August 3, 2032 -

The scenic backdrop of the city of Seattle was nice enough with its snow-covered Mount Rainier and acres of evergreen trees visible to the south and the ocean view to the west. The scent of the sea air drifts on the afternoon breeze as Ro sips on her hot chocolate while standing directly behind Zeta who works on one of Ground Wires' computers.

"You know, I thought this state was supposed to have a lot of rain." she mentions as she watches yet another tourist walk by with a camera around his neck. She wore a dark blue non-sleeved shirt that buttoned all the way to her neck, black jeans that flared slightly at the bottom, and white running shoes.

Zee replies, "This time of year it doesn't Ro." He wore his 'hologram' human self with the dark purple coat with black trim, light purple shirt, dark gray slacks held up by a black belt and silver buckle, and black shoes. He disconnects himself from the computer.

Ro knows that look far too well by now, "Don't tell me, a dead end?" she asks.

Zeta gets to his feet, "Yes, apparently he doesn't live there anymore."

Ro sips down the dregs of her hot chocolate and casually throws away the Styrofoam cup in a trash can nearby, "Well we could just stop by and ask a few questions at least."

Zeta smiles, "I was just about to suggest that."

Ro just gives him that sly smile of hers, "Yeah? Well maybe we are thinking more alike too."

Zeta shakes his head a bit, "Let's get going then, it is a long drive to where we need to be."

"And here I was so enjoying the view too." Ro says sarcastically as yet another tourist walks by.

Zeta's hand presses against her upper back, guiding her towards the door, "I like it too."

Ro just smiles, "Remind me to tell you what sarcasm is sometime." the second Zeta opens his mouth she was quick to tell him, "Please Mister Dictionary, none of that."

Zeta blinks and asks, "How did you know I was going to give you the dictionary definition?"

Ro climbs into the red hover car they have been driving around lately, paid by Zetas' infinite cred limit as she replies, "Because I know you Zee."

August 3, 2042

"I still don't know why I'm helping you do this. The ramifications..." the elderly man in a white lab coat, covering a white dress shirt and black slacks starts to say.

"I know the ramifications. Just do it."

The man sighs heavily, "May God have mercy on our souls." he murmurs as he slid the lever down.

The machine came to life, first at a low hum and then building into a loud crescendo of sound accompanied by blinding light. He moved the lever back up again and the figure within the circle was gone.

He licks his lips, hand wiping the sweat off his brow. The door to his lab jerks off its hinges. The police had finally battered the door down after having been working on it at least ten minutes. He is surrounded by SWAT members bearing Plexiglas shields and AK 47s.

"I'm afraid you are too late, gentlemen." he tells them as he raises his hands in the air, "I would be careful firing those in here or there will be little chance of retrieval."

A cop steps forward with handcuffs in hand, "You have the right to remain silent..." she begins, rattling off the Miranda Rights.

"May I ask why I am being arrested?" he asks calmly, even as the cuffs get snapped on and secured behind his back.

September 3, 2032

It is no surprise where Zeta and Rosalie Rowen goes that sooner or later the NSA follows. Agent Bennett rode on a hover cycle, handgun clenched tightly as he aimed for the synthoid, Zeta. Right behind him, Agent West is coming in on the passenger side of the hover car.

"Give it up Zeta." shouts Bennett over the sound of the wind, "Just pull over and give up."

Agent West gets to the side as he plans, "Can I shoot him?" he shouts in askance.

Zeta isn't about to pull over and give up, let alone get Ro shot at by NSA agents. His thoughts over how to escape are quicker than any known computer out there. Thankfully Ro is buckled up as he guns the hover car and aims it directly for a nearby train tunnel. His sudden movement causes the hover car to hit Agent Wests' hover cycle, jostling him way off the road and into the bushes.

"Aaaahhh!" Agent West cries as he tries to maintain control while braking hard.

Agent Bennett growls and squeezes off a shot, the bullet impacts the hover car high on the driver's side bumper as Zeta again jostles the car square onto the tracks. "You'll get yourself and the girl killed!" he yells after them.

Ro looks at Zeta wildly, "Are you nuts? This is a train track!"

Zeta has no time for explanations, "Unbuckle and hang onto me Ro."

The sound of train horn blared from the tunnel.

Ro's eyes go wide, "You are insane." she tells him as she unbuckles and hangs onto him.

Agent Bennett hears the horn as well and stops short of tunnel entrance, he backs the hover cycle off the track. It's only a few seconds later that he hears the sound of the girl screaming and then the sound of metal hitting metal.

Ro blinks her eyes open, greeted by Zeta's smile. She can see the landscape whizzing past through the window that is prominent behind him. She rubs at her eyes a little, yawning.

"I bought you some lunch." Zeta offers.

"Thanks Zee." Ro tells him as she slowly gets up, "Wonder how ticked Bennett will be when he finds no bodies in our hover car?" she asks.

Zeta replies, "I don't know to be honest Ro."

Ro bites into her ham and cheese sandwich on white bread. It always amazes her how Zeta can get whatever he wants for her and yet buys the simplest food his creds could by. She swallows and asks, "Know where we are going yet?"

Zeta nods, "Yes. We'll be getting off at the next train stop."

"And that is where?" Ro presses and then takes another bite.

"Portland Oregon. Just as we planned." Zeta replies.

oOThis synthoid has yet to cease to amaze me. He always gets away with the comes a thought as she watches them get off the train they had conveniently got on. oOIt has been a month now. No matter how many times the NSA finds them and tries to capture them, they somehow manage to With swift movement the figure from the future moves in between two box cars, continuing to watch the duo. oOSoon we shall meet face to

Zeta and Ro move to the nearby car rental agency and with Zetas' creds it is no trouble getting one at all. Little do they know that the figure is watching and listening to everything. The figure has been doing so for a solid month without being spotted at all. Watching what vehicle they get into and then what direction they go, then it is time for the continuation of observation.

The man at the counter smiles, Good evening, miss. What were you looking for?"

The woman before him smiles back, showing her cred card, "The top of the line, I spare no expense."

"Yes ma'am!" he replies, taking the card.

Some miles down the road...

"Zee? Do you think he's here?" Ro asks.

Zeta replies with a smile, "We've spent so long just tracking him down that I can only hope that he is."

Ro leans herself against the side of the door, looking at the side mirror, "Me too Zee." She notices a blue hover SUV following some distance back. This late at night, she had only seen a token number of cars and they were all heading back into the heart of Portland whereas they were heading into the outskirts. "Hey, next fast food place you see let's get me something to eat okay?"

Zeta nods, "Sure Ro."

It is only a short while before one appears and they pull over. The woman in the blue hover SUV smiles to herself she drives some miles down the road and pulls over. Getting out of the vehicle she moves to the hood and opens it, with a swift movement she gives a radiator hose a prick with her fingernail. oONow I just hope that the synthoid does not disappoint me by not pulling She gets back into the car and turns on the flashers.

A few minutes later...

Ro sips on a thick chocolate milkshake, her other hand grasps a double stack cheeseburger will all the fixings.

Zeta shakes his head, "I hope you won't make a habit of fast food Ro, it is bad for you."

Ro smiles sweetly, "Anything that's bad for you tastes great Zee."

Zeta sighs softly and let's it drop. He knows how pointless it is to lecture Ro on just about anything anymore. He spots flashing lights ahead, "Looks like a stranded motorist. Maybe we should help."

Ro is automatically cautious, "Alright, but be ready for a trap. I'd not put it past Bennett to pull something."

Zeta nods, he pulls the hover car beside the blue hover SUV and looks over at a rather lovely woman who is smiling over at them from her driver's seat. "Evening, do you require assistance?" Zeta asks.

"I sure do. I seem to have a hose leak and I'm afraid I don't have a cell phone on me." she replies.

Zeta exchanges a look with Ro. Ro sips on her milkshake and gives him a slight nod. He smiles, "Well we could take you to a phone if you like."

That is exactly what the woman wants to hear, she smiles brightly and gushes, "Oh thank you sir!" she gets out of her vehicle, taking the keys out of the ignition and snagging her purse. She's dressed in a knee high, sleeveless black dress with matching black high heels and black pantyhose. Her form was model caliber curvaceous with just the right amount of bust line. Her silvery hair framed a face that was quite stunning and had only a hint of makeup upon it.

Ro turns her head slightly to observe the lady quietly. oO(Silver hair, funky)Oo

Zeta glances at Ro again who continues to eat her fast food, "You are welcome." he states as he watches the woman get into the back passenger seat.

The woman buckles up and puts her purse in her lap, "I'm Nova." she states as she offers Zeta her hand.

Zeta smiles a bit, "Zee. This is Ro." he finds the woman's grip surprisingly strong, "You must work out."

Nova smiles as she releases his hand from her own, "Oh yes, a lady must these days in order to keep her figure."

Ro rolls her eyes. oO(Oh brother.)Oo

Zeta catches the expression and offers a raised brow in askance. Ro says nothing, she just sucks up more milkshake through a straw.

Nova leans back against the back seat as Zeta pulls the hover car back onto the road, "I thank you again for your kind assistance. If I may, I would like to reward you."

This causes Ro to glance back at her with a shocked look.

Zeta looks back at the woman in the rear view mirror and states, "Thank you for the offer, but we are only doing our civic duty."

Ro looks at Zeta and smiles, she'll let him handle this one. She's still finishing her meal off.

Nova nods, looking back at Zeta through the mirror reflection, "A true gentlemen are you, Zeta." she states.
-

Five miles later...

Zeta pulls up into an old fashioned gas station, in fact it looks like it is still stuck in 1950. There is an old phone booth, probably a 1980s model, sitting next to the well kept whitewashed station building. A man steps out of the office within. The sign in the office reads "Open 24/7".

Nova unbuckles herself, then opens the door, not at all missing the twice over the man gave her. She just smiles.

The man tips his hat up a little, "Evening folks. What can I do you for?"

Nova speaks up, "I just need the use of your phone."

"Go ahead, miss." the man replies, "I'm afraid we don't have a recharger at this station for that vehicle. But there's a station another five miles down the way that does."

Zeta nods, "Thank you." he had not missed the look the man gave Nova either.

Apparently Ro has also noticed, she spoke in a whisper to Zeta, "Think we should leave her alone with this guy?"

Nova is at the phone, swiping her cred card through the slot. She acts it out very well, she isn't directly hitting the keys on the phone. She made it look like she did though.

Zeta looks back to Ro as the man walked slowly back to the office, "Not at all. I want to be sure that she arrives somewhere safe."

Ro smiles at him, "You are learning from the pro after all."

The man hangs out at the doorway of the office, which has a good view of the phone booth. His intent gaze is all too obvious to the street smart Ro.

Nova fakes her conversation then hangs up the phone, she returns to the hover car, "I found a tow truck company that can take my vehicle to a nearby mechanic. Unfortunately the mechanic won't be open until the morning. Any chance you folks could take me to my destination?"

Zeta and Ro exchange a glance, Ro nods to Zeta.

Zeta replies, "Where is your destination?"

Vancouver, Washington

Zeta watches a moment as the valet drives off with the rental. Before them was a towering behemoth of a motel. Ro leans against Zeta heavily, she's pretty beat after the thirty minute drive to get here. Nova is already checking herself into the hotel.

Zeta suggests, "We should get a room too Ro."

Ro raises her sleepy eyes to his face, "Okay Zee."

They move together to await service, much to their surprise Nova turns and hands them a set of keys. Zeta gives her a confused look, Ro's eyes open wide a moment. Nova just smiles and says, "Consider it my way of saying thank you. I will have no arguments."

Zeta notes the inflection of her voice, he nods and replies, "We thank you very much. Come on sleepy head."

A short ride on the elevator later...

Ro waits until they are safely within the confines of the hotel room before she states, "Something is up with that woman."

Zeta is gently coaxing her to the bed, "What do you mean?"

Ro is grudgingly allowing his coaxing, she sits down on the side of the bed, "No one can be that nice. I mean she paid for room like.. like this?" she gestures around.

It was the Presidential Suite they were in with two queen sized beds in the bedroom, a fireplace, a full kitchen - basically it looked like a miniature version of a home, but a lot more spectacular.

Zeta turns to find the light switch, "She's probably rich is all Ro. Don't be so suspicious all the time."

Ro gets up long enough to tug the covers off the bed, she then lies down as Zeta finds the switch and turns the lights off. "Well it if not for my suspicions we'd not be running from Bennett still."

Zeta knows this all too well, "I know Ro. Just this once, I would like to believe that someone isn't out to get us."

Ro pulls the covers over herself, "Night Zee."

"Pleasant dreams Ro."

Ro slept very well and woke to Zeta standing nearby. "Hey, could you go downstairs and order me some breakfast?" she asks.

"Sure thing. The usual?" he replies.

"You know it." Ro smiles as she pulls the covers off herself.

Zeta smiles back and departs. The second the door closes Ro practically jumps out of the bed. She already has a plan in mind concerning their benefactor, Nova. The breakfast request serves as a perfect secondary purpose. She knows that Zeta would stop her from spying on the woman. She waits awhile by the door, listening at the door and then opening it to peer out. Seeing that Zeta is not in sight she moves down to the room next door where Nova is staying. She tries the door knob, it turns with no resistance. She pushes on it and the door swings in.

She peers within, oO[That was too easy. Way too easy.]Oo It is as if Nova wanted someone to come in. That makes Ro suspicious even more than before. She takes cautious steps into the room, her eyes searching the living room ahead. There's a large antique steamer trunk sitting near the couch. Upon the back of the couch is the dress and nylons the woman was wearing the night before, the shoes and purse sit on a table in front of the couch. She moves further in and a melody reaches her ears. At first there is no words, just loud humming. The voice comes from the bathroom. Ro decides she may just have enough time so she pops the two catches loose and opens the lid. She freezes when Nova's voice speaks.

"I do hope you have a good reason to come in without saying hello."

Ro's eyes are glued to what is within the steamer trunk, it looks like some sort of highly advanced battery charger. There were two windows in it that were are dark, apparently some sort of digital readouts. There's a single, thick cord ended with a gold covered circular device. She's been busted, and isn't sure what to say.

Nova moves behind her, speaking again, "Let me guess, Ro, you had a suspicion. Something nagged at your conscience when it came to me. You decided to do a little investigation and your friend Zeta is probably downstairs fetching you breakfast."

Ro's gaze moves from the trunk to the sound of something hitting the couch, her mouth drops. It's a skin! In fact it is a full body worth of skin. "Ew... gross..." she mutters. But as she looks closer she notices there is no blood on this skin, in fact that skin looks like is isn't even real since there is a straight seam the runs along the side.

Nova sits directly in her view, gazing at her with softly glowing orange optics. Sitting there in all her silver toned, metallic, and quite naked glory. "Oh... my... God..." is all Ro can utter.

Nova just smiles at her, "I assure you God had nothing to do with me." she informs her.

Ro can't help but stare, it s like looking at a horrid car accident. The perverse side just takes over and makes you stare. "What /are/ you?" she manages to utter.

Nova is checking her 'skin' as she speaks, "I am a cyborg. A being that is part machine and part human. You realize that what you see now must not be spoken to Zeta, right?"

Ro looks into Nova's glowing optics, "How can I not tell him? This will freak him out."

Nova moves a foot into the skins' leg and slides it up, "Exactly why you cannot tell him, Ro." she explains as she slides the other foot into the other leg and slides that up. "You see, the facts are like this. I am from the future, a decade in fact." she stands now to pull the skin over her waist and torso. "I cannot tell you why I am here, only that I mean no harm to yourself or Zeta."

Ro watches her quietly as she speaks, it's very weird to watch this skin get placed back onto a metallic body that would probably win every single last beauty pageant out there and have every last man on Earth drool if it was photographed for Playboy. "Great." came Ro s sarcastic reply.

Nova chuckles softly as if she finds Ro s sarcasm humorous, she puts each arm into the skin and tugs it all snug then finally pulls the head portion over, allowing her hair to be the only part that's not part of this skin. "You don't believe me."

Ro just looks at Nova, now in her nude human skin. "No, I don't."

Nova takes up her dress from the couch and hmms softly, "Well, you will learn that I can be trusted soon. Now then, off with you. I can hear the elevator coming and I would guess that Zeta is riding it."

Ro eats her breakfast, not saying a word. That worries Zeta slightly as Ro typically has something to say about the food she is eating. But she isn't even uttering an 'mmm'. Her face shows no displeasure at the food quality either.

Zeta finally asks, "What is it Ro?"

Ro finishes her meal and states an abrupt, "Nothing."

Zeta hasn't heard her be so abrupt in a long while, something is wrong but she's unwilling to talk about it. "We'll be leaving shortly." he informs her.

"Good, I can't wait to find out if our lead goes somewhere." she replies as she gets up and stretches.

Considering that Ro is typically bored out of mind when on a long hover car ride, this just adds to Zetas' worry. "I'll make sure our room and food were paid for by Nova. Meet you in the lobby?"

Ro nods, "Sure thing, Zee."

Zee departs the room, noting that Nova is just exiting her room with a steamer trunk. He pauses to watch her handle it, she seems to be stronger than she let on before. He walks behind her and gets a glance back in his direction.

"Morning Zeta. Are you and Ro leaving too?"

Zeta presses the button for the elevator, "Yes. I see you got your things from your car okay."

Nova smiles, "Oh yes, the mechanic was most amiable to arrange for my things to arrive."

Zeta smiles and the doors open, "I hope they fix your car soon."

"I'm not too worried about it since it is a rental. I should have another rental waiting for me outside." Nova replies.

Zeta nods and steps inside with her following, dragging the steamer trunk. Zeta muses that it is unusual for a woman with apparent money to burn she could afford some wheels on the trunk.

The ride down is quiet and they step out of the elevator nearly together. He heads toward the front desk, Nova watches him a moment and just smiles. oO(Good instincts, may serve him well)Oo she muses as she drags the steamer towards her new rental car and has a man load it up so she doesn't look too suspicious.

She's getting into the drivers' side as Ro and Zeta come out of the hotel. She gives a wave, "Safe travels you two."

"Thanks." Zeta replies. Ro just waves back, but with this small frown on her face.

December 30, 2032

It has been a little over three months since her last direct contact with her objectives. She had been content to watch the drama of their lives unfold from afar, from the shadow - darkness and hiding places that were like a second skin.

She half expects to feel his presence nearby, to see him step out of the shadows and yet he does not. She knows he is still a government project, just like she is, in this time period. Zeta would probably be surprised to find out that synthoids were not the only government projects out there. She had felt the terrible void of loneliness when Christmas came and went.

Above her is a scream, "Zee!" and the answering, "Ro!"

It has come to this pivotal moment, she launches herself into the air. Her jet boots blasting hot flames into the twilight.

"Zee!" comes the girls' scream again just above Nova's position. "No! Zee!"

The synthoid plummets quicker than the girl, thanks to the way he positions his body and is catching up. "I'm not going to let you die."

It is a moment Nova had read over, studied over in the future. It would not happen the way it had before. Zeta catches the girl, taking her into his arms.

Ro utters what she thinks may be her last words, "I love you Zee."

Zeta's reply to this, "I know, Ro. I love you too."

Above them Bennett is yelling at the other agents to do something to save the girl.

Ro looks at the brightly lit city that is coming at them so quickly, she gives in to a swoon and is out cold.

Zeta hugs her close and can do little to stop their plummet, there is nothing to grab onto until they reach the tallest rooftop.

December 31, 2032

Night has come and gone, the sun shines through the drawn curtains. Ro awakes and finds Zeta talking with a female. She stood at least 6'10" tall and wear a matte black suit of armor upon her form. Her angular yet strikingly familiar face was metallic and her optics glowed an orange hue.

Zeta's words finally come into focus as Ro just stares at the two. "I'm not sure if that is wise."

The female just chuckles at him softly and taps a hand on hip, exposing what looked like it belonged on a computer some sort of a media port. "You will just have to trust me."

Ro stares further and finally manages, "Oh .. my.. God.. it's Nova!"

Zeta looks over at Ro, he isn't in hologram as apparently it doesn't matter to have it on with the other standing in front of him. "She claims to be."

"It is her. She told me to trust her too." Ro states as she gets up off the bed she'd been on for the past several hours.

Nova smiles, "She catches on very quickly. Now then, if you would?"

Zeta looks at Ro, but states to Nova, "I'll have to trust you then."

Ro nearly looses it as Zeta's 'male' jack port plugs itself into the corresponding 'female' jack port on Nova. "Oh now that is just wrong!"

Nova offers her a smile and gestures with a hand, "It is just like him plugging into a computer at Ground Wire, Rosalie. I just happen to be a walking one is all."

Ro blinks, humor out of a synthoid.. correction, cyborg.. was a new one on her. Zeta had yet to grasp it and a number of other human ideals. "I still don't like it."

Nova states, "He wishes proof of my claims, and since I have the capability of sharing my memories with another like myself or like him then it was only logical to allow access. Of course the last time I did it, it was a mutual transference with a being whose name I rather not divulge."

Ro just crosses her arms and glares at the lady in armor. "If he's any different after this is over I am so kicking you."

That gets a full blown laugh out of Nova and the reply, "Ah you are a spunky one, I admire that. It is no wonder Zeta keeps you close."

Zeta moves his jack out and looks up at Nova. Ro wishes she could read that metallic face of his, but it offers little to what the tin man is thinking. He looks over to Ro, "We can trust her."

Ro gives a sigh and moves over to sit next to him, "You okay?"

"I'm fine, I just..." glancing at Nova, "think I found another who has similar goals."

Nova nods, "Indeed."

Ro gives him a look, "What does that mean?"

"She didn't have to run from the government seeking her freedom up until recently. She had spent several years as a civilian and was free to do as she wished with her freedom. I was her... inspiration." Zeta explains.

Ro looks from him to Nova, then asks, "Until recently?"

Nova crouches down, balanced perfectly on her feet as her arms rest on her knees, "I refused to continue to be on call. You see I was free, but still required to fulfill my function. The government put money into a product, which was me, and they expected me to pay for my cost of creation. When I refused my last infiltrate and kill order, they came after me with a vengeance. My only recourse was to time travel."

Ro looks at Zeta, he nods to her, "She speaks the truth. Her memories show it to be as she says it." he looks to Nova, "I felt you push me away from some memories of a man made of pure shadow."

"It is difficult to share such memories Zeta. I dearly loved him and to share our intimate moments would be betraying his memory." Nova replies.

Ro gasps, "You were intimate with a human?"

Nova looks to the girl who is blossoming into womanhood and gives her a sad smile, "Those that created me made sure that my cybernetic body would not just be pleasing to the male human eye."

Zeta says, "I apologize for intruding where I was not welcome. I understand your reservations."

Ro's mouth is working, but nothing is coming out. She's utterly speechless. If Nova is implying what Ro thinks she's implying... well that changes her whole mind set when it came to Zeta.

Nova woke to Ro's voice saying, Wake up. She turns over to face the girl, the clock just to the girl's right reads 3:00 in the morning and the darkness is given some light via the flashlight she is carrying. "What is it Ro?"

"I need to talk to you." Ro replies, looking her straight in those softly glowing optics.

Nova shifts her nude form and sits up, "About what dear?"

"Why you came here for starters." Ro states.

"I came to this time to observe you and Zeta for awhile in order to make a final decision. This decision involved what occurred the night I saved you both."

Ro looks at her, expression incredulous, "You mean, we would have died?"

"You would have died. Zeta would have be severely damaged and captured by Bennett's people. Later he would have been taken in for intense examination." Nova then pauses, "I will spare you the further details."

Ro stares at the nude form of Nova, just boggling that she had died from that fall and that this cyborg lady had saved her and Zeta. "But why save us? Doesn't like mess something up for you?"

"Nothing has changed for me that I am aware of, but I understand your concern. Changing the past does change the future in some way. Trust me on this Ro, I did not take saving you two lightly. I considered it quite heavily and watching you two interact solidified the decision I made. As for why, I felt it was the right thing to do."

Ro looks thoughtful, "You said you were inspired by Zetas pursuit of his freedom. Is that the real reason you came here?"

Nova smiles at her, "Yes, it is the big reason why I even considered coming back to this time."

Ro looks down at the floor, the flashlight loose in her hand now, "Do you think it is possible Zee would be more like you?"

Nova cocks her head, "In what way dear?"

Ro takes in a breath, looking up again and into those optics, "More emotional for one. More human." biting her lip, she then says, "God this is hard to say."

Nova holds a hand up, saying, "Yes he can be more emotional, in fact I was going to speak to him about that. As for more human, that would require some alterations to his current frame schematics and probably the installation of organic matter. Unfortunately, after they built me the politicians had a law passed to make sure that anyone trying to harvest human organics for such use would be in big trouble."

Ro hmms, "Nova, when were you made anyway?"

Nova smiles at her, "Let me put it this way for you, I'm old enough to be your Mother."

Ro blinks and asks, "So you are older than Zeta?"

Nova nods.

"Were you made by the same men that made Zeta?" Ro asks.

Nova shakes her head, "Not at all. They probably exchanged what they learned from my project and projects similar to mine to those that made the synthoids."

Ro nods, "Too bad, may have helped Zee and I to get some more information about his project guys."

"There isn't much to tell him, my project members were very restrictive with the information they gave me. I don't even know who my organic matter donor is." Nova replies, "Now if you don't mind dear, I would like to get back to my rest cycle."

"Rest well Nova." Ro replies, she turns to leave and heads towards the door.

Nova lays back down and her optics dim to darkness.

Ro's form flickers and Zeta stands at the door. Zeta had gotten some answers tonight, but it is still not enough. Ro had told him that Nova was a cyborg, that she had even seen her nude. Zeta didn't even comprehend what nude was until he had seen it. Nude to him was as he was now, without a hologram. He stands there, watching the still form and waiting for the electrical change to indicate she is indeed resting. The fact that Nova even requires rest is interesting. It seems that nothing has changed on that one, every so often even he needed to rest. What she said certainly piqued his interest. He did want to be more emotional. Having a conscious was all well and good, but he really wanted more than that. There was also something else nagging at his thoughts, how it was possible Nova had a human lover. How would it be possible for him to be altered to be more human. The questions were just piling up and he was determined to have the answers. He was thankful that Nova saved their lives, he respected her immensely for that. His conscious fought with the decision he was coming to, even as he moved toward the still form something told him this was wrong. He sat on the edge of the bed and tapped Nova on the hip, exposing her female jack port. He plugs his male jack port into it, whispering, I hope you forgive me for this Nova.

Nova dreams of looking at Joseph, a man that was literally a solid shadow and could control that shadow to some extent, he was taking off the armor he wore. He was saying how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. When he touched her, she feels it as it was felt when she was with him, via her microscopic cyberorganic nervous system. She returns the touches, kissing him. It is just a reflection of a time where she was happy, when she was with the man she loved. It is a thing that her unconscious mind brings to the fore as if it were a dream. It is something that comes when she is feeling so utterly alone, and wants to revisit that happier time. The remembrance dream moves through every second of passion, repeating every word or utterance between them, until it reaches the culmination and the dream is no more.

Then she goes into another dream, one she hasn't visited before and wonders as she views it why it is coming to the fore now. She see the men responsible for her creation, the men whose hands sculpted every part that is her - from the smallest cyberorganic nerve, to the microchips, to her exterior. They are talking around her, thinking she's asleep. They speak of the repercussions of giving her a cyberorganic female reproductive system. As she views this, listening intently to this memory that she wasn't even aware of, she feels the secondary presence in her mind. For now she keeps tabs on it, but is more curious about what is being said. It is quite eye opening to learn that the intentions of having that system put in was that they could install a seduction program at a later date, in order to make her a much better infiltration unit. She can feel the surprise from the secondary presence and she fully focuses on it now that that dream remembering had ended. The presence seems to feel her attention upon it, it attempts a retreat but she is very familiar with how her mind works. Every exit that it heads for, she slams it down, soon enough she has it trapped. Now it is her turn to be surprised, oO(Zeta. You could have simply asked instead of infiltrating my mind like this. I hope your conscious realizes that what you have done is pure and simple rape.)Oo She can feel his fear and shame, emotions she didn't even think he was capable of until now. oO(I'm sorry, I just needed some answers and you closed me off when we connect lasted time.)Oo came his reply. She lifts the barriers she trapped his mind in, oO(I hope you got them, Zeta...)Oo

In a flash her mind is within his mind, probing at his memories. He tries to stop her, but every attempt to do so only slows her down a little. But her probes are very selective, and when they happen it's not a bad experience. He hears her reassurance, oO(I learned from a mental rape years ago by an evil cyborg. I know what it is like to be changed utterly by evil, how it is like to fight against it. I was lucky, I eventually overcame the evil he implanted in my mind. This is merely a demonstration Zeta, that your systems can be hacked.)Oo She is still within his mind now, he is tempted to trap her there, but instead joins her. 'oO(Thank you for being so understanding Nova.)Oo He feels something flow into his mind, a program. oO(What is this?)Oo.

oO('A program to help you with your emotions, Zeta. The one thing that your creators would not give you, which you had to learn on your own. A conscious is just the start, it has helped you learn about humans. But it can only do so much.')Oo The download stops and he feels her pulling her mind out, oO(I wish you luck Zeta, Rosalie is a spirited and intelligent young lady.)Oo

Zeta replies, oO(Oh I know.)Oo He can already feel the effects of the downloaded program. He cannot find a virus within, or something else that would cause his programming harm.

oO(Do you truly love her?)Oo comes the query as Nova's mind drifts to the cusp of his own.

oO(Thanks to this program, I can truly say that I feel this is true. Before it felt like I was just saying it since I had so little to go on.)Oo It certainly was so, but from what he viewed of Nova with her Joseph, there was yet a long road to travel if he should decide to pursue that.

Nova's thought echoes via their connection, 9((I would be careful from here on Zeta. Love has many definitions with humans. I could not tell you if Rosalie loves you as my Joseph loved me. For all I know she loves you as if you were her brother.)Oo

Zeta thinks back just before severing the connection, oO(It seems I've yet much to learn. You have helped me a great deal, and for that I will be eternally in your debt.)Oo

The connection is severed and Nova stirs by him, she sits up and smiles at him. "I will hold you to that debt Zeta, and I will collect on it."

Zeta nods and replies, "I should return to Ro before she wakes up and notices I am gone."

"Good night, Zeta."

The door is answered by Zeta in his holographic human male form. Nova stands at there on the other side, "I wished to say good bye before I left."

Ro moves towards where she was in the room, cocking her head at the fully armored Nova, "Going so soon?"

"I am afraid so." Nova replies.

Zeta nods, "Perhaps we shall meet again."

Nova smiles in a mysterious fashion, "Perhaps."

Ro offers Nova her hand, "Thanks for everything Nova. It's been a blast."

Nova accepts the hand, shaking it and then releasing it, "As it has for me, Rosalie." she looks back to Zeta, "Tread your path carefully, Zeta." she leans forward and kisses him on the cheek, "For luck."

Ro gapes a bit and Zeta puts a hand on her shoulder, "Thank you. Come on Ro, we still need to find that path."

Nova smiles at Ro's reaction, she steps back to allow the two to pass and watches them enter the elevator. The way Ro was staring at Zeta, it was if she didn't recognize him anymore. Nova puts a hand on the doors as they are about to close, "One more thing Zeta, do not seek out Project Nova. She may not be as understanding in this time as she is now."

Zeta cocks his head, then nods, "No problem."

Nova releases the door and it closes. She pauses, thinking back to that odd note that was left to her younger self around this period of time. The note read the same, and was still signed with the letter Z.