A•N•D•R•O•P•H•O•B•I•A

Peculiar Bond • Part Three

The air felt cold and crisp as Pyxl and I continued to walk on. We've been walking, by estimation, 45 minutes, but it seemed like hours. And the way the passage caved in above us, made it look like it stretched on forever. I looked to the radar map on my bracelet. It was a simple map, like the ones I see on some of my soldier memoir books. There were lines to indicate the longitude and latitude; dozens of red spots all over the map (which I've deduced to probably be the intruder robots, which I still had no idea how were multiplied); and lastly were the white spots that were at both ends of the radar's width. The two blinking ones were me and Pyxl, I realized, since it moved, whenever we did. And the other 4, moving ones at the other side, were Clancy and his group, coming up to meet us at the designated "rendezvous point" Clancy had told me.

I took another step, and felt my foot sunk into a crack on the "tiled" floor. "Agh!" I yelled sharply, instantly dropping to the ground, clutching to my broken knee. I winced as I tried to grab the sleeve of my blouse. I couldn't tear it off with my weak fingers. Seeing my struggle, Pyxl reached forward, and tore it off himself, giving it to me obediently. "Thank you.." I said breathlessly, tying the cloth around my knee and keeping pressure on it. I won't be able to walk anytime soon, and I guess it's partly my fault. While walking earlier, Pyxl had kept insisting that he carry me, since my knee was broken. I declined the offer several times, and it was foolish of me. I suddenly felt Pyxl's cold hand, press against the hand nursing me knee. He looked at me intently. "What?" I asked. He slowly raised one hand and gestured to his red eye, and then pointed to my bracelet.

Translate: "It's almost time of malfunction.." I would've answered him if I could, but honestly, I had no idea what to say. I checked the time, and it was 8:56. I let out a shaky breath and looked back to Pyxl, who looked scared to death. If he malfunctions, there's nothing I can do. Heck, even Clancy's method of shutting him down won't work, much less a primitive one that I can think of, if I could. Plus, there are no devices around that I can use to shackle him with, or any rooms to lock him up in. We're half-dead animals in an open field for vultures. I didn't do anything, or even think of doing anything. Instead, I just placed my other hand on top of Pyxl's and laid my head there. Pyxl, quickly understanding, gave in himself and laid his own head on top of mine. We stayed that way, waiting in tedious silence for the worst.

Ptttt! Ptttt! Ptttt! The alarm chimed, indicating the hour. I let out a fearful gasp but I didn't move from my spot. I slowly raised my head, hoping for... something. "Huh?" I blurted, looking at Pyxl, who still, seemingly looked normal. He looked back at me, our expressions almost the same "You..." I whispered slowly reaching a hand out to him, but stopping just a few inches away, remembering how he reacted last time when I tried to touch him. "You're not malfunctioning.." I whispered. Pyxl let out a sigh of relief while I let out a rather anxious laugh.. "You're not malfunctioning! You're not malfunctioning." I said happily, withdrawing my hand, suddenly flustered at what to do. The first thought I could think of quickly went into my mind. "Clancy!" I said quickly.

Hurriedly, I reached for my bracelet and pressed the button for the communicator. Pyxl and I both waited, hoping that my thoughts were correct. My hopes lit up when the communicator blinked and Clancy's holographic image appeared. Good! He's not malfunctioning either! They're all okay! "Clancy!" I said. "You-" He cut me off. "Yes. I know. We're not malfunctioning, which I have to say is a miracle. I don't know why, though, but it's good.." I licked my lips, before continuing. "Are you guys okay?" I asked. Clancy nodded. "We're fine. And seeing that we are stable, we decided to hide, and rest for the night. Which I suggest, you two should do as well..It's been a long day for all of us." Clancy said. I considered that, and decided that it was a pretty good idea. "Okay then.. Stay safe, you guys." I said, before cutting the connection off.