I Am Learning, Ph1LzA

Mobile Platform

Trixtin was busy again, working on the frame, while Ph1LzA was downstairs on the computer. Now he had taken Pl4sticw4re apart, 41514·20 was next. This business of eliminating the Core Commands was taking too long in Ph1LzA's mind, so he decided to crack down on all of them today. But before he began, he returned upstairs to check up on Trixtin.

She was taking a break, eating a granola bar and frowning over some papers. Ph1LzA came up beside her and looked over her shoulder. "What's wrong?" Then he chuckled. Trixtin wasn't looking over schematics, she had drawn a variety of wings in different positions, from wide-spreading ones with massive feathers to little folded wings or single feathers. "What's with these?"

"Don't laugh." Trixtin huffed. "It's designs for Techno's frame. You and I are CrowMotheR and CrowFatheR, I think putting some symbol about that on him would be great. Techno thinks so too." She added with a nod to the nearly-finished frame.

Ph1LzA took a closer look at the wings. "Alright, but why feathers and not birds?" He asked.

"Because I can't draw birds." Trixtin laughed. She set the papers down. "I'll get these finished later now I'm done with my snack. Maybe Techno can pick out some images he likes. Anyway," she turned to Ph1LzA, "did you need something? You hungry?"

"No, but thank you." Ph1LzA glanced back towards the stairs. "I'm just going to be working a lot on breaking those Core Commands for a while and I thought you should know, just in case you got worried. When I'm done, finally done, Techno will be able to remove the rest on his own. I think I have just a little bit more to go...." He trailed off and ran both hands through his hair, thoughts already whirling ahead of his mouth.

Trixtin kissed his cheek, breaking all concentration. "I'll get you something lasting, then. It's good to keep up your energy on long projects like this. You need anything like music or blankets? A rubber duck to talk to?" Her eyes sparkled merrily.

"We don't have a duck!" Ph1LzA chuckled. "But thank you, Trix, I appreciate it. Food would be nice, whatever you think best. And...I won't say no to the blanket."

She bundled him up as comfortably as she could and fixed up some peanut butter pecan cookies for him to munch on. Ph1LzA tried to keep himself alert enough for her arrival, and when she brought them he was aware enough to thank her again before slipping back into his work. Her reply, wishing him luck, lingered a long while in the back of his mind.

Hours had been spent on cracking Core Commands before and Ph1LzA expected nothing less this time, but he was determined to get rid of them once and for all. The nuisances would need to be gone in time for Techno's eventual clash with EGG, and Ph1LzA had no idea when that would take place. So in he went, among reams and reams of code, among encryptions and firewalls and repetitions of access denied. TechnoBlade helped wherever he could, but there was only so much he could contribute. 41514·20 bound the AI in many ways.

Time trickled by as Ph1LzA worked. Occasionally he was conscious of Trixtin's voice encouraging him, of her hand providing more cookies to keep him going. Ph1LzA did his best to acknowledge her every time, but sometimes he wasn't sure if what he said to her was actually out loud or just in his head. She kept coming back, in any case.

Finally she came and patted his head, waking Ph1LzA from his work just enough to realize she was there. "Hello, love." She said, kissing the top of his head. "I'm going to sleep. Goodnight."

"Hmm?" Ph1LzA tore his eyes away from his screen. "Goodnight...." He stared into her eyes, just above him. "CrowMotheR." He grinned. "Sleep well."

Trixtin smiled back. "Don't stay up too long, okay?" And with a final pat, she left.