An Android's Tale - Part 40 (An Original Story)
They had both gotten to understand Marv by now. Within the short period of time they had spent together, one of the most glaring characteristics had to be his quick “about-turn” of personality. One second, he would be full of smiles and niceties, yet the next you’d be forgiven for thinking be was a stern leader of some rag-tag military platoon. Hard-faced and tough, now was most definitely a case of the latter. He placed two hands upon his wide, firm torso indicating he meant business. A trait most likely picked up from his time spent working at the Rekwell army base.
”As I explained before, I built up my reputation as being a highly regarded workforce member for the time I spent at Rekwell. Of course, I made useful connections and got quite familiar with the guys I'd liaise with on a daily basis. One such guy was Orson. Genuine, down-to-earth and very reliable. He helped out of many a troublesome fix during my employment there. Anyways, as I got to know him a little better, it became evident to me his own personal disgust at the treatment of those anomalies. He could see, just as we do, how unjust and despicable the whole damn thing was. We talked for hours in private about how, if we had the means to help out in any way, we would... and should do what we can.”
Marv had never mentioned of his dealings with this new associate before, managing to somewhat irk Dee. She grimaced at him.
“Is there a problem?” he asked.
”Well, actually, yes. There is. Who is this new guy?” she blurted out. Sy could not help but feel a smidgeon of satisfaction that for once, he was not the only one in the dark. He glanced round at the boy who was now wide-eyed, watching them lock horns. He seemed to have regained some level of attentiveness that had been all but missing since his abduction a few days ago. A giant leap forward through one tiny action, he thought.
”If you just let me finish, you’ll find out soon enough.” he barked back. ”Sy, you listening too?”
”Yeah, sure.” he replied as his head spun back toward him. Marv was only too aware of how laborious it had been to persuade Sy into their way of thinking. A glimmer of uncertainty exhibited from Dee, at this stage, may push the whole plan back a considerable number of steps. Something he would have zero tolerance for.
”So, as I was saying.” he continued, glowering down at Dee in annoyance. “Orson. I trust this guy. I know almost everything about him. His background, his loyalties in life, the way he thinks. We need him if we’re to get out of this mess once and for all. Now, I know you’re not going to like what you hear next. Especially you, Dee. But it’s for all our best interests. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that we at present have no other choice.”
She fought hard at the urge not to retort back in some way or manner. A little while earlier, she confessed to him that he was their support mechanism and how much she relied upon that. There was no choice but to give him the benefit of the doubt now.
”I’ve arrange a rendezvous with him. Due north from here at the edge of the forest. About a good seven miles away.” he continued. ”He’ll be driving a Rekwell convoy truck so it'll be real easy to spot. This will take place tonight at exactly 0200 hours.”
Sy nodded his head as if assessing the pros and cons of this strange new unscheduled meeting, however Dee could not hold her voice any longer.
”What are you doing, Marv?” she piped up. ”He’s a complete stranger to us. I had no idea there would be an outsider involved in our operation.”
”He’s not just anyone, Dee. I know this man. Extremely well and long enough to realise that he can be trusted. He’s not just some complete stranger, as you say.” he answered.
”He is a stranger.” she snapped, rising up from her seat. Sy felt an unsettling panic kick in. He whisked his neck round to check on the boy next to him. Marv jumped straight on the defensive.
”Maybe not to you.” she prodded. ”But you’ve said so many times over. We’re a conjoined unit now. Working together as one. So, it goes without saying that even if one of us doesn’t personally know any additional party members, then it’s just as good as all of us not knowing them either. Make sense?”
”Right, Dee.” Marv boomed. ”So you tell me. We’ve got a small kidnapped infant with us, blood on our hands from the gas station incident and the entire country looking for us right at this very moment. What do you suggest we do? I mean, how exactly are we going to get out of this mess we’re in and where's the next stop-off point from here? Come on. Let’s hear your master plan.”
The fact Marv had the audacity to bring up the sensitive topic of the dead boy at the gas station caused her fists to curl and eyes to flare. Her red, fiery hair drooped unevenly over each shoulder as the anger rose like flames. Marv shifted his gaze to her hands.
”You really wanna come at me?” he said in a calm, composed manner. ”Try it and let’s see how that’ll improve matters. After all, you never know, right?”
Sy cowered into his chair at the stand-off taking place before him. The thought of defusing the situation by saying the right combination of words had crossed his mind for a split second, but caught in the throes of fear, he rescinded fast.
”Is he one of them or one of us?” she growled, already expecting the answer to that question but requiring confirmation.
”You already know, Dee. Don’t act coy. His name is Orson. Two syllables to his name. So of course he’s a human. But one that we need more than you can ever imagine right now. Regardless of the hatred you carry for their entire species, there are some good people in this world, you know. And it just so happens he is the exception to your rule.”
Her arm began to twitch as a streak of violence and resentment infiltrated her body. The pent–up frustration needed a channelled release and the chosen target stood towering over her. Dee could not think clearly any more. All she wanted to do was attack. Strike out at something, even in the knowledge that she may herself sustain grievous injury. She had a fleeting image of those two huge, powerful hands wrapping around her neck and tearing it clean off. Maybe it’s for the best and we all just end up killing each other here and now, she thought in a blind rage.
“I… want… mummy.”
