"Cocoa, where did you go?"

After leaving the lunchroom I made tracks for my next class. I already had everything I needed on me, so there was no need to make any stops to my locker. My stomach at least remained quiet after finishing the meal, but my heart felt twisted and pulled in many directions. It hurt for Cocoa because of the state she was in, but it also felt conflicted toward Cody for shoving him aside when he needed someone to talk to.

"Aurora, wait up," a voice calls around the corner from my next class just before I pass through the door, stealing my attention only because the voice that utters the sentence is all too familiar to me. A cold chill runs throughout me and I muster the courage to chase after her voice. I knew my next class was about to start, and Mr. Reed wouldn't wait too long for everyone to pile in, so I had to be quick and decisive in what I'd tell her, hopefully before she made contact with Aurora. My hopes were dashed when I heard a second voice echo down the hallway, and knew Aurora made contact with Cocoa. So my next best idea at that moment was to sit around the corner and ease drop, as guilty as that made me feel.

"Cocoa, go. I'm fine, really," Aurora tells her, a desperate like plea creeping into her voice. Why didn't she want Cocoa around? I thought they got along just fine. Were my initial thoughts, then I remembered how she treated Cocoa harshly and almost felt a pang of guilt for Aurora.
I dared to peak around the corner at this point and see Cocoa firmly holding her ground, not willing to budge. I quickly glance and notice Aurora with her arms crossed, head to the side pointed down toward the ground, not willing to look Cocoa in the eyes. But Cocoa continues anyway, hands moving from her hips to just over her heart.

"But Aurora, why won't you tell me," Cocoa ask pleadingly, and by the sound of her shaky her voice, she was on the verge of crying. Just listening to how sad she was made me resent Aurora more and more to an almost unimaginable level.

"Listen Cocoa, you're a great person and all, but there are some things that I don't want you involved in, no matter how much you beg or plead with me. Just... go..."

After she finishes a moment of silence hangs in the air, and I question if I should turn my head and check again or let it go. Something was up, and I was going to get to the bottom of it. But the bell rang before I could reach a deciding point, and Cocoa hurried off to her classes, leaving Aurora standing there alone. I did the same and finally ducked into Mr. Reed's class, narrowly making it to my seat before he showed up. Seems I wasn't the only one waiting till the last second. Aurora, however, wasn't here, which gave Mr. Reed a questioning look; he knew Aurora was always here on time. And she was standing in the hallway, so why didn't she...

"Hm, Aurora's never late," he says, his rough, deep tone getting most of our attention away from our cell phones. "Well, if she's not here, we begin without her."

After promptly closing the door, he resumes his position in front of his desk and begins to speak about the lesson, but I zone him out and my gaze hovers between the door and him. Aurora was never late, and even if I felt nothing toward her but anger, I did just see her in the hallway. Why didn't she come to class? The day was getting stranger by the second; the pieces changing shape and skipping around too fast to catch. This puzzle would never finish at this rate.

The class finally let out before long, and a good thing to as I was starting to feel some backlash from the day. Too much was on my mind, and we had a surprise test thrown at us. That did not make me feel any better. Aurora also slipped out of school at some point, as no one knew where she was. But that wasn't my top priority; I needed to find Cocoa.

 

"Aurora, why won't you open up to me..."

After exiting through the front doors of the school, I gave one last glance toward Random's locker, which is just within my line of sight from the entrance before the hallways branch, and breathe a sigh of relief; she didn't follow me. I know she's concerned about me, but I don't want to bring her into what Aurora's already in. I can't do that to her.

Shrugging, I head down the side walk with the rest of the students heading home, thinking of a way I can help Aurora. Then I remember I haven't stopped by Dan's lately, and decide to make a quick stop by there on the way home. I missed having hot chocolate, and Aurora isn't too keen on "liquids in the work space". Thankfully Random never cared about that. Thinking about her now causes a small smile to tug at the corner of my mouth. I did miss Random so much that it hurt to push her away.

As I continued toward Dan's, tears started to form, and I had to fight them back before entering the shop. He always knew me as happy-go-lucky, and I didn't want to make him think anything was up. Quickly swiping the already formed tears off my face on the back of my hand, I put on a facade and enter through the door, the bell dinging as I do so to announce my arrival.

"Hey Dan, one large Chocolate Rocket please, extra whip cream," I tell him as I pull up a seat on a stool in front of the counter. Without question Dan already has it made and ready, handing it to me with his same smile spread across his face, like I haven't been MIA for weeks.

"Cocoa!" he bellows as he hands me the hot chocolate, careful to make sure it doesn't topple. "I haven't seen you in ages, what brings you here? Not that I don't mind," he quickly adds, probably to avoid hurting my feelings.

After licking the whip cream that remains on my lips from a quick swig, I reply, as happily as I can, "it's been a busy life these past few weeks. I've been helping out a new girl at our school lately with some projects, and she doesn't like having any liquids near her computers and machines."

When I finish I take another swig of my hot chocolate, relishing in the delicious taste, missing the delicate aroma. It really has been a while since I've had any, and just drinking it warms me up and makes me feel calm and relaxed. I haven't felt this way since I started to help Aurora. Halfway through the hot chocolate, my mood began to actually liven up, and I didn't have to put on as much of a facade anymore. It actually felt...nice.

"I haven't seen you down one like that in a while, Cocoa," Dan compliments as he gets another ready, handing it to me eagerly. "On the house," he says, a wide smile spread across his face. However the drink he gave this time is different. A yellow swirl floats on the top of the dark brown looking surface. But the top is not the only dark brown part, as throughout the glass the colors change from brown to white and back again, doing it 4 times in total; 2 layers of each. And while I've always associated any and all forms of chocolate with brown, it never occurred to me to try using white chocolate. I knew it existed, obviously, but to mix it in a drink...

Without thinking I take a sip, and my taste buds take a spin for the better. The yellow swirl was vanilla food coloring used to turn simple, plain white vanilla like foam into something that would reflect better on top of the brown surface as the white and brown chocolates blend together in my mouth, sending a shiver down my spine of intense flavour like nothing I've tasted before.

"So, what do you think of that?" Dan ask, his grin just getting wider, like he's waiting to receive a plaque for discovering a way to end world hunger.

My mind races at first at what to say; the taste still lingers on my tongue and its flavours were causing half my train of thought to come to a complete stop. The wave of relief from the first glass couldn't compare to how I felt now, like all the events of this past week were washing away and I could finally think strait. Once my mind cleared, I looked toward Dan and said with an overflowing joy, "It's the most delicious thing I've ever had here." An equally wide smile starts to show on my face after licking my lips and I thank him for the drink, making sure I don't forget to tell him I want it as my new usual.

"It's not just any white chocolate either," he starts as I hop of the stool, "it's cookies and cream, one of my new favourite combinations for my favourite customer."

"That explains the cookie like texture," I reply as I head through the door, feeling better than I have in a long while. That side trip home was worth it; I needed a boost and that was definitely what I'd call a boost.

With that out of the way, the walk home continued on a much happier note. I wasn't feeling down from ignoring Random, wasn't feeling regret for not confronting Aurora more head on, didn't feel regret for not having gone to see Dizzy-

"Dizzy, a weird time to bring her name up," I mutter to myself as I turn to the right, looking toward the long, iron, chain link fence enclosing the vast amount of junk piles scattered across the barren field of the junkyard. Looking at it brings back memories of when Random and I would go in here from time to time to get parts for something Random was working on. More recently I remember being led about in there by the very machines and parts within. Remembering them shaping themselves and being constructed by an unknown force as it drew me further in. Just thinking about it brought the memories to the surface once more, and before I knew it I was standing in front of the chain link fence, one hand gripping it as if I might slip right through.

"You want in, Cocoa? It's still open for a few more hours," ask the same, gruff man I've known since I've met Random, lazily standing just inside the shack that controls the very fence I'm hanging on, which I quickly let go of as my face starts to feel hot. "Just say the world and I'll open it on up."

Without showing any hesitation I nod toward him and he willingly opens the gate, flipping the rusty lever within the small wooden shack, causing the chain link fence to slide toward him, granting me passage. With a curt nod in his direction, I head inside, bracing myself for what whatever lies within.

 

At first it seems the same as when Random and I began our search for Dizzy. She had strong suspicion-a woman's intuition I'd imagine-that Dizzy might have escaped off to the junkyard after their last encounter. So at first I'm wandering around, waiting for any sign that Dizzy might know I was here. I don't know why now of all times I choose to go and see her again; it's not like I really knew her. But her loneliness was just something no one should bear. I could remember staring into her lifeless eyes and hearing her mono tone voice and felt...scared. She was lonely and distant. But when I was with her she seemed to show...life, feeling, emotion. Her emotionless appearance needed some form of love, and if I could give it to her I would. I just felt...responsible. It was a hard feeling to put into words; it could only be shown from my experience.

Looking up at the sun, I could only guess an hour had gone by and there's still been no sign of movement, no hint of any other life outside of my own footsteps and breathing. It made me feel sad and worried at the same time. Maybe I was expecting a little more than I should have been. What are the chances that she'll  know I'm here, searching her out? The idea did seem silly, but I didn't want to give up hope. If she were here, she'd know someone was here...

When I've all but given up and was ready to split, the ground starts shaking to my left, and the junk pile above it begins to form a dome like shape. At least, that's the appearance it gives at first, but slowly shifts back to how it was, now taking on the shape of a half finished tunnel. It was as if it didn't have the strength to do what was required of it. Curiosity getting the better of me-thank you, Random-I slowly approach the makeshift tunnel and begin my descent into the secluded corner of the junkyard, far from wandering eyes toward the vast mountain that overlooks the highway.

The journey through is for the most  part quiet. A few times I mistook where the winding, junk tunnel wanted to lead me, often assuming I made a wrong turn when the structure spontaneously shifted every few minutes, as if redirecting my path. It was completely unstable, and a little nerve wrecking for me. I didn't know where this treacherous junkyard wanted to take me, and yet my heart raced with excitement in wanting to find out. It could lead me back to Dizzy as it had once before or it could take me some place completely different and seclude me to this junkyard along with Dizzy. Not that she seemed to be secluded to this dank place forcefully...

"Ah!"

Up to this point, only the walls and mounds around me had been shifting, shaping the long, treacherous path before me. But now the very ground itself began to shake and rumble, as if attempting to shift along with the walls, causing me shout and nearly trip over my own feet. I had to catch a gap in the slowly, mechanically shifting walls to keep my balance, and even then the floor continued to shift and move in a circular way, as if trying to form another tunnel much like before. I didn't have time to think about it however; the structure began to creak and grind against itself, as if fighting for supremacy. But what was it trying to gain victory over? As I stood there, awed by the sight, it shifted faster and faster than I could keep up; junk began falling from the ceiling and I narrowly avoided anything leaning my way, slamming down with a loud "boom", blasting dirt and rocks into the air toward my way. My heart couldn't take much more of this.

I could barely comprehend what was happening around me, and I couldn't believe my eyes when a bath tub nearly flattened me, but was quickly blocked by a wall of other appliances and machines, as if trying to protect me. The bath tub then fell to the ground in front of the makeshift wall, which slowly followed in its wake. Again it happened though, from behind me this time, and again a wall stopped it in its tracks, protecting me as everything swirled around me, finally deciding that it had finished its intended design. I couldn't quite tell what it was till the dust settled, and a short corridor was laid out before me, appliances and panels and various other things I could even name forming a perfectly circular tunnel, eclipsing the light of the sun as light from the various things appliances within the corridor illuminated my path. I couldn't see what was at the end as it was a fair distance off, but I didn't care; I wasn't stopping now. Shaking my head to clear the amazement at what had happened, I steel myself and tread down the long, straight tunnel, my heart racing at what waits at the other end.

 

It feels like time doesn't pass as I walk down the dark, lightly illuminated corridor, sometimes having to feel my way along even as my eyes long since adjusted to the low light levels. But still I couldn't quite calm my beating heart; something was up, and I didn't know what it was. I admit the suspense was eating away at me, and I sometimes felt as if my feet were moving of their own accord, even when I want to turn around and rethink all of this. But slowly I trudged along, and eventually I could see a bright light shining from the end of the tunnel. Talk about your story book tales. But I was sort of drawn to it, like it was calling out to me, so I inched along the last few steps with resolved courage.

When I finally reached the end, the first thought that came to me was I've been here once before. It was the same domed, home like structure I first met Dizzy in. A couch sat to my left next to a microwave sitting on a microwave cart, another small tunnel just to the left of it. To the right was a small, secluded part of the dome, a small, arm chair facing a bookshelf with a coffee table in between them. Other various appliances and tools were spread along the floor and corners of the room. Nothing else stood out to me though, so I decided to head down the tunnel and see what else I could scrounge up. The tunnel however, was much shorter than I anticipated, seeming to turn a few feet in, opening up to what appeared to be a large bedroom. A makeshift hammock hung on the left, a medium, oak dresser stood across the room from the entrance. A standard, single bed is placed in the far right corner, the sheets slowly ruffling from whoever was sleeping within. As I walk closer I soon come to notice the person lying in the bed is Dizzy, and she's breathing heavily with what appears to be a wet rag folded on her forehead. Without hesitation I run over to side of her bed, checking to see if she's alright, panic wrapping around me like a thick, black haze.

"Dizzy! Hey, Dizzy answer me!" I call again and again, but to no avail. She's unconscious, unable to hear my voice. Upon closer inspection I notice she's also shivering despite being under heavy, warm blankets. She also looks very pale, like she hasn't been getting enough nutrients.
My mind begins to race with thoughts to help her before a few simple clicks from behind me, like someone cocking a gun, freeze me in place. I don't dare turn around to notice who's finger is resting over the trigger.

"Step away from my Master," they proclaim. From their voice alone I can discern they're not entirely human; it's too metallic and robotic. They pause for a few seconds then, probably waiting to see what I'll do next, but I just stand there, quickly trying to piece together what I should say to them, but my mind fails me as I know some form of a gun is trained on my back.

"Step away, and I assure no harm will come to-"

Their sentence is cut short as a drone zips quickly past me and, from what I can guess, in front of him, confusing him and cutting him off mid sentence. I take this chance to slowly turn my head and glance at what I'm dealing with. Out of the corner of my eye though, he looks to be about the same height as Dizzy, and a normal human boy no old than her to boot, wearing simple cargo shorts and plain white t-shirt. But that's the only thing normal about him. What I mistook for a gun were his hands, shaped into pistols pointed directly at me. But his eyes weren't trained on me at that moment; they were locked on the floating object before him.

"But, Master Dizzy, she-" he didn't finish before a red, laser like shot fired from the drone, narrowly avoiding his head, putting a hole in the wall behind him. A few strands of his hair slowly drift down the floor beside him. I didn't quite understand the situation, but I was relieved to have something watching my back. It still didn't allow me to tell what was going through his head, but after he looks back and forth between the bed and the drone, he nods reluctantly and his hands slowly return to their original shape. The drone then drops to the floor with a thud, and he makes to stand beside Dizzy's bed. With a swift nod toward me, he approaches Dizzy and makes to replace the cloth on her forehead with a new, freshly watered down one.

"She has been in this state since yesterday," he announces, startling me. He must have been taking care of her this entire time, as there's no way she could have been in bed like this by herself since yesterday, completely taken care of. But last time I was here, I don't remember seeing him. "I've been taking care of her since she collapsed during the storm that passed through. Right after that storm however, device she was repairing caught fire, nearly burning her before I extinguished it. She collapsed thereafter, and has not woken up since then. She has now only been occasionally mumbling one word in her sleep... Cocoa. I cannot gain any conclusion as to what she desires from such minute information."

Stunned by the mere mention of my name, I cast a look toward Dizzy, worried for her current state, and feel guilty for knowing how that storm occurred. I couldn't help but feel responsible.

"Cocoa..." I whisper, enough for him to hear. Then I tell him more forward, "My name is Lilly, Lilly Vanswell, but my friends call me Cocoa." I figured I'd use my actual name, as it was a given name, not that many called me by it, but I felt it was relevant enough for the situation at hand. "If she's been calling for me, then it's a good thing I'm here now."

Approaching Dizzy as if my new, mechanical friend isn't there, I kneel down next to the bed and grab her small hand in mine, feeling just how cold she is and how much she's shivering. It also allowed me to see how much pain she was in, and it pained me to know that I couldn't do anything to help her.

"Millennium," the human-like machine declares next to me. "Just Millennium will suffice. I was an artificial android developed my Master Dizzy in hopes to mimic human-like appearance, speech and actions, but I am a failed test result. My Master..." he cast his gaze toward Dizzy before continuing, "she has sought her entire life to create a perfect human android, even sacrificing her own body in continual experimentation. Once or twice I tried to stop her from continuing, but she would not listen to reason. So I've dedicated my failed existence to standing by her side to create something superior that could surpass me so I didn't weigh my Master down."

Without another word he walks toward the tunnel entrance to the bedroom, stopping only once to tell me one more thing.

"Obviously it is you who she needs in this critical moment, so I shall you to tend to her however you deem necessary."

He then disappears behind the corner of the tunnel, melding with the very shadows as I lose sight of him completely. Ignoring him for now, I turn my attention back to Dizzy, who's still shivering, as if she's come down with a cold.

"Oh Dizzy... I'm so sorry," I tell her, almost certain she can't hear me but still hoping she something gets through to her. And as luck would seem to be on my side, she stirs a small amount, leading me to believe she's not as unconscious as I've been informed.

"Co...coa..." she mumbles between muffled breaths, but her voice sounds too weak. Even speaking must put a toll on her body right now. Even so, I grip her hand tighter to let her know I'm here, that I'm not going anywhere.

"It's okay, Dizzy, I'm here now," I whisper to her as my eyes begin to sting with tears. I couldn't stand seeing her like this, especially knowing half the reason she was like this. It had something to do with the storm, that I was certain. Call it woman's intuition.

"I'm... okay now... just need... some rest..." she manages to tell me before falling back asleep.

"Oh Dizzy," I mumble as she slips her hand out from mine, sliding it back under the covers with the rest of her body. Feeling useless at being unable to anything, but also feeling guilty for causing this in the first place, I push myself to a standing position and follow after Millennium. Maybe he has answers to the questions I'm seeking.

After emerging out of the tunnel and back into the living area, I find Millennium standing just outside the tunnel entrance, obscured by nothing to keep this dome hidden from the outside but the tunnel walls.

"Hey um, thanks" I tell him as I move to stand on the opposite side of the tunnel.

"It is not something that needs thanks. I am programmed to serve my Master, that includes keeping her well being as a top priority, even when I'm not sufficient enough to do so."

Despite being an android, his words sting my heart as I stand here and listen to him. He makes it sound like he has no purpose.

"Well, if it wasn't for you, Dizzy would probably be dead," I remind him, trying to keep him from doubting himself, but it seems to not be working too well. Humans I can understand; machines, or in this case androids, are on a different level of knowledge I lack comprehension for.

"If that is all you wish to discuss, then our conversation is done."

Once finished he makes to head back inside, but I stop him by reaching for his shoulder and spinning him around. I don't know why I felt compelled to scold him, but it's what my heart was telling me; even machines have to have feelings. I knew Tipsy cared deeply for Random, and not just because she was "programmed" to. He must feel the same way some beneath his cold surface.

"I'm sure Dizzy cares more for you than that, Millennium," I tell him, trying to muster a smile. But truthfully I was scared. Scared of what he might do to me if I said the wrong thing, scared for Dizzy and how she probably won't save me a second time. But I couldn't let fear stop me; I don't think I really ever had let it stop me before.

"Negative Lilly; you are clearly more suited to the task of taking care of her where I lack the necessary efficiency," he tells me coldly, eyes darkening to an almost pitch black. But beyond the darkness is a hint of loneliness. Even Dizzy hasn't fully grasped compassion I guess, which is why she's unable to reciprocate that to her machines proficiently. But before I can say more he slaps my hand away, which I didn't realize till then was still on his shoulder, and heads back inside the dome. I soon do the same, full well intending to finish what we started.

"Millennium, wait!" I yell after him as he picks up in pace down a separate tunnel I overlooked before. The way toward Dizzy's bedroom branched off not only to the left but to the right as well, but it was so well hidden I overlooked it completely.

The area it led to was a workshop of sorts, more tools and random parts scattered along the floor. Shelves lined the walls with machines, gizmos and gadgets all halfway complete or torn apart to most likely be used as parts for other inventions. More tools hung on the walls. It was like staring into Random's room 2.0. But that's not why I was here, and I quickly scan the room for any sign of Millennium, but despite all the stuff, the room was very spacious; it was her veritable workshop, and I didn't notice him sitting near the far end wall, playing with what appeared to be an iPad.

"This was the device that caused my Master's current condition," he tells me, tossing the device to the side into a very high pile of other devices that were from guess failed experiments. "Tell me Lilly Vanswell, what makes you so special that my Master would request you personally?" he asks defensively, as if I've overstepped my bounds. The question was a slight slap to the face though, and I didn't know how to respond at first.

"I-I don't know," I tell him, genuinely surprised myself. I only came here attempting to see Dizzy again, but I bit off more than I could chew apparently.

"Since my creation I have helped her to discover the secret to creating humanoid androids, and yet she has discarded most my input and help. But she seems to have taken a liking to you, and only just after one encounter."

He must have noticed the surprise look on my face, because the next words he said, in his same, agitated, slightly metallic voice was, "Yes, I watched you with her the first time you were here. She was very...different around you. I don't know what it is about you, Lilly Vanswell, but I want nothing to do with you."

Marching towards me, he soon shoves me aside and makes for the living area once more. I don't bother to follow after him this time though; he seems to have it out for me, and I don't want to give him one more reason to hate me. But I didn't want to be around Dizzy's workshop anymore; it reminded me too much of Random. So I soon leave as well, taking one last look and sighing before heading down the tunnel.

When I reach the living area again, Millennium had returned to his previous spot just outside of the entrance to the dome like structure. It seemed like he was avoiding Dizzy now that I was here, trying to distance himself, more so than he already must know he has. As one last attempt to try and console his closed off heart-if he has one or knows what it's like-I walk over to him, turn him around and throw my arms around his waist, wrapping him in a tight embrace. If words couldn't get through to him, maybe action was the only way to go. That's what I truly believe.

"What do you think you're doing? Let me go this instant!" he says bitterly, but makes no move to separate us, doesn't even try to struggle or force his way out of my embrace and for a few minutes we just stand there, my arms around him in the silence of the living space.

"I know you don't trust me, and feel replaced," I tell him, tears slowly forming, but I try and fight them back as I continue more genuinely, "but even if Dizzy hasn't fully grasped compassion or love, then I hope I can be a substitute until she does."

He remains silent but soon he says rather sadly, "I just want to help my Mast-Dizzy. She has suffered more than any girl her age should have to in one cycle of life. I don't wish to see her suffer anymore."

He then gently pushes me away and the pain in his eyes finally starts to fade, a small smile replacing the scowl he's has since I've arrived as his pupils return to a soft, silver color from their empty black abyssal like state. At first I'm relieved that he's finally calmed down and at least has started to trust me, but before I can say anymore he quickly turns his head toward the entrance, startled by something, and shoves me behind him, as if to protect me. Someone else was approaching and it was setting off his alarms.

For 30 seconds we both stood there, waiting to see who was coming down the lightly illuminated tunnel. Millennium sensed them before I could see them, and in an instant he transformed his hands back into the pistols he had aimed at me not long before. When they finally came into view, Millennium was the first to speak.

"Who goes before my Master?!" he bellows, nearly enough to shake the interior of the dome.

"Relax; she knows me."

Her voice reverberates along the walls and I know before she comes fully into the light who it is, and my mind races with questions. How'd she get here? Why was she here? What was she after? Did she know Dizzy?

"And she," she stops just at the entrance and raises her hand, finger extended my way, "knows me as well."

It was Aurora.

"You," Millennium starts, lowering his arms for a split second before regaining his composure and refocusing his aim at Aurora. "If you're here for what I believe you are, then make haste. My Master is not feeling well, and the less company we have, the better."

He holds his weapons drawn at her a little longer before finally transforming them back and dropping his hands to his sides. He then cast a glance my way, as if to say, "sorry, I didn't mean you", before heading back to the entrance way. Aurora sidesteps him-he wouldn't move anyway; I could tell he was upset with her-and struts over toward me.

"Cocoa... What are you doing out here?" she asks, slightly annoyed. But I could tell there was more; but she wasn't having that conversation right here, right now.

"I was checking in with Dizzy," I tell her, trying to keep the anger out of my voice. "Why are you here? Surely not to check in on Dizzy."

She just grunts and heads back toward the entrance before hailing a sharp right around the corner. I follow after her and notice that she stands around a small, empty dirt field. As I enter though she looks toward me, considers something, than discards the thought as she pulls out a small, drill like looking device. After imputing a few  commands, the drill began spinning and she aims it at the ground, lets it go and it begun to dig as it started to emit a small beeping sound at equal intervals. As I watched it dig deeper into the ground, I knew what she was looking for, and as the drill widened as it spun, the beeping got louder. The strange thing about it though, the drill part of it was silent as it dug. Eventually it sounded like it hit its peak as the beeping reached an ear piercing wail before she turns it off. She then begins scrapping away the remaining dirt with her bare hands. Beyond the layer of dirt I can see a faint glow shining from within, and I know she's hit what she wanted. Standing up to examine it and scrape off any remaining dirt, she begins to slip it into a compartment of the drill, but a small, stray laser ricochets off the drill, causing Aurora to drop it as it falls a feet away.

We all quickly turn toward the source of the laser fire, and notice Dizzy leaning with one hand on the makeshift wall of the dome, two drones floating just diagonally of her shoulders. She looked better than she did before, but she really shouldn't have been standing.

"Dizzy, what are you doing!" I yell toward her, worried more for her health than for shooting Aurora's drill out of her hand.

Aurora's ears perk up at the mention of her name, and as she rubs her wrist, she faces Dizzy.

"Dizzy... That's your name, isn't it? Why'd you knock my drill out of commission?" she asks hotly, clearly annoyed for having her work interrupted.

"Master, you should not be out of bed in your condition!" Millennium pipes up, as if Aurora had never spoken. But he's quickly silenced with a glare from her, and all eyes fall on Dizzy.

"Your device..." she says between ragged breaths. "It cannot be allowed...to be finished."

 Before she says anything more, she collapses to one knee, hand still on the wall for support. Her drones also waver slightly, dropping a few inches before barely retaining their new, lower height. At first I wondered how she controlled them, but I didn't have time to think about it now.

"And who the hell are you to tell me it can't be?" Aurora declares indignantly, clearly agitated as to why her actions are being questioned. From how she was speaking earlier, this doesn't sound like her first encounter with Dizzy.

"If you finish... what you're building... nothing good will come of it," Dizzy continues, her breath catching between words as each one was putting strain on her body. She was forcing herself out here to chat with Aurora regardless of the consequences.

"Nothing good will come of it?" she says between gritted teeth. "And why's that!" she screams loudly toward Dizzy, causing Millennium to take a defensive stance, pistols once again at the ready.

"If you... paid any attention to the stone... you keep looking for, you would know... it's completely different," she tells Aurora, who now appears to be completely baffled.

"You're wrong..." she tells her, anger slowly boiling to the surface. "Litolemite is the very thing I need to harness the elements. You even told me yourself that you recently discovered it," she declares challengingly, like she was attempting to start something.

"You're right," she says, her breathing slowly returning to a more stable level. "But I never really had a reason to go beneath the surface till you showed up. While extremely powerful and a useful material, its adverse effect is that whatever device utilizes it, it will turn to black ash after one use."

Slightly agitated, Aurora quickly looks toward her drill, the very thing containing the Litolemite she uses in her device.

"Liar!" she snaps, turning back to Dizzy. "I just haven't figured out how to use it yet. There is no other stone that has the same properties, I've made sure of it..." she tells her boldly, even though her gaze wavers, but only for an instant before locking with Dizzy once more.

"You don't know what finishing that machine will do," Dizzy says with renewed strength, slowly pulling herself up. "If you use that Litolemite instead of the correct stone, it'll have an adverse effect and wreck havoc upon this wor-"

"Shut up!" Aurora yells menacingly, silencing Dizzy. She was clearly too blinded by her own ambitions to listen to what Dizzy had to say. "You don't know why I'm building it or anything about me! It has been nothing but a downward roller coaster my entire life, and I'm doing this to rectify that. To show that I'm not a second place trophy to the eyes of the world!"

I'm left speechless after she's finished, dumbfounded that I couldn't tell how far back her pent up anger had gone. Her rage slowly subsiding, she walks over to where her drill was shot out of her hand, leans down to pick it up and puts it into her satchel. She then turns back toward Dizzy.

"Look, my life has been a headache since I was old enough to speak. My parents expected so much from me, wanting and pushing me to be number one, head of my class, gold medalist. Whatever you wish to call it. To them, I was just a prized experiment, one destined to succeed and surpass all of their wildest dreams. It sickened me. That's why I left, but one thing clung to my heart when I left, and to this day I plan to finish what it is I started."

I couldn't do much more but stare in disbelief at what she just said, not only to me but someone she's met no more than twice from what I can guess. Has her whole life been nothing more than a tangled mess? Even after she speaks it, I feel the painful piercing sting in my chest. The same feeling I get when someone is in pain.

Upon seeing tears start to spring to life from her eyes, I feel compelled to console her, and my feet move automatically.

"Aurora, I had...no idea..." I whisper sympathetically, but she halts my movement with an upraised palm.

"Stay there Cocoa," she tells me calmly, even though it sounds more like a growl.

Turning back toward Dizzy, she takes a deep breath and says seriously, "look, I don't know what strange ability you posses, but nothing stands between me and my creations. Cocoa's helping design it, so if you have any qualms, take them up with her. She's...the only one..."

Without another word, she turns around toward the exit and begins to head toward it, not once looking back. What was it she was going to say?

Once she's gone, Millennium finally withdraws his pistols and Dizzy collapses, the strain of the situation too much for her. Her drones follow in suit, both landing with a small thunk on either side of her.

"Dizzy!" I cry, racing to her side and quickly kneeling down to sit her up in my lap. "Dizzy?"

Millennium quickly closes the distance between us as well and kneels down beside me. He then holds his hand forward over Dizzy's sleeping body and a blue light begins to emanate from his palm, casting a deep blue shade over her pale, ghostly skin.

"What are you-"

"One moment," he tells me, putting his finger to his lips to quiet me. "I'm running a scan to check her physical condition."

Staring at Millennium in amazement, I return my gaze to Dizzy, hoping she didn't put too much strain on her body. She did so much to try and stop Aurora, but why? What was wrong with the device she was working on? And why didn't Aurora finish what she was going to tell me?

"Scan complete," Millennium announces next to me. "No serious or fatal signs detected. Just over exhaustion from putting so much strain on her body. She'll just need some rest to recover, how much rest is undetermined at this time."

Breathing a sigh of relief, I begin to stand with Dizzy in tow and start to head toward her bedroom. Millennium follows behind me, obviously worried, even if he sometimes refuses to show it.
Once inside, he pulls the covers back on the bed and I slide Dizzy into them, as he places the covers over her. Millennium then grabs the rag and dashes out of the room and then quickly returns with a newly watered one. Placing it gently on her forehead, he turns his gaze to me and whispers quietly, "what is it she's working on?"

The question was slightly unexpected, and thus caught me off guard. I was finally beginning to piece together what Aurora was aiming to accomplish, but I was still uncertain and didn't want to share what I did know. So I turned toward him with a kind smile and told him honestly, "I'm not 100% sure, so I can't really answer that question."

He nods his head and returns his attention to Dizzy, who breathes nice and evenly under the covers. Looking up and noticing we're still under a dome, I turn to Millennium and ask questioningly, "what time is it?"

He takes his gaze away from Dizzy and turns toward me with a look of, is she really asking that? like I should know what time it is. I felt a little embarrassed about not knowing what time it was, but then I remember there's really no wrong questions; just those you're afraid to ask. Thankfully he doesn't question it and answers plainly, "it is 6:35 PM."

Thanking him for the time, I leap off the bed and head toward the exit, telling him that I had to go, but that I'd be back. And what he spoke next after that shocked me more than anything Aurora or Dizzy had said prior to this moment.

"You're welcome back anytime, Cocoa, as my new friend."