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“Call, I need you to cut my hair,” Ripley announced as she entered her quarters.
The young woman, who had been reading lying on her bed, looked up to see the hybrid heading for the bathroom. Ripley returned with a mirror, a pair of scissors and a towel. After setting the mirror on the desk, she sat down on the chair and put the towel around her neck.
“Call?” impatiently asked Ripley, turning to face her.
The android smiled at the hybrid's authoritarian behavior, put down her book and left for the bathroom.
Ripley followed Call's gaze with the same intensity as a feline watches its prey.
“A comb and a hairbrush might be useful,” indicated Call, pointing to the two accessories in her hands.
After placing the comb and the hairbrush on the desk, the young woman stood behind Ripley and placed her hands on her shoulders. Assuming a false air of snobbery, Call asked:
“And what does Madame wish for today?”
“Very funny,” mumbled Ripley.
“They've grown,” remarked Call, running her fingers through Ripley's hair.
Ripley's hair had grown well since she'd arrived on the Betty, now reaching just below her shoulder blades.
“They're insufferable, let's cut it,” informed Ripley, crossing her arms.
“Okay, and how far do we cut?”
“All of it.”
What do you mean, everything?” asked Call, stepping in front of Ripley.
“Everything up to the point where I get my head shaved.
Call looked at Ripley apprehensively.
Apart from a few differences here and there, their relationship was going well, Call would even say it was stable and blossoming. In recent days, however, the hybrid's attitude had become more reserved. Something was troubling Ripley, but she hadn't yet told Call.
The android decided it might be time to talk about it.
“Ripley, do you want to tell me why you want to shave your head?” asked Call, taking the hybrid's hands in hers.
Ripley looked at Call attentively and felt nothing but love and compassion in her gaze.
“Sometimes, I'm afraid of losing her...” the hybrid began softly.
Perplexed, not knowing who Ripley was talking about, Call asked:
“Who are you talking about, Ripley?”
“Ellen.”
“Ellen?...Ellen Ripley?” exclaimed Call. “Why would you lose her?”
“When I look in the mirror, sometimes I can't see her anymore. I can only see them. And I'm afraid you'll turn away from me, stop loving me because of them. One of the reasons you love me is her, isn't it? When we met on the Auriga, it was Ellen Ripley who fascinated you... you admired her...”
Call was stunned for a few moments by Ripley's explanation.
Her processor quickly began to analyze the various conversations she'd had with Ripley over the past few weeks. Perhaps she had inadvertently compared Ripley to Ellen. She searched hard, but couldn't find any exchanges involving Ellen Ripley.
Sensing the anxiety in Ripley's eyes at her silence, Call pulled herself together.
“I only have admiration for Ellen Ripley, for her determination, her courage, her sacrifice, but what I feel for you is incomparable. I admire Ellen, but it's you I love, Ripley. And I don't care if 50% of your DNA comes from them.”
Putting her words into action, Call tenderly kissed Ripley, hoping that her words and actions would reassure the clone.
“Are we OK?” asked Call, wishing to ensure that Ripley's fears were fully addressed and that no doubts remained.
“Yes,” smiled Ripley, nodding.
Call stood up to stand behind Ripley again.
“Do you still want to cut your hair?”
“Always, it's too long anyway”.
“And what do we do? Shave it all off anyway?...and besides, why did you want to shave it off?”
Ripley looked at Call through the reflection of the mirror.
“Ellen had a shaved head. I just wanted to look more like her.
“Is that why?!” exclaimed Call. “Just to look more like her. That's a bit extreme, don't you think?”
“Yes,” conceded Ripley. “But it doesn't matter, you can cut it off, because it grows back faster than human hair anyway. In a few months, they'll be this length again. And speaking of hair, can yours grow? Since we met, you haven't changed at all.”
Call was amused by Ripley's comment; it wasn't the first time she'd asked questions about her robotic body. While such questions might have embarrassed Call before, that had changed since she and Ripley had been together. Call was now always secretly pleased that Ripley was interested in her in her entirety.
“Yes I can grow them to my liking”.
“Really!” gasped Ripley. “And why don't you let them grow?”
“For practical purposes, it requires less maintenance”. Sensing Ripley's interest in her hair, Call informed her. “But I can let it grow if you want?”
“Okay, but only if you want too. Don't feel you have to do it for me.”
“I can do it for both of us, we'll be a nice one contrast too. You with shaved hair and me with longer hair. We'll swap the length if you will!"
Ripley handed Call the pair of scissors.
“Let's go ahead and do it!” said Ripley enthusiastically.