Chapter 24: Into the Labyrinth

Malco had gotten quite a head start on them, and Curly was finding it difficult to keep up. Knowing where he was served little challenge due to him loudly announcing even the most mundane findings to himself, but keeping pace with the robot was harder than it first seemed. Every time she got remotely close to him, he would dart further ahead with an excited warble. Her leg wasn't as much of a hindrance to her mobility as the increasingly narrow tunnels they were forced to navigate, and the uneven ground forced her to watch where she would step. From the sound of another set of footsteps, Quote was still trotting along relatively close behind her.

"Aren't you going to catch up with Malco?"

"He's fine," the male soldier nonchalantly replied. "After being cooped up in the Bushlands for so long, I'm sure he has a lot of energy he wants to let out."

That definitely seemed true, as from somewhere up ahead a synthesized humming could be heard.

"Point taken. Still, wouldn't you rather not be stuck walking behind me?"

Quote shrugged.

"It's not so bad. There aren't many other directions to go in. For a 'labyrinth,' this place is rather linear. Besides, the tunnel is too narrow for me to move in front anyway. I'd have to squeeze past you for that."

She stifled a giggle as she kept walking. It was nice to have company, especially during such trying times.

"Ah! I've met someone up here! Come, see for yourselves!"

The two soldiers shared a glance before picking up the pace.


As they rushed forth in anticipation of meeting the person Malco had found, Quote began to wonder about what they'd see. A trapped Mimiga? A mutant Mimiga? Another human, or even another robot? The Doctor or one of his henchmen? Cthulhu, perhaps?

"There you are! See? He calls himself one of the Gaudi."

He froze upon catching up with Malco and his new friend. "Gaudi" were apparently giant beetle-like creatures even taller than the soldiers. Their bodies, colored almost completely brown, were full of ridges and plates that formed thick exoskeletons. A pair of large white eyes examined the three robots, giving Quote an odd sense of uncertainty. This particular Gaudi was clicking its mandibles as it sized them up.

"Three of you, huh? We haven't had this many visitors in a long time. Welcome to the Labyrinth anyway! What's your business here?"

The soldier could discern a masculine edge to its voice, but with an almost crooning tone. Whatever the case, he didn't seem wary or threatening to them.

"We're stuck and need to find the way out," Malco responded immediately. "Can you point us in the right direction?"

"Sure thing!" the Gaudi chirped. "Our village is right this way, follow me. The others will be excited to see you all. It's not every day that three robots from the war show up here."

Quote wanted to ask what he knew about the war, hoping for more answers, but the human-sized beetle had already scampered off on his hind legs.

"Wow, he's quick. Let's hurry after him, there's no time to lose!"

As Malco ran in pursuit, Curly just laughed softly.

"I'm glad he's making friends. C'mon Quote, we'd better catch up with him."


Malco's attention wasn't just on the Gaudi he was following through the (thankfully less cramped) tunnel. As he continued to navigate, his internal computer was busily sifting through its files like earlier in search of explanations for why he was on the floating island. He was looking for information on one thing in particular: the strange blue helmet worn by the Doctor, as Quote had described. The witch Jenka mentioned him being in possession of a powerful artifact, and Malco had a hunch that it was related to why Retrieval Team 9 had been sent there in the first place.

Soon enough, he uncovered a file that confirmed his suspicion. The image attached was a perfect match to what Quote had apparently seen. A recording from a voice that he recognized as one of the robots in Retrieval Team 9 filled in the details.

"The Demon Crown. This priceless artifact, while unknown in origin, is theoretically the source of astounding power. As such, we are tasked with obtaining it for our creators. Multiple conflicts over its ownership have broken out in the past, and we are the ninth force to be sent to the floating island. Be advised; we may encounter heavy opposition… eliminate anyone in the way."

Very little other information regarding the so-called Demon Crown was available. He would have to keep looking through his files to find out more.

"Wait for us!" he heard Curly call from somewhere behind him.

In the excitement of finding a file at last he'd briefly forgotten about his two allies. Although he didn't stop altogether, he slowed down enough for them to catch up. Malco filled them both in on what he'd learned as they continued to follow the Gaudi.

"That's what robots like us were sent here to do a decade ago?" Quote asked, as if wanting confirmation.

"I believe so. From what I can recall, Team 9 was warned that Mimiga were heartless and bloodthirsty… we were encouraged to wipe them out at the first provocation as we searched for the Demon Crown."

Malco noticed Curly looking rather downcast at the revelation. Given her good relations with the creatures, that was to be expected. Even Quote- who he realized was showing more emotion than usual- was visibly uncomfortable. The battle with that Mimiga earlier undoubtedly still troubled them.

"I may have some consolation for the two of you. I've been looking through the list of robots I arrived with, and neither of you appear to be on it. It's possible that you were with a different group, or even sent here for an alternate purpose. I'll do my best to keep searching my memory banks."

"Thanks, buddy," Curly said with a smile, apparently reassured for the moment. "Oh hey, is this the village that beetle guy mentioned?"


In hindsight, there wasn't much else it could have been. Quote looked over the enormous settlement (could it even be called a village?) and tried to count the number of Gaudi that were visible scurrying around between the crude metal buildings. He lost track after about thirty; they were everywhere.

The one Malco had encountered earlier paused as they approached, turning to face the robots.

"Well, here we are! If you're in need of supplies, there's a warehouse nearby where some soldiers from the surface left a bunch of stuff."

Quote's surprised look was apparently shared by his two companions, as the Gaudi looked between them curiously.

"What is it? Were you with them? I'm afraid they're not here anymore; they vanished years ago when I was just a hatchling. None of 'em have come back to get the gear they left behind, so you can take whatever you want. If it still works, anyway…"

Another of the beetle creatures suddenly darted toward them from one of the buildings, clicking its mandibles sharply. It came to a stop about ten feet away and sniffed at the air.

"Mimigas! I smell Mimigas! Where are they, Chaba?"

"Not here," their guide- evidently named Chaba- said with an exasperated sigh. "Give it a rest already; we haven't seen any of those in ages."

"Aw, but I'm STARVING! And they smell so good, too…"

As the second Gaudi walked off in disappointment, Quote noticed a look of horror on Curly's face. He suspected it was due to her relationship with Mimigas rather than the comment about her smelling like them… though if it had been the latter, somehow he wouldn't be surprised.

"W-wait a minute! You guys eat them?!"

Chaba tilted his head slightly.

"Well, we Gaudi eat a lot of stuff. When you stay in the Labyrinth as long as we have, you get used to taking what you can get. Most of our diet consists of plants and things like that."

"But," the blonde sputtered, "but they're so innocent and harmless! How could you think of them as food?"

"Look, lady. We couldn't choose what we evolved to hunt, even if we are omnivores. Besides, didn't you soldiers fight them during the war way back?"

Chaba's reply effectively shut her up, and she looked down at the floor sadly. He pointed behind him toward a building that had a large "9" painted on the side in faded red.

"There's the warehouse, if you want to check out the equipment."

"Thank you," Malco said as the Gaudi walked away. He turned to face Quote and Curly (who, thankfully, appeared to have gotten over her brief depression).

"They seem like nice creatures, all things considered. I'll see what I can find to equip ourselves with. Why don't you two explore the village? Maybe one of these Gaudi knows how to get out of here."

Before either of them could respond, he ran off toward the warehouse.

"Always on the move," Quote muttered.