Chapter 2: A Change in Humanity
**Two Days Later**
"Grandfather Light, did you finish the, er, special adjustments?"
The old man looked at me somewhat sadly as he nodded, pointing to a metal cabinet in front of him. "Yes. They'll have to choose their own based on their preference."
"Choose what?" said a voice from the door. The two of us turned to see Rock and Zero walking into the lab, both in human clothing.
"Oh, good, you're here," Dr. Light stated. "There're some thing that I must tell to you--Zero, Rock. You were not just created and programmed to be like humans... you were created to protect them as well."
"Protect them from what, Doctor?" Zero inquired in his deep baritone.
"Well, in a nutshell," I answered, "from a maniac who was once Grandfather's partner-in-research. His name's Dr. Wily... and his goal is to enslave our world and cause fear and suffering for all." My voice cracked at 'suffering', and my eyes threatened to spill tears at that moment.
"Yes, indeed," Dr. Light continued. "A very troubled man he is... but the point is, he also has the ability to create robots much like yourselves, only pure evil and rather brainless. Hence, Sierra and I have created weaponry and upgrades for your use, should you decide to fight Wily with us."
"You bet I will!" Rock exclaimed while punching the air with a closed fist. "I won't let Wily hurt anybody! What about you, Zero?" All eyes turned to the blond silent one.
He shrugged after a few seconds, replying with "Sounds like fun."
Pleased, Grandfather opened the metal cabinet of weapons. "As I was saying before, each of you will have to choose a weapon to use; we have sabers and laser cannons." Rock was the first to step forward, gazing at the glinting metal guns and beam swords in concentration. He picked up a slender cannon, fingering the controls. He nodded to me.
"Good choice," I explained. "That one's unique, because not only can you upgrade to output power in the bolts, you can absorb the abilities of your enemies into your memory by coming in contact with their main weapon for three seconds. After that, their power is stored in your cannon completely."
"Impressive," Rock mused, a serious expression falling across his features.
Zero was now eyeing the arsenal, and immediately chose his preference.
"That one's good too," I added. "It's a very powerful dual saber/cannon weapon, but it doesn't have as many upgrades as Rock's yet. Instead, it does combination attacks of various power output and use of the saber."
"Well now," Grandfather cut in with a hinting glance to me. "Would you two like to start getting the feel of them?" Both nodded, and I motioned to my tool table.
Rock's cannon was a bit tricky to install, for I had to re-integrate some memory circuitry so that the weapon-absorption module didn't have as many relays to pass. It took around four hours to put into place, and I wiped the perspiration from my forehead just as the last wires were sealed. I pulled a damp strand of my brown hair back into place in the bun at the back of my head, and I blinked a few times from the bright lights of the lab.
"There you go, Rock," I said at last, "Your new X-Buster."
"You're the greatest, Sierra," he said graciously, giving me a sweet smile. I returned it tiredly, shooing him off so that I could work on Zero's weapon now.
I rubbed my eyes before moving the red 'bots arm into place beneath the magnifier, blindly reaching for the wire-fuser. In my momentary weakness I did find the tool, however my fingers gripped the red-hot end.
I jumped back, trying to hold back a scream of pain. I fell off my stool, clutching my hand as I lay sprawled on the ground. In the extremely fast process, I also managed to hit my head on the side of the lab table quite hard, giving me two things to cry about.
"Sierra!" Zero exclaimed, dropping to a knee to help me up. At first I shied away, in too much pain to register anything but he persisted, drawing me into his lap and taking my injured fingers gingerly into his. He examined them for a moment, trying to be gentle as he lightly touched the burns. However the contact sent waves of pain into my brain, and I finally cried out while pounding my good hand on the metal floor once.
"Stop that!" he commanded. "You'll hurt yourself again."
I couldn't help it. I was too tired to think straight... I'd been up for over 72 hours working on assorted oddments, and now the weapons. I couldn't take it anymore... and I just broke down right there. Broke down and cried, burying my face in Zero's muscled chest. He didn't seem to understand my actions, but put an arm around me to hold me still while I sobbed. I clutched his shirt tightly in my uninjured hand, wiping my tears away roughly with the other.
"I'm sorry," I murmured. "I'll get to work on your cannon now."
He studied me a moment, his emerald eyes piercing my grey ones. "No," he said quietly.
I looked at him in surprise. "What? Why not?"
"No. You are not in any shape to complete the adjustments properly."
"Gee, thanks a lot," I muttered, causing him to raise an eyebrow.
"I intended no insult, Sierra," he replied matter-of-factly. "You have a burn that needs treatment, and damage to your head will not let you concentrate much." And with that, he scooped me up in his arms and began walking.
"Wha-- ZERO! What are you doing!?"
He looked at me again, this time with a half-confused expression crossing his handsome features... Wait a minute... handsome? I thought... What am I thinking? He's a robot! Well, he is pretty damn hot... for a machine, that is...
"I am moving you to your living area, where you can rest for the remainder of the evening. Is this a problem?"
"Er, well, no, I suppose not."
A minute or so later I was carefully placed on my small bed in an even smaller room, which was littered with my tools and half-baked creations. Zero looked around curiously, poking one or two of my gadgets every now and then.
"An interesting room," he stated. I managed a smile.
"Yeah, guess it is..."
"However, it is extremely small and enclosed."
I didn't reply. He gazed at me again with those green, green eyes of his... Grandfather Light had designed him extremely well... I never would know that he wasn't human...
His brow creased. "Why is it that Rock and myself have large rooms with many 'extra' things, while you stay here?"
Still, I didn't respond. How could I explain to him that I really had no true home? That I didn't stay here all the time? I looked away from Zero, not wanting him to see the tears stinging my eyes again.
Much to my dismay, he noticed. "Sierra, why do you cry again? Have I said something out of turn? I didn't intend to upset you." He sat down next to me, trying to peer into my face.
"Zero... you didn't do anything wrong. I was just... remembering."
Now thoroughly in the dark, his frown increased, and he raised a hand to wipe my silent tears away. The touch startled me, and I gazed back at him, amazed by the amount of concern on his face.
"You... are different," he observed. "Like Rock and I, you don't fit with the rest of the world. I see that now, and I understand. I may have only been activated a day ago, but I understand this. I know that I can never fit in with humans... but it seems you cannot, either."
There were no words to describe the next moment of silence. It was as if everything had frozen... and it was then that I realized... that I was falling in love with Zero. I was drowning in his emerald stare, adoring the human... yes; human... features of his face. I don't really know how it had happened, but I just knew right then and there that I loved him.
"Zero..." I murmured.
He responded with a small smile, then a stoic expression of masked confusion. "Sierra..." he said softly. "I think my emotional circuits are malfunctioning..."
I giggled. "No, they aren't broken... tell me what you're thinking."
"I... I feel happy... it's hard to describe. When I'm here, I only see you... nothing else is coming into my mind. I... I don't understand this emotion."
I could cry. Right then, at those words, I really could have. I almost did, too... but something held the rivulets back. He loved me, too... I wanted so much to say something, but we merely continued to stare, and soon my eyes began to close. The lack of sleep was finally getting to me, and as much as I wanted to keep looking at him forever, the sandman was pulling me away.
In my half-asleep state, I was still aware of Zero... and that he was moving closer to me. I felt a hand move to my neck, gently combing through my long tangled hair. Then I felt his cool breath on my face, causing my skin to tingle. I smiled for a moment, opening my eyes slightly... just in time to see him close his and brush his lips against mine. He barely touched them, as if he was experimenting.
I sighed, and surprised him by leaning up slightly to kiss him back, reveling in the warmth of his lips. Zero just sat there a moment, then gave in, pulling me closer to him. My hands rested lightly on his shirt, and I felt his carefully sculpted (literally) muscles beneath it.
Before I go on, I must explain something... yes, Zero and Rock are both robots... but their designs are extremely advanced and unique. They were built as machines, but also as humans. In a nutshell, Grandfather had developed superior technology that completely integrated cybernetic machinery with living tissue, thus creating a life form that was half-machine. Though their anatomy depended upon circuitry, they also could carry out all human anatomical functions, and they even had lungs and a heart (which pumped specially designed oil instead of normal blood). As for their brains, that all relies upon the chips that I installed right before Zero and Rock's activation.
Indeed it was wonderful... as I was finding out now. Before, I only thought of them as machines. They still are... but they are also human-- experiencing emotion and in-depth thinking. And I loved it immensely.
"Zero..." I whispered as the kiss finally broke, leaving both of us gasping for air. His head was angled down towards mine, his long blond bangs surrounding his face like a halo. He was beautiful.
"Sierra," he said. "You have to rest now." And with that, he stepped to his feet easily and walked to the door. Just before switching off the light he turned to me for a second to smile, then left. I fell back against the pillows heavily, falling dead asleep with the warmth of his kiss still resting on my mouth.
I awakened to an immense cold on my head, and I nearly jumped to my feet. Somehow I was held back down, and I opened my eyes groggily to see a figure in blue keeping me in a lying position.
"Rock?" I grumbled sleepily, and I heard a chuckle.
"Man, what'd 'ya do, Sierra?" asked the brown-haired 'bot in amusement. He replaced the ice pack on my head as soon as I had calmed down. "Zero told me you fell while trying to install his saber/cannon. Dr. Light's already patched up the burn on your hand, and said that it won't scar too badly. You really need to take better care of yourself, you know. I mean, jeez, you humans are funny! You slept for around three days!"
"WHAT?" I exclaimed. "Three DAYS?" I was dumbfounded. How could I have slept that long? I had to get to work!
"Whoa, there," Rock said in concern. "Don't start getting up just yet. That bump on your head was pretty bad. Hard to believe, huh? And the Doc says you haven't been sleeping all that well anyway. You okay now?"
I laughed. Even though Rock and Zero were created from the same designs, I still remained surprised by the vast difference in their personalities. Even though I enjoyed Rock's company and humor, he was much like a brother to me whereas Zero's quiet and contemplative attitude intrigued and attracted me.
"I think I'll be okay, thanks Rock." His grin widened, sapphire eyes almost lighting up in delight. Then his expression slid into one that was halfway serious, the warm smile turning into a half-smirk.
"Ya know, Zero's been worried sick about you."
I started at the comment. "He has?"
"Oh yeah," he replied, shrugging. "The first morning after you hit your head he came in to get you for breakfast, and you wouldn't wake up. He got a bit freaked out and practically dragged Dr. Light in here to find out what was wrong. It took some time to reassure him, but he still stayed in here for who-knows-how-long, just sitting right next to you. It was kinda cute, but I guess we were all very worried for a while!"
I giggled. Cute? Zero wouldn't like to hear that! But, at the same time I was deeply touched by what Rock had told me. I would have to thank Zero once I had the chance...
"Anyway, here's some soup and a pill for the pain. I figured you'd need them."
"Oh! Thanks, Rock. I appreciate that."
He smiled again. "Oh, no problem! What are friends for, huh? Oh, by the way," he added pensively. "Could ya let me know when you get Zero's saber/cannon installed? I'd like to spar with him some before Wily decides to attack, know what I mean?"
"Sure, Rock, no problems there! I should be up and about by tomorrow..."
"No rush, though, girl. You need to rest."
I smiled. "Yeah, yeah, I know."
"He's right, though, Sierra," said a voice from the door. "You need to rest more."
Rock and I turned to see Zero in the doorway, with Grandfather Light peeking over his shoulder. Rock got to his feet, smirking again.
"Hey, Zero! I was just leaving... oh, there you are, Doc! I need you to help me with my optical circuits... I think there's a glitch..."
"Yes, but..." Grandfather stammered as he was being dragged away by the blue 'bot, extremely confused. Zero watched them leave with a raised eyebrow, and sent me an amused glance before occupying the chair where Rock had sat before.
"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly, his attention now completely on me.
I gave him a smile. "Better... Zero?"
"Mm?"
"Did you really stay here while I slept?"
He was silent, studying me as he appeared to like doing. "Yes," he replied, even quieter than before. His voice rumbled like distant thunder, deep and rich. "I... had to."
"Had to?" I was slightly puzzled.
Instead of replying he leaned forward to kiss me, one hand caressing my face tenderly. My arms wound themselves around his neck, playing in his ponytail of long golden hair.
It was too soon that he broke away, gazing down at me with mixed emotions, love and relief being most dominant. "Yes," he whispered. "I HAD to, Sierra... this feeling... I still don't understand it! What are you doing to me?" He growled low in his throat, his perfect features hardening into a deep frown.
"No..." I chided as I stroked his cheek. "Don't do that... don't scowl. I never meant to make you feel so strangely."
"It's too late now..."
Before I could ask what he meant I felt the softest of butterfly kisses on my chin, then my neck. I gasped in surprise, then closed my eyes to enjoy it.
"Zero..."
He raised his face to meet mine, our foreheads pressing together. I could feel his breath on my lips, which were trembling in anticipation for we were so close. I lightly nipped at his bottom lip playfully, and giggled as I saw his eyes widen. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but I cut him off by nipping him again, then lightly sucking on his lip.
"Sierra..." he growled, and proceeded to kiss me so hard I was breathless in seconds. I pulled back as much as I could, pushing against the pillows for air. He let me back, and as soon as I had inhaled deeply he kissed me again, quicker and deeper.
"Zero..." I gasped between kisses. "Do you... love... me?"
He growled again. "Do... I have... to answer that? What do... you think?" He pulled away slowly, sitting back down in his chair. My lip jutted out slightly in disappointment, but I relaxed so that I could catch my breath. Human or not... Zero sure could kiss...
"Eat now," he said firmly, bringing me out of my thoughts. "There's been suspicion that Wily is on the move, and you need your strength if that happens."
"Wily? But it's been years since the last attack!" I sputtered. The last thing I wanted was to face that madman again. It frightened me to think of what he could do after so much time.
Zero's face remained set in stone. As if reading my mind he voiced my concerns, "That is more than enough time to regroup and create a new plan. And I think that I know what he will be after."
I was puzzled. "What?"
A sigh came from him. "Sierra, think about it. He too was working to create a perfect robot... and now that Rock and I are activated, he'll want us for his own uses."
I gasped. It made perfect sense! Rock and Zero were made to be humans, but also as machines to fight Wily! And if Wily got his grimy paws on them... he'd... I couldn't stand to think of what could happen. I felt a burning in my eye from threatening tears, but I rubbed them away quickly. But Zero, quick as ever, did not fail to notice.
"Don't worry, Sierra. He won't get us. I promise you." He rose to his feet. "I have to go help Dr. Light and Rock with some stuff. You should eat your soup and sleep some more. I'll be back later." Giving me a small smile, he left, but somehow I felt that he wasn't telling me everything when he mentioned Wily.
Doing as I was asked, the soup was gone in minutes, and I downed the aspirin Rock had given me with a long gulp of water. Then I picked up one of my schematics for Rock and Zero and proceeded to study them until I fell fast asleep once again.
**Two Days Later**
"Grandfather Light, did you finish the, er, special adjustments?"
The old man looked at me somewhat sadly as he nodded, pointing to a metal cabinet in front of him. "Yes. They'll have to choose their own based on their preference."
"Choose what?" said a voice from the door. The two of us turned to see Rock and Zero walking into the lab, both in human clothing.
"Oh, good, you're here," Dr. Light stated. "There're some thing that I must tell to you--Zero, Rock. You were not just created and programmed to be like humans... you were created to protect them as well."
"Protect them from what, Doctor?" Zero inquired in his deep baritone.
"Well, in a nutshell," I answered, "from a maniac who was once Grandfather's partner-in-research. His name's Dr. Wily... and his goal is to enslave our world and cause fear and suffering for all." My voice cracked at 'suffering', and my eyes threatened to spill tears at that moment.
"Yes, indeed," Dr. Light continued. "A very troubled man he is... but the point is, he also has the ability to create robots much like yourselves, only pure evil and rather brainless. Hence, Sierra and I have created weaponry and upgrades for your use, should you decide to fight Wily with us."
"You bet I will!" Rock exclaimed while punching the air with a closed fist. "I won't let Wily hurt anybody! What about you, Zero?" All eyes turned to the blond silent one.
He shrugged after a few seconds, replying with "Sounds like fun."
Pleased, Grandfather opened the metal cabinet of weapons. "As I was saying before, each of you will have to choose a weapon to use; we have sabers and laser cannons." Rock was the first to step forward, gazing at the glinting metal guns and beam swords in concentration. He picked up a slender cannon, fingering the controls. He nodded to me.
"Good choice," I explained. "That one's unique, because not only can you upgrade to output power in the bolts, you can absorb the abilities of your enemies into your memory by coming in contact with their main weapon for three seconds. After that, their power is stored in your cannon completely."
"Impressive," Rock mused, a serious expression falling across his features.
Zero was now eyeing the arsenal, and immediately chose his preference.
"That one's good too," I added. "It's a very powerful dual saber/cannon weapon, but it doesn't have as many upgrades as Rock's yet. Instead, it does combination attacks of various power output and use of the saber."
"Well now," Grandfather cut in with a hinting glance to me. "Would you two like to start getting the feel of them?" Both nodded, and I motioned to my tool table.
Rock's cannon was a bit tricky to install, for I had to re-integrate some memory circuitry so that the weapon-absorption module didn't have as many relays to pass. It took around four hours to put into place, and I wiped the perspiration from my forehead just as the last wires were sealed. I pulled a damp strand of my brown hair back into place in the bun at the back of my head, and I blinked a few times from the bright lights of the lab.
"There you go, Rock," I said at last, "Your new X-Buster."
"You're the greatest, Sierra," he said graciously, giving me a sweet smile. I returned it tiredly, shooing him off so that I could work on Zero's weapon now.
I rubbed my eyes before moving the red 'bots arm into place beneath the magnifier, blindly reaching for the wire-fuser. In my momentary weakness I did find the tool, however my fingers gripped the red-hot end.
I jumped back, trying to hold back a scream of pain. I fell off my stool, clutching my hand as I lay sprawled on the ground. In the extremely fast process, I also managed to hit my head on the side of the lab table quite hard, giving me two things to cry about.
"Sierra!" Zero exclaimed, dropping to a knee to help me up. At first I shied away, in too much pain to register anything but he persisted, drawing me into his lap and taking my injured fingers gingerly into his. He examined them for a moment, trying to be gentle as he lightly touched the burns. However the contact sent waves of pain into my brain, and I finally cried out while pounding my good hand on the metal floor once.
"Stop that!" he commanded. "You'll hurt yourself again."
I couldn't help it. I was too tired to think straight... I'd been up for over 72 hours working on assorted oddments, and now the weapons. I couldn't take it anymore... and I just broke down right there. Broke down and cried, burying my face in Zero's muscled chest. He didn't seem to understand my actions, but put an arm around me to hold me still while I sobbed. I clutched his shirt tightly in my uninjured hand, wiping my tears away roughly with the other.
"I'm sorry," I murmured. "I'll get to work on your cannon now."
He studied me a moment, his emerald eyes piercing my grey ones. "No," he said quietly.
I looked at him in surprise. "What? Why not?"
"No. You are not in any shape to complete the adjustments properly."
"Gee, thanks a lot," I muttered, causing him to raise an eyebrow.
"I intended no insult, Sierra," he replied matter-of-factly. "You have a burn that needs treatment, and damage to your head will not let you concentrate much." And with that, he scooped me up in his arms and began walking.
"Wha-- ZERO! What are you doing!?"
He looked at me again, this time with a half-confused expression crossing his handsome features... Wait a minute... handsome? I thought... What am I thinking? He's a robot! Well, he is pretty damn hot... for a machine, that is...
"I am moving you to your living area, where you can rest for the remainder of the evening. Is this a problem?"
"Er, well, no, I suppose not."
A minute or so later I was carefully placed on my small bed in an even smaller room, which was littered with my tools and half-baked creations. Zero looked around curiously, poking one or two of my gadgets every now and then.
"An interesting room," he stated. I managed a smile.
"Yeah, guess it is..."
"However, it is extremely small and enclosed."
I didn't reply. He gazed at me again with those green, green eyes of his... Grandfather Light had designed him extremely well... I never would know that he wasn't human...
His brow creased. "Why is it that Rock and myself have large rooms with many 'extra' things, while you stay here?"
Still, I didn't respond. How could I explain to him that I really had no true home? That I didn't stay here all the time? I looked away from Zero, not wanting him to see the tears stinging my eyes again.
Much to my dismay, he noticed. "Sierra, why do you cry again? Have I said something out of turn? I didn't intend to upset you." He sat down next to me, trying to peer into my face.
"Zero... you didn't do anything wrong. I was just... remembering."
Now thoroughly in the dark, his frown increased, and he raised a hand to wipe my silent tears away. The touch startled me, and I gazed back at him, amazed by the amount of concern on his face.
"You... are different," he observed. "Like Rock and I, you don't fit with the rest of the world. I see that now, and I understand. I may have only been activated a day ago, but I understand this. I know that I can never fit in with humans... but it seems you cannot, either."
There were no words to describe the next moment of silence. It was as if everything had frozen... and it was then that I realized... that I was falling in love with Zero. I was drowning in his emerald stare, adoring the human... yes; human... features of his face. I don't really know how it had happened, but I just knew right then and there that I loved him.
"Zero..." I murmured.
He responded with a small smile, then a stoic expression of masked confusion. "Sierra..." he said softly. "I think my emotional circuits are malfunctioning..."
I giggled. "No, they aren't broken... tell me what you're thinking."
"I... I feel happy... it's hard to describe. When I'm here, I only see you... nothing else is coming into my mind. I... I don't understand this emotion."
I could cry. Right then, at those words, I really could have. I almost did, too... but something held the rivulets back. He loved me, too... I wanted so much to say something, but we merely continued to stare, and soon my eyes began to close. The lack of sleep was finally getting to me, and as much as I wanted to keep looking at him forever, the sandman was pulling me away.
In my half-asleep state, I was still aware of Zero... and that he was moving closer to me. I felt a hand move to my neck, gently combing through my long tangled hair. Then I felt his cool breath on my face, causing my skin to tingle. I smiled for a moment, opening my eyes slightly... just in time to see him close his and brush his lips against mine. He barely touched them, as if he was experimenting.
I sighed, and surprised him by leaning up slightly to kiss him back, reveling in the warmth of his lips. Zero just sat there a moment, then gave in, pulling me closer to him. My hands rested lightly on his shirt, and I felt his carefully sculpted (literally) muscles beneath it.
Before I go on, I must explain something... yes, Zero and Rock are both robots... but their designs are extremely advanced and unique. They were built as machines, but also as humans. In a nutshell, Grandfather had developed superior technology that completely integrated cybernetic machinery with living tissue, thus creating a life form that was half-machine. Though their anatomy depended upon circuitry, they also could carry out all human anatomical functions, and they even had lungs and a heart (which pumped specially designed oil instead of normal blood). As for their brains, that all relies upon the chips that I installed right before Zero and Rock's activation.
Indeed it was wonderful... as I was finding out now. Before, I only thought of them as machines. They still are... but they are also human-- experiencing emotion and in-depth thinking. And I loved it immensely.
"Zero..." I whispered as the kiss finally broke, leaving both of us gasping for air. His head was angled down towards mine, his long blond bangs surrounding his face like a halo. He was beautiful.
"Sierra," he said. "You have to rest now." And with that, he stepped to his feet easily and walked to the door. Just before switching off the light he turned to me for a second to smile, then left. I fell back against the pillows heavily, falling dead asleep with the warmth of his kiss still resting on my mouth.
I awakened to an immense cold on my head, and I nearly jumped to my feet. Somehow I was held back down, and I opened my eyes groggily to see a figure in blue keeping me in a lying position.
"Rock?" I grumbled sleepily, and I heard a chuckle.
"Man, what'd 'ya do, Sierra?" asked the brown-haired 'bot in amusement. He replaced the ice pack on my head as soon as I had calmed down. "Zero told me you fell while trying to install his saber/cannon. Dr. Light's already patched up the burn on your hand, and said that it won't scar too badly. You really need to take better care of yourself, you know. I mean, jeez, you humans are funny! You slept for around three days!"
"WHAT?" I exclaimed. "Three DAYS?" I was dumbfounded. How could I have slept that long? I had to get to work!
"Whoa, there," Rock said in concern. "Don't start getting up just yet. That bump on your head was pretty bad. Hard to believe, huh? And the Doc says you haven't been sleeping all that well anyway. You okay now?"
I laughed. Even though Rock and Zero were created from the same designs, I still remained surprised by the vast difference in their personalities. Even though I enjoyed Rock's company and humor, he was much like a brother to me whereas Zero's quiet and contemplative attitude intrigued and attracted me.
"I think I'll be okay, thanks Rock." His grin widened, sapphire eyes almost lighting up in delight. Then his expression slid into one that was halfway serious, the warm smile turning into a half-smirk.
"Ya know, Zero's been worried sick about you."
I started at the comment. "He has?"
"Oh yeah," he replied, shrugging. "The first morning after you hit your head he came in to get you for breakfast, and you wouldn't wake up. He got a bit freaked out and practically dragged Dr. Light in here to find out what was wrong. It took some time to reassure him, but he still stayed in here for who-knows-how-long, just sitting right next to you. It was kinda cute, but I guess we were all very worried for a while!"
I giggled. Cute? Zero wouldn't like to hear that! But, at the same time I was deeply touched by what Rock had told me. I would have to thank Zero once I had the chance...
"Anyway, here's some soup and a pill for the pain. I figured you'd need them."
"Oh! Thanks, Rock. I appreciate that."
He smiled again. "Oh, no problem! What are friends for, huh? Oh, by the way," he added pensively. "Could ya let me know when you get Zero's saber/cannon installed? I'd like to spar with him some before Wily decides to attack, know what I mean?"
"Sure, Rock, no problems there! I should be up and about by tomorrow..."
"No rush, though, girl. You need to rest."
I smiled. "Yeah, yeah, I know."
"He's right, though, Sierra," said a voice from the door. "You need to rest more."
Rock and I turned to see Zero in the doorway, with Grandfather Light peeking over his shoulder. Rock got to his feet, smirking again.
"Hey, Zero! I was just leaving... oh, there you are, Doc! I need you to help me with my optical circuits... I think there's a glitch..."
"Yes, but..." Grandfather stammered as he was being dragged away by the blue 'bot, extremely confused. Zero watched them leave with a raised eyebrow, and sent me an amused glance before occupying the chair where Rock had sat before.
"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly, his attention now completely on me.
I gave him a smile. "Better... Zero?"
"Mm?"
"Did you really stay here while I slept?"
He was silent, studying me as he appeared to like doing. "Yes," he replied, even quieter than before. His voice rumbled like distant thunder, deep and rich. "I... had to."
"Had to?" I was slightly puzzled.
Instead of replying he leaned forward to kiss me, one hand caressing my face tenderly. My arms wound themselves around his neck, playing in his ponytail of long golden hair.
It was too soon that he broke away, gazing down at me with mixed emotions, love and relief being most dominant. "Yes," he whispered. "I HAD to, Sierra... this feeling... I still don't understand it! What are you doing to me?" He growled low in his throat, his perfect features hardening into a deep frown.
"No..." I chided as I stroked his cheek. "Don't do that... don't scowl. I never meant to make you feel so strangely."
"It's too late now..."
Before I could ask what he meant I felt the softest of butterfly kisses on my chin, then my neck. I gasped in surprise, then closed my eyes to enjoy it.
"Zero..."
He raised his face to meet mine, our foreheads pressing together. I could feel his breath on my lips, which were trembling in anticipation for we were so close. I lightly nipped at his bottom lip playfully, and giggled as I saw his eyes widen. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but I cut him off by nipping him again, then lightly sucking on his lip.
"Sierra..." he growled, and proceeded to kiss me so hard I was breathless in seconds. I pulled back as much as I could, pushing against the pillows for air. He let me back, and as soon as I had inhaled deeply he kissed me again, quicker and deeper.
"Zero..." I gasped between kisses. "Do you... love... me?"
He growled again. "Do... I have... to answer that? What do... you think?" He pulled away slowly, sitting back down in his chair. My lip jutted out slightly in disappointment, but I relaxed so that I could catch my breath. Human or not... Zero sure could kiss...
"Eat now," he said firmly, bringing me out of my thoughts. "There's been suspicion that Wily is on the move, and you need your strength if that happens."
"Wily? But it's been years since the last attack!" I sputtered. The last thing I wanted was to face that madman again. It frightened me to think of what he could do after so much time.
Zero's face remained set in stone. As if reading my mind he voiced my concerns, "That is more than enough time to regroup and create a new plan. And I think that I know what he will be after."
I was puzzled. "What?"
A sigh came from him. "Sierra, think about it. He too was working to create a perfect robot... and now that Rock and I are activated, he'll want us for his own uses."
I gasped. It made perfect sense! Rock and Zero were made to be humans, but also as machines to fight Wily! And if Wily got his grimy paws on them... he'd... I couldn't stand to think of what could happen. I felt a burning in my eye from threatening tears, but I rubbed them away quickly. But Zero, quick as ever, did not fail to notice.
"Don't worry, Sierra. He won't get us. I promise you." He rose to his feet. "I have to go help Dr. Light and Rock with some stuff. You should eat your soup and sleep some more. I'll be back later." Giving me a small smile, he left, but somehow I felt that he wasn't telling me everything when he mentioned Wily.
Doing as I was asked, the soup was gone in minutes, and I downed the aspirin Rock had given me with a long gulp of water. Then I picked up one of my schematics for Rock and Zero and proceeded to study them until I fell fast asleep once again.