The journey back toward the bunker entrance was considerably shorter than my initial exploration of the devastated cityscape had been, though this was likely attributable to the fact that N was carrying me rather than requiring me to navigate the frozen terrain on my still-unreliable quadrupedal limbs, and also to the fact that Uzi—despite her protestations of reluctance regarding the entire situation—was moving with the urgency of someone who wanted to get indoors before any additional Murder Drones appeared to complicate an already incomprehensibly complicated evening.
Snow continued its eternal descent from the churning overcast sky, each crystalline flake adding incrementally to the pristine white shroud that concealed the worst of Copper-9's devastation beneath a blanket of frozen beauty. The temperature remained in its lethal subzero range, but N's chassis radiated warmth—whatever power systems sustained his mechanical function generated sufficient thermal output to create a comfortable microclimate within his protective embrace—and my golden fur handled the ambient conditions with the evolutionary competence that countless generations of cold-weather canine ancestors had refined through the merciless crucible of natural selection.
"So," Uzi said as we approached the massive reinforced door that marked the bunker's entrance, her voice carrying the forced casualness of someone desperately attempting to process circumstances that defied rational processing, "how exactly do you think my dad is going to react to me bringing home a Murder Drone? Just curious. Wondering if I should prepare some kind of... speech, or something."
"Oh, I'm GREAT with parents!" N responded with characteristic enthusiasm, apparently oblivious to the fundamental absurdity of his statement. "I mean, I've never actually MET any parents before, because Workers usually run away or get dismembered before I can have conversations with them, but I'm SURE it'll be fine! I'm very friendly! And I have a DOG now! People like dogs, right? Dogs make everything better!"
He held me up slightly, as if presenting me as evidence of his friendliness.
My tail wagged.
I had, at this point, accepted that my tail operated according to its own autonomous emotional algorithms and would continue wagging in response to positive social interactions regardless of my conscious preferences or the tactical appropriateness of such displays.
『 EMOTIONAL DETECTION — AMBIENT 』
Source: Worker Drone (Designation: Uzi)
Detected Emotions:
ANXIETY (moderate intensity): Directed toward anticipated social confrontation — +0 EP (not directed at Host Entity)
RESIDUAL DISBELIEF (low intensity, sustained): General emotional state — +0 EP
EMERGING ACCEPTANCE (low intensity): Regarding current circumstances — +0 EP
Source: Murder Drone (Designation: N)
Detected Emotions:
SUSTAINED JOY (strong intensity): Regarding possession of Host Entity — generating passive EP
ANTICIPATION (moderate intensity): Regarding meeting new beings — generating passive EP
『 PASSIVE EP GENERATION ACTIVE: N's sustained positive emotional focus on Host Entity generating approximately 2 EP per minute. Current rate will diminish as emotional baseline normalizes. 』
The system's notification regarding passive EP generation was an interesting development—apparently, sustained emotional focus from bonded entities could generate ongoing point accumulation even without specific triggering events. N's persistent joy at having acquired a "dog" was functioning as a slow but steady income stream of emotional energy.
We reached the bunker entrance. The massive reinforced door loomed before us, three meters of alloy security representing the boundary between the frozen death of Copper-9's surface and the relative safety of underground habitation.
Uzi approached a control panel embedded in the wall beside the entrance, her manipulator digits inputting what appeared to be an access code of considerable complexity. "Okay," she said, more to herself than to either of her companions. "Okay. I'm just going to... walk in. With a Murder Drone. And a dog. And explain that the Murder Drone is friendly now because of the dog. And my dad is going to... he's going to..."
"Be SO HAPPY to meet me!" N finished cheerfully.
"That is absolutely not what's going to happen."
The door began its pneumatic cycle, seals releasing with a hiss of equalizing pressure, the massive barrier swinging inward to reveal—
A Worker Drone, standing directly in the entrance, his posture radiating parental fury that was visible even before the emergency lighting fully illuminated his features.
He was taller than Uzi—most Worker Drones appeared to be taller than Uzi, I was beginning to realize, suggesting that her diminutive stature was unusual for her model type—with a chassis configuration that spoke to age and experience. His optical sensors were fixed on his daughter with an intensity that communicated volumes of paternal concern, frustration, and relief in a single sustained glare.
"UZI," he said, his voice carrying the particular resonance of a parent who had been worried sick and was now channeling that worry into righteous anger. "You were GONE for over THREE HOURS. Your communicator was OFF. I have been PACING this corridor since you LEFT, imagining every possible way you could have DIED, and you—"
He stopped.
His optical sensors had tracked past Uzi, past her improvised railgun, past the snow accumulating on her chassis from her surface excursion, to the seven-foot Murder Drone standing directly behind her.
The seven-foot Murder Drone who was cradling a golden retriever in his arms like a precious infant.
The seven-foot Murder Drone who waved cheerfully with one clawed hand.
"Hi! I'm N! You must be Uzi's DAD! She's told me SO MUCH about you!"
"She's told you NOTHING about me," Uzi muttered. "We've known each other for like twenty minutes."
"That's TWENTY MINUTES of quality time! I feel like I know your whole FAMILY!"
Uzi's father—I had not yet learned his designation, but my system was already preparing to catalogue him as a potential emotional harvesting source—stood frozen in the bunker entrance, his expression cycling through what appeared to be a comprehensive catalogue of emotional states.
『 EMOTIONAL DETECTION — NEW SOURCE 』
Source: Worker Drone (Designation: Unknown — Uzi's Father)
Detected Emotions:
SHOCK (overwhelming intensity, ×3.0 modifier): Triggered by unexpected visual stimuli — directed generally, not at Host Entity — +0 EP harvestable currently
FEAR (strong intensity): Triggered by presence of Murder Drone — directed at N, not Host Entity — +0 EP
CONFUSION (overwhelming intensity): Triggered by presence of biological canine — PARTIALLY DIRECTED AT HOST ENTITY
PARTIAL HARVEST AVAILABLE: Confusion regarding Host Entity: Base 3 EP (CURIOSITY-adjacent) × 3.0 intensity × 0.5 partial direction = 4.5 EP (rounded to 5 EP)
Current EP Balance: 426 EP
"Uzi," her father said, his voice achieving a quality of strained calm that suggested he was expending considerable processing power to avoid complete emotional breakdown. "Uzi, there is a Murder Drone behind you."
"Yes."
"A Murder Drone. One of the things that KILLED everyone on the surface. One of the things I have spent your ENTIRE EXISTENCE trying to protect you FROM."
"Yes."
"And it's... holding a dog."
"Also yes."
"Where did... where did the DOG come from?"
"Unclear. He was just... there. On the surface. Being a dog."
N stepped forward, apparently interpreting the conversation as an invitation to introduce himself more formally. The movement caused Uzi's father to stumble backward, his combat-or-flight responses clearly triggering despite the confined space of the bunker entrance.
"I'm N!" the Murder Drone repeated, his voice radiating sincere friendliness that seemed almost painfully incongruous with his lethal configuration. "And this is BISCUIT! He's my dog now! We're BONDED! Isn't he the most BEAUTIFUL boy you've ever SEEN?"
He held me up, presenting me to Uzi's father with the proud enthusiasm of a new pet owner showing off their acquisition to anyone who would look.
My tail wagged.
Uzi's father stared at me with an expression that I can only describe as existential crisis rendered in digital display format.
『 EMOTIONAL HARVEST — SUCCESS 』
Source: Worker Drone (Designation: Unknown — Uzi's Father)
Harvested Emotions:
SHOCK (overwhelming intensity, now partially directed at Host Entity): 4 EP × 3.0 = 12 EP — classified under SURPRISE
CONFUSION (overwhelming intensity, directed at Host Entity): 3 EP × 3.0 = 9 EP — classified under CURIOSITY
DISBELIEF (strong intensity): 4 EP × 2.0 = 8 EP — classified under SURPRISE
First Encounter Bonus: ×1.5
Total Harvest: (12 + 9 + 8) × 1.5 = 43.5 EP (rounded to 44 EP)
Current EP Balance: 470 EP
Total EP Accumulated: 470 EP
『 MILESTONE APPROACHING: Category D unlock at 500 EP. Current progress: 94% — 30 EP remaining. 』
Forty-four EP from a single moment of shocked incomprehension. Uzi's father was apparently a being of considerable emotional intensity, his responses generating substantial yields even when primarily composed of negative-valence feelings like fear and confusion.
"I need," Uzi's father said slowly, his voice carrying the measured cadence of someone forcibly restraining themselves from screaming, "someone to explain to me what is happening. Using small words. Because I am currently processing approximately seventeen different impossible things and my cognitive architecture is threatening to crash."
"Okay!" N responded cheerfully, apparently taking the request as a genuine invitation for narrative exposition. "So basically, J and V and I came down to do our normal murder stuff, because that's our JOB, and we found Uzi here with her really cool railgun that she BUILT HERSELF which is SUPER impressive by the way—"
"Thank you," Uzi interjected, apparently unable to resist acknowledging the compliment despite the circumstances.
"—and J was going to disassemble her, which is what we're SUPPOSED to do, but then BISCUIT appeared! And he was SO FLUFFY and had such SOULFUL EYES and I just... I couldn't let anything bad happen to him! Or to his FRIEND! Because Uzi is Biscuit's friend, which makes her MY friend, because Biscuit is MY dog now!"
"The dog," Uzi's father repeated flatly. "You're not going to kill my daughter... because of the dog."
"EXACTLY! See, you GET it!"
"I absolutely do not 'get it.'"
"Dogs are SPECIAL! They're LOYAL and LOVING and they don't care if you're a Worker or a Murder Drone or WHATEVER—they just want to be your FRIEND! And Biscuit chose ME! Out of everyone on this whole frozen planet, he chose ME to be his person! That's MAGICAL!"
I had not, technically, chosen N. I had followed Uzi onto the surface, been discovered by the Murder Drone squad during their hunting operation, and been adopted by N through circumstances largely outside my control. But N's interpretation of events—that I had somehow selected him as my companion—appeared to be generating significant emotional investment, so I saw no benefit in attempting to correct his narrative.
Besides, my tail was wagging again, which probably undermined any attempt at setting the record straight.
『 EMOTIONAL HARVEST — ONGOING 』
Source: Murder Drone (Designation: N)
Harvested Emotions:
AFFECTION (strong intensity, sustained): 16 EP
JOY (moderate intensity, sustained): 7.5 EP (rounded to 8 EP)
PRIDE (moderate intensity — pride in being "chosen"): 6 EP
Total Harvest: 30 EP
Current EP Balance: 500 EP
Total EP Accumulated: 500 EP
『 MILESTONE ACHIEVED! 』
『 CATEGORY D: SPECIAL ABILITIES — NOW UNLOCKED 』
『 New enhancement options are now available for purchase. Access MENU to view Category D abilities. 』
Five hundred EP. The threshold had been crossed.
The notification pulsed in my peripheral vision with what I interpreted as congratulatory emphasis, the system apparently pleased—if a system could be pleased—that I had achieved this milestone in what was, objectively, a remarkably short timeframe. I had been on Copper-9's surface for perhaps four hours total, had interacted with only three sentient beings, and had somehow accumulated sufficient emotional energy to unlock an entirely new category of enhancements.
The power of being a golden retriever in a world full of emotionally responsive mechanical beings was proving considerable.
MENU, I thought, curious about what new options the Category D unlock had provided.
『 ENHANCEMENT MENU — UPDATED 』
CATEGORY A: PHYSICAL FITNESS ATTRIBUTES
[Previously listed options remain available]
CATEGORY B: SENSORY ENHANCEMENTS
[Previously listed options remain available]
CATEGORY C: CANINE TRAIT AMPLIFICATIONS
[Previously listed options remain available]
CATEGORY D: SPECIAL ABILITIES — NEW!
EMOTIONAL RESONANCE I through III — Costs: 200 / 600 / 1,800 EP — Creates a passive field that amplifies emotional responses in nearby beings. Each level: +15% emotional intensity of beings within range, +10 meters effective radius, +10% EP harvesting efficiency from affected beings. Cost progression increases 3× per level.
EMPATHIC COMMUNICATION I through III — Costs: 250 / 750 / 2,250 EP — Enables limited non-verbal communication of emotional states and simple concepts to bonded entities. Each level: +25% communication clarity, +20% concept complexity capacity, +15% range of communicable ideas. Cost progression increases 3× per level.
PROTECTIVE INSTINCT MANIFESTATION I through III — Costs: 300 / 900 / 2,700 EP — When bonded entities are threatened, temporarily gain enhanced physical capabilities. Each level: +30% strength/speed/durability when defending bonds, +20% threat detection regarding bonded entities, +15 seconds maximum manifestation duration. Cost progression increases 3× per level.
EMOTIONAL ANCHOR I through III — Costs: 350 / 1,050 / 3,150 EP — Bonded entities gain psychological stability benefits from proximity to Host Entity. Each level: +20% resistance to negative emotional states for bonded beings, +15% decision-making clarity, +10% recovery rate from psychological trauma. Cost progression increases 3× per level.
PACK SYNTHESIS I through III — Costs: 400 / 1,200 / 3,600 EP — Enables formation of multi-entity bonds that share certain benefits. Each level: +1 maximum simultaneous pack bonds, +10% shared EP generation from pack members' emotions toward each other, +5% physical capability sharing during coordinated activities. Cost progression increases 3× per level.
『 NOTE: Category D abilities represent advanced evolutionary potential unique to your vessel type. These abilities leverage the golden retriever's natural capacity for emotional bonding and pack dynamics, amplifying these traits to supernatural levels. Strategic investment in Category D abilities is recommended for long-term survival and influence optimization. 』
The Category D options were... remarkable.
Unlike the straightforward physical and sensory enhancements of the earlier categories, these abilities represented fundamental expansions of my capacity to interact with and influence other beings. Emotional Resonance would make everyone around me feel things more intensely—amplifying the very emotional responses that generated my EP income. Empathic Communication would allow me to actually convey ideas to my bonded companions, overcoming the fundamental communication barrier imposed by my canine physiology. Protective Instinct Manifestation would give me combat capability when defending those I cared about.
And Pack Synthesis—the ability to form multiple bonds that generated shared benefits—suggested possibilities for building something larger than individual relationships. A network of connected beings, all contributing to and benefiting from their association with me.
I was, I realized, looking at the framework for building genuine power in this world. Not the physical power of the Murder Drones, but something more subtle—the power of emotional connection, of psychological influence, of being the center around which other beings organized themselves.
But these abilities were expensive. The cheapest Category D option cost 200 EP—nearly half of my current total. I would need to continue accumulating emotional energy before I could afford meaningful investment in these advanced capabilities.
For now, I filed the information away and returned my attention to the ongoing conversation.
Uzi's father had apparently processed sufficient data to formulate a coherent response to the situation, though his expression still radiated profound skepticism.
"Let me see if I understand correctly," he said, his voice carrying the measured tone of someone constructing logical frameworks around fundamentally illogical circumstances. "You—" he pointed at N with a manipulator digit that trembled slightly, "—are a Murder Drone. Your designated function is to kill Worker Drones."
"That's right!" N confirmed cheerfully.
"And you—" the pointing digit shifted toward me, "—are apparently a dog. A biological organism that should not exist on Copper-9's surface, given that all biological life was supposedly rendered extinct during the core collapse and subsequent environmental catastrophe."
I barked.
It seemed like the appropriate response.
"And because of the dog, the Murder Drone has decided not to kill my daughter, and has instead... followed her home? Like a stray?"
"I prefer to think of it as ACCOMPANYING my dog's friend to ensure her SAFETY!" N corrected. "Biscuit needs Uzi, and I need Biscuit, so logically I need to make sure Uzi is okay! It's basic TRANSITIVE PROPERTY!"
"That's... that's not how transitive property works."
"It's how FRIENDSHIP works!"
Uzi's father closed his optical sensors for a moment—the mechanical equivalent of a human closing their eyes in exhausted resignation—and appeared to reach some internal decision.
"Come inside," he said finally, stepping back from the entrance to allow passage. "All of you. Before anyone else sees this and I have to explain it more than once."
"YAY!" N bounded through the entrance with enthusiasm that sent minor tremors through the bunker's floor, still cradling me protectively. "INDOOR ADVENTURE! I've never been inside a Worker bunker before! Is it nice? Do you have DECORATIONS? Where does Biscuit SLEEP?"
"We don't have accommodations for dogs," Uzi's father responded wearily. "We don't have accommodations for Murder Drones either. We're going to have to... improvise."
The bunker's interior, now that I could observe it from within N's arms as we progressed through reinforced corridors, was simultaneously more sophisticated and more desperate than I had anticipated.
The infrastructure was impressive—clearly designed by engineers who understood that survival in hostile environments required redundancy, durability, and comprehensive resource management. Power conduits ran along the ceiling, providing illumination through fixtures that hummed with steady electrical output. Environmental systems circulated air through vents positioned at regular intervals, maintaining atmospheric composition suitable for mechanical life even deep underground. Storage compartments lined the walls, their contents presumably including the survival rations Uzi had mentioned and whatever other supplies the Worker population required for continued function.
But there were also signs of strain, of resources stretched thin over extended periods. Some lighting fixtures flickered with the inconsistency of aging components. The walls bore repair patches where damage had been addressed with whatever materials were available rather than proper replacement parts. The Workers we passed—and there were other Workers, I realized, dozens of them moving through the corridors on various errands—wore expressions of weariness that spoke to years of survival under siege conditions.
And they all stopped to stare as N carried me past.
『 EMOTIONAL DETECTION — MULTIPLE SOURCES 』
Detecting emotional responses from: 7... 12... 18... 23 Worker Drones in immediate proximity
Aggregate emotional profile:
FEAR (strong to overwhelming intensity): Directed at N — Murder Drone presence triggering threat responses
SHOCK (overwhelming intensity): Directed at both N and Host Entity — unexpected stimuli
CONFUSION (strong intensity): Directed primarily at Host Entity — biological anomaly
CURIOSITY (moderate intensity): Directed at Host Entity — interest in anomalous presence
『 PARTIAL HARVEST AVAILABLE: Multiple beings experiencing emotions partially directed at Host Entity 』
Harvesting from crowd response:
SHOCK (aggregate, partially directed): 47 EP
CONFUSION (aggregate, partially directed): 31 EP
CURIOSITY (aggregate, partially directed): 28 EP
First Encounter Bonuses (23 new entities): ×1.5 average
Total Crowd Harvest: (47 + 31 + 28) × 1.5 = 159 EP
Current EP Balance: 659 EP
Total EP Accumulated: 659 EP
One hundred and fifty-nine EP from simply being carried through a corridor full of Worker Drones who had never seen a dog before. The crowd-harvesting potential of this environment was extraordinary—every new face represented a first encounter bonus, every shocked expression generated substantial yields.
If I could find ways to interact with larger groups of Workers, my EP accumulation could accelerate dramatically.
"Everyone BACK OFF!" Uzi's father was shouting, positioning himself between N and the gathering crowd of curious and terrified Workers. "Back to your stations! This is a... a CONTAINED SITUATION!"
"Is that a MURDER DRONE?" someone called from the growing assembly.
"And a DOG?" added another voice, the disbelief palpable.
"Why is the Murder Drone holding the dog like a BABY?"
"His name is BISCUIT!" N announced proudly, holding me up so the crowd could see me better. "He's my BEST FRIEND and he's VERY GOOD!"
My tail wagged at the crowd.
The response was immediate and emotionally complex.
『 EMOTIONAL HARVEST — CROWD RESPONSE TO DISPLAY 』
Aggregate emotional shifts detected:
FEAR (decreasing in many subjects): The non-threatening behavior is reducing threat perception
CURIOSITY (increasing): Host Entity's appearance generating interest
AMUSEMENT (emerging in multiple subjects): The absurdity of the situation triggering humor responses
AFFECTION (emerging in several subjects): Positive response to Host Entity's appearance and tail-wagging behavior
Harvesting from emotional shift:
CURIOSITY increase: 34 EP
AMUSEMENT emergence: 41 EP
AFFECTION emergence: 52 EP
Total Shift Harvest: 127 EP
Current EP Balance: 786 EP
Total EP Accumulated: 786 EP
Seven hundred and eighty-six EP. My accumulated reserves had grown substantially just from being seen by a crowd of Workers—and the emotional tenor of that crowd was shifting. The initial fear response was fading as N's non-aggressive behavior and my admittedly adorable presentation began to override instinctive threat assessments.
Golden retrievers, it seemed, were effective at defusing tension even in post-apocalyptic robot bunkers.
"Everyone CALM DOWN!" Uzi's father continued shouting, though the crowd showed no signs of dispersing. "This is my daughter's... guest! And the dog is the guest's... pet! It's FINE! Everything is FINE!"
"Khan." A new voice cut through the chaos—deeper, more authoritative, carrying the weight of someone accustomed to being obeyed. "What, exactly, is happening in my corridor?"
The crowd parted to reveal a Worker Drone of distinctive design. She was slightly taller than the average, with chassis modifications that spoke to either manufacturing variance or deliberate customization. Her optical sensors were sharp, calculating, assessing the situation with the rapid processing of someone who had survived leadership responsibilities during crisis conditions.
Behind her, two additional Workers flanked her position—guards or advisors, I couldn't immediately determine.
"WDF Administrator Lara," Uzi's father—Khan, apparently—responded with the tone of someone addressing a superior while simultaneously dealing with a domestic catastrophe. "This is... I can explain."
"Please do." The Administrator's gaze tracked across the scene—Khan's defensive posture, Uzi's defiant expression, N's cheerful obliviousness, and me, still cradled in the Murder Drone's arms, my tail wagging with autonomous enthusiasm. "Because from my perspective, it appears that someone has brought a Murder Drone INTO our bunker. Which is, I should note, the precise thing our bunker was designed to keep OUT."
"He's FRIENDLY!" N volunteered, apparently sensing that the conversation was about him. "I'm not going to hurt anyone! I'm just here because of BISCUIT!"
He held me up again. The presenting-the-dog gesture was becoming something of a recurring motif.
Administrator Lara stared at me with an expression I couldn't quite read—somewhere between scientific curiosity and profound exhaustion.
『 EMOTIONAL DETECTION — HIGH-VALUE SOURCE 』
Source: Worker Drone (Designation: WDF Administrator Lara)
Detected Emotions:
CALCULATED ASSESSMENT (moderate intensity): Evaluating situation — not generating EP (cognitive rather than emotional)
SUPPRESSED ANXIETY (low intensity): Controlled fear response to Murder Drone presence — not directed at Host Entity
CURIOSITY (strong intensity): Regarding Host Entity's biological nature — DIRECTED AT HOST ENTITY
『 Administrator Lara appears to be a high-ranking individual within the bunker hierarchy. Establishing positive emotional connection could yield strategic benefits beyond EP generation. 』
Harvested Emotions:
CURIOSITY (strong intensity, directed): 3 EP × 2.0 × 1.5 (first encounter) = 9 EP
Current EP Balance: 795 EP
Total EP Accumulated: 795 EP
"The dog," Administrator Lara said, her voice carefully neutral. "Explain the dog."
"We found him on the surface," Uzi answered, stepping forward to address the Administrator directly. "Or he found me. I'm not entirely sure. He was just... there. Alive. Which shouldn't be possible, but—"
"But here he is," the Administrator finished. "A biological organism surviving in environmental conditions that should have killed any carbon-based life form within minutes of exposure." She paused, her optical sensors narrowing. "Has anyone scanned him? Analyzed his biological markers? Determined HOW he's surviving?"
"There hasn't exactly been TIME," Khan interjected. "Between my daughter's unauthorized surface excursion and the Murder Drone following her home, analysis protocols weren't my primary concern."
"They should have been." Administrator Lara stepped closer, her gaze fixed on me with an intensity that made my canine instincts uneasy. "If there's a biological organism surviving on Copper-9's surface, that represents either a scientific anomaly of extraordinary significance or a threat vector we haven't anticipated. Either way, we need DATA."
"You can't EXPERIMENT on Biscuit!" N's arms tightened around me protectively, his visor-eyes flickering with what appeared to be genuine distress. "He's not a SCIENCE PROJECT! He's my FRIEND!"
"No one is experimenting on anyone," the Administrator responded, though her tone suggested she found N's protective instincts both inconvenient and fascinating. "I'm proposing non-invasive observation. Atmospheric analysis of his exhalations. Thermal imaging to assess his metabolic processes. Perhaps a fur sample for genetic sequencing if the necessary equipment still functions."
"I don't know what half of those words mean but they sound MEAN!"
"They're standard biological assessment protocols. Completely harmless."
『 EMOTIONAL HARVEST — ONGOING 』
Source: Murder Drone (Designation: N)
Harvested Emotions:
PROTECTIVENESS (strong intensity, directed toward Host Entity): 21 EP
ANXIETY (moderate intensity, triggered by perceived threat to Host Entity): 6 EP — classified under FEAR-adjacent, partial yield
DETERMINATION (strong intensity, to defend Host Entity): generating LOYALTY response
Total Harvest: 27 EP
Current EP Balance: 822 EP
Total EP Accumulated: 822 EP
N's protective response was generating substantial EP yields, his emotional investment in my wellbeing translating directly into harvestable energy. The more he perceived threats to me—even theoretical threats like non-invasive scientific analysis—the more intensely his protective instincts activated, and the more EP I accumulated.
It was, I reflected, a somewhat manipulative dynamic. But I hadn't created the system's mechanics, and survival required working within the frameworks available.
"Perhaps," Khan interjected, apparently attempting to defuse the escalating tension, "we could discuss this somewhere more private? Rather than in a corridor full of Workers who are definitely not eavesdropping on every word of this conversation?"
He gestured meaningfully at the crowd, which had continued growing throughout the exchange and now numbered several dozen curious Workers who were, in fact, very obviously eavesdropping.
Administrator Lara followed his gesture, then nodded. "My office. All of you. Now."
She turned and strode down the corridor with the confident authority of someone accustomed to being followed.
Khan fell into step behind her, his body language radiating stressed resignation.
Uzi hesitated, glancing at N with an expression that combined reluctant alliance with residual wariness. "Come on, Murder Drone. Try not to accidentally kill anyone on the way."
"I would NEVER!" N protested, hurrying after her with me still cradled in his arms. "Accidentally killing is SO unprofessional! If I killed someone, it would be VERY deliberate!"
"That's... not as reassuring as you think it is."
"It's not?"
We proceeded through the bunker's corridors, passing additional Workers who stopped to stare at our peculiar procession—a high-ranking administrator, a stressed father, a rebellious daughter, a friendly Murder Drone, and one anomalous golden retriever whose tail absolutely refused to stop wagging despite the comprehensive uncertainty of his circumstances.
Each new face generated additional EP through first encounter bonuses.
Each shocked expression added to my growing reserves.
By the time we reached Administrator Lara's office—a reinforced chamber that appeared to serve as both command center and private quarters—my balance had grown substantially:
『 EP STATUS UPDATE 』
Current EP Balance: 891 EP
Total EP Accumulated: 891 EP
EP Sources This Session:
Crowd reactions during corridor transit: 69 EP
Individual first encounters: 42 EP (14 new entities × average 3 EP each)
Category D Unlock Achieved: Yes
Enhancement Purchases: 0
The Administrator's office was spartan but functional—a desk covered in data tablets and documents, environmental displays showing bunker status information, and a single chair designed for beings who didn't technically require rest but apparently appreciated the option. No decorations, no personal effects, nothing that suggested the occupant had any existence beyond her administrative responsibilities.
She positioned herself behind the desk and gestured for the rest of us to arrange ourselves in whatever configuration we found appropriate. Khan stood at attention beside the desk. Uzi slouched against a wall with deliberate casualness. N sat cross-legged on the floor—a position that still left him nearly as tall as the standing Workers—and settled me in his lap with careful attention to my comfort.
My tail wagged.
I had begun to suspect my tail would wag in response to literally any positive stimulus, regardless of context.
"Now," Administrator Lara said, her voice carrying the crisp efficiency of someone initiating a formal debriefing, "let's start from the beginning. Uzi Doorman, you left the bunker without authorization approximately four hours ago. What happened on the surface?"
Uzi straightened slightly, apparently recognizing that she was addressing official inquiry rather than casual conversation. "I went to test my railgun against Murder Drones. I found three of them—designations J, V, and N." She gestured at the Murder Drone currently serving as my furniture. "I shot J twice and V once. The shots damaged but didn't disable them."
"Understandable. Murder Drone chassis are designed to withstand considerable punishment." The Administrator's tone was clinical, analytical. "Continue."
"They were about to kill me. Then the dog appeared, and N..." Uzi paused, apparently struggling to articulate what had happened. "N decided the dog was more important than the mission. He refused to help the others, and eventually J called off the hunt. She said they'd be back."
"The dog," Administrator Lara repeated, her attention shifting to me. "Which brings us to the central anomaly. A golden retriever—if my historical databases are accurate regarding Earth canine breeds—surviving unassisted on Copper-9's surface in temperatures that should have killed him within minutes."
"His fur is VERY THICK!" N offered helpfully.
"Thermal insulation alone wouldn't explain survival in negative fifty conditions without shelter, food source, or apparent distress." The Administrator leaned forward, her optical sensors studying me with uncomfortable intensity. "Where did you come from, little anomaly? What ARE you?"
I couldn't answer, of course. My canine vocal apparatus lacked the capacity for human—or Worker—speech, and while the system had mentioned an Empathic Communication ability in Category D, I hadn't purchased it and couldn't afford it at current prices.
So I did the only thing I could do.
I tilted my head.
I let my tongue loll out.
I wagged my tail with maximum adorableness.
『 EMOTIONAL HARVEST — SUCCESS 』
Source: Worker Drone (Designation: WDF Administrator Lara)
Harvested Emotions:
AMUSEMENT (low intensity, suppressed but present): 4 EP × 1.0 = 4 EP
CURIOSITY (strong intensity, intensifying): 3 EP × 2.0 = 6 EP
RELUCTANT FONDNESS (very low intensity, barely detectable): 8 EP × 0.5 = 4 EP — classified under AFFECTION, minimal yield due to emotional suppression
Total Harvest: 14 EP
Current EP Balance: 905 EP
Total EP Accumulated: 905 EP
Even the hardened Administrator wasn't entirely immune to golden retriever charm.
"Fascinating," she murmured, more to herself than to anyone else. "Behavioral patterns consistent with domesticated canine social responses. Either genuine instinct or an extremely sophisticated mimicry program."
"He's not a PROGRAM!" N protested. "He's a GOOD BOY!"
"I'm not suggesting he isn't." The Administrator's voice softened slightly—almost imperceptibly, but my enhanced canine hearing detected the shift. "I'm simply noting that his existence defies our understanding of what's possible on this planet. And things that defy understanding often prove to be either tremendous opportunities or significant threats."
She stood, moving around the desk to approach N's seated position—and, by extension, me.
"May I?" she asked, gesturing toward me with one manipulator hand.
N's grip tightened fractionally, his protective instincts activating. "You promise not to hurt him?"
"I promise to do nothing more than observe. Perhaps touch his fur, if he permits it."
N looked down at me, his visor-eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Biscuit? Is that okay? Do you want to meet the scary administrator lady?"
I wagged my tail.
"I think that's a yes!" N decided, though he didn't release me from his lap. "You can pet him if you want! But be GENTLE! He's very PRECIOUS!"
Administrator Lara approached slowly, her movements careful and non-threatening—the body language of someone who understood that patience was more effective than force when dealing with protective guardians. She knelt beside N's seated form, bringing herself to my eye level, and extended one hand toward me in the universal gesture of allowing an animal to investigate a new presence.
My canine instincts approved of this approach.
I sniffed her hand—analyzing the chemical signatures of her chassis maintenance, the subtle electrical fields of her active systems, the residual traces of whatever substances she had handled recently. Mechanical beings had different scent profiles than biological ones, but my enhanced olfaction could still extract information from their chemical environment.
She smelled like industrial lubricant, recycled air, and long-term stress.
I licked her hand.
『 EMOTIONAL HARVEST — SUCCESS 』
Source: Worker Drone (Designation: WDF Administrator Lara)
Harvested Emotions:
SURPRISE (moderate intensity): 4 EP × 1.5 = 6 EP
AMUSEMENT (moderate intensity, less suppressed): 4 EP × 1.5 = 6 EP
AFFECTION (low intensity, emerging): 8 EP × 1.0 = 8 EP
Total Harvest: 20 EP
Current EP Balance: 925 EP
Total EP Accumulated: 925 EP
"Well," the Administrator said, and her voice carried something it hadn't before—warmth, perhaps, or at least a reduction in clinical detachment. "You certainly behave like a dog. Whatever else you might be."
"He IS a dog!" N insisted.
"So you keep saying." Administrator Lara straightened, returning to her position behind the desk, though her expression had softened noticeably. "Very well. Here's what we're going to do. The dog—"
"Biscuit."
"—Biscuit," she corrected with only minimal eye-rolling, "will remain in the bunker for observation. Non-invasive observation," she added quickly as N's posture tensed. "I want to understand how he's surviving, but I'm not going to harm him to get that understanding."
"Good," N said firmly. "Because I would be VERY upset if anyone hurt Biscuit, and when I get VERY upset, things tend to get DISASSEMBLED."
The threat was delivered with N's characteristic cheerfulness, but no one in the room missed its underlying seriousness.
Administrator Lara nodded slowly. "Understood. As for you—" she turned to address N directly, "—you present a more complicated problem. You're a Murder Drone. Your designated function is incompatible with the continued existence of everyone in this bunker."
"But I'm NOT going to hurt anyone!" N protested. "I already SAID that!"
"Your current intentions may be genuine. But you represent a significant security risk simply by existing within our perimeter. Your squad knows you're here. They know you've... defected, for lack of a better term. They will almost certainly attempt to either retrieve you or eliminate the threat you now represent to their operations."
"J and V wouldn't—" N started, then stopped. His visor-eyes dimmed slightly. "Actually, J might. She takes quotas VERY seriously. And V just likes killing things."
"Precisely. By harboring you, we're painting a target on this bunker. We're inviting retaliation from entities we've spent decades hiding from."
Khan, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke up. "So what are you suggesting? We throw him back out on the surface and hope his squad forgives his momentary lapse in murderous loyalty?"
"I'm suggesting we THINK before we ACT," Administrator Lara responded sharply. "This situation is unprecedented. We need to consider all implications before committing to any course of action."
"Can we consider implications somewhere with SNACKS?" N asked hopefully. "I don't eat Worker food, obviously, but Biscuit might be hungry! Dogs need food, right? What do dogs even EAT?"
Everyone in the room turned to look at me, apparently hoping I would somehow provide guidance on my dietary requirements.
I barked.
It was not helpful.
"We'll... figure something out," Khan said eventually, his voice carrying the exhaustion of someone who had long since accepted that his life had spiraled beyond all reasonable control. "Uzi, take the Murder Drone to... somewhere. Anywhere. I need to speak with the Administrator privately."
"You want me to BABYSIT the Murder Drone?"
"I want you to keep him out of trouble while the adults discuss what to do about this situation you've created by going to the surface against my explicit instructions."
"That's not FAIR—"
"Life isn't fair. Take the dog too. Find somewhere quiet. Don't let anyone else see the Murder Drone if you can help it—we've already caused enough panic for one evening."
Uzi's expression cycled through several emotional states—frustration, defiance, and eventually reluctant acceptance. "Fine. FINE. Come on, Murder Drone. Let's go find somewhere to hide you and your weird dog."
"Adventure!" N bounced to his feet, adjusting his grip on me to ensure I remained secure and comfortable. "Come on, Biscuit! We're going to explore the bunker with your FRIEND Uzi! This is going to be SO FUN!"
He bounded toward the office door with enthusiasm that made the floor shake slightly.
I remained in his arms, my tail wagging, my EP balance growing with each new interaction, and my understanding of this strange new existence deepening with every passing moment.
Whatever came next—and I suspected "next" would involve considerable complications given J's promised return, the Administrator's strategic concerns, and the fundamental unsustainability of hiding a Murder Drone in a bunker full of Workers—I was no longer the helpless, confused creature who had awakened on Copper-9's frozen surface just hours ago.
I had allies. I had resources. I had a growing reservoir of emotional energy that could be converted into genuine capabilities.
And I had a tail that absolutely, positively, would not stop wagging.
『 SESSION STATUS 』
EP Balance: 925 EP
Bonds: N (Strong), Uzi (Developing), Administrator Lara (Nascent)
Location: Worker Bunker 7-G, Moving to undisclosed secondary location
Active Threats: J and V (expected return), Corporate interest in biological anomaly
Enhancement Options Available: 925 EP provides access to multiple Category A-C enhancements or partial investment in Category D abilities
Recommendation: Consider Empathic Communication I (250 EP) to enable non-verbal communication with bonded entities, improving coordination and strategic planning capabilities
『 STORY CONTINUES... 』