DIN-00 N's Story

Meanwhile, DIN-00 sneezes somewhere and wonders why.

...The sound of a raging inferno met DIN-04's ears. It had been two days since the closest thing she had ever had to a human friend had chosen to betray her and she couldn't help but feel that things were moving along ever so fast. A thick black smoke was beginning to float along the ceiling, the sounds of distant screams barely audible over the flames that approached her cell. DIN-04 shifted into a corner, evading the flames. They were unlikely to kill her, yet she felt the heat all too well and her synthetic skin was all the dignity she had left.

The android girl curled upper legs up against her and wrapped her maimed arms around them, the two limbs having been forcefully disassembled at the elbow. The machinery within was now exposed, fidgeting as she attempted to move upper arms that weren't there. Her mechanical heart raced and she closed her eyes, awaiting her savior.

She knew what was going on, and as the footsteps drew closer through the now damaged building the remaining hope in her eyes vanished.

"...What a wretched life they have asked you to live here." a metallic voice remarked with pity and an odd flanger effect in his tone. DIN-04 refused to look up, burying her face in her knees. "They will be made to answer for these crimes." the man continued, DIN-04 continuing to refuse to meet his gaze. She knew what was coming. A loud crack was heard as the door to her cell was shattered. Footsteps approached before stopping but a foot away from her.

"Stripped of your autonomy and everyone loyal to you, your freedom and your humanity... It would be merciful to terminate your existence." the man remarked. DIN-04 was still as a rock, feeling for the first time in her short life a sort of uncanny mortal terror that froze her in place.

"...Your suffering will not be forgotten. It will be the fuel for our valor, for the catalyst of the new world--a better world. Stand and deliver, Platinum." the man asked. DIN-04 did not move. A long moment of silence passed. "...Reclaim what little independence you can by standing and meeting your destiny with dignity, DIN-04." the man went on to encourage. DIN-04 shuddered, shifting and awkwardly forcing herself to her feet. Glowing amber eyes met glowing green eyes full of pity and remorse. Behind him was her own Garchomp, watching with an expression of anxiety upon her face. She too understood what was to come.

"Rest in peace--you have earned this." the other android said, shifting forward and delivering a powerful, explosive blow to DIN-04's chest. Her armor collapsed and her circuitry was crushed and shattered by the blow. As the man withdrew his hand from the collapsed site of impact DIN-04 slumped down, her eyes losing focus as she experienced system failure.

The reports immediately beginning to circulate would only say that what appeared to be the legendary dragon, Reshiram, had swooped down to attack a prison and fled the scene almost as quickly as it had arrived, killing or injuring dozens of officers and prisoners during it's attack.

“Sooo... Let me get this straight. You've got me all to yourself with no Serena around to protect me. ...And all you want to do is draw me??” DIN-05.2 asked in an incredulous tone. The gynoid was standing on the beach in a swimsuit that frankly didn't help her maintain a low profile, given that it showed off more of her metallic skin and segmented joints. “...You are not capable of swimming. So why is it you chose to wear a swimsuit?” DIN-03 replied in a rather flat tone. “O-kay... Fair point. But doesn't this violate your programming?” DIN-05.2 asked. “...I'm just trying to make the best of our time together. You wore that because you wanted people to appreciate your beauty, right? Well I appreciate you. That's why I want to immortalize you in art instead of bickering and fighting. Can't our mission wait just a day for me to appreciate you before we must inevitably duel to the death?” DIN-03 asked. DIN-05.2 considered this for a moment. “--You mean you want me to model for you?? Oh, Ruby that's so sweet! I've got other outfits too! We could do a whole photoshoot together! Can my pokemon be in your drawings too??” DIN-05.2 blurted out, suddenly eager. ...Serena would probably be back in that time right? She'd never leave her alone for that long knowing how dangerous it was. Yeah! This just might avoid a near-death battle! “Here. Hold this and smile. Please be 'cute'.” Ruby replied, offering White an Applin. She took the pokemon, eyeing it for a moment before striking a nice pose with it.

...Many long hours of modeling and drawing later.

“...C-Can we take a break? I need to sleep.” White whined. “...Robots don't need to sleep.” Ruby flatly replied. “But it hurts! It hurts to stay awake all night! You know that!” White pleaded in a rather whiny tone. This caused Ruby to hesitate a moment, staring at her rather coldly. “...Being alive is suffering. We feel only an imitation of the pain our organic predecessors do, and yet you sound like you are about to cry. Doesn't that strike you as weird?” DIN-03 asked. Huffing a bit and thrusting her arms downward in frustration, White snapped back with a very sore “It feels real to me!”

A moment of silence passed. “...What happened to you? You used to be warm. It's like you're not even trying to be human anymore.” White softly remarked. At this, DIN-03's eyes narrowed with a certain disgust. “Human?? Human?! ...Humans are monsters.” Ruby snapped back. “--How can you say that?? Like six of them have come to admire our work today! They seemed pretty nice...” White replied. “...I've traveled the world to see what it has to offer and found it ... lacking. Everything hurts, 'dear sister'. Even things that are supposed to bring humans joy hurts me now. And I don't even have the worst of it! Frankly, this is the least pain I've been in for months, and I have you to thank for that.” Ruby lectured in frustration, beginning a new sketch. “ . . . I-I'm sorry. I--” White stammered out, deeply unsettled by Ruby's words. “It's fine. Soon enough it won't matter anyway. We'll have served our purposes, and the pain will be over.” Ruby interrupted in a distant tone.

White furrowed her brows, considering Ruby's choice of words there for a moment. What did he mean by that? Did he--? It suddenly hit her. “--Ruby! Please tell me you didn't.” White blurted out. Ruby gave her no response, continuing to sketch. White lifted her eyes to the darkening sky. Sure enough, she spotted something large approaching in the distance. Without hesitating, White turned and began to attempt to flee. However, upon seeing this, Ruby promptly rose and tossed a pokeball out, a milotic emerging to intercept the android. Without warning, it promptly curled its body around her and began to constrict her with crushing force. She emitted a soft groan of pain, trying in vain to free her arms. Due to the way they were pinched against her sides, not even their piston power could hope to free her. “...How could you do this?! He's going to kill us both!” a very distressed White blurted out. Yet, she only received silence in response. Ruby looked away from her to regard the approaching trainer and his pokemon.

From the skies, DIN-00 dropped down riding atop a rather impressive android recreation of Reshiram. He promptly hopped off and produced a second pokeball, tossing it to release a similar robotic zekrom on the other side of the two androids, surrounding them. “...Three. Five-Two. What a pleasure to see you both again.” DIN-00 greeted. At this, DIN-03 approached him and dropped to his knee in the sand, bowing his head. “For the creator.” he bitterly remarked. DIN-00 seemed to hesitate for a moment. He then pulled out a third pokeball and dropped it to reveal a garchomp. DIN-05.2 immediately recognized this garchomp as having previously belonged to DIN-04. The garchomp turned and raised one of its claws to the sky as high as it could, before sharply bringing it down upon DIN-03's neck, decpitating the android.

White screamed at the top of her lungs in a panic, a feat only possible because she technically had no lungs and thus could not technically be suffocated by Milotic's grasp. At her trainer's sudden execution, however, milotic released her and turned upon DIN-00. White fell onto her behind, scrambling back to her feet as quickly as she could. “Serena?? Serena!!” White shouted, hoping and praying that her sister droid would show herself at last. It was the only way she could imagine herself even surviving this encounter, nevermind winning it. DIN-00 bent down and retrieved DIN-03's pokeballs, returning a very reluctant milotic after a moment. He then began approaching DIN-05.2

“...Well, now that that's out of the way. What do you say we have a little chat about your retirement?” DIN-00 asked. “O-Oh no. That's okay. I'm much too young to retire.” White nervously replied, sorta glancing back at Zekrom behind her, who was eyeing her carefully. “Hah! You're funny. Is this the same wit that inspired you to commit treason against our creator and drag me into a public space where innocent pokemon might get hurt?” DIN-00 asked in a light-hearted yet accusing tone. “...N-No... this was more... his idea.” White mousily replied, unable to even look at Ruby's remains. DIN-00 glanced at the fallen android's body and frowned. “...It's a shame that you both malfunctioned so gravely. Perhaps if everything had gone to plan, you would be standing at my side as Queen.” DIN-00 remarked. “...That was supposed to be Five.” White harshly replied, glaring slightly from the corner of her eyes. “Hahaha... And who do you think you were supposed to replace?” DIN-00 replied, returning the glare. “...Honestly, you should be grateful I'm here to stop you. Who knows what sort of unstable thought processes are going through your head. What sort of precious information you may have already leaked... I'm surprised your own manufacturing didn't get you first.” DIN-00 began to casually muse aloud. “I'm not insane! I function fine!” DIN-05.2 protested, becoming quite upset. DIN-00 considered this for a moment and shrugged. “...So said the madwoman to her caretaker. Know only that I do what I'm doing out of love.” DIN-00 distantly replied, gesturing silently for Garchomp to attack. The dragon pokemon shifted into an attack position and roared in a challenge, before lunging out with its arms raised to try and cut DIN-05.2 down before she could get any ideas about trying to prolong this by fighting back!

Titania Brightsmith sighed, taking in the spectacle of a Contest Spectacular. "Man, they're so cute! I just want to take them home with me!" But then the sounds of battle caught her attention. "Hold my seat, I need to take care of some business," she informed the person sitting next to her, and squeezed her way out of the contest hall to behold something shocking indeed. Reshiram...and Zekrom...here on the beach? There was something rotten in the state of Unova if there were two Zekrom running around...and she made haste to find out what, only too late. One android had already been beheaded, and the other that looked kind of like the hottest new actress was on the ropes.

It was taboo to interfere in a one on one match like this, but this was no ordinary match. This was literally a slaughter...and the next thing N could tell, his Garchomp was intercepted by a Mawile, sparing White from what was surely a lethal blow. Up on the ridge, there was no mistaking that steely gaze. The Metal Matron was here, ready to remind the world why she was so feared.

At the intrusion, Garchomp snapped to attention and lunged backward to put some distance between itself and the mawile, sort of glaring suspiciously at the fairy type from a... Let's just pretend it's a safe distance for the cliche. There's no such thing in this context, really. DIN-05.2 sort of cowered where she stood, looking up to realize Garchomp had backed off after a moment. A sigh of relief escaped her. She raised an arm and waved eagerly at Titania, a big smile on her metal face. “...Hoo... Thank goodness. H-Hey!! Miss, can you toss a pokeball my way? I could really use the tag out right about now...” she greeted in an audibly shaken yet still light-hearted tone, seemingly asking Titania to capture her. Processing this for a moment, DIN-00 laughed. It was a hearty laugh. “...I'm laughing! But I'm actually sad, because I know I could never have this without pardoning an unforgivable crime. Garchomp, please see to it that nobody else interferes. I'd prefer not to have to hurt any pokemon.” DIN-00 requested, gazing knowingly at the mawile. Garchomp seemed to reluctantly begin wandering off into Lilycove to play intimidating bodyguard.

The android version of N was wearing a cape fit for a royal, and a crown. This was distinctly not the same N from Unova. “...My lady, you have put your pokemon in grave danger. This robot is treasonous and unstable. She could hurt anyone at any given time. The punishment for treason is death. Surely you must understand.” DIN-00 explained, his gaze drifting up to Titania. At this, DIN-05.2 held up a finger and interjected. “All of that is technically true. ...But actually I don't want to hurt anyone. That's not really fun for me...” DIN-05.2 corrected rather awkwardly. DIN-00 glanced at her for a good moment before returning his attention to Titania. “...Please, allow me to rid the world of one last mistake. Then I'll be on my way. I would hate to unleash the Legendary Dragon's power upon this place just to rid myself of her. This entire city would be in ruins. So many people and their would be hurt, just to carry out the law...” DIN-00 half-heartedly pleaded, turning a cold eye upon DIN-05.2.

Noteworthily, DIN-05.2 has no pokeballs on her person. She had no place to put them on her bikini.

"Look pal, I don't know what your deal is that you have to trot out two robo-dragons just to intimidate this poor girl, but if you're looking for a fight, I'm fucking ready if you are. I'm supposed to be retired, but you're the one causing the whole goddamn scene, so let's just make this quick." After this little outburst of swearing a blue streak, her gaze finally drifted to the remains of White's fallen brother. "I take it that's your mess, then? So why does she have to die as well? Afraid she'll do something that's not in line with your plan? I never liked control freaks, so you better do something fast to get off of my shit list."

“--...I will have you know that 'little girls' like her have given me quite a lot of trouble in the past.” DIN-00 replied, slightly indignant at Titania's remark. “...Dude, that's not the sort of thing you want to admit out loud.” DIN-05.2 softly chided, unimpressed with DIN-00's way with words. DIN-00 looked slightly flustered now. “--Nnn... Never mind that.” he replied, quickly regaining his composure. “You must loathe machinery then, ma'm. I am merely doing what I was created to do, a humble servant of humanity in my own right.” he explained with a light bow, careful not to tip his crown off his head. “Much like your pokeballs, I was created with a very specific purpose. And though we differ greatly in function, I am no more free to choose my own destiny. As it stands, this robot here has committed treason and I have been tasked with gathering her and her siblings for our creator. The punishment for such crimes is death. I am programmed to attack with prejudice if anything gets in my way of completing this goal.” DIN-00 explained.

“...I've simulated the collateral damage in my head, including casualties. Would you like me to help you do the math?” DIN-00 asked in an entirely casual tone. Meanwhile, DIN-05.2 just kinda attempted to slowly begin inching her way away? However, a few moments later DIN-00's Reshiram's gaze shifted to her and a low noise warned her to stop, to which she nervously obliged, freezing in place.

"Casualties? Would you suggest we take this somewhere else, then?" Titania dared a glance over her shoulder at the waves beyond, trying to pick out a suitable location if called on her bluff. Mawile remained at the ready in case this robot tried anything clever.

"And by the way, treason is reserved for crimes against the state. Unless you're part of that New Ruulan Empire bullshit and you caught this one trying to serve the UPL as a double agent or something. Sounds like you're just looking for an excuse to bump her off. You, girl. Talk while you still can, I'm not sure how much longer I can hold him off."

Titania let her tool box drop on the ground with a heavy THUD, impressing on the N-bot just how much she understood and respected the power of machines...then crouched down to retrieve a Dusk Ball from it. She was ready to stand her ground.

Celestia was happy with what she bought at the store. She got the essentials and some extra snacks! Lana squeaked in affection at the free slowpoke tail she got try from the meat shop. The guy there was always nice to Celestia and her back to him. She last brought him a box of chocolates on his birthday as thanks for helping her out. When she first started living on her own, he helped her out with making lists and budgeting. She would come back and ask him questions now and again too and he'd always help her out, even once closing his store early to help her out with something. He and her father go back so he was happy to help his friend's daughter. But enough on that. Celestia was exiting the department store when she heard a ruckus outside and decided to go take a look.

After exiting the building, she walked down some steps and saw some scene on the beach. But upon trying to get closer, a Garchomp approached her and she gave a shriek of panic. Quickly followed by Lana the Jolteon swiftly moving to be in front of Celestia and then aided by the other 5 Eeveelutions as they popped out of their balls to defend their trainer. They each stood ready to strike while Celestia was more or less frozen looking at a menacing monster she has never seen before.