*Artist and character owner wish to remain anonymous.*

Some time had gone by for Yuri as a drone. All the while he continued to rail against his body for doing things he didn't want to but could not prevent due to the insidious alien programming that controlled him now. Every day he would go out to either scout out settlements the organic beings of this world still occupied or would raid said settlements for more males to bring back to the aliens research laboratory to convert into even more robotic drones. Sometimes he had to utilize weaponry to collect his victims as the local law enforcement or military would fight back. He had been injured several times but always was able to come back to his base of operations to hook into the power supply there and his and the nanites the others produced would repair him good as new.

The consciousness that was still Yuri had pretty much given up trying to fight after a while. Nothing he did mattered and his body was running without him. He could just watch as his masters collected more species to turn into dutiful and obedient drones. His body walked to his alcove and once again the cables connected to his rear and back to pump liquid energy into his systems.

"External Power connected. Must produce nanites for masters. Must obey my programming."

Once again nanite production would resume and the process would repeat itself for a long while. His internal chronometer measured the passing of months of being like this. Again and again day after day the same routine. The excitement of actually going out into the world was sort of perversely looked forward too since it meant that he just wasn't standing around being pumped full of energy.

"External Power connected. Must produce nanites for masters. Must obey my programming."

Yuri's consciousness fell into a bit of a dream like state whenever he was connected to the power supply. He had gotten used to it and it did feel good as it meant his power core was constantly being filled even though he knew he didn't have to connect to a power source for awhile. The body he now had was ultra efficient and could run on a single charge for months, maybe even longer. He had been waylaid before to getting back to the base for quite a long while due to a particularly heavy firefight he and some other drones had been in. Several of the drones were injured and couldn't make it back to base on their own. It had been several weeks before they made it back to base but his systems still registered nearly full power. One thing that the alien masters seemed to care about was making sure their drones weren't lost. Some form of compassion even if they were uncaring machines. The drones never left one of their own behind and Yuri was grateful but also bitter that it just ensured their continued servitude to their masters.

"External Power connected. Must produce nanites for masters. I Must obey my programming."

Once again the cables connected to his rear and back. This time however there was no collection tube for his nanites. Sometimes the energy used to produce the tiny machines would be solely for his benefit of repair and maintenance of his systems and body. Yuri's consciousness relished these times even if his butt was being penetrated by the cables proboscis. It meant that he wasn't actively producing more for the aliens to use on others. A small comfort but one nonetheless. His consciousness would enter almost a dream like state in these moments.

The energy felt so good rushing into his body and being utilized not only for power but for repairs as needed. It was then that the Yuri consciousness immediately became alert. He was feeling pleasure from this! A feeling that had been dulled to almost oblivion at the beginning of this entire ordeal. His inner mind raced and he realized that his robotic form had said "I" for the very first time. Something wasn't right but Yuri couldn't quite place what was going on but he knew that these things were significant. Something was happening because he could actually feel a little more now then before. His body still stood still but Yuri had to try it. He tried to move but nothing happened. With an immense amount of willpower he screamed out and tried to move again. Nothing happened for a moment that seemed to be an eternity but eventually his clenched fist flexed open!

Yuri almost didn't believe what had happened. His gaze fixated on the shark across from him that was there from the very start of this living nightmare. The shark looked back and faintly the shark smiled at him! It was then that the shark softly and in a voice that was still robotic but held more emotion then any other time that he had spoke whispered one word:

"Soon."