The Tinker and the Nandroid Chapter 2

Thomas frowned as he stared at the compiled lists of Nandroids in front of him. Every on the market model was recorded for posterity's sake, missing or damaged Nandroids' names specified with blocky red text.

Even the limited run Prototype models were recorded, the one on screen showing a happy black haired Nandroid with blue eyes smiling at the screen.

"I wonder why they stopped making black haired Nandroids?" Thomas wondered out loud, before the thought of Ellery with black hair flashed through his mind.

"Mr. West, what are you doing up at this hour?" Ellery asked as she walked into the lab where he had set up her temporary charging station. "My medical knowledge states that a man of your physicality and age should have gone to bed hours ago."

"Ah, I was just double checking the Nandroid registry to make sure that you weren't stolen, even with the call to Sterling showing that your paperwork was in order the circumstances of my purchase of you has sparked an inquisitive interest," Thomas explained while scratching at his scruffy beard. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about your previous owner that could enlighten me as to your origins, would you?"

Thomas sighed as the Nandroid shook her head in the negative.

"It appears that some data has been lost in the time between my previous shut down and my current rebooting, my apologies Mr. West," Ellery said in her normal monotone drawl, something Thomas was growing more used to by the second. "Do you gave any other inquiries before I depart for my charging station?"

Thomas let out a long low hum before shrugging his shoulders "What is your opinion on the color of your hair and it's current style?" The inventor asked, "Because I was thinking of whipping up some new synth-hair solutions to offer to some of my repeat customers who like to mod their androids."

"If you wish to alter my hair color I have no objections Mr. West, so long as it does not void my warranty," Ellery replied flatly before making her way to her charging station. "And for your health I would suggest heading to bed soon, Good night."

"Bah, a little lost sleep is nothing to me," Thomas scoffed aloud. "Also, call me Thomas! Mr. West was my Father!"

Thomas most certainly did not groan and crack his back when he stood up from the chair in front of his computer, no sir.

Walking to the door to the lab, the eccentric scientist looked back at his newly purchased Nandroid.

"And good night to you as well, Ellery," He said softly, turning off the lights and plunging the lab into darkness before ambling up the stairs, kicking off his boots, throwing his lab coat onto it's hook, and then falling face first into his bed.

Sleep was an old friend of Thomas' and waking up was his old friend's unpleasant shrew of a wife.

Grumbling and rubbing the sleep away from his eyes Thomas crawled out of bed, hoisting himself up while groaning and mumbling about his sciatica as he tossed off his shirt and threw on a new one, this one with a quote for Sterling stamped across the chest, before grabbing his lab coat from it's hook and throwing it on.

A pair of cargo shorts and his morning slippers later and Thomas was ready to greet the day, with a large pot of coffee and nothing else, as was his ritual for the last few years.

So, when he got halfway down the stairs only for a lovely aroma of bacon and eggs to reach his nose he raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Not like burglars to whip up breakfast," Thomas mumbled to himself, before the events of yesterday came back to him. "Ah, right, Ellery."

Walking into the small space he'd set aside for his kitchen Thomas frowned as he saw that Ellery had been busy, what with the fact that she had apparently decided to organize the papers on his kitchen table in order for there to be space to place his breakfast plate.

"Greetings, Mr. West," Ellery greeted as she placed dishes into the drying rack of the sink, having done the ones he'd left to soak in there days ago. "I was about to inform you that breakfast has been prepared, but it seems that in spite of your lateness to bed that you are an early riser."

"Yes well thank you, everything smells lovely and I'm sure it tastes just as good," Grabbing the cup next to the food and taking a deep pull of it Thomas' eyes bugged out as he barely resisted the urge to spit out the liquid in his mouth.

Forcing it down and then coughing violently Thomas looked at his Nandroid with a annoyed expression, "This is tea," he whined.

"The current Brand of coffee that you possess has far too much caffeine, it is not helpful to your long lasting health," Ellery replied with not a care in the world as she dried off her hands. "When we next go grocery shopping I will endeavor to find a more healthy alternative brand that offers a similar taste profile."

Not in a mood to argue, Thomas decided to tuck into the Breakfast in front of him instead, cutting the yokes of the eggs and dipping his bacon into them as he ate.

"This is probably the best Breakfast I've had in years, my compliments to the Chef," Thomas complimented "Bacon could be a little more crunchy buy other than that it's perfect."

"I appreciate the compliment, Mr. West," The stone faced Ellery replied as she picked up a feather duster and began to dust.

"I'll eat the rest of it in my lab, if that's okay with you?" Thomas asked, raising an eyebrow as a faintly annoyed expression ghosted across her face.

"Do as you wish Mr. West, but please try not to leave any more dishes in your lab, they were starting to attract bugs," She replied, a faint tone of disgust shining out from her usually monotone, "and as my charging station is located there I would prefer to not risk having any of them crawl about on me as I recharge."

"Of course, and my apologies," Thomas said, still reeling from surprise that Ellery was apparently capable of showing any emotion at all.

Thomas could barely recognize his lab, what had once been a discordant mess of wires, spare parts, and half finished inventions long left to collect dust had been replaced by a pristine environment that let him see both the table tops and the floor!

Half finished inventions lined the various hooks along his wall and the various tool holders he had bought now safely nestled their countless odds and ends.

Picking up the mostly finished Pegasus from it's place on the wall Thomas walked it over to his work bench and placed it there, opening the paneling on its side that would eventually be covered by some soft material and carrying on where he left off from, taking occasional breaks to pick at the Breakfast that Ellery had made for him, even after it had long grown cold.

In what felt like only minutes Thomas was shocked out of his workflow by a hand coming to rest on his shoulder.

Jerking his head to the side to see who had interrupted him he blinked at what he had been sure was a worried expression on Ellery's face, one that had disappeared between blinks.

"Mr. West, it is time for Lunch. I had attempted to call for you multiple times but you did not respond, are you well?" Ellery asked as she returned her hand to her side.

"Yes, yes, I simply got a little lost in my work you see!" Thomas waved off with ease, "Anti-Gravity technology is fascinating, and the miniaturization techniques that I employ to facilitate their use in a consumer electronic is revolutionary if I do say so myself!"

Realizing that he had been about to swerve into a wild tangent Thomas managed to wrangle himself back onto the path that their conversation had been on previously. "But that's something that can be discussed over lunch, speaking of, what have you made?"

"A simple sandwich and some fresh squeezed orange juice for the moment Mr. West, your pantry is rather distressingly empty at this time," Ellery replied, her monotone seeming to find a way to come across as chiding.

"Ah, then tomorrow will have to be a shopping day then," replied Thomas as he scratched at his beard and collected the dishes from his breakfast "Thursday is a good day for it, never much business on Thursdays."

"And Wednesdays, Mr. West?" Ellery asked, "I haven't noticed any knocks on the door or rings of the doorbell today."

"A couple of appointments most weeks, but nothing serious," The inventor replied with a shrug. "Usually just a few outmodes looking for a tune up, since a lot of the work is between Friday and Tuesday"

"Outmodes Mr. West?" Ellery asked in clear confusion "I was not aware that you offered those kinds of services."

"Why wouldn't I?" Thomas asked her, genuinely confused. "Their money is as good as anyone else's, and letting them just waste away feels... wrong."

As if on cue, a bell rang out.

"Ah, a customer!" Thomas cheered. "Lunch will have to wait, Ellery, I have business to attend to!"

"Of course, Mr. West, I'll wrap it up so that you can enjoy it after your work is done," Ellery said to his retreating back, curtseying as she did.