A/n- You may start to notice signs of characters gaining their memory back as you read the fanfic. Continuing the preview
"Oh, no," robomom muttered. "I know how sad that must make you feel." robosister nodded as well. Release of unwanted animals was always sad, because they hadn't had a chance to enjoy life within the community yet. And they hadn't done anything wrong… (You should know all about release).
"Well," robodad said, "I'm going to keep trying. I may ask the committee for permission to bring him here at night, if you don't mind. You know what night-crew Nurturers are like. I thing this dog needs something extra."
"Of course," robomom said, and robosister and Zim nodded. They had heard robodad complain about the night crew before…
"Maybe we could even keep it," robosister suggested sweetly, trying to look innocent. The look was fake.
"robosister," robomom reminded her smiling, "you know the rules." Two children-one male one female-to each family unit. It was written clearly in the rules.
robosister giggled "Well," she said, "I thought maybe just this once."
(now we really skip the mother)
The ritual continued, "Zim?" robodad asked "You're last, tonight." Zim frowned. He did not want to share his feelings tonight, but it was, of course, against the rules.
"I'm feeling apprehensive," he said. Relieved now the right word came to him.
"Why is that son?" asked robodad. "I know there is nothing to worry about," Zim explained, "and that every adult has been through it. I know you have, robodad, and you too robomom. But it's the Ceremony that I'm apprehensive about. It's almost December and…why do I feel so out of character?" The family ignored his last comment
"The Ceremony of twelve," robosister whispered in an awed voice. Even the smallest children-robosister's age and younger-knew it lay in the future for each of them.
"I'm glad you told us your feelings," robodad said "robosister," robomom said, beckoning to the little "girl", "Go on now and get your night clothes. Robodad and I are going to stay and talk to Zim for a while."
Robosister sighed but obediently she got down from her chair. "Privately?" she asked. Robomom nodded. "Yes," she said, "This talk will be a private one with Zim."
A/N- I continued to balance the chapters out so ch.2 of this is ch.2 of the book.