Powerful streaks of lightning danced across the sky graciously, casting its natural glow brightly among the clouds as each flash decorated the sky like a masterpiece of art. However, its gracious and peaceful nature went interrupted by the hellish and horrifyingly loud thunder, shaking the soaked land below with its monstrous sound.

As the rain pours heavily, flooding the streets of the massive city, Crystal Vos. Near the entrance of the city outside of its borders. A large gathering of machines lounge inside a small building, inhaling various coloured smoke substances, flooding the room with the trails of smoke along with chugging steaming luminescent fluids.

Random machine 1: "Take a hit of these nano-lights!"

Random machine 2: "No, I don't mess around with that"

Random machine 1: "Come on Mech, don't be a buzzkill. This is the really good stuff. Cost me way more since those underworld junkies don't hide in the shadows anymore. But these new nano-lights are worth it! Swear on my iron you'll love it!"

Random machine 2: "What is it?"

Random machine 1: "Nano-lights? How could you not know what nano-lights are if you're heading into Crystal Vos, the city known for this stuff! Do you live in a scrapyard?! Or is this your first time in a major city? Nano-lights are only the best experience you could ever give your circuits! The vapour is filled with microscopic nanobots that enter your body and they dance around, changing our entire system up until their batteries die. left becomes right, up becomes down and you see everything around you in code.

One time I had so many bots in me, I thought my body parts fell off and turned into ones and zeros. When the nanobots finally died, I was completely fine just staring at a wall for 48hours. At least that's how my metal bros said it went down cause that entire file just got wiped off my memory from the massive overload! You gotta try it, I'm telling you!"

Random machine 2: "I will stick to booster fuel. I like having control over my body"

Random machine 1: "Mecchhh, you're a total merc... You sure you aren't a Hg-model?"

Random machine 2: "Maybe when we aren't just outside of Crystal Vos, the biggest city known for stolen parts and botnappers"

Random machine 1: "Mecchh, that stuff ain't gonna go down in a major city! That's all just rumours. No one messes around in The Primordial's territory!"

Random machine 2: "Didn't you just say those underworld machines have been appearing in the city. You even bought black market tech from them. The Primordial's forces also have withdrawn from this city and many others close to The Deadzone years ago. There's even less of them now in this city since the last 2 years. Anything is possible now with The Underworld coming above ground"

Random machine 1: "Mech, whatever. I'm gonna go grab another refill on my booster fuel and burn these nano-lights myself. You can stay there bored as a nail Hg-9000! Ha. Ha. Ha"

The machine walks through the thick smoke, squeezing through the crowd of bulky, battle-worn machines as it heads to the bar counter. Behind the counter, a machine stands staring up to the sky through the skylight of the building. Watching the lightning dance through the clouds, illuminating the pitch-black sky. Suddenly a series of flashes lit up the sky as a silhouetted object burst through the clouds, diving down towards the building.

"BAAMM!" A large grisly machine slams its hand down on the counter, startling the small machine behind the counter.

Grisly machine: "Scrap droid! Pay attention and serve our booster fuel! My gears are getting dry"

Random machine 1: "Yeah, refill on my steam-filled booster Barbot!"

Barbot: "Mes excuses, à quoi puis-je vous servir ?"

Grisly machine: "My software's too glitched to translate any of that. Did I startle you so bad you got your language setting all jumbled?"

All the other machines in the near vicinity mechanically giggle and throw their booster fuels in the air.

Random machine 1: "This Barbot actually always spoke french only. The bar is called 'Tu peux attendre' It said..."

Grisly machine: "Shut up mech. I wasn't talking to you!"

Another machine shouts from the crowd.

Random machine 3: "Or maybe the little scrapstain behind the counter is making fun of you!"

Grisly machine: "Is that what's going on little Barbot? You making fun of me?"

Barbot: "Bien sûr que non, mon logiciel n'a que la capacité de répondre en français. En raison d'un mauvais traducteur vocal, j'ai reçu de certains vendeurs de rue. C'était tout ce que je pouvais me permettre"

Grisly machine: "So you are making fun of me"

The Barbot shakes its head in a jittery motion as it helplessly stares at the machine. The large grisly machine reaches across the counter and grabs the Barbot, slamming its head onto the counter. "THUDD!"

The room filled with inebriated machines stand from their seats and throw their metal jugs of luminescent fluids into the air as they cheer and bang the metal tables, chanting to the grisly machine pinning the Barbot to the counter. "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

Meanwhile, up in the air above the building. Axel and O'Ton-omi descend down from the thunderous clouds. O'Ton-omi lands off in the distance in front of the machine bar. Tenin lands just beside O'Ton-omi as it parks beside a fleet of vehicles surrounding a massive charging station.

Axel: "Why are we stopping here O'Ton-omi?"

O'Ton-omi: "I gotta grab a drink, Master Axel. We have technically arrived at Crystal Vos"

Tenin: "Actually we are outside the border of the city"

O'Ton-omi: " Just outside, inside, samething really. We are basically inside the city. No one likes a smartcan Tenin!"

Axel: "I thought you said fuel... This doesn't look like a fuel tank of any kind"

O'Ton-omi: "Of course not, I don't carry that disgusting liquid. I'm on a solely electric juice-only diet. This is my fuel, how could you possibly think I put that horrid thing inside of me?"

Axel: "How long will this take?"

O'Ton-omi: "Well this charging station is currently fully occupied with other mobile vehicles. So the charge rate is currently very low, I calculate at the rate of the current voltage it is giving me, it will take approximately 8 hours to fully charge"

Axel: "8 hours?! That's way too long O'To! We can't stake out the night here in this open space"

O'Ton-omi: "Well I've already started charging up and the taste is far too satisfying to stop now. So I'm not moving"

Axel: "How long will it take if the station wasn't occupied?"

O'Ton-omi: "Well, based on this station's output. I would only need 2 hours minimum"

Axel: "That's still too long"

O'Ton-omi: "Well this is a commercial station so it's wired to only charge up one customer at a capped voltage. So all who come to the station can receive a fair share of charge. The only way to receive above that capped charge would be to rewire the station's system to direct all its power to me"

Axel: "Can you do that?"

Axel looks over to Tenin

Tenin: "Yes, it shouldn't prove difficult"

Axel: "How long then?"

O'Ton-omi: "With all the power flowing right into me? 30mins or less Master Axel"

Axel: "Great, let's do that"

O'Ton-omi: "Gonna need the passcode for the station. The risk of hacking it could result in it shutting off its power for the next 24hours until personnel arrive"

Axel looks over to the bar as he overhears the loud commotion coming from inside. He opens O'Ton-omi's door and steps out into the cold unforgiving rain. "SHHHHHHHHHH" Axel throws on a hooded jacket and begins walking towards the bar, Tenin begins to follow.

Axel: "You stay here with O'Ton-omi. Guard the gear, I'll get the passcode"

Tenin: "Understood"

Axel burst through the doors of the bar. Seizing the attention of all the machines inside as they turn away from the grisly machine pouring steaming hot oil over the Barbot's face. Axel strolls on inside, dripping wet from the heavy rain outside. The machines glare at him as he walks through the crowd heading to the counter.

Axel: "Get me a drink bot... Some chilled water"

Axel throws a couple of credits across the counter, rolling straight over to the Barbot's face pinned to the counter by the grisly machine.

Grisly machine: "I don't know if your peepers aren't working very well or you've got a few circuits messed up. But I'm in the middle of something with this one. This little bot got plenty of customers to serve before you newcomer. So go sit down like a nice little droid and wait your turn."

Axel: "I wasn't talking to you. Now let go of the Barbot so it can get me my water"

Grisly machine: "Oh you really must have some messed up circuits"

The grisly machine lets go of the Barbot's head and walks up to Axel.

Grisly machine: "Not to mention, paying all those credits for some chilled water? You can get the best coolants here for that many credits. Either you're a stupid loaded mech or you must be from a lowly minor city that happen across some lucky credits. Either way, you're in the wrong place to be flaunting all that with such a puny body. Give me all you have now!"

Axel: "What's the most expensive part on you right now?"

Grisly machine: "What?"

Axel: "I'm guessing your face"

Axel jumps up onto the metal stool and grabs the machine's head, slamming it down into the edge of the counter repeatedly. Breaking its lower jaw, the machine then goes to attack Axel with a punch. "BLAAMM! BLAAMM! BLAAAMM! BLAAAMM!" Axel fires multiple shots into the machine's chest, sending it flying to the corner of the room through the crowd of machines. The other bulky machines look over to the grisly machine laid out on the floor with its chest smoking and gushing of coloured fluids.

Suddenly a massive brawl breaks out, as all the other machines go to attack Axel. Metal tables and chairs go flying into the air, as machines throw them towards Axel. "BAM! THUDDD! BAAMM! CRRAASSSHHH!"

Random machine 1: "Merc! Let's get out of here before we get trashed"

Random machine 2: "Didn't you just go for more booster fuel? What's happening up there, I couldn't see through the crowd. And I'm not a merc alright!"

Random machine 1: "Let's just get out of this city. You were right, it's getting too crazy in the Vos now"

"BLAMM! BLAAMM! BLAAMMM!" Axel blasts holes in multiple machines approaching him, leaping behind the counter for cover from the shower of steel chairs and tables being thrown. He then throws a small circular device over to the violent crowd of machines. "BOOOF!" A bright flash emits from it as it explodes in a cloud of smoke. With all the machines temporarily blinded, Axel leaps over from behind the counter and grapples some of the machine's feet, tethering them to the roof of the building.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"THWIPPPPP! THWIIIPP! THWIIIPP!" The machines are yanked into the air as the rope retracts, slamming their heads into the ground as they're pulled up towards the roof. As the machines swing from the roof, "BLAAMMM! BLAAAMM! BLAAAMM! BLAAAMM! BLAAAMM!" Axel fires consecutive, precise shots obliterating their heads into shattered pieces of metal.

"TINK! TINK! CLANK! PINT! PWOINK! TINK! TINK!" The bits and pieces of the machines go flying everywhere as warm fluids and oils gush from their exploded skulls dripping all over Axel. Then suddenly the lights in the room explode, leaving the entire room in darkness.

"KRAKRACCCKKKK BOOM!" A savage roar of thunder rings out and a flash of lightning reveals the oil-stained Axel surrounded by destroyed metallic skulls and scraps as he stands in front of the remaining machines. The machines stand hesitant to attack after they just witnessed Axel ruthlessly destroy the others.

Tenin and O'Ton-omi watch as multiple machines burst out of the bar's doors and scamper off to their vehicles and quickly take to the sky, vacating the area. Shortly after, "DADADADADADADADADADAADDADADADA!" A flurry of shots follows as a stampede of machines burst out of the doors and windows missing limbs, and smoking with holes in their bodies.

Back inside, completely deserted and covered in machine parts and fluids, only Axel and the Barbot remain. Axel walks up to the Barbot covered in the warm oils and fluids from the machines.

Barbot: "Votre eau glacée monsieur"

Axel: "What?"

The Barbot hands a steel cup of cold water to Axel.

Axel: "Ohh, I don't want any water. Give me the passcode for the charging station outside"

Barbot: "Excuse-moi, mais seriez-vous un humain ?! "

Axel pulls the machine over the counter and points outside showing the Barbot the charging station. The Barbot reaches under the counter and shakes a chain of digital keys as it nods its head at Axel.

Axel: "Good, you understand"

Barbot: "Oui"

Axel and the Barbot walk outside into the cold piercing rain, heading towards Tenin and O'Ton-omi. The Barbot unlocks the panel to the charging station and then backs away from the station.

Tenin: "Thank you little bot"

Tenin scans the panel and begins to reroute the system to the station. Directing all of the power to O'Ton-omi.

O'Ton-omi: "Ahhhh that's more like it. I'll be at full power in no time. Hey little bot, what's your name?"

Barbot: "Mon nom? je suis un Zn220"

***

Sometime before,

The assassins 18 and 21 arrive at the hideout within Crystal Vos. The guards from the Silver Swamp deal stand before them informing them of the theft of their weapons.

Assassin 21: "We have been updated with the details already from The Joker. No need to reiterate, however, you two will be accompanying us"

Assassin 18: "If you two are wondering why, well The Joker gave is specific instructions on exactly how to dispose of you and your superior if our time has been wasted"

Assassin 21: "And I calculate when my time has been wasted very quickly. Ponder on that while you can, Just know we plan to terminate something on this trip. Rather it is this thief or both of you. It doesn't matter"

Assassin 18: "21, Just intercepted a distress signal coming from the 'Tu peux attendre'. Mass shooting and brawl, and a mech fitting the size and measurements of our perpetrator"

Assassin 21: "Alright, let's go"

The two guards quickly run to their hovercraft. Assassin 18 takes off to the air while Assassin 21 gets into the hovercraft with them.

Assassin 21: "I think I'll sit back and ride with you two. Flying there myself is above my paid credits"

***

Back outside the bar,

Axel: "Alright O'Ton-omi, open up and let me inside. So I can get out of this rain"

O'Ton-omi: "No can do, you're dirty and soaking wet, you'll stain my interior"

Axel shakes his head and looks across at the Zn220 twitching, as he notices the spread of rust around its body.

Axel: "I'm gonna go and wait back inside then... Bot, come along. All this rain ain't good for you either"

The Zn220 follows Axel back into the bar. Shortly after, a hovercraft and machine land down beside a bunch of vehicles parked in front of the bar. Out of the hovercraft, Assassin 21 and the two guards barge into the bar with Assassin 18 behind them dripping wet.

Tenin notices the two underworld assassins entering the bar and starts walking towards the bar to help.

Tenin: "Assassins."

O'Ton-omi: "Don't bother Tenin, Master Axel will want to handle that himself"

Tenin: "But those are underworld assassins"

O'Ton-omi: "Yes, and only two of them. Master Axel will be fine. Best not to interfere"

Assassin 21: "You, the weapons you stole. You must not have known but those were underworld property and now we are here to carry out your destruction. But not before you return the goods you stole"

Assassin 18 looks up to notice the headless machine bodies hanging from the roof of the building and the machine parts scattered across the floor covered in oil and other fluids.

Assassin 18: "Quite a scene you caused here. Did all this yourself?"

Axel: "I can show you, by adding you two to the painting if you'd like"

Assassin 21: "I see we are gonna have to destroy you and call it a loss with those weapons. Right, 18?"

Assassin 18: "Seems that way 21. Let's crush it with our bare hands, just to remind it just how inferior and useless its existence truly is"

Axel: "Assassins 18 and 21 huh. Zn220, go take cover somewhere"

The Zn220 quickly dashes off from hiding behind a flipped table and disappears from the room. The two assassins quickly rush Axel, "BZZzzZZZzzzZzzGhGHGHh! SKRRRAAAAAAK!" Axel swiftly severs the top half of Assassin 18's skull with his plasma blade, illuminating the darkroom with its blue and purple light. Assassin 21 quickly halts as he witnessed the instant severing. Assassin 18 stumbles around swinging its hands senselessly unable to see.

"SKRRRAAAAAAK!" Axel dismembers the machine, severing its legs like a hot knife through butter. He then looks up to Assassin 21 as it engages its weapons from its arm. Axel quickly draws his grapple gun fires a grapple net around the machine, restricting its arms, pointing them to the air. "Zzzzzzzzzttttt...PEW!" A blast fires from the assassin's arm into the air and through the skylight of the roof as Assassin 21 drops to the ground entangled in the titanium steel net.

The two guards in shock quickly rush out of the bar attempting to make it to their hovercraft. Axel quickly follows them through the doors, and fires a shot into the air "BLAAMM!" The two guards sit in the rain hiding in the shadows among the parked vehicles as Axel approaches from the entrance, slowly walking through the heavy rain. The two of them try to sneak towards their hovercraft.

Axel: "Come out bots, you can't just leave, I've got some questions for you first. Well I only need one of you so you can decide who gets destroyed right here, right now"

The machines tremble in fear as Axel's footsteps get louder along the soaked ground. One of the guards crawls ahead towards the vehicle leaving the other behind.

Axel: "I guess I do have a question for the both of you... So Let me ask you. Do machines like yourself ever experience... Fear?"

The blinding lightning flashes, revealing Axel right behind one of the machine guards.

Axel: "Is this..."

"BZZZZZZZZZZZZZGHGHGHH!"

Axel: "Fear?"

"SKRRRAAAAAAK! SKRRRAAAAAAK! SKRRRAAAAAAK!" Axel repeated strikes the machine with his plasma blade, carving it into charred scraps of metal. With the rain landing on the plasma blade, instantly vaporized, the other guard watching the massacre behind Axel, dropping its little weapon as it turns around and runs away. Flipping and leaping over other vehicles on the way to its hovercraft, it finally reaches the hovercraft.

The machine jumps into hovercraft and goes to start the vehicle, only to discover the battery was torn out of the front. Tenin stands off in the distance with the crushed battery he ripped out of the hovercraft beside him.

The lightning flashes, showing Axel standing menacingly outside of the hovercraft. He breaks the glass and pulls the machine out of the seat. "SKRRRAAAAAAK!" He then drags the machine back to the bar with its legs freshly severed, still glowing red from the heated plasma carving them clean off. He throws the machine guard alongside the assassin and grabs a chair, sitting in front of the two of them.

Axel: "Now, first one to tell me what I want to hear. Can leave this room in one piece. Where is your boss located?"

Assassin 21: "You really must be new to this world. An outdated machine, who just stumbled into the big world with no clue what it's up against. But, just as I thought... you're nothing. Silly robot, do you really think you have a chance against the Underworld? Other assassins like me? Your brain must be malfunctioning. Fresh out of the factory with no warranty and already broken. What a pity. You'll be reduced to scrap metal by morning.

I have already sent out a signal to other available Assassins in the area the moment you got Lucky with ending 18 and capturing me with the fancy toys you picked up. and I assure you they are on their way here now, informed with a recording of your skills and appearance. So they will be well prepared with the means to exterminate you on sight."

Axel gets up and walks over to the machine, taking a sharp tool out of his pocket. Without hesitation he stabs the eyes out of the assassin, dropping them to the ground after carving them out, crushing them under his boot.

Axel then leaves the room and heads out to O'Ton-omi, returning shortly after with a backpack filled with tools, cables and wires. He then grabs Assassin 21's head and sticks two small devices to its skull.

Axel: "You're gonna experience some static noise now"

A high pitch ringing explodes from the small devices. Directly aimed at the assassin's audio receivers. Axel then proceeds to pry open the assassin machine's chest and hook up the machine to a series of cables and wires, connecting the cables to the machine guard. He then ties the wires together and inserts them into a device held in his hand. He looks over the machine guard and stoops down to its level on the ground.

Axel: "Now you, you have one chance to answer this following question. But first, know this, I can give you that Assassin's well-preserved body and all you have to do is when I do give it to you. You give me all the information held in that body along with using the body to aid me in my mission. Do you understand?"

Guard: "What is it you seek from the Underworld Rulers? Parts? Credits?"

Axel: "Vengeance"

The machine guard stares at Axel speechless.

Axel: "You have 10 seconds to decide, You do as I say or I just destroy you right now"

The machine looks over to Assassin 21's body and nods its head as it agrees to Axel's terms. Axel turns the high pitch noise off on Assassin 21's head and leans over to the machine.

Axel: " I know you can not see me right now, but tell me something before I carry this out. Can you experience... pain"

Assassin 21: "Pain? What are you talking about bot?!"

Axel: Can a machine know pain? The answer is of course not, that's one of the key factors that separate the two of us. But the pain of loss, rejection, discrimination and exile. That I am sure your kind can fathom. That's the pain I want to inflict on all of you just before I destroy you. I want you to feel something, I want you to feel pain"

Assassin 21: "What are you even saying bot?! It's causing glitches in my software just listening to you. When..."

Axel switches the device on, sending an electrical current down the wires and straight to the two machines. Assassin 21's talking immediately stops, and the guard's light in its eyes fade away. Axel walks over to the machine guard and carefully removes its visual components and places them into the assassin. He then pulls explosives out of the bag and lays them throughout the room.

Axel: "While their core code uploads onto this device. I should have enough time to rig this place"

After a few minutes

The eyes within the assassin's body flicker as the light in them turn on. It looks around, staring at the body of the dismembered machine guard.

Axel: "So you're awake. If you cherish this new body you wouldn't dare think of betraying me. I can wipe your whole existence out of that body with the press of a button, wirelessly downloading all your data, all that makes you... You, onto this little device here in the palm of my hand. Now, what do I call you?"

Guard: "I was once an Al7000, now I am within a..."

Axel: "An Al7000, I'll just call you Al21, 21 was the name of that assassin anyway"

Al21: "Al21.."

Axel: "Zn220, you can come on out now"

The Zn220 comes out from a hidden storage room and joins Axel. Just then the old dismembered body of Al21 starts to move.

Axel: "Speaking of the assassin... He's finally awake. Enjoy your final moments in that new body, I'll be leaving you now"

Axel releases the net from Al21's body and places his backpack full of tools and cables onto his back, walking towards the door. Zn220 and Al21 both follow him as they walk towards O'Ton-omi and Tenin.

O'Ton-omi: "Master Axel! There is an assassin behind you!"

Tenin charges his blaster as it emerges from his arm and aims directly at Al21.

Axel: "Calm down, don't think I know that? This one here works for me now."

Tenin: "What do you mean?"

O'Ton-omi: "Yeah what do you mean?!"

Axel: "I've been thinking about what you said Tenin. Ever since we left Silver Swamp, how to get what I want out of machines. Well, there are more ways than one. Threats or giving them what they really want, in exchange for their service. This one here is Al21, the new owner of the underworld Assassin 21's body"

Tenin: "You swapped the core code of two machines?"

Axel: "Exactly, a little trick my old friend V taught me. Once the bot has all working and known parts to me. I can tinker my way into manipulating their data and download them onto something as simple as a hard drive or something as big as a new body entirely. Anyway, we need to leave, now"

O'Ton-omi: "But I'm not at full yet, I need approximately 13minutes until full charge"

Axel: "We don't have that much time, you can finish charging at our next destination. You, Zn220, you can go where ever you want. Just get out of here when we leave"

Zn220: "Je veux venir avec toi "

Axel: "I don't understand you, but I take it you understood"

Axel gets into O'Ton-omi and closes the door. Zn220 stands right beside the door staring at Axel through the window.

O'Ton-omi: "I believe it said, it would like to accompany us, Master Axel"

Axel: "Seriously... No, go somewhere else. I have no use for you"

Tenin: "This machine's only purpose was operating at this bar as a service droid. I am sure there is no returning to that. We should let it accompany us"

O'Ton-omi opens its door to Zn220.

Axel: "Whatever, let's just get out of here fast. Get in Zn"

Zn220 gets into O'Ton-omi, while Tenin disconnects the charging cable from O'To's port.

Axel: "You, Al21. Just follow us, I'm sure that body is capable of flight"

Al21: "Understood"

O'Ton-omi hovers into the air and blasts off into the sky above. Tenin and Al21 follow behind shortly after.

Moments later...

The assassins arrive at the area, searching the premises thoroughly. As they approach the entrance to the bar, they're greeted by a dismembered machine clawing its way towards the exit of the bar.

Assassin 20: "22 and 24, I have a visual on a junkbot inside the building"

Assassin 22: "Scan it for evidence"

Assassin 21: "Wait, who is there?! Assassin 20 and 22?! So you have arrived finally. What took you so long, the perpetrator already left, restore my visuals at once so I can accompany you in tracking that scrapbag, and crush it myself"

Assassin 24: "What is this junkie even saying?"

Assassin 22: "I have no idea. It must have had his motherboard smashed, I should end its existence right now"

Assassin 20: "Ignore the pathetic piece of trash. Focus on finding Assassin 21's and 18's bodies and trace this bot down responsible for this. The Underworld does not accept attacks on our kind"

Assassin 21: "What are you all saying! I am Assassin 21! You useless droids! 22 and 24, you two are below me, respect my rank you scrapstains! 20, show your rank and use your motherboard. Am I the one with missing visuals or are you all too?!"

Assassin 20: "This bot really must have fried its circuits"

Assassin 21: "Wait a minute, before that bot left, it said to enjoy my new body... And my legs are severed, just like that stupid guard's. He swapped our bodies..."

Assassin 20: "I'll destroy this junkie and put it out of its misery. You two scan this place"

Assassin 21: "Wait, no!"

Assassin 22: "My scan's picking up that pile of metal scrap as Assassin 18"

As they step into the bar, closing the door behind them. The door yanks on a wire, pulling the trigger to a hidden line of explosives.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!" Pieces of metal and bursts of flames explode into the air. The decapitated skull of Assassin 22 lands on the ground, covered in fire as flames burst out of its eyes.