Fraction

Fraction Chapter 23 - Dressed to Kill

Kelly sat on a cloud and sipped on a chocolate milkshake. A bird flew up to her and rested on her shoulder. "If you ruin my shirt, I will erase your existence..." she spoke and took another sip. The bird chirped and flew away. "Couldn't you just erase the bird poop instead?" came a voice from behind her. She spat out the chocolate milkshake and turned around, ready to unleash Armageddon. "Adam 40..." she said, after getting her visual confirmation, "Why must you make a poop joke when I'm drinking CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE?!" Her uninvited visitor grinned and shrugged. "My apologies. I didn't realize you were consuming a beverage. Anyway, I know I don't need to do this but here's a report on the kids: Evening Star is traveling with Rob.E.R.T. in order to begin her training. Chris Helios and Morning Star finished meeting the writer. Symphony Star will join them soon." Kelly smiled and said, "Thank you for the report. I don't mean to intrude into your personal life... but have you found her yet?" Adam 40 examined the cloud while he replied, "No. Not yet. How are we even standing on the cloud? Are you nullifying the effects of gravity in this area? No. That can't be it. The bird wouldn't be flying calmly if the laws of physics suddenly went out the window. You must be manipulating the density of the cloud itself." When he looked up, he realized he was talking to a relatively empty sky. "Wait a minute... if she's gone... who's manipulating the clouuUUUUuuu-" he shouted as he fell.

Eve landed on the ground and waited for her passenger to get off her. He didn't move. "Well? Are you planning on riding me forever?" she asked. She heard a chuckle followed by a cough. "Actually... I think it would be best if I got off. Right. I'll get off." Rob.E.R.T. said as he got off her. She was busy staring at her surroundings. They were in some sort of park or sanctuary. Green grass carpeted the ground. Purple tiles glistened, forming a pattern around a fountain sparkling in the middle, surrounded by four identical statues of lions, each roaring into a direction. "This looks like a neat place... what is this? Some kind of ancient sanctuary? Though it is missing the chirping birds and rabbits and butterflies and the odd deer... Rob.E.R.T...?" She turned around as she spoke, "Rob-WHAT IN THE WORLD?! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR CLOTHES?! THEY'RE ALL TORN AND ALMOST LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GONNA FALL OFF!!!" Rob.E.R.T. had closed his eyes. He coughed and replied, "You can't eat the cake and have it too... Breaking the sound barrier is a dangerous thing... luckily, your Vectors took care of your body... and my body is tough to begin with... However, my clothes were torn to shreds. Your clothes... well... let's just say there's a reason my eyes are closed right now." Eve turned her eyes down and almost instantly felt the blood rushing to her face.

"You'll have to wear this for now..." Rob.E.R.T. said, as he took off what was left of his cloak. Eve grabbed it and there was a ruffling sound as the ragged cloth flew around her. Rob.E.R.T. opened his eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry... I should have warned you. Anyway, my-" he spoke as his shirt crumbled away, "my reason for bringing you here was to test your limits. Apparently, I haven't even made you break a sweat. The problem, now, is finding something that you can wear that WON'T be disintegrated when you practice... unless you're okay with your clothes falling apart with every punch and kick." Eve frowned and spoke while fiddling with the cloak, "I... I think I know just the thing. Someone once gave me something... but I kind of... rejected it..." Rob.E.R.T. raised an eyebrow.

"Rejected?"

"There was this guy who made me a shield from a dragon scale. He also made me a skin tight flexible armour from the dragon's leather... and when he asked me to wear it in front of him, I punched him through the wall behind him and stormed out of his house."

"Wait, was this guy an old man with a little girl working for him?"

"Little girl? His granddaughter?"

"Yes. His granddaughter. I know him. He's actually somewhat famous... but you city folks wouldn't have heard of him because he likes to keep a low profile."