Nos healed the blue knight with a laser mender. He replaced a few parts, and seeing that she was now a bit unstable, he gave her a prototype core that DRAC had made. DRAC begrudgingly offered to give it to her, knowing he'd be able to make another. The core was now sustaining and regulating her systems, helping her strengthen herself.
"So you are not an Energy Vampire, 8-R-10?" Nos asked as he scanned her.
8 nodded. "I am a knight, made to defend my planet to the very end, but from what your brother told me, it is lost. I had never heard of such creatures before today."
Nos studied the armor, nodding solemnly. He placed her armor piece on a nanite machine that began to fix every crack. "I apologize for your loss."
Nox smiled, though he was somewhat confused. "You feel like him but you're not really him. You're really different, a really good person."
Nos concurred. "You must be his counterpart, though you are not related to us."
Nox looked to his father, noticing some untreated scrapes and scratches. "...I am sorry I ran out like that."
Nos nudged his head to his son's to calm him down. "I know how important Fletcher and Darwin are to you. Their parents insisted on communicating through the screen, but I know you want more than that."
Nox stayed quiet as Nos finished 8's repairs. "Good as new." He spoke, finally replacing her armor.
8-R-10 looked down and smiles at the great work. "I thank thee, sir Nos." She then looked down at the boy. "May I take a walk with your son?"
Nos was surprised, but seeing she held no malice, he nodded. "If I may keep a distant watch. I just want to make sure no harm comes especially if AL comes back."
8 nodded as she and Nox walks out of the large house and towards the forest. As followed the path to the lake, she looks down at the boy. Nox's face darkened a bit from fear and sadness.
8 looked up to the surrounding trees. "This forest reminds me of my home. I used to have friends that I missed very much. The only way I could interact with them was through letters, and even then, I missed them every day. I still do now, even after they're long gone. I lost my whole world to a traitor."
"I'm sorry that happened to you."
8 shook her head. "Don't be sorry child, I know they are with me wherever I go. You learn to enjoy every moment that you can with your friends. No matter where they are, they are always with you." 8-R-10 looked to the lake, sensing the large presence. She knelt by the water, sticking her head in before pulling it out with a shake. Nox was worried she was scared for a moment, but that was only until he saw the excitement in her expression. "It's the visul șarpelui!"
Nox took a moment to understand what she said. "The dream serpent?"
She nodded vigorously, her optics glowing in excitement. "They travel through the oceans and the sky! At least... they used to..." she knelt again and began to pray as Nox watched. When she finished, he sat with her.
8 sat back on her feet. "They were our gods, they were our protectors in my planet. Oh how they brought peace to my world and life itself. I was to serve and protect the gods but my sister betrayed me and allowed these hunters and horrible people to kill them. I was chained and locked up in that forsaken coffin... all I remember is the cold and the silence of the castle."
Nox fell somber as they watched the lake. Though there was a peace about her, the long-seated pain seemed just as prominent in her signature. "...What will you do now?"
8-R-10 looked to the sky. "As much as I want to kill that demon, I feel weary, as if I am dying. Do not worry, I am fine ‒ I am not of this world, and I cannot stay long."
The way she spoke was crushing. "But my dad said your world is dead! You can't be there by yourself!"
8-R-10's faceplate glowed bright blue. "I was thinking of asking the fellow who woke me to come with, he seems charming."
Nox tilted his head, but he sensed someone coming towards them. ALD was running to them, though he stopped a good distance from 8-R-10, turning pink. "Nox, it is time to come back home."
Nox nodded as 8-R-10 stood up and bowed to the lake. On their way back, ALD worried over Nox. "So um... you feeling okay?"
Nox nodded and smiled. "Maybe I can go to their planet, hang out with Fletcher and Darwin."
ALD nodded but kept looking away from 8-R-10.
Nox was confused until he realized what was going on, at which point he stuck his tongue out.
"After this whole fiasco, we like to ask if maybe Nox and Mor and Ana hangs out in your world instead?" XR asked. Everyone had reconviened in the communications room and regained a grasp on safety.
"It really all comes down to the same thing either way: is it safe for anyone to go back and forth? It seems like things can find their way through regardless," Fred worried aloud.
"We were talking about that, and it looks like ALD and his girlfriend found a quick fix," XR snickered.
"We just met!" ALD shouted.
The Nos on Earth leaned in. "Are you saying you can send Fletcher and Darwin back now?!"
XR nodded. "We need to see if XL destroyed everything. Apparently he didn't know they did a back up."
"But the portal on Planet Z?"
8-R-10 spoke up. "I performed a ritual and wiped their thoughts and memories."
All head turned to the blue titantrying go enter through the door way. ALD vented steam. "She helped me destroy the portal."
"So... we're really going with the whole magic is real thing, huh?" Rosie muttered.
"It sounds more to me like she was doing the heavy lifting, ALD," Two pointed out.
ALD's screen turned pink. "Well… she did save me ‒ !"
8-R-10 squeezed him in a hug. "You are too sweet, sir ALD!"
XR interjected. "This is 8-R-10. It turns out she was what AL pulled through from your universe."
"You're from our world?" Two asked.
8-R-10 nodded, not letting ALD go. "I am 8-R-10! Class 560, main guard to the once royal court! Protector of the innocents and the gods visul șarpelui."
"You protected our children. All of you... we couldn't have asked for a better place for our boys to be randomly teleported to," Fred half-laughed.
"Except maybe somewhere in this world," Rosie said.
Fred put his arm around her shoulders, giving her a little squeeze.
"When will you know whether the portal at Star Command is down?" Fetcher's father asked.
It was at that moment that XR's wrist communicator played a tone. He grinned with hope. "Yeah XL?"
XL, however, looked more guilty than happy. "Listen XR I ‒ hey, what is Nos doing with a woman?!"
The Nos on screen rolled his optic. "Figures some things would stay the same across worlds."
XL grinned. "I knew it! I knew you were a cheater, you slimy ball of gas! You rat!"
XR groaned, "XL ‒ "
Two rubbed a hand over her visor.
XL continued on his rants and accusations. "I knew you were a two-timer! And you got her ‒ "
"XL, you imbecile, I am right here!" Nos growled, Ana on his arm.
XL looked from one Nos to the other and shrieked like a little girl.
8-R-10, still holding ALD, whispered to Nox, "Is he a manchild cursed with a child's voice? The poor fool."
XR wished he could knock some sense in his brother. "XL snap out of it! Did you destroy the portal?!"
XL stopped and paled. "About that..." he turns to show nebula coming in to the room.
Nebula glared, his attention mostly focused on the Nos holding the baby. "You think I'd let you get away with destroying our invention?!"
Nos growled, "You stole my invention you old fool!"
Nebula waved it off. "All that matters is I got my eye on you, and you could be facing serious charges for destroying private property. You either bring those kids here or I come to you! Over and out!"
XR groaned and Nox moved away from Fletcher.
"What's the problem?" the Earthling Nos exclaimed, "Whatever works will do, won't it?"
8-R-10 was in thought and quietly dropped ALD, and whispering in her Nos's receptor.
"If he finds out about Fletcher and Darwin, he'll send them to your Star Command," XR paled.
"Why?!" Two shouted, "Is it so hard to just send them home?"
Her husband seemed to shrink into himself.
"Hey, I agree, but he has this stupid pride ‒ wait, where's Nos?" XR looked around.
Nox shifted nervously. "He said something about disguises."
"Who cares?" Rosie cried, "Does he value his pride over the lives of these children?"
XR covered his face. "If it means proving his Star Command is better... yes."
Fletcher's father prickled. "What could that possibly have to do with anything? Why could he not send them home before finding out whatever trivial information he wants?"
XR's husband returned, wiping his claws with a rag. "Because he is an airhead."
Earthling Nos wanted to snap back. Perhaps this Nebula is different than the one he knew, and he couldn't risk exposing his knowledge of Star Command for fear of raising anyone's suspicions. He fumed, hissing to himself.
"This all seems so... violent. We couldn't try reasoning with him?" Fred suggested.
Nos-X-4-a2 shook his head. "He did not accept me before, he only tolerates me because of the children. There is no reasoning with him."
"Why wouldn't our children sway him as well? They didn't ask for this, and he's partially to blame!" Rosie threw her arms out.
"If he finds out Fletcher is not mine, he'll put two to two together and have something against both Nos-4-a2s," XR was worried now, "And if word gets out… well, it'll get ugly."
Something clicked in Fetcher's father's mind, bleeding desperation across his face. "We can't let him know."
The other Nos saw him beginning to panic. "Which is why 8 will destroy the machine, impersonating AL."
Two thought for a moment. "Is she doing this on her own?"
"She is AL's counterpart. They will not suspect it was us, as AL is known to attack there for his own reasons."
XR caught on to what his Nos was planning and grinned. "And Nebula will be none the wiser!"
"But did you say she was already there? How did she travel there so fast?" Rosie blanched.
"She borrowed a teleporter, she will be alright," Nos explained. "She said she will do what must be done."
"So we can only hope that she makes it out alright?" Fred asked.
XR received an alert. "Wow, that was quick. She destroyed it with that weapon of hers."
Two's husband whispered, "Just like that?"
Another call came through XR's communicator and he quickly answered.
"AL just destroyed our lab! Stay with your kids! Buzz and his team will go after him ‒ what do you mean he vanished?!" Nebula shouted.
"Thank you Nebula. We will keep alert, goodbye," Nos reached over to turn the communicator off.
XR grinned and checked his scanner. Both signals were down. "Problem solved."
Darwin's eyeforms shined "Does that mean...?"
"...We get to go home?" Fletcher finished.
XR nodded. "Just as soon 8 gets here ‒ wait, a portal opened over the lake?!"
XR's husband was confused. "That cannot be, we are the only ones that has a portal."
"What if it's 8?" Nox gasped.
XR and Nos looked at each other, then both took off. "Kids, stay with ALD!"
"WHOOA!"
Right outside the window, a portal ripped open, spitting out a chunk of water and a surprised-looking 8.
"What's going on?" Fletcher sputtered.
8 stood up, her optics flickering with excitement. "I'm okay! My weapon can open portals now!"
Everyone looks to one another in disbelief.
"...I will go make sure she's alright," Nos zoomed outside to meet 8, who was jumping with excitement.
"Sir Nos! I was destroying the portal, and my weapon absorbed a blast! I was surrounded by men in strange suits, but I did not wish to harm them, so my weapon glowed, and swoosh! A portal sent me into the lake!" she giggled, letting some water out of her glove.
"Were you thinking of the lake?" Nos asked, confused.
8 nodded. "I was getting nervous. The thought of the lake helped me calm down."
Nos patted her shoulder. "It is alright, please come in and we will see what has happened to your weapon."
"Is everything okay?" Fred asked.
XR blinked. "Yeah, I think we got our problem solved."
Rosie's eyes began to water. "They're coming home?"
XR nodded.
Nos scanned the weapon in their lab, shocked by the results. "This is a metal made to absorb any energy. It is unknown."
8 took her weapon back, hugging it to her chest. "We called it god's hand after a meteor crashed without causing any destruction. We believed it was god's gift. I was chosen to bear the weapon when I was made from the same substance. I guess you could say we were one of a kind."
Nos nodded. "We need to go see everyone."
Fletcher practically began to shake, still clinging to Darwin. "Home... I was so scared, I didn't know if we were going to make it! When can we go?!"
"Hopefully right now." Nos entered with 8. He wanted to test a theory. "May I?"
8 looked to the hands he had outstretched and gingerly passed him her weapon. Nos took it and it changed shape, forming a cube. He put it in Fletcher's hands before the little hybrid had a chance to react, and it shaped into a perfect orb. 8 gawked. He wasn't even made of the same metal!
"Wait, this is a serious weapon ‒ !" Fletcher stammered, not wanting to just drop it, though he definitely didn't want to be responsible for holding it.
"It is alright, Fletcher. You and Darwin have been very brave, and been through so much," Nos put his hands over Fletcher's. "We trust and believe in you two. Just imagine your home, think about your parents."
Nox watched eagerly.
Fletcher eyed it warily, glancing over his shoulder to his parents before looking to Darwin. The white android stepped close, linking their arms together. Fletcher closed his eyeforms, imagining everything he'd so sorely missed over the past few days, culminating in the image of the pear tree where all of their troubles began.
The orb glowed and a portal opened before them.
Darwin leaned toward it, eyeforms wide, to see beyond the doorway in reality.
XR was nervous now. "Did it work?"
Darwin's knees went weak as he nodded. "Do we just... walk through? Where do we leave the weapon? If we take it through and it closes, what will we do?"
8 patted their backs. "I am going home too, so we will go together. ALD?"
A gloom fell over ALD. "So long as AL lives, I have to protect my family. They need me."
8 nodded, going in for another hug. "Then I have two reasons to come back. I need to court you properly, after all."
"Will, um..." Fletcher searched for words, "Will you all come with us? Even if it's just for a minute before you come back?"
"Of course." Nos spoke as XR nodded along.
"We'll meet you in the yard. Come through, quick!" Two exclaimed.
Nos ended the call and Fletcher and Darwin stepped together through the portal. XR held Ana while she reached out for Fletcher.
The Earth kids looked around, finding themselves standing in the shade under the pear tree, just to the left of a chunk taken out of the grass. A breeze stirred, and for the first time since they left, they both truly relaxed.
XR shuffled to the edge. "Your parents won't mind?"
Fletcher's voice warbled. "Why would they? You guys are family."
"Yeah we are."
Nos, Two, and the Harleys came rushing out of the back door of the library. Nos and Two couldn't help themselves, leaving the humans in the dust and wrapping the boys in a crushing hug. Fred and Rosie caught up moments later and fell to their knees, throwing their arms around the kids as well. All six knelt together and held on with all their might.
Nox smiled, glad to see everyone safe.
Fletcher's father looked up through the portal, a slick trail down the side of his face. "Thank you."
XR's husband nodded as he watched his own children walk up to the group. Nox was a bit embarrassed, his face turning orange. "Fletcher?"
The hybrid managed to lift his head. The group hug loosened so everyone could stand, though everybody still stayed connected, hands folded together or on shoulders. Fletcher beamed at Nox.
Nox held something close to his chest. "Mor and I wish to give you something."
Fletcher's eyeforms fell, but he listened.
Mor nodded and together, they held out a red-jeweled locket. "This is one of two lockets given to us by our bunic. We want you to have the other half so that way you know we are never apart." Mor grinned.
Fletcher looked at the locket before reaching out, carefully taking it. "This means a lot, but... we're never really gonna be apart anyway, are we?"
Darwin puffed out his chest, "Not if I can help it!"
Nox shook his head and both twins pulled Darwin into a hug. He hugged back, his smile hardly contained by his visor.
Ana cried out. "Blue!"
Fletcher lifted his head again, still smiling. "Mom, Dad, I forgot to tell you!" As soon as the twins let go, he hovered to XR and held out a finger to Ana. "I was Ana's first words!"
Nos couldn't help smiling. "She's precious."
Ana cried out, still reaching for him. "Blue!" She poofed and suddenly appeared in his arms, hugging him and whimpering. Fletcher gasped, quickly folding his arms around her to support her. Everyone gawked.
"Did she just teleport?" Two stammered.
XR grinned. "Aww! Her first power!"
Ana's father floated to her and gently opened her mouth, seeing no fangs. "Well I am surprised, she is not turned."
"Another dimension, indeed," Fletcher's father gave a lopsided smile. "You're the strangest lot I've ever seen."
Ana glared at him, clinging to Fletcher
Fletcher hovered to his father, still carrying Ana, and leaned his head against him. "I really missed you, Dad." He soaked in Nos's electrical signature, thankful to find that it was exactly what he expected, exactly what he remembered.
Nos knelt down again, his hand spread out over Fletcher's shoulder blades so they were on the same level. "We missed you more than you could imagine. And hello to you, too, Ana."
Ana growled and clung tighter to Fletcher. "My blue."
Nos laughed. "She is quite attached, isn't she?"
Capital Planet Nos leaned down to XR. "She is already claiming."
Fletcher blanched. "She's what?"
XR laughed a bit. "Sorry. She's already starting her terrible twos. When the twins were three they were always 'claiming' things as their property or territory."
XR's husband nodded. "She sees you are her brother too, but sensing someone who she does not know despite the similarities is making her somewhat possessive."
Ana hid her face beneath Fletcher's head.
"Oh... well, I hope she doesn't get too sad. I thought she might have been doing something weird."
Ana's father shook his head. "Oh, no, I just hope her powers do not stress her systems too much."
Nox shuddered at the memory, hoping his little sister would be okay.
"She'll have to visit often, then," Two beamed, "though I don't want to be the one to tell her she can't keep Fletcher all to herself."
Nox smiled, nervous. "Then you do not mind if we come back…?" Mor clung to his arm, looking eagerly.
Fred's face turned serious, his attention drawn from doting on Darwin. "We actually have a condition."
Nox's expression fell, but Mor stood her ground. "I accept any challenge! Name it and I shall take it with an iron fist!"
"This isn't a challenge, sweetheart," Rosie smiled, "We just need to know that this... this random tear, or whatever it was, can never happen again. It may have turned out alright this time, but I think we all know it was because luck was on our side."
"We will make certain, you have our word," the twin's father spoke.
"I never get to use my iron fist..." Mor grumbled.
ALD held her up, "And you are not. I do not know why you even keep that thing in the first place."
8 giggled, "You're a high spirited child. I hope that if I ever have children, they are like you younglings."
ALD looked away, turning pink.
"Well, if that's all settled, I think it's only fair that we invite you inside. It's the least we can do to thank you," Two's husband rose up to his full height.
XR smiled. "If you don't mind, can the kids play outside?"
Fletcher groaned, but Darwin nudged him. "Come on, we can show them around the gardens!"
"I just want to get in my own bed..."
"You'll have time for that later! There may not be any nightmare-eating snakes here, but there are still a lot of really cool places to play hide-and-seek! Come on, Nox and Mor!" Darwin bounced off.
"What about Ana?" Fletcher hovered after them, carefully holding Ana, who had fallen fast asleep.
The four Earthling parents watched them go, not ready to part so soon, but the weight of XR's tone warranted another moment of separation. Two lead everyone inside as the kids began to play.
