Shawn

<<could I have done this more dramatic?>>

Grief. It's a strange feeling. It's complicated. And unwanted. Yet we go through it every day. Even if we don't feel it. It's constantly happening in your head. Driving you insane. But it's just a feeling. And feelings can be overcome.

-"Wha-wha? W-Where am I?"

I sighed not knowing what to answer.

-"somewhere safe."

I answered. It was the first thing I came up with. She sneezed. And then froze.

-"B-but where's my home?"

-"Far away."

I stood up and focused my eyes on Industrial London Earth 64 Mainstream. The street was wet and dark. Street lamps were reflected on the puddles on the ground. The occasional car would fling some water up.

-"I don't understand... what happened?"

I didn't say anything. I avoided eye contact.

-"What happened?"

Her tone of voice was harsher. Yet, I still didn't speak.

-"What happened?!"

She shouted now, trying to make eye contact.

-"....there gone."

I had to say it. I expected her to flip out, but...

-"Who are you talking? No ones is dead?"

She began to hyperventilate.

-"I have a feeling you know what happened."

I answered.

-"No you lie! No one is dead."

Tears swelled up on her eyes.

Denial.

-"Look, it's not your fault."

She was going through grief. I needed to help her go through it as fast as possible.

-"It... it never was. It was your fault. You killed my village. You killed them all!!"

'Okay? She changes her mind way too fast.' I thought. Anger.

-"You're in grief, don't say that."

-"Slaughtered, because of you!"

Tears swelled up on her eyes.

-"I-i can't! What happened?! I... hate you!!"

She isn't speaking correctly. I grumbled.

-"Fine, If you feel the need to blame it on someone then blame me."

I assured her. She was crying now. She shook her head and stared at me.

-"No. *sniffle* I can't blame it on you."

I smiled. I thought 'damn what a sudden change of heart.'

-"But can you bring them back?" She kneeled on the wet street as cars with their headlights zoomed by. The occasional car would splash some water on my back.

-"Please they were all I had."

She cried as she pleaded me. Bargaining.

-"I-I I'm just a guy. I can't."

She fell now. Her hands grasping the wet dirt. Tears landed on the ground forming a small puddle. She shivered and sneezed. The girl gasped and sobbed before me. I crouched next to her to show I cared. Plip. I can now hear her tears hit the puddle. Plop. I took off my jacket and gave it to her. Plip. She accepted and wore it like a cape. Plop. She looked at me all teary-eyed. Depression.

-"I-I'm sorry... you had to see me like this... a-and that I insulted you."

She burst into tears again.

-"It's alright."

I shushed her. An attempt at comfort. She now sobbed uncontrollably.

-"T-th-they're all gone aren't they!"

I nodded lightly.

-"You said there was no way to bring them back."

She looked at me.

-"There's no known way."

She slumped down immediately. She gave up. Acceptance. Damn. That was really fast. That was like me when I had those weird mood swings. I flashed backI sighed. I didn't know what to say. I kept silent but I didn't notice that she fell asleep on my shoulder. What is with this girl? Two seconds ago she wanted to kill me... I wasn't going to leave her in the middle of the sidewalk in an unknown world while she is sentimentally helpless. I took her by the legs and carried her like a child.I warped to my house. I didn't want to bring her to the tower because there are just a bunch of guys. In appeared in the scan room. As I focused my eyes the living room lit up.

-"Welcome Master Clarke."

Nick, my house computer, greeted me.

-"Hi Nick. Dim the lights please."

-"with pleasure."

The lights did. I stepped out of scanning room.

-"I have a guest."

-"I saw."

-"She's gonna sleep here today."

I spoke as I walked up stairs.

-"With you?"

-"No! That's weird! You're smarter than this!"

-"I was trying to find your intentions sir, excuse my ignorance."

Nick was my... robo servant? I dunno. He's like a Siri. There was a case of a bunch of these prototypes that went rogue and invasive. So I tweaked him and gave him the right to lie. So it's now like a trusting relationship.

-"Scan her background, DNA."

-"New profile?"

I walked through the hallway and stopped at my bedroom door.

-"Yup, door please."

The door slid open.

-"What shall I give her access to?"

-"Oh umm. Basically everything except garage, data files, operating room."

-"Closet?"

....tho nick sometimes acts dumb.

-"Why?"

-"No reason."

I laid Cat on the bed.

-"For her default to butler mode."

-"Alright."

I walked out of my room. And made a bag of change of clothes.

-"Nick, watch please."

A watch popped near the door frame.

-"Tell me when she wakes up."

The watch contains a Nick monitor connected to the house. After I turned off the lights and left for the tower. After all the security measures. I found everything empty. All lights turned off. Except 68 which was drying his eyes in a monitor.

-"hey I'm sleeping here today."

-"Okay knock yourself out."

I was about to continue walking but

-"Where is everyone?"

-"Most of them are and the mining colony. There was an attack. Yamato is with Mia."

-"Hmm. When is my next debriefing?"

-"Tomorrow 6:00pm sharp."

I reached my pocket for the drive.

-"Early debriefing gift."

I slid the drive across the desk. I saw his eyes widen. I pulled on the straps of my bag.

-"How?"

I heard but I was already out the door. I entered my room and got a sense of nostalgia. I remember when I did this. I've barely been here. Surprisingly it was clean. Even if I expected a bunch of dust.

Someone has been cleaning this. I threw my bag to the side. Seriously this looks like a college dorm. Probably... hell if I know. Never been there. I ended up falling asleep with all my clothes on.

***

REEEP! Went my alarm. I jumped up. And changed as fast as possible.

-"Good morning, Master Clarke." went my watch. I almost forgot that nick was here.

-"Morning."

-"Your guest has woken up."

-"Oh yeah right."

When I focused my eyes on the interior of my house, everything was quiet. I wondered where she was. I climbed up my stairs and stopped at my door.

-"Can I come in?"

I said through the door.

-"Yes you may."

Nick answered for her. I rolled my eyes and opened the door. It was really dark, darker (and colder) than the rest of the house.

-"Huh??"

I heard but I couldn't focus fast enough.

-"Cat is that you? Nick please turn on the lights."

Once the did I saw Cat standing next to the bed. She winced and blushed. I saw her wearing my barça hoodie.

-"I-I'm sorry, I'm just cold."

-"Hah, it's fine."

I smiled. There was an awkward silence.

-"Umm if I may? Umm where am I?"

I shook my head.

-"Oh, crap, sorry! I'm you're in my house, in my room exactly."

-"Do-do you need me to leave?"

-"N-no don't worry I was just stating it."

-"O-ok."

Nick's lack in this conversation was worrying me.

-"I felt kinda guilty cuz um you lost everything and I'm not gonna leave you with nothing."

I explained. And she blushed again. That's kind of exaggerated. I'm charming but not that charming... I wish I was though.

-"Thank you."

She sniffled.

-"Ahem. If I may, shouldn't a certain someone introduced another certain someone to me."

Nick said. Cat crapped herself. She looked around trying to find the voice.

-"Shut up, Nick. Cat this... (I gestured everywhere) is Nick. Nick this is Cat."

-"Umm who's nick?"

She looked around.

-"Umm... he's like my house computer... he keeps all data that I give him, person records and recognition, like DNA, heritage, stuff like that."

Her eyes widened.

-"Go ahead ask him anything."

I welcomed her.

-"I'm listening."

Said Nick.

-"Umm Nick. Can you do a favor for me?"

-"Depends on what it is, sweetheart."

Cat flinched and looked at me.

'He's weird.' I mouthed.

-"I have cameras Master Clarke."

I shrugged.

-"Can you hide my name from him?"

She asked. I panicked, the curiosity was killing me. I was just gonna ask.

-"No No No! Nick tell me!"

I shouted.

-"Tell you what?...Cat?, to be safe I'll delete it from my memory."

-"No!"

I shouted and Cat smiled at my despair.

-"You owe me your name."

I grumbled.