Five Months Later – E-POLICE HQ, 09:00 AM.
The captain stepped out of the brand-new E-POLICE station.
"E-POLICE" shined in massive letters above the entrance.
The old tromania Police Departnt had been closed and converted into a giant laboratory for Dr. Nick and his engineering team.
The new HQ was a massive glass structure with wide entrances leading to large hangars on the first floor. Green areas surrounded the building. Satellite dishes crowned the roof. Windows everywhere.
Inside was even more impressive.
A charging bay with 200 stations, expandable if needed.
An automated cri-detection system linked to every E-UNIT.
A huge theater-like eting hall with 5,000 seats and a giant screen.
Resting areas with a futuristic design: clean white walls, bright blue energy lines, and cinematic lighting.
02 passed Units 14 and 18. They imdiately stopped chatting, spines snapping straight as they stood in a perfect military posture and saluted.
She didn't stop, but she offered them a single, cool nod as she passed.
As soon as she was out of earshot, or so they thought, they exploded into whispers.
"There she is!!" "She nodded at ! I'm her favorite!" "No, she nodded at —!"
02 smiled faintly after hearing the newbies. It wasn't bad being a legend.
She walked into the main hall and saw the Father speaking to a news channel. But then she froze. She also noticed… an exact copy of her, but thicker, pink accents, and clearly more "refined."
Nick spoke proudly.
"…and that's why I present to you the E-DIC! A faster, more approachable android for humans!"
02 rolled her eyes and moved closer, jealousy building up.
"And the new bots have better personalities," Nick continued.
Her eyebrow twitched.
"And better-looking body dynamics."
She glared at the pink clone, bigger chest, bigger backside.
"And they treat humans better. They're friendlier overall."
Her eyes narrowed.
"And she's cuter, so children feel safe approaching her—"
02's eyes turned bright red. The caraman stepped back. The reporter pointed at her in shock. Nick turned slowly, saw her twisted expression, the criminal-face, and froze in fear.
"Haha! I an— but they will never beat the old girls! Ever! I an—!"
The reporter facepald.
02 stomped on her father's foot, blasted upward, and yelled.
"PERV. IDIOT!"
Cristelis Tower, tromania center. 09:10 AM.
02 was patrolling the downtown.
She found 03 and 05 sitting at the top of a skyscraper, depressed, the usual E-UNIT hangout spot to admire the city view.
Her thrusters turned on as she flied to et her sisters. But as soon as she landed...
03 spoke coldly. "So. You t the improved design, huh?"
05 added, "Surely she saw the 'more approachable' ones."
02 sighed dramatically. "Yeah, we're just 'the old girls' now." She mimicked Nick's voice.
They all laughed and sat together, watching the city.
An ergency call ca in, a bank attack.
02 didn't even move.
03 chuckled. "Are we going?"
"Nah. Send the newbies."
05 nodded like an old grandma. "Damn right."
New r. The Western Border. Pri Minister's Office. 11:14 AM.
Outside, the wind carried the faint, rhythmic thud of distant artillery. Inside, the air was still and heavy with smoke.
The Pri Minister of New r sat behind his desk, looking at the man standing before him. He hesitated for a split second, then extended his hand.
"So… we are proceeding with this plan?"
Mr. Brightson smiled, a smile that didn't reach his cold eyes. He took the Pri Minister's hand in a firm, crushing grip.
"We are. It's ti for your side to finally see the light." He turned his head slightly toward the shadows in the corner. "Isn't that right, Mr. Wallmore?"
A figure stepped into the light. He looked rougher, tired, but his eyes burned with a manic, dangerous fire.
Wallmore placed his hand over theirs, sealing the pact.
"tromania was just a test run," Wallmore whispered, a cruel grin spreading across his face.
"Out here... there are no laws to hold us back."
END OF VOLU 1.
"Historians often debate when the Age of Humanity truly ended.
Most agree it was that rainy night tromania City, when the first G-Bot unit took flight. Code na: OGA.
We called them saviors then. But they weren't enough against him."
Expert from The Age of Steel, published 2099.
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