Thunder roared throughout the skies as lightning lit up the skies. Rain poured down over the streets of some city on Earth (before its collapse).
Walking down the streets, completely ignoring the rain pouring down on him was a man, roughly in his early twenties.
In one arm was an umbrella but he held it out over a drone that was walking next to him.
The drone looked up at the man, who paid no mind to the world around him. The drone looked at the man's waist and noticed a silver glint and grew slightly suspicious.
The man felt the staring from the drone and peaked down at it.
Man: Something on your mind?
The drone looked up at him before looking away again, folding its arms. The man sighed at the slight stubbornness of the drone.
Man: You are free to speak your mind, you know. I don't give a rats ass what the higher-ups say.
The drone looked back up at the man, this time speaking.
Drone: Why did you choose me? Why not any of the others?
The drone spoke with a slight feminine tone as the man looked down at her.
Man: Not like I really had a choice, you know. Boss said to take you out to....whats the word....oh, "observe" you and whatnot.
The drone looked at the man with slight confusion.
Man: They say you and uh, forty-eight or whatever the other ones called are special.
Drone: You sound like you don't care?
Man: I don't get paid enough to care. I'm just a courier. Tch, sometimes I wish I stayed at the Mansion.
The man and drone walked up to an apartment complex. The man led the drone through the complex before entering a small apartment near the top floor.
The two entered the apartment and the drone took in how small the apartment actually was. It was a simple one bedroom with the living room acting as the dining room, a small kitchen with the bathroom connected to the bedroom (not that the bathroom would be much use to the drone).
Man: Yeah, I know. It ain't much but yet again, cheap pay.
Drone: Thought you were a courier? Why am I staying here?
Man: I don't know. They told me to take you out for a while and they'll give me a call when to drop you off at the new location.
The drone watched as the man walked into his room and closed the door for a moment, as he changed into dry clothes.
The man exited his room as the drone was seen looking around the apartment. The man sat on the couch as the drone still looked around.
Man: So....you got a name or designation?
The drone looked back at him.
Nori: They call me Nori.
Man: Nori? Alright.
Nori: What about you?
Man: Ah, suppose it's only fair.
The man looked over at the drone, his appearance only shadowy as the drones are programmed to shade humans out.
Max: Names Max.
Nori walked over and sat on the couch next to Max as he watched television.
Not looking over, Max asked another question.
Max: So, uh, you got a family?
Nori looked over at him, her visor showing a "?" as she replied.
Nori: Why do you ask?
Max: I don't know. Curious about the drone life, you know?
Nori made a humming sound.
Nori: Hm. Well, no I don't. I would want to at some point but....
Nori stopped before she spoke and said too much. Max peaked over at her as she was looking away.
Max: Hm.
Nori: I take it you have a family?
Max didn't initially respond as he stared at the television. Nori was about to ask another question when Max spoke.
Max: I did.
Nori looked up at Max, noticing a more serious expression.
Nori: ....what happened?
Max peaked down at the robot before sighing. He remembered back to what happened when he left his home.
Max: Me and my old man got into a heated argument of something stupid and I just left, not looking back.
Max grabbed his wallet and pulled out a small folded picture of him and his family.
Max: That's my mother, father and that little one is my sister, Tessa. Christ, this was taken at least Eight years ago.
Nori looked up at Max with hollow purple eyes.
Nori: Eight years? Have you ever thought about going back?
Max: Not really.
Nori looked at Max and could tell he wasn't really in the mood to continue talking about it, so she sat in silence as the two watched TV.
It's been just over two years since Max had taken Nori, by request from his employer and there still hasn't been any word on where to bring her.
In their time together, Nori has sort of become a servant drone to Max, much to his annoyance, but Nori doesn't seem to mind it. In her robotic eyes, it gives her something to do other than sit around all day.
Max was currently sitting on his couch with fresh bandages wrapped around his chest, as Nori was walking away with medical supplies.
Max: Thanks for the patch up, doc.
Nori rolled her eyes as she placed the medical supplies away.
Nori: You know, I don't remember couriers being hired guns?
Max scratched the back of his neck.
Max: Delivery gone wrong. Besides, never said my job was safe.
Nori: I can tell. By the way, you've got a letter. Seems it's from your sister.
Nori walked over to Max, who looked perplexed, as she handed him the letter.
Max opened the letter and began to read over it as Nori watched from a distance.
Max would finish reading the letter and toss it to the side as he held a contemplating expression.
Nori: Everything alright?
Max looked over at the purple eyed drone and nodded.
Max: Yeah, all good. Tess just invited me to the mansion. Guess it's her sixteenth birthday.
Nori: Oh, that's sweet. Will you be going?
Max stood up, putting his shirt back on, thinking to himself.
Max: I don't know. I mean, I did leave and it wasn't exactly on good terms.
Nori: I understand but your sister did seem to go out of her way to invite you after all this time. Maybe it's time to move on and rekindle your relationship with them.
Max looked over at the drone, who stood next to him.
Nori: I know that if I had a family with the same problems, I'd want to sort it out
Max sighed as he looked down at the purple eyed drone.
Max: I'm sure many would but unfortunately, it doesn't work like that in the real world.
Nori: I understand, I believe.
Nori began to walk away as Max watched. He sighed to himself before pinching his nose.
Max: ....god dammit.
~~~~
A few years hours passed and Max was seen driving down the road, with Nori in the passenger seat. Nori was looking out the window, before looking down at her impromptu maid outfit.
Nori: Remind me again why I have to wear this ugly thing?
Max, not looking away from the road, replied.
Max: Because my folks hate you robots for some odd reason and if they saw you dressed normally they'd probably either have you destroyed or used for spare parts.
Nori's eyes hollowed as "sweat" animated down her visor.
Max: With you dressed like that, they'll think you're my maid....hopefully. Oh and leave the talking to me, it might save you.
Nori sheepishly nodded as she went back to looking out the window.
Max peaked over at Nori and despite being a robot, he could tell she was nervous.
Max: Don't break a circuit thinking about it. If anything, we'll be close with Tess and she's quite open about liking drones. Last I checked, she has one of her own. She calls it, uh, J I think.
Nori nodded again as the rest of the trip was relatively quiet, other than the radio playing, but quiet.
~~~~
Max was seen pulling into a long driveway that led to a mansion. Max parked the car and exited as he and Nori walked up the walkway.
Max stood at the foot of the door, his hand formed into a fist as he held it up, getting ready to knock.....only he was hesitant.
Nori noticed his hesitation and spoke up.
Nori: Nervous, sir?
Max peaked down at the drone.
Max: You could say.
A snicker came from the drone, which caused Max to glare down at it.
Max: Hardy Har-Har. You try going home after ten or so years now.
Nori rolled her eyes as Max finally built up the courage and knocked on the door.
A few minutes pass before someone, or something opens the door.
J: Hel....Oh! Mister Maxwell! Your back!
Max looks down at the drone.
Max: Just Max and hello to you too, J. Where's Tessa?
Before J could answer, a voice called out from behind her, with a slight Aussie accent.
Voice: Oi, J? Who's at the door?
The person walked up to the door and looked out, seeing Max.
Tessa: EEEH! Maxxie!!
Max sighed in annoyance at the nickname as Nori snickered again.
A/N: Alright, before you all freak out. Yes I'm rewriting this already. Sorry if you all were hoping for a Metal Shadow x Murder Drones book🤷
Anyways, reason why I'm rewriting is because I couldn't exactly think of a good lore reason to place Shadow into the story without it seeming forced.
With this, I hope, this gives a better lore based background on who/what/how the character (now named Max) became a genocidal murder bot.
Now going off of that previous statement, the first act (as you all saw as the chapter name) will be background lore and will end on how Max becomes a Murder Drone.
This background lore will expand on his relations with certain drones and The Elliot's and JC Jensen (IN SPAAAAACCCCEEEE)
Anyways, Peace ✌️