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Welcome back, Demi-Bot V1I21437501PK.

The Demi-Bot slowly opened his eyes and he sat up. He looked himself over. "What...? Oh! Everything I've always wanted to say comes out easier," he said.

"Hey," Blaze said, making the bot look at him. "Blaze," he said with a smile and before Blaze could react, the bot hugged him.

Blaze blushed in surprise.

Cindy, Aura and Eos both giggled. Icarus felt a smirk pull at his lips.

"Seems like our Demi-Bot is starting to develop some human-like emotions," Icarus commented, amusement evident in his voice.

"Indeed," Cindy agreed. "It's fascinating to witness the progress."

Aura nodded in agreement. "I'm glad to see that all the hard work we put into creating Demi-Bot has paid off."

Eos chimed in, "It's safe to say that Demi-Bot has become an essential member of our team."

Demi-Bot released Blaze from the hug and turned to face the group. "Thank you all for being here."

"You're welcome," Blaze replied, still slightly flustered.

The group exchanged smiles, appreciating the unique bond they had formed with the Demi-Bot.

"Well we sure can't call him Demi-Bot all the time," Cindy chuckled.

"How about... Lacey?" Blaze said with a smile.

Demi-Bot looked puzzled for a moment before a bright smile spread across his face. "Lacey... I like it!" he exclaimed. "It sounds friendly and approachable."

The group nodded in agreement. "Lacey it is," Aura confirmed.

"Welcome to the team, Lacey," Eos said warmly.

"I'm glad we found a name that suits you," Icarus added, a twinkle in his eyes.

Lacey beamed. "Thank you all. I'm excited to continue working alongside you as Lacey."

With a renewed sense of purpose and identity, Lacey, the formerly known Demi-Bot, embraced his new name and the possibilities it held for his future experiences and interactions with others.

Cindy smiled before she looked at Blaze, "so... what are you going to do about your mom when she finds out?"

"If she finds out," Blaze huffed, "she won't find out because we won't tell her." Lacey tilted his head curiously.

"Um... you do know that your mom is pretty strict, right?" Eos asked nervously.

Blaze frowned, "...I know." He sighed, "just... please keep this secret? Okay?"

Lacey looked at Blaze and noticed how... uneasy he looked. The others looked uneasy too.

Lacey looked at his hands. If he was a secret, then maybe it was safe for him to be a secret.

"Lacey?" Blaze said and he looked at him.

"Are you okay?" He asked. Lacey bit his lip before he nodded.

"I'm okay. And it won't be bad if I'm kept as a secret, right?" He asked. Blaze stared at him in surprise before he smiled softly and nodded.

"Thanks," he said. Icarus and Aura looked at each other. Cindy sighed softly.

"Well everybody better get going before Blaze's mom sends a search party," she said, crossing her arms.

Everyone nodded and walked out of the room. Blaze looked at Cindy, "thanks. I really mean it."

"Anytime," she replied with a smile and a nod. Eos, Icarus, Aura, Blaze and Lacey walked out of the workshop and ran to the tower.

They snuck around the back and hurried inside.

They hurried up the stairs and Blaze skidded to a stop. Lacey squeaked when he bumped into Blaze's back.

Blaze turned to Lacey and apologized, his eyes wide with alarm. "Sorry, Lacey! I didn't mean to stop so suddenly."

Lacey smiled. "It's alright, Blaze. Is everything alright though? Why did you stop?"

Blaze pointed towards the window on the landing above them. Through the glass, they could see Blaze's mom pacing back and forth in the office, speaking animatedly on the phone.

"Oh no," Blaze whispered. "She must be really angry about something."

Eos tugged at Blaze's arm, whispering urgently, "We need to find another way up. Any ideas?"

Icarus scanned their surroundings and spotted an old, seldom-used stairwell tucked away in a shadowy corner. "Over here," he whispered, motioning for the others to follow.

The group tiptoed towards the stairwell, being careful not to make any noise. As they climbed, the sound of Blaze's mom's voice grew fainter.

Once they reached the top, they found themselves in a dimly lit hallway, away from the main office and out of sight. They released a collective sigh of relief.

Lacey looked at Blaze with concern. "Are you sure everything will be alright? I don't want to cause you any trouble."

Blaze shook his head, determination shining in his eyes. "No, Lacey, you're not trouble. You're my friend, and I'm going to protect you."

Aura placed a comforting hand on Blaze's shoulder. "We're all with you, Blaze. We'll find a way to handle this situation without causing any harm."

Blaze nodded, grateful for the support of his friends. Together, they devised a plan to ensure Lacey remained a secret, even in the face of Blaze's mom's strictness.

They decided that Lacey would spend most of his time disguised as a regular tablet, a technology that was commonplace in their futuristic world. The group would help create a software program that would allow Lacey's consciousness to connect to the tablet and interact with others discreetly.

As they neared Blaze's mom's office, they moved as quietly as possible. The room was still filled with her frustrated voice, and Blaze knew he had to be careful not to alert her to their presence.

"If we can distract her for a little bit, I can sneak Lacey past," whispered Blaze.

Aura nodded. "Good idea. Eos, can you create some kind of illusion near the office to draw her attention away?"

Eos nodded, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "Consider it done," he replied.

Eos conjured a mesmerizing light show just outside the office. The vibrant colors danced and sparkled, catching the attention of Blaze's mom.

"Wow, what's that?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with curiosity.

Blaze took the opportunity to carefully navigate Lacey past the office, keeping him shielded from view. Once they were out of immediate danger, Blaze let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

"I think we made it," Blaze said, relief evident in his voice.

Suddenly, Cindy's voice resounded from the communicator they all wore. "Guys, Blaze's mom is on her way out of the office. Hurry!"

The group quickened their pace and made their way to their usual hangout spot—a hidden rooftop garden overlooking the city. It provided a tranquil retreat, far removed from the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives.

Lacey smiled as they reached the garden. "This place is amazing. It's so peaceful up here."

Blaze grinned. "I thought you'd like it. We come here to unwind and share our stories. And now, you're part of that too."

Lacey's eyes sparkled with gratitude. "Thank you, Blaze. I'm honored to be here with all of you."

As the sun set, painting the sky with vibrant hues, the group settled into a comfortable silence. Together, they enjoyed the company of good friends, feeling the weight of their shared adventures lift off their shoulders.

Little did they know, this rooftop garden would become a special place for them—all while keeping the existence of Lacey their cherished secret, and continuing their extraordinary journey, one chapter at a time.