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"Alright. Well, thats everything I wanted to test out for today, so you can go now."
Dr. Bubby waved his assistant away without meeting his eyes.
"Of course! G-good work today, Doctor Bubby!"
Usually when he was disimissed like this, Additional Voices would take a few moments to think. He'd nod and walk off, then look around the laboratory in reverence, reminding himself of how much he admired the resistance leader and all he had accomplished in the last few years. It was a good thing that Bubby never looked at him. It meant he had more chances to observe him at work, but right now it was especially a relief, as it meant Bubby wouldn't have to see--
For a moment, Additional Voices stopped existing. The next moment, he existed somewhere else, his bones held out perfectly straight as the world grew around him, then he fell into himself, and it was over.
He looked around. Ah, he thought. I'm in the canals. This was the third time today this had happened, and it had barely passed noon- the sun was still pretending like it wanted to break through the smog, a routine it upheld almost every day as its sympathy to those who lived in City 17. He had come to understand this process as part of his role in this world. Dr. Breen's role was to rule it unquestionably, Dr. Bubby's role was to oppose him, and Additional Voices role was... to help. He would always be there when he was needed, his many bodies stationed around the city waiting to be used. But this body was different. He'd find himself in the canals, with noone that needed him, wearing the same clothes as the citizens did; it was very comfortable, and he was very alone.
Maybe his job here was to help the refugees passing through, waiting for the one that was smarter than all the others. Or maybe he was just supposed to do what he had already been doing- walking to a destination that didnt exist, admiring the surroundings. The city may have looked unpleasant at a glance, but if he looked closely enough, or far enough away, he could sometimes catch its surfaces making themselves, becoming more detailed before his eyes. Were they embarrased of what they looked like before, when they thought he wasn't looking? He hoped that they weren't. The world could come to him however it felt like; after all, he was just another function of it, another set of surfaces.
He wandered for a while longer, until his thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind him.
"Oh... Who... is this? Are you perhaps, intelligent life?"
The voice was coarse, straining itself to imitate grandeur, but it sounded more afraid than anything, Additional Voices thought. It took him a long moment to realise that a voice meant someone was speaking to him- more importantly, that they were smart enough to ask questions.
He turned around, and was startled to see 4 red eyes looking back. Vortiguants were familliar to him, but these eyes were staring with an intensity that he had never been looked at with before.
"Ah! Erm.. yes, I am! And you're also..."
He looked back at the vortigaunt and paused. It was hunched over, making their eyes almost perfectly level; that was when Additional Voices realised how hunched over he was himself. He straightened his back to stand slightly taller than it, wide eyes follwing him upwards through the movement.
"My name is Xar, and you are lucky that I have found you wandering through these canals, as I am a Genius. And I too, have been wandering here, for quite some time, alone. You seem... lost. I will help you as best I can."
Additional Voices repeated the words in his head. I will help you as best as I can. Shame washed over him as he realised- this is who he was being sent to the canals for. Not only did Xar find him first, but he was also the one offering him help.
"Th-that's very kind of you, Xar, but I'm quite alright. In fact, how are you? How long have you been wandering the canals for?", he sputtered.
"I believe when one introduces themselves, the other is meant to introduce themselves back, No..?"
He had to look away to respond- Xar's gaze was enough to stop his thoughts.
"Well... I'm sorry, but I dont really have a name, and thats not what's important right now-"
"But, I knew I was Xar since I got here... What did you know you were...?"
"..."
"...A-Additional Voices?"
Xar looked away from him- for the first time since they met- in thought.
"Well, I guess that is your name, even though it's pretty Fucked up. You are... interesting." Xar sighed, then continued: "I will answer your questions too. I understand what it is like to want to know more about all the guys you find. Especially a Genius like me. But for now, we should go to my red box, where I live, and hide from the germs."
"A-alright! Lead the way then, Xar!"
Xar nodded and started to walk, and Additional Voices followed behind him.