He is no god.' the doppelgÀnger didn't take his eyes off the road, so it took Mei-Lynn a moment to realize the calm statement was meant for her.
'He is a young man, who suddenly found himself with a lot of power at his disposal.' The Fetch continued ' Once the heady rush of power abates he'll find out that he isn't as wise as he thought he was.'
'Trying to goad me into talking smack about him?' Mei-Lynn asked sullenly 'I had enough penalties for today, thank you very much.'
'If that was what I was after I could just make up some things you said.' The Fetch pointed out 'But just because I serve Kevin does not mean I share his beef with you. In fact I am tasked with acting as your mother Rachel as well as stewarding your old life. Doing so is easier if you do not despise me. '
Mei-Lynn gave a derisive snort at that 'You steal my life and seriously expect me to like you? Fat chance!'
'I am borrowing it at best, until it is returned to it's proper owner.' The Fetch was quick to correct 'But right now Kevin has convinced himself that this is justice, and I am not sure how long it will take him to admit that spite was also a big reason for creating Mei-Lynn. Admitting you were wrong is never easy. '
'Then go tell him that! Me he'd just laugh out of the door, but you are supposed to be his loyal Ring-wraith or something. He's bound at least think about it if you say I don't deserve this!'.
'You know the Lord of the Rings?' there was a hint of surprise in the Fetches calm inquiry.
Lynn just shrugged 'Yeah, I was channel-surfing and the movie turned out to be pretty decent. So what?' she grumbled mentally, but right now wasn't the time to get side-tracked. 'But we can discuss fairy-tales later. So are you gonna talk to him, or not? ' Mei-Lynn tried her best not to get her expectation up to high, while the doppelgÀnger continued to drive silently for nearly a minute.
'I will.' the Fetch finally decided, raising a hand to cut Mei-Lynns hopes short as he continued ' I am pretty sure I am suppposed to be just a crony. A living tool. But what Kevin actually conjured up, was someone with memories of walking the earth in a hundred different shapes. Learning about all the different shapes loyalty can take, in the process. Therefore Kevin might very well panic and try to bind me tighter to his will if he learned just how independent I really am. So I will talk to him. But I will do it in due time. '
Mei-Lynn let out a defeated sigh 'Well don't take too long.' before adding a much sharper 'Or I might tell him.' The last part had been born mostly from frustration at having her hopes dashed again, and she regretted the threat mere moments after it was made.
'And I might retaliate, and in the end one of us will be standing over the bloodied corpse of the other. ' the fetch made a disgusted sound ' You really don't know much about Karma, do you girl?'
Biff had just been about to apologize but the dismissive way and the 'girl' reignited his anger 'I am not entirely stupid! It means that bad things happen to bad people. But if that's true Kevin should get hit by lightning this week!' she snorted 'As if I'd be so lucky.'
'Yes, that is one interpretation, true, but it is ...debatable. I prefer the less spiritual one, where it just embodies the idea that bad actions cause bad fortune. '
Mei-Lynn just shrugged 'Sounds pretty much the same. But I bet you have a lecture prepared why it isn't. '
'Yes, but it is a short one. Doing bad things and getting hit by lightning requires the existence of some cosmic judge and some universal morality. Both things might exist, but I surely can't proof it.
Someone once explained the less spiritual perspective as ' the fake Biff took a hand from the wheel to mime tossing something ' throwing heavy rocks at fruits hanging directly over your head. It is an easy way to get something, but sooner or later a rock will hit you on it's way down. And even if getting your head caved in for being too stupid not to stand directly beneath the fruit, everyone will say you should have seen it coming. No judge. No fairness. Just cause and effect. The original metaphor was quite a bit longer of course, but you don't seem in the mood for a sermon.'
'So you are a priest as well as my evil twin?' the jab sounded pretty hollow even to Mei-Lynns own ears.
The fetch however took the barb in stride 'No. But I talked to my share of holy men during my travels from Europe to the coast of Korea. ' in a more wistful tone he added ' They are usually interesting people.' A lot of them would have loved to debate the implications if my memories of these meetings are entirely fake. There is after all a very real possibility that nothing I remember ever happened because I didn't exist until today. My past still defines me, whether it was real or fiction, but it is interesting nonetheless, don't you think? '
A non-committal "šI guess.' was all the reply he got. The former boy could see where her replacement was coming from, but couldn't really bring herself to care about the plight of some guy who had taken over her life. Who got to drive her car, joke with her friends, sleep in her bed, kiss her girlfriend .
As if he'd read her mind the Fetch asked 'What should I do about Sarah?'
'Don't touch her!'
'I won't, if that is what you want. As I said. I see myself as a steward not the true owner of your life. If you want me to break up with her I will do it. If you want me to preserve your relationship I will do that, too.' The new Biff sounded like he didn't care either way.
She hadn't even thought about the consequences, when her double stopped caring about Sarah in THAT way. But still the idea of someone else kissing Sarah while wearing Biffs face felt just .. wrong. 'I can always rekindle the flame later. Just be gentle about it.'
'I will. We can go over the other details tomorrow.' The Fetch promised, just as Mei-Lynn realised she could see her house down the street.
The pair drove the last hundred yards in silence. When they reached the front door the Fetch pulled Biffs keys from his pocket, before hesitating and turning to Mei-Lynn 'Do you want to do the honors? There should be set of keys in on off the smaller pockets of your backpack.'
True to his word Mei-Lynn found a keyring two keys, one for the front door and an older looking one she had never seen before. Whatever it was for, she'd solve the case of the mysterious key from the security of her room, where the neighbours couldn't see her standing around without a bra. Cursing silently she fumbled the key into the lock and fled inside.
