The Monster Machine

The Exchange

A long time passed...

But since the concept of time down here is practically irrelevant, and a little confusing, no one could say for sure how much time had actually passed. But there was enough time for many things to happen.

Tova's leg had fully healed. She was finally able to walk up and down the stairs without anyone helping her. There were times where it felt sore, but not very often. However, she was just happy to live in a place where she was safe and content. The room that Madeline cleaned out for her was much bigger than her old room. With a window she could actually look through and see things, and an actual bed where she could sleep comfortably on. She even had an actual desk that she could sit at and look at her own reflection. Well... it was actually more like what was left of a mirror. The glass itself was cracked and the frame was broken around the edges. It must've happened a long time ago, but Tova didn't mind having to see her splintered reflection. It was better than not being able to see herself at all.

"Hey Tova! I've got some food down here if you want any!" Madeline called from all the way in the kitchen. Tova turned around from her desk and walked towards the door, opening it and heading downstairs. She found Madeline setting down two large paper bags on the kitchen table before removing her heavy coat.

"What did you get?" Tova asked as she approached the table.

"Not much, but we still have some leftovers too. It should be enough to last us a while. Can you go get Azu? I bet he's still working down there."

Tova nodded happily and went over to the trapdoor under the stairs. She moved the carpet out of the way and opened the hatch, carefully climbing down into the floor below and found Azu hunched over his workshop desk. He seemed to be tinkering with something Tova couldn't see.

"Azu?" Tova called out to him.

Azu looked up and removed his goggles from his face, blinking a few times before recognizing Tova.

"Oh, hey! What's up?"

"Madeline's back with more food."

"Oh, sweet!" Azu shot out of his seat immediately and rushed past Tova. They both climbed through the trapdoor and Tova closed it behind them. Azu trotted over to the kitchen while Tova sat on the couch, leaning against the back of it while watching Madeline and Azu from a distance. Azu reached his hand into one of the paper bags, but Madeline quickly slapped him.

"Hey! C'mon, I'm starving!"

"Lemme get some plates first, this isn't a buffet!"

Tova giggled to herself and decided to help out.

After they had all eaten, Madeline told them she had to go back out again, leaving Tova and Azu to clean up after themselves.

"Okay well, I've got nothing else to do right now, so..." Azu looked up at the ceiling for a moment, until he suddenly got an idea.

"Hey Tova, you wanna come with me for something?"

"What is it?" Tova asked.

"Well, Madi is usually gone for a while and I actually need a couple things for something I'm working on. There's this place that I usually go to that has the stuff I need. You wanna come with me?"

Tova's eyes drifted upwards, thinking to herself. She had never been asked to go out anywhere before. And Madeline always told her that the places she goes to were too dangerous. She was a little hesitant about the offer.

"Is it safe?" Tova asked.

"Oh yeah, of course it is. I wouldn't take you anywhere if I knew it was dangerous. Besides, we won't be gone for very long. I promise." Azu smiled at her.

Tova thought about it for a moment longer. Maybe going out to explore more of The Depths wouldn't be so bad after all. If Azu says it isn't dangerous, then what's the harm in going out for a simple errand?"

"Okay, sure."

"Really? Okay, cool. Go get some shoes on and I'll meet you at the door. Oh, wait... you don't have shoes. Nevermind then, just lemme get something real quick, then we can go."

Tova waited for Azu to get ready before heaving the metal door open and stepping through it. Azu left his signature goggles behind and only brought a long, dark trenchcoat.

"Okay, just stay behind me until we get there. You'll be safe with me, but just make sure to watch your back."

"Do you think anyone will come after me?" Tova asked nervously.

"I don't think so. But we shouldn't have anything to worry about. This'll be a quick trip," Azu assured.

They walked down the long hallway together and stepped into another elevator. Tova leaned up against the glass window and looked into the underwater city as the elevator moved downwards. A couple strange floating machines swam by and Tova wondered what they were. They were too small for a person to be able to fit inside, but it had to be piloted by something.

"How deep are we going?" Tova asked.

"Not that deep. You see that thing way over there?" Azu said, pointing through the glass at something in the distance. Tova was able to see some sort of large glass dome sticking out of the side of an undersea building. Tiny figures passed by the dimly lit structure.

"That thing?" Tova pointed to.

"Yep, that's where we're going. It's basically this big market place where people buy and sell things. This is where we get most of our stuff."

"Like what?"

"Food, fuel, mechanical stuff, electrical stuff. Y'know, basic things that everyone needs to survive. Since a lot of supplies are hard to find, and even harder to make, most people make a living out of buying and selling those things. They're just doing what they can to keep themselves alive and try to help others in return."

Tova continued to stare through the glass until the elevator finally stopped. The doors opened to reveal a busy street with bright lights and crowds of people in various nice and strange-looking outfits. As soon as they stepped out, Azu held up an arm to Tova, making her stop as a couple kids ran past them happily before disappearing into the crowd. Tova didn't feel too comfortable with so many people walking in the street, so she held onto Azu's sleeve lightly as they began to walk. They eventually turned a corner and began to walk through a long glass tunnel. It was less crowded here and Tova looked up to see through the glass. Large and small submarines of all shapes and peculiar sizes floated above them. The underwater buildings that were on the other side had small windows that Tova could just barely see glowing with light through the dark water. And when she looked down, it only got darker. Tova wondered how far down all of this went.

When they finally reached the other side, they found themselves within the glass dome. From here, it almost looked like a giant bubble sticking out from the other side of the submerged cave. But as Tova looked around at everything that was inside, it seemed much more elaborate than she had imagined. The center of this place had all kinds of shops and stalls seemingly built from scratch. There was a long spiral walkway that outlined the edge of the glass dome that stretched onto the second level where more stalls sat along the edge. A couple tables and benches sat in the center in an odd pattern where people sat, either by themselves or with groups of people together in pleasant conversation.

Tova was afraid to let go of Azu's sleeve. As structurally amazing as this place was, Tova doubted if anyone here was actually friendly.

"Alright, this is it. You don't have to be worried about the people here, they're more friendly than you think."

"Are you sure?" Tova asked.

"Yeah, this place is practically the safest area here. Since everything is so condensed down here, lots of people know each other. Lots of elderly and people with families live here because they know how safe it is. No one's hiding around and being shady, and it's better lit too. Not a dark corner anywhere. Here, this way." Azu led Tova across the area to one of the stalls in the center full of metallic things and strange technical pieces that Tova didn't recognize. A couple bunches of wires were organized by color and size and were tied onto hooks on the side of the walls, and a small array of tools and tiny parts were spread out meticulously on the table in front of them. Scraps of metal plates and blocks sat stacked on top of each other, organized by type and leaned against the sides of the wall. Whoever ran this place really liked to keep things organized.

Azu looked around curiously, clearly looking for someone.

"Hellooo..... Monti? Are you here?" Azu called out, tapping on a metal cylinder to get someone's attention.

"Azu? Is that you?" a woman's voice answered back from somewhere behind the store. "Hang on, I'll be just a second..."

Tova peered over the counter, trying to see where the voice was coming from.

"Who's that?" she asked Azu.

"Hm? Oh, that's just Monti. She has all the good stuff around here. You don't have to be afraid of her."

Tova took a step closer to look further into the stall. Somewhere from behind the stack of metal, she spotted a figure shuffling around. They stood up, brushing their long hair out of their eyes and approached the counter.

"Alright Azu, what did you come for this time?"

When Monti stepped forward, Tova gawked at her appearance. From what she could see on the other side of the counter, she wore nothing but baggy cargo pants and a sleeveless overcoat. Her exposed breasts were made of pure and smooth metal. Tova found it difficult to pry her eyes away from her... unique style. Especially considering that she could see her reflection in them.

"Hey, who's your little friend?" she asked.

"Oh, this is Tova. She's new around here." Azu introduced her and turned to look at Tova. "Go on, say hi."

Tova blushed and tried to make eye contact.

"H-hi..." she said shyly.

"Nice to meet you Tova, no need to be shy around me. Whatcha' bring her here for?" Monti asked.

"Just picking up a few things. And to get out for a bit. This is Tova's first time here. I thought I'd show her around," Azu explained.

"Fun! So, what kind of scrap do you need this time?"

"Oh, nothing big. Just these things." Azu pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his coat pocket and handed it to Monti. She took the list and unfolded it, reading it to herself. She brushed her bangs from her forehead and leaned against the counter while she thought to herself. Her eyes narrowed when she got to the bottom of the list.

"Is... something wrong?" Tova asked nervously.

"Nah, I just expected a crazy order. You sure this is all you need?" Monti asked Azu.

"Yeah, that's it. I'm work-"

"Working on a project, yeah, I know. You always say that. I can get all of this right now, unless you wanna come back here and look for yourself? You always need something so specific."

"I'm not that picky!" Azu retorted as he hopped over the counter and followed Monti to one of the piles of metal sheets. Tova sighed, relieved that he was able to distract Monti and get her metallic chest away from her sights. She was afraid to be rude, staring at her like that for so long. Azu pointed at various pieces hung on the walls, but Monti wouldn't let him touch anything until he was certain it was what he needed. He stepped over more materials, looking for something else. Until Monti turned back to look at Tova, which caught her off guard. Tova didn't know why she was staring at her, and became even more nervous when she walked back towards the counter.

"Hey, Azu says your new here. Are you not from around here?" Monti asked. Tova closed her mouth and shook her head, too nervous to say anything. Monti smirked.

"Hmm... lemme guess, your from, ummm... South Station?"

Tova tilted her head in confusion and shook her head.

"Red Rock? Waste Gardens? Oh, wait! It's Agate Town isn't it?"

Tova shook her head again, not recognizing any of those names. She didn't know any locations in the underground. Not even the city she lived in from the beginning.

"Do you... know where you live?"

Tova shook her head once more, "I... wasn't allowed to leave my room."

Monti raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Huh? Why not?"

"...My father... um..."

"Ohh, I get it. Family troubles, eh?"

Tova stared at her feet, not knowing how to explain it. And also trying to avoid staring at her chest.

"So, you've been living with Madi and Azu now? That's cool. How long has it been?"

"Hmmm... a few weeks... I think. I'm not sure."

"Heh, yeah, time is weird. But lemme tell ya, they're the nicest kids I've ever met. I'm happy to know they're helping you."

Monti took her eyes off of Tova and gazed at her outfit. Tova noticed her staring and felt awkward.

"Hmmm... tell ya what, I wanna help you too. I don't normally do this sort of thing, but I can tell you're not very familiar with what goes on down here. Trust me, you'll need all the help you can get. I don't wanna see a nice thing like you get hurt. Here, you can have this," Monti took something out of her pocket and set it on the counter, quietly sliding it towards Tova. Tova looked at the strange instrument for a second before picking it up.

"What is it?"

"It's my portable tool ring. It's just this little gizmo that has all these little tools inside so you can use them for whenever you might need something. See those little switches on the side, flick one of those up."

Tova found the little switches on the side and flicked one of them up with her finger. A pointed piece of metal shot out from the rod.

"Woah, careful. That's a knife. Don't go waving that thing around anyone. Unless you wanna scare them off. I used to use it a lot whenever I got in a pinch. Worked every time, hah!" Monti laughed to herself.

"Are you... sure it's okay for me to have this?"

"Yeah, of course! I don't use it anymore anyway. I'm just happy to see it in the hands of someone who might need it more than me. You can ask Azu about it later and he'll show you how to use the rest of the tools in it. Oh, here, take some of this too."

Monti shoved her hand in another pocket before pulling out a clenched fist. Tova held out an open palm beneath it and Monti dropped a pile of coins in her hand.

"I know it's not much, but it might be enough to get you some new threads. Or at least a pair of shoes. Trust me when I say this, and don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think anyone is going to take you seriously in those old rags."

Tova looked down at what she was wearing. The white shirt and the black shorts were the only clothes she ever had, but she never really considered looking for something else to wear.

"You see that big walkway that goes up to the second level?" Monti pointed out behind her.

"Yeah?"

"Go up there and you'll find this big clothes store that you can look into, if you're interested. They'll hook you up with anything you need."

"You... you're really giving this to me?"

"Like I said, it ain't much, but I'd hate to see you getting cold in that outfit. You should go take a look. Azu and I might be here for a while, so you can take your time. Come back here when you're done, okay?"

Tova looked at the coins in her hand before smiling at Monti. She went back to making sure Azu didn't touch anything and Tova looked up at all the stores lining the spiral walkway. She walked all the way over and started walking upwards, making sure there wasn't anyone looking or following her. There were other smaller stands with an assortment of small things for sale, but Tova didn't want to get distracted. Most people ignored the shop owners pleads to come up and buy something, minding their own business. As people passed her, Tova began to notice that lots of them were dressed in various heavy attire. She didn't see anyone who was as bare as her. She began to see why this might make her more... noticeable. Her feet had gotten used to the cold floor, but then again, it probably wasn't sanitary to go everywhere in bare feet. Who knows what kind of muck she could accidentally step in?

She trudged onwards until she found a large shop with a wooden sign above it, describing the items being sold there. There were racks of neatly folded clothes standing outside the entrance of the shop and Tova guessed this was the place Monti was talking about. She stepped over the threshold of the store and looked around. Spotting heavy jackets hung on the walls and thick shoes and boots sitting on the floor in a neat row. There was an older woman in the back, organizing a pile of shirts and didn't hear Tova walking in until she finally looked up.

"Oh, hey there!" she smiled cheerfully. "Do you need help looking for something?"

Tova took a step back nervously and avoided eye contact.

"Uh... I was... told you could get some clothes for me?"

The woman blinked, not understanding her answer.

"Huh? I'm sorry, I don't understand..."

"Uh- well, someone... um, I was told that... I mean-" Tova stammered.

"Do you... need help looking for something?"

Tova scratched the back of her head nervously before clearing her throat, attempting one last time to speak coherently.

"I was... just hoping that I could... look for some new clothes here?"

The woman understood and smiled at her.

"Of course! Is there anything in particular you're looking for?" the woman asked, glancing down at Tova's bare feet momentarily. "Maybe some new shoes?"

"Um... I don't really know..... Do you think, uh... What can I get for all of this?" Tova asked as she held out the palmful of coins. The woman stepped closer and looked at the amount in her hand.

"I'm... new around here, so I don't really know if..." she trailed off, wondering if her answers were too vague for the woman to understand. The woman took the coins from Tova's hand and counted them as she thought to herself.

"So... you're not sure what you want... but you're looking for something you need?"

Tova nodded. The woman eyed her outfit carefully, calculating in her head for a moment before finally getting an idea.

"Hmmm... you know, I haven't done this sort of thing for a long time, but I think I'm willing to cut you a deal. I can show you something you can afford with this much or... you can throw in your old outfit with the all the amount you have, and I can give you a completely new outfit! What do you say? No pressure, it's up to you!"

Tova thought about this carefully to herself. Either buy something with the amount of money she already has, or throw in all her coins and her old clothes and get something brand new? Honestly, it didn't sound like such a bad deal. She agreed to trade her old clothes in exchange for something new. The woman kept all the coins and directed her to one of the dressing rooms.

"Okay, if you could just stand there for just a moment..." the woman stepped aside and reached up to a higher shelf where a roll of measuring tape sat.

"Alright, arms out wide for me, please... That's right, now just stay still for a moment..." the woman stretched the measuring tape across Tova's arms, holding it vertically across her back and wrapping it around her waist. She took careful measurements of each and calculated what she had in stock to match her. Tova was confused by her actions.

"What are you doing?"

"I just need a few measurements. I need to make sure I have clothes that fit your size." the woman took one last glance at the yellow tape before rolling it up and putting it back on the shelf.

"Okay, wait here for just a moment..."

After a while, the woman returned with a pile of clothes in her arms and set them down on a nearby stool. She unfolded a long shirt and held it in front of Tova, seeing which looked best on her.

"Do you have a preference for style? Jackets, skirts, shoes? Anything specific?" the woman asked.

"Um, no, not really. I don't mind whatever you choose," Tova replied.

"Are you sure? I don't want you to leave with something you don't like."

"It's okay. I don't mind whatever you pick out. I'm sure it'll look great."

"Okay, if you say so! It's been so long since I've done this, it's so exciting. Give me one second to put these back..." the woman picked up a few clothes and put them back in their original place before picking out a few more things.

"Okay, I think I have an idea. Go ahead and undress and I'll be right back in just a minute, okay?"

Tova nodded and pulled the curtain over. The woman looked all over her store for the right clothes she was looking for. After a few minutes, she returned with her selection and slid them underneath the curtain to Tova.

"Go ahead and put these on. Put that one on, before this one. You can just leave your old clothes in there. I'll get them later."

Tova grabbed the new outfit and exchanged them for her old clothes.

"Do you need any help?"

"It's okay, I think I got it."

When Tova slid the curtain back, the woman gasped lightly at her appearance.

"Oh, you look so pretty! What do you think? Does it feel okay?"

Tova stepped forward to look at herself in the tall standing mirror in the corner of the shop. She wore a clean white dress with long sleeves over tan leggings, brown lace-up boots and a leather corset. She brushed her hair behind her ears and twirled around. She smiled happily at herself.

"I like it. I like this a lot!"

"Oh, that's great! Is it tight anywhere? Are the boots snug at all?"

Tova adjusted the corset around her waist and tapped the heels of her boots on the floor. It didn't feel uncomfy anywhere.

"Nope, it feels just fine. Are you sure that's enough for all of this?"

"Oh, don't worry about it! This was so much fun for me to do, I really hope you enjoy it! Come back anytime you need something new. This was fun!"

Tova thanked her and smiled as she stepped out of the shop. She trotted happily down the walkway and made her way back to Monti's stall. She saw Azu inside, still looking around and Monti had her back turned. When she heard Tova walk closer to her, she turned around.

"Oh, hey there. Anything I can help you... Oh, Tova! Is that you?"

Tova smiled brightly and twirled around for Monti to see.

"Well, look at you! You look like a whole new person! How does it feel?"

"I like it a lot! It feels comfy."

"Okay, I think I got everything. Sorry if I made a mess." said Azu as he stepped back towards the counter holding an armful of parts. He stopped when he spotted Tova and dropped all the items on the counter.

"Wow, Tova you look... I mean- where did you get the money to pay for all of that?"

Monti winked at Tova before she said anything. She quickly rearranged her words before answering.

"Uh... the lady at the store let me trade in my old clothes and she gave me this in exchange. And this is what she choose for me."

"Wow, that looks amazing... It looks good on you, Tova."

Tova blushed lightly and pulled her arms behind her back as she smiled.

"A-anyway, Monti... Uh, this is all I need. Thanks for your help!"

Azu hopped over the counter and gathered all the items before stuffing them into his large coat pocket. He pulled out a pile of coins and handed them to Monti.

"Come back soon, alright?"

"You know I will. Thanks, Monti!" Azu and Tova waved her goodbye and began to walk away.

"Psst, Azu!" Monti whispered to him Azu turned around as Tova walked ahead.

"You take good care of her, okay?" Monti winked.

"Wha- shutup!" Azu hissed and turned back to catch up with Tova. Monti giggled as she watched them leave.