MLAATR: The Nano Empire
Chapter 1: Jenny's Little Spark
14 hours earlier on the planet Earth, the sun was slowly dawning upon the city of Tremorton, prompting the flowers to bloom in response to the sun's warm rays. Even the Alley Cats and Stray Dogs, who were often at odds with each other, softly yawned awake and passively bade each other good morning. The denizens in their homes were peacefully dozing in their beds, though a certain number of them were still having an uneasy sleep.
In one certain homestead, a female robot is sleeping in her bed with her mouth gaping a little, still unable to handle losing her boyfriend from almost a month ago. She woke up with a start when she dreamt the part where Leo headed into the sun, before she breathed quickly and heavily and sat up on her bed with a panicked look. She looked around her room, before she looked at her electronic alarm clock and saw it was 6:58am; she then heaved an annoyed sigh, before she turned off her alarm clock and sat on the edge of her bed.
She was still in emotional pain, even though it was almost a complete month after Leo's courageous sacrifice, when she heard a miniature crackle just outside of her bedroom door. She then turned her head, looking at the crack under the door and saw a small, yellow light flickering behind the door. She then sniffed and said with a sickly voice "Who is it?" It was a moment, before the yellow flickering light disappeared and reappeared in the keyhole; feeling like to catch whatever is going through the keyhole, Jenny got off her bed and went on her knees, before holding out her hands as a little yellow spark with a pair of cute, black dilated eyes popped out of the keyhole and landed on Jenny's hands.
The spark then looked up at Jenny in concern, before the latter looked with little relief and said softly "Oh, it's just you, Leo… Do you miss me so much?" Leo's spark hopped in confirmation, closing his eyes happily while sparking in glee, making Jenny smile sweetly at Leo's Spark. She then closed her eyes and began to recall how it accompanied her back in the destroyed Cluster Armada Warship lightyears from the Sun's Gravitational Field…
(Flashback; R&D Facility in Ruined Cluster Warship)
Jenny witnessed many of Leo's splintered Sparks aimlessly moving away from the ruined Cluster Warship, whispering under her breath while looking astounded at what she's seeing "Leo?" The Spark that lead her to the view began to nuzzle on her left cheek affectionately, making her blush a rosy red in flattery. Jenny then turned her head to the spark by her side and held her hands out, which the spark landed and crackled harmlessly on her palms with its eyes closed happily.
Jenny then asked the cute spark in sudden realisation "Leo, is that really you?" The little spark looked up at Jenny with welling eyes, looking like it was going to cry, which confirmed Jenny's question. She then began to well with tears, seeing that there's a chance, however slightly, that Leo can come back physically. She then pecked Leo's Spark softly, making the latter flare pink in, what Jenny correctly believes, is how an intelligent spark blushes.
She then affectionately said to Leo's Spark "How about you come home with me? I'm certain that mom would find a solution to bring you back, however complex the process goes." Leo's Spark hopped happily on Jenny's palms, which she takes it as an obvious 'Yes', before she puts on her thrusters and flew off back home as Leo's Spark kept pace with her, much to her surprise.
(Flashback Ends)
Jenny then opened her eyes and looked at Leo's Spark, rubbing her right palm affectionately while sparking harmlessly. It was already a nearly complete fortnight when she brought Leo's Spark back home; although her mother believed to be nearly impossible to bring Leo back, she was certain that there's a way regardless. Jenny then chuckled when her mother tried to put Leo's Spark in the R&D Pod, but he somehow managed to escape and nuzzled Jenny's right cheek affectionately.
Although Nora was still trying other methods to keep Leo's Spark in the R&D Pod, he still managed to get out systematically, both impressing and irritating Nora in the process. Jenny then looked down at Leo's Spark and asked him "Leo? Do you want to spend the day with me?" Leo hopped and flared excitedly on her palms, before nuzzling her nose against him with a slight blush; she then got up and went to get dressed, prompting Leo's Spark to turn away and did a kazoo sound like he was whistling awkwardly.
Minutes later, Leo's Spark was sleeping on Jenny's left shoulder while the latter was making her mother some breakfast; as she puts her mother's meal on the table, Dr Wakeman came down with a yawn and groggily bids her robot daughter a good morning. As she sat down opposite of Jenny, she realised that Leo's Spark has escaped again and is now napping on Jenny's shoulder.
She then heaved a sigh and said "Okay, I give up on trying to keep Leo's Spark detained… This is the 37th time he escaped from the R&D Pod and I'm running out of ideas to keep him in there." Jenny looked at Leo's Spark snoring to the sound of a low key harmonica on her shoulder, before she gently stroked him with her middle and forefinger, making him spark a little happily. After having her toast, Jenny went to pack her school things and left through the front door to the bus stop.
As she waited for the bus, Brad, Tucker, Melodie, Sheldon and Misty approached her from the left and bids her a good morning. As Jenny waved them back, they noticed a spark resting on her left shoulder; aside from Melodie, they weren't aware that it was Leo's Spark taking a nap. Brad then asked Jenny oddly "Uh Jenny? Why is there a spark sleeping on your shoulder?"
As Jenny was about to explain, the bus horn got their attention; however, Leo's Spark didn't wake up from the bus horn and kept dozing off. Jenny then replied "I'll explain at Lunch Break..." She then hopped onto the bus as Melodie and Misty bids their boyfriends a good day, before they left as Brad, Tucker and Sheldon got onto the bus too, before it departed for Tremorton High.
After the school assembly, Jenny made it through to Lunch Break without incident, even when Brit and Tiff tried to spray her with water, but Leo's Spark prevented a single drop from touching her. When she went to sit next to Brad at the cafeteria, Leo's Spark stirred awake and blinked twice to readjust his vision and saw Brad looking at him in surprise. Leo's Spark is happy to see Brad again at last, though Brad looked rather unnerved at how a spark is acting like that.
Jenny saw Brad's reaction and explained "Brad… This is one of Leo's Sparks… I found it in the ruins of the Cluster Warship above the Sun's Gravitational Field and… well, he followed me back home and barely left my side." Leo's Spark nuzzled against Jenny's left cheek, making her blush bright pink with her eyes closed and smiled broadly.
Brad was surprised, but knew Jenny long enough that she was completely serious with the explanation, before he replied "Well, knowing Leo, the way his spark is being affectionate with you, he still loves you, even if he is in pieces… and I really wished I hadn't said that last bit." Jenny, however, wasn't bothered, since she turned her head and pecked Leo's Spark sweetly, making the latter flare pink in a blush.
She then held her left palm out, which Leo's Spark landed peacefully on and Jenny noted "Well, there's many more of his sparks out there, but I'm glad that at least one came back to me… And I still love him, even as a cute little spark." Leo's Spark hopped around Jenny's palm with his eyes closed happily, which Jenny closed her eyes and made a cute giggle as Brad looked on and smiled at what he's seeing right now.
Even though he was one of many sparks now, Leo still is surprisingly useful at final period, which is in one of the Science Labs. The teacher was showing the class a generator that produces a gale of wind, but when she turned it on, the generator suddenly lost power needed to generate wind.
As the teacher opened the hatch, showing the complex circuitry inside, Leo's Spark darted into it and powered the generator to full capacity, letting it produce a continuous gale of wind. The teacher was astonished that a sentient spark would do something like that, though Jenny was more worried about Leo's safety; as she hoped that Leo was okay, the Wind Generator pinged a few times before Leo's Spark flew out of the chute and slammed against the wall, before falling to the floor and swayed around with swirls on his eyes while making a slow low and high pitch kazoo noise to indicate his daze.
Jenny then abruptly left her stool and went to Leo's Spark, before asking in deep concern "Leo! Oh my gosh, are you alright?" Leo's Spark, despite having a wild ride, shook side to side with a negative kazoo, before rolling forward to unconsciousness. Jenny then softly swept Leo's Spark onto her left palm and slowly went back to her stool, stroking him as if he was a newborn kitten, before the teacher said unsuredly "Uh… Sorry about what happened, Jenny. I didn't realise…" Jenny replied without taking her eyes off Leo's Spark "No need to apologise… He just didn't anticipate how strong the Wind Generator is." The teacher understood the situation, before she continued on with the lesson while letting Jenny focus on taking care of Leo's Spark, even not giving her homework out of sympathy.
By the time the bell rang, Leo's Spark was resting on Jenny's left shoulder to recover from the wild ride in the Wind Generator, when Jenny received a call from Vega on Cluster Prime. Aside from her mother, Vega was the only other person until today that was aware of Leo's Fractured Sparks and, unlike Nora, believed he should be free just to be deeply affectionate with Jenny rather than being checked up on.
Jenny then answered the call and said light-heartedly "Hey Vega, nice to see you again!" Vega replied kindly, being on close friends with Jenny "Likewise, Jenny… Say, why is Leo's Spark resting on your shoulder?" Jenny glanced at Leo's Spark and gently petted him with a small smile and a deep blush, making him crackle happily with a pleasing kazoo noise. She then explained on what happened on last period, which Vega looked concerned with her left hand close to her mouth.
She then said "Poor Leo… It was nice of him to help run the Wind Generator, but he didn't anticipate how strong it is, even if it was a small scale model." Jenny shrugged with her right shoulder, leaving the left idle so Leo's Spark can rest easier, before noting "Yeah… but he's still willing to help, even if he got a little hurt while doing it." Jenny then gently pecked Leo's Spark, who crackled harmlessly while turning light pink from infatuation.
Even Vega thought it was the most adorable thing she has ever seen, although this was the first time she saw an intelligent live spark being kissed by a robot. Jenny then asked Vega "By the way, how's your mom doing since the assault?" Vega then replied "Honestly, she's still reclusive, even though it has been a whole month, but she admits that, despite her hostility towards you, she actually never wished Leo to go either. I guess even she has a slight attachment to Leo…" Jenny nodded with her lips pursed slightly, before switching the call over to headset as she walked home.
Jenny and Vega talked about how Cluster Prime is going, as well as on what they did after the assault, before Vega brought up on how they can recover more of Leo's Fractured Sparks. Jenny then sighed and noted "I don't know… I'm not sure if the Spark I have knew either, but I doubt he has no interest in becoming whole again." Vega heaved a sigh, remarking that it was a fair point, before telling Jenny that she has to cut off the call since she's taking over her mother's duties temporarily. They then bid each other goodbye, before the call was cut just as Jenny arrived at her home.
By the time it was time for Jenny to take a shower, Leo's Spark watched her grab a fresh towel from her wardrobe and made a catcall at her. Jenny made a gentle giggle, before she leaned to Leo's Spark and said with an endearing look "You're so cheeky…" She then pecked Leo's Spark with a broad smile, which the latter glowed a deep pink in flattery, before Jenny left her room to take a shower.
After a few minutes, Leo's Spark heard Jenny getting out of the bathroom and saw the bedroom door swing open slowly to reveal Jenny in her nightgown with her pigtails merged into a ponytail. She then held Leo's Spark in her palms and nuzzled him affectionately, which the latter returned the favour by crackling pink electricity against her right cheek, getting her to giggle cutely from the amount of affection she's receiving.
She then turned her head to Leo's Spark with a sweet smile, before it changed into a saddened expression and said "I just wish there was a way to locate where the rest of your sparks… I'd give anything to bring you back." Leo's Spark made a sad, low Kazoo tone with his dilated eyes quivering sadly, knowing how emotionally hurt his girlfriend is ever since his selfless sacrifice to save the earth a month ago. Jenny then slowly broke down into tears and sat on her bed with her hands over her face to hide her tears flowing down her face, when Leo's Spark comforted her by nuzzling her neck with his eyes closed in concern.
It took a few minutes until Jenny calmed down and thanked Leo's Spark for his sympathy with a light kiss, before she grew tired and lied her head on her pillows as Leo's Spark rested on the large Pusheen Plush they won at the Amusement Park. Jenny then said as she was drifting off to sleep "Good night, Lee-Bee." Leo's Spark made a few soft, kazoo noises that sounds like he's responding "Nighty Night, Jen-Bear." Jenny smiled at the response, before closing her heavy optics as Leo's Spark closed his eyes too and snored in a very soft harmonica note.