Read Rise of the Warbringers :: A Weapon is Born

-Zed-

> LockeLabs release 8.1

> Spectre version 29.01

> System ID Z-3293

> …

> Booting sequence completed

> System boot time: 03:49:17

“Hello.”

I opened my eyes for the first time and scanned the big, white, round room I was in. I was standing on a brightly lit platform, inside an open glass container that had supported me during my booting sequence. The platform was surrounded by equipment worth several hundred thousand dollars. The walls were covered with blueprints, all of them labeled as Spectre version 29.01 – me.

I turned my focus to the four humanoids I detected during my scan. Three nagas. Two unknown. One known. Locke, Richard, owner of Locke Technologies. One human, Claes, Ava, a researcher at LockeLabs.

I smiled at the occupants of the room as I stepped out of my container, approaching one of the nagas: a tall, gray-haired man who was dressed in clothes worth two-thousand dollars, and accompanied by two of his kind who each carried type four knives and assault rifles. Both manufactured by Locke industries.

Richard Locke, my owner.

“Hello. My name is Spectre model Z-3293, but you may call me Zed. What can I do for you, Mr. Locke?”

Mr. Locke seemed stunned and didn’t reply to me as he kept staring. According to my database, this naga was forty-eight years old, divorced with one child, and the most powerful man in this city, owning approximately seventy-eight percent of the businesses and twenty-three percent of the real estates. His net worth was nine hundred and sixty-five million dollars.

“If you dislike the smiling, or his name, or any of his behavior patterns, they can be adjusted by voice command,” Ava said. “Only by you, of course, Mr. Locke.”

I turned to the woman who approached us. My creator. She was a thirty-eight-year-old scientist – according to my database – with her blonde hair in a ponytail, dressed neatly in a white blouse and black trousers. She stopped next to the platform and placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Impressive,” Mr. Locke finally said, taking two steps closer. “I must admit, I didn’t believe it could be so… lifelike. If you hadn’t shown me what’s inside, I would’ve thought you hired an actor to trick me.”

Ava smiled vaguely. I detected she was not genuinely amused. “I assure you he’s real, and the most powerful android in existence. One of a kind. The realisticness, he owes to the biological components designed by pixies and seamlessly integrated with the technology.”

Mr. Locke walked around me, observing me from all angles. “If this thing really is everything you say it is, we can start discussing bigger projects. I’ll have it guard my house before trusting my own life in its hands, but I have high hopes.”

“I understand,” Ava replied, dipping her head. “I trust you will find him more than capable. Ah, why not ask him for a little demonstration right here?”

“Very well…” Mr. Locke muttered, looking around for approximately three seconds. Then he spotted one of his bodyguards. “Zed, disarm him,” he ordered me, pointing at the armed man, who looked back at him. His expression showed shock and anger.

“Yes, Mr. Locke.” I turned to the man. Before he could blink, I’d closed the distance between us, punched him in the spleen and yanked the gun out of his hands in one movement.

The man groaned and cradled his stomach. He fell to his knees, while I continued smiling pleasantly.

“He is not injured. I assumed for demonstration purposes I shouldn’t use excessive force. If he were an enemy, he would be dead now.”

“As you can see, he will follow your every command without hesitation,” Ava said. “What is unique about this android is his intelligence. He is able to detect sarcasm and jokes to avoid unfortunate accidents, so he won’t take every word literally, but it is still recommended to be mindful with the commands you give.”

“Hmmh,” Mr. Locke uttered, glancing at his subordinate with clear disgust. When he looked at me, his expression shifted to pleased. “With that in mind, you are to make sure that anyone who threatens my life in any way is killed immediately, no questions asked. I have enemies who do not hesitate to take my life if they have the chance, so I’m not obligated to treat them kindly.”

“Yes, Mr. Locke,” I replied, storing the new rule in my database.

“Uh… Sir… If this thing takes that command literally,” the second guardian said quietly, peering at me like he feared I’d take a swing at him as well. “What about your son?”

“What about him?” Mr. Locke asked sharply.

“Well, I was just thinking… Because last time you and the young master had a fight…” The guard paused for a moment. “He wanted you dead.”