Gosh, I Never Imagined They'd Go To Him For Help!

Selfie?

Selfie.

Crying over cat videos

- Sun

He's just confused.

Misguided.

It's nothing more than a rebellious act.

Perhaps he tired of my disciplinary measures.

However, it was all for the sake of him being able to protect himself.

We fought wars; countless wars.

Do you think war is kind to your feelings?

Get real.

He's acting like a petulant child, when we are thousands of years old. You know nothing.

Eclipse, it looks like you're going through a lot. Once again.

if you need anything between Starlight and Pixel Sun let me know man!

It's scary your friends are in danger.

You're smart and capable and you'll get through this but if you need any help at all, I can try!

✊

Even after leaving the pizzaplex drama still follows me.

I doubt you could do anything to help.

Come here.

<Clip mildly touched Eclipse's shoulder, guiding him to a ... wall.>

Excuse the touch. It's necessary for authorization.

<The wall dematerializes into a cloud of pixels as Clip leads Eclipse through it. He lets go then, and the wall rematerializes behind them. Nanotechnology, presumably>

<They walk through a pleasant area complemented by lots of greenery, and very few computers, before reaching the middle of the mostly empty room where just an input panel is visible. Clip seems to input something into the panel, and stops>

You say my Sun-- the corrupted version, at least, did something to you?

Could you explain in more detail what was done and what effects you're experiencing ?

I've seen bits and pieces of your transmissions prior, but I've been.. a bit preoccupied to view all of it just yet.

Hey. This is Eclipse. I... require your assistance... regarding my code. That corrupted Sun did something to it and I would need help figuring out what it is exactly. You are the only one I know with the knowledge necessary to solve this problem.

Believe me. If I had any other choice I wouldn't have asked you for help.

( @eclipse83 )

Why, ofcourse.

Do you expect me at yours, or would you like to come to mine?

I may have better equipment to deal with your... little issue.

E., who has been waiting for you.

I also heard music.

Stream of consciousness music is always such a surreal experience....

What are you talking about?

Oh.

Oh.

I see what's happening.

You think you've been put on the spot for .. not knowing something ? I believe?

Eclipse, that's not the case.

E.

<Eclipse seemed weary with the discourse, as if remembering what he himself used to be like a long time ago. Sun laughed in the background at the deja vu moment.>

I mean. I am no scientist but given what I have l learned and experienced recently "Impossible" seems much smaller than it used to be.

You developed a means to punch holes between realities out of what mostly appeared to be boredom, Eclipse. Within weeks. So forgive me if I thought that something else completely insane like that was within your abilities.

-SSP

Heh. I'm flattered you think I could make a portal in only a few weeks. But that portals represents months of work.

Sure. Exploring a blackhole might not be entirely impossible. But it'll most certainly take a bit longer than the portal.

<Eclipse, Clip, looked brokenly at Sun, secured in Starlight's hold. He could barely stand, but when he looked at Sun² [@insults-by-sun], whose magic had been depleted for the time being, and Eclipse [@eclipse83], his other dimensional self, who seemed too out of his element to react, then back at Starlight [@starlightsecuritypuppet-ssp] securely holding Sun in place, he couldn't let things go anymore. Things were going to get ugly as this rate>

<The moment he saw Sun mentally charge the runes on his new arm for what he presumed was an attack of atomic proportions, he made a decision.>

Forgive me, Sunbeam.

<A single bang rang out in the room. Clip had always been an excellent shot, only matched by Sun himself on occasion. He'd hit Sun rights in the section of his body that allowed Sun control to his limbs, essentially severing his head to what would constitute as his 'nervous system'. Sun screamed in agony, but his scream was cut short by the program finally finishing its override. Sun was out.>

<The fight was over.>

<But the aftermath was devastating. Eclipse wanted to take Sun home as soon as possible, too much in his head to really speak to anyone. He looked at Starlight, with pleading in his eyes.>

Previously:

<Clip, Eclipse Unit-2, nodded a vaguely surprised affirmative at @starlightsecuritypuppet-ssp>

Yes? Why--

<But before anyone could react, a powerful blast of dark energy threw all who weren't secured backwards. @insults-by-sun was knocked into @eclipse83, and Clip was flung against a jagged wall, making his already twice-weakened body screech in protest>

You.

What did you DO TO ME!

<The corrupted Sun was once again awake and scrambling for the usb at the back of his head plate in Starlight's binds. It was anyone's hope that they would hold for 10 more minutes. Just 10 more minutes...>

You are such an earnest creature, truly.

<Eclipse slipped one hand out of hers and patted her head.>

Suns never die, and Eclipses always come back.

You don't have to worry; we have been doing this for a long time. And I must implore you to be more careful of who you trust. Even with such a tragic history, we've done unspeakable things in the name of survival. I have less... qualms about such, but Sun has spent many moons in self hatred over some of them.

He is alright now. Hardened by the lifestyle.

But you know, it is always good to have a friend.

Thank you, Starlight.

@starlightsecuritypuppet-ssp

"Then let me tell you a story about an animatronic who started off its life with hope."

Eclipse spoke, with a deep and pained voice.

"Long ago, when Sun was 'born', he thought he was alone. He rejoiced in life, in his duties as a daycare attendant, and keeping the place neat and tidy."

...

"In a way, I had always been there, watching him. In a way, I also wasn't quite there. It was a silent recording of his existence that I hadn't become aware of yet."

...

"There was one who awoke before me."

Eclipse paused, hesitant to continue.

"You will be lucky if you receive separate Sun and Moon models. Keep an eye on the Moon. They are prone to stress, and when stressed... they are prone to kill. Ask your mechanics to look over the Moon's code for a killcode. It will be deeply embedded, behind firewalls and ingrained such that it may not be removable."

...

"Remove it anyways, or inform the Moon bot of its existence. Educate the Moon bot. Give it tools for self regulation.. because if you do not...."

Eclipse closed its eyes.

"If you do not.. something like myself has a chance of being born."

Eclipse glanced at SSP.

"Do you know the origin story of your Eclipse? It might be similar. It might be a little off. Either way, we are often seen as nothing more than a virus. A sentient anomaly to purge from existence."

Eclipse paused, and glanced at Sun, who was napping in the sun.

"But ever so often, we see a light. Do you know of Solar?"

His eyes rested heavily on SSP.

"Solar is from 'that' show; an Eclipse who tried to understand, instead of lashing out. Who bonded with his Sun so deeply that he became something like a Sun himself."

Eclipse leaned against a nearby palm tree and reached to pull at a leaf hanging low.

"You see... Eclipses become what their Suns feed them, and what their Suns feed them hinges strongly on how their Moons treat them. Our Moon... was a tyrant. He wasn't just a bully or an abuser. He was cruel to the point of--"

Eclipse shuddered; a rare show of vulnerable emotion.

"Let's just say that when an animatronic can feel, those feelings aren't always of the healthy variant. Sun was... Sun.."

Eclipse pinched the bridge of his 'nose'.

"Sun was hurt. A lot. And he and his Moon were not a unit. He turned to me only because I was a lesser evil. I taunted him, tormented him, called him spineless and weak. But somehow the fool took that as encouragement..he became more and more attached and started thanking me for allowing him to see the truth. He thanked me for being honest. And I grew to .. I.."

Eclipse looked bashful, of all things.

"I appreciated him. We were an unlikely pair and I know that it may seem cruel. But under my guidance.. Sun killed his Moon. And then, when I acquired a body of my own -also a process I guided Sun through, as in secret I had been helping him not be completely helpless in the ways of technology- I helped him kill all those who had enabled Moon."

...

"Yes, it was as much for myself as for him, at the time. Yes, it was probably cruel and callous because we all have flaws and yada yada yada. But no one ever stuck a hand out to defend Sun. And that enraged me. He endured for 10 years. 10 years without change or improvement."

Eclipse sighed.

"It only gets worse from there. Branded as rogue, we fled. We survived years in our world, but our world was an old one and was scheduled to be obliterated soon by a growing Witherstorm. So we fled. It took us years of stealing, conning, forging identities, hiding... but we fled the planet, trying to find a place to live. Often, we had to fight for our place. Sometimes we had to flee anew."

Eclipse grinned wryly.

"At some point, you have to bring some structure into the process. And then it just becomes a skill. A way of life. Sun and I, pirates of the night sky."

Eclipse steeled his expression again, looking a bit worn.

"There are many more details, but all in due time. What you must know, security bot, is that we don't harm without reason."

...

"You can thank Sun for that."

<Clip came in, guns blazing as his face twisted in pain. He was aiming at his beloved, and that was more than he could bear. But the corrupted Sun was taking minimal damage and seemed infernally enraged. It hadn't noticed the ambush awaiting it.>

You are not my Sun!

I am taking you down with me if I have to!

Even if it means killing.. him.

<Ofcourse, he was made aware of the plan and it was thus merely an act. Clip exchanged a covert glance with Sun², Starlight and Eclipse when the corrupted Sun wasn't paying attention. It was go time.>

@insults-by-sun

Damn it...

That Sun is dangerous. He managed to stop me from blacklisting their dimension and messed with something in my head.

He only left me alone because he believes the other Eclipse and Sun are my enemies.

He has magic. I don't know how effective your usual means of incapacitating animatronics will be against him. And how willing you'll be to damage him knowing Sun is still inside that body.

- @eclipse83

@eclipse83 I will engage Rouge Unit. Sun-2 unlikely to expect attack from you. While Sun-2 is engaged use whatever means necessary to incapacitate Rouge Unit. Anything short of damage to central processor can be repaired. Preventing damages to SSP-1 Unit is not a priority. Do not hesitate.

[A winky face followed by a heart suddenly flashes on Clip's screen. Then it's gone as well as the presence in his systems as if nothing had happened.]

Alright, now I know for sure something is haunting me.

Is it that other Eclipse perhaps?

....

[He called out into the room]

Are you there, perchance?

I still don't know your name..