Mardock Scramble

they differed from the Doctor.

She wouldn’t have said that they were bad people in any way. But she couldn’t imagine herself ever becoming friendly with them.

–The Doctor tried to restore my voice for me. Without my even having to ask.

–Huh?

–I can’t imagine those three ever doing the same.

Tweedledee shrugged his shoulders, as if to say So what? No big deal.

But it was a big deal. Balot understood all too well why the Doctor and Oeufcoque had wanted to leave this facility for the outside world.

They arrived at a door that was tightly shut, and Tweedledee turned around.

–You really need to see Dr. Easter right now?

–Oeufcoque’s in there too, right?

Tweedledee gave a look to say I see it all now.

–So it was Oeufcoque that you wanted to see.

Tweedledee looked at the intercom on the door.

–But he’s in the middle of maintenance at the moment. He’s lost half his body, so I wonder if he’ll be able to speak.

His words pierced Balot to her core.

Tweedledee manipulated the intercom, snarcing it, and the signal light started flashing.

–What is it? Oh, it’s you, Tweedledee. What do you want? came the Doctor’s voice.

–Rune-Balot is awake.

–Balot?

There was a rattling commotion from inside, and by and by the door slid open sideways.

“I thought I told you to come and call me the moment Balot regained consciousness!” The Doctor appeared in the doorway, unimpressed.

–I thought it would be quicker to bring her here directly to you. Tweedledee still spoke through the intercom.

“She’s a civilian, you know. Officially we need special dispensation to get her permission to even walk down the corridors…” The Doctor sighed as he pushed his spectacles back up onto the bridge of his nose. The graphs and numbers that had been showing on his Tech Glasses—on the monitor in his spectacles—disappeared, and his blue eyes were now fixed on Balot.

“I’ll explain why we’re all here later. Right now, I need you to rest your body.”

Balot stared back at the Doctor and asked,

–Where’s Oeufcoque?

“He’s under treatment. From me. You don’t need to worry about him.” The Doctor seemed to be blocking Balot’s way, both physically and with his words. “Remember how you didn’t want him to see you naked? Well, consider that he doesn’t want you to see him in his present state for very much the same reason. Also, he’s in some sort of shock. I don’t know exactly why…but I think it’s best if you let him alone for now, just for the time being.”

When Balot heard this she was filled with such sadness that her eyes went dark. And yet, wasn’t it none other than Oeufcoque who had taught her not to just ignore her sadness, but to try and do something about it?

–Oeufcoque said that we were partners…

“Well, I’m not—”

–I want to apologize. I just want to say I’m sorry.

The Doctor averted his eyes, troubled, and Balot took advantage of this.

–Please.

Balot slipped by him. She had read the Doctor’s movements completely.

“Hey, Balot!” Taken aback, the Doctor reached out to try and stop her, but he couldn’t even make contact— she dodged nimbly out of his grasp.

–Even though it was such a struggle for her to walk this far…

Tweedledee was full of admiration, as if he had watched an impressive display of showmanship, and pulled the Doctor’s arm back.

–What harm can she do? She just wants to say hello.

The Doctor opened his mouth to speak but remained silent.

Balot went on into the room.

Instruments were scattered all around, and in the middle there was a cylindrical water tank. It was about as wide as Balot, and it was full of liquid, with something unrecognizable floating on the surface.

She couldn’t tell at first glance whether this was Oeufcoque or not, but her intuition told her that it was.

Flesh and steel spiraled out from something that looked like a vivid red human embryo.

She realized in an instant that this was Oeufcoque’s body, turned inside out.

It had a gentle pulse, and it was living inside the nearly clear liquid, basking in the warmth of the red blood swirling around the body.

Balot touched the water tank with her hand. Then she rested her forehead on it, closing her eyes as if to pray a silent prayer.

The clumps of flesh and steel stirred. They seemed to have noticed Balot’s presence. Here and there they started turning squishily, contracting.

Forehead still on the water tank, Balot shook her head.

The Doctor, who was watching this, turned back to Tweedledee. “Are they having a conversation?”

Tweedledee shrugged his shoulders.

–“I’m sorry I was so useless, and that I put you in danger as a result. Forgive me,” that’s what he’s saying.

The Doctor nodded. And then?

–“I love you.”

“Oeufcoque said that?”

–No, the girl.

Tweedledee seemed amazed.

Then Balot planted a kiss on the outside of the water tank. Softly, carefully. Then she came away from the tank and walked back toward the Doctor.

–He says he’s going to sleep for a while.

Balot raised her eyebrows, scowling.

–Will he be okay?

She knew that if she stopped scowling she’d start crying.

“It’s my job to make sure he will be.” The Doctor spoke with a serious face, pushing his glasses up again, when Tweedledee tapped his arm.

–Hey, can I take her down to the pool? She’s scheduled to go there soon, isn’t she?

The Doctor’s face hardened somewhat. “She’s not using that until I’ve gone over a few things with her. She’s owed an explanation. She’s going to be leaving the facility soon. Along with us.”

–I get it. You don’t want Eve to accidentally taste the forbidden fruit, right? I get it. As long as she doesn’t have temptation placed right before her eyes, she’ll be able to resist.

03

–I don’t have to breathe, ever.

Tweedledee spoke as a school student might boast about what a fine home he came from.

–According to the doctors, I’m a Complete Individual. That’s my thing.