Heart of Gazelle and Humanity

by The Imperator 2 you

With all hope lost Humanity places its final hope in the souls of those frozen in time. While excavating a tunnel, a team of Mammals going about their business discovers a relic of millennia past, and an ancient species thought mythical and legend. Yet of all eggs discovered only 1 survives. Can Humanity be redeemed for the sins of its past, in the future it cannot control?

28. Chapter 25

I've had time to write a book about, the way you act and look, but I haven't got a paragraph…

Words are always getting in my way, anyway, I love you, that's all I have to tell you…

That's all I've got to say…

And now, I'd like to make a speech, about the love that touches each…

But stumbling, I would make you laugh, I feel as though my tongue were made of clay…

Anyway, I love you… that's all I have to tell you…

Chapter 25 – The Heart and Light of Humanity

(Jeremy's PoV)

He slowly opened his eyes to the world around him, not struggling very much to get up from the soft, warm, and extremely cozy environment he was sleeping in. After a while he finally managed to open his eyes to see his new 'girlfriend' smiling happily as she snuggled him in her sleepwear, facing him so that her horns wouldn't accidentally poke him during the night. Seeing her sleeping peacefully and not having any reason to disturb her, he closed his eyes again and returned to snuggling her again.

It's been a whole week, a wonderful, full, peaceful week with Gazelle in her home since they started their secret relationship with each other, and he's never felt so at peace or so happy in his life. In that time, he's mostly stayed in her home while she modelled for her latest album which finally released, and then she had to do a signing fest for the release. He on the other hand, spent most of his time in her home, but sometimes went back to the facility to perform repairs on drones. The second holoroom needed fixing, apparently a malfunction happened that caused it to be active for an extremely long period of time, so he had to spend a great deal of time fixing it.

Every night Gazelle would invite him to her bedroom to sleep since they started romantically dating, but when he came back extremely late from the facility fixing the holoroom, he was so tired he just fell asleep on her living room couch after placing Aelita on the table to sit. When he woke up the next morning, he found that the antelope had flipped the couch into a bed and wrapped a blanket over him while cuddling him in his sleep. When she woke up and he asked why she did that, she simply replied while smiling, "Because I missed sleeping with you last night Jeremy."

Since then he knew he was always welcomed into her room for sleep even if it was past three in the morning.

Breathing deeply, he tightened his grip on her even as she unconsciously tightened her grip on his hand, enjoying her soft fur on his skin. Until now he'd never felt so 'at peace' with himself, or felt so safe even while in the base protected by drones, turrets, powerful metal doors and the temperate controlled environment his home offered.

His drones protected him all his life, but Gazelle for some reason made him feel safe, safer than anyone in his life had made him feel. Only his father and mother surpassed her, but they were long gone.

Thinking of that, knowing he was alone again, and he'd forever be alone caused him to frown ever so slightly and his heart to pang in hurt. As if in response to his sudden despair, Gazelle responded by rubbing his cheek in her sleep and pressing herself closer to him so that her heart touched his.

He knew that she could feel his heart's pain, and just knowing that she was there to comfort it and keep such despair from ever plaguing him again once again… allowed him to fall asleep in peace beside her.

(Gazelle's PoV)

She smiled to herself as her Jeremy tightened his grip on her, not finding any reason to wake up that morning since she wasn't being asked to go in for anything, and all she had scheduled that day from George was another model shoot for a magazine. When her heart felt his feel just a tiny pang of loneliness, probably from thinking of himself being alone again in his mind, her own heart stepped in and once more smothered it in love and warmth.

That's how it was for the past week since they started 'unofficially' dating, showering his heart in love and companionship, and feeling that spark of love that she had been longing for herself. True she'd been in relationships before Jeremy, but they all ended badly since her rise in fame, and for a while she thought she'd never have a male that 'truly' loved her for who she was, and not 'what' she was or what she had. She had avoided it because it always came down to fame or wealth and what the media would say. She wanted what she always preached, she wanted true love!

'Funny…' She thought with a mental grin. 'It took somemammal from another world practically, who had both more than any mammal alive ever had, yet had even less than any other mammal could have, to win my heart's affection.'

She didn't know when she truly fell in love with him, perhaps it was his AI Aelita constantly poking fun at them being together, or just the subtle implications of them being together from the world, no matter what it was she was just happy to finally have Jeremy to herself. He was perfect for her, he wasn't interested in her for her wealth having lived his life without even the 'concept' of money, he didn't care for her fame because it didn't change who she was to him, and all he asked, all his heart 'ever' asked from her was her honest love, something it desperately needed being alone in this world. Without her… if she didn't love him or give him the love that he needed to live…

She flicked that thought away, she wasn't going to ever think that ever in her life. Jeremy was hers now, and now that she finally had him, she was never going to let him go.

Several hours later both her and Jeremy finally started getting up, but they weren't in a rush to actually get up as they sleepily greeted each other.

"Morning Gazelle…" Jeremy said with a smile.

"Morning Jeremy." She replied warmly.

She looked over at the clock and saw it was well past nine in the morning.

"So much later than when I normally get up…" She told him with a groan. "So, what do we do this morning before I have to leave and go in for that shoot?"

Before he could respond however she rolled over, so she was lying atop him and snuggled him in a warm hug while tucking her legs in between his, instinctively causing his to bend and grip her 'considerably' wide hips that she was proud of.

"Let's see, do I get up from this nice comfortable spot on my bed, away from my 'male' whom I love dearly and start making breakfast with his help… oooor…" She said with a grin as she pecked his lips with her own with a seductive look in her eyes. "Or… do I spend it with his arms around me, kissing the absolute daylights out of him because I love him so much and I just love kissing him every morning. Gee I just don't know what to do Jeremy…"

"How about we do what you just suggested, because I like that idea as well?" He said with a grin.

"Somehow I knew you would…" She muttered seductively before she pushed herself as close to his body as she could while kissing his lips with her own. "Mhmmm…"

Their mouths shifted and kept pressing against each other back and forth, eventually she opened her mouth just enough with his and her tongue managed to slip into his where it found its playmate for the past week. While his tongue was wider than hers, hers was longer and more flexible and stronger, thanks to years of singing. She also found that his tongue wasn't the 'explorative' type and mostly stayed inside his mouth, but she loved how it would sit there and let hers play with it. She would smother and rub every side of it, until eventually she just laid hers upon his and simply enjoyed kissing him.

Her lips however enjoyed the smooth feeling of his skin, as did the rest of her when he simply held her close and touched her fur, there was just something 'exotic' about his lack of fur that excited her.

Unfortunately, all good things came to an end, and the sound of her alarm beeping and telling her it was now ten in the morning told her to stop making out with her boyfriend and get up.

Still, being able to call Jeremy her 'boyfriend'… even when it was because her alarm was yelling at her to get up, gave her heart a joyous feeling that she hasn't felt in a long time.

After one last loving kiss she finally parted from him, blushing ever so slightly and smiling warmly at him before she sighed and rolled off him. "Alright… stupid alarm clock ruining my mornings." She said as she smacked the snooze button.

"At least be happy your alarm clock doesn't talk back to you." He told her with a giggle.

"Your alarm clock talks to you?"

"Sentinel wakes me up every morning at the same time and runs down the list of things I need to do. I can't even tell it to shut up and leave me alone either…"

She chuckled as both of them got up and she changed out of her night gown and he changed into his normal clothes. One thing that changed between them a few days ago was her being comfortable enough to change in front of him, at least when she was wearing a normal bra and panties under her nightgown. Jeremy also wore undergarments to bed, and all he really had to change was his shirt to his normal day shirt.

The first time she changed in front of him he was a 'little' surprised, but giggled and told him that he had permission to see her in her panties and bra now that they were going out. Truthfully this was the first time she ever did this for any male, even her ex didn't get this treatment. The first time she changed in front of him she was nervous, but she smiled to herself and said that he had permission. Just thinking that he watched her changing or saw her more intimate moment made her feel happy, it made her feel 'special' because she's it was him, and she knew he loved her.

That wasn't to say she didn't watch him changing either, she'd sneak peaks at his chest, seeing how there was no 'fat' to be seen when she asked Aelita for some reference on humans who were 'fat' or chubby. Though she reasoned, this was because he never ate a lot and the constant work with the drones kept him in decent shape. That and Ema the medical drone kept him on his ideal weight.

After a while they finished dressing and went to the kitchen downstairs where Aelita's holospere sat on the kitchen table. The AI was lying on her stomach and flicking her legs back and forth while she rested her chin on her hands grinning as they walked in. She raised an eyebrow at Jeremy as he picked waved hello to her, nodding at Gazelle with a knowing smile.

"Do you have to tease us every morning?" Jeremy asked his AI friend.

She pretended to act puzzled as she shifted her eyes before nodding in response.

"We spent the last half hour making out Aelita, and I'm not ashamed of it!" She said slyly.

Said AI rolled over and started laughing silently while flailing her legs back and forth in amusement.

After their morning ritual of kissing and loving each other, and then being teased by the ever-present AI she and Jeremy started working on breakfast. Today's breakfast was a simple soup, cooked potato with wildgrass spices and herbs. Jeremy had started getting better with cooking, no longer was he the clearly lost child in the kitchen when she first met him and invited him into her home as a guest, he now knew more about cooking than even she did. He was able to properly measure, slice and chop, manage flame temperatures and time dishes almost like a professional chef.

That was probably thanks to Aelita schooling him in secret though, and his wanting to learn to cook for her should the need arise.

She really liked that he had learned how to cook, the fact he learned for her sake touched her deeply and made her feel… well 'loved'.

"Gazelle, isn't tomorrow your birthday?" Jeremy asked as they finished eating and he took their dishes to clean.

"Yea, I'm already getting dozens of happy birthdays on Twert from fans and friends." She chuckled. "Before you ask, no there isn't anything I really want for my birthday, just you being there is present enough for me. Though I 'am' curious when yours is…"

"Aelita do you know when that is exactly… I am curious about it myself?" Jeremy asked the AI.

She nodded to say yes, she did know, but when asked when it was, she smiled and held a finger to her lips, saying it was a secret.

"Oh, come on, tell us!" She begged the AI, but Aelita shook her head in refusal.

Seeing that the AI wasn't going to spill the beans even to Jeremy, she sighed and guessed she would just have to wait until it was time to wish him a happy birthday. She had spent enough time though with Jeremy that she knew, that he would try and surprise her with a present, and she was wondering what kind of surprise present it would be. That's what she loved most about him, his genuine feelings and how he tried to help others, or in her case, 'happy'.

Her phone beeped and she saw that Franky had arrived outside with her limo to pick her up for her shoot.

"Well Jeremy I'll see you later, work calls." She said as she got up to leave, but before she did, she gave him a peck on the cheek, which in turn caused her to want more…

So, she smirked and kissed his lips again like that morning, kissing him and feeling her love for him seep from her heart in waves. Her heart knew it was going to be a while before it could feel his again, and so wanted to send as much of its love to his so that it would have plenty to go on until they were reunited. His in turn did the same, as she felt his love 'flow' into her heart, and she felt both safe and at peace, a strange combination she's never felt like she was lacking before.

After a while they separated and she left to climb into her limo and drive away, sighing almost longingly as she already missed Jeremy's presence, a feeling shared by her heart.

"I take it you two had an eventful morning ma'am?" Franky called from the driver's seat.

"Is it that obvious?" She replied.

"It's written all over your face that you have a boyfriend Gazelle!" He laughed.

She chuckled back, knowing that he was only teasing her because he was happy for her. "I can't help myself, he's wonderful and I've never been so happy before with anymammal."

"We're glad for you two, when Jeremy told us how he was afraid to love you we thought you two might never get together."

"I'm glad he didn't think that way either…" She replied sadly as she lamented that sad thought.

Just imagining Jeremy, giving up on having 'any' hope of finding love, living his life alone even if he had friends… just thinking of the endless torment his heart would suffer every day, watching others pair up around him and being happy while he grew colder and more alone…

Her heart felt a bit saddened at that, and it quickly demanded she never think it again, a request she was more than happy to oblige.

"So, Gazelle, anything you wish for your birthday?" Franky asked from the driver's seat.

(Aelita's PoV)

Right on cue having texted Franky and his brothers in private before one of them picked her up, she took control of Gazelle's phone like before and poked her head onto the screen to listen in.

"Oh, you know me, I'm not really interested in anything, well nothing anymammal can really give me."

The AI however highly doubted that, even as she rolled her eyes while her phone was hidden in the antelope's pocket.

"Well what about that uh one dream you had when you were young that you told us about?"

"Flying, I mean I've flown before, even if it was in a plane and was a passenger heading off to another city for a concert." She heard Gazelle say dreamily. "I know it's silly, but I've always wanted to touch the clouds…"

Smirking to herself now that she got what she needed Aelita slipped out of the phone to return to her holosphere as Jeremy was walking with her to the facility, having been taken there by his Solar carriage.

(Jeremy's PoV)

"Make sure those pistons are properly aligned Lula, otherwise the drone will be limping every other step." He shouted while checking over the servos of the DOG drone.

"Got it!" Lula called as she welded a piece of the armor back on.

He was teaching Lula again today, showing her how to use some of the more 'advanced' tools that the base offered, such as micro-welding torches capable of precision welds so narrowly close it almost made two separate pieces welded together appear to have been solid from the start. It was the same technology the ANT drones used to weld together materials for their precision repairs throughout the base.

She also was learning how to use purple flame torches to melt through and cut apart other various materials. Similar to oxy-fueled cutting torches like the mammals used, but unlike theirs the facility's burned at such a high temperature that the flame came out 'purple', much like how Celios' plasma bullets were purple because they were a much higher temperature. Compared to the drones which used blue plasma-based weapons.

While she'd never use this in a real job she was hoping to get, namely getting a job as a mechanic, she wanted to learn more from him and the facility because it was similar to what she would use out there. That and she was also wanting to help more with the drones since Jeremy now spent more time with Gazelle then in the base, and they needed constant repairs with him gone so often.

Though he noticed something about the drone's behavior the more Lula learned about how to fix them from him. The more she learned the less 'interested' or 'willing' they were in wanting to be fixed by her. He figured it was the HPPs telling them to not accept her help, according to their HPPs if Jeremy no longer was required to fix them, they had 'less' reason to protect him so fiercely. It was mostly the Category Six drones doing this though, and he knew that 'even' if he was no longer needed to fix them, they still were programmed to protect him in the end, as Lula could only really fix major problems with them if he was there.

Finally, after what felt like hours he sighed and took the visor that MUTT put over his face so he could work on the drone safely. Upon sensing the end of the repair cycle, MUTT began to separate from his body and jumped off to land on the ground in its normal form.

"There, this drone is fixed." He declared proudly as the RAPTOR turned to normal.

Lula stepped back so that she could watch the drone activate and test its body. "So how are you feeling Pete?"

[This unit is operating efficiently, thank you Unit Jeremy and Unit Lula.] PT-173 stated.

"What happened to you drone?" He asked with a sigh. "You had damaged parts 'inside' of your body that weren't even related to your arms. Your tail sensors were all out of alignment and one of your optics was shattered on the inside."

[Unknown, this unit was simply in a recharging cycle, and then there is a memory gap between after waking up and then prior to this unit's request for repairs.]

"Just be more careful alright Pete?" Lula said with a smirk as she tapped his rear with a wrench. "You're like the only drone here who doesn't mind me working on them now."

[That is because you are this unit's 'friend'…] It stated politely.

"Whatever it was I have to leave you two, I have to go and do some research in the holoroom for a bit." He said wearily as he walked out of the Drone Parts Storage Bay. "MUTT resume your normal duties and return to the charging bay."

[Bark bark]

"Take care Jeremy!" Lula called as he walked out.

As he walked out and headed to the holoroom his thoughts were entirely on the next day and Gazelle's birthday present that he had 'zero' idea of giving her. He just didn't know what to offer her, what could he offer her, what could 'he' possibly offer her that someone else couldn't offer her?

"I know in the past that… well 'before' the final war humans also gave each other presents on their birthdays, and presents given to special individuals are supposed to be… 'special'." He muttered to himself as he walked into the holoroom. "I can't buy anything because I don't make money… and while I'm sure that if I walked in and explained my situation, they would no doubt understand just because of who I am… I just can't do that…"

As he walked over to the middle of the room and requested a headpiece and bands, he sighed as he typed on a holo-hud.

"Let's see, show me gifts given for love…"

He turned around and watched as the holroom started showing him visual representations of his request.

(List compiled based on the greatest signs of love given by humans over the centuries according to historical records.) Sentinel declared, as first to appear was a building shrunk to scale covered in beautiful green vegetation. (The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, known as one of the seven wonders of the world, given by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, Queen Amytis due to her stating how she missed the green hills and valleys of her homeland.)

"There is no way I can build a massive garden complex; do you have anything… 'smaller'?" He asked incredulously.

Instantly the building was replaced by a bejeweled egg, glittering elegantly with intricate runes designs and covered in sapphires and rubies. (The Faberge Eggs created as gifts from Russian Czars to their wives between the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. This gift was more commonly seen given around the Easter Season.)

"Great, from giant garden complex to gilded egg, and Aelita told me to not be a gilded lily… anything 'smaller' and more 'reasonable'?"

The egg vanished and was replaced by a beautiful necklace of intricately strung diamonds where a heart was split in half to end in a beautiful diamond shaped in a teardrop pattern. (Known as the Taylor-Burton Diamond, a 69-carat diamond was gifted from famous actor Richard Burton to his wife, Elizabeth Taylor.)

"What a waste of perfectly good materials… and way too expensive for me to even think about." He muttered, wondering why his species wasted so much for something hardly ever worn on a daily basis. "Next idea?"

The diamonds were replaced by a space shuttle. (Russel Brand was given a trip to outer space by his wife Katy Perry at the time, for his thirty-fifth birthday.)

"Only drone capable of doing that is Celios… no way will he even let Gazelle near him, let alone take me and her on a trip to space." He muttered as he signaled Sentinel to continue.

The space shuttle was replaced by a rug, which unrolled to reveal a woman in a suggestive pose. (The Egyptian queen Celopatra gifted Roman Emperor Julius Caesar a magnificent carpet, and as it was unrolled, she was revealed before him as she had smuggled herself before him. While records indicate that 'she' was the ultimate gift of 'love' to Caesar, the rug is the symbolic offering of love.)

"Great, a rug…" He muttered as he waved away to gift to nothingness. "I just don't know what to give her, should I make her a present? Should I try to ask for help, should I just bite the bullet and beg some mammal to help me?"

He felt a splash of water hit the back of his head and turned to see Aelita smiling behind him, having thrown the holographic balloon to get his attention.

"Aelita what was that for?" He complained. "I'm trying to figure out what to give Gazelle for her birthday."

She frowned as she looked at him before she snapped her fingers and made all the gifts, he had been looking at appear before him. She then nodded at them and raised her eyebrow as if saying 'like these gifts?'.

"Okay maybe I went overboard in my research… but I just don't know what to give her Aelita." He said in defeat. "What could I possibly give her, an idol, a model, someone who is as 'famous' as her? Sure I'm famous but that's only because I'm a human… not like her who-"

Once again, his face was hit by a water balloon as Aelita gave him an unamused expression. She then sighed and put her hand to her face while shaking it. She then walked over to him with a knowing smile even as her body changed so it was the same height as he was, though as before she still kept her childish appearance. She patted his shoulder knowingly and warmly, before she started singing…

(I've been reading books of old… the legends and the myths…) She sang as she waved her hand and made the gifts appear one by one, vanishing as each was replaced.

(Achilles and his gold…) A man stood atop a mountain of wealth clad in ancient armor and carrying a spear.

(Hercules and his gifts…) He was replaced by another far more muscular man posing as he stood atop a mythical Hydra.

(Spider man's control and batman with his fists!) She replaced the heroes with himself but wearing both comic book character's outfits, pretending to be said heroes.

But then she returned to his normal self, looking plain and boring by comparison and wearing a sad smile. (And clearly I don't see myself upon that list…) She sang before vanishing and reappearing next to him as Gazelle. (But she said where d'you wanna go? How much you wanna risk? I'm not looking for somebody with some superhuman gifts! Some superhero, some fairytale bliss)

She made two pictures of superheroes and mythical creatures appear next to her, and as Gazelle shoved them aside as she stepped over to him and hugged him.

(Just something I can turn to; somebody I can kiss…) She said as she blew a kiss at him with a smile. (I want something just like this!)

She smiled as she made a holographic Jeremy appear and held him close while making his holographic self hold her back. (Oh, I want something just like this…)

The holoroom exploded into color without his realizing it, and he found himself floating in a void filled with stars and floating planets. On each planet's face various scenes of him played out, such as his holding her hand and promising that Ema will cure the diseases and cancers she had thought impossible to believe…

(Oh, I want something just like this!)

To him showing her and her friends the holroom for the first time where they danced and 'kissed' for the first time…

(I want something just like this…)

To him enjoying a picnic with her in the park, even when he slept by accident and was covered by Flutterbugs, amusing her and causing her to give him a sweet kiss on his cheek.

(I've been reading books of old, the legends and the myths, the testaments they told… the moon and its eclipse…) She sang as a unicorn and a Pegasus appeared, one shining silver light and the other radiating orange light, flew into each other and out of sight but leaving a bright spot for him to look at. (Superman unrolls a suit before he lifts…)

He saw himself posing as superman, wearing that same cape and outfit that looked similar to the one Jeffrey Vulps drew him wearing, before he deflated and instead looked like his same self.

(But I'm not the kind of person that it fits…) His holographic self sang before Aelita shifted and became Gazelle once more. (But she said where d'you wanna go? How much you wanna risk? I'm not looking for somebody with some superhuman gifts! Some superhero, some fairytale bliss…)

She smiled and was replaced by images of her and Jeremy, cuddling, holding hands, or more recently kissing while not being embarrassed or ashamed, wearing looks of peaceful content and love for one another.

(Just something I can turn to; somebody I can kiss… I want something just like this!)

Once more the planetary bodies began swirling and floating around him as Aelita reappeared next to him, smiling as she directed her performance for him. On each planet a scene played out like before, from his making the agreement with the mayor for the free vaccines and cures created by ema…

(Oh, I want something just like this!)

To him making the bargain with Mr. Big to teach his car engineers to make 'green tech' vehicles to help reduce their need for fossil fuels…

(I want something just like this!)

To him meeting the Vulps and meeting the fox cub whose life he risked his own, and that of his species early extinction to save by bringing up the Synthorgans from his base…

(Oh, I want something just like this…)

All of the planets circled around them as Aelita motioned with her arms, until they morphed together to form one singular planetary body, and on that massive planet was the scene of him and Gazelle sleeping peacefully under the covers of his bed in the facility.

Then at long last Aelita's demonstration ended with a flash of white light, and he was back in the holoroom with her sitting and smiling at him while on a stool normal sized.

He sighed as he took her message to heart. "I'm trying to be more than I am and that isn't what Gazelle wants, she wants something from 'me'."

Aelita nodded as she jumped off her stool and stood before him, placing her hand over his heart and smiling as she closed her eyes and placed her other hand over where her heart would be.

"Give her something from my heart?" He asked to which she nodded. "Well, what do I give her? I still don't know what to give her Aelita."

She looked thoughtful before she gestured at herself with one hand, before she smiled and gestured at herself using the other hand.

"I'll ask the 'Wisdom of Humanity' if that's what your questioning me for." He said with a smile. "Ask the Wisdom of Humanity

Surely his species collected wisdom could answer such a simple question by their standards, even if it was probably super complicated to him.

She smiled as she placed the palms of her hands together and closed her eyes as if in prayer, and posed his question to the billions upon billions of hypothetical, metaphorical, philosophical and ethical database referred to by his father as the Wisdom of Humanity. Even as he watched billions of debates were happening in Aelita's AI, as questions, answers, debates and other thoughts raged, all trying to find the ideal outcome for his question.

After a while she smiled and placed a hand over her heart, and from there a bright light appeared and lingered for a while, and then held her arms out to him as if waiting for him to embrace her.

Jeremy however was more 'confused', as the lack of words made it hard for him to understand her message. Obviously, she meant 'something from his heart', but the bright light wasn't working for him. Did she want him to give her a bright light for her present, a lamp, what did she want? And what

Seeing that he was drawing blanks Aelita shook her head with a 'good grief' expression, and then snapped her fingers.

(Translation, Unit Aelita states, 'Give Gazelle a present from your heart that will light her world, because you are now her world as she is now yours. For when you were lost in the dark, she became your beacon of light.) Sentinel declared for her.

"Ah… sorry I wasn't able to figure it out…" He said sheepishly to which she nodded in understanding.

When he learned what she meant he thought carefully about a possible present, and wondered what he could give her that would 'light her world' and came from his heart? He just wasn't sure…

Until…

"Aelita… do we have any more Glass Silicon containers or any more of the same Glass Silicon used to envelop the Solar Core, like what I used for the memorial monument?"

Aelita smirked as she flicked her hands and created a pair of spectacles and piece of paper, and read it carefully. She nodded after a while.

"Perfect!" He exclaimed. "Now I just need to use the same method as last time to get a tiny piece of the Solar Core…"

Half an hour later he and Aelita were in the Solar Core room with five DOG drones, two RAPTOR drones, and around roughly two hundred ANT drones to assist. The DOG drones were using their mechanical arms with the RAPTOR drones to lift an extremely thin Glass Silicon straw which had an extremely tiny drill on one end, so thin it could drill a hole into anything. The size of the hole could be as wide as a full millimeter, or in this case, a full twentieth the size.

The process he was using to get the drill going had to be extremely precise, because the Solar Core was 'extremely' sensitive to anything interrupting it. Even a single narrow hole in its container could potentially spill out immense radiation, let alone risking the solar core going explosive.

"Alright here we go…" He muttered as he used a visor to control the drones, as they would be far more precise and less prone to shaking.

The drones lowered the drill toward the core's container for the ANTs below, slowly and carefully, while ANT drones crawled along carrying a tiny silicon container about two centimeters in diameter. It was three times the size of what the monument had, but its size would still make it too tiny to be used as a source of power like the full-sized core. Yet it's size would make it more effective at being a 'light' and would be extremely warm to the touch.

Once the drill was in position the ANT drones controlled by Aelita used their tiny drills to drill a 'singular' hole into the glass silicon, and placed the container at the hole so it would act as a suction for the straw to slide the piece of Solar Core into it. Then the ANT drones below used their collective whole to lift and aim it to the bottom of the core.

The drill was designed both to drill 'into' the core and then seal it up so that the casing around the core remained solid. It had to be done precisely.

They did this once before successfully, but only AFTER he tested it extensively in the holoroom to ensure no mistakes would be made in the process.

"Drill in position… let's go!" He declared as he gave the order.

Drilling commenced as a single micro-hole was drilled into the core's container base. He watched through the eyes of an ANT drone as it drilled closer and closer to the glowing ball of fire, willing it and keeping it straight. Once it broke through the container the drill stopped and opened up, permitting a small stead amount of the core to be sucked into the glass straw.

The drill was tipped with diamond, allowing it to drill into 'anything', and it was able to resist the core's intense molten heat. Yet he also calculated how much he could extract as he had to be precise and quick.

Two seconds after the core was exposed to the straw, he gave the order to seal it up, and the drill was extracted at the same time as a tiny glass silicon seal was placed into the hole to block it. The natural heat of the core melted it seamlessly, and the ANTs used tiny plasma torches to melt the excess glass silicon off, so it was once more universally smooth and tightly sealed.

The whole process took a total of five seconds, yet it was the most 'intense' five seconds of his life.

But as the ANT drones walked back onto the platform with their straw, drill, and finally the glass silicon container that had been sealed, he saw the results of his effort before him. He smiled as he picked up the tiny container, and stared at its beautiful orange glow lighting his face. Aelita too stared at it, awestruck that he'd accomplished it. True he did this before, but she still was amazed at his work…

"Now the hard part…" He chuckled to Aelita. "Making the necklace…"

Before he could leave Aelita stopped him to discuss an idea she had for Gazelle's birthday. Out of curiosity he listened to her plan and agreed he would do it.

(Gazelle's PoV)

"What a day…" She complained as she stepped into her limo at around midday.

The photoshoot had been long, dull, and overall just took forever to conclude, but she knew it was needed for the magazine. The interview however was something she could have gone without and wished she didn't need to do, but again it was for the magazine. Her agent George said she had to do it, so she did it.

"I hate those questions regarding concert, it was 'not' a publicity stunt using the cures from Ema for my fame, I considered it an 'honor' to do the charity concert!"

Paparazzi would always ask the questions she hated the most, but she knew how to deal with them after all these years. She just said 'any mammal would be honored in my position to host a charity concert for such a noble cause, even if that cause is helping buy materials, if the materials are used to save lives' and was done with it.

The one thing she was looking forward to as Franky drove her home was going home and spending another wonderful night with Jeremy, kissing him, cuddling him, maybe watching a movie with him, eating dinner… just the thought that she could be with him made her heart soar.

*Briiiiiiing*

She glanced at her phone and saw that it was Aelita texting her. She quickly read it and frowned in disappointment as she read her message.

{A. Dear Gazelle, Jeremy has to spend the night in the facility as he is preparing your birthday present. As it's a 'special' present, it is going to take some time. He will see you tomorrow for your birthday though… be patient girl ; D ~!}

She frowned in disappointment; she had been looking forward to being with him tonight. Even 'if' he was preparing her present, it just wouldn't be as good a night without him.

"Something wrong ma'am?" Franky asked.

"It's Jeremy… he can't come back to home tonight, he needs to stay in the facility overnight." She said sadly.

"Aww, I'm sorry to hear that… but its for a good reason, right?"

"Aelita says he's preparing a present for me tomorrow since it's my birthday… I just wish he could have come back home for the night at least."

"If your present is from Jeremy you know it'll be special!" He said cheerfully.

"Yes… and I know I'll love it when he gives it to me!" She chuckled warmly. "But I'm going to be miserable and lonely until then…"

She sat in silence as she was driven to her home, and eventually walked through the front door into the interior. She sighed as she went to the kitchen and ate some yogurt, unable to make herself something to eat since Jeremy wasn't there.

As she took a large spoonful of her 'dinner', she sighed as she felt her heart pine for its other half.

"So, this is what it feels like to be alone when you finally experience love?" She muttered as she ate. "Really hate it now that I'm feeling it…"

Her heart was in agreement, it missed Jeremy's heart, and now that it no longer was there, she felt alone and bitter. Before Jeremy when she lived alone, she didn't pay much attention to getting a boyfriend, she just relaxed and went about her day, watched some tv and went to bed, lazed about and other things. Now however, now that she had Jeremy… she just wanted to call Franky to pick her up, go to his facility and spend the night with him, not wanting to spend another day apart now that they were un/officially together.

Her yogurt finished and not finding any reason to watch tv if Jeremy wasn't there, she went to her bed and flopped onto it after taking off her clothes and slipping into her nightgown.

She rolled onto her side and thought about Jeremy and what he was doing, was he awake, was he exhausted, was he working on her birthday present? She missed him, missed seeing his face, missed hearing his voice…

Missed his touch…

His lips on her lips… she thought while touching her lips with the tip of her fingers.

Her hands around her… as she slowly rubbed her arm…

Thinking of Jeremy, and thinking of Jeremy when he held her that night, when he went into shock after starting to undress her…

She thought about that as she edged her hand lower and lower toward her nether region, thinking deeply about his actions, and wondering what if he hadn't frozen up. Would she have let him keep going, would she have fought back… would she have hated him for what he did, for rushing their relationship like that or thought he was trying to take advantage of her?

'No, even if he did try and take me that night… I would have gone along with it.' She thought warmly as she began rubbing herself. 'He loves me, and I love him… he's the first male I've ever… 'ever'… willingly wanted to go all the way with. Even my ex didn't get to the stage where I was comfortable changing in front of him, and now I change in front of Jeremy's eyes every morning and night!'

Sure, her brain took control when her heart had had its time, but she still loved him and if push came to shove, her heart would win the steering wheel battle in the end.

She continued to rub herself, picturing that scene, and imagining history being different as she kissed him while nude, wearing only those Eden Facility robes. She imagined him reaching up to her shoulder like before, and slowly starting to lower it off her to undress her, only this time he didn't pause out of shock. Instead he kept going and going until she was completely nude for him…

Then she'd do the same and undo his own robes, so they were no longer hidden from one another. She'd see his bare body in all of its glory, just like hers was on display for only him…

She pictured herself spreading her legs and wrapping them around his waist… And he'd start to press into her…

She tensed up as her body suddenly released as her imagination went wild, unable to control itself. She calmed down as she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling, frowning as she waited for sleep to take ahold of her and for her birthday to finally arrive so that she could be with Jeremy again.

'Whatever his present is I'll love it~!' She thought happily as sleep took ahold of her.

The next day came as promised, and she was greeted in the late morning by her four backup dancers, all of them bearing presents for her. She was surprised that her other friends were not able to attend, apparently, they were all very busy. The one face she was disappointed in not seeing was Jeremy's, for she had been hoping he'd be there early before any of them so she could spend some alone time to make up for missing him yesterday.

"Open mine first!" Franky called as she looked at the gift-wrapped boxes.

She was smug with her grin as she picked up Franky and pretended to be surprised when she unwrapped the latest gaming console, she knew her friends so well that she figured all their presents were related to their favorite pastime hobby, video games.

Sure enough, Donny, Moe and Joe's presents were also video games for that console. She wasn't a big 'video game' player, but she still liked their presents and imagined maybe her, and Jeremy could play a few games.

"Say anymammal know where Jeremy is?" Donny asked as she opened up the last present from them.

"He isn't here yet… I was actually hoping he'd show up sooner." She said sadly.

"Maybe he's being fashionably late?" Moe said.

(When the last eagle flies, over the last crumbling mountain…) A voice suddenly sang out warmly, accompanied by a serenade beat from one of their phones. (And the last lion roars, at the last dusty fountain…)

(In the shadow of the forest, though she may be old and worn…) The almost heavenly voice sang out now from another phone as they looked to their phones. (They will stare unbelieving, at the last… unicorn…)

She looked at her phone and saw that Aelita had taken over not only hers but her friends' phones, she stood on the screen singing warmly and happily toward them even despite the mournful underlying tone of her song.

"Aelita…" She tried to say but the AI hushed her and resumed singing.

(When the first breath of winter, through the flower is icing… and you look to the north, and a pale moon is rising~.) She sang as images of the creature Jeremy once described to her; the Unicorn appeared on their phones. (And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn… in the distance hear the laughter… of the last UNICOOOOORN!)

*Pssssssssssscth* A loud engine roared high overhead and Aelita was replaced the image of laughing humans, all waving banners saying, 'happy birthday'.

(I'M ALIVE… I'M ALIIIIIIIIIIVE~!)

Aelita appeared but was playing a string instrument now, happily playing as the screen split to show an aerial view of her house as it started growing larger.

(When the last moon is cast, over the last star of morning… and the future is past, without even a last desperate warning! Then look into the sky where through, the louds a path is formed, look and see her how she sparkles, it's the last UNICORN!)

(I'm aliiiiiiiiiiive…. I'M ALIIIIIIIIIIiiiive…)

Aelita winked and vanished, returning their phones to normal, but leaving them with the text message {A. check outside~!}.

She got up with her friends and walked outside to see the startling scene of Jeremy stepping out of the 'head' of one of his Facility's flying drones, namely the Harrier drones as he called them. Said harrier drone had its wings folded and was walking on massive talon-like metal feet, looking very intimidating as it sat on her home's front lawn next to her limo. In Jeremy's hand was Aelita's holosphere as she waved hello with him.

"Something tells me your 'present' from Jeremy is related to that drone." Joe whispered.

"Hi Gazelle!" Jeremy called as the drone remained motionless.

She easily smiled and ran over and pulled him into a hug, laughing a little as she was not expecting this to be on her front lawn.

"Jeremy, you sure took your time." She said with a laugh. "What is all this about?"

"I had to spend all last night and even a bit of this morning working on the drone." He explained as he handed Aelita to Franky. "I had to adjust the cockpit so that it could fit two individuals, as most HARRIER drones were designed for one pilot and not two. I brought it because I wanted to know… if you would be interested in going for a flight."

She just gaped as she looked at the drone and just imagined herself flying in that thing. "Your present is a flight in…"

"I uh… was told by your friends through Aelita that you dreamed of flying when you were young, so I wanted to know if you wanted to fly for your birthday?" He said shyly.

She glanced over at her friends who were grinning and chuckling, telling her that he spoke the truth. "Jeremy… I'd LOVE to go flying with you!" She whispered happily.

With a nod he held her hand as he led her to the drone's head, which split open and flipped forward to reveal two seats placed side by side in the drone's angular head. Despite its size there was plenty of room for both chairs, but it was obvious that he had shifted quite a bit around so they could fit. As she climbed in her friends yelled, they would prepare her 'real' birthday party, namely her cake and decorations while they are off flying around. She just chuckled as the drone's head sealed up and Jeremy helped her buckle in. "Do we need masks or…"

"All HARRIER Drones are designed by default to be almost completely vacuum sealed and pressurized, even if we left the atmosphere, we wouldn't need to wear special masks unless we open the hatch at a high enough altitude." He explained as he flipped some switches and his armrests glowed. "Ready to fly?"

"Always!" She chuckled as the drone shifted and the wings unfolded.

[Engaging flight mode…]

While she was watching her phone started sounding off another song, no doubt from Aelita to add to the scene.

(It's my time to fly… I'm proving ground tonight… try to be the best that I can.) As the drone turned around and started floating up and away from her home, causing her to feel exhilarated. (Grown to be a man, only human can understand, I fill my lungs with fear and I…. 'exhale'…)

Once they were high enough Jeremy smirked and lurched his arms forward on his armrests, and the drone 'surged' forward at a rapid pace.

(It's my TIIIIIIME to fly…. Father be with me tonight, oooh I'm right on target, keep that dream alive, IT'S MY TIIIIIIME to fly…. Gatta prove this tonight~!)

"Whoaaaaaaaa~!" She screamed as Zootopia just 'melted' away behind her.

She watched the glittering city where she lived shrank faster and faster, until it was practically gone within seconds.

Jeremy smiled as he slowed it down and they started cruising at a much slower pace compared to what she 'knew' the drone was capable of. Soon they were soaring over lush fields, which were soon replaced by forests, then plains and villages down below which all vanished as they flew over them.

She was just amazed, absolutely amazed at the capabilities of human technology, able to soar faster than anything she was able to imagine made by mammals. She glanced at Jeremy as he smirked and then lurched sideways, sending the drone into a spiral which caught her completely off guard.

"Whoaaaaaaaa!" She yelled as the world spun around her.

"Hahaha I've always wanted to do that!" He told her with a laugh.

"Do it again~!"

He nodded and repeated it, sending the drone spiraling the other direction as he angled it toward the heavens, toward the clouds in the sky. They broke the clouds and she stared in awe as she was now above them, looking at their fluffy bodies that looked sooo soft and solid.

(It's my turn to fly… father be with me tonight…. Ooooooh I'm right on target~)

"This is amazing!" She yelled as the clouds flew past her outside.

"Hey Gazelle look, no hands~!" He called as he raised his hands in the air.

[No manual control detected; Autopilot engaged.] The drone stated.

"Way to kill the joke drone, just saying." He muttered as he returned his arms to the arm rests.

[Manual control detected; Autopilot disengaging.]

"Hey Gazelle, do you want to try taking it for a spin?" He asked her seriously.

"Wait… you mean it really?"

"Yea, here's how the controls work." He said as he looked toward his arms. "You push both arms forward or back to speedup or slow down, push one forward and the other back to turn a certain direction. Then you grip the armrests and lift them up or push them down to make it go up or down."

"I'll try not to damage it." She chuckled as she readied herself and Jeremy let go.

[New manual input detected… awaiting orders.]

"Here we go…" She said as she urged the drone forward, and marveled that it obeyed.

(It's my time to fly, father be with me tonight… ooooh I'm right on target, keep that dream alive!)

She eased it back a little as Jeremy clapped approvingly. "Go all out if you want, push this bird to its limits~!"

"You asked for it…" She smiled before she lurched her arms forward and sent the drone roaring at maximum speeds, at least what 'she' thought was maximum.

(Deep in 3043 the refugees survived, the whole of humanity lies in my hand… give me the chance tonight, I'll prove to you what's in my eyes, bring us to victory, our dreams become REALITY!)

She laughed loudly as she made the drone swirl and spiral around, before she grinned as Jeremy started panicking at her expression. She then gripped the arm rests and pulled hard to send the drone flying upward toward the sky again. Within moments the drone burst through the clouds and she leveled it out at last, enjoying the rush she had gotten from flying, even as below through breaks in the cloud she saw that they had flown over the ocean.

She calmed down and let Jeremy regain control and slow down the drone.

(It's my turn to fly… father be with me tonight…. Ooooooh I'm right on target…)

She just stared around her at the clouds as they floated past them, enjoying the view and marveling at the sense of freedom they had… all thanks to this one drone.

"Do you want to touch them?" He asked her.

"Like… touch the clouds?"

He nodded, and she nodded as well. The hatch opened and air rushed in, but she tentatively reached out of the drone's cockpit and at long last… touched a cloud with her own hand.

It felt like nothing she ever imagined; it wasn't fluffy it wasn't solid… it just felt 'wet'… but it still was amazing to feel a cloud with her own hand.

"It's amazing…" She whispered.

For just five minutes she felt the clouds, felt the fly past her, felt the world feel 'small' and beautiful. She just had no words left to describe her day.

(Enter Jeremy's PoV)

"There's one more thing I want to show you Gazelle." He said as she pulled her hand back in and the drone sealed up again, making their space airtight and waterproof.

"What is it?"

In response he angled the drone downward toward the ocean.

"Jeremy?"

[Alert, alert, this unit is not designed for underwater travel… angle adjustment highly recommended.]

"Drone, I know full well what you can and can't do, you forget I spent three hours last night going over your schematics." He told the drone as he adjusted the angle again.

"Jereeeeemy!" She yelled as the ocean swiftly sped toward them.

They braced themselves as the drone slammed into the water and surged underneath, and soon stared as the water was all around them. He angled the drone and activated its plasma engines to propel them forward while underwater, and set the cruising speed for her. Around them they saw various aquatic forms of life, species of fish that had never existed during Jeremy's time swimming around them as gentle sunlight broke through the water's surface…

"I wanted to show you a world you've never seen…" He muttered as he looked around with her.

She stared in awe and wonder, and just turned to him with a warm smile on her face. "Jeremy… this is the best present I've ever had for my birthday in my life…"

"About that this isn't your present from me…" He chuckled in embarrassment. "This is just an… elaborate excuse to get you away from your home so that your friends could set up your surprise birthday party. Your other friends are probably at your home now preparing the party."

She looked surprised at that explanation. "So… what 'is' my present from you?"

At that he nervously reached down and pulled up a metal tiny box, and handed it to her. She opened it to see a small necklace with a chain around twenty inches in length, wrapped around a main piece which looked like an egg, similar to the Cryopod Jeremy was found it which had been labeled his 'egg', with two wings covering it on one side, while another two wings mirrored it on the other side. She picked it up and stared at this simple necklace, before she saw a curious looking button on the bottom of it.

Clicking the tiny button, she marveled as the wings slowly unfolded themselves and spread wide, revealing a clear glass silicon container which contained…

"Jeremy…" She whispered in disbelief.

A Solar Core fragment, a tiny Solar Core fragment lighting up the cockpit with its beautiful orange glow, glistening and glimmering the world with its light.

"I asked for help with designing it… the egg was to represent my pod I was found in…" He explained nervously.

"Jeremy…" She whispered.

"The wings… I made because I know your nickname mammals give you is 'Angel with Horns', so I figured you'd like it…"

"Jeremy…"

"It took me a while to make the switch work… I wanted it to open up to reveal the Solar Core Fragment because… it's a cheesy way of saying 'you are my light in this world'…"

"Jeremy." She said, causing him to look at her face.

"Yes?"

"Shut up…" She whispered, before shoving forward and pressing her lips against his.

He was only slightly shocked as she kissed him, but after a while he relaxed and closed his eyes while leaning into her, holding her tightly and kissing her just as deeply. She used one hand to unbuckle herself so she could climb out of her seat and into his so she could sit in his lap while kissing her 'man'.

After a while they separated but each had a look of love and trust on their faces.

"I love it Jeremy…" She whispered warmly as she used one hand to put it over her head and let it hang, casting them both in its beautiful glow, feeling its warmth through her dress and fur. "And I love you so much for what you've done for me today…"

"And I love you Gazelle, for everything you've done for me… since the day we met." He responded just as quietly.

They just smiled at one another before she leaned forward and once again resumed kissing him, snuggling as close as she could and just ravishing him with love, love that she had no idea she would feel or 'could' be feeling. Yet here she was, below the water's surface, in love with a human, a species that existed before her. And she could not be any happier.

Not wanting to ruin the moment, he just tapped a button on the side of his seat…

[Autopilot engaged… setting course…]

And just stayed that way with Gazelle in his arms, and he in hers… for over half an hour, enjoying the time they had with one another under the water while inside the drone as it swam in whatever direction it chose. Enjoying the beautiful scenery of the ocean beneath the waves…

Until…

"Arooooooooooar…"

Jeremy's eyes snapped open as he heard that faint note, instantly recognizing it from all the holoroom visits he had on the subject of that sound.

"Did you hear that?" He whispered as he separated from Gazelle.

She listened carefully for whatever sound he was referring to but shook her head as she heard nothing. "No, I don't hear anything." She muttered as she leaned back to resume making out with him.

When…

"Aoooooaraaaaaooooh…"

That time she heard it and looked around the outside of the drone's cockpit for the source of the sound, but all she saw outside was blue water and swimming schools of aquatic life.

"No way… it can't be…" He muttered in disbelief as she took her seat again.

"Jeremy what is it?"

He ignored her as he resumed control of the drone and urged it forward. "Drone, activate external scanners, lock in on that sound and provide a heading!" He ordered.

[Alert, large biomass closing in on this unit's position.]

Outside all of the fish started swimming rapidly away from them as Jeremy slowed the drone's speed down to a crawl, trying to get a fix on what was fast approaching and 'where' it was coming from.

"Drone, where's the source of that sound and what direction is it?" He asked again as he brought up a holohud.

[Alert, multiple large biomasses approaching… distance… one hundred meters… eighty meters… sixty meters…]

"What direction?" He yelled again.

[Biomass confirmed below this unit at thirty meters… twenty…]

"Jeremy… what is that?"

"Weeeooooaroaaaaaaaaawh!"

Seconds later he and Gazelle saw 'what' it was, as eight massive entities flew past their drone on either side, one after another as they swam through the water. Each of measuring over twenty meters in length as they swam after the schools of fish and ignored them. Each one had three uniquely long fins on either side of their bodies and massive gills between them, with large gaping mouths that opened wide to catch the schools of fish. They also had enormously large tailfins that pushed the water as they flew past, and with how rapidly they were moving they were soon caught up in their wake and pulled along in the draft.

"Wow!" Gazelle yelled as they were forced forward.

[Error error error, unable to control movement, activate manual controls!]

"Incredible!" Jeremy exclaimed as he beheld them. "They… they 'survived'!"

"Who?" She asked.

Jeremy however was too amazed as he re-engaged the drone's propulsions and chased after the giant creatures as they chased down their food. With how fast the creatures swam it was actually impressive that they were able to outpace the drone, though probably because as it explained, it was not 'designed' for underwater travel.

"Wait I know what those are, those are Titan Schooleaters." Gazelle said as she recognized them now. "They live in deep water, the only times we've ever found one is when a corpse rises to the surface or washes up ashore. They're a kind of super giant fish predator…"

"That's what you call them… but my species had a name for them…" He muttered as he stared at their enormous size. "We called them… 'whales'… and they were 'mammals' during my time."

"Mammals?" She muttered in disbelief, wondering how on earth 'those' could be classified as 'mammals'.

"They didn't breathe oxygen through the water before I was born, they breathed air just like you and me… they had to surface every so often to breathe… gave birth like land species might… but I was told most if not all went extinct during the final war…"

They followed after the herd of 'whales' as they swam and ate their prey, eventually slowing down after the hunt and starting to relax, and that was when Jeremy maneuvered the drone closer to one of them, his desire to learn more, to get closer, to understand overriding the drone's cautionary messages.

As they got closer and shined a light on one of the whale's eyes, its eye turned and stared directly into his.

"Aoooooooar…" It called out gently.

"You survived…" He whispered quietly. "You must have evolved to survive underwater… it was the only way you could stay safe… and the flippers…" He said as he looked at their 'six' flippers, three on each side as they lazed and rested. "More flippers and a much larger tailfin, alongside your massive size means you could spend longer underwater without needing food… and the gills meant you didn't need air anymore from the surface which had been so irradiated… from my species' war…"

It stared at him, silently watching him as he watched it back, both of them looking at one another, Jeremy a tiny human and this 'whale' a massive titan even greater than the ones recorded in Jeremy's time.

"Jeremy… they're all looking at you." Gazelle said as she stared and saw the pod turning toward them.

He looked around and saw that indeed, all seven of them were gently rotating and looking at the two of them in their drone. "They probably are curious about the drone; it isn't something they see down here." He muttered.

"No Jeremy look, they are 'looking' at 'you'…" She exclaimed quietly as she pointed at their eyes.

Without exception, each whale had turned an eye toward them, to look as she said 'directly' at him. It was like they were investigating him, checking him out, almost more captivated to see him than the drone or Gazelle. If he had to describe how they were looking at him, they looked almost 'fascinated' to see a human, far more than they were at seeing an antelope or a metal drone in the form of a bird. Their eyes were looking deeply at him, unblinking and unwavering, staring with pure fascination for him.

"Do you… is it possible… they remember my species, through some kind of genetic memory like the sheep?" He asked as he leaned forward and pushed a hand against the glass.

Instantly he regretted his action as his hand suddenly felt the stinging cold of the ocean water, he retracted his hand as it suddenly started freezing, his disease reacting almost instantly due to the sudden cold.

"Haaannnnng…" He hissed painfully as he reflectively pulled his hand back and started shivering.

"Jeremy!" Gazelle yelled as she climbed into his seat and held him close, trying to keep him warm. "Hang on Jeremy, I'm right here… I'm right here!"

"Its… so cold… so cold… cold…" He whimpered as his body reminded him of his condition.

Once again, his body was fighting a near hopeless battle to warm itself up, reacting violently in a desperate bid to warm up, while inside his blood tried to avoid triggering his Cryogenetic Sclerosis elsewhere. Gazelle helped how she could, holding him tightly and clutching his freezing hand in a bid to warm him up, which was no so cold it felt like it had been in a freezer for hours.

He whimpered to her as he felt helpless, absolutely helpless, and she shushed and whispered encouragement into his ears. Her heart could feel his heart's fear and hers rushed to the rescue, beating loudly and proudly as if to tell it to be strong and reminding it that hers was there. She held him as close as she could, sometimes kissing him on the cheek to hush his shivers and letting her heart fight its own battle to protect his from the cold.

After a while the shivering stopped, but still Gazelle refused to let him go until she felt his hand and was sure he was out of danger.

When she was confident that he was safe, she still didn't let him go, instead she rubbed her cheek against his and whispered how she loved him, how she loves him, and that he was safe.

"Thank you…" He whispered back.

"I told you… I'll never let you go… I'll always keep you warm." She replied.

After a while they separated and shared a gentle, loving kiss.

Then they looked around and tried to find the whales again, but they were gone.

"I guess they had enough looking at me?" He muttered.

"Maybe… wish they would have…"

[Alert, massive biomasses rapidly approaching.] The drone declared.

"Whe-" He tried to say before suddenly he and Gazelle were thrown into his seat as the drone was shoved rapidly toward the surface.

Water surged around them as they saw the surface quickly approaching, until the drone was flung out of the water and floated on the surface with a resounding 'splash' that sent water careening over the silicon glass shielding them from the outside.

He looked around in amazement, until his wonder was captured 'again' as around them several massive bodies surged out of the water one by one, flopped back into and 'splashed' ocean water everywhere. One by one the whales surged up and out of the water, one even spiraling around and flapping its flippers as if trying to fly, before diving back into the water and kicking off with its massive tailfin.

He and Gazelle laughed at the display the 'seven' whales were doing for them. On and on it went, one whale flying out of the water to do some little display before surging back underwater, and another going to take it place, causing waves and surges of water to push them over and over in random directions, with the drone complaining the entire time that it had zero control.

Until at last a single member of the pod remained on the surface, floating beside them and staring at them, its gills opening and closing as it sucked in water constantly to compensate for not being underwater.

Something told him that it was trying to communicate with him, that it wanted to talk to him. So, he made the drone extend its wings to full length so he could open the cockpit and tentatively stepped onto the wing.

"Jeremy be careful!" Gazelle yelled as he did that.

"I know… I'm being careful." He declared as he carefully edged toward the titan of the sea.

It watched him the entire time, not moving and simply waiting for him to approach. He took a deep breath when he was close enough and knelt before it, and reached out with his hand toward its body. He was surprised, very surprised that it was warm, and tentatively touched its body to feel its almost rubbery flesh beneath his skin. He could feel every bump and curve, every tiny valley on its surface, and just shared space with it.

"I'm sorry…" He said apologetically to the creature, unable to think of any other words. "I'm sorry… for everything we did… I'm so sorry…"

He cried a little as he hiccupped and touched it, and it just blinked in response.

"I'm sorry… we didn't mean it… I'm just so sorry…"

He closed his eyes and started sobbing, before he felt pressure against his hand, and opened his eyes to see that the whale had shifted against his hand, as if to apply equal pressure to reply to him. It's eye continued to stare at him, and he saw something that just 'spoke' to him… it was just impossible to describe it, but as he stared into its eye, he thought for a brief moment he could understand what it was 'thinking'… what it was telling him.

A single phrase broke his mind as he looked into its eye, its deep, wise, almost unearthly expression…

'Forgiven'

With that it shoved the water against his drone and gently pushed them away, signaling that he was to return to the safety of the drone's interior, which he did. He climbed back and sealed up the drone, and they watched as it dipped back below the water, and sent them a final 'goodbye' with a massive wave of water from its tailfin.

He just smiled softly as he stared at where it had vanished, before he whispered, "Thank you…".

He sighed and smiled as he ordered the drone to vertically take off with its anti-grav fields, and then ordered the drone's autopilot to return to Zootopia, back to Gazelle's home for her surprise party. As they returned home, she smiled lovingly as snuggled against Jeremy in his seat, and chose to enjoy the ride home.

The 'Titan Schooleaters' as mammals knew them as were obviously descendants of these 'whales' from Jeremy's time, and it was clear that, like the Sheep with their religion, they still carried memories of humans, enough to recognize him almost instantly, and friendly enough that they willingly helped them back to the surface and even conversed with him in their own way. Whatever it was that one giant said to Jeremy, it had put his heart at ease.

'The world may have not seen humans for a long time, but it hasn't forgotten them.' She thought warmly.

When they finally returned home to Zootopia, Jeremy and Gazelle walked into her home and to her 'surprise party' that Jeremy had spoiled earlier, but she still pretended to be surprised as she saw all of her friends, those from the parties, George her agent, her backup dancer's dates all talking and asking about her flight and what happened.

The story they spun was something they all enjoyed listening to over slices of cake, and seeing her present from Jeremy awed them at his abilities. Jeremy sheepishly tried to avoid talking about how he did it, but he couldn't avoid the questions about what whales were like if they were even remotely related to Titan Schooleaters.

Eventually the party ended and everymammal started leaving for home, leaving Jeremy, Aelita and Gazelle alone in her home. As Jeremy decided to shower first, he was upstairs in the bathroom cleaning himself up while she locked the door and closed all the blinds.

That was when Aelita texted her phone.

{A. Just so you know… it's Jeremy's Birthday too~!}

She stared in shock as she looked at the time, 11:57, and replied, {G. His birthday is on 'MY' birthday? Why didn't you tell me?!}

{A. Actually, he was born at 11:58:48 today, but the official records recorded his first breath at around 11:59:03, so they just rounded it up and wrote his official birthday down as the next day for record purposes.}

She raised her eyebrow at that, wondering why they did that.

{A. Look I may be over 350,000 years old sister, but trust me when I say they did a lot of weird things…}

{G. Like what?}

{A. Look we can either talk about the weirdness of humanity, or you can go upstairs in 2 minutes and give Jeremy a 'present' for his birthday ; ) -wink wink, nudge nudge-}

{A. I'm in your room, Jeremy dropped me off, put me downstairs and I'll let you two have privacy~!}

Smirking at the message she ran upstairs and grabbed the AI off her nightstand, and ran back downstairs to plant her on the table.

"Thanks, Aelita… I'll make tonight special for 'both' of us."

The AI winked and pretended the claw her with her fingers, and her phone went off with another text from her.

{A. Meooow go get him girl~!}

She laughed as she went upstairs and got everything ready. She closed the blinds to her room so nomammal could peep in on them, she threw her phone on the nightstand and silenced it so there'd be no interruptions, and grabbed her sexiest night dress. Before Jeremy could get out of the bathroom, she made sure the only thing he had to wear was a night robe of his own, and went into another room to change, stripping of everything so that she only had her night gown.

She looked at herself in the mirror, and took a deep breath, and asked herself if she was ready to do this… to go all the way with him?

"Yes… I am." She told herself, not feeling any fear or regret with her decision.

Hearing her door open and close and Jeremy yell "Gazelle, do you know where my clothes went?" caused her to take a deep breath and smile, as she left to go to him.

Jeremy was looking around the room as he tried to figure out where his clothes had gone, since he knew they were there when he left to clean up in the shower.

"Gazelle, do you know where my clothes went?" He yelled.

Moments later the door opened, and he heard Gazelle walk in. He turned around and saw to his surprise… Gazelle wearing a red lace trimmed nightgown with a lowcut top showing off the cleavage to her small sized bust, but hugged her body tightly enough that he could see how it curved to match her considerably sized waist. She was staring at him with a sly expression as she posed in the doorway for him and twirled her finger around the bit of hair hanging down the front of her head and held the lower end of her gown so that he could see that she wasn't wearing 'anything else' underneath it.

Needless to say, words failed him at that moment.

"Hi Jeremy…" She whispered seductively as she stepped toward him, swaying her hips from side to side and smirking the entire time. "You won't be needing those clothes tonight…"

"Ga… Gazelle I…" He stammered before she shushed him with a soft kiss.

"Shh… tonight is your night Jeremy…" She whispered. "Because while I had 'my' present from you, I haven't given you 'your' present…"

"My present but…"

"Aelita told me… your birthday is the day after my birthday, so I'm giving you a 'special' present…" She whispered warmly. "From me…" She kissed his lips. "To you…"

She smiled and kissed him deeply and soon he started returning her affection, returning her kisses as she started getting turned on by his embrace.

After a while they separated when her clock struck midnight, and she grinned seductively. "Happy birthday Jeremy…"

"Thank you, Gazelle…"

"Well what are you waiting for…" She giggled. "This dress won't take itself off you know."

And with that Jeremy kissed Gazelle more passionately than before, their lips pressing against one another as he held her waist and the back of her head, and she held his waist and wrapped around his neck.

This beautiful moment only enhanced what she was feeling as she slowly edged her hand on his waist and unwrapped his robe's belt so that it hung open for him, and then she started rubbing his chest, caressing and feeling his smooth skin against the fur on her hand. She grinned as she raised her hands to his shoulders and then edged his robes off of him.

Now naked she gasped in pleasure as he kissed her on her neck and started doing the same to her, holding her shoulders gently and edging the thin straps keeping her gown from slipping off, edging them off and letting it fall to the floor.

"Aahh…" She gasped as she turned around and wrapped her arms behind her around his neck, and started kissing his cheek, and eventually his lips as he cupped her small breasts in his hands.

While her bust was nothing impressive when compared to her waist, but she still liked how he was cupping her breasts and massaging them with his fingers. For Jeremy feeling her body, feeling her soft, warm fur was heavenly to him, unable to believe that he was doing this with her, that she would do this for him. He felt her tail gently waiving eagerly against his crock in anticipation for what they were going to be doing, and as he continued to fondle her body, both exploring the other his dick was quickly hardening and started to actually poke in between her butt cheeks. He also couldn't believe that it was his birthday, that Aelita had kept it secret from 'him', and only told Gazelle so she could do this for him.

He would thank her in the morning 'if' he remembered to, but at the moment all he could do was focus on 'his' girlfriend and trying to please her.

Gazelle felt his dick starting to 'rise up', and giggled as she turned around and stared 'eagerly' down at it.

She grinned as she pushed him forward onto her bed into a sitting position and knelt to do something, she 'never' imagined she'd be doing tonight.

"Hi there…" She giggled as she kissed his dick, which twitched in excitement.

She looked back up at Jeremy before she licked her lips and engulfed it into her mouth, first swirling her tongue around the tip to 'taste' its slightly salty texture, and then moving further along his shaft, licking and tasting every inch of it.

"Oaaaaah…" He moaned in pleasure, unable to form a coherent sentence at what she was doing. "Gazelle… that feels…"

His legs twitched slightly every time she moved up and down her shaft, sucking and suckling every bit of it while lathering her tongue over every inch she could reach. His scent was becoming overwhelming to her and she started becoming intoxicated by it. Wanting to forever ingrain this memory in her mind so that it would 'never' be forgotten, she slowed in her actions as she took as many wafts of his musky scent.

That wasn't to say she wasn't showering affection onto him, even as she stalled, she continued to suck and lick every part of his dick.

After she had thoroughly ingrained his scent into her body and mind so that she could recall it whenever she wanted, she resumed bobbing her head up and down for a few more seconds, and then pulled up and slid off him with a 'plop' and a panting breath. After licking him from tip to base she stroked his length a few times before engulfing it once more in her mouth.

"Gazelle… it feels wonderful…" He whispered as he instinctively clutched at the bed.

She grinned inwardly as she tasted something salty and musky secreting from his dick. Tasting his precum she licked and lapped at it, teasing more out and enticing his dick even further. However, she wanted to wait for the 'main event', and so once more slowly drew away from his dick, letting it go from her mouth with a 'plop' sound.

"How was that?" She asked.

"Amazing…" He moaned.

She smiled and stood up, and motioned him to do switch positions with her which he did. Now she smiled as she opened her legs up for him, exposing the lips of her now twitching femhood.

"Your turn now Jeremy~!"

He nodded held her legs with both hands before leaning closer and licking her entrance.

"Ahaaaa…" She gasped in pleasure. "Ooooh…"

Feeling her lips twitching and growing wetter, secreting a strange liquid that when he licked tasted sweet and started teasing and inching his tongue deeper to get more of.

"Ahhh… Jeremy!" She moaned as her legs tightened and she held his head, trying to tug him deeper into her. "Right there… oooooah yea~!"

After giving her the same treatment that she'd given him, he pulled away from her enticing femhood and looked into her eyes, where she smiled and pulled him into an embrace, and together they each shared each other's taste in a deep kiss.

Then she pulled him further onto her bed so that they laid fully on it. His dick twitched eagerly and excitedly as it poked her entrance, even as her femhood also twitched in excitement.

Yet he was still 'slightly' hesitant, afraid of going further despite her obviously wanting this as well.

"Go ahead Jeremy, you have my permission…" She whispered warmly.

He nodded as he leaned forward and kissed her once again, and began pressing into her. Her lips parted easily for his dick, and her passage having been stretched from years of dancing and constant exercise also stretched to encompass him easily.

Yet when he reached her virgin barrier, she only nodded 'slightly' while kissing him, gripped him tightly and wrapped her legs around his waist… and braced herself as he thrust hard and ended both of their virginities.

"Aaaah!" She gasped in slight pain.

Jeremy however, having never done this before and never been 'fully' educated in what he should do, started thrusting in and out of her passage as lines of blood left it.

"Aah~…. Ah…oah…hah~!" She moaned loudly with each thrust, gripping his body tightly as he thrust in and out of her.

It was painful at first, losing her virginity was something she wasn't prepared to feel, but because it was Jeremy, the pain almost began to fade instantly, replaced by pleasure the longer they went. Soon the traces of her one virgin barrier were replaced by juices leaking out from their love making session. Jeremy continued to thrust harder and faster as he set a pace for them.

He leaned away from her so that he could grip and massage her breasts while thrusting, and she smiled and held his shoulders, massaging them as his waist thrust deeper and harder into her.

"Oooooah… how… does it feel now?" She begged happily.

"Amazing…" He whispered as he leaned forward closer to her. "You feel warm… warm and soft inside, as well as tight. It feels… wonderful!"

"Only you… get to do this with me!" She whispered huskily. "Your mine… and I'm yours!"

He smiled with her and kissed her deeply as he started thrusting harder and faster into her passage.

Then she got bold and held him tightly, before rolling them over and grinned before bouncing up and down on his shaft.

"Ooooha ya… oooh yes… right there!" She moaned in pleasure as he held her waist and aided in her motion.

She continued to bounce up and down on his shaft for two minutes, before she slowed and smiled, helping him into a sitting position so she could hold him close, and resumed her bouncing.

"I can… feel you… so deep…" She moaned passionately, before he thrust a littler harder suddenly. "Aaaah~… you… suddenly got~…"

"Gazelle… I'm about to…" He whispered as he pushed her onto her back once again, and started thrusting harder, instinctively feeling his release approaching, and wanting to delay it however he could.

"Me too… harder… inside me…!" She yelled as the bed started shaking from their actions.

He kissed her one last time and she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, locking him in place so he couldn't pull out. Then he gave one final thrust and pushed as far as he could into her and exploded into her wet womb. At the same time, she released all over his dick, and felt his warm essence flowing into her body.

After a while they both came down from their highs, and she cuddled into his side, reaching down and pulling the blanket over them for sleep.

She smiled happily as the thought that she had just made love to the love of her life, and that she had him with her now and forever, permeated through her mind.

Jeremy was also sleeping peacefully, as he knew from that moment on, he was never alone, would never be alone, and that he had someone he loved deeply…

Yet… as it seemed always… they were not alone…

(Aelita's PoV)

She watched them from the doorway, having a crack be left open by Gazelle, as her holosphere sat on the back of a FOX drone that she'd slipped in when she and Jeremy arrived from the base with the Harrier drone. The drone had stayed hidden inside her home all day, and now it helped her watch them make love that night in secret.

She smiled warmly, truly captivated and fascinated with them.

While she knew that some mammals, or indeed 'any' living creature, might find it weird, almost downright perverted that she was spying on them in such an intimate moment… but it wasn't the case.

She was an AI; she was a machine. While some might think AIs are superior, capable of outperforming, outdoing, outclassing 'anything' living, they could not match that which was 'natural'.

It fascinated her that two entities like Gazelle and Jeremy could make love, despite the species difference, the obvious evolution difference, and a host of other things…

They could still love one another, more than enough to do this beautiful act with each other.

Truly… Humans 'and' mammals… were truly 'fascinating' to her.

The task done, she ordered the drone to return her to the table, and then return to the facility.

(Gazelle's PoV)

The next morning, she groggily woke up as her alarm alerted her to it being ten in the morning.

She hated that alarm, ruining her dream where she had just made love to Jeremy for the first time in her life.

She wearily got up and was wondering why she was in the nude and next to a nude Jeremy under the blanket, when she realized it 'wasn't' a dream, it 'had' happened.

'I did it… I made love to him!' She thought excitedly.

She smiled and leaned into Jeremy's embrace as she reached and grabbed her phone, logged onto Twerter, and saw the chain of birthday wishes she received without realizing or checking yesterday.

She contemplated telling the world now that she and Jeremy were together, but hesitated.

"What's up?" Jeremy asked wearily.

She glanced at him before smiling. "Do you mind if I tell the world we're together… at this point its only a matter of time before someone realizes… and I am not going to lie anymore or beat around the bush that I'm your girl now."

Jeremy looked thoughtful before he nodded in approval.

She smiled back and kissed him on the lips, before typing into twerter…

[Gazelle Twerter : Angels of a Feather are 'finally' together… back off girls, he's mine. To all you boys, stay away, I'm his~! P.S. his birthday is after mine~ Happy B-Day Jeremy Wilheart~!]

She sent that, put her phone upside down and returned to kissing and making out with Jeremy, and seducing him into 'another' love making session, having zero plans that day other than enjoying the love she had for her human.

Even as Twerter 'exploded' at the news.

.

.

.

.

=Meanwhile In Eden Facility 17=

Sentinel was monitoring traffic, having been assigned to do so by Aelita for her website.

Somewhere in the back noise of all the traffic, with all the signals coming and going both on the interweb and along the various communications lines along the mammal's networks, a single message sounded but went relatively ignored due to it sounding mostly like static even to Sentinel…

[Psts csthgh ckstttss Thi ststssst Of postessssts Eden Facstrrsss Threrstssss tssstes repe tssttts]

It ignored the transmission, unable to understand it over the multitudes of traffic, and only hearing static…

It carried no known frequency signal it recognized, and it knew 'all' of the Eden Facility frequencies, so it ignored anything that wasn't human related.