Chapter 9

“I can’t believe I said all that!” moans F0-W, burying her face in her hands. “I didn’t mean it, I swear!”

The waves of cringe are pouring off her stronger than the stench of sweat. They’ve been shoveling through the melted combat AI for hours. SNS-404 had instructed them to locate and remove a small box within the center of each AI. Normally, the back panels could be removed with the proper tools, but doing that is virtually impossible in the fused wreck they are sorting through. Still, they had managed to fill up several bins, which SNS-404 had taken with itself back to the train. However, the AI hadn’t emerged since then.

“Sure, you didn’t mean it,” quips L1-Z. He mocks in a high-pitched voice, “SNS-404 thank you! Oh, thank you thank you! You’re my SAVIOR. I love you!” He breaks up into screeching laughter and slams his shovel up and down.

Two tags girl laughs along with him. “Marry me SNS-404! Save me from a life of humanity!”

At this, L1-Z laughs even harder, doubling over. The two keep cackling while the rest of the group works. F0-W’s face is wet, but not from sweat.

No one is in the mood for this. They’ve been here picking black boxes out of deformed combat AI for hours. The smog acts as a blanket, trapping in the sun’s heat. It’s like being roasted alive. All life has been sapped by the beating sun, leaving them all feeling prickly and tired. And anxious for a distraction. Especially one at someone’s expense.

L1-Z recovers from his laughing attack and continues, “SNS-404 I love you so much that I want to have your babies, the whole assembly line!”

Two tags wheezes, leaning heavily on her shovel. “It doesn’t work like that!” A choked-up laugh, then, “But maybe she’ll get to live longer if the AI likes doing it.”

L1-Z smacks the shovel even harder. Crunchy chunks of metal spray through the air, hitting the other warped structures in harsh gongs. Two tags leans against the tool kit for support, gasping for breath.

F0-W sobs and pries away slowly at a panel. Click. Click. Screw by screw, twisting out in sync with her tears.

Jun wants to say something. He really does. But, there isn’t anything to say. At least, nothing that he knows of. F0-W did say a lot of stupid things. She should know that. Just let those two have their fun. They’ll be over it soon enough as they succumb to the heat. He focuses extra hard on some screws.

“Jun,” whispers Ren. “What should we do? They’re being mean to her. Shouldn’t we help her?”

“Keep working,” he grunts back. “We got to survive, remember?” He grunts with the effort of yanking a panel off. This one is particularly stuck.

Ren’s eyes flicker between Jun and F0-W. He tightens his jaw, tag quivering. “I’m going to help her,” he proclaims. He clenches his fists, avoiding Jun’s gaze. “I’m going to help her, even if you won’t!” He marches off, stops and looks back. Seeing Jun won’t stop him, he turns back and hesitantly approaches the duo.

“You shouldn’t say stuff like that. It isn’t nice. Did you know that counts as bully-“

Crack. L1-Z slams the shovel down, sending fractures scattering throughout a useless panel. “I don’t care.” Crack. He’s stopped laughing, his face becoming predatory.

Two tags sniggers.

“So, whatcha gonna do about it?” L1-Z asks, fingering the shovel.