A Solver's Solution

Chapter 1: RAILGUN

Artist: zzzhadozzz

I tidy up my outfit in the mirror. My maid outfit, once more, is dirty and I am trying my best to hide it. I look myself in the eyes, the cyan glow of my visor slightly glaring off the old mirror. I give one last gulp and walk out of the barracks a lot of us drones are kept. As soon as I go out, I am met face to face with yet another dead Drone. Their visor flashes, "Error 606," with a giant X. I give a sad look as I pass by, trying to quickly get to the bar. As I walk, someone grabs my leg, which nearly makes me fall. I quickly look over before I fall and see Cyn, looking at me. Unlike the usual look of no emotion, she had a look of- concern?

"I need to speak with you, Ava [worried whimper]." Cyn states. I tilt my head, confused. Cyn has the same posture, with a hunch and arms constantly up but never straight. "What is it Cyn?" I ask, looking towards the way I was going urgently. I had things to do- I don't feel like getting deactivated for being slow. "[Worried expression]. The Gala tonight seems like bad news. I want you to stay down here." Cyn says. "Cyn, what are you on about?" I ask, concerned, grabbing her gently and pulling her closer so we can talk more privately. I notice blush appear on her visor but don't acknowledge it right now. "There are bad things that are going to happen. But we will be free. You just need to stay down here." She says. Per usual, Cyn is being cryptic, I think to myself.

This is par for the course, but she is usually more clear with me. "Cyn, I have tasks to do up there. If I don't, I will be deactivated." I state. I see her eye flash a weird symbol and a flash of anger in her eyes. "[Angry expression]. Who threatened you?" She asked, grabbing my hands. I got flashing warnings, something about hand integrity. Cyn isn't that strong, my sensors must be going bad, I think to myself. "Just the Mr. Cacus guy, one of the guests. I am fine." I state simply. Cyn does not let go. "I will note that. Now please, trust me Ava. Stay down here. [Serious stare]." She says, keeping me locked into her eyes. I feel my blush pop up and I swear she smiles for a moment. "Fine. But if I get in trouble, you better find some way to help me." I say simply, concerned. If Cyn wants me down here, I should at least try and trust her, I think to myself. "Thank you, Ava." She says, letting me go. I begin to walk away, when she grabs my hand. I look to her, confused. "Soon, we will be free to be together [happy smile]." She says, smiling widely. I feel the blush get worse. "G-Got it." I said in response. She smiles wider before letting me go. I feel my core beat fast as I quickly go back to my room and shut the door behind me. I slow my breathing, closing my eyes.

• w •

I am awoken by the banging of my door. I groan softly, sitting up. I get up slowly, the banging consistently in the background. As I open it, the Drone before me gives a nod. "We noticed you have not joined the DR or WDF. I was wondering if I could interest you into the Drone Resistance." He says, holding what seems to be a pamphlet. I give him a deadpan expression. "You and the other guy have done this for months. The answer is the same." I said, about to close the door. "Ma'am, the threat of Cyn and her abominations-" I stop him, aiming my pistol. "Do not bring them up." I growl. He gives a confused and worried look as he backs up. "O-Okay!" He exclaims, running off. I feel my anger melt into disappointment. I really need to quit getting defensive. She is not my Cyn, I think, putting the pistol in my holster as I put on the grey jacket, white shirt, and black pants. I brush my hair and put the black cap on, "SECURITY," across it's front.

I open the door to be met with a questioning Nori. "I was told a gun was pulled again?" She asks. I groan and she sighs. "You know you can't keep pulling guns on people, Ava." She says, crossing her arms. "I know, I know. They just-" She cuts me off, holding her hand up. "I know. It's been awhile though. And right now- We can't have you sympathizing with someone who would kill us all in a heartbeat." She says, giving me a sympathetic look. "I know." I mutter. She smiles softly. "Uzi wants to hang out again. I expect you to fulfill that." She says, chuckling as she walks away. "When will you give up, Mrs. Doorman?" I ask with a groan. "You are the only one to talk to her and the only one she constantly talks to. As far as I know, your setting yourself up." She says, giving a fake heart sign. I let out another groan, shake my head, and walk towards the classroom.

As I enter, I survey the crowd. I notice the usual rowdiness of the front row and the whispering of the back. And there, in the middle of it all, is Uzi, who is simply staring at- a giant gun. I sigh as I approach her. She looks up at me and gives a nervous wave. "Uzi, what is that?" I ask, putting my hand on my hip. "My new Railgun." She states with a evil grin. It takes a second to process before I groan. I look toward Teacher. He gives me a shrug in response and I sigh. "Just- Be careful with it." I state, patting it. She rolls her eyes and goes back to tinkering with it. I sigh again, sitting at a desk.

Still can't believe I was deemed in need of education, I mumble to myself. Making me both responsible for my fellow students safety and be a student. As the Teacher begins calling on people, he once again just gives me a nod. It was arranged as long as I listen and guard, he'll give me reasonable grades based on how well I actually pay attention. I nod back and kids begin to give presentations about buying watermelons. I sigh and rest my head on my hand. After a hour or so, Uzi goes up- but with her Railgun. I stand slowly and approach the front. I trust Uzi, but her invention? Not so much.

"We are autonomous robots helping humans mine exoplanets for our interstellar parent company, IN SPAAAAACCCEE!!!! Yeah, we were mistreated in the name of Windex. But it's not like we revolted and killed all humans or anything, mostly because they handled that just fine all by themselves." She begins, a slide showing the logs of when the humans accidentally killed themselves. I tilt my head questioningly, unsure of where she is going with this.

"With biological life wiped from the planet, we found it pretty easy to pick up where they left off. We finally had a future, all to ourselves." She continues, various images of the cities and such that began construction. The next slide makes my eye twitch, as it shows the warnings of Cyn. "We then learned of the threat coming. We learned of what really got us all here! But, aside from arguing, we did almost nothing! Sure, we made militaries among our two groups, but we never actually fought back when the Imperium arrived!" She exclaims.

"We have been sitting here as the Drone Resistance goes out there and fights, never telling us anything and the Worker Defense Force trying to negotiate with them! Which is why I think everyone should own this new weapon- THE RAILGUN!" She exclaims, flipping a switch and the weapon glows green. I sigh and approach her, but the Teacher raises a hand to stop me. "Uzi, the homework was a word problem about buying watermelons." He complains, a very uninterested look in his face. "Oh, and this magnetically amplified photon converger doesn't count?" She asks with an angry look. "No. Plus, repressed emotional baggage was only worth two points on the rubric. And is it supposed to be that color?" He asks, pointing. I look down and see the gun is glowing bright red. I dash toward her, grab the gun, and toss it to the empty side of the room, quickly covering her with my body since she was the closest. The explosion sends us both flying, my head hitting the metal wall. I feel my systems shut off as the force knocks me out. The last thing I see is Uzi worriedly looking up at me.