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Never too soon to start baby into the habit of exercising!

Granted, "exercising" here involves "being strapped to her chest while Mom jogs," but Ralph at least seems to be enjoying himself. The fact that Sonia's braid is a wonderful chew toy may help here.

Both are, of course, bundled up reasonably for the winter weather. It's almost like home!

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The car rolls to a stop.

The giant(?) halts a few giant-sized steps behind it.

Neil pokes his head out the window and smiles.

"I'm sorry, is something wrong?"

Other things to note: that giant has taken a serious beating recently. We're talking charred holes in just about every place holes can go. Also, it's made of metal, or something that takes damage very much like metal.

Clearly it is some kind of bizarre giant undead armor. This is nothing particularly unusual, apart from the size. (They usually come in person-sized or slightly-larger-than-person-sized. Sometimes animal-sized, for the more exotic undead armor types.)

"What in the name of God are you doin', leadin' that thing in here? Who are you?!"

"My name's Neil. This is mine; I'm bringing it here so my friend can help me repair it, hopefully. Steve Bell - do you know him?"

...

She leans in, squinting at him. Then makes her way over to the giant armor('s foot) for another session of squinting.

"...ain't sorcery," she remarks in annoyed surprise. "What is it?"

"It's a mobile suit. They're common as dirt where I come from."

This particular mobile suit is very special, but Sonia doesn't need to know that.

This nets him another squint. "Hmf. What's it for, anyhow? Thing's prolly gonna squash folks, you bring it around."

"Guwaah," Ralph adds, waving an arm vaguely at the car.

"It won't step on anyone. It usually doesn't even move around unless I'm piloting it."

"Thassa a car, sweetie!" she informs her son, complete with the goofy baby voice normally used for such interchanges.

Then switches abruptly back to Stern Monster Killer. "So how's it movin' now?"

...He tries not to let on just how cute that was. It would probably not help matters any.

"Haro's piloting it instead."

Don't ask who Haro is. Don't ask who Haro is. Don't ask who Haro is.

"...who?"

"Haro. You can meet him after I've found someplace to park Dynames-- that's the mobile suit."

Her hand tightens on the whip.

"Why not now?"

"Because he's busy piloting, and we're blocking the road while we argue about it."

His hand does not go anywhere near his gun. He's still hoping to resolve this with diplomacy.

....

Well, she's gotten that it's not sorcerous, and she can always beat the tar out of him whenever if he's lying...

So she invites herself into the passenger seat silently.

Ralph sucks on her braid, cooing.

...Okay then.

As soon as the door is shut behind her, he starts driving again. Dynames follows, like a very large, battered robot puppy.

When they reach the house proper, Neil parks the car in the empty spot beside the white Mini Cooper.

"All right," he says, opening the door and getting out. "I'll just be a minute."

He's in no particular hurry as he wanders back towards Dynames. If she decides to be suspicious again, she can definitely stop him.

Nope, she'll just be out here, leaning on his bumper and watching.

And educating.

"Thassa giant armor, Ralphie. They're usually littler'n that. See, those parts're called 'joints.' If you hit 'em hard enough, it'll fall over!"

"Aglaaaah!" Ralph replies.

"You'd have to hit pretty hard," he calls over his shoulder, amused.

Dynames, presumably under the direction of the mysterious Haro, lowers a thing kind of like a rope ladder with only one rung. Neil steps on, it retracts, and he climbs into the cockpit and disappears shortly thereafter.

Absolutely nothing happens for about fifteen seconds.

Then Neil speaks, his voice only slightly amplified.

"Is anyone using that overgrown patch there?"

He raises the suit's arm and points off to the side, at the space between the orchard and the back of the earth bunker.

"He'll get strong enough in a while," she replies confidently.

OK, so it'll be like thirteen years a while, but still!

"...don't think so. You mess up the bunker and it's your hide, though."

And she's ready to engage if he starts looking like he's leaning more in the "causing mayhem" direction than the "parking and then explaining things" direction.

"Okay. Thanks."

No mayhem ensues. Dynames turns - it moves a little more smoothly now that Neil's at the controls - and walks carefully around the bunker, then sits.

Presumably, somewhere back there, Neil and Haro are climbing out and coming back.

And Sonia is not far behind, squinting.

She is not seeing any other pilot. WHAT TOMFOOLERY IS THIS?

This is...

...an orange ball?

...

.....

>:I

SONIA'S GLARE DEMANDS ANSWERS!

Calmly: "This is Haro. Haro, this is... I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name, ma'am."

The orange ball rotates in Neil's arms until its tiny buttonlike eyes are pointed in Sonia's direction.

"Hello! Hello!" it chirps.

"Sonia. Belmont."

.......

!!!!!!

fjsklfdsjkl

IT TALKED

IT'S CUTE

Pardon her, she's just going to gape for a moment.

Ralph squeals and flails at it.

"There. Haro, meet Sonia."

Neil is... totally not grinning. Not at all.

"Nice to meet you! Nice to meet you!"

It flaps its ear-flaps up and down, revealing little orange hands tucked away underneath.