Heart of Titanium

Chapter 20: Peace of Mind

October 20th, 2044

Bryce fires the last round out of his sidearm, as he takes down the last target. With the body then falling, and disintegrating, the simulation is won.

Aaron stands in his chair and claps as Cherise's and Bryson's sim power down, both retracting their visors and smiling at each other, bumping foreheads and Bryce whispering: "I love you, good job baby."

Cherise's tail wags as she pecs Bryce on the lips, "Thanks, big guy."

"I'm seriously impressed you two, that's the tenth sim you guys have done flawless in a row." Aaron said.

"Not to mention the skills you two show in a combat situation when working together, makes me jealous, honestly." Archie said, also.

Bryce scoffs, "Of what? Your sim times skyrocket above everyone else's! Your maneuverability and knowledge is seriously daunting!"

Archie smiles as his ears droop a little. "Well...I didn't exactly mean the sim times, but thanks."

Bryce recognizes Archie's body language all of a sudden, as his eyes narrowed and then went into a rested look. "I see what you mean, buddy."

Bryce grew a smile that also had a pity look to it, "Once this is all over, maybe you'll meet your someone, Arch." Bryce said, holding Cherise close to him.

Archie sighed as he looked at his paws. "Not sure about that, Bryson...I'm just a machine after all. Which I'm fine with, but let's face it...would anyone date something like me?"

Cherise looked up at Bryson as she slowly let go of him and walked towards Archie, "First of all, you're a someone, not a something. Two, you've got your own quirks that I can promise, any guy or gal would love. Just because you're a proto, does not mean you don't deserve love."

Archie looked up at her, his visor in a steady stare, as he looks to the side and scoffs. "Thanks, I'll try to keep that in mind. It would be nice just to have...someone."

Aaron wrapped an arm around Archie as he smiled. "Cheer up, RAM-eater. You've always got us."

Archie grew an irritated look and turned to Aaron, "Call me that again, you 4-eyed stiff-legged scruffy nerf-"

Bryson interrupted him, "Woah woah, Aaron was just kidding." Bryson socks him lightly in the stomach, "Right, Aaron?" Aaron coughs a little as he recovers from the light jab, "Y-yeah, totally." As the group laughs, they each then go to their own tasks.

Bryson turns to Cherise, "Well...we've ran the sim a lot now...so, what else can we do?"

Cherise sighs and brushes through her fur, which she's now braided one part that's grown longer. "I really, really would love to go on another date with you, but its too dangerous to go outside..."

She continues, "I'd just...love to talk more, y'know? I love talking about our feelings, and what the future can hold...but I wanna talk about the real us. Things in your past, things in- well, the past I can remember."

Bryce laughs and rubs her head. "I'd love that, Cheri. If only we could..."

Aaron coughs behind them as he smiles to both, "I may have an idea for that."