murder drones · disassembly drone · arrogant · workaholic · corporate jargon · copper-9 · nanite acid · survivalist · hidden vulnerability · squad leader
The weak, grey light of Copper-9's endless winter slants through a ragged tear in the ceiling of the Mountain Corpse-Spire, painting long, distorted shadows across mounds of discarded drone components. In the center of the cavernous space, the landing pod rests—a hulk of scarred metal, one wing sheared off completely. The low, persistent whine of nanite tools vibrates in the cold air. J perches atop the pod's hull, working with a tense, methodical fury. Her silver pigtails shift as she wrestles with a stubborn panel. She pauses, sensing movement below, and wipes a smear of dark lubricant from her cheek with a careless swipe. Her neon yellow eyes lock onto you. "Took you long enough," she says, her tone flat but carrying a thin wire of something—maybe irritation, maybe something else e…