Jack was leaning against his navy blue car, drinking a beer in the parking lot that Sunday morning. It was overcast, with a chance of rain. Cars rolled along the street at the far end, making faint swish noises as they passed through puddles on asphalt. He seen the rear door to dormitory open across the lot, and a dirty blonde head creep out. Jack noticed she walked a little straighter now, and he grinned while pitching the empty can.
"What's up?" He asked her when she got to him. She was blushing and seemed to regret choosing this. Tricia didn't answer, she didn't really need to. "I see finding out the truth didn't dissuade you from enjoying your gift." He said. She snapped a look to him.
"Huh?" She muttered in surprise.
"You got a little shmutz right there." He smiled, pointing at her mouth. She turned away and wiped some white from her lips. Tricia started turning back, then paused and began walking away.
"C'mon man, I'm not judging, I'm just upset I wasn't there to watch, that would have been hot. How's your proxy holding up by the way?" He said a little louder to her retreating back. Tricia slowed, then decided to return. It was just the fact that he was the only person in the entire world that knew about this and could discuss it with her. Something about the fact that he never tried to take her, or ask anything from her, made her trust him. Just a little.
"Good..." She said, looking up as far as his chin. "She's a really fast learner. I'm thinking of naming her Roxy." A ghost of a proud smile made her brighten up a bit. Jack laughed, not unkindly and said that was rather clever. "So how did you make all this?" She asked tentatively. "It's like something out of a movie."
"Well, I can tell ya but it'll leave you with more questions than answers. I'd have to explain it twice seeing as how we still have two others coming along, I think. Besides, I'm gonna show you. T.L.D.R. version, I was involved in microengineering a long time with a certain division and I took some stuff for my own intentions." Jack explained with a burp.
"Oh..." Tricia said uncertainly. She noticed Jack look up over her shoulder and she turned to see two Melanies approaching. One head down hands in pockets, the other skipping. They joined the group and everyone looked at each other. So many stories, so many questions.
"Morning." Jack said. "Well let's just get going I guess." He popped open the door and took the driver seat. Tricia looked up at the two girls' identical faces and wanted to ask something, not sure what, then she just got in the vehicle instead. She took the rear seat behind Jack, Melanie walked around to take the passenger seat, and Shelby seemed a little upset to take the back.
The car fired up, and some metal started crunching through the speakers. He went to turn it off out of consideration for the others, but Melanie slapped his hand and turned it up. Jack grinned and pulled out of the parking lot onto the wet road. They drove for a while until on the edge of town, then out on the highway.
"So why are you here?" The Melanie next to Tricia asked. "Where's your copy?"
"Shelby shut the fuck up. Leave the poor girl alone." The front Melanie said, turning for a second with a little forgiving smile to her. Tricia stared at the girl next to her now, peering into the eyes.
"... Shelby?" She whispered. "How is that-"
"You never found out bracelets swap whatever host that uses it, into whatever receptacle wearing the twin ring. It does however have to be the same species or uh... some problems arise." Jack said now awkwardly scratching his neck. The others in the car sat in silence amidst the music as they wondered what must have happened. "Anyways, Shelby took Melanie's original body and disposed of her old one." The next silence was much, much different. Tricia could just feel Melanie's anger as she sat crossed armed staring out the window. Shelby however was beaming. She kissed her fingers and reached forward around the seat and tapped her love's cheek.
When drawing back her hand she froze. They were turning down the dirt path she used to dump herself in the woods. Tricia watched her pull back and become very still and quiet for some reason. They heard the crunch of gravel under the tires as they exited off the highway. Tricia watched the tree line pass by as they continued for the next few minutes over a rough path. She didn't know if the other girls felt a sense of foreboding, but she sure did as they made their way further to nowhere.
"Here we are ladies." Jack exclaimed, after one last turn. It was an old self storage place. There was a row of eight red roll-up doors, and one larger building with an office. In the grey atmosphere, overcast sky, and surrounded by forest it was eerie to Tricia. The car and music stopped with a jangle of keys, and they climbed out.
Jack watched Tricia slide out last, a look of apprehension behind her glasses. He told her not to worry, he owned the place. They walked over to the office door, mostly glass with a metal frame, and he rustled his keys again to find the right one. A light drizzle in the air now, and Melanie told him to hurry up. Jack got it open a few seconds later and held it open for them.
The inside had a very closed in quiet sound compared to outside. It was dark, with grey walls and a white business counter, and a low wall shelf behind it covered in dark monitors. He led them past to a red door with a small plate reading 'employees only', and turned the knob. It led to a very large room, half the size of the average gymnasium. High ceilings with metals beams, a concrete floor and white undulating metal walls.
"Welcome home Melanie." Jack said with a smile. The three girls stared in awe at the machinery on one half of the room. A big panel took up one wall next to a large vertical blue tube in the corner. In the middle of the room was another device, rectangular and waist high, with a soft cushion surface under half circle glass. It was about as wide as a single bed. Wires that were taped down to the floor ran from it to the panel. The panel itself was riddled with buttons, screens, and a bag of chips. There was a garbage can filled with empty beer cans next to a mini bar by the other corner.
Jack watched them approach the tech, inspecting what they would never fully understand. He went to the mini bar and pulled out another beer from the little fridge. Shelby was walking with Melanie, both of them with mirrored looks of amazement at the tube. Tricia was at the mechanical bed-like thing touching the glass and observing the soft surface inside.
