A/N: I'm aware that these chapters are rather short at the moment, but that will change. Who wants to read several thousand words of bliss when much more interesting things happen when chaos ensues? In all seriousness, though, Chapter One and Two were originally one chapter until I decided to throw in the change in narration. Hence the shortness. Enjoy.

Chapter Two

Trust

E'rok

My program booted up, and I became alive. One moment I was bits of metal and technology, and the next I was awake. It was as simple as that. Something from essentially nothing. A miracle, of sorts. Although, not exactly. A miracle is an event inexplicable by science. I knew how my creators – Pemalites, they were called – had made me exist. It was all there in my programming.

It's impossible to describe the transition from nothing to everything. Emptiness was suddenly an explosion of sensory data, energy read-outs, and programming feeds. I felt a sense of others, like me. I could see them around me, taking in the world as I was.

It was marvelous! An entire world of color and sound and games. And there in front of us, looking excited and eager and so happy that it made me want to laugh with joy, were our creators.

One of them walked up to me. He was my height, with deep reddish brown fur. I checked my programming. My creators were called Pemalites. They had programmed in us all of their knowledge, all of their history and, more importantly, all of their love to play.

"Hello, Chee." The Pemalite said, looking both nervous and excited. Chee. I looked the word up and realized that that was what I was. I was a Chee. Chee meant friend. I opened my mouth to respond.

"Hello, creator." The words came out so easily! As if I had been speaking for thousands of years. I took a step forward cautiously, but my arms and legs moved with liquid grace.

"I am Siran." The Pemalite said. I hesitated, then realized that he was waiting for a response.

"Siran." It was a good name. It was a fun name. "I do not believe I have a name of my own."

The young Pemalite grinned suddenly, "Then we shall give you one! A wonderful name!"

I found myself filled with a sort of warmth. Siran's joy was contagious. Strange, how I could be aware of the fact that I was no more than a program and yet still feel joy. All around me the other Pemalites were introducing themselves to more Chee. It was like some glorious party. There were so many to meet, and so much to see!

"What name shall you give me, Siran?" I asked. The Pemalite considered for a moment.

"You will be called E'rok." He exclaimed finally, with a flourish. "It means –"

"Trust." I supplied, my programming supplying the answer. "It means 'trust'."

"Yes!" Siran sounded delighted that I had answered so swift. "Yes, exactly!"

Another Pemalite came over. This one was older, and he had been in charge of our creation.

"How is this young Chee doing?" He asked Siran, looking at me with kind, curious eyes.

"Wonderfully! His name is E'rok!" Siran responded proudly. The older Pemalite smiled warmly and put one hand on each of our shoulders.

"Excellent." He said. "How about you two go celebrate? It is, after all, E'rok's birthday."

"Birthday?" I asked. It was a strange word to use for the day of my creation. After all, I had not been born. I had been powered on.

"Yes, birthday." The older Pemalite said. "Even though you are a machine, you are as alive to us as any of our own brothers and sisters. Now go. Play."

I was touched to be treated with such kindness and warmth. I had nothing to give these wonderful creators, and yet they had given me everything. They had given me existence. All they were asking of me was to be happy, and to play.

Together, Siran and I went out into the beautiful fields of the Pemalite world. We ran through the grass, laughing and shouting and relishing in that glorious thing called life. After awhile another Pemalite joined us, with another Chee. The four of us chased one another gleefully.

We paused at the crest of a large hill. Two Pemalites, their tails wagging eagerly, and two Chee, unable to physically smile but smiling all the same. The second sun of the Pemalite world was sinking into the horizon, allowing the half-darkness that was night to settle over the world. We watched, awestruck by the beauty all around us.

"We will be friends forever, E'rok." Siran said happily a gentle breeze rustling his fur.

"Yes, Siran," I said, gazing at the Pemalite who had aided in my creation, "Forever."

Granted, I didn't have much for comparison, but as far as birthday's go, my first one was perfect.