The Conductor stared intently at RE1 for what seemed like a very long moment. But after a moment or two, they slunk back over to the wagon. Their breathing steady, they calmly removed the tarp and set it aside. With the tarp gone, the contents of the wagon were revealed. It was mostly filled with seemingly random metal and electronic salvage, but there was also several days' worth of food and water in there, along with a not-inconsiderable amount of ammunition. The Conductor calmly reached down into the wagon and retrieved a well-worn handgun. They inhaled deeply and cocked the weapon, and as they did, an ascending whir rang out over the Ashlands.

RE1's heart pounded in her ears, growing steadily faster, except... no. That wasn't her heart.

And then, there was a yelp. Surprise? Pain? No, it was something else. It was a signifier that something was coming, like a punctuation mark at the beginning of a sentence, and come it did. A fast, pounding bassline swept over the experiment, replacing her drive to stand still. Standing still was the one thing she could no longer do. RE1 was swept away by a deep, intense feeling from the pit of her stomach, a feeling that commanded her... to dance. Yes, dance. Let the music claim her. How exactly she danced was up to her, but she knew it was the only thing she wanted to do, even if she didn't want to do it.

The Conductor, meanwhile, danced like no one was watching. They bounded along the dusty road, legs pounding, neck bobbing, keeping perfect time with the rhythm. They twirled their gun along their fingers, stood before the experiment and tilted their head down, giving the impression that they were smiling. And then, as before, they swept up close to RE1 and began to dance... not with her, per se, but closely enough and simply enough that perhaps she could be mimicked. It was almost like they were trying to teach her.

[i]"As he came into the window, it was the sound of a crescendo.
He came into her apartment, he left the bloodstains on the carpet.
She ran underneath the table, he could see she was unable.
So she ran into the bedroom. She was struck down, it was her doom."[/i]

Then, suddenly, The Conductor slunk behind RE1 and began to slowly glide around her, weapon at the ready. Their head tilted from side to side curiously, and their mask still grinned its wicked grin at the experiment. Their manner hand changed, perhaps appropriately, to that of a beast stalking its prey.

[i]"Annie, are you okay? Said Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay? Said Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay? Said Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay? Said Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?"[/i]

The Conductor leapt backwards, between the wagon and the experiment, and began to dance a complex, intricate dance. They leaned, they bounced, they swept their body from side to side as if they were the only person in the Wasteland.

[i]"Annie, are you okay? Will you tell us that you're okay?
There's a sign in the window that he struck you -- a crescendo, Annie!
He came into your apartment, left the bloodstains on the carpet,
and then you ran into the bedroom! You were struck down -- it was your doom!"

"Annie, are you okay? Said Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay? Said Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay? Said Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?"[/i]

And then, suddenly, The Conductor stopped in their tracks and struck a pose, dramatically pointing their finger at RE1, weapon at their side.

[i]"You've been hit by... You've been hit by, [url=https://youtu.be/XzNWRmqibNE]a smooth criminal.[/url]"[/i]

[@VitoftheVoid]