55: Sibling Rivalry

Muttering darkly, Turbulence darted around behind a tree, waiting for Flurry's figure to recede in the distance. Kreyin had sent her looking for him -- again. He had developed that rather annoying habit only days after his first 'children' had returned, clearly in hopes that they would get to know each other better -- maybe even stop hating each other. He snorted to himself. Not likely.

"Turbulence!" she called, voice loud as it rang in his ear, and he spun guiltily to face her.

He grinned sheepishly, but she brushed him aside. "I don't like this any better than you, Turb," she said darkly, "but you ought to come -- if nothing else because Dr. Kreyin needs your help."

"I know," he grumbled. "But why does he send you out? He knows I hate you." He immediately wished the words back, looking nervously at Flurry.

She had turned away from him, though, and was started back to the path. "Well, like me or not, you'd better get back inside."

He tilted his head curiously. Maybe I hurt her feelings.

Then she spun, eyes flashing. "And just so you know -- the feeling's mutual!" With those angry words, she was off down the path in a flash, hair waving wildly behind her.

"That was unnecessary."

Turb, startled for the second time that day, turned to face his own brother with a yelp. "What? What was unnecessary?" he demanded, glaring at the slightly shorter robot. "What was I supposed to do?"

Maelstrom lifted an eyebrow, and a bit of his black hair fell down in front of his eyes as he shook his head. At this point, he knew, his companion would not understand. He turned and walked down the path, following Flurry.

Turbulence glared after him. Even Maelstrom had changed since their arrival. He'd never understand it. Feeling slightly betrayed, he walked up to the lab, blue eyes turned inward in a search for answers.


Flurry lashed out at an unoffending bush, scattering leaves over the forest floor. Frustrated, she punched at a tree, ripping bark free with her fist. Allowing a low cry of rage to escape her, she continued her barrage of kicks and punches, punctuating each with a snarl, snap or scream. She didn't notice a red-armored robot walk up until he spoke.

"What?" She spun, fists clenched, to meet his brown-eyed gaze, and her hands dropped. "Sorry, Maelstrom."

"I came to apologize for Turbulence's behavior," Maelstrom said without preamble. "And offer a reason for it. You and the others -- well . . ." He looked uncomfortable. "We feel displaced, Flurry," he explained, eyes searching for some hint of understanding in her. "We were created because you disappeared, and your return has . . . upset the balance of things."

Flurry sank to the ground, sighing heavily. "You think we're here to replace you?" She couldn't help feeling a little stunned. "But . . . we're not."

Maelstrom nodded gravely. "I know that -- even Turb knows that."

Flurry took her saber out, turning it over in her hands. Her vision blurred, but she shook the unnatural tears away. "Things will never be the same again," she said softly.

"No." He turned to go. "They will not."

She watched him leave, igniting the saber and glaring hatefully at the glowing blade. Then, in one smooth motion, she rose to her feet and walked off to find Zero. The Reploid and his partner had been making themselves scarce lately, and she was determined to find out what she could do to bring everyone together.

She found him alone up in the branch of a tree, by all appearances snoozing. "Zero!" she called.

"What?" he mumbled sleepily. "Whatcha want?"

"Zero, I need to talk to you!"

He lifted his head, glaring at her blearily. "What about?"

She gestured for him to come down.

He made a rude face at her.

Her mouth tightened angrily, but she suddenly bowed her head, looking downcast. He stared at her, knowing exactly what she was about to do but completely unable to stop her. When she looked up at him again, her dark eyes were filled with an intense, quiet pain that struck him to his soul. I hate it when she does that.

He jumped out of the tree, feeling surly. "What is it?" he demanded.

Her face immediately brightened to one of triumph. "It's about Turbulence and Maelstrom," she said calmly. "They're feeling awful, and I was wondering --"

"No."

Her expression became astonished. "What?"

"I said, no!" His face grew stubborn. "I'm not going to go give them a little pep talk." He waved off her objections, eyes glinting. "You know as well as I do that it wouldn't work!"

Her eyes took on a familiar look of pig-headedness. "But you can probably identify with them better!" she shouted.

"Not even!" was the response. "We weren't replaced, Flurry -- we were supposed to have died!" He had found that throwing that fact in her face won him more arguments than any other tactic he'd tried, and it looked as if it was going to work yet again.

Her face grew incredibly hurt, and he set his jaw, turning his head away. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw her raise her fist. He caught it in his hand as it came hurtling toward his face, and he tightened his grip on her when she tried to yank back. "Flurry," he said to her, holding grimly still as she struggled to free herself, "you'll have to settle this problem for yourself." He released her, and she stumbled back, flexing her hand when she caught her balance. "I'm not here to solve your problems for you."

She slumped, this time genuinely downcast. "I guess you're right," she muttered, turning to walk away.

Startled, he lifted his hand. "Flurry -- hang on a sec --"

But she didn't turn, hand flipping back at him absently. "No, nevermind, Zero. It's my problem. I have to deal with it on my own."

He stared after her unbelievingly as she walked away. He didn't like this -- not a bit. When she had gone, he called out, "X! Get over here."

The blue robot sprang from a nearby tree, green eyes dark with concern. "That doesn't seem like her," he said immediately. "This is a mess, Zero. If this group is ever gonna pull together as a team, they'll need us, too."

Zero started to object, but X shook his head.

"No way, buddy. We've come too far into this."

Zero nodded glumly. "We can't ever go home again," he remarked. "So this is all we've got."


As Flurry entered the house, she saw Turbulence pleading with Maelstrom and the other robot shaking his head in flat refusal. Tourian leaned against the couch, eyes flickering with annoyance.

"Come on!" Turb howled. "She wouldn't mind if you came instead of her!"

Maelstrom snarled, lashing out at his brother. "It was by Dr. Kreyin's order that she's to accompany you!" he roared as Turb reeled from the blow. "You're an idiot if you think I'm going to disobey him."

Flurry stopped in the doorway, cut to the quick. Why does he have to hate me so much?

Turb was on his feet again, fists clenched and, astonishingly, tears streaming down his face. "So they've got you, too, huh?" he managed, voice shaking. "My own brother's turned against me!"

Maelstrom flashed a horrified look to Flurry, who clamped her hands over her mouth.

"NO!" the red robot gasped. "I -- I wouldn't -- I couldn't!"

"Turbulence!" Flurry cried out, "He'd never betray you! How can you say that?"

He grinned sardonically at her. "What do you care, anyway?" He dashed tears angrily from his eyes, furious to see his hand wet. "If you hadn't come back, nothing would have changed!"

Her eyes went wide, and Tourian stood up straight, startled. "Turb, we'd never dream of replacing --"

"LIAR!"

At that moment, Kreyin and his fellow scientist walked into the room. "What?" Scott stammered. "What's going on?"

Turbulence whirled and caught sight of them. His bitter gaze astonished Kreyin, who reached out a hand. "What is going on here?" he asked, in a voice of quiet authority.

Turb seemed to realize the nature of the situation, and his face grew anguished. "I can't stay here!" he shouted finally. "I don't -- I'm not -- nobody wants me here!"

"Wha --?" Scott said.

But the robot was already headed for the door. Flurry was thrust rudely aside, and she tumbled into X's arms as he walked up behind her. She scrambled to her feet, running after him. "Turbulence! Wait!"

Zero growled. "I'd better go after them."

X nodded mutely, and the Hunter darted away.


Turbulence didn't realize where he was running until he came to a stop in front of a convenience store near the outskirts of town. He had stopped crying some time before, and, being a robot, there was no sign of the emotional outburst in his face. None of the red-eyed, runny-nosed weeping that humans were afflicted with. Groceries. He shook his head dazedly. He even had the money for them.

Without thinking, he walked into the store and started gathering them up in a cart to purchase. As he reached the cash register, he remembered that he'd run away.

The girl at the register totaled up the groceries without a word until she gave him the total. "That'll be 376.58," she said, holding her hand out absently. She looked to where the food was piled at the end of the register, and her mouth formed a frown. "David! Get out here!" She turned to the back room, hands on her hips. "You're supposed to be sacking!" She blinked as Turb held out four hundred even. "And bring some change with you!"

David stalked from the back room, glaring at her. "One thing at a time, will you?"

"I need change!" she said imperiously.

"I'll tell you what else you need, Ruthann," he growled at her.

"Just go get the change," Ruthann retorted, losing patience.

The young man stalked out again, returning with a number of bills and a couple rolls of coins, which the girl proceeded to stuff in the cash register. "Your change is 23.42," she announced cheerfully, handing him the money. Then she turned to David. "Now, get sacking!" she ordered.

When he was finished, Ruthann gazed at the groceries in surprise. "How on earth are you going to get those home?" she demanded.

Turbulence stared at her in astonishment. Then, he stared at the bags. "I --"

"I'm helping him," came a familiar voice from the store doorway.

He turned, stunned to see Flurry there. "I --"

"Don't worry," she said quietly. "I'm only here to help."

His eyes grew pained, and he watched her take some of the sacks into her arms. "I must have looked . . . pretty stupid today," he offered uncertainly, shame flushing his cheeks.

She waited for him to scoop up the remaining bags and started out the door. "No," she answered. "It was all completely understandable. When we get home, all of us are going to have a talk."

The door swung shut, and Ruthann leaned forward on her elbows, eyes dreamy. "Oh, how sweet," she sighed.

"Puh-lease," David muttered, getting back to work.


Zero saw the two of them headed back his way long before they noticed him. They seemed to be conversing quite normally, as a set of siblings who'd just had a stupid fight would. Flurry laughed softly, fumbling with the bags she carried, and Zero stepped from the trees.

"Here," he said to them. "Lemme help with those."

Each unloaded a part of their burden into his arms, and they continued to the house in that fashion.


Sigma was getting restless. Several weeks had passed, and he was still trying to convince that human to make more robots. She was much more mulish than he'd imagined her. Apparently, she had learned from the disaster with her Reploids -- unlike Cain and the others.

They will be a great asset, he explained patiently, but she shook her head again.

"There'd be panic in the streets if I started producing those killer robots again!" Diane retorted. "I have enough trouble controlling these people without them made mindless with fear!"

What about the two you've already created?

She snarled. "I built them with my own two hands -- I can ensure their loyalty! I'm not fool enough to start an assembly line again!"

Vengeance and Juniper were listening interestedly from the other side of the room, each wondering what the two forces that seemingly controlled their lives would do. The room grew stuffy as the contest of wills continued, tension draining everything except the two opposing forces of energy. Juniper's eyes flickered to the computer screen. She did not trust the entity there, though she would obey him if ordered. Vengeance leaned on his elbows, watching a spot on the wall.

The we will build them one by one, offered the computer screen, thus ensuring their loyalty -- and the slow speed of their production will keep the people completely unaware.

"NO!" Diane fairly screamed. "I've told you those robots are too dangerous!"

The computer screen remained blank for a long, angry moment. "You," a sudden voice said coldly, "are a fool."

Vengeance rocked to his feet, fists clenched, and Juniper rose beside him, eyes darting wildly in search of a source. Diane stumbled back, trembling. "Who --" she stammered. "What?"

"The same one you've been talking to," the voice snarled disgustedly. "I put my voice through to the room's speakers."

Joon and Vengeance sat down again, still tense.

Diane sank into her chair, hand wearily to her forehead. "I destroyed the factories," she said softly, "so it doesn't really matter. All I want --" Her eyes grew flinty. "I already have the world -- it has stopped struggling in my grasp. All I want is to eliminate those who oppose me."

Sigma was silent. "That is a beginning," he said slowly.

Diane's eyes went to the computer screen, having nothing else to focus on, dark with an uncertain emotion. "All those who oppose me."

"Yes," Sigma agreed easily, seeming to have put the issue of Reploids, as he knew them, behind him. "But who are those who oppose you? How can they be destroyed?"

Juniper and Vengeance looked at each other uneasily. Their creator was being manipulated; a blind man could tell that. And they could do nothing to stop it -- at least, nothing that wouldn't rouse the suspicions of the Sigma entity and lose Mrs. Holcomb's trust.

Gold eyes met grey.

Heads nodded fractionally.

They would have to discuss the situation away from Sigma's prying eyes. His voice followed them wherever they went; he had infiltrated the entire computer system. And when he spoke . . . his messages were disturbing.

"Kreyin," they heard Diane mutter, and their heads swung to her. She was low in her chair, and anger was swelling in her voice. "Trene. Maelstrom. Turbulence." She looked up, eyes seeming momentarily confused. "Tourian --"

She stopped when Sigma hissed sharply.

"Flurry," she continued, "and two others."

"I know them," he growled. The hate in his voice was unmistakable.


Turbulence was firmly convinced that he was right. There would be no persuading him that there was another course of action to take. He didn't have much to pack, didn't need much; just his skateboard and he'd be on his way. He had all his arguments carefully planned, certain that the others couldn't fail to see things from his point of view.

But his every argument blew up in his face against the stern opposition of his creators and his counterpart, not to mention the staunch refusals of those he'd only known for a few weeks.

"I -- I can't stay!" he cried, dismayed.

Flurry's voice was quiet, but firm. "You have to stay, you idiot," she said. "A team can't function properly without all its members."

"Face it, Turb," Tourian said drily, "You're one of us."

His eyes grew frustrated, and he appealed to X and Zero. "Don't you guys understand? If I stay, someone -- I could --"

X shook his head in disagreement. "Nope," he said. "I don't think you'd do us any more good gone than here."

Zero met his eyes stubbornly. "It isn't easy out on your own, Turb," he said bluntly. "I wouldn't recommend it."

His eyes darkened, and he turned to Maelstrom. "Maelstrom," he said desperately, but his counterpart shook his head without saying a word.

"Turbulence," Kreyin said softly, aching at the thought of his creation deserting him, "you must listen. There's nothing wrong with you."

"But --"

"Turb," Flurry said softly, "I can't say I understand what's wrong . . . but --" Her eyes grew flinty. "Even if I have to tie you up and gag you, you're staying here." She lifted an eyebrow, giving him a look that made him feel as if she was gazing straight to the core of his soul.

His shoulders slumped, and he gave up. If I can't explain it to you, I'll have to take matters into my own hands.


It was very quiet as the darkness of night fell over the lab, the hush broken once by the sound of footsteps headed toward the lab. Only Flurry stirred from her semi-conscious state, the others in the room having shut down completely where they slumped in the living room, for lack of space anywhere else. She lifted her dark eyes to see a familiar silhouette look at them all once before turning away. She got up, careful not to disturb her brother, who slept with is arm around her shoulders. He stirred once, yawning, and promptly rolled over and settled back to sleep. X and Zero had gone out on patrol.

What she didn't notice was the silent figure that slipped from the back of the room after her as she followed the other to the lab.

Entering, she saw exactly what she expected to see. "Turbulence," she said flatly, and he spun sharply, hurt and startlement showing plainly in his face.

"Flurry, you don't understand."

"You're right," she answered coldly. "You're running from your problems -- and I know from experience that the only way to defeat them is to confront them."

"It won't work," he muttered sullenly. "If I stay here -- and something happens like last time -- I might hurt one of you . . . maybe even one of the scientists." His fists clench, and he refused to meet her eyes. "I won't take that risk."

He turned back to the two vehicles parked in the garage-like area of the lab. After a moment's hesitation, he strode toward the motorcycle, knowing that his skateboard simply wouldn't take him far enough, fast enough.

He jumped on, starting it up, and Flurry ran at him, determined to throw him off. She gasped in shock as he took her by the arm and tossed her backwards across the room. She landed in someone's arms, and Maelstrom took her shoulders firmly, gazing sadly at his brother.

Turb didn't seem to notice him, hurriedly gunning the motor and speeding from the lab. The doors of the garage opened, and he was gone, without a look back.

Flurry broke free of Maelstrom's grasp and ran out into the open. Once there, she screamed after him, raising her fist to the sky. "TURBULENCE! You COWARD!"