Authors Notes: Soon everything will become clear. *Laughs evilly*

Of Smoke and Steam

Fractured Code

Chapter 9

Past

Their was a small giggle and a small rustling. Another giggle and a splash. Curiosity flaring in his mind he put his fishing equipment down on the bath before looking through the bushes. Their was a woman with light brown hair standing there in the water. It was a small cove where fish get caught in every time. Their she was in the setting sun scooping fish into a bucket. Every time she caught one and it splashed her she would let out a kind giggle. Colby wasn't aware he was spotted halfway through. Her angle her figure, oh and those eyes...the eyes staring at him over her shoulder were sharp and bright. Almost a moss green. She sat the bucket down and walked over to Colby.

"Hi…" She rubbed a cloth over her arms. "I'm sorry if I was a bit loud. Its only my fifth time catching them on my own like that. But my nets need fixing and its the only way I can eat for the day so…" She told him picking up her bucket again. Bowing to Colby before she walked toward a small cottage.

"My names Colby Oolpe by the way...if you need help repairing your nets...i'd be happy to help." He said. The woman turned around and smiled pointing to her cottage.

"I'll make you some fish stew to pay you back?" She said to him. Colby nodded his head and followed her in. "My names Angela...just...Angela." She said putting her curly hair behind her ears shyly. Oh how she was wrong...that name...would have a last name one day if Colby had anything to say about it. The way he felt when she was near...he knew she would be his one day. Angela Oolpe.

"Wake up." Zareth was shook awake. He jumped and looked around a few stray strands of hay stuck to his face. He looked around and then saw Cryptor over by the mouth of the train. He motioned for Zareth to follow. He looked outside the car. Their was someone going in and out of them. It was time for them to leave. Zareth turned closed Dannys suitcase and locked it before turning to leave. Hopping down they ran toward the street.

"How are we going to get home? Its days walk from here and they kind of took our money." Zareth asked pulling his jacket back up onto his shoulder. It was a little brisk outside early in the morning. He wasn't much of an early riser. He looked up at the orange sky.

"Theirs a ferry over on the other side of the glade here. All we got to do is make it there." He stopped speaking when he heard Zareths stomach growl. He chuckled and looked down at him.

"Maybe Stumpy will make something good for you when we get there…" He looked like he was lost in thought for a moment. "water...maybe Stumpy will figure it out on his own without our help." Cryptor sighed walking over to the water side. The water was flowing really fast over the rocks. Zareth reached down and cupped his hands into the water and took a sip of it before looking up at Cryptor.

"Scans say its fresh if you drink any."

"I do not." He sat down on the rocks. Zareht nodded and shrugged his shoulders drinking some more before sitting back. It was all he could have at the moment so he tired to drink more before his hand was pulled from his as Cryptor stretched.

"Hey…" Zareth chuckled splashing Cryptor.

"Toothpick!" He yelled. The water was colder then Zareth realized. The water was run off from the mountain. It was snowing up there then when the water melts it causes the water to mix with the spring. It was freezing. But excellent to wake up to.

"Are you alright there princess? To cold for you?" Cryptor stood up and glared down at Zareth who just looked up at him over the hay he had popped in there.

"Why don't you just...chill out then." Cryptor pushed Zareth. Zareth nearly fell into the water. He righted himself and threw a punch at Cryptor connecting with his faceplate. He stumbled back and balled up his own fists.

"Fine...you want it that way?" He turned to the chain around his wrist and fired a laser at it breaking it.

"You could have done that this whol…" Zareth felt the crack to his jaw before actually registering that Cryptor punched him. He stumbled back tasting the blood. He laughed for a second tripping over the rock behind him and falling into the rushing water.

"Zareth!" Cryptor rushed forward taking hold of the suitcase. Zareth clung to it. Cryptors hands began to slip as he tried to pull him. Zareth footing slipped. Shaking his head and looked into Cryptors optics.

"Take care of my Dannygirl." He let go disappearing into the waves. Cryptor set the case down and looked into the white water as it rushed.

"No…"

(0)

Mindroid slowly sat up looking around the cottage. The sun was high in the sky. He turned to wake Cryptor up, but he wasn't there. All was left their was a lightly snoring Inky. He was worried now. Inky was almost always awake before him. He ran his fingers over her. Her forehead was hot to the touch. He stood up and walked over to the cabinet retrieving a bowl and filled it with water and ice.

Grabbing a small rag placing it within the cold water. He reached up putting the bowl on the bedside table and sighed. Perhaps he could do something about the fever. He was a police officer he had supplies, but would she be able to take it?" He took out the children's medication and lightly placed it onto her tongue and gave her some water to help wash it down. She coughed a little feeling the cold cloth on her forehead. She leaned into it. It felt so much better.

Min noticed her reaction to the cold cloth. He moved the cloth and put it back into the water and nearly jumped out of his skin seeing that the clay under the folds had all but fallen away. He looked around Inky for a moment and pored the cold water onto her arm and rubbed it. The clay fell away. He made a loud whistle and ran into the bathroom. Inky could barely hear the water start to run and he rushed back over to her and picked her up gently. Walking her over to the bathtub and put her into the shower. The pain in her began to go away little by little. She could feel Min rubbing her legs, her arms, her face. The clay began to wash away from her. But she still felt incredibly hot. He put something to her lips and she began to drink the substance greedily. It tasted so good to her. What was that? It was sweet… She slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. He was dripping wet and beside her in the shower. She slowly reached up and smiled at him.

"I love you too." Mins worried look broke as he smiled down at her.

"Hey!" Someone began to beat on the door. Mindroid jumped and pulled Inky to him. "We know your in there kid...you and that short guy." Mindroid closed the bathroom door and locked it pushing Inky into the towel cupboard. He pointed at her and then pointed to the cupboard. Inky nodded her head. He wanted her to stay. It was a bit scary to think of what was going to happen. But she was so weak at this point. She grabbed a towel and started to run it over her face. Mindroid however closed the little door just as he heard the cottage door hit the floor.