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.498Please respect copyright.PENANACZW1Y5ECYb
"Kill it!" Demanded James with a sharp voice.498Please respect copyright.PENANACMqI3QQe72
"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.498Please respect copyright.PENANA1N0HUl0vwx
"Do you hear yourself talking?" He remarked, bewildered. "Don't tell me you were behind all this?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAlhCGPnNR5J
"Me? Why? I'm an inventor like you."498Please respect copyright.PENANArpyPvkc0fG
"You are not like me." He hissed and walked away.498Please respect copyright.PENANADU9QWKKgdP
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAgqWCm6QF1c
"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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAxvAHlSVwX0
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANA6IgQs65VhT
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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAJNhKTNg9UC
"Peep, peep." It confirmed and crawled out. Its large eyes wandered around the room.498Please respect copyright.PENANAcguucaYDeq
"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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANANqy83P5EcX
It shook its head.498Please respect copyright.PENANAtD2dQcCbNt
"Ok, eh, Bee?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAxvRMZIpRWP
It shook its head with a low buzz and closed eyes to express dislike.498Please respect copyright.PENANAS1MzKY8jGJ
"How about Buzzer?"498Please respect copyright.PENANA8geKQ2B5Tt
It opened its eyes, thought for a moment and nodded.498Please respect copyright.PENANAEKcEtg5cxd
"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?498Please respect copyright.PENANAZbNldN54jo
"Sylus, is that you?" Called Rock from the workshop.498Please respect copyright.PENANAiDkCj8gJEl
"Er, yeah!" I quickly stepped in front of Buzzer and whispered to land on my hand that I held behind my back.498Please respect copyright.PENANAUvTQPLcFLv
"What are you building in the living room, my boy?" Rock entered while rubbing with an old cloth away the grease from his hands.498Please respect copyright.PENANAE3aqCMRaUm
"Nothing." I smiled broadly.498Please respect copyright.PENANAaPRm9jp3GW
Rock raised an eyebrow of doubt.498Please respect copyright.PENANAkkjG6gL2Hx
"I can't tell; it's a surprise," I remarked nervously.498Please respect copyright.PENANAY54LbGQmu5
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAeEAhZ9SR9c
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAS4LmTjouW7
"I can explain, Rock. It's not what it seems." I tried to assure Rock.498Please respect copyright.PENANAsnip3NJ1Rz
"I sure hope not."498Please respect copyright.PENANANu63eiXfQI
"This metal-muncher is friendly and has promised not to eat anything from here. He even understands what we say and-"498Please respect copyright.PENANAOjvWMN2EYP
"He? So you've given it already a name? Need I remind you of the incident nine years ago?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAz4sFfSmuzN
"A misunderstanding more like." Muttered Sylus while looking sideways to the floor while recalling it too well.498Please respect copyright.PENANAbk5isQkRTf
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANANumVCU9z9C
"And Buzzer here is one of them? He hasn't touched anything since he arrived."498Please respect copyright.PENANAikYKFOPJhJ
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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAyUECXVyREQ
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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANArg0Tmqcji3
I laughed wryly and scratched the back of my head. "Yeah."498Please respect copyright.PENANAC5G4YpiBVX
"Alright, just be careful, lad."498Please respect copyright.PENANAGiuMhfzA6e
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAIv0YJfgosj
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANALY24iRJLof