Double trouble

[lostamigo]

[An alley in the city where Sakihama Base is located. Daniel is standing on one side. On the other - another large figure, wearing a yellow raincoat. Under the raincoat's hood, there's a robotic face - one that's identical to Daniel's.]

...

[Both of them seem surprised by the encounter.]

Comments

[a_monetized_mind]

Yeah, they tried to set me on fire, so I can't say we're "with them". Name's Jennifer, though my friends call me Jen.

[Jen looks back and forth between the two.]

You know, Daniel, if you two turn out to be robot copies of the same person I am never going to let you live it down.

[lostamigo]

Unlikely. Besides-

Ha ha, very funny. You think I'm happy to look like this? Before they put me in this tin can, maybe I wasn't a doll like you, but at least you could tell I was a woman! A human! I didn't have to take drugs to survive! Do you know how many things I can't do? Not that it matters, with this body I can barely feel anything anyway...!

[Daniel doesn't say anything, just takes a step forward and raises a hand in a pacifying gesture.]

...Shit. Sorry, I got carried away. My name's April.

[a_monetized_mind]

Nice to meet you, April. If you want to stay with us you can, we've got a lot of firepower and a habit of sheltering people chased by crazed paramilitary groups.

...I, uh...might be able to help a little bit with the other thing, too.

[lostamigo]

No offense, but I got screwed by joining a group that said it's trying to help me once already.

Unity Group is not like Lost Seekers. We're peacekeepers. You know this.

[April waves her hand dismissively.]
Yeah yeah, good job saving the world and all that. Okay, I know you mean well, but I don't wanna get tied down by your witness protection program or whatever you call it. Freedom is one of the last things I have left in this world.

[a_monetized_mind]

That's fair. It's not like we can force you to come with us or anything. Though...

[Jen glances at Daniel, trying to gauge his opinion.]

...Think we should mention what happened with my body? It's not like we should advertise all our tricks to the world, but just 'cause you said no to that sort of thing doesn't mean she would.

[lostamigo]

...

Give her the option. See what she says.

[a_monetized_mind]

Right, well.

[Jen turns back to April, taking off her glove and displaying her hand. It's perfectly ordinary-looking.]

I have access to a machine that can regrow human bodies. It's not cheap, but if you're in dire need of it I'll let you use it for free. The result won't be exactly the same, since genes aren't a perfect map, but it'd be something.

If you're worried about it working, I had to test that function on myself, a while back. Just about 75% of my body is regrown through that method...Everything from my third rib down.

[lostamigo]

...What's the catch?

Catch?

You said it's not cheap. But you're giving this to me for free. Someone you only just met. What's the catch? Don't tell me you're doing this just out of good in your heart?

[a_monetized_mind]

I'm excessively rich. And...

[Jen pauses, thinking on how to phrase this.]

...I have this rare medical condition-and unless I find a miracle, or get a lot better at using that reconstruction technology, it's going to kill me in 10 years. Without fail.

I had planned on trying the regeneration technology with Daniel here, but he declined for personal reasons. So that money's free to use for anyone else who comes along...like you.

[A slight lie. Doing this won't make Jen's problems any easier, or get her anything in return.]

[lostamigo]

[Daniel nods. He most likely nods about Jen's lies... But decides to stay quiet about them.]

...Okay. You got me! I still don't get why you do this for me, but gift horse and all that crap. I'll stick around, see if that machine of yours works. But...

But?

If you're lying to me, I'll find you. I'm not gonna have that happen again. Gotcha?

Don't worry. That won't be necessary.