It took much time to calm Ember down once again, but finally she did. She began to show me around her house, pointing to different things and explaining their purpose to me. The many different machines and things fascinated me so! I was so very eager to learn more and more, and I believe her wish to teach me served as an excellent distraction from her pain. We explored the house and talked into the night, until she finally tired. I however, still had much energy within me. She offered for me to rest in her parents sleeping room, but I refused out of respect. Besides, I found the couch quite comfortable, and being surrounded by the many plants her family kept in her living room made me feel more at peace in this man made house. Ember retired to her sleeping room, and I returned to the living room. I sat on the couch and looked around. The room was brightly illuminated by lights, which Ember had shown me how to control. I am very lucky my memory is as good as it is, for I fear I would have been overwhelmed by all this. However I remember that the fridge contained food, the light switch lit up the room, and that the CD player was NOT my friend. I still did not like that machine, no matter how often Ember assured me it was safe and harmless. Suddenly I heard a strange noise that startled me. Is the CD player coming to life again!? I looked around, and found the noise was coming from a small version of the 'telephone' that Ember had used to summon us a taxi. I walked over to it curiously, and then picked up the piece she had before and held it up to my face and ear. Then a voice began to talk to me!

"Hello?! Kyler is that you!? Oh thank god you're not dead and the news reports were wrong! Are you alright?! Is Ember and Avari okay too!?"

…what? I remained silent.

"Hello?! Kyler? Are you there?!" the voice yelled.

"No…" I said slowly. Then it hit me. This human must be a friend of Ember and her family… oh by the almighty what shall I say!?

"Who's there!? Who is this!?" the voice demanded.

"My name is Ecco…" I said slowly.

"Who the hell are you!? What are you doing there!? This is 2873 isn't it!?" the voice demanded.

"This is Ember's home." I replied.

"What are you doing there!?" The voice sounded extremely angry. "Tell me or I call the cops!"

What are these cops? And what could they possibly do to me?

"I am here to p-protect Ember." I stated. "She nneeds my p-prot-tection."

"And who the hell are YOU!? That's it buddy, I'm calling the cops! If Ember is there you better not hurt her!" the voice yelled.

"HURT HER!?" I screamed. "I would NOT hurt her! Ifff you try to-" I began to yell, my rage building.

"Ecco!"

I turned and looked, and Ember ran in the room. She took the telephone from me. "Hello? … Oh Mr. Fredrick! …yes, yes I'm okay! …. I… I… mommy and daddy didn't make it…" she looked down, like she was about to cry.

Who is this strange human and what is he saying to poor Ember!?

"Ya… I know Mr. Fredrick… but but Ecco… he's a friend of mine! He saved me! …yes… yes Mr. Fredrick… Oh please don't call the police! …but Mr. Fredrick he's my friend! Honest! … I… He saved me!! He took care of me!! … okay… okay Mr. Fredrick… b…bye…" She put the phone down and looked at me. "Why did you have to answer it?!" She screamed at me angrily. I looked at her shocked.

"I… but it mmmade nnoise… I was c-curious…" I stammered, looking at the telephone. A wave of guilt ripped through my body. What had I done wrong? I only talked to the human… I did not mean any ill feelings…

"That was daddy's boss! He's gonna come here, with the police! We're in big trouble now! He thinks you kidnapped me!" she screamed at me.

"I… p-p-olice…? B-but… NO! They will t-take you awwway!" I said shocked. "I will NOT let them!"

"Not much we can do now! They might arrest you and take YOU away! Lock you up Ecco!" She cried, tears coming down her face. "I don't want them to take you away!"

"B-but I d-d-it nothing wwwrong! Whhy would they t-take me away???" I asked.

"I dunno! But they might be mad, Mr. Fredrick sounded really mad! Ecco I'm so scared!" she wrapped her arms around me and began to cry. "I don't want them to take you away Ecco… I dunno what's gonna happen…"

"I will not let them Ember! I shall p-protect you and ssstay with you!" I held her and brought her to the couch, sitting her next to me.

By the almighty what have I done!? Why would these police wish Ember or I harm!? I will not allow them to take her away! I shall protect her until my last breath!

Suddenly I heard a loud wailing, but it was coming from outside the house. Ember screamed.

"They're coming Ecco! What can we do!? I dun wanna be taken away from you, but if we fight they will be even madder!" she clutched me tightly. I began to look around franticly as the noise began louder. "Ecco…" I looked down at her. "We gotta let em come… show em that you saved me and were nice to me... then they might let me stay with you…" She sniffed and rubbed her eyes. The noise became even louder, and then I heard much commotion outside. She slowly stood up and dried her tears with her clothes. She took my hand and pulled me. I stood up, and she led me to the front door. As she did I heard a loud banging noise on the door. I immediately walked in front of her, preparing for an attack.

"Open this door by the count of three, or we will be forced to break it down!" a voice roared from outside. I began to push Ember back towards the living room, but she pulled away from me.

"Ember, d-don't!" I cried out, but she walked to the door and opened it. Two humans with strange things in their hands stood there, each in identical clothing. They looked at her stunned for a moment, and then spotted me. One suddenly grabbed Ember, pulling her away, the other pointed it's strange object at me.

"FREEZE! Don't move or I will be forced to shoot!" the human yelled at me.

"Ecco do what he says please! The gun will hurt you!" Ember cried, trying to pull away from the human who held her tightly. I looked at this human who pointed the object at me, and then I looked at Ember.

"Do NOT hurt her!" I yelled. "Release her, you are hurting her!" The human holding Ember looked at me.

"You best keep your mouth shut pal! You're in enough trouble!" he snapped at me.

"Not until you release Ember!" I yelled. I moved forward towards him. Suddenly Ember screamed, and I felt an agonizing pain in my leg! I crumpled to the ground and yelled in pain.

By the almighty what has happened to me!? What causes this horrible pain!?I saw no attack from this human!  I wailed in pain and looked at my leg. I saw a large hole in it, bleeding profusely. Ember suddenly pulled away from the second human and ran to my side.

"Ecco! ECCO!" she wailed, and then she glared at the humans. "YOU BIG MEANIES! YOU SHOT HIM HOW COULD YOU!? HE ONLY WANTED TO HELP ME!" she knelt close to me. She reached her hand down and put it upon my leg. This caused me to yell in pain even more.

"Get away from him he's dangerous!" One of the humans yelled.

"NO, YOU'RE DANGEROUS!!!!" Ember shrieked. "GET A DOCTOR!!! YOU SHOT A KIND MAN!!!!!! HE SAVED MY LIFE YOU BIG MEANIES!!" She held her small hands down on my leg, and while the pain was awful, the pressure she applied slowed the blood loss. The humans looked at her, and then looked at each other. One of the humans bolted outside, while the human with the 'gun', looked at me.

"You… you saved her life?" He asked in shock. I glared up at him.

"I BROUGHT HER BOAT IN TO SHORE AND HELPED HER RETURN HOME AND I P-PROTECTED HER! UNLIKE YOU WHO ONLY INFLICTED PAIN! LEAVE HERE! LEAVE HERE NOW!" I roared, half in pain, but also in rage. Just then more humans came into the house, the one that left before, and two more wearing all white. They approached me, but I swung my arm at them. "STAY AWAY! NO MORE SHALL CAUSE PAIN!" I roared. I pulled Ember close to me, shielding her. I cared not for my injured leg; all that mattered to me was Ember's safety.

"Take it easy pal we just wanna help you!" one of the men in white told me.

"HELP?! DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WAS HEELPINNG!?!" I screamed, showing the human my injured leg. He looked at me, and then gave an angry glare to the human who had inflicted this pain upon me. "Look, me and him, the other in white, we're doctors, we can heal your wound, PLEASE let us near!" He pleaded. I snarled and glared at him, holding Ember tightly. She tried to hold her small hands on my leg, but because I was holding onto her she could not put enough pressure on it to cease the blood loss.

"Please Ecco, let him help… he's a doctor, they made vows not to hurt anyone…" Ember looked up at me, sobbing. I looked at this 'doctor'.

"You will not hurt Ember…?" I asked suspiciously, wincing as more pain ripped through my leg. Blood flowed from my wound, which I felt was more serious then it appeared.

"No, by our words we won't." the second human in white told me.

"We will take her with us, and they will take you to the hospital." The human with the gun said.

"NO! She shall stay with me! I shall protect her!" I snapped.

"Alright, she can ride in the Ambulance with you, just let us help you!" the doctor told me. I suddenly felt myself growing weaker.

Damn… this blood loss… I cannot stay conscious much longer… but… but I must! I cannot leave Ember unprotected! I swayed slightly and I looked at the human.

"Fine… But Ember shall ssstay with me…" I said weakly.

"Alright!" He motioned for the other doctor to go, and he came close to me, setting a large pouch beside him. He began to put strange clothing around my leg, at which I yelled in pain. Ecco held me tightly. The other doctor returned with a large piece of flat wood, and set is next to me. I looked at this suspiciously. Then he tried to lift me, at which I yelled in anger.

"Easy take it easy! This is only a stretcher; we will carry you to the Ambulance, to take you to get help!"

"BUT EMBER-!" I yelled in protest.

"She will stay right next to you, just PLEASE calm down!" he replied. Ember stood up beside me as the humans quickly placed me atop the piece of wood.

"It's okay Ecco, just do as he says, I'm right here!" she told me. Though frightened, her voice was reassuring. "Just lie back Ecco please…" I looked at her, and then complied. Sudden pain ripped through my leg and I howled again. The humans then lifted the wood, and I was hoisted into the air. This startled me so I tried to sit up but Ember pushed me back down. She began to talk to me slowly, in a soothing tone.

How can she be calm like this!? These strange humans are going to carry me off… And there's is nothing I can do! Ecco you fool… I suddenly swooned, feeling extremely dizzy. You've failed Ecco…I felt myself growing extremely weak, and the world began to spin around me, yet I did not lose consciousness, not yet.  You came to… help the girl… yet it is YOU who needs the help now…I looked weakly at Ember, she looked at me with such fear and sadness. Yet she did not fear me, rather she feared FOR me. Ecco… you failed…the mighty Ecco… has failed a little girl… I swooned more, my thoughts beginning to cloud. Why…? I only wanted… wanted a friend… I only wished… to protect this human girl… why… why does the universe… hate me so…