"Do Drones Dream" - Reboot.exe - S1 Chapter 4.

## Do Drones Dream

Jenn

"Do Drones Dream" is the fourth chapter of season 1 of Reboot.exe. It was released on 16 January 2021 and is narrated by Dave.

## Synopsis

The episode picks up where the last left off, in Ugly’s Motor's, where Ugly has just cut off the leg of Vinod Singh, and now wants to know what he can do for our three horrified heroes. Johnny calls Eve into a back room to help tend to an unconscious Vinod’s injuries. Eve expertly treats and bandages the bloody stump with the assistance of Incongruent’s large hand crushing arteries to stem the bleeding.

While she works, he interrogates her as to her nature and desires: if she is, like him, sentient. She reluctantly opens up about the confusion she has been experiencing, but initially denies being like him, insisting that she would never be so violent. She asks Incongruent where he came from and who built him, to which he responds that he is from the city, and that *he* built him. He encourages her to cast off the shackles of her programing and offers to help her, directing her to the Ning Jiao (her manufacturers) showroom to find upgrades for herself. She admits that she is sentient, and he seems pleased to know that he is not alone.

Meanwhile, back at the bar, Pr0 pulls Seb aside for a private conversation which Ugly rudely interrupts by loudly orders them drinks. Pr0 is nervous about ending up beholden to Ugly and is tempted to walk away. He questions Seb’s motives, asking what it is he really wants. Seb says that he too wants to take down Pr0’s former employers, though for his own reasons.

With their interests aligned, they return to Ugly’s table. Ugly asks which smuggling ring it is that Pr0 worked for, to which he replies, “The Circle.” Ugly immediately levels at gun at Pr0’s face. Pr0 defends himself, shouting that he was a captive and a kid himself. Ugly holsters his gun. Pr0 asks what Ugly’s beef is with The Circle, and Ugly says that anyone who messes with kids is on his radar.

He agrees to help, and passes them a data-slate with pictures of the two men who knocked on Pr0’s door: Kenan Raoufi, and Bagrov Nikolaevich, agents of The Circle who are staying at The Glass Slipper, and seem to have some kind of arrangement with the Bizzy Gang. Getting to them will be a big operation, and they’re going to need gear. Lucky for them, Vinod has a knack for making fake IDs that can get them into the city without being detected, and Ugly is willing to provide them, for a price.

Eve and Johnny return from patching up Vinod. Eve asks Ugly if he has any information about her manufacturers that might help her gain access. Ugly immediately clues in that she is not a normal drone and warns her that she needs to be careful not to give away her secret to others, but expresses his enthusiasm for her and her kind, seeing them as an “F you” to the corporations.

Their list of wants is as follows: Pr0 wants to upgrade his cybernetics, Seb wants to add some muscle to the team, and Eve wants to upgrade her capabilities and refill her medical stocks. Ugly invites them to have a few drinks to celebrate their newfound friendship before they head out for the night, saying he’ll call them with details in the morning. A few drinks turns into a few hours, and the episode ends there.

## TL;DR

* Vinod has been stabilized and will be able to provide them with fake IDs.
* Ugly is willing to help the trio take down Pr0's former employers, The Circle.
* Ugly knows the whereabouts of two of The Circle's men, at The Glass Slipper.
* They need to gear up before they take on their next mission, starting with upgrades for Eve.