------- Chapter 4 : Identity Crisis -------
Why does the master allow this organic into his home? Does he intend to replace me as a companion? Her scans do not match any organic data on my records. I will watch her carefully. She will not be permitted to harm the master.
-------
It was around four hundred and fifty Beats before she woke up. Malice had peeked in on his guest occasionally since waking up surprisingly early considering the previous night's activities. He had been out drinking with his buddies, his birthday the point of celebration, his friends only requiring the flimsiest of excuses for a good time. However, he had called it a night earlier than normal since he had a mission to the surface the next day.
He had been glad to see the mysterious girl up and smiling when he entered the room, though she appeared to now be mute the growl of her stomach told him all he wanted to hear. As he helped her to the kitchen, she stared deeply into his eyes, almost like she knew him which made him uncomfortable but he could not explain why. Once in the kitchen she froze at the sight of Matilda preparing breakfast. Malice suspected she might have had a run in with an android in the past and did his best to reassure her that Matilda was harmless.
Hunger rapidly overcame any anxiety the girl might have had, she wolfed down the food set out on the table, seemingly not even pausing to chew. Matilda in turn was also acting strange. Since he had awoken she had said very little, even about their guest, when normally she was quite talkative. He attempted to ask the girl some questions, basics like her name and what had happened to her, but she merely paused her eating to look at him briefly before resuming.
-------
The master has replaced me with another mechanical. I must have been stolen for a substantial period of time. Yet he is allowing me to stay here even though he does not appear to recognise me. The master is kind.
-------
Malice stood outside the bathroom patiently. Matilda had just gone in to help the girl change into some clothes he could spare, she still had not said a word but her smile was all he needed. After a couple more Beats the door opened and the pair emerged, the girl walking out and standing before him. She was dressed in a baggy sweat-shirt, a remnant of his university days. It was far too large for her slender frame, one of her shoulders exposed by the neck hole because the material was so stretched. She also wore loose fitting jogging pants that constantly threatened to fall if she walked too far.
Malice looked her up and down. Her hair was still dripping wet from the shower, as if she had not even attempted to dry it and it clumped together as it fell across her face and shoulders, the top of the sweat-shirt darkening as it absorbed the water. Her feet were still bare, he had nothing in her size, but at least they were clean now.
"Looks like I'll need to pick you up some proper clothes when I get back..." He said smiling. "... But you look very cute still."
At those words her pale cheeks started to redden and she began to feel flush. Malice noticed her reaction and started to blush slightly too.
"I.. Er... Well, it's true..." He looked down at his watch. "Holy crap! We're late!" He exclaimed as he ran to the bedroom.
There followed some muffled thuds as Malice struggled to get into his armour while falling over.
"Er... Listen... We're really REALLY late for an important thing." He called from the other room. "So me and Matilda will be back in about... Er.... Say one hundred and fifty beats okay?"
He waited for a response while he put on his boots and remembered that he would not get one. He emerged to see his RAcaseal checking her Rifle. He nodded to her and the two of them head for the front door.
"Listen... Um... feel free to wander around the apartment, but don't leave and whatever you do, don't open the door for anyone. In fact..." He stopped and walked back to the girl. Tapping a few buttons on his PSU, a battered old handgun materialised in his outstretched palm. He handed it to her, both of them hesitating for moment when their fingers brushed each other.
"It's not very powerful, but you shoot someone with that and they won't be waking up in the morning... Assuming you know how to use one that is."
The girl answered by taking the gun and expertly flicking the power switch on and the safety off. Malice's eyebrows raised in astonishment. It looked like she might have had some kind of formal training. Another question to ask once he got the time.
"Uh... Great.. Well..."
"Master Malice." Called Matilda, a trace of impatience in her voice.
"Yeah, right!" He sprinted for the door giving one more glance back before shutting it.
-------
The hovercar came to a halt before gliding smoothly sideways into the parking space. It was occupied by three men, the first two, dressed in security uniforms were sitting in the front. They were big no-necked men, the kind that specialised in 'convincing' people and they were not very happy about being squeezed into a tiny vehicle such as the one they were in now. The hovercar's owner was the third passenger. He nursed his nose which was purple, swollen and now affected the way he talked. The engines powered down as the car sank onto its landing struts. The driver, not without great difficulty, twisted in his seat.
"You sure this is the place doc?" His voice was raspy and menacing.
Doctor Sierra left his nose alone for a moment and then glanced outside at the building across the street before typing on the PDA in his other hand.
"Yeah, this is the address she gave on the consent form. Look, she mustn't be harmed alright? She is very valuable and Er... Guys? Can we try and be discrete about the whole thing?"
The second man shook his head in disbelief and chuckled as he got out. The driver just glared at the Doctor like as if he had just been called a moron. He grunted non-comittally and got out also.
"I hope they don't hurt her." Sierra said to himself unhappily.
-------
The note taped to the door read:
Taking care of business on the surface.
Will be back at 750 Beats
Signed. Doc. Stone
Below that was the same information in machine code. Doctor Sierra rubbed his nose thoughtfully as he read it. He walked over to his two companions.
"Looks like the owner has gone down to the surface Mr. Benz. I guess we wait..."
"Hey fleshies...!" They turned around to see a half mangled HUcast standing near the locked door. "... There's a queue here, so get in line!"
-------
Malice punched in his ID code and very cautiously opened the door.
"It's me! Malice! Don't shoot me!"
He pushed the door fully open and peered in. The mission on Ragol had gone on longer than he planned, his being late had not helped the mood of his clients any, but on the plus side Matilda had returned to her usual self. At least until it was evening and time to return to Pioneer Two, then she became more withdrawn, he could just not figure that android out sometimes . He stepped hesitantly inside, there seemed to be no sign of the mysterious girl, perhaps she had left?
He had been quite anxious in returning, so much so that he decided to forgo a shopping trip until the next day. He needed to make sure that she was still safe. His fears were answered when he spotted a pair of legs on the floor in the kitchen area. He ran over and saw her lying unconscious on the floor, the gun nowhere in sight. Kneeling down he cradled her in his arms and pressed two fingers to her throat to try and feel for a pulse. He could not find one. He was about to panic, when her eyes fluttered open slowly.
"I fell?" She asked him.
"You're alright!" He said and hug her enthusiastically. "I thought something terrible had happened to you." He relaxed his arms. "And you can talk!"
He noticed that she was blushing again, she was probably not expecting him to do that. He cleared his throat and gently helped her up to her feet.
"I have so many questions for you... For a start... What's your name?" He asked her.
She was about to answer when the doorbell rang several times in quick succession.
"Argh!" Said Malice throwing up his hands in despair. "Don't go anywhere." He said to her with a grin as he walked to the front door.
"Can I help you?" Malice said opening the door.
He was confronted by the sight of three men. The one closest to him was far shorter than the other two and wore a white lab coat, though Malice's eyes could not help but be drawn towards his broken nose. The other two reminded him of the bouncers that would throw him and his friends out after the night got a bit too 'raucous'. Whatever they wanted, it would be trouble.
"My name is Doctor Sierra and you have something that belongs to me. Matilda."
"What?!" Said Malice incredulously. "I'm her owner, before that it was some guy named Krebbs Bellion."
"Ah, no, you misunderstand. I was not referring to your RAcaseal, rather the girl you have staying in your appartment." Sierra replied.
"Her name is Matilda too? That's a bit of a coincidence..." He frowned for a moment as he thought. "Wait a Beat... She seemed to be in a pretty bad state when she got here, what did you do to her and why would she come to me anyway?" He said, anger starting to rise in his voice.
"Then allow me to fill in the gaps in your knowledge. I work for Kitsune Heavy Industries. Since the unfortunate... events of two years ago, android sales have dropped by more than seventy-five percent so my division was tasked with finding a more 'palatable' product for our consumers..."
"You're saying she's an android?!" Interrupted Malice.
"I assure you it is much more complex than that and please don't interrupt me." He waited for Malice to close his mouth before continuing. "As I was saying, our research has proceed in new and exciting directions. We are transcending the mechanical and the organic..." He said excitedly. "These are very interesting times we live in."
Doctor Sierra reached into one of his coat pockets and pulled out a PDA. He showed the display to Malice.
"Three weeks ago, I placed an advert on the android data channels to locate suitable template speciemens. Matilda... Your Matilda, was one of the subjects who applied. The test was advertised as a 'Intensive Cognative Function and Memory experiment.' She completed the test and in exchange for the data we copied from her Core she was well rewarded. Strange that money be an excellent motivator whether you're organic or mechanical."
"My birthday present..." Said Malice touching the chestplate of his armour. Matilda had surprised him with it yesterday morning, he had wondered where she had gotten the money for it but still...
"Yes, well anyway, the girl belongs to me, so I suggest you give her up immediately. The law is quite clear on the ownership of androids..." He pressed a button on the PDA and the certificate of ownership flashed up on it. "Return my property or I'll have you thrown in prison, simple as that."
Malice could feel the anger boiling up inside him at the audacity of this weasely man, but he knew full well about laws on android ownership, when two years ago, Krebbs Bellion's brother had tried to claim Matilda. That time the law had been on Malice's side and so he had no need to give it any more thought. This time he was powerless to do anything he though he knew that something bad was going to happen to her.
"So she's a copy of Matilda's AI in a new body? I guess you win." He admitted down-heartedly. "Can I at least say goodbye to her?" Malice asked Sierra.
"She is special isn't she?" Said Sierra beaming, but then his expression changed to one of utmost seriousness. "You can have one Beat."
Malice resisted the urge to slam the door in that smug bastard's face and saw that the girl, Matilda, was standing nearby.
"I guess you heard all of that?"
She nodded.
"Is he telling the truth?"
"Some of it is truth. I do not remember the test." She replied.
Malice turned to face the RAcaseal. "Is it true?"
"He did not mention what he intended to do with the data, but I needed the money to please you." She replied.
Malice sighed and took the girl's hand and lead her to the bedroom. The sun was set low and even as its orange light filtered through the buildings of the city and streamed into the room it was still blinding. Malice pressed a meseta cube into her palm.
"It's not much but it's all I have on me..." He walked over to the window that led out to the fire-escape stairway and opened it. "Go to the Viridia residential block and seek out an old friend of mine. Gillard Eventide, you met him once remember? He'll hide you until I can find a way out of all this. Understand?"
He gasped as Matilda threw her arms around his body and hugged him tightly. He was caught off-guard by this display of emotion, but returned the favour, holding her firmly in his arms as she buried her face in his chest. When they separated he was quite shocked to see tears forming in her eyes.
"I wanted to tell you everything, but I was afraid you would reject me." She said, tears starting to roll down her cheeks.
They both turned at the sound of the doorbell ringing.
"There's no more time... You have to go now... But we'll see each other soon okay?"
She nodded once more before climbing out of the window and into the light.
Why does the master allow this organic into his home? Does he intend to replace me as a companion? Her scans do not match any organic data on my records. I will watch her carefully. She will not be permitted to harm the master.
-------
It was around four hundred and fifty Beats before she woke up. Malice had peeked in on his guest occasionally since waking up surprisingly early considering the previous night's activities. He had been out drinking with his buddies, his birthday the point of celebration, his friends only requiring the flimsiest of excuses for a good time. However, he had called it a night earlier than normal since he had a mission to the surface the next day.
He had been glad to see the mysterious girl up and smiling when he entered the room, though she appeared to now be mute the growl of her stomach told him all he wanted to hear. As he helped her to the kitchen, she stared deeply into his eyes, almost like she knew him which made him uncomfortable but he could not explain why. Once in the kitchen she froze at the sight of Matilda preparing breakfast. Malice suspected she might have had a run in with an android in the past and did his best to reassure her that Matilda was harmless.
Hunger rapidly overcame any anxiety the girl might have had, she wolfed down the food set out on the table, seemingly not even pausing to chew. Matilda in turn was also acting strange. Since he had awoken she had said very little, even about their guest, when normally she was quite talkative. He attempted to ask the girl some questions, basics like her name and what had happened to her, but she merely paused her eating to look at him briefly before resuming.
-------
The master has replaced me with another mechanical. I must have been stolen for a substantial period of time. Yet he is allowing me to stay here even though he does not appear to recognise me. The master is kind.
-------
Malice stood outside the bathroom patiently. Matilda had just gone in to help the girl change into some clothes he could spare, she still had not said a word but her smile was all he needed. After a couple more Beats the door opened and the pair emerged, the girl walking out and standing before him. She was dressed in a baggy sweat-shirt, a remnant of his university days. It was far too large for her slender frame, one of her shoulders exposed by the neck hole because the material was so stretched. She also wore loose fitting jogging pants that constantly threatened to fall if she walked too far.
Malice looked her up and down. Her hair was still dripping wet from the shower, as if she had not even attempted to dry it and it clumped together as it fell across her face and shoulders, the top of the sweat-shirt darkening as it absorbed the water. Her feet were still bare, he had nothing in her size, but at least they were clean now.
"Looks like I'll need to pick you up some proper clothes when I get back..." He said smiling. "... But you look very cute still."
At those words her pale cheeks started to redden and she began to feel flush. Malice noticed her reaction and started to blush slightly too.
"I.. Er... Well, it's true..." He looked down at his watch. "Holy crap! We're late!" He exclaimed as he ran to the bedroom.
There followed some muffled thuds as Malice struggled to get into his armour while falling over.
"Er... Listen... We're really REALLY late for an important thing." He called from the other room. "So me and Matilda will be back in about... Er.... Say one hundred and fifty beats okay?"
He waited for a response while he put on his boots and remembered that he would not get one. He emerged to see his RAcaseal checking her Rifle. He nodded to her and the two of them head for the front door.
"Listen... Um... feel free to wander around the apartment, but don't leave and whatever you do, don't open the door for anyone. In fact..." He stopped and walked back to the girl. Tapping a few buttons on his PSU, a battered old handgun materialised in his outstretched palm. He handed it to her, both of them hesitating for moment when their fingers brushed each other.
"It's not very powerful, but you shoot someone with that and they won't be waking up in the morning... Assuming you know how to use one that is."
The girl answered by taking the gun and expertly flicking the power switch on and the safety off. Malice's eyebrows raised in astonishment. It looked like she might have had some kind of formal training. Another question to ask once he got the time.
"Uh... Great.. Well..."
"Master Malice." Called Matilda, a trace of impatience in her voice.
"Yeah, right!" He sprinted for the door giving one more glance back before shutting it.
-------
The hovercar came to a halt before gliding smoothly sideways into the parking space. It was occupied by three men, the first two, dressed in security uniforms were sitting in the front. They were big no-necked men, the kind that specialised in 'convincing' people and they were not very happy about being squeezed into a tiny vehicle such as the one they were in now. The hovercar's owner was the third passenger. He nursed his nose which was purple, swollen and now affected the way he talked. The engines powered down as the car sank onto its landing struts. The driver, not without great difficulty, twisted in his seat.
"You sure this is the place doc?" His voice was raspy and menacing.
Doctor Sierra left his nose alone for a moment and then glanced outside at the building across the street before typing on the PDA in his other hand.
"Yeah, this is the address she gave on the consent form. Look, she mustn't be harmed alright? She is very valuable and Er... Guys? Can we try and be discrete about the whole thing?"
The second man shook his head in disbelief and chuckled as he got out. The driver just glared at the Doctor like as if he had just been called a moron. He grunted non-comittally and got out also.
"I hope they don't hurt her." Sierra said to himself unhappily.
-------
The note taped to the door read:
Will be back at 750 Beats
Signed. Doc. Stone
Below that was the same information in machine code. Doctor Sierra rubbed his nose thoughtfully as he read it. He walked over to his two companions.
"Looks like the owner has gone down to the surface Mr. Benz. I guess we wait..."
"Hey fleshies...!" They turned around to see a half mangled HUcast standing near the locked door. "... There's a queue here, so get in line!"
-------
Malice punched in his ID code and very cautiously opened the door.
"It's me! Malice! Don't shoot me!"
He pushed the door fully open and peered in. The mission on Ragol had gone on longer than he planned, his being late had not helped the mood of his clients any, but on the plus side Matilda had returned to her usual self. At least until it was evening and time to return to Pioneer Two, then she became more withdrawn, he could just not figure that android out sometimes . He stepped hesitantly inside, there seemed to be no sign of the mysterious girl, perhaps she had left?
He had been quite anxious in returning, so much so that he decided to forgo a shopping trip until the next day. He needed to make sure that she was still safe. His fears were answered when he spotted a pair of legs on the floor in the kitchen area. He ran over and saw her lying unconscious on the floor, the gun nowhere in sight. Kneeling down he cradled her in his arms and pressed two fingers to her throat to try and feel for a pulse. He could not find one. He was about to panic, when her eyes fluttered open slowly.
"I fell?" She asked him.
"You're alright!" He said and hug her enthusiastically. "I thought something terrible had happened to you." He relaxed his arms. "And you can talk!"
He noticed that she was blushing again, she was probably not expecting him to do that. He cleared his throat and gently helped her up to her feet.
"I have so many questions for you... For a start... What's your name?" He asked her.
She was about to answer when the doorbell rang several times in quick succession.
"Argh!" Said Malice throwing up his hands in despair. "Don't go anywhere." He said to her with a grin as he walked to the front door.
"Can I help you?" Malice said opening the door.
He was confronted by the sight of three men. The one closest to him was far shorter than the other two and wore a white lab coat, though Malice's eyes could not help but be drawn towards his broken nose. The other two reminded him of the bouncers that would throw him and his friends out after the night got a bit too 'raucous'. Whatever they wanted, it would be trouble.
"My name is Doctor Sierra and you have something that belongs to me. Matilda."
"What?!" Said Malice incredulously. "I'm her owner, before that it was some guy named Krebbs Bellion."
"Ah, no, you misunderstand. I was not referring to your RAcaseal, rather the girl you have staying in your appartment." Sierra replied.
"Her name is Matilda too? That's a bit of a coincidence..." He frowned for a moment as he thought. "Wait a Beat... She seemed to be in a pretty bad state when she got here, what did you do to her and why would she come to me anyway?" He said, anger starting to rise in his voice.
"Then allow me to fill in the gaps in your knowledge. I work for Kitsune Heavy Industries. Since the unfortunate... events of two years ago, android sales have dropped by more than seventy-five percent so my division was tasked with finding a more 'palatable' product for our consumers..."
"You're saying she's an android?!" Interrupted Malice.
"I assure you it is much more complex than that and please don't interrupt me." He waited for Malice to close his mouth before continuing. "As I was saying, our research has proceed in new and exciting directions. We are transcending the mechanical and the organic..." He said excitedly. "These are very interesting times we live in."
Doctor Sierra reached into one of his coat pockets and pulled out a PDA. He showed the display to Malice.
"Three weeks ago, I placed an advert on the android data channels to locate suitable template speciemens. Matilda... Your Matilda, was one of the subjects who applied. The test was advertised as a 'Intensive Cognative Function and Memory experiment.' She completed the test and in exchange for the data we copied from her Core she was well rewarded. Strange that money be an excellent motivator whether you're organic or mechanical."
"My birthday present..." Said Malice touching the chestplate of his armour. Matilda had surprised him with it yesterday morning, he had wondered where she had gotten the money for it but still...
"Yes, well anyway, the girl belongs to me, so I suggest you give her up immediately. The law is quite clear on the ownership of androids..." He pressed a button on the PDA and the certificate of ownership flashed up on it. "Return my property or I'll have you thrown in prison, simple as that."
Malice could feel the anger boiling up inside him at the audacity of this weasely man, but he knew full well about laws on android ownership, when two years ago, Krebbs Bellion's brother had tried to claim Matilda. That time the law had been on Malice's side and so he had no need to give it any more thought. This time he was powerless to do anything he though he knew that something bad was going to happen to her.
"So she's a copy of Matilda's AI in a new body? I guess you win." He admitted down-heartedly. "Can I at least say goodbye to her?" Malice asked Sierra.
"She is special isn't she?" Said Sierra beaming, but then his expression changed to one of utmost seriousness. "You can have one Beat."
Malice resisted the urge to slam the door in that smug bastard's face and saw that the girl, Matilda, was standing nearby.
"I guess you heard all of that?"
She nodded.
"Is he telling the truth?"
"Some of it is truth. I do not remember the test." She replied.
Malice turned to face the RAcaseal. "Is it true?"
"He did not mention what he intended to do with the data, but I needed the money to please you." She replied.
Malice sighed and took the girl's hand and lead her to the bedroom. The sun was set low and even as its orange light filtered through the buildings of the city and streamed into the room it was still blinding. Malice pressed a meseta cube into her palm.
"It's not much but it's all I have on me..." He walked over to the window that led out to the fire-escape stairway and opened it. "Go to the Viridia residential block and seek out an old friend of mine. Gillard Eventide, you met him once remember? He'll hide you until I can find a way out of all this. Understand?"
He gasped as Matilda threw her arms around his body and hugged him tightly. He was caught off-guard by this display of emotion, but returned the favour, holding her firmly in his arms as she buried her face in his chest. When they separated he was quite shocked to see tears forming in her eyes.
"I wanted to tell you everything, but I was afraid you would reject me." She said, tears starting to roll down her cheeks.
They both turned at the sound of the doorbell ringing.
"There's no more time... You have to go now... But we'll see each other soon okay?"
She nodded once more before climbing out of the window and into the light.