Chapter 10

A G3 shuttle lowered down to meet the Earth teens and store away the Mutradi's corpse. Mark and Gregory returned the watches to Edward.

"I think I've just about figured what the problem is can expunge the corruption," Edward told them. "So I doubt we'll be needing you two to do anything like that again."

"Well, if you change your mind, we're around," Mark said. "Now can you guys get us home or do we need to do that ourselves?"

"Titan's origins must remain unknown by the general public," Solomon said. "Promise me you won't leak anything."

"Sure!" Gregory agreed. "I'll bet tons of people know already from leaks, though."

"Officially, we have no connection to any government," Solomon said. "We exclusively defend against threats from space. If anyone asks, say something along those lines. And of course, don't tell anyone you got to fly in the robots."

Mark and Gregory were covertly taken home after they had promised to keep things as best of a secret as they could. Jason gave Ilana a hug before he too departed on a G3 shuttle.

"I've got a lot to think about," Jason told her. "But I think we can make this work. I'd love for it to work."

"Thank you," Ilana said. "I know it was hard for you, but I'm glad you understand."

Kimmy wanted to object but kept her thought to herself. It was easier for Jason.

"You guys can make me forget all of this, right?" she asked Edward and Solomon. The group had returned to the lounge for a moment as another shuttle was readied to take Kimmy home.

"I don't think you should do it," Ilana insisted. "Solomon already wiped Brandon's memory of all of this. I don't want him doing it again."

"I've told you it's safe," Solomon reminded her.

"I don't care. Don't do it again unless you absolutely have to. You didn't do it to Mark and Gregory."

"They didn't request it and I know you'd object if I tried."

Solomon and Ilana continued to discuss the ethics of erasing memories while the others turned to Kimmy. She sighed. "I don't want to forget all of this. But for my life to be normal, that's what I have to do."

"Kimmy, we can continue our relationship," Octus insisted. "Other people don't have to know I'm a robot."

"But sooner or later, they will," Kimmy pointed out. She paused for a moment then added, "Back when we were fighting the monster…that was you, wasn't it?"

"What do you mean, it was him?" Lance asked her. Turning to Octus he asked, "What did you do?"

"It was critical that we succeed and not have Titan be destroyed," Octus said. "The boys and Kimmy did very well, at least when separated. But together, they were confused and helpless. I had to take action. I supplied Kimmy with the correct thoughts while she was trying to think of what I had told her. I had assumed that the stress of the situation impeded her ability to remember what I had told her of Titan's weapons."

"You took control," Ilana supplied.

"That's contrary to my design plan," Edward cautioned. Lance stood up and looked at Octus.

"You brainwashed her," Lance said in a tone full of condemnation. "You gave her the illusion of choice and heroism while you did all the work. All for the mission."

"I would have thought you of all people would have understood, Lance. And I did not, as you say, 'brainwash' her."

The others turned to Kimmy, who had buried her face in her hands and was crying.

"Take me home," she told Edward and Solomon. "I need to think about all this. Don't make me forget. Just take me home. Please."

. . . . . . .

The trio went home, exhausted. Ilana watched as Lance went back to his room, claiming that he needed sleep. Octus and Ilana stayed in the kitchen, and the robot withdrew some popsicles from their freezer. He was back as Newton again, now that Edward had fixed everything wrong with Titan.

"You still like those?" Ilana asked.

"They make me feel human," Octus told her. "I can taste all of the flavors and coldness. No other machine in the universe can do that." He sat at the table and Ilana moved her chair to sit next to him. She touched his hand, noting how warm it felt.

"I think she'll forgive you," she told him. "I feel like this is my fault. I started all of this. I went public first, not because of pressure but because I was, well, tired of hiding who we were all the time. The idea of slipping into a crowd and being unnoticed is…foreign to me. It always has been, and it always will be."

"You feel it, too?" Octus asked.

"Yes, of course. Lance doesn't get it. My father always told me that being special came with a burden. He meant being royalty, of course. But he also told me that even if other people couldn't share my burdens, someone would be there."

"Does that mean Kimmy will come back to me?" Octus asked her.

"I don't know, but I think so," Ilana said. "She'll have to rethink so much. It will take time. But you've meant so much to her, and she's learned not to toss people aside." With a wink she added, "I was the one who taught her that lesson."

"I only taught her geometry," Octus said. He smiled, but only for a moment.

"And how to find out when someone truly loves you," she added.

They both heard the familiar strum of Lance's guitar as they both got out more popsicle sticks. Despite everything, life could continue going on as normal for just a little longer.

AN: I once said I'd write about 20 more episodes of this. Given that my life has continued on and it's getting in the way—in fact, I'm trying to get a job this week—I'm going to have to shorten the number of episodes. Not sure how many, but I'll write it all the best I can. As always, feedback is appreciated.