QUICKISH: Almost Human PART 3

Okay everyone, I hope this works. I'm going to try the scheduled posting tool and see if this posts on it own. I'm a touch busy today, so I'm relying on you Blogger. *points finger* 

If you are reading this, then that means I have been successful! Voila! Aren't you proud of me? :D Alrighty, this is the last segment of this story and I hope you like reading it as much as I liked writing it. This story was something very different for me and I had a blast! So thanks for all the love. I'll be posting the full thing to My Stories sometime today with a blurb and links for you to enjoy.  Thanks guys! Have a good day and stay cool. Damn, is it hot already. Phew. Haha. Ta ta!

XOXO NIGHT TEMPEST

ALMOST HUMAN (PART 3)

Amid the stars of space, Pin watched the station come into view. A round ring above the stormy clouds of the Fray, the station was enormous, housing millions of beings from different species. Cities, government departments, homes, schools—he and Jemma would be lost amongst it all. Dread built in his chest. Holding onto Jemma’s resting form, his eyes twitched back and forth out the window.

They were coming to a dock of some sort outside the station, a large divide in which hundreds of crafts zoomed in and out at many different levels. A beep sounded inside the cab, Five Star slowed down as a large barrier shot down to block them from entering.

Two large guards dressed in black—with shielded helmets—stood to either side of the free-floating entrance, their weapons very visible.

“Now entering City North, please scan your correct proof of registration.” A female droid’s voice came over the craft’s speakers.

Scarlett made a noise, rolling his eyes before fetching a card from the dash. He swiped it through a scanner in the middle console. The windshield flickered to life—a droid appeared scanning their information before the window shield turned green.

The droid wavered in and out. “Are you carrying any foreign cargo on your craft, 61349-JL?”

“No, we’re not. Get on with it,” Five Star huffed. “Like we would tell you anyway you bag of bolts.”

Scarlett looked around nervously, the guards leaning forward with their rifles at the ready.

“I am sorry, 61349-JL. Did you wish to make an inquiry? If so, please press the red button located on your console for the help desk.”

“No, we’re just fine here!” The top hatted trader laughed with shady eyes. The guards took a step closer.

“Welcome back to City North, number 61349-JL. Please drive within city standards and have a happy holiday.”

“Thanks ever so much, doll face,” Scarlett quipped, giving a cheeky smile to the guard out the window with a little wave.

The barrier lifted. Five Star put a foot on the accelerator—leaving behind two yelling guards in a haze of smoke. The craft blended into an interlocking system of free floating highways and high rise buildings.

“Welcome to City North, Pin.” Scarlett turned around and smiled. “Or should I say, welcome home.”

His face was a mask of evil. Pin shuddered, clutching Jemma to his chest. The craft dipped off at an exit, his stomach dropping again. Oh, Lawry he frowned. I am so sorry. I should have tried harder, should have listened better. But no amount of guilt could save him from these men. What would they do now?

Five Star pressed a button above him, entering a number into the touch board that now covered half the windshield. A few seconds later an obese man with a shock of bright yellow hair and glasses frowned back at the drivers.

“What is it now, you idiots? If you’re being chased by the Alliance, count me the hell out. You still owe me 5,000 Unis from the last time I bailed your worthless asses out.” The man’s voice vibrated around his body, deep and scratchy, not jolly like the overweight man Pin had seen in the holiday media.

“Now, now boss man. We haven’t forgotten your kindness. Have we Scar?”

“Nah, we actually have a proposition for you, something that will fetch a hell of lot more than 5,000.”

The boss sat back with beady eyes narrowed behind his shiny glasses. “I’m listening.”

“Come on up here, Pin.” Five Star cocked his head in invitation.

With no other place to hide, Pin scooted forward until the man wavering on the screen sat forward with a curl lipped smile.

“Well hello there, gorgeous.” He bellowed a laugh. “Well done, boys. What do you want for him?”

Pin stayed quiet. He was too frightened to say anything. He knew that he had to protect his Jemma from the bad men, so he did nothing to provoke them.

“We’ll discuss price when we get there, but count on our debt being erased and a commission of his wages on top of our finder’s fee.” Five Star shrugged.

“No more than 10 percent commission of what he earns and you have a deal.” The boss grinned as the drivers looked at each with twin smiles.

“Deal,” they chorused.

Pin scooted back until he hit the wall of the craft. He could feel Squish in his bag to his side, a small consolation for his troubles. His wages? Finder’s fee? Commission? What did this mean? Pin tried to let loose that emotion again, but he couldn’t figure out what he was supposed to do. Instead he buried his face in Jemma’s hair and clung to the tiny Pigme for comfort during his overwhelming confusion and pain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aurora ran inside, slamming the door and kicking off her heels.  Running as fast as her bare feet could carry her, she headed for the basement. She had to save Pin. He was too important. He meant too much to be lost to the world that would be cruel to his innocence, to his growing heart.

“Lawry!” She yelled as she passed the men in the hallway.

Immediately sensing she was onto something, the Chief followed with Otis hot on his heels.

The basement door flew open, Aurora taking two steps down at a time. Her body was aching, her skin shimmering back to her natural petal pink with the turmoil of her emotions. Halting with a gasp in front of Lawry’s mainframe station, she turned to the men—not even trying to hide her original blue gaze from Otis.

“Aurora, your eyes, your skin…” Otis took a step forward.

“Aurora,” Lawry whispered in horror. The Naja was in trouble, her true identity coming forth.

“I can’t control it any more. My emotions are too much to hold it back for much longer. I am sorry to put more stress on you, Lawry. This form is making me…” She bent over coughing, gasping for another breath. 

“Pin needs you. Squish…” She breathed in, a tremor running through her body. She knew this would happen eventually. The coughing, the tremors, the aches—it was almost time.

“Aurora, tell me what I should do. How can I help you?” Lawry grabbed her arms, helping slide the Naja into a chair.

Her hair began to bleed to a brilliant violet, her eyes glowing blue. Aurora was losing control over her form completely.

“She is Naja,” Otis whispered. “You knew? Lawry, my Gods, a Naja in the house this whole time!”

Lawry turned to his friend. “Shut up! Would you care to alert the entire house? Help me, damn you.”

“I thought I had more time, but I’m afraid I do not.” She shuddered, her breathing slowing. “We have to find Pin, now.”

“Tell me how I do that, Aurora. Help me, so I can help you.” Lawry knelt before her.

“Squish,” she repeated.

Otis shook his head to get over his shock. There would be time for questions later. “What about Squish?”

Aurora wiped her teary eyes. “I gave him to Pin for a reason. In case something like this happened. I didn’t think this would happen exactly, but in case he wandered off. He loves that stuffed toy. He would never leave him behind.”

“What is so important about Squish?” Lawry stood confused.

“There’s a tracking chip inside of Squish,” Aurora confessed.

“Oh Gods, you blessed woman!” Lawry kissed her forehead. “Show me.

”

Turning around in her chair, Aurora took a few seconds to compose herself. Slumping over the touch pad, she pulled up the device’s program. A 3-D grid appeared. Nothing showed for a few moments. Then it happened. A red dot blinked, moving at a fast rate through one of the station’s cities.

“City North?” Otis made a face. “But that’s not where we were headed. That’s the…oh no!”

“Fucking traders!” Lawry slammed his fist down on the table. “That’s underground territory. Nothing good comes from that part of the station. Where are they headed?”

“Got off at the Hersch exit, headed for the North Strip,” Otis said. “I’ll go fire up the craft. Send back-up to the house for Chief Moore. Report this, Lawry. I mean it.”

“Of course I will. Do you think I want to work side by side with a rapist?” Lawry growled.

With a nod, Otis darted upstairs, leaving Aurora and Lawry alone. “Tell me what I can do for you, Aurora. You look…”

“Like death?” She weakly lifted her head to him. “I know, because I feel it.”

“Is it that form that was making you sick?”

“Lawry…” She coughed. “I have…I have not been completely honest with you. Actually, I have told quite a big lie.”

“What do you mean, Aurora?” He looked around, suddenly feeling very paranoid in the basement with her. Her voice was chilling, like death itself was speaking on her behalf.

She gripped the table and stood. “I am not as young as I say, among other things.”

“Women lie about their age all the time, Aurora. It’s not a big deal.” He laughed nervously. His emotions were about to go haywire.

“Not this much they don’t. I am two thousand and forty three.”

Lawry turned his slack jawed face towards her. “Two thousand! That would mean you…you knew him didn’t you?”

“Yes. Gepetto was…he was my husband.” She brushed her violet hair away from her face, the wrinkles around her eyes becoming clear. “Pin…Pin was to be ours. I could not have any of my own.”

“By the Gods,” Lawry whispered, trying to plant himself in a nearby chair.

“Did you not wonder how I knew to find his memory card in the main frame or hook him into the system at night, or even how I set up a tracking device? I designed his appearance to look like Gepetto when he was younger, but…but when he died and I could not save my husband. I could not look at Pin’s face without seeing my fallen husband. I did not know what to do.  It has been a long time since I saw inside that box.”

“This isn’t real. You are not real.” Lawry’s hands shook in his lap. He was sitting across from the person that knew Gepetto the best in life and death.

“I promised my love that before I died to this world, I would give Pin the heart that we always sought to give him. I had heard of your brilliance even on my own planet and I came to the Fray in search of you personally. Don’t you see Lawry?  Not only were you the perfect match for my Pin in more ways than one, you gave him his heart. You have fulfilled our dying wishes.”

“Aurora.” Tears came to his eyes. Not only had he been given the world’s most precious piece of history, he was being given the gift of love, from someone who had experienced so much loss. “You are dying, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” They stared at each other for a few eternal seconds.

“Then why can’t you save yourself? I thought all Naja could give life with their blood? Can’t we call your sister to us?”

“Lawry, that is a myth created by rumors that trickled down from the truth. Only in death can we bring life.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that when I die, I will give my life force to the person of my choosing.” She stood, gripping the table for support.

“How do you give your life to someone?” Lawry grabbed her shaking arms for support. How had he not noticed her frail limbs, her uneven breathing?

Her blue eyes flicked to him. “You will know soon enough.”

“But, Aurora I can find you the best of care. We can help you! Please, don’t just give up. I need you, Pin needs you!”

Her thin fingers smoothed over his cheek. “My boy, you are only scared of things you have never felt before. You don’t need me to tell you that death frightens you, that being responsible for someone you love scares you. You will make a beautiful life together, you will be happy. You will know the greatest kind of love in all the Universal. You do not need me for that. I have already known that love myself and it is time that I join him again, to rest, to be together with the man I love.”

“But, I will miss you.” His eyes wavered, the tears spilling over.

“And I will miss you.” She brought his head down to kiss his cheek.  “Now let’s go find my son.”

Gently, Lawry hugged Aurora to him. “I will make you both proud, Aurora. I promise.”

“I know. That’s why you’re the one.”

~~~~~~~~~~

A bright neon sign surrounded by obnoxious flashing red lights read Land of Toys. Two large men in tight red suits manned the door, checking in patrons for a night of fun. Five Star parked the craft out front, nodding to the men. Getting out of the craft, Pin held Jemma tight—the two fearful of their destination.

“Ah don’t look like that way! It’s gonna be loads of fun!” Scarlett laughed, clapping Pin on the back.

They were guided inside, a dark red curtain being drawn to each side before they entered the glitz of the club inside. Men in donkey masks sat around tables, hiding their identities while young men in shiny red shorts with matching suspenders danced above them. Small hats on their heads covered their eyes in the darkened room, but it didn’t hide the way their bodies moved to the beat of dark music wafting from everywhere around them.

“What is this place?” Pin whispered in fear to Jemma.

“A bad place,” she whispered back. “We have to get out of here Pin before they do something bad to you.” 

Jemma knew what the traders meant for Pin’s future. Even half in and out of consciousness in the craft, she’d heard the words wages, commissions, dances, men—they meant to sell Pin for work as a boy toy. Lawry would die if he knew where they were, what was about to happen. She had to get them out of here, but she feared for Pin’s fragile state, his confusion. Would he understand what this meant? Would he let them touch him just to stay alive? Then again, he wasn’t alive really, but still he was a person to their tiny family. They had to get out.

“You here for Mr. Candlewick?” A hulking man in a red suit and dark shades approached their group.

“Ah Romeo! Just the man we’re looking for.” Five Star grinned, pushing Pin forth. “We got his merch right here, you see. Can’t be kept waiting now can we?”

“Whatever you punks. Don’t test me, merch or no merch, I’ll throw you on your asses if you get lippy with me. You understand?”

“Aw Romeo, baby! Don’t be that way. You know you missed us terribly,” Scarlett pouted.

“I miss you about as much as I miss my tramp of an ex-wife. Come on, you’re interrupting the entertainment.” Romeo turned, guiding them through the club.

Soon enough, Pin found himself in front of a red door covered in glitter, sparkling here and there from the emergency lights above them. Opening the door, Romeo stepped aside, letting them through.

“Play nice or you know what happens. Remember last time, Scarlett, baby?” Romeo asked sarcastically.

Sticking his tongue out, Scarlett slipped past, pulling Pin behind him.

The door shut and Pin stared into the beady eyes of the man from the windshield touch board. The fat man rose from his chair with a squeak, his breathing heavy like he couldn’t breathe at all. His grubby hand ran over Pin’s arm, a smile on his face.

“I’ll give you twenty thousand and ten percent of his wages. Take it or leave it.” Candlewick grunted as Pin pulled away. “And what the hell is this Pigme? You didn’t say nothin about her.”

“Comes with the package you see. He won’t let her go or that damned bag. So take it or leave it.” Five Star shrugged.

“We have had a request for something smaller.” He grinned. Both Jemma and Pin shuddered. He wasn’t so confused that he didn’t know this man was bad.

“What…what do you want with us?” Pin asked.

“Where in the Universal are you from boy?” Candlewick laughed, his whole body shaking with it. “Why I’m going to make you dance and give our customers a good time of course.”

Pin cocked his head. “But I don’t dance. I wouldn’t know the first thing about being a dancer.”

“You know how to undress?”

“Yes.” Pin nodded. He didn’t like this, something was wrong.

Candlewick pulled him closer. “You know how to kiss?” He licked his lips.

“Yes, but I’ve never done so.” Pin looked around at the others. Their mouths were open, shock clear in their eyes.

“Then you mean you’ve never had…you’ve never had sex before?” Candlewick gasped. Dollar signs floated through his eyes.

“Jemma, what is happening?” Pin had that feeling again. The one where he needed to express an emotion beyond fear, but he couldn’t.

“Look, you jerk. He is innocent and he’s going to stay that way! The Chief is coming for us, you’ll see. Then all of you will end up where you belong, the Alliance Prison! Shipped off into space and never heard from again!” Jemma couldn’t take it anymore. The thought of this man touching Pin’s unused body, scarring the droid for life made her blood boil.

“The Chief you say? Which one? Moore I bet. That fool is in here every week!” The boss chuckled. “Trust me little one, he won’t have any problem with my services.”

“No. Not that Chief.” Jemma smiled wickedly.

“Where the fuck did you pick this up, you idiots?” In the first stages of paranoia, Candlewick started to flit through the reigning Chiefs and which one this boy could’ve come from. Most of the Chiefs were married, not a lot of them into men, but…

“Well you see. We may have been running taxi on the Fray earlier and…” Five Star clasped his hands behind his back with a grin.

“You what!” Candlewick went red with rage. “The only Chief that lives there is Kladah you fools! That is the President’s nephew.”

“Exactly, so if you don’t return us right away, Chief Kladah will have your heads,” Jemma spat.

Candlewick shook his head. “If I return you, he’ll know where you’ve been, who you’ve seen and I can’t have that little one.”

Turning to the traders, Candlewick growled. “Deal’s off. Get the fuck out my club and never show your faces here again. Bring this shit to my door.”

“But we had a deal! We were supposed to…” Five Star shouted.

“No, we did have a deal until you stole from one of the most powerful men in the Universal. You know what? I’m sick of these situations you put me in. Romeo!”

“Yes, sir,” Romeo bellowed from a speaker on the desk.

“Take this trash out for good.” Candlewick pushed Pin into a chair, blocking him from the traders.

“No, you can’t mean that.” Five Star backed into Scarlett, the two bumping into the wall.

“Oh I do. We’re done here.” Candlewick narrowed his eyes as Romeo burst into the office.

A red light gun pointed at the men, Romeo shot off a few quiet rounds until the traders slid against the wall, red painting the grimy cream brick behind them. Pin started to shake, lights flashing in his vision—too much to look at, too much feeling, too much everything. Convulsing so badly he couldn’t think, he slipped from his chair. Jemma screamed, trying to steady his body before he blacked out.

A gentle whirring noise was all that sounded. Pin shut down completely.

Ignoring the freshly dead bodies in his office, Candlewick crouched over Pin. “What the hell is this?”

When Jemma did nothing, but sob over Pin, Candlewick shook her. “I said, what is wrong with him!”

Turning her shimmering eyes to him, she sniffled. “He…he…oh Gods, he shut down. We have to help him!”

“Shut down?” Candlewick backed up with fear. “You mean to tell me that boy is a droid?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

Candlewick grinned from ear to ear. His day was looking up. “Romeo, get the craft ready. We’re going on a trip.”

“Yes, sir.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~          

                                         

After many attempts to keep himself calm, Lawry gave up. His grip on the seat’s arm rests was knuckle white. His eyes were narrowed, his skin was flushed. Those traders had his Pin and somewhere out there his love was under the impression that he wasn’t wanted, that Lawry didn’t love him back. Pin was probably scared, confused. Hopefully Jemma would be a little comfort for the droid…er man. Damn it, no she wouldn’t be, she was just as skittish as Pin was. The two of them would make quite a pair in this situation.

“Can’t you go any faster!” He barked to Otis. “They could be doing anything to him by now.”

“I have the sirens and the flashers on Lawry, but with this kind of traffic there’s only so much we can do,” Otis assured him.

“Damn you, Otis this is Pin we’re talking about. Fuck the rules.” Lawry pressed the red button on the dash. The help desk wavered into view on the windshield. A smiling female droid lifted a hand in greetings

.

“Chief Kladah, greetings.”

“Yeah hi, whatever. I need an escort to City North immediately.”

“Lawry!” Otis hissed.  “If you do that then you they’ll know about…”

“Shut it, Otis.” 

Turning back to the shield, he scanned his identification card through when prompted.

Another person popped up on the windshield. His uncle, the President was his next in line of emergency. The ID card would have connected him directly.  The graying man sat forward with concern.

“Lawry, what is it? What’s happened? Are you alright?” President Cane sat forward. Lawry’s mother’s brother was the closest family he had after his parents had retired.

“We need an emergency escort. Traders have taken a member of my household and it is imperative we reach City North immediately to catch them.”

“City North? Traders and who have they taken, Lawry?”

“My…my…oh Gods! They have taken my lover. Please, Uncle!”

President Cane’s eyes softened without a word. His fingers moved over a keyboard in front of him. “Your escort will be there immediately. I will meet you there. And Lawry?”

“Yes, uncle?”

“I am glad you have found someone.”  His eyes were still full of concern, but a small smile tilted his lips before the windshield went back to normal.

Lawry could barely breathe. A smidgen of hope bloomed in his chest and he turned to the back seat where Aurora lay in her cloak. She didn’t have much time. That much was obvious—her skin becoming paler by the minute, the pink fading to an almost gray.

“Hang on, Aurora. We’re almost there,” he whispered.

Loud sirens pulled up next to their craft within minutes. The traffic parted, allowing Otis to maneuver above the flow and out into open space.  Four crafts surrounded them—all of them Government officers that his uncle had sent. Otis gave Lawry a smile before pressing a button, landing them all against their seats. City North just a few miles away, and at this rate, only seconds separated them.

“What are you going to tell them when they find out about Pin?” Otis broke the silence as they pulled into the security barrier of City North.

“Nothing and let’s keep it that way alright?”

“Whatever you say, L.”

The barrier lifted for the fleet of government crafts. No guard would dare question them without a war going on or something of that nature. City North buzzed around them. Overpopulated, dingy, dirty, filled with crude service chains and criminals, this was not the place to be. Pulling out his tablet, Lawry monitored Squish’s chip.

“Hersch exit, right there,” he instructed. “Take that down to the strip.”

“Where on the strip, L? That’s five miles.” Otis huffed.

“Five blocks out at…oh my Gods, Land of Toys? Step on it, Otis!”

Lawry started to think of all the things he would do to those traders once he got his hands on them. Moore might have caught him off guard, but it didn’t mean he was weak. He would beat those fools into oblivion and dance on their dead bodies.

He pressed the speaker button, connecting himself to the other crafts in their party. “This is Chief Lawry Kladah. Our destination is Land of Toys. Once we arrive, I want the place surrounded, weapons drawn, and no patron is to leave that building.”

“This is officer Ryne and your message has been received, Chief Kladah.” A voice came back in recognition.

 

Land of Toys had no idea who they were fucking with. Not one clue.

~~~~~~~~~~

Romeo pulled Pin against him, trying to stop his flailing arms. “Stop fighting me, you damn fool!”

“He doesn’t know you! The Chief always wakes him up. He knows you’re an asshole!” Jemma growled. They had used his pajama cord to reboot him in the office, but ever since then, Pin would not stop fighting the large bouncer.

Jemma was tied to a chair against the hall wall. They were getting the craft ready to take them somewhere. But, she knew the moment they left this place they would never be seen again. Pin was valuable. They would sell him and probably kill her.

Pin howled. Something was ripped from his back, a sharp pain somewhere along his spine. His eyes opened, he didn’t remember coming here. Jemma? Where was she? He struggled to turn around, but large arms pinned him in place.

“Yeah, you heard me. He’s alive I tell you! Well, I don’t know. Hold on.” Candlewick put down his communicator as he approached Pin and Romeo. “Hold him tight.”

“What are you doing?” Pin shuddered. The front of his pants was unbuttoned by Candlewick’s large fingers. His undergarments were pulled down. Pin turned his head with a sob. “Jemma!”

“I’m here, calm down Pin. I’m right here.” She tried to relax him, but how could she? That fat bastard had his paws where they shouldn’t be.

“Well I’ll be damned, he’s got the goods here. Turn him around, Romeo. Bend him over.” Candlewick grinned. “Gotta make sure for myself.”

“He has that too! Stop scaring him!” Jemma almost knocked her chair over with her violent thrashing. She couldn’t take watching this anymore.

“Are you lying to me girly?” The boss peaked around Romeo. “Cause if you are, it’ll make your death all that much sweeter.”

“No, I promise you. Now right his clothes or he might shut down again.” Jemma settled back as Romeo began buttoning Pin’s pants. The droid was shaking, averting his eyes from anything—probably wishing he was never awoken in the first place because he had never been born technically.

“Jemma,” Pin sobbed again. Why were they doing this to him? What had he done wrong?

She shushed him gently. “It’s alright, Pin. They’re done now. It’s all over.”

“Yeah right. I just sold him to a Kerogg official. This boy just made me rich!”

“The Kerogg? Oh my Gods.” Jemma thought of all the things those terrorists would do to him.

She shuddered. She hoped Lawry was trying to find them. In fact, she was sure he was. He loved Pin. Anyone who had been around could have figured that out. Now it was a waiting game. Would he find them in time?

At that moment, shouting began in the front of the club. Both Romeo and Candlewick looked at each other with fear. Government officers announced themselves out in the club, shots were fired, the sound of broken glass echoed through the hall.

“What did you do boy?” Romeo growled at Pin. “Are you wired?”

“What does that mean?” Pin tried to back away, but the large bouncer held him place.  “What did I do wrong!”

“He isn’t wired, please stop this.” Jemma tried to get their attention, but she didn’t have to.

Government officers busted down doors from every possible which way, aiming red light guns at the criminals and Pin. The poor droid started to shake again seeing the red dots dancing across his body. Violence, such pain, he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Christopher Candlewick, you are under arrest by the Universal Alliance for kidnapping, attempted trafficking, prostitution in an unauthorized zone, underage staff performing sexual services, the use and sale of illegal substances.” One of the officers read off a screen attached to the end of a red light rifle. “Also wanted in Gweerah, for suspected Naja kidnappings and murder, trading, trafficking, and possible drug trade.”

“Gentlemen, boys, I think there’s been a mistake. I’ve no such things. I’m a simple business man.” 

Candlewick laughed—showing his hands to the officers like it was all a misunderstanding.

The officer continued. “Consorting with terrorists, plotting against the Universal Alliance, treason, the sale of Alliance made goods to Kerogg officials, murder, sexual assault of a government employee….shall I keep going?”

Candlewick backed up. “What? Me? You’ve got it all wrong!”

“Pin!” A man’s voice made the droid squirm out of Romeo’s embrace.

Sucking in air, his eyes yearned to create something for the man before him, but unfortunately he couldn’t. Instead he settled for running into Lawry’s arms as fast as he could. He didn’t watch as Romeo was stunned to the ground and handcuffed, or as they beat Candlewick senseless when the doors closed behind them. He only focused on burying his face in Lawry’s neck as he was lifted off the ground and away from this place.

Lawry could only think about getting Pin back home. All of his dreams of torturing the criminals floated away like a breath of air with Pin finally in his arms. Otis carried Jemma behind them to the craft. No one said a word. It felt as though time was wasting around them. Almost as if something important was supposed to be happening. Their boots raced against time, out to the craft to some semblance of safety.

As the craft doors opened, more officers arrived on the scene. 

“Don’t worry about them, L. Let’s get these two home where it’s safe. Just hold on,” Otis said once they were inside, but Lawry wasn’t listening.

He was busy looking at Aurora as he held Pin. Her hand slipped to the ground, her breathing more of a wheeze than an intake of air. She really was dying and there was not a thing they could do about it. 

“Lawry?” Pin trembled in his guardian’s arms. “I am so sorry; so very, very sorry. Please forgive me.”

His voice was a little more than a murmur. The words were clear enough though—Pin thought this was his fault. “Pin, this is my fault, not yours. Will you forgive me?”

“No. I left you when I knew it was wrong. I was not supposed to leave. But I did and those men, the big one, he…” Pin sobbed because he could not think about it. Lawry pulled him into his lap, rocking the droid back and forth.

“Shh, it’s over now my love.  It’s all going to be okay. You’re safe now,” Lawry whispered into Pin’s ear.

Over Pin’s shoulder, Aurora stared at them together—a small smile on her lips. Her eyes flickered blue before she closed them to rest a little. The moment her eyes shut, the craft lifted into the air. City North swept past them as Otis and the escorts zipped out of the barrier and into open space.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emotionally drained, but still awake, Pin tip-toed to Aurora’s room. He had been cuddled in Lawry’s bed for a few hours, loving the feeling of his guardian’s strong arms hugging him close. But he wanted to check on Aurora so badly, the need strong in his chest.

After making sure the halls were clear, Pin rounded the corner to her room. A soft blue light glowed from under the door down the hall. As he neared, the glow grew brighter.

“Aurora?” He called softly. When he didn’t get an answer, he turned the knob.

On the bed, the glow pulsed around Aurora’s body. Her hand reached for him. Her eyes were wide.

“Pin, don’t be scared,” she encouraged him. “Please…”

Cautiously, he approached the bed. “Aurora, what is this?”

“It is the end and the beginning, my sweet boy.” A tear slipped down her face. Her hand found his. “You will listen to Lawry, let him help you, love you fiercely okay?”

“Okay.” He nodded, his chest clenched with some unknown emotion. “What’s wrong, Aurora?”

“Nothing is wrong, Pin. It is just time for me to go.” She coughed so hard, the glow rippled around her.

Immediately he dropped to her side, clutching her arm to him. “Please don’t go. I need you, Aurora.”

“No, Pin. You don’t need me anymore. You have Lawry and he loves you so much. But, I will give you something to remember me by.” She threaded her fingers with his. “So you will know how much we loved you, how much your papa wanted for you to know what it was like to live, to smile, to be free.”

He leaned down to make sure he wasn’t hearing things. “My papa?”

“Yes.” She pulled the scarf from around her neck, pulling off her necklace. Not only had it held Pin’s key. It held something else very dear to her. The square locket Gepetto had given her on their wedding day.  “This way, you will never forget us.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she placed the locket containing their pictures in his palm. “Aurora, please. I will miss you too much.  Please, don’t leave me.”

“I will always love you…my Pinocchio.” Her head fell back against the pillow, eyes wide. One last gasp breached her lips before the room exploded into a brilliant blue.

Able to do nothing else, but hold onto her hand, Pin was frozen in place. Looking out the window, the moon sliced through the stormy clouds of the station. Something special was happening to him. His body tingled, his stomach felt funny, his mouth was dry. He became sleepy, but it wasn’t nap time. How was he sleepy?

Falling to his side on Aurora’s bed, he noticed she was gone, but the glow still remained. Like a dream, a blue butterfly sat on his chest—wings glittering in the pale moonlight. Aurora…he thought before he fell fast asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Lawry lazily opened one eye in the almost pitch room. Barely able to do that, he figured it was just Pin settling back against him.  That is until he felt the blanket lift completely. Pin was getting back into bed. Where had he been?

“Pin?”

The other man slipped on top of him, legs spread to either side of Lawry’s thighs. Lips pressed to his chest, scorching kisses that left Lawry helpless. Where was this coming from? Oh Gods, it felt so good.

“Pin, what are you doing? You can’t get worked up. You know what happens…”

His words were cut off with a mouth to his own. The droid wasn’t wearing his pajama top, his bare chest rubbed against Lawry’s. Immediately under Pin’s spell, he wrapped his arms around the droid’s back, flipping them over.

“Why are you doing this? You know we can’t…”  Lawry stopped as he saw tears sliding down Pin’s cheeks—real tears, real emotion, a confident smile on the boy’s lips. “What is this?”

“I’m not sick anymore, Lawry,” Pin whispered.

His fingers traced the moisture along Pin’s soft face. His other hand glided down the droid’s needy body. But, he wasn’t a droid anymore, was he? He was real, the tears proved that. “But how?”

Slowly, Pin sat up. His lips found Lawry’s one more time before he bowed his head a little. “I found my heart,” he murmured.

Lawry knew what Pin meant. His eyes drifted towards the door—they were watery knowing that Aurora was already gone. Turning back to Pin, he pressed his lips to his lover’s. “Indeed you did. I love you, Pin.  I love you more than anything I could ever imagine.”

Pin sighed with a shudder. The words struck him so deep. So long had he waited to hear that, to be wanted, needed, to be loved. “I love you too, my Lawry.”

Their lips sealed together.  Lawry burrowed his lover back into the covers to show him another kind of love they could share.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One Year Later….

The doorbell would not stop ringing and Jemma ran as fast as she could. Lawry and Pin had taken a walk through the far gardens. Otis was in the basement toying with Simon—she rolled her eyes with a grin—and Malek was off with his fiancé, Violet Redstar, leaving her to handle things for a few hours.

“I’m coming!” She yelled, grasping the hook she used to open the door for she couldn’t reach it normally. “Ah there.” She sighed with relief as the door slowly opened.

Looking up in awe, a long golden cloak pooled around the stranger’s feet. Tassels in beautiful colors hung from the cloth all the way up to the petal pink face that was revealed from under a hood. Two Naja warriors stood to the female’s back, bowing to Jemma slightly.

“Hello there, little one.” The tall graceful woman crouched to Jemma’s height. Her lavender braids ran over her shoulders to the ground. “I am Jesta, sister to Aurora, and Queen of the Naja people.”

“Hello…” Jemma stared in her big blue eyes.

She couldn’t believe this. After the Keroggs were imprisoned to their own planet for trying to wage war on Gweerah and the station last spring, the Naja people had gone into utter seclusion—no more sanctuaries or witness protection, they had all, but disappeared. Now here she was looking into the face of their queen. The most beautiful female she had ever seen, besides Aurora of course. Aurora…

Jesta chuckled, the sound like a song. “I am sure you are overwhelmed with my presence and are wondering what I’m doing here.”

Jemma nodded, her mouth still hanging open.

“I have been summoned to come and see my sister’s son, my nephew…Pinocchio.” She smiled warmly. “Do you think he would see me? I have waited so long to meet him.”

Pin would be thrilled. He’d always wondered what it would be like to have his mother and father alive, but his mother’s little sister would be just as grand in his eyes—a real family member.

“Of course, of course, forgive my manners your highness.” Jemma bowed a little.

Jesta stood with a laugh. “Non-sense, you gorgeous little creature. Do not bow to me. We are family.”

Jemma smiled, her little eyes sparkled. Family? She put her little hands under her chin with a sigh. This was true happiness, related to a queen.

The Pigme held up her tiny hand. “Come along, I know just where they are.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They were almost to the house. Lawry couldn’t seem to keep his lips off of Pin’s neck or his hands off his waist. Stealing a kiss from his partner, Chief Kladah pushed Pin into a tree—a moan escaping him.

“Lawry! What about dinner? I’m hungry.” Pin laughed, his stomach rumbling.

“You are always hungry. Ever since you were able to eat, it is nonstop with you! Chocolate this and chocolate that. Now hold still so I may eat you.” Lawry nibbled at Pin’s jaw.

Giggles turned to full on laughter as the two slid down the tree and onto the damp ground. “Now you’ve done it. My clothes are going to get wet.”

“Wet you say?” The Chief waggled his brows, earning him another laugh from Pin’s lips. He loved to hear him laugh. He’d never done that as a droid. But he was real now. He lived, breathed, ate, slept in Lawry’s bed, other things…

A small gasp from Pin startled Lawry, a soft jingle sounded from the locket around his neck as he moved to his knees. The man’s eyes were wide, his finger pointing at something.

“What is it?” The Chief turned around and mid-air, were two blue butterflies—actual butterflies like in books. How could this be?  “By the Gods…”

They danced together, a twirl of shimmering blue and black—a trail of blue dust in their wake. By magic they appeared, but they left by flight—into the treetops and past the fog, leaving a tiny blue trail in the air.  When the two men looked back at the house, a woman stood there—a petal pink woman with long lavender hair, a Naja woman.

“That is…is it really, Lawry?” Pin whispered excitedly. “I know it’s her. It has to be!”

“Happy Birthday, Pin.” Lawry kissed his partner’s cheek.

“You did this?’ He turned around in shock.

Lawry pulled Pin close. “For you, I would do anything.”

Blushing, Pin kissed Lawry slowly. “I love you, my Lawry.”

“Forever and always I will love you, my Pinocchio.”

THE END

QUICKISH: Almost Human (Part 2)

Hello my lovelies!!! I hope you're enjoying the story so far. :) I bet you've all finally figured out what story I've pulled bits and pieces from to conjure this tale, but if you haven't keep guessing. I'm sure you'll get it this time around. Well, I'm off. Have a great day and leave me some love.

XOXO NIGHT TEMPEST

ALMOST HUMAN (PART 2)

For the next three months, Lawry slaved away in the basement. He mumbled to himself, reciting formulas from his original stored data, trying to replicate Gepetto’s calculations. Pin lay on his stomach, spread out on the work table, his back panel open to reveal his mainframe. Wires, tools, papers were scattered over every inch of the large basement station. Lawry had become a certified hermit.  His appearance had certainly taken a beating too.

A scruffy un-tamed beard had filled in along his jaw, circles under his eyes, a tattered, velvet high-neck jacket and fitted trousers his uniform for the past three months. He was starting to look more like some nightmarish creature than a human. He was worrying the rest of the house.

Otis tried to coax him out with promises of sexy soldiers and fine wines, Malek offered him a luxury cruise around the Aru galaxy all expenses paid, Aurora tempted him with delicious home cooked meals from the door in hopes to make him come to her, but he would not be swayed. Pin had to wake up first. He had to open his eyes, to be born again before Lawry would leave his new home.

One day, Lawry was connecting the last of the fibrous nervous system to the mainframe when a sudden thought came to him. The DX3 chip was hooked up to a free floating touch board a few yards away, Lawry’s hand-scribbled numbers glowed red, suspended in the air. Putting down his tools slowly, the numbers jumped out at him, certain pieces of Gepetto’s half-finished formula writing itself in Lawry’s head.

“By the Gods!” He proclaimed, grabbing for his crutches in a flurry. Standing up, he shuffled over as fast as he could, his weight over to his good foot, his finger making changes on the board before he actually realized what he was doing. “Can’t believe I didn’t see this,” he whispered, flicking his pointer finger over the wavering touch board.

Parts of the formula were swirled about with a swish of his hand, the DX3 chip being the center of the calculation, the correct connection of the brain chip to the nerves being the problem. The replicated organs were in working order, each tested and put inside of Pin. A network consisting of thousands of tubes so small you could barely grip them ran throughout the body, a self-heating system consisting of a heat conducting liquid ran through the tubes—the blood of Gepetto’s creation.

It was all there—all, but this one series of rights and wrongs that he couldn’t seem to get right.  Now the numbers made sense, a rush of adrenaline lighting up his body with excitement. Lawry backed away from the board slowly, because that was his only speed these days. His eyes wide, the Chief smiled so big he thought his face would break.

“Pin,” Lawry murmured to the face-down droid. “I cannot wait to meet you.”

~~~~~~~~~~                                     

Two weeks had passed since Lawry’s discovery. Fresh clothes were laid out on his bed. His face finally shaved. His hair was clean for the first time in weeks. He’d slept for two days, ate his fill in the kitchen. Lawry looked like himself and he felt better too.

Today was the day. Today would be Pin’s birthday as well as a historical event that the rest of the Universe would never know about, for Pin was to be a secret, a coveted prize that the Government would surely want their greedy hands on if they knew.  Lawry would sooner die than let that happen. Aurora had entrusted him with Pin’s welfare, the Naja people were counting on him, Gepetto was watching him from somewhere—he just knew it.

Changing into a navy blue suit that glimmered with a silver sheen, Lawry admired his reflection.  He wanted to look good. He smiled before thinking about what he was doing.

“For a droid?” Lawry caught himself mid button, looking into the mirror with confusion. Why was he dressing up for Pin?

“Mr. Kladah, it’s been a long time,” Otis said from the doorway, causing Lawry to jump. He leaned into the frame with his arms crossed over his chest, a smile on his lips. “Didn’t think you’d ever rise from the dead or the basement as the case is.”

He walked over to Lawry, slapped a hand to his back. “Seriously good to see you, L. We’ve missed you.”

The look on Otis’s face registered his sincerity with Lawry. He’d neglected his duties as a Chief, his friends and family, all for this moment. Was it worth all the trouble though?  Was a hundred and fifty pounds of Syntax worth working himself to the bone? Placing a hand over Otis’s, Lawry smiled, yes. Yes it was.

“Missed you too.”

“Ah enough with this, it’s weird. Come along, Aurora was calling for you, but once again you were off in your own head.” Otis dragged him behind, heading out of the room and across the hall.

The small nook of a room was open, the stained glass door playing colors on the dark floor. This was to be Pin’s room. 

Malek was tying long scarlet curtains to the side of the window, Aurora was adjusting a twin canopy bed in the corner—a monitoring system sleekly fitted into the head board. The Naja noticed Lawry and Otis in the doorway and smiled.

“Just in time, I think that about does it. What do you think, Lawry?”  She raised her arms to show off their hard work. The once dusty nook of a room had been transformed.

A touch screen was off on the main wall, framed in a sleek ebony metal. Polished dark wood planks ran down the slope of the ceiling, a mobile like chandelier with a few dozen black ravens gave off a soft glow to the small space. Rich gold was carefully textured over the walls, setting off the blood red fabrics Aurora had chosen. The room was fit for his half machine prince.

“It’s all wonderful, every inch. Aurora, Otis, Malek, thank you, all of you.” Lawry smiled. He walked to the window, looking out to the wrought iron bars to the fog rolling around the grounds. Would Pin appreciate the room as well? Would he understand what it was to like or love? Gods, Lawry sighed, he hoped so.

“So? When are we going to wake him up?” Jemma’s tiny voice made them all turn around. She waved her little fingers at them shyly.

“Now.” Lawry crouched down. “Care for a lift, Ms. Jemma?”

She blushed, but nodded. Lawry extended his arms and like a gentlemen, let Jemma settle in before he stood. “Shall we?”

Aurora let the men go first, taking one last look at Pin’s room. The time was coming, she could feel it. Winter was upon the Fray and come spring, the droid she had hidden for so long, but had never known, wouldn’t need her anymore. His new guardian would care for him well and with that, she could rest easy. For spring was the perfect time to bring new life, to give up the old. Her eyelashes fluttered, blue bleeding across the green momentarily, the original pink of her skin glowed underneath the caramel façade.

She would stay in this skin for as long as she could to see her duty fulfilled, even if it was killing her.

Aurora coughed, her shifted appearance rippling back into place. With a deep breath, she smiled and adjusted her skirts.  “Don’t you dare start without me!” She hurried after the men.

Catching up to the men and Jemma, they finished walking the long hall and came to a stop.

On the red velvet couch in the sitting room was Pin. Otis had taken to his wardrobe like a bee to honey, trending all the latest men’s fashion on the station for Pin’s closet. Currently he wore black skinny slacks with a white stripe up each long leg. A white button up against his creamy skin looked divine, a dark leather blazer with a thin red tie loosely hung around his neck. For a…man! A man, damn you Lawry. He looked sinful.

Pin’s black hair hung down across the eyes that were begging to be opened. With the hub key in hand, Lawry crossed the room to make that happen.

He set Jemma down, moving to sit next to Pin. The feeling was strange.  Knowing he was about to bring to life this beautiful creature that would be smarter than any other computer in the world, yet have the innocence of a child, then hopefully—if all went according to plan—he’d eventually learn to be a real man. A late bloomer, Lawry smiled. His smile faded as he put his hand up Pin’s shirt, feeling along his soft back for the tiny plug. The key slid into place, Lawry locked it down, a panel of Syntex glided into place.

He moved to sit on the table before Pin. A soft humming noise cracked the silence, all of them holding their breath. Pin was booting up. This time would take the longest. He had never been turned on before.  Lawry’s fingers dug into his knees. Maybe he had done it wrong.  Maybe a wire was crossed or a fuse out of place. Gods, he was so nervous.

Then it happened. At first Lawry believed his self to be seeing things, but Pin’s finger tapped his knee again, followed by the rest of his fingers. They flexed towards Lawry as if stretching. Slowly standing, the Chief watched Pin roll his head around his shoulders like a human would do to get out the kinks. Long arms stretched above his head as Pin yawned.

He yawned! “Did he just?” Otis stepped forward with wide eyes.

“Yes,” Malek answered. The two shared a look before the retired Chief grabbed a chair to steady himself. Droids did not yawn, or breathe, or a lot of things.

“Wake up, Pin,” Aurora greeted their newest family member. Her soft voice reached something inside of the droid, his bright blue eyes slowly opening.

Lawry fell to his knees mesmerized—both with this breakthrough in droid technology and with the beauty of Pin’s gaze. He grabbed Pin’s warm hands, squeezing softly.

“Hello there,” Lawry whispered. “I am…”

Pin looked down, studying the man on his knees. His computer scanned the facial specs, a government picture registering in his system. Chief Lawry Jacobi Kladah, age thirty one, residence the Fray. The voice patterns were familiar to his stored memory from testing.  A boost of chemical endorphin brought his emotions to an elevated level. Finally, he was seeing Lawry, his Lawry.

“Lawry,” Pin answered for him. He could feel his face pull into what was called a smile. This meant he was happy to see the Chief, a simulation for creating a welcoming environment in the human world.

“You know who I am?” Lawry’s jaw dropped. “But we’ve never met. This is the first time I…”

“I am sorry to interrupt you Lawry, but you are mistaken. My system registers we have stored your voice, smell, and information from twenty seven tests run in beta mode. We have met, many times.” Pin cocked his head, his wireless network reaching out to another. Another system was close by, one like him, but not one as advanced or updated.

“Well yes, but…what is it, Pin?” Lawry followed Pin’s line of sight. Simon stood next to Aurora with a blank expression, a tray of drinks in his hands.

“Model HK532, greetings,” Pin said to Simon who said nothing in return. “Lawry.” Pin looked down to him with a rather direct gaze.  “I do not comprehend why HK532 does not respond. His voice system is fully functional.”

Lawry dropped his hands. This was going to be harder than he imagined. Pin was going to question everything. He wasn’t going to automatically get this world. He’d have to learn it, but more importantly, why wasn’t his personality card downloaded yet? Was he broken already?

“It’s because, he’s been programmed to answer his guardians. Security measures by the Government have restricted droid interaction between households unless they are used for services in public. So we had to update him last week to match the new standard.” Otis took a few steps forward. Actually, Simon had been reprogrammed that way to avoid slipping information to any officials that might come to the house. He was the Chief after all and this was for Pin’s safety.

“Doctor Otis Towers, greetings.” Pin stood, his movements were fluid, not restrictive like Simon’s. Lawry felt his heart break a little as Pin bypassed him to thrust a hand at Otis.

“Uh, greetings,” Otis put his hand forward hesitantly, looking to Lawry for permission. He nodded, turning away. Why wasn’t Pin interested in him like he’d thought? His personality was dry and computer efficient. All that time put into delicately crafting the DX3 chip to make Pin the perfect man was lost. He really was nothing more than a beautiful machine.

“Forgive me!” Pin suddenly shouted, his greetings miscalculated, his system so new. “Lawry,” he said looking to his guardian. “I forgot you were first. I apologize for my rude behavior. Dr. Otis, you must wait your turn.” Pin pulled his hand back.

“Oh, ok. I’ll wait.” Otis looked at Aurora with a shrug.

“I hope you are not upset with me, Lawry. My system was trying to calculate the right impression to make, but I’m afraid my memory chip containing my personality was not fully loaded yet. You were first.” Pin thrust his hand at Lawry.  “Greetings, Lawry.”

“Hello, Pin.” Lawry stood, taking the male’s hand. A tiny shock pricked his palm making them both look down.

“Forgive me,” Pin whispered in horror. Horror was a term used to describe an emotion of absolute embarrassment or fear, terrified in some cases. He was terrified that he had hurt his guardian.

“Pin, it’s alright. I’m just fine.” Lawry slipped his other hand over Pin’s warm skin. “Just fine.”

“Are you certain?” His cheeks flushed, a temperature increase caused by the heat induced chemical running through his synthetic make-up.

Lawry sat them down on the couch. “Yes, Pin. How are you feeling right now?”

“I…I…don’t understand.” Pin wracked his system for the meaning of this question. Medical notes, psychiatry, therapists, did he have a cold, was he depressed? What did depressed mean? The beginning question was lost as he started to take in all this new information, inputting the data into his personality file which had yet to boot completely, but was around thirty percent loaded.

“Pin.” Lawry put his hand on the droid’s cheek, a shiver created from the touch.  “I asked how you were feeling.”

“Fine!” Pin exclaimed with a gasp. He smiled with excitement it was called. He was excited to know the answer. “I am fine, well, as to be expected. Good, a little warm, I am also nervous. I looked up these symptoms that my body has created and humans refer to this situation as nerves or butterflies. Which I find strange because butterflies are actually winged insects that have been extinct since the Universal War. Their bodies could not withstand the blast or the atmospheric change when some insects were brought to the stations for reproduction. Did you know that they are very similar to a form of insect that lives in the Gweeran wetlands called a Keet?” 

“Pin!” Lawry laughed. “Slow down.”

“But I am not going anywhere. I have been sitting still on this…couch! It is a couch. This is wonderful, and that is a chair, and you are a…” Pin pointed to Aurora. “Aurora.” He smiled.

“You recognized my voice from testing?” She sat on the other side of him.

His personality card was almost fifty percent downloaded. Ecstatic was another feeling bouncing through his system, but suddenly he was not a system, he was a body. His body was ecstatic to be here, in this place, to know such things and people. He was part of the ‘people’ category now.

“Oh Aurora! I recognize you somehow, but after consulting my mind, I can’t come to a sound conclusion as to why. Please forgive me if we know each other. I’m Pin, it’s nice to meet you,” he greeted her—his formal, factory system setting starting to give way to the personality card.

“That’s alright. I think you are in the middle of adjusting to your body. Your mind will catch up.” Aurora patted his hand lightly. “Lawry, you should take Pin on a tour of his new home. Maybe he will burn off a little energy.”

“Energy has nothing to do with my body.  I run on a high-powered lithium…” Pin stopped talking to sniff the air. “Mmm. My olfactory setting is picking up what people call a delicious smell. Nothing is registering in my body. I am not sure of the scent’s origin.”

Jemma came forward slowly. “I was making chocolate cake.”

“Chocolate?” Pin rose quickly. Everything that he knew about chocolate was enjoyable. The data collected on the sweet was bountiful. From the turning of the cacao bean into a bar of milk chocolate to the enjoyment by a person was fascinating.  “May I try this chocolate cake?”

“Sure, of course!” Jemma lit up, tucking her little hands under her chin with a smile. It was a gesture she did when she was very happy.

“Pin,” Lawry sighed his name.  He hadn’t expected this to come up so quickly.  He didn’t want to kill the male’s mood.

“Yes, Lawry?” Pin grinned, so naturally, so carefree.  Lawry found himself captive to that boyish turn of Pin’s lips, arrested by the startling blue of his eyes.

Shaking his head of the thoughts roaming upstairs, Lawry looked down at his hands. “You can’t have any cake.”

“Forgive my rudeness, but why ever not? It is edible. There is nothing toxic about the dish that I can register.  Jemma has agreed to share, so I do not understand.” Pin slumped, his lip stuck out a little.  He could not remember how he knew to do this. A soft beep sounded inside his head, Pin was now completed.

“You can’t have any because you will get sick. Your…” Lawry looked to Aurora for help. She gave him a warning look. He couldn’t tell Pin anything now that he was completed, it was part of their agreement. “Your stomach cannot handle food. You…you do not get hungry.”

“I cannot have cake then?” Pin slumped a little more, his long torso folding over inch by inch.

Lawry scooted closer, slowly putting an arm around Pin. “It will be okay, Pin. Please don’t be angry with me. I just want what’s best for you and eating cake really will make you sick.”

“I don’t want to be sick.” Pin made a noise like a sigh. “But I am sad.”

“I know.” Lawry immediately rubbed his charge’s back, amazed that Pin was taking to the personality card suddenly. The transition left his head spinning. Poor Pin.  “Come on. Let’s take a walk.”

Turning a little, Pin looked at Lawry, his Lawry. “Where will we go, Lawry?”

“To see your new home, Pin.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lawry’s home, his home now, was nice. The actual structure resembled a style called gothic that had typically been used for churches back in the ancient times of Catholicism on planet Earth. The religion had been abolished almost a hundred years before Earth’s destruction when the Vatican was publically exposed as a settlement for a foreign race of priests and priestesses known as the Weejans. Although they were highly followed by the humans, because of their deceit, the Catholic followers failed to trust in the religion any longer and disbanded—kicking the Weejans off their planet for good.

It was one of the many reasons the Universal war was started in the first place. Pin found that in all the destruction and war of the human’s history, this place reflected a perfect balance of the good and the bad. What was once green and lush now was dark and gloomy, but it was still beautiful in its details. Especially because this was what his Lawry had only ever known. Seeing pictures of what had been did not make his guardian miss the Earth of Old. The Fray was his home, now and forever.

In the past month and six days, Pin had settled into his life on the Fray. He could sort of remember the first few days after his birthday, but most of the details were fuzzy. He still remembered Lawry’s face though. He found himself warm at the thought of his guardian, a feeling that the Chief had called ‘being fond of’.

Now that Lawry had begun to resume his duties as Chief, Pin was left to his own devices for most of the day. Aurora had become busy around the house, the season bringing many ‘holiday parties’. He knew about parties, all the shiny baubles and fizzy drinks, but he could not drink or eat. It only made him sick, Lawry said. Other people could drink or eat, in fact it was necessary for them to do so. So what, Pin looked out the window of his room with a frown, what was wrong with him?

He had noted many things about himself that differed from his family, but he hadn’t said anything. He didn’t want to make Lawry upset.  He had read that being upset was not a good thing. He would never want his Lawry to be that way because of him.

One thing that was different was how he did not get to take a bath or shower. Overhearing Jemma talk about her bubbly soaps and oils made him want to hop in the tub and ‘soak’, but Lawry was always there screaming at him to stop! Tears came to his eyes the last time that Pin had attempted a bath. Lawry’s arms had squeezed him tight. Pin had made him cry.

He sat down at his window seat, pulling his stuffed octopus Squish to his chest in thought. Two days ago he had tried to fold his own clothes, but Aurora had been there to take them away. She had said he needn’t do his own folding, but Pin had seen what she had tried to hide. His pajama shirt had a wire attached at the back. When he’d asked her about it, Aurora had called for Lawry, who had made him take a nap.

He never remembered going to sleep or waking up from his naps, but he always remembered when he had to take them. Sadness made his body cold. He put his head against the glass, holding Squish to his body. 

“I am different,” he whispered to the window. “I am not right.”

“Pin?” Lawry called from the doorway softly. Watching Pin from where he stood made his heart hurt. A grown man holding a stuffed animal like a child with a far off look in his eye was not a sight he wished to see. Pin was sad, droid or not, that much was obvious.

“Lawry?” Pin stuffed Squish behind his back in embarrassment. The octopus had been a gift from Aurora, but he had read stuffed animals were only for children and he wasn’t a child. Lawry called him a man. He had to act like one, even if he loved Squish and oh, how he loved his companion.

“You don’t have to hide Squish.  I know he makes you happy.” Lawry sat down on the window seat across from Pin. The droid looked down into his lap. “Pin…”

Slowly he pulled Squish out from behind his back and hugged him. “Lawry, I am different.”

“What do you mean?” The Chief felt his heart slowing, dread rising in his chest.

He didn’t know how to answer these questions. He and Pin had been getting along so well, except for the times when the droid scared him shitless.  Stress was building over their relationship, Pin denying any touch or affection, thinking he would hurt him. Wasn’t that what you were supposed to with someone you cared for when they were sad, hug them, make them feel better?

“Am I sick, Lawry?” Pin looked up, his eyes flicking back and forth. They were so big, so blue, so vulnerable, but there weren’t any tears. Did Pin notice that he didn’t cry?

“No, you aren’t sick, and you aren’t different.”

“Then why can’t I go outside and play in the snow! Look how pretty it is, but I cannot touch it. I have never felt the rain or water, even though I ache to run my fingers through it, to make that swishing sound like in the videos, or to understand why it does not taste. I cannot drink or eat! I watch and smell the most beautiful things, but cannot experience them, because I could get sick, but would that not make me sick already? Why is there a wire in my pajamas? Why does Aurora check on me five times a day at exactly the same time?

Why do I not dream? Why do I not remember when you tuck me in or when I wake up? Why do I know all these things I have never done or seen or lived through? Why does everyone take pictures of everything but me? Why do you not have a family photo of us if we are family? Why do I feel like I will hurt you every time you wish to touch me? Why will Simon talk to everyone, but me? Why can’t I have a real friend? Why do you refuse to let me go with you to the city above? Have I done something wrong?

Why do I want to be with you every second of the day, but you will only come to me in the evening? Are you avoiding me?” Pin pulled his knees to his chest and tucked his chin on top of Squish.  There was a moment when he felt he needed to do something, an emotion that would not come to him, but he could only be sad, nothing else.

Lawry stared at his droid. He wanted to fall apart, to scream, to beg for forgiveness for playing God. Maybe Gepetto had stopped his progress on Pin for a reason, because this was not fair to the droid. The poor male was heartbroken, his arguments justified with every word. Lawry had been avoiding him. Looking at Pin led to thoughts that he couldn’t make real, a fantasy just out of reach. Yet Pin begged for his companionship, always hanging outside his office for a glimpse of his face.

The truth of the matter was Lawry wanted Pin. He had made the perfect man, a subconscious need in mind when he had done so. Just like Gepetto had made his looks perfect, Lawry had made Pin’s personality from everything he had found attractive in a man. Innocence, vulnerability, smarts, sense of humor, all of it. After having Pin for a few days, Lawry had realized his mistake. Pin would forever be something he wasn’t and Lawry would forever want something he couldn’t have, leaving both of them in a state of never ending heart ache.

“Pin, I am so sorry.” Lawry leaned forward, pulling Pin into his arms.

The droid stiffened, not understanding the feeling inside of him. He didn’t know that he was a droid any longer. Pin was now fully acclimated, his personality card giving him the impression that he was a person. Try as he might, he couldn’t stop the heat from flushing his skin, or the urge to throw Squish across the room and cling to Lawry.

Squish landed by the door, Pin’s arms tangling around Lawry’s neck. Something wanted to break free, but Pin couldn’t reach the emotion. He just couldn’t. His body began to tremble, Lawry pulling him tighter against his chest. Something hard rubbed against Pin’s leg, he looked down, then up at Lawry.

“Pin,” Lawry murmured. “I can’t.” At least that was what his mouth said.

How could he do this to Pin? How could he allow his lips to press to Pin’s cheek, to the corner of his mouth? Why was he so evil as to tempt himself with a slide of his tongue over Pin’s lips? He could feel Pin shivering, the replicated chemical responses working as they should. Lawry knew what Pin was feeling, what he was still trying to figure out. Stop this, Lawry scolded himself, this is not fair to him or to you!

“Lawry, what is happening,” Pin cried softly, with a shudder. He hardened below, his response to Lawry’s body? “Lawry.” His head dropped back against the wall, his bottom half lifted into Lawry’s lap. His guardian began to lick at his exposed neck.

Before he could voice something was wrong, Pin felt a shiver wrack his body, cutting off his words.  The next one was painful, a spark of torture in his temples. He grabbed a fist full of Lawry’s shirt with a gasp, but lights began to flicker in and out of his eye sight. His body shook and it was then that Lawry pulled back, but it was too late. Reaching out a hand, Pin slipped from Lawry’s embrace, falling off the bench and…

“Pin!” Lawry screamed, dropping to the ground. The light in Pin’s eyes died. A whirring sound started then stopped. “Pin, he repeated with a sob. “Please, no. I’m sorry. I’m horrible!”

Flipping Pin over, Lawry pulled his shirt off to find the hidden hub plug in. Pressing the spot, the panel lifted and sure enough, Pin had shut down. Why though? Lawry grabbed two fistfuls of hair and took a deep breath.

The clipped run of Aurora’s heels came to a stop in the doorway. “What happened!”

“I…I…Aurora!” Lawry cried, tears running down his cheeks.

She joined him on the ground, pulling off her heels before running a hand over Pin’s back. “What did you do, Lawry?”

“Couldn’t stop myself. I thought I could handle him, thought I could protect him from what I wanted, but I am nothing more than an evil pervert. This is my payback. I have broken him, he will hate me forever.  I should never have woken him. To make him believe something he isn’t is cruel. To have put my wants before his needs was a terrible thing that I will live with until my dying days.”

Lawry freaked.  Even though he was a certified genius, the mainframe looked like nothing he had ever seen before at the moment. His mind was a jumbled mess just looking at Pin. He couldn’t touch Pin. He’d only bring him more pain. He backed away from Pin and Aurora. He needed to get out of here.

Aurora watched the Chief fall victim to his fears come true. She had waited for this moment—the time when Lawry would realize that he had created not just any companion, but his ultimate partner. Every day she watched Pin ghost after Lawry like he wasn’t even there. Room to room, Pin would follow his guardian, a needy little look on his face, but he kept his mouth shut of his wants, because he hadn’t been programmed to argue or show anger.  He was perfect after all.

When Lawry left for meetings or dinners, Pin would sit upstairs at his window and wait for him to return, waiting for Lawry, and being disappointed to only see him for a few minutes. Pin was experiencing devastation, stress, depression, but he couldn’t cry to let it out. She had seen him try to cry before, getting frustrated when he didn’t understand what was supposed to be happening, only comprehending that something was missing.

Lawry on the other hand was avoiding Pin because of the obvious attraction. Pin was a startling beauty, not a hint of droid that the eye could see. He was always saying the most lovely things to Lawry, who turned away and ignored him to hide the blush on his cheeks. They were meant to be together, but there was only one way that would ever happen, and it would have to wait. Aurora frowned. Putting her hand over Lawry’s shaking one, she squeezed.

“Let’s get him to bed. He’ll be fine once he gets some rest.”

“Aurora! He’s not human damn it. He does not sleep. He updates!” Lawry cried, tears running down his face.

She grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. “Look at me and listen to what I am telling you. You will fix this, no matter what you think you’ve done. This is all I have left, all my family has. You will put him to bed and when he wakes up, he won’t remember this. You’ll start over. You can have a second chance and my mind will be at ease.”

“A second chance at what? I cannot…I cannot love him. He is a machine.”

She shook her head. “No, you may have pushed a button, but he has become his own person, Lawry. He loves you, waits for you. You have no idea who he is because you avoid him like the plague. The things he learns on his own now are incredible. Did you know he took up piano because he wanted to play you a holiday song for the party?”

“It doesn’t matter whether or not he loves me! He still can’t be with me. I have damned myself. Don’t you get it, Aurora?”

“Yes, I get it just fine. You are making the biggest mistake you have ever made in your entire life.

“Excuse me?” Lawry stood. He was getting angry now. Why was she pushing this? It could never be.

Aurora pulled Pin’s memory chip out and laid it on the ground. “You heard what I said. He isn’t just a machine anymore. See for yourself.”

With that, Aurora pressed a kiss to Pin’s head, and left the room.

“Aurora, wait.” Lawry turned to the door, but the Naja was already gone. In her place a tiny chip.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In his bed, Lawry pressed play on the flat screen. Pin’s sub-memory chip plugged in, the Chief had scrolled down to Pin’s recorded memory—everything the droid had saved himself by will, not because of the system. The videos finished loading, Lawry’s office popped up on the screen.

He was sitting at his desk, conversing with Chief Fenzib while Pin watched. Fast forwarding, the droid had stood there for over an hour, the corresponding read out to the side of the screen was calculating his depression. Pin had wanted to see him, but once again he was busying himself on purpose.

Lawry put a hand over his mouth as the next screen shot was loaded. It was from the view of Pin’s bedroom window looking down at Lawry’s transport. He got into the craft, the door shut, a hand was pressed to the window with a strange muffled cry in the background. Pin missed him.

Hands drifted over a piano in the next video. Beautiful long fingers tapped the ivory keys perfectly, Lawry’s favorite holiday tune crisp and clear over the speakers. Pin stopped playing suddenly, standing to watch Lawry head right through the sitting room towards the hall. The droid stood there, looking at empty space until he finally walked to his room and shut the door. Out of the closet, he pulled Squish and hugged him to his chest before sliding down the wall in anguish. Lawry had once again ignored him—completely and utterly devastating the droid.

Another video, this time Pin had gloves on. Otis was teaching him about plants in the greenhouse. A thin rain suit covered Pin’s arms and torso. A potted rose was in his hands. Pin brought the flower to the artificial sun lamp, setting it down slowly.

“Do you think Lawry will like this color, Otis?” Pin asked with a happy tone.

Otis smiled. There was a warm cast in his eyes that Lawry had never noticed before. “I think he will love anything you give him, Pin.”

Someone sighed, it had to be Pin. Droids didn’t sigh, but Pin, he wasn’t just a droid anymore. Was he?

The next video was Pin walking fast down the hall. He ignored Aurora as she stepped into the hall. He kept walking until he rounded the hall to the greenhouse. He pulled his beautiful red velvet jacket off, folded it neatly and put it on the floor.  His replicated chemical make-up pumped hard through his system. He was mirroring anger and pain.

“He does not like red,” Pin whispered to himself. He went into the greenhouse, grabbed a pair of shears before snipping the gorgeous red bloom right from the stem. As if in slow motion, the flower fell to the ground, petals scattering around Pin’s feet.

This had been right after the droid had left his office. Lawry remembered telling Pin he didn’t like his new jacket just to get him to go away. He looked incredible in the jacket. Good enough to…no, no, no. This was his fault. All these terrible memories that Pin had stored. They were all his fault.

Throwing back the covers, Lawry hit the pause button and ran to Pin’s room. He put his head against the stained glass door and took a deep breath before he opened it. On the perfect single bed was his boy, completely lifeless save for a small whirring noise.  A small cord was hooked into the hidden monitor above the bed.

Tears pricked his eyes. Lawry went to the bedside and crawled over Pin’s still body. Wrapping himself to the droid’s side, he silently cried his guilt—asking forgiveness with his wet tears. How could they make this work? How!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As there were too many holidays to celebrate throughout the year, all of the foreign events had been meshed into two weeks at the beginning of January. This way everyone was allowed to have a vacation from all their duties and they were more productive throughout the rest of the year because of it.  Not that everyone’s duties were stressful, but it was nice all the same. The holiday was a huge deal and the house was coming together nicely.

Jemma was in the sitting room with Pin. He had just woken up from his third fritz of the week. That was what they were calling his random shutdowns. Seeming in good spirits after rebooting, Jemma had thought it would be nice to have Pin help her with the decorations. Buckets of lights were scattered around the floor, Pin sorting through them for the blue ones. They were his favorites so far.

He was so happy that Lawry had been there when he got up from his nap. The man had been fast asleep when Aurora had awoken him. His hand had been on Pin’s. It was…romantic, Pin smiled. Just like the media they were viewing in the sitting room. Jemma had acquired an old Earth movie from the space station’s library for him to watch. They were rare and it was to be a secret between them.

The film was black and white. A beautiful female looked into a male’s eyes. Her hand slipped over his cheek, her mouth moved closer. What was happening, Pin sat up straight.  Jemma turned around to see what had caught his attention and smiled.

“It’s called kissing.” She put down a packet of lights.

Their mouths connected seamlessly. Pin gasped. Something in his chest fluttered. He thought of Lawry. He wanted to show Lawry that he was special too. He wanted to…kiss Lawry.

Pin smiled and turned to Jemma. “Have you kissed a man before?”

She blushed a dark green. “Yes.”

“Did he like it? Did he feel special?” Pin turned his body to her.

Jemma giggled. “I should hope so. He kissed me back. That is always a good sign I think.”

“The people in the film are never apart, never sad.” He sighed. “I would like to feel like that too.”

Frowning a little, Jemma patted his hand with her tiny one. “Maybe one day, Pin. Why don’t we finish these lights?” She tried to change the subject. She hated to see Pin sad. He looked so helpless.

“You are hiding things from me too.  I have grown accustomed to that look.” He turned back to his own bucket. Standing, he carefully picked it up, needing to distance himself from her. “I will do the hall windows. I am tall enough to reach.”

“Pin, I didn’t say you couldn’t kiss someone. I just…”

“It is just another thing that will make me sick. Am I correct, Jemma?”

“It might.” She hung her head. “But I don’t know.”

He was depressed again. He had read up on the symptoms of this condition. As he refused to respond to Jemma anymore, because he could not raise his voice, he took his bucket and walked down the hall. With each tiny light that he stuck to the window, the fog grew thicker outside. Jemma had left him be for which he was grateful.

When he was about half finished with his bucket, blue lights glowed from beyond the windows meaning Lawry was home. Heels clicked down the hall, Aurora rounded the corner. Her face was serious, her hand grabbed Pin’s arm.

“Come along. We have to hurry.” She said quickly.

Pin dropped his bucket. “What? Why, Aurora? What’s wrong? You are hurting my arm.”

She pressed him into the wall once sheltered by a dark alcove. Her hand went over his mouth. Her eyes watched the other end of the hall in silence.  The door opened and Lawry walked through.  He was laughing. Pin never heard him laugh.  Another man followed him. He was tall, blonde, and big. His arm was around Lawry, his lips close to the Chief’s ear.

Pin relaxed into the wall, his eyes shut with pain. Lawry had found a new companion. That was why he did not want Pin anymore, because he was worthless, couldn’t do anything right, couldn’t be that blonde male. But what had he done wrong? That feeling returned—the need to release something that he could not understand.

Aurora’s eyes bore into his. She knew how he felt, her sadness was like his. Once the men had retired to Lawry’s room, Aurora let him go.

“Pin, I’m sorry if I hurt you.  It is just best that no one else finds out you are here.” She righted her scarf.

A plan formed in his head. He didn’t want to deceive his friend, but the pain was too bad to ignore this time. Something told him this was the only way to end it. “It is alright, Aurora. If you will excuse me, I would like to go to my room now.”

She squeezed his shoulder. “Are you sure? You could help me finish the lights in the kitchen.”

“No thank you. I am sorry, Aurora.” He looked at the ground.

“For what?” She frowned.

“For being sick, I am a burden to everyone including you.” She reached for him, but he side stepped her hand. “Excuse me.”

“Pin,” she whispered as he walked away. A tear slipped down her cheek. Damn you, Lawry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With Squish and his pajamas in his over-the-shoulder bag, Pin carefully unlocked the side door and slipped out. He had watched Malek do this many times when he went to greet Violet Redstar in the middle of the night. No one knew of their visits except for Pin, because he was always at his window when he wasn’t sleeping. His naps were at the strangest times of the day, but he wouldn’t have to take a nap anymore, not ever again.

The taxi service was still serviceable at the gate. Two men were smoking a cigarette against the craft, possibly waiting for another patron.  One had a top hat, red and black striped pants, and a black star drawn over his left eye. This was a tattoo, Pin smiled. He had never seen one in person, but found them to be interesting.

The other man had long red hair tied up with a piece of leather. He wore a black top with many holes in it—tiny silver objects were pinned onto the fabric. His pants were of dingy, tight leather and his boots were a dark grey—lacing up to his thighs. The two men smiled at each other as Pin approached out of the fog.

“Evenin, sir! How may we be of service? Lookin for a hot night out?  A bite to fill your stomach or perhaps a bite to service something else?” Top hat flicked his cigarette over the gate and bowed a little.

The other man grinned. “So, what’ll it be for a handsome sir like yourself? I bet you’re looking for a fine piece this hour of the night. Am I right?” The men laughed, their eyes darting to each other. “There’s a Weejan house not too far from here. Twenty Unis will get you a bed so full of em, it’ll make your eyes pop.”

“Why would I wish to nap with priests? I would think that highly disrespectful.” Pin frowned.

“Priests?” Top hat laughed. “Where in the Universal are you from? Just born yesterday?”

“Priests!” Red head barked and coughed, his smoke going down the wrong way. “Ah let me guess. You ‘s one em pretty bed warmin boys. They keeps em innocent and secret. You got a daddy back in there, pretty boy, on the run for bigger and better things?  Is he old and ugly?”

Pin shook his head. “I do not have a father. I do not understand.”

Top hat and Red head shared an evil look. “Why don’t you just come along with us then? We’ll take care of you, cause you seem kind of lost.  We know a place that you’ll fit in just fine.”

“A place I will fit in?” Pin smiled at the thought. A nagging feeling made him turn back to the house, the lights on before everyone turned in for the night. They would not miss him. This was better for all of them.

“Yeah, a real nice place too. A handsome fella like yourself will do real well there I would think and wait til you meet the boss. He’s real swell,” Red head replied.

Top hat smoothed his arm over Red’s back. “Yeah, real swell.” He pressed a kiss to Red’s neck, a laugh rumbling from both men.

“I wish to go with you then. Thank you for your invitation, I am Pin. It is nice to meet you both.” He stuck out his hand.

Top hat grabbed his hand and kissed it. “So formal.” He grinned.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Pin. I’m Five Star and this is Scarlett,” Top hot said.

The droid smiled wider. “What interesting names you both have.”

“Come on, pretty boy. Best get going before your daddy comes a callin.” Scarlett pushed Pin towards the open craft door.

The droid walked in the door, looking around at the three small benches and the low lighting. A soft music played.

“Pin!” A tiny voice screamed. “Pin! Get out of there now!” Jemma came rushing forward, her tiny wings flapping madly. “Pin!”

Five Star smirked and kicked the tiny pigme into the craft and slammed the door closed. A pressurized hiss sealed them in.

“Jemma!” Pin dropped to his knees to cradle Jemma’s tiny groaning form.  “Are you alright?”

“Pin, get out,” she wheezed. “Get out now.”

“But I…”

Both doors to the front shut, fast music lit up the cab, and the two drivers laughed—sharing a kiss before settling back in. “Ready baby?”

“Always, sugar,” Scarlett husked.

“They’re traders,” Jemma gasped. Her tiny hand gripped Pin’s. “We’re in trouble, Pin.”

The craft rumbled, a dropping feeling made Pin shut his eyes momentarily as they lifted into the air. Out the window, their home on the Fray grew smaller and smaller. His hand sealed over the window, his head hurt. Lawry. Oh no, Lawry, help us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chief Moore was trying to put the moves on him once again. How many times did he have to say no, Lawry rolled his eyes.

“Moore, I brought you in here to view the videos from the Koregg terrorist groups. I’ve been sent four in the past week and as Defense Chief you should be more focused on this.”

“When I have this delicious body to play with?” Moore ran his hand over Lawry’s clothed chest. The hand traveled lower before it was snatched away.

“No. You don’t have this body to play with! Now damn you, these videos are important! They’re declaring war on the Universal. Is it not bad enough that we are trying to deal with Naja kidnappings and the Koreggs all at the same time, now this? Get your head out of the ground, Moore and do your job!”

Moore growled. “You’re a fucking prude, Kladah. I know how to do my damned job. I don’t need you to tell me what to do. Now get over here.” Moore grabbed Lawry around the waist and pushed him into the bed.

“Tell me what to do,” Moore repeated with a sneer.  “I don’t think so, Lawry.”

Lawry screamed when he found he couldn’t move under the Defense Chief’s heavy legs. Moore tried to silence him, but he received a vicious bite to the hand. “You stupid fuck!”

Again Lawry screamed as loud as he could. The door burst open and he felt Moore step back. “What is the meaning of this?”

“If you don’t back away from Chief Kladah right now, it means you will burn to death,” Otis replied. He and Malek entered the room with their red light guns aimed at Moore’s head and chest. “Now!”

“Oh God,” Lawry gasped. He scrambled away from Moore to stand behind Malek and Otis. 

“Malek,” Otis directed. “Keep him here.”

“Got it.”

Otis backed out of the room, protecting Lawry as he did so. Shutting the door, he wrapped his arms around Lawry who was still shaking. “I don’t know whether to be grateful to Pin or hate him completely.”

“What?” Lawry pushed Otis away.

“We were getting ready to leave by taxi when Malek suggested we check on Pin and Jemma, see if she needed anything before we left. That’s when Aurora said Pin had, uh, gone to his room. It’s how we heard you screaming.”

“Otis, what is it!” Lawry’s heart raced even faster. “What about Pin?”

“Lawry, Jemma and Pin are missing. Our taxi is gone also.” Otis sighed. “We think they went to the station.”

“What!” Lawry screamed and started down the hall to grab his things. “Call Jemma, now!”

Otis caught up with his best friend and tugged him to a halt. “Lawry, stop.”

“I’ve already tried. Her communicator is here.” Otis pulled the small disc from his pocket. “And this was in Pin’s room.”

Handing over a folded piece of paper, Lawry grabbed it from Otis. Smoothing the small page out in his hand, tears came to his eyes. A perfectly drawn heart was penned in the middle. Underneath were the words: I’m sorry, Lawry.

“Pin…” Lawry whispered.

TO BE CONTINUED….