LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 25: Bite Me.
September 2184. Bunker 00. Yeva's Room. One Hour Before Jason Left for Facility 7
As whispers of humanity's return spread through the bunker, the news stirred every drone. Even the worker and combat drones felt a ripple of interest, with many called upon to assist in repairs as it became clear the humans would be staying for a while. Yeva's husband had been among those chosen for this task, leaving her with an unsettled quiet and thoughts that lingered in the past. She wondered if she might find some way to help too, though a nagging worry crept in—the mystery of her best friend Nori's disappearance still gnawed at her.
"Where did you go?" she murmured, her gaze fixated on a map pinned to the wall. Thanks to her hidden abilities, the map remained in pristine condition, detailing the region where the drones lived, dotted with facilities that hinted at possible places Nori could be. Yet without certainty, Yeva knew she couldn't risk a venture. Protecting her family and finding Nori had become her priorities, and perhaps the humans' arrival would offer the breakthrough she needed.
"How much longer are you going to stare at that map, Mother?" came a voice from the doorway. Yeva turned to see Doll, her daughter, standing there with neon red optics reflecting curiosity.
"All day, if that's what it takes," Yeva replied, a faint smile softening her expression. "What about you? What have you been up to?"
Doll stepped into the room, glancing at the map. "Nothing much right now. The humans are working on some system restorations, and I heard they have tools that can manufacture parts on the spot. I'd like to see it, though Uzi doesn't seem in the best of moods."
Yeva nodded, recognizing Uzi's nature—she was an unusual drone, more captivated by weaponry and exploration than maintenance work. "Ah, I see. Uzi's a complex one," Yeva said, folding the map and securing it within its hidden compartment, her tone shifting as she whispered, "Has she shown any… signs?"
Doll shook her head solemnly. "No, I haven't noticed anything strange, though it's hard to say. I'm around her often, and I haven't seen any hint of it, but you're right—she can't entirely escape it. Her mother had the same abilities as you."
Yeva's eyes darkened. "If there's even a chance it could surface, we need to keep a close watch. Uzi's anger and stress could be triggers, and that would be disastrous."
Doll agreed with a nod. "I'll head over to see her and see if I can do something to calm her down."
As Doll turned to leave, Yeva looked on with a mix of pride and apprehension, knowing her daughter's loyalty ran deep.
Stepping out into the dim corridor of Bunker 00, Doll's footsteps echoed through the empty halls. They'd chosen this quieter section of the bunker to keep their secrets safe, minimizing the risk of discovery. After several turns, Doll reached Uzi's room, just as the sound of something heavy smashing against a wall caught her attention. Doll paused, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Some things never change," she muttered, opening the door just as a wrench whizzed past, embedding itself into the wall behind her.
"Dammit! How am I supposed to get this stupid gun to work when I keep getting interrupted!?" Uzi's frustrated shout rang out as she glared at the ceiling.
"Relax, Uzi. There's always time for that later," Doll said, sidestepping into the room.
Uzi turned, her optics sharp with irritation. "Oh, bite me, Doll. This gun's my ticket out of here, my escape! And now I have to put it all on hold because humans have shown up. Don't get me wrong—they haven't given me a reason to hate them… yet. But they're already pushing it." She tossed a stack of crumpled blueprints onto her desk with a huff. "So, why are you here anyway? Shouldn't you be with your family?"
"Mom's fine, and Dad's off working with the humans," Doll replied. "I thought I'd come by. I have an idea you might like."
Uzi's gaze softened with interest. "What did you have in mind?"
"How about a little exploring? Just like old times?"
A glint sparked in Uzi's eyes. Over the years, the two had made a habit of sneaking off to explore off-limits areas, discovering remnants and curiosities in forgotten places. Official rules required exploration to be in teams, but Uzi and Doll had always been better alone, finding secrets no one else could.
"Besides," Uzi added with a smirk, reaching for her backpack, "it's safer now, with the humans around."
Doll raised a brow. "What do you mean safer?"
"The humans took down the Steel Terror." Uzi's voice held a mix of awe and begrudging respect. "Whatever else they might be, they've got skills. Their leader—James, or maybe Jackson?—has some kind of energy weapon I'd love to get my hands on."
Doll's optics widened. The Steel Terror was infamous, a monstrous, relentless force that had terrorized their territory for years. Even elite combat drones had barely slowed it down, and rumors claimed there were more like it prowling the dead cities. For Uzi to suggest it was actually gone was almost unthinkable.
"How did you find out?" Doll asked, intrigued.
"I was with V and N," Uzi replied, eyes flashing with the memory. "We were cornered in a warehouse, trapped with that nightmare closing in. Then, out of nowhere, these humans arrive, and one of them—James, I think—fires off some kind of energy blast that just ripped it apart. Their ships were in orbit too, and when they hit, the whole warehouse went up in flames."
Doll's mind raced, the weight of this new information sinking in. The arrival of the humans was reshaping everything they'd known. "So, the Steel Terror's really gone…" she whispered, marveling at the thought.
Uzi nodded, slinging her pack over her shoulder. "Yup. At least for now. They know how to make an entrance, that's for sure."
Good news, finally. The absence of the Steel Terror felt like a long-awaited release, like the lifting of a suffocating shadow. Doll felt a flicker of hope—maybe they could finally look for Nori. But for now, there were other priorities. "Once we get back, I'll let my mother know. This could be our chance," she murmured, as they prepared to leave the bunker.
"Think we should swing by and see your father before heading out?" Doll asked, glancing sideways at Uzi. Khan was a well-meaning but overprotective worker drone, his concern for his daughter sometimes clashing with Uzi's independent streak.
"He's busy with the humans," Uzi shrugged, almost dismissively. "He'll just assume I'm working on my stuff. I'll lock my door; he won't think twice about it." She stepped out, locked the door behind her, and led the way down the bunker corridors.
Their route took them to a part of the bunker rarely seen by others. It was a closed-off maze of tunnels that wound through the lower levels, abandoned long ago and left to deteriorate. Most of the tunnels had caved in, but a few remained accessible, providing Doll and Uzi with hidden paths for their private missions.
"I know I've asked this before, but… anything new about your mother?" Doll's question came softly, but it hung heavy in the silence. Ever since Nori's disappearance, Uzi and her father rarely discussed it, as if talking about it would make the loss more real.
"Nothing new," Uzi replied with an edge of finality, her tone effectively shutting the topic down.
After a few silent strides through the dark corridors, they reached a rusty maintenance door marked with faded warning signs. Officially, it was off-limits—deemed too hazardous due to structural instability. But that had never stopped them before.
"You'd think they'd lock this thing properly by now," Doll smirked, watching as Uzi took hold of the handle, her movements practiced and cautious.
Uzi slowly pushed the door open, casting a wary glance through the crack. They had never encountered anything dangerous here, but old habits died hard. Once she confirmed the coast was clear, she swung the door open and slipped through with Doll close behind.
"Alright, everyone, listen up—rule number one: we're not supposed to be here," Doll joked, nudging Uzi as they both shared a conspiratorial chuckle.
Inside, a massive room greeted them, lined with rows of long-forgotten tunnels and pathways. According to old schematics they'd managed to scrounge up, this place once served as a subterranean escape network, designed to connect major cities and emergency facilities in case of disaster. Some tunnels were collapsed or too unstable, but others were still intact, waiting for exploration.
Uzi dug a flashlight out of her backpack, switching it on to cut through the heavy darkness. "Alright, which tunnel should we try? I think we've hit all the ones on the right side… maybe that one?" She pointed toward a broad tunnel to their left, marked by peeling, barely legible white lettering: Fac l ty 7.
"Hmmm… fine, we'll go with your pick this time," Doll conceded, though her voice was tinged with mock protest. "But next time, I'm choosing."
Uzi snorted, rolling her eyes. "How many times have you picked the tunnel and left me out of it?"
They moved into the tunnel, the beam of Uzi's flashlight sweeping across the damaged walls and ceiling, their steps echoing through the darkness. Time and bombardment had left their mark, with chunks of ceiling scattered on the floor and cracks spidering up the walls. Here and there, tunnels split off, some dead-ending in cave-ins, others winding deeper into the unknown. The feeling was eerie as if they were trespassing in a forgotten realm.
"You know, I did get a chance to learn a few things about these humans," Uzi said to Doll, making small talk but also wrestling with the disturbing images that had resurfaced in her mind—those cages, those bodies, and the Automatons. "From what I can tell, they're at war, and it doesn't look pretty."
"Really?" Doll's curiosity was piqued. "If I recall from stories my mother and a few others told me, back then they were at war with three factions for control of the galaxy. They seemed unstoppable, practically winning. I guess peace didn't last as long as they'd hoped." Doll had heard tales about that fierce galactic war that raged a hundred years ago. Super Earth had been winning then, but not enough to stop the invasion of Copper 9.
Uzi's expression darkened. "Well… one of the factions they're fighting now is made up of machines, those Automata. I think that's what they're called. They've done horrific things. And… there's something else." She remembered Martin's words and the grim briefing from the human leader, both weighing heavily on her.
"What?" Doll asked, sensing Uzi's unease. "What else did they say?"
"Alright, I'm only telling you," Uzi began, her voice quieter. "I overheard my dad talking with Martin. The human fleet and their forces here are under a total communication blackout—an order from their superiors. They can't contact anyone outside this system. They can't leave either, or they'd be branded traitors and executed. But that's not the worst part." Uzi hesitated. "If things go wrong here, they'll send another fleet to Copper 9 and blast it until there's nothing left."
Doll's optics widened, a spark of understanding flickering. She had a vague idea why humans might resort to such drastic measures. Her mother had hinted at terrible truths about this planet's history, truths that might justify another bombardment. But the communication blackout, the threat of execution—it didn't add up. She knew she'd need to tell her mother about this later.
"That's madness," Doll murmured. "This planet is already dead. Did they give any reason why?"
"None at all," Uzi replied. "They just told my dad to keep working here with us."
Doll hadn't expected that. Even after all this time, it was clear Super Earth's leaders knew something about Copper 9, yet they were keeping their soldiers in the dark, seemingly ready to abandon or destroy them if necessary. Why were they withholding information from their troops while ordering them to work with the drones? If this new war brought countless other problems, she imagined the humans might abandon them all again, leaving Copper 9 to rot.
For now, she pushed these dark thoughts aside as they moved deeper into the tunnel, a single beam of light guiding them. With each step, they left home and safety further behind. And soon, they would not be alone.
Tunnel to Facility 7. One Hour Later.
After some time had passed, the two of them were far from Bunker 00. The tunnel was in better condition compared to the others they'd explored. Signs of a past battle were evident—bullet holes along the walls, and at times, skeletons marking their way. Whatever had happened in these tunnels was clear: humans had fought something, and whatever it was, it had won. No other corpses were found.
"I'm getting the feeling that something made sure no one got out alive down here. Nearly all the tunnels we've explored look the same," Uzi said, her voice low, as she observed the remains of a battle lost to time.
"The invasion happened too quickly," Doll replied, walking behind Uzi. "From what my mother told me, the invaders—Illuminate—they could teleport soldiers onto the battlefield. They likely sent some down here to block any escape attempts. The SEAF didn't stand a chance; they were outnumbered and up against an enemy that could appear anywhere. It was nothing short of a massacre."
Uzi's flashlight danced around the ceiling as droplets like water fell to the floor, the light revealing a massive hole, clearly dug by something far larger than the typical cave-in.
"That… doesn't look like the result of a cave-in," Uzi said, walking closer to examine it. The hole had a large, serpentine tunnel that snaked off to the right.
"There's no animal life left on the surface," Uzi continued, glancing up. "And I don't recall anything that could dig such a massive hole like this."
She turned her attention ahead and spotted another hole, dug through both the ground and the tunnel walls. The walls, reinforced with steel rebar, were bent outward as if something had burrowed through them.
It was becoming painfully clear that this tunnel wasn't lifeless like the others. Something had made itself at home here. Stepping around the other hole carefully, Uzi noticed a sticky, web-like substance clinging to the edges of the hole and the wall.
"I think I have an idea of what did this, and we need to be careful," Doll murmured. Of all the stories her mother had told her, one stood out—the facility on Copper 9 that had been researching some kind of creatures.
"What is it? What could have done this?" Uzi asked, her voice thick with tension as she noticed more of the webbing and what seemed to be organic matter lining parts of the tunnel.
"Remember how I said the humans were fighting three different groups? Well, one of them was a race of insect-like creatures. They called them the Bugs. They were studying them in different worlds. There's a possibility that Copper 9 had a facility dedicated to them... But how they could've survived this long, or why they haven't come near the bunker, I don't know."
That was the biggest question. No one patrolled these tunnels, and if these creatures could dig through the earth, rock, metal, and reinforced concrete, reaching the bunker would've been a trivial matter. Yet, they'd avoided it, and now Doll was wondering if they should turn back. Just as that thought crossed her mind, a flashing light appeared behind them, causing both of them to stop and exchange a glance.
Turning around, standing near the hole they had passed, was someone they hadn't expected—a drone that Doll recognized.
"Lizzy? What are you doing down here?" Uzi asked, clearly caught off guard as Lizzy casually took a picture of herself, the hole providing a grim backdrop.
"Have you been following us?" Doll's voice was laced with concern, not expecting anyone to follow them.
"I saw you two sneak off a few times," Lizzy said, sliding her phone into her pocket, a slight grin on her face. "Figured I'd finally see what you're always up to."
"This isn't a safe place. Get away from that hole now," Doll warned.
Lizzy rolled her optics, barely looking up. "Great. Just wanted some space away from everyone, but here you two are, ruining my fun again," she muttered, clearly annoyed.
"So this is what you two do? Roam around disgusting tunnels?" Lizzy grinned, folding her arms, her voice unbothered by the situation.
Uzi crossed her arms, frustration evident on her face. "We're looking for anything important our way," she snapped back.
As the two bickered, Doll's attention wandered ahead, her ears catching the sound of scraping stone—something sharp cutting through it. She took a few cautious steps back. They weren't alone anymore.
"You two... We need to move," Doll whispered, her voice tense. Uzi shone the flashlight forward, and the beam illuminated the creature ahead.
About twenty feet in front of them, a hulking mass stood. Rows of armored plating covered its body, two massive crab-like claws hung at its sides, and its mouth was filled with rows of jagged teeth. This beast, a Bug Warrior, had once been a fierce enemy to face in direct combat, but now, it seemed more like a territorial predator. Its eyes fixed on the three drones—not with curiosity, but with the intent to kill any intruders.
"Oh! My! Liberty… What is that thing?" Lizzy stammered, stepping back in horror as Uzi and Doll did the same.
"That's our cue to run," Uzi hissed, turning to make a break for it. She almost sprinted but stopped herself as two more Bug Warriors climbed from the holes on either side of them, closing off any chance of escape.
Doll's eyes flicked between the three beasts, calculating. She wondered if she should have to resort to using and revealing her secret power to save them.
"There's a door!" Uzi shouted, pointing to their right. A steel door, slightly ajar, presented the only viable option. It was small enough for them to slip through—but the Warriors could never follow them.
Without hesitation, Uzi sprinted toward the door, with Lizzy and Doll close behind. The Warriors screeched, giving chase, but the three drones made it through the door just in time. As Lizzy squeezed through, one of the Warriors slammed into the door, denting it and shaking the walls as it tried to tear the door off its hinges.
Doll grabbed Lizzy's hand, pulling her away from the door as it groaned under the Warrior's assault. The hallway ahead of them was small, but it was their only option.
"That was too close…" Doll muttered, letting go of Lizzy's hand. All three drones looked back at the door, listening to the sounds of the Warriors' futile attempts to break through.
"Next time…" Uzi said, shining her flashlight up the stairs. "We stay at the bunker. No more tunnels."
Doll and Lizzy exchanged uneasy glances. They didn't like it, but they had no choice. With Uzi ahead of them, they followed her up the stairs. At the top, they found another door—rusted, ancient, and sealed tight.
Uzi reached for the knob and twisted. It was locked, but a drone's strength was more than enough to break it open. She leaned into it, pushing until the door creaked open. Beyond it was a large, empty hallway. Nothing stood out—no signs of life, no hints as to what lay ahead.
Then, a light shone on them from down the hall, and they heard footsteps approaching—footsteps that were all too familiar.
"Uzi?" a male voice called.
"N?" she called back, blinking in surprise.
The human who had once saved her and N from the Steel Terror and V appeared before them, flashlight lowered, with N and J close behind.
"What are you doing here?"
Both sides spoke at once, their voices filled with equal parts surprise and confusion.
Edited thanks to ELE73CH.