I have no comment for once. Well, this chapter will probably ease up at least a bit of you reader's confusion. Probably not all of it, but at least some of it. I hope. Either way, please enjoy the new chapter!

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In a little less than an hour, the twins had been successfully transported to the Citadel. Up close, it was even more gray and foreboding than when it was viewed from a distance. It was mechanical, with gears and bolts everywhere, operating the Citadel without any walls to hide them. It was truly a marvel to watch, making teh viewer feel like they were really inside a machine. The guards restraining the kids from running off ushered them inside, following after Zynth and his assistant.

"That will be all," Zynth said to the guards, motioning them away. "Akumu, Yume, if you would be so kind as to follow me." Reluctantly, the two complied, following him through many halls and staircases. They stopped after a while, in a large room that seemed much like an oversized office.

"I feel like I'm in a principal's office," Yume whispered to her brother, as the hedgehog before them motioned them to sit down. The twins sat down in a pair of chairs seated before a large desk, with Zynth standing behind the desk.

"Welcome to my office," He greeted. "If you haven't guessed, this is where I tend to hold conference with my subjects."

"Well, we aren't your subjects," Yume growled. "So, what are we here for?"

"As we said before, we didn't mean to kill that echidna," Akumu added. "It was just a robot anyway." Zynth looked disappointed.

"Just a robot, you say," He muttered, tapping a side of the desk in habit. "And what, may I ask again, is the real difference?"

"It's pretty obvious," Akumu explained. "Robots are generally made of metal, and can be produced by humans. Some of them possess an aritifcial intelligence, or an A.I. Robots will do anything they are programmed to, and will only do that. They are designed to follow any orders, unless it involves harming other non-robots, or organic lifeforms like us." Yume sighed at her brother's speech. He was a bit of a nerd sometimes, in her opinion, but it was good to have one person know all the techy stuff.

"That is true," Zynth replied, "but what if their A.I. is created similiar to an organic lifeform? What if they can feel emotions?"

"They're still robots," Yume pointed out, "And they can't be the same as non-bots. Besides, it's impossible to create an A.I. with emotions exactly like us. Even I know that, and I'm not a nerd."

"That is where you are mistaken," Zynth paced a little behind his desk. "Professor Gerald was the first scientist to ever create a robot with 'human' emotions, did you know? He was also the one who managed to create the Ultimate Lifeform, also known as your father, as well as his brothers, and a variety of other inventions. Now tell me, do your uncles and your father have the same emotions 'regular' people do?"

"Of course," Akumu agreed, "But they aren't robots."

"They were created like ones," Zynth smirked. "They were created by robots, along with Gerald, and have a bit of robotic traits. That was how they were designed. Now tell me, have any of you ever been told about Dr. Robotnik? You may know him as Dr. Eggman."

"Only too recently," Yume admitted. "Madman who made robots, and you defeated him, or so we heard." Zynth chuckled.

"Well, I won't brag, but I do admit I subdued him," Zynth agreed. "You see, he was a genius of sorts. Like his predecessors, he made robots with successful A.I.s, the latest being made two years ago."

"Two years ago...that's when Dad disappeared!" Yume realized. "Do you know what happened to him?"

"I'm afraid I do not," Zynth said, "but that is beside the point. A robot that has emotions like other organic lifeforms...that is really the Ultimate Lifeform."

"What?" Both twins asked in suprise.

"But of course," Zynth put a hand to his neck, peeling off a piece of skin. Instead of blood coming out, it revealed a cod on his neck. It read, ESh-025, and a stamp below it read, DEFECT.

"You...you're a robot?" Akumu stammered.

"Yes I am," Zynth replied. "You never suspected it, because I have emotions like you, see?" The twins stared at him, not knowing quite what to say.

"What does it mean by defect?" Yume asked after a while. She smirked. "Were you not roboty enough to be a robot?" The robo-hedgie in front of her glared at her.

"I was a Shadow Android," He began, "and an unusually strong one at that. But was I accepted into Dr. Eggman's army? No, because I was not an exact replica of the Ultimate Lifeform. So I was cast aside, thrown out and forgotten. During that time, I got to thinking about how unfair it was. We androids, who have all the capabilities and more of a regular lifeform, but we were to be forced into mindless battle and war. So, in order to liberate my kind, I took control of the Doctor's army. With them, along with some androids I created later, we established this town."

"Well, good for you," Yume said. "Now, why have you taken our mother and her friends hostage?"

"Because they are a threat," The black android smirked. "I do admit, we androids consider them enemies, for it is in our programming. Despite that, it does make sense, for they have foiled Dr. Eggman numerous times in the past. We cannot allow the same to happen to us. Now, I'm afraid you shall be going now."

"What do you-" Suddenly, the floor under the twins disappeared, dropping them into the dark below. They were caught partway down by a pair of cold metal arms, which lowered them down to a prison cell.

"I can't believe it," Akumu muttered. "It was a cheap trick just to capture us!" A prison guard, a purple hedgeidna, opened the cell door, throwing them inside.

"You two'll stay here, until Master decides what cell to put you in," the hedgidna explained. "I wouldn't go trying to escape, because no one has ever gotten out of here without permission." Akumu motioned for Yume to hold her tounge as the kids were closed inside.

"Sweet dreams kiddees," The prison guard said, and then the twins were locked in.

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X3 Were you expecting that? I hope the conversation about the robots wasn't too confusing. If anyone has a question, just ask it in a review, or drop me a PM. I'll make sure to answer it for you. Until next time, later!