Software Error

Uncanny

As we land in the big ball pit under the slide, I see a familiar sun-themed character dive into the ball pit before running up to us. "Well hello, friends! You're here awfully late! Are we having a slumber party? And, hey! One of you looks very similar to another friend I have! Are you twins?" Sun says friendlily. He quickly glosses over his question though. "We can care about that later! We can have so much fun together now. I've got glitter glue, drinks and we can play so many fun games! We just have one rule, keep the lights on. On. On!" Sun grabs both of our hands and leads us to the play area.

Gregory's Faz-watch crackles to life, "Gregory, there used to be a badge at the security desk but it was moved to Lyle's lair after a kid almost stole it once. I, unfortunately, do not know where Lyle keeps it, but there hasn't been any problems since." Well, that's an issue. I try to strike up a conversation with Sun. "Hey, S-sun. Could we go see L-Lyle? I have someth-thing I want to a-ask of him." Sun turns around to look at me instead of Gregory when he says that. "Alright, I'll let you go but only you. Lyle should be tired and I don't want to bother him." It's an obvious lie because Sun clearly just wants someone to hang out with. Why doesn't he hang out with the other me?

I look at Gregory and he gives me an okay sign. I'm a bit hesitant to leave him but we won't be going anywhere without that pass. I hope nothing troubling happens to Gregory while I'm gone. I start walking my way over to the Lyle's Lair part of the daycare. I feel a strange coldness go up my spine the closer I get. I feel sort of... clammy. Am I nervous? I guess I should be since I'm meeting, well, "me".

I enter the familiar igloo where I see myself relaxing in a nice book. Getting a look at the cover reveals it to be Holes. Nice taste me. I give myself an inward nod of acceptance. "H-hello?" I try to catch their attention. They look down from the book and look up at me, before an expression of shock is seen in their eyes and they stand up and put their book down. "Who are you?!" They demand. "W-well, uh, you?" Now that I can get a good look at them, I can tell they did a pretty good job of copying my looks. But, I don't know, there's just something... wrong? It's like looking in a mirror but the mirror you doesn't reflect you like it's supposed to. I can't even say what is wrong, but if you were to ask me, I wouldn't call this Lyle myself.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be powered down in parts and service?" I pause to think of an answer to that question. "W-well, y-yes, I s-suppose. I d-do not know h-how I'm h-here. B-but there's a k-kid who n-needs help. A-and I'm t-trying to help them." "Wait, you found that kid?! Vanessa told me to get him for her. Where is he? Take me to him!" Lyle demands. "N-no! The k-kid doesn't f-feel safe with V-Vanessa." The other me walks up to me, face to face. "Are they in the daycare right now?" Dang me, being smart. How am I supposed to answer that on the spot? Oh, wait. "I-i'm not answering y-your question!" "Then I guess I'll have to find him myself." There's a much darker tone behind that voice of mine. Is it that other code? I grab the other Lyle. "N-no. W-we're supposed to help kids. J-just let h-him be!" The other Lyle just looks at me funnily. "I was wondering why the kids were saying I felt different the first time I took care of the daycare. You're different than me. Why are you different?!"

"????" I look at Lyle confused. "I get it now. There must've been a problem in your programming that made you ignore directives!" The other me looks kind of scary now. Like they want to eat me alive or something. "You're a dangerous robot now other "me", and it's time you get scrapped." Oh, he was probably just trying to find an excuse to beat me up. Why is this me's personality so different? Maybe they made me more territorial and I'm kind of in complete contradiction to that. Oh, maybe that's why Sun wasn't hanging out with me. I guess it's time to fight then, I doubt I'll be able to calm myself down. Hopefully, after this other Lyle will just stay here and guard the igloo.

Just as the staredown gets more intense the lights shut off. Shoot. I can hardly see anything with the only light source being the other me's eyes and the low light from the fake fireplace. I instantly dash to the side once the lights come off and I could hear the other me diving towards where I was moments ago. With my damaged parts, I don't think I'll be able to damage them without a plan. Then I look over to the bookshelves. Bingo. Maybe the other me will be too worked up to notice my idea. I still need to grab the card though, but I think I have an idea as to where it is. Knowing me and where kids would look, I've got a pretty good hunch I know its exact location. But that's enough thinking for now, other me gets off the ground and growls at me. The real battle starts now.