#a little dash of Signalis while I work on other things

[cell151]

Sequel to this piece and artwork by @hummingjay

Ava did not see Petra for a few cycles after their initial encounter. It was getting to the point that the Eule was so consumed with work that she almost forgot about the Storch. That is until Petra re-established contact and scared the living daylights out of her. The poke on her shoulder made her jump, her hand knocking over her jar of correction ink. When she glanced up she saw the equally surprised Storch.

“You alright,” Petra asked in her soft but deep voice. 

“Fine, fine,” Ava stuttered after taking a moment to correct herself. She busied herself with cleaning up the correction fluid before it got on any documents. “What brings you here?”

“Saw the light on and was curious to see who was working this late.” Petra nodded at the clock on the wall. It read: 11:20.

Ava shot out her chair. “Oh no! I’m going to miss–” She was in the process of grabbing her satchel when Petra stepped in front of the entrance of her cubicle, blocking her way.

“Don’t bother. You won’t make it.” Petra rubbed the back of her neck. “Where do you live?”

“Reuterkiez. Sector B.”

Petra frowned. “It's too far to walk. Especially in this weather.” She glanced away for a second before her gaze returned to the Eule. “You can come to my place.”

Ava was taken aback by this gesture, one that was rare in most Replika types, let alone a STCR unit.  “Your place?”

“Unless you feel the space under your desk or against a wall is a suitable substitute.” 

It took a moment for Ava to answer. It was hard to judge Petra’s expression under the harsh fluorescent light. But she did go out of her way to walk me to my station the first time we met, Ava remembered. “Alright. If it’s not a bother.”

Petra shrugged. “It’s fine with me. I don’t know about my roommates though. But they’ll have to deal with it.” The tall Replika was already heading for the elevator. Ava scrambled to grab her things. 

There wasn’t much conversation as they exited the building and walked towards the Haselhorst station. Ava did her best to keep up with the taller Replika. When the train arrived they boarded an empty car. Muzak, punctuated by spoken propaganda, played from worn speakers which crackled with distortion. The two Replikas rode in silence until Ava felt the urge to break the silence. 

“I like the winter.” Ava glanced out the window as the cityscape passed by. “I like how…everything is still when it snows. Not too many people are out. It’s fun to get under a blanket and stare out at the scenery. Everything is…calm.” She glanced down at her hands twisted around each other, waiting for Petra’s response, if she had one at all.

“It must be nice,” Petra said. The Storch stared straight ahead, watching as the towering apartment blocks passed by. “The calmness. I don’t get a lot of that in my job.” She glanced down at Ava. “Is that why you work late at night?”

Ava squeezed her hands tighter and nodded. “Y-Yeah. I…don’t like to be around a lot of people. Social interactions are…difficult for me. I get on fine with my dorm mates but outside…at work…I prefer to be left alone in my cubicle. Maybe something went wrong when they were manufacturing me.”

“Heh.” A wry smile formed on the Storch’s lips. “I guess we have something in common.”

The rest of the train ride passed in silence.

The dormitory was not too dissimilar from the one Ava lived in. Upon entering there was a common area but instead of decorative lights and a record player there were two large bookshelves and a cluster of chairs. 

“This way,” Petra waved. 

Ava followed her. As they moved away from the common area, the darker hallway got. She almost collided into the back of the Storch when Petra stopped to unlock her door. Stepping inside there was no light apart from the glow of the city outside the window. A large bed was positioned next to the window and on the opposite wall was a small television built into the wall. 

“Make yourself comfortable,” Petra said, pointing towards the bed. Ava looked so small when she sat on it. Petra smiled for a moment at the sight but she quickly turned away when Ava glanced in her direction. “I’ll be right out.” 

Ava watched Petra disappear into a sideroom. She could hear the sound of a faucet running. Turning, she crawled over to the window and glanced out at the snowy cityscape with its tall, grey monoliths. Puffs of steam pour out of ventilation shafts. Off in the distance was the large pyramid-shape monstrosity that was the main headquarters of the Eusan Nation. No one ever called it a palace for that would be too imperial. 

“A modern day Tower of Babel, huh?”

Ava turned and saw Petra emerge from the washroom. Her hair was wet and her chest armor had been removed, a sight one never saw with Protektor Units. Her face grew hot. “U-Uhh yes.” 

Not noticing the Eule’s slight discomfort, Petra sat down next to her and pressed a button on the nightstand. “Let’s see what’s on tonight.” It took half a minute for the picture to come on. The screen was still black when fanfare played followed by a voice.

“The time is now 24:00 hrs. Now begins our last program of the day. Tonight’s feature is "World on a Wire.”

“Something different for once,” Petra says with relief. She relaxes on the bed. Ava joins her.

They watch the movie until the end. Overall, it was more ambitious with its plot than a lot of films sanctioned by AEON. 

As end credits play, accompanied by guitar music, Ava turns to Petra. The Storch began to turn her head when Ava sat up, cupped her cheek and kissed her. The Eule gave it a few seconds before pulling away. She didn’t have to wait long for a response. Petra wrapped her arms around Ava’s back and pulled her back for another kiss. 

Ava’s breath hitched as she was suddenly bombarded with kisses from the taller Replika. Her hands slid down Petra’s front, gliding over her chest and long torso. “Petra,” she whispered. 

Petra grabbed the blanket and pulled it over them. 

On the television screen the Eusan Nation anthem played before the picture went to a white screen. 

“Petra,” Ava whispered as the two began to drift off to sleep. It was getting late. “What is it that you do on the thirteenth floor?”

There was a long period of silence before Petra answered. “Ava.” The Storch held the Eule close to her. “If I told you, you wouldn’t want to come near me again.”