Book 1: Shattered Harmony

Chapter 14: If Only

Unruly Company

Chapter 14

If only

The music in Laffy's Karaoke bar once again was jumping as it usually was. But their wasn't a lot of people inside. It was dead of night right before closing. Zareth wanted to get back to the lighthouse before daybreak. The person in question walked in and went to the bar. Zareth already knew how they looked. He was the guy that he shoved just outside the forest where Danny had to run him into hiding. He asked the woman behind the bar. She pointed toward Zareth. The guy turned around and walked toward the table.

"Ah so you did survive." He sat down. "The names Adam Hardy. I work for Gaya Works."

"Yeah...I know." He downed the rest of his Boba before sitting back and crossing his arms. His toothpick was sitting on a napkin next to his glass. "I want to ask just what you all have planned for Danny and why you keep going after her?" Zareth asked. He looked up to see a few of the androids walk into the room. Another went through the kitchen pushing the woman out of the bar and toward the door. Zareth nodded to her, she gasped and ran out of the bar.

Zareth stood his eyes never leaving Hardy's.

"Either I get my answer from you now or after I offline your androids."

"You couldn't do that in the forest what makes you think you can do that now?" Hardy laughed.

"I was drunk!" Zareth grabbed a chair and slammed it into the closest android. It fell onto its front Zareth ran forward and kicked up. The androids head flew up and landed on one of the rafters. He ran forward jumping behind the bar. One of the androids reached for him. Zareth grabbed his arm and rammed his elbow into it. It broke in two. He grabbed the ice pick and rammed it into his ear. The android sparked and popped. He broke a bottle and jumped over the bar again. He jabbed it into another androids chest plate and kicked it into its chest completely. The android spazzed flopping around before falling over a table and smoked. Two other two pulled out knives.

"Danny won't think to highly of you if you were to hurt me again. She just fixed me up...and might I add she's injured and nearly died because of you!" He yelled and ran forward. Hardy watched from the side his arms crossed. He was pleased with what he saw. Zareth grabbed hold of the knife arm, swung his foot up tripping the android. He grabbed the knife from its hand and jabbed it into the back of its neck before looking around at the last one. The last one threw his knife back and forth and smiled. It was number 4. Zareth jumped when he saw two more walk in the door.

"I'll answer your question Zareth." Hardy yelled. Zareth looked up at Hardy. Hardy smiled and walked back behind the counter in the bar and poured himself a brandy on the rocks.

"Who said we were going after her?" He asked and smiled at Zareth. "It was you were were after Zareth. Not that poor little girl. We went through her to get to you. All we needed was a pretty face for you to fall for and we had you. Testing was long and rigorous and we honestly thought we lost you." He pointed at him over the glass. "Danny has been working for us all along..." The last part caught him by surprise. "A new model of android that doesn't know its an android." Hardy leaned over the top of the bar counter and smiled at him. "But you knew that didn't you?"

"When your wrist deep in someones leg...you notice a few things." He said.

"It hurts doesn't it...Dareth?" Hardy chuckled he screamed when he was punched full on by Zareth. The man lay on the floor his $50,000 smile was messed up. Zareth turned around and glared at the other android.

"Might want to get him to the hospital...before I mess him up some more." He said and dodged number 4s assault once again. He turned, spun, grabbed a bar stool and cracked him on the shoulder.

"She's my doll you know." 4 smiled at Zareth. Zareths eye twitched and he ran forward punching at 4. 4 just laughed and slashed Zareths arm, check, and chest before coming to a stop next to a table. Zareth was mad.

"She's no ones doll."

"Yes she is...we have control of her, and we can do whatever we please with her." 4 smiled with a laugh. Zareth smiled at him too. 4s smile disappeared and and put his finger on his communicator in his ear.

"W...Whoa...?" He looked up at Zareth. "What did you do to her?"

"Lets just say Ronin owed me some things. Gave her an independent core processing unit. She's her own...nindroid now." Zareth said.

"Gaya will not be happy. She'll come after her."

"If I see any of your corps anywhere near her again...I'll show you why I'm epic." Zareth said watching the others leave dragging Hardy with them. Zareth sat down and grabbed the brandy glass hardy had vacated and put it against his forehead.

'What now Dareth. What do you think about danny now?'

'I've never been one for caring what someone was made of. You're my buddy remember Zane.' Dareth could feel Zane smile and it made him smile too.

Zareth picked up a fresh toothpick and left Laffy's

Danny sat next to the window, the breeze felt nice. She had fallen into a light stupor watching Echo dust the rafters clean. She didn't feel herself at all. Almost like their was a call to the back of her mind, an echo from somewhere else of someone calling to her. She sighed and looked down at her hands. Or maybe she was just so alone she wanted someone to be with her. She grew used to someone sitting next to her, the noise of the classroom, and heat of Dareths hand, the way Zareth laughed. Things were just so quiet here, she just really hated sitting still. She lay back on the floor and sighed.

"Is that really comfortable?" Danny sat up to see Zareth climbing the steps.

'Are we going to tell her?' Dareth asked. Zane sighed.

'I do not think it is safe. Her subconscious might have an overload from the stress. Lets let her continue to be human.' Zane offered.

"Zareth!" Danny yelled and stood up.

"No no let me come to you." Zareth said and ran forward scooping her into his arms. "Hey there toots." He smiled and put his head against hers.

"Hey yourself."