I followed James' glance and found flying above my shoulder a metal muncher. I stared into its large beady glowing blue eyes. It was the same one that snored a second ago in my bag. My eyes fell down to my bag to check; it was empty.502Please respect copyright.PENANAJQZpuvhuKF
"Kill it!" Demanded James with a sharp voice.502Please respect copyright.PENANA2Oe82M9FVt
"What?" I turned to him. "Didn't you see how I handled it before?" Suddenly the metal-muncher flew closer and rubbed its head friendly against my cheek with a soft, high-pitched peeping. "Secondly, I think this one here isn't much of a threat anymore." I began to grin at its friendly gesture.502Please respect copyright.PENANAyXC6pjvZYw
"Do you hear yourself talking?" He remarked, bewildered. "Don't tell me you were behind all this?"502Please respect copyright.PENANA4PXGHFdE9O
"Me? Why? I'm an inventor like you."502Please respect copyright.PENANAKB8hsf352A
"You are not like me." He hissed and walked away.502Please respect copyright.PENANAfxc85OZgKH
Was it something I said? Whatever it is, James may be a great inventor but not a great character. I turned to the muncher that rested on my shoulder. Having a closer look, it appears friendly in its design and behaviour. I hate to hurt any living being, and killing is unthinkable for me. I like to create and see things from a different angle. Carefully I held up my hand to allow the muncher onto it. Without hesitation, it crawled on my hand; it felt light and slightly warm. Its thin six legs enable the muncher to crawl at a considerable speed. Aside from the large eyes, its sharp teeth were hidden, but the sting was visible.502Please respect copyright.PENANAmpKxpUEXRh
"You're going to need a name now that you are with me. But you need to hide in the bag until the coast is clear." I explained to it and led my hand to the bag. It made a "peep" while looking up at me before I closed the bag.502Please respect copyright.PENANALTXCk8Q2SL
Cautiously I sneaked up to the surface, heading home. I'll try my luck tonight at the garbage depot in the industrial section since the little muncher here ate my collection.502Please respect copyright.PENANAtxduzTcn7P
Once at home in the living room, I gently placed the bag on the floor and opened the lid. "Coast is clear but no eating, got it?"502Please respect copyright.PENANAbRTLxEQv7K
"Peep, peep." It confirmed and crawled out. Its large eyes wandered around the room.502Please respect copyright.PENANA3Kam6L0QaO
"This is my home, well, to be exact, the living room." I gestured around the room. "I've done some thinking for a name along the way here. What do you think of muncher?"502Please respect copyright.PENANA7hc81BA4X6
It shook its head.502Please respect copyright.PENANApz0mZ3VGU3
"Ok, eh, Bee?"502Please respect copyright.PENANAqRdW8aDv7X
It shook its head with a low buzz and closed eyes to express dislike.502Please respect copyright.PENANAfwf951vzWQ
"How about Buzzer?"502Please respect copyright.PENANAsExpvFqxs6
It opened its eyes, thought for a moment and nodded.502Please respect copyright.PENANAbHgmQL6JfG
"Then, for now on, you're Buzzer." I smiled as he flew around the room and watched how he explored. For a mysterious creature with dark rumours, it is hard to believe seeing this. Buzzer flew freely around but avoided the direct sunlight and the windows. Since being continually in the dark, Buzzer may not know what light is. I wonder if he can see well in total darkness and what other abilities he may have? But first, befriend him and give him some time to adjust. I can't come up with a logical explanation for why being different from the others and sticking to me?502Please respect copyright.PENANA5fy8IwgHnV
"Sylus, is that you?" Called Rock from the workshop.502Please respect copyright.PENANApKNXlrP5uc
"Er, yeah!" I quickly stepped in front of Buzzer and whispered to land on my hand that I held behind my back.502Please respect copyright.PENANAxLQ1CY9EGt
"What are you building in the living room, my boy?" Rock entered while rubbing with an old cloth away the grease from his hands.502Please respect copyright.PENANA48XDwLnqan
"Nothing." I smiled broadly.502Please respect copyright.PENANAFXCgzwcnGx
Rock raised an eyebrow of doubt.502Please respect copyright.PENANA9kOEIdawK2
"I can't tell; it's a surprise," I remarked nervously.502Please respect copyright.PENANAmP2Ej8Rqyr
Rock grunted of doubt and stroked his moustache. That's not a good sign. It means he knows I'm lying; apparently, I'm an open book or a terrible liar.502Please respect copyright.PENANAOa6CbiL0Bu
Suddenly he froze except his eyes wandering long the ceiling. I followed his glance and spotted Buzzer flying along the top shelf, inspecting the books.502Please respect copyright.PENANAuAGr4JqcI2
"I can explain, Rock. It's not what it seems." I tried to assure Rock.502Please respect copyright.PENANAOy6Y76yhbV
"I sure hope not."502Please respect copyright.PENANA4HphwtbikL
"This metal-muncher is friendly and has promised not to eat anything from here. He even understands what we say and-"502Please respect copyright.PENANA04mM9bDMlk
"He? So you've given it already a name? Need I remind you of the incident nine years ago?"502Please respect copyright.PENANAvD896hfAYG
"A misunderstanding more like." Muttered Sylus while looking sideways to the floor while recalling it too well.502Please respect copyright.PENANALWJGCXGpDg
"Son, you have a brilliant mind and a wonderful gift in trying to see goodness in everyone and everything, but sometimes they sadly don't have it."502Please respect copyright.PENANAUVcpygFgmc
"And Buzzer here is one of them? He hasn't touched anything since he arrived."502Please respect copyright.PENANA1dLkD60s5k
Suddenly I recalled how all the others went in panic at the mere sight of a metal-muncher, but Rock here is cool as ice. "Wait, how come you're not afraid of him?"502Please respect copyright.PENANAMjKrsOsFt9
Rock grinned warmly. "Because I trust you, son." He patted my shoulder. "And I know how to finish a metal-muncher; make sure it doesn't come to mind to even take a nibble." He noted firmly by pointing the finger at Buzzer. "I take it you're trying your luck tonight at the depot since Buzzer ate your purchase?"502Please respect copyright.PENANAJS4i9ku1AC
I laughed wryly and scratched the back of my head. "Yeah."502Please respect copyright.PENANA3uZAhzqJ5X
"Alright, just be careful, lad."502Please respect copyright.PENANAZrrtJN3du1
As night fell, I made myself ready with warm clothes, a large bag and a long bar to dig out the parts that may lay deep in a heap. I asked Buzzer to stay in my room while I was gone for safety reasons.502Please respect copyright.PENANAdf4MnFnCBs
The garbage depot at the industrial section is near the sea and port. Luckily the smell is bearable since two-thirds of it is metal, wood or glass. My biggest challenge would be to sneak in and out unseen by the guards and their new floating guard machines called hawks.502Please respect copyright.PENANAY22hk9yas9