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

Chapter 3: Colin

"I hope you have a thousand dollars for me, because I don't see why I had to get over here." Tyree walked through the door taking off his black and gray Oakland Raiders hoodie. He was a sports fan and back in high school was on the soccer, basketball, and track teams. Colin was always a little jealous, because the physical part of basic training must of been easy for Tyree. For Colin basic was challenging. He could handle the mental part of it all, the drill sergeants breaking you down and building you up. In high school he did do cross country, but that didnt' prepare him for all of the Army's physical demands. 

Tyree was about the same height as Colin, just a few inches seperated them. Colin wasn't gay, but he could see why his friend was lucky. He just didn't understand why Tyree didn't see it. That was another difference between them. Colin was confident about anything and adventurous. Tyree wasn't confident about anything and was comfortable with styaing stagnant.

"Sorry, bud, the fate of the world is in our hands apparently." Colin said.  Tyree sat at the dining room table. Shaking his head and laughing. 

"Well I guess the world is screwed if it's in our hands."  He looked at the watches. "No one claimed them?"

"No." Colin paused. "Thats what I want to tell you about, those devices are not watches."

"What are they then? Fitbits"

"This is boring." Crush bleeped from the canister. Tyree looked around and then at the canister. He had a puzzled look and then went to confirm with Colin. Colin nodded his head knowing that his friend was on to something.

"Did the watch just talked?" 

"I did." Crush said.

"Okay, Colin, how are you doing that? Ventroliquisism and a speaker? That would be impressive."

"What would be impressive is if you shut your mouth." Crush said. 

"Crush that is enough." Tyree turned to the sound of the watch on Colin's arm. He didn't know that Colin was wearing a sentient life form and Colin was hoping his friend could handle the truth.  

"My name is Razor and my rude associate is Crush." Razor head raised from the watch dial. "What Colin told you is true, your world is in danger."

Tyree stood there. Colin noticed that his friend had no expression on his face. He could tell Tyree was trying to figure out if Colin was playing a trick on him. 

"Tyree?"

"You're not doing this, are you? This is really happening. Robots are talking to us." Tyree still didn't' have any expression. His face remained stoic but inquisitive. He looked as if he was trying to understand the possible outcomes of what is going on.

"No, dude. They're called Sparks."

Razor interjected, "We don't like being called robots, as Colin told you, our species are called Sparks. We are techno-organic beings from...well that's not important right now. We're tracking a criminal who wants to colonize your world. "

"Which I don't really care about." Crush said. His voice was deeper than Razor and serious. "Let's find a way to fix our ship and leave. Captain." Crush said, Captain as he hated it. 

"Colin, you're not seriously helping them." Tyree still held a stoic face, but it was starting to crack. "Even if they are telling the truth, we should tell the Army."

"I know, I know, but they're dying right now. They need us to be their host."

"Their host? Like being possessed? no way. You have lost it." Tyree stood up and started towards the door. "