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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlOX2UaCB3
"Kill it!" Demanded James with a sharp voice.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXICDE42gb4
"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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSmIxa4nhB
"Do you hear yourself talking?" He remarked, bewildered. "Don't tell me you were behind all this?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAM7eSNIT5q
"Me? Why? I'm an inventor like you."760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X4C7WisN8
"You are not like me." He hissed and walked away.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pSJHwpK9Y
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvK4IQ561Ae
"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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UttQSH2gy
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBagaF7Ozlr
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?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrZc9JiI2u
"Peep, peep." It confirmed and crawled out. Its large eyes wandered around the room.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLncn7im7ht
"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?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf590tNztG
It shook its head.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHq2JrqCLB
"Ok, eh, Bee?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoyoXngs44
It shook its head with a low buzz and closed eyes to express dislike.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpK53siR5wD
"How about Buzzer?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCOkUVKtbM
It opened its eyes, thought for a moment and nodded.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRnTSEgWHf
"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?760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8GZMF4K2n
"Sylus, is that you?" Called Rock from the workshop.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iGyM4bYJ6
"Er, yeah!" I quickly stepped in front of Buzzer and whispered to land on my hand that I held behind my back.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL8oQbdbv4
"What are you building in the living room, my boy?" Rock entered while rubbing with an old cloth away the grease from his hands.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2NHm6ukKb
"Nothing." I smiled broadly.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRlrfYL3u1
Rock raised an eyebrow of doubt.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FWkrLfsie
"I can't tell; it's a surprise," I remarked nervously.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXkHbzOaxw
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnwYruQubb
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7in9WRwsk
"I can explain, Rock. It's not what it seems." I tried to assure Rock.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoPsL57zUx
"I sure hope not."760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejKG7QRIzC
"This metal-muncher is friendly and has promised not to eat anything from here. He even understands what we say and-"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjrFc90FM5
"He? So you've given it already a name? Need I remind you of the incident nine years ago?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2XO3sqLrc
"A misunderstanding more like." Muttered Sylus while looking sideways to the floor while recalling it too well.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbag4cN8tWi
"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."760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOx5eN8cUDW
"And Buzzer here is one of them? He hasn't touched anything since he arrived."760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ477yUZmPHX
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?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuErjUal2x
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?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3BHS64WsI
I laughed wryly and scratched the back of my head. "Yeah."760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8PMQMVCYv
"Alright, just be careful, lad."760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHEGrcIMYj
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqWVK1r6FA
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.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIK0cGK82A
