"So, Tai-D's nickname is Gizmo?" Harumi asked as she stepped out of the basement tunnel, glancing at the nindroid beside her.

"Yes, we call him Gi-Gizmo," the nindroid stuttered, his voice box clearly malfunctioning.

"So I should call you Gizmo then, buddy?" She looked down towards the smaller robot with a smile.

"Bee-beep!" He nodded as he waved his arms at her.

The two robots walked alongside her, their movements mechanical and creaky. She had asked earlier if the nindroid recognized her, but he had declined. At first, she had wondered if this was the Zane she met—lost, disoriented, and without recollection of the past. However, this Zane was different. He looked similar, but something in his mannerisms told her he was a remake.

Harumi raised an eyebrow. "And... you both were created here?"

"Yes, my fa-father calls me Echo Zane." The robot replied, his joints creaking under strain.

"You call your inventor 'father'?" her voice was tinged with curiosity as she asked.

Echo Zane nodded in response, "Yes, I was m-made to be his son."

It made sense, in a way—the man must have been lonely and created Zane—both Zanes—to keep him company. It was incredible what skill and intellect could do when put into work. Harumi wondered what more interesting inventions Dr. Julien had made throughout the years. 

The creation of Echo Zane had intrigued her as his creator did not have many advanced tools within the lighthouse at his disposal. No wonder too she was familiar with the name, 'Julien'. She remembered she learned the Ninja's names. It made her wonder more about the Zane she met. A nindroid an inventor made to be his son...

She remembered their first meeting when she had roll-called the ninja. She mistakenly called him an 'android' at that time. It wasn't out of ignorance, likely just a slip of tongue. In a way, it wouldn't make sense for them to know she had knowledge about such technology since she wasn't exposed to them back when she was a princess. She needed to deceive them and avoid possible questions.

I was shameless, she thought, her stomach twisting as the guilt resurfaced.

She closed her eyes, the feeling sinking in within her. She had manipulated the Ninja. She had used them to get what she wanted. She had betrayed Lloyd, and the painful memory of it resurfaced, cutting through her like a blade.

Her stomach churned and a familiar, painful sensation was slowly starting to resurface, her hands dimming to a dark black color again. She immediately snapped out of her thoughts and distracted herself as the feeling washed down before it could accumulate into something worse.

This was why she didn't trust herself to be left alone with her thoughts. The excruciating pain in her stomach had never truly gone away. She'd convinced herself it had, but now she realized it had only been dormant, waiting for the right moment to resurface.

She took a shaky breath, trying to push the guilt away, but it was no use. It felt suffocating. She needed to focus, to pull herself out of this spiral—if only for a moment. Her gaze landed on the two robots, who were now speaking softly to each other. Echo Zane's faceplate, cracked and worn, caught her eye again.

As they reached the top, the far distance came into view. Through the window, stars glittered in the sky as the sea reflected the moonlight's ethereal glow. The floor creaked slightly, mixing with the faint sound of waves crashing against the shore as the cool breeze entered through the large openings on all sides. It carried the tangy scent of seawater, filling Harumi's nose as she slowly placed down the large metal sheet above the staircase entrance.

"Why did you bar-barricade it?" asked the rusty nindroid, sitting still beside Gizmo who stood on the table.

"For safety," Harumi replied, her hands dusting off her pants as she sat across the two.

The larger robot tilted his head in confusion before looking at his smaller friend who beeped in agreement.

"I see," a smile formed on his face as he turned back to Harumi. "Well, you don't need to worry anymore. I will be here t-to protect—"

His words abruptly paused as the metal cover on his face detached and fell on the table. Gizmo scrambled to pick up the piece, placing it back on the nindroid's head who then thanked him for the help.

Harumi observed as the two robots interacted. She looked at their rusty and old parts, taking note of the ones that creaked at every action. Echo Zane, in particular, looked quite roughed up as if he was mauled by a bear or something. The thought surfaced in her mind and she had to ask.

"Echo Zane," she called out to him. "Did something happen? Were you attacked?"

The nindroid did not reply immediately, the lights on his eyes blinked several times before he responded.

"My da-databank has been damaged and I can not exactly recall the com-complete events, but yes... something happened." He confirmed as Gizmo beeped, supporting his statement.

The words made Harumi tense. "What happened?"

Echo Zane's eyes dimmed. "We were exploring... at a desert. I was with Gizmo here..." He trailed off, his head tilting slightly before his eyes blinked out of sync. He stopped speaking, his body growing still.

"Echo? Echo Zane?" Harumi stood up and rushed to the nindroid as Gizmo jumped off the table and whirred to Echo Zane's back, lifting the metal cover and revealing the backside of his engine.

"Bee-beep." The smaller robot pointed to a switch beneath his neck, prompting Harumi to try and flick it back on. The switch was stuck, and frustration built as she struggled to free it.

"It's stuck!" she exclaimed as Gizmo immediately rolled off to the toolbox and rummaged through its contents.

Gizmo jumped on the table and took the oil can from her, allowing her to use both hands as she continued pushing up the switch through the screwdriver. Slowly, the metal piece started to move up as Harumi exerted more force. With one final push, the switch snapped back up and the engine started.

Harumi fell back as she sighed in relief. Gizmo tapped on Echo Zane's head as his eyes flickered on.

"What... what ha-happened?" The nindroid asked as he stirred awake from his recent power outage.

"You turned off." Harumi got up on her feet and walked back to her side of the table. "Gizmo here was quick on his wheels to help you."

"Bee-beep!" Tai-D beeped proudly.

Echo Zane's voice softened. "Thank you, buddy. I knew I could count on you." He gently lifted Gizmo and gave him a warm hug. The sight made Harumi smile, and for a brief moment, her heart was at ease.

She watched them, but her smile faded as she noticed just how damaged Echo Zane still was. His body looked worn out, and the exposed engine in his chest was clearly malfunctioning.

"We should get you fixed up," Harumi said, her tone serious. "Whatever happened, it really took a toll on you."

"Yes... my engine switch usually d-doesn't turn off on its own," Echo Zane explained, frowning as he sat down. "Some of my internal parts must have b-been displaced when we were attacked."

"Attack?" Harumi asked, her voice sharp with concern.

Echo Zane nodded, his eyes flickering again. "I remember being a-attacked... but I don't know what happened before or after that. The last memory I could recall was Gizmo trying to fix me before I shut down."

Harumi glanced at Gizmo who was busy tidying up the toolbox. Knowing the little robot's penchant for tidying up things, she wondered if he was capable of doing repairs too.

"Can he fix you?" She asked Echo Zane who then shook his head in response. "Gizmo, I mean."

"Gi-Gizmo can only do basic repairs." Echo Zane replied as Gizmo returned with a buzz. "Big damages like mine were u-usually done by father.

Gizmo beeped at Echo Zane and the nindroid turned to him. As the two conversed, Harumi stared down at the table, her mind deep in thought. He was functional now but his damages would likely get worse over time.

It didn't help that his parts were all rusty and old. The metal covers on his body looked brittle and already had multiple holes. Extensive repairs were needed to get him back in good condition and they needed someone experienced to do just that.

Her mind whirred as she buried her face in her hands, contemplating their next steps. They were stranded on this island with no way to communicate with the outside world. The sea stretched out endlessly before them, and the only nearby land was a dangerous island filled with hostile, seemingly immortal metal beings.

"Are you going to fix me?" Echo Zane's voice brought her back to the present.

"Me?" Harumi was taken aback by the question.

"Yes. Gizmo tells m-me you fixed him," Echo Zane explained. "You also upgraded his wheels. They l-look better!"

"I did, but..." Harumi hesitated. "Those were nothing compared to what's wrong with you. I'm not an inventor."

Echo Zane and Gizmo looked at each other as Harumi sulked in her seat, letting out a sharp breath. She could hear them talk but her mind was drowned in thoughts. Just then, Gizmo whirred to a corner and opened a hidden compartment, taking out something. He then approached her, extending his hands and offering her an old dusty notebook.

"You could learn." Echo Zane's voice didn't stutter for once as he smiled, beaming at Harumi.

Harumi stared at the notebook, her fingers trembling slightly. Could she really do this? She wasn't an inventor. But Echo Zane's words echoed in her mind: "You could learn."

She opened the notebook, flipping through its pages filled with notes, diagrams, and illustrations of machinery. Some of the pages were chaotic, others more organized, but all of it was practical and filled with potential. 

Maybe she could try. After all, who else would? It's just the three of them here in the lighthouse. Maybe she could learn something new and she can finally do something good.

"Do something good..." she muttered to herself, repeating the last thought.

If he were here, he would have encouraged her.

Harumi felt a pang of doubt. What if I mess up? she thought.

"Mistakes are just reasons to try again." Lloyd's voice resurfaced in her mind, breaking through her thoughts.

What if she didn't know what to do?

"Don't worry," Lloyd's voice continued. "Mistakes are the best teachers."

Harumi clenched her jaw. Her mind recalled her last meeting with him.

If only...

No. She assured herself she did the right thing. It was best for both of them.

She shook off her feelings. After a few more seconds of skimming through the notebook, she closed it and gently placed it on the table. She then looked at the two robots who eagerly waited for her to respond.

She could do this. She had to. For them.

"I'll try," she said, her voice firm as she looked at the two robots.

You hear that, Gizmo?" Echo Zane turned to his friend, who beeped in response, his mechanical arms giving a cheerful wave.

The robots celebrated, their enthusiasm lifting Harumi's spirits. Maybe she wasn't an inventor, but she would try. She had to.

But just as the feeling of confidence took root, a sharp pain cut through her abdomen.

"Ack!" Harumi fell back with a gasp, clutching her stomach as it throbbed in pain.

"Harumi!" Echo Zane and Gizmo rushed to her side.

"I... I'm okay," Harumi stammered, trying to assure them but her vision was already swimming.

Something else was wrong—something beyond her control.

Echo Zane could feel his sensor go off as an unidentified presence loomed over them. Gizmo seemed to have felt it too as he quickly rushed to his friend for protection.

"You are mine..." An eerie voice whispered, cold and ominous, as Harumi dropped to the floor, unconscious. 

________________________________

A/N

Shortest chapter so far. XD

This was meant to be longer according to what was on my outline but I decided to omit the other parts and save them for the next chaps because this one would be too long already.