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.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBuO1lZmVZ
"Kill it!" Demanded James with a sharp voice.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPoGMDD6Bw
"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.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFzVbJp05W
"Do you hear yourself talking?" He remarked, bewildered. "Don't tell me you were behind all this?"705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpoqJwD85M
"Me? Why? I'm an inventor like you."705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSl7lon5Mu
"You are not like me." He hissed and walked away.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6frmPkeZDC
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.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjQanqtbNe
"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.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmb7wCpvj2
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.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqo88Ue3cv
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?"705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7BvguJLR1
"Peep, peep." It confirmed and crawled out. Its large eyes wandered around the room.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQVl3X9zMU
"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?"705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi47wFB4PRv
It shook its head.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXl3n141V7p
"Ok, eh, Bee?"705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0ibJjsyLJ
It shook its head with a low buzz and closed eyes to express dislike.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOphfZDd3p
"How about Buzzer?"705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqcU02WnSQ
It opened its eyes, thought for a moment and nodded.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpgHQtfv49
"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?705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7A35Poc8H
"Sylus, is that you?" Called Rock from the workshop.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2VZX7D7dK
"Er, yeah!" I quickly stepped in front of Buzzer and whispered to land on my hand that I held behind my back.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6gDLyuTPp
"What are you building in the living room, my boy?" Rock entered while rubbing with an old cloth away the grease from his hands.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk0wi5FUP8
"Nothing." I smiled broadly.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx01iYMvUfi
Rock raised an eyebrow of doubt.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFOWToYaNy
"I can't tell; it's a surprise," I remarked nervously.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmfKMlJIW1
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.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCijhNY9Ds
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.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnAa7fFsj3
"I can explain, Rock. It's not what it seems." I tried to assure Rock.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcjGTJlkdP
"I sure hope not."705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA884mHW9Ld
"This metal-muncher is friendly and has promised not to eat anything from here. He even understands what we say and-"705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnj5ilMORV
"He? So you've given it already a name? Need I remind you of the incident nine years ago?"705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbo4iy8STf9
"A misunderstanding more like." Muttered Sylus while looking sideways to the floor while recalling it too well.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5x4TClDNq
"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."705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tWha1rDbw
"And Buzzer here is one of them? He hasn't touched anything since he arrived."705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1db9oTeKm
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?"705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7N0ms851H
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?"705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR35EbSlz4h
I laughed wryly and scratched the back of my head. "Yeah."705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhXVJdmE4D
"Alright, just be careful, lad."705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDfpi9G540
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.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyH3fZuQS6y
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.705Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9CzfqEZyl
