A/N: Okay, I've made a mistake. My friend Nintendo Maximus pointed out to me that Brad and Tuck's last name is actually Carbunkle. So please disregard my note on Chapter 3.
Phoenix Fire
Chapter Five
Two weeks later, everything was ready: XJ-10 had been completed, and all preliminary tests on the transfer machine had been run successfully. It was Jenny's last day as a robot. So, to celebrate, she and Brad took one last trip to Mezmer's. "So, how does it feel?" Brad asked over a chocolate malt shake. "Knowing that you're gonna be human, and all."
"It's so exciting!" Jenny squealed happily. "You're going to teach me everything, though, right?"
"Yup! You'll know everything about being human in no time. Me and Tuck will be with ya every step of the way."
Jenny smiled, but inwardly felt a little upset. She didn't particularly want Tuck around; after all, he was only a little kid. She wanted to know about being a teen. And I want to spend some time alone with Brad, she admitted to herself. I hope that he'll like me once I'm a human.
Jenny realized Brad was saying something. "Hmm?"
"I was just wondering what you were thinking," Brad explained. "You seemed to be having a deep conversation with yourself." His eyes crinkled as he grinned.
Jenny's metal heart melted at his smile, and his concern. "Bradley Carbunkle!" she said mock-haughtily. She playfully slapped his arm, trying not to hit him so hard as to leave a bruise. Brad winced slightly and grasped his arm; for one horrified moment, Jenny was afraid she'd hurt him, but the grin that appeared in his eyes told her that he was playing around. Brad pulled out his wallet and slapped a few bills on the counter to pay for the shake, then ran out of Mezmer's, Jenny on his heels.
They ran down the street, soon arriving at Tremorton Park. Tired of running, Jenny walked over to the swings and sat down in one. Brad came up behind her and started to push her gently. Jenny closed her eyes and leaned into the swing, wishing for the millionth time that she could feel the breeze on her face. Suddenly it hit her: in just a matter of hours, she would be able to. The thought blew her mind.
"Hey, Jen?" Brad asked, his voice soft.
"Yeah?"
"I just wanted to make sure… When you're human, and all, you won't forget me, will you?"
Jenny's "eyebrows" shot up. "Why would I do that? You're my best friend, Brad."
"I know. It's just…I have a feeling that Don Prima and everyone will want to be your friend, once you're a human."
"Really? You think so?" Jenny asked, excitement in her voice. She hadn't thought of that before.
"Yeah." Brad sounded absolutely miserable.
Jenny looked at Brad; his eyes were firmly pointed at his feet. At that point, she realized something. "You know something, Brad?" She stood and walked over to him. "If they don't like me as a robot, then they don't deserve me as a human. I'll still be Jenny, no matter how I look. So don't worry; I won't forget you. As a matter of fact, you'll probably be my only friend. I'm convinced that Sheldon only likes me because I'm a robot, so he'll probably forget all about me and start liking XJ-10." She gave Brad a smile and a friendly hug. After a moment, Brad returned the hug, his cheeks tinted a slight pink.
"Thanks, Jen," Brad said. "That makes me feel a lot better." He stepped away, starting to make his way toward Jenny's house. "Come on; let's get you home. That way we can go ahead and get started." With a smile, Jenny followed.
"Are you ready for this, Jenny?" Brad asked. Jenny was strapped into a chair, with a conglomeration of wires sticking out of the back of her head. They led to the transfer machine, which, in turn, had bundles that led to XJ-10 and a helmet that was strapped onto Jennifer's head.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Jenny replied honestly.
"All right, let's go over this one more time," Nora said. "XJ Ni-yun, you will have to shut down completely. Then the machine will transfer your software, the robot part of your mind, into XJ-10. It will then transfer the human part: conscience, memories, et cetera, into Jennifer's brain. If all goes well, you should awaken in a few hours, fully human, with no special abilities and no urge to fight."
Jenny nodded. "All right, Mom. Let's get started." She took a deep "breath," steeling her nerve. "Shutting down." For a moment, Jenny saw distorted colors, as if someone had turned her eyes to black-and-white mode. Then she slept.