Lincoln was talking to Mike some more about Luke and how he really is. "Lincoln, as I've mentioned," said Mike, "My son is not a liar. And i did not condone what he did to the old man, and for accidentally shooting the young girl in Germany all those years ago. I do forgive him, because he is my son, and he is trying to look for redemption in what he did."
"I... I believe you." said Lincoln. "But, my parents say they don't really want me to hang out with Luke anymore after what just happened."
Sighing, Mike then said: "I understand why your parents are doing this. And, I wouldn't really blame them for saying that." and he took a bite of his pear. "But the lie detector can help bring that relationship go back on track a little."
Still a little unsure, Lincoln said: "I know. But my family might not forgive him so easily."
"As I have mentioned; if they will not listen to Luke, or the lie detector, then they should at least listen to me on what I have to say."
"Good idea."
"Look, can I buy you some ice cream or a snow cone?" Mike offered the boy, "Or a burger from the cafe? Or even a drink? Oh, not like alcohol type of drink, of course."
"No thank you, Mike." the white-haired boy got on his feet, and looked at the new Sumatran rhinoceros, trying to get used to his new pen. "I see you got the Sumatran rhino here that Luke told me about.
"Yep." Mike got on his feet, and smiled as he saw the majestic, hairy beast trying to atone here. "These guys are becoming more and more rare now. Our park is one of the many last chances they got to come back to their former glory. 'Matter of fact, a female is coming here so she can mate with him, and have a baby with old Harry."
"Harry the rhino?" Lincoln asked
Mike let out a small chuckle before replying: "Yeah. This rhino species is the hairiest and I figured: 'Hey? what other name could I give him?' Am I right?"
"Yeah, Good point." then Lincoln and Mike walked up to the pen to get a closer look at the beast. "I wish that Luke was here to see this," the boy remarked. "Has he seen him yet?"
"Nope. The Sumatran Rhinoceros has just arrived here. But, I'm sure that he will see him eventually."
Suddenly, Harry noticed Mike and walked up to him, feeling curious as he is. Curious, but weary of him, and Lincoln.
"Hey, Harry." said Mike, trying to gently touch him. The shy rhino wasn't so sure, and he slowly jolted his head back so he wouldn't be touched by zookeeper's hand. It was perfectly understandable for the rhino to be wary of this, for he was a little scared and confused, wondering where he was right now. Slowly, Harry slowly edged his nose closer to Mike's right hand, and began sniffing it with his large nose.
Young Lincoln was amazed by looking at the odd-hoofed ungulate up close. These species must be super rare that he has never seen it before. The rhino flinched slightly again as he felt his face slowly being touched by the lead zookeeper, but slowly began warming up to him.
"There you go, big fella." Mike said softly. "There you go."
After that, Lincoln tried reaching his hand out to Harry out of his own curiosity. The rhino flinched again, and slowly looked walked up to Lincoln, and began sniffing his left hand. Before he knew it, Lincoln felt his sticky, slimy tongue licking his hand, and it felt a little ticklish.
"Well, looks like he's warming up to you, Lincoln." Mike said.
Lincoln smiled and he began trying to pet the rhino's head, although it had to take a few tries due to the creature's timidity. It was an impressive looking creature, with two pointy horns that looked way smaller than the African white and black rhinos. Still, the horns of this big guy were still as sharp as daggers,
"So, how's Luke doing anyway?" Lincoln asked Mike
"I'm a little worried about him." Mike said. "He hasn't come to the park in three days, and he hasn't talked to me or even come to help me with the animals since then."
Lincoln looked worried for Luke as well, even though he confessed that he did something awful in Germany. Although, the man he killed was a former Nazi, and it was debatable whether the former Nazi deserved death or not.
"I don't know what I can do." Lincoln modestly said. "And I don't want to butt in and not meddle in any affairs."
"No one said you were." said a voice from behind the boy. As he turned around, the two saw Luke, who looked the same as before, but he has a five o'clock shadow on him, and it looked like he haven't shaved his face for the last few days.
"Oh! Luke. I.. didn't expect to... no, no, no, i mean..."
"No, it's quite alright, little buddy." Luke sighed. "Were you looking for me?"
"Well... yeah." Lincoln rubbed the back of his head. "Your dad told me about Germany and all."
"I see."
"Sorry son, but Lincoln was desperate."
"No, it's alright. And besides, Alex broke up with me." He placed his right hand over his eyes in shame.
"What? Why?" Lincoln asked, looking surprised.
"Pfft, isn't it obvious?" The Rogue Lion replied. "Because I told you about what happened in Germany. She... she says that things just didn't work out. She said she couldn't really... date a man who killed someone."
"Wow. I.. I am so sorry to hear that, Luke." Lincoln looked a little surprised.
"Yeah Luke. I thought you and Alex would be good together."
"Well, I guess our relationship is over now."
"Did something else happen?"
"Well, Lincoln, over the last three days, I was thinking things over and how I regret killing that old man, and accidentally shooting the girl too."
"Luke, I do believe you when it was an accident." Mike said. "Stoo being so hard on yourself."
"Well, I try to redeem myself, dad. Really."
"You can repent."
Lincoln then said to Luke: "as a matter of fact, Lisa says she has a lie detector, and she can see if you are telling the truth about everything, and if you did kill the girl by accident."
"A lie detector Huh? Good idea." Luke said. "I am telling you the truth about the accident. But... I guess I can give the lie detector a chance so your sisters and parents can give me a chance."
Lincoln smiled with hope. "Cool! It will work. But wait, my parents say they don't know about us seeing each other anymore."
"Well, I wouldn't really.. blame them, Lincoln." Luke admitted. "I'm sorry if I'm... not the man you thought I was."
"Admittedly," said Lincoln, "I'm still shocked about it."
"I know, and I'm sorry. But anyway, let's see the polygraph and see if your family can forgive me."
"That sounds like a good idea." said Mike. "But anyway, you want to meet Harry? The new Dumatran rhino?"
"Sure dad." Luke smiled, and he went to meet the rhino from the other side of the pen.
"I don't think it's safe for you to go in the pen yet." Mike warned. "Harry's still a little too scared and trying to get used to the pen he's in."
"Noted. Okay."
A little later in the day
Luke looked quite nervous as he was outside the front door of Lincoln's own house. Still, he did care about Lincoln, and he wanted to get this back on track. He wanted to make amends and have the Loud family forgive and forget.
"Don't worry, Luke." Lincoln said. "They already know you're coming."
"Well, alright." The Rogue Lion sighed. Both of them heard the sounds of motorcycles revving, and it revealed to be the rest of Luke's gang, excluding Dimartino since she broke up with the Rogue Lion. "Luke, there you are." said Lekan. "You didn't answer our calls. What happened?"
"I've been... depressed guys. Thinking if I am a bad influence on Lincoln and that Alex broke up with me."
"She broke up with you?" Brad asked. "Dude, I'm sorry to hear that."
Lincoln then opened the door and the family was there on the couch, looking much better, and not sick anymore. They weren't really happy to see Luke, or his cronies. But on the other hands they weren't unhappy to see them either. "Guys," Lincoln said: "I brought Luke. He's ready to test the polygraph."
"Perfect." said Lisa. "Right this way, Luke. We will find out the truth in me and Liky's sleeping quarters." the Rogue Lion followed her upstairs and the whole family did the same followed by the hiker gang behind them.
The machine had a grown patch so it can wrap around Luke's arm, and a machine next to him to show the line. Lisa gently put the band on the Rogue Lion's left arm and turned on the machine.
"How's this going to work?" asked Cheng.
"Simple," Lisa answered: "if you, Luke, tell the truth, the graph will flow at a perfectly straight line and make gentle beeping sounds. However, if you tell a lie... then... we'll know it."
Lynn Sr was the first one to start the questions, and he first asked: "you did kill an old man that was a former Nazi?"
Luke was silent for a moment, but he replied: "yes, but I did it to rid the world of one monster." the machine was giving a gentle beeping sound, and the line was flowing straight, indicating that Luke was telling the truth.
"But, do you regret it?" Rita asked
"In all fairness... i do. I let my anger get the best of me, and I just... lost control of myself." then the line was beeping again at a gentle pace.
Lincoln smiled, looking hopeful at hoping that he is telling the truth about every question being thrown at him.
"Do you sweat that shooting the girl was an accident?" Lynn Sr asked suspiciously.
Silent again, Luke ultimately said: "yes. I promise. I didn't mean to shoot her. It was a total accident. Metz was trying to get the gun away from me, and he made me accidentally get a grip on the trigger of my gun."
"Have you... killed other people?" Lucy asked
"Only bad, awful people, like the slavers in Mauritania that I told you guys about." once again, the machine says that he was telling the truth to everyone. "I would never kill innocents."
The parents looked at one another, and the mother then asked: "so... do you truly care about Lincoln like he is the little brother you always wanted?"
"Absolutely, Rita." the machine gently beeped in response.
"Well... I guess if the lie detector says it, then it must he true." said Luna. "I guess I can forgive you."
"Wait, I have a question," said Luan. "Do you think my jokes are funny?"
"Pfft, of course I do, Luan." Luke replied. However, the machine gave a funny, raspberry nose like someone farting or spitting with their tongue, and the lines were going crazy. "Okay, most of them but not all of them. There, I admit it."
Luan looked offended and she crossed her arms. "Well, you're not the only one to say that, so I'll let that slide."
"Good."
"See? Luke is a good person." said Grizzly. "Come on, he's not perfect."
"No one is." said Chris.
"Can you give him another chance?" Cheng added
The parents were a little reluctant and they know how much Luke make Lincoln happy. "Well, we're still shocked about Germany. But, we can give you a second chance. However, we won't... forgive you fully just yet."
"Yeah Luke," said Lynn Sr. "So one more slip up like that, that you and Lincopn are done seeing each other. Got it?"
"Got it. Now, I just need to find a way to get Alex back."
