Universe Undone

Chapter 11: Metamorphosis

William, who is still reeling from his anger, no longer feels he can trust Stan. And with good reason, since the android has been up to no good lately, as well as keeping his activities one big dirty secret. But unfortunately William has had enough and demands to know the truth.
Meanwhile, as Justin and Brian are still getting acquainted with the new group of so-called freedom fighters they've recently joined, an old friend decides to show up and make their day a living hell.
Then, after demonstrating some of his new "abilities" to William, Stan takes off to inject himself with even more Protoculture in order to grow his powers and show the Invid that he is a force to be reckoned with.
Lastly, Ammon finally visits Ariel, only it doesn't go so well when he finally reveals the truth to her, about what she is as well as what she will have to do in order to save her friends from a new enemy.

Chapter 11: Metamorphosis

A few days had passed now, and still there was nothing but silence between William and Stan; as though they didn't know who the other was anymore. William had his suspicions about what had really happened involving Stan and that town, but remained tight-lipped about it. The idea alone made him angry and distrustful of the android, but deep down it was something he didn't want to believe or accept. After all, Stan seemed to be all he had in this strange world, not to mention the very reason he was still alive. In William's case, it was a very complicated situation, and he hated to admit that he'd become dependent on the android for survival.

Because of this, he felt torn over his emotions, but the longer Stan continued to ignore him as he sat there in the driver's seat, the more William felt the need to say something—anything. Stan on the other hand, reacted as though he was oblivious to William's feelings; or that he simply didn't care at all. Even the last few nights when he pulled over the truck: got out and disappeared without a saying a word, William felt himself spiraling out of control; conflicted over wanting answers, while at the same time being afraid of those answers. Was it better to know or not? He'd often asked himself.

Stan had been up to something. That much was clear. Especially with the way he kept retreating to the back of the truck, only to return several hours later without saying a single word, or without even bothering to acknowledge his travel companion. After all, that's exactly what William felt like anymore; a travel companion and not a friend. And as time went on, he found himself getting more and more fed up with all the silence and secrecy. It felt a lot like betrayal; even worse than the time Stan's true self had been revealed to him. William had gotten over that, and even made an attempt to rekindle their friendship, but as of this very moment he couldn't help but feel that friendship had begun to dissipate. And without answers as to what was going on, or even the simplest attempt at any form of communication that reality only became more glaring to him.

At one point, William had even experienced some kind of disassociation from the present; feeling as though he were somehow back home on the base, arguing with Lynne over trivial matters. He had heard both their voices inside his head as though it had been some kind of flashback, yet remarkably he couldn't deny how real it had felt—as though it had just happened in real time. But of course, during all this Stan was nowhere to be found, and after he had returned several hours later William hadn't told him a thing about it. Stan hadn't spoken a word either, instead he did what he'd been doing as of late: climbing back into the driver's seat, starting up the truck, and then clamping his large hands on the steering wheel as he gazed out the windshield at the road ahead.

Frowning, William's head fell back against the seat, and he gazed out at the view from his own window; wishing so desperately they were back home and out of this nightmare. Most of all, he longed to get away from Stan.