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.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ272XLaywmg
"Kill it!" Demanded James with a sharp voice.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMTCf60LMB
"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.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPexs9ar4q
"Do you hear yourself talking?" He remarked, bewildered. "Don't tell me you were behind all this?"669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOUFcYr4gy
"Me? Why? I'm an inventor like you."669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyeImqUXwu
"You are not like me." He hissed and walked away.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXrhhpgvlo
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.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FYTXOHiSd
"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.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3K4Hq1a95J
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.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbf8GLKIBd
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?"669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSnij9X7FV
"Peep, peep." It confirmed and crawled out. Its large eyes wandered around the room.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktZsXsVjys
"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?"669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOfrg7VW17
It shook its head.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToqsZIDvAZ
"Ok, eh, Bee?"669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWgq9aFkKr
It shook its head with a low buzz and closed eyes to express dislike.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUR0UA1p06
"How about Buzzer?"669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnq7KAY0GV
It opened its eyes, thought for a moment and nodded.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SXSqH2mP0
"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?669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllpVUNoABB
"Sylus, is that you?" Called Rock from the workshop.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeqbKbyQk4
"Er, yeah!" I quickly stepped in front of Buzzer and whispered to land on my hand that I held behind my back.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZ29hBpdLw
"What are you building in the living room, my boy?" Rock entered while rubbing with an old cloth away the grease from his hands.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg2zb6lku4
"Nothing." I smiled broadly.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBPddO8vX7
Rock raised an eyebrow of doubt.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPBePJws3r
"I can't tell; it's a surprise," I remarked nervously.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEkCN7MW9C
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.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgkbBr3ScI
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.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyzz6YITvu
"I can explain, Rock. It's not what it seems." I tried to assure Rock.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi1rfCPnpI
"I sure hope not."669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGgkJHiu9C
"This metal-muncher is friendly and has promised not to eat anything from here. He even understands what we say and-"669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufEFVW8HB4
"He? So you've given it already a name? Need I remind you of the incident nine years ago?"669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVrlUZUfuH
"A misunderstanding more like." Muttered Sylus while looking sideways to the floor while recalling it too well.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLNzfDsFKd
"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."669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SMcmIKehy
"And Buzzer here is one of them? He hasn't touched anything since he arrived."669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP1dUlJCnK
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?"669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqP9cx2UY4
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?"669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZO5dgbS5L
I laughed wryly and scratched the back of my head. "Yeah."669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqirAJx63Kq
"Alright, just be careful, lad."669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZPhmErC0s
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.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJymkq3iW09
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.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNkxv7cKWd
