UNIT 0 [Pt.13]

UNIT 0 [Pt.13]

Part 13. The Stars

The house was considerably large, even though on the outside it looked smaller, a majority of the house was tilted and slightly underground. The dogs happily went sniffing through the house, and Rich shouted after them, "Don't piss on anything!" he snickerd. Everyone had gone off to explore the mysterious house and Ciana still remained in the room with Claire, Rich and a semi nude Zero. "So Robin, got the whole group together finally?" Zero nodded and said in a monotone voice, "Yes. Now we are to start training." "Training?" Cianna questioned, staring at Zero who was, oh crap, still half naked and now fully naked because his towl just fell. And uncaring as always about being in the open, he didn't take any notice.

"Training. You have special abilities and if we are going to go up against the Jogan community then we need to use them." Said Zero, stoned face as ever whle Ciana nervously attempted to look elsewhere, "So then Rich, what's your ability?"  "Oh me?" He grinned like the Chesire Cat, "Well I can do a little- WABAM!" He shouted, as he suddenly bent backwards, in half. He grabbed his ankles and he was almost bent perfectly in half. It made a small chill go up Cianas spine. Cianas eyes widened, "I thought you were the agility enhancement!" Rich bended back into regular position. "Agility, Flexibilty, blah blah blah. All fit under the same category." He said, a proud tone in his voice. "You and Claire had better find a room and get some rest, because training starts first thing in the morning."

~~~

Ciana uncomfortably slept in her new room at the end of the hall, in the middle of Rich and Zeros rooms. She tossed and turned all night, unable to relax. All she could think of was of the training, the war that was surely going to break out, and most importantly, Zero. Zero Zero Zero. He wasn't a robot every body knew that (except maybe Penelope), except for Zero (and probably Penelope). Could he feel emotions? Did he? Did he know how to deal with those emotions? Ciana tried to shoo the thoughts away but they were branded into her brain. Hell, Claire was sleeping more peacefully than she was.

Deeming it as useless to attempt to sleep, Ciana woke up. She went to her small bathroom, fixed herself to look at the very least socially acceptable, and after taking a peek at Claire to make sure she was sleeping peacefully, she wandered into the hallway of rooms. Upon entering the hallway, she realized that a new stair case was in the hallway, that led up to above ground. A cool breeze came in and caressed her body. Feeling too warm and curious, she decided to go up these stairs.

She poked her head out of the hole, the wheat in the field swayed silently, the wind lightly blew in the background and the sky was filled with bright shining orbs she hadn't seen before. Along with those, a big white rock hanging in the sky. Gasping at this new sight, she was completely awe struck.

Rich noticed her head peeking out of the little opening, he smiled instead of grinning or smirking, "Hey Ciana, your name is Ciana right?" Jolted from her awe struck stupor she noticed Rich who was smiling at her. She blushed and looked up again, "Yes, you're Rich right?" "Yes... So I see it's your first time seeing stars huh? I had the same expression when I first saw them." He patted the space beside him, he was sitting on a mint green blanket, "Here sit with me." "Ok..." Ciana quietly said crawling out of the hole and sitting beside him. He moved closer and Ciana felt an odd flutter at the base of her stomach. He pointed up at the sky, obviously as enchanted by the sky as she was, "See those? The sparkly things? Those are called stars. And that big white rock in the sky? It's called the moon. Some nights it's all there and other nights it's not. Isn't that amazing?" "How are they in the sky? Did someone put them there?" He looked at Ciana and then looked back up at the sky and chuckled, "I don't know. Wouldn't it be amazing if someday we could know?" "Yea..." She said trailing off.

They were both silent for a while until Rich spoke up again, "Is Claire your child...?"   "Huh? Oh yes... But not biologically. We found her abandoned." He frowned and looked down thoughtfully, "I have a child." Ciana looked at him in surprise, "You do?"  "Yup... Today he or she would be maybe about 6 months." "About Claires age." He smiled solemnly, and nodded. "I didn't even know who the Mother was. We only met once and for a brief period... And you know we didn't talk much..." He coughed and quickly changed the topic, "I was 14. 14 when they forced her and I too..." He was starting to look choked up. "Babies take about 9 months right? If I'm correct, yup, about 6 months old is how old they'd be. I've never even seen my child." Ciana stared at him, he looked pitiful, with tears threatening to drop, "I'm sorry Rich..."
He laughed, a tear actually slipping. "Don't be, it's not like it's your fault." She looked at her feet, "I guess not." "It makes me happy to think if this war is going to happen, that I will get to find my child, maybe even the mother, and I'll have a family. And I'll be free to live my life." He laughed a happy laugh, "I can't wait for this way, to kick some assimilator ass." He layed back, "Thanks Ciana. I've never been able to tell anyone about that. I could've told Robin but you know he's all, cold and stuff." "Thanks for trusting me enough to tell me Rich..." Ciana nervously laughed, laying back with him, her eyes starting to feel heavy with sleep, "I'm glad you came, Ciana." 

And that was the last thing said before they both fell asleep side by side.