Rust is the New Spice

Chapter 7: In the Darkness

Rust is the New Spice

Chapter 7

In the darkness

"What is this? Why can't I move? Where am I?" The words were stuck within Echo's head. Echo paid it no mind. Sometimes he got radio stations in his head and he either turned up the volume or turned it down. Depending on if the music was to his liking. Having a bronze exterior caused it most times.

The voice kept talking, and he kept mopping the deck like he was asked to do. His brother was sweeping the floor before he mopped and his brother was telling him stories about what the ninja did in the past. It was something to pass the time and helped Echo to not become too bored.

"Oh guh, this one again. Didn't I kill him?" The voice growled in his head. Echo stopped mopping the floor and put the mop in the bucket and went through the volume settings. He didn't mind hearing stories on the radio, but he was trying to listen to Zane.

"Alright thats it..." Echo gasped feeling the volume within his head start to go up more. "You will listen to me!" The voice was far more sinister than it had been before. A voice no one else got to hear unless they were incredibly close to him. "You must go toward the temple of resurrection..."

Echo looked baffled and then shrugged. He had no idea where that was, and it was nowhere on the GPS he had been given.

"What do you mean you have no idea where that is! You are a nindroid are you not?" He asked, looking around at the ship. He had been there before.

"I am, but I'm not...smart." oh no...they left him with the dumb one.

"Fine...then I will show you." Echo dropped the mop and looked around at his brother who was now hanging clothing on the line. Echo walked over to the side of the ship and looked around.

"Are we...out at sea?" The voice asked. Echo nodded and shrugged.

"It would appear so." He told the voice. "Brother...when do we go back to land?" He asked his brother who put a clothespin on one of the pants.

"Not today, probably Friday. It is Wednesday so we have some time before our grocery run." He picked up another pair of pants. "Did you need something?" He asked his brother.

"Crayons, and a coloring book...or and some oil." He pointed to his shoulder blade. It was making a squeaking noise.

"The first two can wait. But I do have some oil." He walked over to a cabinet and picked up a small oiling can and patted the table next to him. Echo hopped up. Zane pulled up Echo's shirt and pulled it up over his head. Echo plucked up the shirt from his brother's hands and hugged it.

"What are you, some pretty princess?" Okay Echo wasn't too happy with this...voice in his head. It was mean to him.

"Alright hold up your arm." Zane heard the squeak and grind of the joint as his brother did as he asked. "Ah, I see why you wanted some oil." He pushed the nozzle into his brother's joints using the can on the many openings. There was a soft giggle from Echo. It caused Zane to smile.

"How's he doing?" Pixals soft voice asked. She climbed down with some more laundry to hang.

"He's doing well. Save for his joints." He moved his brother's arm again.

"Ah, that's to be expected. Routine maintenance needs to be a common practice for him now. At least you have a good brother that is willing to help." Echo smiled up at Pixal as she patted his arm. She walked over to the other line and started to put up the clothes in her pile.

"Oh...now she's a looker." The voice said in his head. "Mind if I drive?" Of course, Echo still remained in control, although his cheeks turned a bright shade of purple.

"Echo? Are you well?" Zane asked.

"I'm okay." Echo climbed down from the table ready to do his other half of the chores. Washing the banister.

"Alright Echo, let's complete our chores and then I'll teach you to make dinner. Spaghetti and meatballs.

"Chores!" The cry of anger and being fed up reached all corners of the ship.

"Echo? Do you not want to do your chores?" Zane asked with his arms crossed. Echo looked up at his brother and tried to answer him. The voice that escaped Echo's processor was unknown to them, but most definitely not Echos.

"What do I look like? Your maid?"

Zane turned to look at his brother but noticed the usual golden eyes had turned red and the glare that spread over his face told him that this no longer was his brother. This was in fact Mr. E.