Part 6 - Used

Vincent sat hunched, his hands clasped tightly around a thick steel mug of what appeared to be some strange coffee. His gaze was over his shoulder, eyes following the slender figure of Re-l as she staggered around in the distance. A large box was pressed to her chest, her arms shaking slightly underneath it as she inched towards the little hut she'd made for herself. She dropped it to the floor, wafting her hands as dust flew up around her. She picked something from the box –a fruit- and made her way to the small pot she had boiling over a fire.

"Why don't you help your girlfriend, dear?" Rose's voice interrupted Vincent's thoughts.

"Whenever I try she bites my head off." He sighed, "I think she's trying to prove she's not useless…"

He turned back to face Rose, giving a slight shrug of the shoulders as he brought his mug to his lips. She just smiled back, breaking off a chunk of hard bread in her mouth and chewing it in a way that seemed much akin to a cow chewing grass. She swallowed hard before offering a piece to Vincent, who decided it was best to decline.

"I said we had a lot to talk about." Rose started, Vincent nodding in response. "So I guess I'd best get started. Your lot aren't from the Boomerang Star, are ya?"

Vincent shook his head gently, "We're survivors from Romedo city. The place was destroyed pretty much as we saw people returning. I guess a lot happened that day…"

"I guess it did." Rose agreed, taking another bite of her stiff bread. "The Proxies did their job well… the earth is returning to a hospitable state."

A slight tinge shivered its way down Vincent's spine. He hadn't expected to encounter anyone with knowledge of Proxies, or their intended purpose. In fact, the thought hadn't even crossed his mind. Did everyone from off-world know? Were the informed of the Proxy Project whilst on the Boomerang Star? He narrowed his eyes slightly, taking another sip from his drink as the implications spun in his head. Rose continued.

"It's a shame that most of the dome cities were destroyed, though. We don't want to be living in shacks like this forever now, do we? No, no… we'll be moving north soon enough; there's a city there waiting. Consider this place a stop-off point."

"Why wait here if there's a city you can go to?"

"Tale has it there's still a Proxy inside. We don't want to be living alongside those things, so they're huntin' it down. Even took the dome-roof away so the light could get through, but apparently it likes to hide in the dark."

Another sip of coffee was the best Vincent could manage to hide his shock. Shock, and also anger. Were Proxies really just tools to these humans? Disposable beings they created to deal with their folly, only to be discarded once they'd run their course. It riled him to the core, his true self feeling wounded and betrayed. He gripped his mug tighter, indenting it slightly as he grit his teeth.

"Somethin' the matter, dear?"

"No. It's nothing. I was just thinking how I'd like to visit someday. What is a Proxy anyway?"

Rose eyed him strangely, her face surprisingly confused.

"You dwellers weren't never told? Then per'aps it's better you're kept in the dark. Forget I said anythin', dearie." She smiled sweetly, sickeningly so.

Footsteps approached from behind, managing to distract Vincent enough to let his rage subside. Kristeva lent beside him, holding a plate carefully that seemed have some kind of overcooked stew sloshing around on its surface. He turned his gaze from the stew to Re-l, who was still around her shack, washing her hands under a nearby water pump.

"Correct; she made this. For you. She hopes you like it." Kristeva left the plate in Vincent's hands and wandered off as quickly as she'd came, Pino running around and following her like an obedient, yet hyperactive dog.

Vincent excused himself and paced over to Re-l, food in hands. He stopped close-by, watching her as she continued to busy herself; sorting through her own possessions that looked so out of place in the run down settlement. A hairdryer lay in her doorway next to her make-up bag. It amused Vincent slightly that she'd kept such things on The Rabbit since their travels together; as if she'd planned for the eventuality that she might be in dire need of her eye-shadow once again in his company. As she scuffled around it became clear that she wasn't just sorting her own belongings. A vast array of items were strewn across the floor, placed neatly into rows with the names of villagers etched into the dirt above them. Apparently she'd been lending a hand by collecting all the borrowed belongings and returning them to their owners. He smiled, watching her work before she glanced at him and stopped in her tracks. As if on instinct her shovelled a little stew in his mouth and forced a smile as it slid down his throat; apparently she still couldn't cook.

"How is it?" she asked, sounding hopeful.

"Lovely!" Was the reply, as Vincent swallowed another mouthful. "But I need to tell you something."

He placed the half finished plate down and stepped towards her, taking her arm and pulling her aside into her little shack. He drew the curtain across the doorway and listened patiently to make sure they were alone. He could tell he'd annoyed her by dragging her in there in such a manner, but he was sure she'd understand the need for privacy. He gave another short while for the infuriated look on her face to pass into a more placid look of impatience.

"Well, what is it?"

"We can't stay here. There's a city, North of here. It still has a Proxy inside and they're trying to kill it!" He spoke in a hushed, yet urgent manner.

Re-l recoiled, looking vaguely shocked for a while before she responded.

"Isn't that a good thing? It's going to run rampage with these people returning anyway. Do you plan on going to save them all from it? Don't you end up killing Proxies anyway?"

"No!" His voice was louder, and harsher than he'd expected. "That's not it at all! These people made us, used us and want to just discard us like dirt! I want to help the Proxy, not these… humans."

Re-l stepped back again, her eyes straining on Vincent's face in the darkened room.

"And where do I fall into all this? I'm human, aren't I?"

"Yes but… Re-l! It's different. You're different! Please, just trust me?"

He waited what seemed an eternity for her reaction; the smallest of nods. It was true that he didn't know what exactly to expect from the trip north, but he had a few days left to think on it. They were still working for the supplies they needed, and without those he could never reach the city. He only hopped that in doing so he wasn't putting Re-l in danger. Yet, in the back of his mind he knew that as long as they were in each other's company danger would never be far away.