*patiently waits in the darkness of the warehouse where Zephyr had spent more than half of his existence, leaning against an old workbench, waiting for his creation to return home for the night*
Zephyr heads back toward the warehouse for the night, immediately picking up on someone's presence on the inside. He stops, analyzing the presence. He quickly recognizes it, but can't place any identification on it. Cautiously, he continues forward and into the warehouse.
Afraid to scan, he flips on his headlights, and the twin beams immediately light up the tan, calm face of the man he never wanted to see again. His insides turn cold, and his scanners go online, only to find himself alone for miles.
*angrily* LIES! You are a liar! I cannot trust you, Brian.
He tries desperately to keep Brian from seeing how much he is trembling. His engine roars as he suddenly whips himself into a tight one-eighty, tires squealing and leaving black marks on the floor. He makes a mad rush for the door; he can't face Brian Zane alone.
Not so fast! *sing-song* I know something you can't resist.
*lifts a hand to his forehead for a moment, as if trying to remember something, before shouting out a string of computer commands directed toward the truck, a smug smile crossing his lips*
Zephyr recognizes those computer commands at once, and he feels his insides turn cold.
::My override codes-!!::
Zephyr is forced to a stop at once, his control over the truck vanishing as if it had never existed in the first place. He tries desperately to move again, but he can no longer access the truck body. Panicking silently, he can only watch as Brian Zane approaches him calmly from behind.
*casually comes up behind Zephyr like he's strolling through the park, reaching out to run a finger along the side of the truck bed as he walks up beside Zephyr*
I'm very disappointed in you, Zephyr. *traces a finger along the side of the truck until it stops on the front fender* You've been a very naughty truck. Making outside contact? Leaving this warehouse, and the Knight Estate for that matter? Making friends? That kind of behavior can't go on undisciplined... *suddenly lashes out with the crowbar, striking Zephyr's fender with an ear-ringing crunch*
He shudders violently at Zane's touch, wishing like nothing else to flee, or cry for help. And then suddenly the crowbar comes into contact with his fender and a strangled cry escapes him as the metal caves in. Memories come flooding back...
*voice trembling* Brian... I did not... technicially... initiate outside contact. They came to me first...
*spins around until he is facing the front of the truck, anger flashing in his eyes, holding the crowbar up threateningly* You did not bother to stop them! What the hell were you thinking! *strikes Zephyr with the crowbar again*
*furiously* Cry again! Cry, baby! My baby! My CHILD! *bares his teeth as he brings the crowbar down across the truck's hood so hard it almost bends the hood in half*
*almost laughs* I can't? Who are you to say that to me? *holds up the crowbar* Who has the Discipline Stick?
*glances around, and this time he laughs, throwing his arms open* Who's going to stop me anyway?! Where are all your "friends", huh, Zephyr Baby? All those people who swore up and down that they'd never leave you alone... keep you from big bad me?! Where are they! Where are they, Zephyr!
YES! They are human, Zephyr! Can you process that at all? They are human, and you are not! You are nothing, NOTHING more than plastic and computer parts.
*strides up to the truck and presses his hand roughly upon the bent hood* They don't love you, Zephyr. Do you know that? How can they? You don't have anything that they can love! *leans in closer, heavily* They don't love you, Zephyr, they only pity you. Haven't you noticed how they only stick around when you're in danger?
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His worst nightmare.
A faint whisper of horror; "Brian..."
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He tries desperately to keep Brian from seeing how much he is trembling. His engine roars as he suddenly whips himself into a tight one-eighty, tires squealing and leaving black marks on the floor. He makes a mad rush for the door; he can't face Brian Zane alone.
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*lifts a hand to his forehead for a moment, as if trying to remember something, before shouting out a string of computer commands directed toward the truck, a smug smile crossing his lips*
*their affect on the AI is instantaneous*
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::My override codes-!!::
Zephyr is forced to a stop at once, his control over the truck vanishing as if it had never existed in the first place. He tries desperately to move again, but he can no longer access the truck body. Panicking silently, he can only watch as Brian Zane approaches him calmly from behind.
He was paralyzed.
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*casually comes up behind Zephyr like he's strolling through the park, reaching out to run a finger along the side of the truck bed as he walks up beside Zephyr*
I'm very disappointed in you, Zephyr. *traces a finger along the side of the truck until it stops on the front fender* You've been a very naughty truck. Making outside contact? Leaving this warehouse, and the Knight Estate for that matter? Making friends? That kind of behavior can't go on undisciplined... *suddenly lashes out with the crowbar, striking Zephyr's fender with an ear-ringing crunch*
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*voice trembling* Brian... I did not... technicially... initiate outside contact. They came to me first...
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*furiously* Cry again! Cry, baby! My baby! My CHILD! *bares his teeth as he brings the crowbar down across the truck's hood so hard it almost bends the hood in half*
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Another tortured scream... the entire truck body shudders violently, and among the scream is the heated cry of his creator's name...
*shaking uncontrollably, pain and frustration raging in his voice* You can't get away with this...
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*glances around, and this time he laughs, throwing his arms open* Who's going to stop me anyway?! Where are all your "friends", huh, Zephyr Baby? All those people who swore up and down that they'd never leave you alone... keep you from big bad me?! Where are they! Where are they, Zephyr!
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*shortly, voice weighted with anger* They don't know I'm here. The are only human.
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*strides up to the truck and presses his hand roughly upon the bent hood* They don't love you, Zephyr. Do you know that? How can they? You don't have anything that they can love! *leans in closer, heavily* They don't love you, Zephyr, they only pity you. Haven't you noticed how they only stick around when you're in danger?
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