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Of Devils and Angels
By: NightCat
Chapter 4: Catching Up
�That should do it,� Joel said as he replaced a small metal panel on Cambot. The small camerabot hovered above the table a little ways, as if he was unsure if he could move or not. When he gained some more confidence, he gave Joel a quick beep of thanks and hovered off.
Joel�s small home was a wonderland of random gadgets and inventions. Just looking around in most rooms it isn�t very noticeable, but once someone tried to use something, like the microwave, Joel�s handiwork showed. A couple rooms were set aside for the building and storing of these gizmos, one of which was the room that the group was in now.
�Quite the place you have here,� Mike commented. He had been looking around the house ever since they arrived.
Joel gave a slight grin as he put his tools away. �It works for my lifestyle. I think the neighbor�s are a little less appreciative of it though. You have no idea how many times I�ve gotten calls late at night for me to shut off those damn tools and let everyone else sleep in peace.�
�Boo-hoo for them,� Crow grumbled, not looking up from his card game with Tom and Gypsy. Joel had given them the deck for something to do while he worked on Cambot.
�Crybabies,� Tom agreed.
Joel gave the two �bots a look but said nothing.
�I�ll admit it Joel,� Clayton said, looking around the room at the various gadgets approvingly, �I couldn�t have expected less of you as far as home life goes. But what�s the deal with the restaurant?�
Joel looked up at his former captor. He had been a little wary of Clayton, even making a point of telling him not to touch any of his inventions. Joel may be forgiving, but he was also cautious.
�Well, I�m still running the hot fish shop in Osseo,� he said. �But I was recently offered a job at this little family restaurant. The pay was too good to pass up. Besides, I needed a change of scenery. So, here I am.�
�Nice,� Mike said. �Looks like you�ve made quite the life for yourself here.�
�You could say that,� Joel shrugged. �It�s been kinda dull as of late, though judging by today�s events it looks like things might be starting to get quite interesting.�
�Be careful of what you wish for,� Clayton muttered. He slumped back against the wall and crossed his arms.
�What�s your story then?� Joel asked him. �Why are you suddenly trying to buddy up to your former prisoners?�
�Number one,� said Clayton. �I am not trying to buddy up to anyone. It just so happens that you are the only people who can help me.� He made a face. �Trust me, I�m about as happy about it as the rest of you.�
�Gee, thanks,� Tom said. �I feel so loved.�
�The truth of the matter is,� Clayton went on. �There are now two Mothers running around, both looking for you guys and me. I know it sounds insane, which is why I didn�t mention it before.�
Mike nodded. �Yeah, I kinda figured it was Pearl.�
Clayton shook his head. �How is that possible though?�
�I�ll explain later.�
�We�ll hold you to that,� Joel said, looking perplexed.
�Anyway,� Clayton continued. �The new Mother, the one that showed up yesterday, wants to put Mike and the �bots back into space and continue the experiment.�
�Wait,� Mike interrupted. �Pearl told us that she was done with it. She even said that she got a new job.�
�Since when has Mother ever been truthful Nelson?� Clayton countered. �She�s obsessed with ruling the world. You of all people should know that.�
Mike shrugged. �She had her moments.�
Clayton rolled his eyes.
Gypsy, who had been listening intently, asked, �What about you? What do they want with you?�
The former mad scientist sighed. �I don�t know. From what I heard, it doesn�t sound good.�
Mike gulped and hoped that the �bots wouldn�t say anything yet. The last thing he wanted at the moment was either Crow or Tom making a crack about impending doom for Clayton.
�Therefore,� said Clayton. �I need to lay low, at least until I find out what they want with me. In return, I warned you about Mother, and I�ll help you get back on your feet Mike. I think that�s a fair deal.�
�Hey!� Crow said. �What about us? Don�t we get anything?�
�How about not getting turned into scrap metal?� Clayton snapped.
Joel almost stood up. �I would appreciate it if you wouldn�t talk to my robots that way.�
�Yeah!� said Tom. �Especially robots who know your fate! You better watch it buddy.�
�Tom!� Mike warned.
Joel and Clayton looked at Mike. They now knew that he was hiding something. This didn�t help Mike�s current situation one bit.
�What is it Mike?� Joel asked.
Mike sighed. �I�ll explain later,� he said. �It�s a long story.�
�What a cop-out,� Crow grumbled.
Joel shook his head. �Well, in any case, I think we could all do with some food. That might clear our minds a little. Who�s up for some Pizza Hut?�
***
�This isn�t right!� Pearl fumed. �He couldn�t have gone that far. None of them could!�
The other Pearl, present day Pearl, watched her future self stomp around the stone room. She had been amazed to get a phone call from herself the night before, but quickly accepted it as a clever plan she had made sometime in the future.
�Knowing him,� Present Day Pearl said, �he probably picked them up and ran.�
�Which is why we need to get rid of the twerp ASAP,� Future Pearl said. �He took our guinea pigs. If he thinks he can pick up the experiment where he left off��
Present Day Pearl listened to the other Pearl�s footsteps echo through the room in Castle Forrester. She had heard of the place, but until last night hadn�t actually been there. Now, in the castle of her ancestors, she and her future self plotted a new plan for world domination. At the moment though, the plan had run into a snag.
�Okay Pearl,� Future Pearl said, her face strained in concentration. �Think� where could they have gone?�
Present Day Pearl promptly followed Future Pearl�s lead.
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