(Wave, I was thinking @maximus-pinpoint would reply next, but I didn’t notice you had edited your post until now)
“I’m sure it was. I recall a similar feeling when you and the feline killed my spies,”Malcolm replied with a smirk.
He watched Hiro, noticing how he fell into thought. Malcolm could only hope the boy wouldn’t cause trouble. He preferred keeping the AIs as allies, primarily because he was aware that they outmatched him in every way. Sure, dying wasn’t a problem, but he didn’t want the AIs butchering his body afterward.
“Don’t get pissed off about the AI. They have their ways, and it works a shit ton better than what’s left of humanity,”Malcolm remarked, his tone becoming a bit stern at the mention of humanity.
“ I promise I wont burn your bridges. Though it’s pissing off why I can’t figure out why they killed that damn bot.”
“That one was somehow defective. That is the only reason they would have destroyed that one,”Malcolm replied.
He glanced down the street again, still wary. He then glanced at Ruthie, still waiting for an answer.
Hiros worry for his new found friend grew to much “ stay here, see what she wants. “ he said walking off. Hiro put his long hair up into a ponytail before storming off back to the house. He readied himself for a fight, if there’d be one.
“Damn it, boy. It’s too risky,”Malcolm snapped.
He snatched Hiro before he went to far away, holding him back.
“You are not going alone. And I’m the only one they will hesitate to shoot. So, you are going to wait,”Malcolm hissed.
“ I’m not leavening that bot alone!” Hiro snapped back. He jerked out of Malcolms grip. “ and what’s me getting shot fucking matter to you!”
“That bot is already dead, and the body taken. They never leave evidence behind!”Malcolm hissed.
His hand clenched into a fist as Hiro escaped his grip. He hesitated at Hiro’s words, torn and confused. He didn’t even know why it mattered to him, but it did. For some reason, it did, and he couldn’t risk the boy getting killed.
He sighed,”Well, in case you forgot, you have nanobots of my design within you.”
That was all he could answer. If Hiro wanted a better explanation, then he was out of luck, because Malcolm had no way to explain himself.
“ dad said when I died the nano bots are giving a program to go home.” He growled. He was pissed, worried and maybe even a little scared. Though it was all jumbled.
“Does it still exist with my upgrade? Don’t tell me, you’ve forgotten I did that,”Malcolm huffed.
How could he calm the kid down? He needed to calm him down, to keep him away from the AI until he was there. But, how? How could he tell Hiro that he didn’t want the boy to get hurt?
“ yes it does, “ hiros spine flashed red, as if a message was just sent to him.
“Damn it, kid. Don’t commit suicide for a bot that’s already gone,”Malcolm said, his voice shaking slightly, something that never happened.
Hiros gaze softened “ i wouldn’t leave you behind if you were mortally hurt. I finally found something like me, please! At least let’s get home. “
Malcolm breathed deeply and sighed.
“Fine, but I doubt there will be anything left of it. Now, lead the way,”Malcolm said.
He could care if the others followed him and Hiro or not.
Hiro rushed back to the house, rushing through the door and to the strongest signal from the last ping on his bot.
Malcolm followed at a slower pace. He got back inside, and, as he had expected, the bot was gone. Nothing had been touched.
Hiro was visually upset. “ damn it!” He looked back to Malcolm “ I’m sorry for dragging you back. It.. it just felt so wrong to leave him”
“I did tell you that they would take the bot. They always do,”Malcolm sighed.
He glanced out the windows, satisfied that there were no AIs lurking around. He kept an eye out for the others.
Hiro sat in silence. It seemed he’d gotten attached to the bot. “ what in the hell made him so goddamn dysfunctional. “ he said with a questionable tone.
Malcolm shrugged. He still suspected that it was because of the bot’s link to Hiro. It was the only explanation. He hoped the AI wouldn’t come after the boy. If that ever happened, Malcolm didn’t know what he’d do.
Hiro seemed to be thinking along the lines. “ I fucking dare them to come after me. “ he said getting up and looked to Malcolm “ we can go back if you wish.”
“Alright, let’s go. And don’t dare them. You might be powerful, but their numbers grow exponentially and they are more powerful than you think,”Malcolm sighed.
He headed out of the building, looking around before journeying back to the others.
Hiro stayed behind Malcolm and just watched the ground.
William decided to stay back with Ruthie. "Strange…" He shrugged.
Hiro came up behind will aim “ so, is she didn't or agents us.”
"She seems friendly. But she's human."
