Chapter Text
The mood was heavy as the group of four sat in the subway on their way to the control room. Nobody knew what to expect when they arrived. Would it be barren, devoid of life, biological and mechanical alike? Would there somehow be human survivors? Would it be the same as it once was or left in ruins? Maybe the cat and little robot were still there? Nobody had seen the top level of the city since the humans controlled everything, and even before then most companions had not been allowed anywhere near the top level.
They all sat quietly on the subway, lost in their thoughts. Momo looked nervous, unsure of what to think. Clementine was focused on guessing what the place would look like upon their arrival, while Doc contemplated Zbaltazar’s words. Seamus simply tried to avoid his thoughts, opting to distract himself instead by playing with the zipper on his vest. Unsatisfied with his current method of distraction, he started the conversation, “What do you think we’ll find when we get there?”
Doc answered first, “There’s no way to know. It’s been over 7,000,000 years since there’s been any communication from the control room.”
“It’s most likely that it's been left to rot since the humans disappeared. None of us could get up there before now so there was no one left to maintain it.” Clementine told the group.
“I don’t know, it could be-” Momo was cut off by their arrival at the control room.
The four tentatively stood up and left the subway. Just outside of the door was another companion, but it wasn’t quite right. The orange companion was sweeping a few feet from the door they exited the subway through, but it did not acknowledge them at all. It didn’t even acknowledge the first subway to pull into this station in 7,000,000 years.
“Umm. . . Hello?” Momo asked the companion as he waved a hand in front of it.
“Hello. How may I help you?” the companion replied.
“What’s your name?” Clementine asked it.
“Please refer to any certified engineer inside the Control Room if you have any requests. Have a nice day,” the companion said, emotionless.
“I don’t think these guys are conscious. Why did companions across the city gain consciousness but the ones in here haven’t changed in the slightest?” Doc asked no one in particular.
“I don’t know. Let’s keep moving forward. There could be important information in the Control Room,” Clementine conversed.
The group continued forward, past several other oblivious and primitive companions, noting that they were all performing some kind of maintenance or cleaning task which had kept the place pristine even after the death of humans.
They reached the top of a set of stairs and walked over to the floor to ceiling windows they had been staring up at their entire lives. In front of them was the entire city, from the Slums to Midtown. They could see everything.
“Wow. I can’t believe th-” Clementine interrupted herself, “Are you two holding hands?”
Doc and Momo blushed simultaneously. “Well-”
Clementine interrupted them, “Spare me the details. How long has that been going on?”
“Just after the city started opening-” Doc started before getting interrupted yet again.
“Damn, I owe Zbaltazar a Super Spirit Detergent now.” Clementine said, disappointed.
“Did you and Zbaltazar bet on our love life?” Doc asked with Momo giggling beside him.
“Yeah.”
Neither Doc, Momo, nor Clementine noticed when Seamus turned away from the window and froze in place until he spoke. “Holy shit.”
They all followed Seamus’ gaze until their eyes landed on the open door to the outside of the city across the room. All four stood in shock for a moment before Clementine took off running towards the door, prompting the rest to follow her.
“Where do you think our little friend headed off to?” Momo asked, pointing to a trail of pawprints leading up a set of stairs and off to the right.