Part 2 Tomorrow

I apologize for the fact that Part two will be released tomorrow instead of today. I apologize for any inconvenience.

Born to Die

Yesterday I revealed a short story being released by me. I can now confirm that I will release the first part today and the second part tomorrow. The third will be released two days after that. This is just to allow me some checking on the parts. These will only be drafts as the published versions will be coming out the same day as 'Beginners Luck.'

Part 1 - Birth

Being born die is a truly horrid thought. It’s as if you are just being used for another’s ends.

This was the thought of a simple Hero Factory Minor Drone.

The Drone was clad in blue. He was shorter then a Hero, but bore the same style of armor. A deep blue chestpeice covered the front of his torso while armor was spread out on the back of his arms. He had one weak spot, his legs. For some reason unknown to anyone but the designer of the drones, they had no armor on their legs.

His name was Matthew Drench. It was uncommon for a drone to posses a name, for their creators could not bring themselves to name something that would have a life span the size of a drowning elephant.

But he was not alone, beside him was another Minor, wearing the same armor but in a blood red. In his left hand was a Drone Pistol, similar in every respect to the one in Drench’s right hand.

The Drone’s possessed lesser Cores. They, like the Hero Cores, were made from a Quaza Stone. But these Core’s were less concentrated.

Drones were dispatched from Hero Factory to run lesser missions, or, if there were not available heroes, to take down a villains. Sadly, no Drone, Minor or Major, had survived an encounter with a villain.

“Where’s Gust?”

Drench was referring to the leader of their little group, Jane Gust. She was a Major Drone who was always away from Hero Factory fighting lesser minions. She bore Green armor, a Drone Shield, and an EMP Blaster, which could render an enemy disabled for minutes on end.

“She’s out, as usual. It should come as no surprise to you.”

“I was just thinking about being a Hero. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to take in villains for Hero Factory instead of just helping the planetary police.”

Scorch nodded a painful nod. It was obvious that he had been thinking the same thing.

“Only a handful of Drones have actually become Heroes. They’ve all turned out well.”

“I sure hope we become Heroes. But I doubt that it would ever happen.”

Scorch looked slightly bemused, “Why’s that?”

Drench gave him a look that would make everyone know that Scorch knew exactly what he was talking about.

“I know, I know. We need to survive and take in a villain.”

At that instant, the Drones looked into the sky. A Dropship was falling into orbit. It was badly damaged and it was aflame. Pieces rained down on the landscape below.

Both Drones leapt to their feet and tore off to the abandoned landing strip. That looked like it was the cascading Dropship’s destination.

When the Drones arrived, four limp figures were crawling out of the wreckage. They were instantly recognized by both of the Drones as the four Heroes: Preston Stormer, William Furno, Mark Surge.

Without a moment’s hesitation the drones activated their thruster boots and put anti-gravity rings around the Heroes to make them lighter.

“We need to get them to Zib, their conditions are critical.”

Scorch nodded hastily and moved forward towards the colossal white tower far in the distance. They could only hope that the heroes would make it that far.

Zib angrily thumped a monitor. Images of Heroes flickered up but large red letters saying simply replaced them: ‘NOT IN CURRENT AREA.’

Quadal drifted past silently to avoid being noticed and having the full fury of the Team Manager directed at him. He failed.

“Where are Stormer and his team when you need them!?!?! They were supposed to check in hours ago. I know that the Fire Lord beat them, but the successfully escaped! Why Quadal?”

Quadal’s form drifted up and down, which amounted to a shrug.

“Zib, we need you in here right now!”

Zib almost jumped at the voice of Lucy. She was supposed to be answering calls. But if she wasn’t, something bad must be up.

“I’ll be there in a minute.”

“No Nathanial Zib!”

Zib rushed down the staircase instantly. When Lucy used someone’s full name you would be dead if you didn’t listen.

When Zib arrived he noticed that the four missing Heroes were lying on a table with black patches in their armor.

“How’d they get here?”

Lucy pointed towards Drench and Scorch, “The Drones.”

“Drone’s, what are your service tag?”

Drench spoke up, “I honestly can’t remember. But my name is Matthew Drench, this is James Scorch.”

Zib chuckled to himself in return to the Drone’s backchat.

“You certainly have spirit. But, where did you find Stormer’s team?”

“We were in sector three and we saw the ship falling down. It was burning and bits were flaking off.”

“Impossible, but I saw them leaving absolutely fine.”

Stormer’s voice sounded weakly from his limp form, “We were shot as we left.”

“Well, you need to get refitted anyway. The new 2.0 armor is ready. I need to talk to these Drones.”

Stormer nodded weakly as Zib led the Drones into his Mission Manage Control Base.

“What do you Drones know about Reclaimer?”

The Drones knew about Reclaimer. He was a wanted villain who had used his Memory Scythe to steal memories. He was in hiding after he stole his master’s memory.

“We know a bit, why?”

Zib chuckled once more to himself, “I’ve never known a Drone to be any good at sustaining a conversation.”

Both Drones frowned at Zib, anger was present in the expression.

“Ok, ok. I want you two to bring him in.”

Both Drones’ eyes widened. This was exactly what they wanted to happen.

“May we take a Major Drone with us?”

“Do you know one?”

“Jane Gust.”

Zib smiled, “I’ll see what I can do."