Well, it turned out that wasn't The Spine's hat after all. Rabbit was holding the weird cat in her hands, it stared evilly at her. What looked like the fedora, was really more of it's fur that seemed to be growing at an irregular shape.
"I'm not too happy either." She told it, then sat it down. It seemed to be waiting for something. She asked it what it wanted. When there was no answer Rabbit began walking back the way she came.
The fog was gone, and a black and blue tiled floor stretched out in front of her. So that's why some of the tiles from the Manor were missing! Huh, felt like home. Well the floor did. Everything else was dark, except for some other items Hatchworth had sleep-hatched, that were still floating in the air.
A door was suddenly on her right. Painted red and said "Car Wash" on it.
Rabbit opened it, and saw a chair with eyes, staring at her. The copper bot closed the door quickly. She kept walking, then another door, unlabeled, appeared in front of her. She opened it and found a hallway on the other side.
The Spine was there, and with a look of surprise and relief, grabbed her shoulders, and embraced her tightly.
"There you are!" He released her. "If something happened to you, well, I just don't know what I'd do!" He looked behind her. "Who's that?"
The cat had followed Rabbit.
"I don't know. Anyway, that isn't your fedora, the cat's fur is just growing all weird."
"Well...that is weird. Any how, let's go."
They began walking and Rabbit asked what all these doors were for. Her brother answered he wasn't sure, but they all seemed to lead somewhere or another. From other places in Hatchy's Hatch to other worlds entirely. The way to the eighth dimension must be here somewhere.
"Ya think the humans will find out why Hatchworth is sleep hatching?"
"No."
[-]
"Run! Run!"
"I'm a person not a horse!" Walter Girl Carolina snapped. "I can't run any faster!"
"Well I'm not exactly in a position to sprint myself."
They were on the trial of the giant blob. Matter Master David was immersed inside it and was screaming something to them, but ne sound escaped to them. He kept pointing to the backpack.
The most confusing part, was that the glob had the word "Malware" written on it's back.
"How is that thing Malware?!"
"I don't know." The Walter Girl answered, dismayed.
Carolina's communication headpiece began beeping again. She managed to answer while keeping up with the glob. Her eyes widened, "It's Matter Mistress Bunny. Steve said she wants to talk to her twin..."
The glob didn't look like it was slowing down anytime soon. Peter told Carolina to give it to him.
"Okay, here he is." Walter Girl Carolina said nervously, handing the headpiece to Peter, who took it and said nothing.
He continued to say nothing, while Walter Girl Carolina fished out a type of ray-gun from the backpack. MM David nodded and put his goggles on, the pressed a button on his watch and a blue gel-like substance covered his body.
The Walter Girl fired and the glob was vaporized, breaking into a million miniature green particles that eventually disappeared, and the hostage was now safe. Whatever that thing really was, it's goo seemed to have fixed the levitating problem; Matter Master David could walk on the ground again.
Soon as they reached him, Peter Walter VI gave the head piece back to Ms. Carolina.
Steve was on the other end.
"What did he say?"
"Huh?"
"Did they argue or something? Matter Mistress Bunny is scowling, but ya know, she didn't say anything..."
Carolina glared at her boss who shrugged, as Matter Master David looked at them confused.
"I don't know. He didn't say anything either." She said. The Walter Girl hung up. She looked to Matter Master David. "Do you guys think that was really Malware?"
"If it was, then there's probably more. The left over spills from before I fixed the leak must have mutated them, which accounts for everything else here." Peter Walter VI answered. "Are you sure his virus protection is updated?"
[-]
The Spine and Rabbit wondered on. They found that the inside of their brother's hatch could change on it's own, and in a moments notice. The surroundings seemed restless, and it was an easy way to get lost.
You're on a tiled path one minute, then inside half a paper-towel dining room the next.
Through it all there was still no sign of The Spine's fedora. There were Cat in the Hat caps, and train-conductor hats, and bowler hats, and top hats, and sombreros, and of course a baseball cap at one point.
But no fedora.
That cat was still following them, and they had attempted to lose it several times.
"I'm getting freaked out, The Spine." Rabbit whispered, looking over her shoulder at the cat. She held tightly to her brother's arm, who in turn put a reassuring silver hand on her own.
"I'm sorry I got ya into this Rabbit." The Spine whispered back. "I should have just ordered a new-"
"No, The Spine, it's okay. I wanted to come with you, Bro!" Rabbit instantly cheered up. "Even with all the freaky deaky cats."
The Spine smiled at his sister and they kept walking, Rabbit still holding on to his arm. It wasn't for some minutes til the cat appeared in front of the two bots, it's wide smile returned.
It said in a puckish voice, "I know what you seek, Mr. and Ms. Robot...And I know where it is."
