I followed James' glance and found flying above my shoulder a metal muncher. I stared into its large beady glowing blue eyes. It was the same one that snored a second ago in my bag. My eyes fell down to my bag to check; it was empty.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInYaIBpMCg
"Kill it!" Demanded James with a sharp voice.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgts4kkwHFC
"What?" I turned to him. "Didn't you see how I handled it before?" Suddenly the metal-muncher flew closer and rubbed its head friendly against my cheek with a soft, high-pitched peeping. "Secondly, I think this one here isn't much of a threat anymore." I began to grin at its friendly gesture.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0yczmdPKt
"Do you hear yourself talking?" He remarked, bewildered. "Don't tell me you were behind all this?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6KvaIAORG
"Me? Why? I'm an inventor like you."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT8aboLRfQ
"You are not like me." He hissed and walked away.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9V1STZGeL
Was it something I said? Whatever it is, James may be a great inventor but not a great character. I turned to the muncher that rested on my shoulder. Having a closer look, it appears friendly in its design and behaviour. I hate to hurt any living being, and killing is unthinkable for me. I like to create and see things from a different angle. Carefully I held up my hand to allow the muncher onto it. Without hesitation, it crawled on my hand; it felt light and slightly warm. Its thin six legs enable the muncher to crawl at a considerable speed. Aside from the large eyes, its sharp teeth were hidden, but the sting was visible.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqByVkgqqP1
"You're going to need a name now that you are with me. But you need to hide in the bag until the coast is clear." I explained to it and led my hand to the bag. It made a "peep" while looking up at me before I closed the bag.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskxxzCjAne
Cautiously I sneaked up to the surface, heading home. I'll try my luck tonight at the garbage depot in the industrial section since the little muncher here ate my collection.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZjyzxyE7j
Once at home in the living room, I gently placed the bag on the floor and opened the lid. "Coast is clear but no eating, got it?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjxYVNDMyb
"Peep, peep." It confirmed and crawled out. Its large eyes wandered around the room.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUFKIdjbkv
"This is my home, well, to be exact, the living room." I gestured around the room. "I've done some thinking for a name along the way here. What do you think of muncher?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM409tDe4nt
It shook its head.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pSaTOtFAB
"Ok, eh, Bee?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHa07rYbAbr
It shook its head with a low buzz and closed eyes to express dislike.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HEbm96KK8
"How about Buzzer?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnkZSoV3k5
It opened its eyes, thought for a moment and nodded.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5cBfxyX2v
"Then, for now on, you're Buzzer." I smiled as he flew around the room and watched how he explored. For a mysterious creature with dark rumours, it is hard to believe seeing this. Buzzer flew freely around but avoided the direct sunlight and the windows. Since being continually in the dark, Buzzer may not know what light is. I wonder if he can see well in total darkness and what other abilities he may have? But first, befriend him and give him some time to adjust. I can't come up with a logical explanation for why being different from the others and sticking to me?702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZxy0lkXgQ
"Sylus, is that you?" Called Rock from the workshop.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4AgdZ3Wpc
"Er, yeah!" I quickly stepped in front of Buzzer and whispered to land on my hand that I held behind my back.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFzIopk5qk
"What are you building in the living room, my boy?" Rock entered while rubbing with an old cloth away the grease from his hands.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr4khk6Ffs
"Nothing." I smiled broadly.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHu4g1UqMG5
Rock raised an eyebrow of doubt.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStVHAGBaZH
"I can't tell; it's a surprise," I remarked nervously.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnr8SlQ9P5
Rock grunted of doubt and stroked his moustache. That's not a good sign. It means he knows I'm lying; apparently, I'm an open book or a terrible liar.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Vfl3nOOrF
Suddenly he froze except his eyes wandering long the ceiling. I followed his glance and spotted Buzzer flying along the top shelf, inspecting the books.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnfCEjzAUv
"I can explain, Rock. It's not what it seems." I tried to assure Rock.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5JR6h7LCz
"I sure hope not."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQyQHi5pcE
"This metal-muncher is friendly and has promised not to eat anything from here. He even understands what we say and-"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZYkABerV8
"He? So you've given it already a name? Need I remind you of the incident nine years ago?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaZcBn8Q9E
"A misunderstanding more like." Muttered Sylus while looking sideways to the floor while recalling it too well.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAS77mg2XY3
"Son, you have a brilliant mind and a wonderful gift in trying to see goodness in everyone and everything, but sometimes they sadly don't have it."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFeLJUhjoN
"And Buzzer here is one of them? He hasn't touched anything since he arrived."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7poR49uoK
Suddenly I recalled how all the others went in panic at the mere sight of a metal-muncher, but Rock here is cool as ice. "Wait, how come you're not afraid of him?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqzcFveW4H
Rock grinned warmly. "Because I trust you, son." He patted my shoulder. "And I know how to finish a metal-muncher; make sure it doesn't come to mind to even take a nibble." He noted firmly by pointing the finger at Buzzer. "I take it you're trying your luck tonight at the depot since Buzzer ate your purchase?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Fq3NInflW
I laughed wryly and scratched the back of my head. "Yeah."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1yS0DGv7f
"Alright, just be careful, lad."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWSOrLDaov
As night fell, I made myself ready with warm clothes, a large bag and a long bar to dig out the parts that may lay deep in a heap. I asked Buzzer to stay in my room while I was gone for safety reasons.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOaRuxDloU
The garbage depot at the industrial section is near the sea and port. Luckily the smell is bearable since two-thirds of it is metal, wood or glass. My biggest challenge would be to sneak in and out unseen by the guards and their new floating guard machines called hawks.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhe1QR45FC
