“Juniper?” Jane’s soft voice asked. “Are you alright this evening?”

Juniper almost jumped. Her mind had been very far away… Back at the bar with Bruce and Randy two nights ago, in fact. “Sorry, John — Jane, I mean.” She corrected herself. I’ve gotta stop doing that! “I’m… I’m okay.”

The other woman furrowed her brow slightly in concern. “I do not wish to contradict or question you… But I cannot help but notice that you seem particularly distracted today.” Jane said gently. “You were very unfocused during the movie. And I fear our earlier exchanging of saliva lacked its usual enthusiasm… Please, tell me what is troubling you.”

Juniper sighed softly. Any time she tried to bring up her concerns about Cole or the mailman or the night at the karaoke bar, Jane brushed everything off. And John was exactly the same way. Could they be right? Was she just too paranoid? There was a time when Juniper almost thought so.

But ever since she talked to Randy at the bar, his words had stuck with her… “All that stuff you’re thinking right now? Hold on to it. Think about it. And maybe things will start making sense.”

And she had been holding onto it. And thinking about it. Constantly. And the more she thought about it, the more it all did start making sense.

That was why she knew she couldn’t say anything to Jane about her concerns anymore. It wasn’t safe. Cole could be spying on them right now! He could be using his mind control on Jane!

It was all too clear what was going on. Cole had been tampering with the minds and memories of Juniper and everyone around her. He was the one who’d affected her memories that night at the karaoke bar! He was the reason no one ever wanted to talk about it. He was the reason John and Jane both acted so weird… and so much alike! They had the same creepy robot overlord pulling their puppet strings!

At least Randy had broken free from Cole’s control long enough to give her a warning… and Juniper needed to act on it.

She pushed the chair back from the table, rising to her feet. “I’m sorry, Jane. But you have to go.”

“W-what? Why?”

“I… I don’t feel well. I’m sorry.”

It broke her heart to see the disappointment on Jane’s face, but Juniper simply could not face her right now. Not until she knew for sure what was going on… And what she could do about it.

“I hope you feel better.” Jane said sadly as she headed for the door. “I will call you tomorrow?”

“Okay.” Juniper’s voice shook slightly.

Jane leaned in for a kiss, but Juniper turned her face away, allowing the other woman’s lips to brush her cheek instead.

Jane’s face fell even more. “Good night, Juniper.”

“Bye, Jane.”

Juniper could not shake the unpleasant twisting sensation in her stomach as she watched Jane walk away from her. But she knew she was doing the right thing. She needed to get to the bottom of whatever was going on with Cole. And there was only one way she could think of to do it.

All the lights at Cole’s house had appeared to be off earlier that evening… Maybe he wasn’t home? This could be her perfect chance. But she had to be sure before she did anything.

I’ve gotta take a closer look. She realized. But I’ve gotta be more low-key than this… Juniper glanced down at her bright red pants. A change of wardrobe was definitely in order.

She headed straight to her bedroom and began rifling through her drawers, searching. Come on… There’s gotta be SOMETHING in here…

At last, she found it — an outfit that was all black from head to toe. It was one she’d worn only once, a few years ago. It had been laying around in her drawers ever since. Perfect…

——————————————–

Juniper crept as silently as she could out the back door, still grateful that she’d had her old Halloween costume still lying around. Wearing all black was the perfect way to sneak around unnoticed… Or at least, that’s how all the movies and TV shows made it seem. Juniper just hoped they were right.

She crossed quickly and quietly from her own backyard into the area behind Cole’s house. Unfortunately his entire backyard was closed off by a tall white fence. Juniper balanced on her tip-toes, raising the binoculars to her eyes as she peered over the edge.

The heavy mask made it difficult to see clearly, but it still appeared as though all the lights were off in the house. There was no sign of movement in any of the windows. The place seemed completely deserted.

It’ll be easy. Juniper told herself, trying to ignore the sudden pounding in her chest. Five minutes, in and out.

All she needed was a chance to take a look around and figure out what he was up to. If her suspicions were correct, there had to be some kind of clue lying around his house. Like some spare wires or scrap metal. Maybe some crazy robot hard drive where he uploaded all his information to share it with Skynet, or whoever he was working for.

With a deep breath, Juniper counted to three, then hoisted herself up over the edge of the fence.

Come on… There’s gotta be something! The young woman sighed in frustration, her glasses fogging up inside the heavy mask as she did so.

As she’d predicted, the house appeared to be completely deserted…

But it also appeared to be a perfectly normal house.

Juniper couldn’t help but remember the way Bruce and Randy had laughed at her that night at the bar, mocking her for suggesting that their new neighbor was not human. Initially she’d thought that maybe they were under Cole’s evil robot influence. That Randy’s words to her before they left the bar had been a warning.

But what if they weren’t? What if he was trying to tell her that it was all in her head?

God, what’s wrong with me?! How could I let it get this far?

Embarrassed, Juniper returned downstairs to the back door, ready to head home and try to clear her head. Maybe wash away some of the shame and foolishness she felt…

But that’s when she heard it.

It was a soft, rhythmic beeping, coming from behind a large wooden door off to her right. How had she not noticed it the first time she entered? The beeping reminded her a bit of the sound Cole sometimes made… But different. Louder.

This is it. She realized as she approached the door. This is what I’ve been looking for. Juniper reached out one of her gloved hands, turned the doorknob, and pushed.

“Oh my God.” She breathed aloud, her words muffled by the mask.

The room was full of computers and monitors and strange electronics she couldn’t even name. Juniper had never seen anything like it in her entire life. It’s true… It’s all true! And here’s my proof! I’ve gotta tell somebody about this!

Juniper was so distracted by her shocking discovery that she almost failed to notice the sound of the door creaking open behind her, or the loud clanging of metal feet against the floor.

In an instant, the room was full of light.

“AHHHH!” A familiar voice cried out over her shoulder. The man cleared his throat for a moment before continuing. “Stay where you are. Don’t move!” He paused. “Hold on… Is… Is that a Darth Vader mask…?”

Juniper turned around slowly to face Cole. It was odd. She’d only spoken with Cole a handful of times, but she’d never heard him sound so normal before. So human, almost. Guess even robots can be startled sometimes.

“Um… Sorry! W-wrong house! I… I was looking for the Halloween party.” She silently hoped that he’d forget it was only April.

“Juniper?” Cole’s entire demeanor seemed to shift as he recognized her voice. “What are you doing here? How did you get into my house?”

She reached up to remove her helmet at last, letting it fall to the floor beside her. This is it… It’s finally my chance. “No, what are you doing here, Cole?” She practically spat the words at him.

“What?”

“What are you doing with all this stuff, huh? All these fancy gadgets and computers?” Juniper gestured to the room around them. “I was right… I knew it! I know exactly what you are.”

“You do?”

Juniper nodded slowly. Her heart was racing so violently she almost feared it would burst from her chest. But there was no going back now.”I saw right through you. You thought you could fool me?” Her voice grew louder and more confident with each word she spoke. “I’ve noticed all your beeping and wires… I’ve seen the way you follow me around and watch me all the time. I’ve seen what you’ve done to our neighbors too… And I won’t let you get away with it any more!”

“Juniper, please…”

“Trying to spy on the humans, is that it? Using your crazy robot mind-tricks on everybody? Well, if you’re looking for Sarah Connor, you’ve got the wrong girl, okay? So run back to Skynet and tell them the mission’s over!”

“Robot? Skynet?” Cole’s eyes went wide for a moment.

Then, he was overcome by laughter.

Juniper stared at him, both angry and confused. She didn’t know robots could laugh. He’s gotta have some pretty advanced AI… But what the heck does he think is so funny?!

“Juniper.” He continued at last as his laughter finally died away. “I guess there’s no point in denying it. You’re right. I am here to spy on someone… But it’s not you. And definitely not any humans.”

“Who, then? Other robots?”

The man shook his head. “No. It’s… them. Those… things that are living all around us.” He sounded almost disgusted as he spoke. “Those unnatural creatures you seem to love so much.”

“Creatures? What the hell are you talking about?!” Juniper cried.

Cole sighed softly, reaching into his trench coat as he did so. “Juniper, allow me to properly introduce myself.” He said, pulling what looked like a small, black wallet from his pocket.

What the…?

“Special Agent Cole Wilson… FBI.”