Rustling sounds filled the room, small, teasing shocks of electricity buzzed behind the eyes.

  "Ugh.” Zusting groaned, rubbing his eyes, his body gradually powered on. “Wake up, sleepyhead!” Eno pulled on Zusting’s hair, yanking him out of his daze, “Hah…?”

  Zusting raised to see Asherest glaring in his face, “Up yet? Let's go.” Asherest grabbed Zusting by the arm and dragged him to his feet, “Wait!” Zusting yanked his wrist away, “What's up with you dragging people by the wrist!” Zusting fumed, causing Asherest to tense up visibly, “I get I'm an object to you, but you should at least handle an object with some care, don't you think?” Zusting exclaimed, examining his wrist. “It doesn’t count if you aren’t a person.” Asherest commented, abruptly turning towards the door, “It’s time to leave. “ Asherest glanced back at Zusting, “We've got things to do.” Asherest leaned against the door frame.

  “Oh, fine.” Zusting staggered, the thumps of his steps booming against the floor. Asherest looked Zusting up and down, “Pick up your feet.” Asherest put in the unlock command on the door panel, waltzing out. Zusting rolled his eyes, “They’re heavy!” he whined, hauling himself out the door and into the hall.

  The rugged hallway was crowded with other exotic-looking Ex-panes showing off their flashy circuits, each pair conversing and glaring at anyone who walked by, “... Whoa.” Zusting murmured, stealing glances at each circuit that walked past.

  "They all look so," Zusting trailed off, eyes catching onto another pair, the projector light falling over the Ex-Pane's face, “What are you doing!” The circuit that was following shortly behind the Ex-Pane spun around at lightning speed, shoving Zusting into Asherest.

  “Oh, I-I'm sorry.” Zusting stammered, “Didn't mean to, honestly!” Zusting looked up at Asherest, jaw clenched. “You damn D grade degenerates…” The circuit barked, storming away, “D-grade?” Zusting looked at Asherest then back at the circuit, waltzing away, his eyes locking onto words that traveled alongside both sides of the floor.

  The words, “D GRADE,” were engraved into the sleek, albeit grimy floors. Zusting's face contorted, “Since when did grades give someone the right to be a d–” Asherest shot Zusting a disapproving look, putting finger over his mouth, “That's just how it works for us down here.”

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  Asherest sighed and began walking, "Don't make it a big deal.” Zusting follows close behind, “It is a big deal!” Zusting put his hands in his pockets, puffing his chest out, “For someone who's on the same floor, they talk real big!” Zusting raved, stomping in each stride he took.

  As the two trudged through the crowd, the Ex-panes' indulging in their mindless chatter died out the moment they walked past, gasps and hurried whispers following them like sludge pulling at their heels.

  "There's no way." An Ex-Pane abruptly stepped in front of Zusting, putting a hand to his chest and stopping him in his tracks, “Sorry, little guy, but you must have an Ex-Pane supervising you beyond this point.” The Ex-Pane smirked, deliberately putting herself between Asherest and Zusting.

  Zusting raised an eyebrow, looking around, “But, that's my Ex-Pane right there?” Zusting pointed at Asherest, who was standing not far away. The Ex-Pane gasped, glancing between Asherest and Zusting, “This, no-circuit failure?” The Ex-Pane laughed, clutching her stomach.

  “Where did he steal you from, huh?” The Ex-Pane pinched Zusting’s cheeks, “Don’t worry, I can get you up to Circuit resources in a zip.” Zusting recoiled, his face contorting, “Stolen? I'm being serious!” Zusting shouted, shoving the Ex-Pane back.

  “I didn’t take anything, it’s mine.” Asherest grabbed the Ex-Pane by the shoulder and shoved her aside, taking Zusting by the hand, “Eno.” Asherest snapped.

  EN0 quickly flew over to Zusting's side, “Here, see for yourself!” EN0 pulled up a hologram of Zusting and Asherest's Bond file, “Y-yeah!” Zusting huffed, pointing at the hologram. The Ex-Pane scratched her head, looking between the three, “Really…?”

  Zusting's stinger ringed itself around Asherest’s leg, "He's my Ex-Pane." Zusting assured, eyes narrowing. The Ex-Pane grunted, turning away. “Zusting,” Asherest mumbled, pulling Zusting into step beside him.

  Harsh glares stuck to the pair like glue, eyes following every movement they made, “Why do they look at us like that?” Zusting muttered, “I can feel them staring, it's like they’re trying to put a hole through my head with their eyes.”

  Asherest surveyed Zusting’s face, slipping his arm around his waist, “I expected this, don’t worry about it.” Asherest sighed, glancing back at Eno. “They’ll lose interest soon.” Asherest trudged through the sea of Ex-panes. Before long, they made it to the transport pods at the end of the hall.

  Zusting shook free of Asherest's grasp, bursting with energy, “Goodness, it’s like a pack of sardines in this place!” Zusting complained, “Hey, what's that?” Zusting leaned in towards Asherest, “Nothing much.” Asherest pulled up a B-Grade Ex-Pane pass. Zusting’s eyes darted between Asherest and the pass, “A B-grade pass?” A projector light burst from Zusting’s eyes.

  “Pfft-” Asherest put a hand over Zusting’s face. “Get a handle on those eyes, I don't need a circuit that can barely control its own analyzers.” The scanner beeped, and the pod door opened.