3 Chapter 3 - Bunker and new pet dog?

"Master, I've got bad news and good news. Which one do you want to hear first?" Henry asked Jackson.

"Let me guess, the bad news has something to do with that thing you're carrying."

"What the heck is that?? Why is it so big?" Bell floated over to Henry, inspecting the ant he was carrying.

"Wait, is that thing still alive?" Jackson pointed at the ant that Henry held.

"Fiii...Fiii..." The ant answered Jackson's question as if it could understand what Jackson just said.

Looking at it, the ant had red scales and smooth hairs on its back. It had long scissor-like mandibles covering its mouth and a pair of beautiful wings. From the way this ant looked, it should be a queen ant.

Jackson slowly walked over and joined Bell in inspecting this new creature. The ant would just look at Jackson and Bell, curious, as it was being poked by the two.

Strangely, this ant was very intelligent, which surprised Jackson and Bell.

"Woah! Master, can we keep it?" Bell begged Jackson to keep the ant as a pet. Bell always wanted a pet dog in the past. Jackson never really understood why Bell, an assistant AI, would need a pet dog.

When Jackson heard what Bell asked, he was dumbstruck by it. This was an unknown creature to all of them. They didn't know if it would attack them later. Also, how were they going to tame an ant anyway?

Jackson wanted to lecture Bell for her stupidity until the creature itself answered Bell.

"Fiii.. Fiii..." The ant struggled out of Henry's hold; however, Henry was not letting it go. The ant had no choice but to look at Bell for help. It looked at Bell with teary puppy eyes, which was super effective against Bell.

"Aww Master, look, it's about to cry if Henry continues to grip it that hard." Bell knew that without Jackson's permission, Henry would not let go of the ant. Bell needed to persuade Jackson to ask Henry to let go of the ant.

"Sigh, Henry, let it go, just be on guard just in case it attacks." Jackson could only give up. Once Bell wanted something and could not have it, she would throw a tantrum like a spoiled child.

"Yes Master, however, the bad news is not related to this ant but what I found gathering materials for the shelter. Not far from here, there is a group of rats roughly the same size as large dogs." Henry gently put the ant down while he gave Jackson his report.

"What? How many? Are they heading this way?" Jackson became serious and questioned Henry about the dangers that were lurking close to them.

"About a hundred of them are heading north of us. Traveling in groups like a pack of wolves hunting. Even though they are not heading this way, there is still a possibility that they will find us."

"Agreed, better safe than sorry. I'm not in a state where we can just travel just yet." Even though Jackson can walk a little now, he is still in no shape to do anything.

"Master, do not worry; I still have the good news." Henry said.

"Oh, what is that?" Jackson looked at Henry with curiosity.

"Master, toward the east where I was searching for some branches and small trees to cut down. I sensed a faint signal from Bunker." Henry pointed toward where the signal was found.

"What? Really? Bunker is here too?" Jackson wanted to jump with joy but he couldn't. When he heard the news about Bunker. This can solve some of Jackson's situations against the unknown environment.

Bunker is a heavy mobile suit Jackson created to protect himself from an attack. Back then, with Jackson's latest technology, he could have ruled the world or developed weaponry for his country, but he wanted none of that. Therefore, in order to protect himself, he created Bunker. Everyone knows the best way to protect oneself is to make everyone fear you.

With Bunker around, Jackson wouldn't have to worry about getting attacked in this place. Be it giant wolves or thousands of rats, Bunker can take care of all of them. After all, the reason Jackson called it Bunker was due to its defenses and offense being like a compact fortress. Bunker was slow, but who needed speed when a nuke couldn't even scratch it and with its weaponry, it could shoot a tank on the moon without missing it.

"That's not all, Master. In the same direction, I sense Tool Maker as well." Henry again gave Jackson another surprise.

"What? Tool Maker too? So both of them are fine from that explosion. I wouldn't be surprised if Bunker survived. But Tool Maker? It doesn't have any way to defend itself." Jackson clearly was overjoyed by the situation. He now has the weapons and tools to create a fort in this forest if he wanted to.

"Fii.." While the duo was talking, both the ant and a floating ball were quietly watching. While the ant was just curious about why the two are happy. Bell, on the other hand, was scanning the ant while listening to the conversation.

"That's great and all, Master. How are we supposed to get them?" Bell asked Jackson, ruining the mood.

Jackson sat down under the small shelter and let out a big sigh, "For now, let's rest here tonight. Henry? Find some food for us, would you?" Jackson began to think of a plan of action for tomorrow morning. The faster they can get Bunker and Tool Maker, the better.

While Jackson was deep in thought, he was interrupted by the ant who came close and looked at Jackson. It pointed at him, telling him something, but Jackson couldn't understand the little creature, so the game of charades began, and Bell also joined in on the fun.

"Person? People? I? Me? oh.. what about me? you?" After a while of guessing, Jackson understood some of what it was trying to say but still, Jackson was surprised that the ant could communicate; he knew it was intelligent.

"Fii... Fiiiii..." Pointing at itself.

"It wants to follow you, Master." Bell translated the ant's words.

"Since when did you become an ant whisperer? I created you as an assistant, not a dog trainer." Jackson said.

"I watch a lot of dog training shows." Bell replied and sounded smug about it.

"Now I finally know what you are doing while I sleep. Sigh." Jackson turned away from Bell and looked at the ant facing him. Looking at the ant's eyes and body, it reminded Jackson of a shiny red gemstone back on earth.

"Cuprite." Jackson said gently toward the ant, no, Cuprite. "Now I will call you Cuprite, named after the dark red scales which reminded me of a dark red gemstone back home."

"Fii.. Fii.." Happy, Cuprite rushed toward Jackson and slashed at his hand, making him bleed and spill blood onto Cuprite. Before Jackson could react, Cuprite began to glow.