Chapter 21 - Conversation

If I want to get on his good side, I’ll just have to keep doing what I’m doing and talk with him occasionally. I’ve never really understood why myself, but I’m sure he’d love ranting about whatever he’s been doing other than rotting for the many years he’s spent here alone. I suppose it’s a good way to gather a bit more intel on him as well, and bide my time as my wound heals and I prepare for what’s to come.

I continue to ponder my choices, sliding the files I’ve collected under the bed before reluctantly calling his name. “Hey, Ell1-” “Hello! Need something?” I didn’t even finish saying his name before he suddenly materialized in front of me, the bright green light of his form shining into my eyes. I stumble a bit before recollecting my thoughts. “Please… stop scaring me like that.” He notices my startled expression and quickly floats back, glitching slightly. “Ah..! Sorry! I guess I just get, er, enthusiastic.. a lot…” He pauses awkwardly for a bit. “So, um, you called me?”

I act like I’m happy to see him and put on a small smile, pretending to be interested. God, I hate doing this. “Oh… yeah. I just finished reading one of the books I found earlier, and er… I got a little bored. Maybe we could… er, make some conversation? Or talk for a bit? I’ve actually been pretty curious about yo-” “R- Really? About me?” His face lights up at the sound of this. “You think I’m interesting?! Really?” “I mean, sure..? I guess I should probably get to know you more since I’m stuck here with you…”

“Ah, sorry! I’m just so happy about that! I’ve never really gotten to have an actual friendly relationship with a human before! Like I said earlier, we may as well bond together while we’re here! Some simple conversation is a great way to deepen friendships.”

“...I didn’t say we were friends.”

Ell1s looks completely heartbroken and dejected, and huddles up in the corner once more.

…

“Okay. Fine. I guess we can be acquaintances.”

He springs back to life and goes back to his cheerful, chatty self. “Oh, wonderful! At the very least, I’d love for us to get to know each other better. I can’t express enough how happy I am to finally have someone to talk to…”

“Right, about that. You mentioned before that you were left here abandoned for many years. What was it like? You know… being alone for so long?” He pauses after I say this, his glasses suddenly becoming opaque and holographic form glitching again. “Well, what would you expect, listening to the same mindnumbing mechanical hum of this place every day, begging to not spend a single minute more of this torture allowing my code to decay and my digital mind to rot? For someone, anyone, anything to save you from the painful isolation you are binded to within this desolate place? I’m sure you can deduce just how painful that is, as loneliness rips your digital mind apart.”

“I-” “Don’t worry about it! That’s enough about me… What matters is that you’re here now!” He adjusts his glasses, his digital eyes now visible again. “And I’d like to learn a little more about you.” Oh, just great. “What, me?” “Yes you, silly! You’re the first human I’ve ever had a real meaningful conversation with. What goes on in that interesting mind of yours?” He tries to poke my forehead with his finger, and it phases through.

“I don’t really…” “No pressure, of course. I’m not Forcing you to share anything.” He interrupts again. “I just want to find some sort of common ground between you and me. I’m sure we both have our share of traumatic experiences, considering you somehow managed to survive such a tragic, destructive nuclear war. You’re quite persistent, I’ll give you that.”

“I’d really prefer not to share anything. I get you’re… very enthusiastic, but I’ve been through a lot. Don’t expect much.” “No worries! I would never pressure you into telling me something so personal! Although I did enjoy our little talk earlier, I promise I won’t pry any further. Changing topics… How exactly did you survive in that radioactive wasteland, anyways? I’d expect your body to be decaying from the radiation poisoning, but you seem…” He looks me up and down, scanning the injuries covering my body, slightly faded now. “...Mostly intact! Although quite weak.”

“...Well, I did manage to find some rations. And some days I starved or ate pieces of rubble. I don’t really know how I managed to keep living…” I sigh and lean back. “Sorry. I don’t enjoy talking about myself very much. It was really just luck, I guess.” He seems deep in thought as he speaks. “Hmmm. No worries! I just find you fascinating! A real, live human, almost completely intact after such a catastrophic event…” He stares at me for a long, uncomfortable minute, glasses slowly turning opaque again.

“...Um. What are you–”

He quickly moves back, sensing my discomfort. “Ah! Sorry! About that! I get, er, lost in thought sometimes…”

“I think I’ll take my leave now, haha…”

He quickly and anxiously fades out of the room, glitchy particles remaining in the air and suddenly disappearing.

Okay.