Truths Told

I drove home slowly, the nest of little ones now in my passenger seat. I had my plan file with me, so I could possibly cook them something similar to the gross food balls that were probably good for their growth. Even if I didn't use proper papers, I could still write down names and such, since I'd need some variation because they're the same objects.

When I got home I pulled them out of the car, keeping them in my coat. It was still relatively bright out, which was nice after a day in the jarring windowless lab. I carried them in and set them on my kitchen counter. I grabbed a piece of notebook paper and began checking their mouths.

Orange Crayon (Orangy): Male

Green Crayon (Green): Female

Red Crayon (Red): Male

Teal Crayon (Teal): Female

Pencil Sharpener: Female [No arms]

Yellow Pencil Topper (Pencil Topper): Male

Pink Pencil Topper (Pink): Male [No arms]

Adding a Y to the end of Orangy's name was cute, like a child naming a stuffed animal. I only did his name like that because I didn't want them to get confused by the fruit. Oh, how they'll get to learn so much more. They can watch cartoons and learn about family's and love and- family. I'm their family. I can call them my children. No secrets or anything. I felt way happier. I lifted Orangy out of the jacket.

"My goodness, you still have a bit of that goop on you! Poor baby!" I said grabbing a washcloth and wetting it with warm water. I wiped around his face, getting a good look at it. It's been a while since I've seen such small things. Glad I don't have to open their eyes and put tracking chips in.

I cleaned up the others and read into the food balls. Raw meat, crushed up vegetables and fruit... do I even have that stuff? I began searching through my fridge. Okay, I have frozen beef, that'll work, I'll just defrost it. I have some...lettuce, and mostly brown bananas. That's probably good.

I let the meat defrost while I mashed up the lettuce and bananas. Once finished I mushed up the meat as well and mixed it together, forming seven small balls out of the mixture, storing the rest in the fridge. I took all the kids to the living room and sat their coat-nest in my lap. I grabbed each one individually and began feeding them. As I fed Pencil Sharpener my phone began buzzing in my pocket. It's Teressa. No one else calls me. I used one hand to keep the food ball to sharpeners mouth the and other to hold the phone.

"Hey! It's been a while." She said, I laughed awkwardly.

"Yeah, I guess it has," I said quietly.

"Now I want some updates on your babies, I've been starving for some info!" I felt a tightening in my chest. I can't lie to them again.

"Well- um... not much has really happened!" I said, only feeling worse.

"Really? Nothing? I thought they did a lot?" They asked naively. I felt my eyes watering.

"Nope, n-nothing r-r-really..." I said shakily.

"Shawn? Are you crying? What's wrong?" She asked quickly. She was so caring, I'm so stupid.

"I'm a liar! I'm a horrible liar Teressa! I'm so sorry!" I sobbed. And I told her everything. The tracking chips, the way Foster filed down their points, What happened to Leaf, everything. Teressa was dead silent. Every silent second was a stab in my chest.

"So...You're gonna save them?" She asked quietly.

"I-yeah. That's what I'm planning, there's no way I'm leaving them with Foster." I said sternly. I was more filled with anger. Recounting every horrible thing that's happened in that lab just made me angry that he did that. Or that I let it happen.

"When you get them I'll take some time off to come to help you!" She said confidently. I smiled.

"Oh, you don't have to do that! I got myself into this mess anyway..." I appreciated their offer, though I felt she was too giving.

"No way! I'm helping you, there's like sixty-three right? In a new environment? Youll need it." She was right, I could barely handle them in groups. I sighed.

"Fine, fine! But don't miss a bunch of work just to help me, I'll be fine on my own if you cant come." I reassured her. I honestly appreciated how caring they were, even if she was irresponsible because of it.

"I'm coming over Shawn, and that's final! I'm not letting you do that by yourself!" I laughed.

"Okay! You can come! I'll call you the second it happens, promise." I said, feeling much freer now that I've told her. But that put a worse thought in my mind. What was my plan? I've been saying I would help them... but I had no real plan. I'll look around the lab and start planning tomorrow.

Pencil Sharpener nibbled my finger. I didn't notice she finished her food. I smiled and finished feeding the others. I just held the nest in my arms and relaxed, watching TV. It seemed they had already fallen asleep. It's so cute. I can't wait to have everyone here.

- - -

Egg's eyes cracked open as her room door abruptly opened. She walked out and stood out on the small ledge outside her room and waited for everyone on the first floor to exit. After everyone did Dr. Xavier set up the stairs to let them all down. Egg looked over to Clock, who shared the second floor with her. He nervously sat on the first step. She watched curiously as he tried to move down the stairs. Then she watched him tumble down the stairs, slamming face first into the ground. It caught most people's attention, especially Eggs and Cakes. Egg ran down, and Cake watched anxiously from the third row.

"Are you okay Clock?!" Egg asked him nervously. Clock lifted his face up to look at her.

"Egg!" He yelled, his smile wide. Egg giggled.

"You're okay! That's good!" She said happily, Cake joining them.

"He's strong!" Cake remarked, watching Clock stand up and look at him.

"Egg!" He yelled at Cake. Egg sighed.

"So does he recognize us or is he just spewing words?" Cake asked. Egg stood proudly.

"Of course he recognizes me! He remembered the word I taught him!" She said, walking out of the room, Cake and Clock following as best they could. They all entered their room with the others and begun.

"See this? This is white, and this yellow," Egg said, pointing at a piece of paper, new for everyone's rooms. Xavier had suggested it for entertainment. Egg put down her small crayon and pointed at her yellow spots.

"So what colors this?" Clock stood proudly.

"That's yellow! And you're also white." He said joyously. They all did learn pretty fast. He already could speak in real sentences. And it's only been a day. Egg felt a warm presence behind her.

"Well look at that. He's really talking." Flame said, making Egg jump. Egg knew he was too hot to touch, it'd burn her. It'd burn anyone.

"Ah! I'm sorry- oh." She stuttered, before realizing he was also defective. The arms and legs startled her, but he had the red sticker wrapped over his upper leg.

"What? I was just complimenting your work." He said, confused. She sighed.

"Oh thank you! I'm really trying." Flame nodded, walking away.

"Well, that was nice." Cake said, watching him walk away.

"Yeah, it was. But back to work. We still haven't figured out what 'Alleyvou' means! What does it mean Clock?" She asked Clock. He thought for a moment.

"I...don't know. I just know it." Eggy sighed.

"Alright... we can figure that out later, let's keep learning." She said, grabbing more crayons.

Eraser watched indifferently as everyone else interacted freely. He knew no one in this room, but he didn't need to. He could point out five defectives. All happy and talking to the two other effectives in the room.

He found it vile. How could they see those other people as the same as them? They weren't the same. They were the failures. He knew that. And he knew an effective could also become defective, like Leaf. He didn't trust them.

"Wanna play with us?" A robotic female voice asked from behind him. He jumped.

"Wha- No! I don't want to be anywhere near you! Go away!" He yelled at Puffball, garnering stares. Puffball floated away, as everyone glared at Eraser. He was outnumbered. But he didn't care.

"Well that was harsh, don't you think?" Fries asked him. He rolled his eyes.

"I don't know why you hang out with her anyway. She's gonna get you sick." Fries sighed.

"You know it's been quite a while and I've yet to be defective. Maybe you're just dumb and can't think for yourself." He said smirking. Eraser clenched his fists.

"I can think for myself-"

"Then why don't you join us? One day won't kill you." Fries said motioning towards the others, who were folding the new paper into different shapes or coloring. Eraser stared at them decisively.

"Fine. Just today. Don't expect me to hang around." Eraser said, keeping up a strong persona.

"Well come on then!" Fries said, leading Eraser to the happy group. Puffball perked up at both of them.

"You convinced him! Yay!" She cheered. Eraser felt... warm. It was a welcoming feeling, seeing everyone so connected and happy, not how he's seen it for a while.

"So... what are we doing?" Eraser asked hesitantly, siting down with the others.

"It's called drawing. You use these crayons on the paper and you can write pictures!" Puffball explained as Stapler pushed some paper and crayons towards him.

"Oh cool. What should I make then?" He asked, becoming more invested.

"Oh! Draw something in the day room! Like the ground, or the walls, or the door." Origami chattered on about the room. Eraser grabbed the blue crayon and drew a wobbly shape, coloring it in.

"Done." He said, holding it up for everyone to see.

"What...is it?" Bell asked, studying the page.

"It's water, like that water near the wall." He said, his eyes staring at the open ceiling where Bells string hung from.

"...OH! Oh, I get it! That's really good Eraser!" Puffball chirped. Eraser smiled, and then realized he was smiling so he stopped. But, he liked it. He liked these people, defective or not. So what's so wrong with them?

I can't believe I made survive chapters almost everyday

Like how????

Anyways yeah look at themmmm

:•)