The sun was already hitting that perfect spot right between the trees and the blinds, bypassing every possible object to cast a beam right into Kate's eyes. It was as if someone was scanning her retina with a flashlight, creating that warm, unnerving sensation on the back of her eyes─ a process that she was all too familiar with by now. She leaned back in her chair, drawing her bare legs up and resting her forehead in her hand. The screen was still blank. Still blank. And if the sun was hitting that perfect spot in the blinds, it must be…
She tilted her head towards the clock on the wall and felt her heart sink. 6:30. There was no way this story was getting done.
She sighed and buried her face in her hands. Sometimes the story poured out of her so fast that she had to write or she would go insane. It didn't matter if it was the middle of class or the middle of the night. And other times… she couldn't believe there was a curriculum for this sort of thing. The professor could close the book and say "write a ten page drama story due by Thursday" and somehow the students could magically spit one out by then.
She could have picked anything else. Any other major. The chances of landing a job would have been better, not to mention higher pay. Although she wasn't exactly shooting for luxury. She looked around her room. The laundry had migrated onto the loveseat again with clothing items tumbling onto the floor as she routinely searched for something not-so-dirty. The stacks of paper were getting out of control on the shelves, and her desk was piled high with paper plates and cups with a small mouthful of liquid solidifying in each of them. At least no one bothered to check the place, and Jamie never came into her room anyway.
She tilted back in her chair and the stack of plates began to slide. She shot forward quickly enough to keep them from crashing to the ground. Bits of stale bread crumbled onto the carpet. Well, it was getting late. It was just as well to find something to eat and add to the pile.
The doorbell rang. Kate sighed, shoving the paper plates further onto her small desk. Jamie sure knew a lot of people. Considering she was partying almost every night...
Kate groaned and her head dropped. Jamie wasn't home.
She stood up, dusting the crumbs off of her white tank top. Christ, she hadn't even bothered to put on a bra. Her blue shorts were almost long enough to not look like she was wearing underwear. Almost. And her hair… well it was tangled enough to stay out of her face. And she sure as hell wasn't putting on shoes.
She moved out of the bedroom into the hall. The lights were off but the sun beamed orange through the windows and the stained glass on the front door. She brushed her brown hair off her shoulders as she moved through the small house and opened the front door.
A man in a black and white uniform stood on the porch. She nearly slammed the door shut again.
"Hello," said the man. "I am your new CyberLife model PL600 domestic assistant android."
Kate stared at him through the cracked-open door. The android smiled blankly at her.
"Umm…" Kate bit her lip. "We don't have an android. I think you have the wrong house."
"Are you Katie Hayes of 1866 Greeley Street Detroit Michigan 48203?"
She narrowed her eyes, gripping the doorknob a bit tighter. "Yes?"
"Then I am indeed your new CyberLife model PL600 domestic assistant android."
Kate tilted her head slightly, hiding partially behind the door. She wasn't sure what was more disturbing─ that he knew her name and address or that he seemed to stare through her soul. And he wouldn't stop smiling.
"Look." She took in a breath. "I don't have the money to buy an android and Jamie sure as hell didn't order one, so I think you should go back to… whoever or wherever and─"
"Surprise!"
Kate jumped slightly as two figures leapt into the light. She immediately felt her body tense as she recognized them.
"Oh my god, you look so confused!" Kate's mother came into focus as she stepped onto the porch. "That was priceless!"
There was a click and something flashed. Kate retreated into the house a bit which was useless as her mother swung the door open completely.
"Why are you half naked? Oh whatever." Her mother grabbed Kate by the shoulders and pulled her into a hug. "It's good to see you."
Kate blew a bit of her mom's hair out of her face, half-assedly giving her a quick hug back with just the tips of her fingers.
"Hi Katie!" Her mother's husband waved to her as he caught the drone from the air and shoved it into his pocket.
"Hi Leonard," said Kate as she was pushed away again by her mom who held onto her shoulders.
"Your hair is getting long," said her mom.
"Mom, my hair hasn't grown since you last saw me," said Kate. She wrapped her arms around herself in a pitiful attempt to keep her chest covered.
"Well, it looks longer to me," said her mom, looking her over with her deep brown eyes. It was the one thing that Kate was glad she didn't inherit. Her mom's brown hair was almost the exact same shade of brown as Kate's but with strands of gray woven around her face. Kate had gotten almost all of her mom's features except those big sparkling brown eyes.
"So what do you think?" said her mom.
Kate blinked. "What do I think of what?"
"Your new─ oh, come in!" Her mom motioned to the door. The android stepped through the doorway and closed it behind him. He turned to face them, his expression still warm but at least his smile was gone.
"We got you an android!" Her mom waved her arms as if presenting something brilliant. Kate stared, her brain on overdrive to comprehend the situation.
"You got me…"
"An android!"
"An android…" Kate rubbed her forehead. "Christ, mom, how much did this cost?"
"Come on Katie," said Leonard, bumping his shoulder into hers. "Don't worry about how much it cost. Don't you like it?"
"I…" Kate felt her eyebrows narrow. "I didn't know I needed one."
"Well, there's something your mom and I have been talking about for a long time," said Leonard, scratching his short graying hair. "But we don't need to bring that up yet. Come here, let me explain what he can do."
Kate followed as her mom and Leonard moved toward the android, covering herself as much as she could.
"Just consider him an awesome butler," said Leonard, gazing at the android as if it were a work of art. "He can cook, clean, answer phones, mow the lawn, repair things… uh keep up with bills and stuff…"
"He's got a startup speech, right?" Kate's mom looked the android over as if hoping to find a button. "Can he do the startup speech?"
"Um let's see." Leonard looked at the android's face. "Can you do your startup speech?"
The android straightened and his smile returned. "Of course." He looked at Kate, and her stomach churned again. "Hello. I'm your new CyberLife model PL600 home assistant android. I look after your house, do the cooking, mind the kids, and manage your appointments. I speak over three hundred languages, am entirely autonomous, and can be set to any role including house security, educational tutor, or sexual partnership. No need to feed me or clean me. I am completely at your disposal."
There was a strange silence as the android looked at Kate, his blue-eyed stare becoming ever more piercing.
"Yeah…" she bit her lip. "Jamie's going to be borrowing this thing a lot."
"Well, just─" Her mom waved her hands. "Tell her the android's not for her."
"Highly doubt that's gonna stop her." She gazed at the android, one eyebrow raised. He was unrealistically neat with light blond hair swept partly sideways and his pale face extremely clean shaven. His blue eyes seemed intentionally designed to be pleasant and kind. If Kate didn't know any better, she'd have guessed the designer was watching Lawrence of Arabia when coming up with him.
"She can't use him," said Kate's mom. "Tell her I said she can't use him."
Kate turned to her, glancing between her and Leonard. "Why?"
Kate's mother pressed her hands together, biting her lip and looking at Leonard. "Well, we just…"
"He's a special type of android," said Leonard quickly. "Not just your standard model."
Kate stared at them. They were never good at hiding anything. And the more Kate wondered what it was, the more dread crept into her gut. "What is it?"
Kate's mom and Leonard looked at eachother. "Well, Katie…" Her mom stepped closer
to her. "I know you don't like talking about this stuff but… Leonard and I kinda figured this was the best option."
"He's been trained in first-aid," said Leonard, adjusting his glasses as he looked at the android. "Everything to do with first response. He knows the steps involved, can call an ambulance, keep you safe, the whole deal."
"The salesman set it all up for us," said Kate's mom. "Got a program ordered specially from CyberLife. Other people have gotten it too for all sorts of things. It's saved people's lives."
Kate rubbed her forehead, her hair falling into her face. "So you basically got me…" She pinched the bridge of her nose. "A mechanical babysitter?"
"What? No! Of course not." Kate's mom sighed heavily. "We got you something that can keep your house clean and take care of some of your projects, maybe even run off the guys at parties if you don't like Matt anymore." Her mom shrugged and gave a sideways smile. "And at the same time we can sleep peacefully knowing there's someone here who will always make sure you're okay."
"I have Jamie," said Kate. "It's not like I live here alone."
"You complain about Jamie all the time," said her mom. "And you said Jamie is always going out. Your android will always be here and able to check up on you."
Kate pressed a finger to her mouth and closed her eyes, struggling to keep her frustration under control. "It doesn't happen that often. I haven't had anything serious in years."
"You said you passed out not even a week ago," said Kate's mom. "What if you'd stopped breathing? What if there'd been a fire?"
"What if anything?" Kate folded her arms across her chest. "Anything can happen, mom. This is Detroit."
"Look, I know you hate gifts, Katie." Kate's mom threw a glance at the android. "Just… please consider this just once? So I can sleep soundly at night?"
Kate looked at the android who was still standing perfectly still. She let out a heavy sigh and put her hand on her forehead.
Kate's mom smiled and leaned forward to brush Kate's hair back. "Just give it a chance. You're gonna love him. Now come on and get dressed."
Kate let her hand drop to her side. "Why?"
"We're taking you to dinner."
"I already ate."
"Toast doesn't count." Her mom was already opening the door. "Do you still have your yellow dress? I always liked that dress."
"I'm not wearing a dress."
"But you're still coming," said her mom. She waved as if pushing away a fly in the air. "Hurry up. I'll grab a taxi." Her mom disappeared through the door and Leonard leaned against the wall.
"Better hurry," he said. "You know she won't leave."
Kate sighed and moved to her room. She spent a few minutes digging through the pile of laundry before emerging in some jeans that didn't smell too bad, and a shirt that wasn't too wrinkled, complete with a bra.
She stuffed her tangled hair in a bun as she moved through the hallway, and paused a moment. "What about him?"
The android was still standing patiently, the smile lingering in his blue eyes.
"Well, maybe he can clean the house while we're out," said Leonard.
"I don't want him to touch my stuff," said Kate.
"Come on, don't worry about it," said Leonard, opening the door. "You know what they're saying about androids these days."
"That they're terking er jerbs?" said Kate, stepping through the front door.
"No," said Leonard. "That they're becoming more human every day."
