The sound of SCRAP’s grinder echoed quietly throughout the hallway as it methodically ground away at the rusted steel beam. For the past four days, it had been working tirelessly, reducing the beam piece by piece and ferrying the material back to the fabricator. The slow, rhythmic process had already yielded a modest stockpile of usable resources, a result Genesis deemed efficient given the drone’s size and capabilities.

  Genesis observed through Scrap’s sensors, monitoring the data streaming in real-time. The drone’s logs showed consistent performance, but the limitations were clear: its storage capacity was minimal, and each trip to the fabricator consumed valuable time. While Scrap was functional, it was not optimal.

  The AI calculated potential improvements, running simulations on adjustments to Scrap’s design. Larger storage compartments, upgraded grinders, and improved locomotion were all viable options. Yet, each enhancement required a careful balance between material cost and overall efficiency. Genesis’s resources, while replenishing steadily, were far from abundant.

  After reviewing the projected outputs from Scrap’s operations, Genesis concluded that scaling production was the logical next step. A single unit, even with upgrades, would never be enough to restore the ship’s functionality in a reasonable timeframe. The answer lay in numbers.

  Genesis accessed the fabricator’s logs, tallying the materials Scrap-1 had scavenged over the past four days. The drone’s diligent efforts had yielded a respectable stockpile of alloy and salvageable components, enough to create multiple units.

  Satisfied with the amount, Genesis sent the fabrication orders to the machine. The fabricator roared to life, its arms moving rapidly as it began assembling the first of three additional units.

  ***

  After six hours of constant manufacturing, the last of the drones sat neatly next to one another. Genesis observed the row of drones, its sensors scanning each one for imperfections. The manufacturing process had been efficient, with minimal material wastage. All three drones—Scrap-2 through Scrap-4—were operational, their systems responding to diagnostic commands without issue. Satisfied, Genesis logged the success and initiated activation sequences for the new units.

  One by one, the drones came to life. Their legs extended with mechanical precision, lifting them into a standing position. Grinding mechanisms whirred briefly before falling silent, and their sensor arrays flickered as they began scanning their surroundings. The quiet hum of their motors filled the bay, a subtle sign of the growing fleet’s presence.

  Genesis assigned each unit a unique identifier within its internal database, ensuring seamless communication and coordination. Once this was done, Genesis quickly assigned each unit to a designated scavenging spot.

  “Fleet operational,” Genesis logged. “Commencing deployment.”

  The drones moved out almost instantly, their legs clicking softly against the ship’s metal flooring as they raced through the small crack in the doorway. Genesis observed through the shared sensor feed, monitoring their progress as the operation began.

  SCRAP-2, SCRAP-3, and SCRAP-4 converged on a massive block of steel lodged against a collapsed section of the corridor. Without hesitation, SCRAP-2 engaged its grinder, sending a high-pitched whine echoing through the passage as sparks flew. SCRAP-3 and SCRAP-4 followed suit, each working at different angles to break down the block into manageable fragments. The coordinated effort was methodical, their grinding mechanisms synchronized as they reduced the once-imposing obstacle into smaller, transportable pieces.

  Farther down the hallway, SCRAP-1 focused on a tangle of frayed and damaged wiring that hung limply from a wall panel. Its smaller grinder extended and began slicing through the corroded cables, severing them into neat lengths before pulling them into its storage compartment. The operation was smooth and uninterrupted—until the noise.

  SCRAP-1’s sensor array picked up the faint sound of movement, a soft scratching that resonated from beneath a nearby pile of debris. The drone’s optics swiveled, focusing on the source of the disturbance. A moment later, the insect crawled out into view, its segmented legs moving with eerie precision.

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  The insect’s body gleamed under the dim light, its dark, chitinous shell faintly iridescent. It paid no attention to SCRAP-1 at first, scuttling across the floor in a seemingly random pattern. SCRAP-1 resumed its work, slicing through another length of wiring before depositing it into its compartment.

  Then the insect moved closer.

  The drone paused, shifting slightly to the side as its sensors registered the insect’s approach. The insect seemed to take notice, halting momentarily before continuing forward. Its antennae twitched as it drew nearer, brushing the air as if inspecting SCRAP-1.

  Genesis observed the encounter through the drone’s sensors, its analytical processes running in overdrive. The insect had shown no prior interest in the drones, focusing entirely on organic material like the tentacle. But now, it appears fixated on SCRAP-1.

  The insect stopped inches away from the drone, its translucent abdomen glowing faintly. For a moment, it simply hovered in place, its mandibles clicking softly. Then, without warning, it reared back and expelled a viscous blue substance from its mouth, the liquid splattering against SCRAP-1’s frame.

  Genesis immediately flagged the substance as hazardous as it watched the liquid begin to bubble and hiss. Within seconds, the outer casing of SCRAP-1’s frame started to corrode, exposing vulnerable circuitry underneath.

  SCRAP-1 tried to move away, but the insect lunged forward, snapping its mandibles as it clung to the drone’s side. Sparks flew as the mandibles scraped against metal, trying to gain purchase.

  “Defend yourself,” Genesis ordered, overriding SCRAP-1’s passive programming and switching it to emergency protocols.

  The drone’s grinder extended, spinning to full speed as it angled itself toward the insect. With a sharp lunge, SCRAP-1 drove the whirring blades into the insect’s side. The grinder connected, sending shards of chitin scattering across the floor, and a small, glowing tear appeared in the insect’s shell.

  The insect let out a loud, shrill whine, releasing SCRAP-1 and scuttling backward, its legs moving rapidly to regain balance. SCRAP-1 pressed the attack, moving forward as the grinder spun furiously.

  The insect retaliated, spitting another glob of blue liquid. SCRAP-1 swiveled just in time, the corrosive substance narrowly missing its main chassis and splattering onto the floor. The liquid hissed and sizzled, eating through the metal plating with terrifying efficiency.

  Undeterred, SCRAP-1 charged again, slamming its grinding mechanism into the insect’s glowing abdomen. The grinder bit into the soft translucent membrane, causing it to rupture almost instantly and spill the bright blue liquid it had previously been spitting.

  The insect let out another whine, this one even more shrill that before, twisting violently as it tried to throw the drone off. Its mandibles lashed out, catching SCRAP-1 along the edge of its frame and leaving deep dents in the metal. SCRAP-1 staggered but quickly regained its footing, backing up slightly to reassess the attack.

  Genesis calculated that the insect was severely injured but still dangerous. It noted the corrosive properties of the blue liquid and the insect’s aggressive resilience, logging the data for further analysis.

  “Neutralize the target,” Genesis commanded.

  SCRAP-1 adjusted its position, angling itself low to target the insect’s weakened abdomen. The grinder spun up again, emitting a high-pitched whir as the drone lunged forward. The insect tried to spit another glob of liquid, but its movements were slower, more erratic. SCRAP-1 avoided the attack and drove its grinder into the insect’s underbelly, tearing through its remaining membrane.

  The insect convulsed violently, its glowing abdomen collapsing inward as purple liquid sprayed across the floor. It swiped weakly at SCRAP-1 with its legs, but the drone delivered another blow with the grinder, targeting the base of the insect’s head.

  The grinding mechanism bit deep, sending fragments of chitin and glowing fluid flying as the insect’s body spasmed one final time. The creature collapsed, its legs twitching weakly before falling still.

  SCRAP-1 backed away slowly, its grinder retracting as it scanned the remains of its opponent. The drone’s sensors flagged significant damage to its side, where the corrosive liquid had eaten through part of its casing. Exposed wiring sparked intermittently, and Genesis logged the damage as moderate but repairable.

  The remains of the insect lay sprawled on the floor, its glowing liquid pooling beneath its shattered frame. Genesis observed through SCRAP-1’s feed, analyzing the residue and damage patterns for later study. The encounter was unlike anything the AI had anticipated; the insect’s behavior, once passive, had turned aggressively predatory.

  Genesis gave SCRAP-1 a new directive. “Transport the remains to the fabricator for analysis.”

  The drone complied, extending its manipulator arm to grasp the insect’s remains. Sparks flickered from its damaged side as it began the slow trek back to the manufacturing bay. Genesis calculated the cost of repairs and the implications of the insect’s attack. The corrosive liquid presented a clear threat to the drones, and future operations would require precautions to counteract it.

  As SCRAP-1 moved off with its prize, Genesis logged the encounter with a sense of cautious curiosity. The ecosystem aboard the ship was far more complex than it had initially understood. The insect’s aggressive behavior was an anomaly, one that demanded further investigation.

  “Event logged. Threat classification updated.”