The Pauper Princess and the Born Legacy, Part 9

[maramcc]

Here's Part 8.

I'm so long-winded, even my fanfictions have chapters!!

The story so far...!
-That possible plotpoint that readers of fanfiction everywhere dread most... was confirmed. Sorry. Sorry.
-Agatha and Mara worked out some trust issues
-Team Mouseheart arrived back from Mechanicsburg, and promptly got split up
-The Mighty Oggie is helping de leedle Prinzess Isabel find her momma

The legal disclaimer stuff:
"This story is not approved by, sponsored by or affiliated with Studio Foglio LLC or Airship Entertainment."

Pauper Princess FanFiction Theatre presents:
The Pauper Princess and the Born Legacy, Part 9!


Given the castle's talent for eavesdropping, Agatha and Mara realized they needed to speak as little as possible, going forward. Or at least about nothing that would raise suspicions. Before leaving the workshop, Mara drew out one of her ideas and managed to convey that she was going to reconfigure the electric prod to emit the same frequency as "JoJo," her daughter's toy clank. The goal was to attract it to them in the library, then disrupt its connection to the castle. Agatha nodded, then held up her death ray and patted it. For just in case. Mara made a sad face.

She made the adjustments as they walked - carefully - to the library.
  "WHERE ARE YOU GOING, MOMMA?" asked the castle. "AND LADY?"
  "We're going to come visit you, JoJo," said Mara flatly. "You are JoJo, are you not?"
  "OHHH, YOU GUESSED RIGHT!" it said. "SHOULD I GIVE YOU A PRIZE?"
  "Why don't you do that in the library?" said Mara. "Come meet us in the library, JoJo. We can play more games there."
  "HOORAY! I'LL FIND SOMETHING NICE IN THERE. HURRY UP NOW!"
  "Will do," said Mara, and shut the housing on the prod. She held it out to Agatha. "Would you like to check my work?"
  "Sure," she said, and held out her death ray in return. "Hold this." Mara took it from her and held it awkwardly in front of herself, the business end pointed towards a wall. The deadlier the weapon, the less she wanted to examine them, because when that happened, her mind filled rapidly with designs for the most horrific devices ever created by-
  "It's fine," said Agatha, handing it back. "Good work." Mara nodded in gratitude and let her take back her own weapon, and fought the urge to rattle off a list of ways to make it even more dangerous. The power source alone could-
  "Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" said Agatha. They were keeping a good pace but still had five minutes before reaching the library.
  "Uh..." said Mara, hauling her thoughts from the pit they'd fallen into. "No, I wouldn't mind. You may ask," she added with a slight chuckle.
  "Why do the Jägers frighten you so much?"
  Mara shuddered. "I can't convey adequately how embarrassed I am by that," she said. "Shivering and whimpering like a little child. I wasn't raised to be such a coward."
  "I'm not calling you that," said Agatha. "I was just curious."
  "I'd hate to say anything that may cast aspersions on your... colleagues? You seem very fond of them."
  "It's mutually-earned respect," said Agatha. "And I'm a big girl. I know the Jägers have their own unsavory histories, just like my family. It would actually help me to know more about their past actions. You asked me if any of them had been to Denmark. What happened there?"
  "Mm," said Mara. "If you really are interested, about ten-"
  "Sorry, I should have said our family," said Agatha. "Aand I interrupted. Go on."
  Mara was quiet a moment, then: "Mm. Our family. Strap myself in, I suppose? Um... anyway, I should just sum things up, and we can discuss details later, if you think them important. About ten years ago, when I was sixteen, my village was attacked and... destroyed... burned to the ground... by marauders."
  "Sweet Lightning..."
  "And I'll never forget that that horde was a mix of humans... and of Jägers," said Mara. "I lost my father then, too, in all the chaos. We were separated, and there was blood, and death, and fire, and..." She sighed. "Anyway, I mean 'lost,' as in never saw him again. My hope is that he's dead. Maybe he's not. I don't know."
  "Humans and Jägers..." said Agatha. "Do you know if it was ordered by the Baron? Or if they were 'wild?'"
  "They weren't wearing uniforms, if that's what you mean," said Mara. "Nobody's crest or sigil. All I know is... whoever they were, they really... enjoyed their work. The things I saw them do..." She forced a smile. "You know, I've had my share of combat since that day, because I was still trying to live up to his expectations, but the day that still haunts my dreams, and my thoughts: it's that day. When I saw your four friends last night, and they were surrounding me, I was... suddenly back there, reliving it in my mind."
  "I'm so sorry," said Agatha. "How did you escape?"
  Mara smiled sadly. "Ah," she said. "Dear old dad shoved me down a hill, just as I was trying to help him fight. I'd just made my first real kill, too." She mimed thrusting a sword in front of her. "Right into the other guy's neck. It's like he was trying to run into the blade. And... I wouldn't exactly call it pride, what I was feeling at that moment. Father wasn't as happy to see me as I thought he'd be. He shoved me away, and I ended up falling to the bottom of the hill. I was knocked out along the way and woke up... later. Minutes, hours, days later? I don't know. But the village was a smoke-pit by the time I stumbled back up the hill."
  The two women walked on in silence. Mara fingered the electric prod nervously.
  "I wish I knew what to say," said Agatha. "I can only hope it's nobody that I know that took part in that... massacre."
  "I can only hope that, too," said Mara. "But if they all report to you now, chances are that somebody you know did. Anyway, now you know why I'm just a little bit uncomfortable around Jägers. But I am... resolved... to face them without fear, should the occasion arise again."
  "That's good to hear, for more reasons than you might think," said Agatha. "And I will definitely ask them about Denmark. I don't mean just the four from last night. I mean all of them."
  Mara showed one more brief smile. "It's not something I would ask you to do," she said. "But I do appreciate it."

At the bridge, Agatha quietly flipped a switch on a small device she had tucked into her toolbelt. If Mara had seen this, she made no sign of it. The only indication that the device was on was a tiny, red light on top. Crossing the bridge to the library was nerve-wracking this time, given the castle's new unpredictability and warped ideas of what constituted "games." For all they knew, the latest game could be "Let's Fly!," consisting of dropping the bridge out from under them and offering words of encouragement as they plummeted to their deaths.
  Fortunately the game of the moment appeared to be "Let Them Make It Across Unharmed." Now halfway across, Mara's nervousness about the sturdiness of the bridge was not helped by a sudden pitter-patter of small, clanky feet coming from behind them. She gripped the fancy brass railing more tightly and dared to glance back. Then yelped as something brushed against her feet, and another something, and another. Pulling ahead of them were dozens of tiny clanks, most of them bipedal and monocular, and which were now paving the way to the library. She had seen them before, all around the castle, but always just out of the corner of her eye and easily dismissed as vermin that typically frequented castles. Now she knew better.
  "Yours?" she said.
  Agatha nodded. "Meet the 'dingbots.' "
  Inside the library, Agatha switched on the holographic map of the castle. Mara watched in awe as more of the little clanks were filling the room, appearing from every nook and cranny. Maybe they'd be able to drag "JoJo" out kicking and screaming? Now there was a cunning plan.
  "Castle," said Agatha, "Indicate the systems that have been compromised by the intruder."
  "I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN," it said.
  "Which systems have been affected by the intruder?" she said. "Show us the progress of the corruption of your A.I."
  "I... DON'T..."
  "JoJo," said Mara, "Can you show us where you 'feel good?' And can you make it a color like red so we can see it easily?" She shrugged at Agatha. "I think we'll have to speak to it like it's a child."
  The map shimmered a moment, and then its colors changed. A moment ago all the lines had been a light green; now most of them were red. Both women looked simultaneously for a pattern to the coloration, such as a systematic progression through the castle, but as far as they could determine, the corruption was as random as the castle's fits of tomfoolery.
  "Do you think everyone has made it out by now?" asked Mara.
  "We could find out," said Agatha. "Castle... Uh, I mean, JoJo... show us everyone who's inside now."
  "I THINK I CAN DO THAT!" it said. "I DID! HERE YOU ARE!" Two dots representing them appeared inside the map's library. The women nodded. Then their collective gaze wandered elsewhere.
"That's not good," said Agatha. More dots representing people appeared throughout the castle. A cluster of them were moving together through a main corridor. Two more dots were in a different part of the castle, and closer to the library than the larger group.
  "What's going on here?" said Mara. "Why are there so many people still inside?"
  "Don't get too excited," said Agatha. "They could have been delayed. They'll get out eventually. Violetta's their guide; there's no one better to get everyone out safely."
  "I know," said Mara. "I feel better knowing that it's her. But... is it me, or do they seem to be moving away from the exit? Both groups?"
  "Huh," said Agatha. "You're right. Castle!" She facepalmed herself. "I mean, JoJo! Besides ourselves, who else is inside?"
  "AHH," it said, "SORRY, I'M... FORGETTING A LOT OF NAMES AND FACES."
  "That is not good."
  "THERE'S, UH... THERE'S A LADY WITH GREEN HAIR, AND SOME UGLY, SCARY MEN, AND A YELLING LADY, AND... OH! IT'S POPPA!"
  "Poppa?!" said Mara, and made a noise in frustration. "JoJo, who is with whom? Who are the two people off by themselves?"
  "LET ME CHECK," it said. "OH, THAT'S THE LITTLE MISTRESS!" Mara's eyes were almost full circles now. "I MEAN 'ISABEL.' SHE TOLD ME NOT TO CALL HER 'LITTLE MISTRESS' ANYMORE. SHE'S WITH A BIG, SCARY OGRE."
  Mara's words came out as sputters at first, slowly gaining coherence into actual words, let alone sentences.
  "I-I-I-I-Isabel's with an ogre??" she finally stuttered out.
  "MAYBE NOT A REAL ONE," it said. "I THINK HIS NAME IS 'OGRE.' "
  "You have ogres here??" she said to Agatha.
  "I haven't made any ogres!" she said, then snapped her fingers. "Oggie!" she said. "It must mean Oggie! Don't worry; he'll keep her safe. Trust me."
  "Are you sure?" said Mara. "How do-? Hang on: Oggie, as in one of the Jägers??"
  "Yes, from last night! The blonde one, fancy fez-"
  "Why is my daughter with a Jäger??"
  "I know as much as you do!" said Agatha. "And this is no time for panicking!"
  "I am not panicking!!" Mara shrieked, running in place as she yelled. She stopped abruptly and stared at nothing, but with great intensity. "That was a little bit panicked," she said, much more calmly. "But that's my child out there! My-my little girl! I should be looking for her and-"
  "You know that you can help her better and faster in here," said Agatha. "The sooner we fix... it, the sooner everyone's safe. Your hands are my hands, remember?" Mara slowed her breathing, and nodded. "Come on." She motioned for Mara to follow her, and started to move across the room, then paused and went back to the map for further study. "I see that some of the areas have slightly stronger glows than others. It may indicate focal points for its connections to the castle."
  "I agree," said Mara. "And one does appear to be in here." Then she pointed at the larger cluster of dots indicating other people. "Is it me, or is this group moving at a good clip?"
  Agatha peered at it a moment, then nodded. "If this movement is to scale, then they either found some vehicles, or are running. Quickly."
  "DO YOU MEAN POPPA'S GROUP?" asked the castle/JoJo.
  "...Yes?"
  "THEY'RE PLAYING CHASE-ME," said the castle/JoJo. "AND DOING VERY WELL!"
  " 'Chase-Me?' " said Mara. "With what?"

****************

"On your left!! On your left!!" screamed Violetta to Dimo and Maxim, who were, like everyone else in the group, busy trying to avoid becoming the chewtoys of a large group of huge, cat-like war clanks. If Kelvin and Mara had taken the armory tour, they would have learned Agatha's nickname for them of "Fun-Sized Mobile Agony and Death Dispensers." Then they would all have had a good laugh before moving on to view other fun, agony/death dispensation devices.
  The cat clanks, for their part, behaved disturbingly much like real cats: pausing to size up their targets, sprinting, catching them, batting them around, throwing them around, recatching, and tossing them forward for more chasing. It was a possible reason the group had not been entirely overrun, for the clanks were far faster and stronger than anyone. Airman Higgs, Dimo and Maxim deliberately stayed behind Kelvin, Violetta and Zeetha to run interference and act as a first line of defense against the clanks. They had been subjected at least once each to the chase-catch-throw routine of the clanks and had somehow survived so far. Kelvin knew that Jägermonsters were very resilient, but had no explanation for Airman Higgs' endurance. Kelvin chose not to dwell on such puzzlers at the moment, though.
  There was one exception to the clowder of cats in hot pursuit: one of them, and there was no time for anyone to explain why to Kelvin, was shouting to him and the others to keep running and to otherwise avoid danger. If he had an opportunity to look back more often, he would have sworn it was actively trying to stop the other cat clanks. It threw itself (in vain, ultimately) in front of the clowder, swiped at the others, even once pulled Maxim out of another clank's mouth. Meanwhile it yelled things like: "Fly, you fools! Fly!" and "I cannot control them! Keep running, children!" in what sounded like a mechanized female voice. Regardless of the clank's gender, Kelvin was not about to argue with its helpful advice.
  Zeetha was still suffering the effects of a concussion from the castle's sneaky uppercut, and was flanked by Violetta and Kelvin. She was keeping pace, fueled mostly by adrenaline - like everyone else - but they both knew she was at risk, and would not leave her side. Still, Violetta was on the lookout for anywhere safe that she could be stashed. Unfortunately there were no handy ceiling rafters in this corridor for her grappling gun to latch onto. There were some alcoves coming up quickly, though. She kept up her speed, but gripped Zeetha's shoulder and began leading her in a diagonal path towards the nearest alcove.
  "What are you doing?" Zeetha demanded, and by the time she finished the question, she'd been shoved into the opening. Zeetha grunted hard as she slammed into the wall. Her immediate escape from the alcove was blocked by the passing squad of battle clanks. Finally they had all passed, leaving her free to pull herself up and view the perilous parade from behind. She would give Violetta what-for after all this was over, but in the meantime did have some appreciation for her rear view of the chase. Woozy or not, she could give chase to them now and reduce their ranks from behind, goddess willing.
  The group rounded a corner into the next hallway. Violetta smiled to herself at the sight of beautiful, beautiful rafters. Without breaking stride, she aimed and fired the grappling gun, which caught nicely on a beam ahead of them. She activated it and was pulled up and above the rampaging parade. One of the cat-clanks swiped upwards at her as it ran past. She tucked up her legs just in time to avoid a nasty slashing injury.
  Rather than ascend all the way up and hide for the rest of the chase, Violetta let go as soon as the cat-clanks started passing beneath her. She fell and managed to land rather neatly on top of one, just behind the head. The cat-clank hissed and roared and bucked, but the smoke knight was there to stay.
  After the clank settled down enough, Violetta looked to her right and saw Zeetha riding on the next clank over, grinning impishly. Violetta gave a thumbs-up, then called out to the menfolk still running ahead of the beasts. Higgs, Dimo and Maxim heard, and jumped, flipped, climbed and otherwise boarded the clanks in their personal styles.
  "Vy ve not do dis in de first place??" said Dimo. "Voo hoo!!"
  Even having commandeered the clanks, there was still the matter of controlling, which took great effort on everyone's part. Violetta and Higgs kept an eye on Zeetha, who knew she was being fussed over, and glared at each of them as her own version of gratitude.
  Violetta called out to Kelvin, the last man running, but he did not hear. He continued running at full speed, refusing to look back, knowing that would slow him down or steer him off-course. The others guided their metal steeds to a trot and watched him disappear down the hall.
  Airman Higgs held his jacket lapels. "He's got a lot of stamina," he said.
  "Apparently they exercise a lot back home," said Violetta. "But, still: Otilia?"
  The last of the clanks - the riderless one - bounded over to the group. "Yes, Miss Violetta?" it said.
  "Would you be a dear and fetch the Prince and bring him back here?"
  "I am Otilia, muse of protection!" it thundered. "I do not 'fetch!' "
  "Be nice," she said. "He's Agatha's guest and not used to being in constant peril."
  "Hurrrrrr," said Otilia, and loped off after Kelvin.
  Just in time, too. He could jog and he could sprint, but sprinting at full speed, for so long, would make the stoutest athlete's heart ready for bursting. Every part of his body that could feel a pulse was pounding at full strength, and full volume, for he could hear his own heart. And then it almost stopped when one of the clanks suddenly appeared in front of him, facing him with those evil, red eyes. He was unable to slow himself in time, and slammed into its head, then fell backwards onto his back. His lovely view of the ceiling was blocked by the creature stepping over him and peering at him as though deciding which part of him to chomp off first. But clanks didn't do that... did they??
  "Human," it said in that ringing, mechanical, possibly-female voice, "You are permitted to climb up and ride me. Come."
  "Just... Just kill me now," he wheezed.
  "I was told to return you to the others instead," said the clank. "But I will take your request under consideration. Can you move, or are you about to  expire?"
  "If you... give me a moment," he said, "I'll see if I can move."
  "Otilia, is he okay?" he heard Violetta calling from the distance. He managed to tilt his head backwards enough to get an upside-down view of the others riding towards him on a herd of metal cats. His dreams and nightmares should be so strange. The clank known as Otilia nudged him gently - for it - with its paw. He groaned and held his side.
  "He is not dead," it said. "If that's what you mean." The others reached Kelvin now. He made himself sit up and survey the scene, then stand up shakily, his breathing now back to normal, but his head pounding as if to burst.
  "Isabel..." he said. "Please be safe."
  "Climb on Otilia," said Violetta. "You want to find your daughter? There's no faster way."
  Without further ado he climbed on top of the clank and settled in. He was an accomplished horseman and was able to adjust quickly enough to this very different sort of steed. He and Violetta exchanged nods.
  "Let's ride," she said.

***************

"I'll try the easy way first," said Mara.
  "Yes, that always works."
  "Well, we can't not try," said Mara. She stepped to the center of the room, making sure not to step on any unobservant "dingbots," and cleared her throat. "JoJo! It is I, your creator! She who made you and... temporarily allowed you to call my daughter your mistress! Yet I am still your creator and must be obeyed! So... I command you to come forth, show yourself, and end this senseless, and dangerous, course of action! Thank you very much!"
  The women waited. And waited.
  "Fine, it never works," Mara grumbled, and returned to Agatha, who patted her on the shoulder.
  "But we always do try, don't we?"
  "SHALL WE PLAY A GAME?" asked the castle/JoJo.
  "Oh, now it talks to me," said Mara.
  "Not yet, JoJo," said Agatha. "There are so many to choose from! Let us pick the first one, okay?"
  "JUST MAKE SURE IT'S A GOOD ONE."
  "Hmph," said Mara. "Yes, sir."
  Agatha headed for the other end of the room and motioned for Mara to follow her. They arrived at a nondescript bookshelf, near where the family tree had been located.
  "You have your secret closet," said Agatha with a grin, "And I have mine."
  "Oh, that's lovely!" said Mara. She poked at a spot on the bookshelf. "Is this what--?"
  A door opened with a loud SHOONK, revealing a larger secret closet than Mara had at home. "--Opens it?" she finished. Agatha sighed and waved her inside.
  "Sorry," said Mara. "Finding hidden things is sort of my-"
  "Yeah, yeah, come on in," said Agatha. Inside was a control panel with plenty of gauges. Agatha ignored that and opened an access panel opposite it, and knelt to poke at its innards.
  "What can I do to help?" asked Mara.
  Agatha mumbled something unintelligible in reply, then stood up and held out her death ray. "I'll take the prod," she said. "You cover the door and blast anything that tries to come in."
  "IIII'm not sure that's a good-" said Mara, but then noticed that she was now cradling a death ray in her hands. Agatha had already returned her attentions to the access panel. Mara said nothing, only staring at the weapon before finally making herself follow orders and stand guard. She tried to keep her focus on the doorway, but her gaze kept dropping to the weapon. It was an elegant design - sleek, clean, shiny, with a grip well-fitted for a human hand. Don't look inside, don't look inside, don't- Behind her, Agatha hummed to herself while working. Mara assumed that focusing on the song would keep her mind on her appointed task.
  "Okay," said Agatha, tying off a connector, "We'll start with the frequency you entered and see if it coaxes the little blighter-Hey! What are you doing?"
  Mara had pulled off the housing to the death ray and was feverishly working on its insides. She had four different tools in one hand and was trading them off one after another at a rapid pace, her fingers a blur as they fiddled and tweaked and adjusted. Agatha grabbed her by the arm and whirled her around. Mara did not react and kept working without breaking pace. Her eyes were round like plates, the pupils grossly dilated, breathing slow and deep-
  Agatha yanked her weapon away. Mara, still in the Madness, grasped at it, "air-repairing" with the tool at hand, making faint, grunting noises like an infant that has had its favorite toy pulled from its reach.
  "Stop that!" said Agatha, slapping at her hands. "My death ray! Mine! Bad Mara!" She continued slapping until Mara stopped grasping for the weapon, and blinked as though waking up.
  "What? Why are you hitting me?" she said. "What happened?"
  "Leave my death rays alone," harrumphed Agatha, showing the poor device. She grabbed the cover from Mara and was about to screw it back on, then peered inside. "Wait - what did you do to it?"
  "You really shouldn't hand me weapons," said Mara quietly.
  Agatha held out a hand. "Don't tell me what you did." After a moment of examination, she said, "If I didn't know you were a pacifist, I'd say that you made this even more powerful. And... the energy consumption more efficient? If you didn't make it more powerful, what did you do?"
  Mara forced herself to lean closer and look inside. After a moment: "Um... I made it more powerful. And the part about energy consumption. Sorry."
  "But I thought you... Why would you do that?"
  Mara was quiet a moment. "I still have trouble," she said, "Staying away from the darkness."
  "Hm," said Agatha. She replaced the cover with a snap and began screwing it into place. "We'll talk about it later, but meanwhile, never be ashamed of your Gift."
  "But-"
  "Ah-ah!" she said. "Never be ashamed. And you're a Heterodyne! The most Gifted family of all. Rejoice!"
  Mara had a flat expression while tepidly pumping her fists in the air. "Yayyyy."
  "We'll talk about that later, too," she said.
  Agatha showed her the readout on the prod. She nodded, so Agatha switched it on. There was a hum, and loud static coming from the panel, and then on the library's speakers:
  "-About to attempt to sneak into the underground lair of Ferretina, the weasel queen- 'SQUEE!' - wearing giant rabbit suits created by a unique-"
"What is that?" said Mara. "It sounds like a news report."
"Sh," said Agatha.
"-nefarious predation upon the quaint little-"
  "I don't remember adding a receiver?!"
  "SHH!"
  "Look, I put in the wrong frequency," said Mara, reaching for the prod. Agatha pulled it from her reach. "What, is this your favorite news hour or something?"
  "-not be as innocent as we had thought. 'Weasels need not-' "
  "Look, just let me adjust the-"
  "How dare they broadcast this again!" said Agatha. "And with this clear a signal, it must be in or near town!" She pushed past Mara and marched into the library, shaking a fist. The dingbots closest to her mimicked her movements. "I will find you, fiends!! Your heads will hang from my wall!! I will make your bones into furniture!!"
  "-They'll just have to live with it.-"
  Mara followed Agatha as the news report droned on over the library's speakers. "What on earth are you on about??"
  "Come!!" said Agatha. "To my flying machine!! Prepare for Death from Above, you pernicious professors!!"
  "Oh, for goodness' sake," grumbled Mara, running back to the access room and quickly adjusting the frequency. The odd news report was replaced by a bouncy polka tune. Mara poked her head through the doorway and watched Agatha's aggravated stomping gradually quiet down, until she was tapping her feet to the music.
  "Oooo, the Grand Theft Polka!" she said. "I like this one. Let's leave it going."
  "Dear," said Mara, "We can't have both of us falling into the Madness on a whim. Please be the sane one for both of us. This is your castle."
"Ahhh, yes," she said, straightening up. "It is. Find the correct frequency, then! Make it so!"
Mara rolled her eyes and returned her attention to the dial, and waited for Agatha to catch up before slowly moving the dial through the bandwidth.
"-another gloriously gloomy day in-!"
"-clanks with the power to vote is simply preposterous!-!"
"-Rollll out the barrel BANG BANG BANG you'll have-"
Eventually she moved the dial out of the audible frequencies and into the higher bands. Agatha left the room to search amongst the dingbots, and found her first, her favorite, on top of a table, surveying the others from above like a sovereign. She stepped through the crowd of its compatriots to have quiet words with it. It gave a little salute and hopped onto the floor, relaying her words to the others through pantomime.
Mara had reached the highest frequency that the prod could go, with no indication from the castle/JoJo that it had any effect. "Åh, fjols!" she said. "Infrasound, not ultra!" She rapidly whipped the bands through the audible lengths until they hit subsonic levels. She slowed the dial, listening intently for any hint from the castle/JoJo that it was being affected. Agatha did the same, unconsciously stroking her death ray.
  "OOOOOOOO," said the castle/JoJo, finally.
  "Don't touch that dial!!" Agatha whispered.
  "I know!" Mara whispered back.
  "I LIKE THAT, MOMMA!" it said. "WHAT IS THAT?"
  "Come out where we can see you," said Mara, "And you can have a lot more of it."
  "HM," it said. "I'LL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT."
  Mara turned up the power, sending the castle/JoJo into loud convulsions of delight. The sheer volume of its giggles, chortles and guffaws made the women wince and cover their ears. Mara switched off the power entirely.
  "NOOO!" it said. "BRING IT BACK! KEEP DOING THAT!"
  "Come to us now, and you can have all you like!"
  "AH... OH... UH...O-OKAY!" it said. After a brief silence, the library walls echoed from the sound of metallic skittering. It seemed to be racing all around the room at incredible speed. Both women and even the army of dingbots followed the sounds with their eyes. Agatha set her death ray to its lowest setting and kept it at the ready.
  The skittering stopped at one end of the room. Agatha shut off the holographic map to reduce noise. Only the occasional movement from a wandering dingbot made any sound. The women knew better than to converge on the last spot where JoJo had made any noise. More likely it had moved quietly to some other location.
  The dingbots in the dead center of the room were scattered by the naughty harlequin clank's death-from-above drop straight from the ceiling. It fell flat onto its front, then jumped up immediately and made a show of brushing itself off.
  "Sic 'em, boys!" yelled Agatha. The room became a blur of bronze and copper converging all at once into the center, instantly burying JoJo in a mountain of clockwork contrivances. Agatha's first dingbot stayed on high ground, gesturing to the others as if directing their actions.
  Mara secured the prod inside the access room and went to the doorway for a better view of the action. Agatha ran over to join her, grinning.
  "It's not elegant," she said, "But sometimes the direct ways are best."
  "I hope it doesn't get away," said Mara, watching the scene carefully. Sometimes she caught a glimpse of  one of JoJo's limbs peeking out of the swarm, only to be pulled in again. "Agatha, I cannot apologize enough for-"
  "What did I just tell you?" she said. "No shame and no apologies."
  "But I've caused so much trouble," said Mara. "So much damage. I-I was careless in my design, my execution. I demand so many safety precautions from my own workers, and then... make something like this!"
  "The dingbots will bring him over here," said Agatha, "And we can deal with it however we like."
  "But what about the castle?" said Mara. "If it caused permanent damage-"
  "There are procedures I can follow," she said. "Oh, there they go!"
  The swarm of dingbots parted enough to reveal that they had captured the wanton clank. JoJo was in the center, gripped from all sides. They began marching it towards their mistress. JoJo was not visibly resisting, but was looking straight at the women all the while. Mara had not given the clank a way to show expressions, mostly out of a rush to finish the gift for her daughter. The face had been molded and painted to feature a permanent grin and large eyes. Under normal circumstances it appeared quite cheerful, especially to its little mistress Isabel. Nothing had changed about JoJo's face, but the women could swear that it now appeared to be... leering.
  Without any command from Agatha, the dingbots began swarming JoJo again, burying it once again in a pile. This time the dingbot pile grew higher and higher, well above any height necessary to immobilize their captive. Agatha furrowed her brow.
  "...What are they doing?" Mara asked.
  "I have no idea," she said. "Hey! Hey, guys, no need for another dogpile! Just bring it over--! Oh, dear..."
  She took a step back, then another, and felt Mara grabbing her from behind and pulling her into the utility closet with her. The two women watched as the swarm of dingbots continued linking together, reshaping their mass into a gestalt... thing... that slowly began forming makeshift limbs, and ultimately a head, for itself. All formed entirely from an interlocking mass of dingbots.
  "I swear to you," said Mara, "I had no idea this would happen."
  Agatha let out a sad little whimper. The three-meter-high, JoJo/Dingbot mega-clank finished forming itself, and took a moment to stabilize its balance and move its "limbs" about. It swung massive arms from side to side and picked up its feet and legs, then turned its approximation of a face towards the two women. Dingbots with the largest eyes occupied that area of the "head," and a small group of lighter-colored clanks were lined up where a mouth would go. They shifted and contorted themselves until, as one, they formed an upward curve. A "smile." Mara swallowed.
  Agatha powered up her death ray.

Here's Part 10.