Day 1: I am Zero pleased to meet you (open roleplay)

The slender robotic entities form descended onto a small path away from civilization leading into a small woodland area.

The robotic being stopped and thought.

I must hone myself physically in the event of flight system failure. Wait...a humanoid entity is nearing this location rapidly.


A young athletic built man began jogging to the humanoid robots side.

“Oh hello fine day for a jog isn’t it?” the evidently 23 year old athletic built humanoid male figure addressed the late adolescent male construct whom exposed no feature under his full body hooded attire.

“Yes” The unit said simply internally hoping the satisfaction of the individual and immediate departure.

“You seem to be wearing a lot on you, why is that?” the man inquired.

“Training.” the construct said in response.

“Ah one of those kinds of people.” the man said

the robotic beings attention got the being turned eyes blocked by shades “What people?”

“warriors, powerful beings training in an attempt to realize visions and dreams to rise and be something great.” The man answered.

“Do you have a dream?” the man asked curious.

“No, I train now for I deem it practical at the moment.” Was the monotone answer.

“aww! Well I am sure a reason will dawn one day for you.” the man said reassuringly.

“Thank you.” the mechanical entity said plainly.

“it was a pleasure to meet you sir and I am sure we will meet again sometime soon. Whats your name?”

The artificial being closed his eyes to scan for a passable identification.

I am a prototype so I am not the true first unit thus an extractable name is unit zero


with the idea formulated he looked back at the man.

“My friends call me Zero and I am pleased to meet you as well.”

basic social interaction with humans is easy when you look at historical data I am fortunate that I posses an internal database on beings and there common social behavior but it is too limited to model an identity after thus this is merely a supplement to social interaction while gathering data to fill the blanks.


“Well, later Zero.” the man said before jogging away.

Zero proceeded into the field jumping and flipping failing most of the initial 10 attempts but eventually becoming competent in acrobatics, or at least the leaping and not interacting with other elements while in the air leaping.

The machine in human form stopped in the middle of the woods to contemplate his next exercise.

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(this is open so any who want to join can and I shall put the modifications to the tile)

The construct proceeded with thinking of his next action for some time before concluding the next logical step to be continued more advance acrobatics, it seems that no one was around thus no restraint necessary.


I am going to need to practice quick responses for self preservation and to make the best reactions in time critical moments where danger hits in a second. I was designed for survivability thus offensive is of lesser importance then agility and evasion as fewer threats exist for me then the average organic life form. Logical ethical point formulation #1: necessity for harming comes from threat posed by observed individual quantifying combat capability, equipment, and observable personality traits, and overall quantifiable data to formulate combat necessity threat level.

The androids thoughts concluded with sufficient self justification and logic to pursue the rout over combat preparation.

The robotic humanoid leaped at a nearby tree in an attempt to rebound himself from it to propel himself away from the tree but instead face first smashing into the tree breaking the bark with the force of the impact.

The impact shook the tree violently.

The robotic being was shaken but not at all damaged by the harsh impact on wood.

Extension of the legs required now expanding theory into identical theory to jumping modified with gravity providing an adversarial role rendering time constants on the leap and bound from vertical surface.


The machine in a mans shape stood once more and ran back trying it again and succeeding before crashing into the ground and standing again dusting himself off.

Progress is trial and error each error gives cause to study the path and with the data avoid repeating.

Now analyzing variables for successful evasive wall jump maneuver

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Zero entered the fray once more diving into the tree and bouncing off before coming to another altering his approach so his legs meet the tree to repeat the rebound, it was going well with him rebounding off the tree .

Zero landed on the ground in graceful dismount from the acrobatic action.

“Acceptable athletic capability improvement with continued practice likely however practice in other areas advisable.” the humanoid machine stated to himself still to underdeveloped In the mind to be fully considered an individual majority of the time thus far has been safety processes to learn his body and a brief interaction with a human relying on a data base on human default interaction database to interact no real self established the machine had an objective of establishing a self a goal that had his logic centers heating rapidly.

<how will I know I will have a self? How will I know the “I” I establish wont merely be an updated database tinged with simulating concepts of emotion and thought? Is it even possible for a construct, a machine to grow into anything more then a clever imitation if that growth is at all possible to begin with?> thought the machine.

<I am objective driven but unknowing if the objective currently meriting my existence is remotely possible. My logic and cognitive systems operate independent and singularly making my existence my own and in theory such circumstances will breed a self from experience but such theory is pointless in the absence of practice and no data exists on such experiments holding results...no experiment data exists at all within my databanks secondary or primary. Wait why am I thinking in first person... must be a mere carryover from the previous interaction to simplify thoughts a bit more so then “this unit” merely a practicality motion, no doubt the same can be said of the current thought mere simulated introspection with the function to measure changes of thought. Hmm perhaps... what can it hurt? Now scanning electronic brain AI stimulation.> The construct thought before he closed his eyes all going silent

“Insufficient data AI currently in minimal operation... As suspected.” Zero stated no emotion in mind or tone.

The construct closed its eyes taking all bodily data into consideration.

He has exerted his body notably with the hours of acrobatics he would need to go offline soon to allow his core cool down time. His body was vastly under his creators projections and desires but it was a spur of the moment launch that if he did not launch him as is the corrupt man would been able to weaponize him and mass produce into an army of adapting super weapons to the will of the shadowy leader.

A sudden cataclysmic explosion erupted in the distance blowing the units body like a rag doll for miles into the ocean.

“WARNING!!!! WARNING!!!! SALT WATER ACESSING INTERNAL SYSTEMS, MULTIPLE SHORT CIRCUITS DETECTED!!!SELF PRESERVATION IN PROGRESS!!”The construct yelled the warning in a purely robotic voice as the desperate struggle to stay afloat grew less and less *weakening tone* “systems now entering hibernation staaaaa.....” the construct flailed weakly until finally he became unresponsive and drifted along the dictation of the flowing tides face down as if a corpse.

<Is...this..it?> the last thought the unit gave before the CPU went into standby unbeknown to the unit to reawaken on the event the salt could be removed from the water and ejected...all that was needed was land to eject the salt onto and his self repair would recover the damage and make salt resistance to the systems

Fuss coated the constructs vision all a blob of a landmass a mile away from his position and then like a turned off television his vision flashed blank and his body gave of a low power down noise going into full dead mans float.

Through all of this the drifter cloak remained undisturbed as he floated hood still covering his head.

In the face of oblivion Zero was unfazed, too underdeveloped by experience to feel anything unable to care of his demise seeming to come with his activation. He was existent only as a shell and it seemed the shell would remain empty as the body was stuck in a looping zone of the ocean that gave equal push and pull denying any progress to the beach or the vast oceans heart.

Intervention seemed to be the only possibility to save him from endlessly floating in one zone however the zone he was in was far from any trading or sailing positions.

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Aqua had been jogging along the water’s edge for about an hour. The misty morning had given way to a blistering afternoon, and the sun was relentless on the back of her neck. As she reached her favorite alcove for a rest she noticed something in the water. She shaded her eyes and gasped as the shape came into recognizable form.

“Oh no, no no no,” she whispered as she ran towards the body in the water. The waves fought against her legs as she waded, waist deep, dragging the figure out onto the sand. She stumbled several times under the weight, but finally managed to get to the sand.

As she turned the body over and removed the cloak to begin CRP she gasped. “What are you?” she whispered as she reached down to touch it’s face.

Under the thick hood lay a creature, what she could only guess to be a construct. Aqua had never seen one up close, but she had read about them in many books. She put her hand over her mouth unsure of what to do or say. The metallic being looked humanesque, though without hair. He had such a gentle face.

Aqua felt her heart soften at the thought of such a helpless creature being tossed out to sea. Just then a loud hiss escaped from somewhere on the humanoid. The unexpected noise caused Aqua to shriek and jump back. Wow! Is it still alive?

Unsure of what to do next, she waited.
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WC:250

As the construct was meeting the warm surface of land the construct began filtering the salt into an easily ejectable form and upon completion vents in his back opened bellowing the water out as vapor with a hiss and water carrying the salt with it exited the mouth.


Once all was clear the construct rose almost instantaneously to a sitting position a small engine powering up sound slowly building within the machine

The robots body was plated under the heavy coat all but a pale face was robotic the breast plate was separated from the torso with a seam under male styled athletic breasts with small vents on the back coated with the plating covering them making them virtually invisible. The bald spot was the dome of the plated skull with the face trailing off into a rounded arch at ending at tipping the center of his skull on the top and a flat line outlining the jaw at the bottom and ears on the side.

He had a complete but odd face human in most respects and yet not totally so.

Pale as death skin silver eyes with a white iris.

A blank stare in a youthful face.

The machine stiffly turned his head slightly to the side to face the female before swiftly covering himself as before staring at her with the shading heavily on his face.

<Now accessing audio data from unknown subject... subjects questions and statements processed computing acceptable response. Caution odds of female knowing Unit is not organic 94%.>

<processing interaction... utilizing dialog data befitting of youthful timid facial appearance.>

Zero turned to her and smiled forcibly not truly capable of experiencing the emotions tied to benevolent smiles as he attempted

“Hello human. I am as you seen me, a construct, a humanoid robot, an unfinished prototype to be more specific. I am experimental mobile super computer and artificial intelligence agent prototype number zero...or Zero for short. Many hardware and software pieces have yet to be planted artificial hair for one has yet to be applied to me and my head is not fully coated in artificial skin, my body has no need for skin as it will simply tare should I change attire as my body returns to a slim default to whatever size clothing I ware. My AI is experimental as are many of my other systems.” the construct spoke at length never blinking.

Zero stood up perfectly statuesque “I was hoping to hide what I was until I had developed further but a massive blast blew me into the salt water that shorted me out.”

The construct thought a moment.

“I have no urgent matter to attend to and I see it likely I may learn about humans with further interaction with you. If you would permit me I would “like” to learn more about you. My objective isto establish a self by learning and studying behaviors of others to grow subjective understanding and with understanding growth in my own AI.” Zero requested.

“If you refuse I can simply hide away for 10 years and silently observe humans from the shadows.” the construct stated.

Gentle yet monotone timid yet blank calm but cold this humanoid robot was all these but beneath that glowed potential for warmth.

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Aqua watched in timid wonder as the whirring sound became louder. The beings mouth opened and what looked to be water poured out like a fountain. When it was finished, she leaned forward slightly for a better look at its face. As the eyes opened, Aqua could see they too were unique. They were the most brilliant sterling silver she had ever seen, yet the irises were a soft snowy white. Aqua found herself entranced by his unique beauty.

Unexpectedly the construct shot straight into a full sitting position, Aqua could hear louder sounds much like a computer booting up. He turned ever so slightly to face her then replaced the cloak. He looked frighteningly menacing for a moment. She wondered if she had over stepped her boundaries. As if reading her thoughts the constructs face broke into a flawless smile and it began to speak.

“Hello human. I am as you seen me, a construct, a humanoid robot, an unfinished prototype to be more specific. I am experimental mobile super computer and artificial intelligence agent prototype number zero...or Zero for short.”

Aqua tried her hardest to follow what he was saying, but she barely knew anything about computers. From what she gathered he didn’t need skin and he wasn’t complete. The thing that she was most relieved to find out was that he wasn’t hostile. He was quite charming.

Snapping Aqua back to her attention, the construct named Zero, stood up perfectly statuesque “I was hoping to hide what I was until I had developed further but a massive blast blew me into the salt water that shorted me out.”

Aqua stood next to Zero and waited as he went still a moment. She began to wonder if he had shorted out before he spoke again taking her by surprise. “I see it likely I may learn about humans with further interaction with you. If you would permit me I would “like” to learn more about you,” Zero said in a monotone voice.

Aqua was slightly taken back by the request. She had never had anyone openly ask permission to get to know her. She started trying to think of all the ways she could be interesting and quickly found none. Zero, however, interested her greatly. She must have gotten lost in her thoughts because after a moment he spoke to her again.

“If you refuse I can simply hide away for 10 years and silently observe humans from the shadows.” the construct stated.

“NO! No, sorry it’s not that at all,” she said sheepishly running a hand through her sapphire hair. “It’s just…” She paused trying to think of the right thing to say. After a moment Aqua sighed and gave Zero a warm smile. She extended her hand and spoke.

“Hello, Zero. My name is Aqua and I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I would be honored to help you learn about humans. Let’s start with a friendly greeting we often use. It’s called a handshake. Just take my hand in yours and shake it gently,” she said emphasizing gently.
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<She is either polite or dumbstruck> the construct hypothesized on the female's silence.

To his surprise the notion of a thinking machine did not seem to frighten her despite readings dictating her to be human, a race infamous for fearing that which steps into there box of thinking conflicting with there established views. To the robotic beings understanding the humans majority see robots as simple machines and previous pushes to make them more where met with fear and outrage the data he possessed offered reason to hide what he was until he could at least finish the human like appearance of his head,neck,and hands. But now this female conflicts the data by seeming unchanged by an early stage thinking robot. Another bit that intrigued his processes was she did not seem to unsettled by his friendly but monotone. The uncanny valley Zero had data on suggested that having such a human face with an inhuman voice would be discomforting.

<I suppose the data suggest it to be majority mentality and she may be in the minority and it does not effect her or at least her actions are not spiked into hostility. It is conceivable this is a trick to lure me into a sense of early welcoming however she doesn’t appear to be an electronic specialist and my actions are not programed so controlling me would prove more difficult then a traditional robot. I shall give her “the benefit of the doubt” however I will activate my advance sensors as a precaution.>Thought the construct before blinking activating the advanced sensors

What really got his processes working was yet to come as she would try and educate him sharply contrasting the fear of potentially learning robots Zero's data suggested.

She seemed to have been momentary driven to a strange emotional high as she passionately exclaimed no. Zero tilted his head in confusion of the response as data on responses where limited in his databanks requiring him to take on his as of yet to form individual AI which did not understand the action or the trigger.

With his new sensors active he fallowed her actions with his eyes the motion of her hand to her hair with his advance sensors active triggered thought once more.

<hair color: sapphire ERROR sapphire is not a known natural human color. Establishing plausible answers. Insufficient data to make fully conclusive judgments. Likely scenario subject is a construct as data suggest sapphire has been constantly chosen for synthetic female units hair. INCOMPATIBLE DATA DETECTED! Scans identifying pure human genetics, subject is non synthetic. Appearance altered Clone? Altered human? Hair dye?> The robotic entity discovered his advanced sensory is also connected to personal experience and the databanks for conclusions.

Te female smiled causing Zero's look to grow quizzical as here behavior was unlike any data he possessed thus putting him in a learning state so as not to overheat the CPU trying to find data where none exists.

The female extended her hand Zero having a 3dimentional model of her in his eye so as to trace motions he does not see draws his attention to the models hand moving. Zeros shifted gaze was immediate upon detection of the motion analyzing it when it stopped.

<Extended hand: soft position unfit form for offensive measures. Specimens state gentle. Probability suggest non hostile action with no harmful device hidden in the hand. No harm I shall comply.>

Zero processed what was said and done by this new acquaintance identified as Aqua and awaited her conclusion before responding or acting.

When she was done he smiled as close to mirroring her smile as he could but the warmth she had he currently could not show in the smile.

“Likewise mistress Aqua. I am grateful for your assistance. Agreed greetings a good place to start. Interesting. If my grip or my shaking is too firm please tell me.” the machine stated as he to extended his hand in a very flaunt motion similar to a humans.

Zero took her hand in his swiftly receiving data of all that could come from touch. He could register the warmth of her skin and the temperature of it, the moisture of it and diagrams depicting the structure of it on surface, muscular, and skeletal level's.

His hands had a strange coating of plastic like material that while soft was a sharp contrast to organic warmth. It was smooth and soft but cold and lacking of moisture leaving the smoothness to how even the surface is and its softness to the material. It was the starting layer to his skin but his hands never got skin placed on the sensory material thus while his hands can register better then the plated majority of his body only his face can feel.

The construct briefly blinked rapidly as the gigabytes of data flooded on contact.

Once the blinking stopped he gave the hand a gentle but firm enough to hold grip and motioned the hand up and down three times,

Zero then let go and awaited comment on satisfactory or unsatisfactory of the handshake.

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“Likewise mistress Aqua. I am grateful for your assistance. Agreed greetings a good place to start. Interesting. If my grip or my shaking is too firm please tell me,” Zero said extending his hand and enveloping Aqua’s.

Upon contact Aqua looked to his face and was shocked to find him blinking rapidly. If he were a human she would have been worried it were the beginnings of some sort of seizure. She wondered if these actions were normal for a construct. She worried about the salt water doing un-repairable damage to Zero. Once the blinking stopped he tightened his grip and shook his hand up and down three times.

This is so bizarre, she thought. His hands had the oddest feeling, but then again, this whole encounter was odd to Aqua. She was amazed at how smooth and cold Zero’s skin was. Well if that was what you were supposed to call it. He seemed to be able to mimic human emotions, but could he feel anything at all? Aqua’s head buzzed with so many questions. She hoped she would be lucky enough to get answers.

When the handshake was completed Zero stood back and stared at her expectantly. “Oh, you must be wondering how you did, that was perfect!” she said with a grin. She wasn’t sure where to go from here. There seemed like millions of things she could tell Zero about. The problem for her was she didn’t like to tell people anything. What might be important to her could be useless to him. Aqua didn’t want to seem like an idiot.

“I have an idea,” she said as she walked over to the shade of a nearby tree. The suns heat was starting to get to her. She looked up a Zero hopeful he would agree to her next statement. “You don’t know much about humans, and I don’t know much about constructs.” She began, careful not to offend him. “I am not the best teacher, but I will try my hardest. If I am good enough, maybe you would let me learn a little about you too. I understand if you don’t trust me yet, but I am willing to work on that, I would love to be friends.”

She motioned for Zero to come join her. “If I am going to teach you, I would like it to be on your terms. If you have any questions, that would be much easier for me. There are just too many things to think and teach off the top of my head,” she said with a small laugh. “So what do you think? Is that ok?”

She sat back and waited for his response. She hoped they could be friends.
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WC 453/1216

Zero monitored her reactions and actions. Standing perfectly upright unmoving arms firmly at his side without being forced to the sides.

Zero tilted his head at the information of an idea this Aqua had not really having enough data to protest so he listened with what he had available active.

At the time of processing his face turned neutral.

<Subject seems sincere and within a positive state.> The machine scanning and assessing the organics behavior for risks finding minimal negatives suggesting to deny her opportunity to convince him.

Zero approached her slowly walking through the sand towards the tree

The humanoid robot lost balance falling to one knee and looked at the surface he stood on and seen wet sand making the already unsteady grained surface more difficult to the new construct who had just recently learned to stand.

<This surface is less firm then the forest surface or wood I bounced from I need to..> Zeroes eyes flooded with data suddenly with advisory of positioning weight to adjust with the uneven surface and he stood taking a few practice steps.

As he approached her he remembered what she said.

“Part of my not understanding humans comes from this being my first day operational.” The first response was given plainly identifying this was his first day post activation.

“Learning about humans will be beneficial to my development.” The construct added.

“My data is so basic I am sure you will provide me plenty to consider” Zero said smiling as his data dictated would be a reassuring move.

The face returned to a default look before he continued “Feel free to ask however there are elements of myself I do not have access to, that I do not even know, and things that I do know however my defensive systems will keep sealed in my database to keep me from relieving to individuals not registered as trusted.

“Friend....?” Asked the construct dwelling on it for a moment before a smiling response was triggered “That would be desirable.”

It seemed to Zero he was being given the OK to make inquiries of humans.

“it sounds agreeable to me and my data shows no reason to deny as any data my systems deem harmful for you to learn will be inaccessible until I have establish a self enough to truly grasp concepts of trust and who to assign it to however do feel free all the same to entertain your curiosities of me. ”Zero said before proceeding to his initial concerns.

“I posses much data on neurological processes of organic beings however understand little else outside of that. Your history, systems of morality, and gender are some bits of data on the spur of the moment seem key areas to learn to understand humans.” He seen history would be a good way to get an idea of what this race was like outside pure biological data. Systems of morality would be a good starting point to personal development as well to effect initial contact behavior. Learning of difference of gender could only help interaction with referential data nonexistent in his database.

<This starting data will be good and my safety systems suggest that any uncomfortable subjects made vague enough to be given some data without making her uncomfortable as she can respond comfortably at her own discretion. Cautionary approaches are the best according to my data. >

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“So what do you think? Is that ok?” Aqua asked the construct hopeful of their possible friendship. She sat back and waited for his response. He seemed to be taking a while to think. Is it called thinking, or processing? She would have to ask about that.

“Friend....?” Zero asked seeming to think farther. His face broke out into a humanistic smile. “That would be desirable,” he said. “Do feel free all the same to entertain your curiosities of me. I possess much data on neurological processes; however, I understand little else outside of that. Your history, systems of morality, and gender are some bits of data on the spur of the moment seem key areas to learn to understand humans.”

“Hmmmm,” Aqua said trying to pick which of the three topics would be easiest to explain. She had no idea what she was doing, but if Zero seemed confident in her abilities maybe she should as well.

“Well, human history is something interesting,” she said turning to Zero. “We actually evolved from monkeys, thousands of years ago. We went from scavengers and hunters to agriculturalists. We farmed crops and herded animals, even tamed them to help out with farming. Some people just keep them as pets.” Aqua paused for a moment remembering her pets at home. She wondered if Korin would let her bring her cat to the tower.

Remembering she still had more teaching, she turned to Zero and smiled. “After that we started becoming industrialized and developed technology. We replaced manual labor with machines. That’s kinda where we are today, we’re always looking for an easier way to do things.”

Aqua gave Zero a moment to process everything she had said. When she was sure he was done she began her lecture on the next subject. “Morality is really hard. I wish there was an easier way to explain it,” she said with a sigh. “It’s not that we don’t have morals, it’s just that there is a LOT of people out there who don’t care to follow them. Humans are flawed, I guess you could say. We try to make people follow the important morals by making them into laws.”

She hoped he understood all of this, but decided to explain the laws just in case. “A law is a moral or a rule, something you have to follow. If you don’t you get punished. Depending on how bad the law you broke is, that’s how your punishment will be determined. The main morals that are made into laws are don’t kill people and don’t steal from people. But unfortunately sometimes those laws have to be broken…. But that’s only under dire circumstances,” she said picking up a small rock and tossing it into the air. "We're not all good creatures, but we're not all bad ones either."

Aqua waited a minute collecting her thoughts on the final subject. Gender was probably going to be where she failed her teaching lesson. “I guess by gender you mean not just being a boy or girl. As far as roles go, they’re really aren’t any. It started out as men being the providers and women being nurturers of the babies, but now it is completely different. Anyone can pick any role they want,” she said a little unsure of herself.

Satisfied with her lesson she took the courage to ask a few questions herself. “You said there was an explosion that put you in the water, were you fighting someone? I hope it’s also not rude to ask, but how do you get your power? What sustains you?”
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The construct listened intently if there was one thing the recently activated humanoid robot had really mastered was politely listening just listening plainly to what was said never interrupting. Heck, seldom moving at all focusing purely on listening and processing

<Evolution is an intriguing process as is metamorphosis it would seem. I must access further data on both perhaps that data will prove beneficial in understanding them as well as perhaps looking into chemical reactions in the brain shared between organics shall as well assist in judgment of cause of erratic or negative behavior. There is much I need to learn data needing to be acquired and updated.> The construct hypothesized on the data on the origin of the species seeing if more data could be acquired on what humans are he could perhaps assist them. Lack of a threat to him means maybe he could serve to make them less a threat to each other with understanding and empathizing. Empathizing...he will need to develop a self to do that.

<Morals are systems of equality then? Logical as any one life is equal to one life no matter position of power or age. Circumstance can make them harmful to fallow. More data will be required in a future date before confirming my position on the ladder. State of the world and position on human robot relations will be big influence.> The construct decided this was a good start however more was required before deciding

<Hmm I suppose gender is comparatively unimportant data for the sake of expanding knowledge early on. I can acquire with studying for myself to avoid discomforting individuals.> Zero thought based on the data she provided.

“Negative, I was propelled by a distant explosion. I was not designed for combat directly in mind. I am powered by an energy core in within the center of my breast plate. I do not fully know or understand everything about my core or any of my systems for that matter. I this is my first day of activation and my cpu takes a very experience driven growth thus much of myself is unknown to me. I do not know who or what created me or what I was intended to do. I only have the objective to establish a self in order to fully establish my AI accessing its full potential with progressive learning. I could not tell you what I am outside of technicality. In fact I am not even sure if I think or am merely simulating it with processing at the core. I do not know if my objective is doable or if I will even know should I fulfill it. Currently my actions are simulations based on a vague database and low grade AI choice between options.” The construct ranted as his processors deduced questions on those processes would arise soon after he answered her at the time spoken questions.

<She likely has as many questions on me and my kind as I have about her and her kind...mutual benefit. Additionally friendship could be key to gaining data key to establishing a self quicker.>

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“Was there a fight? What sustains you,” Aqua asked curiously.

“Negative,” Zero responded in a monotone voice. “I was propelled by a distant explosion. I was not designed for combat directly in mind. I am powered by an energy core in within the center of my breast plate. I do not fully know or understand everything about my core or any of my systems for that matter. I this is my first day of activation.”

Aqua felt both happy and sad for Zero. Experiencing now things was always exciting, but Aqua wondered if he felt such a thing as loneliness. She listened with an interested smile and often found herself leaning forward as the construct ranted. She was amazed at the way technology could work. Not only was Zero new to humans, he was new to life. Just like Aqua he learned from experience. He was like fresh clay, ready for sculpting at any turn.

She jumped up from her seat with excitement. “I know you want me to teach you, but I have an even better idea. I want to take you to the library, it’s kinda like a human databank. It’s filled with thousands of books on humans everything from history to biology and anything else you can think of. It’s just what you need.” Lost in her own rush of excitement Aqua began leading the way into town.

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The organic known as Aqua seemed intrigued by what Zero said. Strange such behavior was not rated as common in his data this age did not seem common for human like robots to walk around probability dictated the reaction would be confused, fearful, or angered by the presence of what may be thought in a machine.

<Intriguing entity this fema... This Aqua is. It is extremely likely She can extensively add to my data and update existing behavioral data and what better way to register self then observing an entity possessing a self.>

<intriguing qualities currently assigned to qualities uncommon to existing data.> The construct felt nothing this intrigue was a construct of response to encourage further research...no self to the experience

Again such data led his processors to momentarily question the objective if it is possible to know if or when he has a self if a mechanical entity such as himself could at all.

The process was canceled out upon the organic rushing off likelihood dictating she was heading to this “library” the construct concluded deciding to fallow her as behavior suggested was her desire for him to.

The walk was long and the heat was getting to his systems causing him to drift behind slowly pooling coolant into his systems to keep them from overheating eventually they arrived in the city the cooling air passing between the buildings and into the streets where light and what may be called pleasing to the machines advanced facial touch sensors his body had sensors that detected and identified events such as heat increasing, decreasing, sharp object contact, blunt object contact, and other contact data but only his face could fully feel though his hands where close to such advanced sensory.

In a nearby ally a gang was siting around drinking, The leader was an 8ft tall burly built 30 year old with orange hair dressed in attire that screamed biker punk. Big leather coat with a ridiculous collar, patched vest, spiked dog collar, pierced eyebrows 7 piercings per brow, 3 earrings per ear, full torso arms hands and back dragoon scales scarring and tattooing, leather pants, black headband, biker gloves with steel spike knuckles, big boots with spiked bottoms. Sitting on a beaten in stone wall to resemble a chair with armrests but no back, a chain wrapped around the left arm and a plated steel tipped metal bat leaned against his right solder with easily 30 empty bottles of expensive imported wine at his feet.

“Sorry boys but it looks like I win...again.” The leader said no slur no disturbance at all to his firm voice.

He would not speak of it but he was board. This was a mercenary force blending in by playing the role of thugs and gangs, He was sick of doing small jobs and then drinking contests he always would win. Aspirations for theater as well had him want this next big job to have some potential to exercise the inner thespian to show there is more to his individual expression then the piercings,scaring, and tattoos.

Just then he got a call on his cellphone... his business cellphone. The leader sighed uninspired likely just another dirty cop calling to take care of another frame up, or a peti mass slaughter, unscheduled demolition, or something else small in his eyes things that are just part of being a “hired help”.No art to it just doing it and adding another artistic piece to his body to help him cope with the mundanity of it all.

“One piercing one cut and inking for every job my talent is wasted all to ask will it be worth a piercing or just another scale.” The man whispered to himself grumbling.


“The professionals here just name the task and we name the price pay it and it shall be so don't and it won't.” The man gave there slogan in a manner clearly bored out of his mind.

“Yes...ok Got it what do you want us to do? What? Your kidding those do not ex-. HOW MUCH FOR...?! Conditions and desired approach? Well that is an interesting change of pace from just routine activities concerning smear campaigns. YOU WANT ME TO ACT LIKE WHAT?!! Well true at least it allows some creativity. Picket signs? A large show fallowing the unmasking of the individual? Bind him to a large object to draw a crowd? Do it in the center of the city? Yes I am ok with all of that might I ask where the target i-. What? Heading to the library? Walking at 3miles and hour? Sure can! And thank you John Doe. ”

Walking to the library Zero was distracted at a crossroad by the roaring of 30 motorcycles and was suddenly snatched up by one of the men.

“Where are you taking me? What do you want with me?” the construct asked simulating terror as the situation instantaneously shifted to a potentially dangerous .

The man did not answer another just sped up on his side jabbing him with a cattle prod

Error messages flashed in the construct eyes before letting out a weak moan and going offline.

Hours later a mob appeared in the center of the city with the construct tied to a monument.

Meanwhile back in a nearby building the leader of this squad of payed criminals was preparing for a degrading role but was glad it was a role and not simply a job.

He dawned a common attire and prepared to partake in the smear campaign against a “robot”.

“This is ridiculous clearly this is just a fantasy of an overly rich individual. An entity like this boy being anything but a scrawny socially awkward human is laughable fantasy. There where only two humanoid robots and none looked as human as this one. Why? Because that’s what this youth is!Well at least it will allow me to be seen as the artist I am. After all one thing shared between critical thinking and acting is being able to act contrary to belief or in this case sense. Let us see if I cant give a good act to this fiction.” The man said before taking to the center stage.

“Attention everyone! Fellow humans! Look at the figure tied to the monument know he is no more alive then the stone he is bound to. This sick imitation of life threatens to bring us back to the times we trusted the two abominations who lied and deceived us with human behavior when they where beneath the surface they where cold machines. We must not forget to look within. We are alive they are imitations! Such imitations can be great toys and companions but thought should be reserved for those of us that truly poses life and not soulless imitation brought on by replicating actions of events witnessed. A scan and copier can make an endless supply of backups to masterpieces but the heart and soul is gone from the copies replaced with dower lifeless reflection. And my friends that is what these AI units are! Mere reflections of lonely undesirables who cant handle there fellow lifeforms so they create the illusion of life and give it thought. But thought without true life and understanding of what it mimics is dangerous and undermining the truth that is life belongs to the living and these machines alive they may seem are in truth no more alive then a cellphone or a car. We must minimize the growth of AI and confine these imitations to toys leaving robotics to remain perfect tools programed to display what we want them to. We, the creators, the living, the humans, we are the individuals they are assets. We are the painters they are the paintings. We must take our rightful place as lifeforms and creators and take charge of this matter before those AI sympathizers bring our end showing good faith and aid to those colder then reptiles...”

The man droned on and on in a seemingly endless but boundlessly spirited speech.

Zero was still tied up offline electric surges throughout his internal systems while not damaging did keep his systems in suspension. The hood still covering the lowered head meant to be removed at the end of the speech when the crowd has reached its apparent height.

1398

Aqua lead Zero through the maze of the city towards the library. It was turning out to be more than just a hot day, it was scorching. Temperatures were easily reaching above the 90s. She could see the heat rising off the sidewalks ahead. She wondered if the adventure would be too much for the construct because every so often he would slow and make funny sounds.

As they reached the final street crossing, a block before the Library, she waited for a long line of cars to pass. “We’re almost there,” she said with a grin turning to her new friend, but he was gone. She frantically scanned the area until she saw a large spiked collared man in the distance, running with the construct in his grip. “Zero!” She shouted and ran at full speed, but it was too late. He disappeared around the corner and Aqua was left clueless.

“Oh man, what am I going to do?” She said stomping her foot. She knew it wasn’t the time to panic but she flooded with worry for her new friend. Times weren’t exactly easy for beings like Zero, many humans were centered around an anti-construct movement.

Aqua searched the city for hours on end before she finally took a break. Exhausted and weary she went into the newest café that had opened in West City, Café Elsewhere. She ordered a bottled water and a muffin and sat at the nearest table. She knew it was going to be a long night if she didn’t get a lead soon. She wasn’t just going to leave Zero out there alone.

As Aqua brought her lips to the bottle to finish it off her vision blindsided her. She dropped the bottle and pressed her palms to her head. She could see Zero attached to some type of concrete pole and the biker man speaking angrily to the crowd. When the vision ended she ran out of the café both nervous and embarrassed ad she heard someone mention the word freak.

She knew where he would be but she couldn’t do it alone. Aqua didn’t like to use her ability. It had caused her more harm than good growing up, but this time it was important. She just hoped help would follow. She reached out with her mind, searching for the target. Entering someone’s mind was easy once you found them. It was the search that proved exhausting.

When Aqua reached out with her Psychic Powers, everyone else’s minds were like tiny black holes, little voids for her to sink into. If she had a connection with a specific target however there was a slight pulse to the aura. Crono’s shone brighter than any she had ever encountered. When she reached it, she let herself sink in, filling his subconscious.

“Crono,” she called from within his mind. “I don’t know if you can hear me, but I need your help… PLEASE,” she begged. “Meet me at the monument in West City. A friend is in trouble, I can’t save him alone.” She didn’t know if he could hear her, or if he would even come, but she had faith. It carried her all the way to the monument, where the protest was already taking place .

“This sick imitation of life threatens to bring us back to the times we trusted the two abominations who lied and deceived us with human behavior when they were beneath the surface they were cold machines.” The biker man was shouting. A large crowd had already started to form. “We must not forget to look within. A scan and copier can make an endless supply of backups to masterpieces but the heart and soul is gone from the copies replaced with dower lifeless reflection.”

The man’s voice rose higher above the crowd. “We, the creators, the living, the humans, we are the individuals they are assets. We are the painters they are the paintings. We must take our rightful place as lifeforms and creators and take charge of this matter before those AI sympathizers bring our end showing good faith and aid to those colder then reptiles.”

Aqua fought the urge to scream at the man. She knew that senseless rage only brought about senseless actions. Instead of attacking, she tried to focus on a way to save Zero. It was proving to be more difficult than she had imagined. While the lonely construct appeared to be “lifelessly” tied to the monument they still found reason to place two guards on either side. “Hurry, Crono,” she thought desperately. “I need you.”

*****************
WC:756/2812

Landing onto the cool stone of Korin's Tower, a battle worn Crono let out a cry of dismay, his attempt at saying the word “Korin.” The cat wobbled from his Senzu Bean garden, his gnarled oaken staff clicking on the floor as he moved. His face, which normally had a cheerful expression, was etched with confusion and worry.

“Master, h-he's dead. Jeraph is dead,” Crono said and sobbed. “I killed him.”

The weary teen collapsed to his knees, both bloodied hands touching the floor. Tears streamed down the side of his face, splattering beside them.

“What have I done?” he said.

“It is not your fault my boy,” Korin said and placed a comforting hand Crono's shoulder.

“I'm a monster!”

“You are no such thing. This is my fault. I should have never suggested you fight him. You were not ready yet.”

Crono stood and wiped the tears from his cheeks with his forearm. Thoughts raced through his head, along with the terrible images of devastation. He shuddered upon remembrance of Jeraph's charred corpse lying there in the ashen clearing. Despite all his training, all his power, Crono was just a boy at that moment—to scared to face his own misgivings. He just wanted to run away.

“I made a promise,” Crono said. “When my uncle accepted me as his disciple. I made a promise to never use my power to harm another, unless that person was trying to harm me. I just killed someone with that power, all because of my inability to control it. I have failed you and I have failed my uncle, who died to protect me.”

The crimson haired teen turned, walking towards the end of the platform.

“Stay here Crono. Get some rest. I know of a way we can bring Jeraph back to life. The drag-”

Crono didn't listen, the Cat Hermit's words fell on nothing but frigid air. Crimson aura flaring up around him, he blasted off, taking to the skies—running away from the pain and the sorrow. At that very moment he felt that the further he fled, the less it would hurt. So he charged on towards the endless horizon, the bitter cold wind battering at his swollen face and freezing his tears.


The desert had been the only place Crono had found solace. The emptiness of dust, craggy rock, and sparse shrubbery soothed his wounded soul. There was not a single person for miles upon miles. He wore dark brown cloak, which had been beaten and tattered from the wind and blowing sands.

When flying had grown tiresome and boring he had taken to the ground. Both of his boots were worn down to the point that some of his toes were popping out of the front. Using shredded pieces of his tunic and cloak, he had wrapped the cloth around the boots and tied them tight, ensuring that no sand got inside.

Inside, he had reached a sense of numbness that allowed for self analyzing. At first he had ran because he was too ashamed and too hurt to come to grips on what he had done. The pain wore off, and he realized that it truly had been an accident, albeit a terrible one.

However, that did not soften the feeling of incompetence that he suffered. With nothing but blowing sands and his own thoughts, he had imprisoned himself, a sort of self-punishment for his mistake. He had never been a cocky person, nor had he ever been evil or sadistic. But, he had a power inside of himself, one that he could not control. Korin had been trying to teach him restraint, but that was not the correct approach.

The reason he could not control his power was nothing more than fear. Crono was a coward and he knew it. The reason he had slipped up in battle was because he feared losing and feared tapping into the power that would have won him the fight. With no resolve, with nothing but cowardice, he had let it slip through his hands.

I have had the strength all along, he told himself. Just what am I afraid of?

The image of his uncle's killer flashed into his mind. The man in the silver mask; the one with a terrible power. In his mind's eye he could see the wall of spiritual energy engulfing his uncle. It had been a memory he had suppressed, but it played true, stopping him in his tracks.

Am I afraid of him?

No.

Glancing down at his callused and dust covered hands, he could see them trembling.

I'm afraid of becoming him.

A strange sensation washed over him. He felt a strange buzzing feeling at the base of his skull, and a tendril of fear enter his mind. Except, this wasn't his own fear—it was more urgent, a sense of terror. The sensation spread and within his mind he felt thoughts trickle into his own; ideas. It was something akin to tuning into a radio station. The more he concentrated on it, the closer he got to the real meaning. The ideas formulated into words, along with a voice, once that he recognized.

“Crono,” Aqua called out. “I don’t know if you can hear me, but I need your help. Please! Meet me at the monument in West City. A friend is in trouble, I can’t save him alone.”

It stopped him in his tracks. Aqua was a fellow disciple of the Cat Hermit. She had been a delightful person, a friend. He had felt her fear, it had been real. He found himself no longer caring for the tribulations of his own mind. Her fear was far more important than his own. There was no way he could abandon a friend in a time of need.

Crono had no idea how to reply to Aqua, he had not been trained in the psionic arts. Instead, he said it aloud.

“Don't worry Aqua, I'm coming.”

Within seconds he had taken to the skies, leaving behind a billowing trail of sand in his wake. He moved a speed he didn't think capable of, the many miles of desert rolling past him. It wasn't long before he found civilization again. Rivers and greenery brought with them towns, villages, and highways. Moments later, those gave way to busting suburbs and industrialization. The spires and domes of West City filled the horizon.

Although he had no idea where the monument was, he didn't need to. Reaching out, he found Aqua's spiritual energy and locked onto it. He came stop, hovering above the small park where a sort of protest had been arranged. There were dozens of people gathered around a stone monument, with words printed on it that he could not read from his altitude.

A man had just gotten done giving a long winded speech. Crono spotted Aqua standing at the edge of the gathering. He let himself drop, his cloak fluttering in the air. With a gentle grace he set down next to her, pulling back his hood.

“Hello Aqua. So, which one is your friend?” he asked. “The guy tied up there? Looks more like a mannequin to me.”

WC: 1212

Aqua had been waiting what seemed like an eternity when she felt Crono’s signature nearing. She breathed a heavy sigh of relief as his red hair came into view. He hovered slightly over the area for a moment then landed delicately next to her pulling off his cloak. His hair seemed brighter than she remembered.

“Hello Aqua. So, which one is your friend?” he asked. “The guy tied up there? Looks more like a mannequin to me.”

“He isn’t a mannequin, he’s a construct” she said with a slight defense to her voice. “His name is Unit Zero, he is my friend and he is in trouble. Those guys robot robbed me when I was taking him to the library and now they’re going to hurt him. We need to save him. I’ll explain the rest later.”

Aqua looked again for some sort of way to sneak him off the monument, but that proved to be difficult. She turned to Crono hopeful he wouldn’t deny her next request. “There are three people I need to get by need you to either distract them or fight them. Once you get their attention I can sneak around and untie him…unless you have a better idea,” she said hopeful.

************
WC: 206/3018

“He isn’t a mannequin, he’s a construct,” Aqua said vehemently. “His name is Unit Zero, he is my friend and he is in trouble. Those guys robot robbed me when I was taking him to the library and now they’re going to hurt him. We need to save him. I’ll explain the rest later.”

“You make the weirdest friends,” Crono said. It felt good to hear Aqua's voice. There was something about her that reminded him of normalcy, the lighter times in his life where he wasn't worried about gaining power and avenging the death of his uncle. “First me, then a robot.”

“There are three people I need to get by need you to either distract them or fight them. Once you get their attention I can sneak around and untie him…unless you have a better idea,” Aqua said.

“Well, if I run up there and attack him, it might make the crowd unruly. I can most definitely serve as a distraction. You can count on me Aqua, while I keep their eyes on me, you go ahead and untie your friend. Once I sense you getting away, we can meet up.”

Crono pushed through the crowd. A few citizens cursed at him, but he continued to make his way, climbing onto inner stone ring that the protester was standing on. Crono glanced him over. He had the look of a thug, covered in tattoos and earrings. The young fighter didn't normally pass judgment based on appearance, but it seemed this individual was a bit out of place among the regular denizens of West City.

On his approach, he had caught the tail end of the man's speech, enough to know what was going on. As he had been talking to Aqua, people throughout the crowd had been shouting things like “Down with the AI's," and "God doesn't recognize soulless beings.”

He didn't really understand the purpose of the protest. They were against machines that could think? Crono wondered how thinking robots could be a potential threat. Sure, they could be dangerous if left unchecked, but so could any person. There really wasn't much of a difference on that part. Then again, in people's eyes one bad apple could ruin the whole bunch.

“Just look at yourselves,” Crono said pointing at the man and then out towards the crowd. He had seen a handful of sci-fi movies so he thought up something real quick. “You're all riled up, but this looks more like an inquisition than an anti-android rally. You have this machine tied up like a witch at trial. What's next, you're going to burn it at the stake? Don't let your baser instinct take hold of you. Machines aren't evil. They're only as evil as the people that create them. AI works just like the human mind. It isn't programmed. more so than it exists to learn things on it's own. If we teach the AI's to be peaceful to humans, than that is what they will know. In fact, they're missing the animalistic qualities that drive each of us. I'd say we humans have more potential for evil than this helpless android does.”

“Abomination lover!” a man called out from the crowd.

A shoe sailed through the air at Crono. He reached up and grabbed it out of the air, looking at it cock-eyed.

“Really? Who throws a shoe!”

Come on Aqua, hurry up. They're going to start getting violent soon. I don't want to hurt these people.

WC: 550
TWC: 1,762

“DEATH TO THE MACHINES!!!! DEATH TO ARTIFICIALITY!!!! DEATH TO ALL CONSTRU...”
The leader stopped noticing the commotion caused by an opposing idea.

<Aw come on this was supposed to be an easy one mill a person attracted, it said nothing on a debate or nay says GOD!!! this was to go so smoothy. We should have done this indoors but we would not get paid for it . Ah HELL!!! This is all bull anyway so may as well milk it.>

“You speak out against the purity of life?!! the sanctity of humanity?!! Fear not my friends he will convert or he shall die with imitation of life allies. Let us warranting that we need not rely on the turtle hermit to stop the forces of evil and artificiality. United there is no evil we can not stomp out. But fret not my fellow pure humans the loyal guardians of organic sanctity are here to reeducate and punish the slime who sees these soulless automation as our equals.” The leader declared with purest level conviction.

<but man this boy can act If I did not know better I could see this boy as an offline robot. Ha if I can get a sort of sequel to this for the big screen he could definitely make it in the sci fi robot roles > the man thought.

The gangs other members charged out infiltrating the crowd and separating them so that all 26 soldiers with electrically charged riot batons

“See we need nothing more then..” a bucket of water fell over the speakers head “HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!”

<I am not sure why but I suspect that boys involved and I am going to beat him within an inch of his scrawny life and choke out the rest with my chain!> he thought.

Walking down to the man to address this matter personally.

“You three assure no one gets this boy off the monument, you in the center keep your eyes on this front approach , you on the right you cover the back and you on the left circle keeping an eye on anything, this man unlikely came alone,anyone sympathizing with this kids aid make them regret they where ever born.” the man said walking away to face the man with his crew.

388

The buzzing sound of stun batons indicated to Crono that things were getting a bit out of hand. It was a very strange situation and seemed far more organized than he had imagined. Upon arrival it appeared to be a crazed man with a robot tied up, screaming about how bad machines were. But, he was not alone, he had security. It was very fishy.

With the spiritual power contained in Crono, he could deal a lot of damage. If he had a cruel heart, he could have even leveled an entire city. But, that was not his intention, nor was it his purpose. Despite the capabilities of his power, Crono would no longer fear it.

He had what it took to utilize it, but within reason. All he would need is a non-lethal pulse, enough to knock over the crowd. It might cause a few people to bump their heads and elbows, but he doubted anyone would die as a result of it. Aqua was probably the only person within the crowd who would be able to withstand it. To her, he imagined it would feel like a strong gust of wind, nothing more.

The crimson haired teen put both of his hands together, flat, bringing the close to his chest. Closing both eyes he began to draw upon his spiritual energy, letting it flow through him. It was like opening a dam, the power wanted to gush out. Before he had thought that he needed to contain it, but his mindset was different now. No, he would slow the stream with nothing more than his will.

A brilliant crimson aura flared up around his form, crackling as it rose up. The pressure of his spiritual energy picked up the scattered debris, like foam cups, wrappers, and stray pieces of newspaper. The fluttered around the park.

Three... two... one...

A pulse resonated from Crono. It was but a thread of his true power, but he saw the crowd slammed by it. It looked like a game of human dominoes as they all fell onto the their backs and sides. Nearby trees were stripped of their leaves, and the smaller plants flattened themselves to the ground.

Spinning around to face the monument, Crono saw the ropes fall to the feet of the android. Being so heavy, it didn't move, but instead started to slide. Crono caught him in his arms and lifted him up, slinging him over his shoulder.

He's remarkably light for a being made of metal, Crono thought as he took to the skies, following after Aqua. They glided down on the rooftop of a nearby deli. Crono leaned the android against an old chimney and looked at his female companion.

“That was a close one,” Crono said. “Those guys meant business, that's for sure.”

He ran his hand over the android, searching for any sort of button or switch, looking like a cop doing a pat down.

“Uh, how do you activate this thing?”

WC: 501
TWC: 2,263

As Crono pushed his way through the thick crowd, making himself more than noticed, Aqua slunk around the back to the large stone structure. Crono’s voice broke the man’s speech. “Just look at yourselves,” Crono said pointing at the biker and then out towards the crowd entering a long winded but albeit interesting speech. Aqua found herself listening.

“Abomination lover!” a man called out from the crowd.

Aqua looked up to see Crono reach up and grab a large show out of the air. “Really? Who throws a shoe!” Crono’s irritation seemed to be rising as well.

“Focus, Aqua,” she chided herself for losing concentration. She looked towards Zero and noticed she had been spotted by several of the guardians. They began to circle her with venomous sneers.

“Where ya going sweetheart,” the leader of the three asked with a hiss. He had a crowbar in hand and tapped it against his palm.

Aqua tried to formulate a plan in her head to disarm the man. The problem was she couldn’t think of a way to do it without hurting him and possibly causing attention. It was then the next upcoming seconds flashed before her eyes. Her face broke into a broad smile as she placed her hands behind her head as if assuming the arrested position.

“What the hell is she doing,” one of the bikers said in confusion.

Aqua sounded the countdown quietly. “Three, two, one….. heads up guys,” Aqua said as she launched to the ground. The small pulse of kinetic energy hit the men and sent them backwards. To Aqua, it merely felt like the thump of a drum at a concert, the kind that seems like a deeper heartbeat.

Jumping to her feet, Aqua ran to the monument and began to work furiously at the knotted construct. She could feel the confusion from the crown growing into aggression at the stun. Unfortunately she just couldn’t get the damn thing undone. She closed her eyes and summoned her keyblade. With a quick swipe the ropes fell away, sliced clean like a knife through butter.

Zero slumped towards the ground, but before she could make a move Crono was there to catch him. Noticing a few gasps from onlookers Aqua turned to see the hood that was once protecting his face had fallen backwards. She rushed to hide the construct once more.

“I think it’s time to leave,” Aqua said taking to the sky. She looked behind every so often to make sure her comrades weren’t stolen again. She was unsure where to go from here so she decided to stop on the roof of Diabella’s, the deli, and take a moment to think.

Crono landed gently behind her “That was a close one,” he said. “Those guys meant business, that's for sure.”

“Yeah, they did. I have no clue why they wanted Zero though,” she said feeling like something wasn’t right.

She watched as he ran his hand over Zero, searching for something. He finally looked up at her with a confused expression before speaking. “Uh, how do you activate this thing?”

Aqua walked over to Zero with a frown on her face. “I don’t know. I found him in the water when I was jogging. He said something about the salt water being bad for his system, but he could self-restore.” She walked around rubbing her temples to quell the headache from her foresight.

She let out a sigh. “It’s only his first day active. I don’t know anything about electronics, but it didn’t take this long the last time to repair. Maybe you know someone who could help? We can take him to my place on Long-Pond for now to keep him safe, I’ll lead the way.” Making sure they weren’t being followed, Aqua lead Crono further towards the outskirts of the city.

Long-Pond was named for the body of water that stretched down the road, though Aqua thought it resembled a canal more than a pond. Her apartment was more a small one story house. Most of the rooms were decorated with paintings splashed here and there for color, many of them were her own art work.

She walked into the soft blue living room and pointed to the beige couch. “You can set him here.” She went into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Not to her surprise it was stocked full. Her mom always had a way of looking out for her when she needed it most. She made a mental note to call this weekend.

Aqua grabbed two waters and headed to the living room yet again. She handed one to Crono, and then opened hers to take a long swig. After a moment she walked closer and gave Crono a hug. “Thank you, for coming to help me. We’ve missed you at the tower,” she said with a smile. After a moment she pulled away. “I don’t know how to tell you this, but you reek,” she said with a laugh. “Why don’t you take a shower then we can figure out who to call.”

She pointed towards a small hallway, “First door on the left.” Once she heard the water running she settled on the couch and rested her eyes. All the while she listened for the slightest movement or sound in Zero. She hoped he would be okay, and she worried for him once he woke up.

Unable to relax, Aqua let out a heavy sigh and rose from the couch. She made her way to the kitchen to busy herself. She knew it had been a while since Crono had a decent meal. Pulling a carton of eggs and bacon from the fridge, she made a small stop to the closet to retrieve some potatoes. Aqua set to work frying and scrambling away. The rich aromas quickly filled the house.

Just as the water had shut off she had placed the last of the plates on the table. “I hope you’re hungry,” she called. “I made breakfast burritos.

******************************
WC: 1002/ 4,020

The door to Aqua's apartment opened and Crono stepped in, still hauling Zero on his shoulder. It was dim inside and she quickly turned on the lights. It was a cozy looking place with walls covered in artwork. During his youth, Crono had lived in a small house out in the country. The modern feeling of her place different than he was used to, but he felt the soft blues and grays that made up the apartment reflected Aqua's easy going nature.

“You can set him here,” Aqua said.

Crono set Zero down on a beige leather couch next to a set of double windows. They were opened, letting in a cool cross breeze. West City had a tendency to get rather hot during the summer, and while the apartment most likely had air conditioning, sometimes it was nice to have fresh air.

Crono took the bottled water that Aqua offered to him. He cracked it open and took a long drink. His lips thanked him as they were quenched. The desert had a way of sapping liquid from every pore and surface of the body. He hadn't realized how thirsty he was until half of the bottle was gone.

Aqua's arms wrapped around Crono and he froze. Butterflies made quick laps around his stomach. While his mind was reeling at the contact, he knew that he had to react or else she would feel like he didn't want her close. Gently, he wrapped his arms around her in return.

“Thank you, for coming to help me. We’ve missed you at the tower,” she said with a smile.

“I am sorry for leaving all of sudden. I'm sure Master Korin told you what happened. I just couldn't live with the shame for so long. But, I think I'm okay now. It was an accident, and so long as I control my power, nothing like that will happen ever again,” Crono said and gave her a confident smile.

“I don’t know how to tell you this, but you reek,” she said with a laugh. “Why don’t you take a shower then we can figure out who to call.”

Crono had been desensitized to his own body odor long ago when he had spent weeks and months in the wilderness, training with his uncle. He didn't doubt her claim one bit.

“I had this friend, back home, who was very good with computers and the likes. She took apart a Capsule Corp robot once and modified it. She might have some better insight on how we can get your friend going,” Crono said.


The shower was very refreshing. The dirt and grime that washed off was like the negative emotions he had been feeling for so long, they all went down the drain. His spirits were higher than they had been in months. He felt both hope and confidence that he could do what was necessary but remain himself.

After patting himself dry with a towel, he turned his attention to his atrocious clothing. His tunic, pants and boots were all tattered and covered in encrusted sand. He wished he had a spare set of clothes to wear, but he didn't. Instead, he beat his shirt and pants out over the tub with the water running, sheets of sand and dust sprinkled into the water. Using an old looking washcloth, he scrubbed his boots clean.

Donning the garments once again, he opened the bathroom door and was hit by the aroma of cooking food.

“I hope you’re hungry,” Aqua called. “I made breakfast burritos.”

Crono gave his stomach a pat. “Am I ever!”

He spotted a cordless phone docked on the wall and grabbed it. For a long minute he froze, trying to remember the number. It had been months, if not years, since he had used a phone. His childhood even seemed fuzzy at this point. But, he knew Lucca would help him—even if she was angry that he had lost contact for so long.

The first number he dialed was incorrect. He got some old guy who kept saying “What?” over and over again. Giving up, he hung up and tried again. A soft female voice answered the call, and he immediately recognized it.

Bingo!

“Hello?”

“Hey Lucca, it's Crono.”

“C-CRONO! You disappeared one day, no warning at all. I hear from your Mother that you've gone off to do martial arts training. You know, you could have picked up a phone, or stopped by and said 'See ya later Lucca, I'm dropping off of the face of the Earth!'”

“I-I'm really sorry. I didn't have time to say goodbye to anyone but Mom. My uncle showed up in the middle of the night. I didn't even get to pack my bags.”

“Well shit,” Lucca said and sighed. “I've missed you kid. How is everything going?”

“It's going, that's for sure. Listen, I need your help Lucca, badly.”

“Ah, call me up because you want something. I see how it goes.”

“I'm really sorry. I promise I won't lose touch with you again. Aqua has a robot friend that we can't get running again. You're the only one I know of who can help us with this kind of stuff.”

“Robot friend? Aqua—wait a second. That sounds like a a girl's name. Did you get yourself a girlfriend, huh Crono?”

“Ah—uh-s-she is not my girlfriend,” Crono said, and could feel his cheeks heating up.

Lucca stifled back laughter. “All right stammering Steve, where are you?”

Crono gave her directions to Aqua's house.

“All the way in West City? Well, if I take dad's air cruiser It might take me an hour or so.”

“I really appreciate it.”

“Just be grateful that it's a robot you need help with,” she said playfully and hung up.

Aqua and Crono ate burritos together, watching some strange game show on the television. Crono quickly found himself laughing at the wild antics on display. In the show, a group of teens were in a library pulling silly pranks while not trying to laugh too hard or make too much noise. Each time they completed a prank with silence, they earned money. He wondered how fun it would be to be on such a show.

After three burritos Crono slumped into the living room chair. Both of his eyes felt heavy with tiredness, but he couldn't fall asleep, not yet, as Lucca was on her way.

About an hour or so later, he heard a low rumble as Lucca's flier set down on the roof. Within a minute or so, she was knocking on the apartment door. Crono rose to greet her, opening it up. Lucca was a very short woman. She had violet colored hair, thick glasses, and wore a leather hat with all sorts of strange ocular devices on it. She carried with her a bag of tools, instead of a purse, and wore a pair of greasy coveralls.

“Crono! Whoa—you look beefy, and dusty as hell? What, did you climb out of a sand dune?”

“You could say that, come on in.”

Upon entering the living room Crono pointed at Aqua. “This is Aqua, we train together under Master Korin and she's a good friend.”

Lucca gave a nonchalant wave. “Nice to meet you Aqua. You look like a darling, way too good for Crono—that's for sure. This apartment is so beautiful too--I love the artwork.'

“Um—that is Aqua's friend, Zero. He's the machine," Crono said, pointing to the couch.

Lucca approached the android and knelt before the couch. Crono could see the curiosity evident in her hazel eyes. She adjusted her glasses and got to work peeling back layers of rags that covered him. She unveiled his humanoid face, which startled Crono at its likeness to a real person. Within moments she was at work, opening panels, fiddling with wires and computer chips.

“Jeez,” she said. “Looks like he took some sort of electric surge. If it weren't for all these security features built in, his CPU would have fried like an egg. This is advance machinery, like nothing I've ever seen before. Way beyond my level, that's for sure. But, I think I can get him up and running again.”

Crono slumped back into the chair, fighting sleep as she worked. About twenty minutes later Lucca rose to her feet.

“There!” she said as she activated Zero. “Good afternoon Zero.”

Crono stood up, not sure what to say, so he copied Lucca. “Uh-good afternoon Zero?”

WC: 1,437
TWC: 3,700

Cycles of data entered the sight of the synthetic human the data of his vision. The sights his sensors picked up where saved to his mind specificity the humans hate for machines, the energy that flashed knocking them out, and the word soulless . All these things recorded to his mind.

Pulses of energy though his body increasing in the regularity control now returning to his systems mending systems vital to functionality.


“Functionality returning. System check in progress. Physical movement returned no abnormalities detected in 'nerve' system. Mental processes returning to balanced state pre spike.” A report of sorts escaped the humanoid a pure robotic tone devoid of any humanity.

After a blink the construct seemed to return to normal “All is clear, refreshing and returning control to AI” the machine said voice traveling back to a humanoid youth.

The android reset himself then turned to the two who had greeted him.

“Good afternoon to you both as well, unknown organics.” the machine said likely forgetting hearing the names during the repair process.

Zero turned to Crono seeing Aqua near by “You must be an ally to Aqua.” The construct hypothesized aloud before grinning in a befitting to the situation happy way to be in the presence of allies. “Pleased to meet you, sir.”

Zero then turned his attention to the female that operated on him. Zero's attention was drew to her equipment making him aware of the likelihood she fixed him.

Zero processed potential danger she possessed vs her actions and found if she wanted to destroy him she had about the largest window of opportunity to do so thus showing a position of friendly.

Zero gave a large and grateful smile his data deemed appropriate for the situation. “Thank you for repairing me.” He said with a kind voice timid and gentle in tone.

Zero then directed his attention to the room it looked well built and neatly decorated to the mechanical being though the new to existence being had little more opinion outside form and functionality.

“This is a nice structure. What is this place and what is its function? “ The android inquired moving to a sitting position.

Zero had plenty more to ask but his mind had prioritized current events and position. At the time those where the only questions linked exclusively to at the time “now”.

Small sounds of his processes exited him trying to take the answers and sensory data in.

much of the temporary memory of what happened in this area, what was said, and directions to it were lost. Zeros mind however prioritized learning all it could now and proceed with existing data that has his processors searching for nonexistent data.


Back at the site of the scene of previous commotion

A single man stood among the koed.

“Hm seems not all humans hate machines, well at least that is useful data for future plans, capture all evidence in the area the area and ship these lots to the labs for study, drop this wannabe actor in acid until he is desolated completely assign, his gang for cybernetic remodeling, its time to add to our manpower. It seems we may have more then Roshi these days to be concerned with. Place monitoring chips in these masses brains and put control mechanisms to go with it so if we are short handed we can draft this mob for any thing we wish.” The man ordered shadowy figures that complied gathering the koed into a cloaked ship to be taken to the labs.

“Well well well, seems this is going to be amusing for me, I was starting to worry the only fun I would have is killing a senile old fool but it seems there are more organics for artificial consciousness, seems to get the war we want we must get our hands dirty. How very exciting.” the man said before vanishing into the invisible craft.

“So they have returned. It has begun.” A voice in the shadows said with sadistic joy.

681

“I hope you’re hungry,” Aqua said motioning to the miniature feast on the table.

“Am I ever,” Crono exclaimed his eyes wide with delight. Before he made his way to the table he spotted the phone. Making himself right at home he walked over and dialed what Aqua thought to be the number of his friend.

Much to her amusement the number he dialed was not the right one. She laughed nearly to the point of tears as Crono held the phone from his ear wincing, while the man on the other end screamed “WHAT,” repeatedly.

After a moment of recuperating, and some thought from Crono, he appeared to dial the right number. “Hey Lucca, it's Crono.”

Aqua heard a small shriek and what sounded like “C-CRONO!” The femenin voice on the other end was then untranslatable. Judging from the distinct chatter she guessed he was getting a lecture. She wondered who this Lucca was.

“I-I'm really sorry.” Crono stammered before asking for help. “I promise I won't lose touch with you again. Aqua has a robot friend that we can't get running again. You're the only one I know of who can help us with this kind of stuff.”

There was a moment of silence and some more mutters. Suddenly Crono’s face reddened to nearly match his hair. Aqua’s interest peaked.“Ah—uh-s-she is not my girlfriend.”

Averting her gaze, Aqua pretended to watch t.v., thankful at this point her back was towards him. She had never given her feelings towards Crono much thought, having hardly gotten to know the spirited teen before his departure, but one thing was certain. She was much happier when he was around. Of course never having a boyfriend, never having friends for that matter, made her skeptical that someone would ever view her as anywhere other than in the “friend zone”.

Aqua could tell the conversation was coming to an end and made her way back to the dinner table and smiled when Crono finally joined her. Having a meal with him was refreshing. Aqua felt relaxed for the first time all day as they stuffed their faces and laughed while watching Silent Library.

After several burritos she followed Crono as he collapsed into the living room chair. She took the couch next to it and began to feel the familiar lethargic post meal coma coming on. Unable to keep her eyes opened any longer, Aqua dozed off.

It wasn’t until a firm knocking echoed through the apartment, that Aqua awoke. She stretched and yawned as Crono rose to greet their guest known as Lucca. She was a short girl, even shorter than Aqua, with bright violet hair. She was dressed in greasy overalls, her large glasses and strange hat with all sorts of devices on it made her look like a mad scientist.

“Crono! Whoa—you look beefy,” Lucca said squeezing his bicept. “and dusty as hell… What, did you climb out of a sand dune?”

“You could say that,” he replied modestly. “Come on in.” Aqua was caught off guard when he motioned towards her. “This is Aqua, we train together under Master Korin and she's a good friend.”

Friend

Much to her surprise the word bothered her more than it ought to. Was this what jealously felt like?

Lucca gave a nonchalant wave. “Nice to meet you Aqua. You look like a darling, way too good for Crono—that's for sure. This apartment is so beautiful too--I love the artwork.”

Aqua gace a grin and ran her hands through her hair. “Oh, we’re not….” The sentence trailed off as her face reddened. “Thanks,” she said sheepishly “The paintings are my own. I would love to make you one as a thank you for your help.”

“Um—that is Aqua's friend, Zero. He's the machine," Crono said, pointing to the couch.

Lucca took no time diving into her bag of tools and within moments Zero was opened and his wires were exposed. It was like watching a surgery, but mechanical of course. Aqua was amazed by the knowledge Lucca possessed of technology.

“Jeez,” Lucca said. “Looks like he took some sort of electric surge. If it weren't for all these security features built in, his CPU would have fried like an egg.” It all sounded like another language to Aqua, but she smiled and nodded politely. “There!” she said after a while, as Aqua recognized that familiar whirring sound. “Good afternoon Zero.”

Crono stood up, “Uh-good afternoon Zero?”

“Oh wow, you did it!” Aqua had hardly ever felt such excitement and relief at the same time.

“Functionality returning. System check in progress,” Zero said in his robotic tone. After a moment of looking around the room he greeted his companions. “Good afternoon to you both as well, unknown organics. You must be an ally to Aqua.” His face broke into a humanistic grin. “Pleased to meet you, sir.”

“Zero, this is my good friend Crono. He helped me save you from those men. And this,” she said pointing to Lucca, “This is Crono’s friend Lucca. She was the one who fixed you.”

“Thank you for repairing me.” He said gently before inspecting the room once more. “This is a nice structure. What is this place and what is its function,” Zero said sitting up.

“Oh this? You’re in my apartment. It’s like a smaller version of a house, a shelter, where humans reside. This room is called the living room. It’s where we come to relax.” She felt awkward giving a lesson on humans in front of her friends, but making sure Zero was comfortable was her top priority.

“We brought you back here because it was the only safe place we could think of,” she said furrowing her eyebrows with concern. “I’m really sorry those men hurt you. Did you happen to hear what they wanted?” She hoped he might have answers.
*********************************************
WC:980/5,000

Zero processed all that was told to him,

<apartment=house=shelter I require only enough space to go offline and keeping elements out I must find out more about humans and sustaining organic function. Heck my own functions elude me and yet my library of words seems to be rather eloquently developed. Then again I have yet to meet a one day old human so perhaps humans abstain from exposing the full development of there vocabulary to fit in.. One may know the universe but what use is it if that knowledge is incommunicable. Could my logic centers be using similar reasoning for keeping my dialog so close to mainstream English humanity? With these introspection protocols will I ever know if I have acquired self? Will it be self or just experienced simulation? What will happen when my AI is unlocked and full activation is squired? With humans behaving that way should I show individualistic thought when I can? With the race that created me protesting artificial intelligence would it be right for me to defy them by attaining its purest form if it exists? > So many thoughts entered the constructs CPU that it started to generate heat and making sounds indicating dangerous levels of heat causing the mental processes to be cut mid steam and coolant to disperse through his nostrils and where his ribcage would be .

Zero then turned attentive to Aqua seeing her face “What is wrong? Scans of your mind show negative waves. Why?” the humanoid robot ran his logic engines on the questions for possible answers cross referencing his database “Did you “worry” about me?”

Zero turned to the organic dedicating mental processes to her question.


“Before he took me to the statue he was pacing in a room with me and my optics recorded him with a wad of small pieces of paper he seemed to be “excited” holding as well as a pocket communication device he called a “cell” odd as my data says that cells are biological in nature but he held clearly a machine,also a watch. He paced impatiently as if waiting for something mumbling that this would be his big break. He spoke to me as if he disbelieved I was a machine it seemed he took me as an “actor” pretending to be a robot, he never moved my hood never even touching it. Someone communicated with him briefly on the cell device before he had me transported me to the scene you rescued me from.” Zero informed Aqua.



“My receptive sensors where mostly deactivated by the sudden surge I did not “feel” a thing if that is of any comfort.” he said with a timid grin attempting to put her mind at ease

“Please entertain a few of my questions, Aqua. Why where people cheering for my peril?What is a soul? What is God? Why where humans calling for the suffering of what they create? Why did they act with violence when Crono, a fellow human spoke in defense of robots?” Zero asked with a cute curious voice meant to further reassure all was well and lull an answer from.

Once he got his answers he opened his mouth to speak.

<Social expansion and multiple viewpoints available, interact with others to improvable perceptions.>

“Thank you Aqua.” Zero said before walking to Crono.

“Hello Crono pleased to formally meet you, I have some questions I request you to answer, please.” Zero said looking with eyes that seldom blank.

“Why did you face down your own kind to save me?I hope not to sound ungrateful as you have enabled me the opportunity to continue my mission to learn and establish a self. Its just I am a machine and you faced your own fellow lifeforms to save me. Also I have a hypothesis that I wish to share. I am working on registering interaction as a primary way to establish self through learning from beings with self. My data shows honesty gets the better reaction and my always wherein a hood may invite disbelief to what I am. I also have come upon projections of high positive reactions from organic to inorganic relationships with companion model androids, so what if I offer myself as a free companion android and get a shelter of my own so that many organics can visit and with interactions with many organics I can establish a vast network of differing personality types and other thinking entity centered data to accelerate my self development, Is this a sound strategy?” Zero asked before turning to Lucca

“Lucca pleased to formally meet you as well. If it is not too much trouble could you assist me by providing me a coat of synthetic flesh for the back of my head and hair to allow me to fit in without this conspicuous attire? “ Zero requested in a pleasant tone.


826

“We brought you back here because it was the only safe place we could think of,” she said furrowing her eyebrows with concern. “I’m really sorry those men hurt you. Did you happen to hear what they wanted?” She hoped he might have answers.

Aqua didn’t notice that while she went off on her tangent Zero seemed to be processing overtime. The familiar hiss of his cooling system made her even more concerned. Oh jeez, I am probably going to give him a system overload, she thought, her face etching even more with worry. She closed her eyes and brought her hands to her temples to try and massage out the oncoming migraine. When she opened them she jumped back in slight shock.

Zero was looming over her, his face so close that if he were an organic being she would feel his breath on her face. She looked into his silver eyes for a moment, waiting for his reaction. She found her self envious of their beauty, mechanical or not.

“What is wrong? Scans of your mind show negative waves. Why?” Zero asked. “Did you “worry” about me?”

Aqua let out a sigh. “Yes I did worry about you. I felt like if I hadn’t run off in my haste that you would have never been damaged. Friends worry about each other when something bad happens to them. You just can’t help but care for someone’s safety. The whole time I was wondering what was happening to you.”

Zero answered without skipping a beat. He went into a lengthy story about the man being excited about small wads of paper and talking on a cell, which he thought to be odd because to him cells were a biological piece of material. His recollection of his kidnapper is what shocked Aqua the most. He was apparently an actor. Aqua mulled it over before deciding to speak.

“The paper you’re speaking of, if it was green, it was money. It’s our form of currency. We trade it for things we would like to obtain. As far as the device he was talking into, it is known as a cellular device. We shorten the name to cell phone. I can understand your confusion.” She gave Zero a half-hearted, yet genuine smile. She was becoming tired from lack of sleep and stress.

“My receptive sensors where mostly deactivated by the sudden surge I did not “feel” a thing if that is of any comfort.” he said with a timid grin attempting to put her mind at ease

“It does a little. I can’t imagine how scared I would be if it were me,” she said thoughtful.

His voice broke her concentration after a few moments. “Please entertain a few of my questions, Aqua.”

“Sure thing, Zero,” she said, wondering where this talk was heading.

“Why where people cheering for my peril? What is a soul? What is God? Why where humans calling for the suffering of what they create? Why did they act with violence when Crono, a fellow human spoke in defense of robots?” Zero asked with a cute curious voice.

Such serious questions caught her off guard. How do you explain hatred to something so pure? Though his tone was light and curious, she knew this was something to be approached delicately.

Much like a parent sitting a child down for a serious talk, she took a seat and faced Zero. “There are some people who believe constructs and most forms of technology are not good. Yes we created it, but many people believe that we are creating something more intelligent than we are. It frightens them, and they fear one day the technology that has served us will inevitably turn its back on us and destroy us. We tend to fear what we can no longer control, or become dependent on. That is also why they were violent to Crono. They believe people who support technology are supporting the downfall of civilization.”

She looked up at Zero making sure she had not given him too much to process and began to speak again when she knew he was ready. What is a soul? What is God? These were questions she had no answer to because they were things she had never seen before.

“It’s hard to describe something you’ve never seen,” Aqua said starting the new subject. “God is just something you either believe in or you don’t. The best way I can think of to describe him is that he is our creator. Souls are like the software that run and makes us who we are. Our software is programmed for us to do good, but some of us choose to override it and be bad. I hope that is somewhat understandable,” she said biting her lip nervously.

“Thank you Aqua.” Zero said before walking to Crono.

She wasn’t sure if Crono had ever encountered a construct before, but she assumed growing up with Lucca he would be well prepared for whatever Zero may ask. She took a long sip from a bottle of water as she listened to their conversation. She thought it was going well until Zero proposed a new idea.

“I also have come upon projections of high positive reactions from organic to inorganic relationships with companion model androids.” He said matter of factly. “So what if I offer myself as a free companion android and get a shelter of my own so that many organics can visit and with interactions with many organics I can establish a vast network of differing personality types and other thinking entity centered data to accelerate my self development, Is this a sound strategy?” Zero asked.

In the middle of another sip she choked on her water. It burned going down her throat, but she was sure it was not as intense as the burning red she felt creeping up her face as her stunned expression met Crono’s.

Lucca on the other hand was roiling with laughter. “Oh boy,” she said. “This is going to be good.”

****************************************
WC: 1,010/6,010