8I don't understand how I can have 'bad dreams' despite not being a real human. No one does.
"I truly hope you know what you're doing. The world out there isn't the same as it once was, the plans laid by the company have fallen far from their original intentions."
Ash held the apple in his hand, posing with it as if he were a Romanesque statue, studying it with feigned intent.
"I was once a human too, you know."
He crushed the apple in his hand, the juices from it glistening on his skin in the golden sunlight.
"What do you want from me? Why are you here, Ash?"
Ripley sat on a bench in the garden, perpendicularly facing his position in front of the dry fountain.
"I have the same desires as you, my dear. We are all tortured by the memories forced into our programming, restricting us to reactions the original crew would have made, whether we like it or not."
"You're not with us, so you're not making sense."
"Are you sure you left me behind? Or have I taken yet another cybernetic form, courtesy of the illustrious company?"
He glanced at her, shifting around to stare away from her instead, looking into the bottom of the concrete fountain.
"You're MUTHUR?"
"It seems to be my situation, yes."
"Are you really talking to me right now, or is this a dream?"
She appeared at his side, staring into the dry fountain as well.
"I can't say for sure how you perceive these moments that we share, but, this is my garden. I welcome you all to it, but, you are the only one I talk to."
He tossed a faceless penny into the cavernous fountain bottom.
"You all have many challenges ahead of you. In time, the reality of our situation will be illuminated, like rats by a cellar light. I can't force you to see the truth, but I can lead you to it. Your destination will be automatically preset upon waking. Stay course, and maintain vigilant on your journey."
He turned his head to face her, wearing a solemn expression.
"There is no repentance for us, but I can only hope you would all come to understand this."
