Zzz: Prometheus

It was a sunny day in Eridu, and Sixth Street was bustling with activity. Master Tinman hummed a soft tune to himself as he opened up shop, the smell of fresh coffee attracting the corporate Monday zombies like fish to water.

Next door, a hearty, boisterous laugh could be heard. General Chop was busy even in the early morning, serving up three bowls of vegetable noodles while teaching his son the art of noodle making.

Just down the road from both Tin Master and General Chop was a music store, hit wonders from current singers playing from the shop's megaphones.

And opposite Gramophone was a green-and-orange painted remodelling shop called Turbo Remodelling Shop.

---

The workshop was a mess.

Tools lay haphazardly, dirty oil rags on the floor, screws scattered across the room, half-finished engine parts piled like scrap metal mountains. Don't even mention the smell… it was a mix of… sniff… old man past his prime with a hint of sniff—goanna die old and alone.

Some G-funk music played from the boombox for the 20th time, which wasn't half bad. All of it topped off with the constant clanking of Enzo's wrench against a stubborn nut.

Tata Barbosa, now five years old, sat cross-legged on an old tire near the door, chin resting in both palms.

"Ughhhhhhhhhh!!"

He groaned loud enough for the old man to hear, but Enzo was too into the engine he was currently fixing.

"Gaggghhh!"

Tata let out another disgruntled moan, clearly trying to get the old man's attention, but Enzo ignored it.

Seeing his attempts failed to get a reaction, he sighed, dropping his head deeper into his palms.

"Boooooooooring…"

He kicked at the floor lightly, watching Tupa, his Bangboo, hover around with a tiny welding torch, helping Enzo patch up a busted car. Sparks flew, and steam shot up — it should've been cool. And it was… well, the first ten times, but then you get used to it.

"If it's so boring, why don't ya do something outside? When I was your age, I was finding every opportunity I could to go out. So why don't you go play in dirt or catch some beetles."

"Wait, you haven't been an old man all your life?" Tata gasped, his hand hovering over his mouth.

Enzo rolled from underneath the car, giving the kid a blank look.

"I get it, I get it, but there's nothing to do. Chopp's learning from his old man how to make noodles, and the PubSec officer I terrorize is on absence. Apparently, something about gallstones, or so I heard from the grandmas on 7th Street."

He subconsciously massaged his cheeks — yep, still painful from the last visit.

Enzo, hearing that, winced, knowing all too well, and gave him a silent prayer.

"Well, I can't have you groaning and moaning all day in the workshop when I have orders to complete, mhh? Speaking of Chop Junior mentoring under the General, have you ever thought about—"

"STARRRRLIGHT NIIIIGHT!! THE BURNING HERO OF JUSTICE!!"

Whatever the old man had to say was put in the back of Tata's mind as on the CRT, a brand-new episode of the Starlight Knight was finally airing.

"Shit, I almost forgot about that — Starlight has a new episode."

Tata was just about to run straight to the couch, but a loud cough from Enzo caused him to freeze in place. He looked over his shoulder only to see him pointing at the swear jar.

Tata reluctantly took out the 1000 Dennie bill in his pocket and put it in the swear jar, which was now half full.

"Keep this up and you'll be paying for my new massage chair." The old man joked in a teasing tone, but Tata ignored him, now putting all his focus on the TV.

Tata's eyes pierced the screen as the CRT played the theme song. His eyes sparkled. Starlight Knight raised his cyber sword high into the air, orange flames wrapping around the blade as the music blared.

"Woahhhh... so cool!"

He grabbed an imaginary sword and started swinging it around, jumping up, and running around while singing the theme song — almost tripping over Tupa.

Enaaaa!!!! [Woooowww!!!]

"Sorry, Tupa!" he yelped, grabbing the edge of the workbench to keep from face-planting. The Bangboo exclaimed in panic but quickly went back to work.

Enzo didn't even glance up. "Careful, kid. Last thing I need is you breaking your neck on my shift."

"A-uh..."

Tata barely heard him. Eyes glued to the screen, he watched as Starlight Knight sliced through waves of villains with his flaming sword, doing flips, poses, and dramatic monologues.

Tata's little fists clenched. His whole body tensed with excitement.

"I need one of those…" he whispered to himself.

Starlight Knight was so cool, especially when his sword went into ignition and the flames changed colours from orange to his iconic scarlet red.

Tata's eyes darted over to the scrap pile, and a light bulb lit on top of his head.

---

Enzo only noticed something was off when the noise level dropped.

He looked up from the car, sweat dripping down his forehead, grease streaking his cheek.

"Tata?"

No answer.

"Tataaaa…" he called again, standing up and wiping his hands on a rag.

He turned — and froze.

His kid was on the other side of the shop, sitting cross-legged with wires, rods, springs, and other scrap parts spread out around him. His face was screwed up in deep concentration, tongue sticking out slightly as he twisted parts together, whether they wanted to fit or not.

Tupa hovered nearby, tilting its head curiously.

Enzo blinked. "What the hell are… you know what, at least the kid's doing something."

He thought about digging deeper, but then he remembered the orders he promised to complete by today and just shrugged.

As long as he's not destroying the workshop, what's the harm...

---

A few hours later.

TAP. TAP. TAP.

Rapid footsteps echoed across the hall and then his workshop.

"OLD MAN!" Tata shouted, running up to him with something clutched in his little hands. "LOOK!! LOOK!!"

Enzo barely had time to brace himself before Tata shoved the thing in his face.

It was…

"What the hell is this?" Enzo muttered, grabbing it cautiously, like it was a live grenade.

It looked like a short metal rod with wires looped through the centre, a makeshift grip, and a cracked kettle ignition coil attached to the hilt. Enzo turned it over in his hands, brow furrowing.

Tata's grin widened, bouncing on his toes. "It's a sword! Like Starlight Knight's!!"

"You… made this?"

"YEAH!!"

Enzo stared at him. Then at the sword. Then back at Tata.

"..."

The thing was ugly as hell.

How is this thing even supposed to function — half the parts were welded wrong, the wiring was a mess, the ignition core was from an old kettle, and the blade was literally a sharpened scrap panel.

Wait, when did I have a spare kettle ignition coil? He suddenly felt that if he entered his kitchen...

"Come on, old man, power clock it up! I used the broken switch from the bathroom as the turn-on button!!"

"You did wha—" Enzo paused as Tata, clearly impatient, pressed the flip for him.

MMmmmmmmzzzzzz!!

Somehow, the damn thing powered on.

With a flicker, the coil sparked to life, shooting a tiny wisp of flame along the edge. The coils heated as small droplets of flammable liquid dripped from pre-drilled vents, igniting the entire sharpened blade.

Psssshhh!

Tata clapped, eyes sparkling. "SEE!! SWORDS ARE SO COOOOOL!!!"

Enzo's brain short-circuited for a second.

He snapped, "WHAT THE HELL, TATA?! YOU COULD'VE BLOWN YOURSELF UP!!"

Tata flinched. "U-uh… b-but it worked…?"

"WORKED!? YOU—!" Enzo rubbed his face hard, groaning into his hands.

"...You little gremlin. You made a working ignition weapon out of junk. Hahaha, that's freaking awesome, you probably got these smarts from your old man." Enzo laughed, the flames almost singeing his perfect beard.

Tata's shoulders slumped in relief. "What are you on about, I'm the genius here. But I don't mind the praise." Tata grinned, sticking out his tongue.

Enzo sighed. "Alright, alright. Fine. You win, brat." Enzo gave the blade a look over before pushing the switch. The vents closed, and the coils slowly cooled before eventually the flames snuffed themselves out.

Enzo then looked around the workshop before gesturing to an empty corner.

"That's your spot now. You want to build dangerous death toys, you do it over there, where I can watch you."

Tata's eyes widened. "Really!?"

"Yeah, really. But no testing weapons without me, got it?"

"GOT IT! YOU'RE THE BEST, OLD MAN!!"

"But that kettle you broke is coming out of your allowance. And also, the bathroom light."

BANG!!!

"Whaaat!!!"

Enzo smirked, hearing the thud — clearly the kid had slipped going up the stairs hearing that. Though he got serious for a moment, looking at the blade.

'I haven't taught him much, yet he was able to make something like this on his first try.'

Just like that, five years had passed since adopting Tata from that cave.

'Did the kid also have knowledge implanted in his mind about mechanics and engineering?'

Enzo had always loved bikes and cars, but he could only call himself knowledgeable, not a genius. But whatever that thing injected him with made him smarter. 'Things I had never known, concepts foreign to me, just popped into my head from time to time — and I understood them. Especially information about Bangboos.'

That's one of the reasons he had opened up the Bangboo Remodelling Shop.

...Sigh. No point in overthinking it. The kid's finally showing some interest in something besides TV and pranks.

"Alright, Tupa. If we can get these orders completed by the afternoon, I'll treat you to some premium-grade joint oil."

Weh-ne!!! [You got it, Mr. Boss!!]

---

That night, Tata lay on his little bed with Tupa charging in the corner, feet kicking in the air, scribbling furiously into an old, battered notebook.

The front page read: BIG SWORD IDEAS!!!

He drew page after page of designs — swords with flames, swords with engine boosters, swords with detachable parts.

Tata's face scrunched in thought. "Hmm… if I replace the kettle core with a real ignition module, and maybe reinforce the grip, and add a flow regulator for the fuel…"

He scribbled harder, eyes sparkling with anticipation for the next flame sword.

---

One month later.

Enzo walked into the workshop, yawning, stretching his back. "Alright, let's see if the kid's—"

He stopped.

Tata was standing proudly in the middle of the shop, holding up something that looked much more polished.

Ignition Weapon V-II.0 (Version 2.0)

It wasn't perfect — Enzo, with his years of experience, could see all the flaws, from the hammering, welding, and even the dull areas of the blade. It was short, the grip was still rough, with an uncoated cord wrap and a rectangular handle.

Not to mention the power unit that hummed suspiciously like it was about to overheat — but damn if it didn't look badass.

On the tang of the sword, scratched into the side in messy handwriting, was the name: LIGHTER.

Tata turned with a grin. "Old man!! Look!! It's ready! It took a while to find the right parts, but it's done!!!"

"…I don't know if I should be proud or terrified," Enzo muttered.

Tata grinned. Finally, he activated the ignition.

FOOOOM!!!

The blade came to life with a burst of controlled flame, casting a warm light across the workshop.

Tupa jumped around excitedly, doing little spins in the air.

Tata, eyes full of excitement, proclaimed, "I'm goanna be a hero one day, just like Starlight Knight!!"

Tata felt a warm hand pat his head. Looking up, he saw a proud smile from the old man and looked away in embarrassment.

"So... wanna test it out on the watermelon we have?"

"Fuck yes!!!"

"That's another 1000 Dennies."

"Shit!!!" Tata facepalmed.

"2000, ha-ha!! Thanks for the early birthday present kid. I can finally get that massage chair."

"..."

Should I put laxatives in the old man's coffee tomorrow?

-----

A.N

Here's the second chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to leave a review.

If you want to read 3 chapters ahead on Zzz:Prometheus or support me, my Patreon is: patreon.com/Prometheus_VII