Saving Wattson

Chapter One : Bonds

A/N: Please be advised, this chapter has a bit of sexual assault in it. Otherwise, I hope you all enjoy.

I am an idiot

I know that's not true. I'm a genius. But the longer Wattson and I spend in the back of Mirage's bar working on the artifact, the more I realize. I'm not even close to her level, Crypto thinks to himself.

"And the Faraday Armature does what exactly?"

Wattson looks over and smiles at him.

"It does many things, but it mostly acts as a shield against a wide range of electromagnetic and electrostatic interferences,, while also providing an ideal resonance environment for the core." She says.

Crypto looks insanely confused. He's bewildered on how smart Natalie really is.

"But I don't think it belonged to her. See these pins along the side?" She hold up the artifact his way and points. "I think it was retrofitted."

"Her?"

"Boys are loud and obvious. This artifact... it's very coy. Mysterious. Definitely a girl."

"Aren't you a smarty pants?"

"A what?"

"You've never heard that before? My mom used to say it all the time 'Aren't you a little smarty pants?'"

"I never knew my mom." Wattson says looking down and working on the artifact again. "She died before my first birthday"

You idiot. Crypto thought to himself. "I'm sorry."

"Thank you, but I'm not sad. I never knew what I was missing."

"You're very direct." Crypto points out

"Smarty-pants usually are." She smiles at him

"You know, I'm glad Wraith convinced us to see this through. I like working with you."

"I like working with you too. It's fun to boss you around while I'm recovering." She remarks "can you get the SCOMP Housing Lifeline and Gibraltar brought back?"

"Sure." He looks at his drone "Hack, watch her for me."

Wattson blushes a little, but he doesn't notice, he's already up. She looks at Hack hovering perfectly above where Crypto was sitting.

"Why didn't you program Hack with a personality?"

"It's just a drone."

"A drone can still have a little fun. You should program it with some jokes. I could help you. I'm very funny." Wattson giggles a bit.

"Johwa, I'll think about it. Where did Gibraltar put the housing anyway?"

"Dat'a way." She laughs.

Crypto can't help it. He smiles. Can't remember the last time he did that. "Data" way. Heh.

Crypto passes through the bar. Caustic is discussing the artifact with Bloodhound. Loba sits at the bar with her gun on the counter. No one has said a word to her since yesterday.