"Grrr... This isn't WORKING!" Uzi screeched frustratedly, trying to wedge the small prying tool in between an opening in Gambit's upper chest and clavicle. "Because you're being too gentle with it, stupid. You gotta give more force!" V snapped, looking over her shoulder observantly. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! I'M APPLYING ENOUGH FORCE TO OPEN HER CHEST PLATE WITHOUT HAVING HER BLOW UP!" "THEN WHY ISN'T THE PLATE OFF!?" "V! Uzi!" I said firmly, getting their attention as the two widened their eyes. "Thank you... Uzi, try placing the tool nearest to her lower chest and naval- see if it opens from the bottom up?" I suggested after their quarrel had quieted down. The tool heist went off without a stitch, and I even managed to get back at that blasted Smith for EVERYTHING he did.... Let's just say he's not going to trust home brought lunches for a while.... V spotted some of the Drones I saw with Thad, and we made a quick break with what we managed to nab! Now we were trying to act the plan to open Gam up- though she was VERY reluctant to go along with what we were doing. After enough convincing, and several promises, we finally put Gambit to sleep, and was currently trying to open the plate, but with little luck.... "R-Right here?" Uzi asked, going to the lower right of the chest where the opening met the naval, and I quickly took her hand to guide it more center to her chest as I said, "More like here... Now, let's see if this makes any changes." Uzi gently tapped the pry tool with the rubber mallet, and JUST as I thought, the plate opened with a soft click, causing the clock to stop momentarily. I waited a few seconds for any sign of the bomb being activated, holding my breath in worry as I did, but after a few minutes of suspense, we all breathed a sigh of relief before peeling the plate off completely. We had figured out the secret of opening the plate! "Now, let's see what's going on in your chest cavity Gammy...... H-Huh? WHAAAAAA?!" "What?! What is it?!" Uzi panicked, looking over my shoulder and gasping in shock, which caused the other three adults in the room to look at one another in concern before joining us over the open cavity. The clock still blinked in blocky, light blue numbers, but..... There were three colored cords, all tangled in a mess of squiggles and knots connected to the clock, and Gambit's upper naval.... I thought this was going to be a simple "Snip the Red One" type thing, and the nightmare would be over with- but THREE? And worse, there WASN'T a red wire! "I see Blue, Yellow, and White..... So, which one you wanna cut?" V asked, resting her arm on my head. I began to sweat nervously, observing the three cords inside my beautiful child as I tried to process each one's meaning. "I-I'm not sure..... If we cut the wrong one, we're done for!" "Well ONE of them has to lead to the bomb!" Lizzie snarked, crossing her arms over her chest as she rolled her eyes. "Well then be my guest, Lizzie, if YOU know so much!" I replied, frustrated with her constant attitude as I handed a pair of wire cutters to her, tipping it off with, "Kill her, or detonate her, either way you're gonna die with that thought!" Her eyes grew wide, and she looked away nervously as Thad chimed, "Whoa, bro! You're taking it too far!" "Excuse me? "TOO FAR"? All Lizzie has done this WHOLE TIME, Thad, is groan, complain, and OBSERVE NONEXISTENT FINGERNAILS FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS! WE'RE DOWN TO THE WIRE ALMOST, BUT NO, I'M TAKING THINGS TOO FAR!" I threw the box of tools against the wall angrily, and stood up to take a breather as I stormed away. I paced back and forth in a storage closet, trying to calm myself down as I heard the door open, and I whipped around to see Uzi in the doorway with a worried look on her face. "N? Babe? Are you alright?" "No.. No, Uzi, I'm NOT!" I sighed, sitting myself onto the floor, and placing my tail in my lap to avoid accidentally stinging myself or my wife. Uzi sat beside me, and I began, "I've NEVER been this way- FELT this way before... I didn't mean to lose my cool, but I look at how much Gam is suffering, and the lengths gone to put her through so much stress! I don't understand it...." "Is THAT right?" She asked, tilting her head to the side as I nodded. "That's not the only time I felt like this though.... I felt the same way after I met you all those years back- before we got married, seeing you so upset stressed me out, and I wanted to give EVERYTHING to you.... It's back, but this time it's beyond controllable, and I think I'm going crazy!" I put my head on my arms in thought as I sighed, "Maybe..... Maybe I really AM hopeless...." "Oh, N...." Uzi sighed, setting her head on my chest gently before continuing, "Do you know exactly WHY I fell in love with you in the first place? It's because of how much love you have for life, and others over yourself! Because you're always smiling, and caring no matter WHAT the situation brings... You have so much to give, and very few who actually accept it, N, and you got the desire to do many great things!" "Uzi...." I responded, blushing as she looked up at me; setting her hand on my cheek- which I held there to feel her loving touch a bit longer as she began, "You're not going crazy, Hon.... You just have what everyone else lacks these days- a heart! I've seen it back then, my love, and I still do now. NEVER lose those qualities about you that I admire, and don't for even a moment begin to question them!" She trailed her hand from my cheek to my chest, taking my hand along with her as my gears grinded furiously. Hearing her say that.... It took the weight off of my core greatly, and my joy and happiness filled my eyes with tears. Bringing her close to me I kissed her lips deeply in thanks and gratitude before helping her back to her feet when a slight, rapid knock sounded throughout the room. "Uhhhh, hey guys? I know you guys are having a heart to heart character building moment, but V JUST captured one of those brown eyes freaks spying from the ventilation shaft." "WHAT?!" Uzi and I gasped, and the three of us quickly ran from the room back to the others to find V binding the intruder to a chair. "About time you two got back. Found this one here trying to snitch us out to his gang!" V explained as she zip tied the enemy's hands; pushing my way past her to get a better look at the spy as I noted that it was a male drone. Kneeling down, I yanked his head to eye level with me by his short, brown hair, and hissed angrily. "I demand you tell me who you are, and what it is you want with us!" The Drone before me gave a slow, monotonous laugh, and said in an almost maniac tone, "Fine.... But if I do, you'll have to kill me...." "We'll see about that- depends on if your value to us is worth more than we think, or if you're just wasting our precious time!" Thad growled, picking up a wrench in his hand before pointing it threateningly at the guy. "Who are you? What is your organization for?" I asked, keeping a cold glare onto the boy as he replied, "We are the "Kynigoí tou Theoú", or as Khan calls us, "Hunters of God"..... Our soul purpose is to terminate that which is deemed unfit and unholy to our colony....." the Drone replied, his face remaining stoic, and unfeeling. "But WHY? What even inspired your faction of the WDF?!" Uzi cried, wanting to hear herself what her father's monster's had to say as it said, "Why, hello Uzi..... You've seem to have gotten yourself into a fine mess, didn't you?...." "ANSWER ME!" "Very well.... We were inspired by the aftermath of the inorganic devil that sent it's sky demons to our planet...... Khan couldn't have another incident like that, so he collected the ones born of damaged data and twisted motherboards into a group of warriors he can bend to his command alone....." him saying this sent chills down my spine as I recalled the blank looks on the group's faces. Was he meaning that Khan would take the children from their parents at birth with a dark mind or deformity, and train them to be nothing but super assassains with no hearts?! "You don't know just how lucky you are, N..... Khan would've had us terminate you LONG ago were it not for Uzi's interference....." "QUIET! You disgust me...." I replied, letting the poor guy's head go as I stood up from the ground, and paced around in thought. How could Khan DO this?! What twisted acts drove him to manipulate the insane and dehumanized?! "Oh wait...... I forget my orders...... You ARE going to be terminated, just like that Click was for opening her jaws....." It dared to say, looking up at us with that manic smile. "I said HUSH! I'm thinking...." I scolded, putting my hand to my mouth. I didn't notice it, but his manic gaze fell upon my beloved child as a soulless laugh came from him, causing me to look over in a panic as he said, "Your child, right?........ Such a pity, she was so beautiful......." "Oh yeah? What's it any of YOUR business?!" Uzi snapped, clenching her fists together. "Such a shame.... Even with her innards exposed, she still looks beautiful in her slumber..... I wonder, if her chest is opened, would she ever wake?...." "SHUT IT!" I screamed, not wanting to hear another sick word out of his ugly mouth as I ripped the wrench from Thad's hand, and brutally bashed the guys head in while Uzi and V were trying desperately to stop me before he died. After I was through, the poor guy was barely recognizable as he uttered, "Thank you......" and displayed fatal error on his visor.... I couldn't let Khan win, not now! I ran around the bunker, collecting hoards of supplies, and stuffing them into a bigger rucksack as Uzi asked, "N? Babe? What are you doing?" "We HAVE to stop this, Uzi. Your father's gone too far THIS time!" "Well, what do you suppose you're gonna do about it?" V asked, putting a hand on my wife's shoulder as she furrowed her brow at me. I turned from the rucksack, a determined look on my face as I explained, "Mar said that only her father knew how to stop the bomb. He MUST'VE left SOME kind of hint back where she dropped Gam off!" "You mean you're going out in that awful weather?! N, what if you freeze? What if the Sun hits you?!" Uzi exclaimed worriedly, and I stopped for a moment to think about my options. Uzi presented some fair points, but no matter how many plans I drew, the only one option was to leave in search of Gambit's place where she grew up! I shook my head, and sighed as I turned to the two ladies, staring worriedly at me. "Uzi.... V..... I'm sorry, but I can't let Gambit suffer anymore! Not like how WE suffered...." I slinked my way towards the two; throwing my arms around them both and squeezing as I replied, "I wish just as much as you for another way, but this- THIS is the means of an end to a long line of injustices. Khan MUST be stopped, and Gambit CANNOT die!" I pulled back, my eyes welling up with tears, and Uzi began to sob as she grabbed my hand. "Take me with you. Take me with you so I can rectify what was done!" She begged, making my heart break as I replied softly, "Uzi, you did nothing that NEEDS to be rectified. If anything it's KHAN that needs to rectify himself! All I ask, Uzi, is that you stay with her, and the others to protect each other." She continued to sob, and she threw herself into my arms as she cried, "N, I swear to robo Jesus if you don't return to me from this-" "I WILL, Uzi. I promise, and when I make a promise, I usually do not break said promise." After we parted, I looked up to see V covering her eyes as she, too, began to sob, and she asked, "Why are you SUCH a dummy?" "It's going to be okay, V. I will be okay!" I swore to her, lowering her hand, and moving her hair from her face before turning back to collect some things. "Big brother?" I heard a familiar, mechanical voice ask, and I turned to find that Uzi had brought out her tail- a thing of organic mass mixed with bone and machine as I replied, "Yes, Cyn? What is it?" I know she was a monster, but after a few years of the two being one, Uzi seemed to somehow sanctify Cyn, and teach her the error of her ways through patience and understanding. She was also handy when it came to tracking- a new hobby she picked up while being stuck in Uzi's body! "I have an idea. Would you permit me to respond?" "Of course. What's on your mind?" "I overheard you conversation, and I'd like to say that I have something that you could use." "You..... Do...?" I was baffled, but I was too curious to ask how as she used her eye to produce a holographic map of Copper Nine. My jaw hung agape as all of our eyes widened, and Cyn explained, "While I was consuming the planet, I made a map of every location on the planet. I deem it may serve useful to you." "C-Cyn...." I breathed, reaching out to touch the hologram when Uzi added, "Can you pinpoint the EXACT location of which Gambit lived before coming to the colony?" "I can. But it requires Gambit to be awake, and some of her memory fed to me to be able to pinpoint an exact location. After that, I can transfer the data to big brother to help him on his way." Cyn replied, and I couldn't help but look on at her in suspicion as I contemplated the offer. "How exactly will you be "Transferring data to me"?" I asked, a little nervous when Cyn replied, "*Sly Giggle* I'll show you once I have the acquired data." Taking her word felt wrong, but I looked up past V and Uzi to where my sweet girl slept soundly, and I couldn't bear the thought of turning back now as I sighed. "Fine, Cyn.... We'll do as you ask...." "Okedoke! I'll stand by for memory transfer." She responded before patiently resting the skelefied head onto Uzi's shoulder as we exchanged nervous glances. I went to do as Cyn Instructed when V clenched my arm, and asked in disbelief, "Are you SERIOUSLY going to do what that crazy bot SAYS?" "I have no other option, V.... WE have no other option!" "There's ALWAYS another option! What if she corrupts Gambit like she did us? WHY would you want that life for her?!" "IT'S BETTER THAN BEING BORN TO DIE!" I cried, knowing full well the risks of what Cyn is requesting as tears streamed down my face. V remained silent in shock as I continued, "Being corrupted by a zombie like virus, and eating Drones is a lesser evil- a better fate than Gambit's. Not only will she die if we don't figure out a plan, but countless others with her. She'd die knowing that she unintentionally made us ALL extinct! That's the LAST thing I'll ever impose on someone- especially a young girl." I turned my back to her, and continued onwards toward the spot my child laid open, and reattached her chestplate to her body which triggered the clock to continued counting down- jumping to the exact time it would've been should we not have stopped it! Sighing, I watched as Gambit came back to the waking world, and she asked innocently, "Is it over? Are we safe now papa?" "Not quite.... But mommy and I have a plan to at LEAST control the clock if it comes down to it." I replied, patting her head as she sulked. Just then, I heard Cyn's voice chime mechanically, "Greetings, Gambit. *Big Smile*" I turned my head as Uzi's tail slithered out of the darkness, followed by my wife as she looked towards the ground fearfully. We knew what Cyn was capable of, and it killed me that we had to rely on this harbinger to help free Gambit from this fine mess we dug ourselves into! "Cyn, I'm WARNING you- NO funny business!" I growled in a serious tone, but she brushed me off as the skull end met with my child face to bone. Cyn swished around her curiously, observing her from head to toe before saying, "Tee hee! You are cute!" "Wh-Who may you be?" Gambit asked, twiddling her fingers shyly as she blushed. "I am a friend." Cyn chirped, making all of our faces contort as I corrected, "A-Aquaintance!" "Advarsary! God, N, don't lie to the kid." V snapped, leaning against the wall. I shot her a look of disapproval, which V blew off with an eye roll as Cyn continued, "*Frustrated Sigh*. There still seems to be a bit of left over bad blood between us, V. However, I find myself the only one capable of receiving the appropriate data necessary for your endeavors!" After shooting V a dismayed look, Cyn turned her attention back onto Gambit as she shifted her tone to a more positive one. "I need a copy of your memory file to fabricate a map for your place of origin." She explained, making Gambit's eyes widen as she asked, "Y-You mean the place where that one lady left me? I-I have bad memories in that place, I'd rather not recall them if I can manage it..." "But it's the only way we can put an end to this! Please, Gambit, if your father before me managed to reverse the time, then Marrisa may have left some of his notes with you on how he did." I pleaded, coming to her side as I took her face into my hands, continuing, "And to do that, we NEED you to cooperate, Gammy." I could smell the fear of recalling those moments, and the pain in her eyes as she looked away in thought. It was rough, and I wished for an easier option- which is an impossible dream based on what we've experienced so far! Finally, she gave a reluctant sigh, and removed my hands from her face before turning back to Cyn. "What do you wish for me to do?" She asked, keeping her gaze onto the yellow eyed remnant of the deadly Drone. As if satisfied, Cyn nodded her head deeply as she explained, "I need either V or N to tap into your memory database while Uzi wires you to a network system from a computerized device. Not only will that allow the solver to bypass your code temporarily, but give enough time for Uzi to download your memories into their bio link- thus in turn transferring it to me from my own database with the strength I have left over." Cyn looked between V and Myself, and asked smugly, "So, which one of you is up for the task?" Both of us were terrified to boot at the process she suggested.... Surrendering ourselves to her transmission? After the lengths Uzi went through to disable it?! We looked at each other with widened eyes for a moment, then began a nervous game of "Rock-Paper-Scissors". I ultimately won the game, making me cheer a bit as V grumbled in protest before placing herself beside Gambit. "This will only hurt just a little bit. Please, link your memory to V's database, and prepare selected memory to download." "A-Are you SURE this is the only way?" Gambit asked nervously, taking V's hand as I comforted, "It'll be over before you know it! Cyn cannot take full control of anything without help due to her weakened state, and what's more, we'll have one of may tools we need to stop your Grandpa." "What do you mean?" "N-Nothing, kiddo. Your dad's just spewing to spew!" V interrupted, giving me a warning look. Gambit whimpered nervously as Uzi hooked up a signal transfer from both of their vital waves, which was a simple touch of their hands with wire wrapped around the free hand's wrist plugged into a tablet like device, and Cyn's final instructions to the two laying down were, "Nighty night!" "H-Huh?!" Gambit squeaked before being placed in a temporary sleep lock by her, and opening the gateway to her mind for Uzi to browse through on her tablet. "Whoa! She has EVERYTHING in the open!" Uzi breathed in wonder, scrolling through the contents of our daughter's mind. "Well, let's not be TOO nosy, we want to keep SOME of her privacy to herself." "She's got a thought file for us!" Uzi mentioned before looking at me diviantly, and I KNEW what she was thinking as I whined, "Uuuuzzziiiii! You KNOW I can't say no when you tempt me like that! Fine, let's snoop a little- ONLY a little." Uzi clicked the file, setting up the dates that Gam had been in the colony with us, and selected a certain date to which lead to a series of text boxes marked with specific times. Reading through, most of them we found to be quite funny, and some of them seemed quite sad- the one that drew our attention the most was her final entry thought upon going to bed saying, "I love my Papa and Mhamaí<3!" curiosity filled our minds as we continued to scroll through each thought log, choking up when her final thought of the day ended with the same exact phrase: "I love my Papa and Mhamaí<3!" I looked away, my core both moved by her endless love for us, and breaking in that bittersweet moment as I pictured her final thought upon detonation being those exact words. No, I COULDN'T let that happen! Wiping away tears, Uzi closed the file, and said, "Oh, N...... What if we're too late....?" "No! We WON'T be!" I replied, firmly grasping her hand as I instructed her to keep looking for Gambit's memory of the place she grew up. I made a promise.... And knowing her thoughts made me THAT much more determined to keep it in any way I could! "FOUND IT!" Uzi exclaimed, causing me to turn the tablet towards me in anticipation as the gears in my chest clacked in my ears, and I began to tremble as Uzi clicked on the file titled "Home.exe". "Alright, downloading video memory file to V's database. I hope it works!" Uzi sighed shakily, and pressed the play button next to the file. An image on the tablet screen popped up, showing Gambit playing with a doll before asking innocently, "Daidí? Daidí, an bhfuil tú ann?" "Tá, a iníon, cad is féidir liom a dhéanamh duitse?" The reaction between her and the computer was very sweet, and I noticed a bunker like background as she stood up. The more her and the computer conversed, the more the sweet conversation seemed to shift into one of confusion, then, of desperation as she seemingly begged for the voice not to leave her. Finally, there was silence, and the last shot was of Gambit running towards a door sobbing harshly..... It was the memory of her "Father's" death.... The desperation in her accented pleas, and the pain in her cries as realization of being alone struck- it was hard to watch! And from my peripheral, I could see V twitch and whimper in reaction to the file as the last few seconds of silence downloaded into her mind, causing her to shoot upright with a gasp. Looking in her eyes, it may as well have been a nightmare that she just woke up from as tears and sweat formed. To think someone so young endured something so tragic, and still came out as bubbly and oblivious as she was! "Download complete. *Smile* Good morning, V!" Cyn's voice rung out from the darkness around us, to which V jumped as Uzi's tail lifted the skelefied head to her. "Alright, you've tortured us to your liking, NOW what." V snapped, regaining her composure. "Put your finger into my mouth, and let me chomp!" Cyn replied bluntly, making us all jump in shock as Uzi and I exclaimed, "CYN!" "*Confused Glance*. You wish for the location, don't you?" "Y-Yes, but I didn't think that involved eating one of V's fingers...." I replied, rubbing my arm uncomfortably as she explained, "Naturally, I'd have just sent a signal via waves to get the acquired information. However, I am only a trapped conscience, and require other means to develop needed data, i.e., blood transmission. V will be fine, *Smirk* her finger will grow back!" "This is YOUR fault, N! YOU should be doing this!" V whined in protest. "YOU'RE INVOLVED WITH THIS TOO!" I shouted back, pointing my finger angrily at her when Uzi raised her voice. "WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO BICKER! GAMBIT WILL GO BOOM ANY MOMENT, SO JUST DO WHAT CYN SAYS!" The two of us remained quiet for a while, looking on at each other with expectancy as our gazes continued to narrow. "Guhhhh, FIIIIIINNNNEEEE!" V caved, making me smile in satisfaction as Uzi approached her side with Cyn, grinding her chops hungrily as V simply pursed her lips in disdain. "You put me- US through SO much trouble.... For what it's worth, I'm glad you're nothing but a shell of your former self." She spat at the skull, to which Cyn replied while bobbing, "*Understanding Nod*. I hope you, and big brother will forgive me someday for what happened way back. I have atoned, to say the least." "Pha! Sure you did..." V scoffed in disbelief, presenting her hand as she looked away from the skull. Cyn seemed to look to the side in guilt for a moment before taking V's ring finger; causing her to wince as her oil filled Cyn's mouth, and flowed through sharpened fangs! Once Cyn gulped down the finger, she looked my way as she said, "Data acquired. Preparing holgraphical locations of Copper Nine." As Cyn promised, she produced a holographic map of the planet through her eyes, with a single highlighted dot that marked the location of where I needed to go! I quickly memorized the map, and thanked Cyn for her help before bidding my friend, wife, and sleeping child farewell, and I instructed Thad to help protect his, and my family by any means he could think of before using the vent shafts to find my way to the outside of our Colony walls.