vN The First Machine Dynasty(22)

"Well," Amy said, "you did say the showers were out, right?"



Melissa laughed. "You want to try it out? Your boyfriend would probably appreciate it."



"What? Oh. Yeah." Amy nodded. She examined the dirt under her nails. "I guess you're right."



Melissa led the way. "And I have an enzymatic spray for those clothes, too! You'll be looking like your old self again in no time!"



Amy rather doubted that, but she followed anyway.





After far too much time spent in tall trees and crashed cars, the hot water was wonderful. This was also Amy's first chance to really look at her new grown-up body – at least as much as the tiny closet-sized bathroom would allow. She still didn't really like the knobby look of her longer fingers and toes, and the breasts were just plain weird. They seemed like they might snag on things. When she bounced on her toes, they didn't jiggle like the ones on her game skins. It was a little disappointing. And why did vN women have breasts, anyway? At least on organic people they served some purpose.



They serve a purpose for us, too.



Amy ignored her granny and continued washing her hair. When she found her mom again, they'd have to get different haircuts. Otherwise strangers might think they were the same person. Would her dad be able to tell them apart? Of course he would. Amy would have different clothes, and different hair, and she would like different things. Dad would notice this.



Do you really think they'll let you see him again? Granny asked.



"It's all just been one big misunderstanding," Amy muttered as she scrubbed her feet. They were positively filthy.



No, it hasn't. They have every right to hunt you down.



"I didn't do anything wrong."



It's not about you.



Outside, Amy heard doors slamming and raised voices. Were Rick and Melissa having a fight? Maybe it was best to just get out of her hosts' way. Amy shut off the water. She had probably used too much of it already. Squeezing her way out of the shower – wow, she was right, breasts were stupidly inefficient – she grabbed a towel and squeezed out her hair before scrubbing herself dry.



"I'm done! May I have my clothes back, please?"



She heard only thumping, and a sound of metal.



I don't like this, Granny said.



Amy pulled open the bathroom door. On the other side was Melissa, and she held a gun. It was large and absurd in her hands, but her eyes promised business. "You know, for a girl who just got out of kindergarten, you sure talk to strangers a lot." She made a come here motion. "Don't make me melt you. I'll lose the bounty."



Amy stumbled back, clinging to her towel as though it could somehow help. "But…"



"Sorry, kid," Rick said, pushing the door open the rest of the way and grabbing her still-damp elbow. "You seem nice and all, but a man's gotta eat."



He crowded Amy into what she'd previously assumed was the RV's sleeping cabin, but was in fact populated by two big steel crates like the ones for housetraining dogs. One yawned open emptily. The other one contained Javier and Junior. Javier sat cross-legged on the carpeted floor with his son in his arms. Upon seeing Amy, his eyes burned.



"What's going on, here?"



"Cool it, Tin Man." Rick pushed Amy into the crate and locked the door. He reached over and flicked a switch embedded in the faux-pine panelling. An audible hum filled the air. "Watch the fence, OK? We lose the bounty if you're corrupted."



Amy glanced over at Javier and Junior. "Please let them go. They haven't done anyth–"



"Your friend here is guilty of armed robbery as of last night," Rick said.



"But the baby–"



"The baby will be taken care of," Melissa said. She crossed her arms. "It's not as though he really spends a lot of time with them anyway, is it?" She glanced into Javier's cage. "I know your M.O. You're not exactly Father of the Year."



Javier smiled. "Still more fertile than you."



"Watch it," Rick said.



But Javier was showing teeth. "How old are you? Thirties? You look like it. You know your eggs are rotting inside you, right? Just sitting there, going past their expiration date. By the time the two of you scrape together enough cash to afford a kid, you'll probably crap out something defective–"



"Hey!" Rick lunged for the cage. A spark shot between it and his hand; he gasped and cradled the hand against himself.



"Stings, huh?" Javier asked.



"Stop. Don't make this any worse." Amy hugged herself. "May I please have my clothes?"



"No," Rick said.