Not an Egg

by KriegSchnee

Summary:

Did someone say Chili-dog? Sonic and his friends find themselves in a new world- wait a minute.

Since when was Eggman a girl?

Chapter 1: 1-1

"You want to speak with me, Director Piggot?" Colin was a very busy man, spending most of his time in his lab working on his next halberd, or updating his armor while listening to lectures on psychology. He wasn't getting any younger, and there was only so much his armor could do before his body would eventually start fading away. Dragon said he would be fine, but Colin had already spotted a grey hair in his beard. Being prepared for the eventuality would ease his worries. 

 

Director Piggot sat at her desk, looking down at some paperwork, before her eyes drifted to her computer screen. She only offered him a grunt as a response. "We'll begin once Militia is here." 

 

Colin stopped himself from sighing as he locked the servos in his armor, allowing him to store as much energy as possible. He could work on a few designs while waiting for Hannah. His prediction software was coming along nicely, thanks to some help from Dragon, but there were still plenty of bugs that needed to be fixed. He felt the need to make a pun, but Colin managed to restrain himself, this wasn't time for jokes judging by how serious Director Piggot looked. Granted, she always looked serious, but Colin could tell it was something different this time. 

 

The door behind him opened, and a haggard looking Hannah stumbled in, closing said door behind her. She adjusted the bandana that covered her face and stood next to him. 

 

"Sorry I'm late! Our new Ward's are quite the handful." Hannah sighed as she wiped some sweat off of her forehead. Miss Militia has been busier ever since Director Piggot agreed to a compromise on who would command the Wards. 

 

"Sonic and Dennis get along I assume." Colin had met the blue hedgehog from Earth-M quite a few times, each one unpleasant. Not that the famous Armsmaster had anything against the displaced speedster, but their personalities didn't mesh. Tails, his foxy companion, was much better company, and he helped inspire Kid Win which was a plus. Colin still didn't have a solid opinion regarding the red and pink one. 

 

"Too well in fact. They've been pranking the other Wards all week, Shadow Stalker almost murdered them." Hannah said. She took the lone seat next to Colin. 

 

"Get them under control or I'll start giving harsher punishments." Director Piggot essentially growled. "Anyways, I called you here because Director Costa-Brown decided to give our branch a little gift." 

 

"A gift?" Hannah asked. Colin simply focused on his debugging, with his armor recording the conversation to study later. He still kept an ear open though. 

 

"She's transfering a Ward from Houston." Colin felt Director Piggot's eyes turn to him. "You already know her, Armsmaster." 

 

The debugging program disappeared from his visor as he took the folder the Director held out. He started to scan each page. Hm, these designs were familiar. Some of Dragon's suit held similar elements, which she created in a collaboration with-

 

"You can't be serious." Colin said, grinding his teeth. No! He didn't need Her showing up here, acting as if she owned the place. 

 

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Director Piggot narrowed her eyes. "Director Costa-Brown claimed that her experience in the field could prove to be quite useful to our new recruits." 

 

"Five new Wards joining only a single branch is unheard of." Hannah added as she looked over her own folder. "She seems rather impressive." 

 

"She's a loose cannon that disobeyed orders. Her machines caused numerous casualties during the operations against the Sons of the Republic and the Southern Cartels, almost causing an international incident." Colin fired back. 

 

"Nobody cares if a few cape terrorist are killed." Director Piggot said coldly. "If the PRT and Protectorate are to keep this city safe, we need her machines. I'm sure that you're able to keep your fellow Tinker in line, or am I wrong?" 

 

Colin remained silent as a dozen thoughts raced through his mind. The girl was a genius, with her designs easily being able to mesh with Dragon's suits, but every interaction with her left a sour taste in his mouth. 

 

"Is that an order, Director Piggot?" 

 

"I can make it one." 

 

Armsmaster was glad that he locked his armor earlier, otherwise his fist would have been balled up by now. "Very well." 

 

"Good. She'll be here by the end of the week, staying in the Wards dorm. Ensure that her room and a lab are ready for her upon arrival." Director Piggot turned her attention back to her computer. "Dismissed."

 

Colin stood at attention as he silently unlocked his armor, and turned on his heel, Hannah following his lead. The two found themselves in the hallway, walking past the Director's secretary and into the main walkway. 

 

"What was that all about?" Hannah said once no one else was around them. "Are you ok?" 

 

"I am in peak physical health, so I am more than ok." Colin turned his head slightly. "And I was the one that recruited her, nothing more." 

 

"To me it sounds like you're jealous, having such a rising Tinker join the team." Hannah teased. 

 

"Her skills and the equipment that she builds isn't the problem, her personality is." Colin paused midstep. 

 

"Are you sure that you just don't like her? She's just a kid that's barely in high school." Hannah continued. 

 

"You'll see once you meet her in person." Colin started walking again. He needed to go back to his lab and to work harder. His projects were going to be behind schedule if he didn't. 

 

"I'll take your word for it." Hannah shrugged as she took the next right at the hallway intersection. She waved him goodbye, but Colin ignored her. Nobody would understand him until it was too late and Brockton Bay had more bloodshed than it currently. 

 

Robotnik, formerly known as Taylor Hebert, was a menace, and soon, everyone shall see that. 

 

A/N

I was inspired to write this after watching Sonic 2. I'm not sure if I'll continue it, but we'll see. I suppose it could work as a one-shot if I decide not to, but it'll depend on how I feel in the future. 

 

I'm still focusing on Schnee: Hero or Huntress. 

 

Chapter 2: 1-2

The end of the week came soon enough, along with the beginning of December. The days passed by quickly, much to Colin's distaste. Did he regret recruiting Doctor Robotnik, as Miss Hebert started calling herself, not really, as long as she wasn't around him Colin didn't have any problem with her. Especially since she was transferred to Houston as soon as she joined the Wards, having no living relatives that would be able to take her in. Plus, she was a rather skilled Tinker which was good, but that also led straight into Colin's problem with her. 

 

Robotnik was good, and she knew that. Her intelligence and creations were only matched by her sheer arrogance. It took all of Colin's self control and psychological tricks to stop himself from resorting to Robotnik's level. When it was all said and done, the younger Tinker was a pain in the neck. 

 

"Are you ok, Colin? Your blood pressure is starting to spike." Dragon said through the internal speaker in his helmet. Currently, Armsmaster was standing near the landing pad on top of the Rig, with Miss Militia, Aegis and Triumph, who was about to graduate from the Wards and join the Protectorate. A few PRT officers accompanied them. 

 

After making sure that the others weren't paying attention or listening to them, Colin grunted. "I'm fine." 

 

"If you say so." Dragon's voice seemed to smirk, if sound waves were able to do so. "You need to relax, Robotnik is a sweet girl." 

 

"According to the after-action reports she disobeys orders on a regular basis, caused the deaths of quite a few Neo-Confederates and Cartel cape, and she's annoying. It's a miracle the public hasn't tried sending her to the Birdcage." Armsmaster grumbled. He already had enough problems dealing with their new Wards. Good thing he assigned Velocity to help Hannah deal with Sonic. From what he heard, the blue anthropomorphic hedgehog was quite the troublemaker, with the other three following his lead more often than not. 

 

"Colin, are you jealous?" Dragon said teasingly, ignoring everything that he said, which was quite weird of her to do so. Did she have a fever? Her constitution was weak, and she was prone to illnesses. 

 

"No. Why would I be?" Why was Robotnik taking so long? She would have been here by now if they had hired Strider instead of whatever she chose to fly here in. 

 

"No need to be so defensive, I'm just asking." Dragon continued. "She's here by the way." 

 

The sound of a loud engine filled the air, as one of Dragon's transports arrived, except this one was mostly white, blue, and red, with more curves than usual. It looked like an egg the size of four cars that was on the verge of cracking. Four prongs emerged from the bottom as it prepared to land. 

 

"Woah." Colin's earpiece picked up Aegis' whisper, even over the noise. Like a graceful hippopotamus in water, the weird matrimony of an egg and one of Dragon's transports landed, next to the landing pad, completely avoiding the large red X. Dragon obviously wasn't piloting then. Times like these, he really wished his helmet completely covered his face so he could frown and grind his teeth, but forming a thin line with his lips would have to do for now. 

 

A hatch opened in the side of the transport, and a mechanical stairway unfolded rather dramatically as the Dragon-Egg ship started to hiss. A lone figure appeared at the top of the stairway, their form hidden by the shadow of the hatch that lifted upwards. 

 

"She always did have a thing for dramatics." Dragon murmured in Colin's ear. He didn't offer her a response since Miss Militia, Aegis, and Triumph drew closer to him. Dragon was being weird, talking as if she hadn't seen Robotnik just last week. The two collaborated regularly. 

 

The figure started to walk down the steps slowly, with the sun revealing, golden feet? Stepping out of the shadows was a lanky robot with an elongated head, a shorter silver robot following behind. The silver tripped on the last step, slamming into the gold one, causing them to stumble down the stairs, ending with the two robots piled on each other at the bottom. 

 

"Sorry!" The silver one said despite not having a mouthpiece, which earned it a slap on its metallic head from the golden one. 

 

"Where's Robotnik?" Armsmaster said coldly as he slowly walked up to the two. Artificial intelligence was strictly regulated and was to be watched at all times. 

 

The golden robot pointed at the top of the stairs with a groan before it fell limply on top of its silver compatriot. His eyes immediately darted towards the open hatch, where he finally got a good look of the arrogant Tinker. Wearing pince-nez style sunglasses with a blue tint, matching black boots and pants, and her obnoxious red and black flight coat that she wore in every picture Armsmaster saw, she looked like a cartoon villain. 

 

"Armsy! It's so great to see you!" Robotnik practically danced down the stairs, not even giving the two robots piled on the ground a glance. "How long has it been? One? Two years?" 

 

"Three and a half." Armsmaster said through his teeth. Miss Militia and the others joined them. Robotnik's eyes were hidden by the round sunglasses, but he could tell she was analyzing his armor. 

 

"Sheesh, almost four years and you're still wearing this hunk of junk? Consider me disappointed, very disappointed Armsy." Robotnik lightly tapped his chestplate with a gloved hand. 

 

"This is my latest armor-" Armsmaster started when Robotnik lifted a finger, wiggling it. 

 

"Shh, I know it's hard being the World's Third Greatest Tinker, but we can get through this together." Robotnik wiped away an imaginary tear. Colin could feel the shocked stares Triumph and Aegis were giving him. 

 

Ignoring her, Armsmaster motioned one of his arms to his companions. "This is Miss Militia, Triumph and Aegis. Triumph will be graduating into the Protectorate soon, so Aegis will take over as the Wards team leader." 

 

Robotnik's eyes turned to the trio, passing over Triumph and Aegus before landing on Miss Militia. "I'm sure you're hella popular." 

 

"What?"

 

Robotnik patted Armsmaster on his back ignoring Miss Militia's confused look. "Anyways, let's put our differences aside Armsy. Let bygones be bygones." Robotnik gave him a a pearly white smile. 

 

"Very well." He would be the bigger person here, he was the leader of the Protectorate ENE, and her superior. 

 

"Yay! I even brought you a gift." Robotnik tapped a button on her wrist and shouted. "ORBOT! CUBOT! BRING IT ON OUT!" 

 

A orb and a cube shaped robot with faces flew out of the Dragon-Egg ship, the two of them holding a decent sized golden trophy. They dropped it into Robotnik's hands. 

 

"Now go and help those two idiots unpack. Don't let Scratch and Grounder touch anything. They broke my favorite vase last time" Robotnik ordered, turning her back on them. 

 

"Yeah yeah, whatever you say Boss." The red one grumbled as it flew back inside the Dragon-Egg.

 

"Here, I had this made just for you Armsy." Robotnik held it out. Colin stared at it for a few seconds, before staring at the curly haired Tinker again. He grabbed it slowly. "Now's gimme my tour!" Robotnik marched past him, as he stared at the golden trophy. 

 

Was this a trick, or was Robotnik being genuine? This wasn't like her. Colin moved his hand to read the plaque that was attached to the base. 

 

To the World's Third Best Tinker. 

 

Damn it. 

 

A/N

Might take a break from Schnee: Hero or Huntress, I'm not sure. Taylor-Robotnik will be taking inspiration from all Eggman variations, but mostlt Jim Carrey's version. Yes there will be an Agent Sfone! You all can guess who that will be. 

 

Taylor's outfit is basically Eggmans costume Sonic 2. 

 

I hope everyone enjoyed todays chapter. 

 

 

Chapter 3: 1-3

"What a dump." Robotnik said, her eyes darting around the hallway as the small group walked through the Protectorate HQ. "Is this the best you guys could come up with? A refitted oil rig? Someone's been skimping on the budget." Robotnik shrugged as Hannah did her best to keep her smile on her face. 

 

"Everything here is top of the line, from the mess hall to our defenses." Miss Militia said, her bandana hiding the lower half of her face. Smiling under the bandana helped her eyes to seem like they were smiling. 

 

"Yeah right." Robotnik flicked the metal wall. "Looks like Armsy's beard balm took up most of your budget to me. This place can't even fly!" She pulled her red goggles down from her forehead, wearing them over her sunglasses, her head whipping around before finally placing them back. "I've seen better." 

 

Miss Militia's eyes briefly turned to Armsmaster, who was silently holding the golden trophy Robotnik had given him not even a half hour ago. The bearded Tinker seemed to be on the verge of exploding, only being held back by his armor. There was even a small dent in the trophy from where he held it too tightly. Personally, Robotnik wasn't as bad as Colin led her to believe. Sure she was arrogant as Colin said, but she was still just a kid. Still, it would be better to continue the tour without Colin blowing up. 

 

"Perhaps. I can take over from here, Armsmaster. I have Triumph and Aegis to help me." Hannah turned to Colin, whose head snapped towards her before giving Robotnik another glance. 

 

"Very well. Inform me if I'm needed." Armsmaster paused and turned to Robotnik again. "Welcome to the team." He said, the entire sentence sounding as if he had to force it out. Armsmaster quickly left, ignoring the two Wards that were next to Hannah. As sad as it was, Triumph, Aegis and the other Wards were used to Colin's treatment. He was only vaguely interested in Kid Win, and now Tails because of his rather advanced Tinkering. 

 

"Now that Beardo is gone, the fun can continue!" Robotnik pushed past them, a finger in the air, walking a few feet away from them as she rubbed her hands against the wall. 

 

"Is she insane?" Triumph whispered to Aegis, who shrugged in response. While a valid question, Rory could have worded it better.

 

"I'm not sure-" Aegis started to whisper back when Robotnik's head swiveled and she dramatically walked back up to the three of them, her once smiling face now serious. 

 

"No great genius has ever existed without a touch of madness, Aristotle. You should know who that is judging by that rather inaccurate helmet of yours?" Robotnik's hidden eyes seemed to stare him up and down. Hannah stayed quiet as she observed the exchange. While Rory would be joining the Protectorate soon enough, he was still acting as the Wards team leader. Aegis would do well to learn, since he would be taking up the mantle soon. "It's either Roman or Greek, and gladiators originated from ancient Italian tribes, so going for a Greekish themed helmet seems rather sacrilegious, despite Rome later conquering them and the Greeks adopting the love of watching men kill each other for sport." She tilted her head. "You should fire whoever came up with that costume theme." 

 

"Hey! Listen here-" Triumph sounded a bit annoyed, but Robotnik interrupted halfway into his sentence with a grin. 

 

"Wrong! The correct answer should be, thank you Doctor Robotnik for fixing this historically inaccurate mistake. Pick up a book sometime buddy, you'll feel better afterwards." Robotnik's serious face was gone now. Triumph's confusion was hidden by his helmet, but Hannah could see one of his hands start to flex. "Now onward to the tour! I would like to see my new lab so I can bring in my equipment. I'm sure most of the stuff you have in there could be found at a Home Depot." 

 

Robotnik marched off again, following the holographic map she had on her wrist? When did even have a chance to get or make that?;

 

"What just happened?" Triumph sighed as Aegis walked alongside him shaking his head. 

 

"You just met your newest teammate." Hannah said, following the young Tinker. "Once we're done here we shall be heading to the PRT headquarters to introduce her to the other Wards."

 

"Good luck Aeg. You're going to need it with all of the new people." Triumph patted Aegis on the back.

 

"Thanks." 

 

 

---

New labs were always so much fun! Except for the moving in part, and the throwing away useless stuff someone put in said new lab. Robotnik's machines were far superior when compared to the basic labs and workshops the Protectorate and PRT offered Tinkers. Only Dragon's equipment came close to even having a chance of beating her, which was admirable. 

 

"Don't you love that new lab smell!" Robotnik's eyes scanned the decent space the ENE branch decided to give her. Running over to a workbench, she grabbed a holographic projector and held it up to her face. It was useless, so she threw it over her shoulder. Grounder could pick that up later once she was settled in. Decoe, Bocoe, Orbot and Cubot better not break anything, those machines and equipment cost her blood, sweat and tears. 

 

"We weren't told what equipment you wanted, so we just brought in some basic machines." Miss Militia said from the entrance to the lab. "I'm not a Tinker, so I wouldn't be able to tell you what half of the stuff in here is." 

 

Was that an attempt at a joke? Or was it an attempt at socializing? Robotnik's eyes silently met Miss Militia's own green ones. Hm, she did seem pretty for an older lady. The average American must eat her concept up with the bandana that looked like the American flag and all that. Judging by her slight accent and olive skin tone, Miss Militia was not originally from the United States, perhaps some Middle Eastern country?  

 

"Haha! There's no need to. Everything here should be sufficient enough for my needs." Robotnik always needed scrap metal for her own machines and robots. A dozen aerial badniks to celebrate her transfer here should be in order! The flying egg-like drones were quite efficient when it came down to hunting criminals. Robotnik felt a smirk forming on her face. It was hard not to when one was the smartest person in the room. 

 

"Shall we head to the Mess hall as you wait for your belongings to be brought in? It can give you a chance to get to know Triumph and Aegis." Miss Militia continued, her voice cheerful, but it sounded so serious at the same time. 

 

"Nah, I'll be fine waiting here." Robotnik stretched her arms. One of her miniature badniks had already scanned the entire building, having launched it as soon as she walked in. 

 

"Are you sure?" Miss Militia pressed. "It could be a chance to make some new friends."

 

"Possitiively." Robotnik waved her off. Who needed friends? Family and friends made of flesh and bone always had problems, problems that were out of Robotnik's control, but robots? Her robots were the only things she needed. Their bugs could be fixed, their personalities updated, and they were loyal only to her. Eidolon understood that. 

 

Miss Militia hesitated. "If you say so. If you need anything-"

 

"Contact you through your communicator. I got it." 

 

Miss Militia nodded slowly. "Once you're done unpacking we'll head into the city proper to show you around PRT Headquarters where you'll be staying."  

 

"Uhuh, sure." 

 

"Welcome to the team! I hope you enjoy your stay." Miss Militia left soon after, leaving Robotnik alone in the workshop. 

 

It had been a longtime since she's been back in the Bay. Robotnik never imagined that she would find herself back in the city that caused the death of Mother and Father. Her right hand balled into a fist, the leather of her control glove causing a slight squeak. Brockton Bay, a cesspool full of crime and villainy, the town that killed her parents, the town she grew up in. 

 

"It's good to be home." Robotnik grinned as she heard the door to her lab open. Decoe and Bocoe stumbled in, each one carrying a large box filled with an assortment of her machines. 

 

"Where do you want this box, Boss?" Decoe said, the two struggled to walk in at the same time like the idiots they were. 

 

"Place it on that table there." Robotnik pointed over her shoulder absentminded. 

 

This was going to be a lot of fun

 

A/N

This was fun to write. Of course, I primarily write for fun so the quality won't be the best, but I hope it was enjoyable. 

 

 

Chapter 4: 1-4

Brockton Bay was not a place that Robotnik would call home, not anymore. Home was wherever her lab or workshop was, whether it was back in Houston, or the miniature Egg Carrier she was working on with Dragon. That project was on the back burner, sadly as fun as it would be, Robotnik had more pressing matters to deal with. She was currently working on a small robot that could deliver bombs and messages easily, with the initial designs already completed. Robotnik would've been done by now if Miss Militia hadn't kept bothering her. 

 

"We were supposed to visit the PRT HQ five hours ago! You finished unpacking three hours ago according to Agent Topaz." Miss Militia chastised her as Robotnik leaned her head against the side of the PRT van they were in. The two Wards were also piled into the van, with the PRT agent that snitched on her in between them. Thankfully, the small earbuds she wore blasted music, which muffled Miss Militia's grating voice. 

 

"WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU." Robotnik pointed towards her ear. "I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING. CALL ME BACK LATER." 

 

Miss Militia mouthed something that was overpowered by the music, not that Robotnik cared to lower it. 

 

"Sitting on a cornflake." 

 

Visiting the PRT building and meeting the other Wards would be a complete waste of time, time that she could be using to finish her latest robot. Miss Militia practically had to drag her into the PRT van, with that stupid Agent Topaz assisting her. Too bad Decoe and Bocoe were too busy getting her computers up and running to come save her. Orbot and Cubot were also just as useless, having flown off as soon as Miss Militia busted through the door. Scratch and Grounder would have helped Miss Militia if they weren't busy guarding the wall on the far side of the lab, where they wouldn't be able to mess anything up.

 

Robotnik closed her eyes as she felt the vibrations of the moving vehicle, the classic rock song about some walrus blaring. She hated being in a moving car, prefering to fly in her eggmobile. 

 

"Yellow matter custard-" 

 

The small badnik drones following the van should ensure that nothing bad happened on their very short drive that should have been done by now. Stupid Brockton traffic had nothing on Houston's dumb loop of highways. There was no reason to keep constructing and fixing stuff! At least the food was decent, or so Eidolon said. Robotnik rarely left her lab for personal missions. 

 

The PRT van soon came to a stop, along with the vibrations. 

 

"Finally." Triumph jumped up from his seat as the back of the van opened, his voice barely being heard past the music. He quickly left, leaving a confused Aegis behind. 

 

Smirking as she stood up dramatically, Robotnik kept her ever faithful smirk-grin combo on her face as she jumped off of the van, pushing Agent Topaz to the side who was in front of her. 

 

"I am the eggman." 

 

 

---

 

Robotnik was a bit more difficult to deal with than Hannah realized she would be, but she still wasn't as bad as Armsmaster made her out to be. Having to basically drag the teenager Tinker out of her new lab was a bit time consuming, especially since she said she was still unpacking when she was long finished, but Hannah could handle her. She was more worried about Robotnik's reaction to their other four new Wards. 

 

"What's with the Feds trying to make all their stuff look the same?" Robotnik grumbled as she took long steps down the hallway that led to the Wards area. "It's like I never left Texas." 

 

Aegis raised a finger slowly. 

 

"Yes, I bought myself a pair of boots and a hat. Racist bastard, I'm not even from Texas!" Robotnik interrupted him before he even had a chance to speak.   

 

"I was going to ask if the scenery was nice, but ok." Aegis croaked awkwardly. 

 

"Why are you asking me? Use the internet to search up pictures or something." Robotnik waved him off as the Wards alarm started to go off. Miss Militia forced herself not to sigh as the entrance towards the Ward base opened, revealing a well furnished room. 

 

At least Sonic was out on patrol with Velocity. 

 

 

---

 

Robotnik was not fond of the Wards. The program as a whole was decent enough, with the Federal government willing to fund new Tinkers that worked for them, but that was where the positives ended. Most individual Wards didn't get along with her, due to her high IQ of course. They were jealous of her intelligence, and they were afraid of what they didn't understand. Hoyden actually had to be transferred to Austin in order to prevent another 'incident' which ended in half of the Houston Wards HQ burnt down. 

 

Ah, the good old days. Young Buck burnt some barbeque using Hoyden's explosions at her goodbye party. Robotnik watched from her badnik's surveillance cameras since she wasn't invited, but it was fun to watch the fleshies struggle to eat the tough meat. 

 

"Welcome to Ward HQ." Triumph took over from Miss Militia now as they walked past the Tinker-tech doors. Hm, it seemed like Dragon's work. Not surprising since she did seem attached to Armsy, the big old softy. Triumph seemed like he was going to talk again. 

 

"Spare me the speech. I'm transferring, not a newbie. I'm pretty sure I've been part of the Wards longer than you have Sparticus." Such a speech would be an insult to Robotnik's IQ of over three hundred, thus making her the smartest person in any room she walked into. Three Wards were sitting on the couch, with only one of them in costume. 

 

Triumph glared at her through his poorly made and historically inaccurate helmet, a glare that Robotnik responded by flashing him a large smile. Aegis stepped in between them. 

 

"Let's meet the team!" Aegis said, a forced smile visible on his face, with the upper half of his face hidden by his helmet. An interesting design that many heroes tend to adapt, since showing off one's mouth to smile would allow normies to be more at ease, sacrificing the helmets full defensive capabilities. 

 

Robotnik shrugged as they finally turned to the lone Ward sitting on the couch, a domino mask doing little to hide his identity amidst his reddish hair as he played a game on the large television in front of him. Oh great, they had a ginger on the team. 

 

"Sup, Clockblocker's the name, but you can call me Dennis." The redhead said, not even glancing away from the game screen. Robotnik would have done the same if she was in his shoes. 

 

"I'm guessing you're single then." 

 

That earned her a laugh from the short blonde girl sitting next to him. 

 

"Hey!" 

 

"She's not wrong though." Blondy said, manipulating the space in between them to be able to step over the couch with little hassle. "Hiya! I'm Vista, but all of my friends can call me Missy when we're not in costume." 

 

"A pleasure to meet you Vista." Robitnik said automatically, causing the blonde to frown for some reason.Those books she read about social events should be able to come in handy. The third Ward on the couch was wearing some form of Tinkertech armor that revealed his messy brown hair. Finally another Tinker! 

 

"Kid Win. I'm about to go on patrol so I'll see ya later." He quickly disappeared like a coward. 

 

"Shadow Stalker is busy manning the PRT hotline so we'll introduce you to her later." Triumph interjected himself again. "Sonic's out on patrol, so that leaves Gallant and the other three newbies-" 

 

A small figure sneaked in, barely standing at three feet, wearing a primarily red dress with white accents. What an ugly looking Case-53, and that was saying something. Gentle Giant wasn't exactly a pleasant person to look at. 

 

"Hey Missy, do you know where the-DOCTOR EGGMAN?" The pink hedgehog screamed that last bit jumping in the air. 

 

Robotnik jumped in return, looking behind her. "I don't see any eggs." She turned around only to have a comically oversized hammer slam into her head. 

 

Ah Friday's, don't you ever change. 

 

A/N

Next story I shall work on shall be Lore Khepri. 

 

Chapter 5: 1-5

What did it mean to be human? Did it have to do with one's biology? With how they were raised? Did they have to be born on Earth? Did they physically need to have the same characteristics? Would Case 53's even count as being human by those metrics? The ancient Persian poet Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī once said that to love and to feel pain was human. If that was the case, Robotnik certainly did not want to be human, physical pain was nothing when compared to emotional pain, in her opinion at least. Still, that ugly furry had a hell of a swing that it almost changed her mind. 

 

Ignoring the commotion that started around her as Aegis and Miss Militia restrained the Case 53 who now stared at her in shock, Robotnik touched her jaw and face in several spots. Hm, was she that strong or was it the hammer? Robotnik had a minor Brute rating, just enough to survive explosions from her failed creations and to survive quite a few bumps. The pink monstrosity managed to dislocate her jaw and break her favorite sunglasses. Grabbing the ruined pair and sliding them into one of her many pockets, Robotnik placed her hands on her jaw. The youtube video said to do it this way. 

 

Still ignoring the shouting and screaming around her, Robotnik forced her jaw back into place, with a loud crack. Mmm, the irony taste of blood in her mouth was a bit familiar, it had been a while since someone punched her. Flexing her jaw muscles by opening and closing her mouth, Robotnik quickly turned her head towards the culprit. Miss Militia and Aegis were on each side of her, while Triumph shouted into his communicator. Clockblocker and Vista's shocked stares were focused on the genius girl, their domino masks not having that white see-through film that would have hidden their eye color. 

 

"Sssmokin…" Robotnik took a step forward as she felt some blood spill from the corner of her mouth as she kept her grin wide. "You really need to work on that swing if you want to kill me. Frankly, I'm quite disappointed. PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT NEXT TIME!" Robotnik started laughing as a squad of PRT agents ran into the room with Armsmaster at the head. Was that Agent Topaz again? Robotnik couldn't tell with all of them wearing identical uniforms, and her sunglasses which would have informed her were now broken.

 

"What's going on here?" Armsy demanded, with his luxurious beard on display for everyone to see as usual. 

 

"Armsy!" Robotnik ran towards the bearded hero and threw herself into his arms. He stopped her by using one of his longer arms to keep her at length. 

 

"Amy assaulted Robotnik." Triumph said as the pink Case 53 struggled to form words. Was it dumb? Perhaps, everyone would be considered dumb if they compared their intellect with Robotnik's. 

 

"Assaulting a fellow Ward is a serious offense, especially as a probationary Ward." Armsy said as he turned to Miss Militia. "I shall inform Director Piggot and contact Panacea." 

 

"Thank you." Miss Militia sighed when 'Amy' started struggling again. 

 

"It was an accident! She looked like someone I used to know-" The violent creature said in perfect English. 

 

"Accidental or not, assaulting anyone is a serious offense." Armsy interrupted the deformed hedgehog. "I shall leave the punishment to Miss Militia and Director Piggot." 

 

Suddenly, the steps of someone new entered Robotnik's ears. Angling her head slightly, Robotnik came face to face with another Case 53, this one looking like a fox. 

 

"Hey guys, Knuckles is trying to take a nap and he would really appreciate it if you all could- DOCTOR EGGMAN!?" The Fox with two tails jumped into the air. 

 

"I'M NEITHER AN EGG NOR A MAN, YOU FUCKING FURRY!" 

 

 

---

 

Colin knew he should have taken the pain-killers before he left the Rig. Shortly after leaving Hannah, he started feeling a little guilty about abandoning her to Robitnik's schemes, and Dragon kept trying to guilt-trip him,so he decided to pay PRT Headquarters a short visit. He never expected to find a squad of PRT officers rushing into the Wards base. 

 

"So let me get this straight, you have an insane Tinker back on Earth-M who essentially wears the same outfit as Robotnik?" Armsmaster said through his teeth. He had pulled the three Wards and Miss Militia into a sideroom that was quickly set up just for this impromptu meeting. 

 

"Doctor Robotnik please. I didn't earn five PHD's just to be called Robotnik." Robotnik interrupted, 11earning her a glare from the Head of the Protectorate ENE. 

 

"Yes! Except he's bald and has a big bushy mustache. Oh and he's fat!" Amy said as tears formed in the corner of her eyes. 

 

"Stop body shaming people, that's not a good look for you Jessica Rabbit." Robotnik wore a neck brace as they waited for Panacea to arrive to complete a check up.  

 

"For your information, I'm a hedgehog not a rabbit!" Amy fired back as she tried climbing onto the table, only to be held back by Miles and Miss Militia. 

 

"I'm really sorry ahout this." Miles said embareassed. He struggled a bit as they finally forced Amy back into her seat. If she assaulted Robitnik again, the entire room would be flooded in containment foam. Miles was the only one that was bearable to be around. 

 

"Your mother was a hamster and your father smells of elderberries!" Robotnik returned fire with an insane smile on her face. It was a bit weird seeing her without those insufferable sunglasses. It almost made her seem human. 

 

"Eggman robotizied my mother-" Amy started to scream back when something in Colin snapped. 

 

"Both of you shut it." Armsmaster all but shouted. He knew that this was going to be a bad idea. Four new Wards was already a lot to deal with, and he didn't need anymore distractions from his work. "Either way, assaulting another Ward is a serious matter, even if they seemed like someone from Earth-M. Robotnik is a respected member of the Wards, and was transfered here to help guide you four." 

 

"Aw shucks Armsy, you're trying to make me blush-wait a minute. Did you just say, four of them?" Robotnik's eyes widened. Colin struggled to keep a smirk off of his face. Surprising Robotnik was a rare oppotunity. 

 

"Yes. Amy, Miles, Knuckles and Sonic are the newest members of the Brockton Bay Wards." Armsmaster answered. It would be the best to tell her everything now, before another incident occured. Robotnik's face suddenly turned serious as she leaned back in her seat. 

 

"Since when did Furcon start coming to the Bay?" 

 

 

A/N

I wrote a sentence for Lore Khepri and started writing this. I couldn't help it! 

 

Chapter 6: 1-6

Robotnik was starting to feel glad that she was transferred back to this hellhole of a city. Aside from having plenty of criminals to use as target practice for her badniks and other machines, she now had the opportunity to study life from another Earth! This was wonderful! What secrets could their biology hold? What technologies were they hiding? Why did they looked like anthropomorphic animals that also happened to fight a human that wore a similar outfit to her, while also being named Robotnik? If Earth Aleph and Earth-M existed, how many more were out there? How many of them were simple alternate versions of this world? Could more be created simply by one's actions, resulting in another world where someone takes the opposite path? 

 

For all Robotnik knew, there was some alternate version of her that could control insects and became a warlord, killing children and preventing the end of the world. Was that a bit specific? Yes! Because everything and anything was possible when it came to the multiverse! That sixth PHD's essay was going to be very interesting, and complicated to understand for anyone that wasn't Robotnik. She was a genius after all. 

 

Such an investigation was going to be dangerous, judging by the violent furry that sat across from her, plus the fox with two tails sitting next to said furry could also have rabies. Good thing all of Robotnik's vaccinations were up to date. Science could and would triumph no matter what it faced! Plus the entire conversation was being recorded by a miniature badnik Robotnik had hidden in her neck brace, and in her pockets, so she could review the smaller details that she may have missed. 

 

"Owowowow! My neck is killing me." Robotnik groaned in mock pain. "The weight of having to carry this team is already starting to get to me." It was true of course. The Protectorate, Wards, and PRT couldn't be everywhere all at once, but Robotnik's machines could. That was why Director Costa-Something-Something raised her Tinkering budget. The Egg Destroyer shall be finished one day! But that wouldn't be today. There was too much work to do. Neo-Nazi's to butcher instead of Neo-Confederates. Poor Father Kluk, he never stood a chance against several dozen badniks that swarmed him in his sleep. 

 

"You'll be fine once Panacea arrives." Armsy said with a sigh. He turned to Miss Militia. "I'll meet with Director Piggot and inform her." A big fat lie, the Director had already been informed by the time Robotnik was dragged into this room according to the leech software that piggybacked off of Dragon's systems. Armsy stood up slowly and started walking to the door. 

 

"Take me with you Armsy! Don't leave me here with the f-" 

 

Armsy slammed the door behind him, leaving behind an awkward silence as Amy the Violent Hedgehog with a hammer still threw Robotnik daggers with her glare for some reason. Hey! She was the victim here, not the fuzzball. 

 

"Damn." Robotnik leaned back against her seat again, balancing on the back two legs. "Looks like its just me and you Erinaceidae." She flashed the hedgehog a grin. She really needed new sunglasses. 

 

"We're still here, Robotnik." Miss Militia added, with Miles by her side. The two were no longer holding back the pinkette who had finally calmed down a bit. The hammer was locked up somewhere else too, much to Robotnik's relief. She would have to study what it was made out of later. 

 

"So it would seem…" Robotnik trailed off. "I'm still waiting for my apology." 

 

"Apology?!" Amy jumped up from her seat and slammed her hands onto the table. Hm, her gloved hands were shaking slightly. How interesting. She would have to borrow Armsy's psychology books to figure that one out. 

 

"You did hurt her jaw Amy." Miles spoke up with a finger in the air. 

 

"And aside from that, I'm not this Doctor Eggman that you speak of, despite our similar outfit and common name in Robotnik. As delicious and nutritious as eggs are, Eggman is the dumbest name I have ever heard." Robotnik smirked. "Aside from Amy of course." 

 

"That's it!" Amy jumped over the table, dodging Miss Militia and Miles who tried jumping on her. At least she didn't have her hammer this time. 

 

"Guess I'm not getting that apology then-" The room was flooded with containment foam as soon as Amy touched Robotnik. 

 

This was going to take forever to get out at the dry cleaners. 

 

---

 

 

After finally being freed from the mixture, thanks to the solvent that Dragon refused to let Robotnik know the mixture or, she found herself in the medical ward. Ward as in seperate room, not a I'm-A-Government-Worker-Now-And-Serve-As-A-Child-Soldier kind of Ward. Miss Militia finally showed off her intelligence by placing Amy and Fox-Boy in a seperate room for the hedgehog's punishment. The door to the room opened, and in walked a tired ratlike girl with a white robe. Under her maskless eyes were dark eyebags that indicated lack of sleep. She seemed interesting enough. 

 

"Robotnik?" Panacea said as she gave the Tinker, who was lying on the med cot, a glance. Even as antisocial as Robotnik was, even she had heard of the famous Panacea.  

 

"In the flesh, for now." Robotnik said, sitting up even as the rather uncomfortable neck brace dug into her skin. It was starting to itch now. 

 

"Whatever." Panacea muttered as quickly walked to the side of the cot. "Do I have your permission to heal you?" She held out her hand. 

 

"Do it PanPan." Robotnik placed a gloved hand in the healer's own hand. 

 

"Don't call me that, and can you take off the glove?" Panacea said a bit sarcastically. 

 

"I don't know, can I?" Robotnik smirked again for the thousandth time that day. "I'd prefer not to." The control gloves allowed her to easily control her badniks since a certain someone destroyed her sunglasses. 

 

"Tsk, fine." Panacea placed a hand on Robotnik's cheek and closed her eyes. The faint pain that clouded her nervous system went away slowly, and after a few minutes, Panacea opened her eyes again. "You'll be fine. Just a bone fracture here and there, and a mild concussion that I can't touch." Ah yes, the infamous she couldn't do brain rules, which honestly sounded like bullshit. 

 

"Thanks Panny. Can you do me a favor?" Robotnik said as she shifted on the cot. 

 

"I'm not going to give you bigger boobs or anything cosmetic that wasn't already there." Panacea snarked. 

 

"No, it's not that." 

 

"Then what is it?" Panacea looked a bit confused. 

 

"Look, I know I'm cute and all that, but could you let go of my cheek? Your hands are sweaty." Robotnik pointed at said hand that was still on her face. She was going to need to disinfect that once she got back to her lab. 

 

"Oh…sorry."

 

"No worries PattyPan." 

 

"Don't call me that, we aren't friends." 

 

A/N

Another chapter finished! Im quite surprised by the amount of readers this is getting, so thank you for giving Not An Egg a chance! 

 

Fun fact:

 

The working title for this story was Robitnik not Eggman until it was changed the day before I published the first chapter. 

 

Chapter 7: 1-7

As far as days go, this one was pretty average to be honest, aside from getting her jaw broken by an anthropomorphic hedgehog from another Earth where a male doppelganger ran around attempting to conquer the world. Robotnik was the smartest person on the planet, yet she couldn't help but feel disappointed in her apparently masculine doppelganger that called himself Doctor Eggman. Even with all of that genius he still lost to the Case 53 wannabes. That was very disappointing, so much so that he didn't even deserve the name of Robotnik, which apparently was his actual surname much to her surprise. 

 

"Orbot." Robotnik shouted as she glared at the broken sunglasses in her hand, her control gloves protecting her from the glass shards. These were her favorite pair, and now they were smashed to pieces by some idiot furry. Shortly after being checked out, in the medical and social sense Robotnik was sure, by Panacea, she retreated back to her new lab, avoiding Miss Militia and the violent furries. All she had to do was hijack a PRT van that she crashed near the ferry, easy peasy. 

 

"Yes Doctor Robotnik? Need someone to help you reach the top shelf again?" Orbot said, saying the doctor and the last part a bit sarcastically. He floated up to Robotnik's eye level, his primarily red and black frame locked into an eternal frown. 

 

"No, call Optical Illusions. Tell them I need new frames, they know which ones I like." Robotnik said as she threw the broken sunglasses on the table and pulled her goggles down over her eyes. She didn't particularly care about secret identities, especially since they were primarily around to protect one's friends, family and social life. Robotnik didn't have any of that to worry about. 

 

"Fine. I still don't get why you don't just build a pair yourself, stupid Tinker." Orbot muttered as he flew off and out of view just as quickly as he came. 

 

"I heard that, you glorified waffle iron!" Robotnik shouted back as she leaned against one of her new workbenches. That was Father's favorite place to get new glasses. Whenever Robotnik needed new ones, he always took her to the same place. They even got matching glasses one time. Her right arm started to feel a bit weird. Hm, maybe she was human judging by how her hand was shaking. Robotnik stared at her right hand, analyzing it slowly. Was it something in the air? In the water or food? There was no logical explanation for this shaking, especially after her checkup with Panacea. She wiggled the fingers on her left control glove, calling one of the idiots. 

 

"Bocoe, perform a scan of the air quality. Find out how bad the pollution is around here and compare the air pressure with Houston's." Robotnik clenched her fist as the silver robot stepped into view. "Have Decoe analyze a water sample from the faucets "

 

"Aye aye Captain!" Bocoe saluted before bumping into a large 3D printer. "Ouchie." He disappeared among the maze of machines of the decent size lab she had been given. With the rate she created her machines, it was going to very cramp soon enough. 

 

"Why am I the only competent person around here?" Robotnik said out loud as she rubbed her forehead. Her fellow Wards also seemed rather stupid. She would have to test that one Tinker later, but there was no way he was on her level. Robotnik was the world's greatest Tinker after all, no matter what the news said about Dragon holding the title. Still, at least the Wards weren't Scratch and Grounder level stupid, with their IQ's being so low that even a sloth could outsmart them. 

 

Her communicator started buzzing violently. Flexing her fingers again, Robotnik answered the call, placing one of her small earbuds in her ear. 

 

"Uncle Sam's whorehouse, you got the dough, we have the hoes. This is Mario Mario, how may I help you?" Robotnik said instinctively. A pause came from the other end of the call that soon turned into a nasty sounding cough. 

 

"Robotnik, this is Miss Militia." Miss Aunt Sam said. "That was really inappropriate." 

 

"I know." Robotnik smirked for the millionth time in the past hour. She really needed to get that checked, but she already knew the answer. The diagnosis would be, genius. 

 

"We're going to have to talk about that later. Anyways, where did you go and why did you steal a PRT vehicle?" Miss Militia sounded a bit angry, but she managed to hold most of it back. 

 

"Steal? I would never steal from the PRT. I just borrowed it for a little while. It has a few dents in it-dont worry! I'll fix it once I make some room in my schedule." Robotnik shrugged even though she knew that Miss Militia wasn't watching her.  

 

"We shall see what Director Piggot says about that. Why did you leave? We weren't done with the tour of the Ward base." Miss Militia continued, much to Robotnik's annoyance. She didn't need nor want to socialize with her fellow Wards. 

 

"I would appreciate keeping my jaw in one piece, not being assaulted by idiot furbags that act before they think. Oh no, kkkkksssk-I'm going through a kkksssk-call-kksssk you ksssk back." Robotnik ended the call without another thought before Miss Militia could protest. 

 

"Who was that oh great brilliance?!" Oh no, not the robot chicken! Robotnik's goggled covered eyes turned to the half a foot tall robot chicken that stared at her from the floor. Scratch and Grounder were some of her first creations, and were now obsolete, had been for years now. She didn't have the heart to scrap them, despite their many, many faults. 

 

"The Ward liaison, now get back to work you fowl buffoon." Robotnik waved off the idiot mechanical chicken. "And stay out of the way." 

 

"As you command, Great Doctor." The asskisser bowed his small chicken head, leaning too far forward, causing him to lose his balance and fall on the floor with a loud clatter. Ignoring the idiot, Robotnik threw off her signature red coat and grabbed a black greatcoat off of a coat rack that she had placed near the entrance to the lab, snatching the regular glasses that sat in one of its many pockets. 

 

Robotnik had a potential sidelab to visit. 

 

A/N

Shorter than usual, but there's things I need to do/write before ending this introduction arc. Yes! I haven't introduced Sonic and Knuckles to Robotnik yet on purpose. 

 

Now I'm wondering how the PRT would rank him and his friends. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 8: 1-8

Brockton Bay hadn't changed much since the last time Robotnik had been here, almost four years ago. In all honesty, she had grown accustomed to the weird weather back in Houston, where one could experience all four seasons and all different types of weather in a single week. Here, the cold Bay air attempted to nick at her skin, only being blocked by the black greatcoat she wore as Robotnik walked along the Boardwalk. Her matching black scientist pants went with everything of course, but it did feel a bit weird wearing normal glasses instead of her prescription sunglasses she infused with Tinkertech. 

 

The Boardwalk itself didn't change much, except for a few new shops that sold expensive clothing made out of horrible quality materials. Robotnik's eyes scanned the crowd of tourists and rich Brocktonites, many of them appearing to be happy families. School must've been over by now judging by the groups of teenagers Robotnik's age, some older and others younger. They all looked like they were having fun. That must've been nice, and a huge waste of time. This was a huge waste of time. Why was she here? She should be back in her lab, working on her newest robot, finishing her creations, not here. Now that, that was very fun. Still, her feet refused to obey Robotnik's commands, and they kept walking. How annoying, if only she had mechanical legs she could initiate an override. 

 

"Hot-dogs! Get your hot-dogs here!" Some random hot-dog vendor shouted, with an ice cream stand right next door. Ice cream sounded good just about now, despite the rather cold temperature. Yeah, that was a good idea, the numbness from the cold should help. Walking past the arcade that Father used to bring her to for her birthdays, it took Robotnik about thirty steps to finally be in front of the ice cream stand. 

 

"Hi, how can I help you?" The ice cream man said politely. The rather outdated stand looked like it needed a fresh coat of a paint, and a new design that wasn't as tacky. 

 

"I'll take a vanilla cone with exactly thirty-one sprinkles spread out evenly." Robotnik handed him a five dollar bill. "Keep the change, it'll help the economy." 

 

"Uh ok." Ice cream man said as he went to work, scooping up the frozen milk and cream, when Robotnik felt a light gust batter the defenses of her greatcoat. 

 

"I'll take a dozen chili-dogs to go, Naoto." A rather annoying voice said, coming from the hot-dog stand right next door. "Pronto before you know who shows up!" 

 

"Here's your ice cream Miss." The ice cream man held out a delicious looking cone. This would be her sweet calories for the week, back to boiled eggs once she got back to the lab. 

 

"Thank you." Grabbing the freshly made waffle cone that cooled immediately, Robotnik's eyes turned to the annoying voice from the hot-dog stand. 

 

Standing right in front of said stand, was a blue anthropomorphic hedgehog that was barely over three feet. 

 

"Amy, Miles, Knuckles and Sonic are the newest members of the Brockton Bay Wards." 

 

Oh great, one of the other two idiots. Just like Miles the deformed fox, this one also didn't wear any clothing aside from shoes and white gloves. How inappropriate, especially since this wasn't a nude beach, and judging by how stupid the pink one was, the blue one must've been her intellectual equal. 

 

"I made sure to be prepared this time, just for you Sonic." The Hot-Dog man said as Robotnik slowly walked past them, licking her ice cream. He pulled out a large box that smelled of processed meats, it almost made her vomit. 

 

"You're the best! Put them on the Protectorate tabs." The ugly hedgehog greedily grabbed the box and opened it, taking out a hot-dog dripping with chili. He devoured it within seconds, smearing ground meat all over his snout. 

 

"Enjoy those glizzies." Robotnik muttered to herself with a small grin on her face. Good thing she didn't stay around back at the Ward base. A blue blur rushed past her, zig-zagging in between the crowds causing another light gust. 

 

Still, it seemed that her return to the Bay wouldn't be in vain. What allowed the blue hedgehog to run so fast? Why did the fox have two tails? Where the hell did Amy pull that hammer out of? Could Robotnik recreate their powers to strengthen her machines? There were so many questions, but Robotnik didn't have answers to any of them. That would change soon enough. Robotnik silently left the Boardwalk, her eyes focused on the sidewalk ahead of her that would lead to the Docks. Brockton Bay looked older now, more run down as corruption seeped into every crook and nanny. 

 

A secondary lab would be needed to conduct her more unethical experiments. Eidolon understood that sometimes rules must be broken in order to advance in the name of science, even the US government understood that. After the end of World War Two, they pardoned more than a few scientist that had served the regime of Nazi Germany, as well as the horrific experiments that the Japanese conducted in Asia. Most of them proved to be useless, with the majority being done out of cruelty rather than science. Robotnik wouldn't be as idiotic as they were, each experiment and test would have a purpose, but for that she needed to find a lab that was hidden in plain sight. 

 

Robotnik already knew the perfect location, a place she hadn't seen in years. The PRT ensured that the payments for Robotnik's childhood were taken care of, the money taken from her official salary, so the house was still in her name. Nobody would ever expect her childhood home would be serving as a front because it was so obvious! 

 

"Sometimes my genius is almost frightening." Robotnik said out loud as she finished the last of her ice cream cone, biting the bottom of the conoid waffle. 

 

"Ah shit, brain freeze." 

 

A/N

Yeah, Robotnik is pretty fun to write, and now she had indirectly met Sonic! 

 

I might have more Sonic characters appear, we shall see. 

 

Chapter 9: 1-9

There was a saying that home was where the heart was, which was true from a certain point of view. A person's heart was stuck within the confines of their body, so their heart went with them wherever they went. If they lived under a bridge, that would be their home, if they lived in a rundown apartment, that would be their home, if they were clogging up the restroom at an Olive Garden, that would also be their home according to such thinking. Unless they physically removed their heart that is, which was a possibility now thanks to the genius that is Doctor Robotnik, fifth PHD pending. 

 

Robotnik's home was wherever her lab was, whether that was Houston, Protectorate HQ, her future Egg Carrier, or her new secondary lab that would be coming to a Brockton Bay near you very soon. Walking down the street where she used to rode her bike felt weird, with a sharp pain somewhere in Robotnik's thoracic cavity almost causing her to slow her pace. She would have to get a full physical by one of her machines when she returned to the lab. Robotnik had never struggled with her heart, and both sides of her family didn't have a history of heart disease, still a test wouldn't hurt anyone. Eventually, she found herself standing in front of the sidewalk of her former home. 

 

The house looked the same as it did nearly four years ago, albeit a bit more rundown. The stairs that led up to the porch seemed to be in perfect condition as if someone had been trying to take care of it. Coming back to seeing one of those steps would have been funny honestly. From what Robotnik remembered, Mr. Barnes said that he would take care of the house as much as he could until she returned to the Bay. It looked like he managed to keep his promise then despite a few shoddy patch jobs. Speaking of Barnes, it haf been a while since Robotnik heard about Emma. The red-head used to send her letters for about a year, but stopped once she probably realized that Robotnik wasn't going to write back. It was for the best, Robotnik didn't need any fleshly attachments. 

 

Shaking the thoughts out of her brilliant mind, Robotnik glided up the steps and found herself at the front door. 

 

"Time to see which of these babies will open it." Robotnik said to no one in particular as she pulled out a keychain that held at least fifty different keys. Some she had collected over the years, while others belonged to the lockers that belonged to her fellow Wards in Houston, she had them made in case she needed to blackmail some, and the key to her old home was somewhere on there. Making an educated guess after analyzing half a dozen keys, Robotnik smirked as she prepared to insert it into the keyhole. 

 

The tip of the key didn't even match as Robotnik awkwardly stared at the doorknob as she tried ramming the key into thr keyhole. 

 

"This is going to take a while huh." 

 

 

---

 

After what felt like an eternity, Robotnik finally managed to get the blasted door open without having to resort to force. As usual, the mind conquered all, and Robotnik's intelligence was unmatched. The interior of her former home remained the same as she had left it, just with more dust. Standing at the entrance way to the house, Robotnik felt her heart beat faster. She would defintily check herself for hypetension at a later date, just to be safe. Her hands flicked the light switch as the house energed from darkness. 

 

The photos of Mother and Father still hung on the wall, and the house was deathly quiet. She should have snuck one of her bots over to perform an initial scan just in case squatters decided to make this their home. Taking a miniature badnik out of her pocket and sliding on one of her control gloves, the badnik came to life as Robotnik wiggled the fingers on her left hand. 

 

"Scan the house's integrity and when was the last time someone was here." Robotnik commanded the badnik which started scanning the place with a red beam of light. The structure of the entire building would have to be reinforced, and sneaking in her necessary robots for the construction of an underground would take some time, but Robotnik had time on her side. Progress would come either way, whether it was tomorrow or years from now. 

 

Ignoring the photos of Mother, Father, and a young Taylor Hebert, Robotnik marched towards the kitchen as the badnik floated up the stairs. Should she call Mr. Barnes? Informing him that she was back in town so he no longer had to keep an eye on her new lab? That sounded like a good idea, she didn't need him snooping around even though her lab would be next to impossible to find. 

 

Opening the empty fridge, which was rather disappointing, Robotnik sighed as she slammed it shut. Why couldn't there have been a squatter to serve as an experiment? Did they not like the house? Robotnik wiggled her fingers again as the badnik soon finished its scan, when a knock came from the door. Hm, she wasn't expecting visitors. Could it be a nosy neighbor? Commanding the badnik to find a discreet location to watch the door, Robotnik silently walked back to the front entrance. Forming a rock and roll symbol with her hand, she activated the built in taser just in case, electricity arcing in the air in between her two fingers. 

 

Whoever was behind the door started struggling with the doorknob. Taking position off to the side, Robotnik grinned. 

 

"If you're the pizzaman knock twice, if you're not, THEN GET OFF MY PROPERTY!" Robotnik shouted that last part, doing her best to deepen her voice. 

 

The person behind the door stopped struggling, and the door started to open slightly revealing a rather plain girl with reddish hair. How did they-

 

Robotnik deactivated the taser and hid her control glove behind her back before popping out from her hiding spot off to the side of the door. The small badnik should be enough to handle this stranger should they prove to be a threat. 

 

"T-Taylor?" 

 

"Lautner? You have the wrong house you dumb Swiftie." Robotnik smirked. "Now who are you?" 

 

"It's me, Emma." 

 

Oh-

 

A/N

I'm on a roll. I finally updated Lore Khepri so yay. Time to watch Moon Knights finale tomorrow. There might not be any updates this weekend since I'll be seeing Coldplay. 

 

Might update Schnee's Bay or the Snow Queen's Worm next. 

 

 

 

Chapter 10: Interlude I

Trigger warning just in case. This chapter is pretty dark compared to previous chapters. 

 

 

---

 

"Coil's Mercenaries and members of the Empire Eighty-Eight have engaged in combat near the edge of Downtown, by Truman Avenue and Ipkiss Street. No parahumans on the scene yet, routing BBPD and PRT officers. Civilian casualties reported." 

 

"Armsmaster enroute, ETA two minutes." 

 

 

---

 

By the time Colin arrived at the makeshift battlefield of what should have been a safe area, he already found a few cars riddled with bullet holes. Dismounting from his Tinkertech bike, the skinheads that were left behind started running in the opposite direction, right where a squad of BBPD officers would be waiting for them. They would be handling this case since a parahuman didn't appear. Coil's men appeared to have disappeared already somehow, the only trace of their existence the damage they left on the vehicles the Nazi's used as cover. Colin would have enjoyed taking apart one of their Tinkertech weapons, maybe then they could figure out who was supplying the criminal. 

 

"Console, call for paramedics. Searching for survivors now." Armsmaster pressed a button on the side of his helmet and activated his thermal vision. PRT and BBPD officers should be securing the area, making sure to catch any stragglers. They shall face the full force of the law of course, as all criminals deserved. 

 

Approaching an old pickup truck and scanning its interior as he looked through the smashed front windshield, his eyes widened slowly. Someone was alive in there! Using the enhanced strength his armor gave him, Armsmaster easily pulled the door off of its hinges. 

 

"Console, two confirmed deaths, caucasian male in his late thirties to early forties, and a caucasin female in her late thirties." The man and woman were covered in blood as they both piled on top of another figure, a nasty looking hole in the back of the woman. Their thermal signatures were cold, but there was a ray of heat coming from whoever they were covering. Gently moving the fallen male civilian, his female companion was harder to remove due to her strong grip, even in death. 

 

Surrounded by her dead parents and splattered with their blood all over her clothing, glasses and parts of her face, was a young girl with curly hair, still alive. Her large wide eyes stared off into nothing as she shook softly. Armsmaster felt a pang of sadness strike his heart, but he pushed it down. He was used to seeing death, it was part of the job after all, but no one this young should ever have to go through something like this. Scanning her small body and a quick inspection only showed a few bruises and cuts. The girl would live. 

 

"You're safe now, I am here." Armsmaster gently grabbed her frail body as she laid there limpy. He pressed his lips into a thin line. Her parents gave their life to ensure her safety, that was to be commended. Lifting her out of the wrecked truck, the screams of the ambulance sirens filled his ears when the girl suddenly wrapped her arms around him, further covering his armor in blood and her now falling tears. Even through his armor, he could feel her shaking. She started sobbing uncontrollably. 

 

"Everything is going to be ok." 

 

 

---

 

"How is she doing?" This time, Colin found himself outside of the girl's hospital room, glancing at her still form as she sat on the hospital bed. She stared at the wall blankly without blinking. 

 

"Physically she's fine, but mentally, that's a whole different story." Doctor Christmas said, standing next to the leader of the Protectorate ENE. "Since she has no living guardian, I assume that the government will be taking her in?" The doctor was the PRT and Protectorate's liaison when it came to parahuman matters.  

 

"I believe that CPS shall be handling the process along with her family's attorney. Since her brain scans came back positive for an active Corona Pollentia, the state will be testing her for any parahuman abilities since she is now a Ward of the state." Armsmaster responded. Miss Hebert suddenly left the bed, and started walking towards the lone television in the room, turning it off. How interesting… "The necessary NDA's have already been prepared for you Doctor." 

 

"I know the drill." 

 

 

---

 

"So Taylor, how are you feeling?" A weird man with glasses sat across from her, a sad smile on his face. Taylor stared at him blankly, before her eyes drifted to the flip phone he had attached to his waist. She would need to find a manuel on how to build that later. 

 

"I want my Mama and Papa." Taylor said, her voice raspy and ugly. She had lost count of time, spending most of the past week crying, staring at the wall, or reading the books Mama used to teach at the University. That last one usually led to more crying. Miss Doubtfire, the lady that came to visit her everyday, was very surprised to see her reading such an advanced book for some reason. 

 

The book was very simple, just like that flip phone. All she needed was to get her hands on it and she could improve it. She could use its parts to finish her first project. 

 

"I understand Taylor, but-" 

 

"I WANT MY MAMA AND PAPA!" Taylor screamed as she jumped up from the couch. Mama and Papa were gone, and it was all her fault. She was the one that wanted to go for a ride, she made them. Taylor stormed out of the room, grabbing a large book from one of the weird man's numerous bookshelves. 

 

"Taylor-" 

 

She slammed the door behind her and marched towards her new room, on a different floor from the first hospital room she was given when she first arrived. Ignoring the nurses and doctors that gave her pitiful looks, Taylor finally reached her safe place. Quickly looking around the room in case someone was watching, Taylor ran towards her bed and reached underneath, her hand touching the soothing cold metal of her favorite toy. Staring at the metal chicken that she had built by scavenging parts from the hospital equipment, Taylor smiled softly. 

 

"Soon, you're going to be whole Scratch." 

 

Robot's were so much fun to build! She could make them look however she wanted them to! One day, her machines were going to change the world, and make sure that no one else lost their Mama and Papa like she did. Her small hands gripped the metal chicken tightly. 

 

A knock came from the door.

 

"Taylor? Are you in there?" Nurse Betty said, she always brought her new batteries for the remote whenever they went 'missing'. 

 

"No!" Taylor wasn't there anymore, she died with Mama and Papa. 

 

There was only Robotnik. 

 

A/N

Actual flashbacks shall primarily be used in interlude chapters. I had been planning this chapter for a while, and I'm rather pleased with how it came out. 

 

Chapter 11: 2-0

The past few years did not seem to have been kind to Emma. Her once well-kept hair now ended in various split ends, and her once well maintained face now had a pimple near the side of her lips. While Old Emma used to wear pretty dresses, this one wore an expensive red hoodie that was a couple shades brighter when compared to her hair along with ripped jeans that clung to her body. Yeah, she looked horrible in Robotnik's opinion, almost like a frog that was standing on two feet. Emma's wide eyes stared in shock as Robotnik stood there awkwardly, giving the redhead a small wave. 

 

"Sup-" Robotnik started, when a blur of red slammed into her as Emma wrapped her fleshy arms around the genius that was Robotnik. Sadly, the scientist froze up as Emma stained her designer greatcoat with her tears. It's been a while since someone touched her, much less look happy to see her, aside from Robotnik's machines. Her arms were pinned to her side, which prevented Robotnik from using her taser. "I guess we're doing this then." She wiggled her fingers around, ordering the miniature badnik to hide until she gave the say so. Robotnik didn't like this, that touchy-feely kind of stuff. 

 

They stayed like that for exactly two minutes, Robotnik counted, which were absolute agony. She didn't like people touching her without permission, which was never. She barely tolerated her machines making skin to metal contact, which was another reason why she rarely took off her gloves. 

 

"You can let go of me now." Robotnik said as she wiggled her body, distracting her old friend, and escaping from her grip. The former pretty girl seemed surprised and nodded slowly. 

 

"Sorry." Emma scratched the back of her head. Her shocked and surprised look soon disappeared, replaced by a sharp glare that reminded Robotnik of Armsy whenever she opened her mouth. A good sign then! "Why didn't you write back?" 

 

No! That glare was not a good sign! 

 

"I was uh, busy?" Robotnik's defense was weak, for she was caught off guard. She should have been better prepared in all honesty, a mistake that she would rectify in the future. She had never informed the Barnes that she was, in fact, a parahuman and a member of the Wards. That only seemed to make Emma even angrier. 

 

"For three years?!" Emma was borderline shouting now, shutting the door behind her. Keeping her hand with the control glove behind her back, she wiggled her fingers again, calling back the badnik. It was equipped with surveillance cameras and had a small taser built in that should knock out Emma should things escalate. 

 

"Yes! I'm so glad that you understand." Robotnik said with a large smile, taking a step back as Emma took a step forward. She should have brought more badniks. "So, what are you doing here?" On Robotnik's property went unsaid. 

 

"I should be asking you that question, since you ran away to Houston and never came back to visit." Emma fired back, her eyes looking like they were on fire, metaphorically not literally. Barnes wasn't a parahuman after all. 

 

"What can I say? I missed this maggot infested city." Robotnik lied easily as she leaned against the wall. "I decided that it was time to come back home, see the sights and stuff." The badnik was hiding near the living room now, under one of the couches. 

 

Emma's lips formed a thin smile. "So you're strong?" 

 

"I don't like the way you said that, but I suppose. I have been working out." Robotnik shrugged as she walked back to the kitchen with the empty fridge. That last part wasn't a lie, since she had to carry her own machinery until her robots were set up a few years ago. "Feel free to make yourself at home I guess." As much as Robotnik wanted to throw Emma out, she also didn't want to raise any suspicions. Emma was pretty stupid though, so it should be easy to trick her. Correction, everyone was stupid and/or moronic when compared to Robotnik's intellect. That would be the more accurate statement. 

 

"That's not what I meant." Emma followed Robotnik, taking a seat at the old dining table that sat in between the kitchen and living room. 

 

"I know." Robotnik lied again as she opened the fridge revealing nothing once more, and slammed it shut. Grocery shopping would have to be added to the itinerary, and she would need more badniks to finish the scan of the house. She could expand the basement, using it as a cover for her sidelab. 

 

"Good." Emma's voice cracked a bit. "I missed you Tay." Ah, there was that nickname. Robotnik had forgotten about it. Nobody called her Taylor anymore, well unless they were Eidolon after Robotnik carjacked half of the local PRT's fleet of vans to scrap for parts after her budget had been refused. They learned to no longer say no when it came to her. 

 

"Thanks." Robotnik took a seat across from the idiot girl. "How's Uncle Alan doing?" Asking such insignificant questions should put any suspicion at ease. 

 

"Dad's fine. He kept up with the house in case you decide to return, or sell it. Uncle Danny was his best friend, you know." Emma hardened her voice. 

 

"I do." Just because Robotnik rocked didn't mean she was made of stone. She would rather be made of the strongest metal, but that would be a long time from now. 

 

"It's great to see that you're back Tay. It'll be just like old times. There's someone I want you to meet-" 

 

"It feels great to be back!" Robotnik interrupted. This conversation was going in for too long and she had things to do. "I'll come by to visit Uncle Alan and Aunt Zoe one of these days." Also known as never. She faked a yawn. "Man, I'm tired. Jet lag and all that, you know?" 

 

Emma nodded in agreement, not moving from her spot. "Yeah."

 

"I'm going to bed." Robotnik said bluntly as Emma stared at her with unwavering eyes. "So uh, go HOME!" 

 

Emma flinched this time, but stood up with another glare. "Fine, but don't think this is over! You still have a lot of explaining to do." She started walking to the door backwards. 

 

"Yeah yeah." Robotnik waved her off, wiggling her control glove behind her back to follow Barnes. Emma glared at her one last time and left, slamming the door behind her, most likely going home to inform her family of Robotnik's return. She would have to plan around that, in case they tried visiting without letting Robotnik know. "Now that she's gone, the walrus can play." 

 

Robotnik twirled on her heels, wiggling her fingers. 

 

"Computer, play that funky bass." 

 

Time to inspect the rest of this hellhole of memories. 

 

A/N

This is a bit late. 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 12: 2-1

Soon after inspecting her former home, Robotnik retreated back to her lab at the Protectorate's Headquarters, not wanting to spend the night at her future second lab. She could tear off that bandaid at a later date, when she was better prepared to deal with the update Robotnik was definitely going to need. Speaking of updates, her former home and now new secret lab was going to need plenty of renovations. The main purpose of a secret lab was to make sure it stayed a secret, so she would have to slowly sneak in machines that she built unknown to the PRT and their blasted paperwork. 

 

The eggscavators should be able to tunnel under the basement, digging deep enough to plant her shields that would hide the lab's heat signatures, among other things. Secret labs were serious business, needing a seperate power source, and various types of shielding to hide from other Tinkers gadgets. Thankfully, none of them could come close to Robotnik's genius, except Dragon, maybe. Robotnik's now bespectacled eyes analyzed the half finished form of a child-size robot that sat on a metal table. Her new frames had arrived earlier, and her Tinker lenses felt much better than her 'civy' glasses. 

 

"Orbot, pass me my spud wrench." Robotnik held a glove-covered hand out. This new robot would be one of a kind, supplementing her unique machines alongside her private army of badniks that would assist PRT officers all around the United States and Canada, trademark included once Director Costa-Brown gave the go ahead. Her special bots would be staying with Robotnik, just in case. 

 

"You want me to pass you the stupid wrench thats right next to you?" Orbot said sarcastically as he floated around her. All of her creations would be extremely busy for the first couple weeks. Decoe and Bocoe had to finish installing her more complicated machines, Cubot had to secretly steal stuff from Armsy's lab, and Scratch and Grounder had to guard the labs front and back door, or at least serve as distractions. 

 

Robotnik's eyes briefly darted to said wrench that sat not even a foot away from her. "If I wanted a waffle iron that could talk, I would have made sure you spoke by singing ABBA songs, now pass me the damn wrench." 

 

Orbot angrily grabbed the spud wrench and slammed it into her waiting hand. "There." 

 

Robotnik flashed the round robot a smirk. "See? That wasn't so hard, now pass me the splicer and bring those metal sheets so I can finish the body. Once this bad boys done, he'll make you and Cubot look obsolete, but since the amazing me designed you, you're still more advanced-" 

 

"Then all of the machines in the world combined, and then some. You've said that a dozen times last week." Orbot interrupted while flicking her off with one of his middle fingers, placing the splicer on the table. 

 

"Good." Robotnik shrugged as the orb-for-a-head robot flew off to grab more pieces of black metal. Grabbing the tool, Robotnik grinned as she stared at her soon to be born creation. 

 

"I hope you like CRT televisions, Bokkun." 

 

 

---

 

There was one thing that set Robotnik apart from other Tinkers, aside from her superiority of course. Most Tinkers were able to build whatever they wanted provided they had the materials they needed, and whatever limitations their specialty caused them. Robotnik, on the other hand, had to work hard for her creations, with more mistakes and failed creations than successful ones. But, whenever they succeeded, Robotnik was unmatched. Somedays, she wondered if she was a Thinker instead of a Tinker, but that was a long stretch. 

 

Sparks flew as Robotnik welded the pieces of black metal together, curving around the small robot's body. This model would serve as a prototype before she sent the design to her factory, hidden from the watchful eyes of the PRT of course. She knew every nook and cranny of the factory down in Texas having designed it herself, so sneaking in a design should be easy enough. Robotnik had done it before. 

 

Bokkun's rudimentary bodywork was important, but his mind would be just as crucial. Badniks were useless without someone to command them, or without the preprogrammed subroutines she had installed, but her more personal machines wouldn't be as lifeless. They had more personality, and the ability to think while being loyal only to Robotnik. 

 

"Intruder alert! Cluck cluck cluck." Scratch's annoying voice started to scream as he ran in circles near the front of the lab, a small screen near the floor so he could view the outside. 

 

"Who is it, Scratch?" Robotnik muttered as she placed her tools to the side and placed her goggles back on her forehead. Wiping her dirty gloves on a Armsmaster branded towel, Robotnik's signature sunglasses brought up the video feed of the camera outside the door. 

 

Oh great, it was the walking carpets. How…wonderful. Wiggling her fingers which caused a half dozen floating badniks to come to life from their containers stationed around the lab, they formed a defensive formation just above the door, just in case Robotnik was due for another concussion. 

 

Scratch kept screaming his head off until Robotnik picked him up and held his beak shut herself. The robotic chicken still kept trying to scream despite her best attempts to muffle him. 

 

"I told you that I didn't order those Playboys! Especially not yiff ones. I'm more of a BL kind of girl." Robotnik shouted just loud enough for the furries to hear. They started mumbling low enough for Robotnik to just barely hear them. 

 

"Pause for dramatic effect." Robotnik whispered to herself as she threw Scratch over her shoulder as he screamed, she pressed the open button, revealing the pink one holding a rather messy cake that said 'I'm sorry'. The glizzy gobbler stood next to her, staring at Robotnik with wide eyes. 

 

"Woah, you were right Amy. She does look like a girl-Eggman, just skinnier" Glizzy boy blurted out. The pink one looked rather smug as she took a step forward, which resulted in Robotnik taking a step back. This was interesting, did Miss Militia put them up to this? 

 

"At least I'm not naked you bastard. There's children here!" Robotnik shrugged. "Now what do you two want? I'm busy." 

 

The Pink Assaulter was about to open her mouth, when Glizzy interrupted her. "Beardo told Amy to apologize so she decided to make a cake." 

 

"What he said." Amy grumbled as she held the cake out. Well, that was rather thoughtful of Armsy. Robotnik's eyes turned to the messy cake. 

 

"Is this gluten free? I'm on a diet-" 

 

The next thing Robotnik knew was that the cake, in fact, did not taste good at all. 

 

Especially when it was thrown straight into her nostrils and mouth. 

 

A/N

This was delayed because I got sick and was out for a few days. 

 

 

Chapter 13: 2-2

Fun fact, cake did not taste good when it entered your mouth through your nose, especially when whoever baked said cake was an idiot and burnt the bread of the cake, leaving a smokey taste in Robotnik's mouth. The strawberry frosting didn't work well with the burnt pineapple bread of the cake. Thankfully, her sunglasses protected her eyes from the monstrosity, which was bad for her taste buds. In addition, there was another major problem with the mixture of bread and frosting. 

 

"This isn't gluten free." Robotnik said out loud as she blew her nose with the edge of her work coat, using her Tinker lenses to activate the floating badniks tasers. She would allow the furry just that one strike. Wiping the icing and bread off of her lenses with her free hand, Robotnik's face turned serious. "I'm definitely going to need to get a restraining order from the Pig." Hopefully it came with ankle bracelets for the furry. 

 

The Glizzy Hedgehog was on the ground, dying of laughter as the pink demon glared straight at the World's Greatest Tinker, trademark included. Pink dog's eyes briefly left Robotnik's own, as the badniks surrounded the trio. Too bad she didn't have any of her combat designs ready to be deployed, thanks to the mountains of paperwork that was needed just to have it built, officially that is. 

 

"I suggest the two of you leave right now, before I crack any noggins." Robotnik said harshly as her badniks drew closer. She didn't have enough combat data to figure out a pattern for her machines. Speaking of machines, where were the other idiots?! The moment Robotnik needed them they were nowhere to be found. 

 

"I'm keeping an eye on you." The horrible baker replied, her furry eyes trying to glare a whole through Robotnik's nerves of steel. She was failing horribly. 

 

"That's very unsanitary, and would require a prosthetic eye to replace the one you wish to use." Robotnik shrugged, wiggling fingers again, causing the badniks weapons to deploy. That made Glizzy stop laughing as he wiped a few tears from his eyes. "Get out." 

 

"Let's go Amy. Chris wants to beat Knuckles in an arm wrestling match, and there's no way I'm missing that." The blue furry stretched his unnatural body, preparing to run. 

 

"You heard the sausage swallower, get on out of here before I decide to become a vermin exterminator." Not that there was much difference between Neo-Confederates and vermin, plus that would be insulting the dirty four legged creatures. The badniks started humming as their tasers reached maximum charge, enough to potentially kill a grown man. No, the judges couldn't prove that! 

 

"Fine. Let's go Sonic, I need to help Vista paint her nails." Pink yiffie said, barely being able to tear her eyes away from Robotnik's icing covered sunglasses. The two were gone as soon as they arrived, and the door that guarded Robotnik's lab closed shut. 

 

"Where is she!?"

 

"Don't worry Boss, we're here to help!" 

 

Two annoying voices finally revealed themselves as Robotnik took off her cake covered sunglasses. She turned to Decoe and Bocoe, each having a bucket on their heads with a broom and a mop in their hands respectively. Well, that's what Robotnik assumed. Everything was blurry from a certain distance, another failure caused by her biology and genetics. 

 

"You two are more useless than a screwdriver with nails." Robotnik glanced at her outfit of the day, which was also covered in nasty tasting cake and icing. "You two idiots better clean this up. I'm going to take a shower." 

 

And she had a report for the pig. 

 

 

---

 

Cubot was bored, plain and simple. Floating through one of the many air ducts that were installed around Protectorate Headquarters, he held a a small bolt in one of his hands. The Boss had told him to steal something from Armsmaster's lab, but there didn't seem anything too important, so Cubot pulled the bolt off of some weird axe thingy. Hopefully that would make the Boss happy!

 

He took a right at the next air duct intersection, nearly running into something. 

 

"Oh, excuse me, I didn't see you there." Cubot bowed his cube shaped head slightly as he tightly held the bolt. The figure turned around, revealing a heart shaped bosom on the bat-lady's clothes. A ninja-like cloth was wrspped around her face.  

 

"I'll accept your apology on one condition." Bat-lady smirked as she held her wings close.

 

"Yay! What is it?" Cubot gave the nice lady an electronic smile. 

 

"Can you tell me where Armsmaster's lab is at?" 

 

"Sure! Go straight down the duct I came from, then take a left, then a right, and then another left." Cubot pointed with a free hand. 

 

"Thanks hun, I appreciate it." Nice lady gave him a pat on the head. "I forgive you now." She scooted past him. Before she entered thr other air duct, she turned her head and winked. "I owe you one." 

 

Nice lady disappeared, leaving Cubot alone in that section of the airduct. 

 

"What a nice young woman." 

 

 

---

 

Amy didn't trust Robotnik one bit, she couldn't. Her badniks and her looks were too similar to Doctor Eggman back on Morbius, despite their differences in gender and body shape. There were too many coincidences just for Robotnik to be a random Tinker with the exact same aesthetic. They even had the same name! This Robotnik would act up eventually, she could feel it in her short tail. The nice people of this world didn't deserve to see their family robotizied just like she had. 

 

"Amy, are you ok?" Missy's voice smashed her train of thought. Amy was currently helping her fellow Ward paint her nails in the common room. 

 

"Yeah, I'm fine." Amy gave her a large smile. 

 

"I believe she has to poop." Knuckles added from his spot on the couch as he read an upside down comic book about some hero that could control bugs. Missy started giggling. 

 

"No I don't." Amy defended herself as she went back to carefully painting Missy's toes. 

 

"There's no need to lie, pooping is a simple function that allows your body to rid itself of waste-" 

 

"I don't need to poop!" Amy growled as she gave Knuckles a glare. The Echidna stared back, and only shrugged in response before going back to his book. 

 

"Amy needs to take a shit?" Sonic's silky smooth voice said as he walked in with his arms behind his head, Chris and Dennis on either side of him. 

 

"No!" 

 

Knuckles was going to die today. 

 

A/N

I got stuck writing this, but I finally had a breakthrough yesterday. Its great seeing readers enjoy this! 

 

Chapter 14: 2-3

Emily knew that life was going to be much harder from now on, thanks to their newest Ward transfer. Robotnik was a genius, and had a high success rate down in Houston, her machines assisting PRT officers in cracking down on their local gangs. Soon, those machines would be part of the standard loadout of PRT officers, and bring criminals to justice. Having Robotnik here in the Bay would prove beneficial in bringing the Empire, ABB and Coil to their knees. The Merchants were just a minor annoyance that could be dealt with afterwards in time. Armsmaster could keep her insanity in line just enough for her genius to shine through. The door to her office creaked open, her assistant's head appearing through the gap. 

 

"Excuse me Director Piggot, but you have a visitor." Miss Crawley said, her voice a bit nervous. That was weird, she didn't have any meetings scheduled for today. 

 

"Who is it?" 

 

"Yooohooo!" A rather unfamiliar voice said as the door slammed open, revealing a robot with a long golden body. The annoying droid help a circular device in his metallic hands. 

 

"You can just walk in there like that!" Miss Crawley's hands went down to the sidearm at her waist, but an annoyed wave from Emily calmed her down. That was a severe breach of protocol. Robotnik would have a lot of explaining to do. Miss Crawley closed 

 

"I bring a message from Doctor Robotnik." The golden robot Emily's briefings named as Decoe said without another beat. He paused in front of her desk, holding out whatever Tinkertech device he had in his hands. 

 

"She couldn't come in person?" Emily narrowed her eyes as she pressed her hands together. This was going to be a waste of time, wasn't it. 

 

"The Doctor is preoccupied with a project that is pending review." Decoe defended, raising his hands. 

 

"Hm, get it over with then." Emily leaned back in her seat as Decoe held out the circular object once more. A blueish hologram of Robotnik appeared, wearing a neckbrace and a cast on her left leg as she leaned with a crutch. 

 

"I'VE COME TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. AMY ROSE IS A BITCH ASS MOTHERFUCKER, SHE FUCKING SMASHED HER NASTY BITCH ASS CAKE IN MY FACE, AND I DO MEAN CAKE, NOT HER FURRY STD INFESTED ASS. THAT'S RIGHT, SHE CAME TO MY LAB WITH THAT PIECE OF SHIT AND THE SWORD SWALLOWER AND ASSAULTED MY CHOMPERS WITH THAT ABOMINATION SHE CALLED A CAKE. I BET SHE PISSED ON IT BEFORE-" 

 

Emily groaned internally. Miss Militia and Armsmaster needed to get their Wards under control. Sometimes, being a PRT director wasn't worth it, but someone had to do it. 

 

Miss Militia could handle this, yeah, that sounded like a plan. 

 

 

---

 

Note to self, be sure to install a shower in the lab, install a shower somewhere in the lab. Protectorate HQ didn't have any group or public showers, with the ones they did have being reserved for the members of the Protectorate should they stay the night. As convenient as it would be to take it there, Robotnik would prefer not to stand in the same place where Armsmaster washed his beards. The Ward stuff was back at the PRT Headquarters, where the other snot nosed brats would be hanging out, along with that cake monster. 

 

Now she found herself back in her old home, where the water was thankfully working. She had made a thorough investigation of the house, with some help from her miniature badnik. This time she made sure to bring more which would act as security while she was exposed. Hopefully she won't have any more visitors today, especially ones with non gluten free cake. 

 

Wrapping her head with a towel as Robotnik finally walked out of the bathroom, she slid on her control gloves as well as her glasses. Her sunglasses were still sticky from the frosting, and would need a thorough cleaning, disinfecting it of all germs the furry may have. 

 

"I hate furries." Robotnik mumbled as she walked past Mother and Father's old room, towards the corner where she left her backpack filled with extra clothes. Unzipping the plain bag, Robotnik pulled out a red coat that fell right above her knees, which matched well with her black t-shirt and pants. She still didn't like being here, but forcing whatever memories decided to flash by away was better than dealing with the other Wards. She reached back into the backpack, pulling out a larger badnik that was the size of a cat. 

 

"Time to finish the designs." 

 

That secondary lab wasn't going to build itself after all. 

 

 

---

 

Life was such a weird thing. What signalized that something was 'alive'? Did something have to be biologically based in order to be considered a living being? Could robots be considered living beings? Decoe, Bocoe, Cubot, Orbot, Grounder and Scratch had a general free will, aside from being programmed to be loyal only to Robotnik. 

 

Being the most intelligent person on the planet often led to her having thoughts such as these, no one could understand her, everyone else's minds being as simple as rocket science. Music theory was a bit harder, but not by much. Robotnik could do anything if she put her mind to it. 

 

Except bringing people back to life, not yet anyways. Stretching her arms as she yawned, a miniature badnik floated up to her, humming softly. 

 

"What is it? Someone is at the front door?" Robotnik wiggled her fingers as a red hologrammed formed the shape of several people she hadn't seen in years, and one she just saw yesterday. 

 

"Damn it Barnes." 

 

Robotnik hated talking to people. Life always had a way of screwing people over. 

 

A/N

This was delayed since I've been busy with work, and I had to rewrite the opening scene several times. I'm sure most of you would get the reference. Time to work on Schnee Hero or Huntress next, so I'll be back in about another week or so. 

 

Chapter 15: 2-4

Life always had a way of messing things up, which was rather annoying in Robotnik's opinion. She didn't like it when issues or unexpected events were out of her control, like the time the Houston Wards locked her in the janitor's closet as a farewell prank, ah good times. Sadly, Robotnik did not have much current information about the Barnes family compared to the Wards, which limited her strategy in dealing with the annoyance named Emma. 

 

Quickly throwing off her red coat onto a nearby badnik, which would've been a dead giveaway about her identity since there wasn't anyone in the Bay aa fashionable as Robotnik, she formed a serious look on her face as she creeped towards the front door. Replacing her signature sunglasses with her normal frames, this was going to delay her schedule, Decoe and Bocoe were supposed to arrive later in the evening disguised as movers to help bring in some, rather unknown equipment. Well, unknown to the PRT that is. Secret labs were a secret for a reason. 

 

Robotnik opened the door, a large smile replacing the serious look she had. Time to see if that one point upgrade to her social skills worked out just like yesterday with Emma. 

 

"Uncle Alan! Aunt Zoe!" Robotnik said with a large smile. That's how the Girl used to act right? Back when the house had been a safe place. The faces of the two adults standing outside Robotnik's new secret lab lit up like the buttons on her supercomputer back in Houston. Hopefully that arrived in one piece, Robotnik didn't like seeing her stuff scratched and beaten just because her deliverymen, her machines, decided that they wanted to be idiots. 

 

"Taylor! Oh how you've grown!" Mrs. Barnes immediately pulled Robotnik into a tight embrace, a rather uncomfortable one at that. No touchy! Sadly, Mr. Barnes also inserted himself into the now group hug, which meant ending the hug would reveal her rather minor Brute rating. Stupid social interactions, but who would hug someone they havent seen in years? All those foreign germs and whatever other diseases they may have! 

 

Perhaps she should put a 'No touching' sign somewhere visible. 

 

"C-Can't breath-" Robotnik lied, she could breathe perfectly fine, but excuses such as these always worked for those on TV. The two older Barnes finally pulled away, with a smug looking Emma standing off to the side. 

 

"It's great seeing you Taylor." Mr. Barnes started speaking, forming a sad smile. "We all missed you. Emma cried herself to sleep for a week-"

 

"Dad!" Said redhead interrupted. Emma must've really cared for the Girl, since tears normally meant sadness or pain, usually. 

 

"I missed you all as well." Robotnik lied as easily as she studied rocket science, which was as easy as breathing. That was her first PHD after all. Social norms dicated that she invited them in about now. Hiding a wiggling hand behind her back which ordered her badniks to hide upstairs and in the attic, Robotnik stood to the side. "Would you all like to come in? Sorry if its a bit messy, I just got here yesterday. Jetlag and all that jazzy jazz." 

 

Getting her skull almost caved in by a walking STD infested carpet went unsaid of course, that was too much information for a first date. Not that Robotnik had ever been on a date, apparently people don't like it when their potential partner lords their intelligence. Well, that's what Hoyden said during one of her many rants. 

 

"Sure Tay." Emma spoke up this time. "We would love to come in." Her eyes seemed to want to burn a hole through Robotnik's skull. It wouldn't work unless she happened to be a Blaster. She quickly walked past Robotnik, their shoulders bumping. 

 

Too bad murder wasn't legal, not that that hasn't stopped her before. 

 

 

 

 

"So basically, you're telling me that Amy, used her hammer and tried to murder Doctor Robotnik? And after Armsmaster-"

 

"The Great Beardo." 

 

"Shut up, you know he'll put you on punishment detail if he hears you say that again. Anyways, after that, Amy baked a cake as an apology, and then proceeded to throw said cake in Robotnik's face, the day after assaulting her?" Chris said dryly, smashing the buttons on his controller as Dennis proceeded to land a combo hit on his gaming avatar. 

 

"Yup." Dennis shrugged, popping the P. "That's why M&M came and took them for some orientation about not assaulting people, even if they look like criminals from another Earth."

 

Chris managed to block Dennis' next attack and activated his special. "Sounds intense." 

 

Dennis' character turned to dust earning Chis a curse and a side glare. "I wouldn't put too much thought into it, Amy's a b**** to anyone who isn't Missy or Sonic." 

 

"True. Man, too bad I had to go on patrol, I wish I could have seen that." Chris muttered as he scrolled through the games main menu, restarting the match as they chose different characters. 

 

"Lets just say, I have the fattest crush on Robotnik, it's like we're soulmates the way she was able to piss off Amy, M&M and Beardo." Dennis smirked. "I can't wait to see how Knuckles reacts to her." 

 

"That's kinda weird, man. Am I going to have to call HR again?" 

 

"F*** you." 

 

 

 

 

Note to future Robotnik, add to the files that the Barnes like long winded discussions that led nowhere and were rather BORING. They kept bringing up Mother, Father and the Girl, how she used to be. 

 

Robotnik listened with one ear, and their voices went out the other. She had better things to do, robots to build, people to annoy and bother, Nazi's to ki-

 

"So Tay, what made you decide to come back to the Bay?" Emma interrupted Mr. Barnes again. Didn't she just ask that question yesterday? How dull and uninspired. 

 

"I got bored of Texas." Not really, Eidolon allowed her to do whatever she wanted, mostly. Her main factory was also based there, with Robotnik beating some Musk guy on the bid for the land. Speaking of factories, a new one was going to have to be built, someone in an abandoned district, or just outside the city. Good thing Legend offered to give her the funds if she decided to move back to Brockton. 

 

"So I decided to come back, see the sights and all that." Taking theater in university seemed to have paid off. 

 

Mr. Barnes nodded slowly. "Either way, we're glad that you're back home." Mrs. Barnes smiled alongside him. 

 

This wasn't her home, not anymore. 

 

"Well, Zoe and I will head out now, give you and Emma some time to catch up." No! Take the ugly redhead with you! 

 

The two adults were gone after saying their farewells, leaving a seething Robotnik with the annoying Barnes. 

 

"So Tay, want to explain why you never bothered to text, call or write back, and I'm not going to take 'I was busy' as an excuse." Emma fingers dug into the kitchen table's top. 

 

Hm, robotization sounded good just about now. 

 

A/N

My update schedule isn't going to be back to normal until August 8th at the earliest. Ill be extremely busy next week. The next stories I plan on updating should be Schnee Hero or Huntress and Lore Khepri, once my schedule is back Ill be alternating stories. 

 

On the plus side, I found out this morning that we have a TVtropes page! Yay! 

 

 

 

Chapter 16: 2-5

Taylor had changed a lot in the few years that she had been gone. Where she had been rather skinny like a beanpole, she still retained her tbin figure, albeit more filled out with muscle. Emma could still see muscle under her black turtleneck, and where the Taylor from a few years ago was relatively shy, she returned to Brockton Bay more outgoing. Especially since she shouted at Emma a few weird things the first time she knocked at the door. 

 

Still, it was great having her best friend return stronger than ever! Emma giggled softly as Taylor quickly got up to search through one of the cabinets in the kitchen. 

 

"So Taylor, tell me the real reason why you didn't respond to my letters." Emma said softly. She needed to know badly, to see if Taylor was truly worthy of being her best friend, and to see if she should introduce her to Sophia. 

 

"I've been busy, duh." Taylor answered dramatically. She closed the cabinet dramatically and wiped some imaginary sweat off of her forehead. "Note to self, buy some cups and other shit." She took the seat across from Emma, crossing her strong legs as she placed them on the table, n-not that Emma was checking her out or anything! It's been so long since they've seen each other. 

 

"I was busy killing Neo-Confedorates, black supremacists, and Mexican cartels. Houston's just full of assholes." Taylor continued with a shrug and a sarcastic grin on her face. "What were you doing outside my house? Are you a stalker or something now? Cause believe me, I will not hesitate to get a restraining order." 

 

Now that turned Emma's giggle into full on laughter, which filled the room for a few seconds. Wiping a tear, she gave Taylor a large smile. "You should be a comedian or something." There was no way sweet old Taylor was capable of doing that. 

 

"The…" Taylor paused as she placed a finger on her chin, taking her feet off of the table. "It'll be called the Taylor Show or something I guess." 

 

"I would definitely watch it." Emma tried reaching for Taylor's gloved hand, only for the taller girl to move it just out of reach wordlessly. 

 

"Oh! Would you look at the time? It's my bedtime, I'll show you the way out." Taylor jumped up from her seat and started walking towards the main hallway. 

 

Crossing her arms, Emma remained seated, glaring at Taylor's beautiful brown eyes. No! Get a hold of yourself Emma! She just missed her, that was all. 

 

"No." 

 

Taylor paused, and sharply turned her head like a robot, before adjusting her body to face her, all while making cute mechanical noises. 

 

"No?" Taylor made her voice sound deep. "What do you mean no? THIS IS MY HOUSE!" She shouted that last part, though the seriousness of what she said never met her eyes. 

 

Emma scoffed and bit the inside of her cheek. "And you don't get to disappear for three years just to waltz back in like nothing happened." 

 

Taylor pulled on the skin of her cheek while groaning. 

 

"I can't take this constant nagging. I'm leaving you Jerry, I'm leaving you and I'm taking the monkey with me." Taylor wiggled her fingers as nonsense spewed from her lips. 

 

"Wha-"

 

Something slammed into the back of Emma's head, and all she saw was darkness. 

 

 

 

 

Social interactions and having to keep up with civilian identities was such a bore and a waste of time. There were so many things Robotnik could have done while Emma was trying to pry her secrets! She could have started remodeling and digging in the basement once the eggscavator arrived, and she could also have done an announcement! 

 

Announcements were fun, it's how Robotnik got people to do what she wanted. Needed to increase her tinkering budget? An announcement was made, sent directly to Eidolon's office. Someone annoyed her? Another announcement. She was dying of boredom because she was waiting for more resources to tinker with? Another announcement, it was just how the world worked. 

 

"Good job." Robotnik gave the badnik that stunned Emma a wink. Three more floated up to her, and a fourth miniature one emerged from one of her many pockets. "You four go and lock her in the guest room, babynik, you keep an eye on her and let me know when she's awake." Which hopefully wouldn't be for a couple more hours. 

 

Wiggling her fingers made the badniks bob up and down, as if they were responding to her. Grinning, Robotnik extended her arms behind her back as two more badniks helped slip her red coat back onto her lanky form. 

 

"Finally!" Time to have fun! Now all she had to do was wait for Decoe and Bocoe to arrive with her stuff, under the guise of a moving company. Her phone started ringing. 

 

'I am the walrus! Choo Choo Choo!'

 

"Damn it." Sliding her phone out of her pocket, Robotnik's eyes widened just ever so slightly as she read the name of the caller. The world's Second Greatest tinker was calling her! Yay! Robotnik answered the call without another thought as the four regular sized badniks floated Emma into the main hallway, their bodies acting as a floating bed. 

 

"Hello Robotnik." Dragon said, her Canadian accent just barely noticeable. 

 

"Dragon! Whatcha want? I haven't murdered anybody if that's what you're wondering." Yet, she didn't want to be on probation again. 

 

Dragon only laughed softly. "I'm not calling to ask you that, I just want to know how you're adjusting." 

 

"Never been better, baby." Robotnik practically skipped down the hallway, aiming for the door. "Though the lab here is just the wooooorseeee, and the Wards are annoying. I already had to make an announcement." She looked out the little hole in the door. 

 

Those two idiots were taking too long! 

 

"Oh really?" Dragon was smart, not as smart as Robotnik, but passable. No one could compare to Robotnik, no one. Still, Robotnik enjoyed her discussions with the elusive tinker, and their collaborations were always a joy to work on. Armsy better make a move soon before someone else stepped into their relationship. 

 

"Dragon, do you know what's the problem with being the smartest person in the world?" 

 

"Hm, I can't say I do." Dragon said simply. Robotnik sighed just as a moving truck with a fat Italian man with a mustache pulled up to the curve. 

 

"Everyone else seems so stupid." 

 

A/N

This should've been out weeks ago, but I got stuck in the first section as it wouldn't come out the way I wanted until I finally found a solution. 

 

I changed the POV. And in some good news, Not an Egg now has its first piece of art!

 

 

Chapter 17: 2-6

Decoe and Bocoe arrived late, much to Robotnik's annoyance. Glaring at the box truck that pulled into the Girl's driveway that was blasting rap music, the two idiots left the vehicle, the duo wearing an elaborate costume that gave them a Stranger rating. Decoe wore green overalls with a matching hat, while the shorter Bocoe wore a red version of the same outfit . A bushy mustache attached to their face plates completes the illusion of two stereotypical Italian plumbers when they should've been lazy movers. 

 

"Finally." Robotnik sighed as she wiggled her fingers. The miniature badnik could neutralize Emma should she wake up again. Things were about to get very noisy now that the two buffoons were here now with the eggscavators. A lone badnik floated to the empty space beside her head, transmitting the data her machines collected to her sunglasses. 

 

The house in its current state was worse than useless, but with Robotnik's modifications and improvements it should be on par with the lab provided by the local PRT, if not superior since her equipment wouldn't be as limited. The walls would be reinforced from the inside, and the basement would have several floors, digging deep into the Earth's crust. Once she was done her new lab could withstand a warzone, literally. 

 

Robotnik kicked the door open once Decoe and Bocoe got close enough. The two were carrying an oversized box that held the first eggscavator. 

 

"What took you idiots so long?!" Robotnik whisper-shouted. Attracting too much attention would be detrimental to her time table at the moment. 

 

"It wasn't our fault Boss!" Bocoe started defending himself. They nearly tore the door off of the frame, which was saved by a badnik quickly hovering next to the box. 

 

"Uber and Leet were playing giant Ping Pong with some of the Wards, the fast blue one. So we had to find a detour." Decoe added as they dropped the box in the middle of the hallway. If it wasn't for the world's gravity and realism Robotnik was sure the ground would have bounced like a Saturday morning cartoon. 

 

"And that's my problem because?" Robotnik said dryly. Whatever happened to the other Wards and the furries were none of her business. The only things that mattered in this world, and most likely on those alternate Earths, were Robotnik's machines. 

 

"Uh, because we're all part of a team?" It looked like Bocoe's processor decided to grow a funny circuit, which she should have seen coming. Artificial intelligence was always learning, even if they were programmed to be completely loyal to Robotnik. 

 

Robotnik stared into Bocoe's optics, her own sunglasses hiding her eyes. She didn't like doing this, but more studies would have to be done once she had better help. Bocoe's personality would remain intact, maybe, possibly. 

 

"Uh. Boss? You're scaring me!' Bocoe's nuts and bolts started shivering as he wrapped his metal arms around Decoe's taller barrel, who returned the silver bot's embrace. 

 

"There's no team in I, so get going and finish unboxing everything. You're slowing me down." Robotnik did her best not to shout. She still had a prisoner upstairs, and while multiple shocks from the taser from the miniature badnik wouldn't kill Emma, Robotnik also didn't want anyone investigating should she disappear for too long. 

 

"Y-You got it Boss!" Decoe spoke up this time as the two ran back to the truck, leaving the tinker alone with her thoughts. Robotnik didn't need anyone else, believing in others and relying on their help would only result in disappointment and failure. 

 

There was a reason why Robotnik was the smartest person alive. 

 

---

 

 

Groaning softly, the back of Emma's head felt like she got run over by a truck or something. Slowly sitting up, she finally got a good look at her surroundings. It was the Hebert's guest room. What was she doing here? Rubbing the back of her head, Emma swung her legs off of the bed and took an unsteady step. 

 

What happened? 

 

She didn't hear any noise, did Taylor leave already? No no, Taylor wouldn't do that. If Emma had passed out, she was sure that Taylor would make sure that she was okay. Making her way to the stairs, there still wasn't a sign of her long lost friend anywhere. 

 

"Taylor? Are you still here?" Emma said loudly. Silence was the only response she got in return. "Tay-Tay!" 

 

Still nothing. 

 

Quickly sliding down the stairs, Emma found herself walking down the hallway back to the kitchen. Maybe Taylor had decided to take a nap downstairs? Nah that was stupid. Why would she go to sleep downstairs when her room was still in the same condition she left it as? 

 

The lights in the kitchen were turned off, and when combined with the sunset outside meant that Emma was walking in almost complete darkness. She walked slowly, to avoid slamming her pinky toe against the wall corners, which usually hurt a lot. 

 

"Taylor?" Emma said again, her hands fumbling against the wall to find the light switch. She finally found it and switched it on, illuminating the kitchen and dining room. 

 

Still silent. 

 

"This isn't funny anymore." Emma's eyes darted around, until they landed on a figure hidden by the shadows in the living room a few feet away, facing away from her. "Really Tay?" 

 

Not even bothering to turn on the living room lights, Emma stomped over to Taylor's recliner and grabbed her shoulder. Just for her to fall apart, literally. Emma screamed as she jumped backwards. 

 

Taylor's 'head', a watermelon with a sticky note attached to it with a smiley face, rolled in the ground. 

 

"What the fu-" Emma's words died in her mouth in the middle of her grabbing the sticky note, and read what was on the back.

 

Dear Emma, I'm staying at a hotel tonight, so go home once you read this. 

 

P.S. 

You really smell so take a bath while you're at it. 

 

P.P.S

I set the watermelon to explode so have fun! 

 

Emma's eyes widened and took a step backwards, and another, and another until she was scrambling towards the door. 

 

"DAMN YOU TAYLOR!" 

 

 

---

 

 

Robotnik opened the garage door and stuck her head in the living room, a large grin on her face. She was such a genius. "Oh my logic, she's finally gone boys! I thought she was never going to wake up-"

 

BOOOM! The watermelon exploded, covering the living room in its sweet flesh, including Robotnik. Wiping a piece of watermelon rind that attached itself to her cheek, Robotnik's grin grew even larger. 

 

"Decoe! Bocoe! Get the mops out." 

 

A/N

I'm back! Let's see how long I'll last writing before writer's block strikes again. 

Chapter 18: 2-7

The Wards were a wonderful program, wonderfully exploitative, that is. On paper, they were a shining symbol of government accountability and parahuman reform, young capes, brought into the fold, trained under professional supervision, and transformed into the next generation of heroic icons. In practice, the program was a patchwork of government mandates, public relations tactics, and barely-disguised conscription, where superpowered minors were groomed into wearing skintight brandable uniforms and smiling for the camera between life-threatening patrols.

 

Whether a Ward saw actual combat depended entirely on which hellhole they were unfortunate enough to be stationed in. Cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Houston kept their Wards mostly on a leash, serving photo ops, goodwill events, and the occasional low-risk patrol. The idea of putting a teenager in the path of a bullet, or worse, a parahuman, was still frowned upon by the upper brass, at least, when the cameras were watching.

 

Brockton Bay, on the other black leather glove, seemed to delight in throwing its teenage capes into the meat grinder. Empire Eighty-Eight shootouts, ABB turf wars. Merchant drug labs erupting into chemical infernos, and Coil’s Mercenaries up to no good. The city had become the Protectorate’s unofficial testing ground, the perfect place to film the next season of Survivor. And now Robotnik was in the middle of it.

 

Her left eye twitched beneath her sunglasses. The idea of engaging in direct combat grated at her, offended her, even. She was a Tinker. A genius, someone that belonged in her lab, watching the operation unfold from her HD 4K screens. 

 

Like Eidolon had said during one of their conference calls, while sipping tea and floating serenely above a gang compound, “Why risk our greatest asset when she can deploy a robotic air force instead?” He got it, the overweight man understood efficiency.

 

Robotnik wasn’t afraid of danger, her minor Brute rating let her walk off explosions like bruises, but that didn’t mean she wanted to play cape. She preferred commanding from her Eggmobile, hovering above the chaos, unleashing a swarm of precision badniks to subdue enemies while she blasted Fortunate Son through her custom surround sound system that made Mexican parties sound like a phone alarm on low volume. . 

 

The baying of sirens? The screams of skinheads? The rattling crack of Tinkertech rifles? That was a symphony, and she was the conductor, though she prefered 70s psychedelic rock. 

 

“Smile, you’re almost up.” Miss Militia said with her eyes smiling. 

 

Robotnik gave her a side glance that was almost hidden by her sunglasses. She had been ambushed upon her return to her main lab, after leaving Decoe and Bocoe to clean up the mess of watermelon Robotnik had left in the girl’s house. 

 

“Let me go Boss Lady! I gotta get back pretty soon or they’ll worry. People disappear in the Finger Lakes alll the time.” Robotnik snarked with a large grin. She would’ve wiggled her arms, but given they were tied to the chair she was currently seated on, that would have to be later. 

 

“I’ll let you lose in a minute, once it's your cue.” Miss Militia said in what was supposed to be a comforting tone. Thankfully, the woman had forgotten to remove her sunglasses and control gloves, from which Robotnik could easily send commands to her waiting badniks. 

 

Robotnik leaned back, or tried to at least, her spine pressed against the uncomfortable metal chair Miss Militia had graciously tied her to. She wasn't sure if this counted as detainment, enhanced interrogation, or friendship. Either way, it was stupid. Wiggling her gloved fingers against the armrest, subtle pulses of data pinging off her built-in control nodes, sending them to her sunglasses. 

 

Outside, the low murmur of a restless crowd filtered through the concrete walls of the backstage conference room. Cameras. Civilians. Journalists. Public school teachers with signs. Probably even a few PRT agents pretending to be concerned parents. A typical PR circus. This was all a waste of time, Robotnik was already known by the public as a veteran Ward and genius with 5 PHDs! With a thousand more on the way! 

 

"Let’s get this over with," Robotnik muttered, more to herself than anyone else. One of her sunglasses lenses lit up briefly with a live feed from a badnik currently perched on the auditorium rafters, quietly zooming in on the crowd. Several civilians wore buttons that read WELCOME WARD ROBOTNIK! and PRT SCIENCE IS COOL! 

 

What losers, though they did have good taste in being her fans. 

 

“You know.” Robotnik said aloud. “This would be way more interesting if we opened with a giant disco egg descending from the ceiling with fireworks and a spaghetti gun.”

 

Miss Militia glanced back at her from near the stage curtain. “That was vetoed by Director Piggot.”

 

“Of course it was. The government hates creativity.”

 

Then, over the earpiece still connected to her sunglasses, a familiar voice piped in.

 

“ We’re ready when you are Doctor .” Orbot said through the communicator. “ Bokkun and the confetti grenades are a go.” 

 

Robotnik’s left eye twitched as she mumbled under her breath, to not cause any suspicion. “Wait for my signal, you moron.” 

 

“ Well, what’s the signal?” 

 

“You’ll know it when you see it!” Robotnik hissed but forced a large grin when Miss Militia turned around. Madam Fan Service gave her a skeptical glance, but said nothing, returning her attention to the stage.

 

“Five seconds.” Someone called from off-stage, probably an unpaid intern who wanted to be anywhere other than here. 

 

The house lights dimmed just slightly, and the excited chatter from the auditorium turned into the strained hush of forced anticipation. Robotnik could already imagine the camera flashes, the scrolling headlines, the awkward post-event interviews where Aegis would be forced to say false pleasantries. 

 

Miss Militia stepped aside, pressing a button on the control she had at her hip, releasing Robotnik from her confines. She had already hacked it over an hour ago and could’ve left whenever she wanted. “You’re up.”

 

Robotnik shot up from the chair like she hadn’t just spent the last ten minutes tied to it. At her mental command, the miniature badniks posted in the rafters gave her a silent salute via blinking LED lights.

 

“I hope you break a leg.” Robotnik said with a thumbs up as she stepped through the curtains and out onto the battlefield. 

 

Aegis was already at the podium, standing too straight, making his booty pop, and speaking too earnestly.

 

“—and with that, it’s my honor to welcome our newest Ward, a transfer from the Houston branch. Please give a warm welcome to Doctor Robotnik!” 

 

Wait for it. 

 

Aegis handed her a microphone, which she promptly discarded by throwing it over her shoulder, and pressed a button on the side of her sunglasses. 

 

Almost there. 

 

Robotnik moved to the center of the stage, forming one of the largest grins she had ever made. 

 

“HELLLLOOOOO BROCKTON BAY!” Robotnik’s amplified voice boomed as she threw her arms to the side wide. Two banners showing her stylized smile, goggles and wild hair unfolded. 

 

“IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK BABY!” 

 

With that, a small black robot flew into the room, personally built by Robotnik herself, carrying two balls in its hand. Bokkun threw both grenades, each slamming into Robotnik’s nose before exploding into confetti. 

 

The room became deathly silent, so quiet that the sound of a pin dropping would sound like a roar. Crickets could be heard chirping as the entire auditorium stared at Robotnik, who kept her grin even as blood dripped onto the floor. 

 

“Did anyone get that train's license plate?” 

 

A/N

I’m sorry if it's not as funny as it used to be!

Chapter 19: 2-8

The confetti hung in the air like snowfall, glinting beneath the too-bright stage lights as a stunned Brockton Bay auditorium sat in silence. Then someone coughed. Then someone laughed, it was a child, sitting on their dad’s shoulders, waving a flag that said SCIENCE RULES!, and the moment broke like glass. Applause rippled through the audience, confused at first, scattered, then in earnest. A few camera flashes even went off! 

 

Robotnik grinned through the blood trickling down her nose, then she raised her arms in a victorious V, her fingers twitching in time with the buzzing of her control gloves.

“NAILED IT!” She declared with pride.

Miss Militia, standing off-stage with a hand on her earpiece, visibly flinched. Aegis, still too close to the blast zone, was covered in streamer entrails and bits of paper shrapnel. He smiled painfully, and gave a double thumbs-up that read less as encouragement and more as ‘please don’t shoot me.’ "Was that planned?"

 

"Everything I do is planned." Robotnik snarked as Bokkun quickly flew away crying, despite not being able to produce tears? Robotnik tapped the side of her sunglasses, giving the tiny bot a silent 'good job' command before turning back to face the crowd.

 

Microphones picked up her every move, including the loud sniff she gave as she wiped away the last of the blood with a sleeve, smearing it into her red pilot jacket. The image was probably being broadcast live across half a dozen networks, and Robotnik relished it. Let them see her, let them remember the day Brockton Bay got a real Tinker.

 

The best and smartest one in the world! 

 

"And don't worry, folks!" Robotnik into the mic, casually plucking another one off a bewildered Aegis’ hand. "Your tax dollars are being spent wisely. My new cappuccino machine is working wonderfully!” 

 

A ripple of awkward laughter followed, and someone whistled, and then someone else booed. Good, that meant they were paying attention.

 

Miss Militia gave her a subtle hand signal from the side of the curtain to wrap it up, so Robotnik gave a two-fingered salute to the crowd, spun on her heel, and moonwalked backstage while making eye contact with a cute mom in the front row, her combat boots thudding proudly against the stage wood. Blonde, early thirties, and wearing a tight t-shirt with some corporate sponsor’s logo on it.

 

The MILF would’ve looked better with a robotic leg and a rocket launcher.  

 

 

---

 

 

"You promised no explosions.” Miss Militia said in that tight-smile, dead-inside voice the government trained into public servants.

 

"Technically, that wasn't an explosion.” Robotnik explained, loosening her sunglasses with one hand and dramatically tossing her coat to an approaching badnik like she was shedding a stage costume. "It was a confetti deployment. That’s very different, and it's totally safe, mostly."

 

Miss Militia pinched the bridge of her nose. "Just go get cleaned up. Director Piggot will want a word after the press finishes the first round."

 

Robotnik gave a lazy two-finger salute and wandered down the hall, with Bokkun trailing behind her at a respectful distance, still sniffling electronically, and occasionally hiccuping out a small, sad burst of static. Robotnik patted his dome once. "Good work, minion. We'll still take over the world soon."

 

Down the hallway, she could already hear the rest of the Wards gathering in the common area, preparing to debrief and get their new official team photos taken. 

 

Great...more cameras.

 

Robotnik’s left eye twitched as she turned down towards Bokkun once more. 

 

“Go get more confetti bombs.” 

 

---

 

 

Robotnik strolled toward the common room with all the casual menace of a bomb about to go off. Every step was deliberate, her heavy boots tapping against the cheap tile floors like war drums. The murmuring got louder.

 

The common room doors were cracked open. Inside, she caught the familiar faces, and the unfamiliar ones.

 

Vista was seated on the couch, trying to practice her smile for the cameras, and her tiny, lil, feet swinging nervously in the air. Clockblocker was gesturing wildly while talking to a stone-faced Gallant, who looked like he regretted every life choice that brought him to this moment. And Kid Win was fiddling with his wrist gauntlet, desperately trying to look busy.

 

And then there were the freaks, the walking mascots.

 

The furries. 

 

Amy, pink demon of fury, stood off to one side, arms crossed tightly under her chest, glaring at nothing in particular. If looks could pass STDs, hers likely could and world. Michael, two-tailed fox abomination, was perched near the vending machines, his tails twitching anxiously like overclocked helicopter rotors.

 

The red one her files called Knuckles lounged on one of the chairs, arms folded, one foot propped up on a table like he owned the place, and chewing on a toothpick like a 1950s delinquent while he picked at a bowl of grapes. And Sonic, the Glizzy gobbler himself, sprawled upside down on the couch with his legs dangling over the back, flipping a stress ball into the air and catching it one-handed. He wore a self-satisfied smirk that only grew wider when he spotted Robotnik in the doorway.

 

"Hey, hey!" Sonic shouted, voice dripping with mock cheer. "If it isn't the Queen of Ka-Boom herself! Nice entrance out there, Egghead."

 

Robotnik’s grin sharpened. "Ah, my loyal public." She said dryly, striding fully into the room and throwing her arms wide. "Please, no autographs. Unless you’re offering tribute, in which case I accept candy or technology, or your bodies in the name of science.” 

 

The room tensed slightly. She was pretty sure half the Wards weren't sure if she was joking and the other half were positive she wasn't.

 

One of the PRT agents hovering near the doorway winced and scribbled something onto a clipboard. They, Robotnik couldn’t tell their gender through the reflective helmet, were likely from HR. Boy was she glad all of their emails went into the incinerator. 

 

"Director Piggot said we gotta take a new official team photo." Vista said hesitantly, holding up a neatly pressed blue-and-white Brockton Bay Wards jacket. "You know, for, um, posters and stuff."

 

Robotnik sauntered over and plucked the jacket out of her hands, dangling it from two fingers like it was covered in slime. She squinted at it through her sunglasses. It was bland, corporate, and boring. These jackets were generally worn over their costumes, to make them look like some high school club full of assholes. 

 

"Uniforms.” Robotnik said, her c

Voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because nothing says individuality like mandatory matching outfits."

 

Amy snorted quietly from the side, still obviously sour about the entire situation but unable to hold back a smirk.

 

"You got a problem with the jacket?" Knuckles asked, sitting up slightly, his low gravelly voice cutting through the chatter. 

 

Robotnik turned her head just enough to look at him over her sunglasses. He was wearing one covered in crayon scribble. 

 

"I have a problem with bad fashion, and fascist design language.” She said sweetly, as Robotnik scanned his physiology. “Especially when it looks like a child that’s colorblind made them.” 

 

Knuckles blinked slowly like he wasn't sure if he'd been insulted yet while Michael-Miles coughed awkwardly into his hand.Miss Militia entered behind Robotnik, her professional smile welded to her face like a weapon ready to be drawn at any moment.

 

"Time for photos." Miss Mom said briskly, clapping her hands once. "Robotnik, front and center, Wards, flank left and right." Those sounded like military commands. 

 

Sonic zipped to the front before anyone else could move, smirking like he was posing for a cereal commercial.

 

"Hey, Egghead. Make sure you get my good side!" He said, pointing at his own smug grin as the photographer walked in. 

 

"From where I'm standing-” Robotnik snarked with a deadpan voice. “-you don't have one."

 

Vista snorted so hard she almost fell off the couch, and Clockblocker coughed violently, trying to cover his laugh with his hand.

 

Amy made a choked sound, half-laughter, half-frustrated screech, and stomped into formation, dragging Miles behind her like a grumpy older sister late for church. Strange, she was behaving herself today. 

 

Robotnik plopped herself in the center of the group, leaning casually on Aegis' armored shoulder like she was posing for a punk album cover. Bokkun floated nearby, flashing peace signs with his tiny robot hands, unnoticed by the clueless photographer.

 

"Everyone smile! Say cheese!” The photographer chirped, way too cheerful for someone with such a dangerous job.

 

Robotnik bared her teeth in a dazzlingly fake grin, her bloodied nose still slightly crooked from the confetti grenades, and her sunglasses gleaming under the overhead lights.

 

“Chili-cheese dogs!” Sonic yelled at the last minute, just as the flash went off.

 

Click.

 

A/N

I didn't expect another update so fast.

Chapter 20: 2-9

Winslow High had been ‘freshly renovated’ according to Robotnik’s note, which, in Brockton Bay, meant the graffiti was new and the metal detectors squeaked when you looked at them. A banner hung over the gym bleachers, PROTECTORATE SCIENCE DAY! The mascot, something between a whale and a seal that had lost a fight, grinned on every poster. It looked like someone had vomited over each one of them with how ugly they were. 

 

Kids swarmed the entrance. Smartphones pointed towards the Wards like a volley of tiny guns. Aegis did his best wholesome-leader smile. Vista waved like a homecoming queen trying not to cry. Clockblocker finger-gunned the ceiling until a faculty chaperone coughed a warning.

 

Robotnik leaned against a folding table and pretended the world wasn’t sticky with gym-floor wax. Her sunglasses pinged with status updates, the building’s Wi-Fi was a joke, the PA system ran on something older than dirt, and the sprinkler control lived in an unlocked metal cabinet labeled SPRINKLERS. Her control gloves sent tiny pulses; a badnik moved, a schematic updated, another tiny red dot appeared on her lens map. She had a small backpack on the ground beside her, where Bokkun was hidden. The stupid bot kept squirming, despite Robotnik’s best kicks to make him stop! 

 

“Remember.” Miss Militia murmured, her smile not moving. “No demos without me present.”

 

Robotnik’s grin widened. Unluckily for her, Robotnik had override controls for every single one of her machines. The fake codes Eidolon had given the Pig wouldn’t work on Robotnik’s babies! “Define demo.”

 

“Anything that makes a noise above a library whisper.” Miss Militia’s smile never left her face as she waved at some cheering students, who were likely trying to get a good look at any cleavage they could find. The flesh was weak, robotic thighs were where all the fun was at! 

 

“Hmmmmmmmmmm.” Robotnik hummed “So, whispering firecrackers are fine?” She had plenty of those in storage. 

 

Miss Militia didn’t dignify that. Director Piggy and Miss Fan Service didn’t particularly like Robotnik’s stunt at her debut, confetti bombs and all that. 

 

The Furry crew clustered by the free snack table like it owed them money. The Blue Glizzy Gibbler was already two chili dogs in and charming a knot of freshmen. Amy’s AID infested ass held a box of school-issue cupcakes like a concealed weapon, which were definitely going to make her fatter. Miles, Michael, whatever the fox was called, had set up a recycled PC and was carefully answering a seventh grader’s question about coding. 

 

And Knuckles had confiscated the mascot head and was wearing it like a trophy, scaring sophomores into giving him their grapes. Note to self, poison some grapes whenever there was time. 

 

“Wards, gather up!” Aegis called. “We’ll start with Sonic and Knuckles, uh, Robotnik, you’ll go third.”

 

“Third?” Robotnik said, affronted. She placed a hand on her offended chest “Behind Blue Rascal and Knuckle Sandwich?”

 

“It’s in alphabetical order.” Aegis lied as they climbed the stage in the auditorium. Well, dragged by Miss Militia in Robotnik’s case. 

 

The principal, a thin man who looked like he was allergic to teenagers, thrust a mic into Aegis’ hand the moment he could.  “Welcome, students, to-” 

 

A shriek rippled near the bleachers. Bokkun, who had absolutely not been authorized to leave the backpack, floated up from under the stage with a tiny camcorder lens blinking. He flashed a peace sign at the juniors. Miss Militia’s smile tightened to a knife as Robotnik felt her glare. 

 

Robotnik coughed into her fist. “Get the fuck out of the way.” 

 

Bokkun’s cheeks seemed to turn a shade of red as he dipped, vanished inside the school banner, and turned into a bulge of fabric.

 

Aegis launched into the standard ‘responsibility and service’ speech. He was earnest and clean, which most likely didn’t matter to a school as ghetto this. He didn’t die inside even once out of cringe, the man was a machine. Once Robotnik figured out robotization he would be her first lucky candidate. 

 

“Any questions?” Miss Militia said. Hands shot immediately shot up. Robotnik ignored them as best as she could. A girl asked Vista if space folding could help with trigonometry. Some loudmouth boy asked Clockblocker if he could stop time during math tests. Someone asked Sonic how fast he could run, and the idiot really answered with ‘Faster’. 

 

Emma Barnes sat two rows back, arms crossed, glaring holes through Robotnik. What? Did she see through her costume and disguise? Or did she just have a resting bitch face? It was likely that one, the Barnes family, had a really strong RBF. And of course she’d be here. Winslow was a roach motel for criminals and the stupid. 

 

“Doctor Robotnik.” The principal said, trying to sound delighted and failing. “Would you like to speak about the value of science?”

 

“Yes.”  Robotnik said, taking the mic with a large grin. “It’s valuable.”

 

Robiotnik swore she literally heard crickets chirping in the auditorium until a teacher coughed. Before Miss Militia could say anything, Robotnik rolled her shoulders and allowed the crowd to settle. She also made a show of tapping her sunglasses like a talk-show host about to do a trick.

 

“Science is a tool.” She said, bright and crisp. “It makes coffee, it solves crimes. It puts annoying people in time-out.” She smiled at the seventh graders. “It also builds machines that can lift a car without breaking a nail. And if you do it right it means you don’t have to run anywhere to be a hero. That’s right! I’m so awesome that my mere presence has already made a drop in Brockton Bay’s crime rate! Take that bitches!” 

 

Several students clapped at her profanity while a few parents frowned. One PE teacher nodded like he’d been waiting all his life to hear that.

 

“Demo?” Someone shouted. Robotnik turned towards MM while wiggling her eyebrows. 

 

Miss Militia opened her mouth to protest, but Robotnik raised a reassuring palm. “I have a harmless one.” She lied.

 

Robotnim snapped her fingers. From the rafters, a softball-sized orb descended, its friendly eyes blinking as it scanned the audience. See? Harmless as bleach in lemonade. 

 

“This is an educational prop.” Robotnik said sweetly. “It demonstrates-”

 

The orb extended a port and spat out a silver ribbon that floated.

 

“-magnetic topology.”

 

The ribbon snapped across the gym like it had been shot from a crossbow. It curved, then wriggled, then neatly aligned itself along every strip of ferrous metal within twenty yards taking it with it, bleacher bolts, a half-dozen lanyard clips, the microphone stand, Sonic’s belt buckle. The principal’s tie clip leapt off his chest and joined the party with a triumphant ‘click.’

 

The auditorium was filled with gasps and laughter, but  there was one delayed scream. Sonic clutched his shorts with both hands and made a noise like a stepped-on dog chew toy.

 

“See?” Robotnik said as she wiggled her fingers behind her back and hacked into the school system instantly. “Harmless.”

 

The PA system crackled to life overhead, then died, then blared a staticky guitar riff from 1970-something. The small badniks inside of the mascot head on Knuckles rotated ninety degrees all on its own, which spooked the deformed beast, and said in a tinny voice. “I AM BECOME SCHOOL SPIRIT, DESTROYER OF-”

 

Then Miss Militia’s sidearm, set to the lowest possible nonlethal setting, popped the floating orb with a clean electric crack and the ribbon fell like a dead snake with everything it had stolen. 

 

Applause and whistles filled Robotnik’s ears. There was even a ‘do it again!’ from the juniors. Even Emma’s RBF had disappeared for a moment. 

 

“Thank you.” Miss Militia said through a smile that could crack granite. “And that concludes the demonstration portion.”

 

Robotnik handed the mic back, eyes innocent behind her lenses. “You said no confetti bombs.”

 

---

 

 

Emily didn’t yell, she didn’t have to with how enraged she was.

 

“Do you know how many calls I just took?” She asked while an assistant tried to stack new files on a pile already violating workplace safety laws. “City Hall, two newsrooms, a PTA president who thinks you’re ‘refreshing’ and a shop class teacher who asked if you do birthday parties.”

 

“Depends on the cake.” Robotnik said as she leaned back in the cheap office chair. “And if it’s gluten free.”

 

Emily stared at her for a five-count. “You will clear all future demonstrations with me or with Miss Militia and you will not hijack a school’s PA again.”

 

Robotnik’s eyebrows rose. The spoiled Ward was used to everyone doing things her way. That wasn’t going to happen here, not on Emily’s watch. “You noticed?”

 

Emily slid a folder across the desk. “I notice everything. Speaking of which, orientation continues at City Hall. You’ll attend the ribbon cutting, no bots.”

 

Robotnik took the folder, flipped it open and pretended to read. “How fun, government work.”

 

 

---

 

 

Emma Barnes had not taken her eyes off Robotnik since the woman walked into the gym.

 

She’d tried to play it cool, with her phone in hand scrolling through nothing, and her expression the perfect mask of bored disdain she’d cultivated for years, but it cracked somewhere between the sunglasses, the control gloves, and that smile.

 

It wasn’t a ‘look-at-me’ smile, it wasn’t even a ‘smile for the cameras’ smile that Emma had used when she did some modeling, no this was a calculated smile. A smile that dared you to either match it or get out of the way. Emma had seen people try to pull that off before. Wannabe influencers, theater kids. 

 

Robotnik just wore it. Like she owned the space, the moment, and maybe the building.

 

Emma told herself she was only watching for the inevitable humiliation. The Brockton Bay rumor mill was already full of stories about this ‘Doctor’ and her bots. She’d come here expecting a trainwreck she could film, meme, and bury the woman under by lunchtime. And yet, when the ‘magnetic topology’ stunt went off and half the gym laughed in shock, Emma didn’t hit record, she didn’t even move! 

 

The way Doctor Robotnim didn’t even flinch when Miss Militia’s sidearm popped her bot midair, and the way she turned the crowd back in her favor with a single, unbothered shrug.

 

It reminded her, uncomfortably, of Taylor. Not old Taylor, not the mousy girl in frumpy sweaters who’d orbit Emma like a moon begging for light. No, this was like the new Taylor she’d seen recently. Taller somehow, even if she wasn’t. Speaking in that excited, cutting way that made people listen because they weren’t sure what would come next. Taylor had been like a knife she suddenly realized was sharp again.

 

The two were eerily similar. 

 

Emma sat back in her seat, staring at the folding table where Robotnik had been moments ago. Her fingers tapped against her phone in thought, a rhythm she barely noticed.

 

She needed to know more. 

 

A/N

Almost time for another interlude flashback.