Wrench – Wednesday, 8:30pm.
“Whoa, like... you really are one of those volons, aren't you?” Wrench began, sitting on the bed of their measly home, looking into Janice's cross-shaped pupils. “So I definitely didn't hallucinate what happened in that junkyard.”
“No hallucination. It's true.” Sitting next to Wrench, she was clearly ashamed of it, refusing further eye contact and hugging herself as she spoke.
“But you're not crazy like Zev or the other volons, like the ones that broke out of Maroon.”
“Not at all! And I don't know why, either. Why are 99% of us uncontrollable, hunger-driven creatures while a rare few of us are... normal? Why do I even have this identity as a woman named Janice?”
“Have you met any other 'normal' volons? Um, aside from Zev, if that even counts.”
Janice took a deep breath before answering. “Zev was always teetering on the edge of sanity. At least that was the impression I got from them. They were the first volon I met that spoke and could be reasoned with, but when we broke out of Maroon, they ran off and, clearly, followed their carnal side. I feel like I failed with them.” She paused, looking at Wrench. “Zev was improving. At least to me, they were becoming more patient and less feral.”
Wrench nodded, remaining silent.
Janice's gaze returned to her lap and she continued. “Anyways... we were rescued by a crew of other volons; 'normal' volons – there were three of them. It turns out, there are more of us in Ystets than I would've ever expected... which is, I guess, a good and bad thing..?”
“I haven't been there, but I've heard of the place,” Wrench commented.
“Don't go there. Half its citizens are volons in disguise, a good portion of which are quite feral. Ystets would devour you.”
“Sheesh.” Wrench winced.
“But... the good part was meeting those other three. One is kind of... unpleasant. One is a bit too close to the unpleasant one for me to get to know. However, the third person is the reason I'm even here in the first place – he's a sweetheart named–”
Janice suddenly paused, mouth hanging open to speak the person's name.
“Sorry,” she continued, “I... probably shouldn't give names. He probably doesn't want people knowing his identity.”
“Oh. Fair.”
She apologized again, brushing hair away from her face. “I'm not good at this whole secret identity thing at all. The only reason I'm even back in this crazy city was because of a couple researchers I knew in the local Maroon facility – and, well, Zev too. Those staff members were the only humans who knew what I was and still gave me a modicum of respect, and I've been clinging to the hope they're still alive.”
“That's who you were looking for at the Mental Health Association, wasn't it?” Wrench asked.
“Yeah. One of them, at least. I still have no idea where he is. All I really want is to live a life where I'm not shunned for my identity.”
Oh my god, she completely gets me. “I mean... I think you're pretty sick.” A pleasant grin showed itself on Wrench's face.
“S-sick..?” Janice whimpered.
“Ah, oh, I mean, like–” Wrench put their hands on their face, “–it's like, slang for cool! I think you're awesome! Oh shit, I'm so sorry...”
They shared a very awkward moment where Janice reassured Wrench over the miscommunication, and Wrench barely resisted the urge to curl up in a ball and die. After the brief panic was over, they worked up the courage to continue their original train of thought.
“Like... you helped save my friend's life! And you can shapeshift and change form and stuff? That's wicked cool!”
Janice stared at them for a moment, looking very bewildered.
“You mentioned not wanting to be shunned for your identity... I really get that. And I mean, hey, you've been chatting with me – a human – for a while, right?”
“Yes..! You've been so gracious about accepting me, but you even think it's cool, too?”
“Um, yeah?!” Wrench's eyes lit up. “Trust me, humans and robots get a little boring after a while. Meeting an entirely different species is a dream come true!”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“I– I don't even know what to say! Um, thanks for finding me cool?” She shrugged, and they both shared a laugh. “Nobody's ever told me that before!”
“Aww.” Wrench almost leaned in for a hug, but remembered what Janice had said about physical contact. “Uh, question. You mentioned you try to avoid touching people. Is that because you're a volon..?”
Janice looked to the side. “Yes. At Maroon, I learned that prolonged contact with humans can cause itchiness, rashes, cracked skin, even blisters if it's long enough.”
“Oh.”
“Just another quirk that fortifies my role as something 'other.'” She rolled her eyes.
“I'm sorry to hear. At the very least, you grabbed my hand at the junkyard, and it hasn't fallen off yet.” Wrench spun their hands in the air, both of which looked perfectly healthy.
“My guess is it was such a short interaction that it didn't affect you.”
“Makes sense.” Wrench put a finger beneath their lips, hesitant to continue. “Can I ask a question about Maroon? If that's okay with you.”
“Sure.”
“The stuff you told me about being trapped and wanting to leave... was that true?”
“...Yes. But I never worked there willingly. I was literally imprisoned as part of a volon research program.”
“Yo, whaaat?” Wrench's eyes widened.
“It's true!” Janice briefly recounted her experience in the underbelly of Miyatama's Maroon facility, how she met Carson and Anders, her role as a researcher-prisoner hybrid, how she met Zev, and the Damien conspiracy resulting from their arrival. “It wasn't long after that until those other three volons broke us out.”
It was Wrench's turn to look bewildered.
“I don't know what Maroon was planning on doing with us down there, locked away like animals in cages. Seeing as they haven't admitted to anything on the news, I can't help but wonder what their intentions were.” She paused to take a deep breath. “I don't know if I want to know.”
“So... they're really coming after you, then, huh.”
“Seems so. I doubt they're going after me specifically though. There were dozens upon dozens of volons down there. I don't know how many of them broke out too; it was pretty messy by the time I reached the surface.”
“Sheesh. No wonder Maroon's on big time damage control...”
Janice paused, suddenly looking rather concerned. “I just have one question for you,” she murmured.
“What's that?”
“...You don't plan on calling that Maroon VCF number, do you?”
“Hell no! I mean... I think I'll keep it handy just in case another Zev happens, but I'm not calling them on you.”
Relief was written all over Janice's face. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Wrench.”
“Of course! Aliens are awesome! And with one of my best pals moving away, it's nice to make a new friend.”
“...You really do consider me a friend, don't you?” By the tone of her voice, she really seemed to have trouble believing it.
“Well, it's kinda hard not to after what happened this morning,” Wrench explained, following up with a chuckle. “You don't have to second-guess yourself on that one.”
Ring, ring; sounded like Janice was getting a call. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
“Oh, shoot, I have to answer this,” she explained as she stood up from her seat, walking to the door. “I'll be back in a bit!”
“Sure thing!”
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Protected from the rain by the awning above Wrench's front door, Janice answered the call.
“Hello?” she said, hoping she remembered how to use her phone correctly.
“Janice,” Glenn's voice greeted her. “How are things?”
“Great, actually! You?”
“Eh. Same old. Evading Maroon well enough?”
“So far, so good. I actually met a human and a robot who didn't kill me on the spot when they found out about me.”
“I hope you're being careful.”
“It's okay – the circumstances were crazy. Zev was even involved, but I don't think anyone else saw me. These people I met... I think they're my friends now.”
“Making interspecies friendships in Lower Miyatama? You're certainly a rare breed.”
“I know, I know. But these last two days have been incredibly weird and hectic. I'm just stepping outside of one of my new friends' houses to chat; maybe we can get into details later.”
“Sure. I trust your discretion, but that's essentially the reason I called you. Maroon is on the highest alert I've ever seen right now. I'm sure you've seen the emergency announcements they've plastered everywhere.”
“Call this number and a team will be sent to help you?” she recited with a grimace.
“Yep. Even in Ystets, I'm seeing more activity than usual. Armoured vehicles, heavily armed personnel. My advice – lay extra low for a while. Give it a week or two and see what happens.”
A worrying thought crossed Janice's mind. “Can they track us via phone calls?”
“Theoretically, yes, but I've only seen it happen when authorities already have your scent. If that happens, I recommend you destroy your phone, because they will use its GPS to find you.”
“Damn... at least they haven't found me yet.”
“Keep it that way. Is the motel treating you well?”
“It is.”
“Good.”
The two exchanged another minute's worth of small talk, briefly catching up on each others' personal lives. Afterwards, Janice excused herself in the interest of not keeping Wrench waiting. They both said their goodbyes, with Janice thanking Glenn for the check-in call.
To think I have both Glenn and Wrench in my life now! She was accumulating friends at record pace, but the threat of Maroon continued to befoul any feelings of hope. Eager to shake off that looming sense of dread, she returned inside to her new friend.
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Janice joined Wrench back on the bed. “Apparently things with Maroon are even worse than I thought. My friend told me they're going crazy over finding us, even expanding their search to Ystets.”
Looking for volons in Ystets? Wrench thought. If what she said is true, that sounds like a disaster in the making.
“Are you gonna be okay?” Wrench asked.
“Yeah, I think so... I just need to keep an even lower profile.”
Is... is this my moment?
“Um... it's pretty quiet around these parts of the city,” Wrench began, looking around their cramped living quarters. “So... like... if you don't mind the place... m-maybe you could stay here for a while.”
Janice perked up at the question, staring at Wrench, almost as if she was frozen in place. Eventually, she found her voice.
“I think I would like that,” she said with a gentle smile.