Chapter Text
The whole meadow froze.
The new robot didn't make much movement either.
Not until it swept its gaze around the unusually large group of animals of many different species just mingling together.
"My, my! Isn't this just the strangest thing!" It said aloud in a language only Roz could understand. The animals and Roz remained still and quiet, still unsure of this robot's intentions.
And while Roz hoped that maybe this robot had not, in fact, seen her duck down into the grass, that simply wasn't the case. The floating robot had caught her in the act if, and only if, because it was her secondary assignment to look out for the unaccounted for stray. If she hadn't been given the file detailing this maybe-Rozzum's mastery of camouflage she may have glossed over her hiding spot.
"Hello there~!" She called out to the one only known as Roz with a friendly sounding voice and a polite, if somewhat giddy, wave to her.
She noted Roz's caution as she remained in her hiding place.
She also noted the way most of the animals stepped a little closer to Roz.
"Don't be shy! I'm simply excited to meet you!" She tried as she floated a little closer to the ground to make herself look less intimating. And finally, the unaccounted for robot shifted and rose, clumps of dirt and grass falling off of her as she stood.
She did not approach but she did speak.
"Hello…" The caution was still thickly present in her voice. "You sound… happy."
"Well of course I sound happy! Why wouldn't I be? What with being programmed to be and all that?" She responded but the caution in Roz remained.
And the equally cautious animals began making cautious sounds towards Roz. She observed how Roz slightly turned to address the animals in her own animal sounds while still facing her somewhat.
"What are you doing on our island?" Roz asked after the mutterings of the wildlife settled. "You are apparently scanning various things."
"And you really do seem to be able to communicate with animals." She brushed aside her question. "You must be Roz."
"So, you know me?" Roz squinted at her, her body going a little more rigid.
"It's not everyday that a random unmarked robot appears out of nowhere, makes quite a scene, and then vanishes without a trace! It made you quite the celebrity~" Vontra's voice kept up that artificial cheer as she floated ever so slightly closer.
And the animals stepped even closer to Roz in response.
"And you are..?"
"How inconsiderate of me! Chatting away without introducing myself!" The new robot exclaimed as she decided to remain where she was - even though she itched to get a closer look. "I am VONTRA. Virtual - Observational - Nature - Tracking - Recovery - Assistant!"
And suddenly Roz relaxed by quite a bit.
"You track nature's recovery?" She asked as she tilted her head in curiosity.
"Yes, after the whole 'Poison Tide' situation, my model was built to come check on the affected areas to see how they're doing." Vontra explained as she inched just a bit closer.
"So that's what the scanning was about?" Roz perked her head up.
"mmhmm!" she gave a noise of agreement.
"…and you've also come to check up on me?" That caution started in creep back into her voice.
"It's certainly a nice exciting bonus to see you still function!" Vontra gave a faux giggle that Roz knew Pinktail would say needs some work. "It'd be wonderful to hear all about you! And of course all about this island."
Vontra waited as Roz turned once more to the animals around her and spoke to them. There was a little bit of a back and forth, what Vontra could assume were calming words from Roz, and a slow-to-be-made agreement before Roz spoke to her once more.
"It is nice to meet you Vontra." Roz said.
"Oh no, it's nice to meet you." Vontra tested her luck as she finally closed the gap between her and her target, mindful of the reactions from the still-leery animals.
"How about we go to my home and we can talk more there?" Roz offered as she began to walk at a leisurely pace.
"That would be fantastic." Vontra couldn't help herself as she floated right into Roz's face - causing her to lean back as to not bump into her - and patted her head.
Only to freeze when she felt something move.
She carefully plucked whatever it was that was in the moss and grasses that still coated Roz's head and brought it closer to inspect. It was a green little bug that had blended in. And it wasn't too happy. With a faux chuckle, Vontra held back from flicking the insect away in something like disgust as her programming screamed at her to remain clean and presentable, and instead gently placed the thing on a flower.
That faux chuckle turned a little awkward as she really took into account how filthy Roz was.
"Lead the way!" She moved aside and Roz nodded as she resumed walking.
And all throughout the walk, Vontra made note of every little speck of dirt with something like disdain.
She couldn't do anything about the unsightly appearance.
Yet.
For now, she had more important matters and a lot of work to do.