Chapter 21
Not surprisingly, Bonnie was at her work center in the garage, hard at work on her computer.
It took both of them saying, "Bonnie!" to rouse her from deep concentration.
"Wha... Oh, hi!" Bonnie said as she finally turned to see who was disturbing her.
Michaela and Casey, holding hands, stood near Bonnie's computer desk. Casey looked a bit nervous.
"What's up?" Bonnie asked as she hastily moved components and printouts from two chairs so the two could sit.
Michaela smiled a thank you, and took one chair. Casey declined and instead began to pace.
"I want you to change my programming!" he got straight to the point. "I didn't like killing Drakon, and I want to make sure I never take another life."
"It's not as easy as that," Bonnie sided as she sat back down. "Your programming is hardwired. It can't be changed. But you are learning. I'm sure you've learned you don't like killing. You will do everything in your power, in the future, to avoid it."
* * *
Michaela gazed up at Casey. He stood uncertainly in front of her, a crooked smile on his face.
Slowly, as if afraid of frightening him away, she raised her hand to his face. She laid her hand gently against his cheek, marveling at how surprisingly warm it felt.
A look of wonder crossed his face. "Are you sure I'm the one you want, even after what I've done?"
"Absolutely!" she said, as she gently pulled his face down to hers. "You are who I want," she murmured, beginning to close the distance between their lips.
Casey pulled back, "Won't you want to have kids some day?"
"When that time comes, there are ways... adoption, artificial insemination." As Michaela began closing the distance between them again, a look of wonder transformed Casey's face.
Casey pulled back one more time, "You aren't worried that we might not be able to be together in all ways lovers should be together?"
"You've formed extra arms out of your back before," Michaela began playfully, "When the time comes, I know you'll have all the parts you need." A mischievous smile crossed her face as she roughly grabbed his head. She wasn't going to let him pull away again, and this time, their lips finally met.