“We have breaking news coming from Lower Miyatama's southwest district. An alleged terrorist attack on the local Maroon branch was just carried out approximately an hour ago, leaving the surrounding area in chaos, with several confirmed dead. Dozens of the unidentified assailants are still inside the building's lobby; both military and police forces are on the scene. Artos, over to you.”

The screen transitioned from the pristine news room, to a familiar, tumultuous scene outside a familiar, tumultuous Maroon building. Another robot, very similar in appearance to the news anchor, stood behind several parked emergency vehicles, microphone in hand.

“This is the scene on Miyatama's 89-57 street right now. Directly in the middle of 88-57 is an ongoing firefight between armed authorities and the unidentified beings currently occupying Maroon's lobby.”

“Boy, oh, boy,” Glenn commented as he clasped his hands on his lap, “I can't wait to see how they describe us.”

“We don't know the motive or means behind this attack, nor do we have information on the biological identity of the assailants, as they are confirmed to not be human in origin. Police are currently investigating the appearance of a black semi-truck seen briefly at the front of Maroon's entrance, which fled the scene as military respondents arrived. It was engaged in hot pursuit for almost half an hour before authorities lost sight of the vehicle, and the chase resulted in multiple damaged or totaled military cruisers, leaving three dead and five others in critical condition.

“Citizens in the Lower Miytama area are advised to avoid streets between 86-55 and 90-59 until the situation has been resolved. Traffic updates and active detours will be coming in the following report.

“Updates for the current situation are coming by the minute, so stay tuned for more.” The screen transitioned back to the news room.

Glenn smirked. “Guess that was my fault.”

“I... guess you did get us away from them.” Janice was visibly upset.

“Hey, I'm not big on killing humans either. Live and let live, the way I see it. But the moment they get involved in our business is when we have to take action.”

She eased up hearing those words from Glenn. “Zev better have gotten away from there in time...”

“Zev?”

“Ah... Zev was the volon who escaped with me.”

“Yeah? I didn't get a chance to meet them.”

“Maybe for the better... Zev is a bit unstable at times. But he – sorry... they – have the same outfit as one of the bigwigs at Maroon, and they clearly have high levels of intelligence. We were trapped down there in that facility together...”

Glenn resumed flicking through the channels again as the news reporter started its traffic overview. “Tell me more.”

“Uhh... Zev is huge. About as big as Eckire. They wear a black outfit with purple scarves around their neck and on their hat, which is really big and wide, too. They also... eat people. A lot.”

“Is that the instability you mentioned?”

“Yeah... they're constantly on a hair trigger. Say one wrong word and they could just snap on you. Often, that results in... you know.”

“I know.”

“I saw it happen to a security guard when we were escaping.” Janice's voice was laced with regret. “There was almost nothing left by the time Zev was finished with him.”

“Sounds like Zev might get along nicely with Eckire. Except, relative to your description, Eckire can at least handle himself quite decently. Hmm... tough call. Maybe they wouldn't play so nicely.”

Janice exhaled sharply. “I have to find them.”

“Yeah?”

“And I... I have no idea why! Zev doesn't even think humans are worth caring about, so why do I even bother? Do I really care that much about what they have to do with someone at Maroon...?”

“I can see how unlikely bonds might form in a prison environment.”

“I mean... aside from me, Zev was the only other volon in there even remotely stable. Maybe I just... oh, this sounds silly... but maybe I just wanted a friend? Another volon I could relate to, you know?”

“Doesn't sound all that unreasonable to me.”

“Ah – I'm sorry. I shouldn't be venting at you like this.”

“Don't stress. It's not an easy life.”

“I'm... glad you get it.”

“I often think this intelligence is a curse. Companionship is a rare luxury among us.”

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“I can see why you're a part of this group, even if you don't see eye to eye with Tenna.”

“Hmm... probably not that far off with your hunch. Never really thought of myself as the lonely type, but it'd explain some things, I reckon.” He finished off his beverage.

Janice stared straight forward, focusing intently on a resolve quickly forming inside her.

“I need to go back,” she declared.

Glenn looked at her quizzically. “Back... where?”

“To Miyatama. That's where you rescued me from, right?”

“Mhm.”

“I need to find Zev... Carson... maybe Anders too,” she continued, lowering her voice as she said Anders' name.

“Other friends of yours?”

“Vaguely. Carson's a friend. Anders... I think she had good intentions.”

“You're an anomaly, that's certain. Outstandingly peculiar. Don't know if I've ever met a volon like you before.”

Janice didn't know whether that was a compliment or not. “I can't just sit around in Ystets when the only people I ever cared about might be hurt, or worse...”

“Even though you just got here?”

“I mean... soon. I'll make the trip back there soon. I still need to get my bearings.”

“Not the greatest idea to head back there right now when everyone's on high alert, anyways. How do you plan to make the trip?”

“Uh... well, I'll figure that out, I guess.”

“You have anything to your name besides the clothes on your back?”

Janice shook her head.

“Hmm.” Glenn prodded his cheek with his tongue and stood up, heading into another room. “Wait here.”

“A-all right.” She had no idea what she was waiting for, but Glenn had her full attention, even as he walked out of view. She remained staring down the hall as she waited for him to return.

Janice faintly heard some clanking electronics and drawers opening and closing, until the sounds were replaced by Glenn's footsteps.

“Catch,” he called out from the hallway. A small device arced through the air.

“Woop!” Janice barely caught it in time. She gave it a quick inspection as Glenn took his seat on the couch again.

“It's a phone.” He clicked his tongue. “Stay in touch.”

Stay in touch. Those words echoed in her head, and her heart followed suit with a brief pounding sensation. Did I just make a friend?

“Thank you!” She looked down at the phone's screen. “But... how do I use it?”

“Oh, man.” Glenn laughed. “Push the button on the side to turn it on.”

Janice did just that. The screen lit up, and after following the simple unlock instructions on screen, the main menu appeared.

She only had a rudimentary understanding of cell phones, but the colourful and clearly-labeled touchscreen buttons made learning quite easy.

Phone: obvious enough.

Messages: like e-mails, but shorter.

Settings: again, pretty obvious.

Music: this thing can play music?

Games: it plays games too?!

“Glenn, how many features does this thing have?”

“Pretty much the same as most other phones.” He tapped his fingers against each other as he listed things off. “Call and text people, it's got internet access, GPS, uhh, you can download executables and play music and videos–”

“And you're just... giving this to me? For free?!”

Glenn smirked. “Welcome to human culture. Almost everybody has one, and that there is one of the simpler brands, too.”

And Maroon kept me in the dark about all this the whole time...? Well, my eyes are open now!

“Open up the phone's contact list,” Glenn instructed.

“Uh, sure.” Janice scanned the buttons on the screen, looking around for anything resembling a contact list. She found a notepad button, so she opened that. “Okay, done.”

“Type this in.” Glenn listed off 14 digits to her. “If you're ever in a pinch, give me a call.”

“Thank you...!” Janice repeated, smiling cheerfully.

“I don't know how much time it has available on it for calls, or if it's on some timed plan, but I do know it's active now. Best use it for calls sparingly.”

Janice squinted. “Do I want to know where you got this...?”

“Probably not.”

“Ah...”

“Don't sweat it. Really.”

“If you say so.” She slipped it in her pocket.

“We have internet available here if you want to hook up to it for a while.”

“Ah, sure! In a while, though... I still have to process all of this.”

“Fair. No pressure.”

Glenn resumed flicking through channels, occasionally returning to the news channel where the Maroon report had just come through, but they were still working on traffic advisories. Meanwhile, Janice relaxed in her seat, her gaze drifting towards the ceiling as she considered her options.

“I'm going to, uh... step outside.” Janice hesitated, expecting some sort of backlash.

“I'll be here. Don't let anyone see you come in or out.” He was unexpectedly calm. No outburst of any kind.

Janice almost gasped from surprise, just from the fact that she really was allowed to wander as she pleased.

“Thanks!” she shouted as she skittered down the hall before Glenn changed his mind.

She took a deep breath as she entered the main room (Tenna's room?) once again, eagerly heading to the entrance. For several seconds, she held her finger over the button next to the entrance. Eventually, with a burst of courage, she pressed it.

The entrance slid open, revealing the interior of that run-down building the base was attached to. Janice stepped outside and crouched down next to the door again, trying to find the button on the other side of the door to shut it. The ambient light from inside the base made it just barely possible to make out a square button near the floor; she pressed it, and the door closed behind her, shutting out the light from inside.

She was free.

Janice navigated through the pitch-black ruins, until light from the sky crept its way in, and she soon spotted the exit.

When she stepped through, it was like she'd entered an entirely different world.

Ystets. The hazy, light blue sky beamed down upon the cityscape around her, illuminating the clusters of shiny buildings neatly lined up in rows against the streets. Very few people were in sight, save for a few pedestrians minding their own business on the paved sidewalks, and the occasional car driving by.

Those people... I wonder if they're human.

Inhaling through her nose and exhaling through her mouth, she took a slow breath of the outdoor air; it wasn't nearly as fresh or pleasant as the forests she longed for, but it was leagues better than some stuffy prison laboratory.

Just beside the ruined building was a small lot, overgrown with weeds and tall shoots of grass, dotted with chunks of brick and concrete. She meandered over to the little field and gently swung a foot through a patch of grass.

Wow. Something about it felt serene.

Eyeing a large chunk of concrete, Janice walked over and sat down on it. It wasn't particularly comfortable, but she didn't mind. She shut her eyes, taking in another deep breath of air, sorting through her thoughts.

Though it took her several minutes of meditation, she finally made her mind up.

I'll stay here for a couple days.

Remain on Tenna's good side.

Get my bearings...

...and go back to Miyatama.