Big Little Sister

Put Back Together Again

In time, however, Michael was forced to return to work.

"What are you planning on, Michael?" Elizabeth asked as he made his way to the door. He had successfully put her back together again, but his work was very far from finished. Sure, maybe he'd polished up Elizabeth's body, removing any weapons she had (that metal claw was the first thing to go) and then adding in those defense systems of the controlled shock belts laced across her endoskeleton, but that wasn't it for her. Michael still wanted to build her a newer, better, safer, comfier, prettier body. The modifications to the Baby body were only temporary. But how was Michael going to about building that new body?

"I think I'm going to talk to Henry," he replied calmly as he reached the door, which still barely fit into the broken frame.

"Henry?! You mean like, Daddy's old partner?" Elizabeth recoiled in disbelief.

"Yeah, he's still alive, believe it or not," Michael smiled bitterly, understanding where Elizabeth's surprise had come from. "Turns out, he hadn't committed suicide after all. He just became a bit of a recluse, went into hiding, but he's back now. He helped me start up this last little pizzeria. It was his idea and my effort that brought it to life, but I'm going to ask him to help build you a new body."

"And you think he'll say yes?" doubt and guilt entered Elizabeth's voice yet again.

"I know he will," Michael promised. Ong, He won't judge you for what our father did. I know Henry. If anything, he'll be delighted to help you. His beef is not with you, it's with our father."

"But won't he be jealous of you and me? What about him and Charlie?" Elizabeth's voice grew soft and sad as she spoke that old name. Although there had come a time when she'd forgotten her own, she'd never forgotten that one. Henry's daughter, Charlie, had been Elizabeth's very best friend when they were both still alive, but then Charlie passed away. Henry seemed to have followed her to the grave, suddenly vanishing right from existence. Originally, this was chalked up as suicide, but from what Michael was saying, it hadn't been quite so drastic. Henry was still alive.

"Well, that's just it," a smile stretched its way across Michael's chapped and purpled face. "We found his daughter too..."

"You found her?! You found Charlie?!" Elizabeth was so surprised, she straightened up entirely and ended up hitting her massive metal head on Michael's ceiling. Luckily, the roof was still high enough that she didn't break anything. "Ooops," she grunted, slowly tilting her head backwards until she could see the ceiling. There was a small dent about the size of the top of her head, but that was it.

"Must you destroy my house like this?" Michael sighed, but he was smiling in amusement.

"I'm your big little sister, remember," Elizabeth muttered as she rotated her head back down to look at Michael, who was a foot and a half smaller.

"That you are," Michael agreed as he looked back up at her.

"But is it really true?" Elizabeth demanded next. "That they found Charlie, I mean."

"It is," Michael nodded. Although Elizabeth was unable to make very many facial expressions because of her metal face, Michael could sense that she was in total disbelief, laced with something akin to joy. Once again, Charlie had been her first and last friend up until tonight when she finally got to see Michael's true change of heart. It made sense that Elizabeth would be over the moon at the thought of Charlie being back in her life.

"And it is my goal," Michael continued. "To save her too. I know I wasn't supposed to let anything from this franchise go, but I'm a weak man-"

"No you're not!" Elizabeth interrupted. "You're the strongest, kindest, bravest person I've ever met!" she glared at him fiercely, eyes burning with sincerity. He smiled weakly at her before continuing.