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�Ramus!! You�re. . .a robot?� gasped Christine.

�Oh dear. Secret�s out. Just one second Christine.� Ramus proceeded to put his eye back in and replace the torn skin tissue. �Just making some minor repairs.�

�How?. . .I. . . Does Zen know?!�

�You need not act so shocked my dear. I find it a trifle insulting. Yes, Zen knows.�

�You can�t expect me to sleep NOW!�

Ramus chuckled. �No, I suppose not.� Ramus turned to a cabinet and grabbed two mugs. He proceeded to brew some tea. �So, what would you like to talk about?�

�Well, how long have you been. . .�

�A robot? About 300 years now.�

�But you said you had parents, and you knew Zen even back then. Does that mean?�

�Yes, Zen is older than I. I was a boy when I met him. I had parents quite similar to yours. They wanted me to go into business like all Ramus�s. Said it was tradition and I had to uphold the family tradition. But I found the Books of Damon. After reading those books, I decided I wanted to study science and technology. I wanted to better humanity. It was about that time when Zen was passing through my village. He must have been impressed that I asked so many questions about the unknown. He told me there was a place where I could live to my heart�s content, but I would have to leave my parents. When I told him I couldn�t go against my parents, I woke the next morning and couldn�t find them anywhere. �I knew it had to be Zen, and went around town looking for him.� When I found him, I spit in his face, cursing him and telling him he had no right to make that choice for me. But it was like talking to a child. Zen could not comprehend why I would want to be with such people. Having nothing left, Zen took me to this land of junk by a teleporter. He stayed with me for a while, helping me adjust. Eventually, he told me that when I was capable enough, I should study the forcefields. He said he wanted to learn how to go beyond them.�

�And you did?�

�Yes. Sometimes I thought Zen had helped me because I was in the right place at the right time. But then he stayed with me for so long. In the end, I had no choice but to call him a friend. Of course, I aged and he did not, and I knew I could not complete the task he had assigned me. It was then I studied robotics and found a way to transfer my consciousness into this body. Now, I suppose I�ve become like Zen, single-minded. Set on my goal to know everything about technology and figure out the secret of the forcefields. I now know more than Zen does about what will happen in the future, and it�s not good.�

�What do you mean?�, asked Christine.

�I. . .can�t say without more evidence. I�m sure that�s why Zen won�t say anything either. We don�t want to speculate. In either case, we are preparing for whatever comes.�

�But, if you say Zen has been around longer than you, then that would mean. . .�

�I can�t be killed.� Zen appeared from the shadows.

Christine ran over to Zen and ripped off his bandages. Sure enough, there was no visible wound. She knelt down and ran her finger over the place where only hours before, blood ran freely. Ramus folded his arms contentedly, grinning at Zen�s predicament.

*Click to view.*

�I�m immortal. . .Christine. . . are you. . .crying?�

It was true. Christine was crying. �Why? Why won�t you tell me anything about you? Why do I always have to find things out like this?�

�Why are you so curious?�

Ramus interjected with a grin. �I can guess!�

Zen eyed Ramus for a second and then knelt down next to Christine. He looked her in the eyes and smiled. Christine stopped crying. He. . .smiled. . .at her.

�I�m not a monster, Christine. I do have my own agenda. But we all have our own agenda. Raff wants to become another Lord Leo. Ramus wants to be intelligent. You want confidence. But how you acquire these things is irrelevant. I assure you I want to save the planet, but I feel that telling you why I do for my own reasons is unimportant. I also. . .have a past. . . A long time ago, I committed a great sin. And saving the planet is part of my atonement. You understand, I don�t want to talk about my past because it carries bad memories. Let�s concentrate on the present, okay? Whether you believe it or not, I do need your help. I need Ramus�s help, Bat�s help. . .�

�And Raff�s?�

Zen flinched. �Well, maybe not that far.�

Christine chuckled. �Okay. . .okay. I know. I�m being too nosy for my own good.�

Zen put a hand on Christine�s shoulder. �It�s the compassionate quality that I find appealing in you. Now, go to sleep. Ramus and I have to discuss some things.�

Christine nodded and went off to sleep. When she left the room, Ramus suddenly looked very serious. �Zen, be careful. There are many reasons why a relationship with that girl is not a good idea. I hate to see you walk the world alone, but there�s a bigger picture here.�

�You�re right. . .my friend.�

The next morning Zen, Christine, Raff, Bat, Blue, and Ramus went to the outskirts of the desert.

�You mean we have to walk BACK across this thing?!!� Raff kicked some dirt.

�Yes, by yourselves I�m afraid.�

Christine looked shocked. �You. . .you aren�t coming with us Ramus?�

Zen interjected. �He can do more good for us here.�

�He�s right, Christine. Gotta think of more ways to knock Zen down a few notches.� Ramus smiled.

�Will we see you again?�

�Oh, most definitely. Hopefully, under promising circumstances. Now go find LeMae.�

�Walk ahead a bit. I must say goodbye to Ramus.� instructed Zen.

When Christine and Raff went down the path a bit, Ramus and Zen shook hands and Ramus gave Zen a keypad.

*Click to view.*

�This will take you to LeMae. Remember what I told you, and best of luck on your quest. Our future depends on it.�

�Do not grow lonely. . .old friend.� Zen and the group headed into the desert and back to the teleporter.

To Be Continued in Chapter 6- Falcon Rising, LaMae Falling- At last, LeMae is REVEALED!