Mallory stared at the newest addition to their ragtag team—a toaster that had popped out of her apartment's refrigerator that morning. It wasn't just any toaster, though. This one had legs. Long, spindly legs that allowed it to skitter around like a caffeinated spider. It also had an unsettling habit of staring at her with what could only be described as "judgmental toast slots."
"What… is that?" Alex (the original) asked, recoiling slightly as the toaster made a beeline for his boots.
"It's Blinky 2.0," Mallory said with a deadpan tone, already regretting the name.
"Blinky 2.0?" Greg asked, nearly choking on his laughter. "What happened to Blinky 1.0?"
Mallory scratched her head. "Uh… long story. Let's just say the first Blinky had some 'behavioral issues.'"
Greg raised an eyebrow. "Behavioral issues? You're talking about it like it's a problem child."
