Detroit, Michigan 2037

September 21ST

Cyberlife manufacturing plant

6:54 PM

No one here would think of stopping progress.

That thought had always resonated with Jake Morgan. His business partner Elijah Kamski was certainly one that prided himself on self-image and trust.

Jake glanced down at his watch. In just little over an hour, the plant would be closing up for the evening. He could hear the rain pounding against the roof while he made his way down the assembly hall and to his own private manufacturing cubical. The doors parted when his ID badge granted him access

It wasn't part of Jake's job to oversee the manufacturing process, but every once in while there was a sense of pride and satisfaction that come from personally running the construction. He took a seat down at his controls getting ready for another setup. His could just about see his reflection in the one-way glass that separated him from the assembly stage. His curly brown hair looked like a mess due to the eight-hour workday. Jake rolled up the sleeves to his Cyberlife branded hoodie it was slightly warmer in his lab. He agreed to one more build then it would be straight home afterward.

It amazed him every single time he witnessed it with his own eyes. It was the outcome that thousands of science fiction writers had woven together over the decades. But he was one of the many who was now able to bring it to life. Jakes' fingers grazed over the keyboard, imputing the necessary commands to begin. Step by step and slow piece by piece the assembly came to life and began their work. The android would respond until being properly connected to its torso, it after all still needed a heart to function. Jake spoke clearly as the assembly welded the machine's neck covering down. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes." Its eyes didn't even flutter when they opened. More alert than someone just waking up from sleep. There wasn't even any color to them.

Perfect she could hear. All systems were green as of this moment. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. "ID?"

"KPC897504C."

"Can you move your head?" She started to move slowly, taking her time. "Your eyes now." It was slightly frightening just how real the eyes looked. "Cervical and optical animation check." It was interesting, she appeared to be shifting her gazed toward his station behind the glass. She knew he was there, but couldn't see him."Now give me your initialization text." Next came the arms followed by the overcoats. The newer models could now be assembled with 24 fewer pieces than the very first. The chest and remaining pieces of the torso were then secured.

"Hello, I'm the third generation EX android. I can look after your house, do the cooking, mind the kids. I organize your appointments. I speak 200 hundred languages and I'm entirely at your disposal as a sexual partner. No need to feed me or recharge me. I'm equipped with a quantic battery that makes me autonomous for 173 years. Do you want to give me a name?"

It wasn't much of a name. Just a model name, it would be her owners' job to give her a name if they chose to. "Yeah, from now on your name is Kara." It wasn't uncommon for them to ask about a given name, but just fascinating that from minute one they sought some form of identity.

"My name is Kara." She repeated, smiling into the darkness where Jake sat and was even smiling himself.

"Initialization and memorization check." Systems still showed all green. "Now can you move your arms?" She watched in wonder as the white coating that currently covered her body peeled away to reveal skin that looked as though it was only hiding beneath the surface. Fascination pooled into her cold eyes as her hands moved across the fabrication of skin. "Upper limb connection check." Still no issues. "Now say something in German." Jake himself was not fluent in many of the specific dialects that androids could speak thankfully his software came with a personal translator to check then triple check whatever was spoke was said correctly. He spoke softly to himself, running through the remaining systems looking very pleased. "Multilingual verbal expression check." The assembly moved her forward to allow her to rest her feet on the ground for the first time. Thankfully she had no problems with standing on her own. "Go ahead, take a few steps." It was like watching his daughter when she was only an infant. At first, there was the hesitation, the unknown thoughts that would initiate that single and most important first step. But she took them bravely and with confidence. Evening smiling and twirling like a dancer on a stage. Everything was still reading as all clear. "Locomotion checked. Great, you're ready for work honey." Even the slightest hint of human-ish qualities made them much more relatable and alive. From asking their name, smiling and showing a timid nature when completely exposed.

"What's going to happen to me now?" Her curiosity was adorable. This was a common question asked by every model.

Jake checked through his notes, knowing for a fact he didn't miss anything. "I'll reinitialize you and send you to a store to be sold."

"Sold? I'm a sort of merchandise, is that right?" She stared at him

"Yeah, of course, you're merchandise baby, I mean you're a computer with arms and legs and capable of doing all sorts of things and you're worth a fortune."

"No I see I….I thought-"

"You thought?" Jake was breathless. He slowly stood from his desk, his face swarming with nervous captivity. "What did you think?" He motioned for the recorder to stay on her, he wanted to hear what she was about to say. He knew he'd regret it but he had to hear her say it.

"I thought." Her lip quivered for a moment. The eyes that were once soulless and empty now sparked with disappointment and sorrow. "I was alive." Jake's stomach twisted.

"Shit, what's this crap? That's not part of the protocol." Jake sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. "More memory components going off the rails." This problem was supposed to have been fixed weeks ago. The component plants were going to have to be informed yet again of this issue. The worst part was that Jake had no idea of how many other incidents like this had happened just today. They would be on his desk no doubt next week. "Ok recording." All that time gone to waste to now reverse the process. "Disassemble and check the required components."

Everything felt as though it were crashing down. Everything was racing yet time seemed to stand still "You're disassembling me but why?" She almost couldn't believe it.

"You're not supposed to think that sort of stuff. You're not supposed to think period. You must have a defective piece or a software problem somewhere."

It was shocking to see her trying to fight off the assembly machines in an effort to get away. "No, I feel perfectly fine I assure you. Everything is alright! I answered all the tests, correctly didn't I?"

That was true, but that couldn't only get her so far afterword's. "Yeah, but your behavior is nonstandard."

"Please, I'm begging you, please don't disassemble me!"

"I'm sorry Honey, but defective models have to be eliminated, that's my job. If a client comes back with a complaint I'm gonna have some explaining to do." The fact Cyberlife was already dealing with one too many problems as it is. The first few years had their problems when they started out n 2024, but stability was finally managed to take root. This was just a whole other form of misery to have to put to rest.

Still, she continued to fight him or rather defy him by continuing to beg for her life. "I won't cause any problems. I promise!" I'll do everything I'm asked to. I won't say another word. I won't think anymore. I've only just been born you can't kill me yet!" STOP WILL YOU PLEASE STOP!" Why didn't she understand that this needed to be done? Why couldn't she just obey? "I'M SCARED!" He froze, he actually stopped dead in his tracks. Why did he stop? He should have but he did it anyway. Jake just stood there in disbelief at what this incredible machine had just said to him. She…Kara was wanting to defy her initial reason for being created….something inside of her no matter how small was already beginning to say as loud as it possibly could….No. This has never happened before. Never to this degree. Jake's hands shook so violently that he had to sit. Had to collect his thoughts. "I want to live, I'm begging you." He should have gotten up, done something…anything, but do what exactly?

It was clear, beyond clear at this moment that someone was trying to tell him something…she was trying to reach him, to make him understand what he was doing was wrong. Jake hesitated for a moment, his breath short and his skin stiff. The heartbeat he felt in his chest rang in his eardrums. It took him a while to gather himself, but once done Jake moved his hands over the keyboards to reactivate the assembly mechanics. Piece by piece just like before Kara was reassembled to perfection as if nothing had happened. All systems appeared green again. She looked at him with such admiration, that look on her face said it all.

"Go and join the others. "That must have been the one thing she had done without argument. "Stay in line, okay? I don't want any trouble."

His stomach when she looked back at him, making eye contact that seemed impossible as if she could see him. "Thanks."

Jake just stood there after the shipment disappeared. Whatever happened next would be out of his hands. "My god!"

Jake didn't say much when his family gathered at the table that night for dinner. His wife Leah softly knocked on the table to alert him. Jake looked up, managing to fabricate a convincing smile. Leah raised her eyebrow, not taking her eyes off her husband as she signed with her hands. "Are you feeling alright?" Her concern reflected in her stunning brown eyes.

Jake nodded, moving his hands and mouth to say. "I'm fine, just tired."

Leah signed back. "Is everything alright?"

Jake replied. "Never been better." The pair dropped their conversation when their daughter Sky made her way downstairs. She wore an overall jean dress over a white T-shirt. Her bushy, curly brown hair pulled into a low ponytail that bobbed every time she moved.

"So, are you and Elijah gonna make me a jetpack for my birthday or what?" She teased making sure that she was in clear view of her mom so she could read her lips. "Cause I will take that or a 3D printer."

Leah chuckled moving her hands to ask. "What would you do with a 3D printer?"

"With my wacky imagination, I plan on making some weird crap!"

There was no doubt in Jake's mind that would be the case. "I think I'd be more worried about what she does with a jetpack." His chuckle then turned to a frightened yelp when their AX400 model startled him from behind. "Jesus, Charlotte."

"I'm so sorry, Jake." Charlotte looked so concerned.

The idea of what his face must have looked like when he was startled made him laugh. Sky snickered trying to cover her mouth as she joked. "And that was how dad was horribly murdered." Leah glared at her daughter, curling her lips. "Sorry." After Charlotte had served dinner she turned on the radio to a classical station. "Thank you, Charlotte." At first, the sound of silverware clicking together along with the radio was the only noise being made.

Leah tapped her daughters' hand, sighing with her own. "What's playing?"

Sky spelled out with her hands. "N-I-N-A-S-I-M-O-N-E." Leah nodded in approval watching Sky sign "F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S." Sky glanced up deviously at her dad. "So, when do I get to show you my ideas for android updates?"

Jake just shook his head. Sky's involvement in Cyberlife was the last thing he wanted for her in terms of a future. "Don't you have homework to do?"

The nine-year-old pretended to look offended. "I know I'm brilliant and you can't handle that."

"So, you wanna show off your brilliance in the real word now huh?" Both he and Leah looked forward to that day.

"Hey I don't mind being homeschool, but if you want me to "keep busy" you're gonna have to make my homework a lot tougher."

"Well, …we could always send you to public school."

Sky almost choked on her dinner when hearing this remark. "I said make my homework more challenging, not send me to hell!"

"L-A-N-G-U-A-G-E." Leah signed, politely scolding her daughter. Sky loosely clenched her right fist and made circulating motions over her chest to apologize.

Trying to change the subject Jake spoke up. "How about we go away for a little while?"

Sky looked beyond interested at this proposal while her Mom looked concerned. "You know summer vacation just ended less than three weeks, ago right?"

"Are you saying you'd rather spend time here doing tedious homework for a whole other week?"

"Nah." She replied, letting Charlotte take her empty dishes. "I could use a vacation…after my vacation. Hey, you can after parties for after parties why not vacations too?" Leah wasn't so sure on how to take this news. She instantly knew that something was wrong, but pretended to be pleased for her daughter's sake.

After dinner, Jake wasn't sure if he had done enough to hide his nerves. His mind was so frantic that he wondered if he would make it home in one piece or crash in a ditch somewhere. He watched as Leah existed Sky's room and head back down the hall. Sky wouldn't be able to understand what was going on here…that was a lie, she had to be one of the smartest girls in Detroit. Maybe he would tell her eventually, but not tonight…not yet.

"Hey, sweet girl." He smiled setting his folded arms on the end of Sky's lofted bed. "Everything going good?"

She nodded reassuringly her eyes looking tired. She wasn't one to often hide when something was bothering her. "Are you and Elijah still fighting?"

"Why do you ask?"

She shrugged trying to find a good way to word her next question. "Just feels like you guys are drifting apart."

"No, we're just having some communication issues." He smiled sweetly to her getting up on his toes to plant a kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry about it. We'll work it out." Sky left his daughters room, leaving her worry free for the future, at least for the time being. He was greeted by Leah when he entered their room whose suspicious gaze stopped him dead in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" She signed her eyes with a serious looked that made him feel uneasy. Jake sighed deeply, running his hands through his hair as he sat down in an armchair next to the window. Leah knelt next to him rubbing his shoulder. Her long blue Kaftan scrunched up against the floor."Talk to me."

Oh, how to explain this…how to explain any of it in a way that was both amazing and terrifying both at the same time? His voice shook so badly it was actually hilarious. "I need to show you something." Leah then became uneasy, hearing something like this is not what a wife wants to hear. It was both a relief and a concern when Jake handed her a tablet. "Just watch." While the footage played Jake was sure to translate every single word that was said. Leah only sat in disbelief. Jake then continued to go into detail after the footage ended, describing each important thing he could remember and everything he felt and thought. He explained what might have gone wrong, how he wasn't sure what to do next, how he stole the recording footage from the monitor and hadn't said a word to anyone since he left.

"K-A-M-S-"

"No, He doesn't know…..I don't know if I should tell him or not." When he had finished it was clear that Leah now shared the same fears as her husband. Every possibly wrong outcome come flooding into their minds on what they had discovered and what needed to be done next was unclear, but one fact was clear to both of them.

Something had to change.

(Please leave a review or if you have any questions. I'm trying not to overload any of you with information in just the first chapter)