Macaroni

Macaroni the Spire Seeker

"You can actually get used to Krill's cooking after you try to swallow some of those weird colorful blocks of food and try not to think too much about how it should really taste."

Mac used to be a small, stray girl all alone in the outside world. She doesn't know who her parents are but she's determined to find them and return home. But right now she's helping out Arbuz as his assistant to repay for saving her life and also studies in his lab. She's still a kid so sometimes she's fooling around instead of working or tries to teach Krill something stupid. Mac used to like robots but after she met Krill and saw how uncool he is she made up her mind.

THIS STORY WILL BE IMPROVED

The stormy clouds were stuffed with thick raindrops and the sky was ready to downpour at any moment. It's always like this. Very dark, black, almost, but not even a small drop of water falls down. She knew it very well, yet she always was so scared of the skies in this area. As if the Stormcatcher Himself was angry at this tiny and weak orphan that visits his home. The Pearlcarcher was carefully walking around and looking at her emaciated belly.
"Please, don't eat yourself." She almost whispered to the yellow stomach that made a loud growling sound. She was so hungry that you could clearly see the ribs. The Pearlcarcher was looking tiredly at the ground and dragging her pearl after her with foot. It was so heavy, despite it's small size. Was it always this heavy? She squinted her eyes in disbelief, looking at the distance. After watching the same desert for hours she thought that she saw something moving in the dried up lump of grass a few meters in front of her. The pearlcatcher rubbed her exausted, red eyes and focused on it. For a moment she was standing so still as if she turned into stone, was that? Suddenly a small lizard sprang up from the yellow blades of grass in the speed of light. The Pearlcarcher grabbed her pearl and without hesitation rushed after the pray on her remaining 3 legs. The lizard was very fast, if she wasn't so tired she would just fly, but her wings weren't listening to her at all, the losing was not an option. The lizard was making zigzags on the ground and waving it's long tail, the Pearlcarchers view was getting blurry, but she could tell that she's getting closer. Running trough tall and dry grass and spiky pebbles, her feet were burning from the pain. She bit her lip to endure it and continued running. Just when she was about to catch it's tail, she strongly bumped into something. Ouch. It was very large, soft and smelled like strong chemicals. Rubbing her head, she slowly looked up. It was blurry for a second, but her eyes became big and all her exaustion dissapeared. A creepy looking bird-thing with eyes black and shiny as coal was staring right at her soul. It's face was expresionless, but truly disturbing. She could see herself in the reflection in its dead eyes, it shown a small and trembling hatchling, completely paralyzed and hugging it's pearl. Her chest was ready to explode at any moment. Sweat was falling down from her temple to her whiskers. Looking herself into the eyes, while looking straight into monsters face. That thing looked like it came from someones nightmare. Grey and big as a mountain. The giant bird slowly leaned above her, it's shadow was so big that she could no longer see the grey sky above. It's BIG, skull-like face got closer to her. When it reached out his big as her head metal paw with short and pointy claws, the time stopped. The tips of his claws were right in front of her face. Everything freezed for a moment, she could hear her heartbeat very clearly, this loud and monotonic bumping was starting to hurt, and then suddenly her vision became pitch black and she collapsed, digging into the dusty and dry sand. Before losing consciousness she could her a voice calling for her, but she couldn't understand what it said.

A long time ago, when she was barely hatched, an unknown and yet similar voice said something to her. She can barely recall what this person said, because those words were too hard for her to understand, but she does remember one word: The Spire. When she opened her eyes an unfamilliar, metal roof greeted her. She sat down and looked around the room. It was very futuristic and had a whole lot of shelves filled with metal parts and rusty junk. Oil was spilled all over the floor and sparks were coming out of the lit lightbulbs above her. She was sitting on old and rugged armchair, and her pearl was on a small cusion next to her. Pearlcarcher yawned and looked down on her belly. It was still flat and growling at her angrily.
"Be quiet, we don't want that bad bird to get back." She whisperd to her stomach and, once again, looked around the room she was sitting in. Nothing edible at sign. She gulped and carefully stood up, taking her pearl with her.
*Nothing good will come from just sitting around. Where could I find food?* Little girl quietly tiptoed through the metal room and looked at the boxes on the shelves. Nothing useful. Then, she noticed some giant, flat square on the wall. It's color was the same as the walls, so she almost thought that this place has no exit. The metal doors surface was cold to touch. There was a handle, but it was out of reach. She tried jumping, but she could barely touch it with her clawtips. The Pearlcarcher made a grumpy expression.
"If that's how you wanna play, then fine!" She caught her pearl with her left foot covered in oil, and slowly spread her wings. With all her might, she jumped and flapped a few times. It was a lot more tiring than last time she tried to do it. Her muscles were burning from pain, but she couldn't stop now, she was almost there. Little girl quickly reached out her small paws and grabbed the cold handle with her both arms, before losing her breath. The hunger was unbearable, but she managed to use all her remaining strenght.
*I... did it! I won you big fat chicken!* She grived her teeth and pulled the handle with all her might, but, to her surprise - doors didn't open. The Pearlcarcher looked at the handle, and then at her dangling legs in confusion. She made an embarresed expression and put her paw on her face. Of course. How could this possibly work? She tiredly sighned, questioning how could she be so awfully dumb. Just when she was about to jump off, she felt how the ground is shaking. A loud thumps were getting closer to her room, as if a giant animal was going in her direction. She curled up, still firmly holding the handle, and suddenly loud footsteps stopped, and doors made a creaking sound and slowly opened.

She was trying her best to not make any sounds. The doors opened, but now she can't see anything because she was pressed to the wall. Her exit is right next to her, but she can't get out of here so easily. Something was walking around the room and making a weird mechanic sounds with every loud stomp.
"I cannot detect any living form of life in this room. I will proceed with the scanning." Strange emotionless voice said and a weird, high-peeched beeping sound echoed in the room. It was repeating itself for a moment, but then suddenly stopped.
"A living form of life detected." Said voice again and the steps started getting closer to her. She was panicking.
*If I have to die, I won't do it without flighting!* The doors started moving forward, making a irritating creaking sound. The Pearlcarcher loudly roared, and jumped with her claws and fangs exposed at the opponent.
"Take that!" She shouted and bit the monster right into his head. Suddenly, she felt as if her teeth crushed into a small pieces. Whatever it was, it was as hard as a rock. Pearlcarcher looked blankly at the opponent with a disbelief and curiosity. It was a strange, silver dragon that was looking at her with a passive expression and holding the door by the handle. The weird dragon looked like some metallic Coatl, with a green antenna sticking out of his forehead. She couldn't understand it.
"Umm...Are you perhaps... a robot?" She asked, still holding onto his face. She touched the coatls anthenna. It was like a spring and was glowing in green light. The dragon tilted his head and pressed a button on his chest. The cyan glowing light shot out from his eyes and went trough her whole body, from head to bottom.
"An analysis of the living form of life seems to be in a medium life threatning condition. I will proceed with the healing process." Saying that with a same emotionless voice, he reached out his metal paws and slowly grabbed the Pearlcarcher by the skin and fur on the back of her neck, taking her off his face. His fingers were cold and hard. She was intrgued by robotic dragon in front of her. In her boldest dreams she never imagined meeting a real robot. Her lips tiwsted into a cheerfull smile. The coalt stopped moving, and his eyes shot out another glowing beam of light.
"The living form of life is showing an unexpected and sudden changes of emotions that are the differnt to how it should express considering the condition is in. Why is that?" The metal coalt looked at the Pearlcarcher in silence, still holding her by the back of her neck. Little girl was absolutely confused and wasn't sure what to respond. She slightly pouted.
"S-stop calling me that! I'm not just a living form of life or whatever!" She felt annoyed. The robot dragon was standing silently and his eyes, even if dead, seemed very troubled.
"What is the code of the living form of life, if it wishes to be called differently?" His robotic voice peerced trough her ears.
"Code? You mean my-" She never even thought about it. She doesn't have a name. Or even if she had one, she can't remember it from the time she hatched. Suddenly she became gloomy, and her face turned into a sad grimace. A first drop of tears fell down her cheek. The coalt started to observe her intensly, awaiting for the answer, but still seemed troubled with such a sudden change of emotions. She loudly cryed out and started rubbing her wet eyes. The metal Coatl gently moved towards the armchair and put pearlcatcher on the cusion, and her pearl right next to her. She curled into a ball, tightly cuddling her pearl. The robot was glaring at her.
"The code of the living form of life is unpronounceable. I recomend saying it again." The metal Coatl said, and patiently awaited for the answer. The pearcatcher continued to cry and hid her face in the cusion and turned back to the robot.
"Geez, what's so loud so early in the mornin'? Krill, I wanted you to reduce the pain, not to expend or whatever you did, you stupid can of fish!" An old and hoarse male voice could be heard from the doors direction. Pearlcatcher looked up with her puffy, red eyes and saw a giant fat Bogsneak in a lab coat, slowly walking in her direction with tired expression. The coalt stood next to the armchair, making room for the old dragon. The Bogsneak slightly hit the robot in it's head. It made an empty metalic sound. The fat dragon leaned above the little girl and tiredly smiled, scratching the pink fin on his head.
"Yo. You got me scared for a moment back there, but is seems that you're 'kay now, kiddo. Haha." She stopped crying and looked down. She noticed how big his shadow is. This situation was oddly simillar, and the acrid scent of chemicals that flew though her nosethrills made her remember what happened.

The room was small, and the ceramic plates were entirely covering the walls. There were some schelves with strange substances and boxes on them. She was sitting on a small stool and looking at her reflection in the giant mirror in front of her. The robotic Coalt behind her was looking for something on the shelves. What an awkward situation. They were like that for a good fifteen minutes by none of them have spoken a thing except the metal Coatl asking if the bandages on the wounds aren't too tight. *Why is he ignoring me when I ask anything? Aren't robots made to be answering questions?* She crossed her arms and looked at the robot in the back.
"What are you going to do with me?" She asked with an irritated and impatient tone. The coatl was looking for something on the schelves for a while, but then turned around and came closer to her, holding a bottle with some purple liquid inside.
"Classified information." Saying that, he pushed the tap on the wall to the right, and water started to fall from the ceiling, making her all wet. She started to smell like a dog, and her damp fur was covering her eyes a bit. Then Coatl opened the bottle and poured the grape scented liquid on her head and neck, and started rubbing the fur, avoiding the eyes and ears. The liquid quickly turned into a bubbles and almost entirely covered her fur, making a big bubbly afro. *Hmpf, what a jerk. I have the right to know what's gonna happen to me! I used to like robots, but this one is just the worst!" She slightly growled and angrily looked at his reflection. He was very focused on washing her fur. Almost as if that was the last thing he'll ever do. She grabbed a few bubbles from the floor and stared at them. They were shining in a pink colours.
"What's your name?" She asked and looked up. Robot stopped washing her head and pushed the tap again. Big stream of water fell down on her body and washed away all the bubbles.
"I am Krill. The servant of Master Arbuz." He said with a indifferent voice and slightly bowed, turning off the water.
"So, you're like a maid?" She turned around and smiled to him jokingly. Coatl put the bottle back on the shelf and took out another one. The yellow one this time.
"No. If I am going to be associated with any occupation, then it would be a butler. Even if my body does not posses any genitals, Master Arbuz created me modeling on a male species of a Coatl." He responded and gave the bottle to the pearlcatcher.
"I am not going to touch the private body parts of a young female hatchiling. I need to ask you to do it yourself." She blinked few times in a confusion and looked at the bottle she was holding.
"If you're not a boy or a girl, then why are you making me do it?" She tilted her head and looked Kirll in his glowing, red eyes.
"I was designed not to do it. It does not matter what yours gender is. When you finish washing come to the farest room at the end of the hall on your left. Master Arbuz wants to see you. Please, wear this before leaving the room. I must apologise, but it's oversized. Unfortunetaly we do not posses any other sizes." He took out of the shelf a white and square cloth and put it on the small stool next to the door.
"Now, if you excuse me." Saying that, he bowed and walked out of the room with the same oblivious expression.
"Is every robot this weird?" She said to herself and turned on the water. The yellow liquid quickly turned into bubbles. It was lemon scented.

The doors were heavy and hard to open, but she managed to do it this time. It didn't had a handle after all. Outside the room was a dark corridor, lit up by cyan lightbulbs. She looked around, the hall was extordinary long and everywhere looked the same. She looked at her new and awfully oversized cloak.
*It's way too big. I might trip if I won't watch out."
She pulled up her lab cloak and turned her head left.
*What did he said? Farest room on the left, right?* She scratched her ear and started slowly walking on her three legs, holding pearl in her foot.
*Since when walking is this hard. Stupid cloak. Anyway... Where am I? Is this The Spire? No. It would be too easy... That Grandpa wasn't a monster after all, so... Maybe I should say sorry?* She was looking at her small paws stepping on the cold floor. Everything was so quiet that she could only hear her footsteps. The silence was interrupted by her stomach, who was demanding food for long while. Its sound was so loud that it echoed in the corridor.
"Be quiet for moment, would ya'?" She slightly hit herself in the belly. She can't even recall when was the last time she ate anything. The Pearlcatcher yawned and notice that she's already standing at the end of the hallway. She was planning on going in, when she thought
*What if they are saying something evil behind my back...I'mma do it j-just to be sure that they are not bad.* She put her ear on the door and started listening... Nothing. Little girl put the other ear and focused again. Silence. Only the quiet clicking sound of a electricity above her.
"Wha!? Why this is not working?!" She growled and tried to kick the door, but it suddenly opened. The Pearlcatcher quickly stepped back on her cloak and fell over. Looking up, she saw an irritated and exausted face of an old Bogsneak from before. He was standing in the door, completely blocking the entrance with his fat and dangling belly from the uptight science coat.
"Oh, its you! You were takin' a while, so I wanted to see if you're alright and didn't got lost, but since you have the vigor to kick the armored door, then I guess you're all fine now." He croached and whipped the sweat off his temple. The Pearlcarcher sat down and looked suspiciously at the old man.
*His name was... Arbuz? I guess he's not a bad bird after all, but why are his paws normal? They were metal before.* The Bogsneak looked at the celing and loosed his cloaks collar.
"Boy, it sure is hot in here ever since this darned ventilation broke, and of course Kirll's draggin this on forever because he can't even feel what kind of hell is it in here!" Pearcatcher looked up at the pipes above them. She haven't felt it this much to be honest.
"Its not that hot. You're just fat." She said bluntly without hesitating. Arbuz was so surprised with her instant response that he opened his mouth widely, but then laughed from the bottom of his heart.
"Hahahaha! Boy, I haven't heard an insult like that one in ages! Haha! You have no idea how difficult it is to have a normal conversation with a robot! Hahaha, I like ya' kiddo! C'mhere!" He pulled her by the neck and started rubbing her head with his big and strong paws. She was getting dizzy and couldn't breathe. His lab cloak was soaked, warm and smelled like sweat and chemicals, but Arbuz seemed very happy. His eyes were all teary from laughter and he was choking on air. Like it really was his first time laughing in a long while. The Pearlcarcher had enough. She made a angry expression and she bit the Bogsneak in his arm with her sharp like needles baby teeth. Old man released her slowly, but remained smiley as before.
*That was close... M-My short life flashed in front of my eyes.* She gasped for air and pouted at the fat dragon. Arbuz scratched his fin and looked at her skinny body.
"Whew, for a homeless hatchiling, you got quite a jaw strenght, I give ya' that. Haha." He picked her up by her arms and stood up, looking intensly at her ribcage and emaciated stomach.
"Listen, kiddo. You might... or might have not heard of me as a local mad scientist in those sides... Sounds scary, I got ya, I really do... but I can guarantee you that I won't do anything except helping you recover, but to do that, I need you to trust me, kiddo. So, howsabboudit?" He looked at her with concern in the eyes. His face was showing a comforting grin of an elder. The Pearlcarcher was intensly thinking it over and holding her Pearl in her tiny paws. Their first meeting might have been a bit stressfull for her, but this fat bogsneak is absolutely harmless. Or thats what it seems at least. "You... don't have a name, aren't ya? Sorry for scratching up the old wounds, but what do ya think about me giving you one, kiddo?" Arbuz said with an energetic and hoarse voice. The Pearlcarcher recalled the previous events, but this time she hold back the tears.
"I... wanna name myself." She responded and looked at her reflection in the Pearl. The bogsneak put her on his shoulder and went inside the room.
"Ha! Very good, kid! Every true scientist names all its creations without asking anyone... Even intself actually, Arbuz is just my codename. The real one is a mystery. So don't tell anyone 'kay?" The Old dragon put the finger on his lips and Grinned to the Pearlcarcher. She did the same and  a slight smile appeared on her face. The door loudly closed behind her. Only the Sound of echo was left on the corridor.

Arbuz's back was very soft and warm. Her feet were digging into it while she was looking all around the room they got into just now. It was a lot more comfortable than the ones she was in before. No metalic parts and oil, just a normal room with a chimney in the middle and bookshelves on the walls. In the center of the room was a giant table and four small chairs around it. Despite its large size, the table was almost entirely filled with leftovers. Empty food bowls and notes with some drawings of robots were scattered all around it. It really was ruining the nice atmosphere. Arbuz yawned and put her on a tall, metal stool. His thickset body slowly turned around and he sat on his armhair in front of her, almost bumping the stool with his fat and heavy tail.
"So... Let's start over, shall we? Kiddo... What were you doing on my turf?" She hugged her Pearl and answered with calm and a bit hesitant voice.
"I'm... looking for The Spire." She never trusted anyone. Almost every dragon she encounterd wasn't very kind, so saying this right now made her uncomfortable. The old bogsneak scratched his chin and looked thoughtful.
"Normally no one whould come this close to The Spire, unless looking for the work. You really wanna work for the Stormcatcher for the rest of your life? In this condition... I guarantee that you won't last a week." She gulped and had an uneasy look.
"Someone in the past told me about The Spire... I'm looking for it, so it might help me to understand what disconnected me from my lair and parents." Arbuz quietly mummled something to himself. His short and sharp nails were tapping the wooden armrest.
"Hm...I don't like to lie to the kids, so I'm gonna be straight with you... I'm sorry to say it, but... they might've... got rid of you. I don't see a reason why would Plague dragons sent you here, unless trying to leave you... I might be wrong, but, sadly, this option is possible." His face turned into a gloomy grimase. Pearlcatcher remained silent and gently stroked her Pearl, it surface was cold in touch.
"I-I wanna find out myself if that's true. I won't believe it if I don't see it." She said and tried to hold back her tears. Arbuz had a comforting smile and sticked out his long and forked tongue.
"You're very mature for a kid, aren't ya'?" His old and red eyes seemed to be very proud of her. Then he clapped his paws suddenly.
"God, I'm the worst host ever. How could I left such a lil' kiddo hungry for so long. Sorry 'bout that." He got up and rushed towards the buttons panel on the wall behind. There were all kinds of cabes and colorful buttons, everything was flashing. Arbuz pressed the glowing blue button and leaned above the mic on the wall. "Kirll, I want ya' to cook something for the kid.............I don' t know......maybe...... plants and insec-" He was interrupted by an annoyed growl of the small pearlcatcher.
"No bugs." She sticked out her tongue to imitate vomiting and looked at Arbuz who seemed amused and showed her a thumb up.
"...and no insects, thanks. Hurry with it, would ya'?" He stopped pressing the button and went back to the armhair yawning.
"It seems as if you're already very home here, huh?" Pearlcatcher noded and looked down on her Pearl. It's white shine was sootihing.
"Will you help me get stronger, so I can find out what happened to me?" She caugth the bogsneak by his lab cloak and looked him it the eyes. Arbuz seemed surprised, but then he smiled and laughed.
"Ha! Fine! But, be ready for a one hell of a workout, kiddo! You'll have to become a Researcher like me. The Storm Policy doesn't allow anyone to stay on their butt even when young, so Your'e gonna be my assisstant from now on!" Pearlcatcher looked shocked and silently listened to the old man with slightly open mouth. Who would have thought? This world actually has some good people in it. She doesn't quite understand, but after such a long time of looking for clues and help she will do whatever it takes to unravel the truth. She stood up and grabbed Bogsneaks heavy paw. It was almost three times bigger than her both paws.
"Thank You." She bowed and slowly shaked his giant hand. Arbuz grinned and scratched a fin on his head.
"C'mon kiddo, don't thank me. It's YOU who's gonna find 'em, right? I'm just here to give you a little push when you'll need it." He grabbed her by her chest and hold in air above his head. She looked down on his old and energetic eyes. They were very enthusiastic despite his eldery age. As if he was still a hatchling in heart. In this moment the door to the room opened and metal Coalt came inside, holding two plates with some colorful bricks in weird shapes. Arbuz looked in his direction and put down the Pearlcatcher on the stool.
"Ah, finally, I'm starvin'!" He whipped the slober off his mouth and took the plates from Krill and gave one to her. The plate had something she have never seen in her life. A strange, green cardboard box-thing with black liquid in a small cup next to it. The block looked like a plastic toy and had no scent. She looked at Arbuz with disbelief and confusion. The bogsneak was already sitting next to table and chomping into red brick like a hungry animal. The crumbs and drops of slober were falling from his mouth on the plate. Pearlcatcher watched in silence at this image with a disgusted expression for a moment, and then sat to the table as well. Krill was standing and observing her intensly, his tail was a bit wriggling.
*Is he... waiting for me?* She preteneded to ignore his and hesitantly took a bite from the green block. Its taste was so weird that she couldn't tell if she likes it or not.
"How is everything?" Krill asked and patiently awaited the answer. Arbuz finished eating and looked at the pearcathcer as well. She slowly munched the green block of food in her mouth and gulped.
"It's... like nothing I ever ate before." She drank the black liquid. It was salty and bitter. Krills eyes shined a bit and he made a weird clicking sound.
"Thank You for Your answer. I added Your opinion to my database." Saying that, he took the plates and put them in a flat hole in his stomach.
"So, now when we're fed, we can start your training, right gal?...So, have you picked your name already? That's the first step in being a scientist." Bogsneak said with a curiosity. Pearlcatcher turned thoughtful and focused. What a weird situation. Who would have thought that a child will have to name itself one Day. She looked at her pearl and stroked it with her paw. Her reflection was showing a completely different dragon than before. This one is clean, and looks a lot more happier than the one she used to see before. She looked Arbuz in the eyes and calmly said:
"I... can't think of anything." Arbuz slightly smirked to the pearlcatcher.
"Well, don't rush anythin'. You've got plenty of time." Bogsneak pat her head with care and compassion and gave a hand sign to the robot behind. Krill nodded and took something out of his stomach and tossed it to her. She barely managed to catch it on time. It was a tiny, metal object. Trough the further inspeciton she noticed that it's a metal pin with a lightning symbol and beneath it there are some letters. She tried to read it, but it was a complete gibberish to her. After intensly staring at it, the Bogsneak tilted his head with curiosity.
"...Can't ya' read?" He looked at her with a concern. She turned red and gave the pin to the fat dragon without saying anything. He cleaned his throath and said with a hoarase voice:
"Lab 21459 Inventor Assistant... Your name will be below this title and after that, if one of Stormcatchers man will even try asking you why you're in a restricted area, just flash it in front of its eyes. This pin allows you to walk all around this land and do whatever you want, but ONLY for reaserch projects. It's your job right now. Doing research for me so I can create more things That'll be transported as a payment for Stormcatcher. Since you're an assisstant, then you can go outside only with me or Krill...well, I'm super busy, so you'll be going outside with Krill for 90% of the time. But, it think that its still better than working your a$$ off in the Spire, right? Anyway, this is for you. Treasure it, kiddo." Those words made her feel something weird. Something she never expierenced before - feeling of affiliation. It was the first time in her short life when she felt that her life has a meaning. That she's not just a random bum in the outside world and nobody whould ever remember her. Her life got a meaning now. Arbuz gave the pin back to her and she attached it to her labcloak. The metal pin shined in the yellow light of lightbulbs above.