Authors note: Chapter 3 is finally up! Sorry for the delay, i was very busy! This chapter I feel like is a little longer than the last two. Hopefully I will have chapter four up in the next week or two! Please leave a review and I hope you the story:)
Chapter 3: Shopping Malls and Proposals
The bell rang and students rushed out of the doors. Except one in particular, a scrawny kid in a red leather coat and a white T shirt with crooked teeth named Sheldon Lee.
It wasn't unusual as Sheldon usually would stay after hours a little to study in the library or even volunteer to help the teachers grade paperwork or tidy up their classrooms, not today however. Sheldon observed himself in a tiny mirror on the inside of his locker door. He grabs a bottle of hair gel and squirts some in his hair and combs it back. He then sprays some breath spray into his mouth and coughs a little, mmm minty.
He checked his teeth, which as of this morning, was now wearing a set of braces. Why didn't he do this earlier in high school? He will never know, but he will have nicer teeth at the end of the school year! However it's a pain to floss now for him. He had to check closely to make sure he didn't have some food still stuck in his mouth. No? Good!
He grabbed the suit and bow tie that was hanging in his locker as well and draped those on his shoulder to change in at the school's changing room. After he changed he took out the bouquet of roses, a ringpop, and a box of tiny nanobots that he programmed last night.
He grinned as he looked down at his box of nanotechnology. Sheldon, you've done it again!
Suddenly a flashing red light appeared in his locker. He turned and he realized it was the Random Threat Indicator. He knew deep down he should probably check it out. He remembered the last time this happened was when he went out with Jenny as the Silver Shell and the space bikers showed up. He sighed and gazed into the flashing light, needless to say, it did not end well. Instead he groaned and rolled his eyes. He also recalled the promise him and Tuck made that day when Tuck found out Silver Shell's real identity, to never speak of this again. Unbeknownst to Tuck, Sheldon personally vowed to never put on the suit again after that experience. He frowned,
Sorry world, but Silver Shell is retired! And has a date with destiny!
He slammed his locker with a humph ignoring the flashing and blaring alarm. He wandered through the hallway. Today was the day. He's finally going to ask her.
He puffed out his chest and again smiled at his nanobots with a look of determination,
"Alright nanobots, don't let me down!"
Today was the day he was going to pop the question…not that question…that question will be for graduation, he snickered. With that , the boy hurriedly rushed off to the mall to ask her as the alarm continued to echo in the empty hallway.
—-
The mall was abuzz as people walked in and out of stores or the restaurants. Some of the stores were more crowded than others due to it being homecoming season and many stores were giving out deals for dresses.
Amongst the crowd at one of the round tables outside of the cafe sat Brad and a girl drinking hot cocoa. Brad had a sly smile on his face,
"So how about it Katie? You and me at homecoming?" He winked.
The brunette giggled,
"Oh Bradley, I would love to go with you!"
Brad grinned, he finally got a girl to go on a date with him, a human girl! He pumped a fist in the air,
"Alright!"
She chuckled and rested her face on her fists,
"I can't believe I met you just yesterday in class, you're just so cute and perfect…where have you been my whole life?"
Bradley waved his hand and smirked,
"Ah, you know…royalty stuff…"
Katie blushed in awe,
"It still amazes me that I met an actual Prince Charming…where are you from again?"
"Uh…Antarctica?"
Katie gave a small smile, giggled again,
"Ooh…sounds exotic! And XJ9 is actually your sidekick?"
Brad felt a little guilty for lying, but nodded. Katie smiled,
"Wow, how on earth did I find someone like you?"
Brad forced a laugh,
"I could say the same thing." Katie may be pretty, but man, she is empty headed.
Brad cleared his throat in attempt to deepen his voice, he placed his hands over hers,
"And in a few weeks, my fair lady, homecoming night, it'll just be you, me, and…" His voice trailed off as his eyes caught the girls behind her.
Two very familiar girls were holding some shopping bags and were walking towards their direction. One, of course, was his best friend Jenny and…no way.
"Melody?!" He whispered in shock.
"You're right Bradley, the night will have a beautiful Melody." Katie giggled, clueless on what was going on.
Brad stared at Katie and the incoming girls in shock, with his mouth agape.
"Uh…"
Jenny and Melody stopped in front of their table, Jenny grinned,
"Hey Brad! Look who's back!"
Brad gulped, unsure of what to do next,
"Hey Jenny and Melody." He nervously points to his date as he stares at Melody, who is currently staring at him shocked and Jenny now noticing his date and looking uncomfortable.
"This is Katie."
Katie stood up to shake their hands joyfully,
"Oh my goodness, it's so nice to meet you, Bradley told me so much about you!"
The girls both looked at her and gave a smile, Jenny replied,
"Oh really? What did he say?"
Katie nodded, she pointed at Melody,
"Well, I don't remember him mentioning you." She then pointed at Jenny,
"And you're his sidekick right?"
Brad looked down clearly embarrassed, he didn't have to look to know that both of them were glaring at him.
Brad stammered scratching the back of his head,
"W-Well partner would be the better term."
Melody folded her arms looking at Katie and forced a smile, yet her eyes stared at her menacingly,
"And you are?"
Katie smiled,
"I'm his-"
"COUSIN!" Brad interrupted causing all the three of them to look at him baffled.
Brad chuckled, pulling his collar nervously,
"Yea, Katie's my uh cousin…hehe"
Katie frowned,
"Your cousin?! We're on a date!"
Brad cringed nervously shaking his head,
"Hehe, a cousin date…hehe"
Katie let out a humph, and marched right in front of him. She jabbed a finger at him,
"You know for the Prince of somewhere as exotic as Antarctica, you aren't very loyal like how princes should be!"
Melody and Jenny's eyes bugged out of their heads, Jenny put a hand up to her face and giggled,
"Wait, you thought Brad…was a prince?! Girl, he's just my next door neighbor!"
Katie gasped, as Jenny proceeded to lose it. Melody rolled her eyes and shook her head rubbing the bridge of her nose.
Brad bit his lip, slightly sweating, Katie growled,
"You're not even royalty?"
Brad sighed and shook his head, Katie groaned,
"You lied to me! What else did you lie about? Oh let me guess, Antarctica isn't even a real place is it?" Her eyes furrowed and folded her arms.
Brad stared at her in amazement, was she serious?
Her eyes narrowed as she glowered at him, oh she was definitely serious.
Melody and Jenny were both trying to contain their laughter from that question, Katie threw her hands up and let out a huff and stormed past Brad shoving him leaving the three behind.
Brad waved her off,
"Ok, see you at the family reunion!"
Both of them stared at him as he chuckled awkwardly, scratching his neck,
"Hehe…cousins… am I right?"
Jenny rolled her optics and shook her head,
"Wow, you sure know how to pick them Brad."
Melody cleared her throat and punched Jenny in the arm for that remark, frowning. Jenny groaned, rubbing her arm, as she looked at Melody,
"I didn't mean you!"
Brad raised an eyebrow and tilted his head in confusion as what to he was seeing, changing the subject,
"So Melody is back…and you somehow aren't already trying to kill each other?"
The girls shook their head,
"Jenny's mom actually found me and invited me to stay with them!" Melody gave a small smile and continued,
"At first, we were angry at seeing each other again, but we had a little girl chat and now we're out shopping!"
Brad nodded slowly processing everything she said said, he returned a smile,
"Well I'm happy you're back Mel!" He paused in thought and gave a puzzled look, this still doesn't make sense.
"But seriously…how much?"
The girls looked at him confused,
"How much…what do you mean?"
Brad scoffed,
"I mean, how much is Jenny or Dr. Wakeman paying you to do this?"
Melody gasped in disbelief,
"No one is paying me to do this! I am happy to stay with Jenny!"
Jenny folded her arms,
"Yea, we're just fine!"
Brad raised his hands up,
"I'm just saying! I just feel like Jen here should actually make it up to you to show she's actually sorry. And I understand you're staying at her house, but technically Wakeman let you stay in the house, not Jenny."
Jenny protested,
"I said I was sorry and am taking her shopping! I suggested it!" She pointed to herself at the end of the sentence.
Brad rubs his chin,
"Yes, that's nice, but what does Melody want? I mean, I think you should consider that. You know, to show you're sorry."
Jenny stared at him and then sighed,
"But I already-ugh fine…I guess you're right." She turned to Melody, Melody shook her head,
"Jen, don't worry about it, I'm fine!"
Jenny placed her hand on Melody's shoulder,
"No, he's right, Mel, I didn't ask, I'll do anything to make up for what I did, so you choose how I can make up for it."
Melody was about to protest, but Jenny stopped her,
"Please, I want to make things right."
Melody sighed and looked at the ground for a moment thinking.
"Anything huh?" Jenny nodded firmly in response to Melody
Melody pondered for a second, her optics stared at the wooden floor for a second.
"Hmm…I'll think about it." She tilted her head, "Hey is there anywhere I can get oil, I'm thirsty."
Jenny nodded,
"Yea there is a vending machine actually around the corner!"
"Great! I'll be right back." Melody set her stuff down and went around the corner.
Brad beamed as he watched her walk away. Suddenly he felt a cold metal hand firmly grab his shoulder. He met Jenny's cold stare, as she growled,
"So…Sidekick huh?"
Brad gulped and nervously grinned, now sweating bullets.
—
Melody pressed the buttons on the machine and put her quarters in. She watched as the oil made its way out. She wasn't actually that thirsty, she just needed a minute to think and process what just happened.
What was Brad doing on a date? She wondered. Did he even think about me when I disappeared? Or am I just another girl on his list that he dated?
Clunk
Melody grabbed the can out of the dispenser. The girl he was with was human…and I'm not. She flipped the straw and sipped. But I could be wrong, he really did enjoy our time together and he seemed happy to see me…but he also knows what I actually look like now, the real me without my exoskin. She sighed
It may be different now because of that…
"Ok, I got my nanobots, my roses, the ring…I'm all set!" Followed by a giggle.
Melody snapped out of her thoughts and turned her head to the voice. She observed the skinny Japanese American boy in his suit with a wide goofy grin approaching her direction. He looked familiar to her for some reason.
She stared at him for a second, till it finally hit her! She met him when her father presented at the Tremerton City Science Fair a few years ago! What was his name again? She quickly went through her memory banks, she stopped when his name popped up.
She quickly went towards him smiling,
"Hey Sheldon, it's been awhile!"
The boy jumped as he got put out of his daze, he stared at her. Melody continued,
"It's me Melody, remember? We met at the city science fair a few years back!"
Sheldon tilted his head, his confusion faded and a smile of realization morphed onto his face,
"Oh my goodness Melody! It's been awhile!" He chuckled,
"I'm surprised you even remembered me!"
Melody giggled,
"Of course I do! You were so friendly and interesting!"
Sheldon smiled, slightly blushing,
"Oh thanks Melody! Heh, you are too…I appreciate you saying hi!"
Melody nodded smiling, she pointed at the things he was carrying,
"So what's all this? Another science project?"
Sheldon shook his head and grinned,
"No actually, I'm asking a special girl to homecoming!"
Melody gasped,
"Ooh…who is it?" probably a human girl, like Brad was with earlier. She thought to herself bitterly.
Sheldon beamed and gushed,
"Her name is Jenny Wakeman."
This took Melody by surprise. Did I hear that right? He's asking Jenny, who is another robot girl?
Melody nodded interestingly, kind of fascinated by this,
"Really? Even though…she's a robot?"
Sheldon nodded, and defensively responded,
"Yea, why not? She's like you and me!"
Melody nodded, she knew Sheldon didn't know that she was a robot herself, so she understood why that may have sounded offensive. However, she didn't want to tell him just yet. Sure, he's used to Jenny, but at least she looks closely like a human, while Melody looks like a literal monster or an abomination. She didn't want to risk ruining how he saw robots, because of her. Maybe one day she will tell him…just not yet. She raised her hands in defense,
"I know that, I actually am friends with Jenny and actually staying with her for awhile!"
Sheldon stared in awe,
"No way! How did you meet?"
Melody chuckled and rubbed her head, looking down
"It's a long story…" she smirked, "Sounds like you like her though."
Sheldon chuckled,
"Yea…I don't think she likes me back, I hope she says yes to homecoming…she probably won't." He stared at his nanobots crawling around in the box he carried.
Melody observed Sheldon for a second, she tapped her chin, and went through her thoughts. She couldn't help but smile as he was struggling carrying all of that stuff and how his dark eyes glistened in excitement. He's kind of cute and really sweet…how could she not say yes?
"I think she'll say yes Sheldon." She paused again, and remembered something from earlier. An idea formed in her head and she smiled, I am a genius.
"Actually, I know she will say yes!"
Sheldon beamed,"R-really? How do you know?"
Melody tapped her head and chuckled,
"Just a girl's intuition!" She rested her hands on his shoulders,
"Just wait here for fifteen seconds, before you come around the corner, I'm going to go back to where Jenny and Brad are."
Sheldon grew a puzzled expression, raising an eyebrow,
"Why?"
Melody smiled reassuring him,
"I'm just going to make sure she's there and get her ready ok?"
Sheldon nodded, giving her a thumbs up.
Melody rushed around the corner again to meet up with Brad and Jenny.
—-
Jenny watched as Melody rushed, oddly giddier than before, around the corner with a smile on her face. She chuckled,
"Where have you been? You have been gone for almost ten minutes!"
Melody walked up to her, trying to hide her excitement.
"The vending machine was struggling a bit, so it took me awhile, also I finally came up with something."
Jenny and Brad looked at each other and back at her, Brad raised a brow,
"What's that?"
Melody smiled,
"Well I know you wanted me to come up with something for you to do for me, and I finally have an idea…"
Jenny looked at her curiously,
"Oh what's that?"
Melody folded her arms,
"For the rest of the day, you have to say yes to anything you're asked."
Jenny blinked. Brad stared at her confused. That was random. Jenny shrugged, doesn't sound too bad I guess.
"Uh, okay? Whatever you want Melody."
Melody clasped her hands together and beamed. She was very proud of herself. This is so romantic, I wish Brad would do something like this…Jennys gonna freak! In 3…2…1.
A high musical chorus arose in the mall, Jenny and Brad faced towards the sound that was coming behind Melody, many other passerbys stopped and did the same. A swarm of nanobots came rushing around the corner that Melody just came from. They were harmonizing together…although it was very pitchy and quite unpleasant causing everyone to cringe and cover their ears. The nanobots circled the trio and started closing in on them. Jenny's pupils shrank in terror and pulled out one of her blasters to shoot them, till Melody stopped her by pushing it back down, confusing Jenny.
Melody gave a reassuring smile,
Ok, this is a little weird. But he's trying? Right?
The nanobots crawled on top of each other, first it formed a hand, handing Jenny a bouquet of roses, which she took hesitantly and a forced smile.
"Uhh…thank you?" The nanobots formed into the shape of a heart.
Jenny stared at the nanobots for a second and then noticed Sheldon on the other side, dressed in a tux and holding a small box. What is happening right now?
Sheldon approached her grinning ear to ear, as the nanobots held a long unpleasant note. They stopped as soon as Sheldon was standing right in front of her, but still held the heart shaped position.
He stood for a second silently, and took a deep breath. This is it Shell! Time to pop the question.
He smiled as he looked into her eyes, he got down on one knee and opened the box and showed a rainbow ring pop.
Jenny just stared in horror covering her mouth, has he lost it? He's not going to…propose is he? We're not even dating, just friends! We're only in high school, my Jobs, Sheldon! She glanced around, and saw many people who were staring. Some in shock, some giggling and whispering to each other, and many who they all went to school with. Brad was in shock with his jaw dropped. She tightened her grip on the roses as she felt her face lighten up in blue out of embarrassment.
Finally Sheldon spoke,
"Jennifer, my dear…I have waited a long time to do this." He took her free hand and held the ring in the other,
"Will you go to homecoming with me?"
Jenny was still processing everything, she could still hear the people around her snickering and whispering to each other. She did want to go to homecoming, but Sheldon?! Oh no, this isn't happening! No, never not in a billion years, why not Sebastian? Or heck, I would even go with Don Prima or the Silver Shell, or maybe, just maybe, even Kenny, my ex…but Sheldon?! He never leaves me alone and he just makes me so uncomfortable! He would sabotage my dates and one time he broke into my house and stole my blueprints! Ugh…someone just deactivate me already!
Jenny was starting to shake, she wanted to scream. She was about to tell him off, then her eyes met Melody's. Melody gave her a wink and a thumbs up. Jenny just gave back a deadpan expression as she remembered her promise to Melody, are you kidding me right now?
Melody gave a reassuring nod and squeezed Brad's arm. Brad was still frozen in shock.
She bit her lip, and gazed back at Sheldon waiting for her answer.
Well…I wasn't popular anyways…what do I have to lose now? It's just one dance. And this will also be my way to show Brad that I truly am sorry and making it up to Melody.
She took a deep "breath" and tensed up as to prepare for Sheldon's reaction to her response,
"Yes…Sheldon, I'll go to the dance with you."
Sheldon's face showed sheer joy, he placed the ring on her finger and shouted with joy very loudly, he ambushed her with a hug and shouted in her ear,
"YAHOO!"
Jenny jumped a bit from surprise, she rolled her optics and reluctantly returned the hug.
Click.
Jenny glanced to the side, as she noticed the sound followed by a flashing light. Laughter soon followed,
"Now that's one for the yearbook, the geek and the metallic freak ha!" Jenny recognized that voice, it was Tiff, one of the Krust Cousins. She groaned, her optics narrowed. If she did have any good reputation, it was for sure gone now.
Great…just great.
Another voice piped up, it was one of the popular boys, Bruce,
"Look at me! I'm Sheldon! Mwah mwah!" He mimicked a kissing face as he held up his phone and put it up right to his face, causing the group of kids to laugh.
Jenny scowled, oh real mature. Reaaaal mature.
"Stop that! You guys are jerks! Robots have feelings too, you know!" Everyone turned towards the voice, it was Melody who was fuming with rage.
Brit scoffed,
"Look blondie, we're just speaking facts! She's an unnatural freak, unlike us."
Melody was now fuming. Sure they didn't know she was a robot, but they also were indirectly insulting her as well.
"Oh you're one to talk! You overgrown beaver!" Everyone was stunned. Brit covered her mouth to hide her buckteeth and gasped ,
"How dare you! At least they're natural."
Melody tilted her head and zoomed in on them. She smirked. She could see inside her teeth were two magnetic screws. Quietly she placed her hand behind her back and turned it into a high frequency magnet.
Suddenly Brit's front buckteeth gets yanked out followed by a scream in terror and pain as she sees her teeth clank on the wooden floor of the mall. Melody chuckled,
"Are you sure about that?"
Brit stood in shock for a second as some of the crowds stifled their laughter or just gasped and then growled and marched over to her. She raised her hand.
Slap. Clank
"OW! What the?" Brit said, holding her now injured hand. She stared at her hand confused on why that hurt as much as it did.
Melody rubbed her cheek, luckily she turned off her robotic nerve endings right before Brit slapped her, so she didn't feel anything. But now her worry is if she just exposed her own robot identity.
Everyone was silent for a minute, Brad wrapped his arm around Melody, frowning
"I think we should go now."
The four scurried out of the mall, leaving the confused popular kids.
Brit stared at Melody, then gazed back at her hand which is now bright red.
"Why did it hurt so bad? Something's not right about her."
Tiff ran up to her holding Brit's fallen teeth,
"I don't know cousin, but no one messes with us! And we will teach those freaks a lesson!"
Brit nodded, still in a daze of confusion. Why did her prosthetics fall out so easily? And it only happened with the new girl in the room. She narrowed her eyes and scowled,
"You're right Tiff, she's been a pain for certainly too long…way too long."
"Yes…she will pay."
—-
"I still can't believe you said that to Brit!" Laughed Brad loudly as they approached Jenny's house.
Jenny snickered, "Yea! I really appreciated you sticking up for me!"
Sheldon beamed, with a love struck gaze on his face as he stared at Jenny,
"And thanks Mel, for encouraging me to ask out Jenny to homecoming."
Jenny's face morphed into a frown, replying in monotone and looking down.
"Yea…thanks Melody."
Brad looked at them both curiously,
"How did you two know each other anyways?"
Sheldon breaks out of his lovestruck gaze and looks at Brad,
"Oh we met a few years ago at the city science fair, I was showing an automatonic out nanobots I made and she was helping her father with a presentation on…hmm…what was your father presenting again?"
Melody gave a sheepish grin, still not willing to share her real identity,
"Uh, I think it was something on robotics…I don't remember actually, it's been awhile!"
Brad and Jenny looked at each other, does Sheldon not know?
Sheldon shrugged,
"Either way, it was rather interesting! I always loved the study of robotics and nanobots."
Sheldon gasped,
"Speaking of! I better start getting ready! See you later Jenny hehe."
Melody smiled and clasped her hands to her chest as she watched Sheldon run off in joy,
"Aww, he's so sweet! Isn't he Jen?"
Jenny sighed, folding her arms
"Overwhelming is a better description for him."
"What do you mean?"
Jenny rolled her optics and scoffed,
"Let's see…he never leaves me alone, he ruined countless dates for me, spied on me, he broke into my house during the middle of the night, and stole my mom's blueprints of me, he is just-AGH! Also I'm pretty sure he watches me sleep at night somehow and to top it all off, today when he embarrassed me with that proposal in front of the entire mall!"
Melody winced at the last part since she played a part in that, but she was just wanting to help. Although, admittedly, it may have been a little over the top.
Brad shrugged,
"Listen Jen, I know he can be a little overbearing, but in the end he is still a good friend…I mean I knew Sheldon since elementary! And besides it's ok to go to dances with just your friends, you know."
Melody rubbed her arm, shyly
"Jenny, I have to agree with Brad, although he did go a little nuts when he asked you, I honestly did not expect that to happen. He is sweet though, when I first met him I really liked him, so I thought you would enjoy going out with him…sorry about that."
Jenny waved her hand and sighed,
"Eh, it's alright Melody, and you're probably both right, I guess it's nice to have a date now…also how did you know that Brit's teeth were fake?"
Melody brightened and chuckled,
"Oh it's easy! I just used x-ray vision and saw the screws and magnet, then one whip of a high frequency magnet and her teeth went flying!" She looked down at her hand amusingly.
Brad and Jenny's eyes widened and their jaws dropped,
"Wait, you made her teeth fall out! Oh my jobs-MELODY!"
Melody raised her hands in defense,
"She had it coming, it was harsh, but she had it coming!"
Jenny bent over from laughing really hard, "I can't believe you did that!" She then recalled the day they fought and how she was almost straight up destroyed. However this time she's grateful it was aimed at Brit instead of her. "Well…actually I can, but this is awesome!"
Brad grinned slyly and chuckled. He pulled her close to him
"Oh how I missed you."
Melody softly smiled back, although after seeing him with another girl today she didn't know if those words were exactly true. But hopefully they were.
"I missed you too."
Jenny smiled, happy that her best friend is happy and her and Melody are now friends,
"I'm glad you guys are happy! Hey, maybe we can go as a group for homecoming!"
Melody gasped cheerfully,
"I'd love that!"
She elbowed Brad, winking
"Speaking of homecoming…I think there is still something important you need to do…or ask."
Brad blinked,
"Huh?"
Melody leaned in smiling,
"You know…something important."
Brad continued to stare at her puzzled. Seriously Brad? Ok… make it more obvious Mel.
"You know the important question, you have to ask someone before you go to the dance?"
Brad blinked. Jenny leans over to him,
"Brad, she wants you to-"
Melody shushed her and put her hand in front of Jenny's face,
"Ah-No helping! He needs to figure this out himself…" she cleared her throat, trying to keep calm, Brad still is confused while Jenny facepalms at all this.
"Anything you want to ask…Bradley?"
Brad had a look of realization hit him, as he rubbed his chin.
"OH! I get it! I need to make sure dad will be home to watch Tuck! Thanks for the heads up!"
Melody stares in disbelief, Brad gives her a quick kiss on the cheek. He then wraps both girls in a hug,
"I'm glad you guys aren't trying to kill each other." I am still gonna call Dr Wakeman later to make sure that this is real…I still don't know if I can take their word.
He smiled,
"Yup! Just great! Bye!"
He scampers off towards his house.
Melody rolled her optics and slumped her shoulders,
"Sounds good Brad."
Jenny patted her shoulder and gave a reassuring smile, as they continued their way to the door
"I bet he will ask you later, I wouldn't worry about it."
"Ya, I suppose so…" Melody folded her arms.
As they reached the door, Jenny glanced into the house and sees an odd silhouette inside,
What the…
Melody peered in the window as well, forgetting her previous thoughts,
"What's going on?"
Jenny signaled her to be quiet, and slowly twisted the handle and opened the door. As they entered the house they noticed the shadow was coming from the kitchen. They crept closer to the mysterious figure who seems to be dumping stuff in the trash. She was also singing to herself.
The figure closed the fridge door, Jenny recognized her instantly. She was a robot like Melody and Jenny, she had multiple arms that were carrying eight cans of oil, and sort of looked like an octopus with an antenna on her head and a bow attached to it.
Jenny sighed in relief, feeling much more relaxed. She gave Melody a thumbs up, whispered,
"It's just my sister, it's safe."
Melody looked shocked, how come she hasn't seen them yet?
"Wait, you have a sister?"
Jenny smiled and nodded,
"I have eight of them actually, here I'll introduce you!"
Jenny strolled closer to the other robot who was finishing up filling the trash and cleaning the sink, now speaking normal volume,
"Hey XJ4, what are you up to?"
XJ4 jumped and squeaked
"EEK!"
She turned looking straight at Jenny, she held the cleaning supplies close to her chest. She slightly smiled when she recognized her sister,
"Oh hey Jenny! I was just uh…cleaning up!"
Jenny nodded pleasantly chuckled
"That's nice! Sorry I didn't mean to scare you! I'm surprised to see you up here!
XJ4 awkwardly chuckled, looking down,
"Hehe, yea…"
Jenny tilted her head, something was off about her sister's demeanor,
"Is everything ok?"
XJ4 sat silent for a minute, her eyes noticed Melody,
"Who is this?"
Jenny turned her head to Melody and back to XJ4,
"Oh, I was going to introduce you, this is Melody!"
Melody gave a shy wave and walked closer to the two,
"Hello XJ4! It's so nice to meet you!
XJ4 stared blankly for a second then smiled,
"Nice to meet you Melody."
She tilted her head, observing Melody, her optics scanned her, picked up the metal inside the exo skin and she knew she wasn't a human.
"Melody…you're a robot aren't you?"
Melody and Jenny were both surprised by this reaction,
"I did not tell her!" Jenny replied defensively as Melody looked at her questioningly.
Melody stammered,
"Y-yes I am, how did you know?"
XJ4 shrugged,
"My optics can detect your metal under the human exoskin…" She tilted her head,
"Did my mom build you?"
Melody shook her head. XJ4 raised a "brow"
"My scanners detect you have a similar program to Jenny…similar weapons, just more advanced."
Melody sighed,
"That's true, but your mom didn't make me, my dad just copied some of it over to me."
XJ4 nodded,
"Yes…but, you're here now, because my mom took you in…" she glances over at Jenny, and lets out a sad sigh,
"Jenny, we're all here for you…well XJ6 may actually laugh, because she predicted this…"
Jenny looked at her incredulously, has XJ4 got a screw loose?
"What are you…"
XJ4 gave a small smile to Melody, shaking her hand
"Welcome to the family…XJ10."
"What?" Shrieked both girls in shock at XJ4's words.
Jenny shook her head,
"XJ4, Melody is not XJ10, I'm not getting replaced!"
XJ4 nodded, thinking her sister is going through grief,
"Denial is always the first step…that's what XJ6 said would happen." She continued, "On the bright side Jen, you can now join our secret sister parties in the basement!"
Jenny groaned and facepalmed, she then jabbed a finger at her,
"Ok, first of all XJ6 is wrong, she's delusional, so stop listening to her!" Jennys face softened as she frowned,
"Also you guys have been doing secret sister parties…without me?" Her voice cracked at the last part.
XJ4 froze, a look of guilt washed on her face. Jenny scoffed, her hands rested on her hips,
"How long has this been going on?"
XJ4 gulped,
"Umm…remember when we all got mindcontrolled to attack mom?"
Jenny nodded. XJ4 sighed,
"Yea we have been doing it since then…XJ6 found a way to have all of us activate once or twice a week and we would just wait till you and mom were out of the house and we would just wander around and party kind of."
Jenny showed a look of shock and hurt hearing this,
"Ok, I understand mom, but why not me? I love you guys and being with you!"
XJ4 shrugged,
"Probably because you let mom keep us locked in the basement deactivated 24/7, that was XJ6's reason…Have you even tried to talk to mom to let us out? I mean she let you out."
Jenny felt a twinge of guilt, man today is just not my day. From the mall, to now this.
Melody somberly replied, softly gasping
"That's horrible…how long have you all been down there."
XJ4 looked down,
"Some of us a few months, XJ1 has been down there for almost a decade."
Jenny was now feeling a wave of guilt, did her sisters always feel this way?
"Mom said it never bothered you." She said now softly and with a hint of shame.
XJ4 replied
"It got worse as time went on, on one of the days we were activated for a few hours, we heard you were going to move out and go to college…to have a life! We all want that Jenny! Instead we're stuck in storage…"
Jenny could feel herself tearing up inside. She never knew her sisters were actually this upset.
"I'm going to go back down now, nice meeting you Melody!" Melody waved as XJ4 rolled her away back down the hall and down the basement.
Jenny watched as her sister left. Her little sister went back down in the basement.
"Oh Mel, what have I done? I'm a terrible big sister!" She collapsed into Melody's arms and cried.
Melody patted her back returning the hug,
"No, you're not, I just think you didn't understand."
Jenny sniffed,
"That doesn't make it better."
Melody sighed,
"Well…I think maybe you can find a way to make up for it."
Jenny stepped back and pondered for a minute, and a smile crept onto her face,
"I think I know how to fix this…come on!" She grabbed Melody's hand and both girls rushed towards the basement to meet the other sisters.
—
The mall was dark now, past closing time. Yet a familiar shadow remains. She crouches down and observes the forgotten nanobots that Sheldon left behind. She picked one up, and observed it up close. Its face was a circle and a simplistic smiley face, attached to spidery like legs.
She snickered as her optics noted the inscription and recognized the name on the side,
"Not bad Sheldon…not bad."
She smirked as she collected the rest,
"A simple reprogramming and this could be useful for me to fix this pitiful dimension…"
"Hey robot!" Shouted a voice
She looked up, it was a janitor,
"You're not supposed to be here…"
She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes,
"Excuse me?"
The janitor rolled his eyes,
"You have to leave, or I'll call the cops!"
The girl scoffed and sneered,
"Are…are you telling me what to do…sir?"
The janitor growled,
"Yes you dumb bot! I'm telling ya to get!"
She scowled.
Control, even in this universe , the humans want control.
Not anymore.
"Well sir..my blaster is telling you…" she forms her hands into high energy plasma blasters,
"To go to he-double hockey sticks."
BAM
The janitor was thrown across the room, slamming into the wall. A gaping hole was in his chest and the man was now dead.
In the past, the robot girl would have felt horrid of what she had just done, murdering an innocent man, since she is supposedly a global response unit and is supposed to protect mankind. But that wasn't her anymore. Why would it be?
Instead she laughed, hid the body, and flew off with Sheldon's nanobots
