CODE X 777

C O D E 2 0 B A K E D

The storm had calmed down. It had turned to drizzle and a more crowded city as people were out again. Allianz walked through the streets with a huge black roller luggage bag. She reached an old house and knocked at the door. The door opened by itself and Delete came running towards her. She hugged her tightly.

"I missed you, Allianz."

"I missed you too, Delete. Look, I've got you the gift you wanted." She passed the suitcase to her. Delete looked elated. Excitedly, she asked, "Is it Asselyum's controller?"

"You're still good at guessing, I see."

"Thank you, Allianz. I'll treasure it!" Delete pressed the luggage bag into an ice cream freezer and closed the lid.

"That'll keep it fresh." She smiled.

The sun was out by evening—It was setting in between the empire state buildings, Asselyum stared at the fading, red sun which soon disappeared from the pink and golden sky. The streets lights slowly glowed up—the billboards covered the buildings and the traffic coloured the streets.

Meanwhile, Axel was looking into her ear and fixing it with a pin between his lips and a screwdriver in his hand.

"I can't see any deformations. Everything is normal. I wonder why all that electricity leaked? Has it ever happened before?" Axel asked.

"No,"

"Do you know why it happened this time?"

"It can feel a storm." She ignored his question and brought out her thoughts.

"Heh. The storm is over." Axel picked up his tools into his bag and Elron took it away.

"No," She turned towards him "It has just begun."

"What are you saying? The rain has stopped."

"But the tears and the pain haven't. Vengeance. I want it."

"Is it about Slaine? I'm sure he is fine."

"But are you sure he will be?" She looked into his eyes and he looked away. She turned towards the sky and looked at the moon.

"Behind a silver moon lies the vast sky. But it's dark so people don't prefer to look at it. The moon distracts them to look at the brighter side. Because a sky where stars have left is sad so it cries. But the tears are never ugly—The sky is. And it blames the stars who are already dead. They can't give it the light it deserves. So it waits for the sun because the sun lights it up and then we realise how beautiful the sky is when dawn hits. It shines brighter than the moon when it gets the light it deserves."

Asseylum was done talking. 

"You thought of all this?" Axel asked.

"Ben did."

Late at night, Jimmy knocked at MiK's door. He opened it "Let's fight." Jimmy challenged him as usual.

"Right now?"

"Yes. Right away."

They went to the basement and Jimmy was ready to beat him up. 

"You always lose anyway. What are you trying to achieve?"

"A win." Jimmy attacked him but he dodged it and decided to punch Jimmy in his stomach. He almost did but Jimmy stepped back and jumped over his arm. Jimmy kicked him right under his chin and landed behind him. MiK pressed his chin when Jimmy punched his neck, right at the bone. MiK grabbed his arms and upturned him—Throwing him on the ground.

"s**t man. I almost won!" Jimmy sulked as he lay on the ground.

It was getting harder to defeat him. MiK realised that he might not win after this. And this assumption infuriated him.

"What are you thinking?" Jimmy asked as he sat up. 

"I guess it still isn't too late." MiK leaned towards him and grabbed his neck "Huh?" Jimmy looked into his eyes.

"You need to die." He choked Jimmy as Jimmy kicked his feet on the ground "Are you gone senile?!" Jimmy shrieked. Jimmy grabbed the last ounce of strength left in him and wrapped his legs around MiK's neck. He placed his palms on the floor and pushed his face down with his legs. He got on top of him and punched him hard.

MiK covered his eyes. "I really hate you so much,"

"Why?" Jimmy asked as he got up.

"Because I was her coordinator!"

Jimmy was left speechless. He couldn't believe it was him—Didn't she say that his old team was dead? This didn't make any sense.

"Stop joking."

"I'm not joking. It was me. I was made for Asselyum. But then they thought they'd rather use a human in my place and make me fight alongside others. This is ridiculous—It hurts to be replaced. I tried my best to show that I'm worthy but I'm never good enough. I don't fit in my team and I'm awkward because they know I don't belong there. Literally, everyone hates me—even Ben. Because now I'm just being a burden. This isn't just about X-DROIDS anymore..."

Jimmy sat beside him.

"You could die in any fight." MiK continued "Humans are so selfish—They are ready to sacrifice one of their own kinds just to save themselves."

"I'm a human too, MiK."

"Yes and I absolutely hate you."

"Well, I like you and I don't care if you don't."

MiK turned away.

"Come on, be a man!"

"I'm an ANDROID. I don't have a gender,"

He looked at him through his golden bangs and suddenly leaned towards him.

"Then," He whispered, "I can make you a woman."

"f**k off!"

Jimmy intensely stared into his eyes, "You'll become a woman for me, right?"

"I won't! A guy's body is more comfortable."

"Hey, can robots fall in love?"

"Unfortunately, we can. All of us except Asselyum can." Jimmy moved away from him.

"I suddenly feel very sad."

"Because Asselyum can't fall in love? No girl would ever fall for you anyways!"

"But you did." 

"I don't! You're delusional, aren't you?"

"So, you accept that you are a girl?" Jimmy smirked.

"Tch. Sleek bastard!" He got up and walked away. Jimmy chuckled as he looked at him. Then, he grew mellow.

"I'm going to hate myself for raising your hopes."

Next morning, Delete rubbed her tummy as she came down the stairs. "I'm hungry." She turned towards the freezer. "I almost forgot! My food!"

Delete opened the freezer and pulled out the luggage bag. She kept it over the dining table in the kitchen and opened the zipper.

"I'm going to cook you to something very delicious, with ice frosting on top! Sounds tasty, right? Slaine." Slaine lay unconscious tucked inside the bag. All her dolls surrounded the table.

He slowly opened his eyes. He felt dizzy and powerless. He couldn't move his limbs at all—It felt like paralysis because his body had been in that freezer for more than twelve hours! He was surprised to find himself alive but he didn't know what was going on.

"Choose one," She asked as she tied her apron around her waist and turned towards him while the dolls just examined him for afar "Grilled, fried or baked?"

-To be continued