I Love My Mindless Drones

"You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you?" Dex asked sternly. Noa started to sweat. Dex's keeper suit was in shadow mode. Usually, keeper's suits are mostly white with green stripes. For it to be black, in shadow mode, means only one thing. He's doing something dangerous. If he's willing to expose himself in this serious mode, he's not in the mood for jokes.

"Uh... no," Noa lied, "What would make you say that?"

"Because you smell like gasoline, Noa," said Dex.

"Oh, come on, you always assume the worst. Even back in school, you always thought everything was my fault!"

"Because it usually was!"

Noa looked over Dex's keeper uniform. It looked beat up and had some burnt marks. Over the ViGen logo, there was a bit of blood. Was he in a fight? There was also dust all over him. Dex noticed what he was looking at. He pressed a button on his suit's ViGen logo, and the suit changed to its regular white color.

"You got into a fight," said Noa, "You're looking for someone."

"It's none of your business. Look, I graduated already, which means I can't watch your back like I used to. Just for me, try your best to stay out of trouble."

"Does being a Keeper pay well?"

"It's OK I guess. Why? You thinking of signing up? We could probably use someone with your fighting skills-"

SWOOSH! The air around them began to swirl, and a blinding spotlight beam hit them from above. A large hovercraft was above them. The large ViGen logo on the side was accompanied by the words under it: Peace Keepers. Suddenly, a bunch of ropes dropped out of the vehicle and down to the ground.

Seeing this, Noa took a step to run, but Dex caught his arm.

"Don't run," said Dex, "They'll think it's you."

"They'll think who is me?"

Dex's face widened with the realization that he may have already said too much. "Don't worry about it," he said, "Just shut up, and you'll be fine."

Several Keepers then descended from the craft quickly and lined up in a row. Then, a man in a blue buzz cut descended last. He was 6 and a half feet tall, pure muscle, and had a cold look in his eyes. One of his arms was metallic, and his Keeper uniform was decorated with medals of various sizes and shapes. All of them glowed a neon color. Dex clicked his heels and gave him a salute.

"Captain Zero," said Dex, "It's an honor to see you."

Captain Zero gave a quick salute back. "At ease, private," he said in a stern voice, "You mind telling me what you're up to? If you've stopped, this must be our culprit."

"No, sir. This is... uh...Noa."

"And how do you know this 'Noa'?"

"Hen was my upper classmate back in school," said Noa, "Keeper Dex was just coming to help me. I was reporting a suspicious person."

"Oh?" said Captain Zero, leaning in, "Suspicious how?"

"Oh, uh, well..."

Noa's brain started racing to think of a lie. Then he remembered the person he saw earlier.

"He was over there. Some guy with short brown hair. He had some blood on him. And a gun. It looked really old. I thought only Keepers could have guns."

Dex raised an eyebrow.

"You thought correctly, citizen," said Zero, "It seems you were correct on your hunch, private! With our CEO’s parade going on in this area, she’s probably his target! He must still be in the area. No rest until he's captured! Alive!"

Captain Zero and his squad attached themselves to the hanging ropes, and they were instantly zipped back up into the hovercraft. It then left in a quick boom.

"You never told me about that guy!" said Dex, "He sounds like the exact person I was hunting!"

"Hunting?" asked Noa.

"I meant following."

"I'm telling you now, and it seems like I've saved your ass from embarrassment again, so-"

Dex grabbed Noa tightly by his arm.

"Stay away from that!" said Dex, "Seriously! This is not a game! If you see him again, you call me, ok? Ok?!"

"Fine! I promise! What's up with you?"

"I have to go, stay out of trouble! I'm arresting you next time!" Dex tapped his suit, and it changed from white back to the darker shadow mode.

Dex then sprinted down the alley and was gone with the night. A shiver went down Noa's spine. He shook it off and went back into the club.

***

The large crowd cheered joyfully as the parade flowed down the street. Children perched on their parents' shoulders, waving company flags excitedly. A man with a hovering hotdog cart called out to the crowd, advertising his wares.

"Hot dogs! Support Gen City, support the system!"

Donna, a woman with long black hair and baby blue eyes, was dressed in strict business attire. The ViGen logo proudly on her cufflinks and buttons to her suit. She wore long green gloves today as well. She hated wearing them, but according to poles, people love gloves on women, so she stuck it out today. She waved to her adoring crowd from the back of her top-down convertible. At only 24 years old, she's was not only the youngest ViGen CEO in history, but also its first woman. Lester, the driver, navigated the car through the parade route. To her side was a woman with long green hair who was about the same age. This was her assistant, Jenny. Donna was dressed in white and gold colors, and the ViGen logo adorned the side of her car. Keepers in black uniforms marched in front and behind her, scanning the crowd, their hands resting on long silver rifles.

The crowd cheered Donna's name, holding up signs that read "We love you, Donna!" and "System bless ViGen!". She responded with a big smile and a perfect princess wave. Suddenly, a little six-year-old girl bolted past the crowd barrier and into the street, heading straight for Donna. The girl clutched something in her hand. A keeper sprinted toward her.

As the girl ran up to the car and tried to grab Donna's suit. Donna was surprised but didn't flinch. The girl excitedly held out her autograph book, smiling from ear to ear. The Keeper quickly snatched the girl away.

"Come here, you!" he yelled.

Donna's voice was powerful and booming as she commanded, "Stop the car!" Lester slammed on the brakes, and the keeper holding the girl froze. Everyone looked on intensely.

Donna calmly stepped out of the car and walked over to the keeper. She had the stride of a hungry jaguar. "Put her down," she demanded.

The keeper released the girl, who stood there, frozen and unsure of what to do. Donna gave her a warm smile and gently placed her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Are you alright?" she asked.

The girl nodded, and Donna replied, "Good."

SLAP! Donna backhanded the keeper hard in the face, and the crowd fell silent.

"She is a child! If you want to stay a keeper in my city, you best respect my citizens!" she scolded.

Donna took the girl's book and signed it. She calmly handed it back and patted the girl on the head. The girl ran off to her parents in the crowd. The entire crowd erupted with joy. Donna strode back to the convertible.

"Bit dramatic," Jenny commented.

"A CEO must always side with her customers. Drive, Lester," she replied. Lester grunted and moved the car forward.

The car pulled forward as if the whole thing had never happened. The parade continued, and Donna resumed waving, not missing a beat.

"Remind me to burn these gloves. I think she was an error from the outskirts," she said.