A moderately sized house painted a light orange in the middle of a grassy area. On the right side of the house is a noticeable square of greener grass, much more vivid than the grass beside. It looks artificial, almost like it's hiding something...

Contains 1 bathroom, 1 bedroom with a queen sized bed, a stocked kitchen, and medium sized living room. The living room has a large TV for entertaining guests, along with comfortable couches. In the bedroom, there is a a locked, secure door, leading into the underground.

*The Workshop*

A large space underground Jack's House, contains most of Jack's tools and items, excluding those he lost during the transfer from his old base. Also has a regular bed, fridge and bathroom for extended time in the workshop.

Noticeably on the side of the workshop there is a large metal elevation pad, designed to carry large and heavy things otherwise too big to fit through the door. Looks congruent to the square piece of grassland outside the house...

As the sun started to set, the area seemed to get quieter and tranquil, as if nature itself decided to sleep. Inside the the workshop, a figure typed away on a computer, seeing only fit to take breaks for occasional sips of his tea on the side and to look down at a book. A brief glance at the time told him he needed to stop.

Stopping. It was always hard to do, even more so now, as he was transferring all his information into files, he found himself inspired with all kinds of ideas, to the point of making another document with the sole purpose of holding ideas. But, it was getting late, and he DID need his sleep...

Against his inventor self, he found himself practically crawling from his desk, as if trying to resist the almighty pull of new inventions...new inventions...new inven-NO.

Not today at least. He REALLY needed his rest, no matter what the temptation of crafting something once-thought impossible. He may be an avid inventor, but he was only human, and humans need their sleep.

As Jack crawled into bed and pulled over the covers, he thought over his to-do list for tomorrow.

1- Go outside an explore. (Seems easy enough.)

2- Find a nice woman to settle down with. (Likely.)

3- Buy supplies for workshop.(Looks like I need to bust out the order logs.)

4- Go out to eat.(Where I wonder...)

5- Check....(Zzzz)

As sleep claimed him, his workshop started to enter hibernation mode, sensing the master had initiated his sleep cycle. Lights powered down, documents saved, and darkness overtook the shop.

Omnia in pace.

Sleeping. Always an enjoyable action, the dark abyss held peace of mind whenever he had a chance to drift into it, but like most things in life, there was a downside...

As the sun started to rise, the workshop came alive once again, almost like flexing its joints as it performed a systems check around it. With no breaches nor errors, the all clear command triggered the startup log of programs. Among this list of programs, the first entry to activate was something you could say the workshop took joy in doing.

The alarm.

As Jack was sadistically woken up by one of his greatest creations, he could only fathom the reasons why he went through with giving it sentience.

Once the master had been "thoroughly" woken up, side directives popped up with numerous ranges of importance. As it processed these commands, Jack could only pace his way to bathroom, with thoughts of silky beds and a hot shower.

***

Today was school. He needed to find out which class he was in, and what he was going to learn. If things were lucky enough, the teacher would be teaching mathematics and science first, which he could afford to miss. After all, if he needed high school level math and science, he wouldn't be a very good inventor now would he?

But today he needed to find out his classes.

As he finished dressing into uniform, he trekked downstairs to set the plan for his shop today. Work still needed to be done, and there were some things a machine could do faster.

He stood in front of a giant server, a screen on the side providing details on upkeep and other things. As he stared at the server, Jack could feel his connection to the technology in the room deepen as his eyes obtained a glowing hue to them.

"Zero."

Lights and fans whirred to life as the commanding system acknowledged his voice. A communication beyond comprehension occurred as the system fans whirred and hummed. As it quieted, the system named Zero replied.

"Parameters understood."

Satisfied, Jack strode away, confident he would still keep up production of items for his clients. Now, there was really only one problem left.

How was he going to get to school on time?

As he looked around his house, he settled his eyes on one of inventions he made last week just for this purpose. Good-bye walking, hello gravity shoes. However, there arose another problem. Untested equipment could be dangerous, and messing with the laws of gravity even more so. But he made them himself, he was sure there were no bugs or flaws...

... Gravity shoes it is.

:Jack Exits:
:Enters Shourai Grounds:

The workshop was experiencing what you could call a form of 'fun.'

Much like its master, it found interest in inventing and building numerous things, and the list of things Zero gave it to do was enough to occupy his sensors for a good time. It managed to get finished with one item on the list until Zero practically came barging in with his Priority 1 message.

"Dir(Priority;1): Send [Z:/Control Terminal/User Documents/Complete Sets/S-14)]
Dest(Priority;1)[Koukou no Shourai/Shourai Grounds]
Medium[Bot 3-A]
Param; Priority>0, Priority<2"

The workshop merely acknowledged the directive and sent down the list to the lower commanding system to finish. Right now, it had to scour the master's storage to find S-14, and reboot Bot 3.

Searching the storage unit for a set of armor and weapons was not what the workshop defined as 'fun'. However, as a Priority 1 message, it had no choice but to find it as fast as possible.

The master had not had a chance to organize or tag his projects yet, so it had to search and look for the name of the set on each case. Not to mention the fact the cases were strewn across the storage area. It'd be an act of Zero if it found S-14 anytime- well would you look at that.

As the workshop picked up the case via Bot 1, it checked the exterior for any defects or punctures. None. Perfect. Now all it had to was check the set, and wait for Bot 3 to finish rebooting in a few seconds.

***

As it closed the once open case, it verified Bot 3 was ready and in full working order. It placed the set onto the bot's back and returned to its previous project, satisfied the master would have his set soon.

As for Bot 3, it double checked the fastenings on the set, rechecked the directives, and set out to the sub-place "Shourai Grounds" in main location "Koukou no Shourai".

:Exit Bot 3:
:Entering Shourai Grounds:

:Enter Bot 3:
Bot 3 drove back into the workshop, giving the complete command to Zero, and entering sleep mode.

***
:Enter Jack:

As he dragged his case in, along with his tired mind, he found himself tossing his case to the side as he collapsed into bed.

He would check in with Zero and the workshop...after he got some sleep.

Nothing.

There was simply nothing out there, as he stared out from where he was on the dusty ground. It was barren, and life seemed to have never sprouted in this place.

As he crawled along, beaten and on the verge of death, he tried to remember something. Something about him, something he could cling to.

But he found nothing. Only emotions that were so foreign to him, it was impossible for them to be his.

Why? Why was he in oblivion? Why was he existing? Why could he feel nothing that belonged to him?

Why?

"Tell me...answer me...help me...someone...anyone...."

***

Zero had made sure the workshop had finished the list the master left behind. Without it completed, the master would have lost his income, and with that, the numerous supplies he used for his creations.

Zero had also made sure when the master came home tired and battered, that no noises would disturb his sleep cycle.

Never had Zero would have predicted that the master would interrupt it's sleep cycle. If it had, never in this way.

***
Every machine in Jack's underground workshop was in panic as they heard his call for help. Naturally, they all calmed down when the commanding system gave out a system wide directive. It was the first and wisest, it always knew what to do. In this situation, Zero would check on the master, and there were explicit orders to not disturb it.

***
The communication between Jack and technology was...complicated. It was something that couldn't be exactly related to any other word in either beings vocabulary. The closest comparison would be something like a multitude of channels of rivers of information. It wasn't exactly information either, it was something... indescribable.

Regardless, as Zero navigated to the master, it could feel multiple...disturbances in his channel. Not to mention that the direct channel was almost practically in shambles. Almost being the key word. Zero charged on, going through the shakey channel with some difficulty as it sensed the gateway into the main outlet.

Zero had experienced most of the machine equivalent human emotions. But this was the first time it ever experienced shock at what it processed. All these emotions...their origin data told him they were from other sources. The main problem though, was how many there were. Too many...and the master was suffering through the overload...

Unacceptable. Zero wouldn't stand for another second of this mental abuse. While limited to what it could do without orders, it could put these emotions into a general place in this wasteland. It would also help it locate the master, and that would allow it to really help.

Wasting no time, Zero prepared its weapon, which was roughly something like a sheep dog. It would guide the emotions over to an area where they would be contained, while Zero searched for the master.

After a decent amount of searching, Zero had found something rather interesting. A door.

It knew this was the door to the master, but it felt...unfamiliar. As if the master wasn't in there. Nevertheless, it went through the door.

***
Jack was still suffering on the ground. He thought for a moment he had something, but it was only a feeling of space inside him. As he crawled toward nothing, something appeared. A glowing circular mass of glow. It felt so warm and familiar...

"Hello...?"

Zero couldn't believe it was the master. Where had all the confidence in his voice gone? Where had all his resolve gone? Where had his curiosity gone? Master...what happened to you...

It needed answers.

"Do you know who you are?"

"No."

"Do you remember anything?"

"No."

"Do you know where you are?

"No."

Zero paused...maybe something from his memories could trigger his memory.

"Is Zero familiar to you?"

"No."

"Inventing?"

"No."

"Sherilyn Astrea?"

"No."

"Dahlia?"

"No."

Maybe something more recent.

"Koukou no Shourai?"

Jack was about to answer no again, but then it all came crashing back to him. Who he was. What he loved to do. His master. That bitch Dahlia. The reason why he forgot it all.

"HRGHHH-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" It was so painful. All these emotions...a human couldn't handle all this.

But Zero could. It knew the master required it's help. And there was only one way for this to happen.

"Accept me, master." Zero then collided with Jack on the floor.

***
Jack stood up.

Everything was so clear now. Jack could clearly see what belonged and didn't belong, and there was a lot that didn't belong.

The solution was rather simple though. Subdue the foreign contaminants and expel them via the network of channels. Something he couldn't do when he lost himself to them. Not happening again. The emotions though, had nothing to guide them anymore. All they were doing was causing chaos in Jack's mind...not for long at least.

He even felt some pity return to him as the emotions dispersed into the network, their cloud like masses disappearing as they became weaker and less concentrated. As he felt awareness of his emotions again, he felt another guest in his mind. This one thankfully, friendly.

"Thank you, Zero."

"It is my duty, master."

Then Jack noticed Zero was not disappearing as it usually did.

"Zero?"

"Jack." What? Zero NEVER called him by his first name. Ever.

"I cannot allow what just transpired to occur again. Without help, you could have lost all your emotions and become insane. I refuse to let your powers hurt you. As your first creation, I feel bound to guide you in your evolution as you have me. I will guide your powers to their evolution and keep them from harming you, permission or not. Please forgive me."

"What do you mea-HRGNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN-GAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Jack felt as if though his brain was being filled with reinforced carbon. What was Zero doing?!

Waking up was usually never this nice, it was always torture via the workshop. But Jack found himself waking up of his own accord this morning, a nice deviation from the usual routine.

As he got up, he couldn't help but notice his clothes and bed were soaking wet... slightly weird. He stepped downstairs into to his workshop, intending to give the list of things to do...except that it already had the list.

Extremely weird.

Maybe a shower would clear his head...

***

As Jack was getting dressed, he found himself glancing around his home. It was neat and clean... except for the case littered by the door. When did he put that there?

He walked over to the case and glanced it over, finding it to be...the S-14.

Of course, how could he forget that fight... Meru and Noboru... they were certainly unique people.

But more importantly, the case also jogged the memory of his "dream".

"ZEEEEEERRRRRRROOOOO!"

As it turns out, Jack had no need to shout for Zero, as he was very...close to him.

"Yes?" That didn't feel like it's usual...voice, it was more close and strangely personal. Wait a second-

"...Are you kidding me?"

"Negative master. You are not going insane, I am a part of you now."

"..."

Jack wasn't angry, he just felt baffled. He never entertained the possibility of his most advanced A.I. fusing to him, and it surprised him he wasn't dead. There was only one question left-

"There is a copy of me in the main server system."

That was going to need some getting used to, Zero answering him before he asked a question. Now how would Zero-

"Think of me as a background firewall and anti-virus for your mind."

That cleared things up.

***
With all his problems resolved, Jack trekked down to his workshop again, intending for a fine day of inventing and crafting.

All the bots in his shop were abuzz, producing less important client products and filling his wallet. Gotta love perpetual profit.

Now for the more personal projects. Jack walked up to door in the far end of his workshop, next to the one that contained all his sets. Inside the door was a smaller, but still big workshop space.

Then there it was. On a table, there was his V-1 Set, his pride and joy, the most powerful set he currently had. He wouldn't be bringing it out anytime soon though. No, this was one of his trump cards, he would use this when necessary. He was also developing his V-2 set, so if he needed to, he could reveal the V-1 once his V-2 was fully tested and tried.

Now for the other goals. While he trusted most of his classmates, the fight between Meru and Noboru brought to this attention what could happen if they REALLY lose control. If they did, he'd have to step in. The only problem was that he didn't have a way to counter most their powers, nor did he have a clear idea of the full of extent of their powers, excluding Phearis and a general idea of Meru's.

As he pondered this, he couldn't help but feel wrong about designing specialized anti-person armor for all his classmates. But hopefully he wouldn't have to use them.

He gestured his hands upwards as the lights in the room darkened and the holograms popped up.

"Alright, let's get started."

Ah....this was the life.

There were certain moments Jack loved the most. Among these moments, right now was one of the highest. It was the satisfaction of walking out his workshop after doing some work. There was just something about it...

After a good day of developing new sets, he found himself relaxing upstairs, enjoying some TV. He found himself interested in the event taking place at the beach, he remembered his master telling him about it once. She found it exceptionally beautiful the first time, but the second and third times to her lost their charm and luster. Air elementals...phff.

So he found himself getting up. Not going out, but to prepare. He was caught off guard once already, he wouldn't be again. But he couldn't exactly show up in full armor now...looks like it was time to pick up the MGS-4. But there was one thing he needed from upstairs first.

His contacts. After all, Phearis may have seen his glowing eyes, but the others may not have. No sense in revealing a card after all. Now where did he stash those things...

***
After Jack had found his contacts and the set, he took some time to admire his handiwork.

The MGS-4 comprised of a dark blue cloak made of very resistant material soaked in liquidized energy multiple times in order to give the wearer some form of defense. It also had a set of armored greaves for blocking purposes. A light body armor designed to look like clothing was also included to be worn under the cloak.

Now for the weapons. A guard-less thin double edged sword, easily concealed by the cloak. There was also a foldable rifle designed to fold into a small compact rectangle, perfect to fit on his back.

It all seemed a bit overkill. As he was getting dressed in it though, Zero reminded him.

"This school is very unpredictable. Remember Rule 2 from Grand-Master Sherilyn."

Always exercise caution. She certainly beat that into his head within the first few lessons, there was also tha-NO.

Focus. No time to go down memory lane, he could do that on his way to the beach.

:Exit Jack's House: :Enter Shitsuren Beach:

:Enter Jack's House:

Home sweet home. He hadn't managed to sweat in his clothes, so he would have to settle for a quick shower and get redressed...in the morning.

***
Jack had managed to wake up on his own this morning. Today seemed like a good day, he would enjoy-GAAAAAAAAAH!

Damn it! That crazy workshop was trying to torture him awake...while he was already awake.

"Stop Stop! Zero help m-GAHH!" Where was the workshop trying to aim?

***
After wrestling free from...the alarm... Jack managed to finally get dressed and armed. Despite the rude torture, he was still positive.

Nothing could go wrong!

"In complete seriousness master, the slang you humans use to describe what I want to say is something along the lines of: My ass." Shut up Zero. Thanks for all the help earlier.

"I only aim to please." Aim to please, my ass... don't start Zero.

:Exit Jack's House: :Enter Shourai Grounds:

:Enter Jack's House:

His house was boring. Sure, she knew there was probably some secret workshop inside his house, but nevertheless it was dreadfully drab. And painfully familiar. There were some things he could never let go...

Sherilyn walked up to door and turned the knob, finding it strangely unlocked. If he wasn't locking his door she'd-

A beep on her device interrupted her thoughts.

"Madame, Zero unlocked the door for us." So he still had that thing... intriguing. Looks like he managed to upgrade it a bit as well.

"Really now? Well tell it I said thanks for letting me fuck its master." The whole goal of coming here. As soon as he woke up...

Heh-heh.

But that was later. For now she had to settle for dumping his sweet, sweet ass into bed and explore the house.

"Oi, Duos. Ask Zero for it to give me a tour of my new living abode."

"Madame, Zero is a he." It was a male? Just how much sentience did Jack give Zero?

"Since when?"

"Ask him yourself Madame. Door in the bedroom."

***
So this was the lair of her future successor. Not bad, not bad at all. Looked like he even stayed a few nights in here as well. Some things never changed...

"Zeeeeeeeeeeeeeero."

"Yes Ms. Astrea?"

"Call me Sherilyn you old lunk of junk." Zero never changed either, always addressing her so formal...

"So mean, Ms. Astrea."

"Skip the banter. Fill me in on what's been going on the last few years. And give me a tour of the house and shop while doing it." She was curious as to how her favorite student changed over the time she'd been gone.

"Fine. Just one question. Before you do what they call 'jumping my master's bones', he'll want to know why you left. You don't need to tell me, I'll find out when he does. Just tell me one thing. Do you possess strong feelings for my master?" Zero could do a lot of things, but only his master could read emotions.

Sherilyn loved Jack. Definitively. The only reason she left was because she needed time to herself to think. 2 years wasn't that long. Then again, she had been living a lot longer than most beings...

But that was coming to an end. She'd probably die off around the time Jack did, and that was relatively short to her. At least she die with her love...huh...as an air elemental, she never wanted to settle down with a guy. They were always free to roam...why was this so different?

Hell, Jack was her first in many things, why should this be any different? And why was even considering all this? Was she feeling...guilty for leaving her man and now she was starting to doubt the truth?

To hell with it. She knew what she wanted, to apologize and atone. In all the ways possible...heh-heh.

She replied to Zero's query with conviction.

"Yes."

Zero understood.

"Very well then, let's start with how he got here and the workshop..."

***

Jack woke up a few hours later.

"Guhh... when did I get home? I could've sworn I was in class..."

"You were master. The teacher carried you home." Home? What happened, did he faint from some awesome piece of machinery in Mechanics?

"Check the living room and find out yourself." Why so mysterious, Zero?

"You'll see." Zero just hoped he wouldn't flip out.

As Jack dragged himself out of bed, he noticed himself in a shirt and shorts...did that teacher change his clothes?! Maybe she could stay next time she could stay next time she got him naked, he needed some loving after all this time. At least...he hoped the teacher was female.

"Don't worry master, the teacher is still here, and she is indeed a she. You should find her to be to your liking, she's a pink head and if I may add, seems to have a some nymphomaniac tendencies..." Oh really now? That was familiar.

Zero wanted to say "You have no idea." But he restricted himself.

As Jack walked into the living room wondering who the teacher was, his breath caught in his throat.

Sherilyn...

*Jack Sherilyn and Zero*

"Hello Jack. It's been some time." Really now? He hadn't noticed.

"...Yes."

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions." Really now? He hadn't noticed.

"Yes. Let's start with oh, I don't know, WHY DID YOU LEAVE." Ay. She knew Jack didn't get angry very often...

"Why did I leave you ask? I needed some alone time to ponder about my future." Really now?

"Alone time...I never guessed alone time was at a minimum two years...that's interesting."

"For an air elemental, it isn't that lo-"

"FOR AN AIR ELEMENTAL. Do I look like an air elemental to you Sherilyn? I waited. I thought you'd come back. You never did." She knew he did. Zero told her, but this was the only way to lead into her main point.

"I know. And I'm so sorry. But I needed to make sure of what I wanted." That was it? This was the great explanation that justified cutting off ties with him for two years?!

"Really now? Stop right there. I love you. I told you those exact words and you told me them as well. Are you telling me you lied?" No, she was telling the truth!

"No, it's not that. It's just...the concept of settling down...the way I was raised, should have never popped up in my head. I never considered it possible...but you changed that. It just..." He knew she was telling the truth. As an empath, he could see her emotions as clear as day. Regret. Passion. Love. Lust. And a yearning for forgiveness.

"Master..." Zero wanted to say more, but this decision was his master's.

Jack decided he was going to forgive his master, love, and now teacher. He did love her, and she had a lot of regret just waiting to be lifted. Or drilled deeper. There was just one thing he needed to know.

"Sherilyn. After you left I had a brief relationship with a girl named Dahlia. We didn't get very far though, she was nothing like I expected a woman to be... she was whiny, naggy, and hungry for attention. Sherilyn. Tell me, did you ever have another relationship in your confusion?" This was good. Jack seemed like he was about to forgive her, and the answer would only help her.

She didn't mind he had a brief encounter with another girl. It was only natural for a boy of his age.

"No, it NEVER crossed my mind. EVER." Absolute confidence and not a hint of anything that could suggest she was lying.

Jack felt like crying. After all this trouble, she still loved him. She still loved him.

He still loved her. There were only two things.... Zero!

"It's on it's way master." Thank you, Zero.

"Sherilyn... I will forgive after two more things." YES!. It was only a matter of time now... "One is a question. Did you intend on apologizing to me as soon as I woke up, or were you going to do something 'else' to me?" Damn it, was it that obvious...

"Yes, I was intending to fuck your brains out and hope my feelings would reach you on a physical level...you understand, right...it'd be just like old times."

...Oh did he love this woman.

"Conveying emotion through physical activity eh...well then let's do something physical."

YES YES YES YES YES YES! Finally! She could feel the pleasure already! Ah~

She leaped at Jack...only to find he had stepped out the way. WHY?

"Well, I don't need to be an empath to tell that your frustrated." In more ways that one bastard, stay still so I can hop on your sword. "But I meant something physical as in a spar." Interesting. She could allow that...but she needed one promise.

"Fine. But after this I want my sex. Guarantee it." There was only a small clarification with that.

"On one condition. You will be submissive. I want to be in control after so long." To be manhandled by the man she loved...ah~

"More than happy to oblige..."

As they agreed, Bot 3 came into the room with a large doube-edged blade and a pair of identical dark pink swords.

No way... "Jack, you still had these?! I thought they were stolen when I didn't find them...and they haven't even been brought out of their sheath."

Sherilyn put down the sword on the back of her hip and put the swords in their right place, on each side of her leg.

"Of course...they were yours...and you told me stop molesting your weapons..." Aww... she told him that so long ago, and he still remembered. He was getting the sex of his life after this fight.

*The next day*

Mornings. Jack had a sudden interest in admiring them. Waking up to your love next to you the morning after rekindling your relationship was one of the many good things about them.

Another would be said love waking up and getting straight to their favorite point.

"Morning...wanna get some exercise?"

***
Jack was going to be late. He'd figured that out after the second round of 'exercise'. Sadly, he didn't have enough time for round three or he'd have to settle for going to school without armor. Or clothes.

Nevertheless, he said his 'good-bye' and left for class.

Egads, he was never going to get anything done at this rate. The fight took up most of yesterday afternoon, and she took up most of last night...and this morning.

"Master, I've given the workshop their tasks, and I've also told them to order more supplies." Zero...what would he do without him?

"Go broke and hungry, master." Hilarious Zero. Just hilarious.

:Exit Jack's House: :Enter Shourai Grounds:

*Jack, Sherilyn, and Zero*

:Enter Jack's House:

As Jack woke up, he found himself in his bed...again. Except this time, there was one thing different.

He happened to be handcuffed to said bed, completely bare to the world. And there looked to rope around his feet, pelvis and stomach. There was only one person willing to do something like th-

"Hello...Jack." Sherilyn made sure to say that part with extra...feelings in her voice. Jack could only gulp with anticipation.

"I'm sure you're wondering why you're like this." What man in their right horny mind wouldn't?

Well you see...I've learned. The last time you gave up being on tops...you got it back in the same day. And since you obviously haven't lost your skills..." Jack had to blush as she referenced what happened after the fight. It's not like he was embarrassed, he was just extrememly flattered.

"I've decided to restrain every part of your body, except that lovely mouth and tongue of yours, which seems to have gone dry, and my other favorite muscle in your body. I'm sure you understand why. Let's start with that favorite number of mine..."

Jack could only lick his lips in preparation as he prepared to lick hers...and prepare himself for the bruises the next morning.

Zero could only give a sharp mental nod to the events afterwards. That was HIS master...

*The next day*

Mornings. Usually a bit more pleasant. But today his love had decided to recede to his workshop, and he was sore.

But it was all worth it. He wouldn't change a single thing, regardless of the bruises he got.

The only real problem was that he needed to get to class. And he still hadn't remade those gravity boots. Looks like he was going to be late...

:Exit Jack's House: :Enter Shourai Grounds:

:Enter Jack's House:

Ah...to be finally hom-

Jack would have finished his sentence, but he found himself held up in the air by the air particles itself.

"Finally home I see?" Sherilyn saw the nicely wrapped bag of treats and grabbed them from him, putting them in the fridge.

"Now now...you've been gone for a little while... there's a lot of things to get done, so lets start with the most important thing...no worries, just don't resist the air, and it'll be very enjoyable...heh-heh."

Jack could only get butterflies in his stomach as she 'moved' him into his workshop... looks like he would be an exhibitionist for his machines...

Zero could only 'look' on to the expression of emotions between his master and Ms. Astrea. He couldn't help but long for the machine equivalence of that kind of emotional exchange...

Maybe it was time to see if there were any female AI's out there in the world... and if they could understand him.

*Later*

...Ah....satisfaction.

Ah...dominance regained.

Ah...nothing.

As the passionate noises quieted down to the usual white noise of the workshop, Jack was content with Sherilyn resting her head on his shoulder. To suddenly go from no-sex to sex... he felt like a newlywed with the rate they do it.

But he also found himself also enjoying the quiet moments with her...Sherilyn may seem like a talker, but he found out she enjoyed the silence with someone than she loved more than talking early into the relationship, which was more than fine with him.

That's not to say she didn't enjoy their conversations. She loved talking to Jack, he could be so weird...in a good way.

After they had finished their first round, they got around to talking about Jack's various theories...including the one he demonstrated in their fight. They had also managed to finish the first set of nanites, excluding the parts that needed Phearis' data.

They had also tried to start the second set, but alas... Sherilyn was just leaning over a bit too much...and Jack was couldn't resist.

Which leads to now, where Sherilyn gets up and ascends the stairs. Those delectable treats...coconut and pineapple from what Zero told her. Of course, she wouldn't be sharing...

Now where was that sugar? It couldn't be that her loving partner had none in his fridge...oh well. Just meant that she'd have to persuade him to go borrow some.

"Oh honey..."

***

"Master, Ms. Astrea is calling for you."

Alright, I'll get up...

After he followed Sherilyn's path, he found her taking on a rather innocent face...why?

"Yes dear?"

"Would you be so kind as to get some sugar... you see, I need some to put on my cake."

"...More sugar? On a cake?"

"Yes. I believe you should visit one of the students...they should have some in their home. Try to pick a girl's home, they usually have better tasting sugar."

"You're telling me to go visit a girl's house late at night for some sugar?"

"I trust you. Plus I know you could never cheat on me... I can see it in your deep eyes."

"Gah...fine." Dang woman...knew him too well.

"Thanks... by the way, I'll be sure to use that sugar for...other things... so be sure to get as much as you can."

Jack's eyes widened before he dashed to his bedroom, pulled on a simple shirt and pants, and bolted out the door, sure to have a lovely welcome back.

:Jack exits Jack's House: :Enters Meru's Home:

:Enter Jack:

"Honey, I'm home! And I bear a gift as sweet as you."

"Smooth master. Very smooth."

Don't hate, Zero.

As Jack continued to walk inside his house with his wrapped sugar, he stumbled upon a plate.

Not just any plate, but a plate with crumbs.

A plate that smelled like coconut and pineapple.

HER plate.

...Guhh...

He placed the sugar in one his few cupboards, walked into his bedroom, and descended into his workshop.

***
Sherilyn was working. To be more specific, she was working on the materials for her next lesson. She was finished, for the most part. The only thing she had left to do was install the UCS and somehow carry it to the school...

It was a good thing school only started in a few hours then.

"Those are some very interesting turrets you have there Sherilyn. Mind telling me just how much of my materials you used to produce them?

Jack wasn't mad...he was a bit annoyed though... he didn't particularly enjoy people using his stuff without telling him.

If it were any other person, they'd be cut in half by now. But it was Sherilyn. Even after all they had been through...he was still a bit 'personal' about his stuff.

Sherilyn put on a grin. He was always never good with sharing his toys with anybody, figuratively speaking.

"Don't be too upset with me now. I've only been revamping these turrets. Speaking of that, I'll also be needing you to finish that system."

Jack raised an eyebrow. Looks like he had to develop Phearis' system, that system, and the platform for it.

It looks like it was going to be an interesting night...he could finally get back to what he did best.

*The next day, in the morning*

A brilliant light filled the room, reflecting off of all those present. This light, this by-product, meant one thing.

"Master, everything is in working order. Duos has verified the system has successfully 'moved' the turrets."

Success. On the first try as well...

"Well, what'd you expect Master? The basic principle on how that system works is eerily similar to that new technique of yours."

I know...it's interesting, isn't it, Zero?

"I agree. To remind you master, you need to fix the hole caused by that very same technique...since it is RIGHT next to the supply lift."

I know I know...

As the light died down, the surroundings were much less cluttered than they once were. The numerous turrets once occupying the workshop were suddenly

"Well then... why don't we test it out with humans?" In all honesty, she knew it would work. Jack after all, was her best(and only) student... and successor in title...hopefully.

"Master, are you sure?"

Of course. But, in the event I die, you know what to do.

"Of course. Destroy everything you've ever made and explode." Zero had accepted this. For one thing, there were very...very few people who could be trusted with everything his master's ever made. Not to mention one of those on that short list could be dieing along with him.

But that was only if Jack died. And he had no intention of doing that...especially by his own creation.

"Well Sherilyn."

He grabbed his woman by the hips and pulled her over to him. As he laid his lips ever so closely close to hers, he said one thing.

"Let's rock."

And with that the light came bursting out of the platform.

:Exit Jack's House: :Enter Shourai Grounds:

:Enter Meru, Jack, and Sherilyn:

Ah..back home.

Not for long though. He needed to fashion those rods. Yesterday.

"Sherilyn, help me make them. Meru, we'll need your help once we finish these rods."

And with that they got to work.

***

4 silver rods. So simple, yet they would be so important.

Jack then carefully placed all the rods into an energy silo, to let them soak in raw pure energy, and closed it.

"Meru, I apologize for making you wait. Could you use your powers to speed this object up?"

Meru blinked twice as she looked it over.
"Sure...how much time are we talking?" she rubbed her hands together.

"Seven Hours."

"Alright, I use more than that for when I (get extra) sleep."
Meru giggles before the area around her and the item go through time.
Seven hours later, Sherilyn, Jack and no one else effected by the time transfer--

"There we go...hmm...what's the difference?" she asks as she pokes it.