Over in Frigandor, Dr. Borg was waiting on the latest progress report concerning Largandra. “Come on!” she groaned. “When’s Kartambo gonna take the throne?!” Just then, her console beeped. She pressed a button. “Yes?”
“Mother, it’s bad!” replied Jansha’s voice. “A bunch of duplicates have been activated from multiple robot lines, the same lines we sent to Largandra’s wall.”
“Their duplicates have been activated? What for?”
“They’re experiencing activation confusion right now. I have a feeling you need to oversee this personally.”
“On my way.” Dr. Borg ended the call and left the room rubbing her temples. She had a feeling a headache was fast approaching. She made it to the induction room, a place where new robots are familiarized with the Empire and duplicates are given their previous models’ code and memories. Jansha was at work on a console, keying in commands.
“Still parsing the data from the previous models,” she reported. “…Got it.” A feared silence filled the room. “…I don’t believe it.”
“What?” asked Dr. Borg.
“Our robots in Largandra have followed Markulak: Model 7’s example and defected to Realmfleet! Temnasia: Model 4 executed Markulak: Model 8 as he was about to kill his predecessor! They helped a strike team set up explosives within the wall, then evacuate civilians to safer areas within AND without Largandra! Trosalga: Model 90 was the one who detonated the bombs! These bots are descendants of traitors!” Dr. Borg was trembling with rage.
“Order all loyal forces to pull back to the Under-realm!” Jansha looked at the Cyborg Sprite.
“We’ll be boxed in before we find the tower!”
“There will be no more running after this! We should have examined the robots more closely so we could rid ourselves of traitors before they even think of rebellion!” Dr. Borg turned to Temnasia: Model 5, quivering in fear like her compatriots.
“Doctor, if we could talk to our predecessors,” she suggested, “get them to change their minds-!”
“Perhaps you could reawaken their patriotic spirit?” guessed Jansha.
“Exactly!”
“On the other hand,” remarked Dr. Borg, “they’re just as likely to convince you to betray us.”
“Us?! Betray you?! Never!”
“You’re right, because you won’t live to get the chance! Jansha, activate Protocol Ten on these rejects!” Protocol Ten is not a phrase robots want to hear. Upon the protocol’s activation, all duplication programs are deleted from the target’s line and the luckless robot automatically reports to the nearest smelter’s yard. Their identification codes are deleted as well so other robots, especially ones working the yards, see them as mere raw materials. Temnasia: Model 5 pled on behalf of her and her fellows.
“Dr. Borg! Jansha! Wait! You’re making a terrible mistake!”
“That’s where you’re wrong!” replied Jansha.
“But our lines have done everything you have asked of us! I tell you, we’re loyal! We believe in the Empire! Jansha! Please! Don’t do it!” Jansha pressed a button on the console and the robots began filing out of the room, pleading for her to undo Protocol 10. The last robot left, and the door shut behind it. Dr. Borg sat down on a crate and put her head in her hands.
“Did we go too fast?” she asked.
“Mother?” asked Jansha.
“Did we drain the Divine Mana too early? Our Revenants are weakening, and robots are betraying us. What next, the Golems betray us?” Just then, a male Golem entered the room, beaming with pride.
“My Creator!” he called. “We found it!” Dr. Borg arched an eyebrow, then her normal eye widened in hope.
“A Divine Tower?!”
“Yes, Doctor!” confirmed the Golem. “It’s in the desert of the Under-realm’s Eastern Continent! Right at the northern shores!”
“What’s your name?” asked Dr. Borg as she smiled.
“Grabben, Dr. Borg.”
“Mr. Grabben, you and your team will be rewarded for this joyous news! Report to the meeting hall in two hours! Before we depart, every single one of you will be rewarded with the Medal of the Trinity Star!”
“We simply did our duty, Ma’am.”
“And that dedication is what earned you that medal! Congratulations, Mr. Grabben!” They shook hands and Grabben left the room.
“Finally,” sighed Jansha happily when the door shut, “some good news at last.”
“Have our forces be ready to leave in three hours,” ordered Dr. Borg.
“At once, Mother. Shall I order for the Divine Ones and Oyed to be moved as well?”
“No. They won’t witness our ascension. Leave them to rot here in Frigandor.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Meanwhile, in a private chamber, Oyed was strapped to the wall as a robot kept shoving pizza slice after pizza slice into his mouth. He tried to spit it out, but the robot wouldn’t let him. Yulduk entered the room. “Ah, when the stars align!” he cheered.
“Sir?” asked the robot.
“We found a Divine Tower!” answered Yulduk.
“Perfect! I’ll have Oyed prepped for-!”
“No, we’re leaving him and his children to freeze here. They won’t get to watch us become gods. How’s Oyed doing, anyways?”
“Yulduk, you miserable, rotten traitor!” growled Oyed. “I will have my reveGAHGHAHAGH!” Another slice of pizza was shoved into his mouth.
“Fabulous,” chuckled Yulduk. “He’s never looked better! Gotta say, ‘Master’, your normal eyes really do wonders for social interactions. I can’t fathom why mist always seeped out of them, but, oh well. Honestly, you being drained was the best thing for morale, really. With you mobile and prattling on about your endgame, it felt like we all married our mother! …Not that I…ever thought about that.”
“Stealing my Divine Mana and blending it with my children so you could take their places!” snarled Oyed. “That’s low, even for you and Dr. Borg! But why am I being force-fed pizzARGHA!” Another slice was shoved into his mouth.
“Oh, I just wanted to be mean. You’re never going to eat pizza gain at this rate! Imagine that, life without pizza!”
“YOU FIEND!”
“Gotta give some instructions, BRB.” Yulduk turned to the robot. “We’re moving out in three hours. Once I leave, you have two minutes to continue force-feeding Oyed. Once your two minutes are up, join us in getting things packed up.”
“Understood, Lord Yulduk,” said the robot. Yulduk grinned.
“‘Lord Yulduk.’ You know, I think I’ll stick with that when I ascend. Nice and simple, wouldn’t you agree?”
“It WOULD be easier on the vocalizer.”
“Then that’s settled! Lord Yulduk, it is! Now…” Yulduk then picked up a slice that had fallen out of Oyed’s mouth and onto the floor, “it looks like little Oyed’s hungry!”
“Oh, gross!” gagged Oyed. “It’s got carpet fuzz on it! I’LL DESTROY YOU FOR THISHGHRAGH!” Yulduk shoved the slice into Oyed’s mouth.
“Yeah, yeah, ‘destroy us for this!’ I’m not the one chained to the wall here, Oyed! Yulduk out!” The Flame Elf Revenant snapped his fingers in a sassy manner and sauntered out. Once the door shut, the robot grabbed another slice.
“Please! No more! HAVE MERCIAGHERGH!” The robot made itself deaf to Oyed’s protests as it continued its job, enjoying being able to do that to the former Titan.