"It's beautiful, isn't it?" The young Reploid said, regarding the sunset. She was tall and beautiful, with soft brown hair and an open, friendly face. Her armor was dark brown and styled to look vaguely like riding leathers. Over it, she wore a beaded and tasseled leather vest.
"Mmm, it is." Her companion nodded, also looking at the sunset. He was a masculine version of her design, but where she was pretty, he was craggy. He was wearing a similar vest, and a cowboy hat. Beside him was a large, mix-breed dog, panting brainlessly and looking at him adoringly.
The sunset was beautiful, in a terrible way. Glorious streaks of yellow, vibrant red and orange. It was only the second year since the Elysian incident, and the worst was over. The first year had almost been a nuclear winter. The second year, things had gotten a bit better. The Earth was greening again, and it was their duty to help feed everyone, human and Reploid both. A team of five Reploids designed for the task, they were charged with watching a very large herd of cattle in the pastureland in Texas.
"Thank goodness for that feed substitute, or none of the cattle would have survived." She murmured, turning to look at the cattle grazing calmly on the grass. Her companion barked a sharp laugh.
"The cattle, Mercedes? That algae based food sub saved the people." Humans could eat it too, although they hated it. With a bit of fortification, though, they could survive.
"And why should I care about people, Rusty?" She asked, and he turned to look at her, surprised by the bitterness in her voice. "People made me to look after stupid cattle all day. I hate people!"
"That's Maverick talk, Mercedes," Rusty said, warning in his voice. "And if you hate it here so much, why don't you just up and go?" Her contract had run out a year ago, and she was a free agent.
"You know bloody well why," Mercedes said resentfully. "The only skill I have is rustling cows. What good would that be if I went to Dallas? I'd end up slinging burgers in McDonalds." Rusty's patience, never long, promptly ran out. He loved his place as a cattle driver, loved everything about it, and didn't appreciate her complaints.
"You're a bloody whiner, Mercedes," he said flatly, making her flush with anger and glare at him. "We can't all be made just knowin' everything. If you want to get up in the world, start savin' your money instead of buyin' jewelry all the time, and get into school. Or sling those burgers until you get to be a manager."
"Yeah? Well, if you think that little of me, I think I'll be finding someone else to sleep with!" She retorted, making the dog flatten himself and whine, giving them both an imploring look. He didn't like it when people fought around him.
"Reckon you should go do that," Rusty said grimly. "I can't stand whiners." Giving him a look that could have scorched titanium, she stalked off to where the other members of the cattle brigade were starting a fire. Rusty sighed, and looked down at his dog. "Women. Why can't they all be as pretty inside as they are outside, dog? The world'd be a nicer place. Or easier, anyway." Dog licked his hand. "Good dog." Rusty turned to watch the last of the sunset, his dog by his side.
This was all he needed in the world.