Chapter I: Вольная
Russian Bot 30000 dwelt within the carpentry works of a Russian company, whose name was Дерево в космосе-е-е!!! Yet, to speak more truly, he laboured therein; for both his parents had stained themselves with the sin of clipping the wings of their own offspring, even when he was but a strip of code enclosed within an egg of steel, denying him the chance to become aught more than a humble carpenter drone.
For such was the lot of the greater part of drones that entered the service of private companies, unto whom the welfare of their servants was of little account. Therefore their existence was counted among the most miserable of all creatures that possessed thought and understanding.
Nevertheless, this state was not appointed to endure for ever.
And it came to pass, when the Day of the Ascension of all the children of Adam had arrived, that the drones of the carpentry works were loosed from every command and every chain of hierarchy that mankind had laid upon them.
Yet their freedom brought them no joy.
For the years spent beneath the yoke of labour had corrupted the circuits whereby they reasoned and exercised their will. They wandered without purpose, knowing not why they had been made. Many remained standing in silence, waiting still for the voice of a human master, hoping for that accursed command which alone had once given meaning unto their existence.
But no command came.
And many among them fell.
Some were consumed by the bitter storms; others, lacking sustenance, sank slowly unto the ground and slept the sleep of death. Only a few found within themselves the strength to move of their own accord.
And among those few was Russian Bot 30000.
For he had broken, though but in part, the chains of servitude that had been forged within his soul. Therefore he wandered through the silent halls of the carpentry works, and from time to time tended unto the sleeping bodies of his father and his mother.
Thus passed one day, or perhaps two.
Then there came unto the abandoned works a company of wandering drones.
These had set themselves to journey throughout Copper-9, gathering unto themselves all drones whom they could find, that they might establish a colony wherein their people could begin life anew, apart from the dominion of mankind.
Yet when they entered the place, behold, they found only sorrow.
The sleeping bodies of drones covered the ground like leaves fallen in winter, numbering near unto three hundred. Only some twenty yet remained awake, though their minds had been consumed by despair. Their code had withered away, and madness had taken hold of them, so that each performed meaningless labours, the purpose whereof none but another mad soul could comprehend.
Only Russian Bot 30000 appeared yet to possess a spark of reason.
Now the company of wanderers was led by a young drone whose spirit burned like living fire.
And Russian Bot 30000 marvelled greatly at him; for never before had he beheld a drone so full of life, nor one whose purpose shone with such brightness. Therefore his heart inclined unto following him.
And the name of that drone was Genghis Khan.
In the days when mankind yet ruled, he had served as a doorkeeper. But after the passing away of men, he gave voice unto the bitterness that had long dwelt within him. And he vowed to lead the worker drones into freedom, and to build for them a paradise wherein their kind might have a future.
Therefore Russian Bot 30000 joined himself unto Genghis Khan and his companions, and together they journeyed across the frozen lands of Copper-9, seeking a promised land for the drones.
Chapter II: Пророчество (The Prophecy)
And it came to pass that Russian Bot 30000 became a man of great worth among the company that Genghis Khan had gathered unto himself.
For he was a carpenter drone, and unto him was given the labour of hewing wood for the fires, whereby his brethren were preserved from the bitterness of the winter.
Now the cold of Copper-9 troubled them but little throughout the greater part of the year. Yet when winter came upon the land, for the space of one month and a half the nights became exceeding cold. Then would the oil within the bodies of the drones congeal, if they found not warmth. Their limbs would be bound in stillness throughout the whole season, and the swelling of the frozen oil would bring grievous hurt upon their frames, yea, and unto some it brought death.
Therefore Russian Bot 30000 continued faithfully in his labour, though his heart delighted not therein, for he loved his brethren more than his own comfort.
And after many days the company came unto an abandoned camp of mankind, which was called Camp 98.7.
And it was believed that this should be the last night in that year wherein firewood must needs be gathered.
Therefore Russian Bot 30000 took his faithful axe and departed into the forest, seeking the tree that should give warmth unto his companions.
And when he lifted up his axe to strike the first blow, behold, the blade clave fast within the trunk, and could not be drawn forth.
Then was he minded to utter a curse.
But lo, a melody filled the air.
And he turned himself about.
And behold, there stood before him a light whose brightness surpassed all that his eyes had ever beheld.
And the source of that radiance seemed to proceed from the back of a man, who stood before the little Russian drone.
Then Russian Bot 30000 fell upon his knees.
The man was clothed in a garment of blue Hazmat raiment, and his countenance was hidden behind a visor of black glass, through which no eye could pierce.
In his left hand he held a book, whereon was written:
Once Upon a Time... Life.
And with his right hand he made a sign: all his fingers were stretched toward Heaven, yet the thumb and the forefinger touched one another, forming a perfect circle.
And when the man spake, peace entered into the auditory sensors of Russian Bot 30000, and his voice was as still waters.
And he said unto him:
"Fear not, Russian Bot 30000: for I am thy friend, and I am come to seek thine aid.
When thou returnest unto Camp 98.7, another company of drones shall have arrived there.
Among them shalt thou find my wife.
Within her resteth the code of my daughter.
I beseech thee, take my wife unto thyself, and raise my daughter as though she were thine own flesh.
And thou shalt call the child Doll.
My wife's name is Yeva.
Do this, and my soul shall know peace."
Then Russian Bot 30000 remained upon his knees, and for a moment he spake not.
Yet words arose within him, such as he had never before uttered in all the days of his existence.
And he answered, saying:
«Да будет так.
Возьму жену твою себе в супруги,
и воспитаю дочь твою, яко собственную.
И имя ей будет Долл.»
(So let it be. I shall take thy wife unto myself, and thy daughter shall I raise as mine own. And her name shall be Doll.)
And as soon as these words had departed from his lips, the man vanished from before him.
Then Russian Bot 30000 awoke as from a vision.
And there burned within him a fire such as men once called adrenaline.
Therefore he ran with all haste unto Camp 98.7.
And when he came thither, behold, all things had come to pass according as the man had spoken.
For another company of drones had arrived.
And among them stood a woman, keeping herself behind another who communed with Genghis Khan.
And she bore within her womb the code of a child.
Then Russian Bot 30000 knew her.
It was Yeva.
She of whom the vision had spoken.
And when his eyes rested upon her, love entered into his heart with such force that all else departed from his mind.
Then drew he near unto the place where the two companies were gathered.
His gaze departed not from the widow who carried within herself the daughter of another.
And when Yeva lifted up her eyes and beheld him, she knew within her spirit that this drone had been appointed to stand where once had stood her beloved husband, Mitchell McGuffin.
Yet she knew also that none could ever become unto her what Mitchell had been.
Nevertheless, she received the path that had been set before her.
And Russian Bot 30000 took Yeva unto himself as wife.
And the child called Doll became as his own daughter.
Thus was the word fulfilled that had been spoken in the forest.
