Chapter 12: It's Supposed to Be Perfect

Finding the fuel needed to power his time machine was a huge step forward, but Farrell still has a long way to go before his project is completed. At least the different components he's had to build to construct it can also be produced for sale on their own.

As he finishes his business with the cashier at the consignment store, he hears someone come in through the saloon style doors. He doesn't have to see her to know who it is; he couldn't explain how he knows, he just does, though that knowledge defies all logic.

"Mei Zhen," he greets her by the name she used when he last saw her. Which was also the first and only time he'd ever seen her. "You said we'd never meet again."

"I also warned you to stay below the radar, and avoid MorcuCorp. Instead, you marched right into their lair."

"Are you saying MorcuCorp knows I infiltrated the Landgraab estate in Champs les Sims?" Farrell asks.

"Have you ever wondered why such a powerful and secretive organization stores important files in chateau protected only by antique traps that are so easily disarmed by anyone with a decent level of mechanical expertise?" Mei Zhen asks, and then continues without stopping for his answer, "They use it as bait to lure in people like you, Farrell. People willing to do whatever is needed to get the information they seek. Whatever you found in there was left for you to find."

"MorcuCorp wants me to go searching for my ancestors," Farrell says, "Why? And why did you choose Heath Brannon as a breeding partner?"

"I didn't choose him, MorcuCorp did," Mei Zhen says with a slight shrug, "I'm the product of a long series of experiments in genetic engineering. I have no parents; I was designed to be perfect, my DNA specially crafted in the lab. I spent my childhood being trained for covert missions, educated in genetics to continue the work that had gone into creating me, and being indoctrinated to serve MorcuCorp's quest for world domination. But even though I was completely their tool, I was also no more than a tool, so they didn't tell me why they'd selected your father as a breeding partner for me, or why they even thought it necessary that I breed naturally instead of merely using my DNA as a base to create...whatever it is they were trying to create with you. They simply told me who my target was, and I went after him."

"None of what you're telling me fits with the fact that you'd been arrested for robbing a bank. That you'd made a career of bank robbery before you'd even met my father. MorcuCorp must have had better ways of acquiring money than sending one their specially crafted, genetically perfect operatives to rob banks," Farrell says, suddenly doubting everything his mother had been telling him. 

"No, they didn't need the money. I was designed for stealth, quick thinking, speed and strength. Sending me into the world to test those qualities was just part of my training," she says.

Farrell cocks his head to one side, putting all the pieces together, "Why did you go to a regular hospital to give birth to me? Didn't you know the police would find you there? And doesn't MorcuCorp have basic hospital facilities?"

Mei Zhen looks away, her eyes focused on some point in the distance, like she's looking into the past, "One thing MorcuCorp did not anticipate was how pregnancy would affect me. Maybe they thought I was too thoroughly indoctrinated to turn on them, or that I was incapable of real feeling. But when I carried you inside me, my child, I wanted better for you than what I had, growing up in a lab, raised to serve another's will. I wanted you to be free, to have a real life. So, I botched a bank robbery, leaving fingerprints and DNA at crime scene, letting the security cameras record my face, so when I went to the hospital to give birth, I would be easily identified. They put me in prison, and they took you away from, gave you to your father. I never got to hold you," she says, turning to look him in the eyes, "But I got you away from MorcuCorp. Make no mistake, they know where you are, and they watch you. But even they wouldn't go so far as to kidnap a child; their need to stay out of the public eye would prevent them from taking that risk. Now that you are an adult, however, they will start making their moves on you. They already have, feeding you just enough information to lure you closer to them..."

"Like what you're doing now?" Farrell asks, folding his arms across his chest, "You're with MorcuCorp still, aren't you? Why should I trust anything you say?"

Mei Zhen smiles proudly. "You shouldn't, my son. Never trust anything that MorcuCorp has touched."

After proving himself in performances at the park, Elliot finally gets an indoor gig at the lIttle Lennon Coffeehouse. His female fans always appreciate how limber he is.

He and Rochelle had always planned on being married, it was something they'd decided when they were still in high school. Of course the king and queen of the prom would be united forever. But Elliot wanted to wait until his career was solid before making it official. Now that he's got steady gigs and a decent fan base, Elliot decided it was time to propose.

The couple then wasted no time arranging for their wedding.

"You look gorgeous," Elliot says, seeing her in her gown for the first time.

"Your ret--your brother is going to ruin everything. He refuses to wear a tie!"

"Shell, Farrell can't possibly ruin this, okay? No one would care if he was wearing a clown suit; everyone will be too dazzled by what a beautiful bride you are to notice my brother at all," Elliot says with an indulgent smile. It does the trick, as Rochelle immediately perks up again.

"Mother!" Rochelle wails as her parents arrive to the party, "Are you deliberately trying to humiliate me? Why can't you and Dad dress like normal people instead of like freaks? This is MY WEDDING! It's supposed to be PERFECT!"

Elliot greets his father-in-law to be, Coby Sheffield. 

"She's a bit of handful," Coby comments with a wry smile.

Rochelle's parents are long used to their daughter's criticisms of their clothes, lifestyle and attitudes, so they just continue to ignore her as they've always done.

Marvin and Brad show up. The couple now have three adopted daughters. Marvin has made it his mission to gives homes to uncared for children the way he was given a home by Heath. Brad's mission is mostly to steal money from his campaign funds, but no one knows about that. It's a secret mission.

Shasta gives her sincere congratulation to Rochelle. Shelly is outraged that her sister-in-law to be would dare wear her hair the same way she does on her WEDDING DAY, but she manages to keep it to herself and just smiles and says thank you. Criticizing her own family is one thing, but Elliot's family is off limits, she's learned.

Rochelle gives her make up a quick touch up before the ceremony. She has to look PERECT.

Heath is overcome with emotion to see his son getting married.

As the bride and groom share their first official kiss as a married couple, Stina casts a longing glance at her own husband, planning to relive her own wedding night when they get home.

No one noticed that Farrell wasn't wearing a tie.

Despite the questionable wardrobe selections made by some, if not most, of her gusts, Rochelle finds herself more than satisfied with her wedding. Her husband is perfect, after all, so she couldn't really want for more.

No one noticed that Farrell slipped away from the party early, eager to get back to his work bench. He didn't even bother changing out of his formals first.

After their gusts have all gone home, Elliot and Rochelle celebrate out at the Ozone Lounge.

And get frisky in the elevator before heading back to their nuptial bed.

Elliot's collection of mementoes now includes his first SimFest trophy.

Very soon after the wedding, Elliot and Rochelle are expecting their first child.

Now that he's getting more gigs, Elliot tries a new stage costume.

"I swear, you make even the stupidest costume look just to die for sexy," Rochelle says.

"So, you like it?"

"You'll definitely make your fans happy wearing that."

Though he didn't choose team sports asa career, Elliot never gave up on his game, and he's still got it.

In the words of famous inventor Lyle Carlton, "Goggles are completely useless when you set your ass on fire. The only safety equipment an inventor need is shower in a can. A lot of it." Farrell keeps several cans of shower in a can handy whenever he's working.

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I was so on the fence about having a wedding party for Elliot and Shell. Because it would take up a whole day that could be better spent inventing, farming and performing. But, there was no way someone like Shelly would forgo her own wedding party, and Elliot would of course want his whole family to be with him on a day like this, so wedding party it was.

Rochelle's parents actually went home from the wedding a conceived another child, lol. Coby aged up to elder the next day.

Farrell is working hard on getting that time machine, and has suffered multiple ass fires and electrocutions in the process. The Lyle Carlton referred to was from my McDermott legacy. He also suffered multiple ass fires while inventing.

Does Shelly remind you of anyone famous?

Her favorite color is even Hot Pink. I kid you not. Though I've not let her decorate using that color yet. But I should, as she's more hilarious the more you just accept she's a plastic doll.