My voice was quick. “Becky. For God sake, let go of the knife. It’s me. Peter.”

Her voice shook. “There’s two of you.”

I lowered my voice. “Please. It’s a protection… robot. It doesn’t know any better.”

She released the knife, and I kicked it away from my twin’s benefit.

“There? You happy, you psycho?”

It released its grip. “I have no feelings.”

My voice drew out. “It’s me... I’m sorry. They forced this on me.”

Her forehead scrunched together while her gaze stared at me. Then toward my twin’s purple eyes, and lingered at his stomach. After several quick breaths, she continued, “Peter?”

“Yes. The same one you beat up behind our barn. The one you spoke about to the drone.” My arms went out. “It’s me.” Even I could hear the tiredness in my voice.

She gestured toward me and the robot. “But... it’s pregnant...”

“It just looks like it so I get used to it.”

Her voice was slow as she rubbed her arm. “You did this to get back at me. You wanted it to attack me.” Her eyes shined. “Didn’t think you hated me that much!”

“I didn’t order it to attack. I was going to contact you on the way down. Didn’t know they would beam me down, okay?”

She stared at its full belly and stepped back. “Send it away.”

“I can’t! Don’t you think I wanted to come here low key? They threw me into that machine, changed my insides,” my voice rose to a near scream, “I wouldn’t send that thing after you.”

She blinked. “You do look different.”

I shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t have a mirror.”

“You sure about that?” I let her stare while she circled around my twin. “Geez. I wondered what you would look like but didn’t expect this.” She laughed softly. “Saw some guys on the internet that were carrying. It’s weird when it’s your brother.”

“How do you think I feel?”

She let out a wondering murmur. “Good question.” She stopped when she was in front of my twin. “Go ahead and tell.”

I swallowed. The truth was a lot more confusing than I thought it would be. Images of Matros lingered in my mind. It wasn’t something I wanted to discuss with her. “Strange,” I said and hoped she wouldn’t ask anything more.

“I bet. Damn... it’s like you’re Peter and yet not.” Her eyebrows rose, and I saw a slight grin. “So, did they like give you a vagina?”

“No.”

Well… There were new parts and yes, a baby would squeeze out of there. No matter what it was, I wouldn’t call it that.

Time to change the subject.

“Where’s Pa?”

“Why?”

“I’m home... for a short while. I just wanted to know where he’s at. What’s with the third degree?”

“He went for his final treatment. He should be home soon.”

I questioned how much I should tell. Even if I trusted her – which I didn’t – I didn’t know if they were bugging the house somehow. At least back on the ship, I could assume they wouldn’t if Matros was speaking freely.