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Dot gave Adena a distinctly worried look as she got to her feet. Whoever this maniac parent was shouldn't be taking care of a child! She shook her dark head and ventured a look outside. Bob was already out there, searching for the driver - Adena's mother - in the wreckage. The car was still up-ended, folded into itself like a spring. She winced, hoping that whoever it was had been thrown out of the car before it had hit the ground, then berated herself for staying in here when she should be outside helping.
"Enzo, come on. We've got to help Bob," she said.
Bob had run outside the moment he knew it was safe. He surveyed the damage for a nano, then heard some muffled cursing and a *whump*. It sounded like a boot being put into whatever was left of the car. He examined the wreckage. Looked just like his own hovercar. The idea of it being totalled like this would probably make him lose his temper too, he mused, as he walked around what was left of it to the source of the voice. Whoever Adena's mother was, she seemed to be fine. She'd probably done more damage to her dignity than herself.
"This is not good. This is not good... stupid flux valve..."
Bob narrowly avoided being hit with a thrown spare part.
"Whoa!" he said, ducking as the part - a power gauge, he noted - skimmed past his head.
"Hmm? Who's that?"
A head popped round what had been the car's passenger door, now upended with the rest of the vehicle. Bob took one look at the owner of the voice and almost choked.
It was like looking into a mirror. Her silver hair was a little longer than his, and her face was definitely a woman's, but she was as close to a feminine version of himself as one could get. She was also wearing a Guardian uniform just like his; albeit a slightly singed one. This was Adena's mother?
"Do I know you?" she asked, a spanner in one hand, her face furrowing in possible recognition. "You look familiar."
Up until a nano ago, Bob would have had several different smart replies to that question, but as of now, they all went out the vidwindow. Instead, he just managed to do a very good goldfish impression.
"Don't say much, do you?" she continued.
Bob managed to blink. His doppelganger looked mildly amused. "You're new around here. What's your name?" She broke eye contact briefly to toss the flux valve she'd complained about back into the mess. Bob managed to access his vocal chords again.
"Uh. Yeah, I'm new."
Another frown.
"Are you sure I don't - wait a nano..."
Suddenly, she grabbed Bob's arm and yanked him with her to the one wing mirror that had amazingly remained intact. Silence, as she stared at Bob, then at herself in the reflection. Then, her grip loosened, and she stepped away from him.
"Who are you?" she asked, suspicion colouring her voice, her stance cautious. Bob couldn't really blame her - he wasn't feeling too comfortable right now either.
"I'm a Guardian," he offered.
She gave him a withering look.
"Well, duh." She seemed to ease up a little as she regarded him again. "There's no way you're dangerous," she said finally, brown eyes reflecting humour as she grinned, "you're too much of a dork."
Bob began to protest, but thought better of it, and tried a different tack.
"You uh, did a good number on your car, there."
She sighed. "Flux valve. Should have known better than to pair it with a 'z' gauge ring."
"'Z' gauge? No wonder you lost it..."
Bob crouched down by the crumpled front end of the car to inspect the damage.
"All new hubcaps too," she added mournfully, picking up a crumpled piece of round metal which had once adorned a wheel.
That was how Dot and Enzo found the two of them, discussing repair options and inspecting parts.
"Bob?"
Both turned and replied simultaneously. "What?"
Enzo's jaw dropped. Dot blinked a couple of times.
"Bob?" she asked again, looking from one to the other.
"What?" they both replied again; then turned and frowned at each other. "That's your name too?" they each asked of the other; then realised this was getting them nowhere, and gave up.
Dot stared in utter confusion at the two.
"Who... what... oh, User..."
"Nice to meet you too," the second Bob replied, then redirected her attention to Bob. "Um. So. Your name's Bob?" Bob nodded. "Hmm. That is weird. Well, it'll make life interesting, I suppose." She shrugged, then addressed Dot. "Don't tell me your name's Bob as well, or I'll have to start labelling people."
Dot smiled despite herself, then nudged Enzo.
"Enzo, you're gaping."
"Huh? Oh... sorry, Dot." He stepped forward, and offered a handshake to the Guardian. "I'm Enzo. Are you Adena's - "
"Mother, yes, and yes, it's a long story, and yes, I am her only parent, before you ask."
She seemed to direct that last part to Dot, who looked away with a sheepish expression on her face. Concern suddenly took hold. "Is she all right?" She moved quickly past the three newcomers to see the entrance to the Diner, just as Adena opened the door - not without some effort for a young sprite - and hurtled outside.
"Mom!"
"Hey, Trouble..." her mother chuckled as Adena ran to her and wrapped her short arms around her waist. "You're all right?"
"I'm OK, Mom. Look! I've got a new friend!" Adena pointed at Enzo. "Can I play with him?"
"It's rude to point, honey."
Adena rolled her eyes. "Sorreeeee."
"So where did you folks come from?"
Bob was about to reply, but Dot interjected. "We come from another system. We're just, you know, travelling around."
"You with him?" A gesture towards Bob.
"Yes. He's... sort of our tour guide, you could say." Dot smiled, in what she hoped was a convincing manner.
The doppelganger's face darkened.
"Enzo, do you know how to play jetball?" she asked casually. Enzo nodded, puzzled. "Adena, why don't you and Enzo go play, hmm?"
"Cool! Come on, Enzo!"
Dot shot a worried look at Bob, but didn't stop Enzo from leaving with Adena. It was probably best if Enzo wasn't around to listen. Bob returned the look with equal concern.
Once the female Guardian was sure the two kids were out of earshot, she gestured towards the Diner.
"Let's talk. And this time... don't lie to me."
End Part 3