AN: Waaah, I got no reviews! I knew I was going into a pretty unpopular pairing, but this?! Oh well, I write this because I love the pairing, and already have, like, eight chapters done so I've come too far now! I'm a woman on the edge! The edge of a crazy pairing that I love! Enjoy the show. Sorry this is rather short, but it's a transitional chapter!
Chapter Two
Their progress back to Rome was slow. Esther believed the term was being 'beset on all sides' – someone managed to have a problem with them every alternating step they took.
They seemed to be on a quiet patch of their journey, though, as they cut through some fields to another road. Esther felt upbeat; the sun was out, there was a light breeze to make sure they didn't get too hot, and no-one was trying to kill them.
Tres walked on ahead, Esther was in the middle of their spread out procession, and Abel drew up the rear. He was apparently extremely hungry, despite getting the largest portions at mealtimes. Esther generally got charmed by his puppy-dog eyes he'd get when his plate was bare. The man was a bottomless pit when it came to food.
Esther watched Tres walking along ahead; back straight, practically marching. She felt like trying to chat with him again. She hadn't forgotten his praise, or his confounding lack of interest in his origins. She almost felt like she had to be curious on his behalf, to add him to own list of questions.
And Esther was brimming with questions.
She caught up with Tres, who briefly turned to look at her.
"Can I ask you some questions, Tres?" she began, and Tres kept walking.
"You may."
Esther started to feel trepidation. The last conversation hadn't gone that well, but she couldn't stop her curiosity.
"Why were you designed to look like that? Your build, height, the face whoever built you chose. Eye, skin, hair colour – why are you like you are? Don't you ever wonder?"
"I cannot 'wonder'."
Esther frowned.
"You can! Surely you can reflect on your existence?"
"There is no requirement to reflect on my existence. I function within safe parameters. That is all that matters."
His monotonous voice was beginning to upset her. Not even good weather could combat a conversation with Tres Iqus.
"But the Vatican have robots who are man-shaped, but are clearly just robots – those creepy looking things with the machine guns for hands in the newspapers. So why make you look so human?"
"I do not know."
Talking to Tres proved too frustrating for words.
"But you have no desire to ask, or find out," she said flatly.
"Affirmative."
"Ugh!" Esther threw up her hands, turned on her heel and decided she was better off helping Abel.
When night fell, they once again weren't near a town or village, and so were camping out for the night. Abel and Esther sat around their cobbled together fire while Tres did a patrol.
"I don't know why he bothers – there's not a soul out there," she huffed, and Abel smiled.
"I think it's a force of habit. He'll be back in a bit, though, and maintain a position here for the night," Abel explained.
"Have you two known each other a long time?" Esther asked, and Abel shrugged.
"It depends on if you think five years is a long time. I think we're paired up together to try and keep one another in check."
Esther's brow crinkled.
"Tres isn't always in check?" Her curiosity was once more piqued.
Abel pulled a face that suggested he wasn't sure how to answer.
"Well… he's been known to exert more extreme force than necessary, but I'm not sure if the Vatican programmed that into him, or he simply feels it's a necessary action to carry out his objective. And there have been a few times he's blatantly lied to me to protect those he deems innocent. Yes, I think there's a lot to Tres that concerns me…"
Esther gaped.
"He's defied his orders before? And the Vatican know about it?" she whispered, looking around as if expecting Tres to turn up any second.
Abel solemnly nodded.
"Oh, they know all right. But they've never disciplined him in any manner that I'm aware of. Either it's a flaw in his technology, or something much, much worse."
Esther bit her lip.
"You really don't think he's an android, do you?" she said quietly.
"I don't. But trying to find evidence on the matter, short of prying Tres open to find the human remains and possibly endanger him, is impossible. Any records like that in the Vatican would be kept under lock and key, and the science division he was shipped from is in Albion and heavily guarded. The man who created him rebelled and was killed, so there are only records left. Everyone connected to him is dead," Abel explained in a low voice, also apparently conscious of Tres coming back.
Esther felt her stomach sink.
"So you've looked into this before…"
"Yes. The first time he directly disobeyed his orders in front of me. I became suspicious and poked about a bit. Of course, I couldn't exactly head over to Albion to see if there was evidence there, so all my knowledge comes from Tres himself, or records I could view. Which weren't many."
Esther sighed and flopped back onto the ground.
"It's like an itch. I have to scratch; I have to know. My life has been tipped up and I'm left with all these questions without answers. I feel like I've been lied to my whole life."
Abel shook her head.
"A few mysteries doesn't mean you've been lied to, Esther. It may simply mean there are some things you're unaware of. I'm sure you'll find the truth you seek in good time. There's no point getting worked up about it when we don't exactly have the resources to unravel these mysteries in an empty field," he said, cheering up and motioning to the blackness that surrounded them.
Esther felt a little better and sat up again.
"You're right, Father Nightroad!"
"Please call me Abel, Esther. I noticed you got Tres calling you by your first name."
Esther suddenly felt like she was being called out, and could feel her face heating up.
"It was getting really irritating to hear my full name said every time he addressed me," she explained and Abel nodded.
"It does wear you down after a while," he agreed and they shared a smile.
"Area clear," a voice announced, and Abel and Esther both jumped.
"Good Lord!" Abel cried, and Esther screamed.
"I-I didn't realise you could be s-so quiet!" Esther managed to exclaim, heart pounding, and Tres joined them around the fire.
"The ability to sneak up on the enemy is a key tactic."
Abel let go of where he was clutching his chest and straightened his glasses with a chuckle.
"You would think I'd get used to that after five years, but it's still just as scary at the first time…"
Esther managed a small titter, but was still clearly rattled. Tres took a nearby position, weapons at the ready.
"Well, it looks like it's time to turn in for the night, don't you think, Esther?"
Esther hopped up and grabbed the two blankets they had, handing one to Abel.
"I think so. Goodnight, Fath- Abel."
Abel gave her a warm smile.
"Goodnight, Esther. And goodnight, Tres!" he said, giving Tres a little wave.
Tres gave them a cursory glance.
"Affirmative."
Abel and Esther groaned.
"Has this been going on for five years?" asked Esther and Abel shook his head.
"No – this has been going on for five years," said Abel, turning back to Tres.
"Tres, I don't want to sleep without you wishing me goodnight," Abel whined and Tres looked over at Abel.
"Go to sleep, Father Nightroad."
Abel pouted and pulled his blanket around him.
"He's a stubborn one. I think he enjoys my pain," Abel theatrically whispered to Esther.
Esther laughed, huddling under her blanket.
"Well, he has the two of us to deal with, now!" she declared.
"God help him." Abel smirked.
