"Alright, N, listen closely." Khan began, showing me how to do the position he assigned me. After Uzi's stern talking to with him, he begrudgingly gave in to the idea to hire me as long as I promised to at LEAST be on time, which I was glad to accept! He pressed a button on the T.V. remote he held; making the screen flicker to life as it depicted the outer walls of the Colony as well as certain halls from different wings. "Security cams! Sweet!" I breathed, looking ecstatically from screen to screen as my father in law sighed, "Yes.... I'm placing YOU in charge of the Security cams that we newly installed throughout the facility's outer walls, and halls. With this, we ensure safety of the utmost precision to our people, or rather MY people, so that if anything DOES happen the Security faction can quickly, and efficiently get the job done, and remove the threat. It's up to YOU that that doesn't HAVE to happen, and order remains maintained. What's more, it's your own space- feel free with what decor you see fit, but don't let that distract you from the bigger image." "On it dad, you can count on me!" I replied, saluting. "Of course you do." He replied with an akward tone before mumbling something under his breath, and leaving me to my new assignment. I could hardly believe it- a space of my own where I can safely do what needs to be done, and NOT worry about my tools getting tampered with, or my materials stolen! I walked around, and first sat in the chair before my desk to see the cams when I realized the chair and desk were MUCH too short! "Easy fix I'm sure! Now, what to do about these walls...." I said aloud, only hearing the sound of my own voice echoing around me as I stared intently at the blank, slate colored wall before me. Snapping my fingers, I grabbed a pad and pen to jot down my new custom office! I had TONS of ideas on how I was going to fill all the empty space in the room around me, and I jotted them down like a kid making a wishlist as I continued to glance up every now and then to check everyone. I heard a knock at the door, and I wasn't even annoyed by how obnoxiously loud it was-THAT was how happy and free I felt! The knock sounded again, and I called quickly, "I'm sorry, N's unavailable right now! Too busy workin', y'know?" I replied, closing the pad to stick it in a little compartment on the tiny desk when a female's voice called, "It's been an hour- it's lunch time and boss man wanted to see if the new metal was still kicking." "Tell him he's all good, and not that hungry at the mo. See ya Co-Worker whose name I don't know!" I called back, pressing the buttons on the remote on certain T.V.s to change the veiw of the screens. The next day was VERY busy as I remodeled the Security office to my liking, giving it a nice, zig zag pattern rug beneath my new desk and swivel chair, and I even set up bookshelves, a calendar, a corkboard for reminders, and for finishing touches, a picture of Uzi and Myself with Gambit- framed and placed on my desk beside a small, decorative succulant in a plastic pot. "Security worker N is ready to watch some cams!" I exclaimed, sitting back in the swivel chair as I viewed the cameras with better adjustments befitting my height. It was rather interesting to see the day to day lives and activities of the other drones, like what they eat and how they present themselves when they're not in the privacy of their homes. To be honest, I even cracked up at a few- like and elderly Drone that got jumpscared by a rubber duckie that fell from the ceiling, presumably lost by one of the children running about, or the one instance where a Drone accidentally shorted themselves out temporarily by touching an outlet, just to touch the outlet again to make sure THAT was the reason they shorted to begin with! "Oh, I can't WAIT to tell Uzi and Gammy about THIS!" I laughed as I jotted the story topic down for later. I heard a knock at the door, and I called in a sing song tone, "Who iiiiiiiiissssss iiiiiiiit?" Just then my father in law walked through the threshold, seemingly happy as he began in an upbeat tone, "Hey there, N! How's it-" he stopped for a minute to look around at the modifications I made to my office, and I asked, "You like?" "I said you could decorate, but this just makes it look like you're moving in!" He gasped, running his fingers along the shelves I installed. "The room seemed so empty, so I decided to add things where I can put materials, documents, anything!" I chirped, crossing my legs. "Suuuuuuurrrrrrrreeeee..... How are the cameras looking?" He asked, turning away from my motivational poster with a Beagal on it. "Lookin' good. Got some stories to share with the family when I get back too! Wanna hear them?" I offered, pulling out my pad of paper. "N-Not right now, but maybe at Lunch?" He replied, quickly taking a step away from me. "Alright, at Lunch then. Imma get back to work now, have a good day dad!" I said, waving before turning my back to him completely to continue watching the cameras. "Ah, um.... Call me Mr. Doorman at work-maintains professionalism, you know?" "Certainly, "Mr. Doorman". See you around!" I replied, keeping my attention focused ahead. Around lunchtime, I took the home made meal Uzi made for me, and set out to find Khan to tell him the stories from today- only to find that he had disappeared. "Hmmmm, maybe he's still in his office? He's the boss man, after all." I assured, and went to go check there..... His room remained empty as well.... "He's not in the office, and he's not in the breakroom.... Hmmmm, did he go somewhere?" I asked myself, and decided to go check the food courts which, unlike when I used to be a mechanic, were much closer, but unfortunately he wasn't there either. Worried, I began to ask the other W.D.F Drones to see if they had ANY idea as to Khan's whereabouts, some of them even making sly passes at me when I did. Eventually I just retreated back to my office to eat alone, and to get away from the others who began to suspect I was plotting something as my heart grew heavy. What's the point of offering something if you didn't have the intention to do said offer to begin with? And I know I could always have lunch with Uzi, but she was currently off work that day! All there was was my thoughts, echoes, and my feelings as I viewed the sanctuary given to protect me as a means of keeping away something that was unwanted.... Something they were ashamed to talk about..... Was this how Cyn felt when Tessa put her in her basement time out, and wouldn't let her out for days and weeks? That's no life for ANYONE, even for someone as bad as Cyn who only wanted to be treated like she was one of us. Was this my karma? "I suppose.... We really ARE in the same boat now, huh little buddy..?" I asked to the emptiness around me, almost as if she were there in spirit taunting me as I sat and ate. After Lunch, I continued to cycle from feed to feed, no longer feeling the upbeat joy I had when I came in; the things I thought were funny in retrospect turned dull, and uninteresting as I laid my head down on my desk. It was times like this that made me wanna go back in time, and maybe warn Tessa of Cyn before that night took place... Then perhaps I wouldn't be IN this hole I'm in now.... I could live with being mistreated by her folks, though- would've emerged stronger and better from THAT than what I was forced to become! Uzi made me better, sure, but what good is it if your past is continuously catching up to you wherever you go? I heard a knock at the door, and I permitted them to enter as Khan walked in, and lied boldly, "Hey there, Son! Sorry I couldn't talk to you at Lunch, some..... Things? Came up..." "Khan? Do you think I'm THAT stupid?" I asked, offended as I looked over my shoulder at him. He remained silent as his feet shuffled, and I KNEW what the answer would be as I added, "A simple "No" would've saved both of us the trouble....." I turned back to the cameras as he quickly took his leave, and I sighed. After work, I collected the pad of stories to tell Uzi and Gambit, and I began to make my way down the back halls away from the sights of the other Workers to avoid any more conflicts. Once home, I couldn't help but notice some kind of techno sounding music from behind the door to it's loudest. Odd, Uzi was NEVER open about sharing her favorite kind of music- not even to her own HUSBAND! I opened the door quietly, and the touching scene before me completely made all the troubles of today dissolve as I observed my wife, child, and surprisingly enough, my friend all jamming to Uzi's nightcore track on her radio. I closed the door, and continued to admire as Gambit jumped around, and waved about wildly as Uzi sang and jumped around with her- even motioning a guitar riff! V was on the couch nodding to the beat, and she'd laugh when Gambit tried to copy Uzi's motions and steps. It was a wonderful scene, and it made my eyes well up with tears to see them all so happy. Uzi's eyes finally fell onto me, and she froze in place as a yelp left her mouth, and she quickly pulled the plug. Confused, V and Gambit followed her gaze until they found me coming to near tears, and my sweet girl's eyes brightened as she shouted, "Papa!" She ran to me, and I quickly recollected myself as I swept her off the floor, and replied, "Hey cream puff! You dancing with mommy?" "Yes. She showed me songs that she liked when she was younger, and that they used to be Móraí's favorite too before she dissapeared." She explained while nodding. "You COULD come join us instead of sitting there in the shadows watching us like a starved puppy, N." V said, losing her professional attitude. "Yeah baby, why don't you come here and show me YOUR moves." Uzi flirted, to which Gambit gasped in shock, "Papa can DANCE?!" "Of course! Anyone with half a computer chip in their head can dance if they tried." V replied, relaxing herself on the sofa as she crossed her legs. I noticed her usual get up had changed as well- from the classy, reserved lady she became to a sort of relaxed, sporty look that she wore in our final years of Highschool. "Papa can do all KINDS of moves, from cool to smooth." I bragged, giving in to the entertainment Gambit was getting out of the experience. "Would Papa like to dance with me?" She asked, fluttering her eyes innocently. I was taken aback by the question, and I wasn't sure how to respond as V and Uzi both said, "Awwwwwww." Gambit asking that question, I felt a certain sliver of joy that was undescribable, and to be fair, undeserving to one such as I as Uzi pressured for me to dance along with Gambit. It was really fun, from the two of us and Uzi losing it on the floor, to gently swaying my darling child to sleep after a hearty meal to a slow paced anime cover. After I had wished Gam goodnight, I returned to the living room where Uzi and V conversed, and asked, "Isn't it high time you got back to YOUR place V? I'm sure work is going to be a doozy tomorrow!" I wasn't trying to be insensitive, but I genuinely wanted to know why she had stayed over for so long when her eyes went wide, and quickly looked to the side in shame. No.... They COULDN'T have..! "She's not teaching anymore, N..." Uzi admitted, placing a hand on V's shoulder. "They said "Murder Drones were unfit teachers- that I WAS an unfit teacher. I got a degree to teach little Drone boys and girls, and I was darn good at it too! They've stripped me of my purpose in front of the ENTIRE class, and humiliated me before the other teachers, N. A SPECTACLE!" She sobbed, placing her head in her hands. I was mortified by what had happened to V, and my heart really went out to her as Uzi added, "Gambit made a fuss out of it; said the Drones in charge of the school wing was corrupt, and cruel to her. She declared that V hadn't done anything and harmed nobody, which made almost everyone in the room berate, and try to sabotage HER along with V. She eventually just took Gambit up in her arms, shamed the rest of the audience that had gathered for ganging up on a little girl, and just left with her." "G-Gambit didn't suspect anything, did she?!" I asked, worried and a little outraged by how awful they treated my friend in front of mine and Uzi's special treasure. "As far as I'm concerned, she still believes that it's because their jealous of ME. God, N, I wish that you weren't afraid to let her know so that she's not looked at as a crazy bot!" V sighed, wiping her eyes as she looked up. She was tired, much like Uzi and I, and my heart broke a little when she said those words. "I-I can't, V..... Her little mind is so malleable, and her little heart is so fragile- I don't have the stomach to tell Gambit about such a gruesome moment in our lives!" "N, get real. Are you hiding our true selves from her because you're afraid you'd lose her love?" Uzi asked, raising a brow. I didn't want it to be obvious, but I couldn't help but look away from her as I admitted, "She's very much like you, Uzi, only YOU were old enough to grasp the reality of what we were. Gam is only five, and barely old enough to decide what's good and bad! I've lost the chance to start over with everyone else, but I see Gambit, and it's like I have a truly clean slate because she never knew about us disassembly Drones... PERIOD.... It took us a bit before we gained YOUR full trust, Uzi, and I don't fault you one bit because of how I introduced myself to you." I sat in a chair, resting my elbows on my knees, and placing my chin on my palm as I sighed, "I just want a good image for once- even if it was only in Gambit's eyes, it'd still help me to sleep knowing she'd never insult me, or open up scars." It was selfish, and I knew there would come a time where I'd HAVE no choice but to tell her about my cruel past, but I couldn't think of her being terrified of me when I came home, or distrusting of me when I'd want to play with her. No, it was best she NEVER knew! "Gambit really does love you, N. If anything, she's got a good head on her two shoulders, and will most likely understand. All you do is continue to hurt us by being ashamed, so when you find the courage, tell her." V said, moving her hair from her face. I grew worried as I laid in mine and Uzi's room, thinking about all that was said between the three of us, especially the revelation that V was evicted from her own home! Was I next? More importantly, did Khan know, or orchestrate this whole thing?