Scrapjack Protocol - New Friends

I crack my knuckles, settling in at the desk. The unusable scrap... useless bolts, broken panels? I pulse them with a lazy wave of violet energy and watch the whole pile digitize into my Companion Tablet. My HUD pings instantly:

Companions Upgraded

Speed, Precision, and Durability boosted +20%

Estimated Combat Efficiency: +37%

I smirk. Good.

But now? The real fun.

Six new companions… I take my time. Slow. Appreciative. Like tuning instruments of chaos.

I hit them with my Scrapjack Protocol one by one.

A faded red electric bass guitar, cracked body, only one string left hanging like a broken promise. The moment the purple wave touches it, the fiberglass body groans, string whipping outward like razor wire, body folding and sharpening into jagged metallic wings. It lifts off the desk, hovering with a low, menacing thrum.

Sentient Companion: Sla$h [Bass Guitar] – Flight Class

Loud and Deadly

Attacks: Razor-thin whip, shockwave blasts

• Down with the sickness.

Next; a heavily used spice grinder, small, rusted in spots and still smelling faintly of paprika… or maybe old bones. The pulse hits and it twists violently, metal grinding from every angle, coated in a sheen that catches the light like fresh blood.

Sentient Companion: GrindHouse [Spice Grinder] – Ground/Flight Class

Spicy, Aromatic… Deadly

Attack: Projectile spinning blade which returns

Secondary Attack: Spice cloud depletes enemy shields

• Grind now, questions later.

An old alarm clock; classic chrome body, cracked face, one bell long gone but still ticking faintly. Welcome to the family. The clock groans, warping, face splitting as gears and wheels churn, reforming into a compact, menacing bot.

Sentient Companion: BelleBot [Alarm Clock] – Ground Class

Tactical Distraction

Special Perk: Temporal Distortion Blast slows enemies to a crawl

• Time’s up, bitches.

A hedge trimmer; the blades dull, caked in grease and time. Tine for an upgrade. The old motor screams to life, blades sharpening themselves with sparks, dual arms unfolding like a predator waking up.

Sentient Companion: HedgeSlayer [Hedge Trimmer] – Ground Class

Swift and Clean Cuts

Attack: Dual bladed melee

• Clean cuts, cleaner moves.

I smile as I spot an old Cl4p-Tp eye; maybe an ex-girlfriend of good old Claptrap. The thing's seen better days. I can make it better. Purple blast! The eye glows faintly, casing reforging itself, wires retracting. It lifts off the desk, hovering, blinking with eerie, sentient curiosity.

Sentient Companion: W1nk [Cl4p-Tp Eye] – Flight Class

Brain Jack

Attack: Bores into enemy brainstems

Perk: Temporary control of organic or robotic enemies

• Knock, knock. I’m the captain now.

Last; an old coffee maker, all dinged-up, scorched on one side. It hums to life, gurgling dark liquid that definitely isn’t coffee. Vents hiss as it sprouts legs and a deployable nozzle, steam curling like poison breath.

Sentient Companion: BrewBrew [Coffee Maker] – Flight/Ground Class

Corrosive Elemental

Attack: Acidic liquid projectile

Perk: Speed boost to all allies when deployed

• Freshly brewed ****.

Each one digitizes into my Companion Recall with a satisfying shimmer, their icons sliding neatly into my HUD; freshly polished, battle-ready, and already itching for ****. The roster expands, glowing brighter, meaner, deadlier.

I lean back in the chair, the weird cola still fizzing in my hand, new companions locked in, existing ones tougher, faster, nastier.

Lilith’s probably still sleeping sound; peaceful for the first time in years.

The Raiders? Settling in for the ride to Promethea.

And me?

I’m building an army; one busted piece of junk at a time.