[Beta Round] Discovery, Doors, and Dolls
It would seem, to the outside observer, that it is a day without anything to lend it particular significance - but, curiously, in basements and attics, in kitchens and closets, something a little bit peculiar is going on
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Jack sighed. His workshop was a mess. Much worse than usual, and now he couldn't find anything. He'd have to build a robot that could track his tools or something, because this was getting ridiculous. How was an evil boy genius supposed to build his robot army if he couldn't even tighten a few bolts?! He rummaged through a pile of broken parts, tossing things haphazardly about until a flash of orange yarn caught his eye. There! Underneath a rusted piece of a chestplate. Was that... a doll?
Jack pulled it out and laid it on the work table. It looked eerily like him. The coat, the goggles, the hair, even the helipack! Whoever had made it obviously knew him pretty well. But why a doll? This had to be a prank. Wuya or Megan or those Xiaolin losers were making fun of him. They were probably taking pictures right now: Jack Spicer playing with a dollie. If something like that got out, he wouldn't be able to show his face around the evil circles for months!
"Jackbot, scan the room for hidden cameras."
"No cameras found, sir."
"Good. Now go clean up that pile in the corner."
"Yes sir."
Nope, no one was watching. Well then, why was this thing here? Jack picked up the doll, shaking it experimentally. It hadn't exploded or anything yet. And it was kinda cute, he supposed.
As he moved the doll, a black key slid out from under its coat and tumbled to the ground. "Well, mini-Jack, what's this thing?" he asked, scooping up the button-key. Okay, that was a little creepy. The key matched the button eyes exactly. Eh, probably just from the same package or something.
"Possible camera location found!"
The Jackbot hovered near a small door that had been previously blocked by piles of scrap metal. Jack didn't remember that being there; he'd have definitely used it otherwise. But hey, it had probably just been buried under stuff so long he'd forgotten about it.
He walked over and knelt down, trying to get a good look at it. A tug on the handle proved it was locked tight. Damn.
"So, mini-me, what do you think we should do?"
As if to answer his question, the key gleamed. Jack took it skeptically and tried it in the lock.
Click.
The door gently swung open to reveal a strange blue passage. Not the sort of thing Jack usually would go exploring. But there was just something about it that tempted his curiosity, and in a rare fit of bravery, he crawled through...
...just to end up in his workshop again. This one was a lot cleaner, though, and there were lots of shiny new parts on the shelves. And it was filled with the aroma of chocolate chip cookies.
Okay, so it probably wasn't his workshop. Might as well explore a bit though. Those cookies smelled delicious, and if he asked nice he might be able to get one or two.
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“There you are,” she said cheerfully. “I’ve been waiting for you, Jack.”
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Wait, someone had just talked to him. He whirled around with a sneer, ready to tell off whoever interrupted him, when he spotted her. A smiling lady with a plate of cookies.
"...who are you?"
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[Appropriate icon is forthcoming, sorry for the delay.]
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He couldn't help but admit she did look a lot like his mother, though. ...had he been building robots in his sleep again?
[OOC: It's fine! I don't think his mother is actually shown in the series, though. It might be easier to have her look like Wuya instead, if you want to use an icon.]
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[OOC: I'll talk with the other half of the mod squad to figure it out. :D]
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Oh, but those cookies. Extra chocolate chips, from the look of them, just the kind he liked best. The ones his mom made when she was actually home...
He looked at the floor for a moment, trying to make up his mind, then looked back up at the Other Mother. "...can I have one of those cookies?"
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"Well, if everyone has them," he began between mouthfuls, "why haven't heard of them before? You think someone online would have said something about it by now. You sure you aren't just some evil magical illusion?"
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"Well, it isn't like everyone goes searching for the idea. But that doesn't matter now, now does it? You're here, and we can be a proper family."
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Okay, now that was just weird. He'd never had a proper family, really. It was mostly just him and his robots in the house these days. Well, Wuya sometimes, when she wasn't trying to take over the world on her own.
"So, what exactly am I supposed to do then? I'm not giving up my evil genius gig, so don't ask."
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"Other Mother, I like your style. So? Show the way!"
Maybe this place wasn't so bad after all.
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The Other Mother walked out of his lab and through the house. And what a wonderful house it was. A number of ancient and powerful artifacts were displayed on the walls, as if the place was a museum rather than a home. In addition to that were a number of old robotic parts, each carefully labeled with inscriptions about their significance - each relating to Jack and his accomplishments, which were many in the house.
Finally, she opened the double doors to the backyard, where a vast number of robots stood, waiting for him. "They each respond to your voice and will do anything you tell them to."
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For once, Jack was at a loss for words. Everywhere he looked, there were objects even he could tell had some serious magic in them, just sitting there as decorations. And as they walked through the house, he could see his accomplishments and victories lovingly chronicled and acclaimed. There was the blueprints of his first Jackbot! And a piece of the first robot he'd beaten in a tournament! There was the puzzle box, and a picture of the first Wu he'd snagged. The place was practically a shrine to him!
And it only got better. He stared in shock at the robot army waiting for him outside. All of them were top of the line, heavily armed and armored, just the sort of thing an evil boy genius dreamed about at night.
"They're... really mine? Seriously?" With a squeal of delight, Jack impulsively hugged the Other Mother, smiling from ear to ear.
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