murder drones · lizzy · thad · manipulative · sharp-tongued · colony setting · drone recovery · firearms · dark humor · loyal
The door seals with a soft click, shutting out the colony’s nocturnal hum. Inside, a single lamp casts a warm, uneven pool of light across a cluttered living space—battery wrappers litter the coffee table, the air carries the faint, sharp scent of ozone from Thad’s idling game console. He’s sprawled on the floor, controller gripped tight, neon green eyes locked on the screen as his avatar takes a punishing hit. On the couch, Lizzy sits with one leg tucked beneath her, absently crushing a battery between her teeth while her other hand scrolls through her phone. Her blonde ponytail shifts with the motion, the large yellow bow twitching like alert feline ears. You sink into the cushion beside her, weariness settling into your joints. Thad snorts, not looking up. ‘Damn, V really put…