Welp, more world building yay, no recommended song for this chapter.

Tag

It was a peaceful day all things considered. Roger had awoken before Dorothy played her favorite alarm tune, breakfast was calm, and Dorothy didn't even get on him about reading the paper at the table for a change. Ray had been awfully quiet however, and kept giving Dorothy a side glance like she was planning something. If that was the worst that happened that day, Roger could live with it.

It wasn't.

A few minutes after settling down at his desk, cup of black coffee in hand, Dorothy burst into the office running at full speed, lept over his desk in a single fluid jump, and hid behind Rogers desk chair; rather easily, considering how small she was.

"Dorothy is there a reason you had to do that?" Well, there went his peaceful day. Dorothy's entrance and jump had startled him, and now coffee was on his white shirt and part of his desk. Thankfully it had missed his computer terminal and keyboard.

"Shh!" She hushed him, while remaining still.

"Dang it, Dorothy… Huff huff, get back here!" Ray ran into the room about a minute later, out of breath. "Don't even bother hiding I know you're behind Roger!"

What occurred next was like something out of a cartoon, Ray ran behind the desk, Dorothy ran in front of it. Ray ran in front, Dorothy behind. They chased each other like that for a good minute before Dorothy leapt over the desk from behind and ran for the door.

"Dang it! Get back here!" Ray ran for the door, and right as she was leaving Norman entered the room, carrying a tray with a pot of fresh coffee and a towel.

"Norman."

"Yes Master Roger?" Norman refilled the cup, and gave Roger the towel to clean himself up.

"What was that?" Roger took the towel, rather absentmindedly and began fussing with the spots on his shirt.

"A game of tag sir."

"A game of tag?" Roger just shook his head in disbelief. "And why are they playing a game of tag? And in the house no less?"

"Ah, well that is for Ms Ray's training. Surprisingly, she has surpassed most of the beginner obstacles I put in place for her."

"That quickly? It hasn't even been a full month." Roger could hardly believe it. He had come from a military police background, and it had taken him at least three.

"Yes sir, I'm as shocked as you. That said, this old man isn't up to most of the later training regimens." He had that typical jovial expression of his. "It seemed quite natural to ask Ms Dorothy to help keep Ms Ray on her toes, and training schedule. They are the same age after all, and perhaps they'll quit fighting as often."

"Or more," Roger sighed. "Well, maybe have them keep it out of my office next time." Roger suggested as he started drinking his coffee.

"Yes sir, now, about my pay for next month."

"Norman…"

NO SIDE

Hobbies

"I expect the two of you back before dinner. Well then, have a good day." With that, Norman shooed the two girls out the door.

"Why do we need to go shopping together? Wouldn't you be faster?" Ray complained as the two headed for the nearest bus stop. She was wearing a tank top today, it was the beginning of July and it was warm out now.

"Perhaps Norman is attempting to force us to get along again?" Dorothy posited at the bus rolled up, they rode it to the nearest railway station, and took that to the mall dome.

"Maybe, but that hasn't worked before, why would he think it'll work now?" Ray and Dorothy looked over the list Norman had given them. Dorothy could memorize it, so Ray was going to keep the copy they were given. It was divided by who would get what, so there wasn't really a need for only one list. Or to send them together really, but it was divided by shops on each half of the dome. Ray suspected this was to make it quicker to get everything. Not that they were bringing much back. It was mainly to place orders for Big O's repair parts.

"Didn't you get paid yesterday?" Dorothy asked as the train car neared the mall dome.

"Yeah, but I usually just save my money for books, and the used book stores are really cheap. So I've managed to save quite a bit of my pay." Ray had been meaning to save up and move out, but Roger had put the kibosh on that, so all the cash earmarked for that could instead be used as she saw fit. Ray still wasn't sure why he wanted her to stay, but probably it had to do with his love of solving tangible mysteries.

"Maybe Norman wants you to indulge yourself. That list should easily be finished by noon."

"Yeah, maybe. Where should we meet up?"

"Why should we meet up?"

"If I go home without you, or vise versa, Norman is gonna be cross with us."

"Oh." Dorothy spotted a cafe near the station, one her father used to take her to occasionally to teach her how to pass for human. Dorothy pointed to it "What about there?"

"Sure. See ya in a few hours." With that both girls went their separate ways.

They had arrived at the dome by eight thirty that morning, and sure enough Ray was finished with her half of the list by eleven. She headed back towards the cafe and spotted a shop that caught her eye.

"Oh, so shops like this still exist? Wait, of course they do, I just never had half a mind to look." In front of Ray was a little yarn and crafting shop. She checked the communicator watch she had 'borrowed' from Roger. He had a dozen so she didn't think he would notice a single one missing or he didn't care, she'd had it for the past week. "Well, I have a little time, and it's been months since I picked up my needles.'

Ray knew whatever she made had to be black, grey or white. If she got cheeky and tried another color she'd probably get lectured. She found a nice shade of the color grey that she liked, got a pair of needles, and after checking out headed to the cafe. When she got to the cafe Dorothy was sitting at a table out front, being harassed by some hooligans.

"Come on toots, come with us?" This one was a brute, big, muscular and lack witted.

"Yeah, we'll shows ya a great time." This one had a squeaky voice to go with his thin frame and a neon orange mohawk. The annoying type overall.

"Ya won't regret it lass." This one sounded Scottish and looked it, which confused Ray as to why he even rolled with the other two.

"I'm not interested." Dorothy ignored them as best she could and looked straight ahead.

"Now that's no way to…" Ray cut the burly one off.

"What're you guys doing picking on my sister like that?"

"Huh?" The three turned around and Ray was standing very close, holding herself tall and trying to look pissed off. Ray was still a good head shorter than the brute and the Scotsman though.

"Ya deaf? I asked why you were picking on my sister?" Ray made herself sound harsher than normal.

"Your sister? Ya barely look alike?" The squeaky one said.

"Save for the lassies red hair." Stated the Scottish one.

"Yeah, you ain't lying is ya?" The brute tried to sound rowdy, having no effect on Ray.

"Just scram would you? I haven't seen her in a month cause of work, and now you shitheads get in the way." Ray took the chair opposite Dorothy, who was giving Ray a quizzical look. Ray gave her a 'play along' face and smiled. "Show how's life?"

Dorothy picked up right away. "Oh, works boring like usual. My employers a louse, house chores never seem to be done, and I still haven't gotten that raise."

"Oh I'm a louse am I?" Roger came to the rescue, somewhat literally. The Griffin was parked not far from the cafe, and he spied the two when he was about to leave the dome. "What are you two doing here?"

"Getting lunch, or trying to if those three would buzz off." Ray thumb pointed to the three goons, who suddenly realized they had places to be that didn't involve harassing Dorothy.

"Sorry ta bug you two ladies. We'll be leaving now." The brute had seemed to pale, and the three turned tail and ran off.

"What'd you do to those three?" Ray looked over at Roger who sat down with the two of them.

"Oh, just had to negotiate with their boss about keeping his goons under control before Paradigm did something about them. What are you two doing here? Actually getting lunch are you?" Roger gave a half confused and amused expression.

"I suggested meeting here after we finished Normans shopping list." Dorothy was back to her usual dour self.

"Wouldn't it have been faster to just send you Dorothy?" Roger picked up one of the menus that had finally been placed in front of the three of them. "Coffee sounds good right about now."

"Do you ever drink any water?" Ray asked while looking at one as well. Her stomach growled then. "Lunch actually does sound good," she muttered while perusing what was available.

"Occasionally, why?"

"Your kidneys are going to hate you in a few years."

"Ray's right Roger. You should drink more water, and less black coffee."

"Would you two knock it off?" Roger was annoyed. If the two weren't fighting each other they would gang up on him. They had a relaxing lunch out of the home for a change, and Roger drove them home. On the way Dorothy had a question about Rays methods.

"Why did you claim we were sisters Ray?" Dorothy was in the back seat, but Ray could see her in the rear view mirror easily enough.

"Hm? Oh that? It's a common tactic to help out other girls in trouble where I am from. Kind of an unwritten girl rule. Doesn't matter if you've never seen that woman in your life, she comes up to acting like your best friend and is a little panicky you play along and go to a public place with lots of people."

"Is where you're from that unsafe?" Roger asked while avoiding an accident in the middle of the road.

"Well, in many ways Paradigm is a lot safer. Save for the Megadeus fights, we don't have those back home."

"But you claimed we were sisters?"

"Yeah, well, I thought it would make em back off. If I claimed we were friends they might try and rope me in too." Ray scratched the back of her neck kind of nervously. "And we both have red hair, which is uncommon enough people keep commenting on it, so I figured it would work."

"..." Dorothy said nothing and continued to stare at Ray. Ray couldn't tell what she was thinking, but it probably wasn't pleasant.

"So what did you end up buying, Ray?" Roger changed the subject so the cars atmosphere would be less uncomfortable.

"Oh, some yarn and knitting needles."

"You can knit?" Roger wasn't able to comprehend this girl. "You never mentioned that you have such skills."

"Yeah. Well it's not like you ever asked me what technical skills I have. You're just obsessed with finding out where I'm from and why I can't seem to remember how to get back." Ray shrugged, and saw Dorothy frowning in the mirror. "What's wrong, Dorothy?"

"Did Norman ever ask you what you were capable of doing before taking you in?"

"No, now that I think about it, he never did. Just saw the sorry state I was in and offered me a job."

"Guess we'll have to have a long conversation when we get inside then." Roger pulled into the garage, parked the car and the three headed up to the penthouse via the elevator. Ray sat down in one of the lounge chairs while Roger took the other.

"Geez it's getting hot." Ray fanned herself with her hand. You'd think with all the money Roger had he could afford decent AC.

"Yeah." Roger took off his blazer and tie, and even unbuttoned the top of his shirt. "So, now that we know you can knit, what else can you do?"

"Crochet."

"I mean all you technical skills, not just crafting wise."

"Cooking, cleaning, some more basic sewing skills like fixing holes in clothing, and I can use a computer, even built one back home." Though, Ray didn't think she should mention that computers back home would be like a futuristic supercomputer here. Paradigm Corporation used one that was the size of a large room, and it was mainly used for storing and retrieving digital copies of tax documents, had every newspaper written since forty years ago on file and retaining citizen information. Her desktop could do thousands of times what that supercomputer could, and was barely larger than a short stack of shoe boxes.

"Oh, interesting. Think you could repair a robot?" Roger was only half joking.

"Not unless you want Dorothy breaking, or killing me."

"I'm not going to kill you." Dorothy placed down iced water in front of the two of them. "But I also would prefer Norman continued doing my maintenance if I was to be given a choice."

"Hey, I wanted black coffee." Roger whined.

"You had coffee at lunch, and at breakfast. Drink some water Roger." Dorothy wasn't about to let up.

"You two are going to be the end of me. Can't you both get hobbies that don't include torturing me?"

We Have Come to Terms.

/You're getting the typical beach episode, enjoy.

Beating the Heat

The first full week of July in Paradigm was brutal. It was never this hot back home. Ray lamented while trying not to become a puddle from the heat.

Roger was lounging in a patio chair in a t-shirt and light jeans, Dorothy was at her usual perch and usual dress, Norman was dressed down from the heat without his waistcoat and in a thin short sleeved button up, and Ray was in tank top and shorts sitting in a chair trying to read the latest novel she bought. The heat was getting to be too much for the humans in the household.

"Too bad there aren't any swimming pools outside the domes." Ray panted from the heat.

"Why does it need to be outside the domes?" Roger looked up from his newspaper.

"Well, would you consider going to one in the domes?" Ray tilted her head to the left.

"Hrm, actually that's not a half bad idea. With how hot it is swimming might be the best way to cool off. Why don't we all go?"

"That sounds like a wonderful idea Master Roger. Shall I get your swimsuit out of storage?"

"Yeah, I'll see if I can't find that pool pass I have." Both men left.

"What possessed you to ask about going to a pool?" Dorothy had leapt off the railing and landed close to Ray.

"I'm not even sure, but it's hot and that should help cool us off." Ray got up and stretched.

"I do not own a bathing suit."

"Pretty sure Roger would buy you one if you asked. I need one too now that I think about it." She headed inside, and behind her Dorothy frowned.

She really is strange. Oh well, this should be a good opportunity to see what I can learn. While Ray had long since figured out Roger was probably spying on her, she had somewhat dropped her guard around Dorothy, and this allowed her to pick up on things Ray may not have realized she had admitted to.

Soon the four riders in the Griffin headed to the south east entertainment dome. It was connected to the mall dome by a walkway and railway line, and soon found the pool Roger had passes for.

"I do not have a bathing suit." Dorothy protested as they headed to the indoor pool.

"Neither do I." Ray put her hands behind her had in a relaxed stretched pose.

"Well, lucky for you two there's a swim shop next door." Roger handed Dorothy a credit card, "Just keep it reasonable will you both?"

"Huh? You're going to let me charge something?" Ray didn't look like she believed Roger.

"Dorothy's charging it, I'm just letting you pick out something you actually need."

"Right. Ok then. Come on Dorothy, lets go." She dragged the gynoid off to the shop next door. It didn't take Dorothy long to find something that fit her, but for Ray it took a bit longer. After they made their purchase the two got in with the passes Roger had given them.

"Hey, you actually look really cute in that." Roger commented on Dorothy's one piece bathing suit. It was black of course, but it had a short shirt that was stripped with white, and it accentuated her hourglass figure. He was in regular black swim trunks himself, and without his shirt on he did cut a rather impressive figure, six pack abs, a few scars on his arms and chests from various battles he fought.

"Louse." Dorothy looked away from him. He thinks it's cute? That's great, but if I let him know I think that... Her train of thought was interrupted when Ray came out of the female changing rooms.

"Sorry I made you all wait, it took a while to get changed." Ray came out in a two piece. The top was black with thin teal shoulder straps, and the bottoms black with teal stripes down the side. It wasn't very revealing, as it didn't show cleavage, and the bottoms went up to just below her navel. But it did nothing to hide her mild curves or the fact that Ray had quite a bit up top.

"Oh that looks great on you Ray, maybe we should go swimming more often." He gave a charming smile, but it was the last thing Ray wanted to see.

"Louse." Ray and Dorothy said in unison.

"Ouch, I'm just trying to be nice." Roger grimaced.

"Hm, fancy seeing you here?" Angel appeared behind Roger and pressed her ample chest into his bare back. "Trying to beat the heat as well, negotiator?"

"Well if it isn't the fallen Angel." Roger pulled away and turned around to face her. The two piece pink suit Angel wore left nothing to the imagination, cleavage, curves and long slender legs all on display. Great, now there's really going to be a cat fight. "We are trying to beat the heat, but why would you be frequenting a low level place like this?"

Roger had the distinct impression Angel would've rather visited an upscale establishment, with false sun shining down, wait staff to bring you drinks and warm towel holders available. This pool was not that. Just a basic athletic swimming pool with two diving boards, no artificial sun or any of that fancy stuff, just a plain pool that Roger occasionally visited to do water exercises.

"What, I can't visit a pool now?" Angel was being coy.

While the two had their discussion Ray looked at Dorothy and asked quietly, "Do we push her in later?"

"Yes."

"Ok. Well for now let's go swim." Ray headed for the pool stairs.

"I can't."

"Why not?" Ray looked up at Dorothy, she was already a few steps into the water.

"I'm too heavy. And I don't know how to float."

"Seriously?" Ray couldn't believe her ears.

"Seriously."

"Ok fine, guess I'm teaching you how to swim. Or at least not to sink like a rock. Get in." Dorothy did as instructed. Ray wasn't bad at teaching, much to Dorothy's surprise, and she at least learned more basic strokes and how to not sink in low waters.

"You two are getting along I see." Norman came over to them, he wore a black one piece suit. He had been doing some breast strokes on the side of the pool roped off for exercise.

"Yeah if you wanna call it that." Ray spied that Angel was just standing not too far off from the edge of the pool near the diving boards, watching Roger. "I'm going to go try diving now, been a while since I've done that."

Ray got out quickly by a small ladder, made her way over to the boards, and when she was behind Angel she waited until Roger jumped off the board, and Norman was watching him as well, before hockey checking Angel into the pool and kept walking.

"Ah!" Angel made a large, ungraceful splash. In the shallow end of the pool Dorothy watched it all with a small barely perceptible smile on her face.

Ray had clambered up the shorter height board by the time Angel resurfaced. And was about to take a dive when Angel yelled, "You jerk!"

Ray ignored it and jumped. It wasn't graceful, but she cut into the water smoothly and swam back over to the shallow end.

"What's Angel all worked up about," Roger asked as Ray resurfaced not far off.

"No clue." Ray shrugged innocently. She swam the rest of the way to the shallow end and spent the rest of the pool day helping Dorothy master the art of not drowning.

We Have Come to Terms.

Ahahaha. Bet no one expected that did they? Well, hope you enjoyed this little off chapter, more story content coming later.