Chapter 24; Dance to the Rhythm of Gears… part 2
Emma's POV
I hear my heart pounding as I stare deep into Zane's icy blue eyes. I put my hand on his shoulder and I feel his warm hands around my waist. It begins to get harder to breathe as I stare at the frozen passion inside his eyes. My other hand rests right beside his cool neck and I feel the cold tingling at my fingertips. My eyes are open wide as I take in every single feature on the Nindroids handsome visage. Being merely inches-no centimeters-apart… I see the purest of things inside his eyes, like freshly fallen snow under the night sky. It is like the stars watch and gander upon the snows purity but… can it touch…? I start to lean closer and Zane does too suddenly. Our lips meet slowly and thoughts race through my mind quickly. I felt that cold pinch on your cheeks on a winter day as you walk out into falling snow. It feels so cold… But so satisfying… The smell of winter; the breath of cold air and the smell of frost reach my senses. We separate so I may have the precious oxygen. I blush rapidly as I look down and contemplate what just happened. I eventually look up and see Zane's far away look. He stands and holds me close. His ingenuous stare is firm. Minutes pass and I am unsure as to what I am doing. Zane does nothing and I begin to become concerned.
"Zane…?" I say however he does not hear me "Zane!" I say but he continues to stare off into space. His eyes lack the spark he once had… I then begin to shake his shoulders however he does not move. "What happened…?" I ask… did I break him…? I feel his forehead and I snap my hand back on reflex. He is boiling hot. I notice his eyes close slowly and I put my head against his chest. I hear a slow rhythm of gears inside his chest however they get ever so slower, "ZANE!" I scream. I feel tears forming uncontrollably in my eyes. I try to shake his shoulders. I eventually stop and cuff both of my hands on his face. Tears stream down my face. Suddenly all feeling escapes my being and embodies around me. My eyes are forced open however all I see is white. I hear an old and wise voice inside my head. It sounds like mine but more mature and older.
A body without a soul
A soul without a body...?
Can a heart beat without embodiment…?
Unwavering full depth and falling into a black pit.
You fall forever in melancholy
Does that compare to walking the earth forever alone?
Has emotion been given to an untrue being…?
Does a soul strive through the clockwork of gears…?
Will the fire engulf the soul or shall snow drown the flames?
Could that compare to watching yourself stabbed in the heart…?
Unable to provoke your senses only doomed to stare at the pure white snow…
Will a heart beat to the rhythm of gears…?
The sky is to be stained black…
Because of Red crimson that falls like rain...
On eyes that were once as pure as snow…
My vision clears and I see Zane staring back at me. I give a sigh of relief and hug him tightly. He returns the embrace as I cry into his shoulder.
"What happened, Emma…?" Zane asks…
"Right after…. We um… kissed I saw unmoving and I couldn't wake you. Later I had a vision and I heard a voice that told me… more riddles. Yet I should ask you the same question." I say to Zane.
"Thank you Emma… I woke up approximately an hour ago. My systems scanned to have overheated and been overloaded. (Which I apologize for) I noticed your hand approximately below my shoulder and when I looked into your eyes they were glowing… I had no clue as to what happened and I started to panic until you woke up. You where out for some time, Emma." Zane explains. I look up to the sky that seemed to have gotten much darker. Not quite sunset but more like it is five or four. (It is summertime) I noticed finally that I was sitting on the ground and so was Zane. I look up to see the clouds and I lay down on the sweet grass.
"Even on our day off stuff like this happens…" I say and Zane nods his head and lies down beside me. I look up to the clouds and try to think of what shapes they are. "That one looks like a two headed giraffe riding a bicycle." I say out loud and I turn to Zane and he looks up to concentrate. He turns his head to the side.
"That does seem most peculiar…" Zane says "But I suppose in a new light it does look similar."
"And that one looks like a spider with a large head with a tail." I say.
"To me it looks like the Fangpires infected an Ant and it turned into a snake." Zane says and I laugh.
"That one looks like Skales!" I say and point to another one. "And that one looks like a cheese puff!" I add and Zane smiles.
"I wonder if that art festival is still going on…" He thinks to himself.
"There is an art festival going on…?" I ask and Zane nods his head. "Let's get going then!" I say and both Zane and I get up.
Zane's POV
After sitting up we begin to slowly walk though the beautiful park. We walk slowly side by side and I look down to the ground. I look at Emma's delicate hand and I look at my own. I sense Emma noticed my interest however before she can do any cause of action I simply grab her hand and look strait ahead. It feels… soft. I smile and look over to Emma who is blushing. We continue walking for a minute or two. There must be something… that has been troubling Emma lately. I would often catch her in the act of 'staring of into space' or be distressed and frustrated along with being completely exhausted. What is it that brings such dismay…? (Mood swings, hormones, could be anything really, Zane… Emma; don't interrupt him!)Has she discovered something that unfortunate happens in the future and is keeping it a secret to spare our feelings…? I then notice I stopped walking and Emma is looking at me with concern. Perhaps things should not be left unsaid and I should ask…?
"Zane…?" Emma says and I turn my head to face her. I squeeze her hand tighter. "Is there something troubling you…?" She asks
"Emma… I know there is something that you are keeping from us… I realize that you have gone through a few agonizing cranial incidents however after you do, you don't say a word. What is being spoken to you…? I wish to know what is troubling you…" I plead and Emma stares at me. She looks down to the ground.
"I discover many riddles, like odd shaped puzzle pieces that don't fit together. When I think about them… My heart breaks… they are unclear to what they mean but what they predict… isn't good… I remember one line that I will repeat to you if you truly wish to know…" she pauses and stares off into space.
"Emma…?" I plead and then she continues
"Has emotion been given to an untrue being…? Does a soul strive through the clockwork of gears…? Will the fire engulf the soul or shall snow drown the flames…?" I stare at Emma in disbelief. She begins to sob and I quickly bring her closer to me. "Zane… please don't leave me alone… it is so dark in there…" Emma says between sobs.
"Emma… there is one thing I know. Neither of us wishes to be alone… and that won't happen." I say boldly and Emma looks up to me.
Emma's POV
"Zane… I am not sure if that is true…" I ponder.
"Why wouldn't it be…?" He replies and I contemplate an answer.
"Will a heart beat to the rhythm of gears…?" I mumble "you are a robot Zane… You will never age! How old are you now…?" I ask and stare into two icy balls of snow.
"63." He says and before I may reply I am stuck in shock.
"That's my point… given that you are a robot you will never age unlike me… how can you guarantee that neither of us will ever be alone…?" I ask
"Emma… I had incessantly asked myself that question and after a while I came to a conclusion without supposition; Giving up would result in loneliness, wouldn't it be better to fight for happiness than to give up or abandon without hope for the sake of happiness…? Emma… I promise that I will always be with you because… knowing you will never be alone, will result in me to never be alone." Zane boldly states and profoundly searches though my eyes as I look back. How can he be able to say such things so smoothly and be so knowledgeable…?
Could I be fine with that…? Could I accept that we may eventually part and shall be alone once more…? But I will also know that I was once loved and truly, I will never be alone if Zane still loves me and I return his feelings… Zane removes some hair in my face that has mixed in with my bangs and out of my eyes. I feel Zane's embodiment and Zane's arms around my person. I sense the cold crisp of frozen water that flies in the air like snowflakes on a cold winter day and I return Zane's elucidation in the form of a passionate kiss. His cold lips meet my moist warm ones. I close my eyes as I relax and embrace Zane's affection. The kiss slowly comes to an end and I rest my head against Zane's shoulders. I hear his humming clockwork of gears like a heartbeat and feel such entrancing heat coming from his overworked systems. I then remove myself from Zane's person and look him in the eyes. I wipe my hands in a 'job well done' pattern.
"Now, given that is finished lets rock this art show!" I say and Zane leads me to the festival.
Anne's POV (earlier that day a while after Emma and Zane left…)
"YOU SAID WHAT!?" Cece shouts and asks Kai at the same time.
"Man Zane, you look whipped!" Kai says rudely with a whipping motion.
"Excuse me?" Zane asks and frowns.
"Look at what you are wearing! And flowers?" Kai adds.
"At least I am not forever alone; unlike you, especially if you keep thinking that way." Zane says and leaves the room abruptly.
"How rude!" we were all sitting around the game room doing nothing and I included that to Cece's former statement. Cole brought up in conversation Kai's remark.
"But he looked whipped!" Kai defends.
"Anne, the rope please." Gesturing for me to hand her the rope Cece asks.
"Shouldn't we not come to punishment; I mean violence so quickly…?" I ask but still grab the rope just in case. "And besides… we are still parked in Ninjago city… someone may hear screaming."
"Sometimes I question if the Cosmic Legion are really the 'good guys'." Jay remarks.
"Sometimes I question if the ninja are cut out to be the 'good guys'." Cece retorts.
"How could you be so mean though…?" I ask Kai trying to avoid an argument between Cece and Jay. "I saw Zane outside the door and he looked so charming and he even gave her flowers, how sweet!"
"I think that was my idea…" Nya comments and explains later what happened.
"It was still sweet though…"
"Isn't it nice how much they love each other, Anne." Cece asks
"I know right… wait a second…" I look suspiciously at Cece as she winks at Cole.
"What~?" nature's warrior says 'innocently' and I give her a glare in a response. This means war…
"You know Kai…." Cece covers my mouth.
"Not a word…" Cece hisses in my ear then changes the subject. "Why should Emma and Zane have all the fun…? We should all do something with our pathetic lives!" Cece states boldly however we all eventually agree we should all go out and do something.
"And it could be a quadruple date!" Cece says but then, I get the rope after that…
I love Cece and Anne's squabbling! It is so fun… what a way to end a chapter right…? I hope you all loved the date! I saw the new sets… and I am sure something bad is going to happen to Zane… though I am not too in the loop I could tell… And if something really bad happens to him I am sure I will cry… but unless he dies I will not argue with Lego! ;) Sorry for updating later than usual… I couldn't get to the computer this morning!
"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" ~Gandalf
Kai; what does have to do Sarcasitzu…?
EVERYTHING!
Sergeantsarcasm7 at your service!