This au starts out with, well... two major divergences. First, Chosen and Dark don't become terrorists- they become thieves. Tend to break into companies- or pose as potential new employees and then, well, dip when they find something they want. And sometime after Alan makes Second... something goes wrong and pulls him into the Outernet. But he's not transformed into a stick- nor does he stay a human.. he's transformed purely into code. Very hard for him to think clearly, too many inputs at once.

…Until a company opposing Rocket Corp uh, finds him and captures him……Decides to try and use him for power, because he gives off a LOT. So for awhile he's basically their battery

…Until they drain too much.. and his form shrinks and some thought returns- sticks- those are sticks- and his form… contorts.. code shifting....And then he's a purple hollowhead.. doesn't remember being THAT thing.. confusing the company....But they try to act casual around him.. curious if he's sentient.. it's annoying to lose their battery but they still wanna study this- but the poor guys freaking out because to him it feels like he JUST got there

They manage to calm him down and there's no sign of.. that for awhile.. they even offer him a job- …Until about a month later, when he starts suddenly shaking.. gripping at his head while on the job and.. that comes out again.. freaking out.. So they drain it.. until it's him again

And they sorta figure out the intervals on draining him, and that he doesn't seem to remember, so they keep him around as an employee, answer his questions about the world(assuming he doesn't know because of being.. THAT thing, and he doesn't mention what he really is.) So he has no idea they're kinda.. using him as a power source.

Until eventually.. Dark and Chosen enter the picture.

..Abd they meet ol' Alan, who kinda intrigues em. That's another Hollowhead. While Alan is having a moment. And trying to not outwardly appear to be having a moment. Since he recognizes them.

Thankfully for him they assume his stuttery nervousness is just… his personality, given he tends to do that a lot around the place Amuses Dark a tiny bit, really. Like come on. Who stutters that much??

And they're intrigued about the whole place, mostly wanting tech.. but kinda befriend Alan- thinking either they can use him because he seems so nervous he might just give if they ask something, and also because they haven't seen any hollowheads besides themselves- and hearing of one other co-founder but they haven't hit Rocket Corp yet

Until they're there the day that… the 'creature' get's drained.. don't see Alan turn but.. haven't seen him all day.. watching through the windows into a large white room with a bunch of machines connected to the wall.. all draining purple energy from this large creature that is kept to the floor with odd rings around it's form.. as it cries out and thrashes..

..They don't make any connection to Alan.. but Dark get's excited. Sure, it'd be a bit hard to steal something that big, but.. it's CLEARLY getting smaller as it's drained.. so he drags Chosen away, ranting about how if they could steal that and keep it drained and at a smaller size- they might not have power problems EVER. And there's so much they could possibly learn studying it! Dark's practically giddy