Magnet watched the cosmic sky from his control room of blinking lights and buzzing generators. The colorful lights within the tower were brief and sporadic compared to the wonders beyond the thick walls. The computers relayed information to thousands of space drones patrolling the grounds, as well as the numerous stations on the other asteroids. And throughout many days Magnet would receive messages from each brother about the excavation process, some results being better than others.

Snakeman was the luckiest of the brothers to find the source of his energy element. With his excellent mapping abilities and able to spawn millions of snake drones under his command, the energy element was discovered in Beta's core. His search snakes that exploded from contact helped pinpoint the exact location, and the brother had started his long trek inside the asteroid and past any form of controlled environment. His messages had become sparce two days ago since then, but Magnet remained confident in his younger brother.

Topman took his time planning every part of the excavation towards Omega's far side, a crater where the drones couldn't reach. Anytime Magnet tried to intervene in his organized unit his brother would interrupt him before working harder to reach the element. He questioned why his brother was so determined to get the element on his own, but never confronted the matter itself. However, he had to give him credit for staying focused on the task and not admiring himself in the crystal's reflection. He linked to his brothers in a attempt to reach Gemini again.

Come in guys. How is everything going down in the asteroids? Magnet messaged through the links. One by one, the voices of the others joined in.

It's all good by me. I might be approaching the energy element soon after this wall. Top said.

Same here. My search snakes blew up not too long ago, so I am close to the source. Snake added in. Magnet sighed in relief before prodding into Gemini's link.

Gemini? You there?

I am here. Why is every wall in this blasted asteroid pure crystal? It's taking me forever to get to this thing, even with my clones and lasers! Gemini's aggravated voice echoed through all three robot's links.

Besides that, are you close to the energy element's source? Magnet asked.

Oh yeah. I found the location hours ago. Gemini concluded. 

Maybe you could have started with that before going on that rant. Anyways, I'll send the newest reports to Lavender and we can call it a day. Magnet briefly disconnected the links. The short but informative report whipped past the screen with a giant check mark. His shoulders were aching again, but loosened in relief over the progress made today. As he connected to his brother's links again, their voices overlapped in an ongoing discussion.

I'm just saying it would mean something to him if we at least try. We can't exactly know what he feels all the time, and the doctors will question us about our sudden disappearances at some point. Top said.

And that's why I say it's a terrible idea. Just because we exchanged a few conversations with him doesn't mean we can fully trust him. I mean what has he done for us? Gemini argued.

How about saved us from being stranded in space? Top remarked with a snarky tone.

What are you guys talking about? Magnet asked suddenly, and the brothers quieted their argument.

Top was suggesting that after this mission is done, we could try bringing Shadow to Light Labs. Gemini is arguing that it's not a good idea and we should leave him alone. I'm...neutral in this. Snake popped in the link only to fade into obscurity once more.

Any reason for these thoughts brother? He asked curiously.

I thought it would just be the right thing to do. He doesn't have a home anymore since that Ra Moon thing blew up, and maybe Doctor Light can help him out. Top explained calmly. Magnet sighed looking to the sky, the body of Shadow flying through the cosmos with ease leaving only a blue comet-like trail.

Your processor has good reasoning Top, but I don't think Shadow would like that. He dislikes humans immensely, so making him stay at Light Labs would be bad news for everyone. Magnet shot down the suggestion.

Why would he hate humans? He has no reason to. Top questioned, with Gemini agreeing for once. 

He had bad interactions with humans before, among other things he said to me. That's all I can elaborate. He responded hesitantly.

What interactions? As far as I can recall, the only humans he met were Doctor Light, Doctor Wily, and Astil. And that was during the whole Ra Moon takeover. There is no way he could make assumptions on humans during that time. Top insisted with more questions as Magnet grew uncomfortable bringing up the ninja's accusations.

Unless the supercomputer brainwashed him like it did to the rest of us. Gemini interrupted the conversation. Magnet was relieved to hear his brother change the subject, despite the disappointment on Top's side.

I doubt that. Shadow seems too stubborn to be brainwashed like that. He brushed off the accusation.

I don't mean to pop in suddenly, but I found the energy element. Snake's link suddenly burst through the links. Magnet recoiled slightly but waited in anticipation from the news.

You did?! That's great Snake! What have you gotten? He wanted to shout in happiness in his brother's place, but restrained himself.

I found it while you three were talking about our ninja friend, and the results I have found are really interesting. I thought you guys were joking that the element is alive, but it definitely feels warm and pulsating. Snake began.

Wait, ARE YOU HOLDING IT?! Magnet's shoulders dropped. In a twist of fate, Top and Gemini had announced they found their energy elements, but it fell on deaf ears over Snake's proclamation.

Calm down Mags. I am not in danger. It was going wild when I was approaching it, but calmed down seconds before I touched it. I felt a warmth in my chest, but nothing like our first encounter. It's kind of nice actually. Snake slowly explained with a calm voice.

Okay, but can you give me those results so I don't collapse from stress by this revelation? Although he was relieved, Magnet quickly wobbled to a chair in the corner.

Let me see. It has trace amounts of vanadium and chromium in its physical composition. An emerald, or perhaps peridot? It's incredibly smooth for a natural gemstone, and it is emitting a extremely low level of radiation. The Geiger didn't detect it the first time. What about the others? What have they found? Snake said.

First off, it's most likely a tourmaline if it contains vanadium and chromium. Over here, mine is almost smaller than my hand. It's glowing the same way as Snake has mentioned, and warm to the touch. It's not pulsating though....HOLY SCRAP!!! Gemini shouted.

What is it Gem?! Did something happen?! Magnet said. Gemini's shout turned into laughter as he came back.

Various levels of fluoride and hydroxide across its structure! Hahaha! This has to be jeremejevite! Magnet, do you have any idea how valuable this would be? Forget the energy element stuff, this thing could be useful to Lavender by price alone! Gemini said gleefully over the link. Snake and Magnet sighed simultaneously from the fake panic and acknowledged the last brother.

What have you got Top?

Mine is orange but there is something inside it pulsing and swirling around. It looks like the same light that was coming from the element we sent back to Earth. Top responded.

Snake, can you find anything that points to what this light is? Maybe it is a concentrated part of radiation inside the gems. That could explain why the technology malfunctions in their close proximity. Magnet suggested.

The radiation levels are too low for that to happen. The cause for the malfunctions isn't whatever the crystal is made of, but the light itself. I've looked through every element, natural and artificial, in Earth's history but nothing fits into what it is. The light is visible and warm to the touch, and yet isn't emitting high levels of radiation. There should be something that hints to what it is, but there isn't. Snake explained frustrated.

Which means? Gem interrupted.

We aren't dealing extremely radiated power or crystal batteries. We have found something that defies Earth logic. Snake concluded the statement. Magnet typed the details quickly before sending the message through. The silence was deafening between the brothers with any sentence coming through a jumbled mess.

Well...if it truly defies logic, then Lavender would be thrilled to hear about it! Oh! And wait until Dr. Light and Wily hear about this! They'll be shocked to hear we discovered something alien on our own! Top said. Magnet heard muffled rocks surrounding the his brother's voice that indicated the energy element had been excavated. 

It would be nice to shove it in those guys faces back on Earth. Gemini agreed.

Do you think the kids would be impressed with this? Top asked.

They are programmed to be kids. Of course they'll be impressed. Gemini said.

You all know the drill. Use the conduit containers carefully and we'll be home in no time. I'm proud of you three. I'm sure the doctors will be too. The links fell silent, but the presence of the brothers buzzed faintly within Magnet's processor. The muted happiness from Top when he was digging the element out of the ground, Gemini's excited mumbles admiring the unnatural smoothness of his element, and Snake's calculated thoughts were exchanged between one another. The blue comet trail of Shadow flew through the cosmic sky, visible to the scarlet robot from a heavily reinforced window. He could feel a faint warmth return in his core and sighed in relief, internally wondering if he should ask the doctors to check his systems for the new feeling's source.

A loud beeping erupted from Dr. Wily's speaker box, the red button flashing brightly across the room and static buzzing through. Without a word, he approached the box and reconnected to his brothers.

Everyone, Doctor Wily is contacting us. He said.

What do you mean Magnet? Did something happen back on Earth? Top asked.

I'm not sure. He said if he did it, it would be important. I'll patch it through to you three. He shrugged. All three of the brothers linked to him, their receptors quiet for the report on Earth. Magnet clicked the button and the static cleared up with a single sentence spoken through.

"Activate Operation: I WIN." Dr. Wily's voice said.

A force pounded against Magnet's head and a fierce pain circled the body in a few moments, his hands dropping the speaker to clutch his metallic skull. He felt stunned by the sudden noise before his thoughts started to crumble. He screamed as errors and overrides flooded his mind like a creature clawing its way out. His hands were clutching his receptors to attempt blocking the noise, but it became louder with the dented ears. The links were scrambled with his brother's panicked and pained voices, each of their thoughts as confused and terrified as himself.

MAGS, WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?! MY HEAD!!!! IT WON'T STOP!!! Top's voice screamed through the roaring static.

EVERYONE ACTIVATE BACKUP LINKS NOW!!! Magnet shouted in agony. However, he found any effort of calming anyone, including himself, to be fruitless. The clawing in his processor was unbearable as it severed many of the programs deep within his coding. The others' screams were becoming as loud as the static, drowning out his own voice.

Then there was a new program slowly activating in Magnet's processor. A program he didn't recognize filled with codes that made his core run cold. He tried to shut it out but was too late. The coding expanded from the processor into his body, his arms feeling heaving and legs moving on their own. He could see many worker robots levitate off the ground, the screens buzzing wildly and metal walls denting inward towards his body. He saw through his eyes the massive electromagnetic shield encircling his form, and his mind started to flood with foreign thoughts. He did not recognize these horrible thoughts and cried out as his vision started to fade.

He reached for his brothers links, but no screams or voices were heard aside his own, which grew more strained every passing second. The horrible thoughts pulled him farther control as he saw his body reach for the window, overlooking the blue comet body and the approaching Earth. His last muffled cry escaped his throat and everything went numb, his body no longer his own and watching over the lonely sky.