Fallen Angel
JennyRogue

Win big, mama's fallen angel
Lose big, living out his lies

Chapter 3 - Mama

Author's Notes: This whole chapter is a flashback.

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12-year-old Turbinski was in awe as he looked around the store. This was the first time he had ever been out of the laboratory. The young Russian Chojin was not wearing his armour as that would have been too noticeable. Instead he wore some long clothes which covered the only outer parts of his body that were replaced with cybernetics, which included his elbows and knees. He also wore a cap to hide his white hair. Turbinski had never disobeyed the scientists before, but he was desperate to buy Vera a Mother's Day card. He flicked through the cards, none really catching his eye.

"Excuse me..." Turbinski jumped at the voice and span around, eyes wide in surprise. An old woman stood in front of him, "Oh sorry dear, did I startle you?" Turbinski shook his head, willing his heartbeat to return to normal. The old woman slipped a birthday card out from among the card. The message on the card was for a son.

"When's your son's birthday?" Turbinski asked, politely.

The woman smiled at him, "Next week. He'll be 35 years old."

Turbinski smiled, looking through the cards. He evantually gave up, "None of them are right! I need to find the perfect card for mama Vera."

The woman was silent for a few moments before speaking up, "You know, the best gift doesn't have to be the most expensive one..." she turned and pointed him in the direction of the bargain bin. Turbinski blinked, confused and she gently pushed him in the direction of the bin, "Go on. I'll sure you find the perfect card for your mother in there."

Turbinski glanced back at her before heading over to the bin. He flicked through the cards a few times before one caught his eye. It looked Japanese. Vera loved Japan. She used to live there when she was a teenager. He recongnized the poetry form on the card immediately and smiled widely, heading to the counter to pay for it.

The old woman was paying for her card. She smiled as Turbinski approached the counter, "Did you find what you were looking for?" Turbinski just nodded, smiling.

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Turbinski climbed through the garbage disposal chute he had found, back into the hallway and clambering back through to his room. He opened the door and, to his surprise and horror, found Vera herself sitting on his bed, an unreadable look on her face,

"Zdravstvuite comrade." she said quietly, eyeing the dirty clothes and the cap he wore.

"Z-zdravstvuite mama Vera..."

"Where were you?" her voice sounded unusually strained. Turbinski just looked down at the floor. "Come in here Turbie, before Adrik sees those clothes and realises what happened." Turbinski closed the door and moved to sit down by his mother. He moved over and gently hugged her around the waist. Vera's arms encircled Turbinski's shoulders, hugging him back. "Why did you leave the lab?" Vera asked quietly, "Anything could have happened to you."

"I am sorry mama..." Turbinski apologised. He pulled out the slightly bent and dirty card from his trouser pocket, "I went to get you this."

Vera took the card from her surrogate son, the writing was in Japanese, "My mother dearest. How special you are to me. I cannot explain." Her eyes lit up. A haiku! Haikus were her favourite type of poems. She glanced at Turbinski. There was a hopeful look in the Russian's eyes. "You know as an employee of the laborotary, I have to tell Adrik about this." Turbinski's face fell, a tiny glint of fear evident in his eyes. Adrik would be furious with him... Vera continued; "But... as a mother I won't."

A smile broke out on Turbinski's face and he hugged her tightly. Vera smiled, hugging her son back. "Thank you mama..."

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To Be Continued.