Chapter 8: Sold!

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

"Huh? What?" 017 was brought out of her thoughts. "Zero-zero-one and zero-zero-two are leaving." 018 informed, "Oh, uh, goodbye!" she called out as they left, leaving her and 018 alone.

"Hey I've been thinking, what makes you like zero-zero-three more than the rest of us?" 017 asked.

"I like you all."

"Yeah... but you seem to like him more, why?"

"...He's been helping me with... things."

"Like what and why can't you trust me to help you, I am your roommate after all."

"It's... difficult to trust someone with your fears."

"Yeah, it is."

...

003 finally showed up, "Huh, hey I wasn't expecting you to be here... or you, why are you two here?" he asked them.

"I had to say thanks, for cleaning and returning this hat, thank you." 018 answered. "Was that really all? I was waiting for you because I wanted to know why zero-one-eight likes you so much." 017 replied.

"Ok... that's kinda weird." 003 went across the room to get his food, then came back and sat down beside 018, away from 017.

"Well it wasn't really me you know, zero-one-zero cleaned it and he took it back too, all I did was give it to him." 003 said.

"I was told he would have it, but I couldn't find him, I'll have to thank him tomorrow."

"Who told you that?" 003 asked, "Zero-one-three, I met him and zero-one-four when I was looking for the hat this morning."

"Oh, so you finally met those two that's good, now you know everyone here. Did you meet with anyone else?" 003 complimented. "...No... the others were... busy, and since I didn't find zero-one-zero, I just went back to our room and the hat was there."

"What do you mean busy?" 017 couldn't help but ask just as 003 had.

018 was blushing now. "It's not for me to say."

"So there are things 'he' won't tell even you, or are you not saying anything because I'm here?" 017 said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" It was hard to tell who 003 was referring to, 018 spoke. "It's not right to talk about what other people do."

"You're right, you don't have to say anything, I'm just glad you're here." 003 continued eating. 017 felt like they weren't even paying attention to her.

...

003 finished but didn't get up. "So did you notice zero-one-nine, Jumba didn't really fix his eyes, he actually made him that way on purpose. That's a scary thought huh? First he shoots you, then he impairs zero-one-nine, the next one, zero-two-zero, is supposed to sell us, I'm getting a little concerned."

This was the first time that 017 had really thought about Jumba's plans for them, and it was scaring her too.

"Jumba does what he wants." 018 seemed unfazed.

"Yeah well, zero-two-zero should be done by tomorrow, want to come by the lab and see him?" 003 asked, "Won't you two be busy?" 018 asked back, "She sat in on your testing, it should be fine." 003 replied, pointing at 017.

"Ok when?"

"Before noon, should be fine." 003 got up, 018 and 017 followed him out.

"So... have you been able to be... comfortable?" 003 whispered, "Not yet." 018 answered.

017 didn't question this, she hadn't fully heard what 003 said and other things were on her mind, so when they got back to her and 018's room she just had to ask. "Do you always walk 'him' back to our room?"

003 blushed at the thought. "I, I... I'm not sure. Have I?" He looked to 018. "No, not that second time."

017 had a huge smile, "Are you two going to kiss goodnight?" she teased them.

003 was stunned and blushed deeper, 018 looked a little confused. "Why would we kiss?"

017 giggled "You two have got to be in love; you go out of your way to see each other as much as possible, you eat together, you shower together, you only talk to each other, you keep secrets, and you always see each other to bed. What else could it be?"

003 could have died from this realization. Is 017 right, is he in love? With a male experiment no less, not a male, he reminded himself.

"Friendship." 018 said.

"No way, friends would do some of those things but they would not bathe together or see each other to bed." 017 retorted.

003 felt that she was right. That is true, am I...?

"All of us bathe with others, and we all say goodnight." 018 reasoned.

"Well, yeah... speaking of which, goodnight." She backed off and went inside the bedroom.

"...Is she right, do I love you... do you love me?" 003 felt confused, he couldn't even tell if he was embarrassed anymore.

"You have to answer yourself, and I... yes, I love you as a friend. Goodnight." 018 went into the bedroom, leaving 003 astonished at the confession.

017 hadn't heard what they were saying out there and didn't know what 'he' might say but she felt like teasing 'him' more. "So did you kiss?" She said, puckering her lips.

"No. Goodnight." 'he' got into 'his' bed. "Hey, I'm just joking around, I don't mean to be rude... Goodnight."

The next day.

018 woke up with no idea what time it is. 'He' looked over to 017, she was up sitting there with her antenna out and no hat on, "Hey, you're up. You gonna go see 003 now?" she asked cheerfully.

"Yes, ...is it still before noon?" 018 put on the green ball cap. "Yeah, goodbye." She replied.

"Goodbye then." 'He' left.

018 entered the actual lab part of the lab, it's probably the most filled room in the building; tables, consoles, wires and other equipment makes it very hard for such small creatures to see, but with a quick sweep of 'his' thermal eyes 'he' found Jumba and 003 immediately.

"Hey." 'he' approached 003. "Oh hey! Good to see you... um, we're just finishing zero-two-zero, so if you'll excuse me for minute." 003 greeted 'him' but turned back to Jumba.

018 watched quietly staying out of the way, it wasn't much longer than a minute when 003 turned back to 'him'. "You got here in just time, watch, this is how all happens." He smiled warmly.

"Who are you talking with?" Jumba turned around and just now noticed 018. "What are you needing here?"

"I just came to watch." 018 answered, "I invited 'him' here." 003 said.

"Why?" Jumba wondered.

"Because... Is there a problem with 'him' being here?" 003 defended.

"No, just strange... but is nice to have audience who appreciates evil genius work." Jumba didn't really have a reason against them both watching, he turned back to the glass cylinder. "Here goes everything!" Jumba lowered his goggles, then pressed a button. Inside the tube; liquid, genetic material, and strange lights swirled and mixed and in a flash of electricity an experiment formed.

"Experiment zero-two-zero successfully materialized." The computer stated, as the glass lifted off of 020.

"Are you living?" Jumba asked, just the same as with all experiments.

"Well by definition I am alive, but I could really use a nice home and good wife and a- Why hello there friends!" 020 stopped himself and jumped down too greet the two experiments.

"Shouldn't this be the other way around...?" 003's hand was taken in 020's, 020 then turned to 018 and took 'his' hand too, "Hello, I'm zero-one-eight." 'he' welcomed.

"Zero-two-zero, pleasures all mine to meet so many new people first thing in life. Thanks for coming out!" 020 shook their hands.

Jumba smiled quietly, hoping 020 would try to make a sell right now, if he did it would be the fastest working experiment yet, but to Jumba's dismay 020 turned away from them and to Jumba.

"So Jumba, where's their buyer?" 020 certainly seemed to be one of the most eager experiments, it put off 003.

"It'll be arranged, but first I must test you, and you may need to be trained but it looks like you won't... anyway come for testing." Jumba motioned for them to follow.

Soon enough they all reached the gym, where all testing/training is to take place. 020's test was done in no time, literally, all his testing pertained to the languages he could speak.

"Good but now comes the hard part, you will having to sell thing in here to one of us three each." Jumba gestured around the room, meaning he could use anything.

"Hmm... sparse pickin's." 020 looked around finding; the weights, the power tools, a stack of paper, a couple of guns, a few range targets, and a little office room across the tarmac.

About a minute of rummaging later 020 came back over to them.

"Well sir you will not believe what I found! It's a bona fide copy of blueprints to a genetically prefect wife!" 020 waved the blue paper in front of Jumba.

"Playing trick, I had no such blueprints drawn up." Jumba denied.

"Well I don't know if they're your's if they're mine then, you say you don't own it then suppose' I'll just take em'." 020 slyly pulled the paper away.

"No, let me be seeing first." Jumba snatched the paper. "I can't, in good conscious, give it to you without knowin' it's really your's but I suppose, where I found it an all, that maybe someone didn't want it, but then I won't just give it up that's bad business how's about you give me ten credits and they're all your's fair and square, huh pal?" 020's fast talking won Jumba over instantly. "Is deal."

Jumba handed over the money and took the blueprints, only to find out it was nothing more than blank blue construction paper. "Urg! I knew you would get me first but didn't think would be so fast... am proud."

"I aim to please, speaking of which, I know just what will please you." 020 pointed at 003 then ran back into the office and wheeled out a chair. "You sir look like you've been on your feet all day, I can see you need to take a load off so hop on up and sit on down." He patted the chair.

003 was about to sit down in the cushy office chair. "Thanks, but I'm not gonna be fooled to buy anything like Jumba, I don't even have any money." "No need to pay anything, just put the chair back when your done." 020 said, "Ok." 003 agreed. "Then it a deal."

003 hopped into the chair... "Hey wait a minute, you tricked me!"

"He is good!" Jumba exclaimed.

"Now you friend... I'm not sure you're too comfortable either, but it's different... you want to have some privacy, well a man can respect that. You hold this for me and I'll turn away right now." 020 held out a screwdriver, 018 took it and for the next minute 020 didn't turn back to 018.

"Well are being success! Now though you are done, will be seeing tomorrow, come zero-zero-three." Jumba walked out, 003 rushed the chair back and rejoined 018 and 020.

"Well I've got to go again, sorry, bye." 003 waved and ran after Jumba.

"Wait. Do you know where your room is?" 018 called to 003 and asked 020.

"No, reckon I don't." 020 answered.

"Well I don't know where it is..." 018 told 003.

"It's not that hard to get to, the experiment's rooms go in a line, just keep walking past your room and look for a door marked 'zero-one-nine and zero-two-zero'." 003 waved again and ran off.

"Do you want me to walk with you to your room?" 018 asked. "It would be appreciated." 020 smiled.

Author's note: I know it wasn't that good, I had a really hard time writing Slick's lines and they didn't turn out good... sorry.