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.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54ryiBRes1
"Kill it!" Demanded James with a sharp voice.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8SZNseKvh
"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.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIM41sdZDP
"Do you hear yourself talking?" He remarked, bewildered. "Don't tell me you were behind all this?"637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1s7d6y6jd
"Me? Why? I'm an inventor like you."637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPyIWFZAam
"You are not like me." He hissed and walked away.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNrExNZYJw
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.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5ebn7OwXv
"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.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnwiJ6168B
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.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGOg39Cp3P
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?"637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNRIWpMK7f
"Peep, peep." It confirmed and crawled out. Its large eyes wandered around the room.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFCZP1nMSl
"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?"637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAfaY1jCIY
It shook its head.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBppHAL5IG2
"Ok, eh, Bee?"637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IcqlfROMD
It shook its head with a low buzz and closed eyes to express dislike.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiojalwaEKE
"How about Buzzer?"637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwhwcqbWRu
It opened its eyes, thought for a moment and nodded.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEDAXPcMTp
"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?637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcHz61DEx6
"Sylus, is that you?" Called Rock from the workshop.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrE9GZAMtY
"Er, yeah!" I quickly stepped in front of Buzzer and whispered to land on my hand that I held behind my back.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGerIosqc1
"What are you building in the living room, my boy?" Rock entered while rubbing with an old cloth away the grease from his hands.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9b9ck5VC6
"Nothing." I smiled broadly.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8pAA1N8tq
Rock raised an eyebrow of doubt.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3zvxmRlaW
"I can't tell; it's a surprise," I remarked nervously.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmNVPOHxQP
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.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkqCSu9DvX
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.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6G5TFL1zAb
"I can explain, Rock. It's not what it seems." I tried to assure Rock.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXtTuhFi9J
"I sure hope not."637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZqa3KBIUk
"This metal-muncher is friendly and has promised not to eat anything from here. He even understands what we say and-"637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK890IAd2Q
"He? So you've given it already a name? Need I remind you of the incident nine years ago?"637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M9CkNcVxs
"A misunderstanding more like." Muttered Sylus while looking sideways to the floor while recalling it too well.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3WUWkOT29
"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."637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj3W6xcqwY
"And Buzzer here is one of them? He hasn't touched anything since he arrived."637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNqIy9wg5p
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?"637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNARSNIIK0b
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?"637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAARW4EbJjF
I laughed wryly and scratched the back of my head. "Yeah."637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiqzUW0eo2
"Alright, just be careful, lad."637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIg9LmuWv3
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.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRREMIs2M3
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.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFizlTfm8g
