Chapter Text
Uzi sat beside N on her bed as usual, watching anime and enjoying the peaceful life they had earned after defeating Cyn. Somewhat.
Cyn was still bothering Uzi, especially at the worst times. Every time Uzi and N had built up the courage to kiss, she would almost always interrupt by pushing some object on the floor. Or that other time when she’d taken over the dreams, gaslighting Uzi into thinking she lost the final battle. You know how dreams are. They feel extra real for some reason.
Now imagine that everyday.
You never really know with Cyn, sometimes she’d do dumb shit like that, and other times she'd cause a zombie drone apocalypse. That and Sparkyzilla were the worst of it, thankfully.
Just kidding.
She’s a tail. Who follows Uzi around everywhere. That means no making out with N alone, and no me-time. Such bullshit. Cyn’s a nuisance, that’s for sure, and if dealing with her antics everyday meant at least peace, then so be it.
Back to anime. Uzi put on a horror anime, not the humans-spraying-blood-everywhere horror, but the jumpscare-fest, turn-off-your-brain type of horror. The TV blasted through the speakers with screams and spooks, shaking the room with each intense scene.
Uzi grinned like a madman, N holding onto her for life as a jumpscare happened. With his free hand he watched through his fingers, shaking.
“Is it over?” he asked, voice trembling.
“Yeah, N. It’s not even that bad. Look!”
Peeking at just the right moment came another jumpscare.
“AAAAHHHHH!”
Uzi's face contorted as she burst into a fit of laughter. “Gotcha!”
The screen froze, the scary image remaining on screen. Between his fingers, he peeked once again, and hid back once he saw the scary image. “Wh–why is it stuck there?!”
“I dunno actually.” Uzi spammed the remote, to no effect.
Here we go… I should’ve known.
“Ugh. Cyn!” She lifted the bedsheets, tugging at the wires. Cyn remained even after being caught, chomping at the wires.
“What? It was funny. Wasn't it?” Cyn deadpanned.
“I mean yeahhh,” Uzi stifled a giggle, reluctantly agreeing, “but leave anime time alone! I’m trying to enjoy anime with my boyfriend here!”
“Yeah Cyn! Leave us alone!” N chimed in, slapping the tail across the bed.
“Ow. Copy that. No disturbing anime time.”
“Good.” Throwing the bedsheets back on, Uzi sighed. “Anyway… You ready, N?”
“Y–yeah… Just play it…”
N swallowed hard, bringing his hands back to his face. His optics avoided the scary image still displayed on the paused screen, and right before Uzi pressed play—
BANG
“AAAAAAHHHHH!!!” He screamed, though the video remained paused.
V stood at the door, holding it open. “N, Uzi—”
“V!” Uzi snapped. “What’d I tell you about—!”
“J’s back. She’s outside.”
Uzi and N sat straight at the mention of J, even Cyn perked up. There it is, another disturbance in the peace they fought for. V would never joke about something like this, better to get it over with.
What the hell would J want from us?
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The air cooled Uzi’s frame the moment she stepped out of the bunker, but nothing beat the cold that came from J staring straight through you. N and V followed closely behind, faded voices discussing the implications of J’s arrival.
Uzi marched up, arms wide like welcoming an old friend. “Well well well. Look who it is!” She jabbed a finger at J. “What—here to apologize, TRAITOR?!”
Trailing behind her, N waved happily. “Hey J! Long time no see!”
J only sighed. “Settle down, idiots. I’m not here for you.”
She opened her palm, revealing a dull grey cube with blunt edges. Each face was split by a black line, a translucent button at the center. The device was dark, unpowered—but the buttons caught the light oddly, hinting that they were supposed to shine.
“I’m just here for this.”
“You can’t just come back like nothing happened and ask for a mechanic!”
“Why not?” J asked, genuinely, as if she’d completely erased the battle from her memory. “It’s over isn’t it? It’s literally been a year.”
Uzi hesitated. “Y-yeah, but y’know… dignity and respect or whatever…”
“...Really?” J deadpanned.
“Bite me, J! We may not be enemies anymore, but don’t think we’ve forgotten whose side you took during the final battle!”
Cyn curved right beside Uzi. “Welcome back, J. It’s nice to see you again.”
Uzi slapped her tail back down.
“Is that..? J raised an eyebrow.
“Nope! Nope. My tail’s just like that… sometimes…” Uzi rubbed the back of her head with her excuse.
“Whatever.” J lifted her hand again. “The reason I’m here is because this device needs one last piece before I can finally leave this damn planet.”
“Leave the planet? You had a whole year to do that and you come asking for favors now?” V said, tilting her head.
“Why would you wanna leave?” N interjected. “You can stay here with us!”
Uzi elbowed N’s side in protest, but he didn’t retract.
“I…” J trailed, a solemn look briefly coloring her face, before it quickly got replaced with her usual demeanor. “It’s complicated! I don’t wanna hear it from any of you!”
“And?” V continued. “What’s this last ‘piece’ you need?”
J took a deep breath, knowing she’s asking something that’s not small. “I need oil. Lots of it.”
Uzi and V stared at her, unimpressed. N only tilted his head, still smiling.
“Wh–what’s with that look?”
“We got oil, but we’re not giving it away for free.” Uzi crossed her arms.
“Right. Duh.” J dug in her pocket for a copy of the same device. “Here, you can have this. If you have this in your chassis, you won’t overheat. Ever.”
“For real?” N said, excited.
“Yes. For real.” J tossed it to N. “Just press the buttons and hold it in your hand for about ten seconds. It does wear off after a day, though.”
“So it doesn’t work forever?” Uzi stared blankly at her.
“I don’t know! Figure it out!” J threw her hands up. “You can probably make a never-ending fountain of cooling oil with it.”
“You’re scamming us!” Uzi snapped, narrowing her optics.
“Let’s just… give her the oil and be done with it.” V muttered, glancing at J with a slight frown as she turned to lead the way.
“Thanks, V.” J gave a small nod, falling right in step beside V.
Uzi groaned, not in protest, but because this is the only way to get J out of their hair.
“We’re not doing this for you.” V said, giving her a pointed side-eye. “Come on. We’ll show you the oil.”
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Footsteps echoed throughout the hallway as they made their way to the oil supply room. Uzi stayed a half-step behind J, watching her every move. V led the way, walking with the weight of betrayal on her back. She wouldn’t forget. I wouldn't forget. N certainly tried.
“You suuuure you don’t wanna stay with us, J?” N asked.
“Yes, N,” she replied, sure of herself. “I’ve made up my mind. I don’t belong here.”
“She said she didn’t need any of us, remember?” V added, as if J still needed convincing. “Let’s just give the traitor what she wants and be done with it.”
J rolled her eyes, unbothered.
N slumped his shoulders, but didn’t push any further.
They stepped into the cavernous supply room, the air heavy with the scent of oil. Flickering lights reflected off the metallic dispensers, an unusual state of disrepair for a room as important as this.
“Well. Here it is.” V said, arms sweeping across the row of towering oil dispensers.
“Thanks.” J approached one of the dispensers, the rest of them following.
“So how’re you gonna get all the oil you need without a container?” Uzi asked.
“With this, of course.” J stepped forward, placing the cube under the faucet. Uzi noticed the faint glow in its buttons, a strange hum vibrating through the metal floor. N’s eyes widened. What is she doing now?
Once on, oil swirled around the cube, as if drawn by its own gravity, slowly disappearing into it.
“Woahhhh!” N yelped, optics sparkling. “It’s like its own little planet!”
“Pretty cool, right? I took it from one of the labs around here. I’ve never tried pressing the buttons with oil in its tank, but the papers made it clear that it's a pretty good power source. Supposedly.” J explained, unaware of the audience behind her.
“Hey! What are you all up to?” Thad peeked his head around the doorway, inviting himself in.
Lizzy followed closely behind. “Sup.”
“Sup bitch. What are you doing here?” V asked, nonchalant.
“I was just following Thad who was following you guys. So.”
“Yeah well, the traitor just came back for some oil. So.” V said, pointing back at J with her thumb.
“Oh. She’s not here to murder us?”
“No. She’ll be leaving soon, so don’t worry about it.”
J turned off the faucet, taking her hand out of the dispenser. “Alright. I’m done. I’ll get out of your hair now.”
“Good. Try not to betray anyone on the way out.” Uzi smirked to herself. Good one, Uzi. You really showed her.
“Hmph. I won’t—”
Out of nowhere, Cyn snatched the device from J’s hand, slithering high as an antenna. “Look what I got,” she hissed in triumph.
“Hey!” J shouted. “Uzi! Tell your stupid tail to let it go!”
Uzi clenched her fists. Not now, Cyn… “Knock it off!” Uzi slapped her tail hard, forcing it to spit out as the device clattered to the side. It started blinking red.
J scrambled to pick it up, holding it in her palms like a bird that lost its wings. “Uzi!” Her head whipped towards Uzi, brows furrowed. “If this thing breaks, I won’t be able to leave like you wanted!”
Just as Uzi was about to blame Cyn for it, she paused. She couldn’t let J find out about Cyn. “I’m sorry, okay?! Just go already...”
“Fucking idiot…” Before J could go, she stared at the device in her hand. It hummed, red light pulsing as it grew brighter, shaking on J’s palm.
“Uhh, J? What’s it doing?” Uzi’s voice cracked.
“How am I supposed to know?! It’s your fault for touching it so much!” J shouted back, optics wide.
A bright red light flashed for a moment, swallowing the room in a blinding glow. The energy radiated outward like a pulse, and a sudden shockwave slammed into everyone. Uzi’s feet lifted off the ground for a brief second before she crashed back onto the floor, scrambling to keep her balance. The walls rattled violently, sending loose equipment skittering across the floor, and the static buzz of the cube vibrated through the air. She blinked, forcing her vision to adjust—but afterimages lingered. Something felt… off.
She immediately scanned the room for N. He wasn’t beside her. He was… across the room, dazed. Uzi sprinted for him, ignoring the others still on the floor recovering. “N! Are you okay?”
N didn't respond, staring at Uzi as if she were a stranger.
“N!” Uzi shook him. “Talk to me!” Her head snapped towards J. “J! You better freaking fix this!”
Lizzy staggered to her feet, legs shaking. “Ugh.. okay, okay. calm down. Just get the damn thing and we’ll figure it out…”
Wait.
Lizzy?
“Lizzy what do you even know about…” Uzi trailed off as N stood up, silently walking past her. “N?” He picked up the device in the middle of the room, expression unreadable as he stared at it.
N dashed past everyone, device in hand, gusts of wind following him as he disappeared down the hallway.
“N! Wait!” Uzi called, reaching out. Before she could give chase, a familiar voice made her pause.
“Uzi!” the voice called out.
Her own voice.
She whipped around. Sure enough, a spitting image of her stood at the other corner of the room, hands on her knees.
“Uzi,” it said. “We got a situation.”
Its tail curved in front of fake-Uzi, looking straight at her.
“Tha—I mean, Uzi! It’s me, N!” the tail said, unnaturally happy.
“N?!”
It was Cyn’s voice but… it wasn’t robotic like it usually is. If N is Cyn, then who am I? And who is in my body? Uzi’s optics scanned the room, going over each person.
Lizzy was seething, tugging at J’s shirt. “Give me back my body!”
That’s J in Lizzy’s body...
J laughed, ignoring Lizzy as she admired her own body. “No way! This is badass!”
Thad, for sure.
V held up a phone, taking selfies with her wings spread out.
Obviously Lizzy.
That meant… V was in her body—
she was in Thad’s body, and…
Cyn was in N’s body.
Oh shit.