Part 2 - Contact

"Pino. Sit still."

The deep voice of the Entourage AutoReiv hung darkly in the confined cabin of The Rabbit. Kristeva paced slowly around the room, arms outstretched in a zombie-like manner as she tried to retrain the young Companion AutoReiv who ran amok. Pino was short and speedy, jumping on cabinets, seats, and the table; ducking and diving between Kristeva's legs in taunting game that mocked her attempts to restrain the girl. All the while Pino giggled and laughed, as though this tiny, cramped world was all she needed.

"Pino!" Kristeva's voice was louder this time, but still held little authority over the purple-haired girl whom was now busy clambering into the food-store.

Pino giggled louder in response, tossing a can of beans out of her way as she entrenched herself in the small cupboard. It flew a short distance, only to be caught by a pale hand and placed with a loud thud on the top of the storeage cupboard.

"Oooow! Pino's ears!" the small AutoReiv climbed back out, hands pulling the large, floppy ears of her pink catlike pyjama-suit over her real ears. "Re-l Re-l is mean!" She poked out her tongue.

"Shut up, Pino. Do as Kristeva says."

Pino plonked herself to the floor, arms folded defiantly and mouth curled into a melodramatic frown.

"Miss Re-l Mayer, please do not control Pino for me. She is my Raison D'être – if I cannot control her, what am I for?"

Re-l sighed heavily, and turned away from the Entourage. Kristeva still reminded her of everything that was wrong with Romdo; all that she despised and found nonchalant, all of her Grandfather's doing to make the last bastion of human hope into the most boring perfection she could imagine.

"Re-l Mayer, please confirm that you will no-"

"Alright!"

Re-l slumped down onto a hard seat, glancing coldly to Kristeva. She looked strange to her; clad in black much like herself, but too prim and full of perfection. Her white face reminded her of those Geisha's of old she'd learnt of whilst growing up and there was something cold and disturbing about it. She decided to fiddle with her shotgun.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Pino leapt up and started running around again, pretending to shoot at Re-l and Kristeva in turn. Re-l sighed and carried on with her business whilst Kristeva once again began to chase after her young charge. Of course, she blamed Re-l for bringing her shotgun from its holster and reprimanded her for even having such a weapon around the late Raul Creed's daughter. It was a danger and a bad influence. Re-l retorted by aiming the gun in Kristeva's general direction, before scowling and leaving the room.

"Kristeva made Re-l mad…" Pino finally stopped and sat comfortably beside her Entourage.

"It's hard not to." She retorted.

Re-l ducked her head down as she impatiently climbed the stairs to where Vincent steered The Rabbit. The door always opened too slowly for her and she was desperate to escape the madness of indoors. The sky was still a clear blue, and the natural light felt alien on her pale face. She lifted her eyes to see Vincent, fully expecting to see him glazed over and elsewhere, as he so often was recently. Her heart skipped a beat as she realised he was nothing of the sort. His green eyes were wide and his grip trembled on the tiller. He caught sight of her, shouted her name and told her to go inside. She saw something from the corner of her eye, her head turned to face it instinctively. Another vessel flew parallel to them, and a gun was now pointed at her face. Civilisation had found them first.