Coal Creek Motel, Coal Creek, Wyoming, 9:44:01 am, February 4th
Ro lay in bed, the soft morning sun irritatingly warm on her face, and the brightness that she could sense even though her eyes were still closed kept her from ignoring it. She reached sleepily for the curtains on the window next to her and started to pull them closed, when the reflection in the window caught her eye. Eve was sitting and watching the computer screen, talking to Zee in a low voice so that Ro could not make out what she was saying. Zee stood behind her, listening and absorbing the data on the screen as well.
Ro clenched her eyes shut in annoyance. They looked so warm, so. . .so right, sitting there together. How quickly Zeta accepted Eve as a new friend. It irked Ro deeply, as she had been under the impression that her relationship with Zeta was special, that he was somehow hers. She'd liked that- there had never been anyone before that she could feel sole possession of. But apparently there was nothing exclusive about their relationship after all. As soon as some new girl comes along, Ro might as well pack her bags for all that she was needed.
Had she said last night that she disliked Eve? Now she hated her in that way where her anger and hatred was so strong, she just needed to hurt something, to make something else suffer. The word "jealousy" flashed through Ro's mind, but she dismissed it. After all, what was there to be jealous over?
She rolled over and closed her eyes, letting the two continue their search, completely oblivious to her. That's gratitude for ya, she grumbled, you follow a robot around for two years and he abandons you for some trampy scientist.
She heard the door shut, startling her, and she glanced over again. Zee had left to who knows where, leaving her alone with Eve. She would like to mess Eve up a bit, not really hurt her, just wipe that smile off her stupid face.
Suddenly, Ro noticed Eve raise her hand to the computer, and hook a small snaky wire in her palm to the monitor.
"What the hell?" she shouted, tumbling out of bed in a second. Eve's head shot around and her eyes focused on Ro.
"You're. . .you're a robot-thing! What do you think you're doing? You probably want to turn Zee over to the NSA, don't you, you little-"
Ro gave her a look conveying as much rage as possible, feeling torn inside. She hated Eve, and wanted so much for that hate to be justified, so she wouldn't have to accept what she was growing to suspect was the real cause for her animosity. Ro Rowen did not have silly crushes, especially not on synthoids. But if Eve really was working for the NSA. . . poor Zee! He had never really been betrayed before, not by someone who he had considered a friend. She could just picture that horrible kicked puppy look of his, full of shock that Eve would want to hurt him.
"Listen to me, Ro; I do not work for the NSA."
"Yeah, right! You get the hell outta here and leave Zee alone!"
"Ro, calm down and listen to me."
She glared, but realized that if Eve was a synthoid, she really didn't have much hope of fighting her.
"Where's Zee?"
"He went to get you breakfast. He'll be back shortly, and in the meanwhile, allow me to explain-"
"No. I'm going to find Zee."
She dashed out of the room, expecting resistance, but Eve just sat down and looked after her sadly. She flew down the hall, and nearly crashed into Zeta, carrying a tray of pancakes. He smiled cheerfully at her.
"Good morning, Ro. I have breakfast for you. Do you want maple syrup on your pancakes?" he asked lightly, not seeing anything wrong with Ro dashing out of the room in a panic.
"No, Zee, not right now. I have something important to tell you, and you aren't going to like it."
"What is it?" he frowned.
"Zee, I saw Eve on the computer and, well. . . she had this wire thingy coming out of her hand. It's because she's a robot, Zee," Ro frowned as well, looking genuinely sorry to say it. "We can't go back, she might try to hurt you or-"
"Ro, I am well aware that she's an android."
"What did you say?!?"
"I said 'Ro, I am well aware-'"
"I know! How long have you known this?"
"I found out last night, after you went to sleep. But I've been suspecting it since the car ride yesterday."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I knew you'd be upset."
"Upset? Zee, she'll try to kill us!"
"I don't think she will, Ro. She's good. She wants her freedom, like I do."
Ro shot him a scathing look. "You're so gullible, tin man! She's tricked you! She doesn't care about your freedom; she cares about whatever mission she's on! She can't be trusted."
"That's not true, Ro. Please don't speak that way about my friend." Ro was startled by a harsh edge to his voice. She had heard it before, but never spoken to her. Zee had always been nothing but sweet to her, even if she was mean to him. She didn't like to see him angry, because she knew from experience it took a lot to make Zee angry. Eve was breaking their friendship apart, and she couldn't bear it. She had no sympathies for Zee anymore; she just needed to convince him that she was the one he should be defending, not Eve.
"Zee, you don't know anything about her, except that she's an android, and she lied to us."
"I don't know anything about you, and I still took you with me. Do you think I shouldn't have?"
"As a matter of fact, Zee, no. It wasn't the best decision. But you got lucky; I really wanted to help you. But not Eve. Believe me, I know people. You don't."
"You're only saying that because you don't like Eve. You never even gave her a chance. If assuming the worst about people before you meet them is human, I'm very glad I'm not." She glared back at him, not responding, a look of exasperation on her face. He felt a strange desire to strike her, not enough to really hurt her, but just enough to remind her that he was a dangerous synthoid and it wasn't safe for her to get in his way. But the moment passed, and he felt guilty for wanting to hurt Ro. He frowned at her, and she sighed and spoke.
"Maybe the reason I never liked Eve is because I could tell she's evil. Like I said, I know people."
"She isn't evil, Ro. I like her, a lot."
"I know you do! Well, I hope you and your best buddy Eve have fun, 'cause I don't really want to be a part of this anymore."
"Ro. . ." he sighed, trying to control his emotion, not wanting to be angry with her. "Ro, please don't leave. Please don't make me choose between you and Eve."
"Who would you choose, Zee?" she challenged.
He looked at her and frowned, then looked away, choosing not to respond. Ro fumed, half angry, half miserable. So, Zee had chosen Eve over her. It figured. Everyone she had ever known had eventually become tired of her, and thrown her out. Why had she thought Zee would be any different? Just because he had been the only person who had been truly kind to her for as long as she could remember- tears threatened to well up in her eyes, for losing Zee was so much worse than losing anyone else had been. But she wouldn't let Zee see her cry.
Part of her knew that Zee hadn't really meant what he seemed to say. But the other part of her wanted to be angry with him for even daring to consider choosing Eve. She adopted her typical strategy for whenever a foster home didn't work out, to convince herself that she hated whoever had rejected her, but she couldn't quite bring herself to hate Zee. The emotions threatened to overcome her, so she allowed them out in the form of rage. She trembled slightly and then began to shout at him.
"Fine, you useless piece of scrap metal! What was I even thinking, wasting two years of my life on you! You're not even human; you're just a talking can opener. How could you be my friend? What the hell did I even see in you?" she yelled, eyes shining. But as soon as she said it, she was filled with regret. Anyone else would understand that she was angry, just throwing a juvenile tantrum. But Zee couldn't understand that.
She saw the hurt in his eyes, hurt that she had expected when she came, but that she had expected to be caused by Eve, not her. She struggled to think of something to say, but couldn't quite make up her mind what. He grabbed her arm in a swift, jerky movement and pressed a small piece of plastic into her palm.
"Your CredCard?" she said in puzzlement.
"It's the answer to your question."
"My quest- oh, Zee, no! I never-"
"Goodbye, Ro," he said expressionlessly, and turned to walk away down the hall. She stared at him stupidly for a second, and then ran to catch up. Even though he was walking, his pace was very swift.
"Zee, please! You know I didn't mean-"
He looked at her for a second before pushing her away roughly and walking out the door. Ro sat on the floor where he had pushed her, and watched miserably as he left. She wanted to chase after him, but knew he would only push her away again. So, feeling helpless, she let several repressed tears run down her face before wiping them away and walking back into the room.
A/N: I'm sorry for subjecting you to that, I truly am. Both Zee and Ro are seriously PMSing in this chapter, aren't they? Ah, well.
Ro lay in bed, the soft morning sun irritatingly warm on her face, and the brightness that she could sense even though her eyes were still closed kept her from ignoring it. She reached sleepily for the curtains on the window next to her and started to pull them closed, when the reflection in the window caught her eye. Eve was sitting and watching the computer screen, talking to Zee in a low voice so that Ro could not make out what she was saying. Zee stood behind her, listening and absorbing the data on the screen as well.
Ro clenched her eyes shut in annoyance. They looked so warm, so. . .so right, sitting there together. How quickly Zeta accepted Eve as a new friend. It irked Ro deeply, as she had been under the impression that her relationship with Zeta was special, that he was somehow hers. She'd liked that- there had never been anyone before that she could feel sole possession of. But apparently there was nothing exclusive about their relationship after all. As soon as some new girl comes along, Ro might as well pack her bags for all that she was needed.
Had she said last night that she disliked Eve? Now she hated her in that way where her anger and hatred was so strong, she just needed to hurt something, to make something else suffer. The word "jealousy" flashed through Ro's mind, but she dismissed it. After all, what was there to be jealous over?
She rolled over and closed her eyes, letting the two continue their search, completely oblivious to her. That's gratitude for ya, she grumbled, you follow a robot around for two years and he abandons you for some trampy scientist.
She heard the door shut, startling her, and she glanced over again. Zee had left to who knows where, leaving her alone with Eve. She would like to mess Eve up a bit, not really hurt her, just wipe that smile off her stupid face.
Suddenly, Ro noticed Eve raise her hand to the computer, and hook a small snaky wire in her palm to the monitor.
"What the hell?" she shouted, tumbling out of bed in a second. Eve's head shot around and her eyes focused on Ro.
"You're. . .you're a robot-thing! What do you think you're doing? You probably want to turn Zee over to the NSA, don't you, you little-"
Ro gave her a look conveying as much rage as possible, feeling torn inside. She hated Eve, and wanted so much for that hate to be justified, so she wouldn't have to accept what she was growing to suspect was the real cause for her animosity. Ro Rowen did not have silly crushes, especially not on synthoids. But if Eve really was working for the NSA. . . poor Zee! He had never really been betrayed before, not by someone who he had considered a friend. She could just picture that horrible kicked puppy look of his, full of shock that Eve would want to hurt him.
"Listen to me, Ro; I do not work for the NSA."
"Yeah, right! You get the hell outta here and leave Zee alone!"
"Ro, calm down and listen to me."
She glared, but realized that if Eve was a synthoid, she really didn't have much hope of fighting her.
"Where's Zee?"
"He went to get you breakfast. He'll be back shortly, and in the meanwhile, allow me to explain-"
"No. I'm going to find Zee."
She dashed out of the room, expecting resistance, but Eve just sat down and looked after her sadly. She flew down the hall, and nearly crashed into Zeta, carrying a tray of pancakes. He smiled cheerfully at her.
"Good morning, Ro. I have breakfast for you. Do you want maple syrup on your pancakes?" he asked lightly, not seeing anything wrong with Ro dashing out of the room in a panic.
"No, Zee, not right now. I have something important to tell you, and you aren't going to like it."
"What is it?" he frowned.
"Zee, I saw Eve on the computer and, well. . . she had this wire thingy coming out of her hand. It's because she's a robot, Zee," Ro frowned as well, looking genuinely sorry to say it. "We can't go back, she might try to hurt you or-"
"Ro, I am well aware that she's an android."
"What did you say?!?"
"I said 'Ro, I am well aware-'"
"I know! How long have you known this?"
"I found out last night, after you went to sleep. But I've been suspecting it since the car ride yesterday."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I knew you'd be upset."
"Upset? Zee, she'll try to kill us!"
"I don't think she will, Ro. She's good. She wants her freedom, like I do."
Ro shot him a scathing look. "You're so gullible, tin man! She's tricked you! She doesn't care about your freedom; she cares about whatever mission she's on! She can't be trusted."
"That's not true, Ro. Please don't speak that way about my friend." Ro was startled by a harsh edge to his voice. She had heard it before, but never spoken to her. Zee had always been nothing but sweet to her, even if she was mean to him. She didn't like to see him angry, because she knew from experience it took a lot to make Zee angry. Eve was breaking their friendship apart, and she couldn't bear it. She had no sympathies for Zee anymore; she just needed to convince him that she was the one he should be defending, not Eve.
"Zee, you don't know anything about her, except that she's an android, and she lied to us."
"I don't know anything about you, and I still took you with me. Do you think I shouldn't have?"
"As a matter of fact, Zee, no. It wasn't the best decision. But you got lucky; I really wanted to help you. But not Eve. Believe me, I know people. You don't."
"You're only saying that because you don't like Eve. You never even gave her a chance. If assuming the worst about people before you meet them is human, I'm very glad I'm not." She glared back at him, not responding, a look of exasperation on her face. He felt a strange desire to strike her, not enough to really hurt her, but just enough to remind her that he was a dangerous synthoid and it wasn't safe for her to get in his way. But the moment passed, and he felt guilty for wanting to hurt Ro. He frowned at her, and she sighed and spoke.
"Maybe the reason I never liked Eve is because I could tell she's evil. Like I said, I know people."
"She isn't evil, Ro. I like her, a lot."
"I know you do! Well, I hope you and your best buddy Eve have fun, 'cause I don't really want to be a part of this anymore."
"Ro. . ." he sighed, trying to control his emotion, not wanting to be angry with her. "Ro, please don't leave. Please don't make me choose between you and Eve."
"Who would you choose, Zee?" she challenged.
He looked at her and frowned, then looked away, choosing not to respond. Ro fumed, half angry, half miserable. So, Zee had chosen Eve over her. It figured. Everyone she had ever known had eventually become tired of her, and thrown her out. Why had she thought Zee would be any different? Just because he had been the only person who had been truly kind to her for as long as she could remember- tears threatened to well up in her eyes, for losing Zee was so much worse than losing anyone else had been. But she wouldn't let Zee see her cry.
Part of her knew that Zee hadn't really meant what he seemed to say. But the other part of her wanted to be angry with him for even daring to consider choosing Eve. She adopted her typical strategy for whenever a foster home didn't work out, to convince herself that she hated whoever had rejected her, but she couldn't quite bring herself to hate Zee. The emotions threatened to overcome her, so she allowed them out in the form of rage. She trembled slightly and then began to shout at him.
"Fine, you useless piece of scrap metal! What was I even thinking, wasting two years of my life on you! You're not even human; you're just a talking can opener. How could you be my friend? What the hell did I even see in you?" she yelled, eyes shining. But as soon as she said it, she was filled with regret. Anyone else would understand that she was angry, just throwing a juvenile tantrum. But Zee couldn't understand that.
She saw the hurt in his eyes, hurt that she had expected when she came, but that she had expected to be caused by Eve, not her. She struggled to think of something to say, but couldn't quite make up her mind what. He grabbed her arm in a swift, jerky movement and pressed a small piece of plastic into her palm.
"Your CredCard?" she said in puzzlement.
"It's the answer to your question."
"My quest- oh, Zee, no! I never-"
"Goodbye, Ro," he said expressionlessly, and turned to walk away down the hall. She stared at him stupidly for a second, and then ran to catch up. Even though he was walking, his pace was very swift.
"Zee, please! You know I didn't mean-"
He looked at her for a second before pushing her away roughly and walking out the door. Ro sat on the floor where he had pushed her, and watched miserably as he left. She wanted to chase after him, but knew he would only push her away again. So, feeling helpless, she let several repressed tears run down her face before wiping them away and walking back into the room.
A/N: I'm sorry for subjecting you to that, I truly am. Both Zee and Ro are seriously PMSing in this chapter, aren't they? Ah, well.