Java walked out of her room slowly with a folded piece of paper. It was a bit aged now but it was still good. In it was the message she had written Byte/Noelle, it was short and simple in which years of thinking were written down on this one piece of paper. She hadn't given it to her daughter back when she wrote it since she felt that it was never the right time. Today was the right time and Java couldn't just go on living life without telling Byte the news. She sighed as she pressed her headset and spoke. "Byte, where are you?" she asked, somewhat impatiently. "Byte, answer me," she said after a few seconds. "C'mon kid, what could you possibly be doing?"
Meanwhile, Byte and Max were located in an abandoned pub, lying down. Max had actually suggested an abandoned church but it didn't sit well with Byte. What they would have done in there wouldn't the holiest thing. Instead, they opted for the pub which seemed more apt to what they did.
Byte turned to Max with a slight grin on her face as she inched closer to him. "Oh Byte, you're too much," he laughed as he wrapped an arm around her naked torso. He sighed softly as he rested his chin on her shoulder. "I love you," he whispered against her skin.
"Love you too," she replied as she held on to him. She then turned around after hearing some buzzing. "Babe you hear that?" she asked, looking around.
Max looked around as well then sat up, "I think it might be your headset," he said as he stared at it. It was all the way down the other end of the bar, followed by a trail of clothes.
"I'll get it," Byte said as she got up with his shirt loosely covering her up. She looked at it and she heard someone's voice. "Oh it's Java," she muttered and put it on. "What's up?" she asked with a big sigh.
Java rolled her eyes then spoke up. It was about time Byte answered, "Where are you?"
She thought about it for a second, debating on whether or not she should lie about it, "I'm uh…I'm just out…"
"Yes, I know that. But where are you exactly located? Give me the sector, I'm out too."
"I'm at a pub," she replied as she gathered up her and Max's belongings. She threw him his clothes then slowly began to put hers on.
"Why don't I come out there and meet up with you? I think we need to chat…outside of the hotel," Java suggested, already outside just about twenty yards from the pub.
"S…sure. I'm um actually on my way to the market, why don't I meet you there?"
"I'm already a minute away from the damn pub," she replied. "What…you hiding something from me, Byte?"
Byte's eyes widened as she put all of her clothes back on quickly. She dropped the headset then moved over to Max, "You have to go! Go through the back way!" she said and kissed him goodbye. She then ran over to the doors and waited for Java to go through them. She did after a few seconds.
"There you are, kid," Java called out.
Byte fixed her hair up a bit as she caught her breath, "Hi…"
She raised a brow as she led Byte to the front of the pub where she and Max laid. "So, kid, I uh have to tell you something," She spotted a phaser on the floor and looked at Byte, who already had one on. "Whose is this?" she asked, picking up the device.
Byte's heart sank as Java found the zapper. "No one's," she replied.
"Uh huh, Byte, what are you hiding? Better yet, who are you hiding?" Java asked then shook her head. "Where's Max?"
Byte backed away, wanting to run but she didn't. "He's out,"
Java tilted her head and crossed her arms. She turned around and walked towards a small room behind the counter, "You sure about that Byte?"
"Yes," she replied as she gulped.
She smirked as she opened the door quickly, no one was there. Byte sighed, slightly relieved. "As you were saying?"
Java sighed and walked back to a table that she leaned against. "I uh…y'know…this is really hard for me to tell you," she began.
"Just spill it, Java. I don't think it should be that hard especially for you. Besides, what's so hard for you to tell me? Me…of all people…"
"Alright fine," her hands shook slightly from the anxiousness. "This is yours, I wrote it along time ago," she handed the paper over to Byte.
"How long ago?" she grabbed the paper gently, unfolded it then began reading slowly.
"When you were about four or five years old, back when you and I first met," Java explained as she watched Byte.
Byte read a bit slowly and furrowed her eyebrows, very much confused, "If you've ever felt lonely because I wasn't there. I'm sorry. Even though it's just words, it's also a promise that I'll be here from now on as your mom," she read aloud. "Wait, what?" she looked at Java. "Okay, you weirdo. This note has the same handwriting as the one I got earlier this week."
Java tapped her foot, not wanting to say anything. "Uh huh, I know," she said, beginning to grow slightly impatient. "Noelle, think about it for a second, will you?"
"Oh don't 'Noelle' me, Java, I think I know-" Byte paused, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped, "What?" she yelled.
For once in her life, Java was actually afraid of what Byte would do. "Okay, please calm down."
She shook her head, and then looked at Java once more, "You can't be! Java, if this is some sick joke-"
"It's not a joke, I swear. You see that necklace you're wearing? That was mine; I gave it to you when you were born on September 25th," Java explained calmly. "The J and the N stand for my name and your father's. Janelle and Noah…"
She crossed her arms, "Wha-…wai-..hold on!" she rubbed her forehead for a second. "You're my mother?"
"Yes, I am."
"Your real name isn't Java?"
"No, it's not."
"Okay, what else are you hiding from me?" Byte asked impatiently.
"Nothing, just that one thing. Ask me anything you want…"
She stared at Java, about to ask the question she'd wanted to ask for years. She inhaled deeply then opened her mouth to speak. "Why?" she asked simply.
"Noelle, I was seventeen and overwhelmed by everything going on in my life. I had college to apply to, grades, a boyfriend…I was too young to have a baby. I felt that if I gave you up, you'd have a better chance at life as opposed to a life I'd give you. You needed a life that involved a real family-"
"What real family? I didn't have a real family-"
"But you got a life that I could never give you! I'm sorry you had to go through what you did, I'm sorry I never told you sooner, and I'm sorry just for everything. You did not deserve any bad in your life, you were a good kid, and you still are. I regret not having you as my daughter," Java sighed as she shook her head. "It was a poor decision on my part," she added, trying to hold back the tears that were just about ready to flow down her cheeks. She inhaled deeply as she stared at the mirror image in front of her.
Byte as well tried fighting back the tears as she stood in front of Java, now understanding her intentions.
Java rolled her eyes then smirked, the tears just flowing down her cheeks. "Alright, c'mon," she said as the two of them just wrapped their arms around each other, bringing the other into a hug. "You know, sometimes you suck," she said, her chin over Byte's shoulder.
"Likewise," she replied.
The two separated and both quickly wiped their tears away.
"I'm glad you have my rationale and my brains but I hate that you got my temper,"
"Oh goody," Byte replied sarcastically with a smirk.
"Kid, why don't you head back to HQ? I reckon you've had quite a morning and I don't think these virts are gonna help either. Let's just switch for today…I'll go ahead and patrol with your boy."
She stared at her, slightly confused. "You aren't gonna kill him are you?"
"No, I just wanna have a friendly chat with him."
Byte got on to her headset with a soft sigh, "Max, come out and patrol the streets with Commander Java. She's located at the market and uh bring two of the guards with you just in case," she said as professionally as she could.
"Copy that, Lieutenant," he replied.
Upon seeing Byte and Java, Max gave a sigh. He knew what the both of them were up to, actually what Java was up to, and decided just to take it. After all, she was one of the most influential people in Byte's life.
Byte looked over to Max, her eyes lighting up. She gave that warning look over to Java then slowly began walking back to base, hoping that Java wouldn't kill the poor guy.
Java on the other hand couldn't help but give a slight glare to the guy. He was dating her daughter and she couldn't help but feel protective of her. Once Byte was out of earshot, she turned to Max, "Alright Cadet, let me just get this out in the open. I've lost some respect for you after what happened last night-"
"I know I'm sorry I-"
"Shut up. I wasn't finished talking. Anyway, I know you're Byte's little boyfriend but if that shit happens again, I'll have you living out here with these rats. Got that?"
"Yes."
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Java turned to Max. "Do you love her, Cadet?"
"Well, I don't know if I should be honest with you or not. Either way you'd have me killed."
"Just answer me,"
"Honestly, yes I do."
"Hm," Java glared at him for a moment before crossing her arms, "alright Max let's get one thing straight here. I don't like you but due to the circumstances, I'll give you some of my respect. However if you screw up and get my daughter pregnant or even hurt her in anyway, I'll have you deleted."
"That a threat, Java?" he smirked smugly.
"No, that's a promise," she replied.
Meanwhile Byte nonchalantly walked down the halls of the hotel, headed for her room. She whistled a tune as she did so.
Suddenly, she was pulled by the arm into another room. "What the fu-," she said loudly but her mouth was covered. She saw that it was Siva and by the instant she was already annoyed with her. "What's the meaning of this?" she asked.
"You should've seen your face," she giggled.
"What's going on?"
"I heard that we're going on a little mission today with Java."
"Yeah, what about it?" Byte asked as she fidgeted with her zapper.
"Well…I…was just a little bit worried."
"About what?" Byte grew slightly annoyed with Siva at this point but she decided not to let her annoyance get the best of her. Instead, she just sighed softly then stared at her "new" aunt.
"Damn, okay. You're giving me that look…that 'better spit it out or I'll kill you look'…jeez…okay Noe-," she looked over to Byte, hesitant to say her full name.
"Noelle. It's okay, Siva. You can call me that," she replied reassuringly.
"Noelle…hm…I don't suppose you've spoken to Java-"
"Okay whatever it is Siva, just spit it out!" Byte finally said.
Siva exhaled deeply, growing more and more anxious for the news she was about to break to Byte. "Kid, I'm having a kid," she said reluctantly.
Byte stared at her like a deer in the headlights. She didn't know what to say or think because obviously this kid wasn't Ram's. She shook her head for a moment to buy herself time.
"Say something please," Siva said quietly.
Byte looked back up at her, "Okay, have you told anyone else yet?"
"Just Lex and you. I don't know what to do, kid. That's why I told you and not Java because Java would kill me."
"I think I know what you can do. First of all, you cannot tell Ram. Second…you're gonna have to get outta here, as in run away. Since Ram's hung up on Ebony, I can persuade him that you…I don't know…you left and that you can't come back now since you may have caught something from the virts. You know how he is with sicknesses," Byte explained.
Siva nodded in agreement and took a seat on her bed. "Brilliant, Byte," she muttered, looked up at her niece and smiled.
"Why thank you." Byte smirked and shrugged. "I just wanna be able to see my future cousin that's all."
"So Java did tell you," she grinned and finally stood up, "man oh man, you don't know how bad I've wanted you to know. I can't believe you didn't see it though."
"See what?"
"The similarities between you two…see, you can get real hot headed and so does she. You both have that intimidating glare. You have her skin tone, mouth, you're her twin…a younger twin." Siva chuckled as she saw Byte give the same stare.
"Alright, Siva…whatever. We're two different people."
"Oh Noelle…you two are just one in the same. You'll see what I mean in a couple of years."