Even as I approach my parents' house, I can't get the image of Connor in the storage closet out of my mind. Why of all people did it ask me for help? Hank is its partner, with the way androids are programmed, shouldn't he be the first person Connor turns to? But then I remember what Hank thinks of androids, who knows if he'd help Connor at all, let alone stick his hand into an android's chest cavity filled with blue blood and mechanical parts. Even if Hank is starting to show a little bit of a soft spot for his android partner, I don't think that's something he's willing to do.
I take out my phone from my jacket pocket. Connor still hasn't explained how it got access to my number, although with its photographic memory and unfettered access to all the DPD's tech, I could imagine several possible answers. It's something about Connor that's always made me uncomfortable: how easily and willing it is to pry into what people would consider private information. If Connor had waited a little longer, maybe I'd have been willing to give that information freely. But maybe I shouldn't be judging an android on human boundaries. It's not just any android, it's one made to investigate, like a detective would. So it makes sense that it would seek any and all information, not having the same sense of privacy that even a human detective would.
I flip through my phone as I ring the doorbell. Connor had uploaded the schematics for the part it needs me to 3D print onto it. Not that I know anything about engineering, but it looks complicated. How long would this take to make?
Ember answers the door, today deciding on green and purple locks. It quickly swings the door open, but its expression is sour.
"Oh…Mom wasn't sure if you were coming."
I cross my arms, "Well, I'm here."
Ember looks down at the ground for a moment, "You should know, you're not going to replace me. Mom is already planning a comeback tour for me, and she says you've never had an ounce of musical talent in your life, even when Dad tried to teach you piano-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. How about not spilling my life story all over the front lawn?"
It lets me in, and I'm surprised my parents didn't make it dress up for this dinner. I remember at Ember's age my mom was stuffing me into any number of trendy dresses, pinching and prodding at every detail. Back then, moms like her still cared about girls presenting ladylike, expecting me to somehow exude feminine grace at the ripe old age of thirteen. Maybe now my parents are using Ember to somehow try and make up for all of that.
"So…do you still have friends, or are you a weird loner like Leo says?" Ember asks, as we traverse the long hall to the dining room.
I roll my eyes, "Oh god, he's here already?"
My phone still in my hand, Ember seizes the opportunity and grabs it from me.
"Hey, give that back!"
Ember locally deactivates its skin to access its information. I guess Connor isn't the only one who does this sort of thing.
"Who's Connor? Storage room…please come alone! You're seeing a boy!"
I wrench my phone out of the android's hands. It's bad enough I have android detectives looking into my business, I don't need to add a robot popstar to my list as well.
"If you go snooping through my phone again, I'll rip out all your core biocomponents," I warn, taking a page out of Connor's book.
Ember crosses its arms, "Fine, but I'm going to tell!"
With a giggle, Ember starts running for the dining room. With a groan, I follow it, but I notice Ember stops just short of the doorway. I slow down just in time to see Leo come into view, as he grabs Ember by the head and shoves it to the side.
"Hey babe-"
"Don't call me babe," I whisper, glancing over his shoulder to see if my parents are in the room.
They're sitting at the dining room table, my mother in a short cocktail dress and my dad in a t-shirt and blazer, their usual get-up. Nick is busy setting the table, placing down all the required silverware for a French three-course. I feel Leo's hand on my back, leading me forward. I hope he knows he's only getting away with this because my parents are around.
I haven't even said hello when Mom starts digging into me, "Emma, is that really what you decided to wear?"
I knew nothing I owned was going to make my mom happy, so I went with one of the only dresses in my closet, a cheap red mid-length that's at least five years out of fashion. Maybe I wanted to piss off my mom on purpose, but maybe the other choices in my wardrobe would've been worse.
"Hello to you too, Mom."
"Now, let's not start off with a fight," Dad slides right back into being the mediator between us. It's depressing how fast things are going back to how they used to be.
Ember sits at the table with us, although there isn't a plate or silverware at its spot. I feel bad for it, it's clear Mom hasn't changed at all, I can't imagine how she's been treating Ember in my place. Although maybe as an android it isn't impacted by stuff like that, after all Ember seems more than willing to spout off facts and statistics about its own image. Sure, androids are affected by physical pain, but hopefully the comments my mom makes go right over Ember's head.
"Leo's been telling us you have your own place, that's good," my Dad mumbles, trying to juggle talking and chewing at the same time.
Leo gives a smug nod, "Yeah, I couldn't believe it at first. Didn't look like a place my Em would live in."
"I could send you my interior decorator," Mom offers, "you know how you've always been terrible at picking an aesthetic-"
"I think I'll be okay."
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Leo chuckling under his breath. He always loved watching me spar with my mom, as if his relationship with his mother is any more stellar. I give him a glare, and he responds by giving me a wink, before grabbing a bottle of wine and filling up my glass. At least he's good for something.
"You haven't had a chance to tell Emma what you've been up to, Leo," my mother goads my potential suitor, like the world's worst wingwoman.
"Oh, you know, just some stuff for a friend. …consulting, and such."
Uhuh. Last time he was pursuing entrepreneurship, the time before that he was getting into angel investment, when we were in college he tried to sell my parents on this weird get-rich-quick AI blockchain scheme. Leo's never really been sure about what he wants to do with his life, and that in itself is fine, but he always has to try and prove that he is somebody, that he's already made something of himself, especially around my parents.
"We won't pry too much into it. I'm sure it's been hard with your dad…" my own father trails off, unsure of how to finish that sentence.
While Carl was a painter and not a musician, he and my dad were close, running in the same wealthy art circles in the 2000s and early '10s. My parents moved out to Detroit a little after I was born, and Carl followed my father out here when he was helping him recover from opioid addiction. I guess I can't blame Leo too much, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
I half listen to the dry conversation as I wait long enough so my excuse doesn't come too soon. If I remember correctly, my dad keeps his 3D printer in the room across from his study upstairs. Hopefully he hasn't moved it or gotten rid of it, but worst case scenario I could also get a local 3D printing shop to do it.
I then question why I'm doing this at all. Connor didn't ask me to do this, but then again it didn't seem enthusiastic at the thought of perishing due to faulty parts. It said it would be replaced with another model, does that mean there are more identical Connors currently operational? Or maybe just more RK800s with different appearances? Connor is a prototype, so maybe they only made one appearance but made a few different copies. And would its memories transfer over to the new copy? It's investigating a case. It would be pretty detrimental if the new copy had to totally start from scratch, but would other qualities carry over, like its personality?
"I've been taking good care of the charities Carl and I boarded. The other board members all send their sympathies to you, Leo. Emma, did you remember to send Leo a sympathy card?"
I feel my mother's eyes of judgment on me, even if my eyes are squarely on my wine glass. I look up for a brief moment, my delivery blunt and monotone, "No…I didn't know Leo's dad had passed away until he broke into my house."
My mother rolls her eyes, "Typical, you never remembered those things."
Now's the time to excuse myself, "I'm going to go use the bathroom."
I start heading for the stairs when I hear my mother's voice again, "Uhm, have you forgotten already? There's a bathroom closer the other way."
"I…like the one upstairs better. It has a higher sink."
Even with my body turned away from her, I can feel her roll her eyes, "Whatever."
I march up the stairs, lifting my dress slightly so the fabric doesn't catch on my black ankle boots. Coming here was a mistake, hopefully getting Connor's biocomponent replaced will be worth it. The 3D printer is exactly where I remembered it being. Passing through the glass doors, I connect my phone to the bluetooth and start uploading Connor's schematics. The 3D printer whirrs to life, beginning its construction almost immediately. I take an occasional glance behind me, every door in this house that doesn't lead to a bedroom or a bathroom is made mostly of glass, it's one of the many ways my mom kept tabs on me at all times.
The 3D printer runs out of material, and it lets me know with a loud automated voice. I turn it off as soon as possible, and I start rummaging around for more material. Luckily, on the lowest drawer in the nearby desk, I find the stash of fluid cartridges.
"I knew you had ulterior motives for seeing your parents," Leo grins smugly, as the doors creak open, announcing his entrance, "so, whatcha looking for? Not money, your dad's study's on the other side, that room has gotta be loaded with cash, watches…credit cards-"
"I swear to God, Leo, if you steal from my family-"
"Woah! Calm down, calm down. Have you had some already? Don't tell me you started the party without me."
I try my best to keep the 3D printer hidden behind me, but the damn thing has so many flashing lights I'm surprised Leo hasn't noticed it already. However, I'm so focused on hiding my goal, I don't even notice Leo taking out a baggie of Red Ice. Clearly he doesn't notice the running 3D printer, because he starts making lines right in front of it on the table.
"C'mon, babe. This dinner is lame anyway. Let's have a little fun, like old times."
He does the first line, the snorting noise almost in rhythm with the hum of the printer. I keep both Leo and the 3D printer in view, my attention more on the swirls of material the printer fabricates as it begins to form the vague shape of Connor's biocomponent. My attention is wrenched away when Leo sticks the rolling paper in my face.
"C'mon. The other one's for you. Or have you gone soft?"
"I don't want any. I haven't done any…in a long time."
"Awe, you have gone soft! That's so adorable, you little softie!"
Leo starts reaching for my waist, and I keep moving away from him, but he's never been good at taking a hint. Finally, I don't care anymore, I don't care if my parents hear us, I raise my voice.
"Leo, stop!"
I can tell the Red Ice is already starting to kick in, this probably isn't his first bump of the night, as he starts to show one of its hallmark symptoms: sudden anger.
"You think you're better than me now, huh? You've done all the same shit I've done, but now you wanna act high and mighty? Fuck, Emma, you're the one who taught me how to pick old locks or crack dad's safe, because our dad's have the same ones! Don't you see? We're connected, we have this bond, I've never felt this way about anyone else. What, did I do something to you? I never cheated, I've never lied, I've always been there for you Em. So why did you leave?"
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the 3D printer finishing up Connor's biocomponent, and I very slowly start maneuvering my way towards it, "Leo, look, I'm not denying that's who I was, and I never meant to hurt you, but…one day, I just woke up and realized that's not who I am anymore-"
"Bullshit!" Leo closes the distance between us, and I flinch, "I know who you are! Go ahead, lie to yourself, but you can't lie to me!"
With a snarl, he whips around away from me, and his arm bumps the 3D printer. I watch in horror as the biocomponent falls to the ground, rolling away to a corner of the room. I start running to grab it, but I hear a voice from downstairs.
"What's going on up there?!"
Both Leo and I snap to attention as the whole family comes rushing up the stairs. Thinking quick, I drop Leo's baggie of Red Ice into my boot, sweeping the remaining line off the table, before pulling Leo into a kiss. Not only is his nose red and cracked from the Ice, but his breath smells of cheap booze. The things I do for family…
"What the…awe…" my mother is relieved to see me and Leo, just like she wanted.
Nick, still having some trouble navigating the final steps, seems a little less pleased, "Perhaps we should give them some privacy."
I hear a scoff from Ember in the background, and as I pull away from the kiss, I can't tell if Leo's bright red blush is from the kiss, or the Ice. I lead him back downstairs to the dining room, the family none the wiser. Only as Dad follows the rest of the family down the stairs does he finally notice.
"Hey…did I leave my 3D printer on?"
