the missing pantheons were a concerning but not overly critical issue. one or two would disappear a month, practically unnoticeable amidst the new orders that came in each week. the only reason the king was aware in the first place is because these particular pantheons were the ones inside the palace--
the ones that ferried food and tea and things to him directly. on the sixth delay, he decided to hunt down the pantheon before its signal disappeared entirely. he walks, briskly, down to the kitchen--
he doesn't have to enter the galley to find the carnage.
the pantheon is clearly still online, its single red eye glaring at the ceiling while its insides were torn asunder.
over it a reploid stands
red black and gold
arms and face awash in bright life fluid--
"so- so this- is where my servants have been going! quite the mystery solved!"
red eyes blink through green blood. there's no answer as claws pick through the pantheon's chest and the drone finally dies with a sad wheezing sound. copy x looks on in horror as this ghastly intruder separates the core from its chest cavity--
and sticks it
in his
mouth.
"Asimov," Copy X says, swaying. "You must be..."
Omega Zero.
The reploid, newly identified as Omega Zero, crunches down on the Pantheon core fastened between his jaws. Bits of metal slough out of the fragile component, but the majority of it is consumed by him.
Copy X can only watch in muted horror and fascination. What a brutal display!
And a curious behavior.
"Omega Zero, yes? I'll be on my way. So sorry to disturb."
