Memory (sequel to robots)

Chapter 2

(If anyone is interested, I'll put up the first chapter of my Steven Universe/Septiplier AU tonight)

"Daddy why are you crying?" A distant voice rang in Mark's head. He was in a different reality. A dream. Not a good dream though, the type of nightmare that leaves a person shivering when they wake. A type of nightmare that sticks to a person for a long time in the future.
He was watching Sean get ripped apart. Piece by piece. Part by part, everything was falling apart.
"Daddy?" Sam's voice found its way into his dream. It melted it away, waking him up. He was curled into a tight ball on his bed. He was sobbing, gasping for air when he woke. Sam was sitting beside him, having a Tiny Box Tim and a little Sam sitting in her lap. Mark lifted his head to see a pool of black liquid pooling on his pillow.
"Oh crap" he muttered, throwing it to the floor.
"Daddy, you have bwack makeup on your face" Sam reached out to Mark's face, wiping her tiny hand across his cheek. She pulled it away, showing it to Mark. He sat up, confused as to what the liquid was. It smelt like an engine.
"Whoah, okay, let's go clean your hand up" Mark sniffed, swinging his legs over the side of his bed. Sam kept her hand outstretched. Mark picked her up, bringing her to the bathroom to clean her up. He gave her her stool so she could reach the sink. While she washed herself, Mark looked at the mirror seeing black ooze coming from his eyes. Was it possible for robots to cry? He snatched a towel and wiped the streaks away. Sam wiped her hands, hopping down before running off. Mark went after her, making sure she didn't tumble down the stairs. He took his pillow, careful that the black ooze didn't drip elsewhere.
Downstairs the officer that had said she had watch of the house was passed out near the front door. She snored lightly. Mark frowned. He tossed the pillow out on the backyard. Although the kitchen was only stocked for Sam, Mark had some old coffee grounds sitting in the back of the cupboard. He brewed a steaming hot coffee for the officer.
Sam played in the living room with her toys as Mark went over to the officer. He tapped softly on her shoulder to wake her up.
"Huh? What?" She swiped the air in front of her before opening her eyes.
"Good morning" Mark forced a smile as he handed the officer the coffee.
"Oh crap I fell asleep. I apologize. And thanks" she took a swig from the coffee.
"Sorry if it's old, it hasn't been touched in a few years" Mark stood, going to make breakfast.
"Not much of one for coffee?" The officer stood.
"Ha. Yeah you could say that" Mark dug around for pancake mix. "You good with pancakes?" He asked, putting the mix on the counter.
"Uh, you really don't have to" she blushed.
"You look starving. It's the least I can do. All of you are helping me find Sean"
Mark cooked the pancakes, putting one in a princess plate and four in a regular plate. He could feel the officers eyes on him as he grabbed the whipped cream and syrup in the fridge.
"I couldn't help but notice those cords on your neck" she pointed out. Mark froze, not knowing what to say.
"Um. It's kinda a difficult thing to explain" Mark put the whipped cream and syrup on Sam's pancakes. She rushed to the table, ready to eat. While he sat, he read the officers name tag finally. Officer Maya.
"Nothing I can't wrap my head around. Being an officer really exposes a person to some crap" she began eating her breakfast.
"Eh. I don't really think I should be saying anything. Anyhow, are there any updates on Sean?" Mark steered the conversation as he helped Sam cut her pancakes.
"Oh yeah. Lemme check," she grabbed her walkie talkie. "This is officer Maya Richards, do we have an update on the missing persons case?" It stayed silent for a while. Mark was on edge waiting for a response.
"No person of the description has been located yet, but we have found a hair sample and a piece of fabric. One or both may belong to the victim"
"W-what colour is the hair?!" Mark shook his head. Maya repeated his question.
"Hair is green. The fabric we found along with it was red" Mark sat back in his chair. Sean wasn't wearing a red shirt yesterday.
"Oh no" Mark whispered. He stood up, trying to keep himself steady. He felt like he was in a dream. He should wake up any second now and Sean will be sleeping beside him.
"What 'oh no'?" Maya asked, swallowing some pancake.
"I know who that red fabric belongs to. But I thought she was dead"
"You know the suspect?" Maya shot up, turning on her walkie talkie.
"Yes. She's the Woman in Red. She'll destroy everything of mine until she gets what she wants" Mark sat himself on the stairs again.
"What does she want?" Mark could hear the static from her walkie talkie.
"Power. We've gone on a head to head battle with her before. She wanted to know how to make indestructible robots. No human can destroy us. No gun, no tank. She would rule the world"
"This us you're referring to?"
"People like me. Who are damned to a life of being dead" Mark's head shot up. He looked directly into Maya's eyes. Anger and pain etched a clear picture on his face. The black ooze was pouring out of his eyes. Maya backed up, catching herself on a chair. Mark felt the anger rising in himself.
"Mark let's just calm down okay?" Maya put her hand over her gun holster.
"She's hurt me in ways you couldn't even fathom. So I'm going to return the favour" Mark's voice shook. He wiped the ooze, walking up the stairs before he hurt anyone. He saw the fear in Maya's eyes when he did that.
In the evening, Mark spent his time in Sam's room, packing her tiny suitcase. He put her favourite stuff in there. From her favourite toy to favourite outfit. He was in a daze, in a frenzy to find Sean. Once her bag was packed and he had a bag of his own, he marched downstairs. Maya was drawing with Sam.
"Here" Mark handed Sam's suitcase to Maya.
"What's this?" Maya asked, turning to face Mark.
"You're the only one I can trust right now okay? She likes you and I need her in the safest hands possible"
"Mark I can't just take your daughter" she defended.
"Yes you can and you will. Because only I can find Sean"
"You're not serious"
"Dead"
"Daddy?" Sam looked up at Mark. Her eyes were full to the brim with tears. She held a paper by her side as she whimpered. Mark kneeled down beside her.
"Yes sweetie?" Mark put his hands on her shoulders.
"Is daddy leaving me?" A few tears dripped from her eye.
"No Sammy. I would never leave you, I'm just going on an adventure to find daddy"
"Pwomise me you'll bring him back?" She sniffled.
"I promise" Sam lifted up a paper to give to Mark. On it was a drawing of her, Sean, and Mark. She even drew the cords hanging from his and Sean's necks. A little description of Sean was added on the back with the tittle 'my daddy is lost, this is what he looks like' it looked like Sam had taken it upon herself to make sure everything was spelt right too.
"So people know what daddy looks like" she looked down at her feet. Mark pulled her into his chest, hugging her tightly.
"I love you, Sammy" Mark tried not to cry again.
"I love you too Daddy" Sam let go, returning to Maya. she waved her tiny hand as Mark left the house. He got in the car, hesitant to make the trip back up to Canada.