Springfield stepped out of a room deep in the off-limits research sector of an ARMs development facility, holding his head. A few scientists came over, concerned, but he waved them off. "I'm fine. I'll get used to it. It's quite the willful one."

"Are you sure you're alright? Should we get Professor Sylvestre?" One of the scientists asked.

"No, no. I'll be fine." Springfield said with a reassuring smile. The scientists looked doubtful, but stepped away to go back to work. Springfield sighed and looked back towards the room before walking off to another room and accessing a console. Sitting down in a chair, he began to type on a keyboard, the following appearing on-screen:

[H-05: Springfield Progress Report 006 - The GB Project is responding to me, but negotiating cooperation with it has proven difficult. I will persevere, however, and gain this new ARM's trust. Although, in my personal experience, this ARM has the worst attitude I have ever come across in ARMs. I will make note of any further progress with the ARM. H-05: Springfield out.]

Nodding, he sent it to a database and then stood up, opening the door and stopping short in surprise as he saw Vassim in front of him. "Professor." He started to salute, but stopped. "Forgive me; I keep forgetting you're not military." He smiled apologetically. "I just sent in my latest progress report. Did you need anything?"

"Nor am I a professor. Just a humble blacksmith." Vassim corrected with a smile. "I actually came to see how you were holding up. I've received your reports, and they're certainly insightful. But you look exhausted."

"I'm alright, Pr-Vassim." Springfield assured him. "I just need some rest. It's always a challenge, gaining the trust of an ARM, but it's always worth it." He smiled and nodded. "I'll manage it soon, don't worry. Just give us time to sort things out between us."

Vassim was taken aback. "I've heard people describe a special bond with their ARMs, but I've never heard it described like a couple before. Is this normal for you? Do you get that way with all ARMs?"

Springfield nodded. "All of us do, but I seem to really make connections on the personality level." He said softly. "I've always seen the ARMs as people, and have had a few animated conversations with some of them. The personalities differ based on what they've been around, just like people do, and when they are hurt you can really feel it."

Some of the scientists had paused in their work to listen, and were awed at how peaceful Springfield looked as he spoke about weapons of mass destruction. It was…a little creepy, but they could see why he in particular was sent to work on this project.

"…And what does this machine have to say?" Vassim asked after a long pause.

"That it's confused about itself and doesn't even trust itself, so why should it trust me?" Springfield shrugged helplessly and shook his head. "The magic isn't connecting well with the machine part of the ARM, and I'm also having some difficulties with it. It might lead to complications in the future."

A light seemed to come on in Vassim's head. "It doesn't like the magic, you say? That's… interesting. I admit basing it off of ARM technology does make it a little different from our usual magic-induced tech." He was speaking of the primary energy source of the Elw civilization.

Springfield nodded. "Yes. It's really making things difficult, but I feel confident that the ARM and I will pull through it together." He smiled. "Let's just try not to overload us all at once, okay? A little bit at a time should do. Machines do need time to process things, after all."

"Well, we'll tweak the settings a little for the next few days and see if we can't make it any easier for you two." Vassim suggested. "For now, why don't you take the rest of the day off. Mariel might like some help in the garden, if you're interested. A little time working the earth can really clear your head, she says."

"Alright." Springfield nodded. "Thank you, I'll go see her now. Don't overwork yourself, Profe-Vassim." He turned and walked out of the building, heading for the Elw Terminal. After the short but awesome trip to the Elw settlement, he headed out to Vassim's place and met with Sylvestre inside. "Hello, Professor. Where is Miss Mariel's garden?"

"Eh? At the edge of town, but why would you want to go there when there's all these books?" Sylvestre gestured to a book he was reading and to the fully-stocked bookshelf.

"I thought a change of pace would be good for me." Springfield said, looking thoughtful. "That, and I've heard that working the earth is good for the soul."

"Bah. Silly rabbit stuff. You should be reading with me." He pulled out another chair. "Sit down, let's talk a while. How have you been doing? Is the project hard on you?"

"Sometimes, but I feel confident I will manage it." Springfield said, taking the offered seat. "There have been some difficult times, but I've been able to get through them; albeit, with a bit of difficulty."

"Well, what have they been having you do?" Sylvestre asked. "I'm rather concerned whenever you come home, and I've been told absolutely nothing about the project itself."

"I'm just working with a new type of ARM. You know how I need to get to know them before I'll be able to work with them." Springfield chuckled a bit. "Sometimes, they can be as difficult as the debutante women in some of the novels I've read."

"As difficult as Colt?" Sylvestre asked, smirking.

"Sometimes Colt is that bad, yes." Springfield said, sighing. "But, he works through it, and I will work through this. I will know the new ARM rather well soon; I just need it to give me its trust."

"Tell me about the ARM. Will it be mass-produced?" Sylvestre put a bookmark in his book and set it aside.

"No, I don't think so." Springfield shook his head. "It's too difficult to make and work with; that's why General Lennox sent me here, since I'm better than the others at handling volatile ARMs."

"Hm. Well, what's it called?" Sylvestre asked.

Springfield gave a wry smile. "Forgive me, Professor, but I've been instructed not to reveal anything but that it's an ARM to you." He stood up and went to the door. "I'm going to go find Miss Mariel now."

"Wait, Springfield!" Sylvestre stood up and then sighed, sitting back down. "Damn it…I was so close to finding out the big secret…"

Outside, Springfield made his way to the edge of town, where a gated field was. Seeing Mariel knelt down in the field, he opened the gate and walked in.

"Be careful!" Mariel called. "You're about to step on a Magic Carrot!"

"Oh, sorry." Springfield stepped back and made his way along the marked trail around the different plant rows. "Uhm…what is a 'magic carrot'?"

"A Magic Carrot is what mages use to recover magic when they don't have a lot of food handy." Mariel explained. "I'm surprised you didn't know, Springfield." She stood up and turned to him. "I'm harvesting Heal Berries right now. Would you like to help?"

"If you would like." Springfield smiled and knelt down next to her.

She knelt down beside him and continued carefully pulling yellow berries from a green vine. "I'm on this one, so can you pick the berries off the one in front of you and put them in this basket?" She gestured to a basket between them and close to the plants.

"Of course." Springfield reached to pull one off, but accidentally squished it. "Oops…"

She looked up and smiled. "You're new to gentle work, aren't you? Here, watch me." She showed him how she carefully picked the berry off her vine, putting it in the basket intact. "Now, let me see you try."

Springfield nodded and began to carefully pick his. It was a bit squished, but not to the point of being unusable. She smiled and continued working on hers, seeing he figured it out. He watched her for a bit, and then tried again, this time succeeding in not squishing it at all. "He was right…" He murmured.

"Hm?" Mariel looked at him. "Who was?"

"Your brother." Springfield said, continuing to pick as he spoke. "He said that working the earth was soothing. You told him that, he said."

She giggled a bit. "Well, it is true." She went back to work.

Springfield looked thoughtful as he worked, then sighed. "Alright, I give. Miss Mariel, what is a Heal Berry, anyway?"

"They heal your wounds when there's no doctor or first aid kit handy. It's no good for broken or missing limbs, though." She held one of them out in her hand. "The effects are instantaneous, and depending on how strong you are before you were hurt, it can either have a full effect or only a partial one."

"Sounds like people would get dependent on them." Springfield frowned. "Are they also magical? Is there any chance of addiction as a side-effect of using them?"

"I never really considered that, but I don't think so." Mariel admitted. "It's something we Elw have been using for a long time, and we're sharing them with the humans so there's a much higher demand for them now."

"Hm. I think I'll stick with a first-aid kit and a doctor." Springfield looked at the vine in front of him. "I don't know if it would work on me, anyway."

"It might. Would you like to keep a sack, so you can try one when you next get hurt?"

Springfield looked thoughtful and nodded. "Alright, I'll try a sack and tell you how it works on Holmcross." He looked at her and smiled. "I am here to assist in research, after all. I'm just going above and beyond my duty now."

She smiled happily and continued working. The two worked in the field until dusk, and by then they had three baskets of Heal Berries, Magic Carrots, and something she called "Revive Fruit", which apparently worked like smelling salts – according to her, you broke it open over the unconscious person and they instantly woke up.

"Elw produce is so….magical." Springfield remarked, looking at the baskets. 'For lack of a better word.' He thought to himself.

Mariel giggled. "You're right, it is. Magic is a big part of our culture." She reached to take a basket, but Springfield already had his hand on the handle and she grabbed a different one. "Well, let's take these to the market and get home to make dinner."

Springfield nodded, then looked up in surprise as Mariel handed him a sack. "Oh, right. The berries."

"And I also put in a few Revive Fruit." Mariel said, smiling. "They might come in handy sometime."

"I'll make sure to let you know how they both work. Sorry we can't use the Magic Carrots." Springfield said as he tied the sack to his belt and picked up another basket.

"It's fine. You already explained that magic and you don't mix well." Mariel assured him. "Well, let's be going."

They headed off to the market and dropped off the baskets, then returned home. Sylvestre quirked an eyebrow as he saw them coming up, all smiles and holding hands.

"Springfield, what is this?" He gestured to the hands. "You're displaying affection?"

"We're friends." Springfield smiled. "I've never had a friend outside the Unit. It feels good."

Sylvestre let them go in ahead of him, grimacing as they passed. "H-05 making friends?" He muttered. "Impossible. He's not capable of such antics; that's what H-08 does." He walked off into the settlement, muttering to himself.

Inside, Mariel set to cooking while Springfield watched her. "Don't tell me you've never cooked, either." She asked teasingly.

"Well…not really. Not like that." Springfield admitted. "Don't normally see just one person doing it, either."

"How many people do they need to cook?" Mariel asked as she picked out some vegetables from a basket and began to chop them up on a cutting board. "Too many cooks spoil the broth."

"Well, I usually live with a LOT of other people." Springfield said, chuckling. "There are seven other Holmcross, and there are also the humans on the ship with us."

"Other Holmcross? Your siblings?" Mariel asked as she dumped them into the pot and began to stir with a wooden spoon.

"Siblings…" Springfield blinked. "Wesson calls us that. It's not something we usually equate with ourselves. I just see them as….other Holmcross; partners in the Unit."

"Hmm." Mariel looked thoughtful. "Well, I've never had that many siblings, I can assure you. Your mother must have a lot of strength."

"I guess?" Springfield shrugged. "You've taught me so much today, Miss Mariel. I've never done 'farming' before, and I think I'd like to do it more once the war is over."

"I'd welcome the help." Mariel smiled, going to get a packet of something out of the cupboard.

The front door creaked open and Vassim stepped inside and hung up his coat. He made an audible sigh and stretched. "What a day." They could hear the clunk of his footsteps as he walked into the kitchen. "Evening, Mariel."

"Welcome back, brother Vassim." She smiled as she poured noodles into the broth. "Dinner will be done soon. How was your day?"

"We harvested a lot of Heal Berries, Magic Carrots, and Revive Fruits." Springfield smiled, turning in his seat to face him. "I've never been told about this stuff before, even with an Elw creator."

"Well, Alana is…" Vassim sat down in a chair and poured himself a drink from a pitcher sitting on it. "Where was he wandering off to just now anyway? I greeted him, but he must have been too distracted to notice."

Springfield and Mariel both shrugged. "I'm sure he has a lot of to think about, considering his profession." Springfield offered.

"Springfield, would you help me set the table?" Mariel asked as she stirred the soup. "Brother Vassim, do you need to clean up before we eat?"

"Yes, I suppose I should." Vassim placed his drink on the table and scooted the chair out.

"Should someone get the Professor?" Springfield asked as he went to get the table fixings as Mariel requested.

"Well, he knows what time Mariel usually eats by now." Vassim replied as he walked into the other room with a small towel over his shoulder.

"I suppose so." Springfield set the bowls and glasses around the table.

Outside, Sylvestre was talking on the phone over by the edge of town. "General Lennox, I think we have a problem. H-05 is gaining affection for others not of the Unit."

"So?" The other end said. "Is it interfering with his work?"

"Well, no, but he's doing rabbit-work with Mariel!" Sylvestre said anxiously. "And becoming her 'friend'! This is worrying!"

"Why? We'll be concerned when he befriends demons, but right now he's not being ordered to kill Elw. Is he?"

"Well…no, he's not. Why would he ever?" Sylvestre looked concerned.

"Exactly. There's no worry then, is there?" General Lennox said cheerfully. "Let him continue as he is; perhaps it will help him work through his difficulties in working with civilians."

"Oh, yes. Of course." Sylvestre agreed. "Very well, I will keep watching him and ensure all is well."

"Of course you will. Take care of him." General Lennox hung up on the Elw who frowned before heading back to Vassim's place.