Untopia Sci/Fi OF PG Ch 7: pt 2

[Neko]

I'm sorry, I never uploded this to a convenent web site to show you all and it currently has 27 pages on MS Word.

I'll re post the first chapter and get it all up then I'll start updating, okay?

Chapter 1

Data’s AI program was forced online by the alarm at 7:00 AM. Grudgingly the small hazel eyed Program woke out of his sleep cycle and pushed back the covers on his bed. The pillow had plastered his sandy brown hair against his head and the pale blue pajama suit he wore was rumpled. All in all it was a perfect night in this new “bed.” Amazing how comfortable it was, much more comfortable then going into sleep mode standing up like his parents. Human technology may not have helped the Programs but their ideas sure did.

There was a knock on his door. “Data, up!” his mom called.

“I’m up! Give me a second; I’ll be down in a minute.” Data jumped out of bed and exchanged his pajama suit for a red school suit; it was time for another day in Digurb. The more society grew there, the more Data liked it. Even though his parents were unhappy about the changed that were taking place in the city, he saw no problem with integrating human ideas into the Program lifestyle.

Data ran downstairs and grabbed an energy bar to replenish what energy he didn’t restore during his sleep cycle. He chewed on the tough texture of the bar and marveled at how incredibly awesome it was to be able to taste. He grabbed his school bag and shut the door. “I’m going!” he called into the house to anyone who would listen and ran off to another school day.

He jogged along the cement sidewalk and looked around to see what the weather was since he didn’t have time to look at the news. The previous day, the setting was on light drizzle, making the sky grey and overcast. That day the holographic sky was clear and blue, perfect for exploring after school. The bigger the population grew in Digurb, the more trees, flowers, houses and buildings were created to suit the demand. The city was one of the fastest growing in the Utopian world. Data finally spotted his school building and ran towards it with new vigor, the city must have grown the night before, because his jog took two minutes longer.

Data ran into the school yard a good ten minutes before the bell rang. With extra time on his hands he looked around for some of his friends, he spotted a pretty oriental girl dressed in the same red school suit as he was. He ran across the holo-generated grass to greet his friend. “Hey, Bin-Bin!” He called in greeting, waving his arm frantically as he ran towards her.

Bin-Bin looked up and grinned. “Data! You’re later then usual. How was your first night in a bed?”

Data clasped his hands together in an exaggerated gesture. “Wonderful! It was like a sleep cycle from heaven.”

Bin-Bin laughed. Data blushed and grinned at his friend with a sheepish look on his face. In truth Bin-Bin was very pretty, with dark blue eyes and straight hair that fell to her waist in a waterfall of obsidian. He loved how Bin-Bin always looked kind, and happy, even when she was upset with him, she was so…” Data gave a start as Bin-Bin stood on tiptoe and waved her hand in his face. “Data, hello?”

Data blinked and looked at her. “Ah, sorry.” He said

“You know, you space out way to easily.” She said. “Come on, the bell is about to ring.” She turned and ran into the fake oak doors of the school.

Data followed her inside to another day of lectures and homework. Just as everyday had been for him, and everyone else his age, for fifteen years.

“… and so the Human race was wiped out fifteen years ago in the incident known as ‘The Great Disappearance.’ The Humans are all thought to be extinct, as one has not been seen in over fifteen years. However, in their absence, our society was born. Can anyone name the one who came up with the idea for Utopia?” Mrs. Fillers looked up from her book lecture. She was decked out in her white teaching suit and looked very imposing as she stood at her full height, glaring at her students over her glasses. Only, not one child was paying enough attention to feel awake, let alone scared. “Anyone?” she asked. Again, the sleepy class gave no reply; it seemed that they were all ready to enter their sleep cycles. It seemed she had to choose a student, a poor soul to answer the question. “Data, how about you?”

“Huh, wha?” Data babbled sleepily. Then he heard Bin-Bin’s giggle behind him.

“Who founded Utopia for us Programs?” she asked patiently.

“Uhhhh… wasn’t it some dude named Binary?” asked Data

Mrs. Fillers’ eyebrow twitched. “Yes indeed, his name was Binary, however, his title was Doctor, not ‘some dude.’”

The whole class giggle silently and Data wished for the ability to merge with the data that made up his desk so he would disappear.

“Now, Dr. Binary was known as the founding Program. He helped to develop the first city of our society known as Utopia.”

Bin-Bin leaned in to whisper to Data. “Haven’t we been taught this since we were like… created?” she asked.

“Well, maybe we just need to be reminded. Our history is pretty important.” Said Data

“Yeah, but we’re not Humans, we’re Programs, once we hear something we don’t forget, unless it’s removed from our memory manually. You’d think they’d change the lesson criteria if it’s this redundant…”

“Excuse me, but are you two quite done?” asked Mrs. Filler.

“Yes ma’am!” said Data and Bin-Bin quickly.

“Good, now no more interruptions. Okay, where was I…” Bin-Bin sniggered. “Ah yes, after the humans were wiped out due to unknown reasons we had to rise up and create our own society or be wiped out by the viruses, known today as the Re-Programs. Can someone tell me a major difference between the Re-Programs of then and today?”

Bin-Bin raised her hand, Mrs. Filler nodded at her and she stood up to address the question. “The Re-Programs also developed AI programs of their own after five years. They now reside under the Utopia but are too weak to do anything, even though some of out politicians are getting nervous.”

“Y-yes…” Mrs. Filler faltered. “That is true, however, the only being that can destroy us or Re-Programs are humans, and since there are no humans, we don’t have to worry. Now, Dr. Binary…”

“God, I think I’m gonna wipe my own memory just so I can re-learn all this stuff without being so bored.” Said Bin-Bin

Data just smiled.

When the final bell rang, the excited Programs poured out through the door like water from a dam.

“Finally!” said Bin-Bin, as she stretched her arms and legs. She and Data were some of the last students to trickle from the school. “Well, that was fun.” She said sarcastically.

Data laughed. “Well, it could have been worse.” He said

“Yeah?” Bin-Bin raised an eyebrow. “How?”

“We could have gotten the lecture on the Human society.” He pointed out.

“Ugh, you’re right. That’s even more redundant, I mean come on! Humans have been gone for fifteen years. It’s not like they’re gonna magically appear someday.”

Data nodded. “Oh yeah, I can see it now. Some poor paranoid human comes out of their fallout shelter to find a society in the cyber world.”

Bin-Bin laughed. “That poor human.”

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

“Rai!” an urgent voice was whispered into Rainbow’s ear. She grumbled and turned over on her makeshift bed on leaves. “Rai.” The voice came again. “Wake up.”

Rai squeaked and groaned. “I don’t wanna.” She whined, she was tired, it felt like only five minutes ago she had laid down for bed. Her brother looked at her with pity in his dark eyes. He sighed and pushed his long brown locks from his face.

“Rai, you need to get up. It’s almost light.” He said to his six year old sister.

“Just a little longer.” She said in a whisper, almost fast asleep, but just before she could drift off, she felt strong arms pick her up and cradle her. She leaned against her brother’s chest with her eyes still closed, sighing contentedly.

Skye looked down on her and felt his heart soften for a brief second. “Rai, you’ve got to get up. The light will get here soon, then we won’t be safe from the day predators.”

Rai sighed and slid from her brother’s grip. She dusted off her incredible dirty pink overalls and pulled on her shoes. Then she attempted to run her fingers through her long brown hair that reached past her waist.

Skye smiled and in a moment of weakness he picked up their makeshift bristle brush and squatted down to brush her hair. Rai quivered with delight as the brush and her brothers strong hands caressed her hair, and Skye allowed himself to relax for the first time in days.

“You know we can’t stay here and longer then we have.” Skye said softly.

Rai nodded. “Yeah, but when are we gonna be able to just stay in one place?” she asked in a bossy tone.

Skye gave a pained look that Rai couldn’t see. “Soon.” He said

Rai crossed her arms and sulked. “You always say that!” she said “Can we just stay in one of the old towns?”

“We’ve been through this, Rai. There is just too much wild life in the old towns. We can’t live there. We’ll know where we can stay when he get there.” He said firmly.

Rai sniffled and said something Rai almost couldn’t hear. “Yeah… but when?”

Skye smiled sadly and pocketed the brush. “I don’t know.” He whispered so Rai couldn’t hear.

Rai and Skye went around and picked up things from their makeshift camp. A few old blankets, a box of dry timber and nuts and berries for food was what they allowed themselves to carry. If they had anymore then they would be slowed down and that would spell a death sentence if they wanted to stay away from the hungry animals that roamed the area.

They had been searching for a town for days, even if they had little protection; they desperately needed the supplies they had to offer. Rai had lost weight in the previous month and her clothes were growing too small. Skye himself needed a decent meal or he wouldn’t last much longer himself. The truth was that there were no animals in the towns and cities they came across, but he knew better then to let himself be seen. The electronic beings inside the cities were the ones responsible for the wipeout of his race, he was sure of it, and he would go to hell and back before he handed his little sister to those monsters.

As they trekked across the forest floor they saw small birds and chipmunks chatter to one another in the trees. Skye relaxed and Rai ran around chasing after the small animals. As long as there was small wild life, that meant there were no predators. A cause for celebration indeed, Skye had noticed that in the past few days, there was no wild life around, he was afraid that they had walked into the middle of a wolf’s territory. But, luck was with him for once and they hiked in peace for the first time in weeks.

Eventually, the trees thinned out and they came to an open clearing that looked upon a ruined city. But to Rainbow and Skye, it looked like paradise. “Yay!” Rai shrieked.

Skye allowed himself the luxury of a small smile and reached for Rai’s hand, which she gladly took. “Okay, you remember the rules right?” Skye asked and Rai nodded. “Tell me, then.”

“No leaving your side until you say so. When you drop me off I am to stay in that exact place. No making loud noises and no falling asleep, and if I see anything suspicious I’m to run and hide in a place where no one can see me, until you come back.”

Skye nodded. “Yes, very good. Let’s get going, we’ll have a feast tonight.” He said enthusiastically.

“Yay!” Rai said again. Her stomach rumbled its consent.

Skye led her down into the town right before dark. Foraging at night was much safer then foraging during the day. He looked around the ghost town and gave a loud whistle that reverberated off the tall buildings. It was by far the largest city he had been to and Rai seemed equally impressed.

“Skye, can I come with you? Just this once?” she asked.

Skye looked down at her and smiled sadly. “Not yet, once you’re older you will.”

“But…” she started

Skye shook his head silently and continued to lead her through the town. After about ten minutes of wandering they came across a grand building. There were lions in from of it and large marble steps led up to four sets of doors that led to who knew where. Skye grinned and walked up the steps pulling Rai behind him. She was intimidated by the large building and went along rather reluctantly. As they went inside the large building Skye saw that it was infact, a library. There were stories of books, all covered in blankets of dust, although some were scattered on the floor as if they had been dropped. “You can stay here.” He said finally.

“What? But this place is so creepy!” Rai said. “Just look at it. It’s like a dead place.”

“A cemetery?”

“Yeah, that. Come on, I don’t want to stay here. Why this place?”

“Because, it has heavy security and if you stay here I can find you easily.”

Rai sighed and nodded. “All right, but come back soon, please?” she clasped her hands and looked up at her brother.

Skye knelt down and hugged his sister. “I promise.” He whispered into her ear. “I promise I will come back, and nothing will happen to you. I also will come back with some new clothes!” he added, trying to make it sound fun.

Rai nodded vigorously, her eyes filling with tears.

Skye smiled. “I’ll be back in a few hours at the most.” Then he turned and walked out the door, leaving Rai alone with only her thoughts as company.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Skye ran along the empty streets pondering his father’s final words. ‘We came from dust, and to dust shall we return…’ It seemed such an odd thing to say, especially at the hour of his death. Some hidden message maybe?

Skye ran up to a large building that looked like it might have been a store at some point. The empty windows were caked with dust and the earth had almost claimed the land as her own once again but the structure seemed stable enough. He went up to the skeletons of the doors that once welcomed millions and put his foot inside cautiously.

The floor didn’t give under the pressure so he put his full weight onto it and stepped inside. He pushed through the vines covering the doors and walked into the cavernous hall. Skye gave a loud whistle as he walked through the dust laden hall, his foot steps echoing with each step taken. The whistle reverberated as loud as a trumpet blast and came back to meet his ears, some dust shook from the ceiling telling Skye that the building was not architecturally sound. His best bet was to gather what he needed and get out of there quickly.

He stepped up to the first set of doors, frozen half way. It was up to Skye to guess whether they were opening or closing when they stopped working. He walked into the store and saw to his joy that it was full of kid’s clothes. Small dresses, pants, shorts, shirts and even shoes lined the walls of the once cheerful place. Every piece of clothing was inlaid with a decade’s worth of dust, but none were torn or unable to be used, he knew that it was a lucky find.

He walked through the store picking up shirts, underwear, socks, shoes and pants for Rai. He got some in the sizes she needed and some in sizes that were much too big, but he needed to start planning for her growth spurts. It was getting more and more dangerous in the cities.

He found a shopping cart standing in the middle of the store as if it was being pushed and the user abandoned it. Strange, he thought.

Nonetheless he put the clothes into the cart and wheeled it, only to find that it wouldn’t budge. He cursed and realized that Mother Nature had rusted the wheels in place. So much for that idea.

He picked up the clothes and looked around for another container. He was in luck, a few feet away there was a hand basket that was dropped on its side, baby clothes spilling out. He sighed and poured out the contents replacing them with his own. He straightened up and walked out of the store in search of other useful items.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Data and Bin-Bin ran home to change into their purple play suits and made plans to meet up at the park. Ten minutes later they were laughing and playing on the monkey bars.

“I can’t believe these things are called ‘monkey’ bars. What is a monkey anyway?” asked Data.

Bin-Bin hung from her knees on the first bar. She shrugged upside down and laughed. “I heard they were little furry animals that humans descended from.”

“Really? Weird.” Laughed Data

“Yeah I know!” said Bin-Bin “I mean, we have cats and dogs but where are all the other animals we hear about? Lions, wolves, big beasts!”

Data jumped off the monkey bars and looked thoughtful, “I don’t think I’d like to have those kinds of animals in this place. They might delete us!”

Bin-Bin grabbed the bar with her hands and did a neat back flip off of them. She landed on her feet with her arms in the air as a gymnast would. Data clapped and she gave a mocking bow. “You know what I think?” she said. Data shook his head. “I think that even if they were in here, we would have no problem taming them! I mean, come on, it wouldn’t be that hard. Humans tamed lions and wolves didn’t they?”

Data looked apprehensive. “Yeah but… still. I’m glad just having cats, dogs and fish. That’s all we really need anyway.”

Bin-Bin looked at Data devilishly. “You know, I heard that the big animals still exist on earth. They prowl the dead human cities and travel in big groups looking for food.”

Data shivered. “Well, that’s creepy.” He said

Bin-Bin laughed. “I bet you wouldn’t last ten minutes in a human computer. You’d probably scare yourself into deletion if you ever saw an animal.” She said

“Hey! I could so!” Data said

“Yeah, right. Data, you’re sweet, but seriously, you are not hero material.” Bin-Bin said.

“That’s what you think!” said Data pointing at her. “Well, I’ll show you! I’ll go into a human computer!”

Bin-Bin laughed. “How would you get through security? They line the city borders day and night.”

Data crossed his arms. “I’d get through. I know a way out.”

Bin-Bin shrugged. “Eh, your funeral. Don’t come crying to me when you get caught.”

Data blinked. “You’re not coming?”

“What, are you crazy? Of course not! I don’t have any particular want to need to see the human world, regardless of what’s there.” She said waving her hand in a careless manner.

“W-what? Then how am I supposed to prove I went there?” asked Data exasperatedly.

Bin-Bin looked at him. “What, you’re serious?” Data nodded. Bin-Bin was thrown off her normally cocky attitude. “Data, that’s suicide! You can’t get past those trigger happy guards, and even if you did, whose to say that a Re-Program wouldn’t get you?”

“I’ll do it. I’ll get a picture of an animal for you!” Data said proudly.

Bin-Bin was at a loss for words. Then she grabbed Data by the shoulders, squeezing them tightly. “Data,” she hissed. “Your life is more important to me then a few pictures that I can probably get online. Don’t do it, promise me?”

Data looked down. Bin-Bin gave him a shake, forcing Data to look in her eyes. “Promise me!” she said

Data nodded.

“Say it.” She whispered.

“I promise.”

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Skye continued his little scavenger hunt through the mall. The term ‘scavenger hunt’ being used in every sense, for indeed he was a scavenger, the crow or hyena of the human race. Oh how far the species had fallen.

He poked his head into other stores, finding only C.D.’s or earrings or worse yet complete home entertaining systems on display. Such things were useless to him as the electricity had run out about six months before he was born. What he needed to find was a store with non perishable foods still available, clothes for him, or better yet non perishable foods that he and Rai could eat.

Feeling put down as he walked towards the last store, he was ready to just turn around and go pick up his sister before the light reached the sky. But when he poked his head in to see what it had, he felt as if he had died and gone to heaven. The store had food on one side and clothes on the other. He quickly ran inside with his little basket clanging in his arms. He ran to the food first, looking around wildly. He saw boxes and boxes of grain bars, canned foods and even some tightly bottled liquids that looked okay from his point of view. He knew he couldn’t pass up such an opportunity and he loaded on as many of the items as he could. He forgot about the clothes on the other side, dismissing the thought from his head. The important thing was that he had food, and so much of it too. He made mental plans to come into the store on their way out to get some new shoes for himself, then he quickly hightailed it out of the store to his sister.

“Don’t worry Rai,” he said to himself, “I’m coming.”

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Data had set his internal alarm clock to wake him up in the middle of the night. As his consciousness was jarred online, he quickly turned off the frequency so as to not wake his parents.

Data slipped out of bed and put on his one and only black battle suit. It was equipped with standard gun weaponry used by police force Programs on a regular basis. A fifteen year old Program however, had no business using such weapons. His combat training was very informal and basically was ‘if you are ever attacked by a Re-Program, hit it with this and scream bloody murder.’ However, he did know how to use the sword strapped to his belt to some degree thanks to Bin-Bin. If all he knew was the sword, then so be it. He applied the camera data to his system and silently glided out the door.

He had only stepped a few feet from his house when a patrol car pulled onto his street. Data quickly dived behind some bushes, praying that he didn’t make enough noise to alert the policemen. After the car had passed, Data caught his breath and plunged on taking great care to stay in the shadows of the houses.

Five more times he almost met with patrol cars. Data was starting to wonder just exactly why there was so much security; it wasn’t like the neighborhood was under a direct attack or anything. It didn’t matter to him anyway; he soon got to the border of the city and saw the guards standing shoulder to shoulder looking in. They were all in black military uniforms, not unlike Data’s own, but theirs were a little different. For one, they had stripes on them; the stripes that ran down the length of the sleeves indicated the rank that the soldiers were at. Data gulped, a few had twenty stripes and the guns they were holding looked awfully big. Maybe sneaking out wasn’t such a good idea after all.

Data shook his head. No, he had to go out; he wanted to see the animals. He wanted to impress Bin-Bin.

Data gulped and looked for the hole that was rumored to be in the area. He scanned the street with his night vision and found it, resting safely beneath at the feet of a particularly malevolent looking soldier.

Data jumped as the soldier shifted his glare to the shrubbery that he was hiding in. He knew he couldn’t be seen, but there was something unnerving about his glare. Just before Data was about to turn around and go home, another soldier came up and slapped the big one on the shoulder.

“Hey, Bear, go get some rest. You’ve been out here for three days.” He said in a friendly tone.

The solider, Bear as he was called, looked down on the small guy and for a second Data wondered if he was going to rip the small guy apart. But then he gave him a big smile and slapped him on the back, effectively emptying his lungs.

“Hey thanks Mouse. I could use the break.” He said in a deep voice.

Mouse coughed and wheezed. “N-no problem there big guy.”

Bear walked off and Mouse looked at his watch, Data took the opportunity to zip down into the hole. For a second he was worried if he was seen but once inside, he didn’t hear anything following his entrance.

Data’s breath came in gasps as he slid down the hole; he vaguely wondered where he would end up. But no time for that, he needed to concentrate on figuring out how to use the camera data he just got.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Rai was sitting quietly in a big red chair as he waited for her brother to come back. She had no idea when he was planning on coming for her, but the longest he was ever gone was 24 hours, she knew she didn’t need to worry.

It was herself she was nervous about, she was so tired that she was worried she might fall asleep, but in all their years of traveling, she had never fallen asleep once, and she intended to keep all her promises with her brother.

She stifled another yawn and stood up; the chair was just too comfortable to sit in any longer. She stood up and started to march in place to get her blood flowing again. She heard a crackle and looked to the door in hope. Skye was back and right before day break too.

Only, there was no Skye, only air. She saw a box glow softly and heard the sound again. She crept towards it like a cat, staying as quiet as she could. Maybe it was a new animal, or maybe it was a ‘machine’ her brother told her so much about. Either way it was a force to be reckoned with.

One last sound came from the box, and then she saw a small boy land on his back in the bottom of the box. She looked at him and he opened his eyes to look at her. They stared for a few seconds then they both started to scream.
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Neko]

>.>; I'll just post chapter two. The rest of chapter three will be written soon I promise.

Skye heard his sister’s yell and ran as fast as he could towards the bone chilling sound. He ran into the main room that he had left her in and looked wildly around for what was making her scream. He heard a twin voice coming from a box and gave it a closer look. He saw a small boy in a black suit inside the computer staring wide eyed at him. “H-hu-human!” he yelled.

Skye blanched and ran to the box; he quickly searched for the cord that he knew gave it power. He wrapped his fingers around the long, thick string and pulled. The box went blank leaving the poor Program in complete darkness.

Rai ran up to her older brother and grabbed his leg in a tight hug. “Skye,” she sobbed, “what was that?”

Skye’s eyes narrowed. “That was a Program, the abominations that wiped out our brethren.”

Rai looked up at him like he was crazy. “Wh-what do you mean?”

Skye looked down at her and his gaze softened. She didn’t need to know what had happened, not yet anyway. “Nothing.” He said. “Trust me, its nothing, but we need to get out of here.”

“Why? We just got here! It’s warm and safer in here, can’t we stay, please?” she begged.

“I’m sorry, but no. We can’t risk getting caught when that thing’s friends come to save it.” He said softly.

“But…” Rai started.

Skye knelt down and put his hands onto his sister’s shoulders. “Rai,” he said softly. “We can’t stay. I’m so sorry, I know you wanted to.” He looked at the dark screen on the box. “But we can’t, I promise we’ll stay for two days in the next city.” He said

Rai’s eyes grew big with tears. “Really?”

Skye nodded. “Yes, but now we have to go.” He took her hand. “Let’s go.” Rai threw one last glance at the box and followed her brother.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/

Data sat inside of the computer shaking. He couldn’t believe it, there were actually still humans that lived and breathed and did all that stuff humans do. But, they looked so horrible; the little one was so thin. She was also as scared of him as he was of her. Data shivered and looked around for a way out of the monitor, there must have been some kind of link somewhere.

Data searched around the old computer connection. He winced at how eroded it was, the link he had found hadn’t been used in over fifteen years. Not that he wasn’t surprised, but still, forcing himself through a half gone link wasn’t something he really wanted to do. Regardless, he took a deep breath and focused on the small opening. His body melted away and went into the link, speeding along it at an impossibly slow speed.

‘Can’t this thing go any faster?’ he thought to himself as he went through the link.

He slowly inched along and eventually he found his pixels being discarded into another computer that was on. He slowly rebuilt himself on the other side and came out looking worse for the wear. Every part of his body was in some kind of pain, and his mind sensors screamed at him to return to his city.

Not that he would listen. “Humans.” He breathed. “Humans are still alive. I don’t believe it!” He looked around at the links that were not terminated in the computer that he was currently in. He found two going to Utopia and one leading elsewhere. He couldn’t trace the third link all the way to its destination but he found his curiosity get the better of him. The link was bigger and more whole then the one he had just gone through so it should be easy going, maybe he wouldn’t even have to splice his data to get through.

Nothing ventured nothing gained right?

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Data came out on the other end of the link in a heap. He fell a good twenty feet before landing on his back and effectively loosing all grip on reality for a few seconds. He got up, groaning and rubbing his head. Then he took an assessment of where he was, he glanced around for a visual and found one through red tinted glass. He pressed his face against the red window and looked out.

Data drew his breath in sharply as he saw the out side. The only phrase he could use to describe it was ‘dangerously beautiful.’ The landscape he viewed showed him half crumbling buildings and seemingly abandoned cars dotting the eroded streets. In the background behind the city was a gorgeous forest, filled with trees other foliage as far as his eyes would allow. In the final layer were purple, ruby, orange, rose and countless other colors all blended haphazardly in the most beautiful sunrise Data had ever seen in his life. Utopia had nothing on this place, nothing at all.

“How long will we be in the green land again?”

Data jumped at the small voice. He looked down the road to see the two humans he had met earlier coming straight at him. He saw the taller one ponder the younger one’s question.

“I don’t know. Depends on how close a big city is to this place. Maybe a few days, maybe a few weeks, maybe even a couple of months.” He said gently.

Data saw the other one look as if she was about to burst into tears. “M-months?” she hiccupped.

The taller one quickly tried to console her. “W-well, I’m not sure. It could be possible but who knows? Humans built a lot of cities near each other in the old days, before we were born. There could be one two days away from here.”

The smaller one finally lost it. “I don’t wanna leave!” she started to cry. “I wanna stay here! It’s w-warm here a-and there’s s-stuff to do. I-I’ll be g-good! P-please, Skye!” she continued to sob and the taller one dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around her as she cried into his shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, Rainbow. I really am, but we were seen. They’ll come after us in a few hours, our best bet is to leave now and take risks later.” He said while stroking her hair.

“B-but I-I’m hungry! W-why won’t they l-let me e-eat!” she said, hiccupping uncontrollably.

Data felt really bad. He showed up and now they were leaving all because of him, maybe it was their home. He didn’t know, but he did know that they deserved to stay there. He coughed and spoke up. “Um, you really don’t have to leave because of me.” He called out.

Skye and Rainbow looked up from what they thought was a private moment and wildly tried to find the source of the voice. “Wh-where are you?” asked Skye, his voice quivering.

Data laughed. “I’m up here silly! I’m just here to get some pictures of real animals for my friend. Then I’ll leave you alone.”

Skye looked up to where he thought the voice was from and saw a traffic light dangling above their heads. “Who are you?” he asked.

“I’m Data! I live in Digurb and go to the Digurb Academy for my education. I’m fifteen human years old and I have two parents, a mom and a dad. I am pleased to make the acquaintance of two humans.” He waved too, but he wasn’t sure if they saw.

Rai and Sky gave the stop light a strange look and Rai hid behind her older brother. “Skye, why is that light talking to us?” she asked.

Skye narrowed his gaze. “That’s no traffic light; it’s the Program that we locked in the monitor screen.”

Rai looked up. “So, it’s that funny little man!” she said brightly.

Data laughed. “No, not quite like that.”

Rai didn’t listen; instead she waved at the traffic light. “Hi, funny little man!” she called.

Skye grabbed her and turned around to run. “We’re getting out of here.” He said.

“W-wait!” called Data. “I promise I won’t tell anyone you’re here. Please don’t run away because of me.”

Skye loosened up and turned around. If talking to a stoplight wasn’t the strangest thing he had done in his life, he didn’t know what was. “Why are you being so nice?” he asked suspiciously.

“Why not?” replied Data. “There is no reason for me to be hostile towards you, except for the pain I’m feeling by forcing myself through that small link but besides that I don’t know why I should not like you.”

Skye warily put Rai down behind him. “Okay,” he called up, “Then prove to me that you don’t mean us harm.”

Data looked a little perturbed. “How do I do that?” he asked.

Rai danced around Skye. “Oh, oh, I know! Make the promise rhyme!” she said happily.

“Promise rhyme?” Data asked, intrigued.

Rai nodded. “Yeup, say ‘I promise with all my heart, that I’m saying the truth or may wild beasts tear me apart!’” she said cheerfully.

Data looked a little disturbed. “That’s a little morbid, isn’t it?” he asked.

Skye sighed. “Our mom taught it to her when she was three.”

“Say it!” said Rai.

Data sighed. “Okay, okay. ‘I promise with all my heart, that I’m saying the truth or may wild beasts tear me apart.’”

“Now say what you promise!” said Rai in her best grown up voice.

“I promise that I won’t tell anyone that you’re here. Now, please don’t run away, I don’t mean any harm.” Pleaded Data.

Skye sighed. “All right, but can we go back to the library, it feels weird talking to a stoplight.”

Data laughed. “Yeah, it’s not too comfortable in here either. It feels like a prison cell.”

/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Data was the first one to get back to the library and he sat down in the monitor waiting for his new friends. While he was waiting he quickly wrote a fake e-mail to his teacher saying that he was staying home due to personal injury, and e-mail to his parents saying that he spent the night at Bin-Bin’s and he went to school from there and an apology e-mail to Bin-Bin promising that he would explain everything that had happened the previous night if she played along.

After he sent the last e-mail Skye and Rai came into the library. Rai was running in front of her brother who was carrying the packages that he had previously been carrying before he heard his sister’s scream.

Skye set down the packages on a plush red chair that had years of dust caked on the fake leather. He made a face as the dirt smeared onto Rai’s already filthy pink overalls, but decided to over look it seeing as how he had gotten her new clothes.

Rai sat down in front of the computer and looked at Data. “You look funny, what’s your name?” she asked.

Data was taken a back by the first comment. “M-my name is Data. What’s yours?”

“My name is Rainbow! But my big brother calls me Rai for short.” She smiled.

Data looked at where Skye was now unloading his goods. “What’s your name?” he asked.

Skye turned around and glared at Data until he started to shift uncomfortably. “My name is Skye.”

“Oh, Rainbow and Skye, nice names.” Data said.

Rai giggled, “Data is a weird name. Does it mean anything?”

“Actually, yes it does, but I don’t think you would understand.” Data said, smiling.

Rai crossed her arms. “Yes, I would. I know a lot of things!”

Skye cleared his throat. “Rai, come here, I got you new clothes.”

Rai ran over to her brother and he proceeded to take off her dirt encrusted clothes. Data looked horrified and quickly turned around. “What are you doing?” he said loudly.

Skye looked annoyed and continued to take off the clothes. “I’m making sure my sister has clean clothes that fit her. Got a problem with that, Program?” he spat out the last word like it was a curse.

Data eyes widened even though he still had his back turned to the scene. “What did I do? I just can’t believe that you would take off your own sister’s clothes!”

“Listen, I’ve been taking care of Rai for two years and been doing a damn good job of it. I clean and clothe her as I see fit, you have no right to come here and say what I should do. Understand?” he growled.

Data nodded; petrified, “Perfectly.”

“Good, now you can turn around if you want, she’s clean,” said Skye.

Data turned around and looked at Rai, she was indeed a lot cleaner looking, with a new set of overalls and a clean shirt. Skye pulled her into his lap and took out a washbasin filled with water. “Where did you get that?” asked Data.

“This place miraculously still has running water, I drew some to wash us off with, because we’re human,” said Skye, taking his sister’s old shirt and ripping it into small rags.

“You know, you don’t have to be so mean,” said Data in a huff. “I’m just trying to be nice you know.”

“Excuse me for not wanting to be nice to a race that wiped out my people!” Skye yelled.

Data turned white. “Wh-what do you mean?” he whispered.

“You heard me!” said Skye; all thoughts of the water and getting clean were now forgotten. “It was the Programs that killed off the humans. I know, my dad witnessed it first hand.”

“Yo-you’re lying!” yelled Data. “Programs would never do that! We, we just wanted to have our own society!”

“So you killed off six billion sentient beings to get your little society. I already know all about that; so don’t think you can say your hands are not soiled,” said Skye angrily.

Data opened his mouth to yell back but Rai cut in. “Don’t fight!” she yelled.

Both boys were stunned into silence by the little girl. “R-rainbow…” said Skye softly.

“Skye, I just want to stay in a nice place for a few days, please? I know that the computer people are the one’s you’re scared of, but he’s not mean, and I don’t want to sleep outside tonight,” his little sister pleaded.

Data was shocked. “Wait, you were going to leave this place because of me?” he asked softly.

Skye snorted. “Of course, who knows what the almighty programs can do to us pitiful humans.”

Data’s eyes flashed. “That’s not fair; I just wanted to get a picture of an animal to show to my best friend.”

Skye chuckled without humor and turned back to the wash basin ringing out the rag. “Such a lovely world where all you have to think about is impressing your friend huh?” he asked.

Data looked at them, and for the first time saw just how bad their lives must have been. They were scavenging for food and clothes in a crumbling city and with how paranoid the older brother was he probably rarely let them sleep in such places. As much as Data hated to admit it, Skye was right, his life was a joke compared to theirs.

“Well, you didn’t have to say it like that,” Data muttered, crossing his arms.

Skye started to wash Rai’s face and hands as he replied, “Yes I did. I know a lot about your little culture; you’re so sheltered that you don’t even know what a ‘real’ animal looks like. Now what does that say about your society?”

Data became flustered, “It means that they care about us and they don’t want us to get hurt!” he said.

“Try again, Data, it means that they don’t want you to know about certain things,” said Skye as he rubbed his sister’s skin pink.

Data sighed, “Well, why?” he asked.

Skye shrugged. “I don’t know what goes on in the heads of your leaders. I just know that your society is a lot more messed up then you people think it is.”

Data looked at Skye suspiciously. “How do you know so much about Utopia?” he asked.

Skye shrugged again. “Since I was going to hide our existence from you, I needed to make sure that I knew who I was dealing with. That included research and knowing what you people were.”

Data looked downcast, “Oh.”

Skye shrugged, and picked up a new pink hairbrush that he had gotten at the store and wet it in the water. “Not that it matters, you found us anyway. So, you can run home to mommy and tell her that humans exist or you can not tell and let us go on our merry way. I can also tell you which one you will choose if you know what’s good for you.”

Data looked offended. “Hey, you can’t bully me! I make my own decisions and I don’t think you’re in any position to tell me what to do.”

Rai spoke for the first time, “Data, you’re not gonna tell other Programs who we are, are you?” she asked. “You promised, remember?”

“Well, I…” Data couldn’t speak.

Skye smiled and started to run the brush through his sister’s long hair. “Rai, I don’t think he understands compassion.”

Data shook with anger. “I’ve had enough of you insulting me like that, what if I do tell?”

“Then you are no better then your predecessor,” Skye replied.

The answer shocked Data into another silence. He was right, if a Program really did kill all the humans just for his benefit, then would he be any better? “All right, I won’t tell. Even though I already promised,” he muttered under his breath.

“Thank you so very much,” said Skye sarcastically.

Data crossed his arms. “Yeah well, I don’t like feeling guilty. So, uhhh, may I ask why you’re not dead?”

Skye smiled, “Can I ask why the Program society felt the need to develop genders?”

Data blushed again. “Okay, I get it. Why would you want to know that of all things?”

“Didn’t you hate humans? Why are you trying to be more like them? It doesn’t make sense,” said Skye.

Data thought about it for the first time. He was right, it didn’t make sense. Why would the Program society feel the need to act like humans?

“Makes you think, huh?” said Skye.

There was a long silence for awhile. Skye continued to brush the dirt and leaves out of Rai’s hair and wet it down so it would be easier to clean once he got his hands on some soap. He would have to go scavenging for those kinds of things the next day; hopefully the shampoo and other toiletries hadn’t been destroyed.

After he finished wetting down her hair and cleaned it to his preference, he started to wind the long strands together in a braid. Data was intrigued, Skye was so cruel yet he was so gentle, that was another thing that didn’t make sense to Data. So many things about his world and this were starting to confuse him. Why was he lied to his entire life? Why were the humans killed? Why were the Programs starting to become like humans? So many unanswered questions, and so many unknown answers.

Data watched as Skye finished braiding Rai’s hair and then putting her to bed. Her bed was a beat up old couch that people had probably read on so many years ago. To Rai it was the most comfortable thing she had ever been given the pleasure to sleep on. Skye pulled a blanket from that day’s huntings and wrapped her tightly in it. He kissed her goodnight and went over to where Data was in the computer.

They sat together for the next half an hour watching the small girl drift off to sleep. When Skye knew she had fallen asleep he turned to Data. “Listen, I know you are curious and I know there are a lot of things you want answered. But if you truly want to know, you will have to earn it. I never give my trust to anything willingly, understand? I have to protect myself and Rai.”

Data nodded, “I understand. I’m sorry I was so rude earlier, I had no idea…” his voice trailed off.

For the first time Data saw Skye give him a real smile. “It’s okay, I’m sure you’re confused, just a product of your culture. It’s not your fault, but I’m still going to be careful around you.”

Data smiled back. “Fair enough, are you going to bed?”

Skye nodded. “In a bit, I want to go through the things I hunted today.”

“Hunted?” Data asked.

“Yeah, things I get from old stores that have actually survived the years. Things like clothes, non perishable food, not much of that left, tools and other things,” Skye explained.

Data was amazed they were having a civil conversation. “Is it dangerous?” he asked.

Skye thought about it. “Well, it can be, but not all the time. It’s mostly trying to get enough for us to survive off of in the forest. You can never know how far or close cities are together.”

“That makes sense. Hey! I know, I can go through the computers of the old stores and tell you if there is anything in them tomorrow!” said Data excitedly.

Skye looked at him, distrust in his eyes. “I don’t know, that’s not a good idea.”

“Come one, please? You said I have to earn your trust, then how about this, it’s not like I can do anything to you in a human store register.” Data clasped his hands together; it was just the kind of adventure he was looking for.

Skye sighed, “We’ll see, I’ll tell you my decision in the morning.”

Data nodded. “Okay, I can live with that. See you in the morning,” he said.

Skye watched Data go into his sleep mode and then he lay down on his own couch-bed. ‘Maybe he isn’t so bad after all,’ he thought.
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Neko]

Data slowly opened his eyes to the new day. The first thing he saw was a sunrise through the large windows of the library. It was spectacular; the bright beams looked like bars of gold in the small room. There were red, orange and yellow hues playing with the light as the giant golden sphere rose into the sky. Data had read about such majesty in his text books, but witnessing it first hand was breathtaking.

When a small sunbeam sliced across Rai’s eyes, she groaned and turned over on her couch and drawing the blanket tightly around her. As the small beam went further across the room she continued to turn to escape its blinding brightness, eventually falling off the couch with a soft thump.

“Rai, are you all right?” Data called out to her.

Rai poked her head from the blanket and nodded sleepily, and then she climbed back into the bed and fell asleep. Data smiled and continued to watch the sun on its journey to the top of the sky. The reds and oranges here long gone but the sun had always been a point of fascination with Data. A big ball of gas being the sustaining point of such a vast eco system, it was almost to mind boggling to think about.

Sky sat up and rubbed his eyes sleepily. In that moment of vulnerability, Data saw that Skye was truly just about his age. It was amazing to think about him taking care of his sister for two years. That meant that two years ago a thirteen year old and a three year old were traversing the forest trying to survive on what their ancestors had left them. What amazing willpower, truly.

Skye yawned and quickly adopted his usual expressionless face. “So ready to go?” he asked.

Data was puzzled. “Go? Go where?” he inquired.

Skye looked at him with an annoyed expression on his face. “You said you wanted to go scavenging with me, remember?”

Data jumped up, very excited. “Really? I thought for sure you were gonna say no!”

Skye shook his head, “I can use the help, that’s my only reason.”

Data nodded, “Thanks for taking me. I promise I won’t let you down!”

Skye rolled his eyes, “And no talking unless I tell you to.”

Data smiled and nodded his head again. “No talking got it.”

Skye went over to Rai and knelt down so he could whisper into her ear. “I’m going scavenging right now; I’ll be back before noon, okay?”

Rai nodded sleepily, “Okay, good luck Skye.”

Skye smiled, “Always,” he whispered. Then he straightened up, “Now we need to find a way to get you to the store.”

“Can’t I just find a link there?” Data asked.

Skye shook his head. “I wouldn’t chance it if I were you. You said yesterday that getting out of the monitor was hard because of how eroded it was. Think about that times ten all over the city.”

Data winced at the thought. “Okay I get it, bad idea. So how will I go with you then?”

Skye started to rummage through the desks that dotted the vast room. On his fifth desk he found what he was looking for and he straightened up and showed Data his prize. “This is how,” he said holding up a handheld computer. “Think you could fit into it?” he asked.

Data eyes the small computer warily. “I don’t know, it’s awfully small,” he said in an unsure tone.

Skye actually smiled at the remark. “Small but spacious, here I’ll show you.” He plugged the small device into the larger computer. Data checked its size and gave a whistle of appreciation.

“Wow,” he said “How could humans make something so small with so much room?”

Skye shook his head. “I don’t know, we really never got the chance to carry on the legacy. So are you coming or not?”

Data decided to ignore the first comment and went into the link and appeared on the screen of the handheld. “This place is a big as my house!” he said in amazement.

Skye didn’t say anything but instead unplugged the device and pocketed the mini computer. Then he walked out of the library onto the foreboding streets of the abandoned city. As he walked towards a store plaza he found yesterday Data talked to him from his little room.

“So, how do you know so much about technology?” he asked.

“My mom and dad lived before the humans disappeared; my mom was the one that taught me about how life was like before it happened. She never could really let the past go,” he said simply.

“Oh,” said Data softly. “So, how come your parents aren’t here?” he asked.

Skye cleared his throat, “What’s with all the personal questions?”

“Well, I’m just curious I guess. It’s amazing to see that humans still exist, tell me this much, were you born after the humans disappeared?” Data’s mind burned with so many unanswered questions.

Skye sighed, “Yes, I was, now no more questions. I thought we agreed you wouldn’t talk.”

“Right, I’m sorry,” he said.

They walked the rest of the way in silence, making Data almost half crazy with boredom. It was no better then being in school, which was saying something. ‘Oh no,’ Data thought ‘I bet Bin-Bin will come after me if I don’t show up in school today! But can she get past the guards undetected?’ Data crossed his fingers. ‘I hope not.’

Skye walked up to the old doors, they were frozen open and the weather had done its worst on the inside. Skye groaned and walked out of the store in search of another.

“Why are we leaving?” asked Data.

“The weather had pretty much destroyed anything we can use in there,” Skye replied.

“So where will we go now?”

“I noticed another small store down the road a few blocks past, we can see how bad or good things are there,” he replied.

“Is it always like this?”

“You’re very curious aren’t you?” asked Skye, slightly annoyed.

“You’re very mysterious, I can’t help it,” Data replied with a small laugh.

Skye sighed, “All right, fine. About 50% of the stores we will look in today will either be empty or destroyed. It depends on what kind of store it is and if any of the widows and doors were open at the time they stopped working.”

“Okay, so what do you mean by what kind of store it is?”

“Well, for example, book stores and grocery stores had perishable items unless the doors were shut really tight, in which case we couldn’t get in even if we wanted too, and the grocery stores are beyond any hope. Clothes stores can also be a mess depending on how exposed it was. All in all the type of exposure it’s had to the elements is what determines weather you can use its contents.”

“Wow, there’s a real science to this, isn’t there?” Data asked amazed at what they had to go through to stay alive.

“Yes, but unfortunately, it’s getting harder and harder to find things we can use. When we run out of places to go, I don’t know what we’ll do. We’re just as dependent on man made products as any human who lived before us,” Skye looked sad while he said this making Data wonder why he was being so emotional.

“I don’t want to let Rainbow down,” Skye said, balling his hand into a fist. Data saw out of his screen that Skye was shaking and he looked into Skye’s face to see tears forming.

“S-skye!” Data said, alarmed.

Skye quickly wiped the tears away and pretended like nothing happened. “Never mind,” he said in a shaky voice. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Data nodded and didn’t talk for the rest of the way.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Bin Bin had just finished going through the main link into the realm of human computers. She was a Program with an agenda, and that agenda included yelling a Data until his ears bled. Of course he went after those stupid pictures, because he just had to show how great he was.

She continued diligently forward, following Data’s trail, not that it was hard in the slightest. Data was brilliant but he always forgot some little detail, like forgetting to erase his trail as he left Utopia. His trail was still strong after even hours after he left; it was just like Data to do something like that. All Bin Bin had to do was find the data trail and follow it right to Data.

She ended up near a closed off link into an old piece of human technology. She frowned as she saw the terminated link and vaguely wondered if he was trapped inside, but before she opened the link she sent out her sensors just to make sure. She found another signal leading away from the box and into another area. She gave an exasperated sigh and followed it.

When she found Data there would be hell to pay.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Data was in an old store inventory computer, searching for anything useful. So far he had found some clothes, a few tools that hadn’t been eroded by the weather and a few toys for Rai to play with. Some dolls, stuffed toys and dress up clothes that somehow had managed to survive the years. Data was quite proud of his ability to find useful things and even Skye ha to grudgingly admit that scavenging went faster with Data with him.

“Hey Skye, did you find the hunting knife in aisle three?” Data called out from his vantage point.

“Yeah, it’s a little rusty but I think I can fix it!” Skye called back, his voice reverberating off the walls.

“Okay then, there’s a pair of shoes in your size that might still be there,” Data yelled back. “They’re in aisle ten.”

Skye walked towards the giant plastic sign with a number ten on it in big black numbers. Underneath it read “shoe department.” Skye’s other finds were in a basket dangling from his arm and he noticed that it was already starting to get heavy. He walked into the shoe aisle, the smell of decaying leather making him sneeze. He strongly doubted that the shoes were still there, but if he had learned one thing, it was to always make sure. He knew that sometimes there was something that was made out of a special substance that stood up to the years of weather and animal abuse, and those were the most valuable objects he found.

He walked in the back, looking at the plastic numbers for his size. The lighting was dim so it was a little hard to read but eventually he got to where he needed to be. He looked around the racks that the shoes were placed on but the ones he saw had long since become useless.

“Did you find them?” Data asked excitedly.

Skye jumped at the intruding voice. He had been so wrapped up in his own thoughts he had forgotten about the hyper program. “No, there’s nothing here,” he called back.

“Look harder,” Data pressed. “I know they’re there.”

“Data, not every search proves fruitful, they probably just decayed like all the other shoes here,” he called out to wherever Data might be.

“No, they’re there, those shoes are made of the same weird material that the hilt of your new hunting knife. That’s the reason it wasn’t very rusty,” Data explained. “Please, just look.”

Skye gave an exasperated sigh and set his basket on the dirt encrusted floor. The small particles of dust rose into the air making him cough. He would have loved to believe that there were shoes like that for him. His own shoes were a size and a half too mall and falling apart at the seams, but he felt that digging through a mountain of decaying shoes was just wishful thinking. Nevertheless, to make Data leave him alone about the shoes, he began to dig through the sorry mess. He came upon an unopened box and looked at it strangely. He pulled it out of its place in the back of the shelf and placed it on the floor. He tried to push away the little bubble of hope welling up inside of him by warning himself that he was just setting up for failure. Being optimistic had never gotten him anywhere. He had been disappointed so many times before that it just wasn’t worth it to look forward to being surprised anymore.

He slowly opened the box and inside was a pair of, seemingly new, tan hiking boots.

Skye heard Data’s cheer from the speaker and he looked down at the boots, stunned. “I don’t believe it,” he whispered.

“Can I call it or what!” Data yelled. “I told you, now you can get rid of those gross shoes you’re wearing.”

Skye quickly regained his composure and took off his old shoes. He pulled on the new boots and laced them up, feeling the strong leather hybrid caress his feet. He straightened up and walked out of the musty aisle with the basket on his arm. “Data go to the next store; I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Data nodded and followed the high speed link out of the old store.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Bin-Bin landed a bit roughly in the stoplight that Data had occupied less then a day ago. The force of her entrance made the large electronic device shake slightly. When she regained her balance, she looked around for her friend. Seeing the distinct lack of Data on the premise she left the stoplight, following the trail of her wayward friend.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Data and Skye went cautiously into the next store. The floor was weak and the links were starting to erode from disuse. The store was one for preserves put into jars, in fact the store even had a cellar like feeling and had every pickled food imaginable. Skye may not have been fond of suck foods but they were certainly useful in times of emergency.

“Here are some that aren’t broken,” Data called out.

Skye coughed, the air was thick with dust, “Where?”

“Over in the back, next to the door,” Data replied.

Skye walked cautiously among the broken jars. He felt his new boots crush the broken glass and winced at the thought of what would have happened to his feet if he was wearing his old shoes.

The store was dark and gloomy. The light of day was rarely seen in its musty depths. Even so, animals must have gotten in at some point because glass littered the floor and mold grew where the liquid must have spilled. The small store was nestled in between two larger ones and smelled of decaying wood. He finally reached the back of the store and found the unbroken jars. He gave a sigh of relief and loaded the preservatives into his basket.

“So you have them?” asked Data from the entrance.

“Yeah,” Skye called back. The sound of their voices shook some dust from the ceiling. “Let’s get out of here,” he said in a quieter voice.

Data didn’t need telling twice and he quickly left the store. He followed a slightly decaysed link into a security camera on the ceiling outside of the food store. He watched Skye slowly make his way out of the store and walk out into the hall, giving a sigh of relief. “So, where to next?” Data asked.

Skye looked down at the goods he was carrying and saw that the basket was almost full. He set it down on the ground and flexed his arm, amazed at how heavy it was. “No more today, I think we’ve gotten enough for today,” he said.

“Og, okay,” Data sounded a little disappointed. “Can we go tomorrow?”

Skye bent down and picked up the basket. “Shouldn’t you go back home?” he said while straightening up.

Data hadn’t thought about going home. He really didn’t want to leave his new friends, but he missed his parents and Bin-Bin. “I really don’t know,” he said softly.

Skye snorted, “Then I’ll make the decision for you, you’re going home tonight.”

Data glared at Skye even thought Skye couldn’t see him. “You can’t make me! What if I want to stay?”

Skye shrugged, “Then do. But when Rai and I leave, we can’t take you with us.”

Data crossed his arms, “Fine then, I’ll just stay with you until you leave.”

“Whatever,” said Skye plugging in the hand held. “Just know you can’t run away from your society for ever.”

“I am not running away!” Data yelled.

“Data just go into the link so I can go back to Rai,” Skye said calmly.

Data grudgingly went into the link and sat in the spacious room, sulking.

Skye slowly walked back to the library making sure he gave Data plenty time to think.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Bin-Bin followed the trail right back to where she was before only this time, a link was open. Her patience was worn thin and she had just about enough of “Find Data.” She went into the computer and saw nothing but an empty library room. She screamed in frustration and punched the wall of the room she was in. “Data, I know you’re here!” she yelled. “Where are you?”

Rainbow was in the next room when she heard the scream. At first she was a little scared, then she heard the voice call out for Data. “One of Data’s friends!” she said happily and she ran into the next room waving at the computer. “Hi Data’s friend!” she called out happily.

Bin-Bin almost collapsed from shock. She saw a human come from another room and from towards her calling her ‘Data’s friend.’ Her mind went blank when she saw the small human so she relied on her programming to do the talking for her. “Umm, hi,” she said giving Rai an awkward wave.

Rai ran to the computer giggling. “Hi, my name is Rainbow, what’s yours?” she asked.

“I’m ummm, Bin-Bin.” Bin-Bin paused and took a deep breath. “Are you human?” she asked.

Rai laughed, “Of course silly! Though my big brother does say we’re the only humans left.”

“Okay then!” said Bin-Bin and decided to go onto a safer topic of discussion. “So, you said you know Data?”

“Yeup, Data is out helping my brother scavenge for stuff. They should be back real soon!”

Bin-Bin opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by the large wood doors cracking open. Rai saw something off screen and ran towards it.

“Skye!” Rai called out.

Rai ran towards Skye with her arms outstretched. Skye saw her coming and set down the basket, then he caught her and lifted her into the air. Rai laughed and grabbed her brother around his neck, hugging him tightly. Skye bent down to pick up the basket and the haphazard family made their way back into the library.

“Skye, one of Data’s friends is here. She’s really pretty and she says her name is Bin-Bin,” Rai said very fast.

“Bin-Bin?” Data asked in a squeak.

Skye was very quick to catch on. “Is that so?” he asked. “Then I’m sure she’s just dying to see her friend,” he said in a loud voice.

Bin-Bin tapped her foot in the computer, “Oh yeah,” she growled.

Skye stepped in front of the computer, his shopping basket on one arm and his sister on the other. “So you’re her for Data?” he asked.”

Bin-Bin looked at Skye and nodded, temporarily speechless. She had never seen a full gown human before and he was very big.

“Well you’ll be happy to know your friend is perfectly fine,” he said. “In fact, why don’t I just let you deal with him,” and he pulled the hand held out of his pocket and plugged it into the computer.

Bin-Bin gained a decent hold on her bearings and went into the link and found Data looking very sheepish. “You…” she started.

“Wait, Bin-Bin before you yell at me, I want to make sure of one thing,” he said.

“What is it,” said Bin-Bin through gritted teeth.

“Promise me that you won’t tell anyone they’re humans here,” he said looking Bin-Bin in the eye.

This request caught everyone off guard and Skye blinked. He didn’t even realize that the small Program cared.

Bin-Bin was equally surprised, but for a different reason. “Why? What would happen?” she asked.

Skye cut in when he heard that, “Listen, you and Data can be here for now but I made Data promise not to tell anyone about us, you have to promise the same,” he said.

Bin-Bin nodded, “I promise, but why?” she asked.

“Because, I don’t trust you, that’s why. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take Rai and give her a bath. If I’m allowed,” he said giving Data a pointed glare.

Data gave him a weak smile, “Yeah, I’m sorry about last night. Don’t worry, Bin-Bin and I will stay out of your way for now.”

The two Programs watched Skye carry Rai into the next room. Then Bin-Bin looked at Data. “You have a lot of explaining to do. Start with how you got here in the first place.”

Data sighed and nodded. “Fair enough, but first, thanks.”

“For what?” Bin-Bin blinked.

“For not scaring off the humans by saying you’d turn them in. They need help Bin-Bin; they can’t survive like this much longer.”

Bin-Bin sighed, “I think I could tell that. But tell me your story first.”

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

In the makeshift bath he had set up for Rai, Skye listened to the whole story. As he scrubbed his sister’s long hair with the first shampoo it had seen in almost a year he was amazed to hear that Data really did care about them.

Still, he just couldn’t bring himself to trust the Programs. They were responsible for the death of the human after all.

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

ALL of chapter three. I posted the first half last time. Hope you liked the rest of it :D
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Saito-Rockman]

Hopefully things about how some of the humans survived will be made clear in the next chapter, now that all of the main characters are together. Great update, Neko.

Typos are bolded:

[Sigma.exe]

I love the angst and drama that the characters go through...it's a very emotional situation you've chosen to depict here. Intriguing, well written...can't wait to see more of this!
_________________
I know the guy who lives next to me. He is a useless, good-for-nothing freeloader who sits in front of his computer all day and does nothing but eat, sleep, and ponder his mundane existence.

...Now why on earth would my neighbor say that about me?!

[Neko]

Dea twirled around in her plush office chair looking very bored and a bit upset. “So run this by me again,” she said to the petrified police captain that was at her desk.

The police captain twisted the material that made up his hat in many odd shapes as he talked to the very angry program. “Well ma’am, it seems that two new generation Programs have gone missing.”

“And, why haven’t you found them?” she asked, giving him a tight lipped grin.

“Well, one of them knew how to erase data trails so we could only find the general direction that they went in,” he said, giving an audible gulp.

“Then why are you telling me tales of your incompetence!” she yelled. “Get out there and find those kids!”

“Y-yes ma’am!” the frightened policeman said and quickly walked out the door.

Even though Programs couldn’t get headaches, one of Dea’s favorite habits was to message her temples when she was upset. She saw in the movies that she liked to watch and picked it up as her own trademark over time. Right now, scarlet nails laced in with her brunette locks as she vigorously rubbed her head. “I don’t believe this,” she hissed.

“Well, my dear, maybe we can use this to our advantage,” said a voice from her doorway.

Dea looked up and saw Dr. Binary standing there in the gold jumpsuit reserved just for him. His salt and pepper hair made him look like a kindly middle aged man but his piercing blue eyes told a different story.

Dea looked at him through frosty green eyes and chewed on one of her crimson nails grinning. “Oh, you know I love your little schemes. Tell me?” she asked.

“Well, if the two children have indeed gone into the forbidden zone then there is a slight chance that they’ve met the two rogue humans I was telling you about 6 months ago. Now if they have indeed met, then we can kill two birds with one stone and get rid of the humans and use the two programs as the bait for the public. You, the vice-president saves two young programs from the sure jaws of death. You’d get public recognition and we’d finally be able to put forth our plan.”

Dea picked at a non existent thread in her royal purple political suit and looked bored. “So, what if they aren’t with those so-called humans?”

“Then you save them from sure deletion by a Re-Program,” Dr. Binary smiled.

Dea let her painted lips grace the doctor with a beautiful smile. “Oh, I like the sound of that.”

“Thank you, Ms. Vice President,” said Dr. Binary giving a small bow.

“Oh, but not for long. Soon I’m going to over throw my little sister soon and then I’ll be the President. I’m more popular then she is anyway, and I have almost half of the military and police force in the palm of my hand,” Dea laughed. “By the way, about these humans. Doctor, no offense but I think you have a few screws loose. The humans are dead, you killed them remember?”

“Oh, not all of them, there’s still two left, I’ve seen them,” he said.

Dea gave him a cautious glance. “Hm, well you keep on your little goose chase. When those kids are found I’ll be the first one there. I’ll win the next election in a land slide.”

Dr. Binary nodded, “Of course my dear.” He nodded at her and left her spacious office, quietly closing the faux oak door behind him.

Dea smiled, “And as soon as I’ve got what I want then I can get rid of you.”

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Data and Bin-Bin spent the night in a heated conversation. Data wanted with all his heart to find a way to help the humans but Bin-Bin was convinced it was a fool’s errand. “Not to mention they made up promise that we wouldn’t tell the other Programs about their existence,” she said.

“Bin-Bin, I said it before, I’ll say it again, they need help,” Data said in an almost pleading tone.

“I know they need help, but telling out society about them will not help! Humans are a threat to program existence!” Bin-Bin said loudly, desperately trying to make her friend see sense.

Data snorted, “Yes, because Rainbow has that homicidal human gleam in her eyes.”

Bin-Bin sighed, “Okay, that’s not what I said. What I said was that we could be putting them in danger by revealing them because of what other programs believe, and there is one very important fact you’re missing. The only things that can delete us or re-programs are humans. Data weather you like it or not, they’re a threat to us,” said Bin-Bin.

“And you’re not being fair!” said Data.

“Me? Okay, who is the one who ran off to get pictures of animals after promising me that he wouldn’t and disappeared for over 24 hours?” she yelled.

“Okay, that’s not fair, what would you have done if you found them?” Data asked while crossing his arms.

Bin-Bin was at a loss for words at that question. “Well, okay. You got me there,” she said after a few minutes of silence.

“So, lay off?” Data asked.

“All right, we’ll stay here for a little longer but only because I want to learn more about their motives,” Bin-Bin said.

Data sighed, “Okay, but don’t insult Skye. He’s kinda touchy.”

“Really? He seemed pretty nice to me,” said Bin-Bin in a surprised voice.

“No, he’s only nice to Rai, his little sister,” said Data.

“Oh, I see,” said Bin-Bin softly.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Skye finished bathing Rai and dressed her in actual pajamas, something she hadn’t had since she was an infant. Far too young for her to remember. She sported her pink apple pajamas with pride and paraded around the book filled room showing them off to a non existent crowd.

“Do I look pretty, Skye?” she asked, twirling around in the sheer night gown, making it fan out.

“Like a princess,” said Skye.

Rai sensed an opening and took it, “Skye, what’s a princess?” she asked in a candy coated voice.

Skye shook his head, smiling a little. “Rai, you know what a princess is.”

Rai crossed her arms and looked at him with a pout etched on her face. “No I don’t, tell me a princess story, please?”

Skye sighed and pulled Rai into his lap and produced the firm bristled brush that he had scavenged the previous day. “Which one?” he asked.

“The one mommy used to tell,” Rai said quietly.

“You remember that?” he asked, a little surprised.

“No,” Rai whispered.

Skye blinked, “Oh, I see,” he said. He looked a little put out, but he cleared his throat and started to pull the brush down her hair. “Well, once there was a beautiful princess with long flowing hair,” he started.

“Was it blond?” Rai asked.

“No, it was nut brown, just like yours,” he smiled then continued, “She lived a happy life with her mother and father until an evil witch came along!”

Rai gasped, “Oh no!”

In the other room, Data and Bin-Bin could hear the tale of Repunzel being told and Rai’s gasps and coos at every turn. Bin-Bin crossed her arms, “He’s not telling it right she wasn’t a princess until the end of the story. At first she was a peasant.”

Data rolled his eyes, “Bin-Bin, he’s telling a fairy tale to his five year old sister. Do you honestly think they care?”

Bin-Bin sighed, “Well, I guess if you put it that way.”

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/

Dea knocked on the door to her little sister’s office. She heard a faint ‘come in’ and she opened the heavy door, walking inside. Her purple heels sunk into the inch thick plush making her wobble ever so slightly, just one of the things that annoyed her about her sister. “Hello!” she said in an overly happy voice.

Her sister Megami looked up at smiled at her. “Dea! You finally decided to come over and say hello, it’s been awhile hasn’t it?”

“Oh yes, much too long. Say, I wondering what you were planning to do for the next election?” she asked, “What’s your campaign?”

Megami smiled, only her sister would underestimate her intelligence that much. She always thought she was the idiot; however Megami knew better then to tell her otherwise. “Oh? Why do you ask?”

“Well, I was wondering if I’m in it. Am I a central part as I was last time?” she asked.

Megami shook her head, “Unfortunately no, I don’t think I should rely on your beauty and talents to get me through my own campaign.”

“Oh? Is that so, well then, I guess I have nothing to worry about,” Dea’s eyes flashed in anger as she turned around.

“Why, are you planning to run against me?” Megami asked. Dea stopped in her tracks and turned around to face her sister. Megami wore a kindly mask but her green eyes betrayed her real emotions. “I’m not as stupid as you think I am sister, and this is your only warning. Whatever you’re planning with Dr. Binary must stop; I know you two are plotting something and I’ll tell you this, that man cannot be trusted. Not to mention that using two Program children for your own plot is despicable!”

Dea laughed, a very cold and cruel sound that made the room seem as if the temperature had dropped several degrees. “Who do you think is controlling who, dear sister? I know what I’m doing and if you’re as smart as you say you are, I suggest you step down from this fight. Also, the bugs that are in my office will be gone within the hour, and if you don’t want me to tell every newspaper and media outlet in Utopia that you spy on your own sister, then I suggest you don’t do it again.” Dea turned around again with a flip of her hair. She walked towards the door and right before she opened it she said, “Because I swear I will cut down anyone that gets in my way.”

Dea opened and slammed the door shut leaving a very upset Megami to muse over her sister’s warning. “Great, just great. Well, I blew that one,” Megami said to herself. She sighed and picked up her phone, “Bear, mouse, I have a job for you,” she said. “Think you can handle it?”

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

Yay! I love Dea and Megami, oh I have lots planned :D
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Hatsuya Kanzaki]

What's this all about? MegaMan Legends or what? Maybe an original fanfic! Well, I like it and it's way too long! Gee, you may also read me and it's also long...
Rockman EXE Advent
_________________
Rockman.EXE Level-Up! coming soon! Work in progress to be exact!

[Neko]

I warned you in the title, it's an OF, read the genre chart. This is my own Origanal Fiction and I want it to be long. I hope one day novel legnth.
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Saito-Rockman]

Interesting turn of events, I never expected a villian of any sorts to show up. But, as I recall (I checked too(and I'm glad I did; I forgot who Bear and Mouse were)), Dr. Binary told his class the humans just 'dissapeared'. I wonder why they would be lying. I didn't bother with typos, since anything I saw could've been caused by the filter.
_________________

Banner by DrkXFuZion

[Neko]

Bear picked up the phone in his small room. The room that was provided to him and Mouse was small, but comfortable and that was all he really asked for. He cast an eye on his cozy room and said into the receiver, “Hello, Bear here?”

“Bear, Mouse, I have a job for you,” Megami’s voice came over loud and clear. “Think you can handle it?” she asked.

“But of course,” Bear growled. “We can handle anything, what do you need this time, madam President?”

“I need you two to find the missing Program children,” she said. “My sister is planning to use them in some way. Please, the fate of Utopia may depend on it.”

Bear frowned into the receiver. “Can do miss, but Mouse, he’s on guard duty. We won’t be able to leave for another couple of hours at least.”

Megami nodded into her own receiver even though Bear couldn’t hear it, “That’s perfectly all right. Don’t worry about that, just do it as quickly as possible.”

“All righty then. We’ll be packing along by sundown,” he said.

“Thank you so much,” Megami said.

“Anything for a pretty lady,” he said.

Megami blushed, “I shall expect a report in two days,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am!” Bear said and put the phone in its cradle. “Another mission,” he said to himself. “What is her sister planning?”

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Data stretched and yawned as the new day dawned through the high window. “I love the sunrises here,” he said softly.

Bin Bin was already up and looking at the window. “Wow, it’s so amazing,” she said.

“I know, it’s kind of sad there are no sunrises like this one in Utopia, huh?” Data said.

Bin Bin nodded and Data sat next to her. “These humans really mean a lot to you, don’t they?” she asked.

Data smiled, “Well, they’re nice, and they deserve a second chance. I mean no being human or otherwise deserves to live on the scraps of a long dead civilization,” he said.

Bin Bin nodded, “I agree.”

“So we can stay?” Data asked.

“Well, I don’t know what our parents will say, but I can’t just leave this place knowing that these two need our help,” she said.

Data laughed, “Now you know how I feel.”

Bin Bin looked him straight in the eye, “Yes, I do,” she said.

Data looked back, almost as if in a trance. They leaned closer to each other and Data’s breath caught in his chest.

Then out of nowhere Rai popped up in the open link of the monitor. “Are you guys going to kiss?” she asked excitedly.

Data and Bin Bin quickly edged away from one another and said “No,” at the same time.

“Awww,” Rai sounded disappointed. “Too bad, because that would have been cool,” she said.

“Aren’t you a little young to be looking forward to kissing?” asked Bin Bin.

Rai shrugged, “I don’t know. Am I? Skye kisses me good night all the time. I thought a kiss meant you liked someone.”

“It does,” said Data.

“Well, do you two like each other?” Rai asked.

“Yes,” they said slowly.

“Then why don’t you kiss?” she asked.

Data and Bin Bin blushed, “A kiss between two non family members means something completely different then a brother kissing his sister good night,” Bin Bin tried to explain.

“Why?” Skye asked.

“Well, because, it means that we care enough to kiss,” Data said, desperately trying to find the right words.

“So, if you two care about each other then why can’t you kiss?” she asked.

Data and Bin Bin were at a loss for words, they had no idea how to explain such a complicated concept to a five year old. Luckily they were saved by Skye coming into the room looking for his sister.

“Hey Rai, go wash up,” he pointed to the back room where there was undoubtedly a wash tub and basin waiting for Rai to clean herself in.

“Kay’” she said and happily skipped into the back room.

Bin Bin breathed a sigh of relief, “Wow, why don’t they teach us stuff like that at school?” she asked.

Skye looked at her, “Why not indeed,” he asked.

Data looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Why can you and Rai speak English so well?” he asked.

Skye looked at him, his own expression equaling Data’s, “What do you mean?” he asked.

“Well, I would think that someone like you who has never had any formal education would be able to speak so well. Also you seem to know an awful lot about your world and our world in general, why?” he asked.

Skye sighed, “Well, my mom was an English major in college and taught Rai and I how to speak, well me anyway. I taught Rai a lot of her vocabulary. My dad was an elementary school teacher for kindergarten through fifth grade. So he taught me all I know about pretty much everything. I know a lot more then you think,” he said.

Bin Bin looked puzzled, “How did your parents survive whatever killed off the human race?” she asked.

Skye sighed, “Well, I don’t know exactly. Even if I did I wouldn’t tell you.”

Bin Bin crossed her arms and looked indignant. “Hey, we’re just trying to help you know,” she said.

“Maybe I don’t need your help,” Skye replied coolly.

“You know, you’re really a jerk. We come here and we’re willing to help and all you do is push it away,” she said starting to get angry.

“Bin Bin,” Data said softly, trying to calm his friend down.

“You know what, you have no right to talk!” Skye yelled. “We got along pretty damn well before you came along, and if you left we’d be perfectly fine!”

“Really? Is that why Data had to practically beg you to keep you from running away? Like to take the cowards way out?” she said.

“Why should I trust you? Why should I trust anyone, huh? Give me one good reason why I should even listen to this!” Skye yelled.

“Her,” Bin Bin pointed to Rai who was listening to the argument from behind the door. Skye faltered and Bin Bin continued. “Listen to me Skye, I know we’ve known each other for all of a half day but I can tell you this much, if you continue to live the way you do, your little sister will not survive.”

Skye sighed and went over to where Rai was hiding. He bent down and picked her up, cradling her in his arms, “Yeah, I know,” he said dully.

“Will you except our help?” Bin Bin asked.

“Yes,” Skye whispered.

“Good, now all we need is a plan,” she said.

“How about bide our time until we know what exactly our position is,” Data piped up.

Everyone looked at him, “What do you mean?” asked Bin Bin.

“Think about it, two programs have gone missing. That’s never happened before and people are probably worried. We need to make sure that when we go for help we won’t get into so much trouble that our words won’t mean anything,” Data said.

“And how do you propose we do that?” asked Bin Bin.

“Well, you’re not going to liked this, but I say we just wait for someone to find us. I think we can talk around one or two Programs, but not the whole Utopia colony, not yet.”

Bin Bin nodded, what Data said made a lot of sense. “Okay so we wait. Now what?”

Data chuckled, “Always like to be busy don’t you?” he asked.

“You know me!” Bin Bin answered.

Skye actually looked thoughtful, “Well, I need to go back to the store for a few more things, Data can come with me because he already knows what to do. How about you keep and eye on Rai to make sure she doesn’t go anywhere she shouldn’t. That way I will know if I can trust you,” he said.

“You’re letting me take care of your sister?” Bin Bin asked incredulously.

“Well, you said it yourself, I need to trust people. Can you handle it?” Skye’s eyes dared her.

She readily accepted, “I think so.”

“Okay, Data back to the mall,” he said.

Data cheered like a five year old and went into the handheld. “Good luck,” he called to Bin Bin.

Skye didn’t say anything as he picked up the handheld and started to walk out of the library, but just before he left he turned around and waved to Rai.

Rai waved wildly back and watched her brother leave. “So, what do you wanna do?” she asked.

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

Not quite, NOW all the main characters are introduced. Well, for this book anyway. Book two has another main character but I'm getting ahead of myself. Hope ya liked!
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Roy Tanaka]

I did liked! Or something. XD Can't believe I didn't catch up with this for a chapter and a half! Excellent Chapter. :D

[Saito-Rockman]

I think I'm going to enjoy the part of the next half, if any, with Rai and Bin Bin (I have no clue why though, just a feeling). Great update, Neko.

[Neko]

*looks innocent* Oh, whatEVER gave you that idea?

Yeah, alot planned for Rai and Bin Bin, not to mention Bear and Mouse.
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Neko]

Bear waited until Mouse was off duty and told him of their new mission. “’Think you can handle it?’ she says. I says of course we can! So, wanna do it?” he asked.

Mouse nodded the obvious excitement making him even jitterier then he normally was. “A rescue mission, how noble!” he said quickly.

Bear nodded, “I know, such a great honor from such a nice lady.”

Mouse laughed, “Ah, I’m still waiting for you to admit you have the hots for the president.”

The large Program blushed, “I do not. She’s just a very pretty and nice lady. Now we’ve gots ourselves some tracking to do,” he said, changing the subject.

“Yeup, lets go to the hole then,” said Mouse, not missing the obvious change in the slightest.

“Will do,” said Bear standing up and walking out of the door so as to avoid further embarrassment at the hands of his colleague.

They walked down the streets of Digurb and watched the kids play around them. It was a peaceful spring day, though the forecast was calling for winter-like conditions the next day and the kids were hoping for a system malfunction and a snow day. Bear chuckled as he tossed a ball back to a pair of kids. “I love kids,” he said.

“Well, you got the right kind of air because they seem to love you to,” said Mouse as another ball ‘accidentally’ went into the road.

Bear chuckled again and picked up the second ball, throwing it back to its previous owners.

Mouse sighed; maybe they would get to the hole by sundown. Too bad it was only noon.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

“So, watcha wanna do?” asked Rai.

Bin Bin shrugged, “I don’t know. What do you want to do?” she asked.

“I dunno,” Rai said.

They both sighed. “I’m bored,” said Rai.

Bin Bin nodded, “Me too.”

Rai’s eyes lit up. “Hey! Wanna go exploring?” she asked.

“Exploring? How?” Bin Bin asked. “I can’t really go to the same places you can.”

“Well, Data gets around in that little plastic box that my brother has. If I can find one, then we can go somewhere!” said Rai in an excited voice.

Rai rummaged around in the library, looking for a device similar tot the one that her brother had found. Bin Bin watched through the monitor with interest as the small girl wandered around the room.

“I know there is another one in here somewhere,” said Rai, diving into the large desk at the front of the room.

“How can you be so sure?” Bin Bin asked.

“Well,” Rai thought about it. “I just know, okay?” she said saucily.

Bin Bin his a smile behind her hand and nodded silently.

“Where is it?” Rai said, rifling through all the drawers. She opened the drawer closest to the monitor on the desk. She went through the drawer and found a leek silver box with buttons that seemed to be another hand held. She looked a little further and found the cors that was used to plug it into the computer. “Found one!” she cheered.

Bin Bin nodded and Rai ran over to the computer that she was in. She plugged in the sleek box and Bin Bin looked in the link. “Thins thing is full,” she said.

“Rai frowned, “Full? It’s the same size as the one Skye has.”

Bin Bin shook her head, “No, no. Full of data, I can’t fit inside.”

“Data is in there? I thought he was with Skye,” said Rai, becoming very confused.

Bin Bin groaned in frustration, “Not Data the Program, data, computer matter, stuff inside the computer.”

Rai gave her a blank look.

Bin Bin sighed and simplified it for Rai to understand. “Do you know what numbers are?” she asked.

Rai nodded.

“Do you know what binary is?” she asked.

Rai shook her head.

“Binary is numbers. Zeros and ones,” said Bin Bin.

“Oooooooh,” said Rai knowingly. “Why?”

“Never you mind!” Bin Bin snapped.

Rai’s lower lip trembled and Bin Bin instantly regretted her outburst. “W-wait, I’m sorry. I’m just saying the little computer is full.”

“Full of numbers?” asked Rai.

“Yes!” said Bin Bin. “Very good.”

Rai brightened, “I get it, it’s too full for you.”

Bin Bin nodded, “Yeah.”

“Can’t you just clean it out?” asked Rai curiously.

Bin Bin was silent.

“Did I say something wrong?” asked Rai with a slight tremble in her voice.

Bin Bin slapped her forehead, “No, you’re right. I’m just really slow today.”

“Oh” said Rai brightly.

Bin Bin took out al of the files and stored them on a larger computer. They all said MP3 in the file. She had heard of antiques but knew that they had long since been disused. “Well?” asked Rai a tad impatiently.

Bin Bin sighed and went into the smaller computer; she doubted Rai would understand her want to explore the antique files.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Skye and Data were gathering non-essential items such as pots and pans in the store. Data had finally convinces Skye to stay for more then two days and then they decided to gather things that could prove to be useful in a longer stay.

“There’s a stove over there!” said Data.

“How big?” asked Skye.

“A camping stove, it runs off of fuel. You can boil water in it,” said Data.

“Is there fuel anywhere?” asked Skye.

“Yeah, inside aisle four,” Data replied. “By the way, Skye. Can I ask a question?”

Skye kneeled down to examine the small stove that Data had pointed out to him, “Sure.”

“Why does the library have electricity?” Data asked.

Skye laughed and picked up the small stove, “I was waiting for you to ask that. Truth be told, the library has a generator. I always look for building with generators, that way I can see after dark. Some of them don’t have very much energy, but this time we got very lucky. Unfortunately, such buildings are getting harder and harder to find.”

Data nodded, “Makes sense. It’s amazing they even can run after all this time.”

“Humans were good with technology, there are a lot of things you’d be amazed at,” Skye said simply and picked up the small stove. He ignored Data’s grunt of indignation and said, “Where did you say the fuel was again?”

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Rainbow smiled and hummed loudly as she walked proudly through the long dead streets. She pretended she was a princess touring her kingdom and she waved to invisible subjects.

“Rai, what are you doing?” Bin Bin asked.

“Pretending,” said Rai.

“What are you pretending?”

“I’m pretending to be a princess!” she said happily.

“Why?” Bin Bin asked.

Rai stopped marching and stood still, frowning as she thought of a reason. “Because!” she said.

Bin Bin laughed, that was good enough for her. “Okay, how long are you going to pretend?” she asked.

Rai had started marching again; she shrugged at Bin Bin’s question. “I don’t know,” she said.

“Well, didn’t you want to go exploring?” Bin Bin suggested.

“Yeah!” she said and started to run down the street. The small music container that Bin Bin was in started to shake horribly and Bin Bin was tossed around inside like a salad.

“Woah there!” she said loudly and Rai stopped running.

“What?” she asked.

“Okay, first of all running with whatever I’m in is not comfortable for me, so stop. Second of all, where are we going?” asked Bin Bin.

Rai shrugged and scanned the skyline. She saw a huge skyscraper in the distance and pointed towards it. “How about that place over there?” she asked.

Bin Bin nodded, “Sounds good to me.”

Rai clapped her hands together in excited applause and started to walk quickly towards the building. “What do you think is there?” she asked.

Bin Bin decided to play along. “I don’t know, maybe it’s a vacant castle, waiting for the princess to return,” she said mysteriously.

“Really?” Rai squeaked.

Bin Bin tried not to laugh, “Yeah, maybe we’ll even fund treasure when we get there!” she said excitedly.

“Wow!” said Rai and started to walk even faster.

“Woah, hey everything will sill be there when we get there. So no need to run,” said Bin Bin.

“I know,” said Rai. “But I can’t wait! I wanna find the treasure.”

Bin Bin nodded in pretend seriousness. “I know, so do I. But we need to be patient to get there or the treasure might disappear.”

Rai gasped as they continued their fast paced walk towards the building. “Oh no! But how?”

“Well, uhhh,” Bin Bin struggled for an explanation. “Magic,” she said.

“Oh,” said Rai quietly.

“Yeah, so we need to be careful. We’re adventurers, and adventurers are careful people,” Bin Bin advised.

Rai cheered, “Yay! Adventurers!”

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

After ten more minutes and the composing of a theme song Rai and Bin Bin reached the tall building. “Wow,” they said together.

“It’s huge,” said Rai, her eyes as wide as saucers.

“Yeah, it looks so small from back there,” said Bin Bin.

“Wanna find the treasure?” asked Rai excitedly.

Bin Bin had long forgotten that it was a pretend game and nodded in all seriousness. “You bet. Let’s go!”

“Yay!” Rai cheered and walked up the cement steps to the entrance. She saw that the doors had long since been destroyed so she just climbed through where the glass used to be.

“Careful,” Bin Bin whispered as Rai maneuvered her small mass over the few jagged pieces of glass left in the doors.

“I know,” Rai whispered back and finished climbing into the room.

They both took in the scene, and it was breathtaking. Inside was a long decaying room of carpet and desks, computers with cracked and vacant screens looked up at them with sad faces. The towers of the computers were on their sides and broken, everything was so peaceful that it almost seemed like a graveyard.

“Oh my gosh…” said Rai. “This place is so…” she struggled for the word to describe what she was seeing.

“Indescribable,” said Bin Bin with reverence.

“Yeah,” Rai breathed. “Whatever that means.”

“It means…” Bin Bin started but was cut off by a loud crash behind them. They heard a yelp that wasn’t human and both of the girls screamed. Rai ran behind one of the desks and searched wildly for where the sound came from.

“Where is it?” she asked in a tight whisper.

“I don’t know, I think the sound came from over there,” said Bin Bin pointing to the enterance.

“Bin Bin, I can’t see you,” Rai whispered.

“I think it came from the entrance,” said Bin Bin.

Rai cautiously made her way over to the entrance. “What are you doing?” Bin Bin hissed.

“I want to know what it is!” she hissed back.

“What if it’s a wild animal? What will you do? Oh, man your brother is going to kill me,” said Bin Bin.

Rai ignored her and continued to make her way over to whatever it was that cried out. If she wasn’t mistaken, that cry wasn’t a warning. Goodness knows she had heard enough of those kinds of sounds from animals to distinguish them apart from other animal sounds. If anything the sound that was made sounded like the thing that made it was in pain.

“Hello?” Rai called.

There was a low growl trailed off by a whine. Rai knew that sound, she made the same sounds when she had a stomach ache.

“Rai, this isn’t a good idea. We need to get out of here,” Bin Bin said.

Rai again ignored her baby sitter and went to the second sound. It came from underneath a pile of chairs and desks. Rai looked up and saw a hole in the ceiling that she didn’t notice before. She pieced two and two together and looked at the pile with a look of pity on her face. “Bin Bin, I think it fell through the ceiling.”

“Okay, then we know not to go upstairs. Rai, please leave, you need to get out of here,” Bin Bin said in a pleading tone.

Rai ignored the plea and pulled back a large chair from the pile of debris. “Hello?” she called.

There was a whimper and a low whine that sounded like whatever it was in there was trying to growl but couldn’t. Rai smiled and pulled back another chair, “It’s okay I won’t hurt you,” she said in a friendly tone.

The whimpering ceased and Rai made a hole large enough for the thing to come out. And come out it did, limping on it’s left front paw and right back paw. Rai and Bin Bin both went, “Awwwww,” simultaneously as it came out.

It looked at them with big brown eyes and they both fell in love. “What is it?” asked Rai.

Bin Bin searched her memory files but couldn’t place the small animal. “I don’t know. It looks almost like a cross between a dog and a cat but I’m not sure.”

The creature, whatever it was had a brown spotted coat and a feline like face with eyes like a cat’s. Its ears were pointed and had small brown tufts at the ends. It had a larger body then a cat however and it’s paws were big and round like a dog’s, also it had a tail that wagged ever so slightly when it saw Rai.

“It’s so cute!” she said.

Bin Bin nodded, “I know, but I have no idea what it is. I do know two things though, one it’s a baby and two it’s hurt.”

“How do you know that?” asked Rai.

“Well, it’s limping and its paws are too big for it to be full grown. Normally baby animals grow into their paws,” Bin Bin explained.

“How old do you think it is?” asked Rai.

“I have no idea, can’t be more then a few months,” Bin Bin said.

“Can we keep it?” was her next question.

“I don’t know what your brother would say…” said Bin Bin.

“Pleaaaaase? Look at it, it’s hurt and in pain. Come on, we have to!” she said.

Bin Bin, the animal lover caved in and said, “Oh, all right. But first see if it’s docile.”

Rai held out her hand and the small creature trotted over and sniffed it. It mewled and a long, rough tongue came out and licked her hand. She giggled and pet its tufted ears, “I think it’s okay.”

“Well, pick it up and mind its paws,” instructed Bin Bin.

Rai did so and cradled the small creature in her arms, “It’s okay. You have a family now.”

Bin Bin smiled as they walked out of the building, “What are you going to name it?” she asked.

Rai thought about it as they walked. A few blocks down the road she said, “I know! I’ll call it Folfie!”

“Folfie?” Bin Bin asked. “May I ask why?”

“Because, it’s like a feline which means cat! And my mom had a dog named Fifi, so its name is Folfie!” said Rai.

“I like it,” said Bin Bin. “Folfie it is then.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Chappie 5. Mostly, but I need to pick out the next bit carefully.
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Neko]

Bin Bin and Rai carried the poor animal back the library where Bin Bin gave Rai instructions on how to take care of it. “Okay, find a towel,” she said pulling up a cyber book called “The Ancient ways of Human Pet Care.”

Rai set the injured creature down on one of the many moldy sofas that dotted the main hall and ran into the side room where she and Skye were currently living. She tore through the many things that Skye had brought home the day before but she couldn’t find a towel. Then she sat back and thought a bit, “Bin Bin?” she called.

“Yes?” Bin Bin answered.

“What’s a towel?” she asked.

Bin Bin sighed and put her hand on her head. “You don’t know what a towel is?” she asked.

“No, do you?” asked Rai.

Bin Bin paused, “Well, no,” she said slowly.

“Well find out, we need to help Folfie!” the five year old ordered.

Bin Bin sighed and started to research the remnants of the library’s data reserve. ‘This might take awhile,’ she thought.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Data and Skye exited the small market that they had just raided. Skye was pleased with what he had found that day; the stove would certainly help in cleaning their water. “Hey, Skye?” Data asked.

“Yeah?” Skye answered, even though the tone of his voice clearly suggested his mind was elsewhere.

“Are you worried about the future?” Data inquired.

Skye was jerked out of his mental pat on the back abruptly. “Why ask that?”

“Well, it doesn’t look like things are going great for you and Rai,” Data said slowly. When he looked from his vantage point and saw Skye’s scowl he quickly added, “You know, just an observation.”

Skye glared into the distance for a few awkward moments then gave a heavy sigh. “Yeah, I know.”

“So, what do you plan to do?” Data asked.

“Survive as long as I can,” Skye replied in a tight voice.

“O-oh,” Data said, falteringly.

“Look, Data, I know you and Bin Bin mean well, but I don’t think there is all that much you can do,” he said.

“That’s not true, I help you scavenge. Even you admitted I make it easier,” Data defended himself.

“That’s right, I did. But what happens when there are no more stores?” asked Skye.

“Then we can move to a new town?” Data suggested in a hopeful tone.

“Data, you can’t come if we need to move on,” Skye said quietly.

“That’s not fair,” Data started but Skye cut him off.

“There’s nowhere to charge the handheld. Data, what you said earlier was right; there isn’t a lot of electricity left. Whatever preservatives are in the food we eat is beginning to wear off. Clothes are harder and harder to find, there is nothing left,” he said in a shaky voice.

“Can you really give up that easily?” asked Data loudly.

“I’m not giving up!” Skye yelled and stopped walking. He set his package on the ground and pulled the hand held out of his pocket and put it up to his face so Data could see him. “There is nothing left! No food, no clothes, not much shelter. We were raised as civil human beings. We can’t hunt and fend for ourselves! Rainbow would last maybe two months in that kind of life.”

“Then look for another solution,” Data said quietly. “You can’t give up. If Rai knew that you though you were living on borrowed time, what would she say?”

“How am I supposed to know something like,” Skye started.

“What would she say?” Data demanded.

Skye gripped the handheld so tight his hand started to shake and Data felt the vibration inside. “She would say I give up to easily,” he whispered.

“Exactly!” Data said.

“What hope is left, then?” Skye asked, letting his death grip on the plastic soften.

“You’re alive. You know how to survive and you can protect your sister,” Data replied. “Come on, you have a lot of reasons to have hope.”

Skye sighed, “I guess.”

Data nodded, “I know.”

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

Short, but this is the rest of chapter five :D
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Roy Tanaka]

Seems I missed last update.

But now I got it! ^_^

Awesome chapter as usual, Neko. Folfie rules. :D

[Neko]

Back at the library Bin Bin and Rai had finally figured out what a towel was only to discover they didn’t have one. “Maybe Skye found one in today’s search?” Rai asked hopefully.

Bin Bin looked a bit skeptical. “I don’t think he knows that we need a towel,” she said.

“But, Folfie!” Rai cried.

“Shhhh, I know. We’ll just have to think of something else,” Bin Bin said, trying to console the upset five year old.

“What can we do?” asked Rai.

“I don’t know. Maybe we should just wait for your brother to come back,” Bin Bin suggested.

“But Folfie is hurt!” said Rai.

“I know, but we can’t really do anything about it, we need a towel remember?” Bin Bin said.

Before Rai could answer they heard the tell tale creak of the front doors open. “Skye!” Rai said happily and ran over to her brother.

“Hey,” he said and picked her up. “How are you?”

“I’m fine but Folfie is hurt!” she said.

“Folfie?” Skye asked, puzzled.

“Yeah, Bin-Bin and I went exploring and we found Folfie in this old building and…” she started.

“You what?” Skye hissed.

“Folfie is hurt!” she cried.

“You went outside!” he yelled. “Bin-Bin was supposed to keep you out of trouble!”

Rai stopped babbling and Bin-Bin spoke up. “Hey! You keep her couped up in here all day. I think it was only fair to take her out for a bit!”

“It’s dangerous out there!” he yelled.

“No it’s not!” Bin-Bin yelled back.

“She could have gotten trapped somewhere and where would you be? Huh? Can you tell me what you would have done if Rainbow was hurt so badly she couldn’t move?” Skye yelled at the small Program heatedly.

“Skye?” Rai asked, pulling on his sleeve.

“Maybe if you weren’t so paranoid you wouldn’t be worried about her all the time!” Bin-Bin yelled back.

“Hey, you have no right to tell me if I’m paranoid about my only family okay?” he yelled back.

“Skye, listen to…” Rai started again but she was cut off by Bin-Bin retaliating.

“So? She’s five! She deserves to know about the outside world!”

“The outside world?” Skye roared. “We know all about the outside world! And let me tell you, the outside world doesn’t like us, so why should we like it?” he asked her.

Bin-Bin opened her mouth to yell back but Rai cut them all of but screaming at the top of her lungs. Everyone looked at her and she took several deep breaths before continuing. “Skye, did you get a towel today?” she asked.

Skye blinked, “N-no, I normally don’t look for stuff like that, why?” he asked.

Rai sniffled slightly, “We need a towel to cure Folfie!” she wailed.

“What do you need a towel for again?” he asked, slightly confused.

Rai sighed exasperatedly and pulled Skye into the room where she had placed Folfie. “He’s hurt,” she said.

Skye looked at the pitiful creature and knelt down to take a better look. “It’s not in too good shape, huh?” Data asked.

Skye shook his head, “No, it’s not. Rai, I’m not so sure Folfie will make it,” he said softly.

Rai clutched his arm in a death grip in her small hands. “No, please try!” she said. “We even looked up how to take care of it,” she said.

“A towel?” he asked, gazing at the wounded creature.

Rai brightened, “Yes! Come on, you have to know something Skye.”

“Rai, no towel in the world will help him,” Skye said.

“You’re giving up to easily,” Bin-Bin sniffed.

Data sighed, there arguments were starting to get annoying.

“Bin-Bin, I respect the fact that you have different opinions from me, but this is a fact of life. This animal can not live,” he said tightly.

“How do you know?” she said. “You didn’t even check it!”

Skye sighed and prodded it with his fingers. It gave out a pitiful sound that sounded almost like a hoarse meow. “See, it’s alive!” Bin-Bin said.

Skye sighed and stood up. Rai and Bin-Bin watched as he put down the days scavenges. He plugged Data into the internet and rummaged in the basket he was carrying. He took out the stove and set it up. He held a bucket out to Rai and said “Here, fill this up.”

“Will it help Folfie?” she asked in a hopeful tone.

Skye gave her a weak smile, “I hope so.”

She gave a happy squeak and grabbed the bucket. “What will water do?” Bin-Bin asked.

“The warm water will kill any bacteria he may have in his wounds. I don’t know if he’s to far gone but if you want to save him then fine,” he muttered.

“You really are a softie, aren’t you?” Bin-Bin said with a disbelieving laugh at the end.

“No, I just don’t want to see my little sister cry,” he muttered and went into the side room.

Data and Bin-Bin exchanged brief knowing glances before Skye came back out with Rai’s old shirt clutched in his hands. He tore it into strips and when Rai brought the water to him he put it on the stove. “Will this really work?” Bin-Bin asked.

“It should,” Skye said. “If the wounds are infected then we can’t do anything but if they’re just normal wounds then I think I can heal them.”

“Think?” Bin-Bin asked.

“Bin-Bin, hush,” Data said sharply and Skye didn’t retort to the obvious quip.

Skye soaked the strips of cloth in the now boiling water to kill any germs that had on them. Then he soaked one and left it warm, even though he didn’t see any blood it didn’t mean there wasn’t any.

“Skye?” Rai asked.

“Don’t worry, I’ll do all I can,” he said in a reassuring voice. Rai nodded and smiled, but Skye didn’t feel her cheer. ‘Not that I can do much,’ he thought.

He picked up the strange creature’s paw and felt it. It yelped then quieted down. Skye sighed and wrapped it tightly in one of the makeshift bandages he made. He moved onto the next paw and found that it was fine. As he worked he took in Folfie’s strange appearance. It was no larger then a wild dog pup, but somehow it was more agile looking and it had odd feline qualities you would never see in a dog. He also suspected that if the thing lived it wouldn’t get much bigger then a housecat, its body just couldn’t hold the strain of a large size.

When he was done he set Folfie on it’s other side and sat back. “Well, that’s all I can do. Now we have to wait,” he said.

Rai jumped on him and hugged him tightly, “Yay! That was great Skye. You’re so cool!”

Skye gave her a soft smile. “I’m not making any promises he’ll survive though,” he reminded her.

“You’re very pessimistic aren’t you?” Bin-Bin asked.

To Data and Bin-Bin’s surprise he didn’t retaliate with a snide remark. He simply said, “Who wouldn’t be?”

Skye shrugged, “He has a point.”

Bin-Bin sighed and went to go explore the MP3’s she had found earlier that day.

“Did I say something wrong?” Data asked.

Skye shrugged, “With her, who knows?”

Data got read to tell Skye what a wonderful person Bin-Bin was but he didn’t get the chance. Rai climbed into his lap and curled up. “Are you mad I left?” she asked.

“Yes,” Skye said.

Rai cringed and Skye stroked her hair. “Next time tell me and I’ll take you out, okay?” he asked.

Rai smiled and nodded. “Promise?” she asked and held out her pinky.

“I promise with all my heart,” he said taking her pinky in his own and shaking it.

Rai giggled and hugged her brother tightly. “Thanks for saving Folfie,” she said.

Skye prepared to tell her again that Folfie might not survive. But he thought it over and decided against it. “You’re welcome,” he said.

~~~~~~~

Will Folfie survive :O

Like you need me to answer that XD
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Roy Tanaka]

Yay for Folfie! :D Heh, great chapter, I see big events in the near future.
One little mistake:

[Drake Nightshade]

Wonderful, even though there are some small errors, but otherwise it's great. I especially enjoy how you wove two stories together. And best of all, showed how Machines will rule us.
_________________
I am the remembrancer of old, one who abandoned, then returned, smiten with boredom and guilt.

[Neko]

The next morning Data woke up early as he always did. But this time there was someone awake before him. “Folfie is asleep,” Rai said in a quiet voice.

“Is that good?” Data asked.

Rai shook her head. “I don’t know. He seems so, peaceful.”

“Well that’s good. The poor thing moaned a lot last night,” Data said.

“Do you think Skye will let us keep him?” she asked.

“Knowing that jerk he’ll do whatever he can not to,” Bin-Bin muttered in Data’s ear.

Data jumped and spun around to face his friend. “Where did you come from?” he asked. “I thought you were still is stasis mode.”

Bin-Bin shrugged, “I wanted to get up. How’s the animal doing?” she asked with a slightly more sensitive voice.

Data finally put it all together. “You’re worried about Folfie aren’t you?” he asked.

“A little,” Bin-Bin admitted. “Did he make it through the night?”

“Yeup!” Rai said brightly. “He’s breathing and his tummy is making funny noises,” he giggled.

“That means he’s hungry,” Skye said, coming in on the scene. “You should feed him.” He handed Rai a spoon and a plate of a mixture that didn’t look appetizing in any way to the other three. “He won’t be able to handle solid food yet and I’m not cleaning up puke,” Skye said.

Rai nodded and took the spoon and plate from her older brother. “Come on,” she said coaxingly, holding the spoon to the animal’s lips.

Everyone watched with bated breath to see if Folfie would take the food. It opened one dull amber eye and sniffed the spoon weakly. Then it started to lick the mush from the spoon, making Rai giggle.

Everyone let out a sigh of relief, including Skye. Bin-Bin caught his eye as he left the library room and she grinned at him. He blushed and went into the adjacent room to find something for himself and Rai to eat.

“Not as much of a jerk as you though, huh?” Data muttered. “I bet he was up before all of us to make that food.”

Bin-Bin crossed her arms. “Well he can’t be completely heartless,” she admitted. Then she made a face, “But he’s still a jerk.”

Data hid a small grin behind his hand a turned his attention to the five year old who was currently cradling the small animal in her arms trying to get it to eat more food.

“Come on,” she said soothingly. “It’s good for you.”

Skye came back out with his arms full of cans and a hand can opener. “Rai, you can’t force it to eat. Give it a break and try again in a half hour. In the mean time come eat your breakfast.”

“’Kay,” she said and gently put Folfie on the couch. Then she bounded over to where her brother was sitting. He handed her a can and a spoon.

“Mind the edges,” he said.

“I know that!” she said in an exasperated voice. “I’m not a baby, geez!”

Skye smiled and put a spoonful of beans to his lips. “I know.”

Rai pulled out a spoon of the glop and made a face, “Ewwwww…” she said.

“Doesn’t look very appetizing,” Bin-Bin observed.

“Preserved foods and canned foods are all we have,” Skye said to both of them. “Live with it.”

“Can’t you grow any food?” Bin-Bin asked. “I heard that’s how humans got their food.”

“We’ve never really stayed anywhere long enough to grow anything,” Skye shrugged.

“Maybe you should start,” Bin-Bin said.

“Growing food takes a long time,” Skye said.

“Then start now!” Bin-Bin replied.

“Ooooh, growing food? Can we? It sounds like fun!” Rai said.

“I think I saw a store with packets of seeds in it,” Data said with a straight face.

Skye glared at them all and put his spoon down in defeat. “All right, but this might not work. I’ve never grown anything before.”

“You never know until you try,” Bin-Bin said happily.

Skye groaned and stood up. “Fine, Data, you said there was a store?”

“Yeup, we’ll be there and back in thirty minutes tops,” Data said.

“Yay! That means I can feed Folfie again!” Rai said.

“Okay, we’ll try this. For now,” Skye said and plugged in the hand held. “It’s better then nothing,” he muttered to himself.

It didn’t take long to get to the store just as Data said. Skye let Data into the computer and he searched for the seeds. “Ummm, it says here aisle five.”

“That means?” Skye asked.

“The fifth aisle from the left?” Data ventured. “Or maybe the right.”

Skye looked up to see if there were any signs that pointed to where he needed to go. Luck was against him in this store and he was forced to try both. When they finally did come upon the seed aisle there was precious little of anything left.

“What happened?” Data asked.

“Animals,” Skye said simply. “But mostly just decomposition. Seeds aren’t meant to last forever you know.”

Data’s mouth twisted in a small frown. “But I thought…”

Skye sighed and he started to filter through the dirt. He came up with a pack o seemingly unopened seeds that were untouched by the animals. He dusted off the dirt and read ‘Genetically Enhanced’ on the back. His lips formed a sarcastic smile as he looked at them.

“Are those okay?” Data asked. He couldn’t see what Skye was reading.

Skye sighed and picked up a few more packets. “Yeah, it’s all right. Now we need to find gardening tools,” he said.

Data felt a glow of pride. “Way ahead of you. Aisle 7.”

“That is?” Skye asked.

Data paused. “From the left?” he ventured.

Skye sighed, sometimes pleasing people was difficult. Then again it was Rai he was talking about.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Rai and Bin-Bin waited patiently for Skye and Data to return with the seeds. It didn’t take long as Data predicted and soon they were back in the library. “Okay, the only seeds that have survived this whole time are the genetically enhanced ones,” Skye said.

Rai scrunched her face up as she tried to wrap her brain around what Skye just said. “Ummm…” she murmured.

Skye smiled, “It means that humans have messed with it so they don’t go bad.”

“Oooooohhhh,” Rai said in a knowing voice. “Okay!”

Skye shook his head and gave a short laugh before continuing. “Okay, we’re going to try this but I’m telling you right now that it might not work, okay?”

Rai nodded, “I know!” she said.

“Just like Folfie wouldn’t get better,” Bin-Bin muttered.

Data frowned, “Wait, that’s not fair. We don’t know if Folfie is better, it’s only been a day.”

Bin-Bin punched Data playfully on the arm. “Now don’t you go starting to sound like him,” she laughed.

“Sound like who?” Skye asked.

“No one,” Bin-Bin said angelically.

Skye gave her a look and led his little sister outside.

~~~~~~~~~

Keke, lets see how well Skye gardens XD
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart