Cyborg Chronicles Chapter Thirteen pt. 1

Five Days Later, at Fort Montgomery


“Darlings, are you ready?” Sergeant Major Annabelle Johnson called out. She puts her suitcase at the back of the Honda Pilot, which was already filled with supplies for the trip. They were going to Wisconsin Dells for the whole week before going off to Minnesota to shop at the Mall of America.

“Annabelle, wait!” Carl and Ashen said as they came out of the farmhouse with a large cooler and their suitcases. The whole base was going on vacation for their leave, all one hundred of them! However, the two had to do something before they go off to leave.

Ashen approached Annabelle as her boyfriend put their stuff into their own SUV. “We have to go to a potluck dinner with our parents first, Sergeant Major. It’s been quite some time since they’ve seen us, so you can understand, right?”

Annabelle sighed and hugged the redhead. “Don’t take too long darling… I still want to challenge you to a swimming contest,” the blonde said. She entered her car when she notices something off into the distance. It was a lone car… and it was approaching them, fast!

Carl looked over to his girlfriend, eager to visit his parents. “Hey Ashen are you- wait, what’s that?” he said as he notices the car. He goes up to his girlfriend to try and figure out what was heading towards them.

Ashen’s backpack started feeling heavy as the car approached. “Madame? Unknown contact heading towards us…” Siegfried said with a worried tone. The redhead had a familiar feeling in her gut as the car came closer, like she knew that car. The details of the car became more clear as it came closer: it was a black BMW 7 series with tilted windows. And a Nevada license plate.

“No way…” the redhead whispers as the car came within a few miles from them. It slowed down, but the troopers thought it was hostile. They took out their M4 carbines and aimed it at the BMW. But the car still kept coming at them, slowing down slowly.

Reacting fast, the redhead jumped in front of her soldiers. “No! Don’t shoot! He’s a friend!”

Loading a HE grenade in her M203, Annabelle led the target with her grenade launcher. “Darling that’s an unknown contact! It might be Bifrost, FBI, or even the Russians!” she said. The car stopped slowly one hundred feet from them before the engine was turned off.

The troopers formed a semicircle formation around the car, much to their superiors’ dismay. One soldier approached the car, aiming his rifle at the driver’s window. “Ten seconds! Get out of the car or we’ll shoot!”

Before ashen and Carl could call them to stand down, the door opened. It was a tall, dark-haired boy wearing a shirt that says “I Love Kansas City BBQ!” and ripped jeans. He smiled at the two lieutenants and extended his arms out. “Is that how you two treat fellow commanders?” Peter asked as he crossed his arms. The soldiers kept their aim at him however, surprising the lieutenant.

He raised his arms, hoping to not look threatening. “Wait, I’m a friendly!” he told the soldiers. The couple laughs and raises their hand to make their soldiers stand down. They put their guns away reluctantly however, and more importantly they didn’t seem happy to see him.

“Sorry about that, they’re still pissed at you for beating us up. But I don’t care…Well Peter, what brings you here?” Ashen asks, approaching him.

Peter puts on a fake smile, trying to hide the sorrow he had endured for the past five days. “I just wanted to visit you guys! What’s wrong with that?” he said to them, putting on the most convincing happy tone he can muster.

“Why didn’t Vien and Ricky come?” Carl asked, leaning on the hood of the BMW. Peter pauses for a moment, trying to come up for a reason why they didn’t come.

“They didn’t want to!” he said quickly. The couple’s smiles somewhat melted away, saddened by the thought that those two probably didn’t like them.

“You just want to see Ashen again!” a soldier suddenly snickered. A couple of laughs erupt from the troopers, along with a few wolf whistles. Peter and Ashen blush from the comment, since they've been rather close.

Does everyone think we’re seeing each other? Ashen thought as she shook her head. The three lieutenants glare daggers at the soldiers, and they started laughing nervously.

“Err, bye! Have fun!” Annabelle said quickly as she ran inside her SUV and drove off. Everyone followed her example and drove off too, following the Sergeant Major.

Peter watched the convoy drive farther into the horizon. “Where are they going?”

Carl laughs and heads to his SUV. “They’re heading to Wisconsin Dells for vacation. However, we’re going to follow them tomorrow after we have a potluck with our parents,” he told him. Peter’s fake smile melted away when he mentioned the word “parents.”

He sighs sadly, and Ashen looked at him with a worried look on her face. “What’s wrong?” she asks, gently putting her hand on his shoulder. He puts his hand over hers; feeling the warmth of her soft, pale skin.

“It’s nothing… you said something about a potluck?”

Carl smiled and pointed to the small cooler inside his SUV. “Yup! Ashen and I made mashed potatoes for the occasion,” he said. Ashen grinned at him and puts her hands on her hips.

“Don’t you mean I made that?”

“Shut up…” he grumbled, before entering the driver’s seat. The redhead stuck her tongue out at her boyfriend playfully before turning back to her friend.

“Don’t worry you don’t have to bring anything. Just follow us so you don’t get lost, alright?” she told him. The redhead gave him one final hug before she ran off to join Carl in the SUV. Peter sighed and got back in his car. The GPS screen glowed blue, and Crystal’s avatar jumped in.

“Did you tell them?” she asks, putting her hands on her hips. The Lieutenant stayed silent and turned the car on. He checks the fuel, making sure there will be enough for the trip to wherever Ashen and Carl might be going.

“No…” he confessed as he began following the SUV. He was tired from driving to this place, but he had to last long enough so he can have some good rest wherever they were taking him. Sleep had avoided him like a ghost however, taunting him with nightmares and restlessness.

Crystal sighs sadly. “Well, you better tell them about what happened with Vien and that you’re an orphan…” she sighed. He nodded his head as he followed the car. The mention of Vien’s name makes his heart ache once more, but he desperately puts the thought aside. He can’t afford to show weakness.


Three Hours Later, at Ashen’s House


It was roughly six but the sun still shone in the sky. The two vehicles pull into the driveway of a small, white townhouse. A Honda Odyssey and a Pontiac Grand Prix were parked right outside the house, so the two cars just pulled up and parked behind them. Carl and Ashen got out of their car, followed by Peter from his car.

“Whose house is this?” Peter asked as went to the trunk of his car. He opens it and takes a medium-sized cardboard box, which contains his power armor and his suitcase, which has all of his clothes he had brought in his way here.

Ashen takes the cooler from the SUV, holding it with one hand while holding Carl’s hand in the other. “This is my house. My mom lives here,” the redhead said as she led the two boys to the door. Before she could even knock however, the door flew open.

A short, blonde woman stood smiling at the door. Peter was shocked to see how much the woman resembled Ashen, except she seems to smile a lot more often than Ashen. She smiles when she saw the three kids, all three of them waving at her. “Ashen!” Nikki said as she hugged her daughter and her boyfriend. The two teens gladly return the hug, enjoying the comfort of family returning to them.

“Where are my parents?” Carl asked as he pulled back from the embrace. Nikki pointed to the living room.

“They’re in there. We were playing monopoly while we waited for you guys. I’m so close to bankrupting your mother!” Nikki said. Carl smiled and shook his head before stepping in to the home to greet his parents.

“Ashen, who’s your friend?” she asked as she looked at Peter. She had almost mistaken him for Carl, but she knew Carl wasn’t a six foot tall giant. The Lieutenant saluted her nervously for the heck of it.

“Oh, that’s Peter! He’s one of the commanders of the Resistance. In fact, when we were taken by Bifrost four years ago, he was in our group,” Ashen said. Nikki extended her hand towards him. The Lieutenant awkwardly shook her hand, a little bit shy and nervous.

“Good to meet you ma’am,” he told her.

“My name’s Nikki. Anyway, what’s in the box, Peter?”

“Oh, that’s my stuff,” Peter said, deciding to not tell her about his power armor.  

She welcomed him in before closing the door. When she led him past the living room, he saw Carl and Ashen talking to Carl’s parents. Siegfried and Marianne were in the corner, doing god knows what AIs do. “You can put your box in the corner or so. Don’t worry if you didn’t bring anything for dinner too. I have a feeling the kids dragged you into this,” she told him. Nikki opened the cooler, taking out a bowl of mash potatoes and gravy. She smiled and prepares to warm them with the microwave.

“I hope you like mashed potatoes. My daughter makes very good mash potatoes,” she told him. The Lieutenant smiled before going off to the living room to meet Carl’s parents. He could her them arguing even before he got there.

“See, I told you we’d be safe mom,” Carl said as he lied back on the couch. He had his arms around Ashen, who was resting her head on his shoulder. They heard someone approach, and they turn to find Peter standing on the archway.

“Err… hi,” Peter said awkwardly as he looked at Carl’s parents. Strangely enough, Carl looked more like his mother than his father.

“You must be Peter. Carl and Ashen told us a lot about you,” Carl’s mother said as she wove at the boy. His dad acknowledged him with a nod of his head. They didn’t seem mad, but they did seem interested in meeting him.

“Um yes I am,” he said to her, saluting the couple. He looked pleadingly at Carl and Ashen however, hoping they didn’t tell their parents of the little incident between them. They shook their heads subtly, easing his worries.

“Dinner’s ready!” Nikki called from the dining room. Peter took off his watch, and puts it on top of the sentry gun.

“Hang out with Marianne and Siegfried, alright?” the Lieutenant told Crystal. The watch face glowed dark blue, which meant either two things: Crystal is reluctant or Crystal is worried. Judging from the situation right now, she’s most likely both.

The circular dinner table was filled with delicious food at the center. A steaming bowl of mashed potatoes was the centerpiece, along with a large pile of steaming sirloin steaks. Three sodas: Dr. Pepper, Fanta, and Coke finished it all off. Carl with his parents to his left and Ashen to his right. Nikki sat right beside her daughter while Peter sat across from all of them. Everyone helped themselves for the dinner, hungry to eat the delicious food. Except Peter, who was just watching them all enjoy themselves.

Carl took a bite of the steak, and immediately his eyes widen. Never before had steak been this good! Not even the fancy-schmancy restaurant he went to during his second date with Ashen!  “Who made this steak?” he asked through a mouthful.

Nikki and Carl’s mother smiled and fist-bumped each other, proud of their work. “I brought the steaks while Nikki made the spices. We both cooked it!” she said proudly. Carl smiled at the two women, since he never knew they worked on cooking together.

He smiled and looked at his dad, and was surprised by the amount of food he had on his plate. Carl’s father was eating the food like a cyborg! He burped before turning to Ashen.

“This is very good mash potatoes, Ashen,” he praised. The redhead smirked beamed proudly at her boyfriend.

“See what’d I tell you? I make better food than you!” she teased. Carl pouted in mock sadness, so Ashen simply took his spoon and fed him his food like a mother would a baby.
Their parents cooed at the scene, thinking it was the most adorable thing they’ve ever saw.

Do they really have to flaunt their love off in front of me? Peter thought as he watched them. Thankfully they were not kissing (for now). He doubted he could stop himself from gazing at them again. He looked at the food but he wasn’t hungry. The heartbreak with Vien and the revelation of having no parents had taken away his hunger.

“Peter, why aren’t you eating?” Nikki asked with concern.

He looked at his plate and sighed. “I’m not hungry…” he told her. The perpetual smile she had on her face melted away when he said that, somewhat shocking him.

“Is there something wrong? I could cook up something if you’d –”

“Not thank you… Just recent trouble for me, that’s all…”

Much to his dismay, he seemed to be the focal point of attention. Carl and Ashen stop eating and lean across the table, concern on their faces. “What’s wrong? Tell us,” Ashen demanded.

“Tell us. Are you sick?” Carl’s mom asked with concern. Everyone seemed to be hounding him now, concerned at his wellbeing. Even the AIs seemed to be interested! He saw the three peek around the living room archway as if to question him as well.

“Tell us! We can help you!” everyone seemed to chant in is ears. The drone was eating away at his will, and he had no choice but to release his anger.

He slammed his fist on the table hard enough to crack it but not break it in half. “I don’t have parents! I'm an orphan!” he confessed, letting half of his sorrow out. Everything went quiet…dead quiet.

Then, the strangest thing happened that neither the three cyborgs expected. Carl’s parents and Ashen’s mother all stand up and go to Peter and they hug him affectionately. The sudden show of love stuns all three of them, mostly Peter. “Umm, mother, what are you doing?” Ashen asked.

“You poor thing! I’m so sorry that you’re an orphan…” Nikki said to him before hugging him tighter.  However, Peter wasn’t creeped out at all by them. In fact, he likes this since he never had someone to love him like this for quite some time.

The Lieutenant sighed but he puts his arms around his friends’ parents to return their gesture. “Thank you... I’m never had someone to love me like this ever since I joined the Resistance,” he confessed. This made them hug him even tighter, much to his amusement!

After a while, they stop their hugging much to Peter’s dismay. Nevertheless, the three adults grab their respective plates so they can eat while sitting beside Peter, leaving Carl and Ashen on the opposite side of the table. Peter smiled and grabbed some food for the first time, taking in the last bits of mash potato and the last cut of steak for himself. He smiled and starts chowing down.

“Thanks for helping me…” he told them with a mouthful of food. Nikki smiled and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“No problem. You seem like a good kid,” Nikki said as she finished her plate.

Ashen crossed her arms, a bit jealous that her mother liked Peter already even though she knew him for only for a short amount of time. “Mother, where is he going to stay?” she asked. Nikki tapped her chin, thinking of a place where Peter could stay.

“Ah, he could stay here with us. We have a guest bedroom right next to your room Ashen,” she told her.

“What?!” Carl sputtered, not at all amused by the fact that he was going to sleep in his girlfriend’s home. “But, but- he’s a boy! He can’t stay here at night! Who knows what he might do?!”

Carl’s parents glowered at their son, not amused by his outburst. “Carl, don’t be rude! We don’t have any guestrooms son. Besides, as much as we’d like to help, Nikki seems to have the thing all planned out,” his dad told him. Carl sighed and stared daggers at Peter, as if he was warning him to stay away from Ashen (which he was).

The Lieutenant laughs nervously, a bit flattered by her offer. “Er, thanks for the offer and all, but I’d –”

Once again, Nikki pulls him in for a hug. “Nonsense! You’re free to stay all you’d like! And besides, I’ve always wanted a son!” the blonde giggled. Peter smiled uneasily and looked pleadingly at Ashen, who was trying hard to not burst into ranting at her mother. She was hoping that she was joking!

He tries to grab his fork so he can have a bite, but it’s hard to do it when someone has their arms around you. “Ok, I’ll stay… But can I resume eating? I am a bit famished.”



Later that Night


“Alright, sleep tight,” Nikki said as she closed the door to Peter’s room. The bed didn’t exactly fit him, but the mattress and pillows were quite soft. Softer than his bed back at Camp Richardson. He smiled at her and closed the table lamp. He took his watch off and placed it next to him.

“Well, what’d you think?” Peter asked his AI. Much to his dismay, Crystal was still worried about him.

“You got one problem solved since Ashen’s mother seems to have adopted you already… but what about love problems?” she said. Peter had put those thoughts away when he was eating dinner, so it felt like he was the happiest kid in the world. Since Crystal brought it back up, they started to hound him like rabid dogs once more.

“Crystal, did you really have to bring that up? I thought I could finally get some good rest, but you always bring it up before I sleep!” he scolded her. He could feel his heart nearly tear itself in half when an image of Vien popped up in his mind.

“I’m sorry but –”

“We’ll talk about this in the morning, now good night!” he growled, putting the covers over himself. Sleep claimed him almost immediately, and he was out cold in a matter of seconds.

“Good night… love…” Crystal whispered. She slows down her systems and prepares to hibernate, not bugging to even try and confess her feelings to the one she was supposed to take care of.

As the hours flew by, nightmares seemed to corner the lieutenant in every moment of his sleep. They weren’t nightmares of fighting Bifrost or monsters however. No, these were the same dreams that were haunting him all the days since he left California. The dreams were the day that Vien “broke up” with him. He saw himself yell at her, insulting her. Was that the reason why she didn’t want to go with him? Is it because he’s a monster?

He tosses and turns on the bed, the scene playing repeatedly in his mind like a broken film that he can’t fast forward. Sweat beads drip down his face, and he grips the bed sheets tightly. “Vien… why?” he whimpers in his sleep.

“Peter? Are you okay?” Crystal asked in concern. Her charge was tossing and turning like a ship in a storm, and she could sense his heart racing rapidly.

The Lieutenant has had enough of the nightmare... he had to escape! He subconsciously grabbed his sword by his bedside and awoke with a start. He immediately sat straight up, slashing air in front of him with his blade. “Oh God… Vien!” he gasped out, his heart beating furiously.

He dropped the sword by his side before lying back on the bed. The air felt like it was on fire, but it rapidly cooled when he realized it was all in his head. “It’s only a dream; it’s only a dream… It’s not a dream... it was all real. She broke up with me…” he whimpered to himself.

“Peter! Are you okay?” Crystal whispered. He turned to her, his dark eyes glassy. There seemed to be something missing in him at that very moment, like a part of his soul was wrenched away.

He grabbed her and gently caressed the cool steel of her watch. “Crystal…”

“Shhhh… I’m here, don’t be afraid….”

He stood up and got out of his room in a zombie-like manner, confusing her. Peter slowly went down the stairs, his steps heavy and mechanical. “Peter, what are you doing?” Crystal asked with concern. She detected something was very wrong with him, but she doesn’t know what.

He opened the lid of the box that contained his armor and stuffed Crystal inside the box. “Don’t bother me…” he warned, before closing the lid and going back to his room. The AI had no idea what he was going to do, but she doesn’t have the ability to stop him! Or does she?

Peter shut the door to his room, frustrated that the door doesn’t have a lock. But just in case something goes wrong, he goes inside the guest bathroom and locks the door. He grabbed his katana and pressed it against his wrist. A normal knife wouldn’t do that much damage to him, but he does not have a Bifrost steel knife to do the job. Plus, the katana was taken from an agent, so the sword had venom properties. The venom on the blade stung his skin without even breaking it, a testament of its power.

“One for every day we spent together….” he chanted as he ran the blade down his wrist.

Warm blood flowed down his arms and dripped on the shower floor, staining it with his essence. He felt his body trying to heal, but the venom was slowing his nanobots and their morphine down. Annoyed by the fact that his body was trying to make the deed painless, he forces the nanobots to delay healing until he was done.

He continued nicking his arm until his arm, legs, and clothes were stained in blood. The pain was intense, excruciating almost. But it was all needed. The pain of cutting himself outweighed the pain of his broken heart for now. He sucked in his breath and switched arms, his blade trembling as he held it in his bloodied hand.

“Maybe if I’m lucky, I would bleed out if I accidently cut my vein,” he whispers as he begins his gruesome work. He bit his tongue hard to stop himself from screaming, and he tasted iron erupt in his mouth.

“One for every hug we had…” he sobbed. He was tempted to use bloodlust to intensify the pain even more, to drown himself in his self-torment rather than face the agony of his broken heart.

Before he could make the third cut, the door of the bedroom bursts open. He glares at the interloper, only to be taken back in horror. It was his armor, standing as if it was possessed by some unknown force. The armor shambled towards him slowly, moving awkwardly as if it was its first steps.

“Peter… stop…” ordered Crystal’s voice from the armor. It sounded like she was talking from inside a long tunnel, but it was her voice alright.

Peter took a deep breath and glared at her. “Crystal. Eject yourself from my armor system. Now!” he growled. The armor shambled a few steps before grabbing the toilet to support itself.

“No…Peter, I have something to tell you,” she said, reaching out to him. He stabs the blade on the shower floor, letting his blood run down its length.

“What is it then?” he asked her. She approached him, and her avatar’s face flickered on the visor so it looks like she was actually wearing the armor. She took a deep breath, deciding that telling him would probably stop him from hurting himself some more.

Gathering all her courage, she lets it all out in one, heartfelt confession. “Peter… I love you…”

The three little words hit Peter like a flying kick. He felt his knees give out, but Crystal reacts just in time and catches him. Peter rests himself on the cold steel plates, but he immediately wraps his arms around her and starts sobbing.

He felt tears stream down his eyes as he buried his face in the armor’s shoulder. “Thank you…”

“I’m here, don’t worry… I’ll love you…”

A small part of Peter knew this was wrong. She’s an AI, not a real living, breathing human (or cyborg). She was also the one that took care of him throughout his life, from the moment he escaped Bifrost’s clutches to Las Vegas. But those memories only seemed to fuel the new found love he had gained.

“I… I love you too, Crystal…” he whispered to her. His concentration shifted on Crystal, the nanobots inside him resume their work, closing up his self-inflicted wounds and letting morphine course through him without his hindrance.

She smiled at him, her avatar’s face blushing. “Your search is over now… I’m that perfect girl that’s as loving as Ashen and you’ve known for as long as Vien.”

“Crystal, are you sure about this? What would the others say?” he asked her when he pulled out of the hug.

“That doesn’t matter… As long as you’re happy, the others will understand,” she reassured him. Peter smiled at her, and was almost tempted to kiss. Except he would be kissing his armor, not her!

“If I can make a body for you, the first thing I’ll do is kiss you,” he told her. Crystal smiled and rests her head on his shoulder.

“Thank you… But, get yourself cleaned up. That’s the second to last shirt you have with you and I doubt we’ll get the others washed until tomorrow.”

He smiled and stood up, helping his new girlfriend up. It was kind of awkward holding hands with his own armor, since it was specifically molded to fit his body. “Crystal, thank you for helping me…. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you didn’t stop me.”

She sighed and checked his cuts. They were pink scars now, but given that these were inflicted with a venom-laced sword, she doubt they would fully heal. She smiles at him and pats his shoulder affectionately. “Take a shower and hide those clothes. Then go back to sleep, alright love?” she told him before shambling off to fetch him his clothes.

“Of course,” he said. He took his blade and ran it under cold water to clean it off before sheathing it. Peter puts his blade under his bed, and grabbed the extra clothes that Crystal had got him from his suitcase. He smiled at her one last time before closing the door to take a shower.


In the Morning


Peter awoke with a yawn, his being fully rested. “Damn, that was the best sleep I’d ever taken since forever!” he yawned as he sat up. No nightmares plagued him when he slept at that point. Only happy dreams played in his mind during the time he slept. The sun was shining in his window, and the birds were singing. It was a picture perfect summer day!

“Good morning Peter!” his AI cheerily greeted. Crystal had taken back to being a watch form so he wouldn’t be bothered with her standing beside him in his power armor.

“What time is it?” he asked as he went to the bathroom to quickly brush his teeth.

“Nine A.M,” she told him. He spat out the mint toothpaste quickly before rinsing his mouth with water. The scars in his arm were not noticeable to the untrained human eye, but a cyborg can easily see them. It was tempting to go to breakfast with his power armor on like he did in Camp Richardson, but he knows Ashen’s mother would have a lot of questions for him!

“Well, better see if they’re awake then,” he said to himself. Peter puts his watch on, the cold steel feeling like an electric shock when he felt it against his scarred skin. He opens the door and was greeted by the smell of cooking waffles. And Ashen!

“Whoa! What’re you doing?! And why are you wearing that?” he stammered as he fell back from her. She was wearing a very short nightgown and lacy shorts, shocking him since she basically greeted him in her sleepwear.  

“Well, sleeping beauty’s awake. And I’m wearing this because I can! This is my home!” she said jokingly, leaning on the doorway.

Peter laughed sarcastically and stood up. “Ha ha… Well, can you put something more decent since I’m here?” he grumbled, preparing to go downstairs. However, she immediately blocked his path as he was about to leave, shocking him.

“Why were you showering at three in the morning?!” she said, glaring at him accusingly.

“What? How did you hear?!” he stammered. Ashen stood up on her tippy-toes to try and meet his eyes (which was a funny sight since she was five foot three while he was six feet tall). It didn’t stop her from trying though!

“You’re not the only cyborg in this house you know! My mother was knocked out cold, but I was awake at that point!” she told him.

“And why were you awake then?” Peter retorted. Ashen blushed, since thought she had him.

“I-”

“Was texting Carl at that unholy hour,” Crystal snickered. Ashen blushed crimson and she glared at the AI. Peter’s eyes widen and he glared at the redhead.

“Crystal!”

“Why were you texting Carl huh?” Peter asked, frowning at her. His tone was actually serious instead of sarcastic now. “Do I have to kick his butt now?”

“But he’s my boyfriend! I’m allowed to do that!” she argued. Peter shook his head at her.

“My, my, you’re a bad girl! What if the others find out?” he snickered, pushing past her. Ashen’s eyes widen and she got in front of him again to stop him.

“Oh fine… I’ll stop bugging you. But anyway, why are you so protective of me?”

He sighed and patted her head gently. “I’ll tell you the reason later. But now, I’m starving!”

She rolled her eyes and followed him downstairs to the dining room. Her mother, due to her request, had made them specially made waffle sandwiches for them. She smiled when she saw Peter sit down at the table excitedly, his eyes filled with excitement when her mother brought out the breakfast plates. The redhead sat down next to Peter, and her mother sat beside him so he was at the center.

“Ashen told me you liked them, so I made some for you,” she told him as she gave him a sausage, egg, and cheddar waffle sandwich. Ashen and her mother had the bacon, eggs, and cheddar waffle sandwich for breakfast.

He greedily took in a bite, enjoying the taste. “Oh my god… this tastes better than Bruxie!” he whispered in awe. Ashen’s mother giggled as she watched him finish his breakfast in fifteen seconds!

“You like it? I can make some more if you’d like! They’re quite easy!” she said as she went off into the kitchen. Ashen rolled her eyes and took a bite off of hers, a euphoric grin spreading on her lips. Like Peter, her waffle sandwich disappeared within fifteen seconds of taking the first bite.

“Sometimes I wonder if she’s a cyborg herself,” Ashen giggled. “She can definitely cook like one!”

“Because I’m the one doing the cooking! And Ashen, you only cook well because you had your mother’s skills!” Nikki called out from the kitchen. The two teens burst into laughter, mainly because it was true! Nikki came back with two freshly made waffle sandwiches for both of them.

The two teens quickly devoured their food, already full within a seconds. Most of the time, they were waiting for Nikki to finish hers (which was rather quick since she loved the food). They sat around the table, drinking their orange juice to wash their food down.

“So Peter, why are you so protective of me?” Ashen asked after finishing her juice. Her mother took interest in this and she looks at the Lieutenant, waiting for his answer.

He looked at the redhead and smiled at her. “Because I know you’ll be safe as long as I’m there with you. You see, you are the closest person I have that’s a sister to me. I can’t just watch you put yourself in danger,” he told her. Ashen smiled at him and embraced him tightly.

“Awww! You’re so sweet!” she cooed. The dark-haired boy’s eyes widen but he returns her hug immediately. Her mother just watched the two, showing no emotion in her face.

“Well, how could I be so sure I could trust you?” she asked, breaking the moment.

“You can trust me ma’am. I swear I can keep both Ashen and Carl safe under my watch.”

Siegfried jumped into the living room. He was apparently listening to the whole thing! “That’s my job mister! And I’m not letting you take my job!” he said, angered at Peter.
Nikki nodded her head in sad agreement. “He’s right Peter.”

“I’m not going to harm her, I swear!” he said, trying to sound convincing.

“Peter, it is Siegfried’s –”

“Mother… I can trust him. How come you can’t?” Ashen asked, interrupted her mother. Nikki sighed and crossed her arms. She looked at the two intently.

“Well, there is one way to prove to me that you can protect her. Both of you better hope you can keep secrets, because I’m going to give you a mission that could save the country.”