Binary: Rough Draft Edition (Sword Dancers, Book 1)

Chapter 2: Colin

Colin opened the door to his house. It was old but affordable for a young man in his thirties. The first major purchase Colin ever made. There were three bedrooms and a full bathroom upstairs. He had a low ceiling basement.  He spent most his time fixing it up. He didn't keep it clean either. He only had friends over and usually, they would drink outside. 

He placed the case with the watch like devices on his dining room table. The table had old newspapers and stains all over. Ketchup and mustard bottles littered all over it.  He cleared the way and open the case.  Taking out the first device.  No one claimed them at bar and Colin was curious to see what they were.

The device looked like a watch but had no clock hands and numbers. It wasn't digital either. Beneath where the glass meets the watch, there was an orange stripe. Next to the orange stripe was three green stripes.  Colin wondered what they meant. it's obvious they were part of some design. 

"What are you?"  he said out loud. The watch beeped an vibrated in his hands. Colin dropped it on the ground in response. 

"That hurt." the watch beeped. Colin reached down and examine it in his hand. Looking at the watch for a microphone or speaker.

"A radio?"

"No." The watch said. "My name is Razor. The other...watches are my team. We are dying and only you can help us."

Colin glanced at the other watches. Each of them had one orange stripe, but different number stripes in other colors. Colin put the watch down near the others. Still trying to process that a watch was talking to him. He knew he should be afraid, but he couldn't help but ask more questions. Fear wasn't' an emotion that controlled him. 

"Help you how?" 

"We are a race of techno-organic beings called Sparks." Colin held in his smirk, "We were trying to capture a criminal name Megatron. During the battle both our ships, the canister on your table was damaged. I'm pretty sure he has escaped. Our species can't survive without electricity. Your species generates on average 100 watts of power."

"Are you asking to feed off my energy? Can't I just plug you into an outlet?" Colin shrugged.

"No, although it would help, we need bio-energies." 

"So, you're not only robot looking watches, but you're vampires?"

"In a way."

Colin started to place the watch with the others.  "Sorry, no deal."

"Your world is in danger."

"Our world is always in danger." 

"Megatron is looking to call more of us here. His group, they would subjugate your species and then try to take over other worlds. We want to help stop him."

"I'm sorry, you got the wrong guy.  How do I know if you are even telling the truth?"

"I can show you, but put me on your wrist." The watch sounded desperate, but there was an energy to its voice. He was loud, but not in a controlled way. More like a child who wants candy. Colin picked it up again.

"How can I trust that you won't kill me?"

"Because if I do, then who would I jump too."

Colin weighed his options.  Razor had a point, if he killed him then they would all die before anyone noticed that Colin was dead. If anyone notices that he was dead that is. Colin slipped Razor on. The fit was smug. 

Almost instantly he could feel a slight sting. The feeling reminded him of getting a shot and then wearing a swab afterward. His eyes started watering and after wiping them, everything appeared red.

"What's going on?" Colin's heart started pumping faster. He tried to calm himself, but his heart was trying to jump out of his chest. 

"We're bonding, symbiosis I believe your species call it. My thoughts are yours and yours are mine." 

Colin was able to see all of Razor's recent memories. The crash landing of their ship. Chasing Megatron. Razor's past triumphs and failures. They were similar in a way. They both didn't do well with authority types and needed their freedom. Razor was only fixated on being the best MP he could be. Colin wished he had that drive.

"Don't worry, the others can't hear us now, we're speaking telepathically." Razor voiced was now inside Colin's. Colin was surprised at how calm he was about it."

"Your family still loves you, by the way." Razor continued. 

"Stay out of my thoughts," Colin responded.

"I am your thoughts," Razor said. "I know how it feels to be the black sheep."

"I can't believe you're telling the truth," Colin said as he learned about the Sparks and the civil war they have going on their planet. How they have the ability to host other races in order to gain superiority. "How can I help you now? I cant' donate to all of you at once."

"Not without dying. Do you have any friends, allies who would fight with you?"

Colin stopped and thought about his friends. There was Tyree who is military trained, but too timid. Corey, his other best friend, isn't' trained, but would want to help, but is too unpredictable.

"I have Tyree."

"Can you call him? Time is of the essence. If my team doesn't find a host, they are as good as dead."

Colin pulled out his phone and dialed Tyree's number. Three rings later, Tyree picked up.

"Hey, you made it home. You're supposed to facetime me so I can verify."

"Hey, I need another favor, can you come by? I have a situation and I think you're the only one who can help."

Tyree didn't say anything, but Colin could hear him breathing. The pause was longer than he expected. 

"Give me like 15 minutes."

"Okay." Colin hunged up and looked at Razor. "He's on his way."

"Good."

"I don't like this, I don't' want to get him involved."

"Colin, listen to me, now is not the time to waver, your world may be in danger and we are all going to need allies."

"I hear you, I just.."

"Will you shut up already!" A scratchy voice screamed from the canister.

"Avalanche, save your strength." Razor beeped out.

"Easy for you to say, you already bonded. So much for having a fearless, generous leader." 

"Colin, that's Crush, my second in command and weapons expert. He's always grouchy.

"I'm second to nobody."

"Right," Razor said with a little laughter in his voice. "My other crew members are Haze and Cinder, but both are really weak right now."

"I'm sorry to hear that, hopefully, we can help."

"and hopefully, we can help you and your world."