- Location
- Nowhere
I was planning to wait until the start of next turn, but everyone else seems to be doing it, so have this.
Three robots sit upon a step, gazing out into space. All at once they let out long sad sighs. They do not even lift there heads as the sound of wheels can be heard approaching them.
"Hey new siblings!" Cubot waves in excitement. However, they do not make any attempt to return the greeting.
"Oh dear. Are you all okay?" Orbot asks the three. "You all were so happy be back with the doctor before. Did something happen?"
Decoe answers, but not before giving another sigh. "The doctor has been depressed lately, and we cannot tell the reason why."
"Even when I do annoying stuff, the doctor just waves me off as he works. I think something is really wrong with him!" Bokkun yells, getting up from his position on the step before stomping his feet against the hard metal floor. "What happened? What happened what happened what happened!?"
The red and yellow robots look to each other for a moment, as if considering if they should tell them. Finally Orbot answers, "Well, it is a bit of a… private matter. It is probably best that we leave him for now. He has had a lot of… mixed feelings lately."
"B-but there has to be something we can do for the doctor! Anything!" Bokkun begins to cry as he flies up to Orbot and proceeds to shake his cranium like a magic eight ball in the hopes that it will give him an answer.
Orbot pushes the flying robot away. "I understand your concern, but we need to be patient. It would be best for-."
"I have a plan."
Orbot can only turn his neck to look at Cubot, finger raised and hand at his side in a confident pose. Suddenly, the other three are already on their knees, looking up at the yellow robot.
"Thank you!"
"Please, tell us what to do!"
"Follow me!" Cubot yells as he drives off, the other three following close behind.
Giving his own sigh, Orbot can tell it's too late to push them towards doing something else. He has a bad feeling about this.
A certain scantily clad witch meanwhile is busy writing in her notebook, looking among her collection of magic items. Picking up a strange leaf from some unknown tree, she focuses her energy into it. A slight green mist covers the plant, and she nods before placing it down. Then she does the same the ring that her current employer had given her. She does it again. Nothing.
She places a pen to her lips and mumbles to herself, "That might be worth mentioning, but how much has that changed? These rings don't fit in with common knowledge."
Suddenly, she hears a knock at her door. With a wave of her hand, it opens to reveal Cubot carrying some kind of blue cloth, with some of the her employer's underlings behind her. "Hello, would you mind putting this on? The doctor would really appreciate it."
Dropping the ring, she approaching him and picks up the offered item. She unravels it and realizes it's some kind of body suit with a… spiked hood? It seems that on the feet there are also some strange red shoes.
"He wants me to… wear this?"
"Absolutely. It would just make his day!"
Suddenly, Orbot comes running, heaving from exertion. "Yahna, my apologies, you do not need to put that on. The doctor has no interest in you wearing that."
"So… I am not to wear this?"
"Yes!" "No!" the two shout.
She frowns at their contradictory answers. "For golems, you two are not very helpful. Such a troublesome employer." Shaking her head, she pushes her way past the robots and into the hallway, causing the others to follow.
"Um, where are you going?" Orbot asks.
"To speak with your master. To ask me to wear this suit is strange enough, but now I'm being told conflicting answers by two golems? I need to clear up this confusion."
"Can you at least put it on first before showing him?"
"Cubot, please stop telling them to do weird things, they might get the wrong idea! Especially around our impressionable younger siblings."
It isn't long before Yahna finds her way to the doctor who was typing away at a monitor just a few seconds ago before he was interrupted. Turning around he prepares to yell at whoever has decided to disturb him, but stops as he sees the annoyed woman carrying what can only be described as a Sonic onesie.
"Did you send your creations with this for me to wear?" she asks, tapping her foot impatiently.
"… You waste my time with such questions!? Of course not!" his eyes turn to the robots congregating at the door. "Robots! Come here!" The group practically fall over each other trying to get through the door before lining up and standing ramrod straight.
"Did you request one of my underlings to dress up like my nemesis?"
"W-we were just trying to help!" Bocoe says, shaking so much that one might think his bolts would loosen.
"Cubot suggested it! It was all his idea!" Bokkun shouts.
"It does not matter who came up with the idea, the fact that you thought I would want anything of the sort is frustrating!" He turns to the woman. "Yahna, for future reference if Cubot tells you I want something, unless Orbot says the same just ignore him. And don't come to me with such inane questions."
"Inane?" she asks, taking a step back like he had struck her. "Do not blame me for being confused when your own golems cannot be consistent."
"They are inane, because you should have known by now which of my machines are worth listening to. And robots! They are not golems, they are RO-BOTS! They were made with logical and sensical rules, not your silly little fairly lights and sparkles."
The woman's mouth gapes at his words. The gape is soon replaced with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "I guess you're right, a golem would actually be able to listen to its master. That magic is clearly far beyond your mind."
"What did you say!? With science there is logic behind it!"
"I've seen men younger than you able to grasp more. You can't even make a single spark with your fingers."
"You… YOU! I can show you just how many sparks my machines can make!"
There is almost no distance between the two as they glare at each other disdainfully. Then Cubot pipes up "Sounds like we should have a contest!"
They turn to the bot in the corner, smiling proudly at his idea. Their glares are quickly replaced by grins.
"Hohoho, I am always happy to prove my superiority."
"And I am happy to see proud men like you learn their shortcomings. What would this contest require?"
"Ooh, ooh, who can make the best vacuum cleaner!" Cubot calls.
"Very well than. We shall make the best cleaner. Be prepared to be shown as a fool as my genius destroys you!"
"According to my experience, the fool will be you."
The two exit the room, leaving all the robots stunned.
"Cubot, what did you just do?"
"The boss always loves showing up a rival. Sonic isn't here though, so he needs a new one."
"I am surprised to say this, but that… was actually smart of you," Orbot says.
Bokkun flies up in the air as a realization hits him. "Wait, with these new vacuums we will never have to clean again!"
Decoe and Bocoe gasp and bow before the yellow robot. "You are a genius!" "The smartest among us!"
"Aww, thanks you guys," he says, scratching his head. "Now, let's get her into that Sonic costume!"
All the other robots cheer, except for Orbot who can only shake his head. Maybe his brother just got lucky.
Cubot walks into the designated room, carrying his massive tub of popcorn. He takes his spot among the other four robots who are waiting excitedly for the match between their creator and one of his newest minions.
"Hey, anyone want some?"
"I appreciate the sentiment, but the doctor did not install me or Decoe with a mouth."
"More for us, than!" Bokkun grins before flying into the massive tub.
Eventually after some waiting, Eggman enters the room, along with the machine he must have built to best Yahna. It looks very much like a normal trash can, although upon closer inspection there are some metal plates on the side that are likely to open for some mechanism.
Next walks Yahna, a cloak covering some sort of object. However, what stands out is her new costume, making the doctor frown.
"I thought I said you didn't need to wear the suit."
"It looks strange, but it is quite comfortable. I was also told it is peak fashion, as the kids say."
"I can't take you seriously with that on, take that ridiculous thing off!" he shouts, pointing at the older woman.
The door slides open and in walks Belle. "Oh, is this where the contest will be?"
"Keep that ridiculous thing on!" he shouts again.
"Did you not just sa-"
"I don't want the young girl to get any ideas from your usual choice in fashion."
The witch rolls her eyes at this. "No matter my attire, I shall best you. Behold, my creation!" she holds out a jar of what looks like fire. However, there does not appear to be anything inside to feed it, nor is there any smoke and steam.
"Hmm, nothing impressive. Not like my badnik," he says, patting the can shaped robot on its top. "This was created purely to clean everything. It is much more controlled than your little thing, hehe. I'll save the best for last and let you go first."
"A little quick to assume your victory is at hand."
A few robotic helpers arrive, grab some cans and throw garbage over the stage, leaving the place coated with filth. Now with the battleground properly sullied, Yahna uncorks her jar and dumps the flame onto the ground.
To everyone's surprise, it does not seem to burn at the wooden floor of the stage, but it does not fizzle out either. Instead it merely hovers over various pieces of trash, lighting them ablaze. It disappears in seconds. Not even smoke is created.
"I created a fire hex which searches for poisons, and with a connection to an aether portal dimension I have also ensured no smell is left from the burning. Sadly for you, even a spell as simple as this is beyond your mundane machinery."
Once the fire devours all the waste, a nearby robot buzzes. "Room cleaned in… 1 minute 23 seconds, 25427 nanoseconds."
"Hmm, I can see its use," Eggman grumbles. "However, let me check to see how truly clean you have made it?" he grins as he holds out a tablet. Pushing a button, a screen nearby flickers on to show the room, but wherever garbage had landed a yellow glow is shown.
"Hohoho! How very pathetic, you hardly cleaned the germs! If this is the best your magic can do, I am not impressed."
"W-what!?" Yahna stumbles back in surprise. "Germs? What are you talking about? Is this something you have made up to heal your pride?"
"Oh?" the man puts a hand to his mouth as if he's trying to hold back laughter. "Even school children know about germs. Minions, how about we share a good laugh at this woman's sub-preschool intelligence?"
Most of the audience burst into laughter. The display of most of them make her grind her teeth. However, as she looks into the crowed she notices Belle not partaking in the laughter.
"You, young one! You have a reputation for honesty! These germs are but a hoax, correct?" she shouts.
Belle takes a moment, pointedly avoiding eye contact. Then she shrinks in on herself, as if preparing for backlash. "Germs are kind of… real. I-I mean, that's how we get sick."
There is a new bout of laughter from everyone, and the way her face turns red it almost looks like Yahna is going to faint from either anger or embarrassment. "Miasma! You used a new term, I know of miasma!"
Wiping away a tear, Eggman's laughter dies down. "Oh, yes, you definitely dealt with the worst of it, I won't dispute that, but you couldn't lick the floor without getting sick. Here, let me show you what science can create. Binbot!"
Suddenly, the garbage bin's lid opens to reveal a frog like face. "Knock over those cans and clean them up!"
With a swipe of its tongue, it sends the rest of the cans to the ground, covering the floor once more. Then, the can's panels open, revealing more long tongues. Then they lap at the ground. Quickly, the floor is coated in a film of liquid that removes all the stains as soon as they touch.
"Behold my Eggman brand detergent! It kills one hundred percent of all germs, then safely becomes inert as it vaporizes into the air, leaving behind a lovely smell of citrus. You could eat off the floor with this!"
The garbage frog grabs at a stray diaper, and swallows it whole. Then, it shakes, and shoots out a cube of material.
"And it even recycles old material. Truly superior to your pathetic little fire hazard!"
The X trio hold their hands to their nonexistent mouths as somehow their faces gain a slight green tint. Cubot grabs a hand full of popcorn and holds it out to them, but is promptly waved off waved off by the silver and gold robots, and Bokkun flies off to the nearby bathroom.
Once all the garbage is removed, Eggman takes a look at his watch. Then he grits his teeth in anger. "Blast it!" he shouts, throwing the watch against the ground. "It took too long because I added that recycling feature!"
"Hehehe, it looks like I have bested your science!"
"Don't be absurd, your pathetic 'magic' couldn't clean a bath tub! My science is infinitely more efficient."
"You are just angry because you LOST. My magic has proven itself more than capable."
"Capable at the bare minimum miss "what's germ theory"!"
"Shut up about that! I didn't realize you were speaking of miasma!"
As the two continue to argue to argue, the bots watch on in consternation. "Has the doctor been fighting with Yahna since he recruited her?" Bocoe asks.
"No. Thankfully before now they've been too busy to argue like this."
Cubot once more reaches into his popcorn bucket. However, after grabbing around he comes up with nothing. Empty. "Well, that was fun," he says, getting up from his seat. "Gotta take out the trash."
Neither Eggman nor Yahna notice as Cubot gets onto the stage where he throws it into the air. "Dinner time guys!"
"Huh?" "What?" the combatants turn around in time to see the bucket flying. Then, to their shock the fire latches onto the bucket at just the same time as binbot's tongue takes hold! In an instant, it devours the fire!
"You fool, I didn't make the machine fireproof!"
The machine's eyes start to shine a blinding white! Everyone takes cover behind the nearest object before it explodes, sending hot shrapnel across the stage. Left on the stage was… not something anyone expected.
Inside is a ball of wind, circling around a slightly singed mechanical ring, the lights along it flickering.
"What is this?" the doctor says, putting his goggles over his eyes. "The Gerald Ring is interfacing with the gas… externally? Computation efficiency is much higher than normal."
"The aether portal has accepted a solid object? How? It only allows in gases."
"Gases only? So that's why. Without any solid dust the ring has more "space" for computations as the errors particles usually give are not present. Since its inception this has always been one of the more serious issues even after finding the solid to gas equilibrium."
"Gas to solid equilibrium?"
"Gases are easier to isolate for changes but are less stable than solids. This lets me take advantage of both. My family's brilliance is astounding, isn't it?" the doctor asks, looking quite pleased with himself.
"Hmm, so since it has similar properties to gas it can enter the field. That means Imnel's law becomes less of an issue!"
"Hmm?" Eggman asks.
"Certain enchantments cannot be too close on one solid object or else they destabilize. This way I might be able to isolate the two, allowing for more complicated spells!" She brings a hand to the ring, and suddenly a strange red symbol appears on it. Then another, but this one blue. "It worked! It is accepting the enchantments!"
Eggman meanwhile has taken out a tablet, pressing various buttons with enthusiasm. "Oh, the aether portal is bigger than I thought! With the right adjustments I could make a robot with a massive armory, and I'd only need it to be half the size of the armaments!"
The two grin as they analyze and fiddle with the vortex, the two chortling in amusement at the find. It is almost as if they have forgotten everything else, from the competition to the audience.
"Well, it looks like we have brightened the doctor's day," Decoe says, smiling at the show.
"At least for a little while," Orbot voices. "Their new toy is truly fascinating. I wonder what else it can do."
"It looks like Cubot is curious too!" Bokkun shouts pointing down at the robot below, the scientist and mage too enraptured to notice his presence. Slowly he reaches out to the whirling ball.
"No, do-" before he can finish his brother is already poking the ball. Then, like a massive balloon, it pops! The orb disappears, and with that disappearance comes the reappearance of garbage, hurtling across the room, coating the floors and walls.
Yahna's mouth is opened wide in shock, while Eggman is gritting his teeth and looks like he is trying to hold back a scream. However, at the last moment he takes a deep breath.
"You know what? I didn't need that. As fascinating as that might have been, there is always a superior method through pure science. I have no need for silly parlor tricks."
Yahna looks as if she has been slapped in the face, but she bites back her own retort and keeps her calm. "You are right I suppose. The mundane just cannot live up to the power of magic. Through my own methods I know I could recreate the phenomenon."
"Than lets see who can replicate it first! But… one last thing," he looks towards Cubot with a glint of danger in his eyes. "I think I need to teach my machines to not go touching things!"
"I do agree," the witch replies, her eyes filled with malice.
Cubot can only chuckle nervously as he removes a banana peel from his head.
"I hate this," Bukkun growls as he sweeps the floor, clad in a familiar maid costume. "Why did they have to punish us for what Cubot did? I thought I was done with this stupid skirt when I left Janken's territory!"
"Well, we did succeed in what we set out to do. The doctor has been rather engaged in his attempts of recreating the air ball," Orbot says, throwing a garbage bag on top of a pile left in a corner.
"I think it was worth it. I do agree though I could do without the dress," Decoe sighs. "Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if they weren't enchanted so we can't take them off." This is punctuated from an angry cry as the smaller robot attempts and fails to rip off the dress.
Cubot meanwhile is spinning around, laughing as the hem of his dress flutters around him. "I don't know, I think it fits me pretty well!"
"That's it!"
Turning around, Cubot sees Bokkun running towards him and is barely able to avoid the swipe! "Woah, maybe you need some anger management classes."
"If the doctor won't punish you, then I will! Maybe some dents will make you smarter!"
"You said I was a genius though!"
"I take it back!"
Needless to say, Decoe, Bocoe, and Orbot did most of the cleaning, and neither Eggman nor Yahna made any progress recreating the phenomena independently.
Mind, Magic, and Morons
Three robots sit upon a step, gazing out into space. All at once they let out long sad sighs. They do not even lift there heads as the sound of wheels can be heard approaching them.
"Hey new siblings!" Cubot waves in excitement. However, they do not make any attempt to return the greeting.
"Oh dear. Are you all okay?" Orbot asks the three. "You all were so happy be back with the doctor before. Did something happen?"
Decoe answers, but not before giving another sigh. "The doctor has been depressed lately, and we cannot tell the reason why."
"Even when I do annoying stuff, the doctor just waves me off as he works. I think something is really wrong with him!" Bokkun yells, getting up from his position on the step before stomping his feet against the hard metal floor. "What happened? What happened what happened what happened!?"
The red and yellow robots look to each other for a moment, as if considering if they should tell them. Finally Orbot answers, "Well, it is a bit of a… private matter. It is probably best that we leave him for now. He has had a lot of… mixed feelings lately."
"B-but there has to be something we can do for the doctor! Anything!" Bokkun begins to cry as he flies up to Orbot and proceeds to shake his cranium like a magic eight ball in the hopes that it will give him an answer.
Orbot pushes the flying robot away. "I understand your concern, but we need to be patient. It would be best for-."
"I have a plan."
Orbot can only turn his neck to look at Cubot, finger raised and hand at his side in a confident pose. Suddenly, the other three are already on their knees, looking up at the yellow robot.
"Thank you!"
"Please, tell us what to do!"
"Follow me!" Cubot yells as he drives off, the other three following close behind.
Giving his own sigh, Orbot can tell it's too late to push them towards doing something else. He has a bad feeling about this.
A certain scantily clad witch meanwhile is busy writing in her notebook, looking among her collection of magic items. Picking up a strange leaf from some unknown tree, she focuses her energy into it. A slight green mist covers the plant, and she nods before placing it down. Then she does the same the ring that her current employer had given her. She does it again. Nothing.
She places a pen to her lips and mumbles to herself, "That might be worth mentioning, but how much has that changed? These rings don't fit in with common knowledge."
Suddenly, she hears a knock at her door. With a wave of her hand, it opens to reveal Cubot carrying some kind of blue cloth, with some of the her employer's underlings behind her. "Hello, would you mind putting this on? The doctor would really appreciate it."
Dropping the ring, she approaching him and picks up the offered item. She unravels it and realizes it's some kind of body suit with a… spiked hood? It seems that on the feet there are also some strange red shoes.
"He wants me to… wear this?"
"Absolutely. It would just make his day!"
Suddenly, Orbot comes running, heaving from exertion. "Yahna, my apologies, you do not need to put that on. The doctor has no interest in you wearing that."
"So… I am not to wear this?"
"Yes!" "No!" the two shout.
She frowns at their contradictory answers. "For golems, you two are not very helpful. Such a troublesome employer." Shaking her head, she pushes her way past the robots and into the hallway, causing the others to follow.
"Um, where are you going?" Orbot asks.
"To speak with your master. To ask me to wear this suit is strange enough, but now I'm being told conflicting answers by two golems? I need to clear up this confusion."
"Can you at least put it on first before showing him?"
"Cubot, please stop telling them to do weird things, they might get the wrong idea! Especially around our impressionable younger siblings."
It isn't long before Yahna finds her way to the doctor who was typing away at a monitor just a few seconds ago before he was interrupted. Turning around he prepares to yell at whoever has decided to disturb him, but stops as he sees the annoyed woman carrying what can only be described as a Sonic onesie.
"Did you send your creations with this for me to wear?" she asks, tapping her foot impatiently.
"… You waste my time with such questions!? Of course not!" his eyes turn to the robots congregating at the door. "Robots! Come here!" The group practically fall over each other trying to get through the door before lining up and standing ramrod straight.
"Did you request one of my underlings to dress up like my nemesis?"
"W-we were just trying to help!" Bocoe says, shaking so much that one might think his bolts would loosen.
"Cubot suggested it! It was all his idea!" Bokkun shouts.
"It does not matter who came up with the idea, the fact that you thought I would want anything of the sort is frustrating!" He turns to the woman. "Yahna, for future reference if Cubot tells you I want something, unless Orbot says the same just ignore him. And don't come to me with such inane questions."
"Inane?" she asks, taking a step back like he had struck her. "Do not blame me for being confused when your own golems cannot be consistent."
"They are inane, because you should have known by now which of my machines are worth listening to. And robots! They are not golems, they are RO-BOTS! They were made with logical and sensical rules, not your silly little fairly lights and sparkles."
The woman's mouth gapes at his words. The gape is soon replaced with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "I guess you're right, a golem would actually be able to listen to its master. That magic is clearly far beyond your mind."
"What did you say!? With science there is logic behind it!"
"I've seen men younger than you able to grasp more. You can't even make a single spark with your fingers."
"You… YOU! I can show you just how many sparks my machines can make!"
There is almost no distance between the two as they glare at each other disdainfully. Then Cubot pipes up "Sounds like we should have a contest!"
They turn to the bot in the corner, smiling proudly at his idea. Their glares are quickly replaced by grins.
"Hohoho, I am always happy to prove my superiority."
"And I am happy to see proud men like you learn their shortcomings. What would this contest require?"
"Ooh, ooh, who can make the best vacuum cleaner!" Cubot calls.
"Very well than. We shall make the best cleaner. Be prepared to be shown as a fool as my genius destroys you!"
"According to my experience, the fool will be you."
The two exit the room, leaving all the robots stunned.
"Cubot, what did you just do?"
"The boss always loves showing up a rival. Sonic isn't here though, so he needs a new one."
"I am surprised to say this, but that… was actually smart of you," Orbot says.
Bokkun flies up in the air as a realization hits him. "Wait, with these new vacuums we will never have to clean again!"
Decoe and Bocoe gasp and bow before the yellow robot. "You are a genius!" "The smartest among us!"
"Aww, thanks you guys," he says, scratching his head. "Now, let's get her into that Sonic costume!"
All the other robots cheer, except for Orbot who can only shake his head. Maybe his brother just got lucky.
Cubot walks into the designated room, carrying his massive tub of popcorn. He takes his spot among the other four robots who are waiting excitedly for the match between their creator and one of his newest minions.
"Hey, anyone want some?"
"I appreciate the sentiment, but the doctor did not install me or Decoe with a mouth."
"More for us, than!" Bokkun grins before flying into the massive tub.
Eventually after some waiting, Eggman enters the room, along with the machine he must have built to best Yahna. It looks very much like a normal trash can, although upon closer inspection there are some metal plates on the side that are likely to open for some mechanism.
Next walks Yahna, a cloak covering some sort of object. However, what stands out is her new costume, making the doctor frown.
"I thought I said you didn't need to wear the suit."
"It looks strange, but it is quite comfortable. I was also told it is peak fashion, as the kids say."
"I can't take you seriously with that on, take that ridiculous thing off!" he shouts, pointing at the older woman.
The door slides open and in walks Belle. "Oh, is this where the contest will be?"
"Keep that ridiculous thing on!" he shouts again.
"Did you not just sa-"
"I don't want the young girl to get any ideas from your usual choice in fashion."
The witch rolls her eyes at this. "No matter my attire, I shall best you. Behold, my creation!" she holds out a jar of what looks like fire. However, there does not appear to be anything inside to feed it, nor is there any smoke and steam.
"Hmm, nothing impressive. Not like my badnik," he says, patting the can shaped robot on its top. "This was created purely to clean everything. It is much more controlled than your little thing, hehe. I'll save the best for last and let you go first."
"A little quick to assume your victory is at hand."
A few robotic helpers arrive, grab some cans and throw garbage over the stage, leaving the place coated with filth. Now with the battleground properly sullied, Yahna uncorks her jar and dumps the flame onto the ground.
To everyone's surprise, it does not seem to burn at the wooden floor of the stage, but it does not fizzle out either. Instead it merely hovers over various pieces of trash, lighting them ablaze. It disappears in seconds. Not even smoke is created.
"I created a fire hex which searches for poisons, and with a connection to an aether portal dimension I have also ensured no smell is left from the burning. Sadly for you, even a spell as simple as this is beyond your mundane machinery."
Once the fire devours all the waste, a nearby robot buzzes. "Room cleaned in… 1 minute 23 seconds, 25427 nanoseconds."
"Hmm, I can see its use," Eggman grumbles. "However, let me check to see how truly clean you have made it?" he grins as he holds out a tablet. Pushing a button, a screen nearby flickers on to show the room, but wherever garbage had landed a yellow glow is shown.
"Hohoho! How very pathetic, you hardly cleaned the germs! If this is the best your magic can do, I am not impressed."
"W-what!?" Yahna stumbles back in surprise. "Germs? What are you talking about? Is this something you have made up to heal your pride?"
"Oh?" the man puts a hand to his mouth as if he's trying to hold back laughter. "Even school children know about germs. Minions, how about we share a good laugh at this woman's sub-preschool intelligence?"
Most of the audience burst into laughter. The display of most of them make her grind her teeth. However, as she looks into the crowed she notices Belle not partaking in the laughter.
"You, young one! You have a reputation for honesty! These germs are but a hoax, correct?" she shouts.
Belle takes a moment, pointedly avoiding eye contact. Then she shrinks in on herself, as if preparing for backlash. "Germs are kind of… real. I-I mean, that's how we get sick."
There is a new bout of laughter from everyone, and the way her face turns red it almost looks like Yahna is going to faint from either anger or embarrassment. "Miasma! You used a new term, I know of miasma!"
Wiping away a tear, Eggman's laughter dies down. "Oh, yes, you definitely dealt with the worst of it, I won't dispute that, but you couldn't lick the floor without getting sick. Here, let me show you what science can create. Binbot!"
Suddenly, the garbage bin's lid opens to reveal a frog like face. "Knock over those cans and clean them up!"
With a swipe of its tongue, it sends the rest of the cans to the ground, covering the floor once more. Then, the can's panels open, revealing more long tongues. Then they lap at the ground. Quickly, the floor is coated in a film of liquid that removes all the stains as soon as they touch.
"Behold my Eggman brand detergent! It kills one hundred percent of all germs, then safely becomes inert as it vaporizes into the air, leaving behind a lovely smell of citrus. You could eat off the floor with this!"
The garbage frog grabs at a stray diaper, and swallows it whole. Then, it shakes, and shoots out a cube of material.
"And it even recycles old material. Truly superior to your pathetic little fire hazard!"
The X trio hold their hands to their nonexistent mouths as somehow their faces gain a slight green tint. Cubot grabs a hand full of popcorn and holds it out to them, but is promptly waved off waved off by the silver and gold robots, and Bokkun flies off to the nearby bathroom.
Once all the garbage is removed, Eggman takes a look at his watch. Then he grits his teeth in anger. "Blast it!" he shouts, throwing the watch against the ground. "It took too long because I added that recycling feature!"
"Hehehe, it looks like I have bested your science!"
"Don't be absurd, your pathetic 'magic' couldn't clean a bath tub! My science is infinitely more efficient."
"You are just angry because you LOST. My magic has proven itself more than capable."
"Capable at the bare minimum miss "what's germ theory"!"
"Shut up about that! I didn't realize you were speaking of miasma!"
As the two continue to argue to argue, the bots watch on in consternation. "Has the doctor been fighting with Yahna since he recruited her?" Bocoe asks.
"No. Thankfully before now they've been too busy to argue like this."
Cubot once more reaches into his popcorn bucket. However, after grabbing around he comes up with nothing. Empty. "Well, that was fun," he says, getting up from his seat. "Gotta take out the trash."
Neither Eggman nor Yahna notice as Cubot gets onto the stage where he throws it into the air. "Dinner time guys!"
"Huh?" "What?" the combatants turn around in time to see the bucket flying. Then, to their shock the fire latches onto the bucket at just the same time as binbot's tongue takes hold! In an instant, it devours the fire!
"You fool, I didn't make the machine fireproof!"
The machine's eyes start to shine a blinding white! Everyone takes cover behind the nearest object before it explodes, sending hot shrapnel across the stage. Left on the stage was… not something anyone expected.
Inside is a ball of wind, circling around a slightly singed mechanical ring, the lights along it flickering.
"What is this?" the doctor says, putting his goggles over his eyes. "The Gerald Ring is interfacing with the gas… externally? Computation efficiency is much higher than normal."
"The aether portal has accepted a solid object? How? It only allows in gases."
"Gases only? So that's why. Without any solid dust the ring has more "space" for computations as the errors particles usually give are not present. Since its inception this has always been one of the more serious issues even after finding the solid to gas equilibrium."
"Gas to solid equilibrium?"
"Gases are easier to isolate for changes but are less stable than solids. This lets me take advantage of both. My family's brilliance is astounding, isn't it?" the doctor asks, looking quite pleased with himself.
"Hmm, so since it has similar properties to gas it can enter the field. That means Imnel's law becomes less of an issue!"
"Hmm?" Eggman asks.
"Certain enchantments cannot be too close on one solid object or else they destabilize. This way I might be able to isolate the two, allowing for more complicated spells!" She brings a hand to the ring, and suddenly a strange red symbol appears on it. Then another, but this one blue. "It worked! It is accepting the enchantments!"
Eggman meanwhile has taken out a tablet, pressing various buttons with enthusiasm. "Oh, the aether portal is bigger than I thought! With the right adjustments I could make a robot with a massive armory, and I'd only need it to be half the size of the armaments!"
The two grin as they analyze and fiddle with the vortex, the two chortling in amusement at the find. It is almost as if they have forgotten everything else, from the competition to the audience.
"Well, it looks like we have brightened the doctor's day," Decoe says, smiling at the show.
"At least for a little while," Orbot voices. "Their new toy is truly fascinating. I wonder what else it can do."
"It looks like Cubot is curious too!" Bokkun shouts pointing down at the robot below, the scientist and mage too enraptured to notice his presence. Slowly he reaches out to the whirling ball.
"No, do-" before he can finish his brother is already poking the ball. Then, like a massive balloon, it pops! The orb disappears, and with that disappearance comes the reappearance of garbage, hurtling across the room, coating the floors and walls.
Yahna's mouth is opened wide in shock, while Eggman is gritting his teeth and looks like he is trying to hold back a scream. However, at the last moment he takes a deep breath.
"You know what? I didn't need that. As fascinating as that might have been, there is always a superior method through pure science. I have no need for silly parlor tricks."
Yahna looks as if she has been slapped in the face, but she bites back her own retort and keeps her calm. "You are right I suppose. The mundane just cannot live up to the power of magic. Through my own methods I know I could recreate the phenomenon."
"Than lets see who can replicate it first! But… one last thing," he looks towards Cubot with a glint of danger in his eyes. "I think I need to teach my machines to not go touching things!"
"I do agree," the witch replies, her eyes filled with malice.
Cubot can only chuckle nervously as he removes a banana peel from his head.
"I hate this," Bukkun growls as he sweeps the floor, clad in a familiar maid costume. "Why did they have to punish us for what Cubot did? I thought I was done with this stupid skirt when I left Janken's territory!"
"Well, we did succeed in what we set out to do. The doctor has been rather engaged in his attempts of recreating the air ball," Orbot says, throwing a garbage bag on top of a pile left in a corner.
"I think it was worth it. I do agree though I could do without the dress," Decoe sighs. "Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if they weren't enchanted so we can't take them off." This is punctuated from an angry cry as the smaller robot attempts and fails to rip off the dress.
Cubot meanwhile is spinning around, laughing as the hem of his dress flutters around him. "I don't know, I think it fits me pretty well!"
"That's it!"
Turning around, Cubot sees Bokkun running towards him and is barely able to avoid the swipe! "Woah, maybe you need some anger management classes."
"If the doctor won't punish you, then I will! Maybe some dents will make you smarter!"
"You said I was a genius though!"
"I take it back!"
Needless to say, Decoe, Bocoe, and Orbot did most of the cleaning, and neither Eggman nor Yahna made any progress recreating the phenomena independently.
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