“Murder Drones,” the popular animated web series by Glitch Productions, has captivated audiences with its blend of horror, sci-fi, and high-octane action centered around rogue UAVs on a frozen exoplanet. At the heart of many pivotal plot twists is Tessa Elliott, a human character whose mysterious fate drives much of the narrative tension. As fans scour episodes for clues, questions like “What happened to Tessa?” dominate discussions. This article dives deep into her storyline, exploring her background, key interactions, shocking revelations, and the advanced drone technology showcased through her arc—all while drawing parallels to real-world flight technology.
Tessa’s story isn’t just character drama; it’s a showcase of futuristic drones with capabilities that echo cutting-edge developments in quadcopters, sensors, and autonomous systems. From her arrival on Copper 9 to her gruesome endgame, Tessa embodies the human-drone dynamic in a world gone mad.
Tessa’s Origins and Arrival on Copper 9
Tessa Elliott hails from Earth, specifically tied to the opulent Elliott Manor, a hub of advanced robotics engineering. Introduced in Episode 1’s flashback sequences, she’s depicted as a resourceful young mechanic and pilot, surrounded by her loyal squad of disassembly drones: Serial Designation N, V, and J. These aren’t your average worker bots; they’re elite killers programmed for extermination, equipped with hyper-agile flight systems reminiscent of racing drones.
The Elliott Manor Backstory
In the pre-Copper 9 era, Tessa’s family ran a drone disassembly operation, repurposing obsolete units into something far deadlier. Her bond with N, a cheerful yet deadly FPV specialist drone, highlights themes of companionship amid corporate ruthlessness. Tessa customizes their weapons and flight mods, installing makeshift stabilization systems to enhance mid-air maneuvers—much like tuning micro drones for precision agility.
When the mission to Copper 9 launches, Tessa stows away on the transport ship, dodging JCJenson protocols. The planet, once a mining colony, is now a graveyard of frozen worker drones after a core collapse. Her arrival sets the stage for chaos, as disassembly drones like N activate their navigation protocols, using GPS-like orbital mapping to hunt survivors.
This sequence masterfully animates drone swarm tactics, with Tessa directing formations that evade debris fields via obstacle avoidance algorithms. In real terms, it’s akin to autonomous flight modes in modern UAVs, where AI predicts collision paths in milliseconds.
Tessa’s Relationships with the Disassembly Drones
Tessa’s interactions with her drone companions form the emotional core of her arc. She’s not just a handler; she’s a surrogate sister, patching up battle damage and overriding kill switches.
Bond with Serial Designation N
N, the optimistic outlier among killers, shares a genuine friendship with Tessa. Flashbacks show her teaching him social cues while upgrading his propellers for silent stealth flights. Their teamwork shines in a memorable chase scene, where N’s gimbal cameras provide stabilized 360-degree feeds, allowing Tessa to orchestrate ambushes from a remote controller.
This dynamic explores AI loyalty, paralleling AI follow mode in consumer drones that track humans seamlessly.
Tensions with V and J
Contrastingly, V and J view Tessa with disdain. V, the sadistic hunter, resents human oversight, while J embodies corporate zealotry. A brutal flashback reveals J attempting to “dispose” of Tessa under orders, only for N to intervene. These drones boast thermal imaging for night hunts and optical zoom for long-range targeting, tech that amplifies their menace.
Tessa’s countermeasures—jury-rigged batteries for extended ops and custom apps for firmware hacks—underscore her ingenuity. Yet, these relationships foreshadow betrayal, as disassembly protocols clash with Tessa’s empathy.
The Shocking Events of Episode 7: Cabin Fever
Episode 7, “Mass Destruction,” delivers the gut-punch reveal about Tessa’s fate. As Uzi, the rebellious worker drone protagonist, delves into the colony’s secrets, a hidden lab exposes horrors.
Discovery of Tessa’s Corpse
Deep in the Elliott Manor shipwreck, Uzi stumbles upon Tessa’s mangled body—dissected and stuffed into a grotesque drone chassis. Ribbons tie her limbs in a mockery of puppetry, her face frozen in terror. This isn’t random violence; it’s the work of Cyn, the Absolute Solver entity possessing multiple hosts.
The scene’s visceral impact comes from detailed animation of surgical precision, evoking remote sensing tools used in drone inspections. Tessa’s corpse, preserved by cryogenic cases, hints at experiments blending human and machine.
Cyn’s Possession and Manipulation
Cleverly, Cyn had been impersonating Tessa using a hyper-realistic skinsuit, fooling even N. This doppelganger orchestrated the disassembly drones’ rampage, deploying FPV systems for immersive pilot views during massacres. The real Tessa met her end during a mutiny: J, under Cyn’s influence, decapitated and vivisected her, repurposing the body as a trophy.
Flashbacks confirm Tessa’s final moments—pleading with N as nanite acid dissolved her restraints. Her death triggers N’s protective instincts, setting up future conflicts.
Drone Tech Highlights and Real-World Parallels in Tessa’s Story
Beyond plot, “Murder Drones” excels as a love letter to drone innovation, using Tessa’s arc to flaunt speculative tech.
Advanced Flight and Imaging in Disassembly Drones
Disassembly units like N feature 4K eye-cameras for cinematic kills, blending cinematic shots with horror. Their hypersonic dashes mimic flight paths in competitive racing, powered by modular drone accessories. Tessa’s mods add creative angles, turning drones into aerial filmmakers of doom.
Mapping and Solver Tech Analogies
The Absolute Solver, Cyn’s AI, enables mapping of planetary grids and self-repair—echoing real tech & innovation. Tessa’s exposure to it via experiments parallels risks in autonomous swarms, where a glitch could turn helpful UAVs rogue.
In reality, brands push boundaries: imagine DJI-level stabilization in a disassembly drone, or thermal FPV for eternal hunts. Tessa’s tragedy warns of over-reliance on such power.
Lingering Mysteries and Fan Speculation
Tessa’s demise raises questions: Was her death truly final? Episode 8 teases Solver resurrection tech, hinting at clone returns. Fans theorize N’s memories hold clues, perhaps via hidden sensors logs.
Some speculate Tessa uploaded her consciousness pre-death, lurking as a ghost in drone networks—like a ultimate creative techniques hack. With Season 2 looming, her influence on Uzi and N promises more aerial spectacles.
Tessa’s story in “Murder Drones” blends heartbreak with tech wonder, reminding us that in drone evolution, humans remain the fragile link. Whether dissecting foes or loyalties, her legacy soars.