The old man looked up at his creation. He thought he would never see a sadder thing on this earth than his own creation. He seemed as almost he had lost something on the way of getting his freedom. Something he would give up his freedom to bring back.
"Zeta is something bothering you?"
"No these roses remind me of an old friend."
"What happened to the friend?"
"She's home with her family. She had been searching for them. She would have wanted to meet you."
"She still can you know."
"I know. She's probably too busy with her family to care about me." He had watched her enter that plane and waved her off.
~Flashback~
"Ro I'm not sure if you'll be able to find me again if you need to."
"Zee I can take care of myself." He nodded knowing she had always claimed that. He wasn't sure if it was true but she was pretty tough.
"If I find Dr. Selig I'll tell him all about you."
"Okay Zee. I guess this is goodbye huh?" He was sure she wouldn't be coming back this time. She had told him that she had found her family. She had found what she was looking for. He still had a while to go.
"I hope you're family is what you hoped it to be." She smiled sadly.
"I don't think I can be disappointed since I didn't hope for much." She laughed lightly only seeming to be funny to herself. He never really had much of a sense of humor anyway.
"You'll get some answers right?"
"That's what I'm worried about. Maybe it would have been better not to of known at all."
"Ro you need to go back to your family. You'll be safer and probably happier there than here with me."
"Zee I'm going to miss you." She said looking down shyly. She had always hidden her soft side but he had seen glimpses of it once and while.
"Flight 157 to Kansas City is boarding now at gate A21."
"Ro that's you're flight." She nodded moving closer to him. She hugged him tightly before letting go.
"Bye Zee…" She said taking her backpack. She was nervous about leaving Zee alone. He hadn't been alone for the longest time and she wasn't sure how he would cope with the NSA agents without her. He watched her leave through the gate.
"Bye Ro…" He was completely sure that he would come visit her as soon as he could after he got his freedom. He wouldn't endanger her life by hiding out in her home.
~End of Flashback~
"Zeta are you sure you're alright you seemed a little bit distracted."
"Yeah so am I free to go?"
"Yes. I suppose so where will you go?"
"I'm not sure I have to call a friend of mine."
"Go ahead." Zeta called Bucky. He would know where Ro was located. He said he always kept tabs on them. He never knew why but just knew he did.
"Hello?"
"Hello is Bucky there?"
"Yes that is me who's asking for him."
"Zeta speaking."
"Ha where have you been. I lost track of you like six months ago."
"I've been all over. I'll tell you later. I called to ask if you know where Ro lives now?"
"She lives in a house down forty minutes from the Kansas City Airport. I'll send you the address to Dr. Selig's fax."
"Do you know how she is?"
"Yeah I visited her a few months ago. She was happy to see me surprisingly. She's doing really good Zeta. You don't have to worry her family's real nice too."
"Good. Well thanks Bucky I'll come see you after I visit Ro."
"She'll probably be happy to see you again Zeta. She was worried when I told her that I lost where you were for a few months." He could only hope so. He said goodbye to him and hung up the phone. He looked over at the fax machine as it beeped. It sent a message. He picked up the piece of paper grasping it tightly in his metal hand. Dr. Selig smiled as he saw his creation enter the room again.
"So Zeta where are you headed?"
"Kansas City. My best friend is living there with family."
"You have a best friend?"
"Yes, she means a lot to me."
"Was it that girl that traveled with you?"
"Yeah how did you know?"
"I remember seeing you with her a few times. She looks nice Zeta."
"I tried being a good friend to her but at the time I didn't understand much about friendship."
"Well how did you first meet?"
"She was refusing to watch a hold up. I was trying to contact Agent Bennett to tell him that I didn't mean any harm. The gang leader, Ro's gang leader I supposed wanted to do a hold up. She never liked talking about what she was doing in a gang. She just told me that it was better to have a roof over your head than what she used to be."
"She was homeless?"
"That and an orphan. She was stated as a runaway from the Moore she used to be at."
"She found her family?"
"Yeah she did. She did in secret though saying she didn't want me to feel like she didn't want to be around me."
"But most people don't believe you have emotions."
"She was different. She always believed me even from the beginning."
"Well I'll call a cab for you. I'm sure you can pay for anything right?"
"Yeah I still have my unlimited cred card." Dr. Selig left to go call. Zeta opened his hand. He looked at the address.
Just off of exit 32A on Interstate 32.
Brooklyn and 35 St.
1223 Brooklyn street.
Kansas City, MO
The house is a red brick with a white trim. It has a basketball hoop above the garage door.
He would see her as soon as he could. After spending a few days here he was ready to go to the world a free robot. He had so many questions running through his mind. He hadn't changed in appearance but he wondered if Ro did. Or would she be the same looking Ro?
"I called a cab for you it should be here in a fifteen minutes."
"Thank you Dr. Selig."
"You're welcome, don't be shy to ask anything from me."
"Why was I created? Was it to destroy?"
"No I created you to protect. That was your sole programming. You were created to protect the people. If they had done a better job of making sure you had all guilty terrorists you wouldn't of gone out of your programming but you protect the innocent nothing else."
"So I was created to protect. Protect the innocent?"
"Yes though everyone in this world is guilty of some thing but it's really how you look at it."
"How is that?"
"Well say a homeless man steals some food so he doesn't starve to death. Is he guilty of a crime or trying to just live one more day trying to get a job."
"I wouldn't consider that being guilty."
"Most people wouldn't either if they saw it that way but usually they see the bad side of everything. Clothing, food, houses their just materials that can be replaced. Human life that can't ever be replaced. Each one of us is a unique being as you are Zeta. Never could there be a duplicate of you." Zee had to note that Dr. Selig was wise for his advance age.
He still had a lot to learn about human psychology and philosophy. He had a lot of time though. He would probably study more upon it after seeing a few friends. He needed to see Ro was alright.
Zee found himself hardly able to contain himself while riding in the taxi and waiting for his flight at the airport. He was going to see his friend again. It had been three and half years since he had seen her last. He had gotten a dozen of roses, a box of chocolates and a stuff animal dog for Ro in a gift shop.
He heard his flight was boarding. He had already gotten his boarding pass. He stepped in the plane. He had gotten a ticket in coach this time around. He sat in a window seat. "Marie here's two seats together."
He saw two young women sit beside him. "Hi how are you."
"Fine."
"You don't mind us sitting here do you?"
"No." She noticed the gift bag with the dozen of roses.
"Seeing your girlfriend?"
"No just an old friend."
"Wow she must mean a lot to you."
"Yeah she does." The two girls just talked among themselves. Zee just looked out the window wondering what Ro was doing right now.
Ro had looked around at the dinner table. She had never taken a dinner like this for granite. The family always got together for dinner. Tonight was pizza night. They had take out for once. Usually they didn't have that but it was a Friday night.
She ate a two slices of pizza and a glass of soda before putting the paper plate in the trashcan and the glass in the sink. She had watched her brothers and sisters stuff their food down so they could go back outside and play.
"Ro are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine."
"Leave her alone Leann, she's a teenager she's bound to get depressed once and while." Ro smirked at her mother's friend, Diane. She had three well-grown girls. She was always trying to be best friend with her but Ro herself wasn't into being friends with anyone that was close friends with her mother.
"What on earth can she be depressed about? It's not about any boy. Everyone I've seen come over she rejects."
"So she doesn't want to date. Probably better for her anyway. Those boys are just more trouble than they are worth. She's got school, drama club, softball and cross-country to worry about. No need for a boy to worry about too."
"I'm leaving." She said softly before turning out to the patio door. She would at least watch her brothers play catch with their friends. She turned to hear the door open. She saw her grandpa walking by her and sitting beside her.
"Is anything bothering you honey?"
"No. Just old memories, and dreams."
"About when you were alone?"
"Yeah when I was alone."
"You know you're mother is just worried you're shutting yourself out from the outside world. Perhaps you should take some interests in some of the boys. Go out and have fun. I think you should just go out once and just have fun don't worry about anything."
"If there's one thing I don't need its some boy to screw up me up even more."
"You know all the tricks in the book don't you?"
"Yeah."
"Happens when you've lived on those tough streets."
"At least the world isn't always that tough."
"Yeah it isn't." Ro walked down the old wooden steps of the patio deck down to where her brothers and sisters where playing catch waiting for her to come and play baseball with them.
Zee walked down the walkway out into the lobby of the airport. He held the gift bag to his side along with a duffel bag on his shoulder. He walked out to the rental car where he made a reservation. "Well Mr. Smith. We have a convertible out there. Would you like that since there isn't much anything else?"
"That will be fine."
"Is there anything else I can do for you."
"Yeah how do I get to Interstate 32?"
"Okay when you get to the lot after you ride the bus going there. There's two exits you go to the on the left. After you get on highway 58 there will be sign saying the exit to interstate 32 about twenty miles of driving. You know how to get to where you're heading after that right?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Here's your keys and have a safe trip." Zee nodded picking up his gift bag he had set down to talk to the car rental agent. He waited for the bus to arrive. He saw it and hopped on. "What's your car number?"
"73."
"Okay have a seat. We'll be on our way soon enough."
"Alright." He set his duffel bag down in the luggage area.
"So what are you here for sir?"
"I'm here to see an old friend of mine."
"So you're not here for business.
"No."
"Most men your age are either here to see family or business."
"Well I hope you have fun while you're here."
"Thank you."
"Here's your stop." Zee stepped out grabbing his bags and placing them in the trunk before entering the driver's seat. He made his way out the exit. He was relieved of the worries of being caught. His record was clear. He had no more worries except for the usual natural ones. He turned on the radio soon learning that it eased him while he was driving after Ro left.
"Alright all of you this song was a request of my girlfriend who's probably listening right now. I love you baby. This one is for you. By the way this was one was hard to find had to look through the old CD Storage area."
Walk blindly into the light,
And reach out for his hand,
Don't ask any questions
And don't try to understand,
Open your mind
And then open your heart.
Then you'll see you and me aren't very apart,
I believe that love is the answer,
I believe love will find a way,
Violence is spread world wide,
And there are families on the streets,
We sell drugs to our children now,
Oh, Why can't we see?
We eliminate our future with things we do today,
Money is our incentive,
So that makes it okay,
But I believe that love is the answer,
I believe love will find a way,
I believe love is the answer
I believe love will find a way,
I've been seeing Lisa for a little over a year,
She says she's never been so happy,
At least it isn't fear,
But one-day daddy is going to find out she's in love with a nigger from the streets,
Oh how he would lose it then,
But she's still here with me,
She believes love will see us through,
And they'll understand,
They'll see me as a person not just a black man.
But I believe that love is the answer,
I believe love will find a way,
I believe love is the answer
I believe love will find a way…
Zee smiled at the song. It reminded him of Ro. She believed in him. He thought she would never leave his side. But she did one day. He was happy yet sad to see her go. He didn't see her ever shed a single tear.
She never cried in pain. She never cried in frustration. She was the strongest person he ever knew. He never knew how much she worried about him until Batman told him once. She had almost mugged by Jokers. He was thankful Batman had gotten Ro's call. He figured it was the same ones that jumped him. He saved her from the Jokers.
He would have beaten them more if he had known they jumped Ro. He still had quite a bit of his violent programming in him. Anyone who threatened his friend would surely pay. Either by the justice system or his own justice system.
He took the exit to interstate 32. He was well on his way. He was getting closer and closer to Ro's home. He hoped she would be there. He wasn't sure if he could stand waiting anymore to see her. Surely enough he had found the exit to Brooklyn and followed it.
He soon found the address. The house looked right. There were two cars parked across the street. He could hear children screaming and yelling around the backyard. Loud yelling and laughter came from the house. Zee stepped up to the house. It was sunset. The house was what looked to be a nice homey kind of home. He rang the doorbell. A middle-aged woman carrying a small male infant answered the door. "Can I help you young man?"
"I was looking for Ro Rowen? Does she live here?"
"Oh she's in the backyard." The woman let him in the house. He was about to see her again. Would he recognize her? He was sure he would recognize her if he looked hard enough.
In the backyard, the children decided to play a friendly game of baseball. Ro was up to bat. There was three other children cheering her on and another three on the bases out in their makeshift field. She told the pitcher to hold on for a second. She pulled up her overalls that were too big. She was afraid of them falling too low. She picked up the bat giving it a practice swing.
The pitcher threw the ball to her hard. She swung the aluminum bat as hard as the pitcher threw the ball. With a loud clang she sent the ball flying over all of their heads to land behind where the metal fence was and landed in the neighbors yard. One of the kids jumped over the fence as fast as they could getting the ball.
Zee smiled as he saw the group of children playing a game he recalled Ro calling baseball. He saw a girl with shoulder length blonde hair run around the makeshift field. She slid into the last plate. Her long overalls getting grass stains all over them.
"SAFE!" She smiled standing up brushing herself off.
"Ro someone's here to see you!"
"Coming." Zee waited as she ran up to the patio. She looked different but it wasn't that different. She had just become more boyish while he was gone. She wore baggy clothes now. She had a long red and blue jersey on unbuttoned over a black tanktop different from the one she was wearing. She wore long overalls undone so they looked more like pants. The straps swinging back and forth from her running up the stairs. She still had the same kind of style shoes. Her hair he noticed had been braided into a bunch of little braids.
"Ro is it you?"
"Zee!" She ran over and hugged him tightly. "Zee I can't believe it you're still alive."
"Yeah I'm fine Ro. How are you Ro?"
"Good. It's been a few years but you've probably haven't changed a little bit have you?"
"Yeah I have. I'm a free man Ro."
"Really that's great. You found what you were looking for?"
"Yes, it looks like you found what you were looking for too Ro." She smiled and nodded understanding what he meant. She took his hand.
"Come on we need to talk probably." Zee nodded following her. She told her parents she was going for a walk. Ro took a walk with Zee down around the block. They were silent most of the way before Zee spoke up. "Ro are you happy here?"
"Yeah I suppose so. I feel better knowing you're alright."
"I was relieved to see that you were safe at home."
"Yeah tin man. So what did Dr. Selig say to you?"
"He was happy to see me. He was trying to meet up with us but he seemed to just miss us. He asked me where I was going to go. I told him I would see you and then decide after that."
"What he say about me? Anything?"
"He just made some comments about you being brave and a good friend which I agreed with." She looked down flushed a little bit. "Does this embarrass you?"
"No just forgot how sweet you can be at times." She said bumping slightly into him. He smirked seeing her smile. They walked across a grass field. Ro turned and smiled at him. She tagged his shoulder. "Zee try and catch me if you can."
Zee looked confused but was willing to play Ro's children's game of tag. He ran after her. He wouldn't extend his arms or legs making it fair for Ro. She was zig zagging across the field before he caught up to her. He caught on to her arm. She turned swiftly causing both of them to fall.
He placed his arms on the ground so he wouldn't crush Ro. She was breathing hard smiling up at him. "I caught you."
"Yes you did." She stayed there trying to catch her breath. He stood up offering a hand to help Ro up. She took it. She looked at her clothes. Her mother would kill her for getting so many grass stains on her favorite pair of overalls.
"Are you alright Ro?"
"Yeah just a little out of breath. You're fast."
"I would have caught you faster if I extended out my arms or legs."
"That wouldn't be fair."
"I didn't extend my arms or legs did I?"
"No and you caught me anyway. But then you can't get out breath can you."
"No, I don't have lungs or any part of a respiratory system." She nodded knowing that already. She hadn't forgotten everything about him.
Soon it had gotten late. Ro had gotten back home and ready for bed. She laid on the bed as Zee looked around her room. "What are you looking at Zee?"
"You won these awards?"
"Yeah why else would I have them?"
"Are they hard to win?"
"I suppose so if you're not athletic or good in school. But all I have to be able to do is run fast and read a text book to win those."
"Bennett said he had an honorary award for you."
"For what?"
"Exceptional Bravery for believing me and staying with me as long as you did. Not everyone would."
"Not everyone is insane either." She said flipping on her stomach getting tangled in her blankets and sheets.
"Ro I have something in the car for you."
"For me?"
"Yeah as thanks for helping me out before." He stepped out of the room and went out to his car. He grabbed the gift bag of stuff and the plastic wrapped flowers. He came back in the house making his hologram cover his gifts. He walked up the stairs to Ro's room.
She was still sitting on the bed. "What did you get me Zee?"
"Look for yourself." She looked in the bag and found a stuff dog and a box of chocolates.
"Wow a box of chocolates my favorite."
"Here these are for you too." He brought forward the flowers. She smiled.
"Thank you Zee you're so sweet." She hugged him before going back and walking down to the kitchen. She found a vase to place them in. She set them on the kitchen table after placing some water in it. She smiled arranging them perfectly.
"It's getting late Zee, I should be sleeping by now."
"Okay Ro." He turned to leave.
"Zee stay with me tonight."
"As you wish Ro." She took his hand. She led him up to her room. He let her lay down first. She pulled back the covers. She patted the bed beside her. He crawled over her feet trying not to crush them. She covered them both up with blankets.
She turned looking at him. "Zee."
"Hmm?"
"Please try not to snore."
"I won't Ro."
"Thank you."
"Ro are you really here?"
"I have to be you can't dream can you?"
"I'm not sure."
"You dream of me?"
"I think I would." He said not understanding full what a dream was. Ro was his best friend. He had lost her though. She had forgotten over the years. He remembered all the way why he had wanted his freedom after she left. He wanted to be able to see her happy at her home. Before he had just not wanted to hurt people. He want to see Ro happy with others unlike him. "I have to leave in few days and I can't bring you with me. I'll miss you Ro."
"Hmm." She sighed as she snuggled up close to him.
