showed a tiny bit of worry. A quick blink.

Then, they were in the air. Straight up. They blasted off, a blur following J's earlier hint. The chase was on. They flew for ages. The ground below was just a gray streak. Empty. Lifeless. Finally, they spotted him. Lucky. He moved like a flash. He ripped open a thick, metal door. It looked like a bunker entrance. He ducked inside. The heavy door hissed, then clicked shut behind him. Soft. Final.

Uzi, V, and N dropped down. They hit the ground. A thud. Right in front of that massive door. They just stood there for a second. What next? N took a step closer. He rapped on the door. Nothing. Not a peep from inside. He knocked again. Louder. His fist hit metal.

Then, a small panel slid aside. A spy-hole. Lucky's face stared out. His green and blue eyes, sharp with suspicion. No welcome there. His voice was gravelly. A thick Texas drawl. "I don't know who y'all are, but yer not welcome here. So get lost!"

Uzi fired back instantly. "What? Why?!"

Lucky didn't waste time. "Disassembly Drones ain't welcome." He squinted. "And for all I know, you're just one of them wearing a disguise!" He pointed at Uzi.

A different voice cut in from inside. Soft. Gentle. "Oh, Lucks. You're back! Who are you talking to?"

Lucky snapped. "Rachel, this isn't the time! Just some drones we can't let in."Rachel held her ground. "Why not? Let me see them."

Lucky's head jolted. He moved aside. Rachel's bronze eyes appeared. Her face was kind. She looked at Uzi, V, and N. "They seem friendly enough to me," Rachel said. Her voice was steady.

Lucky shot back. "They're Disassembly Drones!"

Rachel set him straight. "Actually, one's a Worker Drone." She looked right at Uzi.

"It could be a disguise!" Lucky yelled. His voice rising.

Rachel sighed. A long, weary sound. "Right, you and your wild ideas."

Lucky let out a deep groan. Pure anger. He started to skate away, clearly annoyed. Steam practically came off him. But he stopped. He spun back to Rachel. His voice turned bitter. Full of spite. "OK! Du willst sie reinlassen? Nur zu. Aber wenn die ganze Kolonie tot ist, weil sie uns alle umgebracht haben, vergiss nicht, dass all das Blut an deinen Händen klebt!" (FINE! you wanna let them in? be my guest. but when the entire colony is dead from them killing us all, just remember that all that blood is on your hands!)

He finished his outburst. Then, he spat on the ground. A final, angry move. He skated away. He was gone from sight. His fury hung in the air.

"Yeesh," Rachel mumbled. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." She was still looking where Lucky had gone. Then she turned back. She saw Uzi, N, and V through the spy-hole. "Oh! Let me open this up for you all."

The lock clicked. It slid open. Rachel stood there. Her full body now visible. "Come on in, and hurry." Her voice dropped. "Don't want the beckoning reaper getting in as well."

The three stepped inside. Rachel slammed the door shut. Just in time. Banging started from outside. Hard.

"Okay," Rachel said to herself. "That was a close one. K0rra almost got in." Cyn, her tail with a head, perked up. It seemed to hear her. "Alright, follow me then. I'll show you around."

[md-theotherside]

Episode 1: Digital Hallucinations

System loaded, beginning recap

??/??/3075 (A few weeks ago)

The shuttle just kept going. It sliced through the cold, vast dark of space. No sound. Inside, a lone drone sat. Banged up. Scratched. But it hummed, still powered. Its small screen flashed a single phrase. Just "AIR-PLANE MODE." Way down below, things were much different. The planet was a mess. A full-blown war was cooking. Disassembly Drones went head-to-head with Worker Drones. Nobody held back. Lasers sliced through the air. Explosions shook the ground. Drones fired energy blasts. Worker Drones, tough as nails, dodged and weaved. They retaliated with salvaged rail-guns. A Disassembly Drone charged, claws out. A Worker Drone blocked with a scrap metal shield. Then, a quick jab, a vital point hit. That drone crumpled. The air thrummed with constant fighting. A non-stop roar. This whole area? People just called it "No Drone's Land." And for good reason. If you were a drone, you didn't want to be caught dead in that place.

The metal shrieked. Laser fire crisscrossed the frozen air. Drones clashed, a chaotic ballet of violence across the icy plains. This was no skirmish. This was total war. Worker drones, desperate, fought against the relentless disassembly units. Sparks flew. Metal parts scattered like confetti in a hurricane.

Then, a dark shape plummeted from the sky. It was the shuttle, damaged, spewing smoke. It screamed towards the ground. A final, earth-shaking impact. The ice cracked. The shuttle exploded. A wave of force rolled out. One object was flung from the wreckage. The single drone. It sailed through the air, tumbling end over end, before landing hard in a fresh crater.The battle froze. Every drone stopped. Worker drones. Disassembly units. They all turned. Their optical sensors locked onto the new crater. A hush fell. Only the crackle of burning debris broke the silence. This newcomer seemed like another disassembly drone. Its frame was dark. Its posture was off. But something about it was unsettling. Its optics, even from a distance, seemed too still. Too cold.

One fighting disassembly drone moved first. It was a bold move. It walked towards the crater. Cautiously. Its chassis creaked with purpose. It extended a hand. A gesture of, what, welcome? Or perhaps curiosity. The new drone stirred. It slowly lifted its head. Its optical sensors focused on the outstretched hand. For a long moment, it just stared. No reaction. No sound.Then, it moved. It lunged. Faster than anything they had ever seen. A blur. It ripped into the other drone. Violently. Metal tore. Oil sprayed. A sickening crunch. The new arrival devoured the components. It was fast. It was brutal. It was eating. Yes, actually consuming. This was not a fight. This was something else entirely. The other drone just... vanished. Gone in a frenzy of gnashing gears and tearing claws.

The new drone turned. Its optics scanned the remaining units. Its gaze was empty. But it promised pain. A chilling silence hung in the air. A breath held. Then, total pandemonium. Worker drones broke ranks. They scattered. They ran for their colony. Pure terror fueled their escape. The disassembly drones reacted differently. They attacked. They moved in. They aimed to stop this... thing. This cannibal. They had to. It was a threat to their entire operation.The fighting lasted an hour and a half. A relentless, bloody massacre. The sounds of metal tearing, of circuits frying, filled the air. When it was finally over, only the new arrival remained. It stood amidst the shattered remains of the disassembly drone army. Not a scratch. No visible damage. Just the quiet hum of its own systems. The disassembly drones? They were all gone. Reduced to scrap. For the worker drones, some made it. They got away. Many did not. Their final screams echoed across the desolate, icy wastes. The new drone was still there. Waiting. And utterly, horrifyingly, alone.

??/??/3075 (Present day)

Lucky wheeled his way through the colony's familiar pathways. Every day, his routine was a constant. A clear rhythm. It began before most drones even powered on. Each morning, a small ritual took place. He'd check the bolts. The ones holding his wheels in place. A vital part of his design. Without them, he was stranded. He'd tighten them carefully, ensuring they were secure. A soft click. Then, he was ready.

His mornings often meant a stop at the communal learning area. Not for lessons, not really. More like shared knowledge. Guiding the younger drones. Showing them how to safely take apart old tech. How to make new things from broken circuits. Practical skills.

After that, his workshop called. His space. It buzzed with quiet energy. Tools lined the walls. Wires and gears lay on his work table. Half-finished projects sat everywhere. Here, he designed. He tinkered. Prototype weapons took shape. Defensive tools for the colony. Things they might need one day. He also fixed. Broken limbs. Glitching processors. Any drone that rolled in with a problem, Lucky helped. He knew what he was doing.

Why was Lucky so well-liked? It was simple. His skills were unmatched. His spirit, it never seemed to dim. He was kind. Always. He found the good in everyone. Even when things looked bad, Lucky had a way of making you feel better. Or at least, less alone. He became the go-to drone. The one everyone came to. Got a problem? Ask Lucky. Need to talk something out? Lucky listened. He was there for them. A steady presence. Always dependable. But all that giving took its toll. He soaked up their worries. Their sadness. His own feelings? They just piled up. He ignored them. Pushed them down. No time for his own troubles. Not when others needed him.

His duties weren't just inside the colony walls. Sometimes, he ventured out. Into the biting cold of Copper-9. That planet was a rough place. Frozen. Dangerous. Yet, it held what he needed. Spare parts. Rare components. Essential for his work.

And another reason to face the ice. The fallen. Worker drones, destroyed by something out there. If their main processing unit was still whole, Lucky went to work. He'd bring them back. A second chance at life. A flicker of energy in the silent, cold wasteland.

Lucky stepped out of the colony walls, just like any other day. But something felt different today. His usual easygoing grin just... vanished. A cold wave hit him. He remembered. How could he not?Just days before, he had made the trip to see his adoptive mother and uncle. They lived out here, beyond the safety of the colony. What he found there still made his systems ache. Not them, alive. Their bodies, broken. Twisted. No life left in their optics.He tried to fix them. He'd done it so many times before. Brought others back. But their core processors, their CPUs? Too damaged. Completely shattered. No way they could ever power a body again.But there was a sliver of hope. A tiny one. Enough left to pull data. Their memories. Their thoughts. He could save that part of them. The true them. There was a problem. A big one. A firewall stood in his way. A digital lock. It demanded a password. And Lucky? He didn't have it. The worst part? Get it wrong just once, and that data was gone forever. Locked away. He couldn't risk it. Not with them. That was it. Hope had just... evaporated. Like water on a hot plate. What do you do when hope dies? Do you run from it? That's what Lucky did. He told himself he was fine. Totally okay. He just needed to keep busy. Stay distracted. It was a full-time job, really.

Today was no different. He wandered the scrap fields, far from the colony. His mission? Gathering spare parts. He even helped out any downed worker drones he found. Just patch them up, get them going again. Anything to keep his hands, and his mind, occupied. He'd never gone this far out before. The open spaces felt... different. Exposed. He kept scanning the horizon. A prickle ran down his back. Like eyes were on him. His gut twisted. Was he being watched? Yeah. He was. Suddenly, a blur of motion. A Disassembly Drone. It was on him in a flash. Hold on. This wasn't the Disassembly Drone. Not the one everyone talked about. The one that took down armies, single-handedly. That one had wild, strawberry-red hair tied back, a screen that never stopped glitching, and eyes that jumped between orange and yellow. And that black jacket with the red collar, the orange tie. No. This wasn't her. This drone was something else. Silver hair, pulled into pigtails. One of them looked a bit messed up, actually, kind of funny. Its clothes were neat, professional. A sharp black tie. Its screen was perfectly clear. No glitches. And its eyes? Steady yellow. Just yellow.

The drone struck. Lucky moved. Fast. He zipped past every swipe, every lunge. It kept coming, but it was... slow. Weak. And hungry. He could tell. Its movements were ragged. It was running on empty. Then, it just buckled. Collapsed to the ground. Just like that. Exhausted.

Lucky's first thought? "Run. Get out of here. Leave it." But he couldn't. Something held him back. A knot in his chest. Guilt? Maybe. Sympathy? Definitely.He turned back. The drone lay still, circuits dim. He walked over to it. Reached into his pack. Pulled out a few cans of oil. He placed them carefully next to the unconscious drone. It would need them. When it woke up.

Lucky was done. Seriously. One adventure was more than enough for a single day. He headed back to his colony, every step taking him closer to a hot meal and some real quiet. The trip back was completely boring, which was exactly what he wanted. Nothing happened. Until it did.

He was practically at the colony gates. Then she appeared. A blur of movement, and suddenly she was there. K0rra. The disassembly drone with hair the color of fresh blood, a shocking, vibrant red. The one they whispered about. She was the one who took down an entire army of her own kind, all by herself. They called her "The Beckoning Reaper." A name that curdled guts. She moved like a shadow, too smooth, too fast, a predator in plain sight. Her presence screamed danger.

Pure instinct kicked in. Lucky's boot-looper shot out, a flash of energy. It hit her. K0rra, the legend, staggered. Then she dropped to the ground, a heap of unnerving stillness. Lucky didn't wait. He started to turn, ready to bolt for the safety of the colony's walls. But then, he saw it. A small, dark rectangle sticking out of the side of her head. A USB drive.

He hesitated for only a second. Then, he lunged, snatching the drive. His fingers brushed against something cold and smooth as he yanked it free. No time for thoughts, just action. He ran. He burst through the colony entrance, not even stopping until he was inside his own apartment. His own safe space. But even there, a question clawed at his mind: What was on that drive? What horrors, what secrets did it hold? The questions grew. They buzzed like angry wasps inside his head. Curiosity, they say, kills the cat. For Lucky, it was a slow poison. He couldn't resist. He brought the USB closer. His fingers trembled slightly as he plugged it into the port on the side of his own head.

Nothing happened. Not a flicker. Not a sound. Just quiet. Lucky frowned, a little annoyed, a little relieved. He stepped out of his apartment, ready to forget the whole thing. Then everything went black. He couldn't see. He couldn't move. He tried to blink, but his eyes wouldn't obey. His limbs were frozen, unresponsive. But he could still hear. He could still feel. And what he felt… was wrong. His body began to writhe. A slow, agonizing twisting. He felt his internal structure shift, grind. Bones groaned, not breaking, but reshaping. His metallic skin stretched, pulled taut, then rippled like water. Every joint seemed to pop and crack, reorienting itself. It was a silent scream, a horrifying rearrangement of his very form. He felt himself stretch, expand, contract in ways that weren't natural.

Time blurred. A distant, muffled sound reached him. Screaming. Was it his? Was it someone else? He tried to call out, to move, to stop whatever was happening. No use. He was trapped inside his own body, a prisoner to its awful transformation. Hours passed in that suffocating darkness, that constant, internal agony. Then, just as suddenly, he woke up. His vision returned. His limbs responded. He could move. He could see. But the fear was still there, a cold knot in his gut. What had just happened? What had that USB done to him? What had he become?

[md-theotherside]

Announcement!

Starting from today I'm going to be rewriting OtherSide as I am not satisfied with how it's currently going.

Here is the new Cover though!:

and logo! Both transparent and non transparent:

[md-theotherside]

New locations plus songs that fit them.

The Crossdrone colony

Lucky's apartment

The nest of the damned

No drones land

Mines of idyll

More possibly coming soon!

[md-theotherside]

Episode selection

(Main account - @just-a-freak40)

Episode 1 - Digital Hallucinations

Episode 2 - Access Denied

Episode 3 - Solver's Fault

Episode 4 - Closing in

Episode 5 - Eat Up The Lies

Episode 6 - Glory's lullaby

Episode 7 - Half way down

Episode 8 - Forever

Locations

What is OtherSide?:

OtherSide is a fandmade season 2/ Au of murder drones! Note: Follows accepting the following things: Multiple worker drone colony headcanon and accepts the fan episode "intermission" as canon. It is also available to read on Wattpad and AO3!

Characters available to ask:

Lucky

K0rra

Rachel

[md-theotherside]

Trailer 1

Little murder drones fanfic I'm working on but here's the 1st trailer