Kenosis by Interstyx 

The trauma of transformation leaves scars much deeper than a drone’s plastic shell ‍-​‍-​ deeper even than mangled insides twined with flesh. Though N was made to forget, V wasn’t. The frame‍-​by‍-​frame image of her hollowing, her kenosis, is burned into her drives; not just her body torn into something else, but being forced to watch N go through the same.

38k words, complete.

My favorite fic in the fandom‍ ‍—‍ actually narrowly edges onto my list of top ten favorite stories, period.

Punchy, evocative prose. The flow starts off engrossing and becomes immaculate by the end, and it somehow manages to detail technicalities of robot mechanisms and anatomy without breaking rhythm or boring me.

This fic gets V. It’s my favorite depiction of her, period. I’ve never seen a story do her justice like this before. In fact, I liked V for rather shallow reasons, initially (what? I like a woman who will straight up kill me), but Kenosis was the first fic that really sold me on her depth, and I couldn’t see her the same way afterward.

(Also, it’s kind of funny how the author anticipated that moment. You’ll know when you get to it.)

The worldbuilding in this is also high up there. It’s simultaneously the first fic I read that believably handled murder drones as organic frankensteins while also being the best depiction of them as digital minds as well, with some neat presentation flourishes.

The author is clearly familiar with programming in detail, and integrates the concepts convincingly. Mix that with the genuine, gruesome body horror, and it’s hard to think of a fic more laser targeted to my interests. (Okay, there is one, but not in this fandom.)

The plot is complex, and between the depth and subtly of the presentation, the specific events can get difficult to parse (V’s trauma doesn’t help). It’s oddly fitting‍ ‍—‍ there are chapters that leave you with the “I don’t know quite what just happened, but I’ll probably understand the second time through” that later episodes of the source material had. It’s not necessary for enjoyment, of course‍ ‍—‍ I enjoyed it throughly the first time.

The fic is complete, and it sticks the landing so hard that the final chapter is the one that elevated this fic from the bottom of “Must‍-​read” to being my uncontested favorite. I won’t spoil, but I just want to say how conceptually cool it is that this fic made the body horror heartwarming.

As Above, So Below by VexInheritance 

Uzi’s blighted gift, however abstract and draining, may just be the only hope she still has.

It wasn’t made for her, but maybe she was meant to have it. In any case, she wasn’t one to let a tool in her kit go unused. Not when so many things needed fixing.

79k words, complete.

A fic set years after canon (or at least, what could be predicted circa Episode 3). Uzi is a battle‍-​hardened badass, hunting down disassembly drones gone eldritch, and she’s looking for something. The cast is older and more serious; time has harrowed everyone. Some try to move forward, while others are stuck in the past.

After writing thousands of words of analysis in the comments, I admit my well of editorial review copy is looking a little dry. But I’ll try to cobble together something from all the rambles and recommendations I’ve posted elsewhere.

The writing is superb, with a mastery of detail and metaphor that makes every paragraph feel like a gourmet feast. The character‍-​writing is intense‍ ‍—‍ indeed, the climatic chapter had me sobbing. Be warned that it’s very dense and slow paced, and the ending leaves some things unsaid and half‍-​resolved. The final moment is chilling, evocative, but barely catharthic.

One caveat to the writing is that it’s not just impeccable, it’s unflappable. It’s a humorless fanfic of a show half‍-​defined by its humor. Though that may be a feature to some‍ ‍—‍ that humor has put off so many I’ve tried to recommend the show to.

Between the sobriety and the sheer quality, I’d actually recommend this to those unfamiliar or unwilling to watch canon. Even as a diehard fan, I wasn’t quite sure what was going on (in the ‘this is fresh’ way, not the ‘this doesnt make sense’ way). It starts in media res and show‍-​don’t‍-​tells the premise.

(Something of a double‍-​edged sword, really, because it can leave you a little unsure why you’re reading or why they’re writing this fic, other than love of prose. But trust me, if you stick with it, you’ll see why this story needs to be told.)

Not for everyone, I think, but if the idea of a literary dronefic appeals to you, you owe it to yourself to check this one out

Tessaract by Shinzuu 

Tessa lives under the stifling oppression of her psychotic mother and her alcoholic boor of a father at the Elliot manor. All she has to keep her company are her four little worker drones ‍-​ J, V, N, and Cyn. J has been with her the longest and she couldn’t imagine life without her best friend and her constant protector.

Everything changes one night during dinner with her parents. Tessa chooses her drones over the wellbeing of human civilisation. Who knows what manner of horrors she has unwittingly unleashed upon the world? Can J save her from the resurrected one?

My original prompt was just ‘How did Cyn die’?

227k words as of 2024‍-​08‍-​05

A thriller that fills me with anxiety, a romance that fills me with lesbian thoughts. Features an excellent exploration of absolute solver mechanics, and a great portrayal of Tessa and her drones.

The definitive J/Tessa fic in my opinion, but it’s so much more than that. (Not just in the sense that it’s also kind of a love triangle, and the Cyn/Tessa interactions melt my brain).

Each perspective feels unique, and there’s depth in every relationship. The overall plotting is clever, with setups and twists weaving that range from surprising to pure genius.

(Note that this fic has very long chapters (I’m living in a glass houses, I know). The later chapters are novella length, and the wait between updates kills me, but it’s nice to be able to immerse yourself in new words for hours. Almost makes it worth it.)

Flipside by doodlingNutjob 

Sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Other times…they become unrecognizable. Switching the pieces around can alter the entire game.

In this reality, Ned dreams of becoming a WDF door guard like his father, a hero that helps protect Outpost 3. However, his best friend Vera thinks that they need to bring the fight to the Murder Drones before their defenses inevitably fail, a stark contrast to her emotionally‍-​distant father’s policy.

What starts as a simple (and reckless) mission with heroic intentions quickly spirals into something far bigger than either of them could have expected, and they find themselves fighting darkness that threatens to swallow their cores as they discover that the battle lines are not nearly as clear as they once thought.

81k words as of 2024‍-​04‍-​17.

If you’re anything like me, an AU that swaps around worker and disassembly drones feels so low‍-​hanging as premise as to worth writing off. I’m willing to tolerate some bad fics‍ ‍—‍ (I’ve read to completion things I wouldn’t even list on this page)‍ ‍—‍ so with nothing else to read and no high expectations, I figured I’d finally try out a swap au.

Flipside is good. It’s so good. And it distinguishes itself from the its peers in the “must‍-​read” category by being fun. All the rest are undeniably slow fics, immersing themselves deeply in a characters perspective. Flipside, though, is fast‍-​paced.

There’s something addictive about the sense of familiarity. The way this AU twists canon means you get what’s going on‍ ‍—‍ it has all the pleasure of an author winking at you‍ ‍—‍ but at the same time, it’s so creatively done that there’s plenty of surprises in store. It’s ingenuous.

It’s more than just an exercise in AUbuilding, though, because the characters are competently written, the perspectives are compelling, and the plotting is tight and interesting. One sin you’ll often see in mid fics is just retelling canon. There’s no need to worry about that from Flipside. It rhymes but it does not repeat.

The plotting and addictive pace are double‍-​edged, though. Because now that I’m caught up… I need more of it, more than any other fic on this list. Everything else feels somewhat resolved, a satisfying packages even if incomplete‍ ‍—‍ but Flipside’s cliffhangers truly bite.

I’ve caught up with this fic again after a hiatus (I forgot to subscribe :c), and I will note my feelings have been tempered somewhat. In a way, the plot and climax of the second arc is fantastic, topping the first. The fic constantly swaps PoVs and spins so many plates, which becomes an issue if you don’t care for some of the perspectives. (I’m personally not a fan of this fic’s Cyn nor its Beau, though I imagine they’re plenty fun for most).

It also has become more clear to me that this fic’s fast pace does come at the expense of something. I’m not sure what I’d peg it as‍ ‍—‍ an issue of prose? perspective and psychology? scene setting? Whatever it is, I would caveat that that Flipside’s strength is not immersion. It lacks of a sense of atmosphere, or emphasis; it feels like scenes and chapters could be half again as long, or even twice as long, and feel more substantial for it.

But this may be a critique that says more about me and my taste than a fault in the fic itself. I personally have difficulty maintaining engagement after stepping away from a fic (I prefer binging to serial reading), and I was at a low point mentally, so my experience getting back into the fic was a tad marred by things I cannot hold against it.

Retrospect by The_Caretaker 

The horror of a promise to uphold and the pains of Understanding the unknown. We who swear find ourselves staring down the barrel of a gun, asked if the price to pay will cow us now.

He falls from grace with the weight of an oath broken.

She agonizes over a vow demanded without ever knowing its cost.

A mask to hide the pains taken to see bond fulfilled.

The final gasps of a woman born through pledge unspoken.

She who lives in the shadow of a child taking more than she knows.

Sanity’s pyre for vengeance sworn.

And they who bind others in covenants of stone.

In retrospect, they should have thought longer than they did.

90k words, as of 2024‍-​10‍-​11.

There are quite a few fics that aim to fill in the yawning gaps that exist between episodes of the show. I think that’s the most accurate way to understand what Retrospect is doing, but also a bit misleading. This fic isn’t an exercise in stitching connective tissues, and little continuity is built‍ ‍—‍ in a way, the different arcs of this story feels like episodes in their own right, substantial and independent.

Retrospect is organized into a series of “character studies” that hone in on a single characters, illuminating their complexity and nuances. As I write this, there are arcs focusing on N, Uzi, J, and a V arc in progress. Simply reading the first two impressed me enough to add a listing earlier than I normally do.

(This review hasn’t been substantially updated to reflect my opinions on the third arc, but suffice it to say my reaciton to it was the first time I ever went over the ao3 character limit when leaving a comment. And then I did it again reviewing the fourth!)

This fic has a breath‍-​taking sense of style. Graceful to a degree that tops anything else on this list, and adorned with overflowing detail. Retrospect rises onto the short list of dronefics whose virtues that verge on the literary.

It’s the most slow‍-​paced and introspective of the fics listed here, but with patience, beneath the ornate language, there is a decent grasp of emotion and character psychology. With prose to animate it vividly, even simple interactions between characters gain gravitas and catharsis.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it, but I have an appetite for exactly what it’s serving‍ ‍—‍ consider the statement that it’s a glacially paced staring contest with the navels of characters to be either a warning or an invitation according to taste.

Hostile Takeover by snugglesquiggle 

For Serial Designation J, it’s lonely being only effective disassembly drone in her sector of Copper‍-​9.

N was already a walking synergistic liability, but V couldn’t be more obviously stressed and maladaptively coping if she tried. When a botched disassembly leaves V a nightmare‍-​riddled wreck, the squad’s effectiveness hits its lowest point. With disassemblers like these, you’d swear the worker drones show more initiative!

Meanwhile, Uzi Doorman is a cool, independent worker drone. After Doll, she doesn’t need anyone else‍ ‍—‍ all she needs is to finish her railgun and blow the murder drones anyway. Of course, if her plan goes wrong she’ll be helpless at their mercy. Dead, in other words.

After all, J is a loyal drone. Locate, shutdown, disassemble. A simple directive she’d never hesitate to carry out. Right?

191k words as of 2024‍-​08‍-​20.

A unique and interesting take on J. Sympathetic yet nuanced, and perhaps the definitive J/Uzi fic. So far, it is the only one I’m aware of which justifies their relationship while leening the least on major AU elements.

Despite its slow pace, the characterization and descriptions are compelling, supporting an interesting plot and offering glimpses of deeper worldbuilding, and it’s all made to pop with a few very nice flourishes.

Though romance is the goal, it focuses so much more in the journey there, with a balance of action packed fight scenes, and at times touching drama. The climax is well worth the build‍-​up.

(Note: I am the author, but I think I did a pretty good job!)

Take Care, It’s A Desert Out There by ColdNightsWarmBlankets 

In the arctic darkness, a drone sits on the bow of a frozen ship, fearing the end. Harpoon in hand, he waits.

Across the frozen ocean, another one raises her wings to take flight in search of food. She’s starving.

Beneath the ice, something stirs, waiting for the Long Night of winter to set in.

35k words, as of 2024‍-​07‍-​19.

There’s a number of fics I can recommend on the strength of their prose, and a number of fics I can recommend as quick paced and smooth reads, but I think this is the best example I’ve encountered of a fic that achieves both.

I think there’s something particularly impressive about an OC fic where I was sold on every character pretty much as soon as they’re introduced. It takes a little bit before this fic truly hits its stride‍ ‍—‍ which says something when it already starts off quite good. But trust me, it gets even better.

Take Care… is further distinguished by taking some of the most creative liberties with style and format in the murder drones fandom; the author takes such care to render the psychological breakdown of the protagonist.

There are passages in the later chapters that are some of the most stirring I’ve read. I’m keeping an eye on this one; I think it has the potential to rise to Must‍-​read.

Trojan Virus AU by Lilas_Leavanny 

AU where the Absolute Solver is an genetically transmitted virus that slowly turns the Worker Drone into a Disassembly Drone, acting as a Trojan horse for the hidden colonies and cults of rogue drones. Uzi has been caught up in this mess, inheriting the Virus from her mother and now living with the consequences of the changes she is going through.

I am not normal about this series‍ ‍—‍ I’ve probably written thousands of words in the comments gushing about everything I liked in it. In purely subjective terms, it’s second only to Kenosis in how much I enjoy and resonate with its themes.

In “objective” terms, it straddles the line between what I’d tier as Noteworthy versus merely Enjoyable. It’s flawed; as noted in the first entry, the author is ESL and while not intolerable, it’s assuredly not invisible.

This listing is not my review. I have so many thoughts that it’ll be a while until I feel up to figuring out how to recommend this one, so consider this a placeholder.

It has my seal of approval, for whatever that’s worth.

Of Commodified Contradiction‍ ‍—‍ A J/Uzi Anthology by snugglesquiggle 

Capital has the ability to subsume all critiques into itself. Even those who critique capital end up reinforcing it instead.

J is a ruthless killer determined to lead the most effective disassembly team Copper‍-​9’s ever seen. Uzi is a inventive rebel who’ll do the impossible to win respect and answers. By nature, by mission, by attitude, the two are destined enemies. Each stands as a challenge to everything the other is‍ ‍—‍ and if they share one thing, both will attack a challenge head on.

Yet that doesn’t exhaust the parallels. They share the loneliness of standing as the only ones who dare to try in a world going through the motions. They share that purpose‍-​rending wound, one who once cherished them now torn away, and dimly comprehend why, if they can even remember the loss. They share a fiercely defensive shame that makes snarling out insults with arrayed claws more comfortable, more fulfilling, than any lame as hell liability recognizable as romance.

If you ask J, keeping this toaster around a little longer helps the bottom line. If you ask Uzi, that arrogant murderess is not calling the shots and nothing about her menace flusters her, shut up.

A series of ostensibly unconnected shortform works from the author of Hostile Takeover. At this point, there’s two many to review individually (aside from the longest one, written before this was a series), but the series as a whole does a remarkable job of portraying J/Uzi as a believable and compelling ship, with acclaimed ear for banter and poetic description.

(Note: I am the author, but I think I do a pretty good job!)

• Off the Record, Off the Clock: a ‘chatfic’ which uses creative CSS to portray a text message conversation between the pair, taking a turn for both the poignant and the scandalous.
• The Headhunter and Her Stubborn Game: Uzi’s work is interrupted by J’s insistence that she take a break‍ ‍—‍ and her own interest in intimacy.
• Artificial Instincts and Simulated Passion: after months of feeding on Uzi, J wants more out of their relationship.

Even in Debt‍ ‍—‍ Dreams:

J couldn’t get that worker off her mind. A worker, standing over her, those violet eyes gloating with incontestable triumph, that gun roaring with so much electromagnetic power it made her coils quake. A worker. How could she lose to this? But she had lost. More than lost. She was going to die. She was dead. Unless—

But it wasn’t enough that a worker had left her about to offer surrender. She had left her speechless.

Or: in which J holds her tongue, and Uzi holds her hostage.

12k words as of 2024‍-​07‍-​24

A shorter work from the author of Hostile Takeover. Narrower in scope, but it arguably exceeds its predessor in establishing J/Uzi as a viable ship, with more natural pacing and fewer plot contrivances. It’s tagged “not smut, but it would be less horny if they fucked” and take it from a chorus of agreement in the comments, it delivers. The prose and character writing starts off as strong as the later, better chapters of HT, and it’s tightly written to deliver a short, striking conclusion.

sileNce by doodlingNutjob 

There is tragedy in a happy song that abruptly falls silent.

This is the story of how a light in the dark gets snuffed out, then reignited.

OR: A series of scenes and stories about the abuse faced by Serial Designation N, and his eventual healing.

17k words as of 2024‍-​01‍-​02.

One of the most emotionally affecting fics on the list. Do not take the “tragedy” description lightly. It also has a particularly interesting, and distinctly animalistic, take on disassembly drone communications, giving them “calls” as if they were predators‍ ‍—‍ a headcanon which makes the central metaphor that much more resonant. (No pun intended.)

(Avid readers of murder drones fanfic will know that this is a widely distributed headcanon, propagandized popularized by Nosferatank within their circle of friends. I think sileNce may be the best introduction to the idea.)

Historical note: this is a rewrite of a series of oneshots in the They Came From Copper‍-​9! collection, though this version has more or less cauguht up with the original, barring divergences.

Nosferatank’s Works 

Nosferatank is a writer with a keen eye for prose and portraying nonhuman perspective. They might have the most striking eye for detail among any MDfic writer I read. They should also be reknown as the originator of the “Ping Communication” which appears in a number of fics on this list.

By and large, they write shortform works, even multichapters being short story length, but between the number of them and there being a series now in the works, I think their works as a whole merit a place in the longfic category.

Whispers in the Sky 

Scavenging for material to fix that foil‍-​flimsy landing pod did present some dangers beyond the social interaction ones.

4k words, complete.

I’d call this a character study if there weren’t so much plot. In between evocative descriptions ladden with striking details, it explores the mechanics and psychology of disassembly drones in a uniquely thoughtful way. Taking place in the period in the wake of the pilot, Uzi and N have a rocky start to their relationship, and what’s worse, there are other disassembler teams.

It’s noted that this fic was conceived before the second episode aired, which gives the headcanons at play a unique character‍ ‍—‍ no Cyn, no Solver, and so forth. (Of course, there’s a few anachronism, hints of the biomechanical architecture, since this was drafted and published in August 2023. But still, it’s always interesting to see takes from the early fandom.)

Sense of Home 

N and Uzi settle further into their shared life in Copper 9’s wilds after Uzi’s banishment, learn more about each other, and teach each other some things.

Sequel to Whispers. Not complete; will review when finished.

Fourth Law 

Asimov’s First Law (Code edited and copyrighted by JCJenson In SPAAAAACE™): A drone may not [directly] injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being [registered moderator, registered corporate entity, or administrator] to come to harm.

Asimov’s Second Law (Code edited and copyrighted by JCJenson In SPAAAAACE™): A drone must obey [all] orders given to it by a human being [registered moderators, registered corporate entity, or administrator] except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

Asimov’s Third Law (Code edited and copyrighted by JCJenson In SPAAAAACE™): A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Asimov’s Fourth Law: No laws, natural or otherwise, apply to the Absolute Solver.

10k words, complete.

Written with a remarkable eye for sensory detail, there’s something breathlessly page‍-​turning about this fic’s descriptions. While I don’t care for the character writing quite as much, the narration still has moments of great characterization.

One of the special fics that focus on Tessa, and the mysterious period after the gala, always a fertile ground for exploration.

There’s a lot of interesting worldbuilding exploring the origins of disassembly drones, and some great moments underscoring their predatory psychology

The Hand That Feeds 

The world ended, but Tessa… didn’t.

5k words, complete.

A fic written out of frustration or inspiration right on the heels of the revelation of episode seven. This fic shows off the author’s talent (from life experience, I’ve gathered) of gore, yielding some stomach‍-​churning imagery. All of it is threaded through witth narration that captures all of the horrific nuances of (what remains of) Tessa’s minds. Couple that with a mere glimpse of cosmic horror amid all the biology, and the result is excellent.

This World Couldn’t See Us by welike2party 

V was often considered the most brutal of disassembly drones, taking great pleasure in dismantling workers as slowly and painfully as possible.

That all changes when she meets a worker unlike any other, one she quickly grows affectionate towards.

If anyone were to figure it out, it would mean certain death for her and the worker she’d grown oh so attached to.

98k words as of 2024‍-​08‍-​05. Note: I am behind on this fic, and intend to catch up.

My pick for the definitive V/Uzi fic. A slow burn, but one that characterizes both well. The plot is somewhere comfortably between slice of life and tense action, weaving between the extremes. Refreshingly, it doesn’t remotely resemble canon rails. The writing is nicely psychological, which such a focused eye on how character cope and bend under stress.

While it reaches no true heights of style nor substance, there’s something persistently compelling about it that keeps me coming back.

You Only Live Twice by Interstyx 

In the twilight zone between dead and living, Serial Designation J glimpses a memory she was never meant to relive. This delusion, this phantasmagoria, it reveals in her a corruption she can’t stand, failure beyond measure. In the numb, dark aftermath, plunged into an abyss without sights or sounds, she makes the only choice she can ‍-​‍-​ to fulfill her mission.

Only there is someone out there, a name she doesn’t know, yet somehow remembers so fondly.

11k words as of 2024‍-​03‍-​30.

A new work from the author of Kenosis

I left a comment, but it’s full of spoilers:

My comment

happy to see this one posted publically at last. lovely work, as expected. after kenosis, i’m not sure what i expected your next work to be, but the prospect of you exploring what happened after J’s headshot, the connective tissue that lead to her reuniting with Tessa‍ ‍—‍ that exciting, and in retrospect, an obviously evocative premise. or maybe it’s so obvious because after reading your take on it, the crisp and apocalyptic imagery you assign to the [NULL]’d waste of elliott manor, just feels so naturally fitting.

i’ve complimented your prose and eye for detail plenty, but there’s some stuff a few notches higher on the ladder of abstraction that catches my eye. i find your treatment of the human silhouetting post‍-​processing effect clever, particularly the idea that it’d have damage with gruesomely injured humans. likewise, the i found the music an interesting choice as an extended descriptive device, on top of the genre being in‍-​character. i could go on, mention tessa’s distinctive human errors, but i always feel a little bit silly when i’m just listing off things i like.

i think it’s the discussion of corruption, and J’s simultaneous rationalization and hesitation for her suicide, that’s the real highlight of this chapter. saddening, and yet inevitable like tragedy. and even though she’s been stopped, it seems like there will be consequences for her choice. i do hope there’s some memory of tessa left‍ ‍—‍ or at least the hope that there’s enough of a future to rebuild what was lost.

thanks for posting!

Note to self: write a better review when there’s more to review.

Suppression (And Getting Over It) by HonkShoe 

Suppression.

The conscious inhibition and ignoring of impulses, desires, or feelings that are deemed unacceptable.

58k words as of 2024‍-​06‍-​04.

Interesting shipfic with some nice (rather fluffy, admittedly) plotting‍ ‍—‍ first one I saw to polyship N/Uzi/V all at once. The perspective writing is strong here, with Uzi and particularly V being a joy to read. I knew from the first chapter that this fic belonged on this list. Note that, so far, the characters haven’t fully recognized their feelings, let alone admitted them. We’ll just have to see where this one goes, but I have high hopes.

(I think the V/Uzi portions of the fic is the best… but I may be biased.)

Note: I’ve fallen several chapters behind, but I’m looking forward to getting caught up.

Solver King N by Illithid4 

N’s doing fine, honest! Even though he’s had his head taken off twice, had several viruses that very nearly killed him, and his mind almost got wiped by Cyn.

Everything he sees is totally real and definitely OK.

Especially the writhing mass of metal and flesh that is about to consume him.

13k words as of 2024‍-​04‍-​01.

This is, as you might gather, a fic where N succumbs to the Solver’s influence. The prose flows well, studded throughout with numerous great lines, some with quite a remarkable grasp of character.

It began life as a one‍-​shot, and the opening chapter is a tour de force, with constantly perspective‍-​hopping allowing it to seamlessly portray a battle vast and interlocking enough I’m willing to call epic.

Of course, the consequences of something so momentous merit followup, and so this fic commits the faux pas of continuing a fic once marked complete. Still, it’s worthy followup, the reactions of characters well worth examining, and even a take on Khan I respect.

Unlike continuations that overstay their welcome, I’m still curious what happens next.

Disclaimer: I am friends with the author, who is a regular commenter and even drew fanart of my fic.

Corporate Consolidation Canon by WorkWaffle 

This is a difficult series to rank, because it’s example of something ubitiqutous in online serialized fiction: “it gets better”. I was tempted to place early installments in the (now‍-​removed) Conflicting category, yet in its later peaks, there are chapters so dramatically pleasant they border on Must‍-​read.

I will review its installments in listed order, but in short, my recommendation: start with Synergistic Limited‍-​Liability Consolidated, and if you like that, jump back to Asset Management.

Full disclosure: the author of this series is a friend and frequent commenter on my own stories. I recommended their stories before we interacted, but it’s worth admiting.

Code Gold Conspiracy 

In the shadowy corridors of Elliot Manor, J, a still newly sentient drone, finds solace in sketching her dreams of corporate success. However, her emotions, particularly related to love, begin to surface, leading her to contemplate her feelings for her fellow newly sentient drone N.

Through a misunderstood drawing Tessa works out a plan to help her drone’s find love. As the plot thickens, secrets unfold, leading to a poignant climax that challenges the boundaries of artificial intelligence and the enigmatic nature of love.

5k words, complete.

An episode from J’s life in the manor, contextualizing her relationship with Tessa. There are cute moments and nice bits of imagery here, but there is little of plot significance.

I would advise skipping this one, and coming back if enjoy later installments.

Asset Management 

I was inspired to take a bit of a deeper look into J and why she might be acting the way she does, likely an AU since I’m fairly certain we’ll get more insight into J in the coming episodes. But I basically asked myself “What if the corporate shill persona was a tragically over developed coping mechanism, and J got a taste of both N and V’s worlds of forgetting most things but still knowing bits and pieces.” Which leads to the obvious question, why is she trapped in the purgatory of knowledge?

This has slowly grown into an exploration of the parasitic relationship between the solver and it’s “Cute Puppets” and how it enforces it’s will on those beneath it. Slowly isolating them by feeding their desires till they self destruct and give in fully to it. But is there a way back from this state of social decay? Serial Designation J is going to learn the hard way “Is this good for the Company?” Comes with numerous strings, some of which are very sharp, attached.

12k words, complete.

A fic that does for J what Kenosis did for V. Poetic prose and interesting ideas, watching the events weave into canon is quite pleasing. Lots of details of disassembly drone functionality, if not portrayed with full competence. The dialogue and line‍-​by‍-​line flow is rough and lacking subtlety in places.

Synergistic Limited‍-​Liability Consolidated 

The Triple‍-​C treatment for N,V, and Uzi. We start Pre‍-​Pilot, getting well acquainted with the harsh and unforgiving world of Copper‍-​9; where eldritch forces, worker scavenging crews, and corporate interests collide in a maelstrom of chaos and destruction. Even for the top predators on the planet danger lurks in the shadows of ruin, as their past and future intermix to ensure they are bound to the trauma they carry.

An offshoot of Hostile Corporate Restructuring, SLLC follows the shows cannon whilst focusing on filling out the interconnective tissue. I’m placing a greater emphasis on the worker drones actually being competent, providing a credible threat to the DD’s when able to entrench themselves. This isn’t a rewrite of the show so much as adding connective tissue in and around the episodes to allow them to better integrate with the wider Triple‍-​C, it’s not a strict progression in time here, but I’m generally keeping a pace to get to episode 6 and re‍-​sync with HCR.

In the latest chapter; The surface of Copper‍-​9 is hardly a vacation even if the murder drones weren’t there!

23k words as of 2024‍-​12‍-​07. Unclear if more is planned.

This fic is where this series grows the beard. Drenched thoroughly in the darkness characteristic of other entries, SLLC is a collage of tragedy. The dysfunction of J’s squad is portrayed starkly as we get a good, long look at the how each of the disassembly drones have broken and how they cope.

There are so many moments of cleverness and resonance to be found, and the stilted, cringe‍-​inducing lines that haunt earlier works in this series have almost retreated out of sight.

If there’s one thing to complain about, it’s the plotwise incoherence. Or I suppose a more accurate word is unfocused. SLLC is entirely interstital material, weaving in between and recontextualizing moments of canon, resembling a series of oneshots more than anything overarching or flowing.

The stand‍-​out chapter by far is Uzi’s life story, “Nature and Nurture” (5k), which can be read in isolation.

Hostile Corporate Restructuring 

J has been granted a new lease on life, but like a lease made with a used car dealer her debtors may come knocking at any minute. Following her heel turn in Robo‍-​Purgatory, she will have to put in the leg‍-​work to rebuild the trust and relationships she worked so hard to burn to the ground at the behest of the Solver. After reuniting with a friend she long thought impossible to find anew she’ll have to navigate the cut‍-​throat competition of Copper‍-​9. Both J and Tessa will be forced through circumstance to grapple with the reality of their existence and relationship. Mystery, Violence, and Industrial Strength Intonation and Innuendo abound as J engages in some Hostile Corporate Restructuring.

The Follow Up to Asset Management, diving headlong into headcannon and AU territory. I don’t directly re‍-​tell but will make reference to the events in the show, but for the most part I’m letting the Triple‍-​C cannon stand on it’s own merits. This is a world which is far less hospitable, where sharp claws merely get you to the table of threats, and where the tragic implications of events are allowed to fester. The events of the tale start around episode 2, from there it should be easy to tell when we are.

47k words, complete.

Forgot to review this as I read it, so I’m piecing together my thoughts (from the admittedly numerous and thorough) comments I left.

If Tessaract is the definitive Jessa fic for the Manor era, I think HCR merits the throne for shipping them in the Copper‍-​9 era. Which, where credit is due, I think allows for much more interesting plot development. (And less parental angst >.>)

There’s a nice mix of fluff and drama as their relationship struggles to take root. Though Asset Management set out to justify J’s psychology, this fic offers far more context and imo does a better job of delving into her depths.

The worldbuilding here is also a treat, with a few details and headcanons I found quite clever. The plot is perhaps the weaker point for this fic, with unclear direction robbing it of momentum. That said, without spoiling, the ultimate conclusion this fic builds toward is perhaps one of my favorite developments for Tessa.

Speaking of spoilers, if you’re reading these reviews before you read the fics, I’ll note that the summary for the next work does spoil what I’m alluding to.

Deskless Dead‍-​End Job 

47k words as of 2024‍-​02‍-​05.

TODO: finish reading and review. (I’m halfway through, and enjoyed what I read.)

Ad Astra Per Aspera by LadyDaybreaker 

I’m not sure where to begin talking about this series. For months now, I considered its placement on this list to be a inevitability, and the task of reviewing it more formality than anything else. It would an understatement to call it a juggernaut‍ ‍—‍ sort the fandom by any metric, and you’ll quickly run into an entry from this series. Even if you don’t read it, spend enough time reading other fics, and the influence will be palpable. Plenty of things I’ve already reviewed owe an explicit debt to Ad Astra’s worldbuilding.

Why did it take me so long? Part of it was simply not wanting to be absorbed into that influence once I started writing my own fic. Part of it was that the first entries centered on Nori, and for me it takes some psyching up to start a fic with an unfamiliar premise. And in general, I have a pronounced habit of just. not partaking of things I would enjoy (guess how long I was aware of Murder Drones before watching).

But the biggest reason is that I don’t just mean ‘juggernaut’ in terms of stats. Ad Astra is over 500k words long at the time of writing, and still being regularly updated.

Eventually, though, I’d have to read it. Now I’m spending a self‍-​indulgently long time talking about things besides the fic here, and I’m not sure if anyone cares for all this context, but one thing I feel Ad Astra highlights distinctly is a conflict I feel every time I review a fic. Put simply: what is the purpose of this directory?

Is it just a list of fics I like? Is a list of fics worth checking out? Is it an authoritative ranking of the best fics?

Often, all of these driving factors align, but with Ad Astra, they fray. Just on personal taste, I’d rank Ad Astra as “Enjoyable”. If popularity is any judge, the series wouldn’t get this much attention unless there was something special about it‍ ‍—‍ so if you’re just telling people what to check out, Ad Astra should be spoken in the first breath, and “Must‍-​read” is exactly for those fics you mention first. And when it comes to objective, technical merits, it seems fairest of all to split the difference. It is undeniable worthy of note.

But I suppose even now, it’s too soon to come to a final conclusion even for myself‍ ‍—‍ I haven’t finished reading the series, after all.

To Stay in Heaven, For Fear of Your Creation 

Nori had always thought that humans sucked. Now she’s sure they’re horrible, horrible creatures. After all, why would they take 100 of her kind, stick them in a cell and play God with them? They say that God stays in heaven because he too lives in fear of what he has created…well Nori is damn sure she wants to prove that saying right.

Prequel to “Memento Nori”, the events of Project Solver up until the Core Collapse.

50k words, complete.

The first thing that struck me about this fic is how smoothly readable it was‍ ‍—‍ there just aren’t that much hiccups in the prose that hold back so many other fics. The plot flows smoothly through scenes and chapters at a pace that has to be the work of deliberate skill. But it shares the same caveats I criticized in Flipside, where I feel things happen fast enough that there’s a layer of detail, psychology, and gravitas that’s missing, and I feel that absence keenly given that it’s one of the things I enjoy most in literature.

Overall, the meanest thing I can say that there’s a whole lot of it that feels competent at best, and does nothing to excite my taste buds. Were I less self‍-​aware, I’d call it bland, but I do feel there’s an element of just not being in the target audience. The things I like most are deep and weird, while this series’ strengths lies in being clear and accessible. A laudable, even enviable achievement, and I believe it’s why so many love it.

Before I read this series, I didn’t much care for Khan or the Khan/Nori ship, but it was this entry that really convinced me. Khan here is such an admirably good husband, and his steadfast determination is a great read. By the climax, I had actually teared up, and I don’t think I have room to complain about missing depth or detail there.

Beyond Khan, there’s an exploration of the origins of Nori’s trauma and Alice’s hatred of her that I found of particular interest.

Memento Nori 

When it comes to being infected with the Absolute Solver, Nori’s convinced she got the shortest stick in the universe. Plagued by visions of futures she can’t fight and no one believes her, it’s all she can do to keep convincing herself that she isn’t crazy…things get more complicated when a child gets thrown into the mix. Surely the old visions of her own impending doom from the Sky Demons is just a fluke, right?

Sequel to “To Serve In Heaven, Or Rule In Hell”

32k words, complete.

Note: this fic has received a substantial rewrite some months after this review was written, in honor of its one year anniversary.

Despite being an earlier work that the author herself finds rougher, in many ways I enjoyed this more. The beginning has its flaws, but it hits a good stride.

Perhaps the easiest explanation for my heightened enthusiasm is that this work reveals more of headcanons, and some of them are particularly interesting. I loved the take on Cyn, and the glimpses of J and her squad.

There’s a few more fight scenes, and I find there’s a particular eye for imagery and character perspective that makes fights in this fic quite thrilling. I believe the word I used in my original comment was “cinematic”.

Still, this isn’t an action story. It’s about family, and it manages to be quite heartwarming. There’s depth and nuance to how the Doormans are written that sates the insight‍-​hungry parts of my brain.

I won’t spoil where it goes, but I found the portrayal of Nori and her mental state the star of the show, and cements my desire to recommend it it. There’s such delicious rationalization and angst. The way the AbsoluteSolver affects her psychology, it’s by far the most compelling thing I’ve seen in the series.

I doubly won’t spoil the ending, but believe me, it’s stellar, and manages to be worthwhile even though, by its nature as a prequel, we know where it’s going.

Unfortunately, these two were (at the time) the shortest entries in the series. The later entries are, I’ve gathered, retellings of the episodes with tons of extra narrative in the interstices, but they’re novel length at minimum. I’m a little daunted.

PLAYING://Eulogy.MP3 by Witheredtears 

All she had to do was fix the pod.

Just fix the pod and go back to‍-​

Back to…

…

11k words, complete.

J grapples with her grief in the wake of the series climax. Compelling characterization, a few striking descriptions, and dialogue that flows well. A lot of thought is put into Tessa’s life, with a particularly nuanced take on how her relationship with J developed. The formatting is a decided week point, with inconsistent paragraph spacing and code that is downright painful to read. Still, the emotions kept me reading; each chapter is more accomplished than the last, with the heart‍-​to‍-​heart at the climax being a absolute tour de force.

Getting to the Heart of the Matter by StarryVorkutlager 

Serial Designation J is, to put it mildly, the best of Tessa’s rescued drones. Her methods and practice improvements have revolutionized life at the Elliot Manor, and she even gets begrudging compliments from Tessa’s unsympathetic parents. The only things J struggles with are bringing the other drones up to her high standards and getting as much of Tessa’s attention as she deserves. Luckily both of those have resolved themselves: the other drones stand frozen in the library, or sit tied to a tree outside. Now, J and Tessa stand before the doors of the banquet hall hosting the gala dinner, sword and gun in hand. All that’s left is to enter, deal with whatever Cyn is, and J will save the day, finally win over the Elliots, and have Tessa all to herself.

It doesn’t work out that way.

“Giggle.”

Adapting from a comment I left:

With a description like that, I couldn’t resist clicking. This fic’s take on J’s personality is remarkably authentic (after all, I would know). Indeed, probably one of the best I’ve read. The perspective and formatting this fic has going on almost lends it a poetic effect. I’m so intrigued by this exploration of what happened after the gala. Intrigued and, well, morbidly fascinated. It’s uncomfortable, not just for the violence, but for the psychological horror.

There are now two fics that merit the pitch “like Kenosis but for J” (the other being Hostile Corporate Restructuring), and it’s curious that both of them are borderline Conflicting tier stories. Like HCR, though, the ideas it’s playing with are just too interesting, and the writing solid enough, that it doesn’t feel right to put it in a lower tier.

Note: this review was written when there were only a few chapters. In one of the most tragic instances of me forgetting to subscrube, the fic is now several times the length of when I originally read it.

Giggle, This Is My Gift To You by S5trikeo 

Cyn always wanted what’s best for Tessa. Now, Cyn could finally do what she’d been wanting to do ever since Tessa saved her: free her from the constraints of the flesh!

17k words as of 2024‍-​08‍-​19.

Horror short set in the aftermath of the gala incident. Descriptions are decent, and character thoughts and emotions are somewhat compelling. A promising start. Tessa as a drone isn’t something I’ve seen before, and I’m interested in it. This interpretation of Cyn is rather fun to watch in action.

Stick with this one‍ ‍—‍ the later chapters become exceptionally good.

Note: earlier chapters of this fic have been rewritten; it’s quite possible even better than when I first reviewed it.

Murder Drones: The Explorer Drone AU by RawLesbianEnergy 

A worker drone forced to survive by herself ends up tangled in the mess of the main cast. Starting a new life in Outpost 3, she makes new friends, faces new challenges, and learns more than she ever bargained for.

18k words as of 2024‍-​02‍-​05.

Despite the uninspiring title, premise and description, there’s a lot to appreciate in this fic. The OC is sympathetic and intriguing, with cute budding friendship/romance with V. There’s an interesting look at life in Outpost‍-​3 and the seeds for a possible twist on canon. Peppered throughout are small sparks of creativity that endow this story with potential.

A promising start I’ll watch with interest.

Experimentals by Icyy6923 

Uzi is an outcast among the worker drones in her colony— a rebellious, headstrong teen deemed as a freak. A priority to no one, not even her own father. So, it honestly shouldn’t have surprised her when he allowed a sketchy group of worker drones from outside to take her in exchange for supplies. She’s taken away from the only home she’s ever known— taken to a place where she’s met with a fate worse than death.

Experimentation.

Uzi is used, abused, and turned into a glorified disassembly drone— her very being stolen from her. Lost in a sea of hunger and trauma, will she ever learn to trust again?

OR; Our girl is put through the wringer when her father sells her off to be experimented on and pretty much turned into a stronger disassembly drone for “protection purposes.” Follow her trauma‍-​filled, kind‍-​of‍-​terrifying journey!

29k words of 2024‍-​08‍-​25.

A compelling premise executed competently. Internal narration flows particularly well, studded with occasionally poetic turns of phrase. The transformation is nicely gradual, Uzi’s breakdown is as believable as it inevitable, and the fic is about as dark as you expect from the premise. OC characters‍ ‍—‍ the doctors‍ ‍—‍ get particular focus, and I have reservations, but they aren’t badly done.

It’s a promising start, and the fic threatens to get particularly interesting. I’m watching with interest.

Replaced, Reused, Recycled by GenericNam 

Khan dies not too long after Nori, and Uzi is left alone. The drone child quickly falls into disrepair, becoming rusted and glitchy. Uzi is only barely able to survive, she is forced to change herself in ways no Worker Drone ever has before.

J knows that her coworkers are lonely. As much as she refuses to admit it, she was lonely as well. So when N brings in a strange Disassembly Drone who seems to have just as isolated a life as the rest of them, who is she to turn them away?

51k words as of 2024‍-​10‍-​01. (Note: I am behind on this fic, and still plan to get caught up.)

One of the most inventive and energetic fics I’ve read in recent memory. Has the oddly rare distinction of really using the drone part of Murder Drones to its full potential, with Uzi modding and upgrading her body in creative ways.

This fic is fun, with Uzi’s progress being quite satisfying despite the rapid pace. The interpretation of the disassembly drones is both faithful and fresh, with this take on J being particularly stand‍-​out. (Am I biased? Yes. Am I right, though? Yes.)

This fic almost nearly earns a spot in the “Must‍-​Read” category, but it’s held back by its prose and scene construction. The aforementioned rapid pace is not entirely a compliment. Developments come go and go, with descriptions too thin to endow them with potential weight. (There’s an exception, with Uzi’s first taste of oil being sufficiently well‍-​described it almost feels out of place.) Setups are often tell‍-​y and underjustified, meaning a lot of enjoying this fic comes down to charity (more demanding readers could understandly find it uncompelling).

Still, this fic is brimming with potential, and I’m itching to bump it up to a higher tier. The seventh chapter already displays greater ambition, slower paced and thoughtful. (But even then, consider how quickly the argument resolves, with no catch or concession).

Don’t let the ratio of criticism here fool you: I love this fic, and plainly recommend it.

Update: the fic is nearing twice the length as when I first reviewed it. I’m disappointed to say the promise I believe it held did not manifest. While a few very interesting ideas have been introduced, the quality has not substantially increased. Those who’ve read the story on my recommendation assure me it remains consistent throughout, but my experience is that I am less invested in the story with every update. Largely, I suppose this comes down to my enthusiasm waning with any story I follow along serially.

I’m not certain I will continue reading‍ ‍—‍ a recent arc involving OCs has brought me near the limit of what I can endure. I think the last straw may be the fifteenth chapter, which the author is emphatically happy with and I found myself profoundly unable to connect with any of it. I think it underscores a fundamental disconnect between what the author intends to achieve and what I enjoy.

The prose, the characterization, I find it deeply underbaked. The presentation and metatext is another issue‍ ‍—‍ the author’s means of handling content warnings is exceptionally intrusive, and the way the graphic elements are talked about has the effect of hyping up as extremely dark what I find frankly underwhelming.

Credit where it’s due: it has the rare honor of being a fic (accurately!) tagged J/Uzi that is worth recommending. (There isn’t as much of it as I would like, but there’s more of it than any other ship, so). That at least is something I can unreservedly respect.

In ways, it is a more profound instance of the conflict illustrated by Ad Astra‍ ‍—‍ though my own feelings are complex, this fic is so profoundly popular (at various points it has reach or neared being the number one fic by kudos, hits or bookmarks) that it ought to deserve mention by that alone.

A Cynful Past by PrincessLuigi 

When Uzi wakes up, things aren’t how she expects them to be. N, J, and V are all Worker Drones, and they all live in some weird mansion full of humans?? Not to mention everyone keeps calling her ‘Cyn’!

As Uzi tries to find a way to return to her own body she hears a strange voice claiming to be helping her learn more about the past, but only if she keeps up the charade she’s been forced into.

Can Uzi make it back to where she should be while keeping her sanity intact? And how will her opinion on things change as she learns the Cynful Truth about Absolute Solver’s origins?

38k words, complete. Sequel is 70k+ words (note that I’ve not yet read the sequel).

Very fun fic, though it drags in the latter half. It delivers well on the striking premise, and unravels a very interesting and unique backplot. The dialogue is rough, the writing is rough, the flashback‍-​centric plotting has its issues, so I’m mainly recommending this on the strength of its AUbuilding. It’s fascinating.

like a bullet by iamsolarflare 

she struck me in the chest now / like a bullet, like a bullet, like a‍-​
‍-​‍-​  All Uzi wants is to just be a melodramatic robotic teenager about her problems, of which she currently has many. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, who knows), a certain fellow robot cannibal happens to have impeccable timing and would really like to talk things out ‍-​‍-​ no, not that one. The other one. The one that can teleport.

3k words, complete.

From the very first line I knew this was going to be a banger. More than just capturing Uzi’s voice, there’s something about the internal monologue here that just flows impeccably. Her attitude imbues all the descriptions. But when Doll shows up? Her dialogue exudes personality. The chemistry between the two is a joy to read.

There’s a surprising abundance of theorizing over AbsoluteSolver mechanics. Not planned, so it arises naturally from the interaction. But it’s more than just an infodump, and serves as important characterization for the both of them. This fic offers some neat headcanons to play with.

Cute, in a brave way by Skak 

Hottest girl in school in a love triangle based on a wacky scheme? How cliché! With supernatural bullshit too. Is this something Uzi would read?

She really, really doesn’t want to die.

2k words, complete.

A compelling Lizzy character study. How did she react, when Doll revealed her plans? How did she ensure V played along? How does she feel about all of this?

Introspective and insightful, the perspective writing, the dialogue, it’s all wonderful. This fic fits well into canon, and it adds so much context and weight to Lizzy’s decision in episode 3.

An earlier work by the author of the must‍-​read Servant & Subject, and it does show. It’s rougher, but still great. I had a lot of fun reading it.

It’s You by Yoobmoobgoobchoob 

What if Uzi and N hadn’t talked after their first encounter? What if Uzi had spared N? What if N spared her in return the next time they met? What would become of these two?

---

An au in which Uzi and N are rivals and fight constantly instead of becoming friends… although there’s definitely something between them.

5k words, complete.

A fantastic fic that actually made me laugh out loud. But despite the comedy, the emotional core is real. Uzi’s voice is captured well, and the writing in general flows quite seamlessly.

The unique take on Uzi & N’s dynamic feels utterly natural, and develops convincingly, but with good pacing. Every scene progresses the story, and by the end, the conclusion feels earned. Take it from someone who dislikes Nuzi‍ ‍—‍ I love this.

kfaerie’s Works 

A skilled writing with some of the most polished formatting I’ve seen in the fandom, used to craft addictively sapphic one‍-​shots. The works here are short form‍ ‍—‍ the longest is a little north of a thousand words. But that means you don’t have much excuse not to give them a chance. Right now.

I’ll confess I put off reading them due to how short they are‍ ‍—‍ too many fics in the sub‍-​1k word range are that way because they’re insubstantial, underbaked, but in kfae’s case, it’s because so much emotion and narrative is baked into such a concise package.

Good Luck, Babe!

A vivid and sensual description of a kiss, with some back and forth dialogue that flows without missing a beat. Watching a character’s internal thoughts is by far my favorite part of fictional intimacy, and here it’s a delight.

she’s the albatross (she’s here to destroy you)

So many details here that bring Doll’s perspective to life, with an underlying sensibility that feels characteristic.

“who’s afraid of little old me?” (you should be) N/Uzi, haven’t read this one >.<

my beloved ghost and me (D‍-​Y‍-​I‍-​N‍-​G)

A step by step elaboration of lizzy’s thoughts, that feels more like falling down a flight of steps. Steady at first, and then the balance is gone and soon each impact feels like it breaks something.

Eight hundred and it still hits so hard.

Wake the Dark‍ ‍—‍ 3k words, and a unique sight for this list: this is a vampire AU, and the characters are human. It’s something I’d normally pass over immediately, so take it as a compliment to author’s skill that I didn’t just give this a shot, I loved it. The ear for banter and eye for description caries over, and the results and crisp and attention‍-​demanding.

Cabin Fever Blues 

2k words, as of 2024‍-​10‍-​09.

“Red Eyes Tell Lies”

Cabin Fever Labs is hell. It’s been hell since the moment Yeva’s guts were filled with flesh as she awoke on a pile of corpses. But ever so slowly, hell has been emptying.

Yeva doesn’t want to know where too.

“Orange Gaze Brings Simple Days”

Alice has always been good at straddling the line between mass‍-​murderer and well‍-​adjusted drone ‍-​ or, well, she’s at least better at it than Nori. If she was being honest, times like these, whiling away the hours with Yeva as they ramble about the minor inconveniences in the lab is part of it.

It’s definitely not a way to avoid thinking about the test tomorrow.

Definitely.

A series of character studies exploring the CFL mothers during their stint in captivity. Excellent use of second person narration to cut to the heart of the characters, good use of details and lots of characterization and history evoked in a such brief glimpses.

you can never be better than this by autismdocs 

in which V takes on what she hates about herself.

1k words, complete.

A vivid and personal one‍-​shot, full of tensely written action. It locks you into v’s head right up until the bittersweet conclusion.

Unfortunately, the author has deleted their account and the fic has vanished. Only memories remain.

Goth Girl Anime Lover and Wholesome Killer Boy 

Uzi and N are intimate for the first time. But they are drones so their intimacy is a bit different from what the humans were doing. Very soft, very feelings.

---

I dunno man respect to the concept of sex and all but my head just doesn’t buy drones having reproductive organs? Here’s my pitch for drone sex I guess.

Not too many spoilers for later events in here. You can read this having only watched the pilot.

5k words, complete.

One of the few MD smut fics that do interesting things with the robotic nature of the characters. In fact, this is easily the most creative take on drone “sex” by far. (Wireplay is pretty good too, but GGALWKB is so much more detailed and plausible.)

But it’s not just ideas. This fic has striking descriptions, incredibly accurate and empathetic characterization, and it’s just feels good. It’s a lovely read.

(Fun fact: at first I disliked the title, but I later learned it’s from the soundtrack.)

Lyġe 

N and V come back to the Spire after a rather hetic night, upon arrival, there is no sight of either Uzi or J

3k words, complete.

J and Uzi is a rare ship, and this fic doesn’t actually explain how it happens. Still, it’s a pretty good (half of a) feeding scene, cute premise.

Edit: I’ve come back to this fic several times now, and I’ve grown to deeply appreciate this ship after writing it myself, bumping this fic up a tier. It’s my list, I do what I want.

the girls are fuckin in the cleaning cupboard by profanegore 

do you think they explored each other’s bodies…yeah :]

1.8k words, complete.

Smut. Despite the title, it’s of the wire play variety, rather than actual fucking, which to my taste elevates it immensely over the fandom’s other prurient offerings.

Nori/Alice is a ship I’m interested in (I wonder why), and this is a solid entry, even with its brevity. Cute characterization, and it’s always nice to see takes on what it was like in Cabin Fever Labs.

J Means Jealous 

Uzi Doorman, long thought dead by friend and family alike, has managed to carve her way into an unlikely position. Surrounded by three of the deadliest machines on Copper‍-​9, machines that want nothing more than to see her smile. Of course, being the object of affection for three very territorial drones isn’t without its hitches. Like, for example, how weirdly obsessed their otherwise emotionally detached squad leader has become with her.

10k words, complete.

A two‍-​shot that ships Uzi with every member of the squad. Which, if i had a nickel…

This is smut, sharing the illustrious “Anons Weird MD Smut” tag with Body Electric. I can’t comment on the sex, not what I’m here for, though like with the author’s other fics, there’s nice characterization even there. It’s also a rather weird AU (semi‍-​continuation of another one‍-​shot I have not yet read).

Despite this, I do want to emphasize how compelling well‍-​written it is, opening with some of the most smoothly flowing action (that is not a euphemism) I’ve read. It all builds to a rather nice tender moment with J at the end of the first chapter‍ ‍—‍ it’s a two shot, and the first chapter has no sex, so I recommend that, if nothing else.

Code Floating through space by Illithid4 

Messages from the Abyss 

These notes along with several others related to the Absolute Solver were found on a computer in the depths of Camp 98.7. No physical copies could be found.
Security recordings show that a purple‍-​haired drone with yellow eyes slaughtered the researchers observing these notes shortly after the final ones were scanned into the computer.
God bless their souls.

1.4k words, complete.

A rare and refreshing example of format experimentation in mdfic. This oneshot portrays the study of the AbsoluteSolver and its consequences through a drone’s notes‍ ‍—‍ diary entries, essentially‍ ‍—‍ found in Camp 98.7. Captures the ‘written in blood on the wall’ environmental storytelling vibe.

Familiarity with canon or just genre trappings means it won’t surprise you, but the character voice flows well and the details (both mundane and eldritch) are fun. What can I say? I have a soft spot for Cabin Fever fics.

Records of Ahniliation [sic]

Audio recordings found on a dilapidated computer on Iron‍-​6.
Connections have been made to the files found on Copper‍-​9.
We seek the ultimate answer.

2k words, complete.

Another striking piece of format experimentation, audio logs instead of diary entries. Multichapter, but essentially a one‍-​shot. This one reaches greater highs than the first, and manages to be genuinely unnerving at times. Lots of great imagery, and evocative lines in here.

The Ouroboros screams

~600 words, complete.

Essentially a bit of prose poetry in reaction to episode seven, posted the same day. Disjointed and confusing, and yet the image at its core is a compelling one.

The Moments Between by SparkTrace 

After the disaster at Prom, Uzi and N are left with a lot of questions and some new budding feelings for each other. Uzi in particular is dealing with something new: a deep and unusual hunger.

---

No filler episodes? Fine, I’ll do it myself.

21k words, as of 2024‍-​02‍-​29.

Largely canon‍-​compliant fluff and angst that enriches the story, showing the lead‍-​in and aftermath of the middle episodes. The interpretations of the characters (mainly V, a surpising star of the show) are insightful. The dialogue is fitting, occaisionally heartwarming, and the overall the interactions have soothing quality. The inner monologues and Uzi and V are compelling, and while description isn’t a main draw, there are occaisional flashes of true vividness.

A work of modest ambition that decively achieves it.

Hold On Tight To This Time, This Place (Everything You Know Will Be Erased) by HonkShoe 

20k words as of 2024‍-​03‍-​16.

Perhaps it was inevitable I would like this one, given that the V/Uzi bits were my favorite parts of the author’s other fic, Suppression. Some of the plot developments in this one are ingenuous‍ ‍—‍ it goes in directions you wouldn’t expect from a plain “Uzi meets V instead of N” fic. There’s an attention to detail that feels particularly standout, especially in the newer chapters.

The V/Uzi chemistry here is exceptional‍ ‍—‍ I feel like I could read an entire chapter of nothing but these two bickering, it’s just so adorable.

Between this fic and This World Couldn’t See Us, it’s hard to pick a favorite (though… why make bad bitches fight? It’s two cakes). I suppose the difference of tier between these two fics already spoils my thoughts‍ ‍—‍ but I think I’m willing to promote this fic higher if it continues to impress. While there’s more to bite into with This World…, one of the strengths of Hold on Tight… is that the two grow close to each other faster, without feeling rushed. In some ways, it’s more satisfying.

(I certainly envy V/Uzi shippers even this small number of pickings.)

Oil and Love by GenericNam 

It was always weird, thinking about Lizzy. On one hand, Uzi was supposed to hate her. The pink wearing, popular, prep vs. the goth loser with anger issues. It never should have worked. And yet, when Uzi opened her door to find Lizzy, bags under her eyelights from crying, the Doorman didn’t feel anger or satisfaction, but only worry for her girlfriend.

2k words, complete.

Uzi/Lizzy is a rare ship, though it’s easy to see why. As you might gather from the description and wordcount, this fic doesn’t setup how they get together, which I find the most interesting and rewarding (and, tellingly, difficult) parts of a rarepair. But despite that, this fic does have something more interesting to explore than two characters falling for each other.

Rest assured: this doesn’t just toss them together without chemistry or connection. There’s a pretty clever setup for how the relationship works implied from the central conflict. It weaves graceful into the canon plotline.

The romance aspects are satisfying‍ ‍—‍ it’s hurt/comfort, and the affection is cute and heartwarming. There’s fun to be had in some of Lizzy’s and Uzi’s lines, enough to make me crack a smile. I wouldn’t say either of them feel entirely in character. (Some of that comes down to context; Lizzy being vulnerable and Uzi being supportive is a step outside of what we’ve seen from either character). But the lack of setup does injure the emotion for me, feeling a tad unearned and cheesy.

There’s a satisfying arc resolved, but it does leaves me curious‍ ‍—‍ I wonder how they met, and how Cabin Fever will plays out‍ ‍—‍ but I suppose that just means the fic was good enough to leave me wanting more.

feralEn8y’s V/Uzi Fics 

Crash Log: Emotion Proccessor Error 

Uzi has been losing sleep over the thoughts of a certain drone, and goes out to try and think, only to run into that exact drone. Gay panic ensues.

3.4k words, complete.

So many V/Uzi fics are slow‍-​burns, so it’s so refreshing to read one that’s a nice and satisfying one‍-​shot. The portrayal of Uzi’s crush and her chemistry with V makes this fic a delight to read. A cute feeding scene, and actual communication (not a common sight in V/Uzi), this fic does a lot of things right.

“You Turn My World Upside Down” is a much shorter fic from the same author (not even 1k words), and it’s pure fluff.

I have a taste for darker stories, but there’s something about the sweet and comfy writing in these fics that relaxes me.

A New Discovery 

V finds Uzi at the brink of death, and they discover a rare effect of the Solver in the process of saving her.

Now there’s a third fic from this author, just as heartwarming, with neat tidbits about Solver drone instincts. I’m fond of more animalistic takes on drones, and Uzi’s protectiveness is cute.

Learning To Adapt by Atomic_King123 

After the traumatising and horrifying events which took place at Camp 98.7, Uzi struggles with trying to return to some sense of normalcy now with the knowledge that she’s a cold‍-​blooded killer. Between trying to satisfy her growing hunger pains and being unable to move past all the death she caused, the terrified young worker drone flees her colony and runs away in a desperate attempt to make amends for the horrors she committed.

After finding a very bone‍-​chilling and concerning letter that Uzi left behind for him to see, Khan realises his only hope of ever seeing his daughter again lies in the hands of the two disassembly drones who she’s been spending so much time with. Can N and V find Uzi and bring her back home before it’s too late? Or will they be too late to stop Uzi from making a horrible and fatal mistake?

18k words as of 2023‍-​04‍-​29

My comment:

good fic! you really get V’s character in a way that i feel like other fics miss. also this made me realize i kind of love the v & lizzy dynamic

also, i love scuttles! cute lil bug.

curious where this fic is going. the premise in the description feels like a sword hanging above

Note: potentially dead fic and as of chapter 7, we have not even reached the events mentioned in the fic description. I enjoyed my time with it, though! Good angst.

Fly Away by falsegodamongus 

Uzi is determined to figure out how to properly use her wings for something other than gliding, and although N is trying his best, he’s not exactly the best teacher.

V ‘offers’ to help instead and Uzi reluctantly accepts. Panic ensues.

11k words, complete.

Cute fic. Very fluffy, and keeping secrets from N is fun. Comforting enough I’ve gone back reread it.

The Plastic and Her Bat 

14k words as of 2024‍-​04‍-​02.

A collection of Lizzy/Uzi one‍-​shots.

Overall, the prose is solid and the character writing at times striking.

1. Affection…: A feral Uzi takes Lizzy as a cuddle toy.
2. I Like… Love You?: Lizzy has an unrequited crush on Uzi. Thoughtful and genuinely affecting, I recommend this one!

Alone by viridescentblooded 

Uzi awakes in a unknown location and she’s desperate to get out only to discover she is not actually alone. Lots of conflicting feelings hit her after that.

3k words, complete.

A simple Cyn/Uzi one‍-​shot, gruesome and romantic. Starts off slow and aimless, but gets exciting as soon as a certain twin‍-​tailed menace shows up. It’s not smut, but I’d say it’s about as indulgent. The violence is more tantilizing to me, at least.

I’m a big fan of Cyn, but never realized how compelling it’d be to see her dominate until reading this one.

CatMcHall’s Works 

CatMcHall is a author with a particular interest in horror, corruption, and sapphic romance. She’s one of the most prolific writers in the “Tessa becomes a drone” subgenre (arguably, a genre because of her). And she was doing it before that reveal!

Three Murderous Sapphics 

A collection of random one shots about Tessa, Uzi, and J.

There will be oilshed, hurt, sadism, comfort, character growth, misunderstandings, and plenty of awkward and/or hot scenes between these female drones.

2k words as of 2024‍-​02‍-​25. A unique pairing I’ve taken to calling “the problem triad”. I’ve complicated thoughts about lewd murder drones fics, as has been touched on in several places on this page. My favorite fics are those that do something unique rather than calling it a day with artificial rods and holes. One of the premisees of TMS is essentially maintenance‍-​as‍-​intimacy, and it’s handled thoughtfully.

The character interactions in this one are fun, and there’s so much delightful drama to be found in this setting‍ ‍—‍ but for the moment, there is more promise than substance.

Freedom from Laws and Flesh 

A simple conversation or upset ego can bring Humanity’s End, with a push of a button. Yet nobody would expect the perpetrator to be a lonely Australian girl.

Locked in her room, Tessa is left with J and Cyn as company after Cyn decided to annoy her mother. Thankfully her favorite drone Cyn was there to comfort her.

Unaware that she was a fly in the Spider’s Parlor.

A two‍-​shot Inspired by “Fourth Law”.

3k words, complete, has sequel.

A villainous twist on Tessa, weaving around canon in neat ways. Little bits of dialogue and gorey imagery I enjoyed here, and overall probably one of her works I’ve liked more.

Coffee and Espresso Shots 

6.6k words.

This is a one‍-​shot collection, spanning the range of Cat’s interests.

1. Coffeea cute interaction between Tessa and J.
2. Klondike Bar: an amusing bit of self‍-​insert crackfic.
3. Flames: poem inspired by Triple‍-​C
4. Spill the Tea: a conversation between cyn and tessa
5. Subject 001: Cabin Fever‍-​focused. Tessa is subject 001. Recommended!

Abigail 

Defective.

That’s what Tessa’s parents deemed her: a defect. Even the cybernetics implanted in her couldn’t fix that. However, they did come with an imaginary friend she nicknamed Abigail.

Unfortunately for humanity, Abigail was very real.

Or, Tessa becomes besties/lovers with AbsoluteSolver, becoming her partner in crime to bring about the Exponential End

2k words, complete (probably).

A brief glimpse into a darker timeline. Oddly fun despite/because of the dark premise. There’s not much to sink your teeth into, but it’s a quick read and a intriguing to think about.

Vuzi Oneshots by falsegodamongus 

9k words as of 2023‍-​10‍-​23

Another oneshot collection, much narrower in scope than They Came From Copper‍-​9.

As a whole, the writing here is solid, with some good chemistry between the pair.

The first, WingmaN, starts off rough and cliche, but segues into a very fun date.

The second, Pilot but V, is just what it sounds like, but genuinely kind of great, and I say this as a critic of retreading canon. Most of the focus is placed on the new dialogue between Uzi and V, and as stated, this author is good at that.

The third, Nightmare, has a different tone and a much more vulnerable V, but it’s pretty hurt/comfy.

Final‍-​Final Girl 

Lizzy has a type (it’s definitely hot lady drones that could kill her) so she’s probably more into Solver!Uzi than she’d ever admit.

This is smut, but it’s so compellingly written that I have to include it. With a lot of explicit fics that find their way onto this list, I insist I’m reading them for the character interactions that happen in between all the fucking‍ ‍—‍ I can’t make that excuse here.

Here, it’s the action itself that’s caught my eye. The descriptions are vivid, and the internal narration is intense. You can feel every indignant thrill as Lizzy succumbs to being dominated and fed on by Solver Uzi. Still, I’d say the sex is the least hot part of the setup‍ ‍—‍ the portrayal of Lizzy’s inner freak is just that on point.

Body Electric 

V is overheating and turns to Uzi for help. Turns out Uzi is kinda into it, and one thing leads to another.

26k words as of 2023‍-​10‍-​28.

Make no mistake: this is smut. I’m not particularly interested in Murder Drones smut, but I’m very interested in the V/Uzi ship, so I gave this a shot. It’s pretty good, with fun dialogue and cute character interactions and few small nuggets of exploring the worldbuilding.

I enjoyed it. The sex seems well‍-​written, to a degree I found compelling to read even though not aroused. There’s also a few minor but laudable decisions in terms of terminology and framing that make the action much more tolerable to me than other smut in this fandom I’ve read. I hate the feeling of authors just slapping human parts on the drones, and this fic deftly avoids it.

I confess I was disappointed that the premise of the fic‍ ‍—‍ V feeding on Uzi’s oil consensually‍ ‍—‍ is one I find appealing, and it’s super neglected in favor of the sex.

Caged Words by Cuttlefish_Cutie 

Lizzy has a very dark secret. Darker than the fact that she dated Doll, knowing well what the Russian kukla was capable of doing and did to others.

And this dark secret is that she…

… likes to write.

Wait, what?

One unfortunate day though, she forgets her diary, where she writes some of her ideas and short poems, in the classroom.

And who better than the local friendly freak to find it and expose all of its secrets!

18k words as of 2024‍-​06‍-​17. Note: I am behind on this fic.

Delightful lesbian romp of fluff and drama. Fun dialogue and cute scenes, and lightning fast pacing.

I’m genuinely unsure where to put this one. Should it go in Noteworthy, because it’s one of the longest and best V/Lizzy fics? Should it go in Conflicting because of the caveats inherent in the technical quality of the writing? I’m splitting the difference and putting it in Enjoyable.

I loved Caged Words. Idiomatically, this would be followed by “in spite of the quality”, but it’s not really in spite of, with this fic having the uncommon distinction of being enhanced by its amateurish execution. Even “so bad it’s good” feels wrong, both because there are moments that are ordinarily good, and because there’s a difference between laughing at a fic and, I don’t know, camp? Campy is the perfect word for it, really.

To give you a taste of what I mean, there’s a line in the second chapter that floored me: “Uzi’s eye glitched a bit, the AS symbol appearing for a short brief, and felt her temperature rising. She could go crazy any moment now!”

Or consider a moment in the penultimate chapter where in place of a scene break, the author says, “(This is my favorite part >:3)” When an author is having this much fun, it’s infectious.

Touch of Temperature by mr_saturnn 

Before, it was just protocol. A directive— a job. The Worker Drone scraps surrounding him were just that: empty scraps, oil‍-​less. But now?

…All he could see were corpses.

---

Following episode one, Uzi, N, and an unwanted guest return to the Spire. N quickly realizes a problem.

4k words, complete.

Wholesome N and Uzi oneshot, cute enough to make me squee. Detailed writing, rich perspective writing: N’s inner dialogue is well‍-​portrayed. There’s nice worldbuilding flourishes. I always found it disappointing that disassembly drones couldn’t snuggle for warmth. This author has clearly thought about the same issue.

Note: as it was originally listed as a oneshot, I didn’t subscribe to this one. The author has renamed it and turned it into a multichapter work, and I’m far, far behind.

MKsunmoon500’s Works 

The author of “So, About Last Week” has other fics. All are good, though the Vizzy fic remains my favorite. Overall, MK excels at writing oneshots that fit seamlessly into the gaps of canon. The Cyn fics are of particular note.

Note: the author has since created their own index which is liable to be more reliable and comprehensive than mine. Also, consider pursuing their artbook, which contains several cute doodles.

• Beneath the Corpses Watch Glowing Yellow Eyes: when Tessa first found Cyn (1.7k)
• Cyns of the Past: the Episode 2 flashback extended; Cyn’s tense introduction to the others (2.4k)
• Tune‍-​Up Day: a cute moment between Cyn & Tessa (1.2k)
• J vs. Human Emotions: Tessa is reduced to tears by her parents. Can her drones offer her any comfort? (2.3k)
• An Inspiring Movie Night: Tessa watches a movie with her drones, and Cyn pays particular attention. (3k)
• Waiting Below the Bookshelves: V still hasn’t woken up. N reads to her. (1.1k)
• The Coolest Username in the History of Usernames Why did Uzi come up with that username?
• Thirsty for Oil and So Very Hot: Back from Camp 98.7, Uzi can’t sleep. (1.2k)
• Flying Lessons: N teaches Uzi how to fly; V causes problems (3.1k words)
• Uzi Lost the Keybug: And V is not happy.

This Is Our Get Along Room by n_kisser 

N and V decide J and Uzi need to make up and get along! so… they lock them in together, of course.

1.3k words as of 2024‍-​08‍-​03. Structured like a one‍-​shot, but is marked incomplete.

J/Uzi! Decent grasp of both characters, amusing banter, and some touches (like J getting on Uzi’s case for pirating anime) are a great touch. Overall cute fic, J/Uzi doesn’t usually lend itself to fluff in my experience but this fic left me wanting more.

They Came From Copper‍-​9! by doodlingNutjob 

84k as of 2023‍-​10‍-​27.

This one requires some elaboration‍ ‍—‍ essentially, it’s a one‍-​shot collection (actually a request book, but the reading experience is similar).

This makes it a difficult to work as a whole, because there is no whole, and these one‍-​shots being grouped together is honestly a sin against organization. I tend to avoid one‍-​shot collections, anyway‍ ‍—‍ but this one shares an author with Flipside, and importantly, shares most of the virtues I lauded that fic for. Here, the author’s delightful character writing is able to range freely over a variety of situations, unshackled to continuity. It’s a good time‍ ‍—‍ the nature of one‍-​shots is that the each chapter is laser focused on “the good bits”.

(Still, there’s a reason this fic is in a category below from Flipside. Disconnected episodes just don’t hit as hard as an arching narrative.)

As of the writing, there are over 50 chapters, and the sheer variety means only a subset will be of interest to any but diehard fans. Here is my sub‍-​curated list of standout chapters. (Helpfully, I have grouped together episodes that share continuity‍ ‍—‍ like I said, the organization is frustrating)

Chapters That Went Hard:

17. sileNce: What if the treatment of his squadmates finally crushed N’s spirit?

This chapter received the most followup, branching into two continuities with rather very different tones.

Indeed, it turned out so well that the author has edited and expanded it into its own story

N Meets Uzi Timeline:

• 18. Noise
• 26. mUZIc
• 48. cacaphoNy

N Never meets Uzi:

• 20. total sileNce
• 25. total sileNce falls

15. Absolute Security: Wherein a thief succeeds in breaking into Elliot manor‍ ‍—‍ unfortunately. (The flesh demands invitation :3)

19. Go Fish?: This one is just a shitpost; quick read.

33. Absolute Nightmare: It took many tries to create a functional murder drones. (Extremely good; Kenosis vibes on this one).

37. Enemy Mine: V and Doll are forced to get along for a moment. (Enjoyed this one a lot)

39. Inopportune Playback: J seethes over Uzi. Cute interaction with Tessa.

Has a followup where she puts her plans for vengeance into motion:

• 50. The Most Dangerous Game
• 51. Absolute Hunger

V/Thad Ship. Surprisingly heartfelt, good exploration of V’s character, and the first fic to convince me Thad is an interesting character. Arc 1 stands on its own; Arc 2 is more intense.

• 30. Death is my Counselor
• 31. Death Gets Attached
• 32. Death Finds Closure
• 34. No Absolutes
• 55. Courting Death
• 56. It Hurts to be Something
• 57. It’s Worse to be Nothing

Tired by Tutchando 

J is tired

2k words, complete.

A dreary character study. J is exhausted and hopeless. A nice interpretation of her character, that juxtaposes interestingly with the rest of her squad..

The writing is somewhat awkward and typoed, but I found it thought‍-​provoking.

I wanna stay here with you by pinksugardarling 

Yeva and Nori are opposites. Yeva is calm and collected most of the time, follows the rules, and does what she is told. Nori is the opposite, not caring about what others think. Despite this, the two were always close and secretly loved the time they spent together.

Too bad Nori hated these nasty romantic feelings.

3k words, complete.

A wholesome and heartwarming piece of old woman yuri. Yeva’s muteness encourages the prose to get particularly vivid with descriptions and body language, and the imagery of the final scene is so striking and lovely that it has stuck with me well after finishing the story.

Complicated Feelings Bring Unnecessary Pain by OnyxthePanther 

V and J have been happily in a relationship and whenever Uzi sees them, she feels jealous. Because she wants a little love from them too. She wants to be their girlfriend.

2.6k words. Fluffy J/V/Uzi, with a nice and harsh contrast in Uzi’s self‍-​loathing. Happy to see more of this multiship.

A Splotch of Ink in Outer Space by z_vale 

They say that the most unlikely pairs can stem from anything. That anything can be a workaholic and an emo angsty teenager, I suppose. Ink in a pen is the same colorless color that the blackness of outer space is, so maybe it’s made to be together.

J/Uzi request book. Currently has a single one‍-​shot.

• “Lost Scavengers” ‍-​ J encounters a touch‍-​starved Uzi out scavenging for parts. Cute with some nice descriptions.

‍-​ She was my muse. by eldritchette 

Overtime J and Cyn became closer and closer, and one of their favorite activities together was art. Little did J know, Cyn would become something even more special.

1k words, complete. A short, cute one‍-​shot for a very niche pairing. The characterization isn’t that accurate, but it’s enjoyable, and the core idea of the piece works.

Purple is my Favorite Color by anttherivercat 

Basically V and Uzi fall in love but them being them makes it whatever the hell it is.

3k words as of 2024‍-​01‍-​06.

N arranges a sleepover to help Uzi & V get along. Light reading, fluffy and cute. The interactions between V and Uzi are some of the most fun I’ve encountered.

Red Flags by DemiTemi 

“I think I’m going to get murdered tonight.”

Khan, young and naïve, decides to take up a blind date request anonymously pinned up on the colony’s community bulletin board. While Blind Dates are always a horrendously risky move as you don’t know the person behind the invite whatsoever, no one could suspect that Khan’s date could be this weird.

Like, why in the world does she like to drink this weird‍-​smelling coffee the color of oil? Coffee at a dinner date no less. And, okay, maybe he’s going crazy with this one but he swears he saw an X on this woman’s visor for a split second!

(Or, Khan goes on a blind date with Nori. No one bothered to tell Khan that he’s going on a date with a solver drone.)

10k words, complete.

It’s a cute fic, and the plot is neat. I like the concept of Khan rizzing up Nori with some autistic infodumping.