Skeletons and Robots (Discontinued due to lack of time)

Chapter 29: Missing

"Hmm. So Neo got out of that prison somehow." Undyne huffed, her arm stretching around Alphys protectively. Normally, Alphys would have succumbed to her power and cuddled with the fish monster, but now worry had overcome all of her other senses. She found herself shaking, and she curled closer to her girlfriend. "It's okay Al. If anything, he's too new to this world to even be a threat. Hah, he could- Alphys." Undyne's eyes flicked down at Alphys, the beautiful orange-yellow specks in her eyes putting the small monster in a trance. "Alphys. Neo could be at his house. I could finish him off there, and-"
"No!" Alphys yelled.
   "No?"
"You'll kill Mettaton too! Their souls are still slightly connected. And then, Nami would probably kill herself, as well! Imagine what that will do to everyone, to me!" Alphys wailed, shaking her girlfriend frantically. She smiled slightly. "Then let's capture him. I've had my experience with that." Her hand balled into a fist, her grin making Alphys feel like she could do anything.
"Come on. For all we know, he could be napping or watching tv or painting or something." Undyne said, kicking open the door. Surprisingly, the lights were off. A chill went down Alphys' spine. Undyne summoned a spear, determination flaring. The two cautiously stepped in, looking each way before flicking on the lights. Nothing. The place was tidy, only a few things misplaced. Other than that, it was as if nobody was home. And hadn't been for a while. Undyne stalked forward, her spear disappearing. "You know Neo, right, Alphys?"
"Yes?"
"Then. Why. Isn't. He. Here." She growled through her teeth. Alphys shrugged, not knowing how to respond to her girlfriend's stress and anger. "Let's just keep looking around. I'm sure we'll find something."
After a while of searching, they finally checked Neo's room. Nothing out of the ordinary was there, just a messy bed and a hole in the ceiling. Wait. A small, limp bootleg hung daintily from the hole, what looked like fingers clutching the plywood as if someone had tried to escape and failed. Alphys gasped, scampering under the hole. From a better angle, a feminine robot's features could be made out in a lifeless stature. "Oh no! Neo must've... Oh my god... We have to get her to the lab."

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Neo?
A light jolt shook me into consciousness, my senses numb with electric pulses. I couldn't think straight-where was I? Blurry visions danced around my eyes, my lenses desperately attempted to focus through the haze to no avail. I tried in vain to call out, but my lips only quivered. I glanced down at my dusty body, straining to see more than blurred fluff. One thing I did notice, however, was the twitch in my left arm. It vibrated in harsh jolts, quivering back and fourth while jutting into my waist. What had I done to myself? I attempted in vain to reach out and grab the foggy memories and scenes, only to gain dust. I just couldn't focus on one thing for too long, as if the limits of my own mind power had shrunken to half their size. I was better than this, I knew that much.  A stirring desire to bawl out contorted my thoughts, the only thing I could picture were the warm tears that had comforted me before working wonders on my emotions once again. I squeezed my eyes shut, anticipating the comfort I would soon feel. But, for some reason, nothing came.
    WARNING: YOU HAVE BEEN SHUT OFF FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME CONSECUTIVLEY, YOUR SYSTEM NEEDS TIME TO BOOT UP. MOST LEVELS OF COMPREHENSIVE THINKING AND EVALUATION WILL BE DISABLED FOR THIS TIME, AS WELL AS MOST EMOTIONS. THIS PROCESS OF REBOOTING SHOULD ONLY TAKE ABOUT 7 MINUTES. My control panel buzzed, startling me. In an awkward gurgle, my chest heaved outward, my artificial respiration simulator beginning to activate. Warm oil pooled from my mouth for a brief moment, spilling down my neck and onto my chest plate and waist. I cringed, a yearning slash of programming pulsating in my mind.

Clean up anything that isn't already spotless, avoid cleaning only if owner speaks to you and tells you "no" following that object-that-needs-to-be-cleaned's name.
     My hands tingled with desire, but they wouldn't budge. I growled in frustration, my squeaky voice regrettably the only thing reaching my ears. A faint memory drifted back into my mind, a voice, one quite like mine. It was slightly deeper, more masculine, but with that same electric drawl. Finally, something familiar. A profound sigh of gratefulness, though silent, weaseled through my smooth lips, my shoulders seemed to ease down on my back. Who was it, though? Who was I?