InterNutter

Chapter Nineteen.
(Four metal people, Easily impressed, For want of a kiss, and The bad loud noise)

"See?" said Rabbit, they were using their best whisper. "Said I found Ma."

The Spine held one finger over his mouth. His version of tippy-toes was a nervous shuffle. Behind him were the new two. Units Three and Four. Their glowing eyes wide and curious.

"Whazzat?" said Unit Three.

Rabbit gestured in a showman-like way at Ma as she slept on the tiny, low shelf. "This Ma. She nice. She help dummins big weak baby The Spine."

"Sshh," insisted The Spine.

"Ma give Pappy fuel, so Pappy make us. Make Pappy smile."

"Ooooh," cooed Unit Four. He was made wrong and didn't have any feet. He also needed extra lenses just to see. He was also the easiest to impress. "Ma pretty. Low boiler? Cold water?"

"Sleeping princess wanna... Truluv kissykiss," nodded Three. "...'s inna book."

"Nah-uh," said Rabbit with some authority. "Ma 'n' Pappy is building up steam. Listen. Hear th' gears growlin'."

Four automatons leaned over their idle Ma. Listened intently to the slight buzzing whenever her bellows inflated.

"Ma quiet," observed Three.

"Got good grease," bubbled The Spine.

"Ooooooh," cooed Four. "Give Pappy grease? Yesno?"

Someone with the same body as Ma, but with a different head, came into the kitchen. All four automatons straightened to stare.

"Spare Ma?" risked Three.

The new human made a big, loud, long noise. Bad noise. Scream noise. It was the noise that made a lot of yelling and angry.

To an automaton, they all started to sound their emergency sirens. Which only made the loud in the room be louder.

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Chapter Eighteen.
(Rumours abound, An abhorrent abundance of sandwiches, Camping by the bell, and The persistence of exhaustion)

Iris didn't see it happen, but a thousand different rumours hurtled about the manor. Everyone knew that Colonel Walter had retreated to his lab, but word had it that the Admiral had gone up to shout him down. It was the first time that the Colonel had ignored the riding cane.

It shattered across his back, they said.

Then the Admiral attempted to use

Chapter Seventeen.
(Becile strikes! Delilah’s impending demise, The one thing he can do, and It wouldn’t be fair)

Peter stared at the words on the telegram.

Becile caused much damage to Cavalcadium with mechanical elephant and sonic weapon. Moreau injured and deathly ill. May not survive the night.

One of their mutual friends had sent it, but Peter could not read as far as that name. He kept reading the final two sentences over and over again. Hoping against hope

Chapter Sixteen.
(A worried automaton, Ma helps out, Pleased Pappy, and The humans also leak)

The Spine knew somehow that he was failing at everything. Rabbit was already the strongest and the fastest at learning. Rabbit never worried about breaking things. In fact, his copper sibling had to be actively discouraged from breaking things.

Rabbit liked the interesting sounds, and thought they were funny.

So when Ma came to show The Spine something to help him, he naturally thought that it was

Chapter Fifteen.
(Delilah’s influence, Their first show, Steak on display, and A solution for a problem)

Iris managed to spot the fabled Doctor Delilah Moreau in just as many seconds as Colonel Walter did. And instantly felt small, common, and invisible. Any woman standing beside Delilah Moreau would instantly look like a scarecrow.

Even she fell a little in love with her. She knew she was starstruck with instant infatuation. Iris made herself examine the woman beyond her outward appearance. And