(Prototype POV)

"Because of your little stunt, sister..." My younger sister, Ione, grumbled. She was outfitted in metallic black armor with purple accents that matched her eyes.

She was currently in her "superhero" outfit, designated as Isolation.

"...we've now been demoted to standing guard." She finished.

We stood on either side of the door that led into the room that Stromford was currently in. Our boss' boss. The grand boss.

I am not sure as to why he needed to go here, and I am not supposed to question it. However, I cannot help but use some processing power in wondering why he had gone to this building with us two as his only guards.

I know we were demoted, but I expected him to use the new AVMF as bodyguards. We aren't usually assigned to be bodyguards. I suppose this is the punishment of demotion.

Is it that much of a punishment? Considering how more of my processing power is being attributed to the act of thinking than usual, and how long it feels despite how short the time, it is safe to assume this was the intended result.

Is this what they call "boredom"?

I probably shouldn't be using as much processing power for this as I am, but I cannot stop replaying that last encounter in my mind. The encounter may have been the reason for our temporary demotion, but that consequence wasn't why I was thinking back on it.

I was thinking of his dark, tussled hair. The way his eyes bore into mine. How the fabric of his uniform stretched against his torso, and of the pronounced veins that ran down his strong arms.

For some reason I found myself replaying those memories in my head. Constantly watching each and every mannerism of the man. Studying his features time and time again. At this point, without replaying the memory, I probably already had it memorized.

I am sure I am malfunctioning.

It is not natural to designate as much time and power as I have to studying these encounters. Factoring in the way I act within them, and it is very clear.

I should get myself fixed.

But for some reason, I cannot.

No, that is wrong. I don't want to.

I think I am starting to understand what it means to want. Or at least, how it "feels". The intricacies of the human brain and why it desires things is still something I do not fully understand.

But I understand that I am wanting.

"Why did you even turn off your tracker?" Ione questioned.

"I dunno!" I shrugged with a big grin.

I know exactly why. To see him.

But why do I want to see him? That is the bigger question. What is driving the want that drove me to seek him out and then approach him with my tracker disabled?

And then the distant sound of an explosion sounded outside.

"You hear that?" I glanced towards Ione.

"Probably another villain. Likely that Checkmate and our final sister." She crossed her arms. "If you hadn't gotten us demoted, we'd probably be battling them right now."

Honestly, battling villains is secondary in my power priority, compared to rewatching those memories and thinking of approaching him again. It was really strange, I am definitely malfunctioning, but I'm content with leaving it the way it is.

Maybe I...like that I am malfunctioning?

But do I actually like anything? All of my "likes", such as pretty things, were programmed into me. Perhaps Alex was just the prettiest of anything in my programming-

Another explosion sounded from outside, this one louder. And almost immediately after, another. Three in a short succession, something which was not usual.

I know that Checkmate had recently been destroying Stromford hideouts, but this was much too rapid compared to before. Not to mention they seemed to be spread out? It was difficult, trying to sense where the explosions came from when not able to see and only feel from this distance.

Suddenly a wave of unease washed over me. At least, that is what I assume that odd feeling to be. One that makes you jittery as you imagine the worse possible outcomes to someone you-

Alex will be fine, I'm sure of it. Even with the sirens that suddenly activated, a declaration that the city was in a dire circumstance.

I glanced at my sister once again, seeing that even she had been somewhat affected by the siren. I simply continued to keep a smile on my face, making sure my feet stayed planted to my spot.

Which was more difficult than it should have been, considering my malfunctioning was making me want to bolt outside and find Alex.

If only he still had his tracker, then it would be so simple and easy. But he got rid of it because he wants to be free. I didn't quite understand, but I think I am slowly starting to.

Suddenly something crashed through the ceiling, landing a short distance away from us. A spear materialized itself in Ione's hands as she got into a combat stance.

Sophie, The Maid, the youngest sister, stood across from us. Her face was as expressionless as always, but there was an air of intenseness around her.

"Move out of the way." She ordered, her arm morphing into a sonic cannon. "Before I make you."

Sophie had abandoned us. Decided to follow Checkmate, whom she deemed as her "Master". I did not understand. Did she not want to be with her fellow sisters? Caring for my sisters is part of my programming.

Sometimes I wonder if it isn't part of Ione's. She never gives me hugs when I ask. Or if she does, they are weak.

We were told that her programming was off. There was something wrong with her system, and that is why she left. That she was malfunctioning.

Just as I am now.

Is that why she left? And wasn't it because she left, that our project was picked back up? If she hadn't abandoned us, would Ione and I even be awake?

"Why are you here?" Ione demanded. "And where is that 'Master' of yours?"

"Busy." Sophie simply stated. "I am here to eliminate Killian Stromford. I will eliminate you two as well if necessary."

I clenched my hand, nearby metal flying into it and warping around it. The metal twisted into a gnarly amalgamation of a claw.

Sophie didn't spare another word, launching herself forwards. I dashed at her as Ione threw her spear. It flew towards Sophie, narrowly missing and dematerializing behind her.

I dodged Sophie's sonic blast, swinging my claw only to miss as she ducked. She quickly backtracked as Ione stepped in with her spear back in her hands.

Ione was blasted backwards as I focused on pulling the metal that made Sophie down. Just like the last time it wasn't enough to stop here. Even though cracks spread across the ground with every step, she continued forwards.

Ione materialized a couple spears, sending them at Sophie. She rose her sonic cannon, using one blast to send them off course.

I slashed against Sophie, only managing to scrape her arm as she blocked my attack. She attempted to kick me backwards, only for me to catch the kick.

She was now off balance, and being pulled down. At least, until she maneuvered the sonic cannon straight to my face. I had to let go in order to dodge. Ione took opportunity of Sophie's distraction, but didn't get far as Sophie's other arm morphed into a laser.

I was forced backwards with another blast of the sonic cannon. As Ione engaged in combat once more with Sophie I tried to approach from behind, only for another person to appear and intercept my claw.

A smooth, black substance wrapped around my wrist, keeping my claw from reaching Sophie's back. I paused, my motor functions freezing as I saw who stood before me.

Alex, or more appropriately with his current costume, Nightshade. His arm was covered in shadows, and was currently trapped my wrist.

He let go of my wrist, and I made no attempt to move. A second later a shadow burst from his chest, slamming into me and sending me flying across the room.

I stood up, staring at Nightshade as he approached me, shadows crawling along his arms to create blades. He rushed me, swinging them in precise movements.

I resorted to dodging, all that my motor functions were allowing me to do. I couldn't raise a hand against him. I wouldn't.

"Why..." Nightshade narrowed his eyes at me. "...are you not fighting?"

Why are you here?

"You're safe." Those weren't the words I meant to say.

"What?" He questioned. He was still guarded, his eyes inquisitive. Eyes that I was documenting every little detail of.

"Leave." I pleaded. "I don't want to fight."

"I can't." Nightshade replied. "It's chaos out there. Those damn Stromford goons are destroying the city. Wrecked the damn shop. Had to expose my power to Flynn."

They're what?

The siren. The explosions. They're because of Stromford? Not Checkmate?

I know that I while I am assigned to be a hero, I am not truly one. Of course both Ione and I are aware of our fraudulent natures.

But I have found being a superhero...enjoyable? Is that the right word?

Destroying the city is messing with my malfunction even more. And it was already going crazy with the man in front of me that I cannot stop staring at.

He cracked his neck. "Besides, I owe Checkmate one. Now are you-"

Crashing through the door appeared three of the AVMF units. Each of them wielded a gun, and suddenly started firing them without a care into the room.

Before I could act Nightshade already created a shield of shadows for himself, the bullets being absorbed into it.

I watched as bullets flied towards me. The bullets would've easily ricocheted off of me, but I felt more inclined to use my magnetism instead.

I do not want my metal scratched. I want to be pretty. And I can't help but glance at Nightshade as I think these thoughts.

Wait...why am I thinking this way?

This malfunction is quite confusing.

As soon as I thought about stopping the bullets before they reached me, the shadows from Nightshade's shield streaked up, stretching to cover me as well.

The bullets were absorbed into his shadow. And on the other side of the room, Sophie and Ione were completely unscathed.

A memory flashed within my mind.

It was my first assignment with Nightshade. My senior in working for Stromford and Vandercourt. I remember how he had trouble believing I was a robot.

He'd teach me when I had already been programmed with instructions. Over time he had better acknowledged my reality as a robot, but would still continue to teach me things.

Such as the meaning of wanting.

I remember, in that first mission, how he had blocked the bullets just like now. I stared into Nightshade's back, unable to keep my eyes off of him.

I want him.

"Why are they here?" Nightshade questioned as the bullets ceased. "Did they follow me?"

The elongated shield thinned and twirled into a whip, which he used to grab one of the AVMF from afar and throw them to the side.

Another one blasted forwards, weapon to their side and explosions coming from their feet. They flung into the air, heading towards Nightshade.

I stopped him mid-air, controlling the metal of the soldier. With a quick flick of my wrist they were sent careening through a wall.

"I don't have time for this." Sophie muttered. "He'll get away."

With that she kicked Ione away, rushing through the door to the room Stromford was in. Except, he was no longer in there.

Nightshade batted away another one of Stromford's soldiers as I flung another one of them through the ceiling.

"Sister?!" Ione exclaimed. "What are you doing?!"

I looked back at her. "I..." And I couldn't find the right words to escape.

And then Sophie was in front of me. With a kick to the side I flew into the wall as Ione changed targets and started to fight Nightshade along with the three AVMF units.

No!

Sophie grabbed me by the neck, and I could feel her grip crushing into it. And even my metal manipulation couldn't lighten it.

"Where. Is. Stromford." She ordered.

"Helicopter. Roof." I quickly informed.

She let go of my neck, allowing me to collapse back to the ground. I quickly touched my neck, feeling that it was misshapen. A frown quickly grew on my face as I realized how un-pretty it must be.

"Sophie." I suddenly spoke, the words coming out of my mouth before I could stop them. "Why do you follow Checkmate?"

She looked over to me, staring at me with the same unreadable face she always held.

"Because I want to." Was her answer. "I love him."

But for this one moment, I felt as if I understood her.

With no further words she blasted through the ceiling, flying into the sky above. I picked myself back up, refocusing on Nightshade.

He was surrounded. Ione was wielding a purple sword, a cut appearing against Nightshade's arm as she swung.

She swung again, only to be blocked, but then he was attacked from behind. As he turned around I pulled Ione backwards with my magnetism, taking her off her feet.

He stabbed one of the units through the chest with a shadow tendril, before sending it flying. I used my magnetism to fling another one of the units away as he took care of the final one.

But Ione was up again.

And a spear was hurtling towards Nightshade as he was taking care of the unit.

I really am malfunctioning.

Before I knew it I was in front of him. He turned just in time to see the spear go straight into my eye and through the head, lodging itself into inner mechanics.

Warning. Critical damage. Error. Error.

"What...?" His eyes widened.

Ione froze, her spear dematerializing.

Power rapidly decreasing.

Major damage sustained.

Error. Error.

I-I-I looked back at N-Nightshade, ERROR trying to smile widely ERROR when I saw some sort of glowing ERROR light from t-the rushing AVMF I had ERROR flung before.

"M-m-move!" My voice came out w-warbled as I threw Nightshade to the ERROR side with the rest of m-my remaining power.

Warning. Critical damage sustained. Error.

And w-w-whatever the glowing was, it had just ERROR blasted through me. My b-balance was thrown off, likely d-due ERROR to the right h-half that no ERROR longer existed.

I d-dropped.

Nightshade s-swung his hand forwards, ERROR a shadow springing f-from his hand and s-spearing the unit ERROR straight t-through the neck.

Error. Critical damage sustained. Warning.

Shut-Off Imminent.

"Sister!" Ione screamed, rushing towards me. She crouched down by me, g-grabbing my body tighter than ever b-before. Finally she gives me a p-proper hug.

Nightshade stood to the s-side, staring at me with a mixture of emotions. S-shocked silent as he stared at my g-grinning face.

"I-I finally k-know what i-it means to want." I chuckled, my voice distorted and fading.

Irreparable damage sustained.

Shutting off.