EVE massaged her forehead as she tried to focus on her work, the lines blurring in her vision, "Ugh...I think I know what it's like to have Dyslexia..."

"Do you want any help?" Leah asked, playing with baby Ted on the floor.

"No no...the others should be home soon. You need to watch Ted."

"Right, well I'm here if you change your mind."

This hurts my cerebral program... EVE thought.

"Yee-ah!" Ted giggled with delight.

"Aw! He knows my name!" Leah swung him around in her arms, "I love you, Teddy!"

EVE decided to take a break from her work, "When is Aya coming home?"

"Hm? I'm not sure." Leah stood Ted up on his little feet, "She was supposed to come home today, but she commed me earlier saying she might run late."

"Great..." EVE huffed, leaning back in her chair, "I've been captain for almost three years and I still don't know how it works..."

"Don't worry about that." Leah giggled as Ted bounced on his feet, "I think you've been doing great!"

"I can't tell if you're being sincere or just trying to make me feel better..."

"Eh...I'm being sincere."

"Alright..." EVE stretched her arms, "What a day..."

"Hey, it could be worse." Leah replied, "You could be watching a two-year-old for three days."

"At least he doesn't give me a headache worse than being drilled in the freaking brain..."

"Hey. We can switch any time you want."

"I'm going to take a break." EVE hovered to the door, "I just want to see Aya again."

Aya crossed the street and then headed down the sidewalk. It was definitely a bad idea to be out after dark, but it was even worse when it was nearly 4 in the morning and not a single other human or robot was in sight. She needed to get home before something happened that she would regret. Her golden-colored eyes swiveled back and forth nervously, feeling the paranoia creep through her system. Maybe she should call someone. Rose wouldn't mind walking home with her, would she? Maybe she should just book it.

She was definitely in the bad side of town. What she had wanted was to take a quick shortcut, but unfortunately she didn't realize how poor her sense of direction was. That combined with her clumsiness, she was hopelessly lost. She growled in frustration as she rounded another familiar corner.

Suddenly, she felt something tug at her systems.

"Hello, little one..."

She felt a shiver run up her spinal cord, wrapping around her mind.

"W-who's there!?" she searched all around with her eyes, "Show yourself!"

Two mismatched red optics glowed from the darkness, "What's a lovely thing like you doing in a dreadful place like this?"

"Eep!" Aya tried to fly away but felt herself restrained by an invisible force.

"Don't you know it's dangerous to be out by yourself?" the figure stepped into the light, revealing a long robot composed of mostly sharp angles. He wore very formal yet practical clothing, with a long dark cape. He opened his mouth, exposing sharp drills for teeth and a long forked tongue.

Aya couldn't believe her eyes, "I-I know you! I saw you in the newspaper! You're that energy vampire! You're...you're Nos-4a-2!"

"Hmmm...I'm flattered that the wealthiest of nobility on this pathetic planet has heard my name! I'll make sure your entrails are delivered straight to the Axiom..."

"No! No, please let me go! Just..." she struggled, "Let...me...go!"

"I am your master now, little one...resist me not..." he whispered menacingly, "...for you are mine..."

She felt something tugging on her mind tightly, trying to force her to obey, twisting and warping her own thoughts until they were no longer her own.

No! It's a lie! Don't believe it! Resist!

"Come to me, little one.."

Master...

"No..."

NOS-4A-2 was incredulous, "What?"

"NO! I won't let you take my mind!" she shot him with her laser cannon and managed to nick his arm, which provided enough distraction to fly away. She didn't look back as she spiraled into the sky and sped off.

She was never taking that shortcut again.

"Are you serious!?"

"Yeah! He was so tall! I'm lucky he didn't get me!"

"Lemme see your neck!" EVE grabbed the sides of her neck crevice and inspected it.

"Eve, I don't have a neck-!"

"That's besides the point, Aya!" EVE sighed as she spun around to face her other sisters, "Listen, we don't know much about this Nos-4a-2, so stay on high alert! I've heard many rumors about him biting unsuspecting robots and draining them of their energy. Some of them have even turned up dead, and those who survive are never the same. Whatever you do, don't let him bite you!"

Aya watched her other sisters fly away, a sense of dread overwhelming her. She was going to have to go back. She had taken up the job of helping the people of the Axiom communicate with the others from different starliners. She was a natural extrovert, and she loved being with people and communicating with them. If she was to continue, how could she avoid NOS-4A-2? She saw the anger in his eyes, and the shock of having escaped so easily.

"Just who are you?" she wondered aloud, "Hey, Eve. I know I just got back, but I need to leave tomorrow morning.

"Aya..." EVE shook her head in disbelief, "You do realize that you've been gone for three weeks. I'm so happy to see you again and now you're leaving!?"

"Look, these guys have been having a land dispute for a long time. I wouldn't be surprised if it erupted into aggressive fighting." Aya's expression fell, "Honestly, I wish you could come with me. You're much better at keeping the peace than I am."

"I wouldn't say that." EVE replied, "I'm just afraid you'll be attacked by Nos-4a-2 again. What if he bites you and drains all your energy!? He can control minds that way!"

"Eve! I'll be fine! I know what to do now!" she argued, "Besides, Ruby agreed to go with me this time."

"Oh yeah...that makes me feel sooo much better..." EVE mumbled sarcastically, "Fine, but don't stay away for so long. Only having Leah and Ted for company is getting pretty lonely."

"Don't worry. I'll be back as soon as I can." Aya winked, "I promise."

"Okay..." EVE had a bad feeling about this whole thing, but she wouldn't push the issue, "Just stay out of trouble, okay? Not only is Forthright on our tails, but now Nos-4a-2 is stirring up trouble as well."

"Okay." Aya saluted before joining her other sisters in pleasant conversation.

"Almost there..." EVE mumbled.