Fan Fiction ❯ Human Alloy ❯ Home at Last ( Chapter 8 )

Ok not that anyone who's reading this for a first time will be there by now or anything but when I look back to it *and even as I was writing towards the end I was like man… this sucks* but when I switch to Yue's POV it's like……. He kinda slides outta character some…. I dunno I don't feel like scrutinizing this right now x.x;

 

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“It's okay Cale,” I grinned as my brother straightened up, ready to fight. Relief flooded me.

 

“It'd be a good thing not to get caught out here. Just be glad it's so dark and that I'm on your side. This world may never sleep, but most people don't come here often.” The figure stepped out from the shadows to greet us. He was wearing a long, dark purple, star print skirt that cut halfway up his thigh to reveal a pair of black boots sporting steel enforced heels. A fresh red rose was placed delicately at the peak of his collar in the middle of his breast, adorning his black shirt quite nicely. As always, Yue's wardrobe was eccentrically fashionable. He smiled, opening his arms as he was half bathed in the dying light and I fell into his grasp, hugging him tightly, the familiar redolence like a cloud of perfume, light and fresh.

 

Cale stood, unsure exactly but noticeably relieved.

 

“Do you remember Yue?” I breathed, directing my question toward Cale.

 

“Yue,” he said softly, trying out the name, his eyes softening.

 

“I can take you both back to the hideout. I'm sure Kane would love to see you both,” Yue said softly with a smile. I nodded, releasing my grasp, although I wasn't sure I wanted to.

 

“Yue, there's some stuff I want to ask you,” I said, looking at him, but he only pressed a slender finger to my lips.

 

“Not now.” The angel stepped around us both, placing a gentle topaz adorned hand on Cale's shoulder. He flinched but allowed it to stay.

 

“Follow me.” I walked after Yue, his smooth fluid steps as if he weren't walking but merely gliding, swaying gently from side to side. Cale didn't follow.

 

“C'mon stud!” I said, taking him by the hand with a grin, my blood rushing. He stumbled after me as I dragged him along. The street was dark as there was no street lamp near us, save the flickering one and the closest one that worked was several buildings away.

 

Cale was speechless, his hands cold, but soon enough, as we followed Yue around the corner of the brick warehouse to a steel door that lead to a small room, the only thing in it being an elevator, he kept to my side, eyes wide and piercing the dark.

 

“You still breathing Cale?” I whispered as soon as we were on the elevator and heading up. “I know Yue has that effect on people; leaving them breathless, but haven't you had enough time to stare?” I was genuinely grinning, happy and relieved to finally be back in civilization.

 

“Oh… no it's just been a while since I was last here,” he said nervously. He was still holding my hand tightly, his hands sweaty.

 

“Cale, if you don't let up on your grip, I'm not going to have fingers,” I pointed out, but it appeared as if he hadn't heard me. Yue smiled at us from standing near the control panel. The elevator whirred, the dim lights flooding the small compartment as we went farther and farther up.

 

The machine dinged like an old fashion microwave when it was finished heating something.

“We'll have to go down a stretch of hall in the executive department. They never sleep but hopefully we won't run into anyone,” Yue said in a low voice, heading out of the hardly used metal box. It was an older machine, not an air elevator like everywhere else. The executive branch near the back of the building wasn't used much, other than the working rooms, so the only technology they needed was their computers really. I stepped out behind Yue, Cale behind me as I blinked in the obscenely bright light. There were no windows on the hall because of the rooms, but if there had been it wouldn't have made any difference if it were night or day outside. Yue looked back to make sure we were both with him, gesturing for us to follow. Finally I was able to shake Cale's grip off.

 

Everything was silent save the ticking of clocks as we crept across the navy blue carpet, avoiding as much noise as possible. The hall seemed endless, especially because of all the tension in the air. We reached the corner of a midsection where the hall split into three other branches, one being on the other side of a call station. A call station was merely a point on every other hall that looked like a large library lounge complete with desks and counters. Thankfully enough there was only person, and he had his back turned to us, filing something away as he jammed to his headset. Yue looked across the halls to make sure everything was clear. Tip toeing, we made our way past the last executive door when the thick white door swung open before us. I had to step back to avoid being hit. Cale's eyes grew wide and he stepped behind me as the guy finally turned around to notice he was nearly walking on three people.

 

Yue looked completely calm, arms folded.

 

“Excuse us,” he said.

 

“Oh hey sorry! Didn't see ya there,” the guy said, his loose white shirt tucked into his black formal pants. He had short brown hair, long enough to pull. He also had two nose studs. I had to wonder if they were fake. Considering the fool he was, I wouldn't have doubted if they were.

 

“Hey yo! Twins?” he asked incredulously. I was glad he didn't know me personally. Yue shut the door behind him gently.

 

“Not twins, robots,” he said as if in annoyance, rubbing his temple. He looked tired. Robots? Cale stood stock still, but I was just confused.

 

“They finally put out the H.M.S.?” he asked in amazement. I started to utter something but Yue interrupted. I got a sharp elbow in the side from Cale.

 

“Actually they're just prototypes. I'm taking them home to run some experiments to see if they're functioning all right.”

 

“Sweet!” the idiot exclaimed, clapping Yue on the back. “That's cool.” Yue smiled, but he looked peeved.

 

“So hey, are these gals or do you just make em to look how you want? Like Mecha-Pets ya know? Buy the extras for em or something,” he asked, staring us up and down. Man was this guy annoying.

 

“Well so far it's just a take off an employee here to make sure everything functions as programmed. We'll get into looks and whatnot later though,” Yue replied, beckoning discreetly for us to follow him. I took a step forward and the guy extended his hand, grabbing my butt. Instantly I raised my arm and drew my elbow back into his face, a look of utter disgust replacing my annoyed expression. Cale had let out a punch as soon as I had made contact with his ugly head, so it was something like a game of ping pong; he ended up bouncing against the door before falling down.

 

I hoped he was seeing stars. His vision unfocused, his nose bleeding and probably broken, he crumpled to the floor. Yue gave me a warning look which I returned with a helpless shrug. Cale scurried over to Yue's side, I stepping over the collapsed employee as he groaned.

 

“I'm sorry,” Yue apologized, though his voice hinted amusement. “It must be their protective programming. Security on them must be pretty high; they can be aggressive. I'll make sure to fix that right away. Now, if I may, I suggest you get to an infirmary and get that fixed.” The gentleman with ebony hair streaked lavender ushered us through a blank door and down a familiar set of stairs. It was the same set of stairs I had been kidnapped on. He closed the door behind us, leaving us in utter darkness.

 

“Light,” he murmured and a faint orb light materialized in the palm of his open hand. It gave us just enough to see by, but little enough to distinguish if we ran into another person.

 

“Do you think we could use the same excuse to punch out every person we come against?” I wondered aloud. Cale snickered nervously.

 

“I hope not,” he whispered in reply, “or else my knuckles will be bruised.”

 

“Hush now,” Yue chastised with a soft whispered. We both complied. We followed the winding staircase down through several flights before we reached a landing. If I thought about it hard enough, it was like the same hallway I had been crouched against the wall with Kane not too long ago, but then they all looked around it. Sifting my memory, we must not have gone down as far as Kane and I had, for last time we had to climb back up a couple of flights. This time there was no need to. We entered through the door, Yue breathing the life out of his small sphere of condensed light. The room was dark and deserted. Lucky for us it meant no more running into imbeciles like that last executive. The room was like the same one we had been through before to reach the elevator.

 

It was filled with working cubicles and computers, scattered papers and windows with the shades pulled down. All was dark but the outside light filtering through the bent blinds gave us enough light to see by. I felt like a criminal, weaving my way around papers, following a dark crouched figure. We made it to the other side with minimum noise, opening a door to reveal another hall. This one had red carpeting instead. Obediently we followed our savior down the hall, around a corner, through another door, another hallway, down a flight of stairs, into a reiteration of the computer filled room, across the room and finally to the elevator that took us down. We went to sublevel 7, arriving to the dim lit steel grey level. Floundering, the three of use tried to get through the small door at once, Yue stuck behind and in the middle. We made it, but barely.

 

“Shhhh,” Yue quieted us. The lights were incredibly dim, like an early morning grey, just before dawn. “It's still early. Kane was up waiting for you. He's made his bed on the couch I'm afraid.” Cale, a small smile plastered to his face, nearly uncontrollably spread into a grin as he peeked over the couch to find his lover. I smiled, but felt more rejected. Cale hopped over the couch as I wandered into the room, taking Cale's shoes off my feet at the door. I noticed he had left his pack too.

 

“We'll leave them be. It's much too early to be up and making breakfast too. We'll rest for now, okay?” Yue told me, gently tugging on my arm. I watched as Cale had snuggled up under my friend's arms, not waking him. In his sleep, Kane hugged my brother, sighing and turning on his side to comfortably lay with his lover. I felt a pang of jealousy flare up inside me followed gruffly by a sense of rejection.

 

“Come on,” the raven haired angel urged and I followed, though somewhat reluctant.

 

We went into Yue's bedroom, the brilliant glow from the aquarium meeting us. The welcoming sight of a comfortable bed reminded me of how exhausted I was. Closing the door behind us and locking it, Yue wrapped me in a hug from behind, tightly holding on and kissing my neck as he grabbed my hands with his, covering them so that I couldn't protest even if I had wanted.

 

“Mmm, it's so good to have you back,” he whispered in my ear after he let us fall onto his water bed, riding a small sea of waves.

 

“It's good to be back,” I yawned. Yue allowed me room to move, to make myself comfortable as he took of his boots, shedding his clothes to join me with satisfaction, hugging me close and refusing to let go. Snuggled up, finally at peace and weary from everything that had happened I let myself fall securely into dreamland, wondering if this life wasn't a dream instead.

 

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It was dark, but quite suddenly I was given light as I opened my eyes. Yue was awake, nibbling my shoulder, watching me attempt to revive myself so that I may walk among the living at some point during the day. He had one arm under mine, around my chest, playing with the skin under my shirt and I felt like a newly wedded husband with his wife after their first night on a honeymoon.

 

“What time is it?” I mumbled.

 

“Check your watch,” Yue said simply, sighing and kissing my neck. I checked it, though I still expected it to be mistimed after arriving in the woods oh so long ago.

 

“Nearly noon,” I observed.

 

“Mhmm.”

 

“So my watch isn't off? Or has it been reset?” I asked, turning around to look at Yue.

 

“It's time has always been correct.”

 

My mind was too fuzzy to try to comprehend that logic. Instead, I was dying to take a decent bath and get out of these clothes. Stumbling out of bed, taking half the sheets with me and eliciting a giggle from Yue, I made it approximately two steps before meeting the ground. I noticed the boots I had worn before swapping them with Cale's were staring me in the face. I rolled over, untangling my feet and standing again with a grunt.

 

“I'm gonna take a bath,” I announced with a yawn, fluffy my already tangled white hair.

 

“Can I watch?” Yue breathed, watching me with bright blue eyes from the bed. I smirked at the thought.

 

“Mmm,” was my response. “I'd like a towel and some new clothes, if you don't mind. Preferably a T-shirt and some jeans.”

 

Yue sat up, still in his naturally given clothes. As he bent over a drawer to grab me something to wear I had to turn around to keep from blushing. Distracting myself with preparing the bath tub, making sure the water would be warm this time, I felt a sly hand creeping down my thigh.

 

“I can't join?” Yue purred silkily in my ear. I straightened up, shivering as he traced his fingers down my front, spreading my legs with a knee he snuck in there.

 

“What about breakfast?” I asked, noticing the towel he had placed on the side of the tub.

 

“They can feed themselves,” he said coyly, eyes sparkling as he nipped my neck.

 

“Mmmm lower,” I found myself moaning. I couldn't help it though, his touch was so pleasing.

 

“Yes,” I hissed as he rubbed me the right way, kissing that sweet spot on my neck.

 

“Oh don't tell me you'll be at it all afternoon!” an annoyed female voice said loudly. It took a moment for my brain to absorb what had been said.

 

“I think your fox is jealous,” Yue whispered, trading a neck for an ear.

 

“Fox?” I breathed, moving Yue's fingers, brushing my skin just right.

 

“Mercy?” he tried.

 

“She's here?” I snapped out of the seduction.

 

“Of course I am!” she replied. I looked around but didn't see her.

 

“I'm outside!” she said in response. “Honestly, you can be so slow in the morning. Hurry up; I've been waiting long enough already!” Yue smiled down on me.

 

“I won't distract you then,” he said softly kissing my cheek before leaving me. I wanted to be held in his arms, but I also wanted a nice long talk with Mercy too.

 

“Alright already! Give me long enough to bathe and change okay?” I shouted back to her. I heard a gruff bark as she departed, Yue slipping on a robe and following her, winking at me as he unlocked the door and left.

 

I had the bath to myself, still feeling slightly aroused, but my mind was too distracted to allow myself the freedom of a slow pleasure, so washed it off with the rest of my body. The water was warm and relaxing. I sat back, relaxing and feeling a lot more bruises and scratches I never knew I had. Before I knew it, my watch said ten till one. Grudgingly I switched the water to cold, wrapping myself in a towel and wishing I could have had an air chamber to dry off in. Instead I had to make do with a soon sopping towel, untangling my hair as best as I could with the brush Yue had left on the headboard. Satisfied that I was as clean and dry as I could get, I found the neatly folded pile of clothes Yue had once again left me sitting on the bed which had been tugged together in haste. I didn't bother to straighten the sheets.

 

I found a baggy black T-shirt that had sex god printed across the back, a picture of two people kissing on the front, along with a pair of good old blue jeans that actually fit. Still no underwear. Didn't Yue wear anything underneath? Probably not. I was guessing he liked his freedom and apparently mine too. I decided to look through his drawers for a different shirt since I knew if I wore that outside I'd be arrested, despite how rude I felt in doing so. The first drawer I tried had pants. Didn't need any of those. The second held sweaters, and finally I found the shirts. There were plenty of nice elaborate and tastefully looking shirts, but no T-shirts. Finally I found in the back just a nice plain, white shirt. Triumphantly I put it on, only to find it wasn't nearly as baggy as I would have liked. In fact it was close to restricting my breath. I shed that article of clothing and found a similar shirt, only black. I tossed that one beside before I found a black, sleeveless turtle neck. At least that one fit.

 

Closing his drawers I headed outside, damp white hair trailing behind me. I found everyone sitting in the circle of couches, various drinks on the coffee table before them. They had been chattering away when I made my appearance but as they saw me they stopped, all eyes on me. The lighting in the room was white, as if it were stormy out but the clouds weren't grey enough to cast a dark shadow. Yue stood in the doorway, his black robe adorned with red trim and rose print hanging limply around his body like a yukata. He was holding a serving tray with empty glass on it, smiling as he saw me. Cale was sitting next to Kane, an arm around his waist, holding a glass of lord only knows what. Root and Gin sat where they had before, diagonal from my friend and brother. Dua was perched on the back of the couch over Root's shoulder, stealing sips from his glass of white wine; Mercy had her place by the couch's arm across from the wall where Yue was standing, but she bounded happily up to me.

 

She whistled and chirped, red paws finding my shoulders and nearly knocking me down as she greeted me with a sound clip of small children giggling happily.

 

“Hey Mercy,” I welcomed her, patting her on the head.

 

“Good, you smell fresh too,” she said with a foxy grin, leaping back to run circles around my legs. She really was happy to see me, and for that I was grateful. Kane stood, grinning as I approached the opening in the ring of white plush couch. He stepped around the table, opening his arms and embracing me. I felt another pang of jealousy.

 

“It's good to see you,” he said happily, holding me back for a good look at me.

 

“I see you found my clothes drawers,” Yue observed. I could only grin sheepishly. He didn't mind though— his smile said so.

 

“'ey mate!” Gin exclaimed exuberantly, nearly spilling her orange juice on Root.

 

“Careful,” Root warned, pushing her arm aside.

 

“Oi! It's good ta see ya! Ya know wot? We got them files, and now we got som'in' else ta do, eh?” Gin looked to Root who nodded in return.

 

“Yes, we still need to discuss that with you Jean.”

 

“Come on Jean!” Kane crooned, leading me by the hand and sitting me down next to my brother. He was still wearing his leather clothes. Kane sat beside me, his hair tied back, but still escaping from their hold to trail around his face. His sea green eyes were the happiest I'd seen them. He was truly ecstatic. I sat in discomfort between the two, wondering what to do when Kane threw an arm over my shoulder, grinning, turning my face towards his and giving me a kiss.

 

I pushed away from him, giving him one of those `what-are-you-crazy?' looks.

 

“Welcome home!” he said in reply, showering me in his delight.

 

“Easy there stud!” Gin giggled. Root smirked.

 

“What a pair,” he remarked, though he was referring to my brother and me. “Twins. How illegal.” He smiled and it looked cruel; his yellow eyes gleaming mischievously.

 

“Um, yeah, anyway,” I said in distraction, trying to shrug Kane's touch off, “what is our new goal this time?”

 

“I'm glad you asked,” Root replied, lighting a cigar and taking a lazy puff, his voice soft and warning, as viciously icy as if it were a snake, ready to strike an unwary mouse. He put his heel on his knee before continuing.

 

“We know everything we need to know in order to do what we need to do. In basic terms we're going to download some illegal software into the main servers of R.A.D.A.R., plant a few illegal and undetectable, inerasable viruses into the Mecha-Pet and H.M.S. programs,” Root construed, finishing with another drag from his cigar, shaking his long mint green hair out of his face, causing it to glimmer like moving silk under direct light.

 

“We makin' `em whacko!” Gin chimed after gulping down her citrus drink, setting it firmly down on the glass table with a clink! I looked questionable. Gin snickered but explained. “We makin' them robots to misbe'ave! Like we said before! Mista' Q's gonna make them `uman robots screwy but we gonna make the `ole kitten caboodle mussed up!” Gin squirmed in her chair, grinning, apparently excited and anxious to get started. Root smiled.

 

“Yes. And because Mr. Quendenski had originally planned on setting some bugs in the Human Maid Service robots, then easily enough we've compiled programs that falsely lead to making it seem as if the president's plans had caused everything else to malfunction.”

 

“Evil,” I commented, slightly amused but certainly not impressed. “So you're just going to destroy everything Kane and I worked hard to perfect?”

 

“You could say that,” Root said indifferently, leaning back and smoking his partially burned cigar.

 

I grit my teeth, wanting to say something but holding back.

 

“You know,” Mercy put in, trotting to where I was and placing her paws on my knees, “I'm here for part of that. I can gain updates from other robots, if I can override their system. We've already set the plan after convincing the president, that all Mecha_Pets are required to get an update by the end of the second week. Since there are literally hundreds of places where that can be done, most, if not all of the Mecha-Pets have been updated by now. We've instructed for a corrupted program to be installed.”

 

“But what about those that have slipped past? And how on earth did you get even the majority of people to get an update? What kind of an update was it?” I asked, petting Mercy's head as she cooed in response.

 

“It's a free update, so you can come pretty much on your own time for no charge. We convinced the computer technicians to install what we said was the update, telling them it was vital if people wanted their Mecha-Pets up to date and in good functioning conditions. The consequence of not updating the Mecha-Pet's system is a system failure and unauthorized access to whatever the Mecha-Pet controls,” Mercy explained looking me in the eye, her processors humming softly.

 

“So anyone could control anyone's Mecha-Pet.”

 

“Yes. You could say it's like a password updating for a computer. If you don't install the update, your old password is no longer on file, purged from the system and thrown in the recycle bin, leaving you completely exposed.”

 

“Most people complain because most updates they have to purchase. They see it as R.A.D.A.R. installing these files which cause the Mecha-Pet to have a system override, but they can't prove it,” Kane put in.

 

“Which would make sense,” Yue began, his smooth voice flowing like milk and honey, “because it looks like the corporation can make more money by selling updates.” Root nodded.

 

“So we're trying to gain the distrust from civilians so they're eventually stop buying from R.A.D.A.R.?” I concluded. Root nodded again in confirmation.

 

“Yes but that would take awhile. As for the robots that missed the installation, they will either have to be updated soon or risk being stolen or altered to another person. Anyway, we plan on making a huge mess out things.” The captain grinned smoke emitting from his nostrils, another cruel smile playing on his lips.

 

Gin squealed and clapped her hands.

 

“We gonna make them robots turn against people, ain't we! Oh, when can we start?” she shouted happily, turning to Root. Yue quietly walked and sat down on the couch across from me, crossing his legs, his rose print robe falling open at his chest. He watched me, his warm smile radiating, his eyes glinting happily. I returned his faint smile but it soon was replaced with a startled look.

 

“In other words,” Root had been saying, “the program we're installing is one to corrupt all command files, rewriting them to say that the robots should be causing chaos. For example, some of it is, if the Mecha-Pet is given the command to find something specific, normally the pet would find that item without fail, and nothing else would be out of place. However, now the pet would turn everything upside down, even if that specific item is placed blatantly out in the open.”

 

“Some of them are being used in crimes,” Kane said beside me, “and by policemen and firemen and whatnot. Guardians or protectors if you wish to call them. Some of these do the opposite of what they're told. If you tell a pet to save someone from a burning house, that pet would let the person be burned with the house.” Yue looked grim. I paled.

 

“It'll be messy at first, but a few sacrifices should get people's attention,” Root said, finishing his cigar and putting it out in a glass ash tray.

 

“Soon we gonna start a rebellion and gatha' people with us against R.A.D.A.R. We'll `ave some promises to `em so they'd be trustin' us and once we collapse R.A.D.A.R. we'll start rebuildin' the world!” Gin grinned, helping herself to another glass of juice.

 

“Yes but,” Yue put in, “even if robots start destroying everything, people will not want to switch from their modern conveniences for most anything, and even if they did, it'd be with a grudge. Certainly because of the population, if we can stabilize it on Mars, everything should soon turn out.”

 

“Yes, I've been thinking about this myself,” Root said, stretching his arms over his head. “What I think, if we want anything to go back to being anything like it was before, with green things growing, and even start cloning or reviving animal population, we're going to have to convince the majority of people that it's necessary in order to live, and most will either be apathetic or completely against us. It's a changing world, but there's no way we can continue living unless we do something. At the rate we're going, even Mars will eventually collapse, despite all efforts to make it a habitable world.

 

“Okay, so we've gotten this far, but exactly are we going to be doing?” I asked, trying to dismiss the thoughts of oblivion and annihilation from my mind.

 

“I'm going to start with spreading viruses through the computers and main servers so it'll link and branch off to the other systems. They should call for a system shut down and maintenance repair which, with the files I plan on uploading, will take a while to fix,” Mercy said in her sultry female voice.

 

“Manually we'll be searching for any information we can use against R.A.D.A.R. that we don't already have, as well as getting the computers and files in an even bigger tangle. I'd also like to look for information on those wild running cats that seem to have been created by a Mr. Anonymous.” Root looked to me, eyes down, and eyebrow raised as if expecting me to know what he was talking about. I knew what he wanted though.

 

“What do you mean? What do you want to know about them? Are they crucial for anything?” I asked, swallowing and hoping Root wouldn't figure out that both Cale and I knew what he was talking about. I pinched my brother to keep him from saying anything for he had opened his mouth, but changed his mind after I poke him. Root took a lazy moment before responding, probably considering us.

 

“Well, the robots that have been running around causing chaos we identified as the ones we let loose after our experiments with the software. We modified them to minimum damage though. However,” Root leaned forward to finish his thought, examining his nails and watching me for a reaction, “we found some information on a species that has been created. It is partially robotic, mostly animal, completely synthetic, but also a modified clone of some cat species.”

 

“We were able to trace the origins back to the same scientists who have been working on human cloning, but we haven't placed anything against them for these creatures may be to our advantage. At this point I can't say, which is why I'd like to find out more about them.” The general offered me another cruel smile, but it was somewhat softened, as if he was only making nice to convince me he was trustable before changing his smile to a wicked grin. Root continued to watch me uncomfortably for a moment, deciding whether I had anything I'd like to say about the cat things or not, which I decided against. All was quiet for a long second. I shifted beside my brother; still he had nothing to say.

 

“Well then, we can get this done before evening. I'll give you all a while to chat and go over which sections we'll divide into so we each will know what computers and servers to attack, alright?” Root said deviously, standing as he stretched.

 

“Gin, you know your positions as well as mine, and Mercy knows hers. Give Kane and Jalene theirs.” We watched as Root stepped carefully around the glass coffee table, making his way to his room with a swinging gait. For a moment no one said anything.

 

“Well then! Guess I'd betta' tell ya wot we's gonna do then, eh?” Gin suddenly came to a conclusion, whipping paper from her pocket and unfolding it before us on the table as Yue began to clear the drink things away. I stood and positioned myself on the other side of the table, aching to get some room to myself. I didn't like being crowded.

 

“Jeanie-boy, you got the `igher labs, all right? There's been de-struct'n on some of them `alls so woteve' they ain't workin' on, you `ead there. Make sure ya gots all information of them cats to disk. Root knows those labs `ave em so `e'll make sure ya get em. Also Mercy `ere `as a chip for ya to put in the main lab on floor two, got it? She'd prolly do it `erself, but she can't reach that `igh, okay?” Gin looked to me as she pointed to several places on the map. “'ere's them codes ya might be wantin' if ya need em. Make sure ya ain't leaving any files unattended or nothing okay? And remember to make it so's no one knows you was there.”

 

She shuffled through several papers and handed me a sheet with several lines. One looked like a java scripting format for something, the other looked as if someone had randomly pressed keys to form a string of text, and the third line was a zero. Below that, the code named each line by numbers, one, two, and three, and in short words described where and how they were used. A small diagram of the upper level was drawn out, by hand it looked, so that I wouldn't get lost.

 

“'ere Kane. You get ta `ave fun in ya depart-men' `kay?” Gin withdrew a very thin film protected by a plastic case. “You should know wot ta do with these.” Kane nodded. I was feeling left out again. My guess was that it was something to set in the main drive of a computer and make every other computer on the entire floor, if not building, go berserk. “It's gonna take ya longer but you've got the time. Your section ain't `alf as bad as mine any'oo.” Gin extracted another sheet of paper for Kane, though I doubted if he needed it. I heard running water as Yue cleaned the dishes in the kitchen.

 

“'ey boy, wot's ya name there then? I think I've `eard of ya. Must be Jeanie-boy's clone, eh? Or is `e a brotha'?” Gin inquired loudly as if noticing Cale for the first time. He had been leaning forward to see what was going on, but now he was pressed against the couch, eyes wide. I know he had met Gin before, but I supposed he wasn't quite so used to her. I wondered how Gin could not know Cale when he had been around R.A.D.A.R. enough to see Kane; also, he had been here once with Yue right? How couldn't she know my brother?

 

“Uh, well,” Cale began, looking for the right words without offending anyone, “my name is Cale and I call him more of a brother personally, but he is, in actuality, my clone, yes.” I could tell he was being polite, but it still irked me to talk as if he was better than me. Gin smiled.

 

“Of course! You was with them loony sci-entists wasn' you? That long ago. I s'pose ya might not a `membered but that's okay!”

 

“Anyways, I'ma take a chiller `kay? Root'll alert ya when `e's ready! Knock on my door three times if ya need som'in else!” Gin stood up, folding and pocketing her papers and flounced to her room next to Yue's, humming and waving at us as if it'd be the last time she'd see us. As soon as the doors slammed shut behind her, Cale sighed, relieving his pent up breath.

 

“She's way too hyper,” he said, looking a bit stressed, flopping back against the couch, the tension leaving him.

 

“It's been a while since she's seen you hasn't it? I noticed she didn't remember your name too,” Kane said, sitting down next to his lover, weaving his fingers with Cale's and kissing my twin's cheek. I felt that pang of jealousy again.

 

“Yeah,” Cale sighed. “If I'm not in this, what should I do? I mean, I came here with plans. Sort of. But I don't know if I could get involved in your business. I'm not sure what's going on either.”

 

The water in the kitchen ceased it's flowing. Several clanks of glass hitting glass were heard as Yue put the drink cups away, drying his hands on a towel and joining us once more.

 

“Personally I think it'd be better if you did stay here. You're Jalene's twin and you know what happens if you're caught,” Kane told him blandly. Cale looked sad. I felt choked up, so I stood, avoiding trying to be seen crying over nothing. I turned my back to them and headed for Yue's room, hoping I could get some privacy.

 

“Jean,” Kane said, stopping in my tracks. I didn't turn around. “Hold on.” I waited before feeling his hand on my shoulder, spinning me around and grabbing me by the arms, bringing me into a tight bear hug. I watched Yue behind me, his smile faint and seemingly distant.

 

“Take care,” Kane murmured against my shoulder, kissing me on the cheek before releasing me long enough to breathe. A tear slipped down my cheek, but I turned away quick enough to hide it.

 

“I will,” I breathed, trying to remain at least neutral. Head bowed, I hurried into Yue's room, he following me.

 

I took a deep, heavy breath as I stood in the center of his bedroom, the mist trailing around my legs. The room was moderately warm but it felt cold now. Several candles were burning, providing the only light other than the small sun-like orb that hug for the plants along his wall to grow.

 

“Jalene.” I heard his pure voice next to my ear, his breath making me shiver, his touch making my heart ache. I recognized the feeling, though I didn't know why I felt it. I was in love, and my heart throbbed when others were loving but I wasn't. He wrapped his strong arms securely around my waist, his gentle hands caressing my belly, kissing my neck reassuringly. He walked me over to the side of his bed and sat me down on his lap, brushing the hair out of my face, my hot tears still falling freely.

 

“You told me you had things to ask me earlier, before we made it here. Do you still want to talk about them, or have they been answered?” Yue said softly, changing the subject to better ease my mind.

 

I took a moment to find my voice as Yue held me close and I nodded.

 

“I-I'd like to know why I was left alone in the cold w-woods and everything else about your garden, and the creator. Cale said it wasn't you who made that place,” I sniffed, wiping my eyes. Yue smiled behind me and I shivered again.

 

“I've been taking care of it a long time, planting new things and taking care of the plants and trees, but you are correct in saying that I wasn't the originator of the whole thing. I furnished the small garden I have beyond the shower stall though, but everything else has been there as long as I can remember. To be honest I'm not completely sure what all is in there myself. The originator was an old man who used to be a scientist many, many years ago. This hideout used to be his secret house, but years ago we moved in and took care of it ourselves. I don't know much about the man myself,” Yue explained, kissing my neck tenderly and drying my cheek with the back of one hand. He sighed before continuing as I awaited the rest of his answer, unsure of what to feel. The fish behind me cast shadows that darted around the walls in waves.

 

“As for why, I felt it was best you learn something about the land. If I felt you'd be in danger or seriously injured, I'd have been there to help you, and I did monitor everything the entire time.” He took out one of my earrings and showed it to me closely.

 

“A tracking device?” I asked, astonished, recovering from my bout of tears. Yue nodded on my shoulder.

 

“Yes, I've been watching over you the entire time. You may not think it's fair but I believe it taught you something important. Also, you got to meet your brother and see how the world used to be a long time ago.”

 

“It's hard to believe the world was like that,” I admitted. “Cale said there were oceans, filled with water and jungles and ice too.” I was starting to feel recharged, just thinking about the place. I had fallen in love with it, but fending for myself and living without comfort wasn't my idea of fun. Yue laughed softly and bit my shoulder delicately.

 

“Yes, there are all of the biomes in that one small place.”

 

“Biome?”

 

“The different communities on earth. There's the rainforest, taiga, tundra, deciduous forest, desert, and plains, but there are different kinds of ecosystems too like in the swamps and oceans,” Yue explained, but it only confused me.

 

“Ecosystem?” I felt completely lost. Yue hugged me a little tighter, but he was patient in explaining.

 

“The web of life. Parts where everything coexists in order.” I tried to process everything but this wasn't my strong point in thinking. I shook my head, making up my mind that I wouldn't bother, though it did seem interesting.

 

“Okay then, what about the sun?” I asked, trying a different point of view. I wanted that part explained darn it!

 

“Our sun or the one in my garden?” Yue pulled me close to him, snuggling up to me on the bed as he curled up against a pillow, the water below us rocking gently to accommodate our weight.

 

“The one in your garden,” I replied, rolling over to face my angel's beautiful deep blue eyes. He smiled, caressing my cheek.

 

“It's basically the same as the earth's. See, around here it's just like its own little world. It's underground, so it can take up about as much room as it needs without disturbing anything else. The walls are extremely thick and solid, filled with different plates and magnetic poles, machines that generate a gravitational pull on the sun itself. It's rather complicated to think about, science wise, but it's not that big of a problem since long ago scientists were able to create small suns using highly pressured substances that were heated so much that they turned to plasma. That's all the sun is: a ball of plasma held in place by pressure and gravity. It seems Earth should revolve around the sun in there, and partially, as the planet itself moves, the sun is slightly misplaced too.”

 

“I don't think I have any idea how high the actual sun is suspended, though as small as it is in that room, it gives off a tremendous amount of light and heat.”

 

“How does it revolve though? It needs to hang in a stable air of gravity and pressure right? Wouldn't that throw the balance of everything else off?” I asked, curious as to how even an atmosphere and space could be included in this underground terrain.

 

“Normally yes, but that's why we have the thick walls filled with these plates. I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I do know that most of it is made to keep the sun rotating. Part of it maintains the atmosphere with precipitation control, wind factors and whatnot. I think it has something more to do with magnetism and the electric currents. The sun is composed of a lot of elements that can be created with fusion, even though they get rearranged. The plasma is really every element you could think of.”

 

“Wouldn't it take a tremendous amount of energy and pressure and gravity though?” I asked, burying my head against Yue's neck as he ran his fingers through my hair.

 

“It does, but it's not anything we need to worry about. We have copious amounts of hydrogen which we use to create a lot of the elements we have now. If you've ever noticed, nearly all elements known to us are now synthetic.” I nodded, resting against Yue's shoulder, the warmth of his body soothing. He began to hum and I felt relaxed and peaceful, threatening myself to fall asleep if he didn't quit soon, as much as I loved his voice.

 

“Yue,” I asked softly, staring as a lone sea horse stared back at me from the aquarium next to the bed.

 

“Mhmmm?” Yue ran a hand up my back, nibbling my neck, making me tingle pleasantly.

 

“I know you said you didn't know about those cat things but, do you really know about them?” I asked, my body itching as he neared the hot spot on my neck. He paused.

 

“Yes, I know of them. I don't really know anything about them though. They helped me keep in contact with you. I could see through their eyes. They detected the chip I placed on you, so they always knew where you were. Their signal was sent to me here and I watched you from Gin's computer.” Yue laughed. “You can ask her— I was practically living in her room for days!”

 

I stiffened in his grasp as he suckled that tender patch of skin, swallowing hard, wrapping my legs around his waist, my arms around his neck, tangled in his hair. He smiled against me, moving to kiss my throat. I relaxed. I was indecisive as to whether I should say what was on my mind, but I trusted Yue, so I felt it was safe.

 

“When one of the cat things appeared once, I felt…. drawn to it. Why is that?” I asked hesitantly. Yue was quiet for so long I thought he hadn't heard me.

 

“I have a lot of answers but that's one thing I don't know,” he said quietly. Quite unexpectedly my head felt hot, burning as if I were taken in a current of electricity. My vision blurred out. For a moment I stared at blackness, the kind you see in your mind when you image yourself just floating there, which is what I was doing. I was lying down, staring into nothing.

 

A grey shadow passed over me, revealing the silhouette of a small child crouching before a tree, grinning evilly at me. I had no doubt in mind that his intentions were unkind and inhumane. He stood, becoming full grown and slender, showing that he wore no clothing. He stepped closer to me. I was paralyzed, but I wasn't sure with what. I realized it was fear. His blue eyes opened, piercing their way through my heart. I was in a cold sweat now, mind numb beyond the point of rational thought. He touched my face, an icy cold touch, leaving frozen trails of blood down my cheek. Instinctively I tried to get away, only managing to stumble backwards. He put an arm around my neck, pulling me close, inches from my face, his long tongue search for fresh warm blood. Father. He was back again. This time, he'd take me for sure. Green birds with sharp features flew through a passing cloud, coming out on the other side as a ball of flame.

 

Soon scores of birds were flocking around us, all of them green, all of them bursting into flame and raining down, as cold as dry ice. Father stared into my eyes reaching his hand for me, slowly, until his fingers penetrated the flesh of my stomach. It was an odd clenching sensation, but it didn't hurt until he forced his arm under my ribcage. I gagged, bleeding excessive amounts of thin purple blood. There was no wound opening; his hand passed straight through as if it were ghost-like. I felt his fingers clawing around my heart. It throbbed painfully hard against his steal like grip. Someone from behind was shaking me so hard I thought I'd get whiplash. A whistling sound, faint at first, grew louder as if it were drawing nearer. A cat thing leapt by me, coal black with those mechanical eyes.

 

“Black Halo,” it said, spinning in circles around me though it never moved. Then it flew off.

 

“The key,” my father hissed, his voice raspy, his black silhouette of nothingness starting to fade, being replaced with a series of numbers. “I want it!” He squeezed my heart and I gave a cry.

 

I bolted, sitting straight up on the floor, soaked thoroughly in sweat. Yue was kneeled over me, pale and alarmed. I tried to avoid his eyes by looking up, only to find Kane and a confused looking Cale. Brother had no idea what was going on, but I knew both Kane and Yue had felt my dream. For whatever reason I had gone into an odd slumber. It felt forced, as if I hadn't even slept. I was trembling, gasping for breath and had probably no pigment in my skin. I sat up, my head spinning, clawing my way up Yue as he helped me up. I was choking, trying to breathe and make it to the bathroom at the same time. I made it in time to throw up mostly stomach acid, some of the remains of dinner included but I didn't linger long on it. Once I had regained my breath, I noticed Yue's gentle hand on mine, offering me a tissue which I took. Kane helped me away from the floor, Cale helping to nearly carry me as I swayed drunkenly.

 

“Outside,” Yue said softly, but I'm not sure I heard him. Kane nodded, pushing me gently through the shower stall, through that door and outside. The air was fresh and reviving.

 

It was about mid morning, the sun warm, the grass soft, the fragrance of sakura delicate and inviting. I fell over under the shade of the cherry tree, Kane rearranging me in his lap, cradling me under the warm sunshine. He placed a cool hand on my forehead, his eyes were concerned, but he offered a small smile. Cale held my hand, running his forefinger and thumb over my digits. I stayed for a few long minutes, reviving myself and shaking the thoughts out of my head. I noticed Dua had come to join us silently perching himself on Kane's shoulder.

 

“Better?” the dragon asked and I nodded in response. “Good. Root would like to see you.”

“Oh?”

 

“Yes. We're heading out in five minutes. Please be ready.”