Planning 1.1

I perched on my seat, staring at the screens in front of me.

…68%…

…69%…

Come on Taylor, patience!

I just had to wait for the diagnostics to run, and then I could activate the three drones fully. My first project would be complete and I could start being a hero. Finally.

Well, my drones would be doing the heroic work, I didn't have much more than the taser I'd built. I turned to look at it for a second; similar in design to what my drones had built in, it was powerful enough to take down a fully grown bear, and hopefully low level brutes. I didn't want to use it though, for it would mean someone had found my lab. A bunch of ideas on how to ramp up the power of the tasers came to mind and I pushed them away. I wasn't trying to kill anyone, just knock them out. The tasers could be lethal at maximum power already.

The computer beeped and I turned back.

…100%

Diagnostics completed

Power supply - No faults

Primary weapon - No faults

Secondary weapon - No ammunition

Propulsion system - No faults

Communications system - No faults

Recording hardware - No faults

Perfect.

I grabbed the modified smoke grenades and slotted them into each of the drones before standing back to admire them. Built out of remote control helicopters, old TVs and computers, they looked unmistakably like tinker tech. Made by a tinker with few resources though. It was the best I could do however.

Keying a code into my wrist mounted control module, I felt pride seep through me as the three drones activated, dual propellers spinning up with barely a whisper. All showed a green light so I turned back to the screens. Three video feeds popped up and I choked back a laugh. The drones' cameras were focused on me and my hair was a mess.

How long have I spent in here? Ah shit, its gone ten. My dad's gonna be worried.

I typed a few commands and the drones flew out of the lab. They would exit through one of the broken windows at the other end of the old warehouse, before searching for any trouble. Tonight I would start making a difference. Tonight I would be a hero.

But first, I needed to call my dad. Setting the computer to alert me if the drones noticed any violence, I picked up my phone and dialed home.

"Danny Hebert speaking."

"Uh, dad? Its Taylor, I …uh, got caught up at the library. I'll be home soon."

I flushed, I shouldn't have to lie to me dad, but I couldn't let him know. He would force me to join the Wards, and I couldn't, not yet.

"Where in hell have you been? Its too dangerous to walk back, I'm coming to pick you up now."

Shit.

"Uh…wait, Dad? I'll be fine, honestly. I have the pepper spray you gave me," And a tinker tech taser. "Besides, I'm a fast runner and the gangs don't have any territory between the library and home," Please let me, come on dad.

"I…suppose so, dammit Taylor. Just get home safe okay? I'll expect you back in twenty minutes."

"Yes dad," I tried to keep the relief out of my voice. "See you soon, love you."

"Love you too sweetie, be safe."

He hung up and I sighed with relief. The drones could keep patrolling, I could control them from my wrist module, so I plugged in some headphones and shrugged my hoodie on. The computer needed to stay on, it was controlling the drones, but everything else I switched off before locking the doors and making my way to the side entrance I had concealed. The motion sensors hadn't alerted me so I stepped out, secured the door and began to walk home.

I hadn't made it far when a warning sound played through the headphones. I should really have different sounds for different warnings. I though as I pulled up my sleeve, tapping the screen to activate the command module. Drone three had an alert icon flashing. Tapping it made me gasp in shock. The screen showed a massive, well built man. He was probably over six feet and his uncovered arms and chest had intricate dragon tattoos. His muscles bunched under the plain, white shirt he wore, and the metallic, dragon mask served to make him appear even more formidable.

It wasn't just appearances though. This was Lung. The leader of the Azn Bad Boys. He was rumoured to be some kind of brute/changer that got his powers from combat and the longer he stayed in it, the stronger and tougher he got.

I gasped a second time as the drone got close enough to pick up audio.

"…the children, just shoot. Doesn't matter your aim, just shoot. You see one lying on the ground? Shoot the little bitch twice more to be sure. We give them no chances to be clever or lucky, understand?"

I heard murmurs of affirmation and the drone's camera highlighted some smaller men, garbed in green and red holding handguns, a few had automatic weapons.

They're going after children!

I immediately ordered the other two drones to join the third. I wasn't going to stand around when I could actually help for once, these thugs were going down. I would have to take Lung down quickly with the tasers, hopefully his minions would run after that, but the drones' main weapons had multiple charges.

I activated the combat protocols and marked Lung as a priority target. Pausing, I thought for a second, he was a brute so I could probably use excessive force on him. I shrugged, and allowed the use of lethal power levels with the tasers, as long as Lung was the target. The module beeped at me again.

Ah good, the drones are all ready and in position.

I gave permission to attack.

The first two drones flew towards Lung, dragon mask turning to face them as a smoke grenade was launched. Filled with smoke and pepper spray, the rapidly expanding cloud engulfed him. I smiled as I heard painful coughs and curses.

He may be a brute, but smoke and pepper spray hurts like hell if it gets in your lungs.

My heart pounded as the drones went in to finish him. A crunch followed by an arc of electricity came through, but my module immediately began sounding a warning.

What…oh.

Drone one had fired its weapon, but drone two had not. And the latter had a warning status. I ordered it to back out, leaving drone one to watch the stunned boss of the ABB. Quickly running a diagnostics check, I switched to the third drone. The group of green and red thugs where either writhing in the smoke, out cold or had run off.

One of my drones did that? These guys do not deserve their reputation. I frowned. The ABB were scary, this shouldn't be so easy. My pace had slowed to a walk during the fight, so I picked it up again.

Drone one suddenly registered some movement, Lung was stirring and what appeared to be scales were forming on his skin. Probably his changer power activating. He began to push himself up and I began to panic.

Not enough time to use a smoke grenade and I remember something about his scales being metal so….

I ordered the first drone to hit him again, and the third to repeat the attack. Lung grit his teeth at the first attack, but the second caused him to collapse again. His chest rose and fell slower this time, scales receding into his skin.

My attention turned to the diagnosis, drone two had been hit by Lung. The camera was down, as was the weapons, but the flight system was still functional, barely.

It won't take long to fix but that is annoyi… Re-watching the last seconds of video recorded showed Lung twisting and hitting the drone, reacting faster than he should have in the smoke. They did not mention enhanced reflexes on PHO.

A female voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Lung. Out cold. Electric burns. From tasers…on the drones?"

The camera showed a young woman, blonde hair flowed out from behind her mask.

Another cape.

"What the fuck are they?" A male voice this time.

"Drones. Obviously tinker tech. Semi-autonomous. Non-lethal weaponry. Flight capabilities as you can see aaaand shit. Cameras and microphones." The woman waved. "Hey there friendly tinker."

What. How? She had to be some kind of thinker. I need to reply…uhhh.

"She's shy, probably wasn't expecting us."

I spoke up. "I was not expecting you at all, I wasn't even expecting him, how the hell did you know I'm a girl and who are you?" It came out faster than I had intended.

Calm, Taylor, you are nowhere near them.

"Well little miss tinker, we are very grateful that you took down this fiery dragon before he got to us. What should we call you? We'd like to," a cough from out of the camera shot. "Sorry, I'd like to talk to you."

"Uhh I haven't got a name yet, I'm new."

"I knew you were new but that fresh? I'd better make a good impression," She smiled brightly before stiffening and cocking her head. "Ah seems like an unwanted visitor. You'd better get your drones out of here, they'll not take too kindly to a fight between villains out in the open. Oh, and call me!" she traced something in the air before running off. I ordered my drones to track them but a cloud of darkness shrouded them. By the time the drones got high enough, they were gone.

What did she mean? Oh, she thinks I'm a villain making a play on Lung. This wasn't even intentional!

I was about five minutes away from home now, getting into bed was appealing to me a lot now, too much excitement for one day.

Although, I have a lot of data on the drones' performances and I tested them in combat. I can think of ways to allow them to dodge more easily, that will be required against villains with enhanced reflexes and…

The sound of a heavily modified motorcycle came through the headphones, increasing in volume. I ordered the drones to focus on the approaching vehicle and my breath caught as I recognised the hero riding it. That was why the group of villains had headed off so rapidly.

The second best Tinker in the world brought his bike to a stop and stepped off. I had idolised him before I had my powers and after becoming a tinker? I wanted to be as prolific and powerful as he was.

"Umm, hi Armsmaster." Get it together Taylor, that was awakward!

"I'm guessing you aren't a villain?"

"Wait what? No! Of course I'm not!"

"Good, wait." He held up a hand as he walked over to Lung, pausing to take his state in and jabbing something into his chest. Playing back the footage showed a syringe full of what was probably anaesthetic. "Now, explain to me what the hell you did here. You know who this is right?"

I held back my shock, he was angry?

"I-I overheard him telling his men to go kill some ch-children. I couldn't just stand by and let him kill some…innocents, they had guns and I'm a hero so I stepped in!" I paused, taking a breath. "I'm nowhere near here, I was at no risk of behind hurt!". In fact, I had just turned into my road.

"Okay, this is Lung, he is powerful. If he found out you set these drones on him? He'll come for revenge. The Protectorate and the PRT don't take him on alone for that reason."

I froze. What was I thinking? He's right.

"Wh-what should I do then?"

"I suggest you let me take the credit. I'll tell the press I was testing some combat drones and happened upon Lung planning an ambush against children. People will support my decision and Lung probably won't come after me. You however, I can tell from you voice that you are young. You should join the Wards. Even if words gets out, you'll still be protected."

"I'm not sure I'm ready to join the Wards, I want to build some more equipment first."

"You do know if you joined you would have access to all all the resources that any Protectorate tinker would have? You could build far more advanced drones."

My mouth opened slightly. I could probably build the anti-grav propulsion, and create some sort of ranged stun weapon. It would be so easy to build more drones and coordin…

"Hello? Are you still…"

"Yes, yes I was…uh…thinking about your offer." I just interrupted Armsmaster, what was I thinking? "I think I would like that, um, how should I contact you?"

He held up a card with his name and a contact number on. "I can't give this to you but I assume you can take a photograph of it?"

"Uh yes, its done. I record all the footage anyway." I smiled despite shaking with fear and excitement. "I'll call you tomorrow I guess?"

"Of course. Thank you and, you did a good job here."

I ordered the drones back to the warehouse and walked up to my front door. It opened before I got there. My dad was standing, looking down at me. "Who were you talking to?"

"J-just a friend, from the library…"

"Really. And what was that on your wrist?" He reached forwards and pulled my sleeve up before I could get away. The control module was exposed in all its tinker tech glory and a frown creased my dad's forehead. "What on earth is this? Taylor?"

I scratched my head with my free hand. "Well, I've been meaning to tell you something…"