The Wraiths couldn't believe what was being seen on the floating holo screens, and within seconds many of them screamed in terror.

"A MEDABOT! A FUCKING MEDABOT!"

"WHAT'S THAT THING DOING IN THE CITY?!"

"THE FUCK'S THE TSA THINKING?!"

"TSA'S FOR AIRPORTS, RETARD!"

"DON'T CALL ME A RETARD YOU STUPID CUN-"

[ENOUGH!] The voice of their leader roared, his voice echoing throughout the building and silencing the panicking criminals. [If this Medabot was here to wreak any sort of having then that section of Carrot Top would be filled with holes! Coincidentally, it's appearance is related to as to why I've called you here. 554! 223!] From out of nowhere, a pair of light shined on two adult Wraiths, one on tier 3, and the other on tier 7. [Thanks to a bit of networking on my end, I managed to smuggle in four Medabots. One is with me, and the two of you will receive two of your own. The last one got lost somewhere in North Carrot Top, 3 miles away from where the RAY was last seen .] The screen blinked out of existence. [Now before I continue, I must stress something important: Do not under any circumstances, go looking for this lost Medabot, or the red Medabot you just saw. I've seen that model for the first time in the 50's, so it is incredibly outdated. How it got into this country I do not know, but despite that, it is far more powerful than any of you. Now I know some of you have trouble listening when I tell you not to do anything-] The light shined on 300 of the Wraiths before going away. [-So let me give you a visual demonstration.]

The screen came back, this time showing multiple camera angles of a demolished train yard. Streaks of uprooted earth lined the area, train cars spewing smoke, some reduced to cinders and others reduced to molten slag, just like the train tracks. Waves of heat could be seen emanating from the streaks, and most horrific of all were the melted piles of flesh and burnt clothing, and many of the more knowledgeable Wraiths knew that humans don't melt! Tank guns were removed from the tanks themselves almost as though they were snipped off, trucks looked as though they were sinking into bubbling ground like quicksand, and running at a group of fleeing soldiers, 30 in total, was the red Medabot itself. Some of the soldiers were screaming in some language most of the Wraiths didn't recognize though few realized it was some sort of Chinese, and the brave ones that shot at their pursuer watched as their bullets bounced harmlessly off it's body. The Medabot raised one of it's pincers at the fleeing soldiers and opened them, revealing a gun barrel that formed a bright ball of light. The footage then slowed down as the robot fired the ball of light, and the Wraiths could only watch in revulsion as the ball turned into a blast and melted every single one of them. If one could put it into words, imagine that the soldiers were well made Play-Doh figures, and that the energy was some combination of water and a messy kid's hand that mushed all of them together into some disgusting, unidentifiable pile of mush.

[ I hope this illustrates my point, unless you want me to replay those last few seconds. This machine has been in the United States for an estimated two weeks, and has made it's way to Georgia for reasons I cannot fathom. Information has been suppressed on the matter, but even so it seems to have avoided every major city on it's way down here. It's power output is far lower than what you have seen on screen, and the fact that it can lower it so easily without external help is the most worrying thing about this entire situation.] There was a pause for a few seconds, almost as if he was contemplating something. [Regardless of that, but even if it didn't have it's power reduced, it's still powerful enough to blast through the magic I put into your suits and kill you. So let me reiterate: DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, go after the RAY Medabot! If you see this machine, you run, AM. I. CLEAR?!]His voice boomed and echoed throughout the room. Many of the Wraiths quickly shook their heads, some crying and screaming in horror at the prospect of angering their leader, more of them close to pissing themselves at the prospect of fighting a Medabot. It was thanks to the power of the Wraith suits and the abilities they gave them, plus the fact that their leader would kill them, that they didn't run away and quit the Wraiths right then and there. [Good. Now as I was saying: 554, 223. You have been chosen to wield two of these Medabots for yourselves. You are from the least guarded areas of Carrot Top, South Way Condiminums and the Radogan Lakewood mobile home community. You are trusted, adored in your human forms, and have the most freedom out of any resident of this wretched hole of a city. 554!] The Wraith in question jumped back from the yell. [Your management of the North Carrot Top and South Atlanta's protection rackets has kept our profit margins stable and the criminals coming in. Your connections at your college and the surrounding areas make you a very valuable ally for what is to come]

[223!] The Wraith in question, 14 years old, was giddy, giggling like the schoolgirl she was and eager to await the praise of his glorious leader. [The control your gang have over South Carrot Top's elementary and middle schools have given me great information regarding how the average man thinks. Because of this, I have identified sixteen potential Interpol agents who have infiltrated the workplace of the parents of various students in your care.] The Wraiths that knew what Interpol was about recoiled in fear. [Relax, the agents aren't here for us.] He left it at that. There was a lot protecting the Wraiths from gunfire, but nothing to protect their headquarters from a raid. [Now back to business. You control much of the future of the gangs in that sector 223, and for that, I thank you.]

Before 554 and 223 could blink, they were standing in the center of the tiers, above the lava pit, and frozen in fear by the sudden teleportation. 554's wrist glowed and when it disappeared a watch appeared on her arm. 223's hand glowed and found herself with a pink I-Phone lookalike. [These are modified versions of Meta-Evil's Medabot controllers. Small, indistinct, and as of now undetectable. They are bulletproof, pressure proof, and fitted with the same magic in our suits to prevent theft or loss. These will let you control and call your Medabots at will. You will act as your machine's extra eyes and ears, act as their healers, their commanders, these beasts will be under your complete control! And without further ado, here they are.] Even with the protection of their cowls, the Wraiths were blinded as a beam of light shot down behind 554 and 223, the noise near deafening as the light dissipated. When it did, it took the elder Wraiths, the ones that went abroad, all their willpower to not scream in terror. [I ask my elder members to calm down. Those who have fought in the Iraq war, Gulf War, and even partaken in the Cuban Missile Crisis, you know the power these things wield. Think of it like the first step towards getting revenge on the man that wronged you. If all goes well with this trial run, you will be able to grab Meta-Evil by his shriveled nutsack and make him pay for his transgressions! Now then 554, 223! Activate your Medabots.]

223 gulped. "So uhh...how do I do that?" Her question was answered when her phone lit up and a line of energy shot out from into the Medabot. "O-oh." 223 stared at the Medabot in confusion and fearbefore a beep from her phone bought her attention to the device. "BLZ-0NF, Blazermate" She read off the phone, figuring that it was the Medabots model number and name respectively. "I expected worse." But then again, that was the evil in Meta'-Evil's Medabot designs. They were so small and colorful and cute, and even their most deadly weapons looked like an oversized toy you'd find at Wal-Mart. This thing was no exception, thought it looked more like a robot than the Happy Meal toy she just saw murder a group of soldiers. Blazermate was a feminine-looking Medabot, probably actually female in this instance. The thing was almost entirely blue and white save for the green eyes, it's pats slim and lightly armored, and for some reason looking like a Japanese schoolgirl. It wasn't rail thin like some of the Medabots she saw on CNN or on the internet, it actually looked like it had some 'meat' on it's bones, well if it were human, that is. It had large shoulderpads and a solid, split 'skirt' section. The head had two pigtails and twintails, the twintails looking more like giant, smooth portrusions that went down to her feet, and connected to it's head through hexagonal blocks that give the impression of massive pigtails, tied with a tiara on it's head. "So uhhh..what does thing do?" This was..this was just surreal. It was like being in the same room as a serial killer and given free reign t do what you want to them.

[You will find out in due time. 554, how do you find your Machine?]

"Uhhh.." It was far simpler than that schoolgirl robot 223 got. It was..an alien. A white, featureless alien, same height as the Medabot next to it, with a big head, red eyes, and that was it. "It's ..creepy."

[I will do more reconnaissance on this Medabot. In the meantime, I will give you three hours to acquaint yourselves with your machines. Until then, you are all free to move around Phantomgeddon, but do not leave the forest. Do we have an understanding?] The Wraiths nodded or said yes very nervously. [Good. Dismissed.]

MMMMMM

The Medabot stared at Jane.

Jane stared back at the Medabot, not feeling an ounce of fear thanks to her terrible sense of priorities. This stare off had been going on for 12 minutes before Jane yawned. "Like, are you going to do anything?" She grumbled, crossing her arms. "I'm not backing down, I'm winning this staring contest!" And so she continued staring, and staring-

"YOU IDIOT!"

Before she was yanked away and dragged into the kitchen. "HEY!" She yelled as she was thrown into a rack, looking up to see the pale blonde staring down at her angrily with tear filled eyes as the sounds of her heavy breaths filled the room. "White probably Mexican Lady?" Now that she thought about it, she saw this white girl somewhere before... "Any reason you're so tired?"

"Y-y-you.." Lilliam's anger gave way to sniveling before she began crying, and hugged Jane. She wailed as the Medabot walked into the kitchen, it's blue visor blinking brightly.

"Hey, what's the big idea?!" She could easily push the weird white girl off, but she felt nice, and smelt familiar, just like this other blonde girl that followed her around during middle school. 'What was her name again?' Lillith, Lillie, Lila...dang it, it was on the tip of her bleeping tongue! And just as she was about to win that staring contest..at least she thought she was going to win, and then get back to her food!

"Fucking christ, it's always the same with you..." Lilliam whispered, her tear stained face still red. "Why?! Why are you such a fucking retard?! I've seen your grades! You're smarter than this! You're smarter than most of the people in this fucking city! How does a fucking sped like you get straight A's, yet be stupid enough to stand in front of a goddamn Medabot and do nothing?!"

Jane stared at the strange girl, who had been reduced into sniffling. 'Lillika, Lilliputian, Lilly of the Lilly 5..'

"We gott get the hell out of here, that Medabot's out there, and who knows-"

"-It's right behind you." Jane pointed out, causing Lilliam to turn in horror and let out a scream of terror, clutching Jane for dear life. "Hi Medabot!" The black girl yelled, causing Lilliam's ears to protest and the Medabot to tilt it's head, as if it was confused. "My name's Jane Danjuma, and this girl hanging on to me...I think his name's Shota Suzumiya!"

"..." Lilliam and the Medabot just stared at her, disbelief written on their faces as to how she even came up with that name. "What." Gender, name, ethnicity of said name, she got it all wrong!

Jane however, mistook their gobsmack looks for amazed pride."Yeah took me a while, but I figured it out! It was the first name I came up with after a long, rigorous process of trial and error! For a second I thought your name was Lilliam, but that's stupid! Lilliam didn't have as many freckles as you did, and she didn't hide her boobs behind baggy clothes! She was flat as a twig when I met her, even skinner than I was, and I was a twig!'

"...Nope, nope, not questioning this, we're leaving right now!" Lilliam dragged Jane out of the restaurant. To their luck, she saw an unmanned car. "Perfect! Now all you have to do Janey is hot wire-" And it was here that she realized that the load she was carrying was very light, almost nonexistent. "Oh no.."

MMMMM

"Hi Medabot!" Jane yelled as she skipped back into the front of the restaurant and got her briefcase. "There we go!" She reattached it on her back and skipped back where she came. "Bye Medabo-OOOF!" The pint sized robot tripped Jane, causing her to land face first onto the floor. "Jerk." She mumbled, not feeling any pain as the Medabot walked in front of her, Lilliam stopping in front of the door just in time to see what appeared to be the poor girl about to die. Jane looked up, a look of irritation on her face. "So like, am I gonna be a Candidate or are you gonna kill me?" The Medabot jumped back in shock. "Yeah I know about all that business; Take-kun got a Medabot catalogue. You look a little different, but I can recognize what line you came from. RAY unit, and I'm guessing ...Version 0, am I right?" The Medabot stepped back again. "I know a lot about the Zero Units like you, cutesely looking things, smooth and overly bright in coloration, and you look like you came out of a Mcdonalds Happy Meal. But what I want to know is how you got into the US . I've seen what happens when you guys get within America's Martime Boundaries. Also that white girl is behind you."

"W-w-what the hell.." Lilliam stuttered, shocked, gobsmacked, and horrified at what she was seeing. "You dealt in Medabots Janey?"

"Nope! Those guys are dangerous! Except some of the Zero Units, like this one!"

"You poor little fool.." This shit right here, this was why she didn't want to remember anything pertaining to her! The paradox of Rickety Jane was a very frustrating, rewarding, and harrowing, nightmarish experience; for every moronic, stupid thing she did that endagered the lives of those around her and caused the deaths of one or five people, often time using strength that belied her skinny frame, she did something intelligent and clever using information she, and hell most people, had no right or way to know, and using wits that someone like her shouldn't have. And like the paradox that was her intelligence, Lilliam was driven to protect the dolt. It'd be very hypocrticial if she looked down on her Janey for dealing in illegal arms; She's from Carrot Top after all.

"You've been awfully silent for a Zero Unit.." Jane said, as Lilliam grabbed a random pot and very slowly approached the Medabot from behind. "Are you doing a scan or something? If you are, that'd be soooo bleeping cool!" A big grin came onto her face. "You could scan, and shoot! Scan, and shoot, like you were some barcode scanner of death! I've always wanted a barcode scanner! Sure it's like, totally useless, but-

"Biometric scan 100% complete!"Lilliam and Jane blinked at the female voice coming from the killer robot. Jane placed the accent it had somewhere around 'Southern California' "FINALLY! Having to listen to you was a nightmare!"

Lilliam dropped the pan in shock, causing the Medabot to turn it's head 360 degrees to face her. T-that thing is talking."" She whispered.. "It's fucking talking and it sounds like some posh surfer bitch from California and it's looking straight at me!'

"I remember when I had a body like that.." The Medabot mumbled before turning her attention back to the strange, possibly mentally ill, girl on the floor."You're braver than most people I know, so congratulations are in order, I guess." The Medabot opened it's pincer, revealing a gun barrel underneath. Before either of them could do anything, Jane having enough common sense to know when a gun was pointed at her, the Medabot fired a beam of pink energy point blank at her, causing Lilliam to let out a scream of horror and grab the Medabot.

"LET HER GO!"

Jane was lifted up into the air and onto her feet as a pink belt formed around her waist. "Yep, Candidate! Nice!" The belt's design then changed from a simple pink to a scaly pink, like those you would see on a fish. The belt's buckle was the last thing to form, taking the shape of a beautiful mermaid, like the one you would see on the bow of a ship, as big as Jane's fist, with an octagonal shape in the middle of the mermaid's bellybutton. "Oh bleep you, I got this one?! The Mermaid sucks!"

"You're alive.." Lilliam stared at Jane as the black teen complained and complained. Her grip slipped off the Medabot, her hands slightly warm as she slunk to the ground, a black butterfly fluttering in hovering behind Jane."You're alive and you're not even giving this situation the urgency it deserves.." Then again, why would she?

"Well, you're better than nothing I suppose. Now listen closely, you nimrod. Inside that belt buckle there is an instruction manual, a Medal Detector, and everything you need to-" Suddenly the Medabot jumped onto Jane's shoulder and opened one of her pincers, letting out a beam of energy that warped the air around the trail of the blast and set fire to the entrance of the . "It's not safe here it seems. Oh well; you obviously know what to do, so that's that. I'm out of here. I trust you know not to let that belt fall into the wrong hands."

"Yep! Bye Medabot!"

"Yeah whatever. I'll be back." And with that, she activated the wheels on the back of her feet and skated out of the store and onto the streets.

"Wow that was cool! Jane said as the screams of terror outside filled hers and Lilliam's ears. "So where are the chicken tits?"

Lillie just sputtered in indignation as her brain rebooted using the 'Rickety Jane Startup System', something her mind had created to deal with whatever weird shit Jane came up with. "In the oven over there." She pointed to the right, next to the stove. "They're fresh."

"Sweet!" She happily skipped over to it. "You want any?"

"No-" She began, before a warm smile came onto her face. "You know what? Give me-wait, wait a minute." She walked out the kitchen and to the front of the store, wincing from the heat as she opened the cash register and putting the money in a take out bag before coming back. "Sorry about that, I just needed to get some spending money." Lord knows management wouldn't let her keep her job after this mess, and she'll be damned if the Wraiths took her paycheck again! "So, the chicken?"

The RAY unit Medabot sped down the streets of Carrot Top via the wheels on the back of her legs, ignoring the screams of terror directed at her, the gunshots directed at her by a few of the braver citizens bouncing off her armor. 'Of all the people in this dump of a city, that idiot had to be a Candidate?!' And she dared to wear the clothes of her alma mater to boot! 'Still, she did seem like a good person..' That was the key word there, seemed. Sheobviously wasn't one of these Wraiths, and she had words to say about their leader and his Medabot, but experience showed her that Candidates didn't have to be nice people, and to see someone like her in this wretched city was just too damn ridiculous! 'Whatever comes of this, I hope it leads to good things.'She got onto highway, riding on the side of the road to avoid traffic, avoiding the people who swerved out of the way of her and subsequently crashed. 'I'll hopefully see you soon, Minori, in just a few days.'

And all the while, a butterfly trailed her every movement, it's red compact eyes glowing brightly.