Chapter 1: Contact

It was an early afternoon in Detroit with the sun shining up above and yet the air in the city remained bitingly cold. Neither pulling the layers of duffel jackets or blowing warm breaths through gloved cupped hands could stave the temperature off. At least that is for Maia, a 25 year old filipino girl living in the said city.

She envied these other people who seemed to just shrugged off the weather. They must have too calloused skin to even bother themselves.

She's not used to the cold weather in the first place, growing up in tropical country, it didn't prepare her for this kind of weather. How she got here in Detroit is quite of a story that she'd rather not rethink of.

She was standing in front of an open Cyberlife shop at the Capitol Park; waiting for someone she had planned to meet up with and unintentionally glanced at the displayed androids by the window. It still brings her chills whenever she looks at the them. They utterly looked so human if not for the LED flashing on the side of their forehead she would have mistaken them as one and were just too crazy to stand for hours up on the round podiums without moving an inch.

Maia wasn't there to shop for androids, never had the budget and would never get one anyhow. She had been so open about this new leap of their generation regarding technology. She was even excited of what else more there will be in the next years to come.

However, the recent events happened to her snuffed out of what was left in her optimism. And she blames thr Cyberlife and their androids. After all, blaming someone or something is easier when you are angry and frustrated.

Maia was kicked out of her job at a factory because of her constant flu, as explained before. Her body wasn't so fond of the weather. No one ever likes to work with someone who's sick ridden almost every week. And being an asian to add up. She was replaced by an android which doesn't tire and make mistakes, obviously. Well almost all of the human workers were laid except those ones in the higher positions.

She tried other jobs but got replaced by an android anyway, again and again. It was frustrating and definitely bias. Later on she found herself joining a band of anti-android rallies and she was given the task of making a scene in this certain Cyberlife shop with other few comrades.

She was against to doing it, primarily because she wasn't fond of crowds and second there's a high chance authorities would come for her - the immigration would know the actual status of her visa and they'll deport her. She doesn't wan't that to happen. But she was caught on a pinch. She had to do it, she owed someone and the least she could do for them is participate with them in this plan.

Clark, who was one of the two people she owed a lot and who leads their band of anti-androids protesters, was inside the shop looking around and acting inconspicuously before looking through the glass wall and to her. Giving her a nod as a signal to commence what they came there for.

One after the other, Maia and her group entered inside calmly as to not draw attentions yet. An android salesman approached her as what the others did and handed her a broacher of Cyberlife's products, earning a distasteful glare from her which it simply ignored and moved to another human instead with an unfaltering smile.

Maia was kind of irked at the thought that she didn't cause any discomfort to the thing, least made any indication that it detected her enmity. Of course it'll never ever feel anything.

Clark discreetly walked over to Maia and gave her another subtle nod which she returned with the same gesture then played being inconspicuous once again. Her free hand touched the rolled cardboard with 'NO TO ANROIDS' written on it inside her jacket pocket while she walked around the center. The others also have it while Clark has a portable microphone and speaker in his person.

There are quite a number of people inside the shop, most of them are middle class varying from young, old, women and men. What they will do will definitely disrupt everyone. Make a scene, get the sympathy of the public, make them clearly see the terrible downside of employing robots instead of real people.

A little later, people began to gather at the center of the shop when a Cyberlife staff - the manager, a human, announced himself. Beside him stood an over-head, probably a container of an android covered with long dark blue sheet.

Maia pushed through the crowd until she got right at the front just then the manager pulled off the sheet, revealing the thing that she have already correctly guessed. It was a male android, tall and lean. It has a neatly cut and styled brown hair, with grey blue eyes looking directly at nothing. She glanced at the model on its android clothes which was saying UHM100. This was actually the newest model from Cyberlife that they had been advertising in the past couple of weeks. Today must be it's release.

The manager of the shop began calling the attention of the shoppers as he introduces the android. According to him, it was a prototype model meaning that it's the only one unit at the moment.

The manager stated that the UHM100 was the ultimate master of the Cyberlife for the reason, unlike other androids programmed with specific behaviors and purpose. The UHM100 was intigrated with almost all of the existing programs in varrying androids. Meaning it's an all in one android. As of the moment, it will be used under government supervisory before it'll be approved for public use.

Some audiences were very excited about it and some were suprisingly frowning upon it's idea. Maia can't blame them, these current released androids with specific abilities were already very intellegent to the point of becoming creepy. What else more with this UHM100 created with almost all human behaviour that there is.

Cyberlife is slowly getting out of hand.

"Thank you everyone for sparing your attentions here..." The manager began, flashing his toothy grin at us, not missing to contact his eyes with Maia since she's practically just standing 3 feet away from him and from the container.

"I introduce to you the promising new UHM100 android model designed by the finest engineers of yours truely Cyberlife." I cringed visibly when the manager proudly exclaimed his words, he'd probably seen my reaction but sure it didn't deter him since his goofy grin never faltered.

The people around began murmuring at how it looked but a particular woman had voiced out her words.

"What does it actually do?" She questioned the manager, followed by the agreements of the others.

The manager was more than glad to answer the question.

"Direct to the point are we? But of course that's what makes our androids the best in the market. The things it could do." He supplied and the way he dragged on the last words was seriously unnerving.

"You see Cyberlife had been working on this project way longer than any other models, they have considered this one as their ultimate master piece. Of course they have the _ their flagship, the _ the perfect intimate partner and the state-of-the-art prototype android investigator RK800. But this - the UHM100 is the very first of its kind to be integrated of all the features of the other android models have."

The commotion amongst the audience was quick to erupt and I couldn't help but frown to the manager's words. What kind of freak did Cyberlife cook up now? And as if one of the people in the crowd read my mind, he spoke loudly.

"Isn't that too much?"

Some people were reacting to it positively and surprisingly some negatively.

"Yes it's too much and Cyberlife have considered this matter and any other else that can come up to the costumers but you see this isn't available for public use, yet -"

Another woman cut him off.

"Because the price will surely be outrageous!"

"You are correct, since it is an all-in-one android seemingly like its down fall instead of its edge. You are partly correct and wrong. When I said it is integrated with all the features the other androids have, it didn't mean you can't uninstall them if you don't like." The manager explained knowingly.

"So it's like a phone?" A man questioned but it's more of a statement.

"Very correct, you can install or uninstall features in this android just like your android phones!"

"So only the richest people can get one?" The same one who complained about the price questioned.

"As for now this android is a prototype and may still ran into errors, this will be used under US government supervisory until approved then it'll be approved for public use and become a series."

"If it becomes a series, you will stop producing the older and cheaper models then." A middle aged woman pointed out and the manager was quick to come up with an answer.

"Fortunately no, due to the popular demand of the androids AX400, _ etc. Cyberlife will still mass produce this said androids." He stated simply and absentmindedly put a hand against the glass.

Some of the people were dispersing away and some stayed while talking amongst themselves about the new android. As of me, I chose to stay a little longer as I regarded the android's design. Symmetrical face, perfect eyebrows, icy blue eyes with matching long lashes, adequately prominent jaws, nicely formed nose, thin lips and some fake freckles that dusted around its fake skin. To be honest he looked more of a woman, he should have been just made the same as those stripper androids in Eden Club. He was too beautiful, it's ridiculous. Cyberlife did take it too far indeed, not just from mocking humanities' capabilities in manual labor but also in physical appearance.

I won't be surprised that one day this plastics will turn against our kind, the cliché apocalypse scenarios from movies and thing. How exciting.

Glancing to my left I saw Clark frowning at me wondering what I was even doing, which I replied with my right hand simply entering my jacket pocket where the spray paint is, secretly telling him that I'm going to mess this proto-piece-of-plastic-shit first, dismantle it if given the chance. He gave me one last hard look that's telling me we better get this all done as quickly as possible and turned away.

I faked a smile on my face as I turned to look at the manager who was still standing by the container and is equally returning my gesture. Eventually he diverted his attention as some of the customers in the store approached him and threw him some questios about the android.

This is the perfect time.

I placed my bare left hand against the cool glass that was enclosing the UHM100 android, uncapping the spray paint in my pocket while secretly eyeing the few people who were still looking at the android and not to me. They have this wonderment look in their eyes as they stared at it, some girls were even ogling at it.

For a minute, Maia bothered herself to take a closer look at the UHM100 as well did the few other onlookers, placing a hand on the glass enclosure out of habit and looked up at it. Trailing her eyes from the android's chest and up to its face. A face that was strangely fully facing at her now, tilted to the side since she was actually standing by its left corner. Its icy-blue eyes however have what caught her breathing in her throat that instant.

The blasted thing was looking right at her. Like exactly right at my own dark eyes.

She was stunned on the spot.

"I don't think it's suppose to do that." Maia heard someone said almost shakily beside her, snapping her out of her daze.

She managed to glance at the person who was the manager briefly. Seeing his eyes was trained just right below the android and so she followed it as well and found that there was another larger hand planted against the glass, right in front of her smaller left hand.

Maia pulled away immediately as if burned; stepping away as far from the android as possible but stopped when her back hit someone's body who she found out was Clark.

"What are you doing?" He almost sneered at her, obviously exasperated for this stunt she was doing. His hand gripping quite tightly on her left shoulder. "I haven't a signal yet and here you are trying to make a scene." He told her, his voice low and reprimanding.

Maia, irritated swatted off his unwelcome grip on her shoulder. She was about to retort only to be cut-off.

"I need help here!" The loud voice of the manager once again caught their attention, well everyone else in the center to be exact.

He was standing right in front of the UHM100 that has now both of its hands planted against the cylinder glass, and so still has its creepy eyes directed at Maia. Its face was blank – dead as any lifeless thing should be. But its whole body is now fully facing at her and its eyes, it was as if they were looking right through her soul. To say that she wasn't absolutely disturbed would be a lie and it got even worse when the manager said –

"I was sure this android was locked on standby mode, how come it was moving on its own?!"

Right away, a collected gasps and murmurs of the crowd erupted within the shop; some were backing away from the android while some even have the guts to nose in. As for Maia, she literally stormed out of the shop with Clark hot on her heels.

He called at her to slowdown only did she realize that she was jogging across the sidewalk in haste. He pulled her arm once he reached her to make her face him but she harshly shook her shoulder off of him with an irritated scowl on her face.

"Looked what you did to our plan." Clark exclaimed in a rather accusing way which only churned Maia's now boiling blood. She forgot to mention she has a bad temper despite the freezing weather.

"I did warn you about me getting in this! I mess things up! I always do!" Maia snarled at him and sharply turned away, stomping heavier than before.

"Hey! Maia! I'm sorry I didn't mean it that way!" Clark chased after her now sounding regretful.

When she felt even just the slightest brush of his hand about to land on her arm; she stopped abruptly, turning back to him with a swipe of her arm to get his hand off.

Maia was seething now. She doesn't even know why she was so riled up when Clark was obviously sorry, but lately she had been more snappy and broody. With all the stress and androids taking all over the city like a persistent parasite, she felt so cornered. Defeated. And her defense mechanisms to it was these uncontrollable meltdowns.

"I didn't do anything! I was just standing in there and then it happened!" I said with hardness on my voice. "I'm sorry if I messed your plan but guess what? It's always in me. I always fuc –"

"Maia, don't s –" He tried to cut in but she didn't let him.

"I don't care anymore Clark. Just let me go home because I am so goddamn tired now!"

With that Maia spun on her shoes and walked away, squeezing through the bodies of pedestrians that had now flowed across the streets since it was now the usual time of off work.

Her breathing came heavy, her body was shivering but not from cold anymore. In rage. She feels so angry and she hates to say that she can't control it. Kicking a nearby post only to regret it doing so when the pain surged immediately from her toe, making her feel even worse.

Maia was angry not just because of today, but this forever idea that she no longer make anything productive causes in her life. Angry that she joined this pointless band of anti-androids when in truth no one's gonna give a damn to them no matter what because they are actually beggars now.

These rich people won't even stop and look just for a second because they were too proud and only indulge into frivolous extravagance such as these androids. Androids don't complain, they don't get hungry, thirsty, tired, sick and most importantly they don't need money which them blue-collared people needed for a living.

She's just complaining anyway, she's only human, lazy and greedy. She should have tried harder in finding work instead of wasting her time self-loathing and hating androids. They were just machines, piece of plastic, metal and what so ever. They don't feel pain, they don't care what they ever do to them.

She's being immature, she knows. But damn, seems getting angry is way easier right now than being happy. She theb pulled into a stop, not knowing that she had reached the bus stop if she didn't ran into someone. Maia mumbled an apology but was taken aback when she realized it wasn't a person but an android that she had bumped into. It was looking at her with an understanding look on its face and he even said 'It's okay.' Now she felt confused.

If it were human, she would have been yelled at or something that's humiliating because she didn't just simply bump into it but practically pushed it off to the road. Too lucky that there are only few vehicles crossing and it didn't get run over.

To be honest, she felt guilty that this machine was more polite than any human, way more polite than her. So as said they are way superior than the humans. What else can they do that the humans can't? Especially that oh-so-perfect-UHM100?

Maia had never encountered any androids this up close before that talked to her. She had avoided conversations with the robots or a simple hello, neither in shops. Androids also mostly just ignore the people around except their owners, zoning out in their own AI thoughts like any robot should, but this one. It should be the programming, it's programmed to be polite.

This android is tall, tan skinned, green eyed and gentle - good looking. Hooked around one of its arm was a box of Belline Paints. Something she's a bit knowledgable since she does painting sometimes. Perhaps it was for its owner. Unlike any other androids this one looked different, not just the design - 'RK200' though it sure seemed a predecessor of the prototype RK800. The sleeves of its clothes intrigued Maia they were rolled up to its elbow like a human would. Too casual for a machine to bother itself to do. Perhaps again the owner was the one who did it. Must be the programming also.

And again anger came back when she realized she was musing too much over the thing. She was becoming restless and paranoid. Huffing, she moved out of the way and stood further away from it. Away from humans as well. Looking at the road, impatiently waiting for the bus to come.

While waiting she somehow, involuntarily looked to the other side and regreted it when at the same time the green eyed android turned to her direction and caught her gaze. She gulped as the robot's lips pulled up into a small smile. Quickly, she looked away, totally creeped out. What's up with the androids today looking at her in the eye? Some weird conspiract is really happening to her.

She let out a heavy sigh when the bus finally pulled in front of the waiting area, and boarded it with haste and took a seat right at the front of the vehicle. Far from the android compartment. She swear, she'll never go near any plastic creepers ever again.