Authors Notes: Alright back to the regularly scheduled chapters. One every hour. FFN wasn't cooperating last night so I do apologize for that.

Of Smoke and Steam

Chapter 6

Hush my Baby

Mindroid found himself being very simple after the Overlord was gone. He was reprogrammed and a lot of his anger was gone. He honestly felt normal. No desire to fight, nothing in his soul that wanted to hurt anyone. Well...not till he met Inky. This little girl wormed her way into his heart and his soul. He never thought he'd ever love a little girl as if she were his own.

Running his fingers over her clay ones he watched as she panted. Every so often her tears would fall. He was so glad he found her in time. She probably would have died alone and scared inside that kiln.

Inkys eyes opened slowly like it was hard for her to do so. He could see the deep blues looking at him so tiredly. The surprise was there, she was confused as to why shouldn't move. But then they locked onto Mins face and her fear washed away, and was replaced with care. She really did love them. Himself and his general. Their was a slight mumble. She couldn't speak. Her eyes rolled for a second. Being like this made her incredibly tired. She strained for a moment opening her hand a little. Min was able to hold her hand like this. He lay down next to her whistling a little song in her ear. She probably couldn't understand anything. But he could feel her hand relax as she fell asleep again.

Yes this little girl would make an excellent niece for himself and his general. A wonderful little thing to call their own. But only sometimes, he knows sometimes Inky can get a bit over excited and it confused his general. But when push came to shove Inky was theirs. And here she will stay. With them, Inky literally was the glue that held them all together now. Without her they'd not have a family anymore, and honestly Danny was a very kind woman.

Just how did she break away from all that...anger. He himself couldn't do it back then. But perhaps...maybe...this little girl could fix that. He put his head down on the pillow again and just watched her. It was all he could do for now. Sit and wait for a way. He had a feeling that she didn't have very long. He didn't like the look of her as she melted away. He felt powerless as she was in pain. A pain he couldn't take away from her. He took a deep breath and scanned her again. Her breathing was fine. Right now it would seem the clay was attacking her bones first. Just have to keep her still. Or the clay might shatter her bone. He leaned in pressing his forehead to hers. He didn't have lips like his general, but he wished he could just kiss her forehead. It would be nice to be a normal nindroid. But the beauty about it...Inky didn't care if he was Cryptors height or his own. She loved him no matter what, and he loved that the most about her. She never called him short, or stumpy, or even any of those rude degrading words people would call small people. She had however gotten in trouble for punching someone who called him short. She got wrote up for it. She framed the slip. Cryptor laughed and patted her head for it before going back to being his usual grumpy self.

(0)

Zareth looked at the train schedule and shook his head. "The woman at the front said the train left two hours ago and the next one leaves in 10. We need to hurry Zareth." Cryptor said. Holding out a train ticket to him. Zareth nodded and ran toward the train with him.

Sitting back and sighing Zareths mind wondered and he looked down at the suitcase.

"Why did you break her?" Cryptor asked slightly confused with it.

"I...can't figure that out too. Theirs something there that...might help. We've lost contact with the white rabbit before hitting that town. Theirs something their Cryptor. I just know it." He opened the suitcase and slid his hand inside running his fingers over the cold skin that once felt so warm.

"Tickets please." Zareth jumped unsure as to how long he had been sitting there. Cryptor turned looking back at Zareth. He pulled his ticket out of his brown jacket pocket. "Thank you sir, but may I ask whats so fascinating in your suitcase?" Cryptor was about to make an excuse but of course the calm Zareth nodded his head.

"Sure...but I do have to warn you...Its not for the faint of heart, I'm bringing it to the university in town to be studied." Zareth said and put his fingers to his lips. The woman nodded and watched as Zareth pulled the suitcase open. The woman gasped her face turning a few shades of red. Within she saw Danny.

"Its one of those nindroids that attacked. Which is why I have police escort with me." He gestured to Cryptor who pulled his jacket away so she could see his badge.

"Oh! Alright. As long as your not here to cause trouble right?" She said setting a few drinks down in front of them.

"Yes ma'me." Zareth said and watched as she left. He slowly looked down at Danny running his fingers over her face. Pushing her hair behind her ear. "We'll figure this out soon babe. You'll be home."

"How did you two even find one another. You're both the opposites. Did you even exist before her?"

"Well yeah I existed for a bit before she showed up. A few months in fact. Went traveling, hit a few casinos, found a few babes. The finer things ya know. Was doing that when Danny busted in and melted my heart. Never thought I'd settle."

"You call that settling? You two aren't even married."

"Oh no I'd never get married. I'm not that type of guy. I'm just...well…" Zareth took a deep breath and looked back down at Danny. "She's worth sticking around for."

"And just what makes her any better then me?" Zareth stopped and slowly looked up seeing a woman standing there. Leather jacket, Purple hair, red eyes. She looked like she lead a band.

"Hillary...hi uh...so hows it going?" Apparently one of Zareths old flings.

"Got on the wrong train Zareth…" Hillary said. Zareth looked around the train realizing just what was going on. This...was a trap. Zareth closed the suitcase and flipped a switch on it.

"Please Hill...I gotta go on to the convention. If I don't a little girl will die." Zareth pleaded with her. Hillary smiled and shook her head.

"Sorry there Zareth man...but I really don't care." She snapped her fingers. Zareth gasped as he was pulled from his seat. Cryptor stood up but the suitcase as deposited into his arms. He was pushed down in between the seats. The suitcase pinning him down. Cryptor could only see as Zareth was hit was a crowbar in the stomach and hit several times. Cryptor lay flat to see Zareth. He lay on his front panting for air. His eyes focusing and unfocusing on him. Cryptor reached out to grab hold of him and try to pull him to him. But something hit Cryptor and he himself was out too.