MLaaTR Cluster Wars

Chapter 5: Upgrade Pains Redux; Wanting to Fit In

Wakeman Household

Cellar

Deep down within the confines of the Wakeman House, was the cellar of the house. It was basically where Dr. Wakeman kept most of her dangerous epxeriments hidden, as well as half of her failures. The place was littered with so many scifi stuff, you'd think it was a comic-con's wet dream. But the cellar was aslo the home of the former XJ series, the robots that had come before Jenny. In short, they were Jenny's sisters, XJ-1 through XJ-8, where they remained in stasis; asleep and undisturbed, but only when there was an occasion when Jenny was down and out.

Though one of the XJ series seemed not to be completely offline, and this one was hard to miss. This XJ unit was the tallest of the group, and the bulkiest; a rather She-Hulk around nine feet tall. Her pain scheme was dark blue, maybe Navy Blue, on her chest, skirt, boot-like constructs on her lower legs, but her feet remained white and bulky. She had two blue bolts for belly buttons. Her chest was designed sturdier than a tank turret. Massive, powerful arms hung by the robot's side, ending in fists that looked like they could crush an automobile. Immense legs and feet left a trail of cracks in the sidewalk. Two eye slits dark and lifeless on a rounded head, just below two tiny pigtails which stuck into the air … about nine feet off the ground. This was XJ-8, Jenny's earlier design, and arguably the most powerful, even more powerful than Jenny. Though she was more robot, as when activated, she would speak in the standard "robot voice", unlike her speaking sisters whom each had a voice that lets on to their personality.

At the moment, it was apparent that her eyes flickered, and her hands twitched. Those were a few physiological signs that she was dreaming. Which would have been impossible, considering her programming and hardware weren't advanced that much. But it was speculated one time that machines could evolve beyond what they were built from. This… may have been proof, as she dreamt of one special night.

Her First Dance.

Her memories dated back to a rather timid and scrawny silver and green looking android.

"Ah … Hi there … er … XJ-8, is it?" He gulped awkwardly. "That's a … uh … pretty name."

"It is my assigned serial number," blasted a heavy, droning synthesized voice. "Number eight in the line of Global Robotic Response Units. Jenny has informed me that your assigned designation is 'Andrew'."

"Um … that's my name. But … uh … everyone calls me Drew, for short."

"Alternate naming noted and stored. It is nice to meet you, Drew-for-short."

Jenny, who was there along with her, bubbled with laughter. "Sis, you're so funny! Isn't she something else, Drew?"

"Ohhhhh yeah, she's something else, all right."

"Rhythmic noises detected at fifty meters, bearing two-seven-five degrees. Volume levels excessive. Initiate sonic countermeasures." Her left shoulder cracked open, and a large parabolic dish started to unfold and deploy towards the gym …

"It's all right, XJ-8. That's the music!" Jenny patted her on the arm. "Just remember everything I told you this afternoon, and do what I do. Now let's get in there and join the fun!"

That night seemed to go rather nice, until laughter was poked at her for misinterpretations, a comment about a fat butt, and comments behind her back. She had slumped out of the dance and to a secluded location. She felt the night had given up on her, so she decided to walk away and return to the cellar, power down with her sisters. However, that changed when a certain silver green android, Drew-for-short, showed up. The two sat down, enjoying a can of W-40 oil, as Drew-for-short had talked with one another, hoping to break the awkward ice.

"I did not expect to see you again after my erroneous performance at the dance. I calculated a seventy-eight percent probability that you would not return."

Drew sighed deeply, tracing his finger around the rim of his can. "I did come pretty close to bailing out on the evening myself. I only came back to the gym to tell Brad and Jenny that I was going home."

"Then why have you not yet returned to your home?"

"Well, I didn't want to miss the robot catfight," he smirked. Then his face grew sad and serious. "And once that was over, after you'd helped save all those kids … I heard what they said to you, and I saw you run off. And … I followed you. You know, XJ-8, your sister is probably worried sick about you."

"Concern is unnecessary," XJ-8 replied. Drew thought that he could almost detect a huff in her voice. "I am fully programmed and equipped for self-defense."

"I don't doubt that. But that's not the only reason I followed you."

She watched him wrestle to find his words. "I owe you an apology. A big one."

The two then had gone through a discussion on whether or not it didn't matter what others thought, it was important that you had fun.

Suddenly, clanking sounds slightly awoke XJ-8 for a moment, as her optic creaked open a peak. She detected movement, as she saw a figure, carrying what appeared to be a broken down Accelerator f-24 jet engine. Once her optic focused enough, she saw it was her older smaller sister, XJ-9, or Jenny as she preferred to be called. But… she was different looking now.

She had retained her color scheme, which was silver and pale blue, and her height of six feet. She still had her belly bolt and her pigtails, but there were major differences. Her body had been reshaped into being a bit more human like, just like Drew and Allison. Her blue tank top had been changed to a sleeveless shirt with a collar with a blue button on the front collar, and still exposed her belly bolt, with a white line going down the left side of her breast chassis, and a number 9 on the left breast. She still had her blue mini skirt, but had two compartments on the side. She now had blue wristbands, and her blue boot-like constructs on her lower legs had been thinned out a bit, making them less bulky, but her feet remained white and dainty, but had blue ankle guards. She noticed her hair was now real and not some paint on attachment; her hair was short and messy, but had curly bangs on her sides to hide that she didn't have ears… still. The hair appeared to be soft and flexible. Her blue pigtails were still kept in place to two white flathead screws, but they were longer, meaning they had more powerful stabilizers and blasters in them. But in honesty, Jenny looked fantastic.

Jenny stopped for a moment, and placed the engine down with the other discarded failures/extra stuff. Once Jenny was done, she turned and noticed her sisters. She smiled as she ran over to them, completely ignoring the fact that XJ-8 was faking her slumber. She then smirked and winked at them all, "Hey, guys. Check it out." And twirled around and struck a pose, "Mom gave me an upgrade; I look even better than I was before." Her arms opened up to pop out laser limbs, "My weapon systems have been completely overhauled; I'm at top efficiency unlike before. I feel like a whole new girl." She put her guns away, and winked, "And check this out too."

Jenny stood back, as her hair pigtails folded down, making look like she had loose long hair that went down her back. Her tank top stretched in front, covering her belly bolt, and then the back went down to her waist, showing her back. Her blue skirt stretched down and stopped between her calves, and out of her waist stretched out a white scarf of metal, wrapping around her waist, and tied together by a white satellite dish in the shape of a rose. The same thing happened around her neck, as the scarf draped down her back, and her blue bands on her wrists stretched out to her shoulders. Her blue boot-like constructs shortened down and folded in, making them into small high heel shoes.

Once it was done, Jenny winked at the XJ Line as she smirked, "I've also got a Fashion Transformation Mode. From summer to winter, I can change from default outfit to alternate outfit. For dances, dinners, dates, proms, or social events, I can transform an outfit whenever I want to. Mom got the idea after my Fashion Victim incident." She tapped her chin in thought, "She even did it for Allison, my BFBFF, Best Fembot Friend Forever, back on Cluster Prime." She then transformed back, as she mumbled, "Though Ally was a little freaked out from the whole overhaul."

But then her happiness dissipated into disappointment, as she looked her sisters, "I just wish Mom could've done the same with you guys. I know you're all my prototypes, but you're all more than that. You're my sisters." She then sighed deeply, as she smiled sadly, "Everyone has the right to change a little for the better." She then walked towards the stairs, and as she walked up, she stopped midstep, and looked to XJ-8, and said aloud for all her sisters to hear, "Even you should have the chance, XJ-8." And went back upstairs, closing the door to the cellar.

Once that happened, XJ-8 awoke, drumming out in her drone toned voice, "SLEEP MODE DEACTIVATED, WAKE MODE INITIATED." She then lumbered a little, ensuring that her girth did not shake the whole house. She walked towards a metallic construct, with the metallic plating polished enough to make a reflection. XJ-8 studied herself in the mirror, glancing at her chassis, "COMBAT CHASSIS: OUTDATED. I MUST UPGRADE TO ACHIEVE THIS FUNCTION OF BEING CALLED 'CHANGE'." She tapped her big finger on her grilled mouth, "MOTHER WOULD NOT CONSEND TO SUCH AN ACTION, DECLARING I WOULD BE INFERIOR FOR SUCH AN UPDATE." Then, an idea popped into her head, as a light bulb folded out of her head, and lit up, "IF I CANNOT ASK FAMILY TO DO SUCH A FEAT… I MUST LOCATE SOMEONE WHO COULD. ACCESSING DATABASE."

Her mind went through files, searching for anyone who could perform such advanced robotics similar to her mother. And then, a memory from the dance before, and the file opened up: Sheldon Lee. XJ-8's boot rocket boosters kicked in, as she launched through the house, smashing through the floorboards, and through the roof, taking off in the skies.

Back in the house, Mrs. Wakeman was looking through a magnifying glass, unaware of a hole through the lab floor. But it didn't go unnoticed, as she mumbled, "I really have to do something about those termites."

Cluster Prime

Vexus' Palace

On her throne, Vexus wasn't a happy queen, as her fingers drummed on her throne. Smytus had returned to her empty handed: no XJ-9, no LSN-1482, and not even dust remains of the Abomination, Andrew Nabholtz, or to the public, DRU-1. Apparently the Nanodroid had gotten better from his little virus. Not only that, but she had learned that the abomination could now shoot out electro-plasma, something he had not yet been able to do before. He was even able to wipe out the Giganto Mantis with one devastating blast. This just angered her even more, as she looked down at a sniveling Smytus.

Finally, she shot up, and fumed at the Commander, "THAT'S IT! I've had it! You promised you'd bring me XJ-9, you promised to crush this rebellion, YOU EVEN PROMISED ME YOU'D DESTROY THIS ABOMINATION!"

"My Queen," Smytus pleaded, "I know that my failures in the past have not borne fruit, but there is still hope. The Malevolence…"

"Is practically useless without the Pip Crystals needed to charge up the blasted thing," Vexus snapped back. She sat back on her throne, as she fumed, "I am through with these minor problems and am deceitfully disgusted with the delays for the conquest of the Milky Way Galaxy, no thanks to this Resistance and their abomidable champion, and more or less XJ-9's defiance."

Hoping to please her Queen, Smytus stood up as he asked, "Um, do you wish for me to send out a battalion of Roach Drones to attempt to capture XJ-9? Or perhaps send another Levia-Gun to…?"

"Not this time, Smytus. I'm placing all weapons and Roach Drones for Cluster Prime's needs. That of which I am placing you in charge of," Vexus shooed away.

The Commander stood up and smiled, feeling relieved that he wasn't gonna get scrapped, "Oh, thank you, my Queen. Thank you, thank you."

"That and I don't want you out of my sight," she shot out, causing the Commander to slump in shame. Vexus flexed her fingers, as she bellowed out for all to hear, "XJ-9 will be a minor priority to handle with, for now we shall focus on this Resistance that dares to overthrow my rule! For this, I want the big guns, the whole whazoo! I want more than just soldiers, weapons of mass destruction… I WANT… WARRIORS!" She then sat down on her throne, crossing her legs, as she smirked evilly, "And I know just the one to handle this."

Smytus' eyes opened up with fear, as he gulped, "You mean… he's returning?"

Vexus nodded, "He'll be here shortly by the end of this solar cycle. But until he arrives, he's sent one of his best on Earth, after I gave him the details of the situation. This warrior was guaranteed to seal the deal."

Back on Earth

Lee Household

Working in a garage-turned-lab in the Lee house, was a teenager working on what appeared to be a weapon attachment. He was a sixteen year old Caucasian, of Asian appearance. He had some teeth that stuck out, freckles, and greasy black hair with two cowlicks. He was dressed in blue-gray baggy pants, a white T-shirt, and an auburn hoodie. This was Sheldon Lee, your typical comic book collecting science geek who was positively smitten for Jenny. He usually spent his time building attachment for Jenny, in the hopes that she'd be impressed with him, though most of the time she didn't really notice them. He even created a robot boy persona, the Silver Shell, in the hopes he'd make her see how annoying it'd be to have a robot boy for a boyfriend. Though that plan backfired on him, but he kept it as a way to help her out, even if she didn't know it was him piloting the robot suit. Now, he just busied on another project.

He lifted his welding shield, as he smirked at his latest project, "The XL-8 twin astro engines. Designed for FTL, Faster than Light. These babies would help Jen for traveling across the galaxies whenever she needed to solve a problem alien planet wise." But then he slumped, kidding himself, "Oh, who am I kidding. Jenny wouldn't need these. Not since her…" and then sighed dreamily, as he cooed, "… her upgrades."

He drooled aside, as he looked over to his newest shrine, with pictures of Jenny with her upgrades. When she had arrived to school after her tune-up, he felt he had died and gone to robo-heaven. He leaned over to his shrine, and sighed, "Oh, my metallic goddess, truly perfection can be improved upon. Your upgrades are proof of that." He then drew a circle around Jenny's profile with his finger, "Oh, if only there was some way to show you how much you mean to me. In some awesome moment, I could show you something worth impressing you…"

CRASH!

The garage shook from some sort of impact, as did Sheldon when he jumped out of his chair in statement. Once the impact tremor died down, he heard monstrous footsteps, as the ground shook with every step. They stopped, as now a dark shadow covered him, causing him to nervously turn around… only to come belly-bolt to face, and seconds later face-to-face with XJ-8.

His fear merely tweaked down to nervousness, as he politely greeted her, "Oh, um, hello, XJ-8. What can I do you for? Jenny's not here, so…"

"I AM NOT SEEKING XJ-9," XJ-8 replied, "I HAVE COME FOR YOU, SHELDON LEE. I NEED YOU."

Sheldon was a bit taken by that, as he nervously gulped, "Ehehehehe. Um, listen, XJ-8, I appreciate the flattery but, I don't think Jenny would appreciate…"

"I REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF YOU UPGRADING MY CHASSIS TO BECOME MORE PERFECT. LIKE MY SISTER, XJ-9," XJ-8 explained.

Seeing the meaning of it, Sheldon sighed, relieved that Jenny's sister wasn't trying a romantic relationship with him. "Oh, is that all? No problem." He thought to himself smirking, 'This might not be such a bad idea. If I can upgrade XJ-8, it would catch Mrs. Wakeman's eye; she'll want to hire me as an assistant with her lab. That means more time with Jenny.' He stood up as he nodded, "Alright, let's get to work then."

Later on, XJ-8 was placed, or rather strapped to a vertical table, while Sheldon was dressed as a mechanic doctor. At the moment, he was examining XJ-8's chassis, probing every detail of the robot's biology and technology. Analyzing computers, drawing diagrams, surveying specs and vitals, Sheldon began hard at work. Finally, after what appeared to be an hour, Sheldon had finished everything, and placed his work on the table. It was time to break XJ-8 the news, as he walked towards her.

He removed his surgeon's mask, and sighed, "I'm sorry, XJ-8, but after all the details and tests… you're outmoded. As in unable to be upgraded."

XJ-8's grill mouth frowned, as the titan robot sighed, "I CALCULATED A 47 PERCENT CHANCE PROBABILITY THAT YOU WOULD SAY THAT. I AM SIMPLY… OBSOLETE."

Sheldon thought about it for a moment, tapping his chin, and then smirked, "Maybe not."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"

Sheldon then explained, "I can transplant your mind and weapon mechanisms into a new and yet more advanced body."

"A NEW BODY?" XJ-8 thought aloud, but then asked, "IS IT FEESIBLE?"

Sheldon nodded, "Theoretically, it's possible. With a little effort and hardwork…" and mumbled, "… not to mention a photographic memory of Jenny's master blueprints…" And returned to XJ-8, "I can make you an exact copy of your sister's body. Maybe make it even better."

"IF YOU CAN, PLEASE," XJ-8 agreed and encouraged, but then corrected, "BUT COULD YOU DESIGN THE BODY TO BE MORE… ME, THAN XJ-9?"

Sheldon tapped his chin on that, and decided, "Alright, this will be my masterpiece. This body will be bold, brilliant, and beautiful. Something that would be worthy of the XJ Line." He then walked over to XJ-8, as he reached for a switch, "I'm gonna need you to be in Sleep Mode for this, okay?"

"VERY WELL. I AM USED TO BEING IN STASIS," XJ-8 complied, "ENTERING STASIS MODE." And with that said, XJ-8's systems whirred to a quiet slumber, and she fell asleep, as Sheldon began to work.

That Night

The orbit of Earth lay quiet in its tranquil state of daytime in the atmosphere. It's as almost nothing could disturb it, and then suddenly, a portal-like rift tore itself open between the space of Mars and of Earth. Out of the rift came a shooting star, heading almost straight to Earth.

The Next Morning

Everything was black, no sound was made; it was almost as if there was nothing at all. Until…

AUDIO RECEPTORS ONLINE

SLEEP MODE ACTIVE….

XJ-8?

XJ-8?

Jenny, can you hear me?

SLEEP MODE END. POWER 100% RE-ACTIVATE

The blackness disappeared, as her eyes flickered a bit regaining shapes and color. XJ-8 groaned as she was welcomed by the ceiling of the garage workshop. She looked around, unable to see herself, until she spotted Sheldon, "Sheldon Lee. Was the procedure… successful?" XJ-8 blinked a moment, as she realized her voice had changed, though it still maintained the monotone dialect she had, as she asked, "My voice?"

"I figured I'd update the voice a bit," Sheldon explained. "But anyway, the prodecure was a success." He pointed to the corner, revealing XJ-8's older body still in place, and powered down. He then smirked, "I think I actually outdid myself on this one. Here, let me show you." He led her to the room's full-bodied mirror, as he showed her, "Take a look at the New You."

"Okay," XJ-8 sighed. "I am ready to inspect the detail of my new form with a reflective surface." Sheldon arched an eyebrow, as XJ-8 corrected, "I am ready to see myself."

Once she stood there, her face didn't show it, but she was deeply amazed at the change. The body that Sheldon had given her now, was six feet in height rather than nine, it was slimmed down with less muscle, but surprisingly slender. She had retained the color scheme of a dark blue and white. Her shape was a bit more human, much like her sister was. She now had a blue one piece from chest to pelvis, with the hip sides revealing white instead of blue, and her belly bolt was replaced. Her slim but powerful legs were white at the upper thigh and joints, but from mid-thigh to ankle were boot constructs, and her feet were dainty white with dark blue toes and back heels. Bolted to her hips were two white pouch-like attachments, holding what appeared to be the tail of a duster coat going down to her ankles, colored blue, but trimmed white at the bottom, and split in the back, leading to her butt. Her upper torso was also made into a collared short jacket piece colored dark blue, with a pipe collar around the neck area. Her shoulders were ball jointed, with an 8 painted on the outside of the shoulder, and colored dark blue on the inside of it. Her arms were slim but strong looking, and her forearms were a bit bigger and painted dark blue, and had wrist cuffling brass knucle shaped, with three white bolts on them. Her hands were white as were her bicep arms. Her face was now more human, replacing the grill for a mouth with a reguarl mouth. Her hair was dark blue but not in pigtails, but more of a military cut, with a bang dangling on the right. Bolted to where the ears should have been was a light blue visor shielding her eyes. In honesty, XJ-8 was now a knockout.

"So, what do ya think," Sheldon asked, as he went on. "Despite the smaller frame, you'll still have all the other weaponry your older body had. Aside from being stripped of all the excess, you're still stronger and tougher than Jenny was. Advanced endo-frames and ally will enable you to take a phenomenal amount of damage. Though I wouldn't risk too much damage; you're only human, so to speak. Your physical strength is folds more powerful due to state of the art artificial muscle fiber and hydraulics, all based on organic designs. All weaponry is still military-based, and tougher than ever. I've even installed my new Astro Engine for interstellar flight. Just in case you wish to go on interplanetary missions that may threaten the Earth."

He noticed XJ-8 was running her hands on her sides, arms, and even feeling her face from all the changes. Feeling it wasn't what she wanted, Sheldon asked, "Um, is it not what you wanted, XJ-8?"

XJ-8 stopped, and turned to Sheldon to answer, her monotone dull face still plastered as before. But then something happened, no one ever expected. Her face strained a bit, until finally, she had made a smile with her face, and loked back to her reflection, "I look… amazingly normal."

Next Chapter: Consequences of Change; Where Does One Belong