7

"So… I ask again… what do you want?" Jack asked, his voice calm, even as his hands were clasped firmly together like he was trying not to reach out with them.

"This is what I propose. First… I will retain my offices and labs here. I will prefer to work from home and have my staff working as per usual inhouse, but on occasion will be here as well for events and investor crap meetings and display and such. I will continue to make things work continue to make you money… well… us money I guess… and will continue to allow the full usage of my legally owned properties for the purpose of improving this company."

More than one was furiously writing in their pads, trying to keep up "As I want this… I will also accept the consulting fee as offered, to be the same as my current wage, to be paid weekly whether or not I am here. I will not have to be physically here to make you money. Remotely able to fix fuckups… after all… as Dotty here said, I own the mainframe and can fix anything remotely."

"OK… and?" Jack asked now relaxing as he saw that Ianto was not here to fuck him over, but to assert himself.

"I want my name on the product too."

"Jones."

"Yes, the next step… the next creation I am working on is the one I have been working on for several years and if it is to become a reality, I want recognition for it. It will revolutionize the Sim World." Ianto nodded "Harkness-Jones."

"Done."

"Wait… what new thing?" one of the others asked looking at Jack with apology for interrupting.

"Lisa… my Lisa Bot was a construct of many things. She was a prototype and an idea brought into life… I now see where I went wrong. We should NEVER recreate a living person. It is not right. But… a pet."

"Pet?"

"A beloved pet. A Cat or dog, killed or died from old age… the owner in great pain and suffering…can bring us video footage, photos… some fur or so such if possible… and we can create a Bot that is a likeness. A cat that will purr and meow in a similar fashion but never needs food. Will never die. A dog that will play fetch, shake hands… but never piss on your Hover. These will cost as much, if not more than a Service Sim as these will each be unique and therefore… harder. But imagine… the revenue will be staggering. Who has not wanted to stop their child grieving for their dear stupid hamster? Bring us the dead animal's cute footage, let us 3D print that, let us examine that… let your child open a box with our brand on the cover to find a hamster inside that is a replica of the dead one… only… this one will not die."

"Holy fuck balls" someone said softly.

"We need to add a fourth Law to the wall. NO HUMANS." Ianto emphasized "We will say that we do not want to offend God or some shit. That humans are to complex, that animals are merely a copy, a suggestion but humans are so much more. Whatever crap they buy but we will NEVE create a humanoid replicant that is a living human's remains."

"Agreed" Jack said strongly "And Lisa?"

"I lost her three years ago. Time I left her to her slumber and realized that it was wrong to try and keep part of her close like that. After all… I need to learn to let go of things" Ianto replied, "I guess we both do. I have given y all for this place, it has cost me dearly, my dearest mother, Lisa.. my Da and Grandy…."

Jack nodded leaning back "Gray. Yeah. I now accept that I can't save him. Never could. Wait… your mother? She was not a Jones… who was she?"

"The day of the Unfortunate Event. Your father gave Gray the wrong swipe card. He was meant to hand over the one for his office as Gray was bored, but inadvertently handed over the All Level Access. Gray realized this, immediately went for the restricted area. My mother was there working on a Sim Bot. When Gray entered, she told him he needed to hop out as this Sim as in flux. Instead, he hoped into the open Sim Modifier and did what he had seen your father do upstairs. He pushed the On Switch. The Sim, with only half it's chips in place, came online as well, went haywire when your bother was injured and attacked. My mother tired to protect you bother, as scalped by the machine while it choked her and broke her neck. I think this is why your bother always bashes in heads and tries to sever the neck…. It is what happened to my mother. Doctor Loyd."

"Wait… so the story but the body enhancer…. Another lie from my mother. Bloody hell… I remember her. The most amazing blonde hair. She always looked so immaculate. Fuck. I was never told that she… I am sorry Ianto." Jack rubbed his face "My brother… he did so much harm and yet my mother was so sure he could be fixed like one of the Sims. Even when he killed father… she still tried to argue that he was salvable."

"Right up to the end" Ianto nodded.

"And now he is in a secure facility, he will never harm anyone else. I placed him in one of our automated facilities, run by Sims." Jack assured Ianto.

"I know. Who do you think reassigned the Sims to care for him?" Ianto smiled softly "I rule them. They call me Father. They do as they are told, and none will ever harm him. I promise you but… I will know where he is and what is happening in his world as much as you. For we are all invested in him now."

"Thank you, Ianto."

"This doesn't make us friends!"

"No. I know. But it does make us partner?"

Ianto grunted, forced to agree.

Harkness-Jone was formed.