Worlds United
The Whole Being Dead Thing
Bee opened his optics quickly. The world around him was like a shattered mirror. Holes opened into a black abyss below. Stumbling to keep his balance on the delicate shard of mind he'd spawned on, he spotted the mystery bot across from him, facing a dimly lit wall. Bee groaned, looking around.
"Bee, look!"
Bee spun around, spotting a ghostly figure of Windblade hovering beside him. She was pointing to a sliver of mind not far from his. He glanced between her and sliver of what could be considered land her.
"You can't be serious," Bee groaned, looking to her. "What am I supposed to do? Jump?"
She smiled.
"This isn't fair," he huffed, turning back to his target.
The sliver of foggy mind wasn't far. Bee scuffled to the farthest reach of his platform as he could before running to the edge and jumping. Windblade gasped, reaching out while he was mind air. He landed hard but continued with a leap to the next landing. Windblade hovered toward him as he reached the largest platform with the mystery bot. The latter didn't even bother to turn around.
"You could've paused between jumps, you know."
"Where's the fun in that," Bee grinned. "How are you doing that ghost thing?"
"I'm a city speaker. Do they not have those where you come from?"
"Not sure," Bee shrugged, moving toward the bot. "Never came up."
Bee looked up at the large wall. It was the only large piece of mind left unbroken, though it wasn't without some cracks, large ones at that. Bee stepped up beside the other bot, Windblade hovering behind them.
"Uh…hello?" mumbled Bee.
"Oh, hi," was the solemn response, without a glance.
"What is this?" Bee whispered, looking up at the wall.
"A universe map."
"A what?"
The bot let out a deep sigh, turning to address the two. He looked tired.
"A universe map. It took centuries the map and now," he gestured to the cracks and flickering lights. "Now…it means nothing!"
"What do you mean?"
"Who are you?" mumbled Bee, motioning to the bot.
"Who am I?" the bot whimpered, turning back to the wall. "I've lost track of that…"
"The lights…they're going out…"
"What does that mean?" gasped Bee, reaching out toward the other. His hand slipped right through him.
"The universe is dying," the bot spoke flatly. "Without connecting the heart…" He pointed to the center of the map. A large light surrounded by a thin strip of white. "Everything dies."
"Then all we have to do is reconnect to the center."
The bot let out a loud laugh.
"As if it were that simple," he yawned. "I'm so…tired…"
"Let us help you," begged Bee. "Tell us who you are, where you're trying to go!"
"My name…" the bot muttered. "Techno Storm."
Parts of the mind cracked, more pieces falling into the abyss below. Techno Storm let out a deep sigh. More lights faded. Windblade lowered herself, standing beside Bee.
"There must be something we can, Techno Storm."
"There is."
"What?" perked Bee.
Techno Storm spun around, turning to Bee. He could feel the mind shaking as if more on the verge of collapse than normal. Techno Storm frowned.
"Get out of my head!" he screamed, shoving Bee backward.
"Bee!"
Windblade reached out by failed to catch Bee. His form dissolved, and suddenly Bee sat up back in the desert. He gasped, looking around. Panic. It felt like he'd fallen through several worlds before ending up sitting here. Windblade appeared beside him, holding him up as his systems heaved from the sudden awakening.
"Bee, it's okay! It's okay!" comforted Windblade. "I'm right here."
"What…what just happened?" Bee gasped, leaning forward. "Did he just…"
"Mind…"
The two looked up, seeing the bot standing awkwardly in front of them. He twiddled his thumbs, avoiding eye contact.
"Techno Storm," whispered Windblade, holding out a hand.
"Mine…Remember…" Techno Storm whimpered, taking her hand and sitting down. "Out…"
"Right," Windblade nodded.
"We're sorry for entering your mind," sighed Bee, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You just…don't give us a lot to work worth."
"Fading…" Techno Storm muttered.
"Bee!" gasped Windblade.
Bee glanced down at Windblade's hand, holding onto Techno Storm. It was happening again. Techno Storm was fading and taking Windblade and him along for the ride. Bee tightened his grip on Techno Storm, looking to Windblade.
"Don't let go!" he ordered.
"What's happening!?"
"We're transporting…"