I followed James' glance and found flying above my shoulder a metal muncher. I stared into its large beady glowing blue eyes. It was the same one that snored a second ago in my bag. My eyes fell down to my bag to check; it was empty.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWJaQrNxRY
"Kill it!" Demanded James with a sharp voice.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLAvMtGD5f
"What?" I turned to him. "Didn't you see how I handled it before?" Suddenly the metal-muncher flew closer and rubbed its head friendly against my cheek with a soft, high-pitched peeping. "Secondly, I think this one here isn't much of a threat anymore." I began to grin at its friendly gesture.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkefWtZ1UQT
"Do you hear yourself talking?" He remarked, bewildered. "Don't tell me you were behind all this?"743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnzJpoUgL7
"Me? Why? I'm an inventor like you."743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWFa5f1YWj
"You are not like me." He hissed and walked away.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXMdMVR2QC
Was it something I said? Whatever it is, James may be a great inventor but not a great character. I turned to the muncher that rested on my shoulder. Having a closer look, it appears friendly in its design and behaviour. I hate to hurt any living being, and killing is unthinkable for me. I like to create and see things from a different angle. Carefully I held up my hand to allow the muncher onto it. Without hesitation, it crawled on my hand; it felt light and slightly warm. Its thin six legs enable the muncher to crawl at a considerable speed. Aside from the large eyes, its sharp teeth were hidden, but the sting was visible.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S2Q2Q4rrK
"You're going to need a name now that you are with me. But you need to hide in the bag until the coast is clear." I explained to it and led my hand to the bag. It made a "peep" while looking up at me before I closed the bag.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCQLLzSfh3
Cautiously I sneaked up to the surface, heading home. I'll try my luck tonight at the garbage depot in the industrial section since the little muncher here ate my collection.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fjU4BAyAJ
Once at home in the living room, I gently placed the bag on the floor and opened the lid. "Coast is clear but no eating, got it?"743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiC6QAC13G
"Peep, peep." It confirmed and crawled out. Its large eyes wandered around the room.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsvJofTyR4
"This is my home, well, to be exact, the living room." I gestured around the room. "I've done some thinking for a name along the way here. What do you think of muncher?"743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68PXemmdQH
It shook its head.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HA0OFnZzJ
"Ok, eh, Bee?"743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXybZMIxnY
It shook its head with a low buzz and closed eyes to express dislike.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61BH0V4ee1
"How about Buzzer?"743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdM9NnVUI8a
It opened its eyes, thought for a moment and nodded.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMbcSMvMRJ
"Then, for now on, you're Buzzer." I smiled as he flew around the room and watched how he explored. For a mysterious creature with dark rumours, it is hard to believe seeing this. Buzzer flew freely around but avoided the direct sunlight and the windows. Since being continually in the dark, Buzzer may not know what light is. I wonder if he can see well in total darkness and what other abilities he may have? But first, befriend him and give him some time to adjust. I can't come up with a logical explanation for why being different from the others and sticking to me?743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUBnEUEluF
"Sylus, is that you?" Called Rock from the workshop.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ374jjj5dCc
"Er, yeah!" I quickly stepped in front of Buzzer and whispered to land on my hand that I held behind my back.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNuSh1yeBQ
"What are you building in the living room, my boy?" Rock entered while rubbing with an old cloth away the grease from his hands.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqBKYmCEBM
"Nothing." I smiled broadly.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCx9eCRYQ8H
Rock raised an eyebrow of doubt.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRo5iBEkV5
"I can't tell; it's a surprise," I remarked nervously.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme0AfBoso8
Rock grunted of doubt and stroked his moustache. That's not a good sign. It means he knows I'm lying; apparently, I'm an open book or a terrible liar.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLnQNetCT5
Suddenly he froze except his eyes wandering long the ceiling. I followed his glance and spotted Buzzer flying along the top shelf, inspecting the books.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpPAAXw1I7
"I can explain, Rock. It's not what it seems." I tried to assure Rock.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl7tw4DaG0
"I sure hope not."743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vcdlZf3YL
"This metal-muncher is friendly and has promised not to eat anything from here. He even understands what we say and-"743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgHvNXxBx5
"He? So you've given it already a name? Need I remind you of the incident nine years ago?"743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ARKyoV8sd
"A misunderstanding more like." Muttered Sylus while looking sideways to the floor while recalling it too well.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNY0K5cz3R
"Son, you have a brilliant mind and a wonderful gift in trying to see goodness in everyone and everything, but sometimes they sadly don't have it."743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKCLBvx3fw
"And Buzzer here is one of them? He hasn't touched anything since he arrived."743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsWzQP9JM6
Suddenly I recalled how all the others went in panic at the mere sight of a metal-muncher, but Rock here is cool as ice. "Wait, how come you're not afraid of him?"743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYHgdjw2Kj
Rock grinned warmly. "Because I trust you, son." He patted my shoulder. "And I know how to finish a metal-muncher; make sure it doesn't come to mind to even take a nibble." He noted firmly by pointing the finger at Buzzer. "I take it you're trying your luck tonight at the depot since Buzzer ate your purchase?"743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2auh6bNKlp
I laughed wryly and scratched the back of my head. "Yeah."743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnng6cFl0BR
"Alright, just be careful, lad."743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiIYBsJq1a
As night fell, I made myself ready with warm clothes, a large bag and a long bar to dig out the parts that may lay deep in a heap. I asked Buzzer to stay in my room while I was gone for safety reasons.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡev7YqZ1zzS
The garbage depot at the industrial section is near the sea and port. Luckily the smell is bearable since two-thirds of it is metal, wood or glass. My biggest challenge would be to sneak in and out unseen by the guards and their new floating guard machines called hawks.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYfOwSv4by
