So apparently people really liked the original story from Breaking the Bias. So I've decided to rename and make it a collection of short stories instead. No real plot points, just some casual events to give you a look into the Cog life. Enjoy!


A crack of two pool balls echoed in the room, only briefly emitting over 20 conversations among a field of cogs of every class, level, and rank. Even a Goon or two were spotted hanging around using special tools to enjoy a good glass of oil.

However, what was important was that crack signaled a familiar Ambulance Chaser had just goofed his shot at hitting the 8 ball correctly into one of the waiting holes of the pool table. A semi-loud shout of anguish followed shortly by a quick laugh from another Cog.

That Cog was the Spin Doctor who then spun his pool stick in his hand teasingly and prepared to line his shot.

"You won't make it SD-100313. Not a chance," the Ambulance Chaser insisted with some fairly obvious denial going through his computer mind.

"Mhmm, I'm sure. Also, who is currently winning the soccer championship again?" the Spin Doctor responded without even moving position from his line up or even changing his eyesight.

The score was 3-2 Mingler – Yesmen.

"Ah… it's close. Like, all we need is one more goal and we are good," the Chaser argued, crossing his arms quickly once he heard his rooting team under attack by this doctor.

"Said that last time on Ambulance Chaser vs Flunky. WHO could lose to the Flunkies? WHO could have bet on the Chasers when they lost their goalie and one of the backups?" SD-100313 mockingly.

"We DON'T talk about that day…" The Chaser quickly conceded and just let him take his shot to the 8 ball.

With a firm clack between stick and ball, the white ball bounced off the opposite wall of the table and into the black 8 ball, sending it perfectly into the awaiting hole. The doctor beat the chaser… again it seemed.

"ARRRG! How?" "Simple. I rock, you stink. Need more explanation AC-082004?"

"No.." AC-082004 merely responded and started to retreat to the bar, but SD-100313 grabbed his shoulder firmly.

"Ah ah ah. Pay up," he said without sympathy, holding out his hand a lot of grumbling, AC-082004 paid a handsome amount of 50 cogbucks to his friend.

Once the Spin Doctor received payment, he quickly declared that the two of them could go for another round of drinks on him. The Ambulance Chaser flashed a smile mixed with the idea of a free drink and the realization that he actually did already pay for one 5 times over at least by losing the pool game. Either way, he had to cut his losses and accepted the offer.

The two sat down at the bar, and were quickly approached by one of the bartenders, a skelecog of some unknown type.

"What will it be gentlecogs?" The skelecog asked in a gruff voice that somehow still carried some amount of cheeriness in it.

"FireOil," SD-100313 requested.

"Lawbot oiled iced tea," AC-082004 followed up.

"On the rocks, or crushed?"

"Crushed," both responded in union.

"Coming right up. Hang out here. Good game tonight, ain't it?" He asked which at first sounded like he wanted to chat, but really it was a rhetorical question as he left to another customer as soon as he said it.

"Man, it is busy tonight, isn't it?" the chaser asked looking behind him as they waited to see a fully packed bar and a few techbots tinkering with the stage at the other end of the bar house.

"Yep. Live band tonight, I heard. 'Fuse' I think was the one," his friend responded after scratching his chin.

"You show me one-time Toons have EVER gotten a live band performance in any of those "party" things they do."

"Ha. You know, I have heard toons cannot even play music at all. They just use a jukebox for everything, and no one bothers to make anything new nowadays," SD-100313 jeered, but a clinking of glasses behind them interrupted their conversation.

"FireOil and Lawbot Oiled iced tea. Enjoy," the skelecog said with an approving nod, leaving them to it.

Both grabbed their respective drinks and then looked to the TV screen. The rest of the restaurant was already watching it and cogs were getting loud as the time ticked closer to two sipped on their drinks looking up to the big screen at the center of the bar wall while resuming the topic.

"Really? Not a one? Nobody?" AC-082004 asked surprised by the information.

"Absolutely. They are stuck on the same 15 songs or so. Around 5 are just stolen from us. You know that background music at each HQ's respective elevators?"

"No… they didn't?"

"Oh yes they did."

"And the Lawbots haven't tried to sue them over this?" AC asked with a shake of his head, proceeding to sip his drink.

"What do you think that bear fellow is there for? The CJ is persistent alright. Keeps calling him to trial for a fair verdict on toontown's plagiarism, but those darn toons just won't stop causing a mistrial," SD explained with signs of personal offense to their actions.

"Ehhhh hope they break a leg. Enough of the drama though. I want to see the end of this match!" AC shouted out rather excitedly, noticing the entire restaurant and bar was shouting at the multitude of tv screens showing live coverage of the game across the place.

It wasn't long before AC and SD were cheering and booing at the respective teams along with the rest of the bar whenever someone made a move on either team. It was a tie game too at 3-3 as the clock wore down to its final minutes. The two front Minglers went on the offense and were trying to pass the ball back and forth, kicking it so fast it was hard to keep up even on the extended zoom on the live camera.

Amazingly, a Yesman managed to intercept it and kicked it along to himself back into the territory of the Minglers. AC was shouting in joy as the Spin Doctor silently watched what was quickly looking like a fatal error on the Mingler's part as the more nimble Yesman was able to dodge around the guards and towards the goalie.

At last, he arrived at a distance sufficient for him to make an attempt for a goal. 2 minutes in the clock. He shot the ball as hard as he could towards the edge of the goal post as everybody held their breath and waited to see the result. The goalie Mingler went for a dive towards the ball. Right as the ball got to the edge, the very tip of her fingers managed to graze it, sending it just off course enough to bounce off against the goal post and back towards the was quick to her feet as half the building shouted in shock, as the other half shouted demanding encouragement to keep that ball away from the goal.

The Yesman was back on it quickly and shot it as fast as he could to keep her from being ready right to the opposite side of the goal. The goalie was right there with enough time to catch it again, making AC shout in anger about such bad luck.

The goalie then tossed the ball as hard as she could back into the field right to one of the awaiting Guards who bumped forward to another Mingler far up on the field.

With only half a minute remaining, she took her shot a quarter of the field away, taking advantage of the Yesman's inferior height.

Sure enough, he just couldn't get a jump that high in such short notice, letting her ball sail right into the goal. Half of the bar went nuts about this, followed by angry, clearly betting the wrong team, colleagues who then gave their money over to the winner.

AC held out for just a bit longer, hoping for another miracle just for his team, but nothing is perfect. The miracle didn't come this time.

The time ended with a 4-3 Mingler vs Yesman and AC was not happy about it. He was however, a cog of his word and quickly gave SD the money now owed...again.

"Pleasure doing business, AC-082004," he mocked while checking the bills.

"Mmhmm.. ya thanks," the ambulance chaser replied with a huff and watched as the bartender returned to take the empty glass from him.

"Another round my friends?" He asked sounding rather cheerful suddenly.

"No," AC responded.

"Yes! Same for each of us as previous, on my tab," the spin doctor responded in glee.

"Right on it. Hang around for a while."

"I hate you sometimes you know?" AC asked, crossing his arms in annoyance.

"Yes, but hey, now you get a free drink. Don't be so sore next time ya? You sound like the Bloodsucker got to you on this," SD-100313 said with a bit of sarcasm in his tone.

"Whatever. Thanks I guess."

"Good enough for me," the spin doctor said with a wink.

But after a moment he continued.

"Hey? A lot more fun than those trolley games ya?"

"Oh geez. Yeah, that would be terrible. Play all these 'games' and you're rewarded with some candy beans. How can that even be a currency? It's just candy," AC quickly added, immediately perking up at the chance to mock the Toon society again.

SD-100313 merely smirked and shook his head. They were friends for a reason, but it made him laugh to know AC could be this easy to fix his mood. He wasn't one to have a grudge. He wondered what it was like, being a toon however. It was something that had crossed his mind many times now. Perhaps this is why he stole all those comics and novels.

He wanted to like toons, but they hadn't exactly given him any reason to, in fact much more to be against. It was literally dealing with children, and he simply didn't have time for that. Not now, possibly not ever. Especially if he didn't have much time besides going out for the evening with a single friend now and again.

He was thinking too much again, so he decided to box up those ideas in his mind and turn his attention to the stage behind them. The local band was getting ready to play finally.

SD had been wanting to see them for a while, but he never had the time. Bliss at last.

Part of him did wonder as the opening cords began to play if the Toons were to ever see what Cogs were really like, would they act differently?

He pondered on it, but quickly decided it wouldn't happen as the singer spoke out the first lyrics of his song of choice. "Is our secret safe tonight?" He said with a smirk.