Why them? Why this? Couldn't they just live their life in peace?
The dark room welcomed sleep. The assistant was long gone, and everything had grown silent. Too silent. There were 8 bots in the same room, an entire line of them, in regular circumstances it’d cause quite a commotion! But these weren’t regular circumstances. Only one robot lay on the table.Â
“Is… everyone alright?” Magnet spoke into the darkness. The room stayed silent for a few more moments, before Spark finally responded.
“I think s- ABSOLUTELY NOT!”Â
And was interrupted by Gemini.
“I’m not supposed to be active, and I’m certainly not supposed to be stuck like this! I don’t have my own face!” Gemini cried out in distress.Â
“Really Gemini!? Is that really your only concern?! Needle remarked.
 “He’s not wrong… we aren’t supposed to be active… or like this.” Top replied.
“I think Needle was talking about Gemini’s narcissistic little statement, Topman.” Snake hissed.
“You think I didn’t hear that?! I’m not trying to cause an argu-”
“Oh, so I’m not allowed to be upset?! Because there’s a lot to be upset about!” Gemini exclaimed.
“Guys! Stop fighting!” Hard interrupted. “This… really isn’t the time…”
The amalgamate took a deep breath, and sat up. They finally got a good look at the computer screen. Its display was on loop; an assortment of different lines, all bouncing up and down. Looking further, each line was labeled with one of their serial codes, with the whole chart labeled with a different serial number: PDN 003. One serial number for all of them. They turned their gaze to the mirror again.Â
"She... left us like this," Spark whispered. 3 stared at themselves. Feelings of horror, anger, and sadness bubbled within them. Why them? Why this? Couldn't they just live their life in peace? They looked around the room from the mirror. It seemed emptier than when they first woke up. They must have fallen asleep. The rest of the equipment, tools, even the lights were all gone, and the door now had yellow tape on it.
3 stood up slowly, suddenly aware of the struggle to operate their body. An attempt to walk forward was made, but completely failed, instead causing them to fall down. 7/8ths of the 3rd line weren’t used to permanent heelys. Gemini and Needle both cursed out that woman for giving them Top's legs. They tried to grab something, but Spark's electrode couldn’t grab anything, so they just kept stabbing the table, cursing between breaths.
Giving up on the table, the amalgamate decided to use the cabinet to support themselves. Yet again, they tried to walk, but their wheels proved to be quite the challenge. Nonetheless, they fumbled their way to the door, nearly crashing into it. Quickly, they shoved the tape from in front of the door, and pushed it open. The hallway was eerily empty. Doors were smashed open, revealing demolished rooms. Cabinets, drawers, tables all in pieces on the floor, and lights shattered and flickering.
3 moved slowly into the hallway, weary of the sudden danger in the air. Going down the dim hall, they realized that the deeper they went into the hall, the worse the damage was. Whoever ransacked this place was powerful enough to tear entire iron doors off their hinges.
"If whoever did this is still here, I really don't want to find them," Top stated while 3 slid their hand over a broken hinge..
"Or worse, have them find us," Spark added. 3 nodded in unified agreement, continuing to skate down the hall. After a few minutes, they reached a crossroad, or cross corridor in this case. They now had 3 choices: to go forward, left, or right.
The hall before them was shrouded in darkness, with no working lights. The only thing visible was more doors, strewn apart on the floor. Left and right offered no better options, the halls empty without anything, even doors! Each individual bot tried to decide on their own, pacing around and… falling again, because of the wheels. 3 noticed something, a piece of paper on the floor, in the nearest room. They managed to get up again to look at it. But as they approached it, its torn and yellowed nature showed itself.Â
“How old is this?” Gemini remarked, mildly disgusted. Picking up the paper, 3 saw that it wasn’t old, just burnt beyond readability. Which didn’t help them at all.
"We should go this way," Snake pointed down the right hall.
"But… why? There’s nothing this way." Hard questioned, setting down the paper.
"Tracks. This paper means that the lady was here. If we keep going this way, we’re bound to find her. It’s obvious, really." 3 shrugged and continued down the right hall.
The right hall was like a well kept ghost town. Nothing was there was but the lights that flickered on the ceiling. The whirring of 3 rolling on their skates sounded like it was cast through a megaphone. The dark teal of the walls reflected onto the clean egg white floors, making the floor look more like the deep sea: Vast, confusing, and full of choices.
"There's nothing here," 3 said, in a different voice. They stopped, slightly startled, before realizing who it was. Shadowman. This was the first thing he’d said since they woke up. And the others could feel his patience wearing thin.
"You have to have patience! You're a ninja! Isn't patience in your code of honor?" 3 gasped at Snake's statement. However, Shadow wasn't involved in it.
"I've been patient this entire time Snake. I've been dealing with you."
"Dealing with- I haven't done anything you'd have to deal with! If you haven't noticed, I'm the one looking for clues! I'm trying to get us out of this situation-"
"Aren't you the one who got us in it?”Â
"...What.”
“When I said there was danger, you didn’t believe me.”
“Shut…”
“You were the one who said everything would be fine..."
“Up…”
“If anything, this is all yo-”
   3’s hand swung up, hitting them in the neck, and cutting off Shadow.
"WHAT TH- WHY WOULD Y- DUMBASS- STOP IT!- STAY OUT OF THIS!"
3 was about to punch themselves again, but Spark's electrode stopped them."Everyone SHUT UP!" Spark yelled. Everyone fell silent, startled at Spark’s rage. There was a moment of panic from Spark, but he didn't speak again.
3 slowly rose to their feet and continued to skate down the hall. Magnet's fist opened and closed repeatedly and Spark's electrode gave some sparks here and there. 3’s heavy breathing calmed, though a slight growl still remained.Â
The sea that was the hall seemed to continue on for ages. No other halls, no other papers, no other choices. Eventually, they reached the end. It was just... one big wall, nothing else. They skated up about 3 feet from the wall and stopped. After a moment, they collapsed in defeat, sinking to their knees.
"I told you..."
"WELL I'M SORRY OUR ONLY CLUE DIDN'T LEAD US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION! I WAS JUST USING WHAT I KNOW!
“When was the last time that helped any of us, Snake? Back at the factory? DID IT HELP ANY OF US, SNAKEMAN?!”
“THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT!”
   “OH REALLY?! IF YOU’D LISTENED TO ME, WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS SITUATION! WE WOULDN’T BE LIKE THIS! BUT YOU’RE TOO STUBBORN TO LISTEN TO ANYONE!”
"Please stop! Let's just... go back and go a different way," Hard attempted to resolve the conflict. 3's hands (well, hand and electrode) motioned to nobody, to calm down. However his attempt was in vain. 3, yet again began arguing with themselves, their voice switching between Snake and Shadow, with others occasionally interrupting in an attempt to cool the situation. They eventually grew tired of arguing, and tired in general. The shouting, once echoing through the hall, now died down. The silence returned once more.
Well. It started as an idea. Then, it became a drawing. A drawing became a part of a story. Then, it became our project. We all worked together to do this. However, this AU upsets us too, so your not alone.
“Everything is fine! Just… go down the hall, my assistant will be waiting for you!”
Why were they all here?
Spark, Hard and Snake all stood around outside the building. What building? They had no idea. None of them had been here before. And why all of them?
“I’m here for information on a job. There’s a site that someone needs leveled… somewhere.” Hard finally spoke, breaking the silence.
“I’m with him.” Snake responded. “Though, why are you here?”
“Someone needs to help maintain power while they fix the backup generator, that’s what Dr. Light said! Or… at least I think it was him…” Spark replied. He was looking around the area, clearly confused and worried. The room grew quiet once again as each robot looked at each other.
“If they’re fixing the backup generator, why are you here? A voice sounded in the dark. The three bots looked over and saw none other than Shadow, leaning on the wall behind them. Spark eagerly responded.Â
“Well, the first generator is running, so if the backup one accidentally turns on, it’ll cause both generators to overheat! Yeah! Even though they could just… disconnect the backup generator…” He grew quiet, seeing Shadow’s point. Why was he here?Â
“Better question, why are you here, Shadow? What’s your reasoning?” Snake snidely asked. He didn’t seem to appreciate Shadow’s unnecessary commentary. Â
Shadow stood silent for a moment. “This place is too suspicious. This is a factory in the middle of nowhere, a factory that Light has never mentioned. Why would you be brought here for orders?” he replied, before noting “The transmissions with your orders have been deleted as well.”
“Awww, you do care about us!” Snake interrupted, with a sly grin on his face.
“That has absolutely nothing to do with this! You’re in da-”
“Shadowman please! Everything is fine!” Dr. Light’s voice rang over the speakers. “Just... go down the hall, my assistant will be waiting for you!”
“See, everything is fine, Shadowman.” Snake hissed. He started down the hallway. After a few moments, Spark rushed after him. Hard followed the two, with Shadow close behind. The hallway was bright and clean, and the only thing that they could hear was their footsteps, and the fluorescent lights above them, with their near blinding light, faintly flickering.
“Oh! You must be the robots Light needs!-” A girl’s voice sounded from behind them, sharply cut off, “Umm, could you please take that blade away from my neck?” Because he’d been behind the others, Shadow was the first to notice her. However, he didn’t trust her at all. Unlike the others.Â
“Shadow! Don’t hurt her! She’s Light’s assistant!” Hard retaliated, rushing between the two. “Sorry about that, Shadow’s been acting weird ever since we got here.”
“Oh it’s fine! Though, you guys are a little late. The information session is just down the hall, in the room with lights on the door; You can’t miss it!” The assistant cheerily responded, quickly changing the topic.
   “Can you take us there?” Spark asked.
   “Of course! Just follow me!” The girl responded with a beaming smile. She trotted down the hall, urging the bots to follow her. The four followed her down the rest of the hall. Though, it seemed a little… off; her mannerisms, the sanitary nature of this place, this was a factory, not a medical office! It didn’t take long for them to reach their destination.Â
   “Just come in here and do what you have to!” The assistant’s voice rang. A door opened, revealing an eerily dim room. Snake eagerly entered. Shadow hesitantly followed, and the other two entered behind him. There wasn’t much inside. On the furthest wall was a screen, which was faintly glowing from a projectors light. Shadow noticed the ceiling, which seemed barely existent. Suddenly, a loud clanking sound alerted the bots to the door, which had slammed shut. They didn’t have time to investigate the door though, as the projector flickered on.
   “Hello! Hello! Before everything happens, I just have to say thank you! Thank you for participating!” It was the assistant, ecstatically exclaiming her thanks in a song-like tone. However, the energy and joy in the assistant was not present in the bots. Behind the cheerful girl was a jumbled mess of mechanical parts. It wasn’t easy to see them with the assistant in the way, but it wasn’t hard to recognize what they were. Spark let out a small gasp, with clear fear in his eyes, as he saw the scrapped bodies of his deactivated brothers laying behind the assistant. The moment he looked at her, however, the projector dimmed and turned off.
   “What does she mean by… participation?” Hard asked, clearly afraid as well. The sound of grinding gears and motors startled the bots. Instinctually, they walked back, and ended up huddling in the middle of the room. But before any of the other bots could ask, or answer, a scraping sound echoed from above them. After that, all they heard was the sound of crushing metal before everything went black.
[...]
[...]
[..!]
[Error. Multiple IC chips detected]
[Activation protocol initiated]
[Booting…]
“Oooooooohoho, rise and shine sleepyhead! Well, sleepyheads…” Through the ringing in his ears someone spoke, saying something, he couldn’t tell, But at the same time, he… could? It was the assistant’s voice, that was certain. Slowly and, somewhat clumsily, the robot propped himself up. However, he wasn’t expecting to have a sharp electrode in place of his left hand. Or a hand in place of his weapon. Whichever it was, the bot quickly fell back down, unable to put his hands on the table.Â
“Augh…” The robot groaned, “what ha-”. He stopped mid phrase, hearing a voice that, wasn’t really his. But it… was?
“I… I can’t believe it…! It worked! It actually worked! I did it! I did it!” The assistant shouted, near cackling, all while punching the air in triumph. The same feeling was not reciprocated with the bot, who wearily squinted at her. “Worked? What worked? What… what did you do?” A voice spoke from the robot, confused by her words. It wasn’t the same voice as before. It wasn’t his voice, but it was his voice, he didn’t understand it. He wasn’t talking, but… he was!Â
   “You really can’t figure it out? Hah!” She mockingly said, only to begin mumbling, “Who would’ve thought more IC chips would make a robot dumber!” The robot didn’t hear what she mumbled, with his ears still ringing.
   “More IC chips…? You- put us… together?” A voice spoke, breaking the short lived silence. It was Magnet, without any doubt. “Together?” Top asked, before he too realized what the assistant meant. “Wait, Magnet?! Is… is that you?” In an instant, each member of the 3rd line tried to stammer out, well, anything really. Questions, answers or whatever they could say. But only one voice made itself clear.Â
   “Why- why… why did you-”
    “Why’d I do this?
   The girl snickered, and her eyes locked on the 8 bots. “I was inspired by Wily… He has such great ideas, but the worst execution! I mean, what was he thinking? Using the 2nd line was bound to fail; they practically hate each other! But you? You’re different. You’re... like family… You aren’t doomed to failure.”
   “Failure? Like this is a success?!” Gemini remarked.
   “Aww, does Light’s little narcissist want a mirror? Will that make you feel better?” The assistant taunted. Before Gemini could even answer the question, she stepped over to the cabinet and pushed a mirror out from beside it.Â
   An arm from Spark, an arm from Magnet, both of Top’s legs, Shadow’s body and Hard’s head, with a few scattered details from Gemini, Needle and Snake. It was an eyeful for them all, like someone had haphazardly torn them apart and carefully melded them together. In all honesty, that’s probably what happened.Â
   “No… NO!” Needle screamed. He swung at the mirror in an attempt to break it. However, just before he hit it, the amalgamate’s whole body froze. “C’mon, I gotta run a few tests first. Then you can break stuff!” the assistant exclaimed, holding a remote. She ordered the robot to lay on the table. She checked every joint, wire and connected part she could, all the parts that she’d changed, that she’d put together. “Perfect! Just perfect! Now, for the important part...” Wires were plugged into the amalgam, hooking them up to the assistants computer. As she looked at the screen, the devious grin that seemed permanent, quickly fell. “No, no, it didn’t work! It was supposed to-!” She sounded devastated.Â
   “Well, this was a good start! Yeah! There’s always a second chance— and the first attempt isn’t always gonna work! Yes!” The assistant assured herself, before rushing out of the room. The third line hadn’t been able to move during the entire checkup. But they wanted to. They needed to. To scream. To run. To get away from her, from this place, from each other.
   Yet, when she walked off, and her remote was out of range, they didn’t. They didn’t scream. They didn’t run.
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