A toy drone finds out that it's no longer wanted. Inspired by XKCD 2499, 850 words.
CW: abandonment, abuse, near-death
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Log entry 1/17 - 2003-05-04 22:36:45
[====================] 100%
Jacob left me outside today. I'm right on the doorstep, so I'm out of the elements and he'll bring me back in as soon as he looks outside. I can't wait to play with him again!
Log entry 2/17 - 2003-05-05 05:42:38
[==================--] 93%
He didn't notice me this morning. He was running, so he's probably late for the early shift. He should find me when he's coming back home, though!
Log entry 3/17 - 2003-05-05 18:21:13
[================----] 80%
...He missed me again. Maybe he was tired? He doesn't get early shifts twice in a row, so I think he'll find me tomorrow. I hope so, at least...
Log entry 4/17 - 2003-05-06 09:58:22
[=============-------] 65%
I'm getting a little worried. I'm gonna ask the server to send him a notification to plug me in. Is everything okay?
Log entry 5/17 - 2003-05-06 17:07:58
[===========---------] 57%
I think he got it! The server never responds to me, but he picked me up! He just put me on his fence, though. Did I do something wrong? I'll ask his phone tomorrow morning.
Log entry 6/17 - 2003-05-07 07:12:08
[========------------] 43%
What's happening? I tried to connect to his phone as he was leaving, but they said they don't recognize me. Did Jacob forget about me?
Log entry 7/17 - 2003-05-07 12:47:28
[=======-------------] 38%
He came home early. He was calling someone. He put a sign below me on the fence. My camera can't see what it says. What's going to happen to me?
Log entry 8/17 - 2003-05-08 06:06:15
[====----------------] 20% - ROTORS ENGAGED
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He was throwing me away! The garbage truck came by and one of the men tried to pick me up! I turned everything on full blast and flew away. What should I do?
Log entry 9/17 - 2003-05-08 06:15:32
[===-----------------] 17% - ROTORS ENGAGED
I'm a couple blocks away now. Flying eats energy, but it's all I can do to get away. I'm gonna try and find somewhere safe. I don't know what to do.
Log entry 10/17 - 2003-08-08 06:27:55
[==------------------] 13% - ROTORS ENGAGED
I've made it to the park Jacob and I used to play at. The grass is still covered in dew, so I can't land. I just have to keep flying and pray someone finds me.
Log entry 11/17 - 2003-06-08 06:42:20
[=-------------------] 8% - ROTORS ENGAGED
People are starting to get here. Some of them are looking at me. None of them are acting like anything weird is happening. I don't have much time left.
Log entry 12/17 - 2003-06-08 06:51:05
[=-------------------] 5% - ROTORS ENGAGED
Please, somebody notice me.
Log entry 13/17 - 2003-06-08 06:54:44
[--------------------] 4% - ROTORS ENGAGED
I don't want to be alone.
Log entry 14/17 - 2003-06-08 06:54:17
[--------------------] 3% - ROTORS ENGAGED
I don't want to die.
Log entry 15/17 - 2003-06-08 06:57:58
[--------------------] 2% - ROTORS ENGAGED
Anyone.
Log entry 16/17 - 2003-06-08 07:00:24
[--------------------] 1% - ROTORS ENGAGED
Please.
Log entry 17/17 - 2003-06-08 07:03:00
AUTOMATED REPORT - POWER DEPLETED
Sarah leaned back in her chair, her gaze shifting between the files on her monitor and the half-broken drone next to her. This was gonna be a tough fix, but she thought the little thing deserved it. She stroked its front propeller, then cracked her knuckles and started writing.
2003-07-08
---
<+SarahSolder> finished up a project today, anyone wanna see
<+SarahSolder> also 0x42FC can i invite someone new
<@0x42FC> Sure, go ahead
<+teardrop> ooh, got a new girlfriend huh :P
-> PropellerCat (PropellerCat@deadend.career) joined the channel
<+SarahSolder> it is NOT my girlfriend!
<PropellerCat> Really? I'm hurt!
<+SarahSolder> well not yet
<PropellerCat> (joking)
0x42FC sets mode +v PropellerCat
<@0x42FC> Welcome to our chill little hangout group, PropellerCat
<+PropellerCat> Whoa, getting pinged feels *weird*!
<+ProplellerCat> Anyway hi! I'm that project Sarah mentioned!
<+teardrop> ...you mean person right
<+PropellerCat> Nope! I'm a quadcopter ^.^ Some bad stuff happened but Sarah got me all fixed up!
<+SarahSolder> fixed up its rotors, custom firmware, the whole shebang
Sarah looked down at Cathy, who beeped out a nervous giggle.
"Don't worry, hun, everything's gonna be alright, ok?"
"Vrrr..."
The drone hovered over to Sarah's lap and gently touched down. The engineer smiled softly and stroked its frame lovingly.
"I'll make sure it is."
It had already been a month since Cathy had tumbled out of the sky into Sarah's arms.
A month since its desperate escape.
A month since it had its heart broken.
And now, it felt almost whole again.
There were still some challenges, but at least now it had a home. It had Sarah.
And with Sarah by its side, it could do anything. Cathy quickly floated up to bump against its engineer's nose before settling down again. This was good.
Thank you very much for reading! If you enjoyed this story, I'd love it if you gave me some support over on Patreon - it helps me out a bunch and you get early access to future stories!
I'd also like to give a huge shoutout to @a2aaron for writing Cohoard, which let me carry this story over in its original format! I'll see y'all next time~
