Rust is the New Spice

Chapter 4: Mall

Rust is the New Spice

Chapter 4

Mall

There were so many people. He had heard the stories from Jay and Cole at breakfast that morning, but he had no clue that they meant it and didn't exaggerate in the least bit. He followed his brother along the rows of stores. Toys, games, clothing, more toys, what was that? Oh candy!

Zane had to pause every so often to explain things to Echo as they went. Especially video games, and movies. He had never seen anything like it on lighthouse island. All he had was a radio and it was broken long ago. He would listen out for updates for the weather mostly. Oddly enough it was the wind that knocked the radio down and broke it.

Echo stopped in front of the food court and looked around it.

"Humans have a lot of options for consumption. I have only had oil, fish, and sea gull eggs for most of my creation." Echo said as he looked up at his brother. "How many options are there?" He asked. Zane just smiled.

"More then any one person can count. I will introduce you slowly. I fear your new tank may not be able to accommodate the more spicy foods." As a second thought he looked his brother squarely in the eyes. "Never...eat Coles cooking. He is...horrible." Zane wanted to be kind about it, but also instill a sense of remembering in his younger brother.

"Understood." Echo said as he followed his brother into a large store. Within were many different sections for many different types.

Zane turned to make sure his brother was still following. Echo had paused in front of the infant section. He spotted the picture of an infant on the back wall before looking up at his older brother.

"Humans...come in this size?" He looked shocked. Zane wanted to laugh so hard at his brother's innocence.

"All humans start off this small." He told Echo. Echo gasped.

"Even Master Wu?" Zane shrugged and nodded remembering baby Wu from their time with him.

"Yes. Even Master Wu." Zane walked toward the teenagers section. At least he would be able to..." Echo stopped in front of a black shirt with a guitar on it. He narrowed his eyes at it.

"Is that to your liking?" It wasn't a bad shirt. It looked decent.

"I...no..." Echo felt himself go uneasy like he was missing something, and he had to go back to get it, but he didn't even bring anything with him.

Zane touched his brother's arm. The younger boy jumped and looked at his brother in shock. Was he daydreaming? It did feel like it was.

"Come along, I believe you'd prefer something over here." He motioned toward the more lighter colors. Echo gasped as he saw a shirt with a ton of colors on it and a horned animal.

"My data banks do not have a file on this sort of animal." Okay that's not what he was thinking, but oh well. Zane smiled at his brother who ran his fingers over the soft sweater materials.

"It is a mythical creature called a unicorn." Echo smiled and looked at his brother with bright eyes. Zane couldn't help it. He picked up the shirt and held it up to his brother and nodded.

"This one will fit you." Echo clapped his hands and bounced in place. He really did like colors.

Finally after a little more walking through the store and finding more colorful outfits it was incredibly apparent that Echo liked colorful things. He even got him a small blanket with a rainbow along the side. It was starting to get colder outside and he would need it in the cold months. The Bounty was incredibly drafty.

Echo paused as Zane motioned to him to wait for him. He brought back an ice cream. Echo looked at it, not sure how to eat it. He looked around, spotting a young boy and copied him. The flavor of the brown substance was sweet, and Echo couldn't stop the fact that he wanted to eat more.

After the cone was consumed and Zane had helped his brother to clean himself up they made their way toward the exit.

Echo stayed close to his brother. His bags were heavy so they each held one. At least until they walked by a toy store.

He stopped and there was a big smile that spread across his face.

"Brother...look." He smiled up at Zane. "You have a toy." He looked at the large stuffed white ninja that looked a lot like Zane.

Zane chuckled as he looked at it. "Yes I do. It's from...some years back when we were in show business." He said. Echo wasn't too sure what show business was but hey...there was a toy of his brother.

"Wow!" He smiled looking down at the toy. Zane took his hand and pulled him into the store. Zane decided at that point in time that Echo was more like a child than a teenager. Perhaps a toy...would help him while he did work?

Upon leaving the store Echo nuzzled the stuffed Zane and smiled. A soft purr left his vocal processors. This amused Zane so much that it left a smile on his face.

"Alright, now we wait for the..." He looked around at his brother as he looked up at the large tree that was being erected in the front of the mall.

"What is this? Why are they putting stuff on that tree? Why does it glow?" There was a low 'awww' from behind them. Zane just smiled at his brother's curiosity.

Perhaps a trip to a bookstore would also be good.