Depression and Robots don't mix.

Chapter 1 ~ Finally understanding

(Pilot's Pov) 

"Ellora, I'm sorry. We have to reprogram him. I can't let him lay here and rust."

"Please. Can't you just give it time? For Pilot's sake. He's scared and confused."

"Ellora, I can't let this robot lay here in pain and agony. I'm sorry but I have orders, and I have to follow them. He's had three weeks to come out of it and he hasn't."

I heard Ellora and a nurse conversing out in the hall. Ellora was right I was confused. I didn't understand what happened to Artsy. All I knew was that I'm on my knees, in a hospital room, crying over a bot I care for.

I looked up from the floor and put my hand on Artsy's chest. I could feel the movement of the liquid in his core move with every breath he took. Wires, tubes and other medical equipment covered him. He didn't look like himself. To me he looked stressed out, scared and just as confused as I was. He looked like he needed someone to save him.

I was startled from my thoughts as Ellora put her hand on my shoulder. She shook her head in silence, telling me it was too late for him to wake up. They had to reprogram him. Tears ran down my cheeks as the thought of never being able to talk to Artsy again, ran though my head. He was going to be gone by tomorrow night. Tomorrow around four to be exact.

"You can stay with him all night. I'm so sorry Pilot. I wish I could do something."

She walked out of the room, leaving me, Artsy and my thoughts. I got up and sat on the side of the bed, laying my head on Artsy's chest and wrapping his lifeless arm around me. I listened to the sound of his core, the only thing that told me he was still alive.

I soon felt my eyelids flutter shut and sleep took me into its embrace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had just gotten home from a day of hard work in my fields. I guess you could call me a farmer of sorts, but I do it the easy way. I do it all by plane, then someone else harvests the crops for me. It was a good pay check at the end of the month. It was always enough for Danish, Ellora, and myself, to live off of, even with our 'new' addition to the family. Artsy. He had been living with us for about a year now, so he wasn't really new.

"Pilot come here please!"

Ellora yelled from the kitchen.

"Y-Yeah Mom?"

"Take this to Artsy please."

"Where is he?"

"His shop. It's not urgent but he needs them by tonight."

I grabbed the orange pill bottle from the counter and looked at them. They were Artsy's antidepressants.

"I'm guessing he's not coming home tonight?"

I questioned.

"No, he's not. He said he had some commissions to get done."

"Okay I'm leaving."

I kissed Ellora on the cheek and went for the front door. Once I was out of the house I started to read the side of the pill bottle. Artsy Palette Sherlina. Only Artsy's middle name would be Palette. I continued to read. Two a day, One in morning and One at night. Unless suicidal urge. Then take half when needed. I found that odd. I didn't think Artsy was suicidal. Depressed yeah, but not suicidal.

I had finally gotten to Artsy's shop. I walked into the front store and chimed.

"Artsy! Artsy!?"

He was now were in sight. So I went to the back of the store, his home.

"Artsy?"

I placed the bottle of pills on the kitchen counter, next to the sink, before I heard a choked cry come from Artsy's room. As I walked into his room the metallic smell of blood hit me. I gasped and covered my mouth at the sight of Artsy laying on the ground, bleeding. I stood there and stared at him. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

But soon my instinct kicked in. I pulled out my phone and called 911. I explained what had happened and told the lady were the shop was. After that I called Ellora and went to the kitchen grabbing a towel and running back to Artsy. I softly gathered Artsy in my arms and placed the towel over the wound on his chest. He slowly turned his head and looked at me with teary, pink, half-lidded eyes.

"I-I'm... Sorry... This w-wasn't... Y-y-you're... Fault."

I shushed him. This wasn't fair. He told me that he would always come to me... and he didn't. He laid his head into me, falling asleep.

By the time paramedics got there I was covered in Artsy's blood. I really didn't care. As long as he was safe.

"We'll see him tomorrow Pilot, for now let's get you home and cleaned up."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  

I woke up from the nightmare that was once my reality, and looked up at Artsy. He was in a 'peaceful sleep', but something was different. He was crying! I looked at my best friend astounded. He was okay. He knew what was going on. He didn't have to be reprogramed, because he knew I was there!

"Artsy?"

I grabbed his hand hoping this would work.

"If you can hear me, please squeeze my hand."

I felt him try and squeeze my hand. He was still really weak, but I didn't care, he still answered me.

"Welcome back... I'm glad you're okay... Just keep fighting. Okay?"

I felt another light squeeze as tears rolled down my face.

"I love you Artsy."