Chapter 19
Venerated Heart
(尊敬ハートの巻)
(or "Targus City's Hero-Worshipping Nightmare")

The next morning, Peter and Mizuki woke up in their room, as a knock was made. A voice called out, "Hey, Mister Giese?"

Mizuki yawned, "Who was that?"

Peter got up and said, "I know who. You won't believe me."

He opened the door, showing Chacha, in her white shirt and red skirt. She bowed and said, "Good morning, Idol."

Peter gasped, "AH! It's you!"

Mizuki then scolded, "Who's this bitch?"

He explained, "She… She's my fan club President."

She bowed and introduced herself, "Chacha Karakuri – I am the president of the Peter Giese Fan Club for Female Robots. The PGFC4FR."

Mizuki was shocked, "No way. That club is real? Who knew?"

She scolded at Peter, "You tell me why you have a fan club for fembots, worshipping you!"

He gulped, "There are 453 of them… and she's one of them."

She said, "Damn."

Chacha said, "Well, that's not why I am here. I wonder if you leave me with him, just for something private. I will not do anything dirty."

Mizuki nodded and said, "You better. I need to see Farra, about last night. You two have fun."

She scowled, "But the minute you dig your chrome hands into his pants, you're spare parts!"

She slammed the door, as Chacha sighed, "I know I would never, but it is so sudden."

She said, "Well, now that she's gone, I have something to tell you."

Peter grinned, "If it's about my dance, no. I just woke up."

Chacha said, "No, I mean, my fan club. They were acting weird. I met with few of my friends, this morning, and they suddenly felt overheated. I think they said something about meeting you again, this afternoon."

"Whoa! Later?"

"I am afraid so, Peter. I suggest that you stay with me, so you'll be safe."

"Oh, no! No way am I siding with you! How do I know that you're under the overheating bug?"

"I am not. I did a background check analysis on me, and had myself repaired. Sadly, my love for you still etched in me."

"Weird is right."

She asked him, "By the way, why is your girlfriend leaving to see Farra?"

He replied, "Something about another robot girl, seeing me, last night. It's nothing."

He thought, "She must never know about Yakumo, er, Yamo. Why do I feel bad for Steven and Chacha? Who am I talking to?"

He said, "Don't worry your pretty little… … …computer. Miz will be back and you can worship me, as long as you want. Just… not while I am around."

Chacha blushed and hugged him. She clicked her eyes closed and moaned a bit. She said, "My… dreamy… idol…"

Peter was flustered in fear, being clasped by a robot.

XXXXX

Mizuki then explained to Farra about Lyuze, from last night, and what she said about Project Yamo. Farra was intrigued, as April and January were still sleeping.

"And that was it," she said, "Lyuze would flirt with Peter, just to know the whereabouts, but he was smart for her, after telling about Yakumo. I was tied in the closet, and woke up hearing it."

Farra then said, "I see. You're saying that it was too good to be true?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Steven Cooke finds dating a robot creepy, much as Peter is being worshipped by a flock of them. Even though this story is true, I'm starting to feel…"

"Farra, no. Please, just don't tell Steven about this. If you do, he'd hate you more."

"I hate him, already. Besides, like he'd believe bullshit like this. But… I'm starting to regret it, since the word about Project Yamo is devastating. I just want to see Steven Cooke as the loser douche he is. I don't wanna hurt his feelings."

Mizuki smiled, "I see that you do care for him, even after the trouble."

Farra scoffed, "Please. After what transpired in Daten City, Highland, and Luna Cove, we have to keep our heads high and watch ourselves. We cannot lose any more friends."

She said, "I'll tell April and January about this, but it's safe with me, away from Steven."

Mizuki bowed, "Thanks."

She left, as Farra asked, "Hey, if they wake up, could you meet with them? They wanted to ask you something."

She nodded and went back to the room. Farra stretched out and said, "Well, as long as I am up, I should see Big Guy's entourage and ask for breakfast."

She went to the phone and called room service. But no one answered. She left her room to head to the lobby.

When she arrived, a few girls were in their seats, waiting for Peter. They were wearing their casual attire, but with blank looks and flushed cheeks on their faces. Could this be Tachibana's doing? Farra arrived and called to the girls, "Excuse me, ladies?"

They turned to her, as she responded, "Yeah, uh… When's breakfast? Room Service is tied-up."

The girls blushed and whispered, "Peter… We love you…"

They think Farra is Peter. They approached her and held her tight. She giggled, "Uh, okay. I take it that Big Guy's fans are also fans of mine. Okay, uh…"

They continued to hold her tight, as she barked, "Okay, too tight! Take it easy!"

She broke free and gasped, "I know I am being worshipped, but this is ridiculous!"

The girls shrieked in joy, as they started to chase her.

"PETER! WE LOVE YOU!"

"WE WANT YOU, SO BAD!"

"MY SWEETHEART!"

Farra shouted, "Those girls are idiots! I'm not Peter! I don't even look like him!"

The robot girls pointed, "You are him! You have such fire! WE WANT HIS CLOTHES!"

They ran after her, as Farra shrieked in fear, "AAAAAAAAAAAHH! I TOLD YOU, YOU GOT THE WRONG PERSON!"

She dashed off, as the fans chased her around.

XXXXX

Peter then let go, as Chacha sighed, "Peter. Don't you love me?"

Peter said, "Well, no. I am amazed that you like me, but you-."

"I know. I knew that you are taken, but one day I will. I have experienced love, lately, and I badly want you."

Peter protested, "Oh, no! I cannot have you, since you're creepy!"

She flushed in a beet red look and smiled, while removing her shirt and bra, revealing her bare skin and chest, with her long hair over her breasts.

Chachamaru's upgraded synthetic skin, since her old skin was outdated.

She hugged him again, as Peter was in fear, "Uh… Chacha?! What are you-?"

Her breasts smooshed on him, "AAH! NAKED!"

Mizuki returned and saw Chacha hugging him. She shouted, "GET YOUR CLAWS OFF HIM!"

Chacha gasped and was embarrassed, "OH! I am so sorry. Forgive me, sir. I was lost in the moment."

Peter stammered, "I, uh, Miz… It's not what you think…"

"I know. You need to step out. I need to examine her. This is not that kind of behavior."

"I understand. Maybe I need to air out my fear."

"Grow up."

He left, as Chacha apologized to Mizuki, "I am so sorry. My body is not used to romance. I am honored to meet him, in-person, but my love for him would go haywire."

Mizuki said, "That's not normal. We should examine you and see."

Chacha remarked, "No, it's fine. I happen to switch my emotion files, time and time again. I have 100% Love and Admiration, while my other feelings are at 45%. My default setting is 50% each feeling, which makes me balanced."

Mizuki responded, "That's not good! You cannot have two feelings at once."

"Is that bad?"

"Of course, it is! You downloaded to MEGA Emotions, only to seduce my boyfriend, and it may damage your CPU! It is bad, you toaster oven!"

Chacha pouted, "I see… But… But I… I love him… I admire him…"

She hugged her and started to shake and spark, "I, I, I… I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I…"

Mizuki held her and shouted, "Where's your OFF switch?"

Chacha said, "In my, my, my, in my back panel."

She turned around and opened her back panel. There were five buttons in her back, all red. She pressed one, which raised her arms up.

"Oops! Wrong button."

She pressed it again, putting her arms down. She pressed another button, but this one made her head turn, in 180 degrees. Chacha then said, "You can't find it?"

Mizuki panicked, as she pressed another one. She gasped, as she pressed a third button, which removed her face. Chacha said, from her speaker mouth, "That's not my OFF switch."

"WHERE IS IT, DAMN IT?" Mizuki yelled, as she turned Chacha's faceless head back to position.

She replied, "Above my control panel. You were fiddling with my control panel."

Mizuki cried in anger, "NOW SHE TELLS ME!"

She found a black button above her and pressed it. Nothing happened.

"That's the one," she said, "Press down hard."

Mizuki nodded, as she did a hard reset on Chacha's body. She wound down and collapsed to the floor, facedown. Mizuki sighed in relief.

"That's what happens when you download faulty files. Never make your emotions at over 500%. Chacha had eight emotions, 200 for Love and Admiration, and the rest, she had 360. I think it took a nosedive."

She placed her on the bed and said, "Well, maybe I can see what is wrong with her, before something else happens."

XXXXX

Peter was outside the hotel, grabbing some morning air. He thought to himself about Yamo, from last night. He then said, "Well, whatever the reason… Lyuze isn't here now. But why do I feel dejected over Steven… He thinks she's not a robot, but… How can we tell him?"

He said, "It's got to be a crock of crap! Like hell Steven has a robo-girl! What am I saying? They believe it, but I don't! And I'm the one with gynoid problems…"

But then, a group of robot girls appeared by the gate, holding up paper and cameras. They were in a blank look, all-smiles, and a controlled state. They cheered and shrieked, as they called to him. He then gasped, "NO WAY! I know this isn't a crock of shit!"

He dashed off in a frantic state, "YAAH! GET EM AWAY FROM ME!"

The girls called out, "Where are you going? Come back, loverboy!"

Peter panted, as he ran, "I'm… NOT… your… lover!"

He turned to a corner and ducked behind a trashcan. The girls ran past the trash, he ran off the other way. Another batch of girls appeared, chasing him, from another direction.

"WHY ARE THEY PERSISTENT?" He yelled, as they chased her, all in pink and purple dresses.

"Oh, Darling!" They cheered.

XXXXX

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" Farra shrieked, as some robot schoolgirls chased her around the lobby, all with heart-shaped eyes.

She cried out, "DAMN IT! I AM NOT HIM!"

The girls cheered, "You have a cute costume!"

"It's NOT a costume!"

She thought, "I'd beat them up, but that's not me!"

She turned the corner and ducked in a closet. The girls ran past her, as they disappeared. On the other side, Peter viewed a closet, and ducked inside it. He panted, as he said, "Well… They'll never find me. It's stomping grounds for robots, when they sleep, but…"

Farra said, "Well, at least I'm safe!"

Peter called, "Who said that?"

The closet was dark. Peter turned on the light and saw Farra, all tired out and out of breath.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Peter asked.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Farra snapped.

"I'm asking you!"

"It's your gynoid groupies! They can't tell who's who! Can't they see that I am a woman?"

"Yes, I can see that."

Farra said, "I think they started to malfunction. You think this city is stomping grounds for the BIGGEST fembot city in the world? They think of ME as Lady Gaga!"

Peter replied, "I always thought that Mizuki said that the city is known for a deadly animal from Planet Targon, like a tiger-turtle."

Farra snuffed, "You have such ridiculous knowledge."

"Yeah, well, I'm getting sick of this city. I'd say we should spend a week or so, for my fans, but this is nuts!"

"I'm with you, Big Guy. We have to find Mizuki and the Sisters and haul-ass outta here!"

She then thought, "But… Don't you think it is strange that the fembots are acting this way, because of you, seeing that you are a celebrity?"

He said, "Wait… If we are being hounded by stalking supercomputers… who have a lust over me, with those glazed shiny eyes… then…"

They gasped and cried out, "APRIL AND JANUARY COULD BE INFECTED, TOO!"

They struggled to get out of the closet, as Farra griped, "Okay, fat ass! Move it!"

He yelled, "LEMME THROUGH!"

"Ladies first!"

"Fuck you!"

"Says you!"

"I GO FIRST!"

They both pushed, "LET! ME! GO! FIRST!"

They pushed out and fell to the floor, face-first. Farra groaned and said, "Okay… Note to self: Never share a closet with a man."

He sighed, "Same here… except with Mizuki."

She ordered, "Room 503! We better hurry!"

They ran off, as Peter said, "Well, let's do it, before the girls come to us, again."

She sighed, "I have a strong feeling that they will…"

XXXXX

Back at Room 501, Mizuki examined into Chacha's circuits and found the problem.

"A-HA! I see. Either someone did some shoddy downloading… or… her gears are all singed."

She was right. Most of her gears were singed lightly in black soot. Mizuki decided to clean up the gears, using a small gauze pad and cleaning fluid. She found it in the closet. She whispered to her, "Don't worry, Chacha. I'll have you fixed up, in a jiffy."

She began to clean, as two figure appeared, wearing black shirts and skirts. It was April and January, and they, in Farra's opinion, were brainwashed, as well. April held up her pistol and began to pull the trigger.

BANG!

She missed. Mizuki dodged out of the way, before April fired. She said to them, "Guys! What are you doing here? Can't you see that one of your fellow robots is affected by some sort of damage? I think I better need your help on this."

January spoke, all zombified, "Mizuki… You don't need him…"

April grabbed her arm and said, "Time to go. Peter is ours."

Mizuki broke free and cried, "April! January! Have you lost your minds? What's gotten into you?"

April walked towards Mizuki, removing her black shirt, showing her black bra. She said robotically, "Peter Giese is ours. Eventually, he will love us, too, unlike you."

Mizuki cried out, "SNAP OUT OF IT! Girls, you're acting-. Wait…"

She looked at Chacha, and then looked at the Sisters. She then growled, "I don't know why, but who made you this way? Was it a spell?"

Chacha then beeped, "No. It is… a… It is… a… It is… a…"

April lunged at Chacha and smashed her gears with a huge punch. Her body collapsed, faceless and messed-up. Mizuki cradled her, as Chacha wound down, "It… is… a… a… Vi… Vi… ruuuuuuuu…"

Chacha died. Mizuki knew what she meant. She then glared at April and January, "A virus! I knew it!"

"She was such a chattering parrot," April smirked evilly, "Now, maybe we can eliminate you."

January held her machine guns and said, "Dear Sister, may I kill our idol's ex-girlfriend?"

Mizuki barked, "Ex?!"

April smiled, "You may. After all, we love him, and not a fleshy, like her."

BANG!

Mizuki rolled out of the way and ran to the door. She opened the door and left the suite. But…

BANG!

Back at the stairway, Peter and Farra were rushing up the stairs to the fifth floor.

Farra instructed, "Okay. Stop here…"

They sat down on the stairs, midway, and she panted, "Geez… I never knew this was hard…"

Peter said, "Too bad the elevators were broken."

Farra sighed, "Yeah, I know."

They continued to sit, as a figure appears, knocking at their heads. He wanted to go downstairs, since they were blocking his path.

"Come now, kids. You shouldn't be hanging in the stairway like that," he remarked.

He was an old man with a brown cap and glasses, in overalls.

He huffed, as he went down, "Lousy kids…"

Farra halted him and barked, "Who do you think you're talking to?"

The old man barked, "I'm talking to you, you outdated Barbie doll!"

"You smile when you say that! If we weren't being chased by rambunctious and adulating gynoids, I'd mop the floor with you!" Farra said in anger.

Peter asked, "Why don't you take it outside? I don't mind running."

Farra stated, "No. He cannot fight me, since we are busy. We'll handle it, another time."

Peter smiled, "He's probably chicken."

The old man barked, "Oh, who's chicken? You name the time! Any day you want!"

Farra barked, "FINE! There's no time like the present!"

Peter added, "I should say not."

"What's huh?"

She stormed off and yelled, "If it's a fight you want, then you're gonna get it! Come on!"

They went downstairs, as the robot girls noticed it. Peter then said to them, "Time-out, ladies. There's gonna be a fight."

Farra huffed, "You can't get away with this with me. Barbie doll, huh?"

Peter said, "He can't talk to you, like that."

The old man huffed, "Big deal."

Peter asked, "Hey, Farra… What's a Barbie?"

She replied, "I'll tell you later!"

Peter called to the other robot girls, "There's gonna be a fight. You better hold off, for the moment."

Farra snapped, "Think you can away with that! Huh, dumbass?"

The Old Man jeered, "Blah, blah, blah! How stupid!"

Peter then asked, "Well, I better help you."

Farra remarked, as they went to the third floor, "Never mind. Just leave him to me. It'll be done in a jiffy!"

The girls followed Peter and Farra, heading to the lobby. They arrived at the lobby and went outside. Peter, however, called to the clerk in the desk. He said, "You better call an ambulance. It's gonna be terrible! There's gonna be a fight. She'll show him a thing or-."

He was about to leave, as Mizuki arrived, with her left arm bloodied. She moaned, "Peter…"

He held her and said, "Hey, babe! There's gonna be a fight! Uh… What happened to you?"

"Never mind that! Where's Farra? We have bad news. It's about April and January!"

"WHA? I was on my way to see, bra! But Farra had an altercation with an old man and she's fighting him. There's gonna be a fight."

"There's gonna be A WHAT? Well, go get her!"

Back outside, the fight was about to begin. Farra then made a demand to the old person.

"Now if you wanted to apologize, now's your chance! But just so you know, it's wrong of me to fight you!" She barked.

The old man asked, "For what? What did I do?"

She snapped, "For calling me an Outdated Barbie Doll! No man living, no matter what, can call me names like that and get away with it!"

He sighed, "Eh… mutter… Alright, fine. You're not an outdated Barbie doll!"

"Good."

"You're an ugly store mannequin!"

She smiled, "That's different."

The crowd laughed, as Farra growled, "Oh… You want to play games, huh, asshole?"

The old man smirked, "Yeah, I got you good!"

She barked, "I don't know what you meant, but all these people can't be wrong! I don't look ugly!"

"Then, why don't you fight? Rotten kid…"

"YOU… bet your life that I'll fight you! The very idea."

She called to the crowd, "He wants to fight! Come outside!"

They began to walk, but Farra halted them, saying, "Wait. We are outside."

They stopped, as Farra growled at the old man, "Now, I'm giving you one last chance! If you want to prevent me from kicking your ass, go ahead and apologize!"

The old man huffed, "BAH! I apologize."

He walked away, as Farra smirked, "HAH! I knew he was yellow!"

He growled, as the crowd laughed at him. He snarled, and then ran to her, kicking her butt.

"WHO'S YELLOW, HUH?" He griped.

Farra shoved him to the crowd, as the man stumbled down.

The girls called, as they grabbed him, "Get back there and fight her!"

They pushed him towards Farra, and inadvertently collided into each other's heads, knocking her out cold. The crowd laughed, as they left. The old man laughed, after showing her.

"Now who's yellow? HO, HO, HA, HA!"

He left, as Peter and Mizuki came to her. Peter asked, "What happened?"

Farra snuffed, "The fight is over!"

Mizuki said, "I see… Next time, you better calm the F down."

Peter called out, "CAR!"

They stepped back to the sidewalk, as a red car drove passed them.

Farra then asked, "What happened to your arm?"

She replied, "It's April and January. They… It's some sort of virus that is infecting all the gynoids in this building. You think this hero worship is big? Robot women with viruses are a bigger threat. It's got to be a front. And the Sisters shot at me, when I escaped."

Peter griped, "THAT explains the girls chasing us! Glad it wasn't Trojans or Cookies."

Farra said, "Well, now we know about this problem, we better find who did this, and quick, before April and January kills us."

Peter asked, "Wait! What about Chacha?"

Mizuki pouted, "April… She destroyed her. I was fixing her up, but the controlled androids smashed her circuits, with their bare hands. I had to run, to warn you."

Peter said, "Well, then… We're leaving, right now!"

Farra said, "Not without January and April! We're staying here and find the source!"

She asked Mizuki, "Miz, can you scan where the source is?"

Mizuki shook her head and said, "No. I left the iPhone in the van. I don't think we'll get through and get it, in time."

Farra said, "Right. You stay with Peter. I'll get it for you."

But then, "Hey, guys!"

Steven Cooke arrived, with Yakumo behind him. "What did I miss?"

Peter, Farra, and Mizuki turned away, as Yakumo grew concerned.

"Do you guys worry about him?" She asked.

Peter replied, "No. Not at all. We, uh…"

Steven said, "You guys have a problem with something, right?"

Farra griped, "Where the fuck have you been?"

Mizuki ordered, "NEVER MIND THAT! Steven, you came just in time. You and Farra get my iPhone from the van. Yakumo… … …You stay with me and Peter. I, uh, need to tend to my wound."

Yakumo gasped, "Oh, no. Are you hurt?"

Peter said, "April shot her. Long story."

Steven nodded, "We'll help you out… but you better run the plan to us, when we get it."

Farra said, as she pushed him aside, "I'll explain it, on the way. Now, move it!"

He then barked, "WAIT! Steven Cooke needs to do it right. Let me do it."

He bellowed, "Peter, Mizuki, Yakumo, head to a safe place! Farra, to the tour van!"

Farra snuffed, "We know that from Mizuki…"

Steven replied, "It'd be better when I say it."

They dashed off, heading to their respective areas.

Meanwhile, up atop the hotel building, Rei Tachibana smirked, "So… The Gang's all here. Now to counteract this problem, personally!"

She glowed in a blackish aura and sneered in a ghostly grimace. She disappeared from the shadows and headed for the showdown with The Gang.

Meanwhile, M, in a silhouette, was viewing the action and was pissed.

"NO!" She yelled, "THOSE FOOLS! How can they see through each plan and destroy everybody? Peter grows at super strength, Steven Cooke has high-pitched frequency, Heather gets Super-Speed, Steven and Michelle Nevins are fighting specialists, Percival has the IQ, and Mizuki is the Super-Intel! The Gang is driving me nuts! All my best minions destroyed, all my plans are ruined, and all because of the Demons, the Angels, and the Androids, all by their side!"

She sneered, "Still, though… That's only seven Gang members with a unique power. Farra Stevens, however, is somewhat of a fireball in anger. But that's just physical aggression, in my book. Yes… While she may be the wife of Percy Gaynes and the BFF to Peter Giese and Heather Dunn, she's still a weak link to this group. NO special powers, NO problem."

She got up and brushed her long hair and laughed, "Well, since they have Project Yamo with them, and with the group wounded, thanks to Tachibana's controlled androids… I can safely say that-. WAIT! Those androids… They… Aren't they Marciano's Sisters?"

She cackled, "Oh, joyous of joys! I cannot believe that they were so stupid enough to side with them, only for Rei to control them, for me. But that's all for the best. In one week's time, The Gang, in Daten City, will fall to me."

She emerged from the shadows and had long blonde hair and a small girl's body. It was Rebecca Miyamoto!

Becky said, "It's time I meet Steven Nevins and his friends… personally!"

She laughed evilly, as thunder began to strike.

She then thought, "Odd. It's not even raining."

Wait, I'm confused… Which girl is "M": Rebecca Miyamoto or Melissa Hawthorne?
Also, who IS Melissa Hawthorne, and how did Michelle Nevins know about her?

Plus, tension and dissention spread in The Gang. Only April, January, Michelle, Peter, Farra, and Mizuki know about Project Yamo… so, why are they giving Yakumo the cold shoulder? Could SHE be Project Yamo?

To be continued…