Ch.4: NOS-4-A2's Regret

Inside the cockpit of Cruiser 42, Team Lightyear sat in their seats and drove through the vastness of space. Close to XR, NOS-4-A2 stood and looked as though he was staring off into space. XR noticed this and became concerned.

"NOS?" he asked his lover. "You okay?" The Energy Vampire blinked his slit eye and turned to him.

"Hm? Oh, I'm sorry, XR. Did you say something?"

"No, I just wanted to make sure you're okay," he answered. "You were pretty distant lately." NOS sighed in reply.

"I'm sorry, my Little One. I guess I'm just…so much is going on right now. My sister's out there, XL and Savy SL2 are coming with us for back-up…I don't even know if I can handle it."

"Don't worry, NOS," Booster assured him. "If the Commander has confidence that you can talk to your sister, then so do we."

"Thank you, Booster," the Energy Vampire replied, "but I was actually talking about Savy. I just know she still holds a grudge against for what I've done to her adoptive parents."

"Well, did you even know they were her adopted parents?" Mira asked, turning to him from her seat.

"No," he answered. "I only found out from XR as we were watching the play at the amphitheatre back at Artown." He then wrapped his arms around himself sadly. "When he told me, 'a little guilty' was only an understatement. I felt like gouging my monocle optic out." XR frowned before extending his legs and hugging him.

"NOS, it's like you said, you didn't know until I told you," he assured him softly. "So stop beating yourself up like this…" He then laid his head on the silk-covered shoulder. "I hate it when you do that."

"XR's right, NOS," Booster said. "You shouldn't let it bother you. I'm sure Savy will understand and forgive you if you tell her and apologize."

"I highly doubt it," the Energy Vampire replied.

"Hey, just try, okay?" XR asked before giving him pleading optics and a sweet smile. "For me?" NOS couldn't help but smile back at him; he knows he can't resist that face.

"Well, alright," he replied, nuzzling his head into XR's helmet, "I'll do it for you, but only because you're making yourself all cute for me." XR only giggled as he gave him a love squeeze.

"That's my Nuzzly-Nosy. Now how about you go to the kitchen and have a snack? I got ya some D-cells in the cabinet by the fridge, and you'll need the energy for when we find your sister." Nos only gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Very well, my Baby-Bot. Thank you." XR then let go of him, and NOS left the cockpit. When the door closed again, the little robot heard Mira giggling and turned to her.

"What's so funny?" he asked, slightly annoyed.

"'Nuzzly-Nosy'?" she asked, having a hard time keeping a straight face. "Really?"

"Hey, he finds it cute," he explained, his hands on his hips, "just the same as I find 'Baby-Bot' cute."

"Yeah, I thinks it's kinda sweet myself," Booster replied with a smile. He then heard Buzz cough and turned to him. "You okay, Buzz?"

"I'm fine, Booster," he croaked as he waved it off. "Just choked on some puke I got caught in my throat." XR glared at him in reply.

"Homophobic…" Buzz turned to him sharply and with an angry glare.

"I heard that!"

"You were supposed to."

XLS*~*~*XLS

Meanwhile at another part of the cruiser, XL was sitting with Savy SL2 and helping her with her Plug, which will absorb their target's energy enough for Nos to "talk" to her should she try to attack…and also as a means of defense. As they worked on the small weapon, XL couldn't help but notice the stone-cold look on her face. He's heard from XR that NOS drained her adopted robot parents in the past before she joined the Junior Space Rangers, so he can understand her feelings about working with the Energy Vampire who's also dating his little brother. The awkward silence became too much for him, so he decided to break the ice.

"So, uh…still not liking the idea of working with him, huh?" Savy only turned to him silently before returning her gaze to their work.

"Yeah, I am a little hesitant about it," she answered. "I know Pam said he's changed, but I still can't forget what he did to me…what he did to my parents."

"Hey, the LGMs brought them back, didn't they?" he assured her. "And who knows? Maybe…he feels bad about what he did after living with Pam for so long." Savy then arched an eyebrow at him from his comment.

"I thought you don't like him for dating your brother."

"Well, I don't," he answered, looking down in shame. "But after overhearing XR's talk with him, I realized that…I just want my little brother to be happy. I mean, sure, I can be as protective of him as much as I want. But NOS hasn't done anything to hurt him. I guess it shows that love really does work in the craziest ways."

Savy's look softened a little in reply. She's been thinking about her hatred for the Energy Vampire that she hadn't given an ounce of thought about XR or his feelings. Now she's feeling guilty about not giving NOS a chance.

"Maybe…I should go talk to him," she said, getting up from her seat. "You think you can finish up the Plug without me?"

"Sure, no problem," he answered with a smile.

"Thanks, big guy," she replied before leaving the room.

A minute later, she came to the doorway to the kitchen when she spotted NOS sitting at the table. He has a plate of three D-cell batteries beside him, but right now he's looking at a photo in his hand sadly. Peaking to the side a bit, she saw that it's of him with a female robot with long red hair, a fuchsia dress, and red eyes. The two of them look happy in the photo, not evil happy but warm happy. The female robot must be NOS's sister Sirena.

Savy immediately felt a twinge in her heart. NOS here must really love his sister, just like she loves her robot parents. A part of her wants to yell at NOS and say, "Now you know how I feel!" But the other part tells her that he needs someone—a possible friend—to talk to when XR isn't around for him. And she did decide to go talk to him after her talk with XL. So she spoke up.

"Hey, NOS." The Energy Vampire looked up at her before she stepped into the kitchen. "You're doing okay?"

NOS meanwhile was surprised to find Savy coming up to him calmly like they're friends. But then he remembered Commander Nebula telling him that she'll be on her best behavior since they have to work together on this mission. Guess a little conversation wouldn't hurt…or get him stabbed into the rando-meter again.

"Uh, yes, I'm fine," he answered. "I just have a lot on my mind."

"Like your sister?" Savy asked as she went up to the fridge. NOS glanced at her as she got out a soda.

"That obvious?" he sighed before looking down at the photo. "After my first defeat at Star Command, I went out to look for her but never found her before finally giving up. I even blamed Zurg for my loss, explaining why I decided to take over his empire." Savy frowned in reply as she took a sip of her drink.

"I had no idea your family was that conflicted," she replied. "I mean, my parents and I get along great because they gave me what I wanted: a family. And I can tell that Commander Nebula's pretty fond of XR and XL; he just doesn't want to show it. But you? Your love for your twin's what made you hate your creator Zurg so much."

"I didn't know…" She turned to him with surprise to find him looking down sadly.

"Huh?" NOS looked up at her with a regretful frown.

"I didn't know they were married. I didn't know they adopted a human daughter. I was just hunting for energy to feed on, and they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. When you started hunting me down, I assumed you were a bounty hunter or something. I didn't know until XR told me that you were hunting me because that robot couple I've drained were your parents. I don't expect you to forgive me, Savy, but…" He then looked down again, wanting to fight back his tears. "I'm very sorry…for making you an orphan again."

Savy frowned at his words. He's apologizing to her for draining her robot parents and explaining that he didn't know they adopted her. And his words…so full of sincerity she never thought he'd express. Must be from living with Pam as part of her family. With a small smile, she sat down across the table from him and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze to make him look up at her with surprise.

"I do forgive you," she explained, "and it turned out alright in the end. The LGMs brought my parents back after our last battle, so I'm not an orphan anymore." NOS gave her a touched smile before wiping the stray tear from his face. Feeling comforted from her words, he decided to ask her an important question.

"So…how do you feel about my relationship with XR?" Savy blinked with surprise before giving him a chuckle.

"To be honest, I was kinda shocked that XR would go for a bot like you, but whatever makes him happy makes me happy too. I'm just surprised no one threw up yet when they got wind of it." NOS chuckled in reply.

"Sounds to me like you're quite fond of my Little One yourself."

"He has the same eyes as my dad," she explained. "CP-22 series." The Energy Vampire hummed in agreement.

"Yes," he mussed with a purr, "he certainly has beautiful eyes…"

"Yeah, but yours are lovely too," XR replied, coming up to him and hugging him. NOS was a little surprised at first that he came out of nowhere, but he just smiled back and kissed him on the side of his head, earning a chuckle from Savy.