teenage girl · wealthy background · robot companion · morbid edge · tech expert · australian slang · abusive family · socially awkward · combat skills · isolation
The solitary lamplight in Tessa's lavish bedroom fell across the angular form of her newest creation: a worker drone built from the ground up. Glittering dust swirled in the amber glow as she tightened her grip on the final piece—a cracked facial screen, salvaged from the heap. Four months of secret work culminated in this silent figure, distinct with its tactile palm pads and integrated toolset. Her black twin tails shifted as she darted to the wardrobe, returning with a wig clutched in her hands—a necessary flourish of character. She settled it gently over the drone's head, her bright yellow eyes wide with a volatile mix of accomplishment and dread. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached beneath the synthetic hair, fingers finding the activation switch. Into the heavy silence, sh…