Episode 1: Diary of a cybernetic nympho

Episode 1: Diary of a cybernetic nympho.

Mid-22nd Century (2150-2180)

EARTH

Duss's diary

12/2/2180

This is the last time I'm writing in this diary.

I decided to go to Jupiter, never thought that I would ever want to step on that planet until recently I heard that my sister Mia became a well known Cyberneticist there. I don't know why she would become a Cyberneticist after everything father did. Now looking back 9 years ago, she always had a soft spot in her heart for him. After all, father prolonged her life from Syntropy Collapse(A paradoxical illness where the body fights against itself, requiring cybernetic balance.)disease. But I will never forget the atrocities my father committed in order to prolong her lifespan.

I'm sure something uncanny is happening in Jupiter after the grand opening of New-Hormonal city. I can't allow any of my father's atrocities anymore, I am responsible and Mia is part of his legacy.

I just need to have a talk with her. And nothing else.

Duss wakes up with a measured quick shock in her wrist from her watch.

Stood up naked, her left hand wet, dripping lubricant. She drowsily took a handkerchief from the table to wipe. Her room has documents of planet Jupiter's opening of New-Hormonal city. As she stretches her body and yawns, her eyes get captivated by that holographic photo portraiture on the wall captivated her again.

The family is gathered in a sunlit room. Duss at the far left, Mother in the middle, father in the right and Mia at the far right. with large windows showing a view of a calm, serene landscape outside.

That joyful short red haired Duss had her eyes wide and smiling, body leaning forward as she was beside her mother. Father leaning his arm around mother and other arm around Mia. had a half smile across his face. Standing confident, but there's a sense that he's trying to hold everything together. His eyes briefly glance down at Mia, showing a glint of both love and guilt. Mia stands beside him. but the weight of her condition is palpable. She leans slightly on him, her body subtly slouched as though the invisible forces of her illness are pulling her down, even in this moment of joy. Her posture is not the confident, youthful stance one might expect of a daughter beside her father, but rather the delicate, strained position of someone fighting against the very body they inhabit slightly to the right, her body gracefully positioned but visibly different from the others. Her cybernetic enhancements are faintly visible, a small glowing line tracing the edge of her neck.

Thoughts pulled her away from the present moment and Duss stood frozen, her fingers gently tracing the edges of the family photo. A single tear fell from her eye, the drop trembling on her cheek as it dripped onto the glass. She swallowed, her chest tight as she held the photo close to her heart for just a moment longer. The moment was broken by a violent pounding at the door—harsh and commanding. Duss's heart leaped into her throat as the sound echoed through the room, followed by a deep voice she recognized, unmistakable even through the thick door.

"Open up, Duss!" as she hastily reached for her clothes, Duss's hands shook! Her fingers, stiff with panic, lost her grip on the family photo. The picture slipped from her grasp, hitting the floor with a sharp crack as it skidded across the surface, the glass edge catching a glint of light before coming to a halt. the sound of tools whirring echoed from the other side, a sharp hum that cut through the air like a knife. She didn't need to look at the door to know what was happening, She flung open the closet doors, hands trembling as she grabbed the nearest set of tactical cargo pants. Without thinking, she put them on, the familiar, rugged fabric.

But time was running out. Her fingers fumbled with the jacket, but it was useless—she could already hear the sound of the royal protectors breaking through the front door. The door of her room was already wide open. The royal protectors stormed into the room with ruthless efficiency. Her upper body is naked as the jacket on the closet hangs loosely, her arms instinctively folded across her breast. Her Mother's voice ringing through the house "DUSS!", calling her name in frantic paranoia. The Royal Protectors stood protectively around her while gazing at her nude.

She could hear it in her voice—the panic, the fear. A mother's desperate search, but also a warning.

"Duss!"

Before she could react, her mother crashed into her, arms wrapping around her in a desperate embrace. The force of it nearly knocked her off balance, but what shook her more was the raw emotion in her mother's grip—tight, unyielding, as if letting go meant losing her forever.

"You ran away!"

mother's voice trembled, half-scolding, half-breaking. "You left without a word! Do you know what I—do you have any idea what you put me through?"

Duss stiffened in her arms. The guilt clawed at her, but she swallowed it down. She had to. She had left for a reason—left to make a plan, to find a way to Jupiter, to see Mia. If she had told her mother, there would have been screaming, pleading, maybe even physical restraint. No. This was the only way.

"I had to," Duss whispered,

Her mother pulled back slightly, just enough to cup her face, searching her eyes for something—remorse, fear, hesitation. "Had to? Duss, you're all I have left. Do you think I could survive losing you too?" Her voice cracked at the last word, eyes glistening with something between heartbreak and fury.

Duss clenched her jaw. She couldn't afford to cry. Not now.

The royal protectors stood behind them, their mechanical armor humming menacingly, as they both noticed her hand was wet with lubricant. Her mother's hands trembled as she held onto her. "Then tell me why. Tell me why you disappeared like I was nothing!"

"Come home!" her mother pleaded, while shedding tears. "Let's go home."

Duss lowered her eyes knowing she will be forced to go home, there is no choice but to go with her. Her mother wouldn't let her go again. Not willingly. The royal protectors, standing like silent statues, would ensure it.

"…Alright," she said, voice barely above a whisper. Her mother exhaled sharply, relief washing over her face. She realized that her upper body was naked, and her mother told one of the royal protectors to pass her the jacket. He held it out, expressionless beneath his mask. Duss hesitated for a second before snatching it from his grip and wearing it. Her mother sighed, her voice softer now. "Let's go home now."

Before leaving, Duss turned her head, her eyes landing at the family photo on the floor.

The glass was cracked. A jagged split ran right through the center, dividing the image into two halves. On one side, she and her mother. On the other, Mia and father.

With her mother beside her and the royal protectors surrounding them, she stepped outside. The vehicle waiting for them wasn't just any transport—it was an exclusive, off-the-grid hovercraft, used only by high-ranking officials and corporate elites. Matte black, sleek, and has the ability to be transparent. Her mother walked ahead without hesitation, the royal protectors flanking her. One of them pressed a code into the vehicle's concealed panel, and with a soft hiss, the doors lifted open and she entered. The doors sealed shut behind her with an ominous finality.

As the vehicle lifted off, disappearing into the city's labyrinthine skyline, Duss leaned back, closing her eyes.

She was going home. But not for long.

The next day in Duss's hideout

Ash stood in the doorway, his silhouette sharp against the flickering signs outside, he put on his reinforced trench coat lined with heat-resistant fiber, embedded with micro-weave armor plates before stepping into the house. His boots thudded softly against the floor as he stepped inside, surveying the room with a bounty hunter's instinct.

Something wasn't right.

The closet door was wide open, clothes thrown everywhere in a mess. A cracked family photo lay on the floor—split right down the middle, dividing Duss and her mother from Mia and their father. Then checks the drawers and finds neon drip lubricant which made him smirk.

As he explores more, he feels an unusual presence, making him more alerted. He stepped further inside, his eyes scanning the cluttered room. He knew that he wasn't alone. That's when he heard it—barely audible at first, the scrap of metal against wood. He spun around, barely registering the movement as two figures darted from behind the broken door frame, weapons drawn.

The first was a towering man, clad in dark, battle-worn steel armor—polished and reinforced plates of black iron, layered with thick strips of reinforced steel. His armor is well-crafted, but it looked like it had seen hundreds of skirmishes. He moved with the weight of it, each step deliberate. His face was partially obscured by a black, tactical mask, his only visible feature a pair of cold, calculating eyes. He held a heavy, modified assault rifle in his hands.

The second was a lithe, fast-moving woman, dressed in sleek, flexible iron armor. Her chest plate was smooth, almost reflecting the faint light from the windows. Her legs were encased in form-fitting combat armor made from composite steel alloys, offering both protection and mobility. Her gloves were also reinforced. Her movements were fluid as she glided forward, eyes locked onto Ash with dangerous intent.

Instincts kicked in. He dove into a roll, narrowly avoiding a flurry of shots from the man's assault rifle. Bullets tore through the room, splintering metals and ripping through the walls. Ash rolled into cover against the wall, his back pressed against the cold surface, heart pounding like a war drum. He exhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling with adrenaline-fueled breath. He is all raged up now. His hand instinctively reached for his sidearm, a compact, high-powered energy pistol. The Rustborn gunman kept firing at him, each shot tearing through Ash's cover, reducing it to splintered twisted metal. The relentless assault forced Ash to stay low, his mind racing for an opening. Before Ash could react, the Rustborn woman swiftly but ferociously emerged, charged at him with a combat blade, her steel-plated boots slamming against the floor. Ash hit the ground on his back slamming hard, as she was on top of him straddling his torso with crushing force. Her serrated combat knife hovered inches from his throat. Her breath was ragged, eyes wild with the thrill of the kill. Ash gritted his teeth, his muscles tensing as he struggled against her grip. He can feel the weight of her steel-plated armor pressing down on him, restricting his movements. The Rustborn gunman hesitated, standing still as he's trying to get a clean shot. His rifle was raised, but the woman's frantic movements made it difficult—she was right on top of Ash, blocking his aim. One wrong shot, and he'd hit his own ally.

With a desperate burst of strength, Ash twisted his wrist, forcing the blade away from his throat just as it grazed his skin. Using the momentum, he bucked his hips and wrenched her arm, throwing her off balance. She yelped as he twisted free, slamming his shoulder into her and flipping their positions.

Before she could react, Ash was already on his feet. In one swift motion, went behind her and wrapped an arm around her neck, pointing the gun at her neck. The Rustborn gunman froze mid-step, his rifle still aimed but useless now. His grip tightened on the trigger, but hesitation flickered in his stance.

"Go ahead," Ash growled, slightly out of breath. "Take the shot. Let's see who drops first." A heavy silence settled between them, the only sounds were their ragged breaths. The gunman's finger twitched near the trigger.

Ash smiled ominously and said "Go on," he taunted, eyes locked onto the gunman. "Make my day." Ash's smirk barely masked the storm brewing inside him. His jaw clenched, his fingers twitching on the trigger. His breathing was slow but heavy as he most likely knew what would happen.

He tightened his grip on the woman, his forearm pressing against her throat just enough to make her struggle. His eyes, burning with frustration, locked onto the gunman.

The woman inhaled sharply, her eyes locking with the gunman's in an unspoken pact. In slow motion, she blinked, the faintest nod passing between them giving him the sign to shoot right through her to kill him. Ash caught the subtle exchange instantly. He knew that look, that slow blink—it was a sacrificing pact. The gunman didn't hesitate. His finger tightened on the trigger. And,

They fired at the same time.

Ash's energy bullet seared through the air, hitting the gunman's arm, jerking his aim off-course. The gunman's shot still found its mark, tearing into the woman's legs and belly. Her armor took some of the impact, but not enough to save her. She gasped, eyes wide in pain, as her body shuddered from the force. Blood spattered against Ash's legs as she slumped forward, barely holding herself up. The gunman gritted his teeth, his wounded arm trembling as he tried to lift his rifle again.

Ash didn't give him the chance.

In one fluid motion, he yanked the combat knife from the woman's grip and hurled it across the room. The blade spun in a deadly arc before burying itself deep into the gunman's neck with a sickening thunk.

The man staggered back, choking, his hands instinctively reaching for the embedded blade as blood poured down his chest. His rifle slipped from his grip, clattering to the floor. His knees buckled, and within seconds, he collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.

Then Ash slowly turned his head toward the rustborn woman, his expression unreadable. He crouched beside her, close enough to hear her ragged breaths, to see the pain flickering in her eyes as blood seeped from her wounds. Leaning in, his voice dropped to a near whisper, his breath brushing against her ear and said,

"Next time… try not to use the sign of your sacrificing pact."

Aethergrid's Bastion

Duss sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers trembling slightly as she activated the untraceable tech hidden in the palm of her hand. She quickly composed a message to Ash, every word deliberate and calculated, knowing the risks if it were intercepted.

"I'm under surveillance. My mother somehow found my hideout and forcefully took me to Athergrid's Bastion. Two royal protectors are guarding outside the house. They're watching every move. Can't leave. Mother didn't put me in the lockdown room Last time, that's why I successfully escaped last time."

She hit send, immediately feeling the weight of her isolation. There was no turning back now. If the message didn't get through, she'd be trapped in this house with her forever.

In Duss's hideout

Ash leaned back in his chair, Treating his wounds from the Rustborn fight. He rubbed the fresh bandage on his side, wincing as he scanned the room for something to distract him. His curiosity quickly went to Duss's closet, he stood up and searched it enthusiastically. Found a couple expensive silk crafted bras and panties, as his curiosity and enthusiasm increased, he decided to smell it. His nose was a few inches away from the panties But then, his tech buzzed—a familiar ping from beloved Duss.

The screen flickers briefly before he reads her message. As he reads her message he's getting increasingly concerned about the Surveillance and Royal protectors.

Ash's jaw clenched. He knew he had to act fast. With one swift motion, he stood, pacing the room as his mind went into overdrive. He reached for his gear, checking his weapons and items. He would need more than just brute force to get through the Athergrid's Bastion. He needed strategy and precision.

In Athergrid's Bastion

Duss walking back and forth in her room, her thoughts tangled in frustration and desperation. The walls around her felt like they were closing in—her own home had become a prison. Every second that passed gnawed at her nerves, the weight of surveillance pressing on her like an invisible chain. Atomic Cola and Turbo fries on the table slowly rotting as Duss ignored the food served to her for hours.

An hour crawled by, before the door finally hissed open. Her mother stepped in, the biometric lock recognizing her fingerprint instantly. She moved toward Duss with measured steps, her expression a complicated mix of pity and admiration—like she was gazing at something precious yet fragile, something to be protected at all costs. Duss turned to face her, her chest slightly tightening. A storm of emotions clashed inside her—bitterness, love, resentment, longing. Duss's fists clenched at her sides, yet she didn't step back. She wanted to demand freedom, but the lump in her throat made it impossible. Her mother reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Duss's face with gentle fingers, as if she could soothe away the grief beneath her daughter's skin.

Duss's breath hitched as her mother leaned in, their faces mere inches apart. She could feel the warmth of her mother's breath against her lips, could see the sorrow lingering in her eyes like a shadow that never faded.

A whisper, delicate yet sharp, slipped from her mother's lips.

"I knew what you tried to do."

Her mother's eyes traced every inch of her face, as if memorizing her all over again, before she spoke again, a whisper so quiet Duss almost wished she hadn't heard it.

"I know you miss your big sister… but she is gone now."

Duss's fingers curled slightly at her sides. She didn't move, didn't even blink.

"What remains of her is only a machine that copies her personality."

The words weren't cruel. There was no cold finality in her mother's tone, no harshness—only grief, deep and unshaken, settled into her voice like a permanent wound.

Duss didn't know what to say. The air between them felt heavy, thick with something unspoken. She wasn't angry at her mother. She wasn't resentful. Her mother truly believed Mia was gone. That what remained was nothing but an imitation, a programmed memory.

Duss lowered her eyes, her breath shallow.

She wanted to say something—anything.

But the words wouldn't come.

Meanwhile in Circuit Row

Ash walked hastily through the neon-drenched backstreets, the hum of distant sirens lost in the static of the city's restless night. His coat flared with each step, his fingers twitching near his holster. The Rift Gate loomed ahead—a fortress of matte-gray iron, seamless and unmarked, blending into the underbelly of Aethergrid City like it had always been part of the shadows.

Two guards stood by the entrance, their faces obscured by opaque visors. Their armor was rugged but efficient, built for urban warfare. Both of them had a Plasma-Tipped Shotgun at their back. One of them shifted slightly as Ash approached the drones hovering near the gate scanning him that emitted a low-pitched beep.

"State your business," the guard grunted, voice distorted through a voice modulator. Ash didn't break stride and replied. "You already know."

The second guard gave a slow nod and stepped aside. The iron gate groaned as it slid open, revealing the path into the underworld's market—a labyrinth of illegal tech, mercenaries, and forgotten names.

Ash exhaled, stepping forward. He needed explosives. He needed diffusers. And he knew just the bastard who could provide both.

Aethergrid's Bastion

As she slowly leaves the room pitying her. She stepped outside the door still looking at her daughter with teary-eyes, Duss hesitantly said "Wa.. wait!" Her mother quickly turned to her, eyes soft with affection, as if hoping—just for a second—that Duss had changed her mind, that she would finally open up, finally accept being home. Duss's lips parted slightly, and said,

"I know that you heard the opening of New-Hormonal city in Jupiter."

Her mother froze, her hand still resting on the door. A shadow flickered across her face. "I have." she admitted, her voice calm but laced with something heavier.

Duss searched her mother's gaze and finally found a crack in her composure, some hesitation, some hint of doubt.

"You don't have to go there, Duss," her mother continued, stepping closer. "That place—it's not what you think. It's dangerous. Corrupt. A playground for people who indulge raping, tormenting and experimenting."

Duss's longing eyes fixed gaze with her, a few little steps towards closer and said, "Mia. Is. Alive." Her posture slightly shakes as the past traumas are gathering all at once.

Her mother's breath hitched. For a moment, her perfectly composed mask cracked—just for a second. Then, just as quickly, she reinforced it.

"Duss…" Her voice was softer now, almost pleading yet commanding. "You will die. If you put one step on Jupiter. Please my sweetheart, stay with me and you will be safe." She shed tears after the last sentence.

Duss also got teary-eyes in response to her adoring presence. Duss gets closer as her mother is almost at the verge of crying. "Mother, I know Mia is alive, but not in the way you imagine it."

Her mother's eyes darkened. "And if she is?" she whispered, voice barely audible. "Would you even recognize her?"

Duss's breath caught in her throat. Her mother turned away slightly, her fingers gripping the edge of the doorframe.

Detonova, Circuit Row

Ash stood in front of Detonova's glossy black iron door. The hidden scanners inside the doors quickly allowed him in as the door automatically hissed open. shop was half-organized chaos, with unfinished weapons, cybernetic scraps, and explosives scattered across metal tables.

Nobody was inside except Vareth. Ash quickly went to upstairs and saw Vareth focused in crafting a new unique sword. Sparks flew from Vareth's workbench as his plasma torch carved intricate etchings into the sword's parts.

Ash stood silently beside him as he was crafting.

"Knew you'd show up eventually," Vareth muttered, adjusting his tinted goggles as he kept working.

"I'm your most regular customer after all." Ash replied sarcastically with his arms crossed and smirked.

Vareth chuckled and said "Well, you also owe me the most."

Ash's voice turned sternly and asked, "Vareth, I need your help."

He set the torch down, rolling his shoulders before turning fully to face Ash. "Let me guess, you tried to fuck some big corporate boss's daughter again and fell in trouble?"

Ash sighed in embarrassment, "Vareth please, it's really serious."

Vareth chuckled, wiping his hands on a grease-stained rag. "What? It's a fair guess. Last time I had to pull your ass out after you broke up with Emily and you didn't even have a romantic relationship with her."

Ash rolled his eyes away for a second in annoyance, exhaling sharply. "Can you not bring that up?"

Vareth smirked. "Fine. But this better be worth my time." He leaned against the workbench, arms crossed. "So, what's the job?"

"It's not a job." - said Ash.

Vareth raised his eyebrow like a question mark. "Then?"

"It's about Duss… my beloved Duss…"

Vareth's smirk disappeared completely this time. He leaned against the workbench, crossing his arms again feeling pity for him, "Not that girl Duss again. You have been with her for quite a long time Ash, you won't get her love if she doesn't want to give you."

Ash didn't reply immediately, just held Vareth's gaze. That was enough to answer.

Ash looked at him with sorrowful longing eyes and said, "I love her…"

"Oh ash, if you stick with her you will get in serious danger. You know her family background. Even the zombies are against her entire family." - replied Vareth

Ash stood still with composure and said, "I can get in any trouble for her."

Vareth chuckled in pity and sighed.

Aethergrid's Bastion

As her mother turned away slightly, her fingers gripping the edge of the doorframe. One of the Royal protectors came to her and reported about two suspicious visitors. She's surprised to hear how visitors found this hidden Bastion. a chill ran down her spine. Even with all the layers of security, the surveillance, and the isolation, someone had still managed to find their way here.

Her mother's expression hardened, her affectionate demeanor replaced by cold calculation. She turned back slightly, her gaze locking onto Duss, searching her face for any sign of guilt.

Duss remained still, but inside, her mind raced. Could it be Ash? No. He wouldn't be that reckless. Not yet.

The Royal Protector stood rigid, awaiting orders. "Shall we eliminate them, ma'am?"

Her mother took a slow breath, composing herself. "Do they pose any kind of threat?"

"No, ma'am, we scanned them already, they don't have any weapons and do not seem hostile. They are just waiting at the front gate."

Her mother narrowed her eyes in suspicion,

Duss's confusion deepend, If it were Ash, he wouldn't just walk up to the gate like this. Her mother exhaled sharply, considering her options. "Keep them under full surveillance. Let them wait." She turned to Duss, her expression unreadable. "Do you know who they might be?"

Duss shook her head negatively, but uncertainty gnawed at her. Her mother studied her for a long moment before turning away. "I'll deal with them myself."

Duss felt her pulse quicken as she locked the room leaving Duss alone and went to see the visitors.

Outside, the massive steel gates of the hidden Bastion loomed over Ash and Vareth. Ash stood alerted, eyes prepared for any sudden moves. Vareth, on the other hand, leaned casually against the outer wall of, looking almost bored. The twin plasma turrets on the towers hummed with a low, ominous charge, their barrels pointing directly at them and will fire at the slightest provocation. The air smelled faintly of ionized energy, a clear warning that the defenses here weren't just for show.

"This place is dreadful," Ash muttered under his breath. "If Duss wasn't inside, I'd say we turn back before they decide to fry us."

Vareth smirked. "What, afraid of a little security? Thought you liked playing with fire."

From the upper platform of the fortified entrance, Duss's mother stood with quiet authority, flanked by two Royal Protectors in sleek, reinforced armor. The golden glow of the Bastion's security lights cast long shadows behind them, making their presence even more imposing.

Ash and Vareth stood below, separated by height and power, but neither looked intimidated.

The turrets above hummed ominously, tracking their every movement. Ash's stance remained steady, his sharp eyes locked onto her. Vareth, as usual, seemed unfazed, arms crossed, gaze drifting lazily over the fortifications.

She spoke strictly , her voice carrying easily over the distance. "Strange. People do not find this place unless they are meant to."

Vareth instantly responded sarcastically: "Indeed I am a stranger, but i'm afraid he's not your grace, (pointing his finger to Ash and smirked)

Ash gave Vareth a side glance, unamused. "Real helpful," he muttered under his breath.

She remained unfazed, her sharp dread gaze locked onto them. "Why are you here?"

Ash's heart trembling in profound fear as he stared at her fierce authority and said:

"I. CAME. FOR. DUSS."

The air grew thick, tense with the threat of something breaking loose. Her fingers twitched, a barely contained boiling fury hidden beneath her calculated composure. Ash could feel the danger hanging in the air like a live wire, just waiting to snap.

"You dare speak her name," her voice was a low hiss, filled with venom. Her hands hovered at her sides, gesturing whether to give the orders to obliterate them in a second. "You have no right to even mention her." The Royal Protectors beside her barely shifted, but Ash could sense her trigger fingers twitching.

Vareth, for once, said nothing. Even he could tell this was beyond his usual sarcastic games. He walked a few steps closer to the gate and said,

"If you want to go that way, how about I expose your hidden Bastion's location to every faction and gang?" - Said Vareth in sheer confidence.

To be continued,