In star command, a young 5 year old robot ran across the halls to the port. And docking bay to greet someone special to him. He runs and stops to see a cruiser entering in and landed. Nox smiles but was pushed by the many rangers running to praise the top space ranger of star command. Nox keeps away but sees his important person in his life.
"Dad!" Nox grins excitedly to see XR, his dad/mom. Nox tries to get through but everyone kept pushing until he was almost at the edge.
"Nox! Get away from the edge!"
XR reaches out and keeps him from falling off the docking bay.
"I only wanted to see you at the star cruiser. I missed you." Nox hugs him and XR smiles.
"I know kiddo but you know it's dangerous especially here." XR spoke that part low as many other rangers passed by.
Nox lowered his head from them and frowns. Most of the space rangers, except his uncle Buzz, booster, Warp and XL and aunty Mira, treats him terrible when they aren't around and there were dozens attempts he almost got hurt. "Dad why do we stay here?" he asked "Some of them are really mean."
XR frowns and holds his son. "I know Noxy they are but so long as Zurg doesn't find out about you or your sister and your papa… we have to stay here. "
Another thing he learned and wishes to meet. He has a father and a sister he never met and he wants to meet them but every time his dad keeps asking Nebula if he could let him meet his papa and his sister… it becomes a huge argument. His dad was forced to stop with a threat, taking away his son.
'I don't want daddy alone.' He thought as they make their way to the lab room that was their home.
"Hey dad?" Nox asked as he changes to his pajamas.
"Hmm?" XR asked as he smiles to his son.
"Can you tell me what papa is like?"
Everyday it was the same question that made both of them smile.
"Your dad is really great." XR smiles. "He's strong and fast-"
"No no." Nox shook his head. "What's he like when he was with you? Was he nice?" He asked softly and saw his father nodding. "He's still nice and sweet but what brought that up?"
Nox frowns but seeing the sight of reassurance, he answered. "42 keeps telling me he was awful around you and he hurried you in being alone-"
"You father wasn't like that." XR stops him and holds his hands. "No matter what they tell you, your father isn't that way. 42 is just trying to hurt you because she just a jealous robot." XR reassures him with a smile. "If I had to compare, your father is like you." XR smiles. "He's nice and cares about everyone." XR smiles. "I remembered the first time he held you, he didn't want to let you go. He felt his reason to live wasn't just for me, he saw his life was in you and your sister." He smiled as the door opens the closet to grab a few blankets. "You were so tiny in his hands he was afraid you were gonna fall off so he would hold you so close like this." He held his hands to himself and Nox smiled. "When he was around us, he felt he could be himself." XR smiles but then it faltered. "But when Nebula found out about you guys, well lets just say he didn't support us." XR helps his son in the charger as he covers him.
"Why?"
"Well Nebula thought we were not capable of parenting especially directing that to your papa. One thing I'm glad was that we got married by court and your sister had gotten her fangs. That helped keeping her under his care. If she was forced to stay here… I don't want to think about it." He saddened.
"Dad why is almost everyone mean at me?" He asked. "Am I… a problem?"
"No way Noxy!" He holds him. "There is nothing wrong with you. They just don't understand and they think of the bad things they think is gonna happen." XR pulls away and kisses his forehead. "People do mean things because they don't understand what they don't know. Your special and a good different that's made out of love."
Nox smiles as his dad lets go to grab something.
Nox smiles even more to see the plush wolf his papa made for him when he was a baby. "Your papa loves you very deeply Nox and if he had the chance, he'd be here too."
Nox smiles and began to sleeps away. XR smiles to see him fall asleep. He sighs at what happened, the way things went. He wished Nebula did supported them and didn't look at Nox as a weapon. If he had the chance, he would have left here and took Nox with him back into their real home. 'Nos wouldn't have to lose those years.' He knows Nos tries to see them a few times but if it wasn't for those "Safety procedures" Nos would have seen them. Not a day goes by without thinking of Nos and being with him and being loved by him and so many things. He may not have that ability Mira has but he can still feel how Nos feels and he can feel that longing and love for him. 'I miss you Nos…'
"I miss you luv…" Nos looks up to the night sky, sensing his luv missing him.
"Papa, where is daddy and big brother again?" Mor-6-a or Mor looks up trying to find them.
Nos holds her up and points the direction.
Mor smiles but it quickly falters. "Papa when can I meet them?" She asked. "Can we just sneak in and say a small hello?" She brightens.
"I wish it were that easy angel bat but we cannot. If we do, Nebula may take you and Nox away. I fear your father and I would die of heartbreak."
"No papa please do not!" She cried and hides her head in fear as Nos calms her. "I would miss you more than anything!"
Nos holds her carefully. "I will not allow it my little angel. You and Nox and your father is my life and my reason of living. If I lost you all," he pauses and holds his daughter close. "One day we will meet them but please stay patient."
Mor nodded and holds onto her dad looking to the direction of where star command is.
"Papa what is daddy like?" She asked her topaz slant optics shining brightly.
Nos smiles. "He is slightly scared of a lot of things but he is stubborn like a certain angel of mine."
Mor giggles and grins widen showing her fangs. The one reason he was able to protect Mor and keep her was her turning. She grew her fangs and feasted on energy and thankful to the species expert, he was able to claim her to help her control her powers. Nox was not able to turn but he didn't care about that, he wanted his son and mate safe but so long as Zurg is unaware of him and their children, he cannot go near them.
"Papa what is Nox like?" Mor asked.
Nos tried to say the answer but held her close. "From the stream and your father's connection, he is very sweet, kind and shy. He is very special like you."
Mor could tell her father was sad and hurt. "Wish we can see them papa." She frowns
"Me too angel, very much." Nos enters in her room and places her in her coffin bed that was red and yellow mix together like marble.
Mor smiles to see her father bring her the giant crocodile teddy bear she loved so much.
"Goodnight my sweet angel bat."
"Goodnight papa." She smiles and closes her eyes. Nos kisses her head and leaves the room but not without taking one more look and leaves. Mor looks up and senses her papa was heading to his room that was next door. She sat up and made her way to the balcony window and looked to the sky.
Nox who was awake, sensed his dad was asleep, decided to look at the hologram, specifically capital planet. Nox types away the coordinates and soon the hologram zoomed into the said area and sees the present time which was late in the evening. Nox smiles to see the one person he wanted to see.
His father by the balcony staring up at the sky. Nox types away to zoom even more and sees his father against the balcony looking sad. Nox moves away and runs to the hologram and stood before him. Ever since his dad showed him this machine, he's been using it at night seeing it was the only time he could. He walks a bit closer and wraps his arms around the hologram as if he was there.
"I miss you papa." Nox whimpers. It was like this every time when the young hybrid uses the machine, the only sad part was he couldn't hear what his papa would say seeing this device doesn't have audio but being able to show his papa was better than nothing.
Nox sighs but unbeknownst to him two figures were watching him. XR woke up to the sound of whirring and saw Nox typing away the coordinates he knew by heart. XR saw a holographic form of Nos looking hurt and Nox was hugging the bottom end as if he was real. XR wanted that to be the real Nos there holding him and comforting him when he couldn't. He knew nearly half the space rangers here didn't want Nox here whether it was for his safety or they hate him. He loves his son more than anything and wished he could take him away from here but he was by the law property of star command, he can't leave especially Nebula wants a super weapon out of his sweet little angel. He was glad Mor was kept by Nos's side especially when they were going to experiment on her.
"I love you papa."
XR looks up to see Nox waving to Nos who was fading away and it hurt him. He misses being in the arms of his energy vampire. XR kept their bands on along keeping a small piece of Nos's core in his own.
'I need to let Nox see his father and sister.'
The other figure was Nebula who was shocked to see the sight of Nos and even more Nox hugging the hologram.
'He can't meet him! He'll only turn him like he did to his sister!' Nebula knew Nox was an important part to star command, the future Buzz lightyear but when he learned Nox was like a child and slowly grew up… it was not what he hoped. He walks away, knowing what he had to do.
The next day.
Nox woke up to banging and crashes and saw the horrifying scene.
"No! Please?!" He got off while tripping and tried to rush to the destroyed hologram machine but the space rangers stopped him.
"No, please stop!" He began crying.
"STOP!" XR rushes to his son's side. "You can't do this to him! He wasn't doing any harm!" XR glares.
"I won't have it!"
XR kept Nox by his side as Nebula enters.
"Son listen and listen good!" Nebula shouted to them.
"That parasite is nothing but trouble and would only eat the life out of you!" he pointed to Nox and glares at XR. "You're ordered to not have any contact with him!"
"That's his father! He deserves to know who he is!" XR shouted.
Nebula hoisted Nox by the shirt as XR was being pulled back. "You're scaring him!"
"You're no longer allowed to use that machine unless you're studying to destroy and stop villains like Nos-4-a2!" He drops Nox as he whimpers.
Nebula walks away, leaving two robots alone in the lab as the space rangers destroy it.
Buzz rushes in along with warp to stop them while Mira helps comfort her friend and his son.
"XR let's take Nox somewhere." Mira spoke.
"Team lightyear you are to report to the port bay! Zurg is on the move!"
XR didn't want to leave his son here alone.
"Hey XR can I take Nox with me?! I got a special deal on parts!" XL enters but sees the wreck in the lab. He was confused at the scene and his sweet nephew was crying silently after being forced by nebula to mute his screams.
XR knew if anyone could protect Nox it was XL.
Elsewhere
Nos sensed something bad happened as there was a cry throughout the house. He zoomed through and found his daughter crying and saw the glass of every window were shattered. Nos held her in comfort and hums a song to her. Mor calms down and looks to her papa with worry optics.
"I felt so sad and hurt… I'm worried about my big brother." She whimpers away.
Nos internally growls knowing already something terrible has happened to his son and he cannot help him. He has learned a year ago, the twins can sense each other's emotions and it was a sensitive connection. Nos frowns, all he could do was comfort her but he could not comfort his son and his mate. He senses a call coming up and saw it was Madame President.
Mor knew her papa had to be a bodyguard to aunty President and knew it was important.
"Can I go to the park today with uncle ALD?" She asked.
Nos holds her up carefully and kisses her forehead. "Of course Mor but if you like, after work we can enjoy a walk into the forest and see the lake. Would that be smashing?"
Mor smiles and nodded.
Nos answers the call. "Good morning Madame."
Mor watches him talk to aunty President as she hopes it's a short one.
"Uncle XL, why does the commander hate me?" Nox asked, standing by and watching his uncle looking at parts.
"I can't really say Nox." XL studies the parts. "He wasn't like that before."
"Then... Am I the problem?" Nox asked.
"NO WAY!" XL stops him and drops the arm. "He doesn't hate you! He hates… well your other father." XL
Nox held his arm. "But papa said he isn't like that-"
"I know he isn't especially now seeing you here." XL pats his shoulder. "Look Nebula views everything differently and I like to think he is trying to change. Keep being positive for me ok?"
Nox nodded but didn't look him in the optics. He wished he could disagree but he didn't want to lose his uncle.
XL wished he could protect Nox from the pain but his pops is not helping! He wished things were different, back before XR and Nos got together but stopped his thoughts. 'I shouldn't think that way.'
He then thought of this nice park in tradeworld.
"Here we are!" XL smiles and Nox was surprised how empty and dead the huge historic playground park especially when it was a cloudy and grey day. To him, it was nice and didn't mind the weather, it just meant he had the playground all to himself. 'It would be nice Vera was here.' He thought as he ran into the replica of an 18th century town.
Nox smiles away, amazed how nice it was but felt a tug in his core. He pauses and felt it was strong and followed the direction. He began to sense it was getting closer and just when he made the turn, he bumped into someone.
Nox falls backwards and rubs his head.
"I'm sorry!" Both spoke in unison but stopped to see who they bumped into. Nox was shock to meet a girl with pale blue silver tone with a bright burgundy red hair that was closer to the color of tulips and his own color. But above all, he knew those optic colors anywhere.
"Your- *bang*!" He was tackled down in a hug by his sister.
"Big brother!" She smiles and hugs him super tight.
Nox hugs her back and began to cry with joy.
"I- I've always wanted to me-meet you!" He cried weakly so much as his sister did.
"Is daddy with you?!" Mor asked excitedly, hoping he is.
Nox shook his head with a frown but smiled a small smile. "Is papa…?"
She shook her head with a sad look. "I wish they came. Papa misses daddy a lot."
"So does dad, too bad we can't bring them." He looks down but smiles. "I've always wanted to meet you."
"Me too." She smiles and pulls him away to run to a building that looked like a tower.
"Let's make the best of it!" She smiles and so did Nox as they ran up the stairs. They opened the door in awe how it almost look like a princess room.
Mor giggles and ran to where the slide was but froze in fear.
Nox look over and saw she was afraid of the height. Nox held her hand and sat on the edge.
"We c-c-can Go to-to-together." He said nervously and felt her hug him tightly and sat next to him. "Re-re-ready?" He asked.
She nodded and they felt themselves sliding down. Mor screamed at the top of her lungs but noticed Nox wasn't screaming but he looked like he was but soon they were already at the bottom.
Mor shook excitedly and hugged her brother.
"That was wicked!" She shouted and Nox nodded and hugged her back. They ran around the playground, enjoying it together and especially talked about the many things.
"So papa enjoys piano?" Nox smiles, sitting on the bench and sees Mor nodded.
"Mmhmm! Papa plays it a lot and I like to dance while he plays." She dances around the small dome room. "Papa plays other instruments but when it is the organ, it is always sad." she stops and frowns. "Papa told me he used to play it for daddy when they were together."
Nox hums. "Dad told me papa played beautifully. It's a shame I won't ever hear it." His optics droop a bit.
Mor puzzled but then smiles. "Maybe you can!" She grins widely, showing her fangs.
"How?" Nox frowns but saw a bright light and saw her looking like him but in her Mel color.
He was shocked but frowns. "But they will see through the disguise especially our Mel color."
"If we have help." She grins.
Nox tilts his head but was pulled away to follow her.
XL was looking around for Nox hearing the scream and hoped it wasn't bad.
'I hope he didn't get hurt…'
He made the turn to see the one bot he thought he'd never see for a few decades and his luck ran out.
"With all those parts, you still haven't added a GPS system."
"Look who's talking blank screen! At least I can express myself."
"Nice comeback, finally read comeback for dummies?" ALD crosses his arms and looked around the playground. "I am going to go on a bet they found each other."
"What?! Nox can't even use powers!"
"He can when they are together. They are Nos if he was split in half." Ald spoke.
XL grumbles "I knew that" but stopped when he saw his nephew in a dress and his nephew next to him.
"Wait I thought we had a niece?"
Ald slaps his dome. "Idiot she shapeshift." He hisses but stops to see his nephew before him.
"H-h-hello…" Nox spoke nervously but was soon pulled into a hug.
"I have always wished to meet you…." Ald shook, water was coming off the sides of his screen.
Nox hugs him back and smiles, feeling relief. He felt his uncle pulls back and grabs a handkerchief out from his chest panel and wipe away the water. "Sorry, the first time I met you was short lived. You see I ran away from Zurg and found Nos while he was holding you one night. I asked If I could stay with him and his family and he told me I am already family. Your father has always been wishing he could see you and hold you again, I wish he could have came now."
Nox frowns but sees his sister being picked up by XL who was crying.
"I missed you!" He cried. "You were only a year old and your first word was explosives!" He wails and holds her.
Mor smiled and hugs him back with tears pouring out.
After hugging their nieces and nephews, the twins told them their plan.
"... S-s-s-so we want t-t-t-to switch to meet our f-f-fathers." Nox explained nervously as Mor held his hand.
"Are you alright Nox?" He asked wondering about the speech impediment.
"He gets like that when he's nervous or scared." XL whispers loudly.
ALD would glare if he had expressions but he was more concern about his nephew. "You do not need to be nervous Nox. You are in a safe place." Ald spoke.
Nox nodded but looks as if he was told otherwise.
"Please uncles, we wish to see them especially now if we may never have a chance again." Mor whimpers as tears were coming down.
Nox felt his tears coming down and the mass feeling of sadness from himself and from his sister.
"Please? W-w-w-we p-p-promise t-t-t-to s-sw-switch b-b-b-b-back?" Nox began to silently cry more.
ALD was quiet and knew this was not a good idea. "Alright then." He answered.
Both twins stopped crying.
"Are you crazy?! XL asked.
ALD shook his head. "If we do not they will find other ways to meet and switch and if anything they deserve to see their parents. I just need to speak with you privately. Children go and keep on exploring."
Mor squeals and took Nox to the other buildings.
As soon as they left, Ald tuned to his brother in law with a bloody red screen.
"What have they done to him?"
XL frowns. "Well… Nox cried a lot as a baby and not everyone could get near him because his cries were ear bleeding and XR could only stand it. Nebula wasn't exactly a patient man when it came to Nox but XR would keep him safe and tried to calm him as much as possible. Nebula purposely sent XR and his team far across the galaxy so XR couldn't sensed Nox at all. I was watching him at the time but I somehow blacked out. The second I woke up, I realized I was out for hours and saw Nox was crying but nothing came out. XR came back seeing he was distressed but saw they took out his voice box. XR demanded they put it back. They did but with a tuning."
"Nox cannot cry." ALD whispered and growls. "He is a child! Still a baby!" Ald punches through the wall. His whole body steaming "Do you know how dangerous that was?! They could have killed him! He would have have died!" He punches through another wall. "When I get my claws around that ba-"
"Hey kids are here!" XL stops him. "Look aside the bad stuff, Nox is generally afraid and he doesn't want to be there anymore. If we just wait, hopefully pop's will change his mind-"
"Coming from the bot who thinks bombing star command was a brilliant plan." ALD points out. "You actually think he will change his mind-"
"You don't know what he has to do. He's always watching over him-"
"Just like taking his voice box? Or earlier when Mor was crying so hard, all the windows in the house cracked and destroyed? Tell me XL how much do you really see when Nox gets pushed or hurt by the rangers? Does nebula helps him?" He growls.
XL was quiet and looks to Nox, he didn't want to believe his pops doesn't care and he won't. "I love my brother and my niece and nephew more than anything and seeing them happy is what I want." XL looks to ALD and points with his claw. "I know XR isn't happy staying there and I know Nox ain't either. I'm not blind or stupid like you keep thinking especially when I've been reading every law, rules and documents to help them leave. XR's been trying to find a place to stay that is not far and when Nebula gives the ok, he'll secretly leave to be with Nos."
ALD puzzled at his simple minded brother in law. "Knowing Nebula he'll force Nox to stay. For now we'll have to keep an eye out for them."
XL looks at the twins and smiles, seeing Nox was happy and carefree like his sister made him noticed his nephew had never smile like that unless his dad was there.
"So how do we do this swap?" XL asked.
"I do not know." Ald replied.
"What do you mean?! They can't just swap out clothes and say hi!"
"I know that I am trying to think of a plan. We can tell their fathers what they did and keep them from being exposed... The only thing I can think of is this device I made." ALD looks to the kids, "I have yet to see how long it would last seeing so far it works for a week-"
"Then that's how long they have and then do the switcheroo again! It could be a thing-"
"Until the device breaks!" ALD cuts him off. "We cannot make it a thing! We have only two choices! Either get Nebula to sign the papers allowing XR and Nox to have their freedom and rights or-" Ald stops and looks to the twins.
"Or what?" XL asked.
"... Or they turn. Knowing XR he would not hesitate but it can be dangerous for Nox."
"What are you talking about? I mean getting bitten might hurt but-"
"You do not understand! It is not like a normal turning! Nox may not act or show it but he can still turn on his own but if he was to be turn by another," ALD screen was beginning to pour out tears. "He could die." He whispered that last part.
XL was horrified and sat down. "What about Mor? She turned-"
"Naturally." ALD cuts him off. "She was not bitten like those reports put it. When they were still living at the house, Mor turned on her own. XR and Nos found her biting the lamp and had to keep her away from Nox in fear she may bite him but luckily she knew instinctively not to harm her brother. She did however teethed on XR's arms." ALD chuckled at the memory but slumps down and looks to see how happy they were.
"… Maybe we can ask outside help." XL insisted. "… someone we know who has the tech-"
"No no no no no! No way! Not HIS help!"
"Well this is a surprise." The lord of multiple planets DRAC_2_LA spoke.
"Two of my most hated frenemies calling me." DRAC laid his head on his palm.
"We need your help DRAC." XL stated.
"I am not loaning you money XL." DRAC boredly spoke.
"Look you prissy pampered house cat!" ALD growls. "We need to help our niece and nephews to swap places to see their parents." ALD stated and gestured to the twins who were in the swings. "You owe me a favor and this is my favor."
DRAC was quiet for the moment. "... Did they create… made them."
"Something like that, their cores made their core." XL chuckles nervously.
"One moment please." He stepped out of the way.
XL and ALD heard some crash and glass breaking.
"He took it better than I thought." XL mumbles.
"Right and him giving up on Nos is real." ALD sarcastically chuckles.
It was for five minutes until it was quiet now.
"You don't…. Think he killed himself."
"That would be a dream come true then again I am not that lucky."
DRAC came back looking less enraged. "…. I just sent you a special few charms to your coordinates. If you'll excuse me, I will be drowning in my sorrows again." The transmission ended,
"That guy seriously needs to move on." XL spoke.
"Tell me about it, he keeps sending gifts to Nos and he burns them with the exception Mor chooses what to keep." ALD added but keeps sight on them.
Soon they saw a small rocket coming down and it opened to hold two items.
"Why did he send us jewelry?!" XL glares.
Nox and Mor were in awe and their curiosity got the best of them.
"I knew he was being dramatic…" ALD shook his head.
"Uncle look!"
Both turned to see Nox only they saw two Nox and one of them was in a dress.
Both jaws dropped and saw around her neck the gold necklace.
"Ok so magic does exist." XL mumbles.
Nox places the silver necklace and in an instant with a puff of smoke, he was Mor now.
He touches his teeth and found no fangs.
"But I do not have fangs." He replies.
"Do not worry Nox," ALD pats his head. "Mor drinks oil as well to help keep a balance. She only bites batteries when she wants. I got your back."
Nox smiles and realized a small problem and was turning red. "We have to change."
ALD and XL shook their heads.
After swapping their clothes Nox and Mor also gave each other small chips to download to understand their routines and the dos and don't.
Mor hugs her brother close and smiles. "Will you be ok?" She asked.
Nox nodded and smiles.
"I will be but what about you?" He asked nervously.
"I will be fine and besides, I'm going to see daddy!" She squeals excitedly.
Nox smiles and it widens. "I'm going to see papa!" He smiles excitedly too.
Nox pulls away and walks up to XL and hugs him. "Laters uncle XL." Nox cries a bit.
"Laters little buddy." XL smiles and places Nox back down. "Be safe and remember if you need to, call me." XL was beginning to cry.
Mor walks up to ALD and places her head against his and smiles.
"Until then little princess, no biting and no scratching."
Mor giggles and hugs her uncle and runs to XL's side.
They went on their separate ways, hoping no one can tell the difference.
In the ships
Nox plays with the hem of the dress, worried over everything that may happen and he felt the gears increased as they land before the big home he has seen multiple times in a hologram.
"Everything will be fine." ALD reassure him as he held his hand out for him to grab.
Nox grabs it and took a deep breath and nodded.
Mor exit out of the ship and stepped out to see the bay, few people were there.
"Don't worry little princess, I got your back." XL whispers and winks.
Mor nodded but senses her dad was coming up soon.
Nox enters in the house and looked around for his father sensing he was close. Nox hears the piano upstairs, he runs to the direction feeling his gears going a hundred times over.
Mor shifted in agitation as she saw her dad enters, seeing him smile with relief.
Nox opens the door to see his papa playing the piano but just as he was hearing a grand moment it stops. He sees his father turn and smiles.
"Welcome back angel bat/ Noxy."
Nox rushes to his papa and hugs him tightly.
Mor runs to him and hugs him tightly.
XR was surprised by the unexpected strong tight hug but didn't think it too much. He was just glad his son was back safe.
"How was seeing the parts?"
Mor paused and tried to answer that when XL intercepted.
"We had fun! Nox asked me to get you something. He got you this gear sh-he found for you." he hands his brother the gear.
XR felt something was off but shrugged. 'I'm just over stressing.'
"Wow this looks great Nox! How did you know I needed a new gear for my collection." He smiles.
Mor grins, exposing her fangs but was stopped by XL. "Hey I have a new movie to show you guys!"
XR could have sworn he saw something different but his son was tight lip now and could tell something was off but saw a few rangers coming in. 'He's just scared.' He thought but something was nagging at him.
Nos holds his daughter but senses something different.
"Did something different happen today?" He asked.
Nox nodded. 'Seeing you for the first time!' "I made a new friend but he had to go." He answers but continues to hug him, feeling how warm he is. 'Just like dad said.'
Nos picks up his child and noticed her fangs were nowhere to be seen and for a moment he thought he saw a glimpse of pale yellow tone.
'I am just missing my son and my luv.'
"My darling angel would you still wish to walk around the forest?"
"Yes papa!" He spoke but noticed the falsetto of his voice was. 'I cannot go any higher or else he'll know.' "Of course papa but can you carry me?"
He felt his papa hold him like a baby and smiled to see his papa smiles, showing his fangs. "You need not to ask." He floats away and was heading out.
"Can I follow?" ALD asked.
"You hate the forest." Nos raised a brow.
"I was hoping to enjoy a nice walk, have a change of view." He spoke.
Nos nodded but felt something was very off now. As they took a stroll through the forest, he noticed something different about his daughter. She is a bit heavier than before and noticed she lost an inch. "Mor did something happened today?"
Nox felt nervous now and covers his face into his father's chest.
"I… I accidentally tr-trip…" he felt his speech impediment happening now.
Nos was worried and covers her with his cape. "My apologies sweetheart, I just do not want you hurt and you do not need to hide anything from me."
Nox smiles and hugs him. "I love you papa."
"And I love you too." Nos smiles but for a moment sensed sadness in her tone but shook it away as he made their way to the lake.
Nox was in awed and smiled in excitement. He felt his papa places her down and sat on the ground. Nox sat next to him, feeling calm.
He looked across the lake and felt his papa cover him with his cape that was warm. He smelled like the forest and roses that made him happy.
"So who was this new friend you met? Was he nice?" Nos asked.
"Yup!" Nox then blushed. "Well, he was very shy! And he was really worried when I tripped!" He smiled.
"I am glad you found a friend." Nos smiles calmly but frowns. "I am sorry I did not come with you Mor. I had to stop a dispute over a ridiculous fight."
Nox hugs him, couldn't believe here he was hugging his papa!
"It's ok papa, I know you're doing this for me and big brother and dad-dy!" He corrected himself.
Nos smiles and kisses the top of his child's head but notice the different smell. He smelled rustolian oil mix with a very familiar cologne. His daughter had smelled like roses and lavender and earth but this was different.
"Mor have you jumped in oil?"
Nox tilted his head until he remembered his papa could smell the different scents.
"I-I-I-"
"That was my fault!" Ald spoke out. "You see I wanted to check out this part shop and well the oil shop. The stench must have covered her!"
Nos raised a brow but sensing his daughter was nervous. Nonetheless he did not like the idea of his child in a dangerous place.
"ALD you know it is dangerous for her! What if she was taken or worse!?" He growls.
"I'm t-t-t-t-terribly so-so-so-sorry. I-I wanted t-t-t-t-to s-s-se-see it." Nox looks down ashamed, believing he got his sister and Ald in trouble. He felt his papa hold him in comfort.
"I worry about your safety Mor, especially when any harm can come to you. I am sorry for getting upset my dear." he was worried now. 'She has not ever had any difficulty talking to me. What happened?'
Nox nuzzles into his papa's chest and fell asleep.
Nos sensed his child was asleep and was relief to see her relaxed but noticed a necklace he was unfamiliar with. 'Mor dislike wearing silver.' he lifts it up, analyzing the necklace
"Oh I got her that." Ald spoke nervously.
Nos still saw to it to take it off but he was stopped.
"I made a challenge that she has to keep it on until I say so." ALD stated and Nos shook his head. "I will put it back on her." He mumbles as he unhooked the chain and took it off. ALD was rushing to his side as Nos raised it up see it but was surprised to learn it was a simple silver necklace but saw on the edge were initials. He knew those initials are DRAC's.
"ALD why is-!" He pauses by a puff of smoke out of nowhere. He looks down to see not his daughter but his son. It clicked in his head. That scent was that cologne XR likes to put on.
ALD froze and frightened to see Nos look up to him. The said white energy vampire could see he was crying. He has never seen his brother this way. "I can explain."
Nos carefully wrapped his son with his cape and holds him like he did when he was a baby. He stood up and as low as he could, he began whispering.
"Please tell me what happened?"
ALD screen began to show Nox and Mor playing and the said father was surprised.
'They met.' He then sees them making a plan to switch and sees Nox was nervous, beginning to get scared. 'What has made my son so terrified?' Nos knew he could not see nor talk to XR with their comms being tapped but he needs to know.
ALD stuck his arm out for Nos and with his free hand, he held it and bit into it and and absorb the data memory. He lets go and holds his son closer, tears were coming out.
"He has been wanting to see you for so long." ALD stated.
"So have I." He whispered. "The last time I held him was when he was a baby. I remembered holding him in my hands, promising him that I would protect him. Here he is again only I failed him."
"No you did not." ALD place a palm on his shoulder. "You tried to see him as well bring Mor to see her dad for the past 5 years. None of you are at fault."
Nos holds his son closer, sensing he was waking up.
"Papa?" He asked, half awake and surprised to see his papa crying.
"Are you ok?" that was when he noticed his voice was back.
Nos held him close. "I am alright my son. I just really missed you."
Nox perked up and was ready to cry but his father smiles holding him close. "I am not upset. I am far from being upset. I am happy."
Nox was nervous but felt Nos nuzzles to him.
"I miss you so much."
Nox smiles and hold his papa close.
"I miss you too papa!" he spoke weakly.
Meanwhile
Mor sat by her dad as XL was placing the movie in.
XR held his son close but realized his kid smelled very different. He smelled roses and lavender and most of all he smelled.
"Nos…" he whispered and decided to try out his scanner and there he saw next to him is his daughter.
"Mor-6a?!"
Mor backs away nervously and shook. She saw her daddy was shocked.
She was ready to cry but she remembers she couldn't so she whimpered in fear, causing the lights to flicker.
"Sweety it's ok! It's ok." He held her. "I'm not mad."
"Your not?" she asked with a hiccup.
He shook his head. "No I'm just surprised you're here. I thought I never see you again."
Mor sensing no one around unclips the necklace and within seconds she was back to herself.
XR smiles and felt her calm a bit. "Sweetheart I know this will be easier but you have to keep a low profile for me. The people here are…. A little hard." He frowns at the part.
Mor nodded. "Of course daddy!" She smiled showing her fangs.
XR smiles, "I can't believe you're actually here I mean I thought I'd never see you again."
Mor smiles happily and XR cooed. "Aww! You have your papa's smile."
Mor giggles and blushes. "Papa says I have your personality."
XR smiles and sees Mor hugs him tightly. "We have a lot to catch up."
Nos tucks his son into the coffin and smiles. "Is there anything else? Oil?"
Nox shook his head.
Nos kisses him on the head and moves away and leaves the light on for him.
"Goodnight my little bat."
"Goodnight papa." He mumbles and fell asleep.
Nos makes his way to make a call and hopes XR was not busy. He knew it was a bit of a risk but he could not take it anymore.
XR watches as his daughter was fast asleep and couldn't help but smile at the sight of his daughter sleeping. He remembered when she was just a baby. "She was so cute and small." He mumbles. But senses someone coming so he placed the necklace on her. He turns around but stiffen a bit to see it was Nebula.
"How is Nox?" He asked.
"He's doing great. Just a little sad about earlier-"
"I heard he left star command with XL. You didn't try anything did you?" He glares down.
"No all they did was just go to the part shop. You know commander Nebula what you did was too far." XR crosses his arms, his voice raised a bit. "He didn't do any harm but just see his dad through a hologram! He deserves to see his father-"
"And let him attack him and turn him to a freak? No-"
"He isn't a freak!" He stopped and look back to see Mor still asleep. He pushes Nebula out of the lab and closes the doors.
He turns to the commander and glares.
"He isn't a freak! His sister isn't a freak and his father isn't a freak or a monster! You have no idea how stressing and scared Nox is feeling. How every night he tries to find ways to see him! He is the sweetest and caring and for years asked to see his father. He deserves to see him."
"He deserves to keep away from evil! If you ask me one more time I'll send him far away where you can't find him."
"Your no better than Zurg." XR spoke and went back inside and frowns until he hears a recorded organ playing. He reacts quickly and smiles.
"Hey Nos." he smiles in relief.
"Hello luv." Nos replied and smiles at the sound of XR's voice.
"Is it safe to say how I feel about this…?" he asked, for a year they couldn't talk with star command recording their calls.
"For now it is not, I am having difficulty grasping the connection." Nos replied lying against the wall. "I am still working on the kinks. I have been wanting to call you but circumstances are irritating." He frowns.
"I don't blame you. Almost everyone here is being awful. There is so many times Nox wants to talk to you but he can't when they think calling is a possible bad influence." he could hear a small growl from Nos. "How are you with the rubies?"
Nos smiles and looks to the room of where Nox is sleeping. "he rubies are fine, a little rough but they are safe. What about the topaz?" both were able to use key codes to make sense what they talk about.
"Same just I didn't expect to get any gifts you know?" XR smiles and looks to Mor.
"Neither did I but of course I do not regret. Would you like to meet up sometime next week with the gems?" Nos hopes his mate agrees.
"Of course, I miss being with you especially when we used to-" he hears a small click and grin with the fact they stopped recording.
"I do not sense the third connection so we are safe to talk freely. How is Mor? She was not scared was she?"
"She was a bit but she's ok now. I can't believe she almost reaching to my height and I can't believe she's only 5."
Nos chuckles. "She has been stretching in hopes she be as tall as me. She has quite a knack to card games."
"Really? Well can't wait to see how she plays against me." He grins and began to feel nervous. "How's Nox? Is he ok? He wasn't scared was he?"
"When I found out about the switch, he was scared but I reassure him I was not. I cannot believe how much he went through, I wished I was there protecting him."
"And then they'll arrest you for whatever lie they can cook up. I don't want our kids having to talk to you through a window." XR looks at Mor. "I wished I took him with me you know? I should have took him with me-"
"You had no idea and it was risky if you did. XR it was not your fault. You and I could only do what we can. Did you know they thought of the plan?"
XR chuckles. "They definitely got your smarts and tricks."
"They have your determination luv." Nos smiles at the memory he saw. "They thought of an impossible idea and look what they were able to do. Imagine if they got a hold of our tools?"
"Oh man they can probably build a ship when they can put their minds to it." XR giggles softly and hears Nos chuckling. "I miss your laughs and the way you smile babe."
Nos smiles. "I miss holding you luv and playing the organ for you."
XR blushes and thought of their son. "While we are talking about them, I know you won't hesitate but can you take the week off and enjoy it with Nox? I know you may not be able to but please?"
"I will luv but whatever you do, keep Mor with you. I fear her habits may expose her."
"What kind of habits?" XR was worried now.
"As of recently, she has been feeling and reacting to Nox's emotions gradually. I fear if Nox reacts in a negative way-"
"She'll react the same or worse." XR frowns and felt guilt rising.
Nos sensing a pang wished he could comfort his mate. "Please know Mor and Nox would not blame you, they love you too much and just want to be a family again."
"I know they do. I… I just wish I could have done something to change this."
"Luv you are not at fault, remember that especially when Nebula wanted both twins to train when they were just babies. If not for you, our children would have been taken from us."
XR smiles. "Thank you Nos. So is there anything else?"
"Well," Nos paused. "... She can make grown men cry with her poetry."
"Wow she can?"
"Yes and she can already manipulate technology along with her singing."
"So wait, she's like a siren too? I knew you were part Sirenian." XR chuckles.
"Not exactly but I have a feeling Zurg might have made another energy vampire for that but I will not be able to look into it."
"Maybe I can but other than that, should I be worried about her teething?"
"Yes. She likes to bite into almost anything that is sturdy."
"Ok but for Nox… he can't scream." XR spoke.
"I was told by ALD and I had noticed that." Nos internally growls.
XR wanted to cry. "It's my fault."
"XR it is not." Nos calms himself sensing XR was breaking down. "You were forced to leave and threatened everyday of losing him. If you did one mistake they would hurt him. Luv you have been strong for the both of us and for our children. You are my hero."
"Thank you Nos, I wish I was with you."
"Me too. I love you and I will always be here for you." Nos smiles, his core brightening a bit.
XR blushes to feel his core glows a bit feeling his passion erupting in him. "You know I wasn't lying when I said I miss you Nos and the things we use to do together."
Nos purrs, "So do I luv." he growls lowly.
XR blushes deeply but knew their time was almost up. "So what do we do? Sorry but I know we have little time until they listen in on us."
"For now, we enjoy as much as we can with them and no one finds out." Nos frowns sensing the third connection. "I must go and close up shop."
"Alright but remember you owe me a night at least."
Nos purrs. "Of course, see you later my alligator."
"In a while my crocodile." XR hangs up and wanted to cry but sees his daughter next to him.
"Hey kiddo, you ok?"
Mor sits next to him and hugs him. XR smiles and hugs her. "Me too."
Nos sits on the ground trying to control his tears but sees Nox before him.
"I-I-it's ok to cr-cry papa." Nox allowed his tears to fall. Nos felt his tears coming down and holds his son close.