Finally an update. Told ya, I was working on chapter 9, now chapter 10. This story is no longer on hiatus anymore! I'm way too far ahead on One True Place 3, so expect updates on this fic sooner! Plus I have added pics of Moody and Era, if you wanna know what they look like, under my profile. It's a copy paste, good luck finding those two links, I think my profile is a mess. Tell me if the links work. Well here's chapter 9!

Chapter 9

Gone For Good

625 found himself waking up after crying himself to sleep, still in his small capture container still handcuffed. He leaned against the glass, while resting his head against the glass. Sighing, he saw that he was still handcuffed. He wanted to see Flora, but this was something he couldn't escape from. Wait! He could.

625 looked at his handcuffs, and pulled out his left secondary arm that was hiding under his skin. Revealing a fingernail he picked at the lock of the handcuffs and heard a clicking sound. He had freed himself of the cuffs clutches.

He dropped the handcuffs and hid his secondary left arm under his skin. He then revealed his claws and scraped the glass. No use. He went to the side of the glass container and pushed against the entrance. He freed himself. he closed the containers top and hopped off of the table the glass container was sitting on.

He checked his surroundings, making sure that Jumba wouldn't interfere with his plans. He saw nobody, around. He walked up to the front door and opened it, leaving the ship, running across the freshly watered lawn up to the house. It seemed like the perfect time to see Flora.

He slid the glass door and entered the house, wagging his little stump for a tail happily hoping to see Flora, but something seemed wrong...

The house seemed empty, there was barely anything in the house, no couches no furniture... the house was empty and it seemed gloomy. No pictures against the walls, just wallpaper peeling off of the wall. It was completely empty.

'' Flora?'', 625 called out, then he heard his echo.

'' Flora? Flora? Flora?''

625 looked around, no sign of anybody. He sighed and sat down wondering where Flora was. Behind him Gantu and Era watched. She had her hand over her forehead.

'' What's wrong?'', Gantu asked.

'' I heard Jumba talking...'', Era replied, sympathetically.

'' And?''

'' He kicked Flora out of the house. They're divorced. 625 has nobody to love him anymore.''

Horrified, as a chill went down his spine, Gantu looked at 625 who was now looking out the window in hopes of finding Flora. Pressing his red nose against the glass he was hoping to see her. No sign of her. He saw a shadow of somebody come to him, 625 turned around.

'' Flora?'', 625 said.

'' No 625. It is me'', Jumba answered.

'' Jumba, where's Flora?''

'' She's gone.''

'' So I should visit her later?''

'' No 625. She's gone for good.''

Gantu and Era gasped, wondering how 625 was going to react.

'' What do you mean?'', 625 asked, on the verge of crying.

'' I kicked her out. We don't need her. You don't need to be pampered like pet'', Jumba replied.

'' Jumba, I never got to say goodbye'', 625 said, softly.

'' So, you going to cry?''

625 held in his tears, while clenching his teeth, not wanting to to show what he was feeling, knowing that Jumba would most likely punish him.

'' Well 625, she did leave this for you... just to make you feel better'', Jumba said, handing 625 a brown paper bag.

Grabbing the bag from Jumba's hands, 625 held the bag, knowing it's the last gift from Flora, and that he'll never see her again. Now love's warmth was taken from him, and he had nobody to love and hold him whenever he was feeling sad or hungry. He hung his head low in sadness and in anger.

'' Crying is for the weak, 625. Come to the lab, I have something for you to do'', Jumba sighed, trying to let 625 lead the way back to the ship.

625 had no choice, staying put for a few more seconds before moving, he quietly began to walk to the ship, with Jumba behind him. He stared at the paper bag, but caught a whiff of the scent of peanut butter coming from the bag. He could take a lucky guess to what it was...

When they entered the ship, 625 sat down on a table and opened the bag, the scent of peanut butter was strong now, peering into the bag 625 could see his present. Something that he loved...

'' Flora made me some sandwiches'', 625 said, softly to himself.

Then he saw a piece of paper in the bag. He pulled it out, as it was a note... from Flora. Then he began reading.

Dear 625,

I bet you are wondering where I am. The thing is I cannot tell you, because I have no idea where I am going. I'm going to look for a pace to live, but I'll be okay and don't you worry about me. I made you some sandwiches, there are six sandwiches in total all with assorted ingredients, and all made with love. I'll miss you my little friend, and take care of yourself.

From your friend Flora

625 wanted to cry right now but he just didn't seem to have the courage to do it. He clutched the paper in his hands and hugged it, knowing that this'll be the last contact from his friend. He rubbed his cheek onto the note, sighing sadly. Jumba watched 625 from a distance, rolling his eyeballs. This was pathetic.

'' 625, come on, training!'', Jumba called out.

'' Make me!'', 625 said, angrily.

What was that sudden outburst of anger? 625 wondered that too, but it wore off temporarily, as this new behavior came to him.

'' 625, get your patookie over here now!'', Jumba commanded.

'' You're not the boss of me four eyes!'', 625 remarked.

'' Do you think you're funny 625?''

625 didn't answer. Era and Gantu were watching from a corner of the room, surprised by 625's comment.

'' 625's gonna get himself into trouble'', Gantu said.

Era didn't reply. Her eyes were fixed on 625, when he was grabbed by the scruff of his neck by Jumba. She softly gasped.

'' Okay, if you are going to be like that, you start sweeping the ship, here's the broom, I have something I'm doing in another room'', Jumba said, handing 625 a broom,'' Now start sweeping.''

He dropped 625 on the floor with a light thud. Jumba turned away then walked to another part of the ship. 625 growled, as he tried to split the broom in half. After successfully tossing the now split broom in half onto the floor, he began walking to the kitchen of the ship, taking his sandwich filled paper bag with him.

Only his footsteps can be heard throughout the ship. 625 turned to the kitchen, and opened the fridge, looking for ingredients for a sandwich. He peered into his brown sandwich bag and pulled out a sandwich.

He's only seen Flora make a sandwich, but yet he wasn't able to make one just yet. He was so unsure of how to make one. He had to teach himself.

He studied the sandwich, to see which ingredients were used to make one. He opened the sandwich and looked at the gooey contents that were in the inside of it, making sure that the ingredients that he saw matched the ones that he was going to use. Then he saw the other sandwiches that were in the bag, they were all different, he could just make any kind of sandwich that he ever wanted.

625's eyes widened at that thought. Then he dashed into the fridge and pulled out a few things that may go along great with his sandwich.

Gantu and Era watched him in curiosity and in confusion.

'' What's he doing?'', Era asked.

Gantu turned to Era,'' Seems to me that 625 is making himself a sandwich. Wait, he's teaching himself how to make one! Look!''

Then they saw 625 pulling out two loaves of bread, and then with a butterknife, he took out a jar of honey and began to spread it in the bread. Era watched in astonishment, she rarely had to teach herself anything, but yet she sees 625 making something by himself without any help.

625 checked to make sure that his sandwich almost matched the one that Flora had made him. Swiveling his head back and forth to check, he made sure that it was perfect. Then he smacked the pieces of bread together, and munched on his creation.

'' Aww, he's kinda cute, when he's eating'', Era said.

'' Cute is not the word I would use'', Gantu said.

'' How would you explain him Gantu?''

'' Well stubborn is more like it, sarcastic, annoying, noisy, lazy...'', Then Gantu's words faded quickly.

He said all those things, but something told him that he really didn't mean it. Did he stop because he secretly cared for 625? Era stared blankly at Gantu, unsure of what he was thinking right now.

'' Why'd you stop?'', she asked.

'' N-no reason, really'', Gantu sighed.

'' Are you sure?''

'' I'm sure.''

They both watched 625 finish eating his sandwich, and jump off of the table, with that brown sandwich bag cuffed in his hand. He seemed very tired.

'' Where's he going now?'', Era asked.

Gantu and Era followed 625 to the front of the ship, where 625 jumped up onto a seat yawning, his eyes were open mid-way. Gantu saw a nearby blanket sitting on a table. He tried to grab it, to tuck 625 under the covers to fall asleep and stay warm. The blanket was going right through Gantu's fingers, he was unable to pick up the blanket. His face fell.

Era stood beside Gantu,'' What are you doing?''

'' I just want to tuck 625 in'', Gantu said, softly yet innocently.

'' Why? We are just things...''

'' Things? The ones I call trogs?...''

'' ... Okay?''

'' I just want to tuck 625 in, since he lost his friend... I just... It's something I can't explain in words.''

Era was baffled. This was unlike something she'd hear from anyone. Gantu caring for an experiment! That's just odd. Nobody's ever shown kindness to any experiment, even in front of her!

Era growled and went up to 625 even though he couldn't hear her, nor see her,'' Listen 625, we are supposed to stick with our regular programming, not become some sort of pet! We are incapable of feelings, we rely on our programming to tell us what to do!''

Gantu was surprised at Era's sayings,'' Era, what are you saying? 625 isn't counting on his programming...''

'' So? Jumba's always told us that we stick to our programming.''

'' That's not true, you experiments are capable of emotions.''

'' What makes you think that!''

'' Did you see the look on 625's face when he found out that Flora was gone?''

'' ... Yes.''

'' He was sad, and it was on his face. Just because your just a laboratory made experiment, doesn't mean you can't feel any emotions. You're not a thing, Era. You're a girl, well a very sarcastic girl, but a girl experiment, and just because Jumba labeled you failed, doesn't mean that you are failed. He may think you're failed but I...''

Era heard Gantu's advice, but he was right and she was wrong, she didn't want to admit that. Jumba brainwashed her into thinking that she was incapable of doing anything right, she decided to finish Gantu's words,'' You don't think I'm failed, because you got to find out whatever happened to your friend, and why he's so mean...''

'' ... That's why.''

'' Thanks.''

'' Anytime Era.''

'' I didn't know you cared for Experiment 625 also. I never knew that experiments could also be loved by somebody else.''

'' Well I do, but that was something I could never admit to 625.''

'' Why not?''

'' I don't know. It must've slipped my mind...''

'' I don't think so... I think you're scared of caring for him.''

'' Huh?''

'' If you told him that you ever cared about him, he'd find out a soft side of you, and use it to his advantage, by teasing you or pestering you...''

Gantu was surprised at what era explained. That was exactly how he was feeling about 625, but it was very hard for him to explain it,'' That's exactly it...''

'' I'm kinda good at this kind of stuff...''

'' I think you are.''

'' Thanks.''

They both watched 625 sleep. They were like guardian angels, watching over a beloved friend, but even though they couldn't be seen or heard by anybody, they were like bodyguards; invisible time traveling body guards. Gantu and Era smiled at each other, starting to enjoy each others company, but soon that precious moment was about to be interrupted...

TBC...