Chapter 18: Secrets III

The next morning, everyone noticed something different about my face.

"Where did that come from?" London asked, pointing at the scar under my eye. I smiled as I poured us two glasses of orange juice.

"Fight." I answered.

"Will the two of you stop that?!" London scolded. "Can't the three of us go to Frisco in one piece?"

"Here's hoping." I sighed, putting the paper juice carton back in the fridge. "Tokyo and I kinda made up last night."

" 'Kinda?' " London wondered, taking his glass as I grabbed mine.

"Well…you know how we are." I shrugged, starting to sip at my juice.

"Yeah." He agreed, gulping down the whole glass like he was chugging a beer. "You two wanna kill each other, but you two also luuuuuuuv each other!"

"Yeah." I answered with a dreamy sigh.

" 'Yeah?' "London wondered suspiciously. "You mean I’m right?"

"Yeah."

"You mean he's your boyfriend?!" Then, he shielded his face with his hands from an attack. "Don't kill me! Please! I'm too good looking to die!" I had to laugh.

"Yes, he's my boyfriend." I stated, putting my glass in the sink. London peeked at me through his fingers.

"You admit it?" he asked in amazement. "You'll actually admit it?!"

"You heard it from me first." I announced proudly. "I'm in love with Tokyo and he loves me too."

"Alright!" London cheered. "High five!" We slapped hands in triumph. "And it only took you guys three months!"

"Hey, keep quiet about it." I urged. "I don't wanna announce it to everyone just yet."

"Well, if you won't," London thrummed in a very sinister voice, forming the most evil look he could twist his face into, "then I will." Putting his glass in the sink, he dashed towards the living room. "Hey mates! Guess wot!"

"London, you jackass!" I screamed, running after him with homicidal intentions. "Get your British butt back here!"

I chased him through the whole house. Even though he didn't blurt out Tokyo and my secret love affair, he did get the whipping of his life.

***

Tokyo came out of his room around eleven in the morning. He mostly hung around the hallways, looking depressed. He didn't talk to anyone, not even Kaguya. He turned away from anyone who asked him "What's wrong?" He refused to speak or interact with anyone.

I invited myself to see if I could get a few words out of him.

"Tokyo?" I called, walking into the hall. He was leaning against the closed door of his room. He looked at me, and I stopped where I stood. He looked so depressed…

"Paris," he began quietly, "I need to talk to you." I became annoyed with him immediately.

"Then why didn't you come to me if you wanted to talk to me?"

"I don't want anyone to know about us yet."

He became a bigger annoyance.

"Well, don't be too secretive about it!" I snapped. "What the hell are you doing to yourself? Just sitting here, sulking like you're going to die any moment now!" I angrily walked towards him, and pointed at the door of Kaguya's room. "You wouldn't even talk to your own mother!"

"She's not my mother!" Tokyo angrily snapped back. "She's my creator! There is a difference!"

"Oh, shut up!" I shouted, getting in Tokyo's face. "You're impossible!"

Suddenly, Tokyo closed his eyes and smiled.

"You need to calm down and stop yelling." He suggested.

"And you need to lighten up and stop being such a bast…"

Quick as lightning, he kissed me and pulled my body close to his. I was caught off guard, and I suddenly felt light and nervous. I kissed him too, feeling my heart thud inside my chest. The moment felt like it lasted for years, but it must have been just a few seconds. Our lips parted slowly, and Tokyo stared deeply into my eyes. They were so much more alive, the depression had disappeared.

"I love you." He said quietly, his voice was so beautiful and warm. "I've always loved you, but I couldn't find it in myself to tell you. Whenever you hugged me, or told me you loved me, you showed me the feelings I had for you. No one had ever done this for me before. I feel so much more alive and complete when I'm near you…may I be in love with you, Paris?"

I was speechless. I could only stare back in his eyes. In romantic helplessness, I brushed my fingertips against the scar under his eye. He stroked my scar with his thumb. Finally, I put my hand to the side of his face, and pulled him into a kiss of my own.

Suddenly…

"Whoo-hoo! Go, go, go, go, go, go…"

Horrified, Tokyo and I parted and looked down the hall. Who should we find there, rooting for make out action, but not just London…but Kaguya, the old man, and Ayla with yellow and red pom-poms.

"Aw, c'mon!" Ayla whined, "keep going! Don't mind us!"

"Yeah," London agreed, "you guys are getting to the good part!" Kaguya and the old man nodded.

Tokyo and I pulled out our swords and chased all four of them out of the house.

***

Early in the afternoon, Kaguya took London into town to get him his own motorcycle. He loved the idea completely…

"But," I quote he, "I don't think I'm ready for a bike with a mind of his own just yet." So we agreed to take some software with us to program a personality for his bike when we reached San Francisco. Meanwhile, Magus began planning out our long trip.

"The city itself is at least 2700 miles away, maybe further than that." Magus began, laying out a California/Oregon roadmap on the table. "You'll need to organize your stops carefully for drinks and gasoline refuels."

"We'll need money then," I listed, resting my elbows on the table, "and lots of it. We'll probably spend a few nights in hotel rooms."

"Let's try not to do that." Tokyo suggested. "We need to keep a low profile. Ghost is out there somewhere, and he may try to follow us. We can't afford to lead him to San Francisco."

"That's the plan." I revealed.

"Plan? What plan?"

"If Ghost follows us at least over the Oregon boarder, then he won't target Corey, Kaguya, or the others to get to us. At least they would be safe, and we could worry about ourselves instead."

"But what if Ghost decides not to follow us, then what?"

"You guys should keep in constant contact with us." Ayla suggested. "Clara, do you still have your cell phone?"

"Yeah."

"Take it with you."

"I heard cell phones are a must in California." I smiled. Ayla smiled back.

"If Frisco is anything like Seattle," she retorted, "you'll need a cell phone, a laptop, six different kinds of key chains, and a pager. Two pagers if you're popular."

I laughed. Ayla was born and raised in Seattle. She came to Oregon with Magus when her parents were killed by dragonoids.

"We'll need only the necessities." Tokyo insisted. "We aren't on vacation, this is work."

"I was just kidding." Ayla shrugged.

"So what exactly is going to happen in San Francisco?" I tried to come back to the subject. "If we're going to work there, what exactly are we working on?"

"Well, there will be dragonoids there, so there may be some slaying to be done." The old man explained. "However, I'll need to work on an upgrade for all three of you to make you stronger, faster, and better than Ghost. If we can defeat him, then we can better our chances of defeating the dragonoids."

"And you need to start talking about Ghost." I reminded harshly. "You haven't answered any questions about him, old man."

"I'll start talking about him when Kaguya and London come back." Magus promised.

"You had better." I growled, pointing an accusing finger at him. Tokyo noticed that I was going to lose my cool, and put a hand on my accusing finger to put my hand back down at my side.

"Calm down." He soothed. "You'll get all the answers soon enough." I smiled and calmed down, feeling a little hot in the face.

"So anyway," I sighed as Ayla smiled at me and Tokyo, "where's the first rest stop going to be?"

***

By the time we had finished plotting out the road trip to San Francisco, Kaguya and London came back with a stylish Harley. London had also bought a guitar for Corey.

"A get-well-soon gift." London explained, strumming on a few strings, then suddenly pulled his fingers away. "Ow!"

"I think you need a pick to play it, honey." Ayla laughed, putting a hand on his shoulder. I smiled simply.

"So, why a guitar?" I asked.

"Corey has always wanted to be part of a band. He plays the guitar, and he's really good. However, he's spent more time training to be a Slayer than he has practicing."

"That's really sweet of you." I adored.

"Aw, shucks," London smiled, "thanks Clara. Hey, I was gonna give it to Corey at the hospital today. Did you wanna come with me?"

"Sure!"

I should never have gone.

***

As I rode on the back of London's motorcycle to the hospital, I thought back to an earlier conversation…when Magus began to talk about Ghost…

"I have mentioned," he had said, "before that I had made other androids before I made Clara. Ghost was one of them, but that was not his name. He was called Corbin, and he was created in another laboratory of mine in Scotland. Corbin was designed to kill dragonoids, so I gave him the traits of the perfect warrior. However, he was very shy and often held back in fights. He became and confused and frightened easily."

"Now there's an interesting picture:" I had smirked, "Ghost whimping out in a fight."

"Usually, androids don't wimp out on anything." London had stated with a joker's grin. "They have nerves of steel."

"Oh!" Tokyo had groaned, smacking his hand into his face. I had given London a swift punch in the stomach. He had doubled over in pain.

"Clara!" he had wailed. "Whad yu hit me fore?"

"That was a bad joke." I had scolded.

"Ahem." The old man cleared his throat for attention. "The trouble began on his third mission. He did rather well on his first two assignments, but on the third…he killed an innocent human who jumped into the crossfire. Corbin became very confused, looking around in all directions, shaking all over, babbling nonsense…he panicked.

"In his confusion, he attacked me, and tried to kill me. I shut him down permanently, and stored him in the lab where he slept for two months. I had hoped to erase his memory of the incident, but I discovered that the police were after him. Corbin was wanted for murder. I had no choice but to destroy the android. Before I could, however, he disappeared. Corbin had somehow activated himself and escaped without a trace. I never saw or heard from him again."

"And," I had spoken up, "you're sure that's Ghost?"

"Look at this." Magus had picked up a metallic hand that was caged in thousands of small, thin wires. "I stripped the skin off the severed hand and analyzed it. It is the same synthetic skin I used for Clara. Also, the structure of the hand is of my production, as well as the piston functions and mussel patterns, but there are strange skin glands in the wiring that I've never seen before."

"So Corbin is Ghost," Ayla had theorized, "but someone got a hold of him and rewired him. That's the only expla…"

"Wait a minute." Kaguya had interrupted. "Magus, how long ago did this happen?"

"In 1981."

I had tried to do the math in my head, but Tokyo was faster.

"About eighteen years." He calculated. "Long time."

"So, when Corbin failed," London speculated to the old man, "you created Clara?"

"Not right away, no." the old man had answered. "But I used many concepts from Corbin's design for Clara."

A lot more questions rattled through my head than ever before. How exactly did Corbin become Ghost? How could he change so drastically? Why was he trying to kill us? Who's side was he on? What the hell is going on here?!?!!!!

"Are you feeling alright?" Tokyo had wondered, putting a hand on my shoulder. I smiled, and put a hand on his hand, squeezing it tightly.

"I sense a pattern in Magus's androids." London had spoken up. We all turned our attention to him. He smiled. "They all suffer from emotional distress."

The room had remained silent. Magus had turned away, refusing to comment. I had shaken my head before landing a reprehensible down punch on London's head.

Coming back to the present, I wondered how I would put up with the smart bottom android at the hospital.

***

London and I drove to the town hospital where Corey was staying. However, not only was Corey being treated for lead poisoning, but also for a broken leg. The bullet had splintered his bone, and it was a wonder the bullet was even removed. So, he would be staying in the hospital for at least three weeks. "The Core" was not happy about that.

"Damn thaat Ghost." He muttered as London signed Corey's cast with a blue marker. "I'll rip 'im tu pieces aand rebuild 'im intoa toaster!"

"Allow me." London insisted, making a smiley face on the cast. "Glynn died, so Ghost is mine to finish off."

"We'll finish him off together." I suggested. "The three of us have scores to settle with him."

"Sure." London agreed, handing me the marker and letting me have a turn. I signed a get-well-soon wish as London started explaining what was known about Ghost. I felt someone watching me, and I glanced up to see who it was. It was Corey. He was giving me a very expectant look, like I was supposed to say something to him. That made me nervous. I didn't like that look, so I wrapped up my signature and capped the pen.

"It is your birthday?" London joked, handing Corey the guitar. Corey laughed in happy amusement as he lifted the instrument in his arms.

"I like, I like." He approved. "I should break my other leg and get me a drum set." The three of us shared a good laugh.

"How about some snacks?" London offered. "I've got some change in my pocket."

"A soda." I requested.

"Yeah." Corey agreed.

"Okay, I'll go find a vending machine." London walked out of the room as Corey set his guitar aside. When London was gone, Corey looked at me.

"So, how's ev'yone at the base?" he asked.

"A little sad that Glynn is gone." I announced. "Either than that, nothing different."

"And how's Tokyo?"

"Get this." I readied in excitement. "We're officially in love. We're boyfriend and girlfriend now."

Corey didn't look happy to hear that.

"No…" he muttered, turning his eyes downward.

"What's wrong?" I asked. Corey put a hand on my wrist and looked into my eyes. He looked so sad…

"Tokyo doesn't deserve yu." He stated quietly. "He's aan asshole who neva appreciated anythin yu've evar done fore him. He's not the one fore yu. Yu'll neva be happy with thaat…thaat haartless jerk!"

"Corey…" I began, "…what are you saying?" Suddenly, I didn't want that question answered. I suddenly became very scared.

"He'll neva make yu happy…" Corey's grip on my wrist became tighter, "soh…soh let me make yu happy, Clara!"

I froze in fear. I should have known! So that's why Corey was jealous of me being in love with Tokyo! Why didn't I take notice of that before?!?

"Corey…"

"I love yu, Clara!" Corey outbursted, holding my wrist with both hands. "I've loved yu since I first saaw yu! I'm soh much betta thaan Tokyo, and I'd neva hurt yu! Please…forget about Tokyo aand be in love with me instead!"

I didn't know what to say. My face felt burning hot, and I couldn't find any strength to move. He really meant it, and I had no idea what to do or say. I just wanted to disappear or crawl down a hole and stay there. I wanted to be anywhere but here.

"Please let go." Was all I could say. Corey took his hands off my wrist, but he put one hand on my shoulder.

"I'm really sorry fore all ove this…" he said gently, tears rolling down his cheeks, "but I'm telling yu the truth from the bottom of me heart. I've neva fallen in love before...yu're the first girl who I've felt this waye about. I'd du anythin fore yu, Clara. I'd die fore yu if it wuld make yu happy."

"Corey, no…" I tried to object as his hand traveled up my neck and rested on my cheek. "…please don't do this to me…"

"Whoa." I heard from the doorway. I looked up to see London in the doorway with two sodas in his hands. Corey took his hand off my face and looked at London, who flinched. "Uh, am I interrupting?"

"Uh…" Corey winced, then bit his lip. I put a hand to my face and started sobbing. London immediately came to my side, and guided me by the shoulders to a chair.

"You made her cry, you moron!" London snapped at Corey.

"I didn't mean tu!" Corey defended himself.

"Get me out of here." I sobbed, overwhelmed beyond all calming. London helped to guide me out of the room. Corey called something to me, but I refused to hear it. London got some help from a nearby nurse to get me to calm down and explain what happened. When I told them, the nurse went to go talk to Corey while London let me outside. And who should be outside, putting his bike in park, but…

"Paris? What happened? What's wrong?"

"Tokyo!" I cried, running to him and throwing my arms around him. He hugged me close and rested his chin on my shoulder. I felt calmer with him next to me, and safer. I thought a little about what Corey had said, that Tokyo would keep hurting me and never make me happy.

That wasn't true. Tokyo would never hurt me. And as long as Tokyo never said "Farewell," he made me happy.

"Magus wants the two of you back at the base." Tokyo said to London. "We leave in two hours."

"Okay." London agreed. "I'm gonna go say goodbye to Corey before I go. Could you take Clara back?"

"Sure." Tokyo nodded, breaking from the hug. We both climbed on Crisis, and Tokyo took her off park. He drove her out of the parking lot as I waved a temporary goodbye to London. I wrapped my arms around Tokyo's waist and held him close to me.

"Are you okay?" he asked, slightly turning his head to me.

"I dunno." I sighed, leaning my head against his back.

"Take a nap when we get home." Tokyo recommended. "You'll feel better."

"Okay."

***

When we got back, Tokyo guided me into the house and to the living room couch. I didn't want him to leave my side, so he let me rest my head in his lap. He stroked my hair as I slowly but surely fell asleep.

Tokyo woke me up an hour later. I opened my eyes to see London standing in front of me with a bouquet of pastel colored flowers. I didn't know what kind they were…I'm not good with flowers.

"These are from Corey." London presented. I closed my eyes and moaned.

"I don't wanna hear that name anymore." I groaned. Tokyo handed me a small card from the bouquet.

"Here. Read this." I took the card in my fingers and read Corey's handwriting:

I smiled, accepting his apology. I would talk to him in San Francisco after I had gotten my bearing straight.

London was right: Magus's androids do suffer from emotional distress.

***

Late afternoon, it was time to go. The three of us lined up our bikes on the road outside the lot, and began saying our good-byes.

"I wish I could go with you guys." Ayla sniffed, giving me a hug.

"I want you to come too." I wished. "But we'll see each other again."

"Yeah." Ayla smiled as London walked to her after saying his good-byes. I broke the hug so that London could have a turn. I let those two say goodbye their way, and I hugged Magus tightly.

"I'll miss you, old man." I murmured.

"Take care of yourself, Clara." Magus advised. "San Francisco is a big city like Portland or Seattle. It's a whole new ball game, a lot different from Emerald."

"I'll be fine." I laughed. "Don't worry."

"I'll worry about you everyday." He laughed back. Our hug broke, and I looked at Kaguya. She and Tokyo stood about one foot away from each other, just staring at one another, not saying a word.

Tokyo mumbled something in Japanese, and Kaguya responded with some comforting words. Tokyo smiled, bowed politely, and walked to Crisis. I walked up to Kaguya as London began to say goodbye to Magus.

"Well, this is it?" I wondered. Kaguya smiled.

"Please take care of Tokyo for me, Clara." Kaguya requested. "He will need you when I am not there."

"Alright." I agreed, shaking my hand. "We'll call you guys."

A couple of minutes later, Tokyo, London and I started up our bikes. We waved goodbye back to our creators one last time, then drove off. We passed through Emerald for one last look, then entered the highway south bound for Frisco.

On the road again…I can't wait to get on the road again…

Hey there, it's London calling! We're…yeah, you guessed it…on the road to San Francisco. I can't wait to go back! It's great, and I know Clara and Tokyo are going to love it! It is the most famous city on the planet Earth after all!

Well, in the next chapter of BOTS, we make a stop at a hotel for the night…but there's something fishy about it. Is there someone trying to freak us out behind the scenes or…is it haunted? The only way to find out is to keep reading the BOTS trilogy! Stay tuned! This'll be spooky fun!

 

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