From the beginning when he dated 42, he can say it was a bumpy ride.

Bumpy was as nice as he could to describe their relationship. They had a lot of problems and one of them was working together.

He was fine when 42 threatened his friends as a ship. He loved her and it was hard for her.

He took things slow with her and over the first few months, they were sweet.

He was supportive when she wanted to be a space ranger and even helped her train for it. Despite the mistakes she made, he rooted for her.

But when she started to go on the same missions, he felt left out. He can admit she was terrific at her job; but she was competitive and each mission felt like a drag. It didn't help that she was praised for her accomplishments but when he's left in the mud, she doesn't help him and instead looks away from him. He wondered when she started distancing herself from him. When did she begin noticing his flaws that made her look annoyed? When did they make their job a competition?

'When did she stop saying I love you?' He thought when he was sitting at a table alone. He watches her talk with the other rangers about the recent mission. He listens, but tense when she talks about Nos. It's been a week since they last talked, a week since the mission and 3 days since he stopped messaging 42. When she came back today, she didn't look for him! It was bothering him more since his talk with Ryder.

"I swear, he would have died if Buzz wasn't there! And of course I was able to apprehend the culprits…" She talks away.

"Are you sure about that? Because I heard and saw from my buddy Ryder that Nos was keeping the king safe. And that he and Nos apprehend the culprits." XR gets up and leaves, not caring if they were startled by him or the fact he didn't praise her. He just wanted to get out.

"XR!"

XR kept treading off until he was forced to stop. He turns to see 42 running up.

"You know how to make a girl run." She teases but XR was not smiling, he looked indifferent. "Listen, sweet, what's been going on with you? We hardly talk."

"42," he frowns, trying to think of what to say. "Do you still love me?"

"Of course! Is this about that friend? I told you the truth and I wouldn't-"

"Can you show me then?" XR asked but saw 42 backs away. "We can share data and you can see my-" He saw her pull away from him.

"I can't." 42 shouted. "XR I love you, but why can't you just trust me? You've been getting insufferable lately and it isn't good for us."

"For us? 42, we used to just share our memories together, showing about our days. You stopped when you found out you couldn't get a core like mine. You used to at least hold my hand. What's been going on?" XR reaches to her but she pulls away.

"XR you can be mean when you bring out that subject. You know how much it bothers me that because I'm an A.I, the core couldn't connect to me! It rejected me!" She shook, pixelated tears fell on her screen. "That meant we couldn't connect like that!"

XR stops and feels guilty for that but shakes the guilt. It was out of his control, it wasn't his fault but to get away, "You're right but that isn't my fault. I just want us to be happy again." He sees her smiles and hugs her. Just as he hugs her, she pulls away.

"I better get going XR," 42 goes and walks away. XR watches her head to his pop's office and messages Ryder.

XR: I think the tracker is on her."

It did, I got her on lojack, I'll keep you posted.

XR felt a bit bad but he needed to know the truth. He just hopes it was all in his head and 42 is just having trouble coping. But he felt either way, she was so far from him, that he felt there was nothing there between them anymore. 'I can't even tell her I love you.'

"Team Lightyear! Report to the lab!"

XR sighs and treads off. When he got there, he was startled to see Nos and Ozma talking away like…. Something. he watched them talk but he saw Buzz was steaming.

"Did I miss something?" 'How did Nos know Ozma? Are they friends or more than friends…?' He felt so uncomfortable as he saw them talk but Ozma was giving that look she gives to Buzz.

"So you work for the GAF now? I thought you wanted a quiet life?" Ozma teases and Nos chuckles.

"It is a long story if you do not mind hearing it miss Furbanna." Nos smiles.

"You can call me Ozma and technically you're above me." She grins and XR sees her batting her eyes, "I also heard you brought up about bringing a sanctuary for the tasma cendidites in a safer zone in the terra axia, I want to thank you for that. You helped an endangered species from extinction."

"It is unfair they were being poached and trafficked, the least I can do is help where I can." Nos explains and Ozma only smiles.

"You know after this I could give you a lift to your house if you don't mind having dinner with me?" Ozma gets close-

"Sorry Ozma! But Nos promised to watch a movie with me and hisdaughter." XR interrupted and was between the two. "Maybe next time!" He pulls Nos away and ignored the looks he got from Nos and the others.

"You know Ozma, I could take you to dinner." Buzz steps in and grins at her. "For old times?"

"XR, I will ask as kindly as I can: What is the matter with you?" Nos was hoping to talk to Ozma about working on finding a new settlement for a species he came across as well to see if she can help talk about animals for his daughter's school.

"What's wrong with me? How do you even know Ozma?" XR was feeling like Nos wasn't telling him everything again. Was it his friend right to not share his personal life all the time? Sure but he was being flirted with by Ozma! That woman can turn heads with a bat of a lash! And it was bothering him how close they were!

"She had helped me when I was shifting for the first time." Nos explains and can see the practical buffer cycle spinning over his friend's head. "My tata had called her for help to check on my body as a physical exam. He trusted her to help me if I had anything wrong."

Little did Nos know, XR was trying to process what he said. "So she… saw you… saw everything?" He felt bothered and weird now. Bothered that Ozma knows the truth, but no wonder that vixen was all ogling him like a feast! 'I can't let her take advantage of him!'

"I cannot exactly talk about this out here-" Nos then sees XR was either angry or looked annoyed about the whole thing. He then figured he can explain it in another way. "Would showing you my memories be better?"

XR was then darker than he ever was! "Wh-what do you mean?" he wondered what he meant.

"You can see from my memory of what was going on but this will have to be after this meeting. I came here as a representative to help miss Furbanna to expand her research. The GAF wishes to help in creating a campaign to help endangered species after one ambassador brought out a species dying out. I was hoping she can bring about the importance of animals at Vanet's school."

"That's it?" XR was surprised, he can say he fell for her in a beat but Nos was really indifferent. It was confusing but interesting.

"Is there supposed to be?" Nos watches XR pull back and raise a brow until he has a thought behind XR's behavior "Did you think she and I are some kind of item? We are, as Ryder put it, dancing the late night tango?"

"She was flirting with you Nos!" XR stated. "Plus she's Buzz's old flame, I didn't want you to be in some love triangle." He felt that was the big reason but yet it wasn't and he didn't want to know.

Nos was quiet before he snickered and laughed. XR was puzzled but he can tell Nos wasn't mocking him. It was sincerely a natural reaction. "XR, I do not fancy women that way."

XR perked up. "So," he was trying to think how to ask when he asked without thinking. "What about guys? Do you like them?" XR asked and saw Nos raise a brow. "I- I don't think of you any less! It's just new to me. Never really thought about it." XR was being serious, this was a new thing and it was something he never really thought of.

"Well…." Nos was looking away from XR, his emotions were something he was not exceptionally open to talk about, especially with XR. "... I am unsure how to explain that; I do not know how to feel about that or want to understand what I like. However I know well I do not fancy females, much less organics." He had an idea but he could not tell if it was hunger or adoration or even if it was love. "It is hard to understand that emotion when you were programmed to do the opposite. I do not explorethatpart because it is something that…" Nos felt worried to explain.

"It's hard to understand those feelings." XR looks at him, "Even I can't really make sense of my own feelings." XR was trying to figure out his feelings right now with everything "I could say from experience, just enjoy what you can understand."

"What if I cannot enjoy them? Say there are restrictions." Nos ask him that.

"I'm not sure." XR frowns, "Sorry if I can't be much help."

"I appreciate the help you can give and for being honest." Nos smiles. "I think for now, I will just keep them preserved. I need to be there for my daughter and to have a lover, it has not crossed my mind."

XR smiles but as soon as he sees Nos leaves, he felt he didn't give much help for himself and Nos but then thanks to Nos he was not worried or felt weird about it. He hurries off and goes to Nos when he stops.

"Oh you're here."

XR hears It's 42 in the hall before the lab. He sees Nos raise a brow and glared down at her and passes her. She scoffed and blocked him again.

"You know it is rude to ignore a lady-"

"You are being rude." He passes her only for her to once again stop him. "May I ask why you are bothering me?"

"I know you are trying to be nice, being XR's friend, but I know you were eyeing me at the party." 42 grins, she batted her eyes at him and XR was alarmed to see her like this! "But I-"

"I am not into women." Nos straight out cuts her off. "And if you think I would even talk to you just because you are my friend's girlfriend, you are mistaken. So unless you want me to tell XR about this behavior, you best stop it.NOW. I can tolerate the insults and the lies over me, but the second someone deface my someone that is important to me (not Ryder) I will make them eat their words. The only reason I have yet to tell XR of this is because I do not want to be the one to hurt him. Do not doubt my words, 42, do not make me eager to tell him. I do not want to be the one to take his happiness." He walks past her and leaves.

XR was shocked but he goes a different way and hides in a closed room. He calls up Ryder and he answers before the first ring.

"I just saw 42 try to flirt with Nos-" XR stops when he hears Ryder laughing away.

"Sorry bossman, but that guy likes girls like he likes salad: not at all!"

XR would have laughed but it still bothered him that she was trying to get to him. "He was also being chatty with Ozma Furbanna-"

"You mean that hot vixen that checks on his shifting form? I swear he's the biggest babe magnet, but he repels the attraction. He doesn't even know he's being flirted with."

XR grumbles. "Exactly! But I didn't get her caught in the act."

"Well if she's prowling, she might still be. Looks like she's heading to some room down the bottom."

XR zooms off and hurries until he stops, seeing Nos and Ozma walking and talking. He looks to him and the direction to 42, making him choose. He frowns and chooses to find 42. 'I trust Nos and sure as heck believe him.' He sped off but the feeling was still bothering him.

He made it to the spot and saw this was where patrol bots were located for recharge or to be fixed. He looks around and then hears 42 giggling and he quietly goes to peek and sees the sight of her hugging a patrol bot!

"Oh thank you for being here for me~ that mean agent was the rudest person! And he's rubbing off on XR that he doesn't show he loves me! But you have been so sweet to me."

XR was beyond angry! He watches and catches her kissing him and sharing her memories with that bot! Granted connecting wasn't exactly sex, but it was a special thing between them!

"42! How could you!" XR shouted, catching them.

42 was startled and pulled away. "XR?! I-I can explain! Bob was just hearing me out-"

"You think I still believe you!? You tried to flirt with Nos, Ryder, and now I see you canoodling with 'Bob' here?!" XR was angry and glared at 42. "That's it, I'm done! We're through!" He treads off and leaves, he didn't hear 42 or try to stop. He left, he flew, he didn't know where he went until he shut off the auto pilot and saw he was in front of Nos's shop. He let himself cry it out and curled to himself.

"Young man?"

XR looks up to see the owner of the cafe and Nos's dad. "Sorry, I'll just leave- *yelp*!" XR was lifted and carried by the said old vampire. He didn't get a chance to talk until he was brought to the cafe but instead of that nice room, he brought him to a different room above the cafe and saw it was outdoorsy with a small garden and books on a bookcase. He saw pictures he recognized were Vanet's but he saw pictures taken around town. He can see there was a hammock and the coffin charger he knew well. This was Nos's personal space.

"I don't think I'm supposed to be here-!" He was placed in the coffin, he was a bit surprised by the gentle care.

Nosfer brought a chair over and sat. "What happened to you?"

XR frowns, "I broke up with my girlfriend who cheated on me today. And I just ran away." He was quiet and frowned.

"It's not your fault, you are hurt and she does not deserve you. my fiu told me a lot about you when he first came here." Nosfer got up. "He was very much afraid of crossing paths with you, how you were happy now that he was no longer there and did not wish to ruin that hope."

XR perked and was quiet. "If I'm gonna be honest, I was. I mean he used to be programmed as a villain. But after getting to know him better, I can say I want him in my life. Why or how is he different?"

Nosfer hums. "What do you know?"

XR frowns. "I know about the antimatter in him but I found out not too long ago he has a core like mine. I don't think he knows I have one either."

"I believe all the evil he had exploded out of his core when he did, giving him a chance to be himself. The uni-mind core put him back together like a vampire when only the heart remains. It could be what is keeping the antimatter in control as well." Nosfer was thinking back then if his son made something similar like the core, maybe 2A_9 could have been himself.

"I want to ask you this because I know my fiu would not; bringing you to his space is to show you how much he trusts you. Can I trust you to share that much?"

"I will." XR spoke and felt a bit relieved but felt embarrassed being here while Nos was with Ozma. He probably should head back to "I know Nos doesn't know I'm here, and maybe I should head out. He's with-!" XR stops when he sees a familiar orange glow flying down. He saw it was Nos that passed through the barrier but he was drenched from the rain.

"XR are you alright?" Nos kneels to him and has both hands on his shoulders but gets startled when XR hugs him.

XR hugged his friend tightly. "No, I'm definitely not ok." He opens his dome and lays his head on his shoulder. "I'm really sorry you had to stop your time from Ozma, I just didn't know where to go but I know I'd feel worse if I stayed at Star command. I just don't want to see her." He grumbles.

Nos did not have to ask, he knew who he meant. "Did something happen with 42?" It was from what he gathered from the last mission a few days ago but he could tell it was much worse.

"Can we talk in the workshop?" He pleaded.

Nos thought about it but he had somewhere better to take him to clear his head. "First let me get change, tata told me he saw you outside of my shop. I will be back." He goes inside to change out of his wet clothes. He was worried when his tata called him that XR was just outside of his shop. He was worried now and he knew his friend needed him. He apologized to Miss Furbanna and ran off and did not care if anyone saw him fly out, he needed to get to XR. He sighed, feeling he did more than cared about XR, that his feelings were past the friendship. But he also knew XR was in a vulnerable state. 'I will not take advantage of him.' He made it affirmed as he undresses his wet clothes in the small private bathroom. He takes out The set he keeps hidden when things like this happened.

XR looked at Nosfer who smiled. "Thank you."

"Do not thank me, Nos would have flown faster if you told him what happened. Just be honest with him." He pats his back and goes inside.

XR follows him but stops at the edge of the stairs. He frowns until he sees Nos coming up.

Nos pushes his feelings down as he holds his hand out. "Do you want to fly out or come downstairs?"

"Maybe go down? Your dad helped me up but I can-!" He was not embarrassed when Nos picked him up but instead of carrying him on the side, his friend carried him like a delicate object and brought him downstairs. The depressed ranger clung to him as he noticed Nos was very careful of him and knowing it was a short trip down, XR felt a little better being held.

When they got near the bottom, XR just lay against his dome on top of Nos's shoulder. He didn't want to let go until he felt Nos stop in his steps. He didn't get a chance to ask when he heard voices he recognized very well.

"We're looking for our friend XR who was in this area but it seemed to have lost his signal. His girlfriend is really worried about him-"

"There is no one here, as you can see." Nosfer spoke loudly.

Nos held XR close and changed to his robotic self, his clothes still fit him and quietly went back to the roof patio. Nos held XR and ran across before spreading his wings out and flying out into the mid afternoon sky. It was nearing summer so the days were a bit longer here, meaning no one would notice them flying above them. He held his friend close to him as he flew out.

XR felt nervous not because of Nos but if he was going to get caught by his team or worse they catch Nos, he would not forgive himself. He saw 42 looking around the streets but luckily didn't notice they were above. XR clings to Nos and nearly forgets Nos has that randometer which was probably why they couldn't find him.

He sees the town minimize in the distance as XR saw they flew over the field, past the forest, somewhere unexpected. When they got to the spot, Nos sat him down on a rock and sat with him. They were looking from the top of a mountain area that had some green but he was in awe of the view that looked out over the whole valley.

"I usually come here to think or when I need to be alone. It is also safe for you so not to worry."

XR was amazed, and he wasn't a nature lover. He had to admit, it felt nice to be somewhere where no one he knew was here. Not even his best friends. "Thanks… I broke up with 42." He blurted it out. "I know it's not something to mope about."

Nos was quiet until he asked. "How did it happen?" He was worried he heard about his threat to 42."

XR paused but looked up. "I caught her cheating and it hurts because she was connecting to some patrol bot."

"Is this connection something special between robots?" Nos asked, being not as perceptive about this newfound information.

"Not exactly, to some it's like exchanging love letters or sharing memories. I know it's not exactly romantic, but it was special to me. But she also kept her distance with me, and it hurts because she would say I wasn't by her side all the time."

"Was hanging out with me part of the problem?" Nos could not say he was feeling bad, he felt some sense he might be the cause of it when XR was hanging out with him.

"No, definitely not!" XR stated and looked at him. "42 and I had problems way before you and I re-met. She didn't like me hanging out with the team, much less having our dates at Cosmo's. I mean we did go out to other places, but going on missions together, did thin out our patience with each other. Plus I had gone out of my way to be with her more than I did with my friends."

Nos listens and lets him talk. He could see his friend was letting it all out.

A lot more than some.

"S-So just when I followed her, I found her kissing a patrol bot named Bob!" XR was steaming red but cooled down when Nos handed him a can of oil he had in his chest panel. He held it and sighs. "But in the end, I feel like I failed her too."

"How? You both work at the same place, it becomes more competitive than it should and as you said she distanced herself from you. I would have believed it if I did not meet her or the fact you hung out with me three days out of the week." Nos looks out to the view. "You can talk about it more if it helps."

XR was quiet but looked out to the sky. "I mean she isn't perfect-"

"XR, you can express your feelings about her. As an old saying goes, 'It takes two to tango.' So out with it." Nos leans back.

"Well…. She was always asking me where I was going, even following me around star command." XR thought about it.

"Keep going." Nos added.

"She took over my job a lot, went on missions without me but if I so much even had a card game, she flipped!" XR fumes. "Oh and even using my weapons without charging them! I even gave her her own weapons!"

Nos listens but after a while, XR was soon drained after a long list of things later. "Feeling better?"

"Yeah but I'm still depressed but talking helped. Thanks for listening to me." XR smiles a bit.

"Of course." Nos stood up seeing the time and it was near night. Vanet was spending time in Gravitina's place and going to pick her up soon. But he did not want XR to go back to star command like this. "Would you like to stay over at my home?"

"Is your dad ok with it?" XR wouldn't mind paying for a hotel but he knows his team will probably find him that way. And he wasn't ready to talk to 42. "I don't want to be rude."

"He does not mind having more people in our home. I just have to pick up Vanet from Gravitina's home here."

XR perked up. "Really? Tina stays here during the week?"

"When I cannot pick up Vanet after work, Gravitina comes during the week to pick her up. Although I have made Gravitina as a second contact, it is hard because some do not approve of me being a suitable father/ guardian."

"Why?! You're an amazing dad!" XR asked.

"It is because I am not her biological father and the fact I do not have a spouse, makes it worse."

XR was alarmed and frowned. "That's not fair! You're not a scum! You're not a monster- and I mean the immoral creeper monsters! You drained energy out but you don't do unspeakable things."

"I know that, but I was still a villain XR."

"You're not Nos, as a space ranger and a friend, you are a good guy." XR stated.

"Thank you XR." Nos thanked him, he felt reassured and got up. "Want to come pick up Vanet?" He asked.

"What if I get you into trouble?" XR knows his team is still searching for him. Nos shuffled through his chest and took out the randometer.

"Nos that's your protection!" XR knew if Nos goes out there, he's a sitting duck!

"Then I best stay by you and besides, Vanets misses you." Nos smiles.

"Really?" XR smiles to hear that.

"Really. Now may you please open your panel so I can put this on you?." Nos holds the part.

XR can tell he was blushing but nodded and opened his chest panel for Nos. The said energy vampire kneels and was surprised to see a core similar to his own.

"You have a uni-mind core." Nos spoke out of thought.

"Y-yeah, they said I needed to keep up so they gave me one." XR looked to Nos and saw he was amazed.

"I have one as well, but it is smaller." Nos spoke.

"Better small than being a target." XR jokes but ignores how close they got now. He sees Nos installing the part and XR perked how different it was!

Nos tested it out and saw he was off the radar. "Good, we will fly down and meet Ryder." Nos spreads his wings. "And since it is Friday, we can make a small race. Winner chooses the movie to watch." Nos grins.

"Really? Then you're- Hey!" XR follows him down, he tries to catch up by boosting his speed. He gets close but loses his balance when he goes too fast. He covers his dome with his arms but feels something catch him and takes the impact.

XR groaned but saw Nos had used his wings as a shield.

"Are you alright XR?" Nos asked but saw XR was checking his wings.

"I should be asking you that! You took the hit more than me!" XR checked and saw the wings weren't damaged but was worried about him. "They look fine, can you retract them in?"

Nos does as he asked and XR saw he had no reaction and was relieved to see but hesitated before asking. "Can you let me do a thorough scan by connecting to you?"

Nos did not expect that. "Is it necessary? You said it was-"

"I just want to make sure you're fine!" XR didn't understand why he bursted out with that. "I know what I said before but it's different! I'm single now and this is a health issue- What if you start turning off? Or your arm falls off? Or there's something loose!? And we're friends! Friends do this!" He never did this with anyone or even did this sort of treatment for any robots, a few times for 42 but that was far and between.

Nos caved in and touched a spot on his neck and opened a port for XR. The said space ranger was not feeling flustered, nor was he getting shy! He plugs himself in Nos and shudders a bit as he notices Nos' system was a bit more complex than his but amazed how Nos was letting him read through him like a book! He blushes finding two blueprints of his body and he didn't know he was intersex! He steered away and went back to doing a thorough scan and tried to not want to look into his-

"XR if you want to look into my memory about the check up, you can. I trust you." Nos spoke calmly.

XR was bewildered how Nos was giving him this amount of trust. "That can wait, health check up first." He didn't know if he was saying that to himself. He finishes his scan and finds nothing wrong. "All clear." He smiles and pulls out his cord. "There's no internal damage or anything serious." He smiles but couldn't help but think about what he learned about Nos. Just when he can ask nos, he sees a hover car pull up and sees it was Ryder.

"You two alright?" Ryder steps out to see XR just pulling out his cord out of Nos's port. "... Are you two getting frisky? I pegged you as a pitcher Nos."

"We are not!/I was checking on his system!" Nos got up and XR pulls away neither looking at each other.

"You know what, I will fly there, check if the wings are fine and meet you both there! Ta ta!"

"Wait! Nos!" XR sees Nos flying off. 'Does he remember he doesn't have that part? "We gotta catch up!"' XR hurried in the car with Ryder getting in and started the car and sped up to catch up. He felt bad but embarrassed and looked at Ryder. "Did you really have to say that?"

Ryder kept his sights on Nos coming up in view. "So you're not denying it? Nos looked like he'd-"

"Not that! I was checking on his wings and his system! He took a hit when I nearly hit too close to brace myself. He got hurt because of me." XR was getting flustered how this 6 foot tall giant was making comments like that! "A-and I was just checking on his systems. Nothing special…" XR looks to Nos but looks away after hearing Ryder say that.

"You know Bossman, I'm not judging, but it looked a little different to me but I could be seeing it wrong. It's not like you're into guys."

XR looks at Ryder and then side glances at Nos, he never thought he would. 'I mean that one time when everyone went back to normal, they didn't get a rise.' He just probably thinks of it as nothing. "Right." He pushed the imagery of Nos's anatomy in the back of his mind and instead talked to Ryder what to do until they got to Gravitina's place. XR knew Tina's place had to be extravagant and it was a penthouse. Nos walks inside but XR and Ryder waits in the car but XR hides away when he senses Buzz and his team are coming up. 'Thank the solars, these windows are tinted.' He thought. He watches them pass the car and sees 42 coming and looks nervous. He didn't know if it was her feeling guilty or the fact she was nervous of everyone finding out the truth. He didn't care until he sees Nos walking with Vanet outside, carrying her backpack.

"Maybe I can make something with you to make XR feel better?" Vanet asked, holding her papa's hand.

"I believe XR will love that-"

"Where is XR?!"

Nos instinctively kept Vanet behind him when he sensed 42. "Why would I tell you that?" Nos glares down at the small A.I.

"Because her boyfriend is nowhere after a fight, and she is worried." Buzz walks up and glares. "If you're really his friend, you tell us where XR is."

"Mr. Atu we think XR isn't ok and we're really worried." Booster spoke up. "I'm really worried about him."

"Please, not for 42 but for us, his friends?" Mira was worried about XR.

XR frowns hearing them and thinks about what to do.

"I cannot tell you where he is, but I will say he is alright. I have been talking to him and he told me why he ran out." Nos glares at 42, "but please give him time to recuperate-" Nos sees Buzz pulling out his comm. "You are making a mistake."

"I am calling the commander about this to push GAF to-"

"Buzz don't!" XR got out of the car and stood by Nos and kept Vanet behind him. "Look, this was between me and 42," XR didn't want to drag Nos in his problems or anyone. "But 42 brought you guys into this mess."

"I only wanted to find you." 42 reaches to hold XR's hand but froze when XR backs away.

"Like I found you cheating?" XR glares at her, he couldn't see his friends reaction.

"Why didn't you come to us?" Buzz was getting mad not about his friend, but 42 made it out that XR was in danger. And it hurt that XR went to Nosferatu, of all people for help.

"I didn't think about it and I didn't want to be in Star Command! I know I had options but it didn't feel like I did. I'm sorry I just ran like that but I needed someone that was not gonna side with 42 or me."

"I would still side with you XR," Nos spoke calmly. "And me too." Vanet added.

"SAME!" Ryder shouted out. "Look if you don't believe him, we got evidence she was coochin with some bot named Bob. Heck she tried to flirt up on me and Nos only she messed up on that because Nos swings-"

"Enough Ryder!" Nos and XR shouted

Buzz glares at 42 for making this more than it should but he wanted to bring his friend back home. "When we get back, we can talk more before a mission comes up."

Nos understood this meant XR had to go back-

"I'm not going." XR answers. "If I go in a mission with what happened today, I can be a risk! So you can take 42 and have a great mission. Besides, I have a personal mission to get to: having a hangout tonight."

Nos perked up and saw that Vanet was surprised and was happy to hear that.

"I'll drive us there!" Ryder shouted.

Buzz was alarmed. "XR you sure about this?"

42 was keeping quiet, thanks to the glare Mira gave her but she was feeling that familiar jealousy and possessive side she had. How could XR break up after her mistake! It wasn't like she could kiss someone else!

"I am." XR smiles. "I'll see you guys tomorrow." He smiles and turns to Nos and his daughter. "Ready?"

"XR!" 42 wanted to grab XR but that man blocked her as he let XR sit in the front. She watches them leave off, watching XR leaving her behind.

"Alright team, we better head on back. But 42, we need to talk about what happened." Buzz needed to fix this and have it where XR doesn't have to be near 42. He didn't need his friend in more turmoil.

"Yeah and it's also about how you've been treating XR." Mira was already livid about 42 being inconsiderate to her friend but the fact she cheated on him! Not cool

42 was steaming at how XR smiled that way to that organic freak! What bothered her even more was the fact this alien has been giving that look to XR! That same look she used to give to XR! She couldn't help but feel this man was stealing XR and he knows it! and she couldn't help but internally need XR back with her.

XR was sitting in the front as he turned to see Nos and Vanet talk about her school project idea. "Hey I can give you some ideas, hold on." he opens his dome and hands his head to Nos who was surprised but held him carefully. He shuddered at the feel of cold hands but he didn't mind it. In fact, it was pretty good and soothing. "So what's your project?"

Vanet beams and begins talking to XR about her project being about volcanoes. As the three talk, the fourth being Ryder, notices Nos and XR seemed different. 'Different like something new between them. I doubt either will notice it.' He drives off to Nos's home.

~D~

Little did anyone know or notice during their little open conversation, they were being watched.

Specifically, two targets were being watched.

The figure hums away as he watches from the spy as he sets the figures down of chess pieces. He smirks seeing the last helsing was indeed found but the fact there was a familiar but disturbing sight of his dead master's face after centuries.

"How funny Life is." he taps on the chess piece, the rook, before humming. "I simply cannot attack the rook yet, but he seems to have a soft spot for the little soldier." The screen reveals XR and then looks to the team lightyear and smirks. "Perhaps lets keep an eye on him more…." the figure, revealing to be a titan of a robot, stood as his wings expands out and smirks. "How is searching for the remnant of Nos-4-a2?"

[Unsuccessful]

He shrugs. "Guess even potentials can be exterminated. No matter, soon as I dispose of that bloodline before she becomes a threat, I will take up my mantle and end this little game." He picks up the Rook. "And I will enjoy making that Rook watch his little child die!" he crushes the rook in his claws. He laughs evilly, echoing through the halls of his castle.