Chapter 3

The faces of countless robots stared lifelessly into oblivion. Dismembered bodies of cold steel towered high, one on top of the other, in an endless sea of rubble. In the distance, where the horizon met the rising sun beyond the canyons, was an unforeseen force that could not be stopped. Those who tried met their fates with a cruel swiftness. Surrounding the piles of deceased bots loomed a ruin that was once civilization, a hidden valley town where innocence was once protected. It was Droid Town…or rather, what remained.

The unstoppable force—the newly risen army responsible for all of the destruction—slowly closed in on the fallen stronghold. The last surviving Droid stood his ground. Physically, he'd been broken. Though, even with barely a leg to stand on, his will remained strong. With the small amount of energy he had left in his mangled state, he fired multiple rounds from a turret. He gave the enemies everything he had. Shells flew as he unloaded each round. To the Droid's disbelief, the bullets did nothing. They bounced off the enemies' armor like tiny pellets. The Droid didn't let the discovery deter him. He refused to believe they were completely impervious. He continued firing. Try as he might, however, it was no use. The turret suddenly malfunctioned, and the trigger jammed. Smoke tapered out of the barrel in a pitiful, curving gray wisp.

The enemy robots continued their march. One in particular—the largest one of all—moved in close and lifted its foot, threatening to crush him. It was a new generation of Titan, something much bigger, and far more deadly. The Droid resorted to his Scatter Blaster, his last remaining weapon. He fired the few rounds it had left. They were no use. He lowered the gun, realizing how useless it was. He was on the verge of giving up when he felt a cold, metal hand grab him from somewhere down below. He looked down, startled. His Colonel's face gazed up at him with urgency and anguish. He was clutching his last remaining Droid with his one good arm.

"Sa…ve your…self, kid." The Colonel was in such disrepair that his voice box had been damaged. It left his speech garbled, hardly intelligible. "Go."

The young Droid rapidly shook his head. "No!" he argued. "There's still a chance, I'm sure of it!"

"The..re…isn't…" The Colonel's optics flickered. The light in them was quickly dimming.

The young Droid kept shaking his head, refusing to leave. "No, Colonel, no," he begged. "Please, I wanna stay. I wanna keep fighting. For whoever's still alive. For you!"

"You…ma…de me p…roud." His superior's eyes continued to fade. "Ju…st…like…I did with…my Colonel."

The Droid squeezed his eyes shut, filled with anguish.

"Go, sold…ier…," the Colonel pleaded. "That's an order. Go! Go, Glitch, g…go!"

Glitch finally gave in and fell back, leaving the Colonel behind. He leapt out of the way of the hulking robot's foot, only seconds before it came crashing down. He headed in the direction of the command center. Along the way, he tripped over a body. He fell and looked back at the dead robot. They resembled Dr. Exavolt for some reason, but had a few differences. The Droid was holding a smaller, rustier bot, as if comforting it up until their deaths. Glitch thought no more of it and staggered to his feet. He reached the building and hurried inside. He was almost overcome by weakness as he sprung for the nearest radio. He spoke into it, praying for someone to be on the other end so they'd hear his pleas. "If anybody's out there," he cried, "send some type of help! Please! Droid Town is under attack. From what I can see, I'm the only survivor! Send help, please! Send help!"

Unbeknownst to him, the enemy sent forth an air strike. It would be the final nail in the coffin. Large aerial bots rained in from overhead. They were similar to the Mils' Predators and Snerqs, but far more lethal. The robot drones soared in from up high, closing in on the command center. One by one, they dropped bombs. Glitch could hear them coming down from inside the building. He limped to the nearest window and watched in vain as they rained from above.

It was the last thing he ever witnessed before his demise.

…Or so he thought.

Glitch snapped open his eyes again, finding himself in a place he'd only seen a handful of times. It was a different plane of existence altogether; it couldn't be compared to anything on Iron Star. It was foreign and familiar all at once. Glitch felt that no matter how often he got to visit this liminal space, he would never be able to fathom it fully. It was reflective and puzzling, like a one-room building made of colorful mirrors. It captured his image at every angle. He studied his reflections in the luminescent, color-changing walls. His symbol was glowing—just like the previous time, and the time before. Glitch curiously approached one of the reflections. For the first time, he felt bold enough to analyze the walls further. Maybe he could break through. He reached out and felt the material. It reminded him of several things: smooth like glass, cold like ice, hard like steel.

"Morbite."

Glitch flinched away from the wall at the sound of the voice. He quickly inspected it, thinking it might've come from the other side. When he realized it was from someplace else, he frantically looked around. "Look, I know you're there!" he called. "Just come out!"

The owner of the voice revealed themself. They appeared before Glitch's eyes. The mysterious being touched the floor and moved closer to him. It was a she-robot. She was like nothing Glitch recognized. Her presence alone felt surreal, ethereal, even. Despite how high she towered over him, she didn't seem threatening. Glitch lowered his guard. "Dude. You gotta stop scaring the bolts outta me like that," he told her.

The otherworldly robot only gazed at him curiously. The intricate gears in the back of her head turned rapidly as she pondered what he said. It dawned on Glitch why she looked confused and he facepalmed himself.

"I wasn't really calling you a dude," he sighed.

"I understand," the robot replied. Her voice was soft yet powerful. "I am still adjusting to your speech. It is quite…interesting. Charming, in fact."

"You still haven't told me your name," Glitch pointed out.

"I am Void," she told him.

Glitch gestured to the strange walls. "Ok then, uh, Void. What'd you say that was called?" he asked.

"Morbite," Void answered. "It cannot be found on your world's surface."

"Morbite. Ok. Cool." Glitch quickly dismissed the trivia. "I'm not worried about that, though," he said, becoming more firm. "What did I just see? Or experience, or whatever! Why was Droid Town under attack? Who were those two Droids I fell over, and why did one of 'em look like Exavolt? You better start talkin'. ASAP."

Void averted her glowing eyes. It was as if the scenario scared her, too.

"Tell me what that was," Glitch ordered.

Void solemnly stared down at him. "I have shown you the future," she stated. "The future that will occur if the Doctor is not stopped."

"How is Dr. Exavolt gonna be able to do all of that stuff?" Glitch asked. "What has he gotten his hands on?"

Almost out of nowhere, Void bent down to his level and extended a hand. She reached Glitch before he could question her touch. She moved her hand around to the back of his head and placed it directly on his symbol. Its glow became more intense, and Glitch was met with a jolting sensation that practically knocked him over.

He saw Dr. Exavolt in his dilapidated lab, frantically digging through the rubble until he found a single, crystal-like shard shining through the debris. "Yes! YES! The Morbite, it's still here!" he triumphed before belting out a maniacal laugh. He held it up in what little light the lab still offered. "It came from the Morbots, of course it survived," he reasoned with himself, still chuckling. "I've only used it in test trials. However, desperate times call for desperate measures."

With another sadistic laugh, he drove the Morbite fragment directly into himself, planting it inside his core. His laughter briefly carried pain, but only until the Morbite's power took over. He morphed into something binary, unworldly, and pure evil. Dr. Exavolt emerged in his new form. Near the front of the lab, two Droids quaked in his wrath. The Droid resembling Exavolt was critically injured. The smaller, rusty Droid struggled to carry him out of the lab to safety. They flew away on a ship, just before the Doctor tried to destroy them both.

Void continued transferring as much information as possible to Glitch. He couldn't believe how much she was helping him process. "Dr. Axon. Melvin." he mumbled the two Droids' names during his trance.

The scene switched to Axon and Melvin staying in an unknown Droid settlement. This must have been the present, where the two of them were currently. The small, rusty one, Melvin, reassured Axon while he recovered. "Don't worry, Dr. Axon," he said. "We'll reach Glitch soon. But you need to get a little better first, ok? The nice mechanic gentleman said your repairs are almost done. Once you're fixed up, we'll be out of here in no time!"

Dr. Axon smiled warmly at Melvin. "I thank you for remaining by my side," he told him.

Void finally pulled her hand away, ending the visions. Glitch stumbled, but she gently caught him. "I-I don't believe it," he uttered. "That's what he's done to himself? He's suped himself up with Morbot energy? How did he even get his hands on Morbite?"

Void turned away uncertainly. "I am not sure," she said. "My guess is that he once worked with the Morbots. Perhaps they provided him with it themselves, not realizing his true intentions. But Morbite is not meant to even be seen—let alone handled—by mere mortal robots. In fact, it is strictly forbidden. Why they would leave even a fragment of it in Dr. Exavolt's possession is unclear. There are many things about the other Morbots that even I do not know. The elders keep many secrets."

Glitch tilted his head. "Wait, hold up," he interjected. "The 'other' Morbots? So you're a Morbot yourself?"

"Yes." Void nodded. "I am."

"How are you able to talk to me?"

"We have the power to transcend and connect our consciences, with each other or ones like us," Void explained. "I've connected you with mine."

"So why don't you go out there and stop Exavolt yourself?" Glitch suggested. "You'd be strong enough, wouldn't you? Or, maybe you could help us at least."

"I cannot do such a thing, sadly." Void's eyes lowered. "Dr. Exavolt has greatly upset the Morbot balance. We are linked to Morbite. It is an extension of us. His misuse of it has compromised our existence. His transgressions have disturbed us in such a way that we have grown weak, myself included. Leaving my realm to join yours would be too dangerous for me."

"That explains the energy problem we've been dealing with," Glitch put together.

"Correct," Void agreed.

Glitch worked to piece the information together. "So that's what he's been up to," he said. "But where's Exavolt now?"

Void's solemn gaze didn't waver. "He is building his alliance," she responded. "It is time, Glitch, that you do the same."

"Me? How?"

"You are unique. You are the bridge between our world and the Droids'. You are both one of us and one of them."

"But how?" Glitch repeated. "Who am I? What am I? Why was I made this way in the first place?"

"The time for you to learn of your true origins will come, young bot." Void's face remained reassuring and kind. "For now, however, you must return. Goodbye."

...

"No! Wait!"

Glitch sat up in his charging bed and scanned his surroundings. He was back in his room. It was still dark out. He glanced at the time, and a sinking feeling formed in his core. Damn, I overslept, he realized. It's way after 5!

He anxiously jumped up and got ready, then began heading for the command center's north wing. He silently hoped Vex hadn't decided to bail.

Glitch had planned to sneak out the usual way, but with time running short, he decided to take a shortcut. He made his way through a specific crawlspace. It led directly to Krunk's garage. He'd be able to cut through and reach his RAT outside from there in a fraction of the time. He inched his way through, doing his best to make as little noise as possible. But the sound of familiar voices made him stop short. Glitch peered through the barred metal slide closing the space off from the other side. He saw Krunk making his way into the garage, speaking with a groggy Alloy. Zobby and his walking toolbox followed him in, as well.

Shoot, they're up already?!

The Colonel rubbed his optics with a hand and yawned. "Ok, Krunk, I'm in here," he grumpily stated. "What's so dang important that it couldn't wait till later?"

"Well, if ya must know," Krunk retorted, "I'm finally finished with the thing you've been bustin' my bolts over for the past frickin' month."

"Well let's see it!" Alloy pushed. He was clearly cranky over losing sleep.

"Alright, already, sheesh!" Krunk huffed. "You're gonna have to help me with the tarp."

They both went over to a large, covered structure on the other side of the garage. Together, they yanked off the heavy tarp, revealing what was underneath. Glitch stared in surprise at Krunk's latest project from what he could see from inside the crawlspace. It was a giant, controllable mech—made using General Corrosive's outer shell. Glitch could barely believe his optics. He'd hear Krunk discuss it occasionally; he had no idea he completed it in such a short period of time. The guy was a genius beneath that hard exterior. Glitch found himself hoping for a chance to try the mech out one day. Maybe Krunk would let him—

Focus, you idiot! He pulled himself away from his daydreaming. They were on the opposite side of the garage. Backs turned. Completely distracted.

This was his only chance.

Without hesitating, Glitch began to move the metal slide. He slowly and gently put it off to the side. Grateful it didn't make a loud noise, he inched his way out of the space and half-stood. He tiptoed past Krunk and the Colonel, then quietly darted the rest of the way across the garage. He saw the basement-style window he was looking for. He turned its latch and lifted it, careful not to make a sound. Nice, I got it open! he thought to himself with a flicker of hope.

He was climbing through to the outside when a sudden thought stopped him midway. Glitch twisted his upper half to glance at the Colonel one final time. Seeing his face made him think back to their argument. A pang of guilt was created in the middle of Glitch's chest. The Colonel had been upset with him in the moment, sure—but it didn't mean he'd lost his trust in him. There was the chance that, perhaps, Alloy was no longer upset and had forgiven him. Glitch then, however, recalled Vex's words: Well, if ya ask me, the Colonel oughta start hearin' you out more! You bust your axle for 'em and he don't even wanna give you no credit. That's higher-ups for ya.

Glitch's brows furrowed; he felt himself getting angry again. Vex might have been right after all. Alloy was his superior. He was just an expendable soldier to him, a pawn on a board. To the Colonel, Glitch was nothing more than a grunt, he was almost certain of it. Alloy didn't care about anything he had to say, no matter how important it was. Void told him that he needed to start building his alliance, to stop Dr. Exavolt. But how would he be able to do that if the Colonel wouldn't even believe him?

His mind was made up. He was going through with it, regardless of the consequences.

"Arf…?"

The small, confused bark stopped him cold again. He looked down at Zobby. The robot canine must have picked up his scent in the air and followed it. Glitch facepalmed himself, regretting not thinking about it sooner. He would have been better off taking the long way after all. He could've bypassed Zobby and everyone else.

Zobby moved in a little closer, tilting his head curiously. He didn't seem suspicious, just curious about what Glitch was up to. He likely saw it as an opportunity to play, not a cause for alarm. Glitch picked up on this and lowered his guard a little. "Sorry, Zobby," he whispered, "I don't have time to play right now. But I will when I get back, ok?"

Zobby gave an understanding grunt, wagging his tail slightly. Glitch reached down to give him a few final scratches on the head. Zobby enjoyed it and briefly rested his chin in Glitch's hand.

"Good boy," Glitch murmured warmly.

"Zobby! Zobby, where'd you run off to?"

Krunk's voice rang out from the other side of the garage. Zobby stayed where he was, waiting for him to come over. When Krunk arrived, he was alone. The window was closed, just as it was before.

Krunk looked down at Zobby with a raised eyebrow. "You old mutt, what are you doin' over here?" he demanded.

Zobby sat on the floor panting happily, without a care in the world, as usual. Krunk planted his face in a hand, shaking his head irritably.

Glitch dangled back and forth from the windowsill on the outside. He dropped to the ground and rushed out back to the hangar area. He saw the RAT sitting in the same place they left it the night before.

Before long, he was slowly pulling it around to the front of the building. He hoped the engine and tires weren't making too much noise. He stopped the RAT just beyond the north wing out front, where Vex told him he would be waiting. He didn't see him anywhere. Glitch let out a crestfallen sigh. "Don't tell me he left," he muttered despondently.

"Didn't worry ya, did I?"

Glitch looked up to see Vex coming toward him. To his surprise, he appeared to be in a bit of a hurry himself. Glitch chuckled, shaking his head. They'd both been running a little late! "Nope," he replied, amused. "You're good! Hop in!"

Vex took his place in the passenger seat. He was visibly impressed with the ride as he got comfortable. "This is frickin' sweet, bro!" he commented.

"Thanks," Glitch said smoothly.

"Alright, let's get goin'." Vex strapped himself in. "I'll tell you where you need to go."

Glitch started to drive. The RAT's custom engine purred powerfully. Vex gave an impressed laugh.

"Hell yeah!" he exclaimed. "Let's get this show on the road! WOO!"

"Yeah!" Glitch threw up a fist with one hand, his other on the wheel. They made it out of Droid Town limits and he sped up. In no time, he was driving fast enough to feel the wind blowing. Vex suddenly unfastened himself. Glitch saw him standing up out of his seat through the corner of his eye and almost froze. "The heck are you doing, Vex?!" he asked, getting worried.

"Enjoyin' the road, baby! WOOOOO-HOOOOOO!" Vex threw up his arms, allowing the wind to whip past him.

Glitch laughed; his friend's wildness was already rubbing off on him. Eventually he decided to let loose, too. He joined Vex in his antics. The two of them yelled and cheered to the early-morning sky while riding along.