The First Sign
A few days had passed, it was now Tuesday afternoon. Kiwi, Sophie, and Finley were all relaxing in Kiwi's dorm room doing homework.
The smaller drone yawned and stretched as she considered the events of the last few days. She and N had been hanging out more recently, and it was nice. She also had been thinking about the Drone Ripper and his latest victims. There was a pattern, she just couldn't figure it out.
"Earth to Kiwi" Sophie snapped her fingers in front of Kiwi.
"Huh?" Kiwi blinked and looked at Sophie.
"What's with you Kiki? You've been out of it the last few days" Sophie looked worried.
"Is something wrong?" Finley asked.
"No, no, nothing's wrong. Just, thinking about Jessie's death and how she ties into the drone ripper case. There's a pattern, I just can't determine what it is" Kiwi told the two. Finley and Sophie looked at each other.
"Kiwi..." Sophie began to start but Kiwi stopped her.
"I swear there's a pattern here! I just know it!" Kiwi defended herself.
"Kiwi! We're not saying there isn't a pattern, but maybe you shouldn't look into it. It could be dangerous" Sophie said gently.
"I have to look into it, for Jessie's sake. Or her death will be in vain" Kiwi stated with a determined look. Finley and Sophie look at each other, and sigh but nod.
Kiwi's phone suddenly buzzed and she looked at it. It was a message from N asking if she and the girls wanted to go out for pizza.
"Do you guys want to go out for pizza? N's asking" Finley raised an eyebrow. Sophie looked over Kiwi's shoulder.
"I mean sure, pizza sounds great, let's go!" Sophie dragged Kiwi out of the dorms and Finley followed. The trio got into Finley's red pickup truck and drove to the local pizza place. N waited outside scrolling through his phone, he wore his normal coat and pilot hat.
"Hey, girls!" He greeted them, waving, as the girls got out of the truck. N glanced at Kiwi smiling. Kiwi waved slightly and the four of them headed inside the pizza place, sitting at a booth in the back, by a window.
A waitress came and took the order. N ordered a metal pizza with extra chips and four glasses of fresh oil. N and Kiwi sat in their seats talking to one another.
Sophie and Finley watched the pair interact with one another, they seemed to be enjoying each other's company.
"So N, what are you going to college for anyway if you don't mind me asking?" Finley questioned. N looked at her and answered honestly.
"Oh that's easy, I'm going to become a detective like my adoptive mom Tessa" He beamed, appearing happy with his choice.
"Oh that's so cool, tell me more!" Finley and N talked about his choice, and Kiwi looked outside spacing out. She heard the bell ding and looked over seeing a pair of drones walk in. A woman with disheveled aqua and purple hair, and a man with aqua and blue hair. Kiwi raised an eyebrow and looked at the pair.
"Val? Colton?" The pair of drones glanced over at their names being said. The pair of drones came over, and looked at Kiwi, both of them smiling. The other three drones looked at the older drones.
"Kiwi who are they?" Sophie questioned.
"Oh, uh, these are my-" Val and Colton laughed slightly, and came over to the table. Val spoke first.
"I'm Valerie Rosengarde, this is my twin brother Colton. Were Kiwi's older brother and sister" The other three drones ohed and nodded. Kiwi smiled awkwardly and nodded. "How are you doing Kiwi?" Val asked.
"I'm doing alright, what're you two doing here?" Kiwi asked, looking at the two drones.
"We're getting pizzas for Mom, she had a breakthrough in one of her latest experiments" Colton started putting his hands in his hoodie pockets.
"Oh yeah, that makes sense." Kiwi nodded.
"Who are these lovely drones and disassembly drone?" Colton asked, smiling at the three of them.
"This is Sophie, Finley, and N" Kiwi introduced them all.
"N Elliot right? I know J, she's in a few of my classes. We get along quite well" Val blushed slightly, mentioning J. N nodded and smiled.
"I'm glad you know J! She's pretty cool!" N stated.
"Well, we'll leave you be, and stay out of trouble Kiwi" Colton stated wagging his finger. Kiwi blushed in embarrassment and looked away. The twins left, grabbing the pizzas and leaving. A human waitress brought out the pizza for the group and wished them a happy meal. All four drones dug into the pizza.
"So, N has Kiwi mentioned the Drone Ripper to you at all?" Sophie asked as she munched on pizza. N raised an eyebrow and looked at Kiwi.
"Not really, no. But I hear about it a lot from classmates, rumors, and Tessa" N explained.
"Kiwi here thinks something is up, and is investigating it" Sophie stated. Finley nodded.
"And we're going to help her"
"Ooh, can I help?!" N asked, looking at Kiwi, he gave Kiwi his puppy dog eyes, and his tail wagged behind him. Kiwi looked at N and sighed, smiling slightly.
"Sure N" N cheered and pumped his fists in the air.
"This is so exciting" Sophie smiled and clapped her hands. Finley shrugged and agreed.
Finley and Sophie began to talk about class, Kiwi couldn't keep up with the conversation and started out the window again. She noticed a cloaked figure in black. She raised a digital brow as the figure stood there.
She couldn't tell if it was a human or a drone, but the figure put a gloved finger to their lips and disappeared into the shadows.
"What the hell?!" N looked over.
"What is it?" N asked scooting over to see out the window, getting a little too close to Kiwi. Kiwi blushed and stuttered.
"I-I saw a strange cloaked figure, N, y-you're a little close" N quickly scooted back giving her space.
"Biscuits I'm sorry!"
"I-its okay" Kiwi patted his shoulder, making N blush slightly. Finley and Sophie eyed each other watching them.
Everyone finished the pizza, and they all began to get up.
"Well, that was some good pizza, I do have to head back to the dorm, to finish some homework. Will you ladies be alright heading back?" N asked.
"Yeah we drove here, we'll be fine, you be careful though okay N?" Kiwi looked up at him. N nodded and bid them goodnight.
Kiwi and the other two drones got into the red pickup truck, drove back to the dorms.
"Well that was fun," Sophie said as she looked out the window.
"I still don't trust N" Finley stated as she drove.
"I thought he was sweet"
"Did you guys notice the cloaked figure outside the shop?" Kiwi suddenly asked. Finley and Sophie looked at each other, and then Finley eyed her in the mirror.
"What?" They both said in unison.
"Yeah, I saw a cloaked figure"
"Weird, were they a drone or human?"
"I couldn't tell. But something odd is going on, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it"