Chapter 1: Opening Image
The sound of the clacking of keys filled the room as Ombre analyzed the brand new core he made from a sun's energy. JJ, or Jabberwocky, his robot dragon chirped softly as him, an indication that he should take a break.
"I'll be fine, JJ." Ombre waved his hand, trying to hush JJ.
Kaburamaru hissed in disagreement, his head shaking.
"Guys..." Ombre groaned, rubbing his head.
"Alright, alright. I'll take a break. But only because you two are ganging up on me." He leaned back in his chair, the old wooden frame creaking under his weight. His robotic leg tapped impatiently on the floor, a habit he'd picked up from years of sitting at this very desk.
Kaburamaru, his pet snake, slithered down from his shoulder and onto the desk, his forked tongue flickering as he tasted the air. "You're wound up tighter than a clockwork toy, Ombre," he said, his voice a low hiss.
JJ nodded in agreement. "I was created for your mental and physical health, master. It would be unkind of me to watch you suffer and against my programming." JJ's eyes glowed softly, a gentle reminder of his robotic nature.
Ombre chuckled, "You two are worse than my mother." He stood up, stretching his arms high above his head, his metal wings glinting in the dim light. I'll go grab some food. Happy?"
Kaburamaru's tail flicked in satisfaction. "About time. I'm starving."
Ombre rolled his eyes but smiled. He grabbed his white jean jacket from the back of his chair, the fabric soft from years of wear. The jacket was adorned with various pins from his travels, each one telling a story of a planet he'd visited or an asteroid he'd destroyed.
Ombre slipped it on, stretching his arms out. He sniffed the air, the smell of fresh food filled it. "Mer?" He called out, assuming Merak was cooking again.
Merak was always cooking, always cleaning, always taking care of everything. It was both comforting and slightly annoying, like having a mother who refused to let you grow up.
Merak appeared in the doorway, a dish towel thrown over his shoulder. "About time you took a break, Ombre. I was about to send Kaburamaru to fetch you." He smirked, his blue eyes twinkling. "I made your favorite. Chicken katsu with extra sauce."
Ombre's stomach rumbled in response, and he grinned. "You know the way to my heart, Mer." He ruffled Merak's hair as he passed, earning him a playful swat on the arm.
"Hey, watch the hair!" Merak laughed, following Ombre into the kitchen. The small room was filled with the warm aroma of fried chicken and the soft hum of the old refrigerator. The table was set with two plates, chopsticks resting neatly beside them. Merak had even managed to find a clean spot on the table, a rare feat in their cluttered apartment.
Ombre sat down, his robotic leg scraping against the chair. He winced, "Sorry, Mer. I'll get that fixed soon, promise."
Merak just waved him off, "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you still have a leg in the first place." Merak said, his voice filled with a mix of concern and humor. He placed a plate in front of Ombre, the chicken katsu glistening with a generous helping of sauce. "I don't know how you manage to keep that thing in one piece."
Ombre picked up his chopsticks, deftly lifting a piece of chicken from his plate. "It's not like I have a choice. Besides, it's not like I can exactly go to a regular doctor for this." He took a bite, his eyes rolling back in pleasure. "This is amazing, Mer. You should open a restaurant."
Merak chuckled, "I'll keep that in mind.
But for now, I'm content with just taking care of you." He sat down across from Ombre, his own plate of food untouched. "So, how's the new core coming along? Any breakthroughs?"
Ombre swallowed his bite, shaking his head. "It's... complicated. The energy from this sun is unlike anything I've ever seen. It's like trying to tame a wild beast." He paused, taking another bite. "But I think I'm making progress. Slowly."
Merak nodded, "Well, take your time. There's no rush, right?" He gave Ombre a patient smile, in which Ombre blushed.
"C-com'on, Mer..." Ombre chuckled, averting his gaze. "You know I'm weak with words..." Ombre chuckled, averting his gaze. "You know I'm weak with words..." He sighed, "I just... I don't know how to say it. It's like... I'm afraid of what you might think if I do."
Merak's expression softened, and he reached out, placing a hand on Ombre's. "Ombre, you know I'll always be here for you. No matter what." He squeezed Ombre's hand gently. "You don't have to be afraid of me. I'm not going to judge you."
Ombre looked up, his eyes meeting Merak's. "You're right. I know that. It's just... it's hard to admit sometimes.
I guess I'm just used to keeping everything inside." Ombre's gaze drifted to his robotic arm, the mechanical fingers flexing slightly. "I mean, look at this. It's not exactly... normal, is it?"
Merak followed Ombre's gaze, his expression thoughtful. "Normal is overrated, Ombre. And besides, you're not just a robot. You're a mutant, a survivor, a hero. You've done more for this world than most people will ever do in their entire lives."
Ombre snorted, "You're just saying that because you're biased."
Merak laughed, "Maybe. But it's true. You're special, Ombre. And it's okay to be scared sometimes."
Ombre hummed, sighing. "Well, I've been working on a new device recently. Do you... wish to see it?" Ombre asked, a small smile playing on his lips. He was eager to show Merak his latest creation, a distraction from their earlier conversation.
Merak's eyes lit up, "Of course! I always love seeing what you've been working on." He pushed his plate away, giving Ombre his full attention. "Let's see it, then."
Ombre stood up, his chair screeching against the floor. He walked over to his room, opening a drawer and grabbing a large egg-looking thing.
He walked back to the table, placing the egg on top of it. Then, he pressed a button on top of the egg. The sides of the egg opened, revealing a spider-looking thing underneath. It was red, with a dark outline.
It had eight legs, each one ending in a sharp point. Its body was round, with a small, glowing light at the top. It looked like a spider, but it was clearly mechanical. Merak's eyes widened, "What is that, Ombre?"
Ombre grinned, "I call it the 'Arachno-Bot'. It's a new kind of drone, designed for space exploration. I thought it might come in handy for my next mission." He reached out, gently touching the Arachno-Bot's body. It hummed to life, its legs moving in a smooth, synchronized motion.
Merak watched, fascinated. "That's... that's incredible, Ombre."
"It can also be used to... uhm... eliminating anything that bothers the user. AKA me." Ombre chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Thanks."
That's when there was a knock at the door.
Both Ombre and Merak exchanged a glance, the sudden interruption breaking the comfortable silence. Ombre frowned, his robotic leg tapping nervously against the floor. "Who could that be?" he murmured, his eyes darting towards the door.
Merak stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. "I'll go check," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. He walked towards the door, his blue sweater pulling taut across his back. He opened it, revealing a figure standing in the dim hallway. It was Clover, Ombre's twin brother, his leather jacket creaking as he shifted his weight.
"Howdy there, Mer. How's it goin'?" Clover asked, his southern accent filling the room. He had a wide grin on his face. "Say have you seen my favorite brother around here?" Clover asked, his eyes scanning the room. He spotted Ombre and waved, his grin widening. "Hey, Ombre! Long time no see, buddy!"
Ombre raised an eyebrow, his robotic arm flexing slightly. "Clover? What are you doing here? And why are you so cheerful?" He asked, his voice laced with curiosity and a hint of suspicion.
Clover's grin never wavered, "Well, I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by. You know, see how my favorite brother is doin'." He stepped into the apartment, his boots clicking against the worn wooden floor. "And I'm always cheerful, Ombre. Should know that by now."
Ombre nodded, patting Clover's back. "How's it been then? Have you been doing okay, living with Tessa?" Ombre asked, his voice laced with concern. He knew Clover had been staying with their older sister since the incident, and he couldn't help but worry about his brother's well-being.
Clover's grin faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered, flashing another bright smile. "Oh, yeah, she's been treatin' me real nice. Couldn't ask for a better sister." He clapped Ombre on the back, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "But enough about me, what have you been up to? Still playin' with your robots and such?"
Ombre nodded, "Yes, always working..."
Clover hummed, putting a hand on his hips. "Why's that? You ain't takin' no breaks?" Clover asked, his eyes scanning the cluttered room. "Place looks like a hurricane hit it." He chuckled, shaking his head.
Ombre rolled his eyes, "Well, you know me. Always busy with something." He gestured towards the table, "Want some food? Merak just made chicken katsu."
Clover's eyes lit up, "Well, I ain't one to turn down a free meal." He walked over to the table, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "Thanks, Mer." He said, giving Merak a grateful smile.
Merak nodded, "No problem, Clover.
Help yourself." He turned to Ombre, "I'll go grab some more plates. You two can catch up." He disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Ombre and Clover alone at the table.
Clover picked up his chopsticks, his eyes scanning the plate of food in front of him. "So, what's been goin' on with you, Ombre? Anything interesting?" He asked, his voice casual but his eyes curious.
Ombre shrugged, "Not really. Just the usual. Work, work, work." He took a bite of his chicken katsu, the crispy breading crunching under his teeth. "But hey, the Celestial System is looking pretty cool."
Clover gasped, "You found a new solar system!?" Clover's eyes widened, his chopsticks freezing mid-air. "That's... that's amazing, Ombre! Why didn't you lead with that?" He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "What's it like? Is it full of alien creatures and stuff? Can I come with you when you go check it out?"
Ombre chuckled, shaking his head. "It's not that exciting, Clover. It's just a system with some promising planets. And no, you can't come with me. It's dangerous, and you know that." He took another bite of his chicken katsu, his eyes scanning the room as he chewed.