Chapter Text
“Hey, Dark?” Chosen stepped into Dark’s study. “I’m going to do some work but could we talk real quick?”
Dark saved his progress and turned to Chosen with a nod.
”I just…could you not edit the Virabots we have now?” Chosen asked. “I like them the way they are…and I think they do, too.”
“I won’t,” Dark sighed, rubbing his forehead. “They’re used to being pets by this point. I don’t think they’d fight Alan…especially not Velcro.”
Dark glanced around.
”Where is he, anyway?”
”I don’t know,” Chosen sighed. “Usually he’s with me.”
”He could just be sleeping somewhere,” Dark said, crossing his arms. “I’ll look while you’re at work.”
”Thanks!” Chosen said, smiling in relief. “He does like to sleep a lot.”
”Yeah, don’t worry, I’m sure he’s fine,” Dari said. “You know how cats like to sleep in closets? He’s probably just gotten cozy somewhere.”
”Well…I’ll be back in a couple hours,” Chosen said. “Might get some pet beds for the bots.”
”I’m actually making custom ones!” Dark said. “I’ll show you when you get back.”
”Really?” Chosen asked. “Sounds good. See you later.”
”I’ll get something to eat,” Dark said, waving and turning back to his computer.
Chosen waved back and got his large satchel from his room, then patted Ruby on the head and gave her a treat.
”See you later, Ruby,” Chosen said.
Ruby nuzzled his hand and went back to sleep.
”Hey, Razor,” Chosen said, opening the front door. “Be good for Dark, and keep an eye out for Velcro, okay?”
Razor yawned and blinked sleepily up at Chosen.
”See you.”
Chosen locked the front door and took off for the city.
Chosen wiped his forehead and sighed, trudging to the nearby corn dog cart.
”Hey, Onyx!” Umber called, waving a hand. “The usual?”
”Yeah, and two lemonades, please,” Chosen said, paying the other Stick. “Thanks.”
”Sure!” Umber said, handing Chosen a corn dog before quickly getting six corn dogs into a white box. “Glad to see you in person again. You sure do order a lot of corn dogs online.”
”Yeah, uh…they’re just really good,” Chosen said, taking a bite of the corn dog.
”I’m glad you like them so much,” Umber chuckled.
Chosen jumped and glanced down when something in his bag began moving; his jaw dropped when he saw Velcro poke his head out of the bag.
”Velcro?!” Chosen exclaimed. “What are you doing in there? Have you been in there the whole time?”
Velcro looked at the corn dog and squeaked happily, reaching out for it. Chosen sighed and took a big bite, then gave Velcro the rest of it.
”What is that?” Umber asked while he got the lemonades ready. “Your pet?”
”Yeah, um…my friend made him,” Chosen mumbled.
”Oh, he’s a programmer?” Umber asked. “Lots of Sticks are doing that these days. It’s hard sometimes to find out which ones are viruses and which are just pets.”
Chosen nervously glanced down to see Velcro eating the corn dog stick.
”But he doesn’t seem like a virus,” Umber said.
”Yeah, he’s not,” Chosen said. “I uh…helped my friend make him and he’s just a pet.”
”You’re a programmer too?” Umber asked, giving Chosen two canned lemonades and the box of corn dogs.
”No, I’m still learning,” Chosen said. “Scarlet does most of the coding.”
”Oh, got it,” Umber said. “Well, have a good one! Don’t let the lemonades get warm!”
Chosen nodded and waved, then quickly took off for home. When he got back he went into the kitchen and got out plates, putting two corn dogs on each. He tapped the cans of lemonade and put them on the table.
”I’m back!” Chosen called, sitting down and taking a long drink of lemonade.
He heard Dark running downstairs and waved when he entered the kitchen.
”I found Velcro,” Chosen said. “He was hiding in my bag the whole time.”
Dark sat at the table and chuckled, picking up a corn dog and taking a bite.
”Funny little guy,” he said. “And you didn’t notice at all?”
”You know they barely weigh anything, right?” Chosen asked. “I’m glad he didn’t climb out when I was flying and get hurt.”
”Their code is sturdy despite their size,” Dark said. “They’re really durable, just like you and me.”
”I’m glad,” Chosen said, taking a bite of his corn dog. “The lemonades got shaken up a little. Careful when you open yours.”
“Was there a lot of stuff to clean up today?” Dark asked, taking a drink of lemonade.
Velcro crawled out of Chosen’s bag and got a drink of water from his bowl.
”Yep,” Chosen sighed heavily. “Sticks still love littering, and it was really hot out. I’m gonna nap after this.”
“Want to talk about moving plans tonight?” Dark asked. “I wrote some stuff down.”
”Sure,” Chosen said, finishing off his corn dogs. “You going to make any more Virabots today?”
”Maybe tomorrow,” Dark said. “And we could do it together if you feel like it.”
”I kinda want to try changing their color,” Chosen said. “Could you show me how?”
”They’re supposed to be uniform,” Dark sighed, crossing his arms. “But sure, I can show you.”
”Alright,” Chosen said, then yawned loudly.
“Chosen,” Dark said. “I just want to protect us.”
”I know,” Chosen mumbled. “But should we be doing it this way?”
”We just barely beat him together,” Dark said quietly, looking down. “The Virabots will help us be strong enough.”
”Is it right to make them fight?” Chosen asked, fidgeting a little. “Isn’t it like what Alan did to us?”
”They’re stronger than that!” Dark snapped. “At least…they’re supposed to be…”
He slumped forward and rubbed his face with both hands.
”What am I doing wrong, Chosen? I’ve tried to fix the code so many times. I can’t teach you if I keep messing up.”
Chosen bit his lip, then stood up and put a hand on Dark’s shoulder.
”Maybe things will be better when we move,” he said. “You’ll have more room and maybe we can get you some equipment that can keep up with your programming!”
”The equipment I have is still pretty good…” Dark muttered. “But I do want more room, you’re right.”
He stood up and smiled at Chosen.
”Thanks, Chosen. I’ll make a few more Virabots and if those still aren’t right, we’ll move before I make more. I’ll delete the old code and start over. There were some slight hiccups with it anyway. Nothing huge but still.”
”I’ll…I’ll help however I can,” Chosen said quietly. “I’ll fly Ruby, Razor and Velcro to the new house.”
”Oh, they can fly,” Dark said. “I’ll make sure they’ll be strong enough to fly all the way.”
“Really?” Chosen asked. “Cool.”
”I’m going to go look for a spot to make the new house,” Dark said, patting Chosen’s shoulder. ”You get some rest.”
”Yeah…thanks,” Chosen said, nodding. “Uh, Dark?”
”Yeah?”
”I really do like these guys the way they are,” Chosen said, hiding his shaking arms behind his back. “I know they’re different than how you planned, but…if we could keep them this way, I think…I think that’d be good.”
”I won’t edit them,” Dark mumbled. “I hate to say it, but they are kinda…cut…uh, cool, or something.”
Chosen smiled.
”Fine. They’re cute.” Dark lightly punched Chosen’s arm. “You’re never gonna hear me say it again.”
“Come on, Velcro,” Chosen said.
Velcro squeaked and followed Chosen to his room, then sniffed around and crawled over to a yellow pet bed. Ruby was curled up in a red-violet pet bed, fast asleep.
”Oh, Dark got the beds while we were gone,” Chosen murmured. “You like it?”
Velcro yawned and curled up in the yellow bed.
Chosen glanced into Dark’s room to see Razor in a deep red pet bed.
”Glad you like them,” Chosen yawned, getting in bed. Velcro squeaked and jumped up beside Chosen, curling up on Chosen’s pillow. “Have a good nap.”