Disclaimer: For the last time, Toonami is copyright Cartoon Network, and certain recognizable personalities belong to Rooster Teeth.

Swarm

chapter 0.5: the end of the beginning

Gideon Alpha-12, Automaton Construction Platform.

TOM and RUBY stood abreast of each other—and this was definitely the last time, TOM knew—back in the main construction chamber. All around them a slightly reduced number of droids and automatons were getting back to their stations and reorganizing production lines. LARS was nowhere in sight, and once again, they had nothing to do besides wait. But it wasn't so bad this time, in remembrance of what had occurred earlier.

Not all intruders had been cleared from Alpha-12; some were still wandering around inside attempting to find their way out. A Nebula Ray popped out of a large access hatch somewhere overhead. It caused some general alarm, but didn't go after anyone. Workers rushed to the emergency escape hatches and opened a few, drawing the ray in the right direction.

Anyone who was interested and not busy watched it sail steadily overhead, bringing a moment of calm to the factory floor. The obvious reason for the calm was that no one wanted to provoke the ray, but there was also an undeniable sense of fascination in the observation of an incredibly rare species whose origin was a mystery and whose existence was a marvel. They slowed and watched quietly while it glided undauntedly through their own place of work. When the ray reached one of the escape hatches and floated through, the door hissed shut, opening on the other side to release it back into open space.

While others were returning to their positions and getting busy again, a green automaton stepped up beside his companions. He was missing his entire right arm. TOM thought little of it until the green growled, "Don't say a word."

"Heeey," TOM mused, recognizing the voice and remembering what they'd joked about before. "Aren't you the same guy who—"

"Yes," The green interrupted curtly. "Shut. Up. I still have one arm, and that's all I need to hit you."

"You still owe me a couple thousand from our bet," TOM said, unable to resist. "Gonna cost you and arm and a leg."

"Shutup."

"I'm sure you can work it off, though. Start a lucrative business. Anything but arms dealing."

"Dude, those are really bad jokes, so I'm not even gonna dignify you by getting mad."

"So we're no longer comrades in arms?"

While they were bantering, a decapitated automaton head rolled up and somehow came to a stop next to RUBY. "No chistes, por favor," he begged.

After another few minutes of waiting, LARS swept into the room. Before the O.A.R. could say anything, TOM threw out his hands, proclaiming, "Ta-dah! I saved your business and lived to take partial credit. Whaddaya have to say to that?"

But LARS kept moving. "Prioritized tasks take precedence, and it is still marked for incineration and total wipe."

TOM let his arms drop. "Are you kidding me?" he asked in disbelief.

"Didn't you notice anything he did?" RUBY asked, equally dismayed.

"It pushed a few buttons and sent a transmission. Any droid is programmed for that. It currently has no assigned occupation and must be removed ..." LARS looked up at the overhead crane and sent a signal to it, but the machine didn't budge. That was no surprise, considering the holes in the walls where power conduits had previously been, and the chunk that had been bitten out of the crane's auxiliary supply. LARS glared back down at the automatons. "... As soon as necessary equipment is functional."

His optic lenses blinked with inset lights. In response to the hailing frequency, he ordered, "Open transmission," and turned his back on the automatons, ignoring the blue one's upset remark. "Starship, this is Platform Alpha-12 dispatch."

"This is L-Class Deep Space Explorer Absolution," the ship outside responded.

"Go ahead, Absolution."

"As mentioned during our last and slightly less eventful visit, we're still short on mobile crew. We were hoping to acquisition a droid from you if you're currently able."

"Affirmative. There are a few construction and demolition units available here," LARS informed them, eyeing the last VIK unit as it waved to the fuschia automaton while going about its work. "One or two could be supplied."

"Actually, we were more interested in that communications droid who contacted us."

LARS was dead silent for a minute. Glancing over his shoulder, he observed the blue unit chatting with its contemporaries. "It must be acquired under a ... ah, no-return policy. Will that be satisfactory?"

"That'll be fine. Absolution out."

LARS closed the frequency and returned to the shortened row of automatons. He approached slowly, and soon had their full, curious attention. But before he could get a word in, TOM pointed up at him and said, "Know what? It's pretty obvious what your problem with me is: you suck at running this place, so when I come along and save it from being torn apart, you can't stand it. I did more good than you could, and you know it."

"That's right," RUBY supported.

Pausing for a few extra seconds to deal with an unusual swell of contempt, LARS finally ground out his last words to the blue automaton. "It has a new designation."

The same starship that had come to the rescue with seconds to spare now glided past the space station right outside the airlock TOM waited in. It's impulse thrusters eased it to a stop. "That is one stylish ride," he complimented, watching an extendable docking appendage reach out to make contact with the ship. "It looks even nicer now than when it was firing from every gun port. How's that possible?"

"Tom, this is so freakin' sweet!" RUBY uttered, viewing it with him. "You're about to be assigned to a whole starship! Congratulations!"

"Hey, I wouldn't have earned it without your help, Rube." He took his gaze off the lingering ship and looked at his friend. "I have a long road ahead of me. But no matter how far I go, I'm never gonna forget you."

She shrugged amiably. "We'll be connected one way or another. We're made of the same stuff. And we're the same automaton model."

This reminded TOM of something that had been bothering him ever since he had returned to Alpha-12 with RUBY and the others. The multiple rescue efforts notwithstanding, he hadn't forgotten the outcome of their initial trial course. "So I'll be fine," he said hesitantly, not wanting to taint their moment but deciding he had to, "but what about you and the other two automatons? Are you guys still gonna be recycled and reconstructed as different droid models?"

"He would probably prefer it that way," RUBY said, referring to their O.A.R. "But there isn't enough time or resources for that kind of work. With this big place all torn up by the Nebula Rays, there's plenty of reconstruction to be done, so LARS can't afford to dismantle any of us. I'll be kept busy."

"That's a big relief."

"So, until we meet again," she said with mock-melodrama, "farewell, my friend."

"Be seein' ya. Someday, I'll try to do proud by our model, promise." The airlock hissed open, and he stepped through it.

As her friend departed and the hatchway closed behind him, RUBY whispered to herself, "You already have." She looked away for a second, grumbling, "I mean, of course you have! Jeez, you just saved a whole freakin' construction colony fer cryin' out loud, what more are you gonna do? Are you going to save the whole dang galaxy next? Talk about setting yer standards high." She turned back in time to see TOM entering the ship, which powered up its engines and rocketed off into the stars. "I'll miss you, Tom."

As TOM took his first step onto the Absolution, there were two things on his mind: how much he would miss RUBY, and the fact that he hadn't been given any job description whatsoever. He glanced in both directions, wondering what should come first on the agenda. Before long, a hovering, spherical droid with multiple lenses and a couple minor appendages on its top and bottom floated up to him.

"My name's Moltar," came a deep, laid-back voice via the droid's transmitter. "You prob'ly won't meet me in person, but no big deal. Come on up to the bridge. I'll show you around. The bigger tour is self-guided."

"Works for me," TOM said.

The ship's clean, dimly-lit interior was quiet aside from the smooth hum of the engines and other widespread systems. As he followed the droid toward the Absolution's bridge, TOM took the place in, gazing down every hallway and through every aperture they passed. This ... he thought to himself, ... is a really big ship. Don't know why, but I have a feeling there're gonna be some big, eventful things happening here.

THE END ... for now